ARMSTRONG VAS THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Qatar continued their impressive run at the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia by clinching three more medals – one gold and two bronze to take the medals tally haul to double digits.

Yesterday, the beach vol-leyball pair of Ahmed Tijan and Cherif Younousse delivered the knock out punch by clinching the gold while Abdullah Abubakr won the bronze medal in the 800m and Qatari riders won the team bronze in showjumping event to take the medals tally to 10 medals.

In beach volleyball, World’s 10th ranked Ahmed/Cherif proved their superiority by beating the host pair Ade Candra Rachmawan and Mohammad Ashfiya 2-0 (26-24, 21-17) at the final showdown at Jakabaring Sport City Beach Volleyball Court.

Cheered by thousands of local spectators, host pair of Rachmawan/Asfiya came into the match quickly with their fast moving and variegated attacking. However, the Qatari duo showed no inferiority by tailing after the host duo closely before they were left behind 12-15 following a dip by opponent to finish the rally. Qatar called a timeout and it worked as they soon caught up to 19-19 tie, forcing host pair to call a timeout. Nevertheless, the Qatar duo led to reach the set point and after several deuces, they managed to win the close set 26-24.

Keeping the momentum to the second set, Qatar established a narrow lead from the beginning. Despite the host duo attempted several times to draw nearer to one point difference at 12-13 and 15-16, Qatar refused them to step further. Following a clean block by Cherif, Qatar took the set 21-17, the match 2-0 and their first Asian Games gold medal.

“I am so happy to win the gold medal. We have be well pre-pared and we believe the gold medal belongs to us. ” Cherif said.

“We just focused on the play. There is no much affection from the local cheering spectators. We experienced more spectators than here before. We just get used to that.”

In the bronze medal contest, host pair of Gilang/Anangsyah maintained their fantastic groove and knocked the higher-seeded and taller Chinese duo Gao/Li out of the top three in 2-1 (21-15, 19-21, 15-6).

In the 800m, Qatar’s Abubakr claimed the bronze medal with a time of 1:46.38 after Indian runner Manjit Singh who won the gold with a time of

1:46.15 and his teammate Jinson Johnson who won the silver with a time 1:46.35. Qatar’s Jamal Hairana finished in six place with a time of 1:49.05.

Qatar’s second bronze of the

day came when equestrian riders comprising of Sheikh Ali bin Khaled Al Thani, Basem Hassan, Hamad Al Attiayah and Salmen Al Suwaidi claimed the third place in the team . Saudi Arabi

claimed the gold while the Jap-anese team finished second.

In Boxing, Tharumalinga Thulasimaaran lost to Jordan’s Eashash 0-5 in the quarter-finals of Men’s Welter (69kg) while the Squash team lost the Men’s Team Pool B match to India 2-1.

In the men’s volleyball quarter-finals, Qatar defeated Japan 3-2 to book a place in the last four stage.

Action during the men’s beach volleyball final of the 2018 Asian Games between Qatar and Indonesia at the JSC Beach Volley Arena in Palembang, Indonesia yesterday. Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan beat Ade Candra Rachmawan and Mohammad Ashfiya in the final yesterday. INSET: Podium winners pose for a photograph during the presentation ceremony.

SPORTWednesday 29 August 2018

PAGE | 18 PAGE | 19Nadal sends Ferrer

into Slam retirement; Murray advances

Abdulla braces for Baja Poland challenge

FROM LEFT: Qatari equestrian riders Salmen Al Suwaidi, Sheikh Ali bin Khaled Al Thani, Hamad Al Attiyah and Basem Hassan pose for a photograph after winning the bronze medal in the team event during the Asian Games yesterday. RIGHT: (From left) Iran’s Amir Moradi, India’s Manjit Singh, India’s Jinson Johnson, Bahrain’s Abraham Rotich and Qatar’s Abubaker Abdalla compete in the 800m final yesterday.

