sport - the peninsula · 2018-09-25 · youth team achieved in the asian tournament at the...

SPORTWednesday 26 September 2018

PAGE | 25 PAGE | 26Wozniacki and

Kerber start with wins at Wuhan Open

Ronaldo turns to Juventus challenge after award snub

Al Rayyan captain Rodrigo Tabata (left) speaks to Abdulla Al Mutawa, Vice-President of Al Rayyan, in Doha, yesterday. Veteran striker Sebastian Soria (right) is also present. The two key players along with team coach Rodolfo Martin Arruabarrena met with Al Mutawa after their 5-0 defeat to Al Sadd last week. ‘The Lions’ are looking to bounce back from the ‘Qatar Clasico’ drubbing at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium last Saturday. Al Rayyan, who take on Al Shahania in their next QNB Stars League, are one of the top football outfits in the country. Al Rayyan won the QNB Stars League in the 2015-16 season winning the title with five rounds to spare.

Al Rayyan aim to bounce back

Qatar ease past Syria at Asian Youth HandballQNA

AMMAN: Qatar youth team beat Syrian counterpart 29-24 on Monday in the penultimate round of the third group of the Asian Men’s Youth (U-18) Handball Championship 2018 held in Amman, Jordan.

Qatar were the better team since the beginning of the game and won the first half 13-11.

Al Anabi will take on Oman in the final round of the group stage.

Qatar Handball Asso-ciation Secretary-General Mohamed Jaber Al Mulla expressed his satisfaction

with the results the Qatar youth team achieved in the Asian tournament at the Jordanian capital.

He said that the youth team had a short prepa-ration period, in addition to that most of the team members are from the junior national team due to the absence of the youth

players who were busy with their studies.

Al Mulla said the Qatar played very good matches in the first round of the tournament after drawing with Japan, which qualified for the World Cup.

He added the team also played well against Iranian team, adding that despite a difficult group, the Qatari team was very close to qualification and came in the third place with goal difference behind second place.

He pointed out that Qatar would have been qualified for the second round in the team if played in any other group.

Qatar were the better team since the beginning of the game and won the first half 13-11.

El Shorbagy to defend Qatar Classic titleARMSTRONG VAS THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Rising star Abdullah Al Tamimi will be the leading home player along with Egyptian squash icon Mohamed El Shorbagy at next month’s Qatar Classic, organisers of the event confirmed yesterday.

The hugely popular PSA World Series event will be played from October 27 to November 2 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.

Al Tamimi, who broke into the world’s top 30 rankings after his stunning victory at the $35,000 Malaysian Open in July, will be joined by compatriots Syed Azlan Amjad (146) and Abdulrahman Al Malki (242) at the six-day event.

Amjad and Al Malki are wild card entries for the tournament, organisers said.

Three-time winner El Shorbagy of Egypt will be leading a star cast of the world’s top players who have confirmed their participation in the Qatar Classic 2018, the 16th edition of the tournament.

Around 50 players, including the world’s top 30, will battle for points on the PSA World Series Standings at the $177,750 tour-nament considered to be one of

the richest in the series.Tournament Director Tareq

Zainal yesterday said: “Once again, we are proud to host the world’s top players in Doha. It has always been our tradition to organise a tournament whose memories will linger on for a long time in the minds of all participants.”

“This year’s edition is no exception. Squash is growing in leaps and bounds in Qatar and we are proud of what we’ve been

able to achieve over the years. All hands are on deck to ensure the best tournament ever,” he said.

Defending champion El Shorbagy won the tournament for the third time last year after a 3-1 win over Egypt’s Tarek Momen, a surprise finalist.

El Shorbagy, 27, won the Qatar Classic in 2013, 2015 and 2017 and also appeared in the final of the 2012 and 2014 PSA World Championships, in Doha.

The Egyptian will look to

keep his superb run going in Qatar but is expected face resistance from the likes of World No.2 Ali Farag, 2011 winner Gregory Gaultier and the in form Simon Rosner and Miguel Angel Rodriguez as he looks to take the lion’s share of the prize purse.

Historically, England’s Peter Nicol secured the tournament’s

first title in 2001 after defeating Australia’s David Palmer in the final. He repeated the same feat the following year against the same opponent. Former World No.1s Lee Beachill and James Willstrop kept the title in English hands either side of a short break in 2004 while the World Cham-pionship was held in Qatar before

Egyptian trio Ramy Ashour, Amr Shabana and Karim Darwish took up the mantle of the Qatar Classic champion over the next three tournaments.

