REUTERS MELBOURNE

The return of Steve Smith and David Warner to Australia’s squad for the Cricket World Cup came as little surprise yesterday but selectors still managed to cause a stir by omitting strike bowler Josh Hazlewood and in-form batsman Peter Handscomb.

Former skipper Smith and Warner were eligible for Aaron Finch’s side after their 12-month ball-tampering bans ended last month but their return put a squeeze on the batting positions that saw Handscomb drop out.

“Steve Smith and David Warner come back into the squad. Both are world class players and it has been pleasing to see them produce some good form in the IPL (Indian Premier League),” Chairman of Selectors, Trevor Hohns said in a Cricket Australia statement.

Warner has registered five 50-plus scores, including an unbeaten century, for Sunrisers Hyderabad in seven IPL matches this season while Smith, returning from an elbow surgery like his former deputy, has also looked in good touch for Rajasthan Royals.

Spinners Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa have made the cut, with selectors going for the pace of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jhye Rich-ardson and Jason Behrendorff, who has been in fine form in the IPL.

Hohns said Hazlewood, who has instead been named in the Australia A team for their tour of England in June-July, remained a big part of Australia’s Ashes plans.

The quick, who has taken 72 wickets in 44 one-dayers, has been sidelined since January due to a back injury but had been con-fident of being fit for the World Cup.

“Having not played at the highest level for some time, we feel this will provide him with the best preparation to get some quality cricket under his belt,” Hohns said.

“Our focus is to have Josh back bowling at his best for the commencement of a big Ashes tour.”

Starc and Richardson have both been selected subject to fitness.

“The advice from the CA medical team is they are pro-gressing well and barring any set-backs will be available for selection ahead of our opening match against Afghanistan on June 1,” Hohns said.

Teams have to submit their 15-member squads by April 23 but injury replacements can be named until May 23.

Opener Usman Khawaja, player-of-the-series in Australia’s ODI series victory in India last month, was picked but may have to bat lower with Warner likely to partner Finch at the top.

Handscomb was left out despite his good form and the value he adds as a back-up stumper.

Alex Carey has been named the sole wicketkeeper in the squad, which also contains all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell.

The tournament, being hosted in England and Wales, runs from May 30 to July 14.

SPORT07TUESDAY 16 APRIL 2019

Today I did a big mistake. It happens sometimes. This is racing. It’s

disappointing ... I was inside my limit. I was riding a very good pace. I was

riding very smooth, trying to save the front tyre. But we are humans.

MotoGP World Champion Marc marquezafter crashing halfway through the Grand Prix of the Americas on Sunday.

Both (Smith and Warner) are world-class players and it has been pleasing to see them produce some good form in the IPL (Indian Premier League): Chairman of Selectors, Trevor Hohns

In crunch matches, who can be the best guy who can handle the pressure? For that reason, the decision went in favour of Dinesh Karthik. Otherwise, Pant is full of talent, there’ll be time for him. It’s unfortunate for him that he missed out: Chief Selector, M S K Prasad

TO

DAY

’SA

CTI

ON

India pick Karthik and Rahul for World Cup, Pant ignoredREUTERS MUMBAI

Dinesh Karthik pipped young Rishabh Pant to the second wick-etkeeper’s spot in India’s World Cup squad yesterday and all-rounder Vijay Shankar also made the cut.

There was not much suspense hanging over chief selector M S K Prasad’s news conference to announce a 15-member squad led by Virat Kohli as most of the players picked themselves.

With Mahendra Singh Dhoni the undisputed first-choice wick-etkeeper, the selectors preferred Karthik’s experience to the raw aggression of the 21-year-old Pant.

“We felt Rishabh Pant or DK will come into the playing XI only if Mahi (Dhoni) is injured,” Prasad told reporters, saying Karthik’s superior keeping and reputation as a “finisher” clinched it for the 33-year-old.

“In crunch matches, who can be the best guy who can handle the pressure? For that reason, the decision went in favour of Dinesh Karthik. Otherwise, Pant is full of talent, there’ll be time for him. It’s unfortunate for him that he missed out.”

India boast a formidable top order including captain Kohli but the team have been searching for a reliable number four batsman and Shankar beat Ambati Rayudu to the spot.

“What Vijay Shankar offers is three-dimensional,” Prasad said.

“Apart from his batting, he can bowl and he’s a fantastic fielder...We are looking at him as number four. We have Dinesh Karthik and Kedar Jadhav also, so we have plenty of options at number four right now.”

Lokesh Rahul made the squad

as a back-up opener, but could also bat lower down the order, Prasad said.

Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will share India’s slow bowling duties but the prospect of a hot English summer also prompted the selection of spinning all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.

“In the last one-and-half years, it’s the two wrist-spinners who have won us games,” Prasad said of Yadav and Chahal.

“In the second part of the tournament, wickets might be a bit more drier. That’s where we feel Jadeja will come in handy.”

Hardik Pandya remains India’s first-choice all-rounder.

The showpiece event in England and Wales starts on May 30. India begin their bid for a third World Cup title against

South Africa in Southampton on June 5.

Teams have to submit their 15-man squads by April 23 but injury replacements can be named until May 23.

“We all debated and felt that this is the best possible team that can give us the best possible result. So there is no point in changing it, unless someone is injured,” Prasad added.

INDIAN SQUAD

Virat Kohli (captain)Rohit Sharma (vice captain)Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper) Shikhar DhawanLokesh RahulVijay ShankarKedar JadhavDinesh KarthikJasprit BumrahHardik PandyaRavindra JadejaYuzvendra ChahalKuldeep YadavBhuvneshwar KumarMohammed Shami

UAD

aptain) (vice captain)

ngh Dhoni er) wan

rv

kahaeja

hahalavr Kumarhami

Smith, Warner return to Aussie squad

Aaron Finch (captain)Usman KhawajaDavid WarnerSteve SmithShaun MarshGlenn MaxwellMarcus StoinisAlex CareyPat CumminsMitchell StarcJhye RichardsonNathan Coulter-NileJason BehrendorffNathan LyonAdam Zampa

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AUSTRALIAN

SQUAD

Karthik was part of the

Indian squad for the

2007 World Cup but was

overlooked for 2011 and

2015.

Former India skipper

Mahendra Singh Dhoni,

37, led India to World Cup

glory at home in 2011 and

would be playing in his

fourth tournament.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINALS - SECOND LEG(10:00pm Qatar time)Barcelona vs Manchester United (Agg. 1-0)Juventus vs Ajax (Agg. 1-1)

FOOTBALL

Bangladesh to call Shakib back from IPLAFP DHAKA

Bangladesh will ask star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to return from Indian Premier League and join the team’s World Cup preparation camp next week, the nation’s Cricket Board said yesterday.

Shakib is currently in India with his IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad.

“Our camp is beginning. I have asked to send a letter to Shakib immediately to come back. Let’s see how he responds to this,” said Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan in Dhaka.

Shakib played just one game this season, picking up one wicket for 42 runs in 3.4 overs against his former franchise Kolkata Night Riders.

It was the only compet-itive game for Shakib since returning from an injury he picked up during the Bang-ladesh Premier League final in January.

In a star-studded line-up featuring Aus-tralia’s David Warner, Eng-land’s Jonny Bairstow, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, and Afghanistan duo R a s h i d K h a n a n d Mohammad Nabi, Bang-ladesh is concerned Shakib might not get more matches in the coming days.

