RIZWAN REHMAT THE PENINSULA

Hosts Qatar will allow fan attendance at both of their FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020 venues, top officials confirmed yesterday.

The Feb 4-11 football event was initially scheduled to be held in December last year but delayed by two months after COVID-19 pandemic disrupted sports events around the world.

Qatar’s brand new 2022 FIFA World Cup venues Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium and Education City Stadium will host the matches involving six teams including European giants Bayern Munich and Qatari side Al Duhail.

“This competition will allow 30 percent fan attendance at each of the two venues,” Dr Abdulwahab Al Musleh, Senior Consultant to the Minister of Public Health (MOPH), con-firmed yesterday.

“We have to maintain social distancing that reduces the risk (at the venues),” Dr Abdul-wahab said at a press con-ference arranged to announce the arrangements being carried out by the Local Organising Committee (LOC).

“There will be temperature checks at entry points of the two venues,” he said.

Dr Abdulwahab said fans wanting to purchase match tickets will have to pass strict qualification process.

“Fans wanting to purchase tickets will fall into three cate-gories: First, fans who have received the second dose of vaccine, a week after their second shot, can purchase tickets without any tests,” Dr Abdulwahab said. “In the

second category, fans who con-tracted the virus after October 1, 2020, but are free after recov-ering from the virus can also purchase tickets without having to be tested.

“The third group is for those who will have to undergo tests at QNCC 48 or 72 hours prior to a match. Once they clear the test, then they can purchase the ticket,” he said.

The senior MOPH official said the LOC has completed a comprehensive safety template to welcome the visiting teams.

“The LOC and other state authorities have put in place comprehensive health and safety protocols which will be implemented strictly. We have adopted the bubble-to-bubble system for this tournament also,” Dr Abdulwahab said.

“All the participants will have to show they are not car-rying the virus. Swab tests will be conducted at the airport when the teams arrive. Once they are tested, the teams will go straight into the bubble

system so that they can take part in training and matches,” he said. “And yes, there will be swab tests for everyone including the international media,” he added.

When asked about the pos-sibility of raising the attendance from 30 percent to 50 percent like it was done for the Amir Cup final held on Dec 18, Dr Abdulwahab said: “The MOPH laid down safety protocols in September last year to allow 30 percent fans for local and inter-national sports events. We would be examining the potential raise in capacity if the rate of positive cases drops. Recently the positive rate has increased slightly so we cannot go beyond 30 per cent.”

The MOPH official said pre-ventive measures would help Qatar deliver a successful edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.

“In the last three months, Qatar has hosted international sports events during COVID-19 times. Qatar achieved great

success during those events and that encouraged FIFA to resume its delayed activities,” Dr Abdul-wahab said. “It (resumption of football) allowed Qatar to host another edition of the Club World Cup. We have to adopt certain preventive measures that will guarantee the success of this event. We are taking all necessary precautions with health protocols provided by top-class medical teams 24 hours a day around the bubble,” he added.

“Of course the experience of hosting the Asian Champions League (ACL) matches has been very useful along with the staging of the Amir Cup. We had other international events also. We gained huge experience managing and conducting top events. We learned about the safety margin.

“That is evidenced by the positive rates in the bubble that was much lower than in rest of the country. We have the lowest positive rate in the world cur-rently. The measures we took

helped us stay away from the second wave. Those measures and the public com-pliance, like social dis-tancing a n d o t h e r measures, helped us immensely,” he said.

Jassim Al Jassim, Director of Venue Opera-tions and Overlays, LOC, said yesterday: “We are happy to host the 17th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup. As you know, it will be held in two venues from Feb 4 to 11. It will begin with a game between Qatari and African champions. The two venues will be tested during this

championship. Around 80 to 90 percent of the preparations will be the same during the World Cup in 2022.”

He added: “The teams com-peting in Qatar are big with top-class players. This is an oppor-tunity for the players to test the facilities in Qatar and see the 2022 FIFA World Cup infra-structure. During the Amir Cup final, there was a FIFA dele-gation that expressed its satis-faction that Ahmed bin Ali Stadium can host matches at 30 percent capacity now and 100 percent when the pandemic sit-uations improves.”

