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Qatar’s Al Attiyah seals 15th MERC

title with win in Cyprus

AFC Champions League: Al Sadd set for feisty clash against Al Hilal

Tuesday 1 October 2019

Qatsea

FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA

The much-anticipated men’s 400 hurdles final last night had spec-tators on their feet at the Khalifa International Stadium, and Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba did not let the home fans down.

Although the star athlete did not win the race, he still managed to clinch first medal for the hosts at the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019, winning a bronze medal.

Samba’s rivals, Karsten Warholm of Norway success-fully defended his title with a run of 47.42 while American sen-sation Rai Benjamin claimed a silver medal on his debut at worlds, finishing the race in 47.66.

Samba, whose build up for the worlds was marred by injury, recovered well in the last to clock 48.03 and earn first medal for the home side.

“I think I cannot explain this feeling today because it’s amazing. I know third place was not my (desired) place but I say thank you God because three days ago I was not sure to compete or not. This season was very hard for me because I had a lot of injuries. I say thank you God because I’m here tonight and I celebrate with this medal,” Samba said after winning Qatar’s first medal at the home Championships.

“Actually, I started to prepare for next season now because I’m happy with the medal but I’m not happy with

the place. I’m gonna prepare myself for next season now,” Samba said.

Warholm, ran in the final differently to his normal approach, holding back through the back straight rather than going out hard. Samba, who was behind till the last moment, fin-ished well after a well-judged race.

“It’s very easy to say that you knew (I would win) afterwards. I wanna say it too, but I wasn’t too sure, to be honest. This was a very tough race. I actually felt my heart was going to stop, it’s no joke! I actually had pain in my chest, thinking I’m gonna die but it’s gonna be worth it. And here I am, world champion and I’m not dead either,” Warholm said after his victory.

“This is only the beginning. I’m very lucky to win. In the future, these guys are going to be even tougher to beat so tomorrow I’ve gotta get up and work again. That’s what I love, always one more,” he said.

“It’s very hard to describe. Norway is a small country, we put a lot of glory in our sport. For me to be showing up at the world stage, it’s better than any-thing else,” the winner said.

Kenya’s Chepkoech marks championships record to

win gold In the women’s 3,000 stee-

plechase, there was no match to Kenya’s world record holder, Beatrice Chepkoech, who demolished the field to win a gold medal.

Chepkoech, who ran 8:57.84 to make new world champion-ships record, got off to a fast start and build lead right from the beginning. The Kenyan missed a medal at 2017 Worlds after taking a wrong turn and a wide berth round the water jump.

“I was cited to be in front and controlled. I am glad to improve the championships record because I knew the time Emma Coburn from London so

I really wanted to break CR today,” said Chepkoech after winning the race.

“I want to dedicate this medal to my parents – my dad and mum.”

The opening kilometers lead made it easy for the Kenyan to overcome America’s defending champion Emma Coburn, who finished with her personal best time of 9:02.35 to secure a silver medal.

“I am super proud that I have come away with the medals in the last three cham-pionships. As long I am fighting for those, I am super happy,” said Coburn.

Germany’s Gesa Krause took bronze medal after clocking 9:03.30 – a national record.

Lyles into men’s 200m finalWorld leader Noah Lyles

yesterday looked a little out of sorts, but still finished the men’s 100m semi-final with quickest time of 19.86. Ecuador’s Alex Quinonez just finished behind the USA star with a time of 19.95.

“I am calm and happy with my time in the semi-finals. The focus is on the final, one race at a time,” said Quinonez.

Canada’s Andre de Grasse also qualified for tonight’s final

but Jamaica’s Yohan Blake, clocking 20.37, failed to go through.

In the men’s 110m hurdles heats, this year’s Diamond League champion Orlando Ortega of Spain was fastest with a time of 13.15, followed by Jamaica’s Omar Mcleod (13.17) and USA’s Grant Holloway (13.22).

Qatar’s Kenza Sosse, partic-ipating in the women’s 400m heats, failed to advance after fin-ishing the race in 1:06.76. USA’s Wadeline Jonathas (50.57), Bot-swana’s Galefele Moroko (50.59) and Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser (50.74) took the first three posi-tions respectively.

Abderrahman Samba with the Qatar Olympic Committee Chairman, H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, after winning the hosts’ first medal at the IAAF Doha Worlds, yesterday. PICTURES: ABDUL BASIT / THE PENINSULA

Samba clinches first medal for Qatar as Warholm wins 400m hurdles gold

Athletes competing in the men’s 400 metres hurdles final at the Khalifa International Stadium, yesterday.

ARMSTRONG VAS THE PENINSULAS

Muktar Edris produced some stunning stuff to successfully retain his 5,000m title at the IAAF World Championships while Selemon Barega took the silver to complete 1-2 for the Ethiopians at the Khalifa Stadium here yesterday.

The 25-year-old, roared on by a noisy contingent of flag-waving Ethiopian fans in the crowd, out-sprinted compatriot Barega to win in 12 minutes 58.85 seconds, becoming the first Ethiopian in history to successfully defend the world title that he won in London two years ago.

It was the first 5,000 world championship final since 2005 not to feature Britain’s Mo Farah who has won the title three times.

It was some stunning stuff from the Ethiopian’s as a team and they are rewarded with gold and silver while Mohammed Ahmed of Canada clinched the bronze to prevent a Ethopian clean sweep pushing another Ethi-opian Telahun Haile Bekele to the fourth spot.

Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the European champion, and one of the three Ingebrigtsen brothers competing in the event finished fifth.

At one part of time the 19-year-old Norwegian, the youngest of the three Ingebrigtsen brothers was leading, but flattered at the last lap.

Jakob simply melted away in the final lap, paying for having to surge in the middle of the race to keep in touch, and for being overly physical in the closing laps. His two others brothers, both former European champions, Filip did not finish the race while Henrik came 13 in the field of 15.

This race was considered wide open because two of the top at the distance, Yomif Kejelcha and Joshua Cheptegei, were not in the field to focus on the 10,000.

In the end Edris walked away with the gold to give Ethiopia the first gold of the championship.

Meanwhile, Sweden’s Daniel Stahl went one better than his 2017 silver medal with gold in the discus, throwing 67.59 meters.

The Swede charged down into the field in cele-bration before being embraced by his Swedish teammate Simon Pettersson.

Fedrick Dacres of Jamaica was second and Lukas Weisshaidinger of Austria third.

Meanwhile, in the women’s 800m, Halimah Nakaayi of Uganda accelerated in right time to burst past Ajee Wilson to clinch the gold.

Wilson, who dominated much of the race, leading from the front, finished third.

Raevyn Rogers, who seemed broken for much of the race in 7th place, sprinted past a group to take the silver medal from her training partner.

In the women’s high jump, Mariya Lasitskene, a Russian competing as a neutral athlete, continued her dominance by becoming the first three-time world champion in her discipline.

