Sports

Sri Lanka’s coach Sanath Jayasuriya (left) speaks as chief selector Upul Tharanga looks on during a press conference ahead of the team’s departure to South Africa for two Test matches, in Colombo on Thursday. The opening Test starts November 27 in Durban, followed by one in Gqeberha on December 5. The series is part of the ICC World Test Championships. (AFP)

Triple Olympic swimming champion Adam Peaty said he is not ready to make a decision about competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Games after the Briton was left frustrated by illness and some of the team’s decision-making in Paris.Peaty missed out on a third straight 100 breaststroke title by 0.02 seconds at La Defense Arena.The 29-year-old had been bidding to join Michael Phelps as the second male swimmer to win the same Olympic individual swimming event three times but, struggling to recover from Covid-19, he lost out to Italian Nicolo Martinenghi.Though rating Paris as a “great Games” personally, Peaty told The Times he was also left with a feeling of frustration by the illness and with some of the decisions made by British team management.“There is still a lot of hurt there because of certain things and, because of the illness, and because of some decisions that were made by the team that I don’t think were in the best interest of the athletes,” said Peaty.“And so there is a bit of anger.”Peaty did not elaborate on his misgivings with team management but said there conversations to be had in private.“Anger is good, if it’s anger with purpose and it makes sure that my voice is heard. Britain can obviously grow from that experience (in Paris),” he added.Peaty, who will be 33 when Los Angeles hosts the Games, said he might take another six months or a year’s rest before being ready to commit to another gruelling Olympic training programme.The possibility of the 50 breaststroke being added to the Olympics might help sway him toward LA given the lower training load required for success compared to the 100. World Aquatics has asked for the 50 breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke events to be added to the schedule for 2028. Peaty is the world record holder in both the 50 and 100 events.“You can train a lot smarter for the pure sprint and it won’t take as much energy to do that,” said Peaty.

Qatar head coach Marquez Lopez lamented his team’s struggles after his side was thrashed by the United Arab Emirates in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.Fabio Lima scored four goals including a first-half hat-trick while Yahya al-Ghassani was the other scorer as Paulo Bento’s side claimed an emphatic 5-0 win over the reigning Asian champions.“The UAE team earned a deserved victory, and I congratulate them,” said Lopez in a post-match press conference. “Our plan relied on a defensive approach and counterattacks, but Fabio Lima’s early goal disrupted our strategy, leading to numerous individual errors that cost us. Despite our attempts to regain control, we couldn’t find the opportunity to make a comeback.”“Our team was not fatigued; the issue lay in our tactical planning and execution. Individual mistakes led to the goals we conceded, and both the team and I, as coach, were not at our best. By the 80th minute, with the score at five in favour of the UAE, it was evident that further attempts were futile. We were aware of the UAE’s strategy to exploit individual errors, and they executed it well, showing strength in their offensive game,” added Lopez.The heavy defeat dealt a significant blow to Qatar’s direct qualifying hopes leaving them fourth in Group A with seven points, nine behind group leaders Iran and six adrift of second-placed Uzbekistan. UAE strengthened their grip on third place climbing to 10 points while Kyrgyzstan (3 points) and North Korea (2 points) remain at the bottom of the standings.“Iran and Uzbekistan have great chances of qualifying directly while the rest of the teams in the group still have hopes of qualifying directly or through the play-offs,” said Lopez.Qatar will meet North Korea in their next match on March 20, 2025.Meanwhile, UAE coach Bento was ecstatic with his team’s dominant show against Qatar. “We prepared well to face Qatar, knowing they have a strong team with exceptional players and a high-level coach,” said Bento. “We considered every possible scenario since predicting their strategy was challenging.“We succeeded in capitalising on our chances and scored goals – something we struggled with in the match against Uzbekistan, despite performing well. Unfortunately, we missed many easy opportunities then.”Meanwhile, Iran’s journey in the qualifiers thus far has been one to cherish for head coach Amir Ghalenoei. Tuesday’s 3-2 win against Kyrgystan kept Team Melli top of the group on 16 points, three ahead Uzbekistan with United Arab Emirates a further three adrift.With qualification to the FIFA World Cup 26 well within reach now, Ghalenoei was pleased to see the attacking strength of his side but admitted knows defensive improvements are a must. “We managed to get a good win on a difficult day,” said Ghalenoei.

Ahead of the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Grand Prix 2024 taking place later this month, Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) President Mohammed Ben Sulayem met with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, and the Minister of Sports and Youth, HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani.Top of the agenda was Qatar’s key role in global motor sport alongside the country’s innovation and education in mobility. Advocacy and impact of sustainability in the region was discussed at length – a key consideration for all parties who confirmed their mutual commitment to advancing sustainable practices and raising awareness. The ongoing collaboration between Qatar, the FIA, and Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) ensures the continued growth of motor sport, and success in the mobility and transport sectors, across the region and globally.From the end of November to mid-December, the world’s eyes will be drawn to Qatar and the Lusail International Circuit in the year of its 20th anniversary. From hosting the penultimate race, Formula 1 Qatar Airways Grand Prix 2024, to witnessing top karting talents from across the Middle East and North Africa compete in six thrilling categories at the MENA Karting Championship Nations Cup.The FIA is committed to increasing accessibility and diversity across motor sport, ensuring equal opportunities for equal talent, with the global grassroots programme crucial to ensuring the ongoing success of motor sport in the Middle East. Alongside sporting matters, the parties discussed the FIA’s continued support in mobility and transport in the region.Sulayem said “My thanks to the Prime Minister of Qatar, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani for his generous welcome. We had a very productive meeting to discuss the future of global motor sport and mobility. It was also good to discuss a number of grassroots development initiatives across motorsport and mobility with the Minister of Youth and Sports, HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani.”“I am proud of the close relationship that has been built by the FIA and our regional Member Club Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation, and the partnership we have fostered to ensure ongoing innovation and collaboration in the region. I look forward to the upcoming events taking place in Qatar and spending more time in this vibrant country.”“Welcoming Mohammed Ben Sulayem to Lusail Circuit reflects the strength of Qatar’s motorsport journey in 2024,” said Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif al-Mannai, President of QMMF and Lusail International Circuit. “Hosting other prestigious events such as the International BAJA, the International Rally, the World Endurance Championship, and the MENA Karting Championship Nations Cup underscores our commitment to advancing excellence in motorsport. Our focus on sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity aligns with Qatar’s vision to inspire progress and nurture talent, ensuring the region’s enduring impact on the global motorsport landscape.”