Unable to get enough games, Shakib recently invited his personal coach Mohammad Salahuddin to India in order to keep him ready for the World Cup.

Bangladesh will start their preparation camp for the tournament on April 22 and the team will leave for the UK in early May.

They are scheduled to play a tri-nation tour-nament in Ireland from May 5-17.

The World Cup will be held in the UK from May 30 to July 14 with Bangladesh starting their campaign against South Africa at the Oval on June 2.

Lokesh Rahul

Dinesh Karthik

David Warner (left) and Steve Smith

08 TUESDAY 16 APRIL 2019SPORT

Stage set for thrilling finals at Aspire DomeTHE PENINSULA DOHA

The Schools Olympic Program (SOP) is bracing for a thrilling finish, with boys’ teams gearing up to vie for top honours in five disciplines at state-of-the-art Aspire Dome on Thursday.

The details of event were revealed by the Secretary-General of Qatar Sports Federation (QSF), Ali Al Hitmi at a press conference held yesterday at Al Bidda Tower. Abdulrahman Al Muftah, Executive Director of QSF, and Dr. Salah Salem, QSF Technical Expert were also present.

Al Hitmi informed that the boys’ teams will fight for titles of football, bas-ketball, volleyball, gymnastics and tennis during Thursday’s finals.

“Our preparations are on track and we are looking forward to provide best facilities to the competing teams. We wish success to all the competing stu-dents,” Al Hitmi said.

“We will be back at Aspire Dome for the finals. We want to thank Aspire for their cooperation which is playing a key role in success of the Olympic program,” said Al Hitmi.

He pointed out that (SOP) is one of the successful programs that serves sports in general and school sports in

particular. “The Olympic program has a huge importance and it receives great attention from the officials of the Qatar Olympic Committee under the chair-manship of His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani. One of the important objectives of the program is to establish the principle of sport for all,” he said.

Al Hitmi said the organising com-mittee was expecting a full house, saying invitation has also been extended to dignitaries.

“We are set to make it a big event. The invitation has been extended to everyone, including the Ministry of Edu-cation, Higher Education and the Qatar Olympic Committee. We have also invited a delegation of UNESCO in Doha to attend the finals and learn about the experience of the Olympic program,” said Al Hitmi.

Meanwhile, Al Muftah said the SOP provides a very good opportunity to stu-dents to show their skills.

“This SOP is a huge advantage for schoolchildren. It gives them a platform to showcase their talent,” he said.

“We will leave no stone unturned in making the finals a huge success. The SOP has achieved a lot of success. This year we saw more participants and the level of competition has also raised,” he added.

Al Muftah also thanked Aspire for their support in holding the event.

“Aspire Academy is one of the most important sports institutions in the country. It contributes to the discovery of talent. It is not only that as it always raises a slogan that actually appeared today as a dream and a star tomorrow, and Aspire has presented us with many stars in various games,” he said.

On his part, Dr. Salem said Aspire plays an important role in the success of the finals.

“We are very fortunate to partner with Aspire, where the Academy’s excellent facilities and good play-grounds help students to offer their best levels,” he said.

“Aspire Academy has many scouts who contribute to the discovery of talent in various games and the work of different federations, which is important for the program,” Dr. Salem added.

The boys’ teams will fight for titles of football, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and tennis during Thursday’s finals.

The Secretary-General of Qatar Sports Federation (QSF), Ali Al Hitmi (right), Abdulrahman Al Muftah (centre), Executive Director of QSF, and Dr Salah Salem, QSF Technical Expert during a press conference at Al Bidda Tower, yesterday.

QSL-backed Junior Stars League continues its activitiesTHE PENINSULA DOHA

The Junior Stars League (JSL), sponsored by the Qatar Stars League (QSL), continued its activities as part of the organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) towards spreading the culture of football among all sections of the society and forming constructive partnerships with many community institutions and stakeholders.

A new round of the JSL event was held at the Doha College (Al Waab campus) recently with the participation of represent-atives from the ‘Learn to Invest’ programme of Qatar National Bank (QNB), the largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa.

The event was attended by Nasser Mubarak Al Kuwari, Head of Community Relations at the QSL, Abdullah Arbabi, Head of CSR at the QNB, Ahmed Al Kubaisi, Head

of Events Management at the QNB, as well as Reem Al Sulaiti and Ali Al Mulla from the QNB’s Events department.

It was attended by a large number of stu-dents and representatives of the programme, who were keen to give the participating children and students guidelines on how to invest, thereby motivating them to join the programme.

Some recreational activities were held and football matches were played. Students were presented with gifts.

They were also given educational and informative instructions.

Mr. Nasser said, “This event was held in connection with our JSL initiative. The ‘Learn to Invest’ programme’s participation in it was commendable as the QNB is a strategic partner of the QSL. It allowed students to get a closer look at the programme that encourages a sense of investment among them.”

The participants pose with the officials after the JSL round.

Qatar team impressive at MTB Race in Croatia THE PENINSULA DOHA

Qatar’s mountain bike team concluded on Sunday its impressive performance in Mitas 4 Islands MTB Race which took place in Zagreb, Croatia and brought together cyclists from 33 countries across the world.

Qatar mountain bike team displayed high level per-formance in all four stages of the prestigious event.

The team showed their endurance and experienced a tough competition, which will

be handy for them in the future.

Mitas 4 Islands MTB stage race is inviolable a

unique stage race that offers participants to bike on 4 different islands within 4 consecutive days passing

by distinctive environments and challenging trails of islands Krk, Rab, Cres and Lošinj.

A Qatari pair celebrates after reaching the finish line of Mitas 4 Islands MTB Race in Zagreb on Sunday.

‘Emotional’ Nadal inspired by Woods’ Masters triumphAFP MONTE CARLO

An “emotional” Rafael Nadal (pictured) yesterday said he watched spellbound as Tiger Woods rolled back the clock to win a fifth Masters title and cap his comeback from back surgery.

Spain’s world number two, a keen golfer himself, expressed nothing but admiration for Woods, who has fought through at least as many physical challenges as he has himself.

“It was amazing,” Nadal said as he prepared for his tomorrow’s start at the Monte Carlo Masters, his first event in a month since withdrawing with knee issues at Indian Wells before a semi-final against Roger Federer.

“I’m a big fan of him. Like I’ve said hundreds of times, that he’s probably my favourite sportsman in the world since a long time ago.”

Nadal could not help but compare his own years of fitness problems to those of Woods, who has faced mul-tiple back surgeries and other road-blocks when it looked like his career might be close to ending.

“There have been tough years for him,” 17-time Grand Slam winner Nadal said. “I cannot be happier about the victory of yesterday.

“If you imagine all the process and all the hard work that he had to do to be back on a golf course -- all the things that he did...

“And, f inally, to win a

Grand Slam again, especially in Augusta, probably his favourite one, means everything for him.

“I really know a little bit how hard he worked to be back. I was very emo-tional yesterday.”

Woods claimed a one-shot victory at Augusta on Sunday to win his 15th major title, but first since 2008.

Nadal, a 17-time Grand Slam champion, attended Woods’ Hero World Challenge event in the Bahamas in 2017, while the golfing great has watched Nadal play at the US Open on multiple occasions.

