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Josko Gvardiol continued his scoring streak to earn Croatia a 1-1 home draw with Portugal on Monday that allowed them to squeak into the Nations League quarter-finals. Portugal had already sealed top spot in Group A1. The draw allowed Croatia to finish one point above Scotland who continued their late surge with a 2-1 win over Poland in Warsaw.In Group A4, Spain, already assured of qualification, beat last-placed Switzerland 3-2 in a match of penalty kicks in Tenerife. Denmark secured second place in the group with a 0-0 draw in Serbia.In Split, Portugal took a 33rd-minute lead when Joao Felix neatly finished a sharp counterattack. Rafael Leao then missed the target when clean through. With Scotland winning in Warsaw after a third-minute goal from John McGinn, set up by teenager Ben Doak, Croatia were heading out.Gvardiol, ghosting at the far post, had a header on 62 minutes disallowed for offside. He repeated the move three minutes later, sneaking in unmarked and onside to squeeze a close-range shot through Jose Sa. Gvardiol, a defender, has three goals in his last six Premier League games for Manchester City.Almost simultaneously in Warsaw, Kamil Piatkowski rocketed a cross shot into the top far corner of the Scottish goal to level for Poland. In the 73rd minute in Split, left-back Nuno Mendes nearly emulated Gvardiol for Portugal but goalie Dominik Livakovic blocked.In Warsaw, Andy Robertson headed home in added time to give Scotland a second win in four days, but Croatia comfortably saw out the draw they needed.Scotland go into a play-off to save their League A status. Poland are relegated. Scotland coach Steve Clarke said he was happy with his country’s improvement.In Tenerife, Alvaro Morata’s clever turn won a penalty just after the half-hour. Yvon Mvogo saved Pedri’s low, hard spot kick but, after some pinball, Yeremi Pino, from the neighbouring Canary island of Las Palmas, scored. Joel Monteiro dribbled through the Spanish defence for a spectacular 63rd-minute equaliser.Bryan Gil stole the ball in the Swiss area to put Spain ahead again five minutes later. Andi Zeqiri levelled again, with a penalty five minutes from time. Deep into extra time, Bryan Zaragoza converted Spain’s second spot kick. For both the Bryans it was a first international goal.In Leskovac in Serbia, the hosts needed to win to overtake visiting Denmark and reach the quarter-finals. On a night when both goalkeepers, Dorde Petrovic and Kasper Schmeichel, were in eye-catching form, the hosts had to settle for a 0-0 draw.The goalkeeping was less spectacular in Luxembourg in League C, where Northern Ireland blew a two-goal lead in Luxembourg to draw 2-2 but topped Group 3 when Bulgaria threw away a lead and drew 1-1 in Sofia against Belarus.In Group 2, Romania beat Cyprus 4-1 in Bucharest to stay top of the group, two points ahead of Kosovo, who beat Lithuania 1-0 in Pristina despite playing the second half with 10 men. In League D, San Marino came from a goal down to beat Liechtenstein 3-1 in Vaduz and edge Gibraltar to first place in Group 1.

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.

San Marino made history on Monday after coming from behind to beat Liechtenstein 3-1 and obtain a stunning promotion to the third tier of the Nations League. Trailing at half-time, San Marino claimed their second-ever competitive win thanks to strikes from Lorenzo Lazzari and Alessandro Golinucci, and Nicola Nanni’s penalty.San Marino’s players charged onto the pitch in joy after securing promotion to League C at the Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz. The micro state’s national team, whose first competitive win came against Liechtenstein back in September, have been promoted after topping Group D1.“Finishing that first half 1-0 down was an insult to football, but the boys were brilliant and deserved what they’ve managed to achieve,” said San Marino coach Roberto Cevoli.San Marino are international football’s bottom-ranked team but finished the group one point ahead of Gibraltar with whom they drew 1-1 on Friday thanks to a last-gasp Nanni spot-kick. They scored three goals in an official fixture for the first time and Golinucci’s first-time finish in the 76th minute, which decided the match, came from a slick passing move which would have once been unthinkable.“Apart from suffering the serious risk of heart attack, all I can say is that these boys made history tonight,” said a visibly emotional Marco Tura, the president of the San Marino Football Federation. “As people, as athletes, as men they have shown what they are worth... I cried with the boys.”The whipping boys of international football had been building up to their historic Nations League campaign after also claiming draws in friendly matches against Seychelles, Saint Lucia and Saint Kitts and Nevis over the last two years.