The day however belonged to 18-year-old Yaro-slava Mahuchikh of Ukraine, who cleared a height of 2.04, a world junior record, in her third attempt to secure silver. Vashti Cunningham of USA took the bronze.

ARMSTRONG VAS THE PENINSULA

China made a podium sweep in the women’s 20km race walk as Liu Hong, Qieyang Shenjie and Yang Liujing picked up the gold, silver and bronze respectively at the Corniche yesterday.

The 32-year-old Hong, returning to the competition after a two-year maternity break, landed her third world 20km race walk title.

It was also the first time one nation had swept the medals in a women’s race walking event at the World Championships as her Chinese team-mates followed her across the finish line.

But it was only in the last few kilometres that the Chinese trio emerged as the likely medallists as they had several other athletes for company up until that point.

Unsurprisingly, the pace for the opening laps of the two-kilo-metre circuit on Doha’s Corniche was comfortable for most of the leading contenders.

“I’m happy to win gold. It’s my third one the major athletics events. Tomorrow is the anni-versary of the proclamation of the People’s Republic of China. To sweep all three medals for the first time in the history of our event is our good for our country,” Hong said.

On her remarkable comeback after giving birth to a child she said: “Some changes have hap-pened in my life. I’m not only an athlete, but I became a mother. So, I have to devote much time to balance family life and training. It was a bit difficult for me as I have to focus on the training and make my training more effective.”

On choosing between 20km and 50km after she became the world record holder in both dis-tances she said: “I managed to break the world record at 50km in my debut. Honestly, while pre-paring for Doha, I felt more con-fident about the 20km. That is why I decided to compete at this distance.”

The gold medal winner said it was teamwork which helped them.

“This time we had four ath-letes to compete. It is the biggest possible amount of people com-peting for a country. We have a strong team and it does not matter for us who wins because we have the same dream. We got along with the weather well. Everyone wants to get a medal that is why we decided to support each other

at the first part of race and then to speed up.”

Meanwhile, silver winner Shenjie seemed delighted with the podium sweep.

“I am quite happy to win silver because Liu is so strong. I am happy with the second place finishing behind her. The most meaningful moment is that China swept the podium. That was the most important and proud moment.”

Yang on the other hand said the medal was a big surprise which landed into her kitty.

“Before the race I did not expect to win a medal because I am the younger in the team. So, I expected only to learn from my sister (Jiayu Yang) but she was disqualified. I’m lucky to win a medal.”

02 TUESDAY 1 OCTOBER 2019SPORT

China sweeps podium in women’s 20 km race walk

Stay focused and forget the rest: Legend Lewis shares winning formulaFAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA

Athletics legend Carl Lewis yesterday gave a simple formula to the modern day athletes to achieve their goals, telling them to focus on their performance and forget about the rest.

“You can clock the fastest time which you may have targeted before the race but still you may end up losing. Don’t target the medal, focus on your timing, your performance and forget about the rest,” this was the gist of the International Olympics Committee’s ‘Sportsman of the Century’, Lewis’ advice during an event, which was organised by the Interna-tional Sports Press Associ-ation (AIPS) in collaboration with the Qatar Sports Press Committee at the Torch Hotel.

Lewis was joined on the panel by compatriot Leroy Burrell, who twice set the world record for the 100m sprint, AIPS Pres-ident Gianni Merlo, and Italian sprinter Fillipo Tortu, who qualified for the final of men’s 100m at the ongoing IAAF World Athletics Champion-ships Doha 2019.

“Focus your goal having it clear and without being afraid to tell it loud. This is your objective and you work with it always in your mind. Think of yourself as a business for your long term career and your training for your short term career so figure out how you are going to max-imise this time,” Lewis, , the only man to suc-cessfully defend both a 100m and long jump Olympic title, advised Tortu during the chat.

“In anything you are going to have to make sacrifices. So now you are in professional track and field you have to think like a professional. Think of what you can do and what you and your manager can do to maximise this moment because you are going to build a brand,” he added.

‘Not much has changed in sprint’Lewis, replying to a query, said that no sig-

nificant progress has been made in athletics par-ticularly in athletics despite the technology.

“It’s obviously very, very competitive but I don’t think it’s any more competitive at the championship level than it was back when we were competing . I think it’s just competitive throughout the season. So with all the tech-nology and all the high per-formance tracks and every-thing else, we could have had second and third 30 years later.”

“Well, having been competing thirty years ago with timings that are still among the top three of the world means that athletics is still a human sport. What it’s important to think about, more than focusing on past years mistake is that we leave the sport better than it was and everybody can do this part for this.”

Legend unhappy with the IAAF

The 58-year-old was unhappy with the athletics governing body, saying the IAAF has not evolved like

football, basketball and cricket. “We are just not progressing, we are just

doing the same thing over and over. If you go to other sports, every little detail is taken care of and there is entertainment. These sports they become television shows they strived to get better and better,” said the American track and field icon.

“If you look at the way every single popular sport is run, it’s different; the stadium looks spectacular the presentation is spectacular, they take care of every little detail. Even things like... why are we still putting numbers on our chests? They put numbers with pins? If we were thinking of television, we would take that off so that you will see the uniform on TV.”

He also complained about the less prize money for the athletes.

“My issue is that they pay 60,000 for the winner. We were paid 60,000 for the winner in 1997. So if you look at it in US Dollars - a cost of living increase - it should be 93,000 this year. So they are paying the same prize money and every year the athletes get less. So 30,000 is the value of gold medal now.”

China’s Hong Liu crosses the finish line to win gold in the women’s 20 Kilometres race walk at the Corniche in Doha, yesterday.

Qatar’s Kenza Sosse gestures before the

start of the women’s 400 metres heats

yesterday. PICTURES:

ABDUL BASIT /

THE PENINSULA

Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris (right) winning the men’s 5000 metres final during the 2019 IAAF Athletics World Championships in Doha, yesterday. PICTURES: ABDUL BASIT / THE PENINSULA

Nine-time Olympic golf medallist Carl Lewis

Ethiopians shine in 5,000m as Mariya completes hat-trick

USA’s Noah Lyles on his way to win the men’s 200m semi-final.

03TUESDAY 1 OCTOBER 2019 SPORT

Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and co-driver Mathieu Baumel in action during the Cyprus Rally. PICTURE: TWITTER/FIA ERC

ATP WORLD TOUR TOKYO RESULTS

MEN’S SINGLESRound Of 32Lucas Pouille (5), France, bt Hubert Hurkacz, Poland,

6-4, 6-3.

Marin Cilic (6), Croatia, bt Yuichi Sugita, Japan, 6-4,

6-4.

Yoshihito Nishioka, Japan, bt Joao Sousa, Portugal,

7-5, 6-3.

Chung Hyeon, South Korea, bt Lorenzo Sonego,

Italy, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Men’s Doubles

Round Of 16Bruno Soares, Brazil, and Mate Pavic (4), Croatia,

bt Novak Djokovic and Filip Krajinovic, Serbia, 6-2,

4-6, 10-4.

