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A sensational Bassem Hassan Mohamed and his 11-year-old gelding Gunder brought the crowd to its feet as the Qatari rider completed a famous victory at the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha. At the Al Shaqab arena last night, Bassem was the darling of the crowd after the 30-year-old brought home Gunder in style to register his first win on home soil. Bassem had finished runner-up last year in one of the GCT CSI5* events in Doha. However, this was his second victory on the GCT Grand Prix. In 2014, he had become the first Qatari to win an LGCT Grand Prix when he rode Victoria to victory in Monaco. He also has two runner-up finishes and a bronze medal on the Tour. But to do it in front of the vociferous home crowd, which turned out in good numbers at Al Shaqab arena, it was a night of dreams for Bassem. The 2014 Asian Games gold medallist had made his intentions clear when he had produced a flawless round to qualify for the CSI5* 1.55/1.60m class jump-off. Bassem was the fifth to go in the nine-rider jump-off field. With expectations quite high from the crowd, the Qatari rider handled the pressure immaculately. It was a tricky course, featuring two huge oxers along the grandstand, and a sliding vertical to finish, but Bassem and Gunder rose to the occasion spectacularly. The pair cruised home in 35.31 seconds, the fastest time till then. But with four more pairs yet to finish, it was a nervous wait for Bassem, and thankfully none of them even came close to beating the Qatari rider’s time. Once the victory was confirmed, the crowd erupted in a joy as Bassem basked in glory. The second place went to Switzerland’s Janika Sprunger on her 11-year-old gelding Bacardi VDL, with the pair coming home in 37.34secs. Sweden’s Peder Fredricson and H&M Christian K finished third in a time of 37.41 seconds. “I am so happy to have got this win. Thank God it happened at the right time. I’m so happy.  It’s amazing,” said a beaming Bassem, who collected € 132,000 for his victory. “It is also a very special feeling for me to receive a commemoration and the cheque from Her Highness Sheikha Moza along with HE Sheikh Joaan alongside the podium,” he added. Bassem was full praise for his horse Gunder. “My horse was excellent today and he was in a good mood. We really prepared very hard for this class and I’m happy that this win happened. I was quick between the fences and there we had time to go over well,” he said. On how he handled the pressure of performing in front of the home crowd, Bassem said: “Of course, there is pressure. Everybody here (in Qatar) wanted me to win, I wanted to make everybody and myself happy. I thank God for this victory.” Hamburg Diamonds clinch Global Champions League title Meanwhile, Hamburg Diamonds were crowned the overall Global Champions League winners for 2017, with Valkenswaard United taking runner-up spot. Despite a dazzling win for United in the Doha leg at Al Shaqab yesterday, their nearest rivals Diamonds had done just enough by finishing fifth to strike gold in the race for the overall championship. Some intrepid riding from the Mexico Amigos helped them secure the final spot on the GCL podium in third. “We gave some hope to United, but at least we finished well,” said Harrie Smolders of the Hamburg Diamonds, who secured an unprecedented double as the star Dutch rider had also won the 2017 Global Champions Tour overall title in the penultimate leg in Rome. His team-mate Eric Lamaze, riding with a rib injury, added: “We wanted to win this — Harrie has done so many clears for the team, so it was my turn to help today.” Hamburg Diamonds, who collected a whopping €2 million for the victory, had other key players this season in John Whitaker, Piergiorgio Bucci and Jos Verlooy. United, who took the title in the inaugural GCL last year, were represented by Bertram Allen (Molly Malone) and Alberto Zorzi (Fair Light van’t Heike) in the glittering final and both produced measured double clears to soar clear of a high class field of 18 teams. United took home €1,350,000 in prize money. “We came here knowing we had to win here today, and unfortunately it wasn’t enough to win the League, but we gave it a good shot all year,” said Bertram. “We’ve had plenty of ups and downs but at least we finished on a really great note.”   Results CSI5* 1.60m Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha (€400,000) 1. Bassem Hassan Mohamed (Qatar) Gunder. Time: 35.31secs. Prize money: €132,000 2. Janika Sprunger (Switzerland) Bacardi VDL. 37.34 secs. €80,000 3. Peder Fredricson (Sweden) H&M Christian K. 37.41secs. €60,000   CSI5* 1.55/1.60m Table A: Against the Clock (€160,350) 1. Kevin Staut (France) Silver Deux de Virton H D C. Time: 73.28secs. Prize money: €52,800 2. Pieter Devos (Belgium) Espoir. 73.97secs. €32,000 3. Sergio Alvarez Moya (Spain) Carlo. 74.23secs. €24,000

Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and his long-striding horse Extra van Essene clinched their second win of the week after the pair won the feature class of yesterday’s Global Champions Tour. Under the lights at the magnificent Al Shaqab arena, Zanotelli and his 13-year-old gelding Extra van Essene made it two in a row clinching the CSI5* 1.45/1.50m, to go with Thursday’s win in the 1.45 two-phase competition. The pair once again pushed the Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders and Zinius to second palce, who had also finished runner-up the previous day. Lauren Hough of USA and the 14-year-old Waterford, took third spot. Zanotelli was the last to go in the 11-strong jump-off, who made the cut from 40-rider field. The Brazilian had a mountain to climb after the 2017 GCT overall champion Smolders had thrown down the gauntlet with a 50.75secs round with his 13-year-old gelding Zinius. But Zanotelli was immaculate with his jump as Extra van Essene seemed to have taken the liking to the Al Shaqab arena, clearing the hurdles with ease. The winning time was 50.42secs, just .033secs better than Smolders, who had a wry smile after being pipped for the second time in two nights by Zanotelli. “The horse is jumping amazingly. He’s fantastic and so careful, and he can really gallop. He makes my life easier!,” said Zanotelli, who pumped his fist repeatedly in delight after