MEDAL TABLE (TOP 10)Rank Country G S B Total

1 China 97 64 45 206

2 Japan 43 38 61 142

3 South Korea 32 40 46 118

4 Indonesia 24 19 29 72

5 Iran 17 16 16 49

6 Chinese Taipei 13 14 20 47

7 DPR Korea 12 8 7 27

8 India 9 19 22 50

9 Uzbekistan 9 15 14 38

10 Thailand 9 11 33 53

11 Kazakhstan 8 9 30 47

12 Bahrain 8 3 5 16

13 Hong Kong 4 12 16 32

14 Malaysia 4 8 8 20

15 Qatar 4 3 3 10

16 UAE 3 6 3 12

17 Singapore 3 4 10 17

18 Mongolia 3 2 5 10

19 Philippines 3 0 12 15

20 Vietnam 2 11 13 26

21 Kyrgyzstan 2 6 9 17

22 Jordan 2 1 8 11

23 Kuwait 2 1 0 3

24 Cambodia 2 0 1 3

25 Saudi Arabia 1 2 1 4

World’s 10th ranked Ahmed/Cherif proved their

superiority by beating the host pair of Ade Candra

Rachmawan and Mohammad Ashfiya 2-0 (26-24,

21-17) at the final showdown

Ahmed, Cherif clinch gold for Qatar

17WEDNESDAY 29 AUGUST 2018 SPORT

REUTERS

JAKARTA: Highlights of day 11 of the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang yesterday:

SOUTH KOREA WIN WOMEN’S TEAM TRACK CYCLING GOLDSouth Korea avenged their defeat at

Incheon in 2014 with a dominant win, which saw them overlap defending cham-pions China en route to victory in the women’s team pursuit final.

Japan beat Hong Kong to claim the bronze medal.

IRANIAN WEIGHTLIFTER KORDA-SIABI RETIRES

Iranian weightlifter Behdad Salimi Kor-dasiabi has announced his retirement after winning his third consecutive Asian Games gold medal in the men’s 105kg category on Monday.

The 28-year-old was also a gold med-allist at the 2012 London Olympics and twice winner at the World Championships.

“Behdad Salimi officially said goodbye to the sport of God’s championship after the gold medal of Asian Games,” the Iran Weightlifting Federation said on Instagram.

“Behdad Salimi took his shoes to say goodbye from the Championship and kissed the weights.”

GIDEON, SUKAMULJO TRIUMPH IN ALL-INDONESIA DOUBLES FINAL

Indonesian badminton duo Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Suka-muljo secured a 13-21 21-18 24-22 win over compatriots Muhammad Rian Ard-ianto and Fajar Alfian in the men’s doubles final.

TAIWAN’S TAI OUTCLASSES SINDHU TO GRAB BADMINTON

GOLDTaiwan’s Tai Tzu-ying won gold in the

women’s badminton singles final with a 21-13 21-16 victory over India’s world number two Pusarla V. Sindhu.

Tai, 24, won bronze four years ago in Incheon and also won gold at the Asian Championships in 2017 and 2018.

SOUTH KOREA BEAT HOLDERS INDIA TO ARCHERY GOLD

South Korea won a shoot-off to beat holders India in the men’s archery team compound final, completing a double triumph for the nation following their women’s team success.

CHRISTIE STUNS CHOU IN MEN’S BADMINTON FINAL

Indonesian Jonatan Christie dug deep to oust world number six Chou Tien-chen, of Taiwan, 21-18 20-22 21-15 in the men’s badminton final, sparking huge celebrations from a partisan crowd at the venue.

Christie, who won two gold medals at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games, adds to the silver he won in the team event earlier in the Games.

SOUTH KOREA RETAIN TEAM ARCHERY GOLD

South Korea have retained the gold medal in the women’s team compound archery title after holding off a strong chal-lenge from India, winning with a total score of 231-228.

Taiwan won the bronze medal after beating Iran.

KIM EDGES LEE IN ALL-KOREAN ARCHERY FINAL

Kim Woo-jin, a two-time gold med-allist at the 2010 Asian Games, earned a 6-4 victory over compatriot Lee Woo-seok in the men’s recurve individual final.

Indonesian Riau Ega Agata Salsabilla clinched his first Asian Games medal, cheered on by the home crowd, as he beat Kazakhstan’s Ilfat Abdullin to win the bronze.

Happy 14th birthday for China’s gold winning diverAFP

JAKARTA: Two 14-year-old divers from China became the youngest gold medallists at the 2018 Asian Games when they romped to victory in the women’s synchronised 10 metre platform yesterday.

Zhang Jiaqi and Zhang Minjie (pictured above) -- fresh from a win at the Wuhan World Cup event in June -- tumbled into a commanding lead from their exquisite opening dive and never looked threatened, securing the top spot with 361.38.

Victory was the icing on the cake for Zhang Minjie, who was cele-brating her 14th birthday on Tuesday.

Behind the terrific teens came North Korean duo Kim Kuk Hyang and Kim Mi Rae -- who placed fourth in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio -- on 337.86.