The Military Sports Federation has completed the arrangements for hosting the 24th World Military Equestrian Championship – Show Jumping, which will start from November 27 till 30.The championship is organised under the umbrella of the International Military Sports Council (CISM) under the slogan ‘Friendship through Sport’ and in co-operation with Al Shaqab, a member of the Qatar Foundation.Announcing the details of the championship, Brigadier Atiq Shaddad al-Ghanim – Vice-Chairman of the Organising Committee, said that awarding the organisation of the championship to Qatar confirms the confidence of the International Military Sports Council (CISM) in Qatar’s organisational capabilities and its success in all the competitions it hosts, especially since it has organised many successful international championships.Noting that the championship is also an opportunity for the participating delegations to learn about the Qatari culture, as there will be some cultural activities accompanying the championship, especially for the delegations, as visits will be organised to many tourist areas in the country, as well as an opportunity to exchange cultures between peoples.Brigadier al-Ghanim explained that the organising committee of the championship has completed all arrangements for the championship, which is the largest in its history in terms of the number of participating countries.For his part, Major Khalid Hamad al-Attiyah – Director of the Championship, said that the event will witness the participation of 15 countries, and it is for individuals and teams, and each country will participate with three riders, and the championship will be held according to the point’s collection system at a height of 120-125cm.He added that the riders of the Qatari team are ready to participate in this championship and their ambition is finish on the podiums, especially after their good participation in the last participation of the military team, which won silver in team event and gold in the individual in the Arab Military Championship.Qatar will welcome riders from Saudi Arabia, Syria, Oman, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkiye, Italy, France, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Ecuador, and Brazil. The championship is not only an arena for competition but a platform for cultural exchange and friendship among military athletes, exemplifying Qatar’s commitment to international sports diplomacy and its dedication to excellence in equestrian sports. Since it’s founding in Cannes, France, in 1948 by Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, CISM has grown into a global organisation with 141 member nations, including Qatar, which joined in 1974.

A magnificent volley from Lautaro Martinez was enough to give world champions Argentina a 1-0 win over Peru while Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Uruguay in South American World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.Argentina remain on top of the CONMEBOL standings with their qualification for the 2026 tournament surely just a matter of time. It was far from a vintage performance from Lionel Scaloni’s team, but a moment of magic from Inter Milan’s Martinez proved decisive at the ‘Bombonera’ stadium in Buenos Aires.Lionel Messi floated in a cross from the left and Martinez leapt into the air, leaning back as he cracked a thundering left-footed volley past Pedro Gallese. Argentina’s eighth win from 12 games leaves them on 25 points at the top of the table, five points ahead of Uruguay who earned a valuable point at Brazil.Five-times World Cup winners Brazil laboured for long stretches of the game in Salvador and fell behind to a fine finish from Uruguay’s Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde in the 55th minute. But seven minutes later Brazil equalised when a headed clearance fell kindly to Gerson who smashed home a perfectly-struck volley.Gabriel Martinelli went close to a winner when he showed a deft touch to switch feet before a volley which brought a fine save out of Sergio Rochet. The draw leaves Brazil in fifth on 18 points, a point behind fourth-placed Colombia who suffered an upset 1-0 home defeat to Ecuador in Barranquilla.Veteran striker Enner Valencia stunned the home crowd with an outstanding solo effort in the seventh minute, the former West Ham United forward breaking away from three Colombian defenders and powering into the box before slotting home. Colombia forward Jhon Cordoba then missed a golden opportunity to level the score, stumbling off balance and missing from point blank range after being set up by James Rodriguez.Cordoba was central to the 34th minute incident that left Ecuador short-handed for the rest of the game. The gangly striker raced clear and rounded Ecuador keeper Hernan Galindez before going down as Piero Hincapie closed in on him.The referee ruled that Hincapie had tripped the forward and despite lengthy appeals and a VAR review the decision stood. Galindez was then alert to keep out the resulting free-kick from Rodriguez and the keeper then had a busy end to the half as Colombia peppered his goal.Liverpool winger Luis Diaz headed a Daniel Munoz cross against the post and Galindez did well to smother Cordoba at close range. Colombia grew increasingly frustrated as Ecuador’s defence held firm in the second half with Galindez parrying to keep out substitute Jhon Duran and the unfortunate Cordoba blasted the loose ball high and wide from a tight angle.Elsewhere Tuesday, Paraguay earned a 2-2 draw at Bolivia with the home side going ahead in the 15th minute with a confident strike from Ervin Vaca. Newcastle United forward Miguel Almiron levelled for Paraguay in the 71st minute with a clinical finish after a smart passing move across the box.Bolivia restored their lead nine minutes later with a Miguel Terceros penalty after Gustavo Gomez brought down Lucas Chavez in the box. Both benches got involved in protests and Bolivian sub Adalid Terrazas and Paraguay’s Diego Gomez, who had been substituted, were both shown red cards.Paraguay grabbed a point in stoppage time in some style with a magnificent solo effort from Julio Enciso who dribbled from deep before unleashing a thundering drive from 20 yards out. Ninth-placed Chile have a lot of work to do if they are to make one of the six automatic qualification spots but boosted their faint hopes with a 4-2 thrashing of Venezuela.