Fatma Al Nuaimi, the Com-munications Executive Director, LOC, said yesterday: “This is the

second edition of the FIFA Club World

Cup to be held in Q a t a r . Remember, w e a r e hosting this event during

COVID times. Ticket sales

have started. Public can start

buying tickets from Sunday. Tickets can

be bought from FIFA website. All ticket

details are available on the FIFA website. Even the media will have to follow health and safety protocols. The press con-ferences will be conducted virtually. The visiting media will have to abide by the pandemic laws in the country. The interna-tional media will be fol-lowing the bubble rules. We will not be having any public events at the venues.”

THE PENINSULA – DOHA

Asian champions Qatar yesterday staged a fierce comeback to overturn a one-goal deficit in the first period to defeat Bahrain 28-23 in their IHF Handball World Championship Main Round - Group II match.

At the Cairo Stadium Sports Hall in Cairo, Egypt, the first period ended with Bahrain holding a narrow 14-13 lead.

Qatari star Rafael Capote and Bahrain's Mohamed Ahmed both managed to score five goals each in the first 30 minutes.

Qatar turned the one goal deficit into a 5-goal win, thanks to Capote forking out another four goals and a number of sus-pensions hitting the Bahrain team. Danijel Saric made an extraordinary number of saves to further his side’s cause too.

Capote recorded a 90% success in scoring as he went on to earned the Player of the Match award.

Qatar coach Valero Rivera was happy with how his side performed in their 28-23 win

against the West Asian neighbours.

"We did really well defen-sively and offensively too as well as in goalkeeping," said Rivera.

"Bahrain were a strong

opponent, but fatigue settled in as we saw in the first period. There were many fast breaks. "Argentina will be tough oppo-nents too, so we will have to do our best in the next match."

Qatari player Ali Anad was bullish about his side's comeback.

"We made the comeback even though we're missing seven players," said Anad.

"Bahrain are a big team, but we did what the coach asked us to do."

Bahrain coach Halldur Sig-fusson lamented the lack of focus his team showed in the final 10 minutes.

"This match is obviously important for special reasons to both sides," said Sigfusson.

"We controlled the first period and got in front, but we lost it in the second period and made several mistakes. We tried to make the comeback but it was too late."

Qatar face Argentina tomorrow, while already-elimi-nated Bahrain and Japan meet in an all Asian clash on the same day.

Also yesterday, Spain smashed Uruguay 38-23 in their second match of Group I.

The La Roja Furia snatched the upper hand of the game against Uruguay from the beginning as they finished the first period with a 24-12 lead.

Spain continued their superb show in the second period and finished the game with a 38-23 victory over La Celeste.

QATAR SENIOR MEN'S VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE: Police SC beat Al Khor SC 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-13) - Police emerge League champions

SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2021

Barty itching to get started at Australian OpenThey can think whatever they like. If they expect me to win the tournament, then that’s their expectations. But mine certainly aren’t that for now. It’s about doing the right things right from the start, from the very first match. If it’s good enough, it is. And if it’s not, it’s not. But that’s OK.

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World number one Ash Barty

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Qatar’s Frankis Marzo prepares to score against Bahrain during their IHF Handball World Championship Main Round Group 2 match, yesterday.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTSGroup I

Uruguay 23-38 SpainGroup II

Qatar 28-23 Bahrain

Capote shines as Qatar beat Bahrain 28-23

Qatar set to host FIFA Club World CupWith COVID-19 prevention code in place, fan attendance allowed at venues

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dressing the media at a press conference

REUTERS – MELBOURNE

Spain’s tennis federation (RFET) on Saturday apologised to Tennis Australia (TA) after complaining about the treatment of two Spanish players in quarantine before next month’s Australian Open.

More than 70 players have been confined to their rooms after some passengers on three charter flights that brought them to Australia tested pos-itive for the new coronavirus. Other players are able to train for up to five hours a day.

The federation had said on Thursday said two players - Mario Vilella and Carlos Alcaraz - had not been informed they would be strictly confined if they were on a flight with someone who tested positive “regardless of the physical proximity”.

Spanish federation apologises to Tennis Australia

11SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2021 SPORT

Players and officials celebrate

as Police SC captain Sadikh

Nadir Abubacke receives the

Championship trophy following their win over Al

Khor in the Qatar Men’s Volleyball

League. Police SC emerged

champions after defeating Al Khor 3-0 (25-16, 25-14,

25-13) at the Qatar Volleyball

Association (QVA) hall. This is the

second consecutive title for Police SC,

who gained an unassailable lead

over their rivals in the points table.