Retiring tennis superstar Rafael Nadal lost 6-4, 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp in a Davis Cup quarter-final singles rubber yesterday as the Netherlands took a 1-0 lead against Spain.The 22-time Grand Slam winner will call time on his career in professional tennis at the end of Spain’s participation in the tournament in Malaga, after two injury-ravaged years.Doubts hung over Nadal’s involvement until the official announcement from team captain David Ferrer confirmed he would play in the first singles rubber of the opening finals clash.The 38-year-old appeared emotional during the Spanish national anthem, and fans filled the arena with chants of “Rafa, Rafa,” when it ended.Nadal had won his last 29 Davis Cup singles matches out of 30 played – after debuting in the tournament in 2004 – and both of his prior clashes with the Dutchman.‘Probably my last match’“If I was the captain I would change me probably (if Spain reach the semi-finals), but at the end of the day it’s not my decision,” Nadal told reporters.“And I’m sure (the captain) will make the best decision possible for the team... probably that was my last match...“I lost my first match at the Davis Cup, and I lost my last one, so we close the circle.”Nadal’s involvement in the tie was not certain, with his career ravaged by injuries in recent years, but captain Ferrer called on the 38-year-old to open the finals for Spain before an adoring home crowd.“At the end of the day he has to make decisions and he made the decision thinking what’s the best for the team and not for myself, I respect that,” said Nadal.“We went on court, we lived that moment, trying to do my best, trying to stay as positive as possible, positive energy, it was not enough.“Hats off to Botic, he was better than me, now it’s not necessary to analyse the match any more.”Nadal appeared emotional during the Spanish national anthem before the match.“I was having an emotional day, nerves before what could be my last singles match as a professional,” added Nadal.“The emotions hearing the national anthem for the last time as a professional were very special, mixed feelings makes things a little bit more difficult.”World number three Carlos Alcaraz faces the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor in the second singles rubber to try and keep Spain’s Davis Cup dream alive and prolong Nadal’s farewell.The winner from this clash will face Germany or Canada in the semi-finals.

Tennis great Roger Federer hailed his former rival Rafael Nadal yesterday ahead of the Spaniard’s imminent retirement from tennis at the Davis Cup.“Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens - historic!” Federer wrote on social media platform X.“You made Spain proud... you made the whole tennis world proud.”Retired Swiss star Federer and Nadal faced each other 14 times at Grand Slam tournaments with Nadal holding a 6-3 advantage in finals.The Spaniard also had a 24-16 winning record overall in their 40 head-to-head meetings.“I keep thinking about the memories we’ve shared... always cracking each other up,” wrote Federer.“Wearing each other out on the court and then, sometimes, almost literally having to hold each other up during trophy ceremonies.”Federer won 20 Grand Slams, a tally only beaten in the men’s game by Nadal on 22 and Novak Djokovic, who holds the record at 24.“You beat me - a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could,” Federer continued.“You made me reimagine my game-even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge.”Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, will bow out from professional tennis after competing with Spain at the Davis Cup.The 38-year-old has struggled badly with injury in the last few years, leading him to the decision to retire.Federer recalled Nadal partnering him in doubles at his own retirement at the Laver Cup in 2022.“It meant everything to me that you were there by my side - not as my rival but as my doubles partner,” added Federer.“Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career.”The pair met for the first time in 2004 at the Miami Open, shortly after Federer had become world number one and Nadal was just 17. “I thought I was on top of the world. And I was - until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly,” said the 43-year-old.“All that buzz I’d been hearing about you - about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday - it wasn’t just hype.”Nadal said Monday he was not at the Davis Cup to retire but to try and win it with his country.However he has not competed in an official singles match since his second-round exit at the Olympics in July.“I am not here for retiring. I’m here to try to help the team,” Nadal explained.“It’s of course going to be my last week on the professional tour, but at the end, we are here in a teams competition. “The emotions are going to be for the end.”

The technical team of the Qatari national basketball squad, under the guidance of Turkish coach Hakan Demir, yesterday revealed the roster of players set to compete in the Asian qualifiers for the FIBA Asia Cup Saudi Arabia 2025.The Qatari team is set to compete in their first game of the second Asian window against India at 3:30pm on November 22, taking place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.Following this encounter, they will go up against Iran on November 25 at Al Gharafa Hall. These games are part of Group E, which also features Kazakhstan.This announcement follows the team’s commendable performance in the twelfth edition of the King Abdullah II International Basketball Cup, which took place at Prince Hamzah Hall in Amman, Jordan, from November 16 to 18. The Qatari team achieved a commendable second place in the tournament, securing victories against the Syrian national team with a score of 75-66 and the Palestinian national team with a score of 74-72.However, they were defeated in the final game by the host nation, the Jordanian national team, with a score of 50-70.This performance marks a significant milestone in the Qatari team’s preparations for the upcoming Asian qualifiers for the 2025 Asian Cup.The announced list includes 15 players: Omar Mohamed Saad, Mustafa Fouda, Mahmoud Darwish, Khaled Rushdi, Babacar Dieng, Nadim Muslik, Mohamed Bashir, Tyler James Lee Harris, Aladji Boubou Magassa, Ndaye Elhaj Sidou, Abdullah Yassin, Mustafa Ndaw, Mike Lewis, Alen Hadzibegovic, and Donte Grantham. The team’s mission is headed by Saadoun Sabah al-Kuwari, Secretary-General of the Qatar Basketball Federation, along with members of the administrative and technical staff: Jassim Ashkanani, team manager, Nabil Juma, team administrator, in addition to the Turkish Hakan Demir (technical manager), Cengiz Karadag (assistant coach), Sonit Yetim (fitness coach), Gokteg Dalbazar (coach), Ihadji Abdo (assistant coach), Adel Khadir (therapist), Nicasio Sejano (masseur), and Abdel Fattah (mission worker).Iran lead group E standings with four points, same as Kazakhstan, while the Qatar are in third place with two points, same as the Indian team, who are in fourth place.The performance in the qualifiers is expected to be decisive for Qatar in their quest to qualify for the 2025 Asian Cup.