Tickets for the six-day event will soon be on sale in selected malls and locations across Qatar, organisers said in a statement yesterday.

Nasser Ghanem Al Khelaifi, President of Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation (QTSBF), handing over the Qatar Classic trophy to Mohamed El Shorbagy in this last November’s file photo.

Abdullah Al Tamimi will lead the hosts challenge at the Qatar Classic 2018.

Around 50 players, including the world’s top 30, will continue their battle for points on the PSA World Series Standings at the $177,750 total prize money tournament considered to be one of the richest in the series.

Three-time winner Mohamed El Shorbagy of Egypt will be leading a star cast of the world’s top players who have confirmed their participation in the Qatar Classic 2018.

Aspire Dome key to World Championships successTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Aspire Dome, the world’s largest indoor multi-purpose dome, will play host to the 48th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships that Doha is set to stage from October 25 to November 3 for the first time in the Middle East region.

The championship, which serves as the first qualification event for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, is the world’s biggest gymnastics competition and, therefore, Aspire Dome was the logical pick as a host venue for an event of such magnitude, said Anis Saoud, Deputy Com-petition Manager of the world

championships. “With the big number of participants, we need six training halls, a warm-up hall and the competition hall. Aspire Zone is the only place in Qatar that englobes this kind of facil-ities,” Saoud said.

Aspire Dome has the capacity to host 13 different sporting events simultaneously. As part of Aspire Zone, it previ-ously hosted the Asian Games in 2006, the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships, the 2011 Arab Games as well as an annual event in the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup series since 2009.

With nearly 700 female and male gymnasts from 83 coun-tries competing in next month’s

event, “the scale of the compe-tition is really big and this creates a challenge in venue operation and site man-agement,” said Feras Ahmed, Deputy Venues Manager of the 48th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.

One of the challenges that were bound to arise was meeting the requirements of the Interna-tional Gymnastics Federation (FIG) in terms of venue capacity.

“FIG requires a minimum of 6,000 Seats for the World Championships. That is why we will add 800 seats to reach that requirement,” Saoud said, adding that all the halls of Aspire Dome will be used for trainings

and competition. A few weeks ahead of the event, preparations are in the final stage to welcome gymnasts, officials and spec-tators to Aspire Dome.

“The sport equipment should arrive in Hamad Port on Sep-tember 25. The Sport Equipment Committee will start to install the different training halls, the warm-up hall and the field of play on September 28,” Saoud added.

Qatar is the first Arab country to host the Artistic Gymnastics World Champion-ships. Only Japan and China organised it in Asia and it was never held in Africa or South America.

A Japanese gymnast in action during the FIG World Cup finals at Aspire Dome, in this March 2018 file photo.

26 WEDNESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2018SPORT

FIFA.COM

LONDON: Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric collected The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2018 award in London on Monday. Visibly moved by the experience, he later shared his feelings about the stunning 2017/18 season that led to this crowning moment with FIFA.com.

FIFA.com: How does it feel to have won the first The Best award of your career?

Luka Modric: It’s an incredible feeling. I am proud and honoured to be here. It’s been a special night for me and a special moment in my career.

Q: The Best award is voted for by players, coaches, the media and fans. How does it feel to be recognised by all of them?

A: It’s very important. There’s no bigger reward than being chosen by so many people. I’d like to thank all the people who’ve helped and sup-ported me all this time.

Q: It’s been years since anyone other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo has won this individual award. Will it be the first of many for you?

A: We’ll see. I’m not thinking about that right now. I’m very pleased to have

picked up this award. There are so many good players – those two and many more – that it makes you feel proud to beat them to it. It shows you that your hard work has paid off. It’s been a night when all my dreams have come true.

Q: Let’s talk a little about your year.

A: It was fantastic, one of the best of my career, on a col-lective and individual level. I am very satisfied with what I did with my club, my country

and, of course, to have won individual awards like The Best and the award for the best player at the World Cup.

Q: If you could choose one highlight, what would it be?