Austin Krajicek, United States, and Dominic Inglot,

Britain, bt Horia Tecau, Romania, and Jean-Julien

Rojer, Netherlands, 6-1, 6-3.

WTA/ATP CHINA OPEN RESULTSWOMEN’S SINGLES1st roundAnastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) bt Veronika

Kudermetova (RUS) 6-0, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4)

Bianca Andreescu (CAN x5) bt Aliaksandra

Sasnovich (BLR) 6-2, 2-6, 6-1

Elise Mertens (BEL) bt Petra Martic (CRO) 6-2, 6-3

Jennifer Brady (USA) bt Amanda Anisimova (USA)

6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/2), 6-3

Madison Keys (USA x11) bt Karolína Muchová (CZE)

6-4, 7-6 (7/5)

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x16) bt Lauren Davis (USA)

6-1, 6-3

2nd roundKiki Bertens (NED x8) bt Dayana Yastremska (UKR)

7-6 (7/5), 6-3

Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) bt Simona Halep

(ROU x6) 6-2, 6-3

Katerina Siniakova (CZE) bt Jelena Ostapenko

(LAT) 6-2, 6-1

MEN’S SINGLES1st roundZhang Zhizhen (CHN) bt Kyle

Edmund (GBR) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5)

Karen Khachanov (RUS x4) bt

Pablo Cuevas (URU) 6-2, 7-6 (9/7)

Jeremy Chardy (FRA) bt Marco

Cecchinato (ITA) 6-7 (7/9), 6-3,

7-6 (7/4)

Andrey Rublev (RUS) bt Grigor

Dimitrov (BUL) 6-2, 7-5

Andreescu ‘on a roll’ after 14th win in a rowAFP BEIJING

Bianca Andreescu said that she has “forgotten how it feels to lose” after the US Open champion reeled

off her 14th victory in a row yesterday in Beijing.The 19-year-old Canadian beat Aliak-

sandra Sasnovich of Belarus 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 in the China Open first round despite a second-set wobble.

But Simona Halep became the first major casualty in the Chinese capital, beaten by Rus-

sia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova with the Romanian struggling once more with a back injury.

Andreescu’s run of victories has brought her the US Open and h e r h o m e Canadian Open in recent weeks,

propelling her into the limelight.“I wanted to just

keep the momentum going,” said the teenager, after her first match since stunning Serena Williams in the final at Flushing Meadows in early September.

“I’m on a roll right now, hopefully

I can just keep it up because I think it gives me a lot of confidence,” added the world number six, who qualified for the season-ending WTA Finals.

“I don’t want to sound cocky or anything, but I kind of forgot how it feels to lose, which I think is a good thing.”

Andreescu looked all set to carry on her blistering form against Sasnovich and emphatically captured the first set.

But she struggled with her serve in the second, totting up six double faults and was in danger of losing her cool in the Beijing heat and haze.

Normal order was restored in the deciding set, Andreescu breaking Sasnovich’s first service game and then holding her own to take a 3-0 lead and an advantage she refused to surrender.

In round two the Canadian plays Elise Mertens, the world number 23 from Belgium.

Andreescu said that her stunning victory at the US Open had yet to fully sink in, even three weeks on.

“But I think I’ve learnt a lot from the past couple of weeks, during the tournament, even after the tournament with all the media, all that,” she said.

“I think I’m managing it really well. I think that’s why I feel good coming into this tournament.”

Reigning Wimbledon champion Halep lost 6-2, 6-3 in 64 minutes to bring her China Open to an early end.

Halep, fifth in the world, was far from her best as she went down meekly to Russia’s 38th-ranked Alexandrova in the second round.

The 28-year-old Halep was forced out of last week’s Wuhan Open because of her troublesome back, which she says has plagued her for more than a decade.

China Open title-holder Caroline Wozniacki swatted aside Lauren Davis of the United States, 6-1, 6-3, to give her the perfect start.

Zverev, Khachanov advance in ChinaREUTERS BEIJING

German second seed Alexander Zverev carried his Laver Cup winning form into the China Open as he sailed into the second round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over wildcard Frances Tiafoe in Beijing yesterday.

Zverev, who won the Laver Cup for Team Europe in a thrilling finale last week, fired 10 aces and won 78% of his first service points. He also broke the American three times to wrap up the contest in 70 minutes.

Although Zverev had three double faults, he never dropped

serve during the match, with Tiafoe failing to convert one break point.

Fourth seeded Russian Karen Khachanov advanced after he saved three set points in the second set tiebreak to beat Uruguayan qualifier Pablo Cuevas 6-2, 7-6(7).

Andrey Rublev also won in straight sets, beating US Open semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 7-5. The Russian broke Dimitrov twice in both sets to move into the next round in 75 minutes.

Jeremy Chardy’s encounter with Italian Marco Cecchinato went the distance, with the Frenchman coming out on top with a 6-7(7), 6-3, 7-6(4) victory

in two hours and 21 minutes.Top seed Dominic Thiem is

in action today when he takes on veteran Frenchman Richard Gasquet while unseeded Andy Murray takes on Italy’s Matteo Berrettini.

Russia’s Ekaterina Alexan-drova upset sixth seed Simona Halep in straight sets in the second round of the Women’s side, recording a 6-2, 6-3 win in Beijing for her first top-10 victory of the season.

Halep was troubled by the back injury that forced her to withdraw from last week’s Wuhan Open, dropping serve six times in the 63-minute encounter

against her unseeded opponent.

“It was a pretty tough match but I think she didn’t play that well,” Alexandrova said.

“I remember when we played last time in Cincinnati, it was tougher than today.”

AFPBEIJING

Bianca Andreescu said that she hait feels to lose” after the US Open

off her 14th victory in a row yesterThe 19-year-old Canad

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Al Attiyah seals 15th MERC title with win in CyprusQNA NICOSIA

Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah won the Cyprus Rally on Sunday after a dominant display.

The win guarantees Al Attiyah going home as the champion Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) for the 15th time in the last 17 years. The win comes following the cancellation of the fifth round in Kuwait,

which was set to take place from October 31 to November 2. It was also Al Attiyah’s seventh Cyprus Rally win.

Qatar’s Abdulaziz Saudon Al Kuwari finished second in the Middle East Rally Championship behind Al Attiyah. He struggled with tech-nical problems throughout today’s rally and finished in ninth place overall.

“I am really happy to win here. This is one of our favorite rallies,” Al Attiyah said.