Police SC emerge QVA League champions

Hind Al Rayyan, Emarella win titles at Arabian Horse ChampionshipTHE PENINSULA – DOHA

Hind Al Rayyan, owned by Al Rayyan Farm emerged victorious in the Yearling Fillies Class 3A for one-year-old foals as the 23rd Qatar Arabian Horse Champi-onship continued at the Longines Indoor Arena At Al Shaqab yesterday.

Organised by the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, the premier Arabian Horse show kicked off on Thursday with more than 450 horses vying for honours.

Al Shaqab's Ijlal Al Shaqab won the silver trophy in the Class 3A event while Jazi Al Ashwa, owned by Ghanem Muhammad Al Khayarin secured the third place. At the fourth place was Faisal Muhammad Fattis-owned Shaden FT while Al Kaida Al Saree, owned by Al Saree Stud, was placed fifth.

Al Jassimiya Farm's Emarella emerged victorious in the 2-year-Old Fillies Class 4A while Reem Al Sraiya - owned by Al Sraiya Stud, won the silver trophy. Al Shaqab's Duja Al Shaqab finished third.

Al Sraiya Stud-owned Temooh Al Shahania and Heboob Al Sha-hania, owned by Khalid Salem Al Hajri, rounded up the top five.

In the Yearling Fillies Class 3D, Asayel AlAthba, owned by Al Athba Stud, won the gold trophy.

IS Shireen, owned by Ibrahim bin Yusef Al Rumaihi won the first place in the Yearling Fillies Class 3A while Al Nasser Stud's Shee-hanah Al Nasser.

Al Shaqab-owned Wod Al Shaqab was placed third.

The tournament continues today.

The representative of Al Rayyan Farm receiving the Gold Trophy after Hind Al Rayyan won the Yearling Fillies Class 3A event during the 23rd Qatar Arabian Horse Championship at the Longines Indoor Arena At Al Shaqab yesterday. BOTTOM: Class 4A winner Emarella's representative receiving the Gold Trophy.

The podium winners of the Level 1 Dressage event during eighth round of the Longines Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour posing for a photograph with officials at the presentation ceremony yesterday. Monopoly, ridden by Jassim Al Jaham Al Kuwari won the Level 1 competition. BOTTOM: Al Kuwari and Monopoly in action.

The podium winners of the Level 2 competition.

Longines Hathab Round 8: Dressage competition winners

QSTK 600: Al Sulaiti shines in first roundTHE PENINSULA – DOHA

Experienced rider Saeed Al Sulaiti yesterday powered to impressive wins in the first round of the Qatar Super-stock 600 at the Losail International Circuit.

The six-leg series kicked off in spectacular fashion as last year’s runner-up Al Sulaiti – who grabbed the pole position on Friday - proved too strong for defending champion Abdulla Al Qubaisi and seasoned rider Mashel Al Naimi.

Riding is ‘much improved’ Yamaha YZF-R6, Al Sulaiti, 35, left his rivals in awe of his superb start to the new season.

In the first race, Al Sulaiti’s winning margin was +7.014 seconds, while in the second it was +6.548. Al Qubaisi and Al Nuaimi finished second and third respectively in both races topped by Al Sulaiti.

“I am very happy to win both races. I really worked hard with the team and we were able to work on a good bike. In the first race, I managed to make a good gap from the beginning. It was nice to win the race like this,” said Al Sulaiti.

“In the second race, Abdulla was difficult to keep pace with in the first few laps but I managed to keep my rhythm and then was consistent. In the middle of the race I kept the gap. Hope-fully I can keep such performances and keep improving with the bike,” he added.

In the QSSP 300 class, Yousif Al Darwish edged out Saad Al Harqan for victory by just +0.470 seconds.

Alexian Macary secured the third spot. Al Darwish had finished second in

the Race 1 on Friday, while Al Harqan was placed third in the season’s first round. Race 1 winner Hamad Al Sahouti had to be content with fourth spot yesterday.

In the Qatar Touring Car Champi-onship (QTCC), the unbeatable Abdullah Al Khelaifi and Ghanim Al Maadeed won a race each (10 laps, 53.8 km).

Al Khelaifi, a three-time champion, was in a class of his own in Race 1 as he romped to victory with ease. His winning margin over second-placed Ahmed Al Muhannadi was +14.945 seconds. Hamad Al Asam finished in third place.

Al Maadeed, who had retired from Race 1 after four laps, won the second race, with Al Khelaifi finishing runner-up. Al Muhannadi was third.

“It feels very nice to be on the podium after such a long break,” Al Maadeed said.

