SPORTSunday 13 January 2019

PAGE | 05 PAGE | 06Australia’s

Smith ruled out of PSL due

to elbow injury

World No. 1 Halep confident ahead of Aussie Open

Qatar to host four-nation event ahead of U-23 Asian Cup qualifiersTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Qatar will feature in a four-nation international event this month in an attempt to prep up for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers to be played in March.

The tournament - for Olympic squads - will be played from January 15-21, Qatar Football Association (QFA) announced yesterday.

The participating teams are Qatar, Iran, Kuwait and Tajikistan.

The tournament will be played at Aspire Academy. On January 15, Qatar will face Kuwait while Iran take on Tajikistan.

On the second match-day on January 18, Iran face Kuwait while Tajikistan battle Qatar.

The Qatar squad is expected to feature on more matches in the coming weeks, QFA said.

Doha will host the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers from March 22-26 March with the participation of Oman, Nepal and Afghanistan besides the home side.

Qatari players in action during a practice session yesterday, on the eve of their AFC Asian Cup Group E

match against North Korea.

Al Attiyah stays on top as Loeb wins fifth Dakar stageREUTERS LIMA

Sebastien Loeb won the fifth stage of the

Dakar Rally in Peru on Friday while Qatar’s

Nasser Al Attiyah extended his overall lead.

Frenchman Loeb, a nine times world rally

champion, beat Al Attiyah by more than 10

minutes after the 519-km timed stage from

Tacna to the city of Arequipa.

It was Loeb’s second stage victory of

this year’s edition, after he was also fastest

on the second day, and moved him up to

fifth overall but 40 minutes off the lead.

Two-time Dakar winner Al Attiyah, in a

Toyota, increased his lead over second-placed

Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel, driving

an X-raid Mini, to 24 minutes and 42 seconds

with Spaniard Nani Roma third.

Thirteen times champion Peterhansel

finished fourth in the stage, 16 minutes

behind the Qatari.

In the motorcycle category, Britain’s Sam

Sunderland won the stage and moved up to

second overall behind American Ricky Brabec.

Sunderland had finished down the order

after losing more than 10 minutes because

he stopped to help injured Honda rider Paulo

Goncalves. The time was later adjusted to

take that into consideration.

The endurance rally, staged in South

America since being switched from Africa in

2009 for security reasons, ends in Lima on

Jan. 17.

Upbeat Qatar eye round of 16 berth in North Korea clashARMSTRONG VAS THE PENINSULA

Qatar will be looking for their second successive win and qualify for the next stage of the tournament when they take on North Korea in the Group E League match of the AFC Asian Cup in Al Ain today.

Coach Felix Sanchez’s side started their Asian Cup cam-paign with a 2-0 win over Lebanon and another positive result over North Korea will take their points tally to six points and help them cement a place in the knockout phase.

The Qatar coach is not worried about his team’s show in their first match of the championship.

Sanchez said that the first match of any championship is always a tough test and was confident things will change in the upcoming matches.

“It was the first game and it’s never easy to do the things the right way in the first game. But the team showed they were patient enough and, hopefully, in the next game we will perform better and do some-thing that we couldn’t do in the last game.”

Abdulaziz Hatem and Almoez Ali scored for Qatar in the win over the West Asian side.

The win left Qatar level on points with Saudi Arabia at the top of Group E, with the Saudis scoring four goals without any reply against North Korea.

Sanchez stressed that his team will not be changing their style of play despite struggling

to turn their dominance into goals when they met Lebanon last Wednesday.

“Each match is different and we cannot renounce the way we play,” Sanchez said during a press conference yesterday.

“It’s difficult to change now, but we need to find solutions to be more close to the opposi-tion’s goal,” the Spaniard added.

The Spanish tactician, who held back 2018 AFC Player of the Year Abdelkarim Hassan against Lebanon, only to introduce him with great effect after the half an hour mark, refused to share his tactical plans ahead of the crucial tie.

Qatar laboured until Hassan replaced Abdulkarim Salem and his presence inspired the team to score twice in 14 minutes.

Sanchez said his boys are taking the game-by-game approach and will also be looking for more goals as it will determine the final outcome of the group.

“We’re taking the game-by-game approach and goal dif-ference can make the dif-ference in the ranking, so for that reason when we play the

game we’re going to try to be focused and perform during the 90 minutes so we can get the best result for us,” he said.

Sanchez warned that North Korea are no pushovers.

“We know it’s going to be a very tough opponent and we are going to play a very good game tomorrow to get the result.”

North Korea will go into the game without suspended striker Han Kwang-song after he was sent off in the loss to Saudi Arabia, but coach Kim Yong-jun is confident he has enough quality to compensate for the young forward’s loss.

“I can say that without him there will be some effect but I don’t think it will be too big because we have some good players like our captain, Jong Il -gwan, and Pak Kwang Ryong, who plays in Austria, so I don’t think there will be a big effect for the second match,” Kim said.

