SPORT | 19

QMMF plans

to resume

unfinished 2020

season

SPORTBrilliant

Blackwood stars

as Windies win

first Test

SPORT | 19

MONDAY 13 JULY 2020

Hamilton wins Styrian GP in styleMercedes' world champion six wins shy of Schumacher's record

REUTERS – SPIELBERG

Six-times world champion Lewis Hamilton dominated the Styrian Grand Prix in a Mercedes one-two yesterday to celebrate his 85th Formula One win and move a step closer to Michael Schumacher’s record of 91 victories.

Finnish Team-mate Valtteri Bottas, winner of last weekend’s season-opener behind closed doors at the same Austrian circuit, finished a distant runner-up with his champi-onship lead cut to six points.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completed the podium on a sunny afternoon at his team’s home Red Bull Ring after

starting on the front row and being passed by Bottas in the closing stages.

Struggling Ferrari provided a major talking point with Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel colliding on the opening lap and both retiring from the race.

“What a weird year it is, but it’s great to be back up here, to be driving with this kind of per-formance,” said Hamilton, who started from pole position after a sensational lap in a rain-hit qualifying and remained in complete control.

“I’m so grateful to be back in first place. It feels like a long time coming since the last race last year, and to come back in

after a difficult weekend last week is a great, great step forwards.”

The Briton, who wore a Black Lives Matter T-shirt on the starting grid, again took a knee with other drivers before the start as part of an anti-racism campaign.

Yesterday’s race was the first time a circuit has hosted two back-to-back rounds in the same championship year, with the original calendar ripped up and rewritten due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bottas, who started fourth and now has 43 points to Ham-ilton’s 37, said his afternoon had been about damage limitation.

“I still got good points, still

leading (overall) so it’s not too bad. Yesterday wasn’t ideal,” he said.

Red Bull’s Alex Albon fin-ished fourth with Lando Norris fifth, a result that moved the 20-year-old McLaren driver up to third in the standings, after overtaking both Racing Point drivers on the final lap.

Mexican Sergio Perez was sixth for Racing Point, ahead of Canadian team mate Lance Stroll, with Australian Daniel Ricciardo eighth for Renault.

Spaniard Carlos Sainz com-pleted McLaren’s double points finish in ninth and Russian Daniil Kvyat picked up the final point for A l p h a - Tauri.

F1: STYRIAN GRAND PRIX RESULTS

1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1hr 22mins 50.683sec2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) at 13.719sec3. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) 33.6984. Alexander Albon (THA/Red Bull-Honda) 44.4005. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Renault) 1:01.4706. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Racing Point-Mercedes) 1:02.3877. Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point-Mercedes) 1:02.4538. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) 1:02.591

9. Carlos Sainz (ESP/McLaren-Renault) 1 lap

10. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/AlphaTauri-Honda) 1 lap

Saqr clinches victory at DeauvilleTHE PENINSULA – DEAUVILLE

The Qatar Racing & Eques-trian Club’s (QREC) spon-sored Qatar Prix Jean Prat was run at Deauville, France, yesterday, as part of QREC’s strategy to enhance Qatar’s presence at the world’s top racing events. The meeting featured nine races, including the Gr1 Qatar Prix Jean Prat, the Gr3 Qatar Prix de Ris-Orangis, the Listed Qatar Prix Kistena, the Listed Qatar Prix Amandine and the Listed Qatar Prix De La Calonne - Fonds Europeen De L’elevage.

The sun and the crowds were back at Deauville for the day of the Qatar Jean Prat, the first day of racing open to the public since March. A festive atmosphere, with the racing professionals and public delighted to be back on a racecourse, abounded throughout the day, accom-panied by some top-class racing and true stars of the track.

In the colours of Sheail bin Khalifa Al Kuwari, Saqr opened the bumper card, keeping his perfect scorecard when winning the Qatar Prix des Yearlings. Trained by Fabrice Chappet in Chantilly, the 2-year-old colt came here off an impressive 2½-length win first time out on his home track on June 19.

He was ridden again by

Vincent Cheminaud yes-terday, and once inside the final 400 meters, he took the lead. Never in danger, he stretched his legs and pulled clear to win again by 2½ lengths in front of Central Park West (Martinborough), also a winner on his debut.