“Last year, I had nine podiums out of 10. This year we couldn’t complete

the first race but won the second. We had some issues. Hopefully the next round we will be targeting the podiums in both races. For next round, we will work harder,” he added.

QMMF President Abdulrahman Al Mannai, LCSC Vice President and General Manager Khalid Al Remaihi and QMMF Executive Director Amro Al Hamad presented the trophies.

QSTK 600 - RACE 11- Saeed Al Sulaiti, 2- Abdullah Al Qubaisi, 3- Meshaal Al NuaimiRace 21- Saeed Al Sulaiti , 2- Abdullah Al Qubaisi, 3- Meshaal Al Nuaimi

QSSP 300 - RACE 21- Yousif Al Darwish, 2- Saad Al Harqan, 3- Alexian Macary

QTCC 2 K RACE 11- Abdullah Al Khulaifi, 2- Ahmed Al Muhannadi, 3- Hamad Al AsamRace 21- Ghanim Al Maadeed, 2- Abdullah Al Khulaifi, 3- Ahmed Al Mohannadi

Swimming Australia eyes Plan B in case of Tokyo cancellation

REUTERS – SYDNEY

Swimming Australia has started discussions about a replacement domestic or virtual international competition for its athletes in case the Tokyo Olympics are cancelled, pres-ident Kieren Perkins said.

Organisers were forced to reiterate their commitment to holding the Games in July and August after a report on Friday said Japan’s government had privately concluded the Games would have to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If the worst happens and Tokyo is can-celled, for our athletes who have had the opportunity to prepare and work so hard for so long to get to this moment, I think it behoves us to give them the best chance to at least test themselves and see what that work has created,” Perkins, who won gold medals at the 1992 and 1996 Games, told the Australian newspaper.

The participating riders, drivers and officials posing for a photograph before the opening round of the races at the Losail International Circuit yesterday.

Abdullah Al Qubaisi (left), Saeed Al

Sulaiti (centre), and Meshaal Al Nuaimi,

the podium winners of QSTK 600 Race 1 celebrate on the

podium.

10 SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2021SPORT

FIVB World Tour to make Doha return in MarchTHE PENINSULA — DOHA

The FIVB yesterday announced that international beach volleyball action will return with the World Tour 4-star Katara Beach Volleyball Cup double gender event in Doha. The event to be held in a bio-secure bubble will run from March 8 to 12, 2021.

The 4-star event will mark the start of the 2021 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour and feature some of the world’s top-ranked beach volleyball players competing for a total prize money of 300,000 USD.

The event will also serve as an Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 qualifi-cation tournament with 400 Olympic ranking points on offer for the eventual champions of the Katara Cup.

It will be the first top-tier beach vol-leyball event to return to the calendar after the outbreak of the global health crisis.

The FIVB and Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) have worked in close cooperation to develop strict health protocols that will be implemented at the competition to ensure the health and wellbeing of everyone involved.

In particular, the entire compe-tition, including all competition venues, training facilities and the hotel, will be

held in a bio-secure bubble. Athletes will also have to be tested both prior to travelling and upon arrival, before being escorted to the tournament bubble. Hosts Qatar already have a proven track record when it comes to staging safe and secure international sports events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, the QVA will organise

a World Tour 1-star men’s event on 22-26 February at the Qatar Beach Vol-leyball Academy in Al Gharafa Sports Club, Doha, where the planned health protocols will be tested further.

Last year’s edition of the 4-star Katara Cup men’s event held in Doha was the final big beach volleyball com-petition before the calendar was dis-rupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event will also serve as

an Olympic Games Tokyo

2020 qualification

tournament with 400

Olympic ranking points on

offer for the eventual

champions of the Katara

Cup.

QBF Secretary General Ali Saeed Al Malki (centre) along with other officials attends the Qatar Cup draw yesterday. As many nine teams are participating in this year’s edition.

Al Shamal, Al Gharafa set for Qatar League final

Al Shamal coach Hassan Hashad and Al Gharafa coach Qusay Hatem pose with the Qatar Basketball League trophy after a pre-final press conference at the Al Gharafa Indoor Hall, yesterday. Both the coaches predicted an exciting title clash, which will be played today.

FA Cup: Southampton knock holders Arsenal outREUTERS — SOUTHAMPTON

Holders Arsenal bowed out of the FA Cup in the fourth round in disappointing fashion as Gabriel’s first-half own goal condemned them to a 1-0 defeat by Southampton yesterday.

