SportFRIDAY 11 DECEMBER 2020

Steve Smith revved up for Test clashesVery excited, I love Test cricket, it's my favourite form of the game no doubt. It challenges you in so many different ways. So excited to get back out and play some long-form cricket. It's been close to a year since our last game. Can't wait -- all the boys are really keen to get out there and play as well.

Sport | 15Steve SmithAustralia batsman

AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, QUARTER-FINALS Ulsan beat Beijing Guoan 2-0, Vissel Kobe beat Suwon 7-6 on penalties after 1-1 draw

Stage set for Qatar National Baja finaleTHE PENINSULA — DOHA

The fifth and final round of the Qatar National Baja will be held tomorrow at the Sealine area, with the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) hosting the hugely popular off-road challenge.

The off-road event will be held with all the preventive measures and safety protocols put in place by the QMMF as per directives by the Ministry of

Public Health (MoPH). Prior to the start of final round, the second day of the installation of navigation kits for the motor-cycle category was done yes-terday at the QMMF headquarters.

The QMMF hosted the pre-vious round in Dukhan.

Today, the vehicles will undergo scrutiny before a briefing is held for the partici-pating teams.

Also today, the QMMF will

release the final starting list of drivers and riders featuring in the event, according to the rally programme issued by the organising body. The

Baja for riders will kick off at 8:00am tomorrow while the cars move out of the starting ramp at 11:00am.

Prize distribution in the Moto category will take place

at around 1:00pm while top drivers will be handed their tro-phies at 3:30pm.

The top entries in both classes will be given the cash prizes.

In the fourth round held in November, Khalid Al Mohannadi and Sebastien Delaunay (Polaris) had won the T3 category for cars. Ahmed Allouh and Tamer Al Hijazeen came second in a Canam while Ahmed Al Kuwari and Dennis Nikitopoulus, in a Yamaha YXZ 1000R, were third.

The T1 category was won by Mohamed Al Meer and Alexey Kuzmich (Chevrolet Buggy), with the pair of Rashid Al Muhannadi and Mubarak Al Khelaifi coming second.

In the bikes category, William Magnat had won Class 1, with Ali Al Badi taking the Class 2 and Emiel Stuckens tri-umphed in Class 3.

Riders are seen tending to their bikes on the second day of the installation of navigation kits for the motorcycle category as part of the Qatar National Baja events. The two-day event is being organised by Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF).

Today, the vehicles will undergo

scrutiny before a briefing is held

for the participating teams. Also

today, the QMMF will release the

final starting list of drivers and

riders featuring in the event,

according to the rally programme

issued by the organising body.

REUTERS — DOHA

Former champions Ulsan Hyundai will face Japan’s Vissel Kobe on Sunday for a place in the Asian Champions League final after the two sides saw off Beijing Guoan and Suwon Bluewings in the quarter-finals yesterday.

Two first-half goals from Junior Negrao earned 2012 champions Ulsan a 2-0 victory over Beijing while Kobe needed a 7-6 penalty shootout win to sink Suwon at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah.

At stake is a place in the final on December 19, when the semi-final winners take on Iran’s Persepolis, who qualified for the decider after coming through a centralised

tournament featuring teams from the western half of the continent.

Kobe edged the shootout after their game against Suwon ended 1-1 after extra time.

Jang Ho-ik sent his effort over the bar to leave Noriaki Fujimoto to hit the winner, sending Kobe into the last four on their debut appearance in the competition.

With former Spain

midfielder Andres Iniesta starting on the bench for Vissel, Suwon went in front early as Park Sang-hyeok darted across the Kobe defence to glance a header beyond goalkeeper Daiya Maekawa.

Five minutes before the break the Japanese side were level after referee Adham Makhadmeh consulted with the Video Assistant Referee.