Nadal seemed particularly struck by the fact that Woods celebrated his victory with his family on the 18th green.

“The celebration of yesterday when he was walking with the family, was one of the moments that I won’t forget.”

The 11-time Monte Carlo champion added that his own drive to succeed on court has not dimin-ished despite his history of injuries.

“I never needed an inspiration. I’ve always been able to come

back, it’s nothing new for me.

“I’ve been in comeback situations many times; I’ve always done well.

“One day it won’t be the same, but what happened

during the last year for Tiger is

an inspiration for everyone.

“He’s a good example of passion for sport...

discipline, in terms of hard work...

and love for the game.”

Nadal could not help but comparehis own years of fitness problems to those of Woods, who has faced mul-tiple back surgeries and other road-blocks when it looked like his career might be close to ending.

“There have been toughyears for him,” 17-time Grand Slam winner Nadalsaid. “I cannot be happierabout the victory of yesterday.

“If you imagine all the process and all the hard work that he had to do to be back on a golf course -- all the things that he did...

“And, f inally, to win a

champion added that his own driveto succeed on court has not dimin-ished despite his history of injuries.

“I never needed an inspiration.I’ve always been able to come

back, it’s nothing new for me.

“I’ve been in comeback situations many times; I’ve always done well.

“One day it won’t be the same, but what happened

during the lastyear for Tiger is

an inspiration foreveryone.

“He’s a good example of passion for sport...

discipline, in terms of hard work...

and love forthe game.”

Shapovalov falls at first hurdle in Monte CarloAP MONACO

Denis Shapovalov’s clay-court campaign got off to a poor start as he lost 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 to Jan-Lennard Struff in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters yesterday.

The 20-year-old Shapovalov arrived after a good run on hard courts at the Miami Open, where he lost to Roger Federer in the semi-finals.

But the Monte Carlo clay got the better of the big-hitting Canadian, seeded 15th. The unseeded German picked apart his serve, converting six of 16 break points.

Struff next faces Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, who lost in the semifinals to Rafael Nadal last year.

Nadal, the defending champion, starts his bid for a record-extending 12th title tomorrow against fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, who won 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 against John Millman yesterday.

Nadal has not played since pulling out of his semi-final against Federer at Indian Wells last month because of an injury to his right knee. Nadal said Monday he resumed practice two weeks ago and feels fit.

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic faces unseeded Philipp Kohlschreiber in the second round on Tuesday. Djokovic has won eight of their 10 matches, but Kohls-chreiber recently beat him at Indian Wells.

Also on Monday, 10th-seeded Daniil Medvedev; No. 11 Marco Cecchinato; No. 13 Fabio Fognini, and No. 16 David Goffin advanced, but No. 12 Nikoloz Basilas-hvili went out.

Medvedev did not face a break point in a 6-1, 6-1 win against Joao Sousa. Cecchinato, a French Open semifinalist last year, was leading 4-0 when Damir Dzumhur pulled out.

Goffin won 6-1, 6-4 against qualifier Guido Andreozzi, but Fognini had a tougher match.

09TUESDAY 16 APRIL 2019 SPORT

Tiger Woods of the United States is awarded the Green Jacket by Masters champion Patrick Reed (left) during the Green Jacket Ceremony on Sunday.

Trump, Serena join Tiger Twitter frenzyAFP AUGUSTA

President Donald Trump and Barack Obama were among those hailing Tiger Woods on social media after his 11-year major drought was ended by a thrilling and emotional Masters victory on Sunday.

US President Trump “Congratulations to @TigerWoods,

A truly Great Champion!”

Former President Obama “Congratulations, Tiger! To come

back and win the Masters after all the highs and lows is a testament to excellence, grit, and determination.”

Serena Williams “I am literally in tears watching @

TigerWoods this is Greatness like no other. Knowing all you have been through physically to come back and do what you just did today? Wow Congrats a million times! I am so inspired thank you buddy.”

Rory McIlroy “Very few people really know what

@TigerWoods has been thru to get back to this point,” So cool seeing him with

Tida, Sam, Charlie, Erica and the rest of the team behind 18 green. Couldn’t be happier for him! What a great day for golf!”

Jack Nicklaus “A big ‘well done’ from me to @

TigerWoods!. I am so happy for him and for the game of golf. This is just fantastic!”

Gary Player “For most an impossible task. But

not for you. Congratulations Tiger. So special for you and your family. So great for the game of golf. Simply unbelievable.”

Magic Johnson “A big BIG congratulations to @

TigerWoods for winning the Masters!! The roar of the Tiger is back!”

Tom Brady“Congrats Tiger! What a per-

formance. “Greatest comeback story in sports!”

Stephen Curry“Congrats @TigerWoods Let me hold

one of those 5 jackets one time!”

Tiger’s Masters triumph is a $22m win for NikeBLOOMBERG NEW YORK

Tiger Woods’s improbable Masters victory will reward the few companies that stuck with him through his struggles, and the ones that joined him when he was near the low point of his career.

The 43-year-old won his fifth Masters title on Sunday by one stroke. It’s his first major victory in over a decade and just his second PGA Tour victory in more than five years.

It’s also a win for his sponsors. During the final-round telecast, when he made a late charge, he generated more than $23.6m in exposure for various corporate partners, according to sponsorship analytics firm Apex Marketing Group.

Bob Dorfman, a sports mar-keting executive at Baker Street Advertising, cited Woods’s ability to bring even casual fans to their televisions.

“He moves the needle like no other golfer does or ever has done,” Dorfman said, comparing Woods’s legendary status to that of Michael Jordan.

“Nobody can do what he does and it’s amazing he’s been able to do it for as long as he has.”

Woods’s return to the center of golf’s biggest stage will probably drive added interest in pro golf for awhile and generate even more attention for his corporate partners. It will also renew debate over whether a healthy Woods can return to the dominance of his early career, when he single-handedly boosted golf’s status around the world.

Woods now has 15 major titles, three shy of Jack Nicklaus’s record 18.

In the moments after Woods’s final putt on Sunday, longtime sponsor Nike Inc. released a video congratulating him on the feat, and highlighting his push to pass Nicklaus.

The video uses audio from a

3-year-old Woods listing his golf aspirations.

“To think a 43-year-old who has experienced every high and every low, and has just won his 15th major, is chasing the same dream as a 3-year-old,” the video says.

No company is more closely associated with Woods than Nike, which signed him when he turned pro back in 1996 and built its golf business around his stardom.

Woods was once making $30m per year from Nike, according to Forbes, but in 2016 the company announced it would stop making golf clubs, balls and bags. Nike is still Woods’s apparel partner -- the red Nike shirt he wore on Sunday is a familiar sight for most fans -- but over the past few years Woods

has had to look elsewhere for ball and club partners.

Nike shares rose as much as 1.2 percent to $87.24 in New York trading yesterday. The effect extended to golf brands uncon-nected to Woods: Callaway Golf Co. gained as much as 4.1 percent, while Titleist parent Acushnet Holdings Corp. was up as much as 4.2 percent.

During Sunday’s final round telecast on CBS, Woods’s prom-inent placement was a boon to many of those brands. Nike saw $22.5m in exposure, according to Apex. Monster received $960,000, while Bridgestone saw $134,000. Those numbers will increase as highlights and print media push images of Woods’s win across the globe. They’ll also jump at later tournaments that receive a Woods boost in viewership and attention.