The Gunners’ defence of the trophy they won by beating Chelsea last August ended with something of a whimper as Mikel Arteta’s side struggled with repeatedly sloppy defending.

Southampton deservedly took the lead in the 24th minute when Kyle Walker-Peters drilled a low cross into the area and Gabriel inadvertently touched it past keeper Bernd Leno.

Arsenal could have fallen further behind with home striker Danny Ings going close for the hosts on several occasions.

The visitors did apply some second-half pressure but South-ampton were comfortable as they held on to set up a fifth-r o u n d c l a s h w i t h

Wolverhampton Wanderers. It was Southampton’s first FA Cup win over Arsenal, and the first time they had beaten Cup holders since 1902.

“We had in the first half more punch and more power,” Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said.

“In the second half it’s normal they have a lift. We must make the second goal. We made one or two chances -- Shane Long should have got a penalty.

“It was a good team per-formance today.”

Southampton were joined in the last 16 by top-flight rivals West Ham United who crushed third-tier Doncaster Rovers 4-0, Brighton & Hove Albion who beat Blackpool 2-1 and Sheffield United who edged Ply-mouth Argyle 2-1.

Championship high-flyers Swansea City thrashed Not-tingham Forest 5-1 and could face Manchester City next if Pep Guardiola’s side beat fourth-tier Cheltenham Town later.

Norwich City lost 1-0 at Barnsley.

With a busy Premier League

spell coming up, including another trip to Southampton in midweek, Arteta made some changes with the likes of Alex-andre Lacazette, Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey amongst

those on the bench. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was also missing from the squad for per-sonal reasons.

But that was no excuse for a lacklustre first half in which

Southampton’s pressing game proved too much for the vis-itors. Southampton’s goal was a case in point. Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny was hounded into conceding possession, Southampton then switched play to the right with James Ward-Prowse feeding Walker-Peters whose cross was diverted in by a sliding Gabriel.

It was the first goal Arsenal had conceded since Boxing Day.

Ings hit the woodwork shortly after the break, although his effort would have been offside, before Arsenal finally began to offer some attacking threat.

Arteta sent on Partey, Saka and Lacazette and shortly after-wards Rob Holding side-footed their best chance over the bar when a cross from Hector Bel-lerin fell kindly for him.

Eddie Nketiah blazed a late chance wide for Arsenal to leave Arteta frustrated at a first loss in seven games.

“Really sad to be out of the competition. Disappointed to be out and the way we conceded,” the Spaniard said.

Southampton’s Theo Walcott in action with Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka during their FA Cup match, yesterday.

Tunisian international Youssef Msakni poses with the Al Arabi Sports Club officials after he joined the QSL side following an 18-month loan deal from Al Duhail. It will be a new chapter for the Tunisian star, who joined Duhail (then Lekhwiya) in 2012.

Super Cup euphoria can help Juve find form: PirloREUTERS — MILAN

Andrea Pirlo believes that the euphoria of Juventus’ Italian Super Cup triumph over Napoli can help his side revive their flagging Serie A title defence.

The Turin club won 2-0 in the annual showdown between the league and cup holders on Wednesday to clinch the first trophy of Pirlo’s coaching career.

It eased the pressure on the 41-year-old after a 2-0 “Derby of Italy” defeat to Inter Milan last weekend that left his side 10 points behind league leaders AC Milan in the Serie A standings.

The coach was hopeful that the Napoli result will help his side build momentum ahead of their league game against Bologna today.

“It left us with great enthu-siasm because winning helps you to keep winning,” he said at a media conference.

“There has been a real euphoria and enthusiasm over the last few days, and we’ve managed to train well despite the tiredness, with our minds on future objectives.”

Pirlo’s side has struggled for consistency lately, losing two of their last five league games and failing to keep a clean sheet in that time, despite winning the other three matches.

“We’ve had a lot of highs and lows, like other teams. This is down to having so many games, from not having enough preparation time.

“Every team has mental fatigue, it’s not easy to stay focused for 90 minutes every three days. We’re working on it.”

Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo

Guardiola calls for fewer teams in Premier League and EFLREUTERS — MANCHESTER

Manchester City boss Pep Guar-diola (pictured) has called for a reduction in the number of clubs in the Premier League and English Football League to improve the quality of compe-tition amid talk of a breakaway European Super League.

The concept of a European Super League, as an alternative to European soccer governing body UEFA’s flagship Cham-pions League, has been floated for years but speculation has

increased in the past two years.The Times newspaper said

it had seen a proposal for the Super League that outlined plans for a competition with 15 founding members and five other clubs qualifying annually.