Malaysian pair Leong Mun Yee and Nur Dhabitah Sabri bagged the bronze with 310.80.

Zhang Jiaqi, ranked five in the world, and world number nine Zhang Minjie showed no hint of nerves as they rolled out a spectacular back two-and-a-half somersaults and one-and-a-half twists in the fifth and final round to clinch the gold.

Exiting the pool and even wiping their faces in perfect synchronisation, there was no smile -- just a conspir-atorial whisper from Zhang Jiaqi, nicknamed “Little Fu Mingzia” after the Chinese diving great, into the ear of her team-mate.

The Chinese also reigned supreme in the men’s synchronised three metre springboard, grabbing gold ahead of South Korea in second and Japan in third.

Cao Yuan, 23, and Xie Siyi, 22, were greeted by a roar from the spell-bound crowd as they came up for air from their final dive -- a forward four-and-a-half somersaults -- to confirm their top-spot finish.

It was the fourth Asian Games medal for Cao, a keen piano player and Olympic champion in the indi-vidual three metre springboard, as well as the synchronised 10 metre platform.

Yesterday’s highlights

Qatar’s Osman Wagihalla spikes the ball during the men’s volleyball quarter-final match against Japan in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday.

Qatar clinch thriller to set up Iran semiAVC

JAKARTA: Devastating Qatar saved incredible nine match points to stun Japan (25-18, 26-28, 25-21, 22-25, 24-22) in a clash of the Titans to go up against title-holders Iran, as fired-up Korea cruised to gritty 3-0 victory over hosts Indonesia to chal-lenge Chinese Taipei in tomorrow’s semi-finals of the 18th Asian Games volleyball competition at the GBK Tennis Indoor Stadium yesterday.

Japan and Qatar engaged in a fiery duel in yesterday’s quarter-final. The hi-octane game thrilled Indonesian fans at the venue with the pulsating rally-capped off, fighting spirit and team’s resilience.

Both sides sent a strong team to the 18th Asian Games. As Japan are defending consecutive two-time Asian champions and silver medallists at the incheon Games, Qatar early this month captured the maiden AVC Cup for Men title.

The Qataris, who fin-ished a disappointing sixth place in Incheon, Korea four years ago, started solidly to win the opening set 25-18 before Japan, which fielded three players including Takashi Dekita and Takeshi

Nagano who joined the gold-winning team at the last year’s Asian Senior Men’s Championship in Surabaya, Indonesia, counter-attacked to take the hotly-contested second set 28-26.

Qatar, led by Mubarak Hammad and Ndir Sadikh, regained their composure to bring their brilliant form back on track to snatch the third set 25-21. In the fourth set, Qatar started slowly and were errors-strewn as an energetic Japan won many crucial points at the near end of the set. Qatar roared back with fine attacks, but still found the well-established Japan an impossible nut to crack in the fourth set as they went down 22-25.

In the tie-breaker, both sides came in full force, but Japan gradually pulled their game together with an aim of ending the tough rivals’ resistance. Still, the deter-mined Qataris came up with a seismically powerful display, saving 9 match points to capture the see-saw set 24-22 and the exhausting 144-minute match.

Mubarak Hammad

scored a match-high 31 points including 25 kills from 50 attempts and a team-leading 5 blocks. Shunsuke Chijiki led Japan with 25 points.

Qatar advanced to the semi-finals of the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, their second time in history that they could make it to the top four teams in the Asia’s biggest sporting event. Their first time that they reached the semi-finals was in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, where they finished fourth on home soil.

Meanwhile, Iran and Chinese Taipei advanced to the semi-finals through the fast-track drawing of lots, which meant four teams in two matches (Iran took on China and Chinese Taipei played Saudi Arabia) had a lucky draw as they needed only one win in their match to make it to the semi-finals. Iran and Chinese Taipei emerged victorious, with the former thrashing China in straight sets and the latter demolishing Saudi Arabia 3-1.

In the quarter-finals yes-terday, Korea, which brought

in nine players competing in the previous Games in Incheon, where they had to be content with bronze medal, silenced the cheering home crowds with their incredible jumping ability and awesome combinations. They hustled and dived around the court, going for everything. Despite a sturdy challenge from Indonesia, star spiker Moon Sungmin and Jung Jiseok unleashed on several powerful blows to help the team storm into the semi-finals after 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-18) blitz over the host side.