Australia’s mouthwatering clash with India sees the two behemoths of the modern game go head-to-head in five Tests over six weeks with the tourists eyeing a third straight series triumph DownUnder.Only England in the 1880s, West Indies a century later and South Africa more recently have achieved that feat, and to do so against the current holders of the World Test Championship title would be a considerable accomplishment.Home and away, India have won the last four Test series between the two countries but recent signs of frailty in a team in transition has had alarm bells ringing from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.The stunning 3-0 home reversal at the hands of New Zealand a few weeks ago shone a harsh spotlight on the generation that was the first from India to win a Test series in Australia in 2019 and backed it up two years later.Among the questions being asked by Indian fans is whether batting mainstays Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both now closer to 40 than 30, can arrest their decline on Australia’s quick and bouncy pitches.Captain Rohit looks unlikely to even play in the series opener starting in Perth on Friday, having decided to put family first and stay at home for the birth of his second child. Training injuries have impacted the list of likely replacements with Shubman Gill fracturing a thumb and KL Rahul taking a nasty blow to his elbow.The questions over India’s opening partnership echo a debate that has engrossed Australia since Cameron Green was ruled out of the series with a back injury in mid-October.Once it was confirmed that Steve Smith would be dropping down the order to replace the injured all-rounder at number four, every possible candidate to partner Usman Khawaja has been proposed, analysed and scrutinised.Australia’s selectors ultimately stuck to the principle of choosing the best batsmen in the country and sorting them into an order later.Nathan McSweeney will therefore open for only the second time in his career when he makes his Test debut at Perth Stadium this week.That the debate raged so long and so hard perhaps reflects, however, the absence of question marks over the remainder of a battle-hardened Australia line-up.McSweeney is the only player under the age of 30 likely to start the first Test but Smith, Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne remain in the top 10 of the Test batting rankings.Paceman Josh Hazlewood and his skipper Pat Cummins occupy spots in the top 10 of the bowlers’ standings along with spinner Nathan Lyon, while left-arm quick Mitchell Starc is 11th.The battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy may not yet have the cache of an Ashes series but it will now finally be stretched across the full canvas of five Tests.That might more reflect the financial benefits to Cricket Australia from Indian TV money but it could make the job for the tourists a bit harder. A quick surface reminiscent of the old WACA ground has been promised at Perth Stadium, while Australia will be confident of keeping intact their 100% record in day-night matches at the Adelaide Oval in match two.The Gabba is no longer the fortress for Australia it was once was and the third Test in Brisbane could be a decisive fixture ahead of the traditional Boxing Day and New Year’s matches on bat-friendly surfaces in Melbourne and Sydney.The Australians prevailed when the two teams met in the World Test Championship final last year and the series will have major ramifications for the makeup of next June’s title-decider at Lord’s, particularly for India.With no more Tests in the qualifying period after this series, India need to win four matches to avoidmissing out on the final for the first time. As South Africa showed when they won three, albeit shorter, series in Australia from 2008, success Down Under usually rests on the quality and durability of your seam bowling. Led by Jasprit Bumrah, India’s pace unit have shown they can have an impact on Australian tracks and, of course, are backed up by the world’s best slow-bowling all-rounders in Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.India-Australia Test series factboxFIXTURESFirst Test: Nov. 22-26, Perth StadiumSecond Test (day-night): Dec. 6-10, Adelaide OvalThird Test: Dec. 14-18, The Gabba, BrisbaneFourth Test: Dec. 26-30, Melbourne Cricket GroundFifth Test: Jan. 3-7, Sydney Cricket GroundAUSTRALIAWorld ranking: 1Captain: Pat CumminsCoach: Andrew McDonaldTop-ranked batsman: Steven Smith (5)Top-ranked bowler: Josh Hazlewood (2)Australia squad for first Test: Pat Cummins (captain), Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.INDIAWorld ranking: 2Captain: Rohit SharmaCoach: Gautam GambhirTop-ranked batsman: Yashasvi Jaiswal (4)Top-ranked bowler: Jasprit Bumrah (3)India squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Jasprit Bumrah, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.EAD-TO-HEADTest series: 28Australia wins: 12India wins: 11Draws: 5LAST THREE SERIES2022-2023: India beat Australia 2-1 in four-Test series in India2020-21: India beat Australia 2-1 in four-Test series in Australia2018-19: India beat Australia 2-1 in four-Test series in Australia

Losail International Circuit has announced the inclusion of the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East as part of the lineup of events accompanying the Qatar Airways Formula 1 Grand Prix 2024, scheduled from November 29 to December 1.In a statement today, the circuit confirmed that the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East race will join an exciting roster of support races, including the Formula 1 Academy Race and the Formula 2 Championship, in what will be the penultimate round of the 2024 Formula 1 season.The event will showcase the iconic Porsche 911 GT3 cars in thrilling high-speed competitions, featuring a free practice session, a qualifying round, and two adrenaline-fueled races. Approximately 15 cars, all with identical technical specifications, will take to the track, promising an intense and closely fought contest.The statement highlighted the participation of three Qatari drivers: Abdullah Al Khulaifi, Ghanim Al Maadheed, and Ibrahim Al Abdulghani. Competing on the world-class Losail International Circuit, which spans 5.419 kilometers and includes 16 challenging turns, the drivers will navigate both sharp corners and the circuits renowned straight sections.The Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East race adds to an exceptional program of events surrounding the Qatar Grand Prix. The Formula 1 Academy Race, an all-women series aimed at developing the skills of emerging female drivers, is set to deliver an exciting prelude to the main events. This will be followed by the FIA Formula 2 Championship, a premier single-seater competition featuring 22 cars, all designed to identical specifications to ensure a level playing field.The highlight of the weekend will undoubtedly be the Qatar Airways Formula 1 Grand Prix, scheduled for December 1, alongside the much-anticipated Sprint Race, which makes its return to the Losail International Circuit as part of the thrilling Formula 1 schedule.