Team all geared up for second game: Al Haydos

THE PENINSULA AL AIN

Captain Hassan Al Haydos yesterday said Qatar is fully geared up for their second AFC Asian Cup match against North Korea today.

“Our match against North Korea is very important,” Al Haydos said during a pre-match press conference yesterday.

“If we win, we can help our chances of moving ahead in the tournament,” the captain added. “I am sure we will be fighting like we did in our match against Lebanon. This match will be more difficult but we are fully geared for a fight,” he said.

Al Haydos said the rivals would be under pressure in the match having lost to Saudi Arabia 4-0 in their first match.

Like I said we are going match-by-match. We will move step-by-step. We hope to win and we will see after that,” he said.

Al Haydos warned: “There is no team that scares us in any way. We strive to give our best against every opponent. We respect our rivals but we feel we have the power to challenge all sides we take on.”

When reminded of Qatar beating Saudi Arabia in the Gulf Cup final in 2014 in Riyadh, Al Haydos smiled and said: “That is all in the past. We are only focusing on our match against North Korea.”

Qatar head coach Felix Sanchez (left) and captain Hassan Al Haydos speaking to media during a press conference held in Al Ain, UAE, yesterday.

Qatar started their Asian Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Lebanon and another positive result over DPR Korea will take their points tally to six points and help them cement a place in the knockout phase.

Toyota’s Qatari driver Nasser Al Attiyah (bottom, right) and his co-driver Mathieu Baumel of France drive along the beach

ahead of Mini’s Stephane Peterhansel and co-driver David Castera (centre) as they

compete during Dakar Rally Stage 5 between Tacna and Arequipa in Peru, on Friday.

FRENCH LIGUE 1 RESULT

Amiens 0 Paris Saint-Germain 3 (Cavani 57-pen, Mbappe 70,

Marquinhos 79)

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS

Brighton 0 Liverpool 1 (Salah 50-pen)

Burnley 2 (Bryan 20-og, Cook 23-og) Fulham 1 (Schurrle 2)

Cardiff 0 Huddersfield 0

Crystal Palace 1 (Cathcart 38-og) Watford 2 (Cathcart 67,

Cleverley 74)

Leicester 1 (Ndidi 58) Southampton 2 (Ward-Prowse

11-pen, Long 45)

West Ham 1 (Rice 48) Arsenal 0

Cars1. Nasser Al Attiyah, Qatar, Toyota Gazoo Racing SA, 17 hours 19 minutes and 53 seconds2. Stephane Peterhansel, France, X-Raid Mini JCW Team, 17:44:353. Nani Roma, Spain, X-Raid Team, 17:54:264. Jakub Przygonski, Poland, Orlen X-Raid Team, 17:58:055. Sebastien Loeb, France, PH-Sport, 17:59:53

Motorcycles1. Ricky Brabec, United States, Monster Energy Honda Team 2019, 16:51:342. Sam Sunderland, Britain, Red Bull KTM Factory Team, 16:52:333. Pablo Quintanilla, Chile, Rockstar Enery Husqvarna Factory Racing, 16:54:26

DAKAR RALLY 2019 Classifications after Stage 5

06 SUNDAY 13 JANUARY 2019SPORT

Kvitova beats Barty in Sydney women’s finalAP SYDNEY

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova beat Ashleigh Barty 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3) in the women’s singles final yesterday at the Sydney International.

Barty led the deciding set 3-0 before Kvitova began a comeback to win her 26th WTA title.

Barty beat No. 1 Simona Halep, No.9 Kiki Bertens and No.12 Elise Mertens on her way to the final.

Kvitova apologized to Barty and the crowd for spoiling the Australian’s Sydney party.

“Not to win at home, I’m sorry,” Kvitova said. “You know, one day you’re going to make it for sure.”

Later, Australian Alex de Minaur won the men’s singles title when he beat Italian veteran Andreas Seppi 7-5, 7-6 (5). It was de Minaur’s second win of the day, after he earlier beat Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-2 in a rain-delayed semifinal from Friday night.

The victory made de Minaur the youngest winner of the Sydney tournament since Lleyton Hewitt also did it as a 19-year-old in 2001.

No. 1 Halep confident ahead of Aussie OpenAP MELBOURNE

Simona Halep was trying on her new shoes when she got the news direct from the draw about her tough section containing both Serena and Venus Williams at the Australian Open.

Even before she contemplates possible back-to-back matches in the third and fourth round against Venus and Serena, top-ranked Halep has to get through an opening match against Kaia Kanepi, who beat her in the first round at the US Open last year.

Darren Cahill, a TV commentator and Halep’s coach until recently, texted her with details of the draw.

“When I saw the message, I was like, ‘Ok, whatever,’” she said. “I just enjoy the moment with the shoes, then I’ll think about the match. That’s it.”

She can do that now that she con-siders herself a genuine No. 1. Halep entered last year with the top-ranking but without a major to her credit.