the triumph. “Harrie (Smolders) is one of the fastest riders in the world – to see him go was a chance for me to watch, and then I just hoped for the best,” added the 29-year-old. Qatar’s Olympic rider Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani had a disappointing night, finishing 39th with Armstrong van de Kapel. The big one – CSI5* 1.60m Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha will be held tonight, with the feature class carrying a total prize money of €400,000. Despite Smolders’ title triumph, the riders are set for a captivating battle for the overall ranking places in the last stop of GCT season. Only 15 points split the second to sixth-placed rider. Italy’s de Luca is currently in second place on 260 points just three ahead of Germany’s Christian Ahlmann. Italian Alberto Zorzi is two points away on 255 points, while Dutch rider Maikel van der Vleuten and two-time GCT champion Scott Brash of Britain are on 247 and 245 points respectively. GCL set for thrilling finale today Meanwhile, the second season of the Global Champions League team event is set for a nail-biting finish today. With just 17 points difference between the Hamburg Diamonds  and defending GCL Champions Valkenswaard United, the battle for the overall League title has reached a new intensity. On Thursday, the big guns came out in full force for the first round of the GCL at Al Shaqab, with Mexico Amigos taking pole but there was high drama in the battle between championship contenders Diamonds and United. Setting up an unmissable finale to the GCL season, both the Diamonds and United pulled out all the stops to keep their title dreams alive. United rider Bertram Allen - who teamed up with Alberto Zorzi in Thursday night’s first round said: “We’re delighted with our horses’ performance today and knew we had to go double clear to be in with a chance. The Diamonds are strong but for sure we’ll be fighting until the end.” Thursday night’s competition hinged on clear rounds and three teams produced double clears under the lights at Al Shaqab. Mexico Amigos lead the way into today’s finale as the fastest of the faultless trio, with the Paris Panthers and defending champions Valkenswaard United heading the pack of 18 teams. “We are in the best position,” said Henrik von Eckermann of the Mexico Amigos after their pole position. “Both horses jumped really well. If we win, we are third (in the overall championship) so that is what we are trying for.” His teammate Evelina Tovek added: “I’m really happy to produce a clear round for the team.” Coming in to the final leg, it was the Hamburg Diamonds who held the best cards and just need to finish in the top eight today to claim the title. However, a surprise nine-fault total puts them in 11th place with a fight on their hands if they are to soar ahead of their rivals United to be crowned GCL champions of 2017. Bassem Hassan Mohamed for the host team Doha Fursan Qatar, who were sitting seventh in the overall championship, boosted his team’s chances with a clear on the scopey Gunder after Sheikh Ali’s six-fault round on First Devision. They sit one ahead of the Lions in ninth. Results Class CSI5* 1.45/1.50m (Table A: Against the Clock with Jump-Off) 1. Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (Brazil) Horse: Extra van Essene; Time: 50.42secs. Prize money: €30,360 2. Harrie Smolders (the Netherlands); Zinius; 50.75secs; €18,400 3. Lauren Hough (USA); Waterford; 52.22secs; €13,800 Today’s schedule 9am: Hathab National Class 1.20/1.30m Two Phase (QR25,000) 11:30am: Hathab National Class 1.30/1.40m Two Phase (QR35,000) 2pm CSI5* 1.55/1.60m Global Champions League Final (€160,000 to individual class winner + €200,000 to team winner) 6pm CSI5* 1.60m Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha (€400,000)

Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and his long-striding horse Extra van Essene clinched their second win of the week after the pair won the feature class of yesterday’s Global Champions Tour. Under the lights at the magnificent Al Shaqab arena, Zanotelli and his 13-year-old gelding Extra van Essene made it two in a row clinching the CSI5* 1.45/1.50m, to go with Thursday’s win in the 1.45 two-phase competition. The pair once again pushed the Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders and Zinius to second palce, who had also finished runner-up the previous day. Lauren Hough of USA and the 14-year-old Waterford, took third spot. Zanotelli was the last to go in the 11-strong jump-off, who made the cut from 40-rider field. The Brazilian had a mountain to climb after the 2017 GCT overall champion Smolders had thrown down the gauntlet with a 50.75secs round with his 13-year-old gelding Zinius. But Zanotelli was immaculate with his jump as Extra van Essene seemed to have taken the liking to the Al Shaqab arena, clearing the hurdles with ease. The winning time was 50.42secs, just .033secs better than Smolders, who had a wry smile after being pipped for the second time in two nights by Zanotelli. “The horse is jumping amazingly. He’s fantastic and so careful, and he can really gallop. He makes my life easier!,” said Zanotelli, who pumped his fist repeatedly in delight after the triumph. “Harrie (Smolders) is one of the fastest riders in the world – to see him go was a chance for me to watch, and then I just hoped for the best,” added the 29-year-old. Qatar’s Olympic rider Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani had a disappointing night, finishing 39th with Armstrong van de Kapel. The big one – CSI5* 1.60m Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha will be held tonight, with the feature class carrying a total prize money of €400,000. Despite Smolders’ title triumph, the riders are set for a captivating battle for the overall ranking places in the last stop of GCT season. Only 15 points split the second to sixth-placed rider. Italy’s de Luca is currently in second place on 260 points just three ahead of Germany’s Christian Ahlmann. Italian Alberto Zorzi is two points away on 255 points, while Dutch rider Maikel van der Vleuten and two-time GCT champion Scott Brash of Britain are on 247 and 245 points respectively. GCL set for thrilling finale today Meanwhile, the second season of the Global Champions League team event is set for a