The plan envisages the 20 clubs being split into two groups of 10 and playing between 18 and 23 European matches a season.

But Guardiola declined to be drawn into a discussion about it and said it was important to strengthen domestic leagues.

“I have the feeling that we

cannot lose what local leagues mean - what it means to play the FA Cup... what it means to play in the leagues,” Spaniard Guardiola said ahead of yester-day’s FA Cup clash with fourth-tier Cheltenham Town.

“What we should do is make every league in Europe stronger than what it is, less teams, better championships, better League One, better League Two, better Premier League with less teams in every competition. Go to quality over quantity.

“You have to make a super

Premier League... for that you have to reduce teams. But we can’t kill lower divisions or the Premier League.

“That’s something that is so important. It’s not about other benefits, it’s about how important sen-timentally it is having your own league for every country,” the coach added.

ague and EFLLeague... for that you

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AFC to hold Champions League and Cup Draws on January 27QNA — KUALA LUMPUR

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced that the draws for 2021 AFC Cup and AFC Champions League will take place in a virtual ceremony on January 27, 2021 in Malaysia.

Both club competitions will see a record number of clubs compete in 2021, with two additional groups one each for the East and West Regions included in this season’s AFC Cham-pions League Group Stage, which has expanded from 32 to 40 clubs.

Similarly, the number of clubs in the 2021 Group Stage of the ever-growing AFC Cup may rise to 39 clubs from 36 in the last edition in 2019, with a newly-introduced Group for the Central Zone.

Among the clubs poised to make their Group Stage debut in the AFC C h a m p i o n s L e a g u e a r e

newly-crowned Jordanian Pro League champions Al Wehdat, India’s FC Goa and two-time AFC Cup runners-up FC Istiklol from Tajikistan from the West Region as well as United City FC from the Philippines, Tampines Rovers from Singapore and Vietnam’s Viettel FC from the East Region.

Inspired by their AFC Champions League 2020 triumph last month, Korea Republic’s Ulsan Hyundai, who will be aiming to become the first side in the modern era to defend their crown since Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad, have been drawn in Pot 2 while their opponents in the 2020 Final and reigning Iranian Pro League champions Persepolis FC have been drawn in Pot 1.

Meanwhile, the stakes for the upcoming AFC Cup have been raised even higher with this season’s winners guaranteed an opportunity to qualify for the preliminary stage of the 2022 AFC Champions League.

09SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2021SportEngland lose openers after Anderson takes six Sri Lanka wickets in GalleREUTERS — GALLE

James Anderson took six wickets to help bowl Sri Lanka out for 381, but England’s openers failed again as the tourists closed the second day of the second and final Test on 98 for two in reply at Galle International Stadium yesterday.

Joe Root scored a breezy, unbeaten 67 and will resume on the third morning with Jonny Bairstow, who has 24.

The pair have put on 93 for the third wicket at a rate of more than four runs per over to dig the tourists out of some early strife.

Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya (2-33)

quickly bagged the wickets of England openers Dom Sibley (0) and Zak Crawley (5), main-taining his dominance over the pair having also dismissed them in both innings in the first Test.

Sibley was trapped leg before wicket and Crawley edged to first slip.

The two have managed just 28 runs in six innings between them this series, a worry for the tourists as they head to India for four Tests on completion of this match.

Bairstow and Root employed the sweep to excellent effect as a counter-attack measure, the latter having also punished Sri Lanka with the stroke in his 228 in the first Test.

It took England 139.3 overs to finally dismiss the home side after they elected to bat, with Anderson the chief wicket-taker with 6-40 in 29 overs.

Sri Lanka had frustrated the tourists with their tail, the final four wickets adding 138.

Anderson removed cen-turion Angelo Mathews (110) early in the day after a review by Root for a caught behind that nobody else seemed particu-larly interested in.

But any thoughts that it would precipitate a Sri Lanka collapse were ended by strong innings from Niroshan Dick-wella (92) and Dilruwan Perera (67).

Left-hander Dickwella was denied a first Test century when he tried to launch a wider Anderson delivery over mid-off but was caught in that position by a diving Jack Leach.

Fast bowler Mark Wood (3-84) was also among the

wickets as he ensured a Test debut duck for Ramesh Mendis and induced an edge from Lasith Embuldeniya to Root at first slip.

Perera was the last man out, caught in the deep by Leach off Sam Curran. It was the first time that all 10 wickets in an innings have fallen to seamers in Galle.