Jung Jiseok and Moon Sungmin chipped in with similar 15 points for Korea, while Rivan Nurmulki was the lone Indonesian who scored a double-digit 11 points.

With the scintillating win over the host side, Korea secured their semi-final berth of the quadrennial sports extravaganza, where they are due to strut their stuff against Chinese Taipei.

Today is a rest day for the men’s teams. The men’s semi-finals will take place at the GBK Tennis Indoor Stadium tomorrow, with Qatar going up against title-holders Iran and Korea chal-lenging Chinese Taipei. Clas-sifications will also be held on the same day.

Jonatan Christie of Indonesia hits a shot against Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan during the men’s badminton singles final of the Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, yesterday.

Christie sends hosts into rapturesAFP

JAKARTA: Jonatan Christie ended Indonesia’s long wait for the Asian Games men’s badminton gold medal yesterday as Bahrain won the first major title in athletics’ new gambit, the 4x400 metres mixed relay.

Christie sent the home crowd into raptures as he upset Taiwan’s sixth-ranked Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 20-22, 21-15 to become Indone-sia’s first men’s singles champion since 2006, before ripping off his shirt in celebration.

The 20-year-old’s surprise win capped a memorable run for Indo-nesia’s men after Anthony Sinisuka Ginting knocked out world champion Kento Momota and Olympic gold-medallist Chen Long en route to bronze.

“I did not expect that I can win a gold at the Asian Games. Actually there are a lot of good players here and I never expected that I could come out as a winner,” said Christie.

Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, nicknamed

the “Minions” owing to their stature, rounded off the party as they won an all-Indonesian final against Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto 13-21, 21-18, 24-22.

In a celebratory atmosphere at the badminton stadium, Suka-muljo and Gideon collapsed to the floor as their opponents’ final shot went wide to settle a tense final game.

Once-dominant China failed to win a singles badminton medal for the first time in 38 years, but oth-erwise it was another productive day for the Olympic heavyweights.

China passed 200 medals early in the day and they finished with four golds in track and field, including Xie Wenjun’s come-from-behind victory in the 110m hurdles.

But it was Bahrain who took the honours in the Games’ inau-gural mixed relay, a new venture which will feature at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. India were second, nearly four seconds behind.

As the dust settled on day 10, China were on 97 gold medals,

more than double Japan’s 43, with South Korea on 32 and Indonesia on 24.

Hong Kong’s former Olympic bronze medallist Sarah Lee Wai-sze successfully defended her keirin title, becoming the first woman to win four track cycling golds at the Asian Games.

China’s supreme table tennis players won their 10th women’s and men’s team golds as they kicked off their latest bid for a clean sweep of the sport.

Chinese 14-year-olds Zhang Jiaqi and Zhang Minjie -- who was celebrating her birthday -- became the 2018 Games’ youngest winners, in the women’s synchronised 10m platform.

Cao Yuan and Xie Siyi also won the men’s synchronised 10m platform as China extended its perfect record of winning both events five times out of five at the Asian Games.

After complaints over the judging in Monday’s pencak silat, in which Indonesian athletes won all six golds, Uzbekistan cleaned up in kurash, another martial art making its debut.

Mubarak Hammad scored a match-high 31

points including 25 kills from 50 attempts and a

team-leading 5 blocks as Qatar advanced to the

semi-finals of the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta.

18 WEDNESDAY 29 AUGUST 2018SPORT

Nadal sends Ferrer into Slam retirement; Murray advancesAFP

NEW YORK: Defending US Open champion Rafael Nadal sent close friend David Ferrer into Grand Slam retirement on Monday when his veteran compatriot was forced to quit their first round match with injury, but former winners Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka made successful returns to New York.

Ferrer, a former world number three but now standing at a lowly 148, called it quits on a hot and humid night on Arthur Ashe Stadium despite leading 4-3 with a break in the second set after twice receiving treatment on a left leg injury.

Top seed Nadal had taken the opener 6-3.

“This is my last Grand Slam,” said Ferrer who was runner-up to Nadal in the 2013 French Open final.

“I have great memories of this tournament and I am just sorry that I couldn’t finish it tonight.”

Ferrer, 36, will play his last tournament on home ground in Madrid next year.

“I am very sorry for David and sad for him,” said Nadal.

“We are close friends and have shared great moments -- the Roland Garros final and Davis Cup wins.

“He is one of the greatest players to have come from our country. He’s a great person and great player.”

Nadal, chasing his 18th Grand Slam title, will face

Canada’s Vasek Pospisil for a place in the last 32.