nail-biting finish today. With just 17 points difference between the Hamburg Diamonds  and defending GCL Champions Valkenswaard United, the battle for the overall League title has reached a new intensity. On Thursday, the big guns came out in full force for the first round of the GCL at Al Shaqab, with Mexico Amigos taking pole but there was high drama in the battle between championship contenders Diamonds and United. Setting up an unmissable finale to the GCL season, both the Diamonds and United pulled out all the stops to keep their title dreams alive. United rider Bertram Allen - who teamed up with Alberto Zorzi in Thursday night’s first round said: “We’re delighted with our horses’ performance today and knew we had to go double clear to be in with a chance. The Diamonds are strong but for sure we’ll be fighting until the end.” Thursday night’s competition hinged on clear rounds and three teams produced double clears under the lights at Al Shaqab. Mexico Amigos lead the way into today’s finale as the fastest of the faultless trio, with the Paris Panthers and defending champions Valkenswaard United heading the pack of 18 teams. “We are in the best position,” said Henrik von Eckermann of the Mexico Amigos after their pole position. “Both horses jumped really well. If we win, we are third (in the overall championship) so that is what we are trying for.” His teammate Evelina Tovek added: “I’m really happy to produce a clear round for the team.” Coming in to the final leg, it was the Hamburg Diamonds who held the best cards and just need to finish in the top eight today to claim the title. However, a surprise nine-fault total puts them in 11th place with a fight on their hands if they are to soar ahead of their rivals United to be crowned GCL champions of 2017. Bassem Hassan Mohamed for the host team Doha Fursan Qatar, who were sitting seventh in the overall championship, boosted his team’s chances with a clear on the scopey Gunder after Sheikh Ali’s six-fault round on First Devision. They sit one ahead of the Lions in ninth. Results Class CSI5* 1.45/1.50m (Table A: Against the Clock with Jump-Off) 1. Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (Brazil) Horse: Extra van Essene; Time: 50.42secs. Prize money: €30,360 2. Harrie Smolders (the Netherlands); Zinius; 50.75secs; €18,400 3. Lauren Hough (USA); Waterford; 52.22secs; €13,800 Today’s schedule 9am: Hathab National Class 1.20/1.30m Two Phase (QR25,000) 11:30am: Hathab National Class 1.30/1.40m Two Phase (QR35,000) 2pm CSI5* 1.55/1.60m Global Champions League Final (€160,000 to individual class winner + €200,000 to team winner) 6pm CSI5* 1.60m Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha (€400,000)

A total of nine riders made it to the jump-off after a intense round of competition, which saw 48 riders taking part Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten and his 15-year-old VDL Groep Verdi TN won the feature event in a thrilling fashion as the Global Champions Tour kicked-off at the Al Shaqab arena yesterday. Van der Vleuten beat the time of his nearest rival Belgian rider Gregory Wathelet with Forlap by just .08 seconds to clinch the 1.50/1.55m CSI5* class. Brazilian Eduardo Menezes with Poden Farms’ Galip finished third. A total of nine riders made it to the jump-off after a intense round of competition, which saw 48 riders taking the field. Van der Vleuten was in right sync with VDL Groep Verdi Tn as the pair took out strides to cross the finish line in 37.73 secs. Wathelet and Forlap quickly found top gear. But a slip on the turn back to the vertical – despite a quick recovery – would mean they would be a fraction behind, finishing on 37.85 and Wathelet ruing his hard luck.  Menezes and Galip put in a strong round, jumping clear but were not quite quick enough to stop the clock on 38.99s. “The first round [Verdi] jumped nice, we had a smooth round and it was quick enough to win the class today. At the moment [Verdi] feels very good, and very happy. I can use his big stride in a big arena like this so it suits him. We put our focus on Saturday for the Grand Prix,” said van der Vleuten, who got richer by 30,360 Euros on the night. In the Global Champions Tour opening event, Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli registered a sensational round on the 13-year-old Extra Van Essene to win the CSI5* 1.45m class, which carried a total prize money of 92,000 Euros. In what turned out to be a fast-paced thriller, Zanotelli finished just 0.3s ahead of 2017 overall GCT champion Harrie Smolders (the Netherlands) on Zinius, with Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden taking third on Cantinero. “It was fantastic, I’m very happy with my horse,” said Zanotelli, who took home 30,360 Euros for his effort. “I watched Maikel (van der Vleuten, who finished sixth) and he went fast. My wife said there was one less stride to the last and luckily it worked for me. He’s a fantastic horse, very kind and he’s always fighting for me. It’s a fantastic facility here in Doha and all the support we have here from the crowd is very nice,” the Brazilian added. A magnificent field of elite riders, including 17 of the world’s top 20 riders, lined up for the opening CSI5* class. Great Britain’s Ben Maher took an early advantage with some deadly accurate turns on MTF Madame X in a time of 27.12s, but the leader board immediately reshuffled. Sweden’s Peder Frericson and H&M Zaloubet rocketed home in 26.48s before Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten and VDL Groep Quatro showed all their agility at high speed to take the lead in 25.60s. But Zanotelli beat the competition with his long-striding 13-year-old Extra Van Essene. The duo showed tremendous team work, scorching home clear in 24.35secs. Smolders, who made history this season by winning the 2017 tour outright at the penultimate leg in Rome, threatened to beat Zanotelli’s time with Zinius. But the pair, despite a blazing round, fell 0.3secs short of the winning time to settle for runner-up spot. Von Eckermann and Cantinero put in some brave manoeuvres, but had to be content with third place finish. GCT Results CSI5* 1.50/1.55m Table A: Against the Clock with Jump-Off 1. Maikel van der Vleuten (the Netherlands) VDL Groep Verdi Tn. Time: 37.73 secs. Prize money: 30,360 Euros 2. Gregory Wathelet (Belgium) Forlap 37.85 secs. 18,400 Euros 3. Eduardo Menezes (Brazil) Galip 38.99 secs. 13,800 Euros. CSI5* 1.45 m Two Phases: A + A, Both Phases Against the Clock 1. Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (Brazil) Extra van Essene. Time: 24.35 secs. Prize money: 8,250 Euros 2. Harrie Smolders (the Netherlands) Zinius. 24.65 secs. 5,000 Euros 3. Henrik von Eckermann (Sweden) Cantinero.  24.83 secs. 3,750. Today’s schedule 10:45: National Class 1/1.15m Against the clock (QR10,000) 13:15: National Class 1.20/1.30m Against the clock (QR20,000) 15:00: CSI5* 1.45m Two Phase (€25,000) 17:30: CSI5* 1.50/1.55m Global Champions League Round 1 (€92,000 individual class winner)