England won the first Test at the same venue by seven wickets.

James Anderson (centre) takes a wicket of Niroshan Dickwella to complete his 30th five-wicket haul, yesterday.SRI LANKA, 1st innings (overnight 229-4, Math-

ews 107, Dickwella 19)

L. Thirimanne c Buttler b Anderson .................... 43

K. Perera c Root b Anderson ................................. 6

O. Fernando b Anderson ......................................... 0

A. Mathews c Buttler B Anderson ....................... 110

D. Chandimal lbw b Wood ................................... 52

N. Dickwella c Leach b Anderson ........................ 92

R. Mendis c Buttler b Wood ................................... 0

D. Perera c Leach b Curran ................................... 67

S. Lakmal c Crawley b Anderson ............................ 0

L. Embuldeniya c Root b Wood ...............................7

A. Fernando not out ............................................... 0

Extras (lb2, nb1, w1) .............................................. 4

Total (139.3 overs, all out) .....................381Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Perera), 2-7 (Fernando), 3-76

(Thirimanne), 4-193 (Chandimal), 5-232 (Mathews),

6-243 (Mendis), 7-332 (Dickwella), 8-332 (Lakmal),

9-364 (Embuldeniya), 10-381 (Perera)

Bowling: Anderson 29-13-40-6, Curran 18.3-3-60-

1, Leach, 38-5-119-0, Wood 28-4-84-3 (nb1,w1),

Bess 26-2-76-0

ENGLAND, 1st inningsZ. Crawley c Thirimanne b Embuldeniya ...............5

D. Sibley lbw b Embuldeniya ................................ 0

J. Bairstow not out ................................................ 24

J. Root not out ...................................................... 67

Extras (b2) ............................................................. 2

Total (30 overs, 2 wickets) ...................... 98Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Sibley), 2-5 (Crawley)

To bat: D. Lawrence, J. Buttler, S. Curran, D. Bess, J.

Leach, M. Wood, J. Anderson

Bowling: Lakmal 5-2-10-0, Embuldeniya 11-4-33-2,

Fernando 5-2-12-0, Perera 7-1-22-0, Mendis 2-0-

19-0

SCOREBOARD

South African players during a training session at the National Stadium in Karachi yesterday. The first Test between Pakistan and South Africa will start on Tuesday.

South Africa gear up for first Test Azhar tells youngsters to overcome fear of failureREUTERS — LAHORE

Senior Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali has advised his younger team mates to overcome any fear of failure and do their best in the two-Test home series against South Africa beginning in Karachi on Tuesday.

Smarting from their 2-0 whitewash in New Zealand, Pakistan have included nine uncapped players in their 20-member squad for the matches in Karachi and Rawalpindi.

“Obviously for a new player, it’s a challenge to handle pressure and then there are insecurities in our culture around what if they are dropped,” former captain Azhar told local media.

“As a senior player, my

advice to them is to trust their skills and stick with that to do well because that is what is going to give them the best chance to perform.

“If you think too much that will bring negativity and hold you back from doing well. So be positive and grab the opportunity.”

Azhar was confident Pakistan would return to winning form on home soil against the Proteas.

“Home conditions bring confidence in players,” said Azhar, whose 83 Tests make him the senior-most player in the squad.

“If you remember, our batsmen in previous two home series did really well. But on away tours, it’s always tough for Asian teams.”

India have finally created pace pool, says Arun

REUTERS — NEW DELHI

India have finally created a pace pool that will allow them to rotate the quicks and sustain the kind of performance they pulled off in Australia, bowling coach Bharat Arun has said.

India had their entire frontline attack wiped out before the Brisbane decider, but the injury-ravaged tourists still pulled off an epic 2-1 series victory in Australia after a lion-hearted effort by their replacement bowlers.

Playing only his third Test, Mohammed Siraj led their pace attack, which included Shardul Thakur and Navdeep Saini, both had played one Test each, as well as debutant T. Natarajan.

“We have been planning this over the last three years,” former Test player Arun told a video conference on Friday.

“If you need India to be sustain ably doing well at the international level, you need a pool of bowlers who would be rotated time and again so that they stay fresh.

“Now we are blessed with a great bench strength. So it’s very heartening how these guys have come to the party.”

Pacers Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar missed the tour with injuries, which continued to bedevil India’s bid to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

Net bowlers Washington Sundar and Natarajan were handed Test debuts in Brisbane after Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah had their tour cut short by injuries. “I think it’s a very healthy trend. It’s an embarrassment of riches,” the 58-year-old said.