After losing a tough, three-set final to Caroline Wozniacki at the Australian Open, she briefly lost the No. 1 spot but regained it quickly and will be into her 48th consecutive week in the top spot when the sea-son’s first major starts. Her break-through at the French Open gave her all the confirmation she’d ever needed.

“It’s a big difference - I can say inside myself because I did what I wanted to do. I won a Grand Slam finally. Now I can say I’m a real No. 1,” Halep said of the difference between her approaches to this season and to last. “Before I said without a Grand Slam, you are not a real No. 1. I’m happy. I’m enjoying the time. Everything I’ve done last year made me be more relaxed. I try just to improve more in my game.”

Halep lost four straight matches to finish 2018, hampered by a back injury, and was beaten by Ashleigh Barty at the Sydney International to start this season.

But she says her back is fine. She’s also without a coach in Melbourne, an appointment she’s taking time to consider.

US Open champion Naomi Osaka looms as a potential semifinal rival for Halep, or Serena Williams, or whoever comes out of the tough top quarter.

A lot has changed for Osaka since capturing her first major title in New

York last September, having never even reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam event. Her victory there was overshadowed to a degree by Serena Williams’ clash with chair umpire Carlos Ramos during the final and subsequent $17,000 fine.

Williams missed the last Australian Open - she won here in 2017 while pregnant and was still on the sidelines after having her baby - but reached two major finals after returning to tennis and despite being seeded 16th, remains a strong contender to win her 24th Grand Slam singles title.

Simona Halep of Romania plays a forehand shot during a practice session in Melbourne, ahead of the

Australian Open tennis tournament.

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AFP SYDNEY

Australian teenager Alex De Minaur won two matches in a day to claim his first career ATP title at the Sydney Inter-national yesterday.

De Minaur, 19 and ranked 29th, conquered the fresher Italian Andreas Seppi 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) in the final after over-coming Frenchman Gilles Simon in a rain-postponed semi-final earlier in the day.

De Minaur’s triumph made him the youngest winner of the Sydney tour-nament since his mentor Lleyton Hewitt claimed it as a 19-year-old in 2001.

Sydney-born De Minaur is the first Australian champion at the 134-year tournament since Bernard Tomic in 2013.

“It’s crazy that this actually happened,” De Minaur told the crowd shortly after his victory.

“I thought it wouldn’t happen. Third time lucky, and you guys don’t know how much it means to do it in front of all you guys, in front of my home.”

In his second straight Sydney final, the fifth seed won 75 percent of first-serve points to improve on his runner-up finish to Russian Daniil Medvedev last year.

De Minaur has soared 208 places to 29th in the ATP Rankings and was named ATP Newcomer of the Year after earning 28 tour-level victories throughout his 2018 cam-paign. After conceding a break of serve in the opening game of the match, De Minaur lev-elled the opening set at 3-3.

The first set appeared to be heading towards a tie-break until De Minaur broke in the 12th game, attacking Seppi’s forehand to force errors and earn short balls in return from his opponent.

Seppi was again the first to strike in the second set.

The Italian earned his first break point of the set before capitalising on a De Minaur double-fault to lead 4-3.

But the Australian youngster broke back for 4-4 as Seppi made consecutive groundstroke errors.

In the tie-break, De Minaur recovered from a mini-break down three times, before clinching the title on his first championship point as Seppi netted a backhand.

De Minaur downs Seppi to win maiden ATP title

AP HOBART

American Sofia Kenin won her first WTA title at the Hobart International yesterday after beating Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-4, 6-0.

Playing her first top-level singles final, the 20-year-old Kenin took the first set with a break before running away with the match in 71 minutes.

Kenin, ranked 56th, didn’t drop a set for the tournament and beat top-seeded Caroline Garcia and former Hobart champion Alize Cornet in her run to the title.

She joined compatriot Tennys Sandgren, who won his first ATP Tour singles title yesterday, beating Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-2 in the final of the ASB Classic across the Tasman Sea at Auckland, New Zealand, as a first-time tour winner.

Kenin saved eight break points early in the first set and found her groundstroke range as the match continued.

“I didn’t want to overthink it and I’m happy with the way I composed myself,” she said.

The win is expected to move her inside the top 40 for the first time.

Moscow-born Kenin plays qualifier Veronika Kudermetova in the opening round of the Aus-tralian Open in Melbourne before a potential second-round match against No. 1 Simona Halep.

Kenin also won the Auckland doubles title with Eugenie Bouchard last week.

“I couldn’t ask for a better start,” Kenin said.

Kenin seals first WTA title victory at Hobart

Petra Kvitova kisses the Sydney International trophy yesterday.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal trains a the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday, ahead of the Australian Open.

Murray’s retirement will be a big loss, but the game goes on: NadalAP MELBOURNE

Rafael Nadal knew it was inevitable that sooner or later the Big Four would become the Big Three.

That Andy Murray is the first of the long-time leading four in men’s tennis to signal the end of his career is some-thing Nadal has to keep in perspective.