The Global Champions Tour title may have already been wrapped up by the Dutchman Harrie Smolders, but there are plenty of thrills and spills in store in the season finale at the Al Shaqab arena from today. The three-day showjumping championship returns to Qatar for the final stop of the season, with riders set for a captivating battle for the overall ranking places after 13 rounds of action. This year’s event will be particularly special for Al Shaqab, which is marking the 25th anniversary of the prestigious, cutting-edge equestrian facility. A vision of His Highness the Father Emir, Al Shaqab has become an epicentre for the sport in the region. To mark the occasion there will be a special celebration during the event tomorrow.  An all-star cast of 17 out of the world’s top 20 riders will be in action with their horses this weekend. Smolders, who made history by taking the title at the penultimate event in Rome, will lead the pack which consists of Scott Brash, Eric Lamaze, Lorenzo de Luca, Gregory Wathelet, Kevin Staut, Peder Fredricson, and Maikel van der Vleuten. Home heroes Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani and Bassem Hassan Mohamed will be in action in the individual GCT competitions and riding for home team Doha Fursan Qatar in the Global Champions League.  Despite Smolders’ triumph, there is still everything to play for in Doha, as there are just 15 points between the next top five riders. Italy’s de Luca is currently in second place on 260 points just three ahead of Germany’s Christian Ahlmann. Italian Alberto Zorzi is two points away on 255 points, while Dutch rider van der Vleuten and two-time GCT champion Brash are on 247 and 245 points respectively. GCT President Jan Tops said: “You see through the years, and especially this year, that the best riders in the world prepare their horses for these events. Now we are at the final of the season and the riders have their best horses here. The statistics speak for themselves.” Tops was gushing in his praise of Al Shaqab, calling the venue a special one. “It is great to be here at this special place. Qatar works very hard to promote the heritage of the horse and on the development of the sport to a high level, which we have seen on an Olympic level. Al Shaqab is not only a magnificent place, but it is very horse-friendly; the footing is great, the stabling is the best condition – it’s an example for every event. That is why we love to be here in Qatar,” he added. Speaking about the progress of the top Qatari riders like Sheikh Ali, who finished 6th in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Tops said: “If I see the progress made from five years ago it has been incredible and I hope we can make some steps forward again for the next Olympics. And it is important to develop the next generation and give them experience and get them ready for the next four to eight years and more.” Omar al-Mannai, the event director of Al Shaqab, said the successful hosting of GCT and many other top events over the years has made Qatar a sport hub. “As part of Qatar National Vision 2030 we believe Qatar has become a sport hub and GCT supports this by bringing the top riders and horses. We are engaging with the community with our activities and engaging them about our tradition and heritage,” he said. Al-Mannai revealed there will be a special celebration to mark Al Shaqab’s 25th anniversary during the sidelines of the GCT, adding a bigger celebration will be held on Qatar’s National Day, which falls on December 18.  Meanwhile, the Global Champions League, the second season of the team event is intriguingly poised. The teams will be in action with round one to be held today and the final on Saturday afternoon.  Hamburg Diamonds and Valkenswaard United will be going head to head for the overall championship title and five other teams are challenging for the other podium places. 18 teams have competed in the GCL this year tactically fielding top rider and horse combinations to get the edge ahead of their rivals in the championship. Third Hathab leg at Al Shaqab this weekend Meanwhile, the third leg of Hathab, Qatar’s QR1mn national equestrian series, will be held on the sidelines of the GCT and GCL events this weekend. Six events are scheduled for the third of the 12-leg series, with competitions in five categories: Future Riders Program (6-12 years old), Junior (Small Tour 14-18 years old), Young Rider (Medium Tour 16-21 years old) and Senior (Big Tour- over 21-years-old). Hathab is an initiative launched by Qatar Olympic Committee president HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani. THE SCHEDULE Today 10:45: National Class 1/1.15m Against the clock (QR10,000) 13:15: National Class 1.20/1.30m Against the clock (QR20,000) 15:00: CSI5* 1.45m Two Phase (€25,000) 17:30: CSI5* 1.50/1.55m Global Champions League Round 1 (€92,000 individual class winner) Tomorrow 13:45: National Class 1/1.15m Against the clock with jump-off (QR10,000) 16:45: National Class 1.30/1.40 Against the clock with jump-off (QR30,000) 17:45: Al Shaqab 25th Anniversary celebrations 18:40: CSI5* 1.45/1.50m (€92,000) Saturday 09:00: National Class 1.20/1.30m Two Phase (QR25,000) 11:30: National Class 1.30/1.40m Two Phase (QR35,000) 14:00: CSI5* 1.55/1.60m GCL Final (€160,000 to individual class winner + €200,000 to team winner) 18:00 CSI5* 1.60m Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha (€400,000)