Nadal’s potential semi-final opponent, Argentine third seed and 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro, also reached the second round with a 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 win over American qual-ifier Donald Young.

For Del Potro, whose career since his maiden Grand Slam triumph nine years ago has been decimated by wrist problems, it was his 30th career win at the tournament.

He next faces Denis Kudla of the United States who won his first match in five years at the tournament when he downed Matteo Berrettini of Italy 6-4, 7-5, 6-2.

Former world number one Murray marked his first

Grand Slam tournament in 14 months with a 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 win over Australia’s James Duckworth.

Murray, the 2012 champion and playing just his fifth tournament of the year after undergoing hip surgery in January, last featured in a major at Wimbledon in 2017.

Murray, whose world ranking has slumped to 382, goes on to face Fernando Ver-dasco, the Spanish 31st seed after seeing off the error-prone Duckworth, ranked at 448. Like Murray, former champion Wawrinka also sat out the 2017 US Open -- in his

case because of two knee sur-geries. But he showed no sign of rustiness on Monday, defeating eighth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria for the second successive Grand Slam.

Wawrinka, the 2016 champion, swept to a 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium to repeat his opening round triumph over Dimitrov at Wimbledon.

Wawrinka, the former world number three, now down at 101, shrugged off having to take a medical time-out early in the third set.

South African fifth seed

Kevin Anderson, the 2017 US Open runner-up to Nadal, also needed a medical timeout for a leg injury in the third set of his clash with Ryan Harrison of the United States.

But Anderson, defeated in the Wimbledon final last month by Novak Djokovic, recovered to win 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Denis Shapovalov, the 19-year-old 28th seed, was 7-5, 5-7, 4-1 ahead of 18-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime when his Canadian team-mate and close friend was forced to retire.

Rafael Nadal of Spain competes against David Ferrer of Spain during the US Open 2018 at Flushing Meadows in New York on Monday. INSET: Britain’s Andy Murray reacts after winning against James Duckworth.

This is my last

Grand Slam. I have

great memories of

this tournament

and I am just sorry

that I couldn’t

finish it: David

Ferrer

Serena surges into second roundAFP

NEW YORK: Serena Williams made a triumphant return to the US Open on Monday, launching her bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam victory with a straight-sets win as top-seeded Simona Halep made dubious history with a first-round exit.

Williams, who counts six US Open titles among her 23 Grand Slams, can match Mar-garet Court’s all-time record of 24 majors with another title at Flushing Meadows.

She missed last year’s edition as she gave birth to daughter Olympia on Sep-tember 1, but showed every indication she’s ready to make up for lost time in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Poland’s Magda Linette.

“I think I’m getting there,” said Williams, who turned up the heat on a steamy New York night that opened with a gala celebration of the US Open’s 50th anniversary.

“I love opening for Serena Williams,” Grammy-winning singer-song writer Kelly Clarkson told the crowd before she launched into her anthem “Stronger”.

The spotlights were still blinking when Williams, in a black outfit featuring asym-metrical sleeves and a tulle skirt, took the court.

The 68th-ranked Linette held her own in the early going, but Williams gained the only break she needed in the first set in the seventh game and rolled from there.

She didn’t face a break point in the 70-minute match, firing 23 winners and wrapping up the second set in less than half an hour.

Williams’ path may have been eased by Kaia Kanepi’s stunning upset of world number one Halep, who became the first top-seeded woman to lose in the first round of the US Open.

It was the kind of Grand Slam history Halep could have done without as she tried to expunge the memory of her first round loss to Maria Sharapova at Flushing Meadows last year.

But the Romanian, who broke through for a first Grand Slam title at the French Open this year, had no answer for Kanepi’s power.

The Estonian fired 26

winners to Halep’s nine, cutting the rallies short and remorselessly punishing Halep’s second serve.

“I thought I just have to be aggressive and try to stay calm,” said Kanepi, whose run to the quarter-finals last year is just one of her six trips to the last eight in majors.

“I cannot say much about

this match, just that I didn’t really feel the ball,” French Open champion Halep said.

While Halep is no longer in her path, Williams could face another early test -- a possible third-round clash with 16th-seeded sister Venus.

Venus, a seven-time Slam winner, outlasted another

former champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

Neither Williams sister was willing to look too far ahead, Venus noting that Halep’s ouster was proof of just how dangerous any opponent can be.

Defending champion Sloane Stephens encountered late resistance but held on for a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Russian Evgeniya Rodina.