Lemon Ginger, in the silks of Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik, produced a remarkable run to win the Al Thakira Cup at the Al Rayyan Racecourse on Wednesday.Debbie Mountain-trained four-year-old bay gelding absolutely bolted up in the hands of Arnaud to score an incredible 13 lengths victory in the 1700m Local Thoroughbred Premium Maiden race. Ali Abdul al-Boenain’s Awaayid came second. Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to winners.In the penultimate race of the day, Jockey Alberto Sanna rode Gassim Ghazali-trained Haya to victory in the 1700m long race for the thoroughbred conditions (Fillies & Mares) for three-year-old+. The three year-old filly beat Miracle Nation by a five and a half lengths to emerge as the winner.Meanwhile Jockey Soufiane Saadi completed a double on the card as he guided Khalid al-Mohannadi’s Blazing Sunset to two and a half-length victory in the 1700m race for the thoroughbred handicap (65-85) for three-year-old+. In the second race of the day, Saadi guided Al Bida Racing’s Taymoor Al Shahania to victory in a thrilling race to win by a neck.Jockey Lukas Delozier also completed a double on the day as he won Local Thoroughbred Novice Plate for three-year-old+ on Tafawok, in the colours of Injaaz Stud.Delozier was in the winners’ enclosure earlier in the day when he guided His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Galeb Al Shahania to victory in the 1700m contest for the Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate for three-year-old+. The Rudy Nerbonne-trained four-year-old Colt defeated Julian Smart’s ward Muqtarib by a half a length.RESULTS: 5th Al Rayyan Race Meeting -Al Thakira CupWINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)1. Al Thakira Cup - Local Thoroughbred Premium Maiden (Class 6)Lemon Ginger, Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain, Arnaud De Lepine2. Thoroughbred Conditions (Fillies & Mares) (Class 2)Haya, Gassim Ghazali, Alberto Sanna3. Thoroughbred Handicap 65-85 (Class 4)Blazing Sunset, Rashid al-Jehani, Soufiane Saadi4. Local Thoroughbred Novice Plate (Class 5)Tafawok, Jihad El Ahmad, Lukas Delozier5. Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate (Class 5)Galeb Al Shahania, Rudy Andre Nerbonne, Lukas Delozier6. Purebred Arabian Handicap 55-75 (Class 5)Taymoor Al Shahania, Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, Soufiane Saadi7. Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Class 6)Al Mustafiz, Julian Colin Smart, Gavin Matt Ryan

With the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2024 set to take place between December 11-18, FIFA and the participating clubs completed a week-long visit to Qatar to familiarise themselves with stadiums, training sites and places of accommodation.Continental club sides from around the world will contest the FIFA Derby of the Americas Qatar on December 11, the FIFA Challenger Cup on December 14 and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup on December 18.Roberto Grassi, FIFA Head of Youth Tournaments spoke about Qatar’s preparedness to host the tournament. He said: “Qatar have world-class sporting facilities for football and plenty of other sports. They have also developed hosting capabilities and a pool of expertise and talented people that have worked across all the events, including the World Cup. This legacy still lives here today and will be on full display during the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.”Stadium 974 will host two matches, before the much-anticipated final match at the iconic Lusail Stadium – marking the two-year anniversary of the historic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final.Engineer Jassim al-Obaidly, Stadium 974 Venue Manager for the Local Organising Committee (LOC) said: “Stadium 974, like all other Qatar 2022 venues, has been built to the highest technical standards, and was specifically designed to deliver a stunning fan experience during matches. Its design reflects the innovative vision that guided all of the facilities we have here in Qatar.”The final match will take place at Lusail Stadium, a 89,000-seater revered by football fans around the world after it hosted what is regarded as the greatest FIFA World Cup final of all time.Engineer Ali al-Dosari, LOC Lusail Stadium Venue Manager, said: “Lusail Stadium is one of the world’s greatest stadiums. It is an arena that captured the world’s imagination in Qatar 2022, and then again during the Asian Cup 2023. The venue will surely be a wonderful host to the final match of this tournament, creating new lifetime memories for fans from around the world.”Tickets for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2024 are only available on https://www.fifa.com/en/tickets Follow @FICQatar on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram for all tournament related updates.