Jonathan Rea might have hoped the 2017 season didn’t end for him. For, the Kawasaki rider not only won his third successive WorldSBK title with two and half rounds to spare, he also smashed many records on his way through a dominating year. Last night at the Losail International Circuit, the Northern Irishman finished the season with another record to his name. The 30-year-old broke American Colin Edwards’ 15-year-old all-time points record with victory in Race 2 of the Qatar round of the WorldSBK championship. Having already won the Race 1 on Friday, Rea needed another 25 points to rewrite the record books and that is exactly what he delivered. It was Rea’s 16th win of the season last night, which meant he ended the season with 556 points compared to Edwards’ 552 set in the 2002 season. It was also Rea’s 16th career double win, which equalled the total of both Troy Bayliss and Carl Fogarty. “I don’t have words to describe. I just want to thank my family, my team and most of all my rivals Chaz (Davies) and Tom (Sykes) because they pushed me to improve, gave me motivation to work better, to get smarter. I’ve really enjoyed it,” said Rea, with his wife and two young sons joining in the celebration on the podium. “I now want to get back home and enjoy the moment because these times don’t come along every day. I want to savour it with my family and my team,” he added. Rea had topped the short warm-up session ahead of the finale, and he was even more lethal in the race despite starting from the third row as per the reverse grid rule. The Kawasaki man was handed the lead on lap four when Chaz Davies experienced a massive near-highside which broke his screen. Rea needed no invitation and swept into top spot. Ducati’s Davies still bagged second in the championship chase as rival Tom Sykes of Yamaha crashed out, losing the front at turn 14 a lap before. Davies did close back in on Rea, but the world champion extended the gap and cruised home by two seconds ahead of Ducati rider. Alex Lowes took the final podium place, bouncing back from his double crash on Friday to pass Pata Yamaha teammate Michael van der Mark with five laps left to run.   Mahias clinches Supersport Meanwhile, Frenchman Lucas Mahias won his maiden World Supersport title last night. The GRT Yamaha rider was in a pole position to win the championship, having gone into the season finale race with a 20-point lead over defending champion Kenan Sofuoglu of Kawasaki. An 11th place finish or better would have been enough for Mahias to seal the title, but he chose to win it in style after a long tussle with Jules Cluzel of Honda. The margin of victory was a narrow 0.023seconds. The Frenchman had benefited from five-time champion Sofuoglu’s injury issues throughout the year, but he was consistent enough take advantage of it. Sofuoglu’s return from triple hip fracture delayed Mahias from grabbing the 2017 title in Jerez but there was no stopping the Yamaha rider last night. Federico Caricasulo of Yamaha finished a close fourth, beaten across the line by the gritty Sofuoglu. The Turkish rider was caught up further back in the field, fighting with the likes of Sheridan Morais (Kallio Racing), Niki Tuuli (Kallio Racing), Kyle Smith (Lorini) and PJ Jacobsen (Agusta) as he made his way through the pack to fourth and then chased Caricasulo down in the final stages.   WorldSBK Race 2 results (top 10) 1. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing) 33:39.98 2. Chaz Davies (Racing Ducati Panigale) +1.961 3. Alex Lowes (Crescent Yamaha) +4.185 4. Michael van der Mark (Yamaha) +5.843 5. Xavi Fores (Barni Ducati Panigale) +8.987 6. Marco Melandri (Racing Ducati Panigale) +14.675 7. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia) +16.251 8. Sylvain Guintoli (Kawasaki Puccetti) +19.675 9. Leon Camier (Agusta RC) +20.607 10. Roman Ramos (Kawasaki Go Eleven) +20.628

The unstoppable Jonathan Rea ticked another box in his glittering career when he won the Race 1 of the Qatar round of the WorldSBK Championship last night. The three-time World champion Rea, who had wrapped up the 2017 title in France with two and half rounds to spare, had never won at the Losail International Circuit before last night. And he brought an end to that drought in spectacular style under floodlights on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR. The Northern Irish rider is seeking to better American Colin Edwards’ record points tally of 552 set in 2002. After the Race 1 victory last night, Rea has 531 points, and another 25 points tonight in Race 2 will smash the 15-year-old record. Rea was in a class of his own at Losail, getting away brilliantly from pole to dominate the penultimate race of season. He completed the 17 laps in 33:41.021 seconds, 4.944secs ahead of second-placed Chaz Davies on Ducati. Davies’ teammate Marco Melandri completed the podium. The 30-year-old Rea, who also achieved Kawasaki’s maiden victory at Losail, has now chalked up 53 World Superbike victories in his career – 38 with Kawasaki – and is only six wins behind the all-time record held by Carl Fogarty. He has also become the second most successful rider ever, moving ahead of Australian great Troy Bayliss, who won 52 races during a chequered career. Rea had made his intentions clear earlier as he had set a new Losail lap record in the Superpole. In the race that followed, Rea pushed his Kawasaki ZX-10RR to the limits around the 5.380km track to snatch his 15th win of the season. Davies did his best to chase Rea down but would eventually finish a lonely second despite his best efforts – still a good result in his bid to secure the runner-up spot in the championship. His teammate Melandri crossed the finish line a further five seconds behind him. Eugene Laverty finished fourth ahead of his Aprilia teammate Lorenzo Savadori, while Tom Sykes completed the top six on the second of the KRT machines. Yamaha’s Alex Lowes who was the closest challenger to Rea in the Superpole, coming in second, had a disappointing end to the night. With seven laps to go, Lowes, who was involved in a feisty duel with Davies, crashed at the last corner with a podium spot in his sights. Lowes picked up his Yamaha YZF R1 to go in search of valuable championship points but went down again in the final stages. Lowes’ teammate Michael van der Mark also crashed out of the race, touching the rear of Sykes’ bike at Turn 7.   