Stephens, seeded third behind Halep and Caroline Wozniacki, looked to be cruising with a 3-1 lead in the second set.

But unseeded Rodina had other ideas, turning the tables to take a 5-4 lead before Stephens reasserted herself.

Elsewhere on the opening day, seventh-seeded Spaniard Garbine Muguruza advanced with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over China’s Zhang Shuai.

Two-time Grand Slam winner Victoria Azarenka, a former world number one now ranked 80th in the world, defeated Viktoria Kuzmova 6-3, 7-5 to st up a meeting with Australian Daria Gavrilova, who steamrolled Sara Sorribes 6-0, 6-0.

Serena Williams of the US hits a return to Magda Linette of Poland during their 2018 US Open Women’s singles match in New York on Monday.

PCB announces schedule for Australia and NZ series in UAE AFP

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) yesterday announced the itinerary for their series against Australia and New Zealand to be played in the United Arab Emirates over the next three months.

Pakistan start the season with next month’s Asia Cup in the UAE from September 15. They will then host Australia for two Tests and three Twenty20 internationals in the emirates from October 7 to 28.

This will be Australia’s first Test series since the infamous ball-tampering row during the Cape Town match against South Africa in March.

That scandal ended in a one-year ban from international cricket for the then-captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner. Opener Cameron Bancroft received a nine-month ban.

Following the Australia series, Pakistan will host New Zealand in the UAE for three Twenty20 internationals, three one-day internationals and three Tests between October 31-December 7.

Pakistan vs Australia September 29-October 2: Australia vs Pakistan ‘A’ in Dubai

October 7-11 Fiestt Test in Dubai October 16-20 Second Test in Abu Dhabi October 24 Ist Twenty20 international in Abu Dhabi

October 26 Second Twenty20 international in Dubai October 28 Third Twenty20 international in Dubai Pakistan vs New Zealand October 31 Ist Twenty20 international in Abu Dhabi November 2 Second Twenty20 international in Dubai November 4 Third Twenty20 international in Dubai November 7 Ist One-day international in Abu Dhabi November 9 Second One-day international in Dubai November 11 Third One-day international in Dubai November 16-20 First Test in Abu Dhabi November 24-28 Second Test in Dubai December 3-7 Third Test in Abu Dhabi

ITINERARY

Injured Bairstow ‘very keen’ to keep gloves in fourth TestAFP

LONDON: Jonny Bairstow (pictured) is ‘very keen’ to keep wicket for England in the fourth Test against India at Southampton despite a broken finger as the hosts look to seal the five-match series.

It was understood when England announced their 14-man squad last week that even if the Yorkshire man was passed fit to play tomorrow, he was likely to feature as a specialist batsman.

The home team are seeking to recover from a 203-run thrashing in Nottingham that cut their lead to 2-1.

But Bairstow was planning to test the injury with his wicketkeeping gloves on in training at the Ageas Bowl yesterday.

“The swelling has gone down,” he said. “I’m going to try and keep wicket in training this afternoon as well.”

England have a ready-made replacement in Jos Buttler, who took over from Bairstow after the Yorkshireman injured his left middle finger, taking a delivery from James Anderson during Eng-land’s heavy defeat at Trent Bridge.

“I’m very, very keen to keep my spot as the wicketkeeper -- because I would like to think it’s gone pretty well over the last 38/39 Test matches that I’ve been keeping for England,” said Bairstow.

Nadal, chasing his 18th Grand Slam title, will face Canada’s Vasek Pospisil for a place in the last 32.

Murray marked his first Grand Slam tournament in 14 months with win over James Duckworth.

Juan Martin del Potro also reached the second round with a 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Donald Young.

19WEDNESDAY 29 AUGUST 2018 SPORT

Qatar’s Abdulla braces up for Baja Poland challenge THE PENINSULA

SZCZECIN POLAND: Qatar’s Adel Abdulla heads to north-west Poland this week to take place in Columna Medica Baja Poland, the ninth round of the 2018 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies.

The Nissan Patrol Y62 driver currently trails Saudi Arabia’s Ahmed Al-Shegawi by 23 points in the race to claim the T2 World Championship title for drivers of series production cross-country vehicles.

The Qatari and French nav-igator Jean-Michel Polato will be hoping to repeat the win they secured in Hungary earlier this month and close the gap still further on the Saudi before the final two rounds of the series in Morocco and Portugal in October.