The No. 2-ranked Nadal enters the Australian Open as a legitimate title con-tender along with No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic and No. 3-ranked Roger Federer, both six-time champions at

Melbourne Park. Nadal is 32. Djokovic turns 32 in May, a

week or so after Murray. Federer is 37.

Five-time finalist Murray plans to start

the tournament in Aus-tralia, but he has conceded it

could be his last after 20 months of struggling to overcome a long-time injury. The severe pain from his surgi-cally repaired right hip is restricting his movement and he has already flagged he’ll retire after Wimbledon - if he can keep playing that long.

Murray practiced yesterday at

Melbourne Park not long before Nadal appeared at a news conference to talk about his health after three months out of competitive tennis and his prospects at the Australian Open, the only one of the four Grand Slam tournaments that he hasn’t won at least twice.

“Yeah, of course is very bad news,” Nadal said of Murray’s tearful news con-ference the previous day. “Will be a very important loss for us, for the world of tennis, for the tour, for the fans, even for the rivals that he have been part of a great rivalry between the best players for a long time, and a great competitor.

“But being honest, when somebody like him, who has achieved almost eve-rything in his tennis career, is suffering like he’s doing for such a long time already... probably he does the right thing for his mental health.”

Nadal has missed long periods of tennis because of injuries throughout his career, still managing to amass 17 major titles, but has never contemplated a date for retirement.

Federer has credited improvements in travel, in nutrition and in life balance for giving modern tennis players the ability to extend their careers well into their 30s. He was 35 and coming off a

long injury layoff when he revived his career with an Australian Open title in 2017. He successfully defended the title last year, his 20th major.

Nadal’s plan for longevity revolves around playing fewer tournaments and resting whenever he has persistent injuries. That became less of an option for Murray, who is contemplating further surgery just to cut down on the pain he feels when he’s doing such simple things as putting on his shoes and socks.

“Seems like he had not very long career because today players are

playing that long. But he’s 31 - 10 years ago, if he retired at 31, we will say he had a great and very long career,” Nadal said. “We will miss him. But today is him. Tomorrow another one. We are not 20 anymore. Our generation, everyone is more than 30s.”

The Big Four have dominated the men’s circuit for more than a decade and shared around the major titles with few exceptions, such as Stan Wawrinka’s wins at the 2014 Australian Open, the 2015 French and the 2016 US Open, and Marin Cilic’s victory at the 2014 US Open.

There’s a crop of other players coming through, including No. 4-ranked Sasha Zverev, but much of the attention in the first the couple of days at Mel-bourne Park will be on Nadal, Murray and Djokovic - who went through juniors together - and Federer.

Nadal will open against Australian James Duckworth in the second match Monday on Rod Laver Arena. Federer has a night match against Denis Istomin on the same center court.

Murray is scheduled to play No. 22-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut on Monday at Melbourne Arena, the third of the show courts. Djokovic is on the other side of the draw and will start on Day 2.

But being honest, when somebody like him (Murray), who has achieved almost everything in his tennis career, is suffering like he’s doing for such a long time already... probably he does the right thing for his mental health: Nadal

FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA

Qatar are hoping to bounce back from a shock defeat to debutants Angola as they face Egypt today in their second group match at the IHF Men’s World Handball Championship in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Al Annabi, the 2015 finalists, suffered a 24-23 loss in their first match after Angola’s Rome Hebo fired the winner with just 15 seconds left following a close contest.

Asian Games champions Qatar started as favourites but failed to lived up to expectations both in defense and attack, paving the way for Angola to earn victory on World Champi-onship debut.

Coach Valero Rivera described the loss as a collective failure, urging his ranks to forget the match to focus on the chal-lenges ahead.

“We’ve played the most hor-rible game in over 5 years. They were better than us in almost every aspect of the game,” said Rivera.

“We missed a lot of chances. There is no excuse and all we can do is look forward to the next match and forget this game,” the head coach added.

Qatari player Wajdi Sinen said his team will try it’s best to make a strong comeback in the tournament.

“Things didn’t go well for us in the first match. Angola beat us because they were good and

we weren’t. Hopefully we will do better in our next game against Egypt,” said the Lekhwiya star.

However, it will not be an easy game for Qatar against Egypt, who displayed an impressive performance against giants Sweden before going down 24-27 in their first match on Friday.

Despite the loss, Egypt coach, Venio Losert was happy on his team’s start in the tournament.

“Congratulations to all my players. It was a tough match, but we were fighting till the end. In moments we play on a very high level, but that wasn’t enough. Despite that, I am happy about our performance against a good team,” he said.

Egypt star Yehia Elderaa said his team will play for a win against Qatar after a tough game against Sweden.

“It was a tough start against a strong team, and we couldn’t do more than we did. We gave our best. Nothing is over, we have to keep focused on our next game against Qatar,” he said.