leader Mahias on pole for WorldSSP showdown In the Supersport class, Lucas Mahias of GRT Yamaha put on a lightning lap to clinch the pole position for tonight’s season-finale. The Frenchman has a 20-point lead going into the final race of the season and he strengthened his title aspirations by smashing the Losail Supersport lap record last night. His championship rival and defending champion Kenan Sofuoglu of Kawasaki was fourth fastest, and it will need a huge effort from the Turkish rider to win the title tonight. Sofuoglu was passed fit prior to third practice to race despite suffering three fractures to his pelvis at Magny-Cours in France just over a month ago. France’s Jules Cluzel of Honda and Finnish rider Niki Tuuli of Kallio Racing also qualified on the front row, timing the second and third fastest time in Superpole 2. Mahias set a new lap record of 2:00.738 secs as the championship leader bids to secure the world title in style tonight. Cluzel qualified 0.546s behind his fellow Frenchman, whilst Tuuli was delighted to grab third on the grid, with a lap which was 0.654s off the pole-setter. Sofuoglu is riding through the pain barrier during this final weekend of the season and is receiving medical check-ups after each session as he bids to prevent Mahias from taking his crown. Sofuoglo needs a top-two finish and hope Mahias misses the top 10 to win a sixth world title. Qatar’s Saeed al-Sulati was 18th fastest on his Kawasaki ZX-6R, while his QMMF Racing compatriot Mashel al-Naimi was 22nd. The duo will be hoping for a much better performance tonight in front of the local crowd.   WSBK Race 1 results (top 10) 1. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) 33:41.021 2. Chaz Davies (Ducati) +4.944 3 Marco Melandri (Ducati)  +10.405 4. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia)  +12.052 5. Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia)  +12.339 6. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki)  +15.587 7. Jordi Torres (BMW)  +16.789 8. Sylvain Guintoli (Kawasaki)  +17.869 9. Leon Camier (MV Agusta)  +18.494 10. Roman Ramos (Kawasaki)  +22.660 Today’s Schedule 17:00-17:15    WorldSSP - WUP 17:30-17:45    WorldSBK - WUP 19:30    WorldSSP - Race 21:00    WorldSBK - Race 2

Jonathan Rea had to wait for seven years to win his maiden World Superbike championship (WSBK) title. A switch in 2015 to Kawasaki from Honda, where he had won 15 races but had failed to crack the championship, has done wonders for the Northern Irish rider’s career. Having finally realised his dream of winning the WSBK title in 2015, Rea has not looked back since. He repeated the feat in 2016, becoming the first champion of this millennium to win a back-to-back title. This season has been no different for Rea. In fact, he has gone out and decimated the field to become the first rider to clinch three successive Superbike titles. Rea, 30, seems to be only getting better with age. The Ulsterman has been at his dominant best this season, as he wrapped up the title in September in Magny Cours, France, with two and a half rounds to go. He didn’t slow down after his historic feat, as he scored a double in Jerez, Spain, claiming his 14th win of 2017 and 52nd of his career. That took him level with three-time world champion Troy Bayliss and just seven behind Carl Fogarty’s record of 59. The win also sealed the manufacturers’ championship for Kawasaki. Now in Doha for the last round of the WSBK season, which will be held at Losail International Circuit tomorrow and Saturday, Rea has one more record in his sights. The Kawasaki rider will need to take a double win in Qatar this weekend if he is to beat Colin Edwards’ long-standing 15-year-old points’ record of 552 set by the American in 2002.  Rea currently sits on 506 points and he has been on the podium in every race he has finished this season. On the eve of the last round of WSBK championship, Rea looked relaxed as he sat down for an interview at the Ritz-Carlton yesterday. A modest and a complete family man, Rea, who hops from one circuit to other with his wife and two young sons, credited his total domination of WSBK to being consistent and said he has been living a dream the last three years. “In the last three seasons, the opening three races of the calendar have suited my style of racing. So after two-three races, I have had a small gap in the championship. And I have been the most consistent too,” Rea said yesterday. “Of course the other guys have been really fast, like Tom Sykes and Chaz Davies. But Chaz especially has made many mistakes throughout the year. Tom has had a problem with injury and some other issues. For me consistency has been the key, not building a good lead at the start. I don’t know maybe next season I will have a lot more pressure, we have to see. But these last three years are like a dream because the bike and the team have been working really good. Next year maybe it will be someone else’s turn. So we have to be ready to face difficult moments,” Rea added. With the challenge of winning the title off his shoulders, Rea said he will go out and enjoy his ride under the floodlights of the Losail circuit this weekend. Should he manage to take away a perfect 50 points tomorrow and Saturday, Rea would set a new all-time points scoring record in WSBK. “After I won the championship in France three weeks ago, last weekend in Spain I had a double win. So for me it’s less pressure. I can really enjoy the race and not worry about the points,” the champion explained. “It’s difficult all the year to try and manage and think about the championship. Now I’m free of all that. I can be 100 percent. If I make a mistake or crash, it’s not a big problem. So this is how I raced in Spain and it was really nice. I hope to do that in Qatar too,” he said. In recent times, there have been talks of Rea switching to the more popular and glamorous world of MotoGP. The Northern Irishman has had a brush with MotoGP in 2012, when he replaced the injured Casey Stoner for the Honda team. He finished 8th and 7th in two races, before returning to World Superbike duties. Rea dismissed a move to MotoGP next year, since he is contracted with Kawasaki till 2018. But said he has kept his options open for a switch to MotoGP, adding he would only do so at the right opportunity and with a good manufacturer. “Superbike has been incredible for me since 2009. I’m only thinking about next season. Also it would be nice to