6-1, 6-3

2nd roundKiki Bertens (NED x8) bt Dayana Yastremska (UKR)

7-6 (7/5), 6-3

Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) bt Simona Halep

(ROU x6) 6-2, 6-3

Katerina Siniakova (CZE) bt Jelena Ostapenko

(LATAA ) 6-2, 6-1

MEN’S SINGLES1st roundZhang Zhizhen (CHN) bt Kyle

Edmund (GBR) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5)

KarenKKKKKKK Khachanov (RUS x4) bt

PPPPPabloPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP Cuevas (URU) 6-2, 7-6 (9/7)

JJeJeJeJeremJJeJJeJJJJJJeJJJeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeJeJJJeeeeeJJJJJJJJJJJJJ y Chardy (FRA) bt Marco

Cecchinato (ITA) 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, TT

7-6 (7/4)

Andrey Rublev (RUS) bt Grigor

Dimitrov (BUL) 6-2, 7-5

p, fifth in the world, was far from her best as she wn meekly to Russia’s 38th-ranked Alexandrova

econd round.28-year-old Halep was forced out of last week’s Open because of her troublesome back, which has plagued her for more than a

a Open title-holder Caroline cki swatted aside Lauren

the United States, 6-1, ve her the perfect start.

n Chinaaagainst her unseeded opponent.

“It was a pretty tough match but I thinkshe didn’t play that well,” Alexandrova said.

“I remember when we played last time in Cincinnati, it was tougher than today.”

Alexander Zverev

Bianca Andreescu

Qatari Driver Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (right) and his French co-driver Mathieu Baumel after winning the Cyprus Rally on Sunday. The victory also secured Al Attiyah his 15th Middle East Rally Championship title. PICTURE: TWITTER / VOLKSWAGEN MOTORSPORT

04 TUESDAY 1 OCTOBER 2019SPORT 05TUESDAY 1 OCTOBER 2019 SPORT

ARMSTRONG VAS THE PENINSULA

Giving birth is probably the hardest physical challenge a wom-an’s body can endure. However, returning back to international competition after giving birth is probably just as tough.

On Sunday at the IAAF World Championships, two women Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica and Alisson Felix of USA joined a select band of sportspersons who have fought back the odds to make impressive return to competitive sports.

Jamaican Fraser-Pryce staked her claim as one of the greatest female sprinters of all time by storming to victory in the women’s 100 meters final while Felix broke Usain Bolt’s record for the most world titles, grabbing her 12th overall and first as a mom as part of the first mixed-gender 4x400m relay team.

Fraser-Pryce blew away a world-class field in a time of 10.71 sec-onds to claim her fourth World Championship title in the discipline and eighth world title overall.

The victory came just 13 months after Fraser-Pryce gave birth to her son Zyon.

“It was hard. I was really scared when I had to do a C-section and was out for nearly 10 weeks. I was unable to lift weights on my back,” the 32-year-old said after her victory, where she was joined on the track by Zyon.

Surrendering a high-intensity training regime and peak physical form can be hard, and these changes aren’t always easy for elite athletes to accept. Ask-ing a sportswoman to listen when her body is telling her to slow down or stop can be the biggest challenge.

“So it was a long journey coming back physically and mentally because I was 30 and everyone else was running fast. I was worried about whether I was going to come back OK. I just really worked hard,” she added.

Fraser-Pryce said she did not deviate from her goals post pregnancy.“When I heard people said I should call it a day, I just knew I wasn’t ready to

go. I knew I had something left to do. I never lost focus on the goal and the dream.”“Tonight (Sunday) was one of those moments I am really proud of because

for women in athletics it’s very hard to take a break and come back to sprinting. It took a lot of work and a lot of sacrifice.

“Having Zyon being able to witness tonight is definitely a moment I’ll cher-ish. He reminded me of how much I had to work and fight as a woman. The world believes you should wait until you’re finished to have a baby, but I had other plans,” she added.

She isn’t the only sportsperson to have shifted from childbirth back to elite athleticism in an astoundingly short time frame.

Felix at 33, broke her tie with Bolt for the most world titles.“It’s been difficult with a lot of complications physically to overcome. I’ am

very grateful to be here. I didn’t have a full training season like I used to have, that was a real challenge for me this year. To be able to make it here is a real big deal for me,” Felix said about the physical which went into the mixed relay race at the World Championships.

On beating Bolt’s World Champi-onships’ gold medal record she said: “I didn’t come here for this at all, I came with a different mindset. For me this was actually super special, because my daughter was here for me. It’s always nice to make a little bit of his-tory, but this was a different kind of year for me.”

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Supermoms rock the IAAF party

It’s been difficult with a lot of com-plications physically to overcome. I am very grateful to be here. I didn’t

have a full training season like I used to have, that was a real challenge

for me this year. To be able to make it here is a real big deal for me.”

- Alisson Felix

So it was a long journey coming back physically and mentally because I was 30 and every-one else was running fast. I was worried about whether I was going to come back OK. I just really worked hard.”

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Barshim ready to fly high at Doha Worlds

I’m a person that loves sports. I really love track and field. I like

to be active. It was a big challenge having to do the most, with the least

training. But hey, I’m here though! We’ve got one more target to go, at

the World Championships. I hope for the best then.” -Mutaz Barshim.

FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA

Qatar’s gravity-defying star Mutaz Barshim will have his dream 2017 season in mind when he begins his title defence at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics

Championships, today at the Kha-lifa International Stadium.

The two-time Olympic medalist literally won every title in which he competed two years ago including a gold medal at the World Championships in London. Barshim also became the first ever high jumper in the world to clinch the 2017 IAAF Athlete of the Year award after going undefeated in 11 competi-tions and producing nine of the year’s 11 highest jumps.

But the Olympic bronze and silver in 2012 and 2016 has been struggling to regain his golden form since returning to action follow-ing an injury that kept him in the sidelines for months during the 2018-2019 season.

“I was winning everything in 2017. That was an outstanding year for me,” Barshim said in an interview ahead of his contest at Doha Worlds.

In Gyulai Memorial in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, last year Barshim attempted a world

record 2.46m world record. He was very close but ended clutching his ankle.

“What was crazy was when I got out of surgery, a few hours ago, I was trying to jump a world record, and a few hours later I couldn’t even walk,” he said.

Barshim said he will give his best to defend the title and make Qatar and the home fans proud.

“I’m a person that loves sports. I really love track and field. I like to be active. It was a big challenge having to do the most, with the least training. But hey, I’m here though! We’ve got one more target to go, at the World Championships. I hope for the best then,” said Barshim.

The Qatari star despite his struggle will appear in the high jump event as one of the favourites to win a gold medal. Among the entrants, 19 athletes have cleared 2.30m while only four of them have successfully sailed over 2.33m.

The world leader is Belarusian Maksim Nedasekau, the 21-year-old who improved to 2.35m to win the Europe-USA match in Minsk on 9 September, his only leap better than 2.30m this season.

Authorised neutral athletes Ilya Ivanyuk and Mikhail Akimenko have chiseled together good seasons, both topping 2.33m and 2.31m.

06 TUESDAY 1 OCTOBER 2019SPORT

Scotland prove too strong for 14-man Samoa at WCAFP KOBE

Scotland revived their Rugby World Cup campaign with a decisive 34-0 win over Samoa in Kobe yesterday that saw the Pacific islanders finish a man down.

Victory was all but assured after a burst of 17 points in eight minutes late in the first half left Scotland 20-0 ahead at the interval.