President of the Asian Athletics Association, Dahlan Jumaan al-Hamad, has said Asia is entering a promising new phase in the development of athletics, supported by the association’s strategy of dividing the continent into five regions – East Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia, South Asia, and Central Asia – to ensure the effective implementation of development standards.In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), al-Hamad highlighted studies presented to the World Athletics, which point to Asia’s bright future in athletics, thanks to its wealth of athletic talent and tailored development programmes for athletes and coaches. He expressed optimism that Asia would emerge as a leading continent in athletics across all levels.Al-Hamad pointed out the significant progress achieved through the association’s precise execution of its development plans. This includes the first phase’s success, which saw Asian athletes excelling in major events such as the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, the 2024 Paris Olympics, and the World Junior Championships in Peru in September. He noted that Asia now rivals Europe in several field events, citing Olympic champions like Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem and India’s Neeraj Chopra in javelin throw. He predicted more emerging champions in various field events in the near future.He pointed out that the success of an Asian athlete winning an Olympic gold medal in javelin a feat previously dominated by European athletes demonstrates Asia’s rich talent pool and its ability to capitalise on development programmes.Al-Hamad stated that the association’s plans for its 2027 cycle are designed to enhance the sport and advance athletes’ skills across different disciplines.He stressed the importance of focusing on younger age groups and identifying talent early, noting that champions can emerge from small villages or school programmes.Providing adequate support and care for these talents is crucial to their development and success on all levels. The Asian Athletics Association’s programmes aim to nurture talent across the continent and pave the way for global recognition.The association has established specific standards to elevate technical performance by enhancing coaching capabilities with modern training methods and improving athletes’ skills in track and field events. These standards will be applied uniformly across Asia’s five regions.Al-Hamad also highlighted the significance of the presence of President of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, at the Asian Athletics Association meetings held in Doha.This underscores Asia’s prominent position on the global athletics map and reflects the association’s collaborative efforts with regional leaders and technical and administrative committees to advance the sport.He concluded by praising Qatar’s unwavering support for its nationals serving in international and continental sports organisations, adding that this commitment to promoting sports underscores Qatar’s leadership role and contributes to achievements on all levels.

Germany beat Canada 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the Davis Cup semi-finals where they will face the Netherlands who advanced with a stunning upset of hosts Spain.Without world number two Alexander Zverev, Germany went ahead when Daniel Altmaier beat Gabriel Diallo 7-6(5) 6-4 and Jan-Lennard Struff fought back to overcome Denis Shapovalov 4-6 7-5 7-6(5) and seal victory in the tie.“Playing in the finals is amazing, I haven’t played Davis Cup the whole year and I’m proud to help the team get the first victory. I think we are in a great position now,” Altmaier said on court.“The mental side is crucial. It’s a huge motivation for me. My fighting spirit helped me to win the first set and then I was getting into a better rhythm.”Germany avenged their 2022 quarter-final loss to Canada who went on to claim their first Davis Cup title with victory over Australia.Defending champions Italy will be led by world number one Jannik Sinner in their last-eight clash with Argentina today and the United States face Australia for a place in the semi-finals.Meanwhile Spain’s Davis Cup captain David Ferrer said he had no regrets about fielding Rafa Nadal in their quarter-final singles opener against the Netherlands on Tuesday after the 22-times Grand Slam champion fell to defeat in the last game of his career.Following Nadal’s 6-4 6-4 defeat by Botic van de Zandschulp, world number three Carlos Alcaraz levelled the tie by beating Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(0) 6-3.However, Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers were defeated in the decisive doubles by Wesley Koolhof and Van de Zandschulp.Ferrer told a press conference in the early hours of on Wednesday in Malaga that he was still processing the emotions of what had been a “strange” day.“The decision (to play Nadal) was difficult. Nadal and Roberto Bautista were very evenly matched, but I decided on Rafa because he was improving every day in training,” he added.“He is leaving something special behind ... he has left his mark. Someone so great and with such humility is hard to find. May he go away from the sport with happiness, proud and at ease.”Nadal announced last month that he was retiring after the Davis Cup Finals, and Alcaraz became emotional while talking about a player he described as both an inspiration and a mentor.“Rafa has taught me the passion with which you have to live tennis,” Alcaraz told a press conference.“I’m lucky to have him around. I wish I had come to the circuit earlier. I have taken unforgettable moments with me. Thanks to him I wanted to be a tennis player.“If, at the end of my career, I have done half of what he has done, I’ll be more than happy.”

Serena Williams said it had been an honour to witness Rafa Nadal’s tennis journey and that he would leave the game a “lasting legacy” following the Spaniard’s defeat in the final match of his glorious career. Nadal, who won 22 Grand Slam titles over the course of a career spanning more than two decades, announced his retirement last month and was a surprise pick for Spain’s opening singles match in their Davis Cup quarter-final against the Netherlands. The 38-year-old lost 6-4 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp and Spain eventually fell 2-1 to exit the team tournament in Malaga.“Congratulations on a career that most won’t dare to dream of,” Williams said on Instagram alongside a video of her wearing Nadal-branded merchandise. “I feel so fortunate to have been able to play when you were playing and being great.“You inspired me to be better, to play harder, to fight, to never give up, and to win more. No excuses, just play the sport. You legacy will never die. Wow to see your career from the beginning to today was an honour champ! Long live Rafa!”Nadal’s Davis Cup teammate Carlos Alcaraz said Nadal had been his inspiration.“Thanks to you I have become a professional tennis player,” Alcaraz added.“It has been a blessing to be able to live your career as a child for whom you were an idol and then as a teammate! The best possible ambassador who leaves an eternal legacy.”World number two Iga Swiatek reacted to a video of the Spaniard tearing up with a crying emoji and said: “Too much”, while American Coco Gauff added: “Today, I’m from Spain #Rafa.”Australian tennis great Rod Laver said that watching Nadal compete had been a privilege.“Your legacy will endure as one of the greatest to ever grace the game,” Laver said. “Thank you for the countless unforgettable moments and for setting a standard of excellence that will inspire generations to come.” German Boris Becker, a six-time Grand Slam champion, said he was crying as he typed out his message on social media.Rafael Nadal factfileName: Rafael NadalDate of birth: June 3, 1986Place of birth: Manacor, SpainProfessional debut: 2001Career earnings: $134.9 millionATP titles: 92Grand Slams: 22Australian Open: (two titles) 2009, 2022French Open: (14 titles) 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022Wimbledon: (two titles) 2008, 2010US Open: (four titles) 2010, 2013, 2017, 2019Olympic gold: 2008 (singles), 2016 (doubles)Davis Cup: (four titles) 2004, 2009, 2011, 2019Weeks as world number one: 209Year-end world number one: 2008, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2019Current world ranking: 154Win/loss record: 1080-227Other informationMissed numerous Grand Slams due to injury: Australian Open in 2006 (left foot) and 2013 (stomach virus); Roland Garros in 2003 (elbow) and 2004 (left ankle); Wimbledon in 2004 (left ankle), 2009 (knee), 2016 (left wrist) and 2021 (left foot); and US Open in 2012 (left knee), 2014 (right wrist) and 2021 (left foot).Personal• Married to Maria Francisca Perello; son, Rafael born Oct 7, 2022• Uncle, Miguel Angel, played football for Barcelona, Real Mallorca and Spanish national team. Played in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cup.• Appeared in Shakira’s music video for a song in 2010• Centre Court at Barcelona was renamed “Pista Rafa Nadal” in 2017