Buoyed by their fighting 3-2 victory over Uzbekistan last Thursday, Asian champions Qatar will be looking to maintain their winning momentum going into today’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash against hosts UAE at Al Nahyan Stadium.Qatar coach Marquez Lopez yesterday said the hard-fought win over Uzbekistan had lifted the mood in Al Annabi camp.Four days ago, Lucas Mendes’ goal deep into added time secured Qatar a 3-2 win against Uzbekistan and head coach Marquez Lopez is confident that thrilling win would steer his side past UAE, who won the reverse fixture 3-1 in September.“The win against Uzbekistan was a huge morale boost for us and will help in this crucial game against the UAE. Rising in the standings is very important for us,” Lopez, from Spain, said during a news conference yesterday.“We had limited preparation time, but we are physically ready for the challenge,” the Asian Cup winning coach added.Lopez, who was Al Wakrah coach until December last year when he was offered to manage the Qatar team, yesterday said Qatar-UAE rivalry may see a different contest today.“The UAE are an excellent team, but the match will be different from our previous encounter. We controlled the game in the first half but conceded goals in the second half due to counter attacks. Maintaining 100 percent focus will be key to securing victory,” Lopez warned.Qatar’s mercurial play-maker Akram Afif struck a confident note during the pre-match press conference yesterday.“Our complete focus is on securing a win, which is pivotal for our qualifying campaign. Collecting three points is crucial, and we will give our all to achieve the goal,” Afif said.“The fans mean a lot to us, as they provide immense motivation. We promise to do our best to make them proud and happy,” the newly-minted Asian Player of the Year added.UAE Coach Paulo Bento said yesterday: “Qatar are a tough side with quality and experienced players. They’ve won two Asian Cup titles and also competed in the World Cup. It’s going to be a difficult match.He added: “This is an important game for us. We succeeded in winning the away fixture againstQatar and now aim to deliver our best performance and earn the desired result. We trust in our capabilities.“Each match is different, and this one won’t be the same as our last meeting. It’s difficult to replicate results in football, but we must draw lessons from the previous match and other games to craft a winning strategy.”UAE Right-Back Khaled al-Dhanhani said: “This match is vital for both teams. We are determined to secure three points in front of our home fans, whose support provides a massive morale boost.”Meanwhile former Qatari national team player Adel Khamis said Qatar’s win against Uzbekistan was ‘important’.“The last win helped Qatar to correct its course and restore full chances to remain in the competition cycle to qualify directly for the next World Cup finals and not wait and turn to the Asian play-off,” Khamis said.He added that the national team came out with many gains last Thursday. He, however, added that the technical staff must make sure there are ‘less mistakes’ than the ones seen against Uzbekistan in the second half last Thursday.“There should be less mistakes since the match against the Emirati national team will be very important because victory in it will make us take an important step towards getting closer to the first and second places,” he added.

Just when excitement levels ahead of next month’s Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024 couldn’t get any higher, Lusail International Circuit (LIC) has announced that the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East will complete the trio of support races for next month’s Formula 1 spectacular.Taking place from November 29-December 1, the one-make series will line up alongside the F1 Academy and FIA Formula 2 championship for the penultimate date in the Formula 1 2024 season, in what promises to be one of the most high-octane weekends of the year.The iconic Porsche 911 GT3 cars deliver thrilling sprints and wheel-to-wheel duels across one practice session, one qualification round, and two high-intensity races. With a grid of approximately 15 cars featuring identical technical specifications, pure skill, talent, and teamwork determine who reaches the podium.Local fans will have plenty to cheer for as three Qatari talents take to the grid: Abdullah al-Khulaifi, Ghanim al-Maadeed, and Ibrahim al-Abdulghani will represent the host nation in what promises to be an exciting showcase of regional motorsport talent.They’ll be joining series standout Janne Stiak, the 17-year-old winner of the opening race at Bahrain International Circuit, as drivers take on the 16 turns and various straights of LIC’s world-class 5.419km circuit.The Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East will join an exciting roster of support races including F1 Academy - a highly competitive all-female racing series designed to nurture and propel young female drivers towards higher echelons of competition. It not only showcases the exceptional talent and skill of these athletes but also highlights the fierce competition they bring to the track, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event. This will be followed by the FIA Formula 2 Championship, a thrilling one-make single-seater race with 22 identical cars, which allows drivers to showcase their prowess in front of a Formula 1 audience. As well as the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024 which takes place on the final day of the racing weekend, the nail-biting Formula 1 Sprint Race will also make a welcome return to LIC.The high-voltage three-day celebration of motorsport begins on November 29. Global superstars Maroon 5 and regional sensation Myriam Fares will headline the entertainment lineup, completing an unforgettable weekend of racing and music.Fans wanting to be a part of the action for the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024 need to be quick to secure their tickets. Standard day and weekend tickets to this once-in-a-lifetime event are still available to buy now at https://tickets.lcsc.qa

The Qatar Stars League (QSL) participated in the annual meeting of World Leagues Association held in Egyptian capital Cairo over two days and hosted by the Egyptian Pro League with the participation of 37 professional leagues, including Premier League, Spanish League, Italian League, Portuguese League and other representatives of the leagues that are members of the global forum in addition to the presence of a delegation representing FIFA and a number of international sports figures. QSL was represented in the meeting by Dr Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Executive Director of Competitions and Football Development, who held a number of meetings and discussions with officials and representatives of the participating leagues with the aim of exchanging experience and reviewing the latest programmes related to competitions and development process. A number of issues on the agenda were reviewed, most notably co-ordinating the relationship between professional leagues in addition to launching the League Development Programme – a tailored audit, benchmarking and strategic planning process to help leagues of all sizes and ambitions with their development. Workshops were also held to enhance co-operation between leagues from various continents and discuss the expanding international calendar, which puts pressure on some players and professional clubs. It may be noted that QSL’s participation in the meeting on a regular basis comes in line with its keenness to strengthen relations with various professional leagues across the world, exchange experiences and learn about the latest developments in issues related to football.