“He’s a good colt. He won well on his debut, but it wasn’t a strong race. Today, he’s shown that he’s improved. He had the race won from a long way out and wasn’t touched with the stick. We’ll see him in the big 2-year-old races this summer,” Chappet com-mented after the race.

Saqr is by Dutch Art and out of Verga who comes from the close family of Epsom Derby winner Kris Kin. He was bought at the Arqana v.2 Sale in 2019 via Chantilly Bloodstock Agency.

The two leading 2-year-old colts of 2019, Earthlight and Pinatubo, were both entered in Deauville, in the Qatar Prix Kistena (Listed) and the Qatar Prix Jean Prat (Gr.1), the feature race of the day, respectively.

Earthlight was making his return to the track following a delayed start to the season due to injury and did not dis-appoint his fans, storming home to a 2½-length victory under Mickael Barzalona in the Qatar Prix Kistena for trainer André Fabre.

Pinatubo, not to be outdone, made short work of his oppo-nents in the Qatar Prix Jean Prat, taking this coveted Group 1 prize back to New-market for trainer Charlie Appleby.

Appleby came to Deau-ville with confidence, and with reason. He was also the winning trainer in the Qatar Prix Amandine, a Listed race for 3-year-old fillies, with Althiqa (Dark Angel), and also win the second Group race of the day, the Qatar Prix de Ris-Orangis (Gr.3) with Royal Crusade, all for the same con-nections! A successful raid for the British trainer on the Nor-mandy coast.

Another making a long-awaited comeback was Watch Me, by Al Shaqab Racing sire Olympic Glory.

Last year’s Coronation Stakes (Gr.1) heroine, all eyes were on her in the Qatar Prix de la Calonne – Fonds Européen de l’Élevage, a Listed race for 4-year-old and + fillies and mares. She put any doubts to rest when showing an extraordinary turn of foot in the final furlong to win in an excellent time and by 2 ½ lengths. She will next be seen in the Group 1 Prix Rothschild for trainer Francis Graffard. She is owned by her breeder, Anto-inette Tamagni-Bodmer.

Pinatubo wins feature race as Qatar Prix Jean Prat marks huge success

Sheail bin Khalifa Al Kuwari's Saqr, ridden by Vincent Cheminaud, on his way to win the Qatar Prix des Yearlings at the Qatar Prix Jean Prat at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse in Deauville, France, yesterday. BOTTOM: Pinatubo on its way to win the Qatar Prix Jean Prat (Gr.1), the feature race of the day. PICTURES: SCOOPDYGA

Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates with the

trophy on the podium after winning the Formula One

Styrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria, yesterday.

Son shinesas Tottenham beats Arsenal in DerbyAP – LONDON

Son Heung-min scored the equalizer and set up the winner as Tottenham came from behind to beat Arsenal 2-1 yesterday, reviving hopes of European qualification for Jose Mourinho’s faltering side.

In the first Premier League north London derby at Tottenham’s new stadium, Alexandre Lacazette bent Arsenal’s opener into the top corner in the 16th minute.

But Sead Kolašinac’s mis-placed pass allowed Tot-tenham to level inside three minutes, with Son taking the ball out to a tight angle but still managing to chip goal-keeper Emiliano Martínez.

Son, who was dropped from the starting lineup for the 0-0 draw at Bourne-mouth on Thursday, provided the corner that Toby Alder-weireld sent past Martínez in the 81st with a glancing header.

Son was taken off in stoppage time. But there were no fans to applaud the South Korean’s contribution as they are not allowed into stadiums due to the corona-virus pandemic.

Tottenham moved above Arsenal into eighth place. Europa League qualification is now the target for a team that reached the Champions League final last season.

19MonDAY 13 July 2020 SPoRT

QMMF plans to resume 2020 seasonThe Peninsula – DOHA

The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) is planning to resume the 2020 season in October with events that were halted because of the COVID-19 situation, according to a top QMMF official.

According to details, QMMF is in contact with world governing bodies FIA (cars) and FIM (bikes) on the pos-sible dates to resume the national cal-endar of events.