A sparkling 2024 in which Aryna Sabalenka swept the hardcourt Grand Slams and clinched the year-end world number one ranking has left the powerful Belarusian dreaming of dominating the women’s game as Serena Williams did for so long.Once best known for a propensity to lose her cool on court, Sabalenka has transformed her game to become a ruthlessly effective player capable of blowing opponents away in a style reminiscent of Serena in her prime.After her major breakthrough at last year’s Australian Open, the 26-year-old retained the Melbourne title in January before adding the US Open crown to her trophy cabinet in September, leapfrogging Iga Swiatek in the rankings last month.Sabalenka’s New York run meant she had reached at least the semi-finals at nine of her last 12 Grand Slams – form reminiscent of Serena’s 10 last-four appearances between 2014 and 2017 when the American landed six of her 23 major titles.“I always wanted to dominate the tour like Serena did, like Iga was able to do for so long,” Sabalenka told Arab News ahead of the season-ending WTA Finals, where she sealed the year-end top spot despite a semi-final loss to Coco Gauff.“It’s really inspiring ... but I’m trying to focus on myself, on improving myself, to make sure that I have all of the tools to dominate the tour as they did.”A sign that Sabalenka was more at ease with the suffocating pressure at the top of the game came when she made a tradition of signing the bald head of her trainer before matches on her run to her second title in Melbourne in January.She won over American fans in her US Open title clash with home hope Jessica Pegula, producing spectacular shot-making that showcased power and poise thanks to the drop shots she added to her growing arsenal.“Five years ago if someone told me I’ll finally learn how to do this shot, I’d be laughing,” Sabalenka said. “I don’t have touch. I’m so bad at it. Now I have this shot in my pocket. It brings a lot of pressure on opponents, because now they know they have even more variation.”

India will give Shubman Gill every chance to prove his fitness to start the opening Test against Australia at Perth Stadium with the batsman showing improvement after fracturing his left thumb, bowling coach Morne Morkel said on Wednesday.Gill, 25, sustained the injury while fielding at slip last week as India were gearing up for the match, which starts tomorrow, with squad sessions instead of a tour game against a local side.“Shubman is improving every day. Obviously he picked up a nasty blow in that intra-squad warm-up game. I think with him it’s going to be a day-to-day process,” Morkel told reporters.“Fingers crossed for that improvement. We’ll wait to take a call on him up until the morning of the test match.”With skipper Rohit Sharma set to miss the match following the birth of his second child, Gill’s absence could heap more pressure on India’s less experienced batsmen on fiery Australian pitches but Morkel backed them to rise to the occasion.“It’s going to be great learning for these young guys, who can front up against a quality test bowling attack. Australia aren’t going to bowl you many bad balls,” Morkel said.“But in saying that there’s good leadership within the group that can help and settle the nerves with that. As a group, we’re all excited for the challenge.”Seamer Mohammed Shami is not part of the squad for the five-match series having only returned to action this month after suffering an ankle injury at last year’s 50-overs World Cup and a knee issue during his recovery. The 34-year-old claimed seven wickets in a domestic match last week but will not be rushed back to national duty.“We’re definitely keeping a close eye on Shami. He’s a world class bowler,” Morkel said.“We need to understand he’s been out of the game for almost a year. We have to respect him and his body. It’s a massive win that he’s back playing and picking up wickets.”Meanwhile Australia’s seasoned seamer, Josh Hazelwood, commended Indian batting powerhouse Virat Kohli for his impressive past performances in Australia. Acknowledging Kohli as a pivotal wicket, Hazelwood emphasised focusing on all skilful Indian players who could potentially turn the game.Hazlewood is also relieved India is without the services of Cheteshwar Pujara for the series.Pujara was the highest run-getter in the India vs Australia Test series Down Under in 2018-19 with 521 runs in four Tests as India won their first-ever Test series in Australia. He also scored 271 in the 2020-21 series Down Under, helping India to clinch their second consecutive BGT in Australia.“I am happy that Cheteshwar Pujara is not here. He is obviously someone who bats time and spends a lot of time at the crease and makes you earn his wicket every time. Has done really well in Australia on previous tours. I mean there are always first-class young players coming into the team. There is so much pressure to perform in the Indian team. With so many guys nipping at the hills all the time, so overall the playing XI is a mix of unbelievable players. So it does not really matter, they are all big players,” Hazlewood said at the press conference on Wednesday.Warner backs McSweeneyto shine in India seriesFormer Australia opener David Warner has backed Nathan McSweeney to score the most runs in the test series against India despite the uncapped batsman’s lack of experience as an opener.South Australia captain McSweeney will march out to the middle with Usman Khawaja in the first Test, having claimed the opening spot vacated by Steve Smith, who is returning to his favoured number four slot.McSweeney had not opened the batting in a first class match until playing India A this month in Melbourne where he scored 14 and 25.Warner said McSweeney would be able to adapt to the opening role and looked a good fit for Khawaja, who also started his career lower down the order.“I think he’s got the technique, he’s got the patience to partner up with Uzzy (Khawaja) to allow himself to score big,” Warner, who retired from tests after the Pakistan series in the last home summer, told reporters in Melbourne.“I’ve pencilled him in to be the highest run scorer this year, so I’m looking forward to that.“I think they’ve both got the same sort of patience, which is going to be good for them and hold the middle order in good stead.”At 25, McSweeney will be an outlier in a team of thirty-somethings and pundits worry about the impact a wave of retirements will have on the side in the coming years. Warner noted Australia needed to think about succession planning, particularly with players like 37-year-old Khawaja approaching the end of their careers.However, he also called for selectors to be patient with the new generation and give McSweeney time to prove himself at the highest level.“It’s not just these five test matches, it’s the signs that you see (McSweeney) as a talented batsman for the future,” he said.“You’ve got to give guys a crack.“I know there are other guys that have been there – Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft – but it’d be exciting just to see him score some runs first to establish himself. But if he doesn’t, just give him some time, give him maybe two summers.”