The highly awaited ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Sub Regional Qualifier B will kick-off at the refurbished ground of West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha today with hosts Qatar taking on Thailand in the opening match at 9am. Later at 12.15pm, Bhutan will meet United Arab Emirates at the UDST Cricket Ground while Bahrain will play Saudi Arabia at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium. The qualifiers which have a total of seven teams are taking part - Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bhutan, Bahrain, Thailand, UAE and Cambodia - will see two matches being played each day from November 19-28. A total of 21 games will be played during ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Sub-regional Qualifier B. This tournament will serve as a qualification scenario for the teams participating in the event. The teams that finish in the top 2 after all of the matches will qualify for the Regional Final, where they will be joined by Nepal, Oman, and Papua New Guinea. At the event launch yesterday evening, Qatar Cricket Association’s (QCA) Secretary-General Khalid Saleh al-Rumaihi welcomed the teams, officials and the media. “We are looking forward to exciting cricket from players of the seven teams over the next ten days. We know that all the seven teams are eager to qualify for the Regional Final and we wish all of them the very best.” QCA’s CEO Khaled al-Suwaidi was also present on the occasion and said, “We have all preparations in place with recently-laid seven pitches and international standard grounds which will surely be liked by all participants. “We also for thee first time have teams from Bhutan and Cambodia in the tournament, and who will also be playing against Qatar for the first time. The Qatar fans would be eager to see their contests as well.” Of all the teams, UAE, Bahrain and hosts Qatar have the strongest chance to finish in the top 2 of the competition. The FixturesNovember 19: Qatar vs Thailand (West End Park Stadium); Bhutan vs United Arab Emirates (UDST Cricket Ground, Doha); Bahrain vs Saudi Arabia (West End Park Stadium) November 20: Cambodia vs Thailand (West End Park); Qatar vs Bhutan (UDST Cricket Ground); Saudi Arabia vs UAE (West End Park) November 22: Cambodia vs UAE (West End Park); Bahrain vs Thailand (UDST Cricket Ground); Bhutan vs Saudi Arabia (UDST Cricket Ground) November 23: Bahrain vs Bhutan (West End Park); Thailand vs UAE (UDST Cricket Ground); Qatar vs Cambodia (UDST Cricket Ground) November 25: Qatar vs Bahrain (West End Park); Cambodia vs Saudi Arabia (UDST Cricket Ground); Bhutan vs Thailand (West End Park) November 26: Saudi Arabia vs Thailand (West End Park); Bahrain vs Cambodia (UDST Cricket Ground); Qatar vs UAE (West End Park) November 28: Bhutan vs Cambodia (West End Park); Qatar vs Saudi Arabia (UDST Cricket Ground); Bahrain vs UAE (UDST Cricket Ground).

England captain Harry Kane says he is performing at his highest ever level as he dismissed suggestions the 2026 World Cup should be his international swansong.Thomas Tuchel will take over as England manager in January with his first matches not until World Cup qualifiers start in March’s international break.Interim boss Lee Carsley guided the Three Lions to promotion from the second tier of the Nations League with five wins from his six games in charge. That included a 3-0 win away at Greece last week, where Carsley took dropped Kane to the bench.The 31-year-old striker admitted he had been shocked by that call, but scored in Sunday’s 5-0 thrashing of the Republic of Ireland on his return to the starting line-up.At of Euro 2024 last summer, Kane often looked laboured and was substituted in all four knockout games as England reached the final. But the Bayern Munich striker has scored 20 times for club and country in 21 appearances this season.“I think there’s a perception when you get to your thirties that you’re coming to an end but for me I’m performing at the highest level I’ve ever performed and feel as good as I’ve ever felt,” Kane told the Press Association.I don’t like to look too far ahead and in my career I never have, the World Cup is going to be exciting.“In America it will be an incredible occasion and ultimately it’s about trying to win that, looking at where you are, where to improve and it will be no different in a couple of years.”Kane was speaking at the unveiling of a statue of him at the home of his former youth team Ridgeway Rovers in east London.Already England’s all-time record goalscorer with 69 goals in 102 games, Kane could easily also surpass Peter Shilton’s record of 125 caps.But he believes he must help end his nation’s wait for a major tournament victory since 1966 to emulate World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore and be honoured with a statue at Wembley.Kane previously worked with Tuchel at Bayern and is positive about the impact the German can make when he becomes the third foreign manager to take charge of England.“I think we need to win a major tournament,” he added. “We’ve come close on a couple of occasions and the next step is for me and the other boys to win.“We have a new coach coming in March. He’ll be great for us, he has vast experience in the big competitions, he’ll bring a great energy to the team and he’ll put his own stamp and identity on the way we play tactically.”