A: There were so many that choosing one is difficult. I think it has to be the World Cup Final though. It was the biggest match of my career, and playing for your country in the Final of the World Cup – the biggest sporting event on the planet – is unique. I also had the extra motivation of cap-taining my side. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out for us and we lost, but I still see it as a success to have got that far. We did something that will go down in history.

Q: Every child dreams of being the best player in the world. Was that the case with you as well?

A: You always have dreams when you start playing football. I’m the type of person who always wants to be the best, so it’s only natural that I dreamed one day I would come this far, and thanks to God here I am now. It’s what I’ve worked so hard for. I pushed myself and believed in myself, even in difficult times. I’ve also made it this far thanks to my team-mates, my family

and my friends.Q: How do you overcome

those difficult times you mentioned?

A: By believing in yourself, even when others don’t. By staying close to your family, your loved ones, being positive and moving forward all the time. By working hard and never giving in, without getting distracted along the way. Those are the things you have to keep in mind.

Q: It’s been a wonderful year for you. How can you better it?

A: It’s not going to be easy. Like I said before, I always like to improve in every way, but if I can maintain this kind of form, it would be incredible. It’s not easy to reach the top, but staying there is even harder. I’ve been at the top for a few years now and I hope I can stay there for a few more.

Q: You are now ‘The Best’ in the game. If you could choose something else in which you could be the best, what would it be?

A: I am a very down to earth and modest person, a family guy and friendly with it, so I’d probably choose being the best at spending time with my family and sharing big moments with them.

2018 - Luka Modric, Croatia

2017 - Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal


2015 - Lionel Messi, Argentina








2007 - Kaka, Brazil

2006 - Fabio Cannavaro, Italy

2005 - Ronaldinho, Brazil

2004 - Ronaldinho, Brazil

2003 - Zinedine Zidane, France

2002 - Ronaldo, Brazil

2001 - Luis Figo, Portugal

2000 - Zinedine Zidane, France

AWARD WINNERS (SINCE 2000)

Luka Modric and his family members pose with his award in London on Monday.

Giovinazzi joins Raikkonen at Sauber for 2019REUTERS

LONDON: Italian Antonio Giovinazzi will race for Sauber next season in a new line-up with former world champion Kimi Raikkonen, the Swiss-based Formula One team said yesterday.

Giovinazzi, who had been the reserve driver, made two race starts last year as a replacement for the injured Pascal Wehrlein, who was dropped at the end of that season.

The 24-year-old’s confir-mation means Sweden’s Marcus Ericsson loses his race seat, although he will stay on as r e s e r v e a n d ‘ b r a n d

ambassador’.“I am delighted to be joining the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team. This is a dream come true, and it is a great pleasure to have the chance to race for this team,” said Giovinazzi.

“As an Italian, it is a huge honour for me to represent a brand as iconic and successful as Alfa Romeo in our sport...I am very motivated and cannot wait to start working towards achieving great results together.”

Giovinazzi will be the first Italian driver to start a Formula One season since 2011, when

Jarno Trulli and Vitantonio Liuzzi lined up respectively for the now-defunct Caterham and HRT teams.

Raikkonen’s arrival was announced this month in what was seen as a straight swap with 20-year-old Monegasque rookie Charles Leclerc, who took the Finn’s place at Ferrari.

However, Sauber said that Giovinazzi, who is also a Fer-rari-backed driver, was a direct replacement for Leclerc rather than Ericsson.

Sauber are sponsored by Alfa Romeo but have close ties with Ferrari, using the Italian sportscar manufacturer’s engines, and have a long tra-dition of taking the Italian

team’s young drivers. Ericsson, 28, has limited options after failing to achieve much in four seasons with Sauber after making his debut with Cat-erham in 2014.

The Swede, who has enjoyed close ties with Sauber’s publicity-shy owners, failed to score a point between September 2015 and April 2018 with a total haul of 15 points from 91 starts.

Leclerc has scored 15 already this season.

Ericsson said in a separate team statement that he would have loved to continue “but having a driver like Kimi Räikkönen on board is a great opportunity for the whole team.”

Antonio Giovinazzi

United target trophies as revenue hits record highAFP

LONDON: Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward underlined the club’s hunger for silverware yesterday after announcing record-breaking revenues.

United, under manager Jose Mourinho, are seventh in the Premier League after a dis-appointing start to the season, eight points behind leaders Liverpool and six behind reigning champions Man-chester City.