Qatar defeated Bhutan by six wickets to claim their second consecutive victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Sub Regional Qualifier B on Wednesday.The home side displayed an all-round performance after electing to field at the University of Doha for Science and Technology ground.Left-arm medium pacer Amir Farooq was the star picking three wickets for only 16 runs as Qatar bowled out Bhutan for 111 runs in 20 overs.Ikramullah Khan (3-24), Muhammad Jabir (2-22) and Mohammed Nadeem (1-3) were the other wicket-taking bowlers for the hosts. Ranjung Mikyo Dorji and Gakul Ghalley scored 21 runs apiece for Bhutan.Later, opening batsman Imal Liyanage fired a 28-ball-51 as Qatar achieved the target with ease in 16.4 overs. Mohammad Ahnaff, who scored 50 in Tuesday’s win over Thailand, remained unbeaten on 19. Farooq was named man of the match for his heroics with the ball. Qatar will take on Cambodia in their next match on Saturday.Meanwhile, in other matches on Wednesday, Thailand defeated Cambodia by 16 runs at West End Park International Cricket Stadium while United Arab Emirates recorded a 17-run win over Saudi Arabia at the same venue.After winning both their respective opening matches, UAE and Qatar are leading the standings with four points each followed by Bahrain and Thailand on two points apiece. Bhutan, Cambodia and Saudi Arabia are yet to score a point.Teams securing the top two places in the competition will qualify for the Regional Final, where they will be joined by Nepal, Oman and Papua New Guinea.

QTerminals Group has announced its continuing partnership as the event supporter for the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024, scheduled from November 29 to December 1, 2024 at the Lusail International Circuit.This marks the second year of the partnership that will span three years from 2023 to 2025, reinforcing the group’s dedication to promoting major sporting events in Qatar and the region and elevating Qatar’s profileas a key player on the world stage.“Building on our success from last year, we are eager to reconnect with the community once again this year, aligning with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 to promote a vibrant society and a diversified economy,” said Neville Bissett, Group chief executive officer of QTerminals Group. Amro al-Hamad, executive director of Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and chief executive officer of Lusail International Circuit said “together, we aim to elevate the Lusail International Circuit experience, bringing world-class events and facilities to Qatar while further strengthening the nation’s position as a hub for motorsport in the region.”QTerminals Group operates Hamad Port, the group’s flagship facility and is dedicated to promoting community initiatives and sports activities both in Qatar and across its international operations in Ukraine, Türkiye and the Netherlands. In addition to motorsport, QTerminals is the long-term title sponsor of the QTerminals Qatar Classic Squash Tournament, the gold sponsor of the Qatar TotalEnergies Tennis Open and the official sponsor of The Minister of Transport Padel Championship Cup.Recently, QTerminals expanded its sports involvement by becoming the official training partner of Feyenoord Football Club in Rotterdam and the main partner of the Feyenoord Women’s football team from 2024 to 2027.