Jannik Sinner’s reserved public persona belies his status as Italy’s biggest sporting star and the new dominant force in men’s tennis, his convincing victory at the ATP Finals confirming his rise to the top of the game.An eighth tournament win of the season came in a near perfect year for Sinner who started 2024 by winning his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open and never looked back from there.Long considered Italian tennis’ great red-haired hope, few could have imagined this year’s sudden burst to the top of the world rankings ahead of Spain’s golden boy Carlos Alcaraz, himself a four-time Slam champion at the age of 21.The 23-year-old is set to be Alcaraz’s main rival in the years to come, the pair stepping up as Rafael Nadal retires and Novak Djokovic ends a year without an ATP Tour title for the first time since 2006.“Jannik hits a faster ball than Novak. He doesn’t let you breathe. With Novak you can play rallies...and not be terrified of Novak ripping, like, a bomb down the line or cross-court,” said Casper Ruud after being destroyed by Sinner in the semi-finals on Saturday.“Everything in his game improved. I mean, this year it seems like he stepped up with every aspect.”However Sinner’s status as national hero was in doubt as recently as this time last year, his origins in the German-speaking areas of the South Tyrol and residence in Monaco casting doubt on whether he was Italian at all.Sinner was born in Innichen, or San Candido, which is a stone’s throw from the Austrian border, his attachment to his home nation has been frequently questioned by former Italian tennis players and local media.The criticism of a perceived lack of patriotism reached a crescendo in September last year when he dropped out of Davis Cup matches played in Bologna, saying that he didn’t have time to recover from tournaments played in North America.But those doubts were magically swept aside when he surged to the final of the 2023 ATP Finals - where he fell to Djokovic after beating the 24-time Grand Slam champion in the group stage - and was then key to Italy eventually winning the Davis Cup for the first time since 1976.Now Sinner’s face can been seen almost everywhere in Italy, where he is universally lauded and is almost omnipresent in advertising for products ranging from broadband internet to coffee brand Lavazza and fashion house Gucci.However he is far from the more outgoing stars of Italian sport like motorcycling legend Valentino Rossi, World Cup-winning footballer Alessandro Del Piero or alpine skiing star Sofia Goggia.Sinner is quiet and reserved and keeps his personal life away from the spotlight as much as possible, saying very little about his relationship with fellow tennis player Anna Kalinskaya even after her former boyfriend Nick Kyrgios disparagingly referred to her as “second serve”.“You know that I don’t like to talk much about my private life. I’m with Anna, but we keep everything very private. I won’t say more about it,” Sinner said in August.A career in professional tennis was not a given for Sinner as he was a champion skier as a youngster and still enjoys the sport in the off-season.He was also a keen footballer, playing for local team AFC Sexten as an attacker until he decided to commit to tennis while still a boy.“Whenever he had the ball he left people with their mouths wide open. No one could understand how a child could have so much quality,” his former football coach Helmut Villgrater told the Gazzetta Dello Sport in January.But he quickly took to tennis and at 13 years old he moved some 600 kilometres away from his family to Bordighera on the Italian Riviera in order to start his long march to the elite levels of the game.However Sinner’s year has not quite been perfect.He has been dogged by controversy after twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.Hanging over his head for next season is the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal against his initial exoneration, the global body asking for Sinner to be banned for up to two years.

Rafael Nadal hopes to save his emotions over his retirement until the end of the Davis Cup competition and says the focus remains on Spain’s upcoming quarter-final tie against the Netherlands.Ahead of the final professional tournament of his career, Nadal and his Spanish teammates spoke to the media in anticipation of the hosts’ clash against the Dutch in Malaga today.“I am not here for retiring. I’m here to try to help the team,” Nadal said yesterday.“It’s of course going to be my last week on the professional tour, but at the end, we are here in a teams competition.”“The most important thing here is to stay all focused on what we have to do, that is play tennis and to do it very well. Because the rival is going to be difficult, and the conditions are difficult too.“So then the emotions are going to be for the end.”Nadal, who will draw the curtains on a record-breaking career that has spanned nearly 23 years, has not competed in an official singles match since his second-round exit at the Olympics in July.The former world number one has worked hard for the past six weeks to be ready for the Davis Cup but said it will ultimately be the decision of Spain captain David Ferrer on whether he will be playing in singles or doubles against the Netherlands.“Of course when you are not competing very often, it’s a little bit more difficult to hold the level on a constant basis, I’ve had good moments and more difficult moments. I think the improvement is there every day, but, I mean, we have a great team on Spain,” said Nadal. “All these players on the tour are playing very well, having great seasons. It’s the work of the captain to decide what he feels is better for the team.”Ferrer says he hasn’t decided on his lineup for the quarter-finals and will reveal his selections on Tuesday ahead of the tie.Nadal, who owns a 29-1 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles matches and an 8-4 record in doubles, has not competed in the inter-nation team competition since 2019, when he helped Spain win a sixth Davis Cup title.He is joined by reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, Roberto Bautista Agut, Pedro Martinez, and Marcel Granollers on Spain’s squad this week.Nadal’s body has been ravaged by injuries throughout his career, but particularly during the past two years, which has led him to make the decision to hang uphis racquet, admitting he is unable to sustain a competitive level on tour.“I achieved the most important thing for me, because I arrived to this day and I am in peace that I gave all that I had,” said Nadal.“I’m going to leave this professional tour with the calm and with the personal satisfaction that I gave my best almost in every single moment.”Nadal said he is “not worried” about the next chapter of his life and that he must “accept the process” of experiencing this significant change.Novak Djokovic, Nadal’s fiercest rival, has said he plans on being in Malaga for the Spaniard’s final tournament. Asked if Roger Federer will be making an appearance, Nadal said: “I didn’t talk to Roger. I think Roger has a busy schedule.“This is going to be my last week on the professional tour, but I don’t think it’s going to be my last goodbye. So there’s going to be other chances to do something.”