The club have not won the Premier League since 2013, under former boss Alex Ferguson.

United, who have been top of the Deloitte Football Money League for two successive years, brought in £590m ($776m) in the year ending June 30 2018 -- a rise of just 1.5 percent on the previous year.

But the expectation is for revenue to rise to between £615m and £630m over the coming financial year.

“Everyone at the club is working tirelessly to add to Manchester United’s 66 and Jose’s 25 trophies,” Woodward said.

“That is what our pas-sionate fans and our history demands.We are committed to our philosophy of blending top academy graduates with world-class players and are proud that, once again, last season we had more academy graduate minutes on the pitch than any other Premier League club.

“Our increased revenue expectation for the year dem-onstrates our continued strong long-term financial per-formance which underpins everything we do and allows us to compete for top talent in

an increasingly competitive transfer market.” Manchester City earlier this month posted record revenues of £500.5m following their record-breaking season.

United’s annual accounts reveal that the Old Trafford giants paid employees £295.9m in fiscal 2018 -- a hike of £32.4m over the previous year.

The club said the increase was “primarily due to player salary uplifts related to partic-ipation in the UEFA Champions League” but Alexis Sanchez’s January arrival will also have made an impact.

United saw operating profits drop by 45.4 per cent to £44.1m. That was largely due to the United States’ federal corporate income tax rate being reduced from 35 per cent to 21 per cent.

Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were £177.1m, down from £199.8m the previous year.

United brought in £590m ($776m) in the year ending June 30 2018 -- a rise of just 1.5 percent on the previous year.

Ronaldo turns to Juventus challenge after award snubAFP

MILAN: Cristiano Ronaldo turns his focus back to Juventus’ quest for a treble this season today after losing out in the FIFA’s best player of the year award.

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo skipped the awards ceremony in London on Monday as his former Real Madrid team-mate Luka Modric beat him for the award.

The 33-year-old Portu-guese superstar also lost out to Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah for the Puskas Award for the best goal. He had been nomi-nated for his superb overhead bicycle kick for Real Madrid against Juventus in last season’s Champions League quarter-final, which even drew a standing ovation from Juventus supporters in Turin.

Juventus coach Massi-miliano Allegri had backed Ronaldo -- who has scored three goals in his last two league games -- for the award, as he led the way in the Champions

Juventus’ forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after he scored during the Serie A match against Frosinone on Sunday in Frosinone.

League with 15 goals to help Real to a third straight title.

“With no offence to Luka

Modric, I’d give the Ballon d’Or to Ronaldo for what he did last season. I think he deserves it,” said Allegri.

The Italian champions face a heavy week in Turin with three games in their Allianz Stadium in the space of seven days.

Aftergame against 18th-placed Bologna, who shocked Roma 2-0 at the weekend, Juventus play Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli in a top-of-the table clash on Saturday.

Juventus have had a perfect start to the season with five wins and 15 points -- three points ahead of Napoli.

With no offence to Luka Modric, I’d give the Ballon d’Or to Ronaldo for what he did last season. I think he deserves it: Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri

FORMULA ONE

‘An incredible feeling’ to be the best: Modric

AFP

DUBAI: Stockily built Mohammad Shahzad knocked a brilliant hundred as spirited Afghanistan pulled off a last over tie against India in the Super Four match in Dubai yesterday.

Shahzad’s 124 laid the foun-dation of Afghanistan’s fighting total of 252-8 in 50 overs before bowling out India in 49.5 overs for the same total at Dubai stadium.

Needing seven to win off the final Rashid Khan over, Ravindra Jadeja hit a boundary off the second ball before taking a single off the next. Last man Khaleel Ahmed then took a single but Jadeja holed out off the fifth to give Afghanistan a morale-boosting tie with the defending champions.

India rested five top players

-- skipper Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuv-neshwar Kumar -- as they had already qualified for Friday’s final.

The winner of today’s match between Pakistan and Bang-ladesh will meet India in the final in Dubai.

India were helped to 110 by openers Lokendra Rahul (60) and Ambati Rayudu (57) and at 166-3 they looked on course for an easy win but Afghanistan pulled back through key wickets.

Rahul hit five boundaries and a six in his 66-ball knock while Rayudu’s 49-ball innings had four sixes and as many boundaries.