Scotland wing Sean Maitland and Greig Laidlaw scored tries, both converted by the fly-half who also kicked an early penalty, before fullback Stuart Hogg landed the Scots’ first Test-match drop goal for more than five years with an audacious effort from just inside the halfway line.

Scotland secured the four-try bonus point with two penalty tries, Ed Fidow shown a pair of yellow cards that meant the Samoa wing saw red six minutes from time.

Scotland were in desperate need of a victory if they were to have any hope of reaching the quarter-finals after starting this World Cup with a woeful 27-3 loss to Ireland -- who were in turn the victims of a shock 19-12 defeat by hosts Japan that threw Pool A wide open.

The Ireland reverse led Scotland coach Gregor Townsend to make wholesale changes, including fielding an entirely new back-row against Samoa.

The Pacific islanders were without centre Rey Lee-Lo and hooker Motu Matu’u after the pair received three-game bans for shoulder-led hits in a bruising 34-9 win over Russia.

It looked as if Laidlaw’s

ninth-minute penalty would be the lone score of a first half where both sides struggled to hold on to the ball in humid conditions under the closed roof of the Kobe Misaki Stadium, with the biggest early cheers reserved for a spec-tator playing the bagpipes, a tra-ditional Scottish instrument.

But the character of the match changed on the half-hour mark when courageous Scotland became the 20th -- and last -- team at this World Cup to score a try.

Fly-half Finn Russell’s superbly-judged cross-kick was caught by Maitland, who held off opposing wing Belgium Tuata-galoa for a try in the left corner.

Scotland had their second try just four minutes later.

Russell made a darting break before finding the recalled Jamie

Ritchie. The openside flanker’s clever inside pass released Laidlaw, who fended off a poor challenge from Samoa fullback Tim Nanai-Williams before crossing by the posts for a try he converted.

Then, with nothing else on, Hogg dropped a goal from wide out on the left from just inside halfway, a distance of some 50 metres with the angle, to make it 20-0.

It was Scotland’s first drop goal in an international since Duncan Weir’s match-winner against Italy in March 2014.

Scotland, who have now won all four of their World Cup matches against Samoa, went further ahead before the hour.

Following a catch and drive off a close-range line-out, French referee Pascal Gauzere, after

consulting the television match official, awarded a penalty try and sent Fidow to the sin-bin -- Samoa’s third yellow card in two matches -- for collapsing the maul.

Samoa reserve scrum-half Pele Cowley then came off the bench to play against his cousin Maitland for the first time in a Test but could not inspire his lacklustre side.

Instead Scotland had their second penalty try when Fidow went in knees first as Maitland tried to slide in at the left corner only to lose possession under the illegal challenge.

Gauzere showed Fidow a second yellow card and then a red. Scotland next face outsiders Russia in Shizuoka on October 9, with Samoa playing Ireland in Fukuoka three days later.

Samoa’s TJ Ioane in action with Scotland’s Sean Maitland during their 2019 Rugby World Cup match at Kobe Misaki Stadium in Kobe, Japan, yesterday.

Youthful France look to weather US challenge

REUTERS FUKUOKA

The threat of a typhoon may be fading over Fukuoka but the winds of change continue to blow through France at the World Cup as they look to build momentum against the United States in their second Pool C encounter tomorrow.

The youthful starting side that survived a huge fightback by Argentina last week has all but been swept away by Jacques Brunel, with the 65-year-old coach opting for greybeards over rookies in key positions against the Eagles.

With a quick turnaround between the US and their third match against Tonga, Brunel said the 12 changes to his starting 15 were a sacrifice to keep the squad fresh rather than evidence of a lack of respect for the 13th-ranked Americans.

“You can’t say we didn’t take the opposition into account,” Brunel said in Kumamoto yesterday. “We’re wary of this American side because of the physical qualities they’re developing. The English did a good job of dominating them. We hope to do the same.”

With regular captain Guilhem Guirado benched, number eight Louis Picamoles will lead the team for the first time in his 81st test. But it will be the men immediately behind Picamoles that may provoke the most heated Gallic debate. Flyhalf Romain Ntamack has been demoted while scrumhalf Antoine Dupont has been dropped altogether after the youthful pair started against the Pumas and helped drive France to a 20-3 halftime lead.

Camille Lopez, who booted the winning drop goal against Argentina, will start at 10, with Maxime Machenaud earning his first start at scrumhalf since March.

Brunel’s musical chairs approach to the halves has long irked French fans and his decision to promote Machenaud over regular backup Baptiste Serin raised eyebrows.

“This does not question anything about Baptiste Serin. It is hoped that Baptiste, later, will also have a chance,” Brunel said.

Notwithstanding the US and Tonga clashes, the win over Argentina has set Les Bleus up for what could be a decisive battle for top spot in the pool against Eddie Jones’s England in Yokohama on October 12. Brunel waved away the idea his selections offered clues of what fans might see in “Le Crunch”.

Typhoon Mitag had offered the drastic prospect of the aban-donment of the Fukuoka match, which would have meant France and the US splitting four points, completely changing the com-plexion of the pool. With a better forecast, Gary Gold’s Eagles may struggle to come away with any points in the wake of last week’s tempestuous 45-7 loss to England which left them with a heavy injury count.

Disrespect leads to punch on the nose, says NZ’s Hansen ahead of clash against CanadaREUTERS OITA

Japan’s surprise victory over Ireland has given All Blacks coach Steve Hansen the perfect chance to remind his side not to be complacent against Canada or they could get a punch on the nose.

The tournament hosts turned the World Cup upside down with their 19-12 win in Shizuoka on Saturday and Hansen is keen the All Blacks do not follow suit in Oita tomorrow (kickoff 1015 GMT).

“If you disrespect the opponent you’re playing you get a punch on the nose,” Hansen told reporters after he named his side yesterday.

“Canada probably haven’t the strength

they have had in the past, but what they are is a very proud team, a very proud nation and they’re led by a very, very good rugby player in Tyler Ardron.

“And they’ll play with a lot of pride.”Having been through four previous

World Cup campaigns, with Wales in 2003 and the All Blacks in 2007, 2011 and 2015, Hansen is well aware that a team must grow into the tournament and peak at the right moments -- preferably the last three weeks.

The side had an 11-day break after their first game against South Africa and the coach upped the intensity level at training in the seaside resort city of Beppu before settling into a normal test week preparation.

The idea, he said, was to ensure they are continuing to improve and players are challenging each other to be in the starting side for each game.

Hansen made 11 changes to the starting team that beat the Springboks 23-13, with Jack Goodhue back from a two-month injury layoff, while the entire front row has been changed and Shannon Frizell and Matt Todd come into the loose forwards.

Hansen, however, has stuck kept the dual playmaker tactic with Beauden Barrett at fullback and Richie Mo’unga at flyhalf and will encourage his side to con-tinue to attack when they have the chance.

“We’ve always had a philosophy - play what’s in front of you. If it’s time to push

it, we’ll push it. If it’s not on to push it, we’ll do something else,” he said.