At the height of his career, Woods was making $110m per year as the world’s highest paid athlete, including that $30m from Nike, according to Forbes. Last year the magazine reported his earnings as $43.3m.

Tiger Woods’ family, daughter Sam Alexis, son Charlie Axel, mother Kultida Woods (left) and girlfriend Erica Herman (right) smile as he approaches them after he won the 2019 Masters.

Woods was once making $30m per year from Nike, according to Forbes, but in 2016 the company announced it would stop making golf clubs, balls and bags.

Woods resumes Nicklaus chase after dream run in Augusta AP AUGUSTA

No comeback by Tiger Woods was ever going to be complete without a major.

Now the question becomes how many more he can win.

So much appeal of that red shirt beneath a Green Jacket involved looking back at all Woods had to overcome to reach that moment - a Masters champion once again - that so many thought would never happen.

The fourth surgery to rebuild his left knee. The private affairs that became public, shattering his image. The balky back that required four more surgeries, the last one out of desperation because he could barely walk, much less play golf.

And a new generation of stars he inspired who were younger, stronger and capable.

That’s why Woods celebrated his 15th major like never before - fist pumps without a club in his hand, because he couldn’t help himself walking off the 18th green.

“Overwhelming,” he said with a voice still hoarse from all that screaming.

He went 28 majors over 11 years without winning, and no sooner did he stretch his arms into that familiar Green Jacket - “Ah, it fits,” he said in Butler Cabin - was he asked about the 18 majors Jack Nicklaus won to set the gold standard in golf.

“I don’t know if he’s worried or not,” Woods said. “I’m sure he’s home just chilling and watching.”

Whether the record is in play, Nicklaus can expect plenty of

questions. For years, he could rarely get through any conversation without someone asking him whether he thought Woods could top his mark.

“I thought for a long time that he was going to win again,” Nicklaus said on Sunday night on Golf Channel.

“The next two majors are at Bethpage, where he has won, and at Pebble Beach, where he has won. So, he has got me shaking in my boots, guys.”

The last part was delivered in jest.The first part was factual.Woods winning his fifth Masters

was not entirely out of the blue. He capped the year of his great comeback last year by winning the Tour Championship in typical Tiger fashion, by building a lead on a tough, fast course at East Lake and not giving anyone much of a chance to catch him. He also briefly led Sunday in the British Open, and was one shot behind on the back nine at the PGA Championship.

“The win at East Lake was a big confidence booster for me because I had come close last year a couple times,” Woods said. “Still have to get it across the finish line, and I didn’t quite do it.”

So, imagine the effect of winning the Masters, especially the way this one played out. Six players had at least a share of the lead at one point on the back nine - four of them major champions - and there was a five-way tie for the lead when the final group was in the 15th fairway.

It was anyone’s game until Francesco Molinari, who earlier hit 8-iron in Rae’s Creek on the 12th hole for double bogey, hit a wedge off a tree limb and into the water on the par-5 15th that led to double bogey.

And then it became Woods’ game - a two-putt birdie to take the lead, an 8-iron that rolled down the slope next to the hole for a sig-nature moment at this Masters.

“Well, I can win majors now,” Woods said with a laugh.

T h e PGA Cham-pionship is a month away at Bethpage Black, where Woods was dominant as ever in going wire-to-wire in the 2002 US Open, and was right there with a chance in the 2009 US Open except for a putter that refused to cooperate.

And then it’s the US Open in June at Pebble Beach. If the Masters is the most memorable of his 15 majors, Pebble Beach remains his greatest

performance. Woods won there in 2000 by a record 15 shots, even with a triple bogey in the third round. Ten years later, he tied for fourth at the US Open at Pebble, three shots behind. The courses are familiar. Woods is familiar with winning majors.

But it’s not that simple.Woods was 24 when he won the

US Open at Pebble, and 26 when we won at Bethpage Black. Now he’s 43.

As dynamic as this Masters was for Woods, it was hard work and he needed help - from Molinari on the 12th and 15th holes, from a couple of good bounces out of the trees. That’s not unusual. Every major champion needs a break or two.

Getting to 18 is only easier because Woods is one major closer, a con- versation caddie Joe

LaCava said they have shared.

“We’re on 14 and I said,

‘Let’s get to 1 5 . ’

Y o u can’t be on 14 and thinking about 18,” LaCava said. “But now we can start talking about 16. So we’re getting closer.”

I thought for a long time that he was going to win again. The next two majors are at Bethpage, where he has won, and at Pebble Beach, where he has won. So, he has got me shaking in my boots, guys: Jack Nicklaus

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Tiger Woods of the United States celebrates with the Masters Trophy on Sunday.

10 TUESDAY 16 APRIL 2019SPORT

Rins bags first MotoGP win after Marquez crashes outAP AUSTIN

MotoGP’s Spanish king of Texas has been dethroned, replaced by his countryman.

Six-time defending race champion Marc Marquez crashed his Repsol Honda halfway through the Grand Prix of the Americas on Sunday, opening the door for Suzuki’s Alex Rins to snatch his first career MotoGP victory.

“It was unbelievable,” Rins said. “I tried to stay calm on that last lap.”

Marquez had been so dom-inant in six consecutive wins at the Circuit of the Americas that other riders had dubbed him track royalty. And he was well on his way to another easy victory when he went spinning and tumbling through the corner at the end of the long straight.

Marquez was all by himself in the lead when he fell, stunning the field behind him and the crowd that was so used to seeing him dominate the Texas track.

He tried to get his motor-cycle restarted but gave up when he saw his foot brake was damaged, and then collapsed onto the ground on his back in a dramatic gesture of frustration before he was driven back to his garage.

“Today I did a big mistake,” Marquez said.

“Sometimes happens. This is racing. It’s disappointing... I was inside my limit. I was riding a very good pace. I was riding very smooth, trying to save the front tyre. But we are humans. Mistakes are there.”

Rins had started on the third row in seventh and was running third behind Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi when Marquez crashed. He passed Rossi with four laps to go by cutting under the

seven-time former series champion at the track’s elevated switchback left turn at the first corner.

“When I was behind Val-entino, I was saying, ‘C’mon Alex, you need to drive. You need to do a bit of a spectacle,’” Rins said.

“When he made a small mistake I overtook him.”

Rossi hasn’t won since 2017. He stayed close enough for one final move to pass Rins at the same corner where Marquez crashed, but couldn’t hold the position.

Rins had won at the track in Moto2 and Moto3 but was winless in his two previous seasons in MotoGP and Suzuki hadn’t won at the top level since 2016. He now stands third in the season championship and Rossi considers him a contender for the title.

“When Marc crashed I was surprised. I tried to ride at the maximum. We were fast, (but) at the end Rins was faster,” Rossi said. “For sure he is an opponent for the title. He rides very clever he’s very smooth with everything.”

The fall knocked Marquez from first to fourth in the season championship after three races as he chases his sixth title in seven years. Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso, who finished fourth Sunday and won the season-opening race in Qatar, is the championship leader with Rossi second.

Four riders are now within nine points of the lead as the series heads to its European heartland, starting with the next race in Spain.

“It’s been a long time since I win and it was a great oppor-tunity,” Rossi said. “(But) these points are important for the championship.”