Having initially given Kobe a penalty, the Jordanian official awarded a free kick outside the area and sent off Kim Tae-hwan for a foul on Daigo Nishi. Kyogo Furuhashi converted the free kick with a low shot under the defensive wall.

Kobe, though, could not make their numerical advantage count and both

teams hit the woodwork in extra time before the game went to penalties.

Ulsan advanced thanks to an impressive first-half showing, with Negrao opening the scoring from the penalty spot after Kim Min-jae had been judged to have handled.

The Brazilian doubled his side’s advantage in spectacular fashion with a 25-yard strike that curled away from goalkeeper Hou Sen’s dive.

Jonathan Viera tried to spark a response from Beijing in the second half, with the Spaniard hitting the post, but Ulsan kept the Chinese club at bay to progress to the semis for the first time since winning the title eight years ago.

Vissel Kobe’s Andres Iniesta (centre) and team-mates celebrate after winning the penalty shootout at Al Janoub Stadium, yesterday.

Ulsan to take on Vissel Kobe for place in Asian Champions League final

Two first-half goals from Junior

Negrao earned 2012 champions

Ulsan a 2-0 victory over Beijing

while Kobe needed a 7-6 penalty

shootout win to sink Suwon at Al

Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah.

Aboutrika lauds historic potential of Qatar 2022THE PENINSULA — DOHA

Mohamed Aboutrika – widely recognised as one of Africa’s greatest ever players – has hailed the significance of the first FIFA World Cup to be held in the Middle East and Arab world.

Speaking exclusively to qatar2022.qa from Al Rayyan Venue – which will be inaugu-rated on December 18 when it hosts the Amir Cup final – Aboutrika said: “Hosting the first World Cup in this part of the world provides a much-needed opportunity to change many of the negative percep-tions that people have about this region.

“Having the World Cup here in Qatar will prove to the world that we are able to organise a mega sporting event to the highest standards – and in a way that reaffirms a com-mitment to innovation, while

continuing to be inspired by the region’s rich traditions.”

Aboutrika, who supports Qatar 2022 as an ambassador for the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, also heaped praise on Al Rayyan Venue – which will become the fourth FIFA World Cup stadium to open later this month. The 40,000-capacity venue was built on the site of the decon-structed Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium and will become the new home of popular local team Al Rayyan Sports Club.

“As soon as you enter this stadium, you feel welcomed by the intimate atmosphere created by the seats being so close to the pitch,” said Aboutrika.

“It is yet another architec-tural masterpiece which will welcome everyone in 2022.”

Aboutrika, who won the CAF Champions League on five occasions with Al Ahly, added:

“With under two years to go, Qatar is well on its way in terms of being ready to provide the stadiums, infrastructure and expertise required to host a

tournament that will amaze everyone.”

Aboutrika also discussed the compact nature of Qatar’s tour-nament. The furthest distance

between stadiums will be just 75km, meaning Qatar will host the most compact edition of the FIFA World Cup in modern history.

“The compact nature will provide a huge boost to teams, because it will save them from the exhaustion of air travel between venues, leaving more time for a quick r e c o v e r y , ” s a i d Aboutrika.

“Also, as a player, I can tell you that staying in one accommodation throughout the duration of a major tournament provides you with much needed stability and

focus,” he added.Meanwhile, from a fan’s

point of view, they will never be far from the action in 2022. Accommodation, stadiums, fan

zones and tourist attractions will all be close by and con-nected by a comprehensive transportation network, including the recently launched Doha Metro. Fans will also have the chance to attend more than one match per day during the early stages of the tournament.

Aboutrika said: “Getting around so easily and having the ability to attend more than match a day will create a unique experience for everyone that will be attending the tour-nament from around the world.”

Despite Aboutrika’s out-standing career, including 38 goals in 100 matches for The Pharaohs, he never got the oppor-tunity to represent his country at the World Cup. However, Egypt did qualify for Russia 2018 and will have high hopes of taking their place in Qatar for the 22nd edition of the tournament.