“Now we have seven fast bowlers willing to play for the country,” he said. “If we need to give our best performance, it will be extremely handy.”

Arun praised the young quicks but felt the likes of Shami and Ishant still had plenty to offer.

“I think they have enough cricket left in them. Their experience is outstanding, and they are still good enough to perform for India."

Barty itching to get started at Australian OpenREUTERS — SYDNEY

World number one Ash Barty (pictured) is itching to get back to competitive tennis at the Australian Open but has poured cold water on the idea that she might be set to end the 43-year wait for a homegrown women’s champion.

Barty reached the semi-finals at Melbourne Park for the first time last year before sitting out most of the rest of the season at home because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 24-year-old remains Australia’s best hope of singles success when the year’s first Grand Slam starts on February

8 but Barty urged her compa-triots not to get their hopes up.

“They can think whatever

they like. If they expect me to win the tournament, then that’s their expectations,” Barty said yesterday.

“But mine certainly aren’t that for now. It’s about doing the right things right from the start, from the very first match. If it’s good enough, it is. And if it’s not, it’s not. But that’s OK.”

Barty last played a tour-nament match at the Qatar Open last February, deciding to remain at home in the relative safety of Queensland rather than travel to New York for the US Open or to Paris for her French Open title defence.

“Obviously I haven’t played competition tennis for a year

now so it’s going to be a chal-lenge but we also know that hopefully again it will be a long season and we d o n ’ t h a v e t o panic if w e d o n ’ t get the

perfect start,” she added.“We’ll just try and go out

there and do the best that we can and whatever happens will happen. I feel ready to go and I’m just itching to get

started.” Barty did not need to

q u a r a n t i n e before the Aus-tralian Open and will play an exhibition event in Adelaide on Friday before returning to Melbourne for the Grand Slam.

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Ferrari sign first female driver to academy

REUTERS — MILAN

Ferrari announced 16-year-old Dutch go-karter Maya Weug as the first female member of the Formula One team’s driver academy.

Weug, the winner of a five-day scouting camp at the Italian team’s Maranello head-quarters and Fiorano test track, will be given a season in the FIA-sanctioned Formula Four championship.

“This is a key moment in the history of Scuderia Ferrari and its academy,” said Formula One team boss Mattia Binotto in a statement.

“Maya’s arrival is a clear indication of the Scuderia’s commitment to making mot-o r s p o r t i n c r e a s i n g l y inclusive.”

The academy has so far helped five members graduate to Formula One through the junior series, four of them on the grid this season including current Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and debutant Mick Schumacher, son of Ferrari great Michael.

Academy manager Marco Matassa said one of the four female finalists had, in one specific discipline, scored the overall highest ranking of anyone in the scouting camp’s history.

McIlroy regains lead from Hatton in Abu DhabiREUTERS — ABU DHABI

Rory McIlroy (pictured) leapfrogged Tyyrell Hatton to reclaim a one-shot lead after the third round of the

Abu Dhabi HSBC Cham-pionship, carding 67 to go 13-under overall yesterday.

McIlroy, the world number six, was five shots off overnight leader Hatton and fin-ished his incomplete second round on par early yesterday before the 31-year-old clawed his way back into the

lead in the third.T h e N o r t h e r n

Irishman had five birdies and a stunning eagle on the 10th when his shot from 73 yards landed on the green and rolled straight into the cup.

“It’s so blustery and it’s a different type of golf than we’re used to playing here in Abu Dhabi, where there’s usually not much wind. You feel like you have a chance on every hole,” McIlroy said.

“There’s like a little m o r e s c r a m b l i n g involved and longer

putts. So I thought I did well today. Obviously had that big stroke of luck on 10, the ball hitting the pin and going in.

“Apart from that, I played well. I drove it much better on the back nine, and I hit it much better on the back nine, so I was really encouraged with that.”

Hatton, who carded three eagles in the first two rounds, was let down on the front nine with two bogeys, on the fifth and seventh, and he managed only three

birdies in the round.“It was a difficult day.

The conditions were really tough for the whole day,” he said.

“I just felt like I had nothing really go my way. Hit a couple decent shots and ran into a bunker with a terrible lie and had quite a few putts burning the edge or lipping out,” he added.

Hatton’s compatriot Tommy Fleetwood is also in contention, with the Englishman moving up eight positions to third, two strokes behind McIlroy.

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