Suzuki rider Alex Rins celebrates after winning the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on Sunday. Pic@suzukimotogp

2019 Austin MotoGP - Race ResultsAlex Rins ESP Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 41m 45.499sValentino Rossi ITA Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) 41m 45.961sJack Miller AUS Pramac Ducati (GP19) 41m 53.953sA Dovizioso ITA Mission Winnow Ducati (GP19) 41m 54.919sF Morbidelli ITA Petronas Yamaha SRT (YZR-M1) 42m 3.520sD Petrucci ITA Mission Winnow Ducati (GP19) 42m 6.975sF Quartararo FRA Yamaha SRT (YZR-M1)* 42m 11.610sPol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 42m 15.242sFrancesco Bagnaia ITA Pramac Ducati (GP18)* 42m 16.107sTakaaki Nakagami JPN LCR Honda (RC213V) 42m 16.510sMaverick Viñales ESP Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) 42m 19.576sA Iannone ITA Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 42m 20.278sJohann Zarco FRA Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 42m 27.957sMiguel Oliveira POR Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16)* 42m 29.771sTito Rabat ESP Reale Avintia Ducati (GP18) 42m 30.122sKarel Abraham CZE Reale Avintia Ducati (GP18) 42m 30.239sJoan Mir SPA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 42m 33.562sHafizh Syahrin MAL Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) 42m 53.182s Did not finish:Jorge Lorenzo ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)

Hamilton peerless, Vettel favoured: Five things from the Chinese GPAFP SHANGHAI

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton climbed to the top of the drivers’ championship with a dominant victory at the 1,000th Formula One race.

Here are five things we learned from Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix:

** Hamilton still the man: Much of the pre-season talk was about

the superior pace of Ferrari in testing and then, after Valtteri Bottas won the season-opening race, the threat to Hamilton from his Mercedes team-mate. But the reigning world champion roared back, winning in Bahrain and now China to top the standings. Hamilton’s classy victory, having started second behind Bottas, shows that he remains the man to beat.

** Vettel remains Ferrari top man: Charles Leclerc has been earmarked as

a potential champion while team-mate Sebastian Vettel is a four-time world title winner under pressure after a string of unforced errors. But the German remains the priority for Ferrari, said team principal Mattia Binotto, and proved it by ordering a disgruntled Leclerc out the way in Shanghai. Vettel grabbed his first podium of 2019 as Leclerc came fifth. Leclerc may be the future, but Vettel is the present.

** Red Bull best... of the rest:Before the weekend, Mercedes and

Ferrari talked up the threat posed by Red Bull and so it transpired that Max Ver-stappen, who finished on the podium in Aus-tralia behind the two Mercedes, split the

Ferrari drivers by finishing fourth in Shanghai. Pierre Gasly was sixth but had the consolation of grabbing the bonus point for the fastest lap after pitting for fresh tyres near the end. Red Bull will keep pressuring the two front-running teams and are looking good to finish at least as the best of the rest.

** Albon shows his talent:London-born Thai driver Alexander

Albon had an eventful weekend. The 23-year-old Toro Rosso rookie was fortunate to walk away unscathed after a heavy smash into a wall in final practice. He was cleared to race but started from the pits after his mangled vehicle could not be repaired in

time for qualifying. Miraculously, Albon drove to 10th place, earning an unlikely point and the “driver of the day” accolade.

** China basks in milestone:Traditionalists were eager to see the

1,000th championship race moved to Eng-land’s Silverstone, where it all began in 1950. That was never really on the cards, according to Formula One chiefs, who say that China, along with the United States, is a major growth market. It may not be the most glam-orous race on the calendar, but Shanghai is now a staple in the season and could well be joined by a second China race on the streets.

Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates on his car after winning the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on Sunday.

British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton (second right) of Mercedes GP, Finnish Valtteri Bottas (left) of Mercedes GP and German Sebastian Vettel (right) of Ferrari are seen on the podium after placing first, second and third respectively in the Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China, on Sunday.

In-form Mercedes looking more dominant than everREUTERS LONDON

The first three races of the Formula One season have made a mockery of pre-season predic-tions that Ferrari would set the pace and leave Mercedes strug-gling to keep up.

The standings may not tell the full story, and luck has played a part, but on paper Mer-cedes are more dominant than ever while Ferrari have fallen well short of expectations.

“We’ve soon got to stop talking about Ferrari this, Ferrari that, Ferrari amazing power... because they are not delivering,” said former Grand Prix driver and Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle.

Mercedes, the team that have won every championship for the past five years, completed a hat-trick of successive one-two fin-ishes at Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix.

The only reason Mercedes cannot claim a perfect start is the introduction this season of a point for the fastest race lap, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc quickest in Bahrain and Red Bull’s Pierre Gasly in Shanghai.

Otherwise, they have done something that escaped even

Ferrari during the golden era when they won six successive constructors’ titles and Michael Schumacher five championships in a row between 2000-04.

The last team to start a season with three successive one-twos was Williams, with Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese, in 1992.

And yet five times champion Lewis Hamilton, team mate Valtteri Bottas and principal Toto Wolff were still talking about luck, small margins and tough battles ahead after winning Formula One’s 1,000th world championship race.

“Considering it was a real struggle this weekend, I’m really grateful for the result, said Ham-ilton, Sunday’s winner.

The Briton was right to point out it would have been a dif-ferent story if Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari had not lost power while leading in Bahrain but ‘could have, would have, should have’ never won anything.

“I’m just not sure they’ve really hooked up a proper solid weekend just yet,” said Ham-ilton, now back in the overall championship lead.

“It was looking like it was going to be a solid weekend for them in Bahrain and then it

started to tail off. This weekend, they were a bit up and down.

“I think we’re over-deliv-ering a little bit at the moment to our true potential but there’s still more to come,” he added on Sunday.

Ferrari were quicker down the long main straight in China but Mercedes, whose engine has been the best of recent years, gained through the corners.

China was seen as a track where Ferrari would have the upper hand but it was Mercedes whose drivers lined up first and second on the grid.

“Our car is maybe a bit draggier than theirs,” said Wolff. “On the speed and power we need to leave no stone unturned but in terms of managing the tyres, the downforce levels helped obviously.”

The champions also got their strategy spot on, double-stacking their drivers brilliantly in a seamless pitstop on Sunday, while Ferrari invoked team orders in a move that backfired.

The battle for supremacy is between Mercedes and Ferrari, with Honda-powered Red Bull challenging for podiums, but Ferrari leave China with more pressure on them.

‘Plenty of homework’ for FerrariAFP SHANGHAI

Sebastian Vettel said Ferrari had much “homework” to do after a team orders controversy capped a disappointing weekend at the 1,000th Formula One Grand Prix held in China.

The Italian marque have shown superior straight-line speed this season, but Mercedes have taken first and second in all three races so far in a run that has surprised even cham-pionship leader Lewis Hamilton.

The reigning world champion seized control of the drivers’ standings with victory ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas in Shanghai on Sunday, while Ferrari’s challenge dis-solved behind them.

Ferrari’s Vettel was third but Charles Leclerc finished fifth after the 21-year-old rising star was controversially ordered to make way for his senior team-mate, a four-time world champion.

Vettel bristled at questions over the team orders to Leclerc, but much of his frustration will stem from Ferrari’s continuing inability to get the best out of their car.