Egypt's Mohamed Aboutrika (left) during his visit to Al Rayyan Stadium.

15FRIDAY 11 DECEMBER 2020SportItaly’s 1982 World Cup hero Paolo Rossi dies aged 64AFP - MILAN

Paolo Rossi, who fired Italy to victory in the 1982 World Cup after almost missing the tour-nament through a match-fixing scandal, has died aged 64, prompting an outpouring of grief and tributes.

Rossi’s wife Federica Cap-pelletti announced the death in an Instagram post featuring a photo of the couple, accom-panied by the comment “Forever,” followed by a heart.

She did not disclose the cause of his death.

“He didn’t want to go, I hugged him tightly and told him ‘Paolo, now go, you have suf-fered too much’,” Cappelletti told journalists yesterday outside Le Scotte Hospital in Siena where he passed away.

“It is not easy to summarise in a few words all that Paolo was,” she continued.

“A unique person, full of optimism even in the most dif-ficult moments, a great person but at the same time simple. He knew how to talk in the same way with Heads of State but also with the people we met at the supermarket. This was Paolo and this was his greatness.”

Rossi’s funeral will take place in his adopted city of Vicenza, in northeastern Italy, with his ashes returned to his native Tuscany, Cappelletti added.

Tributes flooded in for ‘Pablito’, who was banned for three years for his part in the betting scandal, but returned to win the World Cup in Spain where he was the top scorer

with six goals, and the Ballon d’Or the same year. Goalkeeper Dino Zoff, who captained the 1982 winning side, described Rossi as an “extraordinary foot-baller, excellent teammate and friend”.

He said Rossi’s ban -- later reduced to two years -- did not bother him, as “we knew who Paolo Rossi was, what a serious person he was and what an extraordinary footballer we had with us”.

“He was irreplaceable in that group. And the relationship with him was great. We were a team of friends, a great group,” Zoff said.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte paid tribute to an “unfor-gettable champion”, saying that his goals that summer “gave a

dream to an entire generation”.

“You will always remain our hero. Ciao Pablito,” Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo, on the team which lifted Italy’s fourth World Cup title in 2006, wrote on Twitter.

Rossi won the hearts of Italian fans when his goals pro-pelled Enzo Bearzot’s Azzurri -- who started the tournament with three uninspiring draws -- to a third world title.

But he almost missed the whole tournament. In 1980, he was caught up in match-fixing scandal known as “Totonero” -- a play on the Italian for football pools -- that also led to top teams including AC Milan and Lazio being relegated.

After protesting his

innocence he was cleared to play again and was rehired by Juventus, going on to earn his spot in the World Cup squad.

A slight winger who con-verted to centre-forward, Rossi had an uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time.

He exploded onto the stage of the 1982 tournament with a hat-trick in the 3-2 defeat of Brazil. In the semi-finals he scored both goals as Italy beat Poland 2-0, and he hit the opening goal in the 3-1 win over West Germany in the final.

Along with Christian Vieri and Roberto Baggio, Rossi holds the Italian record for nine goals scored in the World Cup.

Born in Prato in Tuscany, Rossi made his professional debut at Juventus in 1973, but

his initial two-year spell at the Turin club was blighted by knee injuries.

His first successes were with Vicenza, helping the club into the top flight. However, fol-lowing relegation he left for a loan spell at Perugia, where scandal struck.

After his suspension Rossi returned to Juventus, and the 1983-1984 season was his most successful at club level.

He formed a formidable trio with Michel Platini and Zbigniew Boniek and accumu-lated trophies -- two Serie A titles, the Italian Cup, Cup of Cups, and European Supercup.

“Paolo was a friend, a golden boy: benevolent, humble and intelligent,” Platini said in a statement. “He will be forever

remembered by the (Juventus) team and everyone with a black and white heart.”