have an opportunity to go to MotoGP with a top bike. I have no interest to go there with some satellite machine or private bike,” he said. “I am sure with a really good bike, I can do a very good job. Unfortunately, Kawasaki are racing only in Superbike. But I feel at home. They have given me a great opportunity and I feel really valued there. In 2019 and 2020, I have no idea what I will do,” he said. One was tempted to ask if there had been any feelers from the top MotoGP teams. “I am sure all the teams understand the situation I am in. I am one of the top riders right now in the world. They know the situation. Next season 90 percent of riders in MotoGP and Superbike are under contract. So during the middle of the season there will be lot of talking between teams, management and riders. Until then no one knows. It’s too early to say anything,” he said. Rea, however, was quick to add that he was very happy at Kawasaki, calling the team a family. “I am very happy where I am. That winning feeling every weekend with Kawasaki is incredible no matter what championship it is, whether it is crossing the line here in the Qatari Superbike race or whether in MotoGP. The winning feeling wants to keep you wanting more,” he said. Rea was also surprised how far he has come in his WSBK career, having started slow. “I am surprised because in the last race I equalled Troy Bayliss’ record. And for me Troy was a legend, one of my heroes. So I never thought I would be in the same bracket. When somebody said it, I was quite surprised. When you are living in the moment, enjoying your work, it’s hard to take stock of situation. Maybe in 10 years’ time I can look back and understand what I have achieved,” he said. Before rushing off to join his family in the swimming pool, Rea opened up on his life away from racing, and said it was rewarding to share his success with his wife and two young sons. “I’m really happy because I am one of the last guys going to race circuits with my family, my wife and two kids. And we do all of it together, travelling and other things. It’s really difficult. If anyone has kids, they will understand how difficult it will be,” said Rea, who as a child was exposed to racing as his father was a road racer, specialising in Isle of Man TT race. “It’s really rewarding as well because when you win, it’s not just for yourself but also for your family. These are the best moments of my career and to share it with my family is really nice. So that’s something I can look back on in the future and really be happy that we did all together.” Paddock entertainment set to light up Qatar experience There is plenty of entertainment in store for the fans heading to the Qatar Round of the Superbike World Championship at the Losail International Circuit this weekend. Other than getting to watch three-time world champion Jonathan Rea of Kawasaki Racing Team make history on track, there is even more to keep one excited off track. With every ticket purchased, there is free access into the paddock, which gives a chance of meeting the riders out and about in between sessions. One even can make it a family affair as children under the age of 11 can gain free access, with free parking available at the circuit.  As the paddock is open to everyone, there will be plenty to do inside the travelling WorldSBK village over the weekend. From today till Sunday, one will be able to enjoy some chill out time in the Arabic tent. Show your support for your favourite rider, or even the WorldSBK series as a whole with the official merchandising tents, which one can sport while cheering on the riders on track.  There is also a motorbike exhibition or a ride in the Red Bull Car Simulators to fuel that need for speed.  The star of the 2017 show will no doubt be the paddock show stage, which will be full of action from tonight till Saturday evening.

It was a double delight for Hamad Nasser al-Qadi as the impressive rider clinched both the first and second place in the feature class of the second leg of Hathab Equestrian series yesterday. At Al Shaqab’s indoor arena, Hamad was in great form as he piloted two of his horses to podium finishes in the Big Tour 130/140 class. Riders were allowed to compete with two horses and Hamad grabbed the opportunity with both the hands. First, in the company of 12-year-old gelding SIEC Lonnie, Hamad flew around a tricky course to stop the clock in 44.67 seconds. Then he returned with St. Lucia, a 15-year-old grey mare, to snatch the second place as well, clocking 45.21 seconds. To make it a grand celebration for al-Qadi family, Hamad’s brother Saeed completed the podium, taking the third place with Daydreamer, the pair coming home in 45.41 seconds.  It was an excellent two days for Hamad, who leapfrogged the overall leaderboard. He had also finished second and third in two separate events on Friday. “I’m very thrilled with my results today,” said Hamad, who scooped a combined prize money of QR 15,300 for the double finish. “I was first and second today. Also yesterday I finished second and third, which has put me on the top of points table. All the riders today were very strong competitors and were well prepared. I am really honoured to compete against with such riders,” he added. Hamad praised Hathab series for giving an opportunity to riders like him to gain valuable experience. “All the riders were really strong and ready to compete. Someone like Faleh al-Ajmi (who finished fifth and seventh) has a great experience in such championships and I admire him. This competition gave a great opportunity to exchange experience with well-established national riders. I am looking forward for the next leg of Hathab,” the Qatari noted. Al-Qadi family dominated in the Medium Tour 120/130cm class too, as Saeed emerged triumphant with Jessico 4. Mohamed Sultan al-Suwaidi (Numero Uno T) came second, while Bandar Mansoon al-Hoban (Tagfart 111 Z) was third. In the Dressage competition, women riders excelled as five of them finished on the podium in two events. In the Level 1 class, Amana Ahmad al-Saffar (Drum Mousse) topped the score sheets with 69.792 points. Iris Nijboer (Wait and Seeze, 68.958) and Jessica Waldon (Jacquard, 68.750) took the second and third place respectively Amana was delighted with her win. “I am very happy with my results. I would like to thank the organising committee for this great opportunity as this is the first national dressage event in Qatar,” she said. Meanwhile, Saad Ahmed al-Saad (Toberlina T) bagged the first place in the Level 2 class. He was followed by Mennatallah Hesham Mourad (Quick Dance) in second place and Aisha Ahmed al-Ahmadi (Juste D’adaelle) in third.   