Fabio Lima scored four goals, including a first-half hat-trick, as the United Arab Emirates handed Qatar a 5-0 thrashing in Abu Dhabi yesterday to consolidate their hold on third place in Group B of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.Lima put Paulo Bento’s side ahead in the fourth minute before doubling the lead from the spot in the 45th minute and completed his hat-trick in the fifth minute of first half injury time with a stellar free-kick. He hit the fourth from the penalty spot in the 56th minute while Yahya al-Ghassani scored the UAE’s fifth with 17 minutes remaining.The UAE also defeated Qatar 3-1 in their first clash in Al Rayyan in September. A heavy defeat means Qatar remain in fourth on seven points having failed to build on their last-gasp win over Uzbekistan in Doha last week, which looked to have revitalised the nation’s qualifying bid.Victory moves the UAE onto 10 points from six games, three points behind second-placed Uzbekistan and a further three points adrift of leaders Iran in the battle for the two automatic berths at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Qatar coach Marquez Lopez, whose job has come under increasing pressure just nine months after leading Al Annabi to Asian Cup title, said conceding early goal ruined his team’s plans. “I was not at my best and the team was not at their best, so we lost. We planned to approach the match with a specific strategy but the early goal disrupted our plans and the UAE outperformed us,” said the Spaniard.Lopez, who was aiming to build on Qatar’s last-minute victory over Uzbekistan, added: “We were looking forward to another win, but we couldn’t capitalise on the confidence gained from the previous match. We paid the price for individual mistakes from several players. Iran and Uzbekistan have an advantage in qualifying directly, while the rest of the teams still have hopes of qualifying directly or through the play-offs,” Lopez added.UAE made the perfect start, al-Ghassani powering down the left side in the fourth minute before delivering a low centre into the feet of Lima that the forward gladly swept in with a first-time finish.Boualem Khouki blasted his free-kick over the bar as Qatar chased the equaliser while Mohammed Waad went even closer, the midfielder hitting the post when his shot beat Khalid Eisa having been played in behind the defence following a surging run by Akram Afif.The woodwork was hit at the other end when al-Ghassani stepped onto his right foot to send a curling shot towards Meshaal Barsham’s goal, the ball not dipping quite enough to avoid smashing against the crossbar in the 32nd minute.With three minutes left in the half Bruno Oliveira was denied a second when he drove through the Qatar defence, Barsham saving that effort but, from the rebound, Harib Abdalla was brought down by Lucas Mendes and referee Khalid al-Turais pointed to the spot. Lima calmly converted, sending Barsham the wrong way with his penalty.There was more to come from the Brazil-born playmaker before the end of the half. After Abdalla had been brought down 30 yards from goal, Lima bent a vicious left-foot strike up and over the defensive wall that left Barsham groping at air.Matters went from bad to worse for Qatar when Barsham brought down al-Ghassani soon after the interval and Lima stepped up again to fire emphatically past the visiting goalkeeper.Ahmed Fathy hit the crossbar as Qatar sought a consolation but it was at the other end that the next goal came as al-Ghassani capped a fine performance when he slid the ball past Barsham at the end of a counterattack for the fifth.The World Cup qualifiers takes a three-month break with Qatar next match against North Korea at home on March 20, while UAE will aim to continue their resurgence when they meet group leaders Iran.

Major champions Patrick Reed, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel are among 18 LIV Golf stars in the field for International Series Qatar – the penultimate event of the season on both The International Series and the Asian Tour.The 2011 Masters champion Schwartzel and 2010 Open winner Oosthuizen, both from South Africa, will be joined by Stinger GC teammates and compatriots Dean Burmester and Branden Grace for the second staging of the event, which takes place at Doha Golf Club from November 27-30 and this year has a $US2.5mn prize purse.The 4Aces GC star Reed from the United States, the 2018 Masters winner, is one of three former Ryder Cup players alongside fellow American Anthony Kim, a wild card this season, and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters of Range Goats GC.Other prominent LIV Golf stars include Range Goats GC’s American Peter Uihlein, the International Series England champion, talented Spanish youngsters David Puig and Eugenio Chacarra, both winners on The International Series in 2023, Crushers GC’s Indian star Anirban Lahiri and Caleb Surratt, the promising American from Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII.As the second event in a three-week run in between the US$2mn LINK Hong Kong Open and US$5mn season-ending PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, the Qatar date will go a long way towards deciding The International Series Rankings.One coveted spot on the LIV Golf roster is available to the rankings champion, while 32 places are also available on the season-ending LIV Golf Promotions event.International Series Macau presented by Wynn champion John Catlin from the United States leads the rankings, with in-form Richard T Lee - the recent BNI Indonesian Masters winner - sitting in second.Uihlein, New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po, and MJ Maguire from the United States all have a chance of catching Catlin over the closing stages.Catlin has a stronger lead on the Asian Tour Order of Merit but still has work to do if he is to secure the title for the first time.Hassan Nasser al-Naimi, Qatar Golf Association (QGA) President and Chairman of the Championship Organising Committee, said: “With the tournament bringing elite-level golf and some of the biggest names in the sport for the second year in succession, we are witnessing another chapter in Qatar’s rich legacy in sports. This event aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, showcasing our world-class facilities while inspiring future generations.The pathway to LIV Golf offers a unique opportunity for emerging talent in the region, further strengthening Doha’s position as the sports capital and a global hub for world-class events.”Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “The season is reaching an exciting conclusion, and the fact that it is happening in a three-week run across Hong Kong, Qatar and Saudi Arabia is conclusive proof that we truly are The International Series.“Anything could happen thanks to the points at stake in these three big-money, back-to-back tournaments. This is everything to the players challenging for the rankings title, and also for those hoping to make it to the LIV Golf Promotions event.”Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour added: “Bringing the Asian Tour to the Gulf region is always a highlight and further evidence of our strength as a brand in different important international markets. With so much at stake, it promises to be a wonderful weekend of golf, and Doha Golf Club is a fitting stage for this to play out.”International Series Qatar takes place at Doha Golf Club from 27-30 November to finish in line with the country’s traditional Friday-Saturday weekend. For tickets and further information, fans can visit www.internationalseries.com