Amro Al Hamad, the Executive Director of QMMF, said Qatar will fol-lowing all medical protocols put in place by FIA and FIM to resume mot-orsport events following the break in action due to the coronavirus pan-demic sweeping the globe since Feb-ruary this year.

“Once we get the go-ahead from the FIA, the FIM and the Qatar gov-ernment, we shall resume our events,” Al Hamad said yesterday.

“We hope to resume the season with the 2020 Qatar National Sprint Championship, a series that is very popular in Qatar.

“The dates of the 2020 Qatar National Sprint will be announced in the coming weeks,” the QMMF official informed.

“We wanted to complete the season before March but when the COVID-19 restrictions were applied by the gov-ernment of Qatar, we quickly halted our events,” he said.

“The Qatar National Sprint had a record participation of 64 entries in the last round we staged. We saw 56 entries in the second round and we are aiming for a new participation record in 2020 when we resume action,” Al Hamad said.

“We are also looking at hosting last two rounds of the 2020 Qatar National Baja. Three rounds have already been

staged. The aim of QMMF is to seal these two national events despite the delays and postponements because of the COVID-19 restrictions,” Al Hamad said.

The QMMF Executive Director said the Redbull Drifting series - that was postponed because of the COVID-19 situation - is expected to r u n as part of the QMMF

calendar. The top QMMF official said the Batabit events will also merge into QMMF calendar of events.

He said more details of the two series will be made public once nego-tiations with sponsors are complete.

Despite break in live action the last three months, QMMF successfully con-ducted the Qatar Online Racing Cham-pionships (QORC) in April, May and

June. The events - contested by top riders and drivers in Qatar and around the region - were held digitally.

In the last QORC competition held in June, QMMF riders - headed by Saeed Al Sulaiti - beat Leopard Racing team in a six-round series held on famous circuits around the world. Al Sulaiti won the title after taking the lead in the overall standings with 232 points. Al Sulaiti’s compatriot Saud Al Thani came in second in the overall tally with 172 points.

Marcus Ramirez of Leopard Racing team finished in third spot with a score 154 points ahead of his team-mate Denise Fujiya in fourth place with 102 points. In team competitions, Qatari riders collected 617 championship points while Leopard Racing team, the reigning Moto2 world champions, col-lected 573 points.

“We are confident that motorsport activities will resume with fanfare,” Al Hamad said.

“As a motorsport enthusiast, I don’t want to just end the season because of the COVID-19 situation. So many fed-erations around the world stopped sports action. I want to complete the remaining part of the season, seal the season with strict medical protocols announced for everyone’s safety,” he said.

“I want to get a champion for Qatar National Sprint Championship and the Qatar National Baja this season,” he added.

West indies’ Jermaine Blackwood plays an upper cut during the first Test against england at the Rose Bowl in southampton, Britain, yesterday. inseT: West indies’ Jason holder (right) and team-mate John Campbell celebrate after winning the match.

QSL title holders Al Sadd gearing up for restartQna – DOHA

Football clubs are continuing their preparations ahead of the resumption of 2019-20 QNB Stars League (QSL), with Week 18 matches starting on July 24.

The tournament, which had a long break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will restart as per the general plan and protocol for the remaining five rounds. Teams are fighting to occupy the top posi-tions, improve their rankings and avoid the ignominy of relegation.

Al Sadd are gearing up for the remainder of the season under Spanish coach Xavi Hernandez. They will play Al Khor at the Al Sadd Stadium on July 25. The kick-off is at 19:00.

Al Sadd are third in the QNB Stars League standings with 32 points, 10 less than leaders Al Duhail and six adrift of Al Rayyan. The Wolves have 10 wins, two draws and five defeats against their name.

Al Sadd have scored the most number of goals than any other team. Al Rayyan are second (34) and Al Duhail third (33).

Reigning champions Al Sadd had lost 0-1 to Al Rayyan in the high-profile Qatar Clasico in Week 17 on 7th March before the long break, with Franck Kom netting the all-important goal.

Following their first

coronavirus test, held as per the protocol developed by the QSL in co-ordination with club author-ities and approved by the Ministry of Public Health, Al Sadd squad members entered their team hotel and got engaged in training.