The North Americans struggled in a 48-7 loss to Italy in their opener last week in Fukuoka and have lost all five of their previous encounters with the All Blacks, including a 79-15 defeat at the 2011 World Cup. But Canada coach Kingsley Jones, who has made six changes to his starting side, felt they could still give the All Blacks a competitive match.

“We have a tremendous amount of respect for New Zealand,” said Jones. “We can’t wait to fire against them and see how we come out in comparison to some of the best players. We’ve got some tries in us so we’re not afraid to have a go but of course we’ve got to play in the right areas.”

England’s prop Joe Marler (right) taking part in a team training session in Tokyo, yesterday.

Samoa coach insists all not lost after Cup defeatAFP KOBE

Samoa coach Steve Jackson insisted his side could still qualify for the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals despite a 34-0 loss to Scotland yesterday.

Defeat in Kobe was the first time the Pacific islanders had been ‘nilled’ in a World Cup match, with Scotland scoring four tries to secure a bonus point that could yet prove vital in the tight Pool A.

Samoa were 20-0 down at half-time and their loss was made worse by two second-half penalty tries conceded as a result of yellow-card offences by Ed Fidow that meant the wing was sent off with five minutes left.

But with Samoa having beaten Russia 34-9 in their opener they, like Ireland and Scotland, have one win from two games.

Samoa have a quick turnaround before taking on in-form hosts Japan, fresh from their shock 19-12 victory over Ireland, in Toyota on Saturday.

But Jackson told reporters: “We are one win from two games. Scotland and Ireland are exactly the same. We’ve got to get back on the horse and prepare for Japan. If we get a result against Japan, we are right back in it. By no means do we think we are down and out.”

As for failing to register a point, Jackson said: “One changing room is singing, the other is pretty sombre. No one likes losing a game.”

Both sides struggled to maintain pos-session under the closed roof of the Kobe Misaki Stadium, with Samoa captain Jack Lam comparing the ball to a “bar of soap” before stressing Scotland had coped better with the humid conditions.

Huw Richards, Wales vs. New Zealand, 1987, punching

David Codey, Australia vs. Wales, 1987, stamping

P e d r o S p o r l e d e r , Argentina vs. Samoa, 1991, fighting

Mata’afa Keenan, Samoa vs. Argentina, 1991, fighting

Gareth Rees, Canada vs. South Africa, 1995, fighting

Rod Snow, Canada vs. South Africa, 1995, fighting

James Dalton, South Africa v. Canada, 1995, fighting

Feleti Mahoni, Tonga vs. France, 1995, stamping

Marika Vunibaka, Fiji vs. Canada, 1999, headbutt

Dan Baugh, Canada vs. Namibia, 1999, stamping

Ngalu Taufo’ou, Tonga vs. England, 1999, punching

Brendan Venter, South Africa vs. Uruguay, 1999, stamping

Hale T-Pole, Tonga vs. Samoa, 2007, striking

Jacques Nieuwenhuis, Namibia vs. France, 2007, dangerous tackle

Paul Williams, Samoa vs. South Africa, 2011, striking

Sam Warburton, Wales vs. France, 2011, dangerous tackle

Agustin Ormaechea, Uruguay vs. Fiji, 2015, two yellow cards

John Quill, United States vs. England, 2019, dangerous tackle

Facundo Gattas, Uruguay vs. Georgia, 2019, dangerous tackle

Ed Fidow, Samoa vs. Scotland, 2019, 2 yellow cards

World Cup Red Cards

07TUESDAY 1 OCTOBER 2019 SPORT

Pakistan’s batsman Babar Azam celebrates after score a century (100 runs) in the second one day international (ODI) match against Sri Lanka at the National Cricket Stadium in Karachi yesterday. RIGHT: Sri Lanka’s batsman Dasun Shanaka (right) touches their gloves with teammate Shehan Jayasuriya during their innings.

Rohit auditions as opener as SA face spin testREUTERS MUMBAI

Limited-overs batting stalwart Rohit Sharma will have another chance to resurrect his stop-start Test career, but this time as an opener, when India kick off their three-match home series against South Africa at Visakhapatnam tomorrow.

India axed struggling opener KL Rahul after he went 12 Test innings without a 50-plus score and struggled on the recent tour of West Indies where India won both the matches to top the World Test Championship table.

Rohit, 32, has cemented his place at the top of the batting order in the Twenty20 and 50-over formats and finished with most number of runs in the World Cup in England recently.

The only player in the world with three double hundreds in one-day internationals, the right-hander bats in the middle order in the longest format but has never really flourished as a Test batsman.

Despite his World Cup exploits he was not able to break into the side as a middle order batsman during the two tests in the Caribbean, leading former players and local media to clamour for Rohit to be tried as an opener in Tests.

With regular opener Prithvi Shaw, who is currently serving a doping ban, not available for selection Rohit is all set to walk out to open the innings tomorrow with Mayank Agarwal in his 28th Test for India.

“We want to give Rohit Sharma an opportunity to open the innings in Tests,” chief selector MSK Prasad had said after naming India’s 15-member squad for the series.

While opening is the only shaky spot in an otherwise settled Indian batting order, the top-ranked Test side in the world were dealt a body blow when their pace bowling ace Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the series with a stress fracture in his back.

India will also have to choose

between experienced wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha, who was recalled after being out injured for more than a year, and the young Rishabh Pant for the wicketkeeper’s role.

While Saha is considered a better glovesman, Pant has been earmarked as the successor in all three formats to Mahendra Singh Dhoni but has been short of runs with his temperament and shot selection under the lens.

The onus will be on India’s slow bowlers to deliver the goods on spin-friendly tracks for the hosts with off-spinner Ravi-chandran Ashwin and his left-arm colleague Ravindra Jadeja expected to inflict maximum damage on the South Africa batsmen.

Ashwin and Jadeja took 54 wickets between themselves in India’s 3-0 win in the four-Test series the last time the Proteas toured the country.

The South Africans, who spectacularly lost at home 2-0 to Sri Lanka in their last series, will have to find a way to handle

India’s spinners if they are to make a strong start to their World Test Championship campaign.

“It’s a tough start... playing India in India but I don’t think the South Africans would have wanted it any other way... take the big dogs in their home ground,” experienced fast bowler Vernon Philander said.

“All of us are looking forward to this challenge and there are a lot of player-to-player chal-lenges as well. Can’t wait to get going.”

The Faf du Plessis-led side have included three uncapped players - paceman Anrich Nortje, wicketkeeper Rudi Second and all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy - in their squad as they begin life without retired veterans Dale Steyn and Hashim Amla.

The touring side will have interim team director Enoch Nkwe in charge after the decision not to renew the contract of West Indian coach Ottis Gibson fol-lowing a disappointing World Cup campaign for the side.

Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma

bats in the nets during a practice

session prior to the first Test match against South Africa in Visakhapatnam

yesterday. The first Test

match will start tomorrow.

Tennis: Venus and Halep lose at China OpenAP BEIJING

Former top-ranked players Venus Williams and Simona Halep both lost in the second round of the China Open yesterday.