In 1985, Juventus won the European Cup amid the tragedy of the Heysel Stadium final against Liverpool, where 39 fans were killed. It was to be Rossi’s last match with the ‘Bianconeri’.

He went to rivals AC Milan for an unsuccessful season which was overshadowed by injury, as was his final year at Hellas Verona.

In 1987, aged 31, Rossi decided to turn the page after nearly 400 league games and 154 goals, and 48 caps and 20 goals for Italy.

A father of three children, Rossi later worked as a TV pundit.

Diego Maradona and Paolo Rossi pose for a photo as they attend the Italian football hall of fame awards ceremony in Florence, Italy, in this January 17, 2017, file photo. Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020, while Rossi died yesterday. Both were World Cup winners with Argentina and Italy respectively. RIGHT: Italy’s Paolo Rossi gets away from Brazil’s Junior during their 1982 FIFA World Cup Group 4 match at Estadio Sarria, Barcelona, in this July 5, 1982, file photo.

Smith revved up for Tests after missing last India seriesAFP - SYDNEY

Steve Smith admitted yesterday he was pumped to play his first Test in almost a year, revealing how hard it was to miss India’s last series in Australia when he was banned for ball-tampering.

The two sides meet in a day-night Test in Adelaide from December 17, the first of four clashes over a blockbuster summer.

It will be Smith’s first red-ball international since the final Test against New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January before coronavirus caused havoc.

“Very excited, I love Test cricket, it’s my favourite form of the game no doubt. It chal-lenges you in so many different ways,” Smith, bubbling with enthusiasm, said on a Zoom call from Adelaide.

“So excited to get back out and play some long-form cricket. It’s been close to a year since our last game. Can’t wait -- all the boys are really keen to get out there and play as well.”

Making it extra special for Smith is that he missed India’s historic first Test series win in Australia in 2018-19 when he was serving his 12-month suspension.

“I watched bits and pieces,” he said of the tour. “It was dif-ficult sitting on the sidelines and not being able to go out there and make a difference.

“That was the toughest thing for me, knowing that I

probably could make a dif-ference if I was out there," Smith said.

“So that was hard. But it’s an exciting series coming up,” he said.

Smith skippered Australia until he was banned over the brazen attempt under his watch to alter the ball with sandpaper in Cape Town.

Part of his punishment included a further year-long exile from any leadership role, which expired in March.

He has yet to captain the side again but revealed yes-terday “discussions” had taken place, with the issue thrust back into the spotlight at the weekend when Aaron Finch was ruled out of the second Twenty20 against India.

Speculation was rampant that Smith would stand in as skipper, but Matthew Wade instead got the nod.

“For me, I just said I am happy to do whatever is best for the team and that’s the same going forward.

“I do whatever I can for the team,” he said.

Both teams face selection

problems ahead of Adelaide. India’s opening batsman

Rohit Sharma and pace bowler Ishant Sharma are both injured.

Australia will be missing opener David Warner after he injured a groin in the recent white-ball series but young prospect Will Pucovski, who was heavily tipped to replace him, suffered a concussion against India A this week.

Various scenarios have been touted should Pucovski fail to recover, from elevating Marnus Labuschagne or left-handed Wade to open, to recalling Marcus Harris or even Usman Khawaja.

Smith said it wouldn’t trouble him if Labuschange opened and he was moved up to bat at three from four.

“That doesn’t bother me too much, I’ve batted a fair bit at number three.

“Three or four, any lower than four and I wouldn’t be overly happy, but anywhere out there I’m fine,” he said.

Smith, who has played 73 Tests, scoring 7227 runs, including 26 centuries, admitted Warner’s absence would be felt.

“I think our depth is obvi-ously going to be tested with Davey out and a few potentially new players coming in, so it’s test for us against a good Indian outfit,” he said.

“Whoever is out there and in the team, hopefully we all do our job and have a successful summer.”