After their second coronavirus test, the players as well as tech-nical and administrative staff signed a pledge to abide by the protocol for leaving team hotel for home quarantine.

The break was an opportunity for Al Sadd forward and Qatar national team captain Hassan Al Haydous to recuperate from an injury.

In terms of their foreign pro-fessional players, Al Sadd announced the departure of Spaniard Gabi Fernandez and Mexican Marco Fabian, even as they renewed the deal with Qatari star Akram Afif until 2025.

Al Sadd have renewed the con-tract with Spanish coach Xavi Her-nandez for one more season.

Besides intense training, Al Sadd are readying for the resumption of action by playing friendlies. They played out a 1-1 draw with Umm Salal in one such game.

Al Sadd's other remaining matches in the QSL are against Al Ahli (Week 19), Al Duhail (Week 20), Qatar SC (Week 21) and Al Gharafa (Week 22).

a driver competes in an earlier edition of the Qatar national sprint Championship in this file photo.

Brilliant Blackwood stars as Windies win first TestaFP – SOutHAmptOn

Jermaine Blackwood made a superb 95 as the West Indies beat England by four wickets in the first Test at South-ampton yesterday.

The West Indies, set 200 to win on the last day, were reeling at 27-3 after England fast bowler Jofra Archer’s early double strike.

Blackwood, however, held firm until, in sight of just his second Test century, he drove England stand-in captain Ben Stokes to James Anderson at mid-off, with the visitors needing just 11 more runs to win.

But John Campbell, forced to retire hurt on one after being struck on the toe by Archer, returned to hit the winning runs.

West Indies captain Jason Holder, the world’s top-ranked Test all-rounder ahead of Stokes, was 14 not out.

The match was a personal and tactical triumph for Holder, who took a Test-best 6-42 in England’s lowly first innings 204 after Stokes, leading the side in the absence of Joe Root, won the toss and batted.

Although they hold the Wisden Trophy, the West Indies have not won a Test series in England for 32 years.

But this victory put them 1-0 up with two to play in a behind closed doors series ahead of next week’s second Test at Old Trafford.

It was a thoroughly

deserved success for the West Indies, who went ahead with their tour despite more than 44,000 deaths in Britain from the coronavirus during the pandemic.

But it might have been a different story for England on Sunday had they not given Blackwood several reprieves.

The 28-year-old Jamaican had made just five when he edged off-spinner Dom Bess only for Stokes, moving at slip, to drop the chance.

And he had moved on to 20 when wicketkeeper Jos Buttler floored a one-handed chance down the legside off Stokes.

Leg-byes were signalled but Blackwood would have

been out on review had Buttler held on.

England then squandered a possible run-out chance when Zak Crawley fumbled.

But with West Indies needing exactly 100 more for victory, Barbados-born quick Archer defied a docile pitch to produce a rearing 90 mph delivery that Roston Chase, on 37, could only divert to Buttler via his glove and helmet.

It was the end of a val-uable stand of 73.

T h e d i m i n u t i v e Blackwood pressed on, cover-driving both Bess and Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, for two of his dozen bound-

aries in a 154-ball innings.Archer had earlier made

a useful 23 before he was last man out in England’s second innings 313.

West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel took 5-75 in 21.2 overs -- his sixth five-wicket haul in his 46 Tests.

Archer then reduced West Indies to 7-2, having gone wicketless in the first innings after being selected ahead of dropped veteran Stuart Broad.

He got Kraigg Brathwaite to play on and had Shamarh Brooks lbw for a duck.

Shai Hope, whose two Test hundreds came in a win over England at Headingley three years ago, was then bowled for nine by Mark Wood.

But it was England’s loss of five wickets for just 30 runs late Saturday, a collapse sparked by Holder’s dismissal of Stokes, that proved more important at the finish.