DOHA: Aspire Zone Foundation has completed its final preparations for the launch of the International Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship ‘Sky Grace 2024,’ organised in collaboration with the Sky Grace Academy.The event will take place from November 20 to 22, at the Aspire Dome indoor track, from 8:00am to 8:30pm.Work teams have been seen adding the finishing touches to the venue, which will host the opening ceremony and the five main performances: hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon, and rope. These spectacular displays will showcase the competitors’ skills, managed by a dedicated team of experts in sports and entertainment event management from the foundation, officials said.The team works around the clock following world-class standards to ensure the best audience experience. In this context, since Thursday morning, Aspire Zone has been welcoming delegations and guests participating in the championship upon their arrival at Hamad International Airport.Number of teams doubles The number of teams has doubled this year, representing 25 countries, including Qatar, Russia, Mexico, Cuba, Belarus, Philippines, Guatemala, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, the UAE, India, Venezuela, Bulgaria, Serbia, China, the Netherlands, Egypt, Syria, Germany, Colombia, Slovakia, Madagascar, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan.The opening ceremony will feature an exciting promotional display for Sky Grace Academy, inspired by major sports films, to highlight the tournament’s moments and key highlights. The ceremony will include striking footage from previous Sky Grace events between 2021 and 2023 in cities like Moscow, Sochi, and Beijing, along with appearances by Olympic champions, officials, and gymnastics stars.The ‘Sky Grace’ championship is exclusively for women’s competitions, where participants will present rhythmic routines that blend artistic beauty and physical grace to music, using rhythmic gymnastics apparatus. Each routine lasts between 60 and 90 seconds, during which participants demonstrate high levels of flexibility, strength, and balance.For more information about the championship and to book tickets, please visit the website: http://www.aspirezone.qa/skygrace

Marcus Stoinis blasted 61 not out off 27 balls as Australia steamrollered Pakistan by seven wickets in the third T20 International to complete a 3-0 series sweep yesterday.Stoinis smacked five sixes and as many fours in his blistering knock as Australia chased down the 118-run victory target with 8.4 overs to spare at the Bellerive Oval.Electing to bat, Pakistan were cruising at 61-1 in the seventh over before wheels came off their innings and they were bundled out for 117 in 18.1 overs.Adam Zampa dismissed Haseebullah Khan (24) in the seventh over to trigger a collapse and Pakistan could add 56 runs before losing their remaining nine wickets.Zampa also claimed the crucial wicket of Babar Azam (41), who stepped out against the leg-spinner and would have been stumped if he was not bowled by a delivery that sneaked through his gate.For Australia, Aaron Hardie claimed 3-21, while Spencer Johnson grabbed two wickets and also ran out Irfan Khan with a direct throw from midwicket.Australia lost both their openers, Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk, inside four overs but Stoinis counter-attacked in spectacular fashion dashing Pakistan’s hopes of any collapse.Stoinis plundered 22 runs, which included two sixes and two fours, off a Haris Rauf over to effectively kill off the contest.Player-of-the-match Stoinis raced to a 23-ball half-century reaching the 50-mark with a monster six off Shaheen Afridi.He levelled the score with another six, this time off Abbas Afridi, but the winning run came via a no-ball after Abbas hurled a chest-high full toss.“It’s been a great week, we had a lot of fun as a group,” said Josh Inglis, who led a second-string Australia squad in absence of, among others, T20 captain Mitchell Marsh. “It’s really nice to get another win tonight and go three-nil up.”Inglis, who made 27, heaped praise on Stoinis, who tore into the Pakistan attack. “When he’s going like that, it’s really hard to stop him and that six over the roof was one of the biggest I’ve ever seen,” he said.Pakistan’s stand-in captain Agha Salman said they should have done better after their strong start with the bat.“I think in the middle overs, we didn’t capitalise on the start,” he said. “It’s obviously a big achievement winning the ODI series but we could have done much better in the T20Is.”Pakistan won the preceding one-day series 2-1. Pakistan now travel to Zimbabwe for another white-ball series.BRIEF SCORESAustralia 118 for 3 (Stoinis 61*, Inglis 27, Afridi 1-14) beat Pakistan 117 all out (Babar 41, Hardie 3-21, Zampa 2-11) by 7 wickets

-President of the Qatar Equestrian and Pentathlon Federation Badr Al Darwish emphasized that his election as a member of the Solidarity Committee of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports comes in appreciation of the efforts made by the State of Qatar in the region and Asia to develop equestrian sports.In a statement Sunday, Al Darwish voiced his happiness with the confidence that the members of the General Assembly of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports have placed in him by electing him as a member of the Solidarity Committee of the federation. He noted that Qatar has always supported equestrian sports by hosting several major championships in the world.The President of the Qatar Equestrian Federation noted the federation's keenness to be present and participate in international forums, to enhance the position of the State of Qatar on the global stage and promote it as a prestigious destination in the field of equestrianism, especially since Doha will host the second edition of the Doha International Equestrian Tour early 2025, with the participation of an elite group of the world's best riders.The Qatar Equestrian and Pentathlon Federation participated in the General Assembly meeting of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, which was held in Abu Dhabi, the UAE, in the President of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports Ingmar De Vos, and representatives from 137 countries.