Williams lost 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to ninth-seeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, who saved two match points in the final set to outlast the seven-time Grand Slam champion despite making 40 unforced errors in the match.

She will next face the winner of seventh-seeded Petra Kvitova and Kristina Mlad-enovic in the round of 16.

Halep, the reigning Wim-b l e d o n champion, lost 6-2, 6-3 to u n s e e d e d Russian Ekat-erina Alexan-drovam, who earned just her second career win against a t o p - 1 0 opponent.

Halep was playing on back-to-back days after defeating Swe-den’s Rebecca

Peterson on Sunday. The Romanian has been nursing a back injury that forced her to retire at Wuhan last week.

“It was a tough one today. I didn’t recover well after my first match, so it was very tough for me to play and she played really well,” Halep said. “The injury from Wuhan, it’s getting worse, so I have to go home and take an MRI... take a break and do some treatment.”

Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki hit seven aces as she cruised past American qualifier Lauren Davis 6-1, 6-3 in her opening match of the tournament.

The former No. 1 will face another American, Christina McHale, in the second round. In her first match since winning the US Open, Canada’s Bianca Andreescu ousted Aliak-sandra Sasnovitch of Belarus 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.

The fifth-seeded Andreescu broke her opponent six times and

saved 12 of 16 break points for her 14th straight victory.

“I’m on a roll right now. Hopefully I can just keep it up because I think it gives me a lot

of confidence,” Andreescu said.She will next play Elise

Mertens in a repeat of the US Open quarterfinals.

In the men’s tournament,

second-seeded Alexander Zverev beat Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-2, while fourth-seeded Karen Khachanov of Russia defeated Pablo Cuevas 6-2, 7-6 (7).

Remaining Tennis EventsATP

Sept. 27-Oct. 5 - China Open, HOSept. 27-Oct. 5 - Japan Open, HOOct. 4-13 - Shanghai Masters, HOOct. 12-20 - European Open, HOOct. 11-20 - VTB Kremlin Cup, HOOct. 11-20 - IF Stockholm Open, HOOct. 18-27 - Swiss Indoors Basel, HOOct. 18-27 - Erste Bank Open 500, HOOct. 25-Nov. 2 - Tennis Paris Masters, HONov. 4-9 - Next Gen ATP Finals, HONov. 9-17 - World Tour Finals, HO

WTASept. 26-Oct. 5 - China Open, HOOct. 5-13 - Ladies Linz Austria, HOOct. 4-13 - Tianjin Open, HOOct. 11-20 - Luxembourg Open, HOOct. 11-20 - VTB Kremlin Cup, HOOct. 21-27 - Elite Trophy, HOOct. 26-Nov. 2 - Finals, HO

Pakistan marks return of ODIs with 67-run winAP KARACHI

Pakistan marked the return of ODI cricket in Karachi after 10 years with a 67-run victory over Sri Lanka in the second one-day international yesterday.

Babar Azam formed the backbone of Pakistan’s strong total of 305-7 as he smashed 115 off 105 balls. Babar also became the fastest Pakistani batsman to complete 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year in 19 matches.

In the absence of some key players who pulled out of the tour due to security concerns, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 238 in 46.5 overs.

Shehan Jayas-uriya (96) missed out on a maiden ODI hundred and Dasun Shanaka made a career-best 68 before both fell in successive overs after sharing a century partnership.

Left-arm fast bowler Usman Shinwari rattled Sri Lanka’s inexperienced top order and reduced the visitors to 28-5 before Jayasuriya and Shanaka shared a 177-run sixth-wicket stand.

Shinwari returned and broke the part-nership by having Jayasuriya caught behind and finished with 5-51. Shanaka was bril-liantly snapped at midwicket by the diving Fakhar Zaman off leg-spinner Shadab Khan (2-76) in the next over.

PAKISTANFakhar Zaman c Udana b Hassaranga ...........54

Imam-ul-Haq lbw b de Silva .............................31

Babar Azam c Hasaranga b Kumara ............. 115

Haris Sohail run out ..........................................40

Sarfaraz Ahmed run out .....................................8

Iftikhar Ahmed not out .................................... 32

Imad Wasim c Fernando b Udana ................. 12

Wahab Riaz run out ............................................ 2

Extras: (lb 8, nb 2, w1) ..................................... 11

Total (for seven wkts; 50 overs) ........ 305Did not bat: Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir,

Usman Shinwari

Fall of wickets: 1-73, 2-104, 3-215, 4-242, 5-261,

6-278, 7-305

Bowling: Jayasuriya 10-1-48-0, Pradeep 9-0-59-

0, Udana 9-0-60-1, Kumara 10-0-59-1, Gunathila-

ka 2-0-8-0, Hasaranga 10-0-63-2

SRI LANKAD. Gunathilaka c Wasim b Amir ...................... 14

S. Samarawickrama b Shinwari .........................6

A. Fernando c Fakhar b Shinwari ......................0

O. Fernando lbw b Wasim ..................................1

L. Thirimanne c Sarfaraz b Shinwari ................0

S. Jayasuriya c Sarfaraz b Shinwari ................96

D. Shanaka c Zaman b Shadab .......................68

W. Hasaranga c Iftikra b Shadab ....................30

I. Udana c Sarfaraz b Shinwari ...........................1

L. Kumara lbw b Wahab ......................................1

N. Pradeep not out ..............................................0

Extras: (b1, lb 15, w 5) ..................................... 21

Total: (all out; 46.5 overs) .................. 238Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-22, 3-22, 4-22, 5-28,

6-205, 7-205, 8-211

Bowling: Amir 7-1-21-1 (2w), Shinwari 10-1-51-5

(1w), Wasim 7-1-38-1, Wahab 9-0-27-1 Shadab

9.5-0-76-2 (1w), Iftikar 4-1-9-0 (1w)

SCOREBOARD

People play tennis in the Fort Washington Park in Harlem on a sunny afternoon in late summer in New York City. Fort Washington Park is a public park located in the Washington Heights section of Upper Manhattan, New York City. It runs along the banks of the Hudson River next to Riverside Drive from West 155th Street to Dyckman Street.

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Former champions Al Sadd will be looking to make the most of home advantage when they host Saudi giants Al Hilal today in the first leg of the AFC Champion League (ACL) semi-final.

Al Sadd, the winners in 2011, reached the last four of the hugely popular tour-nament after they demolished Saudi side Al Nassr two weeks ago with a 3-1 win at Jassim BIn Hamad Stadium.

The two sides are both domestically nicknamed ‘Al Zaeem’ or The Boss, as the most decorated in their respective nations.

They also boast a proud continental history, having won Asia’s prime club competition on two occasions each.

Al Hilal’s two triumphs came in the Asian Club Championship in 1992 and 2000, while Al Sadd won it in 1989 before lifting the 2011 AFC Champions League title.

Al Sadd’s path to a second consec-utive semi-final was not easy; in fact, the Qataris started their campaign with a 2-0 defeat against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli before recovering to collect 10 points over the next four Group D fixtures.