England, 1st Innings ....................... 204West Indies, 1st Innings ..................318England, 2nd Innings (overnight: 284-8)R. Burns c Campbell b Chase .....................42D. Sibley c Dowrich b Gabriel .....................50J. Denly c Holder b Chase ............................29Z. Crawley c and b Joseph .......................... 76B. Stokes c Hope b Holder ..........................46O. Pope b Gabriel ..........................................12J. Buttler b Joseph ...........................................9D. Bess b Gabriel .............................................3J. Archer c Dowrich b Gabriel ..................... 23M. Wood c Dowrich b Gabriel .......................2J. Anderson not out ........................................4Extras (b4, lb10, nb3) .................................17Total (all out, 111.2 overs) ............... 313Fall of wickets: 1-72 (Burns), 2-113 (Burns), 3-151 (Denly), 4-249 (Stokes), 5-253 (Craw-ley), 6-265 (Buttler), 7-278 (Bess), 8-279 (Pope), 9-303 (Wood), 10-313 (Archer)Bowling: Roach 22-8-50-0; Gabriel 21.2-4-75-5 (3nb); Holder 22-8-49-1; Chase 25-6-71-2; Joseph 18-2-45-2; Brathwaite 3-0-9-0;

West Indies, 2nd Innings (target: 200)K. Brathwaite b Archer ..................................4J. Campbell not out .........................................8S. Hope b Wood ..............................................9S. Brooks lbw b Archer .................................. 0R. Chase c Buttler b Archer .........................37J. Blackwood c Anderson b Stokes ...........95S. Dowrich c Buttler b Stokes .....................20J. Holder not out ............................................14Extras (lb7, nb1, w5) ...................................13Total (6 wkts, 64.2 overs) .................200Did not bat: A Joseph, K Roach, S GabrielFall of wickets: 1-7 (Brathwaite), 2-7 (Brooks), 3-27 (Hope), 4-100 (Chase), 5-168 (Dowrich), 6-189 (Blackwood)Bowling: Anderson 15-3-42-0; Archer 17-3-45-3 (5w); Wood 12-0-36-1; Bess 10-2-31-0; Stokes 10.2-1-39-2 (1nb);Note: Campbell resumed his innings at 189-6 after retiring hurt on oneResult: West Indies won by four wicketsMan-of-the-match: Shannon Gabriel (WIS)Series: West Indies lead three-match series 1-0

Scoreboard

France kicks off fans’ return to stadiumsaP – lE HAVRE, FRAncE

For the first time since the coro-navirus shut down sports and chased away spectators, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe were starring in the return of fans to elite European football yesterday.

“Now it’s for real ... we’re back,” Mbappe tweeted before the kickoff of Paris Saint-Germain against Le Havre, an exhibition match that was the first encounter in front of fans to feature one of Europe’s elite clubs since the outbreak erupted.

Only 5,000 people were allowed inside Le Havre’s 25,000-seat Stade Oceane to see the French League 2 club take on PSG’s star-studded squad. Upper tiers of seating were empty.

Spectators had to wear face masks to get into the arena, although many then took them off once settled in their seats. Families and friends sat together in groups but groups stayed sep-arated. Ball carriers wore masks and gloves.

Loudspeakers broadcast appeals for social distancing. Pitch-side photographers were

made to step with their shoes into trays of disinfectant.

PSG said its players would have the words “Tous unis” (All united) and “Merci” (Thank you) on their kit to show appreciation for health workers.

Among Europe’s top 5 leagues, only France is letting spectators back into soccer sta-diums. Germany finished its season without fans but the league and clubs are exploring plans to play 2020-21 with fans. Play has resumed without fans in Spain, England and Italy.

France stopped its league and never resumed it in the wake of its outbreak. The return of fans comes as the country’s death toll this week surpassed 30,000 and amid growing con-cerns of a possible second wave of infections. Football matches are blamed for having helped speed the initial spread of the pandemic across Europe.

In Serbia, matches played in front of thousands of fans despite the pandemic were fol-lowed last month by players and the CEO of Red Star Belgrade testing positive for the coronavirus.

The Qatar National Sprint had a record participation of 64 entries

in the last round we staged. We saw 56 entries in the second round

and we are aiming for a new participation record in 2020 when we resume action:

Amro Al Hamad, Executive Director of QMMF

Jermaine Blackwood's magnificent 95 seals memorable four-wicket victory as visiting Caribbeans take the lead in the three-Test series.

Although they hold the Wisden Trophy, the West Indies have not won a Test series in England for 32 years.