“In terms of calls from our pit wall today, the priority always lies within the team and Charles and I are both aware we are driving for the team,” Vettel, 31, told reporters after the race.

“We can do our own race but first of all we have to ensure Ferrari is in a position to fight with its rivals.

“I think we have a good car and we are still not able to unlock i ts potential completely.”

Meanwhile Hamilton and his team principal Toto Wolff were baffled by Ferrari’s failure to push them harder in Shanghai.

“I’m not really sure where they are losing out, but they’re gaining something like 0.4 seconds on the straights but losing out on corners,” said Hamilton, who feels that Mer-cedes are “over-delivering a little bit”.

11TUESDAY 16 APRIL 2019 SPORT

Barca and Messi look to set record straightAFP BARCELONA

Four years have passed since Lionel Messi last reached a Cham-pions League semi-final and his drought has become a source of unease for Barcelona ahead of their latest attempt today.

Manchester United are the ones looking to emulate Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Roma by sending Barca out in the quarters for a fourth year running but for the Catalans, another failure would be unforgivable, not least because of the implications for their captain.

“Last season we did the double but we all felt bad about how it went in the Champions League,” Messi said in August.

“We promise this season we will do all we can to bring that beautiful cup back to Camp Nou.” Barcelona’s dominance in Spain has been shaped by Messi, who only this month overtook Iker Casillas as the player with the most La Liga victories, 335, in its history.

Those wins have helped them capture seven of the last 10 league titles, a figure that will surely become eight from 11 next month, given their nine-point lead at the top of the table.

There could be an historic fifth consecutive Copa del Rey too if Ernesto Valverde’s side beat Valencia on May 25.

But in Europe, Barca would appear under-marked, with only one success in the last seven years, three in 10 since Pep Guardiola took charge in 2008 and set in motion what has felt, in playing terms at least, like an iconic era.

The list of clubs etched onto the cup hoisted at the Wanda Met-ropolitano on June 1 will instead

show a decade swallowed up by Real Madrid, whose domestic failings in that period have been exonerated by four Champions League triumphs in five years.

“Obviously it’s infuriating,” Luis Suarez said. “Madrid have made history and it’s a thorn in our side.”

Messi’s record is similarly unbalanced. He has nine La Liga titles and is by a distance the com-petition’s top scorer, with an astonishing 414 goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo, closest in second, has 311.

But in the Champions League, Messi has lifted the trophy four times, a relatively modest return given it puts him on a par with 11 current Real Madrid players alone, including Nacho, Casemiro and Dani Carvajal. This year, Ronaldo is hunting his sixth.

And while Messi dwarfs the Portuguese for goals in La Liga, the opposite is true in Europe, where Ronaldo has 125 goals to his 108.

The game’s most illustrious pair could yet meet in this year’s final, should Barca capitalise on their 1-0 first-leg win over United and then overcome either Liv-erpool or Porto in the semis.

Ronaldo and Juventus, mean-while, would have to beat Ajax, and then either Manchester City or Tottenham. A showdown in Madrid would throw an even brighter glare on Messi’s record compared to Ronaldo, whose sensational hat-trick against

Atletico Madrid last month only enhanced the sense this tour-nament belongs to him.

Messi is not one to complain, particularly given he cannot be blameless in Barca’s undera-chievements in Europe.

But the fans are frustrated, with last season’s double doing little to ease the disappointment of the collapse against Roma.

And his teammates feel it too, the weight of history on their shoulders from a need to square arguably the game’s greatest ever player with a Champions League haul that befits that status.

“It is an important trophy,” Suarez said after following up the league title by winning the Copa del Rey last season.

“But this does not hide what happened in Rome.” It means the pressure on Barcelona in this competition runs deep, a psycho-logical burden that perhaps United, or their next opponents, will use to their advantage. For Messi, there is work to do.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique (left) and midfielder Arturo Vidal attend a training session at the Joan Gamper Sports Center in Sant Joan Despi on the eve of the Champions League second leg quarter-final match yesterday,

Ronaldo raring to have a go at Ajax in CLAP MILAN

A rested Cristiano Ronaldo is a dangerous Cristiano Ronaldo. Just ask Atletico Madrid.

Ronaldo took some time off before the second leg of the last 16 in the Champions League and responded with a hat trick against the Spanish team as Juventus overturned a 2-0 deficit.

He was again left out of the squad on Saturday - along with a number of other regulars - ahead of the quarterfinal return match against Ajax today.

Against Spal in Serie A, Juventus had only two players in its starting lineup that began in the 1-1 draw in Amsterdam. The team needed only one point to secure a record-extending eighth straight Serie A title. The second-string team lost 2-1.

However, with six league games remaining, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri wasn’t too perturbed - even it means the club cannot surpass the Serie A record of 102 points it set in 2013-14.

“Making records is very difficult, you have to spend energy and there is also Europe to concentrate on,” Allegri said.

“If we had put to put all our starters in, it would have been easier to win it, but there is the goal to obtain today.

“We have made 27 victories, three draws and two defeats and this is an impressive record.”

After playing Ronaldo in almost every match in the first half of the season - even while being accused of raping a woman in 2009 in the United States - Juventus is realizing how best to use the 34-year-old Portugal forward.

In his last two seasons at Real Madrid, Ronaldo was pacing himself, skipping games that he would have normally played in previous years, and that meant he peaked at just the right time. Ronaldo scored one goal in his first six Champions League matches for Juventus - and also got his first red card in the com-petition. He has four goals in his past two games.

Ronaldo had an enforced rest before the first leg of the quarterfinals after injuring a thigh muscle two weeks previ-ously while playing for Portugal. He returned for the match in Amsterdam and scored Juventus’ goal.

In Ronaldo’s absence, teenager Moise Kean has been given more of a chance and has thrived. Kean has scored six goals in his past six matches for Juventus and Italy’s national team and Allegri hinted he might have a role to play against Ajax.

“Everyone is needed on Tuesday, even on a mental level,” Allegri said, “and that’s why it’s important to have Kean in these conditions.”

AC Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso apologized for his players after their 1-0 victory, and Lazio midfielder Francesco Acerbi accused his opponents of “stirring up hatred.”

In a match vital to both teams’ chances of qualifying for next year’s Champions League, tension was high in the buildup, including a spat on social media after Acerbi said Lazio was “better man for man” than Milan.

Acerbi seemingly tried to put an end to the matter by swapping shirts with Tiemoue Bakayoko after the match, but the Milan midfielder and teammate Franck Kessie waved it in front of their supporters like a trophy.

“I am disappointed because I swapped shirts to put an end to the matter,” Acerbi posted on twitter. “Stirring up hatred is not sport, but a sign of weakness.” Gattuso soon apologized.

“You don’t do these things,” the Milan coach said. “A pro-fessional player should use social networks as little as possible and instead concentrate on doing an extra hour of training.” Both Kessie and Bakayoko later apologized to Acerbi on social media, saying they only wanted “to joke.” There was also a brawl immediately after the final whistle, with several members of the bench joining in.

Milan is in fourth place and the final Champions League spot. It has six more points than eighth-place Lazio, which has played a match less.

The two teams will meet again at the San Siro on April 24 in the second leg of the Italian Cup semifinals. The first match ended 0-0.