Dinesh Karthik made 44 and Jadeja scored 25 to bring India closer but India could not cross the finish line.

Spinners Rashid and Mohammad Nabi, and paceman Aftab Alam finished with two wickets apiece.

Despite crashing out with

two defeats Afghanistan can hold their heads high as they beat Sri Lanka and Bangldesh in the first round and only lost to Pakistan in the final over.

27WEDNESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2018 SPORT

Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) President H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and FIFA President Gianni Infantino interact during the Best Fifa Football Awards in London on Monday. RIGHT: H E Sheikh Joaan and Infantino along with other dignitaries watch the awards ceremony. Luka Modric was named the world’s best male player at the awards ceremony. Brazil and Orlando Pride forward Marta won the best female player award. France’s Didier Deschamps - whose side beat Modric’s Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final - was named best men’s coach.

Countering Yasir is Australia’s ‘number one’ priority: SiddleREUTERS

DUBAI: Surviving the wiles of Pakistan spinner Yasir Shah is Australia’s “number one plan” in the upcoming Test series in the United Arab Emirates, fast bowler Peter Siddle has said.

Yasir played a key role in Australia’s unravelling during the last UAE tour in 2014, when the legspinner took 12 wickets at an average of 17.25 to drive the hosts to a thumping 2-0 win in the two-Test series.

Four years later, a raw Aus-tralia squad has returned to the Gulf state without two of their best batsmen in the suspended Steve Smith and David Warner, and would appear vulnerable to another spinbowling assault from Sarfraz Ahmed’s team.

Looking to counter Yasir and 19-year-old prodigy Shadab Khan, Australia have re-hired spin bowling consultant Srid-haran Sriram and flown in two Indian wristspinners, including Pardeep Sahu, who has played for Indian Premier League side Kings XI Punjab.

Siddle said the tourists had spent plenty of time in the Dubai heat working out ways to deal with legspin and Yasir, specifically.

“He’s (Yasir) going to play a big part,” said the veteran paceman.

“Spin bowling in this series is going to play a massive part.

“I think it’s going to be a tough conTest. He bowled well against us last series over here.

He took a lot of wickets, so I think it’s going to be number one plan to keep him out.

“But he’s not the only one we’ve got to focus on as we get closer.”

Recalled to the Test squad for the first time in two years, 33-year-old Siddle expects to play a support role behind Aus-tralia’s own spinners but believes the Dubai wicket could be more lively than usual after hosting the recent Asia Cup.

“I think the last series we came here, the wicket was a bit more flat,” he said.

“It sort of took a few days to

actually break up but this series it looks like it’s going to break up a lot earlier so spin is going to play a part.”

The Test series is Australia’s first since the scandal-plagued South Africa tour, which led to long suspensions for former captain Smith, Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft for ball-tampering.

Under new captain Tim Paine and recently appointed coach Justin Langer, Australia will hope to build cohesion on the tour ahead of their home series against India later in the year.

With regular pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins ruled out of the tour by injury, Siddle said he felt his experience was an important factor in his recall as the team strive to forge a new identity.

“From an outside point of view, the side probably in the last little bit maybe lacked a little bit of leadership,” he said.

“I think without having the captaincy or vice-captaincy or any of those terms, it’s just about being a leader in my own right, doing what I do, lead by example and just help out the young guys.”

Starc ready to carry the lone paceman burdenREUTERS

DUBAI: Mitchell Starc (pictured) is ready step up and do the heavy lifting as Australia’s sole specialist pace bowler should the tourists opt for a three-pronged spin attack in next month’s two-Test series against Pakistan.

Using a trio of slow bowlers in the United Arab Emirates remains a strong possibility for the Australians as they explore means to capture 20 wickets in the absence of injured pace duo Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

Cummins played the lone paceman role in Bangladesh last year when Australia selected three specialist spinners for the first time in 40 years and the 28-year-old Starc is poised to emulate his fellow quick against Pakistan.

“I haven’t had to do that before,” Starc told cricket.com.au on Tuesday.

“If I need to bowl long spells and be the only out-and-out quick, then I can definitely fill that role. We’ve got guys l i k e ( a l l -rounder) Mitch Marsh who’s back bowling now, I’m sure he’ll be a big part of the

team with bat and ball. “We’ve got other part-timers to call on if need be. If conditions suit spin and they go down the road of the extra spinners, I can change my role slightly again.”