A 2-0 last match-day reversal at Persepolis didn’t matter as Al Sadd pro-gressed as group leaders.

Akram Afif scored in both legs as a 1-1 draw was followed by a 3-1 home win over their domestic rivals to send Al Sadd into the quarter-finals.

Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr provided a stern test at the last eight stage, beating Xavi’s men 2-1 in Riyadh and holding out for a 1-1 draw in Doha until the final half an hour.

Al Sadd pulled through as goals from Hassan Al Haydos and Baghdad Bounedjah sealed victory and a semi-final ticket for the Qataris.

Despite being drawn in a so-called ‘Group of Death’ alongside Al Ain, Al Duhail and Esteghlal, Al Hilal stormed to the next round with a game to spare, collecting 13 points in the process.

Awaiting them in the Round of 16 were Al Ahli, who were brushed aside on their own soil 4-2, making their 1-0 return leg win in Riyadh merely a con-solation as Al Hilal advanced to the quarter-finals.

Another domestic rival was Al Hilal’s opponent in the next stage; this time it

was two-time ACL winners Al Ittihad.The first leg in Jeddah ended

goalless, and Al Ittihad took an early lead in the reverse fixture. Razvan Lucescu’s men showed immense mental strength to turn the tie through and earn a 3-1 victory to set up the semi-final clash against Al Sadd.

Despite a wealth of attacking talent at Xavi’s disposal, left-back Abdelkarim Hassan remains one of the most influ-ential figures in the side.

The role of the 2018 AFC Player of The Year in providing width is doubly as important in the absence of right-back Pedro Miguel.

Hassan is also an attacking threat

from set-pieces as dem-onstrated by his thun-derous free-kick goal against Al Duhail in the Round of 16.

Since his arrival at Al Hilal, coach Lucescu has made Mohammed Kanno the centrepiece of his side.

The midfielder combines physical presence, positional awareness and tech-nical abilities, ena-bling him to con-tribute to both the

attacking and defensive phases of play.When the team push forward in

numbers as they often do, Kanno finds that balance between anchoring mid-field or arriving late into the final third to create an additional outlet.

The Al Sadd-Al Hilal return leg will be played in Riyadh on October 22.

Ahmed Al Kaf of Oman will offi-ciate the match. His compatriots

Abdullah Saeed and O m a r A l

Yaqoobi will b e t h e a s s i s t a n t referees . Abdullah Ali will be the fourth official.

SPORT 08TUESDAY 1 OCTOBER 2019

To be standing here as world champion again after having my baby,

I am elated. The females keep showing up. We love to put on a performance and for me I am just really happy to

come away with the win.

Jamaican sprint queen Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce after winning the women’s 100 metres gold on Sunday.

AL SADD (QAT) VS AL HILAL SFC (KSA) at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium (Doha) 18:30

TOMORROW’S FIXTUREURAWA RED DIAMONDS VS GUANGZHOU EVERGRANDE

TODAY’S FIXTURE

Action from last year’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Al Shaqab rider Mohammed Khalifa Al Sowaidi astride Sa’ada Al Shaqab during the FEI Meydan World Endurance Championship - Young Horses 2019 in Italy.

Al Sadd’s players in action during a practice session ahead of today’s AFC Champion League semi-final first leg match against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.

Al Sadd set for feisty clash against Al Hilal

dem-hun-goal

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medece

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c ate t e atc . s co pat otsAbdullah Saeed and

O m a r A lYaqoobi will

b e t h e a s s i s t a n treferees . AbdullahAli will be the fourth official.

fififififififififififififinal nal nal nal nanalnalalnaaallaaal aanaaa

Al Shaqab rider claims top 10 spot at World Endurance Championship - Young HorsesTHE PENINSULA DOHA

Al Shaqab, member of Qatar Foun-dation, was in the spotlight once again when a member of the Al Shaqab Endurance team claimed a top-10 place at the FEI Meydan World Endurance Championship - Young Horses 2019 that recently concluded in Italy.

Al Shaqab rider Mohammed Khalifa Al Sowaidi and his horse, Sa’ada Al Shaqab, earned 7th place in the event, which was aimed at 7-year-old horses.

Taking on competitors from several countries, Al Sowaidi and Sa’ada Al Shaqab covered a distance of 120km.

In total, four horses and riders from

Al Shaqab competed in the prestigious championship.

Home of the Qatari National Team, Al Shaqab’s Endurance Department has a squad of 12 riders including two junior riders - and 130 horses. The team par-ticipates in national, regional, and inter-national endurance events.

All of the horses that participated in the championship were bred at Al Shaqab’s state-of-the-art equestrian facility.

Endurance horse racing is a niche equestrian sport that is rapidly growing in popularity. Al Shaqab’s Endurance Department was developed to further promote Qatar’s equestrian heritage and to raise and nurture the country’s next generation of riders.

Stage set for Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchampTHE PENINSULA DOHA

The scene is all set for the 2019 renewal of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend, which will take place at ParisLongchamp on October 5 and 6.

A number of associated events will be staged prior to the prestigious weekend with the Arqana Arabian Sale organised at Saint-Cloud on Thursday.

The same racecourse will host a race day with two Qatar-named races for three-year-old Arabians the next day. On Saturday and Sunday, the truly spectacular Paris-Longchamp will be the scene of action for the iconic event, which has been Qatar-spon-sored since 2008 under the partnership agreement between the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) and France Galop. Saturday, 5

October, will have a nine-race card, including six group 1 and 2 races involving a group 1 race for four-year-old pure Arabian mares. The day will conclude with the Arqana Arc Sale for the thoroughbred horses. Following the annual tradition, action will cul-minate on the first Sunday of October with the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe day, which will include seven group 1 races out of eight. Only 40 minutes before the mega Arc race, the Qatar Arabian World Cup will see the world’s top purebred Arabian runners contesting for the coveted title. The venue and the timing of running the most prestigious racing events for pure Ara-bians have been a very pos-itive development in enhancing the standing of Arabian racing worldwide.

Commenting on the preperations, QREC Chairman

Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi said: “We have been preparing for this event for a long time now, through continued coordination between us at QREC and France Galop. In fact, we seek maximum benefits from this sponsorship in accordance with the set objectives and our efforts to achieve the QREC’s strategy and vision of pro-moting Qatar as a world hub

for horseracing and a leader in the pure Arabian breed. Qatar’s horses have been running and performing actively in the international races we sponsor overseas for several years now. Several memorable successes were realised in the recent years, including the Al Shaqab Racing-owned TREVE’s stunning victories in the 2013 and 2014 editions of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. In addition, Qatar excelled and dominated the previous edi-tions of the Qatar Arabian World Cup, which have been landed several times by horses owned by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani and A Shaqab Racing. We look forward to main-taining success this year, not only at the organisational level, but also in terms of excellence at the races.”

QREC Chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi

Al Sadd’s coach Xavi Hernandez