Juventus’ Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo juggles with a ball during a training session yesterday at the Continassa Training Center in Torino, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match against Ajax Amsterdam.

Solskjaer will use ‘gut feeling’ to pick United team for Champions LeagueREUTERS BARCELONA

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (pictured) will let his “last little gut feeling” decide his starting line-up for today’s Champions League quarter-final, second leg against Barcelona.

Alexis Sanchez and Nemanja Matic were part of United’s 22-man travelling squad as they look to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit.

Chilean forward Sanchez, who scored 47 times in 141 appear-ances for Barca between 2011 and 2014, has not featured since picking up a knee injury against Southampton last month, while Matic is recovering from a muscle injury.

“I’ll have my last little gut feeling on who to play,” Solskjaer told the BBC.

“Because against PSG I had a team in my mind when we travelled in the morning, walk out into the stadium, see the stadium and you say ‘nah, I’ll

change, I need to do this, he needs to play’ and it turned out ok.” United lost the home leg against Paris St Germain in the previous round 2-0 before turning the tie around in the French capital, and Solskjaer is hopeful his players can serve up a repeat at the Nou Camp.

“Belief is massive in football. Everyone’s got talent, a certain ability to play, but we’ve seen our-selves against PSG that we can come back from being 2-0 down against a fantastic team,” he told reporters at the pre-match news conference.

“Historically Barcelona is the best side from the last 10 years so we know it will be a massive effort.

“If we give our all and have a little bit of concentration... Belief is one thing, concentration and effort is another thing.”

Solskjaer also demanded more from his forwards, who failed to trouble Barcelona goal-keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the first leg.

“That’s the 100 million dollar

question in football, who can score the goals,” the Norwegian said. “We’ve been practising finishing, but when you don’t work the keeper you can’t score.

“For us it’s about confidence,

being focused and taking a deep breath and taking those chances.”

The Nou Camp has an added significance for Solskjaer after he scored a stoppage-time winner in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the stadium in United’s treble-winning season.

“That goal has been men-tioned a few times, yes,” the 46-year-old said.

“So many people have con-gratulated me and talked to me about that night. They say ‘it was the best night of my life but don’t tell my wife’ -- that kind of thing.”

United’s short-term target is to secure a Premier League top-four finish and qualification for the Champions League, but Sol-skjaer wants the club to compete for major honours next season. He stressed it was important to have strong characters in the dressing room.

“If you want to win, if you want to play at Man United you have to have a personality,” Sol-skjaer said.

UEFA Champions League Fixtures for this week Today’s Fixtures (CET/GMT)

Juventus vs Ajax (2100/1900) Barcelona vs Manchester United (2100/1900) Tomorrow’s Fixtures (CET/

GMT)

Porto vs Liverpool (2100/1900) Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur (2100/1900)

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Indian chess prodigy, Amulya Guruprasad had a brilliant unbeaten run to clinch the Qatar Primary Schools Chess title for girls, at the Jawaan Bin Jassim Model Independent School for Boys yesterday.

Amulya beat her com-patriots, Ann Mary Thomas, Pooja Rajkumar, Shreya Sandeep, Crizelle Pinto,

Aashika Sudha and Aakanksha Neeraj to maintain her supremacy.

Neeraj won the silver medal of the competition winning five out of her six rounds (25.0) while Qatari player Rawda Qassabi fin-ished third.

Doha Modern Indian School won the team championship with 11 points ahead of Newton British Academy, Barwa was placed second. Birla

Public School and Indian School shared the third spot.

A total of 76 players, including 21 Qatari girls under the age of 12, repre-senting 20 schools, took part in the yesterday’s event, organised by the Qatar School Sports Asso-ciation and Qatar Chess Association

The boys’ tournament will take place at the same venue today.

Chess: Amulya clinches Qatar Primary Schools title

Junior players taking part in the Qatar Primary Schools Chess Tournament for girls, at the Jawaan Bin Jassim Model Independent School for Boys, yesterday.

FINAL STANDINGS

Rank/Name/Nationality

1: Guruprasad Amulya IND2: Neeraj Aakanksha IND3: Qassabi Rawda QAT4: Qassabi Layan QAT5: Pinto Crizelle IND6: Gopalakrishnan Sudiksha IND7: Sudha Aashika IND8: Gireesh Shivapriya IND9: Sivaananth Ayshwarya IND

SPORTTuesday 16 April 2019

PAGE | 07 PAGE | 09Smith and

Warner return for Aussie World

Cup squad

Woods resumes Nicklaus chase after dream run in Augusta

Second Division clubs eye upsets in Amir Cup

ARMSTRONG VAS THE PENINSULA

Second Division sides Al Shamal, Al Wakrah SC, Muaither SC and Al Markhiya SC will be looking to spring a few surprises against the big guns of the QNB Stars League (QSL) in the 47th edition of the Amir Cup when they began their campaign in the second round of the prestigious cham-pionship.

The draw ceremony for Qatar’s most popular football tournament took place yes-terday at an impressive cer-emony where the top officials of Qatar Football Association (QFA) were present.

QFA President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani headed the ceremony that also saw the attendance of members of the Executive Committee of QFA, Ahmed Abdul Aziz Al Buainain, Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Thani, Hani Taleb Balan and Mansour Al Ansari, Secretary General of QFA.

Players and officials of the 16 clubs were also present. The ceremony began with an official explaining the format of the draw. A video was also played to recapture the chief moments from last year’s Amir Cup.

The tournament pits the four Second Division teams against the QSL teams in the second round of the event.

The Amir Cup kicked off last week with one match already held. There will be five stages in the most popular football tournament in the country.

Al Shamal joined the other top three teams of the Second Division into the second round matches of the competition and will vie against clubs that fin-ished from ninth to twelfth in the QNB Stars League.

Teams which finished fifth to eighth in the QSL have been seeded into the third round while the top-four clubs from the QSL have been handed a bye into the quarter-finals, organisers said.

The second round matches will be held at Thani bin Jassim Stadium and Grand Hamad Stadium on April 20 and 21.

On April 20, Al Shamal, which overcame Mesiameer, in

the match between fourth and fifth-placed teams of the Second Division, have been drawn to face Umm Salal, at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium while Al Wakrah face Al Khor at the same venue in a late fixture.

A day later, Al Markhiya SC face Al Kharaitiyat, the side rel-egated from QSL and Muaither square up to Qatar SC at Grand Hamad Stadium, in the coun-try’s most popular football tournament which bring together teams from the QSL and the Second Division.

The event offers a chance to lower division teams to test their mettle against the big guns in a bid to be present in the final on May 16.

Teams which make it past the second round will face the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth-placed teams of the QSL.

Accordingly, Al Arabi will be waiting for the winner between Al Shamal and Umm

Salah as to whom they will face in the next round while Al Gharafa take on the winner of the Al Wakrah-Al Khor clash.

Al Arabi coach Heimir Hall-grímsson, for whom this is his first season in Qatar, said his team will be looking forward to the competition.

“I would not say whether the draw is a tough or an easy one. All the teams are good and strong,” said the 51-year old, who joined Al Arabi in December last year.

In the other second round matches, Al Shahania coach, which gained promotion to QSL last season and performed exceedingly well to finish seventh in the League, will take on the winner of Al Markhiya SC and Al Kharaitiyat match.