Starc, who Tested a new run-up to prevent further injuries but retained his old one as he was losing pace, went wicketless in his first Test in the region but has been Australia’s most successful bowler in South Asia since that 2013 match in India.

The left-arm paceman took 24 wickets on the 2016 tour of Sri Lanka, the biggest haul by an Australian in a three-Test series, and will look to replicate that form in Dubai, which hosts the first Test from October 7, and Abu Dhabi 11 days later.

“It’s something I’ll probably look at and try to take little things out of to take into this series on the subcontinent with where and how I bowled -- the lengths and some reverse swing,” Starc added.

Pakistan’s Yasir Shah shares a joke whilst he plays a game of football during nets in this file picture.

Asia Cup: Afghanistan stun India in thrilling tie

Indian cricketer Virat Kohli (left) receiving the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award from the Indian President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi yesterday.

AfghanistanMohammad Shahzad c Karthik b Jadhav ..124

Javed Ahmadi st Dhoni b Jadeja ..................... 5

Rahmat Shah b Jadeja ..................................... 3

Hashmatullah Shahidi st Dhoni b Yadav .......0

Asghar Afghan b Yadav ....................................0

Gulbadin Naib c Jadhav b Chahar ................. 15

Mohammad Nabi c Yadav b Khalil ............... 64

Najibullah Zadran lbw b Jadeja ................... 20

Rashid Khan (not out) .................................... 12

Aftab Alam (not out) ........................................ 2

Extras: (B1, NB1, W5) ..................................... 7

Total: (eight wkts) ........................... 252Did not bat: Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Fall of wickets: 1-65, 2-81, 3-82, 4-82, 5-132,

6-180, 7-226, 8-244

Bowling: Khalil 10-1-45-1 (1w), Chahar 4-0-37-1

(2w), Kaul 9-0-58-0 (1w), Jadeja 10-1-46-3 (1w),

Yadav 10-0-38-2, Jadhav 7-0-27-1

IndiaK Rahul lbw b Rashid ..................................... 60

A Rayudu c Zadran b Nabi ............................. 57

D Karthik lbw b Nabi ...................................... 44

M Dhoni lbw b Ahmadi ..................................... 8

M Pandey c Shahzad b Alam ........................... 8

K Jadhav run out ............................................. 19

R Jadeja c Zadran b Rashid ........................... 25

D Chahar b Alam ............................................. 12

K Yadav run out ................................................. 9

S Kaul run out ....................................................0

Khaleel Ahmed (not out) ..................................1

Extras: (LB 5, NB 1, W 3) ................................9

Total: (all out; 50 overs) .................. 252Fall of wickets: 1-110, 2-127, 3-142, 4-166, 5-204,

6-205, 7-226, 8-242, 9-245

Bowling: Alam 10-0-53-2 (1nb), Mujeeb 10-1-43-0

(1w), Naib 4-0-41-0, Nabi 10-0-40-2 (1w), Rashid

10-0-41-2 (1w), Ahmadi 4-0-19-1, Shah 2-0-10-0

SCOREBOARD

QOC PRESIDENT H E SHEIKH JOAAN MEETS FIFA PRESIDENT DURING AWARDS CEREMONY IN LONDON

SPORT10.00PM 2:30PM

Tottenham Hotspur vsWatford

Pakistan vsBangladesh

FOOTBALL CRICKET

25WEDNESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2018

If we were able to come out on top, it would be something I would cherish the rest of my

life. Because I’ve played in these events for so long and

have never won over here.

Phil Mickelson United States Ryder Cup team member T

ODA

Y’S

ACT

ION

Wozniacki, Kerber start with wins at Wuhan OpenAFP

WUHAN, CHINA: World number two Caroline Wozniacki and Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber eased through their opening matches at the Wuhan Open in China yesterday.

Australian Open champion Wozniacki, who received a first-round bye, was barely troubled by the 61st-ranked Swede Rebecca Peterson, winning 6-4, 6-1 to set up a third round clash with Olympic champion Monica Puig, who romped past Aliaksandra Sas-novich 6-2, 6-2.

Peterson offered some resistance in the first set, breaking Wozniacki’s serve at 5-2, but faded as the Dane -- who lost her first match at Japan’s Pan Pacific Open last week -- quickly regained control as she looks for a good run in Wuhan to secure a return to the WTA Finals, which she won last year.