Adel said: “Jean-Michel, myself and the team have pre-pared ourselves to try and take the victory in Poland. Last year we had a good result and we won this race. It is a little bit tricky and a bit sandy in some places in the forests. There are also some fast sections. It is a long race and not easy to manage.

Adel Abdulla and Al-Shegawi face competition in Poland from local drivers Tomasz Baronowski and Piotr Sawicki and Romania’s Laurentiu Claudiu Barbu.

“Whoever has the good strategy for the two long stages of 220km will win the race. I can see the Polish T2 drivers being strong here as well. We need to win to close the gap even more before Morocco.”

Adel’s challenge for T2 honours this season is being

supported by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), Ooredoo Qatar and Nissan Qatar.

Poland’s premier off-road rally is based in the northern town of Szczecin, although the special stages will be contested over tracks on the military training ground at Drawsko Pomorskie and in the nearby Dobra municipality.

Action gets underway with a super special stage of 7.08km on Friday, August 31.

This will be followed by two runs through a selective section of 220.00km on Saturday (Sep-tember 1st) and two passes through a pair of shorter stages of 10.50km (Krekowo) and (Lubieszyn) 18.50km on Sunday before the finish ceremony on Lasztownia island, near Szczecin.

Adel Abdulla (left) and Jean-Michel Polato are seen in this file picture.

Record-equalling win gives Al Duhail edge over PersepolisFAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Al Duhail edged Perse-polis 1-0 in the first leg of the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finals for their record-equalling ninth consecutive win in the tournament in Doha, yesterday.

Young striker Almoez Ali’s goal in the first half at Khalifa International Stadium proved decisive as the Qatar football giants matched the record of South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai tally of nine straight victories back in 2012.

QNB Stars League cham-pions Al Duhail, however, could have earned victory by a better margin had they not missed chances to take a bigger advantage to Tehran for the second leg on September 17.

As promised by head coach Nabil Maaloul, Al Duhail started off aggressively against Perse-polis in what was the first-ever clash between the two Asian clubs.

‘The Red Knights’ came close to scoring in the fourth minute but striker Youssef El Arabi failed to connect Nam Tae-hee’s header across the goalmouth.

Al Duhail continued to launch attacks and it was a 15th minute move that yielded result for the hosts. Edmilson, a summer signing for Youssef Msakni, sent in a teasing cross from the left and the unmarked Ali headed in with aplomb to get his second goal of the tournament.

Iran’s domestic champions, Persepolis then came close to

equalising in the 23rd minute, but Omid Alishah’s effort flew just wide of Amine Lecomte’s goal.

The match gathered more pace with both teams exchanging attacks but failed to score as Al Duhail took 1-0 lead to the final session.

Although, Persepolis seeking the leveler came back with a renewed energy, it was a similar story in the second half with both teams lacking proper execution after coming close to scoring.

In the 48th minute,

Mohammad Ansari’s left footed shot from outside the box sailed over the crossbar following a quick free-kick as Persepolis missed an oppor-tunity to score.

Al Duhail missed a chance when Murad Naji right footed shot from outside the box went high and wide to the right in the 66th minute. A minute later, Edmilson’s right footed shot from a long range went close but missed the target.

In the 77th minute, Al Duhail defender Lucas Mendes tested

Alireza Beiranvand’s reflexes with a scorching free-kick, which the latter tipped over the bar for a corner.

With no further scoring in the match, Al Duhail took the 1-0 advantage.

Meanwhile, in other match yesterday, Leo Silva and Serginho scored second-half goals to give Japan’s Kashima Antlers a deserved 2-0 victory over China’s Tianjin Quanjian in the first leg of the AFC Champions League quarter-finals at Kashima Soccer

Stadium. The hosts began brightly and had an early sight on goal when Yasushi Endo headed wide from close in after a fine Koki Anzai delivery from the left, and the captain was again off target in the 14th minute as he drilled past the left post.

Endo should have broken the deadlock as the hour approached but, following good work from Silva and Anzai, the skipper fired over from 12 yards, but Brazilian Silva finally opened the scoring on the hour.

Shuto Yamamoto picked out Endo on the edge of the area and the captain’s cushioned header found its way to Silva, who lashed the ball home with a sweetly taken strike from 10 yards.

Kashima continued in the ascendency and Serginho added a stunning second in the 72nd minute when he rocketed a left-foot effort from 25 yards past Zhang to mark his AFC Champions League debut in style.