Al Shahania coach Jose Murcia was happy with his team’s performance in the QSL and was keen to extend the impressive run in the Amir Cup.

“I have given some rest for the players after finishing the QSl Competition. We will give out best in the Amir Cup as this is a prestigious event. I have told my players to enjoy the game and give their best and not be under pressure,” said the Spaniard.

In the third stage of the tour-nament, Al Arabi, Al Gharafa, Al Shahaniya and Al Ahli will take on the winners of the second round. The matches will be played at Thani bin Jassim Stadium and Grand Hamad Stadium on April 26 and 27.

The winner of the Muaither vs Qatar SC tie will take on Al Ahli.

The top four teams of the QSL, Al Rayyan, Al Sadd, Duhail and Al Sailiya, have been handed a bye in the competition and will play against the teams qualifying from the third round in the quarter-finals at Grand Hamad Stadium and Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium on May 2 and 3.

Both the semi-finals matches will take place at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on May 12 and 13.

This year’s final will be held on May 16 at Wakrah Stadium. The final will also bring down the curtains on the nine-month long football season in Qatar.

Last year, Al Duhail won the Amir Cup defeating Al Rayyan 2-1.

The draw ceremony of the 47th Amir Cup at Kempinski Marsa Malaz in The Pearl-Qatar, yesterday. PICTURES: BAHER AMIN/THE PENINSULA

Woods rises in rankings after magnificent Masters win AFP PARIS

Tiger Woods continued his stunning rise up the world rankings yesterday by officially returning to the top 10 for the first time since 2014 after his dramatic fifth Masters win.

The 43-year-old climbed six spots to sixth after a one-shot victory at Augusta National which crowned one of the greatest comeback stories in sport with a first major title since the 2008 US Open.

Johnson reclaimed the world number one ranking from Rose just a week after losing it to the Englishman, thanks to his tied-second finish behind Woods as Rose missed the Masters cut for the first time in his career.

WORLD TOP 101. Dustin Johnson (USA) 10.01 average pts (+1)2. Justin Rose (ENG) 9.20 (-1)3. Brooks Koepka (USA) 8.96 (+1)4. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 8.32 (-1)5. Justin Thomas (USA) 8.046. Tiger Woods (USA) 7.74 (+6)7. Francesco Molinari (ITA) 7.438. Bryson DeChambeau (USA) 7.24 (-2)9. Xander Schauffele (USA) 6.56 (+1)10. Rickie Fowler (USA) 6.00 (-1)

AMIR CUPSECOND ROUND:

April 20: Al Shamal vs Umm SalalApril 20: Al Wakrah vs Al Khor

April 21: Al Markhiya vs Al Kharaitiyat

April 21: Muaither vs Qatar SCThird round:April 26/27:

Al Shamal/Umm Salal vs Al ArabiAl Wakrah/Al Khor vs Al Sadd

Al Markhiya/Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Shahania

Muaither/Qatar SC vs Al Ahli

QUARTER-FINALS:

May 2/3:Al Shamal/Umm Salal/Al Arabi

vs Al RayyanAl Wakrah/Al Khor/Al Sadd

vs Al SaddAl Markhiya/Al Kharaitiyat/Al Shahania

vs Al Duhail Muaither/Qatar SC/Al Ahli

vs Al Sailiya

SEMI-FINALS: May 11 and 12

FINAL: May 16

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It’s a new beginning for Al Arabi: Hallgrímsson

CHINTHANA WASALA THE PENINSULA

Al Arabi coach Heimir Hallgrímsson yesterday said that the Amir Cup tour-nament will be a new beginning for his team.

“It’s a new start, a new beginning. When I came in January, the league (QNB Stars League) was finished for Al Arabi more or less. So we’ve been trying do a lot of things, experimenting with new tactics. So hopefully we can show our best in this competition,” the former Iceland coach told The Peninsula on the sidelines of the draw ceremony of the Amir Cup yesterday.

Hallgrimsson, who took charge of the Al Arabi outfit after leaving the Iceland post and guiding his country to their first World Cup finals last year, signed a one-and-half-year contract with the Qatari Club which clinched the sixth spot in the QSL standings.

Hallgrimsson, 51, was not worried about Al Arabi’s perform-ances during the QSL, but said his team will hopefully produce better performances.

“(Al Arabi’s performance during the QSL can be defined as) good and bad. Like life. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. But I think if we exclude the last game against Al Duhail, in which we lost 3-0, our performances were much better. Of course, Al Duhail is a much better side, but if we take that game out, we had a really good performance. Even during the three games against Al Rayyan, Al Gharafa and Al Ahli, which we lost, we played well. So I think our performance was good, but it didn’t produce enough wins. So hopefully during the Amir Cup, we can produce good performances and win,” Hallgrimsson said.

In their first match of the Amir Cup, Al Arabi, on April 26, will meet the winner of the second round clash

between Al Shamal and Umm Salal. “This is a tough competition. All the

teams here in Qatar are very good like anywhere else. At one point, we will have to face them. So we are quite sat-isfied with the draw. In the end it is always going to be how well you play against the top teams,” Hallgrimsson said.

“During my stay here, my only job is to make Al Arabi a better team. At

Al Arabi club, we take things very seri-ously. It’s a big club with a lot of history

behind it. But Al Arabi has not won any big trophies for a long time. But we know it’s going to take time to change a whole lot. I like the people around the club. They are very ambitious and I think if we con-tinue working like this, it won’t take a long time until Al Arabi fight for titles again,” Hallgrimsson, who is also a former dentist, said.

Asked if he has any new recruitments in mind, Hallgrimsson burst into laughs

and said: “Yeah, but I’m not going to tell you.”

Al Arabi coach Heimir Hallgrímsson

This year’s final will

be held on May 16 at

Wakrah Stadium.

The final will also bring

down the curtains on the

nine-month long football

season in Qatar.

Pandya's cameo hands Bangalore another defeat

IANS MUMBAI

Hardik Pandya's (37 unbeaten off 16) quickfire cameo down the order handed Royal Challengers Bangalore their seventh defeat this season as Mumbai Indians won their Indian Premier League (IPL) tie at the Wankhede Stadium by five wickets yesterday.

Chasing a competitive 172 for victory, Rohit Sharma (28 off 19) and Quinton de Kock gave a perfect start to Mumbai's innings, taking them to 52 for no loss in the initial five overs.

Moeen Ali was the first to strike as his off-break delivery clattered Sharma's stumps, leaving Mumbai at 70/1 in the eighth over.

It seemed Mumbai would suffer a batting collapse at one stage, but it was Pandya who made sure to help his team cross the line as the all-rounder and his brother Krunal Pandya (11 off 21) took Mumbai to 148 before the latter became a victim of Mohammed Siraj.

With 22 needed off the last couple of overs, Pandya showed his cameo with the bat as he smashed Pawan Negi for the required runs in just an over to help Mumbai register their fifth win this season.

Earlier, AB de Villiers' scin-tillating knock (75 off 51) with Ali's 50 off 32 propelled Ban-galore to 171/7.

Brief scores:Mumbai Indians: 172/5 in 19

overs (Quinton de Kock 40, Hardik Pandya 37 not out; Moeen Ali 2/18) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore: 171/7 in 20 overs (AB de Villiers 75, Moeen Ali 50; Lasith Maling 4/31) by 5 wickets.