“It’s great to get a good start, obviously. Every match counts,” Wozniacki said.

“I’m just trying to keep my head down and keep focused and try to win as much as I can to get that (WTA Finals) spot.”

World number three Kerber has already qualified for next month’s Finals which will be held in Singapore and advanced after

a knee injury forced her American opponent Madison Keys to retire.

The German looked set for a big win over the 2017 US Open semi-finalist and was leading 6-0, 4-1 when Keys could not continue.

“I was feeling good. I played the first set really well,” Kerber said. “It’s nice to be in the next round.

“The first rounds are... not easy. You have to find your rhythm.” Kerber, who could return to world number one with a

successful end to the season, said earlier this week she was not con-cerned about rankings.

“For me it’s the most important thing, that I go on court, play my best, have fun out there, enjoying every single moment,” she said Monday.

“We will see what’s happening at the end of the year.” Current number one and French Open champion Simona Halep plays later Tuesday against Dominika Cibulkova.

Nine of the world’s top 10 are

at China’s $2.7m Wuhan Open. US Open winner Naomi Osaka withdrew with an illness after losing the Pan Pacific Open final on Sunday.

Six spots at the WTA Finals next month remain up for grabs with only Halep and Kerber securing their places so far.

Sixth-ranked Elina Svitolina became the biggest Wuhan cas-ualty so far when the Ukrainian was beaten 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 by 20th-ranked Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.

Angelique Kerber of Germany hits a return against Madison Keys of the US during their women’s singles match of the WTA Wuhan Open in Wuhan, yesterday.

Results of yesterday’s WTA Wuhan Open matches at the Optics Valley In-

ternational Tennis Centre (x denotes seed):

Singles - 2nd Round:

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x2) bt Rebecca Peterson (SWE) 6-4, 6-1

Angelique Kerber (GER x3) bt Madison Keys (USA) 6-0, 4-1 (Keys retired injured)

Petra Kvitova (CZE x5) bt Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) 6-3, 6-4

Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) bt Elina Svitolina (UKR x6) 6-4, 2-6, 6-1

Wang Qiang (CHN) bt Karolina Pliskova (CZE x8) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3

Sofia Kenin (USA) bt Julia Goerges (GER x11) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) bt Kiki Bertens (NED x12) 6-4, 6-2

Ashleigh Barty (AUS x16) bt Zheng Saisai (CHN) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2

Garbine Muguruza (ESP x14) bt Viktorija Golubic (SUI) 6-0, 6-1

Daria Gavrilova (AUS) bt Barbora Strycova (CZE) 6-2, 7-6 (7/3)

Monica Puig (PUR) bt Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) 6-2, 6-2

Anett Kontaveit (EST) bt Donna Vekic (CRO) 6-2, 6-4

Chengdu Open

Results of yesterday’s ATP Chengdu Open matches at the Sichuan Interna-

tional Tennis Centre (x denotes seed):

Singles - 1st Round:

Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) bt Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-3, 2-0 (retired)

Matthew Ebden (AUS x6) bt Evgeny Donskoy (RUS) 6-3, 6-4

Sam Querrey (USA) bt Guido Pella (ARG) 7-6 (8/6), 6-1

Taylor Fritz (USA) bt Chun Hsin Tseng (TPE) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

Vasek Pospisil (CAN) bt Radu Albot (MDA) 6-3, 6-4

Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) bt Yibing Wu (CHN) 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 6-1

Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) bt Tennys Sandgren (USA x8) 6-4, 6-3

Lloyd Harris (RSA) bt Gael Monfils (FRA x5) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1

TENNIS RESULTS

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark hits a return against Rebecca Peterson of Sweden during their women’s singles match of the WTA Wuhan Open tennis tournament in Wuhan, yesterday.

Woods bidding to end Ryder Cup strugglesAFP

FRANCE: Tiger Woods redis-covered his former glories by claiming his first title in over five years last weekend, but now he turns his attentions to a compe-tition he has never dominated -- the Ryder Cup.

The 14-time major champion was peerless for 11 years as an individual, although struggled with the team dynamics of the match-play showdown and has only been on the winning side once in seven previous appearances.