Tianjin’s star man Alex-andre Pato had been quiet for the majority of the game but the Brazilian’s free-kick with 10 minutes remaining picked out Kwon Kyung-won, only for the Korea Republic defender to place his effort wide under pressure.

Kashima will travel to Tianjin for the second leg in three weeks’ time when, just like in the Round of 16 after defeating Shanghai SIPG at home, the Japanese side will have a two-goal lead to defend against Chinese opposition.

Al Sadd shift focus to Doha clash after Tehran successTHE PENINSULA

DOHA: Al Sadd head coach Jesualdo Ferreira felt that his players were the deserving winners after scripting a 3-1 comeback victory over Esteghlal in the first leg of the AFC Champions League quarter-finals in Tehran on Monday.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ferreira said: “We per-formed very well. We deserve to win by this scoreline and we could have scored more goals.”

“Qualification hasn’t been secured yet. We won the first leg but there is still a second leg that will undoubtedly be tough. Football has taught us that we can’t clinch the tie over just one game in such (knockout) rounds and we need to prepare well for the second leg.”

Asked if he had expected this result, the coach said: “It is easy to say now, after winning, that I expected this sce-nario. But the truth is I did not expect this.”

“I had spoken before the game saying that Al Sadd had come to win and not for a draw or a loss, and so we had played with the objective of winning. I expected that we would win and we managed it despite being a goal down in the first half. We committed an error and conceded a goal but in the second half, we succeeded in making up for that and getting the win. I want to congratulate my team for their excellent performance not just in this game but since the beginning of the season and since the start of preseason too.”

“The team deserves appreciation for their performances until now. But nothing is done yet. We still have a crucial phase ahead of us, in which we need to remain focused to clinch qual-ification to the semifinals and also focus on the league. I am confident in the ability of the players to deal with these pressures.”

He added: “It was not easy to win in such an atmosphere, with the

pressure of playing in front of these fans. It’s also not easy to overturn the scoreline in such conditions. I want to congratulate the Al Sadd players again for this level of performance and I want to tell them that we haven’t achieved anything yet. We have a second leg coming up, for which we have to prepare well.”

Finally, Ferreira concluded by saying: “Al Sadd displayed its character, strength and desire by reaching this stage in the tournament and the players now need to remain focused in the second leg because qualification will only be ensured in Doha. Esteghlal will fight because they have nothing to lose. Al Sadd need to prepare fully for the game despite this deserved victory in Tehran.”

Meanwhile, Al Sadd forward Akram Afif described his side’s 3-1 victory over Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League as an important step towards the semi-finals.

Speaking after the match, Afif said:

“Al Sadd are always at their best in the big games and everyone saw our great performance in this game, throughout the two halves. Despite trailing by a goal in the first half, we were the better side and had a number of clear chances that didn’t go our way.”

“In the second half, we managed to make the chances count and scored three goals that have taken us closer to qualification. But there still is a second leg match to be played in Doha, during which we will need to be highly focused. Winning (this game) is not enough to confirm qualification. We consider the real clash to be the second leg in Doha because it will be the decisive game. Every team will fight for the semi-final spot.”

He added: “We need to benefit from this great victory that we achieved at the Azadi Stadium, which is an important step towards qualification. Winning in front of our fans as well will officially send us to the semifinals.”

Al Sadd’s Xavi Harnandez (left) during the AFC Champions League football match against Esteghlal FC , Iran at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Monday.

Vardy and Cahill call time on England careersREUTERS

MANCHESTER: Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy says he no longer wants to be considered for England duty and wishes to focus his time on his club career.

The 32-year-old, who featured at the World Cup in Russia, said he had spoken to England manager Gareth Southgate about his decision but remained available to help should the team face injury problems.

“To be honest with you, this has been on my mind for a while,” Vardy said.

“I’m not getting any younger and you can see, to be fair to the gaffer, he wants to make it more youthful, which obviously had its ben-efits during the World Cup - we got to the semi-finals and finished fourth, which is equal to the furthest we have ever been on foreign soil.

“When you get selected, you want to be playing. If you’re playing week in, week out for your club, you want to be going to England to play as well. And if it’s not hap-pening, then for me per-sonally now it’s better to be at home.”

Chelsea central defender Gary Cahill has also announced his decision to take a “step back” from England duties after a similar conversation with Southgate.

The 32-year-old defender won 61 England caps.

Al Duhail SC’s Qatari forward Almoez Ali heads a goal against Persepolis SC’s Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand during the AFC Champions League football match at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha yesterday.