Australia’s Steve Smith during the end of series presentation after the Fifth Ashes Test at the Oval, London, Britain, in this September 15, 2019, file photo. F1: Hamilton to race in

final GP after negative COVID-19 testsREUTERS - ABU DHABI

Seven times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton will return for Mercedes in Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after testing negative for COVID-19, the team said yesterday.

Hamilton was replaced for last weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain by fellow Briton George Russell, who was unlucky not to win.

Mercedes said Hamilton, 35, had already arrived at the Yas Marina circuit after ending 10 days of quarantine in Bahrain.

Russell will now return to Williams, his regular team, with their reserve Jack Aitken standing down after his race debut last weekend.

“Lewis tested negative for COVID-19 on Wednesday prior to completion of his self-isolation period in Bahrain,” Mercedes said in a statement.

“This enabled him to travel to Abu Dhabi on Thursday afternoon and he tested negative on arrival.

“Lewis has therefore completed the protocols required by the FIA for his entry to the paddock tomorrow and will be able to take part in the race weekend,” added the team.

The FIA confirmed separately that Hamilton would be granted access to the paddock after testing negative in both Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.

The news gives Hamilton a shot at winning for the 12th time in 17 races, a result that would cement the pandemic-hit 2020 season as his most successful yet.

The Briton is already the sport’s most successful driver of all time, surpassing Ferrari great Michael Schumacher’s record 91 wins and equalling the German’s seven titles.

Nothing is at stake for Mercedes in Sunday’s race, with both titles won for the seventh year in a row.

Mercedes have won the last six races at the Yas Marina circuit, Hamilton four of them including the most recent two. The Briton has also been on pole five times.

While his return will be welcomed by fans, there will still be some disappointment for those who had hoped to see Russell get a second chance at victory after his impressive debut for the team a week ago.

The Mercedes-contracted youngster qualified on the front row, took the lead into the first corner and led for 59 laps before Mercedes botched his pitstop and a late puncture brought further misfortune.

Russell still finished ninth and with the fastest lap for his first points in Formula One.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton

celebrates winning the race on the

podium after the Portuguese

Grand Prix at Algarve

International Circuit, Portimao, Portugal, in this

October 25, 2020, file photo.

Round 6 of Hathab Series set to start todayTHE PENINSULA - DOHA

The sixth round of Longines Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour Season 4 will get underway today at the Indoor Arena of Qatar Equestrian Federation.

While the show jumping Small, Medium, Open Class, and Big Tour will be held over two days (Friday and Saturday), the Dressage leg of this round will take place next Sat-urday (Dec 26th).

The domestic eques-trian series Longines Hathab - supported by The Social and Sport Contri-bution Fund - has been receiving an overwhelming r e s p o n s e f r o m participants.

The five rounds held so far thus have been quite competitive with riders aiming to top in different classes and categories of showjumping and dressage.

The best seven results of the total twelve held annually are taken into account in deciding the overall champions.

The mandatory veter-inary and technical checks of the participating horses were done yesterday.

The series is being held sans spectators due to the new coronavirus and as per the Ministry of Public Health protocols to stop the spread of COVID-19, organ-isers have said.

Today, the Small Tour will begin at 2:00pm and will be followed by the Medium Tour individual and teams competition at 5.30pm.

Saturday will see the Open Class kick off at 2:00pm, and will be fol-lowed by the Big Tour action at 5.30pm.

Nasser Al Ghazali leads the points tally in the Big Tour with 125 points with Faleh Suwead Al Ajami second at 111 points.

Salman Mohammed Al Emadi is third with 101 points.

In the Medium Tour, Cyrine Sherif with 129 points is at the top.

December 17-21: 1st Test (Adelaide Oval, D/N) December 26-30: 2nd Test (Mel-bourne Cricket Ground) January 7-11: 3rd Test (Sydney Cricket Ground) January 15-19: 4th Test (Gabba, Brisbane)

INDIA TESTS IN AUSTRALIA