His return from the wil-derness of back surgeries and personal problems has brought about the opportunity to have another crack at the Ryder Cup in France, where he looks more relaxed and at ease among his teammates after serving as a vice-captain at Hazeltine two years ago and at the 2017 Pres-idents Cup.

And Woods is hoping that in the new stage of his career, and after his stunning victory at the

Tour Championship, he can help the United States end their 25-year wait for a win on European soil.

“We haven’t done well,” he admitted to reporters at Le Golf National yesterday.

“My overall Ryder Cup record, not having won as a player since 1999 is something that hopefully we can change.

“We haven’t won as a US squad here in 25 years on foreign soil, so hopefully that will change this week, as well.”

The 42-year-old, at Le Golf National for the first time since in 1994 as an amateur, unsur-prisingly looked in an upbeat mood playing alongside possible partner Bryson DeChambeau, old adversary Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed in practice on Tuesday.

Woods looked to have carried his strong play from tee to green from East Lake to Paris, as he and his teammates took their time trying to come to grips with the vagaries of the undu-lating areas around the Albatros

greens. A different reception will surely face him when the com-petition starts, though, after he was greeted warmly on Tuesday by the French spectators, many of whom would never have seen him play before.

A tee shot on the dangerous par-three second hole to around four feet drew gasps from the crowd surrounding the green, as did a sumptuous pitch to the third.

Woods said that he couldn’t wait to experience the atmos-phere of a Ryder Cup as a player for the first time since 2012.

“It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be an awesome envi-ronment,” he added.

“There’s a lot of nerves. It’s excitement. I mean, it really is.

“It’s something we don’t get to experience in that regard because basically it’s the final round of a tournament on the very first hole and every match you tee it up.

“It’s a different atmosphere and one that we absolutely love.”

American captain Jim Furyk has long been expected to pair Woods with the more methodical DeChambeau, and that looks increasingly likely after the two spent much of yes-terday morning locked in con-versation on the fairways.

Woods has appeared to intimidate partners in the past, with major champions Mick-elson, Mark O’Meara and Furyk among those to struggle alongside him.

But he and DeChambeau should, on paper at least, form a formidable foursomes combi-nation on the tight, tricky course where placement will be more important than brute power.

“It would be awesome to play with him,” said DeChambeau. “Is it going to happen? We’re still working on it.

US golfer Tiger Woods addresses media representatives during a press conference ahead of the 42nd Ryder Cup at Le Golf National Course at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, south-west of Paris, yesterday.

Fleetwood gets pep talk from City boss GuardiolaAFP

FRANCE: Ryder Cup rookie Tommy Fleetwood will hope a message of motivation from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola can spur him on to success for Team Europe at Le Golf National this week.

Fleetwood, introduced to Guardiola through a mutual friend, was on a Cheshire golf course with the City boss in April when his side were crowned Premier League champions following Manchester United’s defeat by West Brom.

The pair then struck up a partnership at Wentworth for the celebrity Pro-Am event ahead of the BMW PGA Championship in May, and Guardiola has shown his support for Fleetwood ahead of this week’s showdown with the United States.

“We all have these videos in the room, these motivational videos, and he was one of the guys that sent a message to me,” Fleetwood, 27, told reporters on Tuesday.

“I’m not sure he’s coming over. I’m sure

he’s busy at the weekend but he might make it over. But yeah, we always talk quite a lot.

“He’s somebody that’s great to know.” Guardiola gushed about his first-hand Ryder Cup experience as a fan at the 2012 edition in Medinah, when Europe pulled off a remarkable final-day comeback to stun the Americans on their home patch.

The Spaniard, then on a 12-month sab-batical after leaving his post at Barcelona, was invited to the tournament as a guest of European captain Jose Maria Olazabal.

“He was at the Ryder Cup in Medinah, and he’ll always mention that that’s one of the greatest times he’s had in his life being at that Ryder Cup,” said Fleetwood.

“Yeah, it was a very special time. It has a special place in his heart, the Ryder Cup, and he’s been very supportive through the whole thing.

“Maybe we’ll see him, I don’t know.” City are due to host Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday, not ruling out the possibility of Guar-diola making an appearance for Sunday’s singles.

Team Europe’s Tommy Fleetwood during Ryder Cup practice session at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, France, yesterday.

sport - the peninsula · 2018-09-25 · youth team achieved in the asian tournament at the...

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