Group D also includes Hungary and Argentina. After today’s game, Qatar face Hungary tomorrow and will play against Sweden on January 16. They will meet Argentina in their final Group D match the following day.

Iran, Iraq qualify for Asian Cup knockout phase

AFP ABU DHABI

Iran sank Vietnam and Iraq beat Yemen as the neighbours and arch-rivals powered into the Asian Cup round of 16 yesterday ahead of their highly anticipated group decider next week.

Sardar Azmoun struck both goals in Iran’s 2-0 win in Abu Dhabi, while teenager Mohanad Ali’s early solo strike kick-started Iraq’s 3-0 victory in Sharjah.

Iran and Iraq will meet in Dubai on Wednesday to decide who tops Group D in a repeat of their combus-tible quarter-final of 2015, which Iraq won on penalties.

Iran, looking to end a 43-year title drought since last winning Asian football’s most coveted prize, could have scored four or five but for some poor finishing in Abu Dhabi.

“It’s a pity our per-formance didn’t produce a couple more goals,” Iran coach Carlos Queiroz told reporters.

“But winning is the best medicine in football. To win two games and score seven goals -- I have to praise my players because I am very demanding.”

Saman Ghoddos and Mehdi Taremi went close for Asia’s top-ranked team before Azmoun rose to head home a Ghoddos cross after 38 minutes.

The Rubin Kazan forward lashed in his third goal of the tour-nament from the edge of the box 20 minutes from time to give Iran a record ninth successive first-round victory dating back to 2007.

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Qatari rider Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi yesterday produced a flawless routine with Cantaro 32 to win the Big Tour in round 6 of the Hathab Series.

The 18-year-old gelding clocked a time of 34.13 seconds in the jump-off as Al Suwaidi bagged the top prize of QR 9,625 on what was the second and final day of round 6 held at the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s (QEF) Outdoor Arena in Al Rayyan.

Nasser Al Ghazali, astride Colibri 19, sealed the second spot. Colibri 19 produced a time of 35.39 seconds as Al Ghazali won QR 7,875.

The third place was secured by Ahmed Mohammed Al Badi who was in the saddle with Monopoly (4 faults, 41.27 seconds). Al Badi got richer by QR 6,125 in the 130-145cm competition.

Saeed Nasser Al Qadi (Day-dreamer EC, 75.88 seconds, 4 faults, QR 3,500) and Khalid Mohammed Al Emadi (Fiji, 78.51 seconds, 4 faults, QR 2,450) completed the top five in a field of 9 entries at QEF’s Outdoor Arena.

Earlier in competition five, Jaber Rashid Al Amri yesterday emerged winner with Canavaro De Muze, bagging the top prize of

QR 3,750. Canavaro De Muze clocked a time of 54.41 seconds as Rashid smiled with his winning performance.

Nasser Al Ghazali, astride What A Pleasure, finished in second spot in a time of 54.45 seconds. Al Ghazali won QR 3,000 for his efforts. Khalid Hamad Al Attiya in the saddle with Viking D ended in third place. Viking D clocked a time of

54.59 seconds as Al Attiya won QR 2,250.

Abdullah Ali Al Ajeil (Goaliat, 54.93 seconds, QR 1,500) and Sheikh Fatima Jabor Al Thani (Eddie, 57.34 seconds, QR 1,050) completed the top five from a field of 31 riders.

Earlier in the day, Ali Mohammed Al Marri, astride Santa Cruz III, won the Dressage Test - Level 1 competition with a

score of 68.276. Al Marri won QR 2,900. Al Marri also secured the second-best place but with Fernhill Friendly Touch (68.103, QR 2,300). Jessica Waldon (Lusso Del Castegno, 67.931, QR 1,800) secured the third spot.

In the Level 2 competition, Mohammed Salem Al Marri emerged winner with Gin Tonic Van De Kranenburg (68.636, QR 1,250) while Mohammed Nasser

Al Qadi (Kantje’s Este Fana, 67.727, QR 1,000) and Iris Nijboer (Rose Alsulaimi, 67.273, QR 625) finished second and third respec-tively out of a field of 15 entries.

Ahmed Al Badawi, the Tech-nical Director of Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) said: “We are pleased with the way the riders have shown great improvement over the last year or so. The riders improving their performances is

part of our long-term ambitions. We are in the process of building a solid squad ahead of next year’s Olympic Games.”

He added: “The Hathab Series is a perfect platform for young riders to get acquainted with the finer details of this sport. We are moving ahead with all aims of increasing our rider base in the country. We are confident that we will get positive results.”