Mohammad Ahnaff and Muhammad Tanveer shared a 76-run fourth wicket stand to steer Qatar to a comfortable five-wicket win against Thailand in the opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier B at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha yesterday.Qatar chased down the target of 123 runs in 17.2 overs with Man of the Match Ahnaff making 50 off 47 balls aided with six fours and one six. Tanveer contributed 48 runs (33 balls) slamming five fours and two sixes.Earlier, after being put into bat, Thailand rode on the knocks of opener Akshaykumar Yadav (37 runs; 47 balls; 2x4s), Sorawat Desungnoen (26 runs; 19 balls; 1x4; 2x6s), and Nitish Salekar 28 not out (23 balls; 2x4s).Qatar’s left-arm pacer Ikramullah Khan took three wickets for 17 runs while Mirza Baig, Mohammed Nadeem and Saqlain Arshad picked a wicket each to restrict Thailand to 122 for 7.Meanwhile, United Arab Emirates also made a winning start to their campaign beating Bhutan by 63 runs at the University of Doha for Science and Technology Stadium. Batting first, UAE scored 166 for 6 with captain Alishan Sharafu scoring 50 (42 balls; 3x4s, 3x6s) and Muhammed Waseem making 46 (24 balls; 4x4s, 4x6s). The openers shared a 61-run partnership. In reply, Bhutan were restricted to 103 for 8 with Thinley Jamtsho being the highest run-getter scoring 28 (24 balls; 2x4s, 2x6s). Off-spinner Dhruv Parashar was the most successful bowler for UAE finishing with 4 for 12 in his four overs while Muhammed Jawadullah claimed 2 for 17.In another match, Bahrain pipped Saudi Arabia by 3 runs. Put into bat, Bahrain reached a total of 188 for 5 wickets with skipper Haider Ali scoring an unbeaten 67 (51 balls; 6x4s, 2x6s), and Imran Anwar making 53 runs (35 balls; 2x4s, 4x6s).In reply, Saudi Arabia despite a 55-ball century from opener Abdul Waheed 110 runs (8x4s, 7x6s) failed to reach the target falling short by three runs at 185 for 9.ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Sub Regional Qualifier B have a total of 7 teams are taking part - Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bhutan, Bahrain, Thailand, UAE and Cambodia from which the top two will qualify for the Regional Final, where they will be joined by Nepal, Oman, and Papua New Guinea.BRIEF SCORESThailand 122-7 (A Yadav 37, N Salekar 28 n.o., S Desungnoen 26; I Khan 3-17) lost to Qatar 123-5 in 17.2 overs (M Ahnaff 50, M Tanveer 48; N Senamontree 2-27) by five wickets.Bahrain 188-5 (H Ali 67, I Anwar 53) beat Saudi Arabia 185-9 (A Waheed 110) by three runs.UAE 166-6 (A Sharafu 50, M Waseem 46) beat Bhutan 103-8 (T Jamtsho 28; D Parashar 4-12) by 63 runs.

Bader bin Mohammed al-Darwish was re-elected as President of the Qatar Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon Federation (QEMPF) by acclamation during the General Assembly yesterday. Sheikh Ahmed bin Noah al-Thani was also chosen as the Secretary-General of the Federation, while Ali Yousef al-Rumaihi was named Assistant Secretary. Ahmed bin Jaber al-Mulla and Amer bin Mohammed al-Humaidi were named as members of the Board of Directors.

Japan are on the brink of qualifying for the World Cup after a 3-1 win at China yesterday while Son Heung-min scored again as South Korea were held by Palestine. Indonesia meanwhile stunned Saudi Arabia 2-0 in Jakarta to boost their unlikely hopes of reaching the tournament in North America in 2026.Headers from Koki Ogawa and Ko Itakura put runaway group leaders Japan two goals up at half time before Lin Liangming pulled one back for China early in the second half.Ogawa snuffed out China’s hopes of a comeback with his second to silence a crowd of 45,000 in Xiamen, where fans without tickets gathered outside the ground to watch the action on their phones.Loud booing greeted the Japanese national anthem before kick-off and the game was briefly stopped in the first half when a fan invaded the pitch. “It was tough at times and we knew that the opening goal was going to be key,” said Dutch-based striker Ogawa.Japan were playing their first senior international in China in nine years and there is a long history of rivalry between the two countries. There was a heavy police presence outside the Xiamen Egret Stadium, where about 750 Japan fans were expected to be in attendance.“All the players got us this win today,” said Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu. “The players on the pitch, the players on the bench and those that weren’t on the bench today - it was down to their energy that we won.”The convincing victory gave Japan five wins and a draw in Asian qualifying Group C and took them to within touching distance of a place at the World Cup. The top two teams in each of the three groups will reach the showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico.Second place in Group C is wide open after Indonesia beat Saudi Arabia with Marselino Ferdinan scoring either side of half time. It left Australia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and China all on six points ahead of the Socceroos’ late match against Bahrain, who have five.In Group B, Palestine – nominally hosts for a game taking place in Jordan – grabbed a surprise 12th-minute lead over South Korea thanks to Zaid Qunbar. The advantage lasted just four minutes, talisman and skipper Son firing in from close range to bring the Koreans level with his 51st goal for his country.It was all South Korea after that and Son had a goal chalked off for offside late on, but Palestine held on for a valuable point that helps keep them alive. Despite the 1-1 stalemate the Koreans are firmly on course for the World Cup at the top of the group with four games to go.In Group A, talented 21-year-old Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored the only goal to give Uzbekistan a 1-0 win over North Korea in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It cemented the Uzbeks’ place in the top two in the group, along with table-toppers Iran, who were 3-2 winners at Kyrgyzstan.The Iranians needed a Sardar Azmoun header to see off Kyrgyzstan 3-2 in Bishkek in another Group A match.Iran retained their three point lead at the summit with Azmoun rescuing his team with a 76th minute header after a Joel Kojo double had pulled Kyrgyzstan level following first half goals from Mehdi Taremi and Saleh Hardani.Teams finishing third and fourth in the three Asian groups will go through to a further round of qualifying.North Korea are rooted to the bottom of Group A and yet to win in six games in this phase of qualifying.