Qatar’s Lucas Mendes and his team-mates during a training session yesterday ahead of their crucial FIFA World Cup qualifying match against the UAE. The Asian champions will take on the UAE in the Group ‘A’ match tomorrow at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Qatar will be looking to improve their position in the group. Al Annabi currently sit in fourth place, behind the UAE on goal difference and three points behind second-placed Uzbekistan. Last Thursday, hosts Qatar stunned Uzbekistan 3-2 after a last-minute goal from Mendes.

Spaniard Jorge Martin produced an ice-cool ride to finish third in the season-ending Barcelona GP yesterday, which was good enough to secure him a first MotoGP world championship title.The 26-year-old, nicknamed the ‘Martinator’, also ensured that Ducati-Pramac became the first independent team to win the rider’s title since Valentino Rossi in 2001, the final year of 500cc racing.Defending two-time champion Francesco Bagnaia, who started the race 19 points behind Martin, took the chequered flag for the 11th time this season but it was not enough to wrest the title from the Spanish rider who finished the season 10 points clear of his close rival.“It sounds amazing,” said an emotional Martin after being addressed as a world champion for the first time. “I don’t know what to say, I am completely shocked.“This is for my people, for my family, for the people who are supporting me, this is for them.“I started crying at the end, it was a very emotional race. It’s been a long journey, a lot of crashes, big injuries but finally we are here.“I hope we can keep improving and enjoy the moment. This is the most important thing: live the present and enjoy the moment.”Martin, who will be leaving Pramac for Aprilia next season after being denied a ride alongside Bagnaia in the factory Ducati team, had made himself the favourite for the title with a remarkably consistent season.He only won three grand prix all season but his third-place on Sunday was the 32nd time this season across the 40 sprints and grand prix that he made the podium.After finishing third in Saturday’s sprint he knew he had only to finish in the top nine to secure the title, turning the tables on Bagnaia who went into last year’s final race with a 21-point lead. Bagnaia, however, has finished the season in blistering form, his victory in Barcelona giving him his fourth win over the final five races of the season. Victory in Saturday’s sprint, his seventh of the season, gave him a sniff of a chance.‘Today is for Jorge’Starting from pole, the Italian made a perfect start but was soon under pressure from Marc Marquez who slipped past Martin.Martin let them battle it out up front, guarding his track position as Aleix Espargaro and Alex Marquez toughed it out behind him.Bagnaia had the control and pace to see off Marquez, who won the vote ahead of Martin to be his Ducati teammate next season, and duly crossed for a full-deserved if ultimately pyrrhic victory. “This weekend we did all things possible,” Bagnaia told TNT.“Winning 11 races leaves me speechless. Not many have done that so I’m happy about that.“We missed a bit of luck this season. We were the strongest all season, winning all those races, being consistently fast.“But today is for Jorge who did a very good season.“He understood that with our potential, he was good enough to finish second many times. I think he did it 17 times, me just two. These things can make a difference in a championship.“It’s great to have this kind of rider. He’s a very fair guy and we know each other very well.“I enjoyed the season. I would like to be the champion but sometimes that cannot happen.”When Martin crossed the line, the celebrations began in the Pramac garage and amongst the many Spanish fans who had made the journey to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The race was due to take place in Valencia but had to be moved after the region suffered its worst floods in a generation which have killed more than 220 people. The race was switched to Barcelona and has been dubbed the Solidarity GP to show support for the people of Valencia, with all proceeds of the event going to the Valencia relief fund.Final world championship standings1. Jorge Martin (ESP) 508 pts, 2. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) 498, 3. Marc Marquez (ESP) 392, 4. Enea Bastianini (ITA) 386, 5. Brad Binder (RSA) 217, 6. Pedro Acosta (ESP) 215, 7. Maverick Vinales (ESP) 190, 8. Alex Marquez (ESP) 173, 9. Franco Morbidelli (ITA) 173, 10. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA) 165, 11. Aleix Espargaro (ESP) 163, 12. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) 153, 13. Fabio Quartararo (FRA) 113, 14. Jack Miller (AUS) 87, 15. Miguel Oliveira (POR) 75, 16. Raul Fernandez (ESP) 66, 17. Johann Zarco (FRA) 55, 18. Alex Rins (ESP) 31, 19. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN) 31, 20. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) 27, 21. Joan Mir (ESP) 21, 22. Luca Marini (ITA) 14, 23. Pol Espargaro (ESP) 12, 24. Dani Pedrosa (ESP) 7, 25. Stefan Bradl (GER) 2The last 10 winners of the MotoGP world championship:2024: Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati-Pramac)2023: Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati)2022: Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati)2021: Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha)2020: Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki)2019: Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda)2018: Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda)2017: Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda)2016: Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda)2015: Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha)The most successful riders in the premier class (500cc up to 2001, then MotoGP):Giacomo Agostini (ITA): 8 title in 500ccValentino Rossi (ITA): 7 titles (6 in MotoGP, 1 in 500cc)* Marc Marquez (ESP): 6 titles in MotoGPMick Doohan (AUS): 5 titles in 500ccMike Hailwood (GBR): 4 titles in 500ccJohn Surtees (GBR): 4 titles in 500ccGeoff Duke (GBR): 4 titles in 500ccEddie Lawson (USA): 4 titles in 500cc* Active rider