07SUNDAY 13 JANUARY 2019 SPORT

National Shooting and Archery Team Cup concludes

Al Suwaidi guides Cantaro 32 to Big Tour win

Comp. (5) Open Class: Prize Money QR15,000

1: Canavaro De Muze (E.T.)/Jaber Rashid Al Amri 54.41 secs. QR3,7502: What A Pleasure/Nasser Al Ghazali 54.45 secs. QR3,0003: Viking D/Khalid Hamad Al Attiya 54.59 secs. QR2,250

Comp. (6) Big Tour: Prize Money QR35,000

1: Cantaro 32/Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi, 34.13 secs. QR9,6252: Colibri 19/Nasser Al Ghazali 35.39 secs, QR7,8753: Monopoly/Ahmed Mohammed Al Badi 41.27 secs (4), QR6,125

HATHAB EQUESTRIAN TOUR

Gerald Kuh, an FEI level 3 judge and steward, is seen with Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) Secretary General Badr Mohamed Al Darwish, Commercial Manager Al Shaqab Omar Al Mannai, Hathab Series Tournament Director Ali Al Rumaihi and other officials at QEF”s Outdoor Arena.

Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi clears an obstacle with

Cantaro 32 during the Big Tour competition of round

6 of the Hathab Series yesterday.

Handball: Qatar look to bounce back at Worlds

Qatar’s Ali Youssef prepares to shoot during their IHF Men’s World Handball Championship match against Angola in Copenhagen, Denmark on Friday.

Liverpool extend lead as Arsenal suffer defeatAFP LONDON

Mohamed Salah’s second-half penalty was enough to give Premier League leaders Liverpool a 1-0 win away to Brighton yesterday that saw them go seven points clear at the top of the table.

Jurgen Klopp’s men were enduring a frustrating afternoon on the south coast until Egypt forward Salah con-verted a spot-kick after being brought down in the box by Pascal Gross at the Amex Stadium.

Second-placed reigning champions Manchester City, fresh from a 9-0 rout of Burton Albion in the first leg of a League Cup semi-final, will look to close the gap at home to Wolves -- who knocked Liv-erpool out of the FA Cup -- on Monday.

Saturday’s early kick-off saw teenage midfielder Declan Rice score his first West Ham goal in a 1-0 win at home to London rivals Arsenal.

Victory, in front of a London Stadium record crowd of over 59,000, cemented the Hammers’ place in the top half of the table.

Rice’s 48th-minute strike saw the midfielder give himself an early present ahead of his 20th birthday on Monday.

West Ham’s Marko Arnau-tovic waved to home fans when substituted in the 71st minute which suggested the Austria forward, linked with a move to the Chinese Super League, may

have played his last game for the club.

“We will see what happens in the next days,” Manuel Pel-legrini, the Hammers manager, told Sky Sports when asked about the future of Arnautovic.

Defeat dented Arsenal’s bid for Champions League football ahead of next week’s clash at home to Chelsea.

The fourth-placed Blues will be six points clear of the Gunners if they beat strugglers Newcastle at Stamford Bridge

“This afternoon is a bad result for us,” said Arsenal manager Unai Emery.

At the other end of the table, 10-man Southampton moved a point clear of the bottom three with a 2-1 win away to Leicester. James Ward-Prowse’s penalty, awarded after Nampalys Mendy fouled Shane Long, gave the Saints an 11th-minute lead.

But the visitors found them-selves a man down when Yann Valery was shown a red card for a second bookable offence after tugging the shirt of Marc Albrighton.

Southampton still doubled their lead just before half-time when Long pounced on a mistake by goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

The Foxes scored a second-half goal through Wilfried Ndidi but it wasn’t enough and defeat saw Leicester, managed by former Saints boss Claude Puel, booed by their own fans come full-time at the King Power Stadium.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scores their first goal from the penalty spot during the English Premier League match against Brighton at Brighton, Britain, yesterday.

The podium winners at the

National Shooting and Archery

Team Cup pose for a picture

with officials of Qatar Shooting

and Archery Association at

Losail Shooting Range yesterday. The event ended

yesterday with the Trap finals,

25m Pistol Stage 2 and 50m Rifle 3

Positions.

SPORTAsian Cup: Qatar vs North

Korea; Oman vs Japan World Championship (Group D): Qatar vs Egypt

FOOTBALL HANDBALL

05SUNDAY 13 JANUARY 2019

Will be a very important loss for us, for the world of tennis, for the tour, for the fans, even for the rivals that he have been part of a great rivalry between the best players for a long

time, and a great competitor.

Rafael Nadal on Andy Murray’s retirement plans.

TO

DAY

’SA

CTIO

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Pak Shama School outfits dominate Beach Cricket ChampionshipTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Pak Shama School’s teams domi-nated the Beach Cricket Cham-pionship, which was hosted by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) on Friday as part of its Winter Camp activities.

Pak Shama School (PSS) outfits played the final of U-14 competition, with PSS (Red) winning the title after beating PSS (Green) in the final. Bravo Academy secured third position in the competition.

The event was organised in cooperation with the Qatar Tourism Authority at Sealine Beach.

As many as 120 students rep-resenting 10 schools took part in the event.

Mohammad Abdullah Al

Meer, Head of the QOC Accounts Section honoured the winning teams as the QOC allocated val-uable prize money for the winners.

