GGOLFOLF | Page 5 RRUGBY|UGBY Page 6 Griffi n holds Boks block on to clinch out Brighton Houston as they prepare Open title for Japan Tuesday, October 15, 2019 FOOTBALL Safar 16, 1441 AH Bale on target GULF TIMES as Wales’ Euro hopes on knife-edge SPORT Page 7 ANOC WORLD BEACH GAMES Qatar stay in the hunt for handball and v’ball golds Younousse proved himself a true leader for his team who are still unbeaten in the tournament By Yash Mudgal showed some resistance and reduced Doha the gap. But Seifeddine Elmajid, who contributed 12 points, came up with his superb play and helped the hosts main- atar’s 4x4 volleyball team tain the lead. inched closer to a possible At 17-15, Younousse picked two ANOC World Beach Games consecutive points to take Qatar 19- gold medal as the hosts de- 15 clear. Elmajid followed it up with Qfeated Chile 2-0 (21-13, 21-18) to enter a clever drop to get the match point the semi-fi nals yesterday. on the board (20-16). Chile saved two The beach handball team also ad- points but it was late for them as El- vanced to the last four, beating Austral- majid sealed the victory with a deep ia 2-0 (24-17 21-14), staying on course smash. for what could be a potential second Younousse proved himself a true gold medal. leader for his team who are still un- In volleyball, it was Qatar’s fourth beaten in the tournament. He has add- win from as many matches and once ed responsibility on his shoulder as his again they were helmed by their star regular partner on the world beach vol- QOC President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani and Secretary-General player Cherif Younousse with 15 points, leyball tour, Tijan, is injured and sitting Jassim Rashid al-Buainain watch the action along with other off icials. including 12 from attack. out the action. Younousse-Tijan are “We’re very pleased to be in the World No 14 in FIVB World Ranking. Qatar will take on Poland, who de- Sweden overcame Hungary 2-1 (17-19, semi-fi nals of the World Beach Games. “Tijan’s absence has been a big blow feated Germany 2-0 (21-11, 21-9), in the 22-20, 7-4), while Spain beat Denmark Since the format is new to us and we for us, but he is with us to provide his semi-fi nal today at 7pm. USA defeated in straight sets 2-0 (20-17, 30-24). did not have enough time, there have moral support from the bench. All the 2-0 (21-14, 21-13) Mozambique to meet Defender Mutasem Mohamed netted been some mistakes. We’ve been trying players are trying to do their best and Action from the Qatar vs Chile beach volleyball match yesterday. Indonesia, who defeated Australia 2-1 nine goals, while right wing Hani Kakhi to reduce them and will continue to do we’re proud to be one step away from (23-25, 21-16, 15-9), in the semi-fi nal. was hundred percent on the target in so,” Younousse said. reaching the fi nal,” he said. “We’re gelling well as a team in this and cleared one hurdle. The strong In handball, the hosts will take on his fi ve shots. Veteran defender Mah- The fi rst set was an easy one and in Qatar’s blocker Ziad Benlouaer was format. We cleared the prelims and way we’re playing, anything is possi- fi ve-time world champions Brazil to- moud Hassanballa struck four out of the second set also Qatar took a com- also satisfi ed with his team’s perform- managed to enter the knockout stage. ble. We’re trying to relax and enjoy the day. Brazil defeated Croatia 2-1 (30- fi ve, while specialist Mohamed Hassan manding 10-5 lead. However, Chile ance. We had a good match against Chile matches one by one,” Benlouaer said. 10, 17-16, 6-4). In other quarter-fi nals netted three goals in fi ve attempts. FOOTBALL Unbeaten Qatar take on Oman in crucial clash By Sports Reporter Qatar against a resurgent Oman side. Abdurusag, who has represented Qa- Doha Sanchez’s men are yet to replicate the tar at the U20 World Cup in Poland, has kind of form, which made the Asian plenty of pace and is a constant threat in Champions at the turn of the year. front of the goal and Sanchez will hope atar will lock horns with A match against fellow GCC side will the young striker will show his skills in Oman in the FIFA World Cup be of special signifi cance to Qatari fans front of the home fans today. Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian and it will be also be a perfect motiva- Meanwhile, just 100 kilometres west QCup China 2023 Asian Quali- tion for the players to get back to their of the India-Bangladesh border, the two fi ers at the Al Janoub Stadium today, best. The focus will also be on forward nations face-off in Kolkata’s Salt Lake with the group’s top spot at stake. The Yusef Abdurusag, who has caught Stadium with just one point separating match will start at 7.30pm. the eye with impressive performance them at the bottom of Group E. Felix Sanchez’s men are top of the against Bangladesh. Despite the narrow margin, senti- Group E with seven points from three The 20-year-old bagged his fi rst-ev- ment at the two camps could not be matches, while Oman are one point er goal for Qatar in Dhaka last week and more diff erent; the disappointment behind they also have played a game is expected to make the playing XI today. of an opening day 2-1 home defeat to less. The two sides are yet to be beaten Abdurusag is enjoying a breakthrough Oman made way for excitement and in Group E, which also includes India, season in the QNB Stars League, with optimism after India held Asian cham- Bangladesh and Afghanistan. the on-loan Al Sadd winger playing a pions Qatar to a goalless draw in Doha “It’s going to be an important match key role in Al Arabi’s good start to their last month to collect their fi rst point of for us and we hope we can win at home,” campaign. the campaign. Qatar coach Felix Sanchez said. “Oman are a good side. They are the Gulf Cup champions, so it’s important everyone puts in his best eff ort,” he added. Reigning Asian champions and 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar still have to navigate their way through the qualifi - ers to earn a place in China 2023. Their Qatari players train for the match against Oman yesterday. Picture on right shows Qatar Football Association President journey started in style with a 6-0 de- Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani speaking to coach Felix Sanchez. feat of Afghanistan in Doha, but things were not as straight forward when India put themselves at the summit of the go into Qatar game boosted by a solid yet to get a win in the fi ve previous at- visited, holding them to a goalless stale- group with seven points. 3-0 home victory over Afghanistan that tempts. Qatar won three times, the last mate. Qatar’s opponents today will be the propelled them into second place with of which came in the 2002 FIFA World Qatar got back to winning ways last toughest of their campaign so far. Oman six points. Cup Qualifi ers. week, coming away from a diffi cult trip snatched a hard-fought 2-1 win in India Today’s game will be their sixth en- But considering the patchy form they to rainy Bangladesh with a 2-0 win to thanks to an added-time goal and they counter in the qualifi ers and Oman are are in, it won’t be a walk in the park for Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, October 15, 2019 ANOC WORLD BEACH GAMES ANOC WORLD BEACH GAMES QATAR 2019 SPOTLIGHT QVA president commends Piff aretti, Meijer clinch outstanding performance wakeboard golds of Qatari ‘I feel amazing right now. I’m over the moon and I’m stoked to be able to come here in Qatar’ national team By Amjad Vanimal QNA Doha Doha assimiliano Piff aretti atar Volleyball Association (QVA) Presi- of Italy dominated the dent Ali Ghanim al-Kuwari praised the men’s division while results and the outstanding level shown Sanne Meijer of the by the Qatari team at the Association MNetherlands took the women’s title Qof National Olympic Committees (ANOC) World in the wakeboard competition at Beach Games Qatar 2019, which is currently under- Legtaifi ya Lagoon yesterday. way in Doha, and will conclude tomorrow. Showing grace and poise, Pif- In his statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), faretti posted the day’s highest QVA president said that it would be a good thing for score of 86.22, netting 28.53 for Qatar to lead Group A in this round, especially be- execution, 29.06 for intensity and cause the game in its current form is new in Qatar. 28.64 for composition from the It is for the fi rst time the team is playing in the 4x4 judging panel. competitions, but they have quickly mastered the Piff aretti — the reigning Euro- game. pean men’s wakeboard champion The team topped the group after winning three and 2015 world champion — had consecutive games, where they beat Indonesia, a an amazing start and went on to good team in Asia, before beating US and Germany beat Cory Teunissen of Australia, on the same day to advance to the second round of who took silver with just 2 points the tournament.