Al Meer hailed the success of the championship and partici-pation of a large number of stu-dents in the event.

“The success of the champi-onship will motivate us to organise more similar champi-onships and community activ-ities,” he said.

“The camp provides the perfect setting for families and friends to experience a wide range of sports and enter-tainment activities,” Al Meer added.

Al Meer also appreciated the Qatar Cricket Association offi-cials for their contribution in success of the tournament.

Participating teams’ players and officials pose for a group photo after a presentation ceremony of Beach Cricket Championship, which was hosted by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) on Friday as part of its Winter Camp activities.

AGENCIES LAHORE

Multan Sultans have been dealt a blow with Australian batsman Steve Smith ruled out of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2019 due to an elbow injury.

According to Cricket Aus-tralia, Smith will undergo surgery and is expected to wear a brace for six weeks before commencing rehabilitation.

The HBL PSL 2019 will be held from 14 February to 17 March, Smith is not expected to regain full fitness in this period.

“I am disappointed I won’t be able to play in HBL PSL but I wish Multan Sultans all the best for this year’s tournament,” Smith said in a statement yesterday.

“I was looking forward to playing the tournament and helping the team try to win the trophy.”

PCB wished Smith a speedy recovery.

“Hopefully we will see him in future editions of HBL PSL, the league fans would miss seeing him live in action this season,” said a PCB spokesman.

Multan Sultans will now seek a replacement for Smith at the Replacement Draft later this month.

Smith ruled out of PSL due to elbow injury

Australia secure 34-run win in opener despite Rohit’s tonREUTERS SYDNEY

Paceman Jhye Richardson took four for 26 as Australia finally gave their fans something to smile about with a 34-run victory over India in the first one-day international yesterday despite a magnificent 133 from Rohit Sharma.

It was only a fourth win in 20 one-dayers going back to June 2017 for world champions Australia and came at the same Sydney Cricket Ground where their first home Test series loss to India was sealed on Monday.

The home batsmen, spear-headed by Peter Handscomb’s

73, posted a competitive 288 for five off their 50 overs and when India stumbled to four for three inside four overs, it looked like being a rout.

Rohit, who missed the final Test to go home for the birth of his first child, celebrated his return to the tour with a 138-run partnership with Mahendra Singh Dhoni (51) to get the innings back on track, however, and while he was batting, India had a chance.

Australia, wearing a retro canary yellow kit, won the toss and skipper and opener Aaron Finch decided to bat only to depart for a meagre six runs.

Usman Khawaja (59), on his

return to one-day interna-tionals after nearly two years, put on 92 for the fourth wicket with Shaun Marsh (54), however, and Handscomb and Marcus Stoinis (47) cashed in at the end.

Left-arm finger spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 2-54 but it was the Australian seamers who were to leave the most decisive mark on the contest.

Debutant Jason Behren-dorff removed Shikhar Dhawan in the first over and Richardson drove home the advantage by sending Virat Kohli and Ambati Rayudu back inside three balls.

Rohit, though, would not be cowed and he clubbed a huge six -- one of six in his 129-ball innings -- high into the mem-ber’s stand to move into the seventies before reaching the hundred mark for the 22nd time with two runs behind square.

His celebration of a seventh ton against Australia was subdued as there was still plenty of work to do and once he holed out to Glenn Maxwell in the deep off the bowling of Stoinis, the match was effec-tively over.

Richardson also removed

Ravindra Jadeja and Dinesh Karthik for his best bowling figures in ODIs and the tourists finished on 254-9.

The series resumes in Adelaide on Tuesday with the final match in Melbourne next Friday.

Australia’s Jason Behrendorff (left) celebrates after taking the wicket of India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni (not in picture) during first ODI in Sydney, yesterday.

AustraliaA. Carey c Sharma b Kuldeep ..........................24A. Finch b Kumar ..................................................6U. Khawaja lbw b Jadeja ..................................59S. Marsh c Shami b Kuldeep .............................54P. Handscomb c Dhawan b Kumar ................. 73M. Stoinis not out ...............................................47G. Maxwell not out ..............................................11Extras (b4, lb2, nb2, w6) ...............................14Total (5 wickets; 50 overs) ................. 288Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-41, 3-133, 4-186, 5-254Bowling: Kumar 10-0-66-2 (1w), Ahmed 8-0-55-0 (2w, 2nb), Shami 10-0-46-0 (3w), Kul-deep 10-0-54-2, Jadeja 10-0-48-1, Rayudu 2-0-13-0IndiaR. Sharma c Maxwell b Stoinis ...................... 133

S. Dhawan lbw b Behrendorff ...........................0V. Kohli c Stoinis b Richardson ........................... 3A. Rayudu lbw b Richardson .............................0M.S. Dhoni lbw b Behrendorff .........................51D. Karthik b Richardson .................................... 12R. Jadeja c Marsh b Richardson ........................8B. Kumar not out ...............................................29K. Yadav c Khawaja b Siddle .............................. 3M. Shami c Maxwell b Stoinis .............................1Extras (lb7, nb1, w6) 14Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) ................. 254Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-4, 3-4, 4-141, 5-176, 6-213, 7-221, 8-247, 9-254Bowling: Behrendorff 10-2-39-2 (1w, 1nb), Richardson 10-2-26-4 (3w), Siddle 8-0-48-1, Lyon 10-1-50-0, Stoinis 10-0-66-2 (2w), Max-well 2-0-18-0

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Pakistan fight back but SA surge aheadAFP JOHANNESBURG

Duanne Olivier took his third five-wicket haul of the series before Pakistan’s bowlers fought back on the second day of the third and final Test against South Africa yesterday.

Olivier grabbed five wickets for 51 as South Africa gained a first innings lead of 77 at the Wanderers Stadium.

But the hosts were unable to forge a position of domi-nance, struggling to 135 for five at the close, an overall lead of 212.

Hashim Amla made a patient 42 not out off 90 balls against tight, disciplined bowling, while Quinton de Kock lifted the scoring rate late in the day by scoring 34 not out off 35 balls.

The wickets were shared between four bowlers with

medium-pacer Faheem Ashraf taking two for 19 -- with both his wickets coming in his first over -- to reduce South Africa to 45 for four.

Fast bowler Olivier was twice involved in crucial breakthroughs as Pakistan were bowled out for 185 in their first innings.

The fast bowler ended an hour of frustration for South Africa when he took two wickets in four balls immedi-ately after the morning drinks break, ending the stubborn resistance of nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas, who batted for 88 minutes and faced 51 balls in scoring 11.

Three balls later Asad Shafiq ducked a bouncer but was caught behind off his glove.

Abbas and opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq, who went on to make 43, were both dropped twice during the first

hour of play. South Africa also missed two run-out opportunities.

Pakistan were 91 for five when Imam was caught at second slip off Vernon Phi-lander but Babar Azam (49) and captain Sarfraz Ahmed (50) put on 78 off only 61 balls for the sixth wicket.

Kagiso Rabada ended the stand when Sarfraz was caught at first slip and four balls later Olivier had Azam caught at long leg.

Pacer Olivier made it a double strike when Faheem Ashraf was out first ball, splicing a mistimed pull to short leg.

Olivier started the series as South Africa’s fifth-choice fast bowler but played in the first Test in Centurion because of injuries to Vernon Philander and Lungi Ngidi.

The fast bowler had match figures of 11 for 96, prompting South Africa to opt for a four-man pace attack when Phi-lander returned for the second Test.

South African stand-in captain Dean Elgar was caught behind for five off Mohammad Amir and first innings top-scorer Aiden Markram fol-lowed after making a breezy 21.

The South African innings was in disarray when Ashraf dismissed both Theunis de Bruyn and new cap Zubayr Hamza in the space of two balls before Amla and Temba Bavuma (23) added 48 for the fifth wicket. It was left to De Kock to lift the tempo.

South African bowler Duanne Olivier claimed his third 5-wicket haul of the series yesterday.

Pakistan, first innings (overnight 17-2)Imam-ul-Haq c Elgar b Philander ...................43Shan Masood c De Kock b Philander ................ 2Azhar Ali c De Kock b Philander ........................0Mohammad Abbas c De Bruyn b Olivier ........11Asad Shafiq c De Kock b Olivier .........................0Babar Azam c Rabada b Olivier ..................... 49Sarfraz Ahmed c Amla b Rabada ...................50Shadab Khan c De Bruyn b Rabada ................. 5Faheem Ashraf c Zubayr Hamza b Olivier ......0M. Amir c Zubayr Hamza b Olivier ..................10Hasan Ali not out ................................................. 0Extras (b5, lb10) ................................................. 15Total (49.4 overs) ........................................185Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-6, 3-53, 4-53, 5-91, 6-169, 7-169, 8-169, 9-185Bowling: Steyn 12-4-35-0, Philander 13-4-43-

3, Rabada 11.4-0-41-2, Olivier 13-2-51-5South Africa (2nd innings)D. Elgar c Sarfraz Ahmed b M. Amir ................. 5A. Markram c Sarfraz Ahmed b M. Abbas ..... 21H. Amla not out ..................................................42T. de Bruyn c Asad Shafiq b Faheem Ashraf .. 7Zubayr Hamza lbw b Faheem Ashraf ..............0T. Bavuma c Sarfraz b Shadab Khan ..............23Q. de Kock not out ..............................................34Extras (b2, lb1) .................................................... 3Total (5 wkts, 37 overs) ............................135Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-29, 3-45, 4-45, 5-93Bowling: M. Amir 10-2-28-1, M. Abbas 9-2-33-1, Hasan Ali 6-1-27-0, Faheem Ashraf 6-2-19-2, Shadab Khan 6-0-25-0Match situation: SA lead by 212 runs with 5 wickets remaining

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