Amana al-Saffar poses with her trophy after winning the dressage competition yesterday. PICTURE: Mohamed Tinakicht Results Big Tour Table A, Special two phases 130/140cm Prize money: QR 30,000 1. Hamad Nasser al-Qadi (SIEC Lonnie) Time: 44.67 seconds. Prize money: QR 8,4000 2. Hamad Nasser al-Qadi (St. Lucia) 45.21 secs. QR 6,900 3. Saeed Nasser al-Qadi (Daydreamer) 45.41 secs. QR 5250 Medium Tour: Table A, One round against the clock 120/130cm 1. Saeed Nasser al-Qadi (Jessico 4) Time: 64.36 seconds. Prize money: QR 5,000 2. Mohamed Sultan al-Suwaidi (Numero Uno T) 62.27 secs. QR 4,000 3. Bandar Mansoon al-Hoban (Tagfart 111 Z) 68.18 secs. QR 3,000 Dressage level 1 1. Amana Ahmad al-Saffar (Drum Mousse) 69.792 score. Prize money: QR, 2,800 2. Iris Nijboer (Wait and Seeze) 68.958. QR 2,300 1. Jessica Waldon (Jacquard) 68.750. Q 1,750 Dressage Level 2-Results 1. Saad Ahmed al-Saad (Toberlina T) 2. Mennatallah Hesham Mourad (Quick Dance) 3. Aisha Ahmed al-Ahmadi (Juste D’adaelle)

Riccardo de Luca was crowned as the International Modern Pentathlon Union Champion of Champions, after the Italian put in a dominating performance to clinch men’s title. At the Qatar Foundation Recreation Centre and Al Shaqab Arena yesterday, De Luca enjoyed one of the finest wins of his career. The 31-year-old upset the 16-man strong field which included 2016 Olympic champion Alexander Lesun of Russia. De Luca was so strong that the 2016 Champion of Champions, Patrick Dogue of Germany, had to settle for silver despite a very impressive performance of his own. Frenchman Valentin Belaud, who was second last year, went down one rung finishing third yesterday.  The victory should be a source of great confidence for De Luca, who until yesterday had a tough 2017. He also had missed a podium finish at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, finishing fifth after a sprint finish. The 2012 European champion and winner of the World Cup Final in 2015, however, was determined to make it count yesterday. After the victory, De Luca said that it had been a ‘long day’ but a fruitful one and praised the facilities at Qatar Foundation Recreation Centre and Al Shaqab and also the local organising committee. “I had already competed twice in the Champion of Champions here in Qatar and everything works well – the food, the timings, the venue – it’s very well organised and I think it would be great to see some more pentathlon competitions come here in future,” he said. De Luca used his fencing prowess to take control of the competition. He took the lead after a score of 22V/8D, with Lesun proving his closest challenger. Italy’s Daniele Colasanti, the 2017 junior world champion and  Dogue ensured they would be in the mix with 18V/12D each. Each of the main contenders stayed on course for the podium during the Riding, with Lesun incurring the most damage with 18 penalty points. Dogue and Colasanti enjoyed the only two clear rounds while De Luca dropped only six points to ensure he would start the combined event (running and shooting) in first place. Going into the final event, De Luca enjoyed a 17 second advantage ahead of Colasanti, who was under pressure on the start line from Dogue, Lesun and Joseph  Choong, and whose nerves on the shooting range ultimately cost him a medal. Belaud started sixth but made up lots of ground and moved into third place after the second shoot, where Lesun began to drift back. De Luca and Dogue moved unchallenged through their laps and the only suspense was reserved for the battle for bronze, as Colasanti fought tenaciously to catch Belaud but ultimately in vain. Olympic champion Lesun finished 5th with Pavel Ilyashenko of Kazakhstan, Joseph Choong of Britain, and Taishu Sato of Japan completing the top eight. UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann was full of praise of Qatar and called the event a success. “I congratulate all the athletes, the women yesterday and today the men, and to everyone who has been involved in making this UIPM Champion of Champions such a big success. The organizational level was top class as ever, as one would expect in Qatar,” Schormann said. Qatar had no representation this year as Khalid al-Nuaimi, who had participated in the last edition, was out with a shoulder injury. Qatar hosted the event for the fourth consecutive year. This was the first time the Qatar Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon Federation organised the event after both the bodies merged earlier this year. Champion of Champions series brings together the best UIPM ranked athletes from around the globe for a spectacular event to crown the best male and female Modern Pentathletes in the world.  Top 10 Results 1. Riccardo de Luca (Italy) 1403 points; 2. Patrick Dogue (Germany) 1394; 3. Valentin Belaud (France) 1369; 4. Daniele Colasanti (Italy) 1366; 5. Aleksander Lesun (Russia) 1348; 6. Pavel Ilyashenko (Kazakhstan) 1343; 7. Joseph Choong (Great Britain) 1335; 8. Taishu Sato (Japan) 1328; 9. Sergio Villamayor (Argentina) 1280; 10. Manuel Padilla (Mexico) 1278

Lina Batuleviciute of Lithuania emerged as the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) Champion of Champions, winning the women’s title at the Qatar Foundation Recreation Centre and Al Shaqab Arena yesterday. Batuleviciute topped in the swimming and riding events, while finishing a creditable fourth in the combined (shooting and running) event. She was a distant 14th in the swimming, but the 28-year-old tallied 1273 points to clinch the title.  Italian Alice Sotero, one of the contenders, came second with 1266 points, seven behind the winner. The 2016 Olympic silver medallist Elodie Clouvel of France took the final podium spot with 1261 points. The result continued an intriguing season of transition in women’s pentathlon, with a number of athletes claiming their first major titles such as world champion Gulnaz Gubaydullina of Russia and World Cup Final gold medallist Tamara Alekszejev of Hungary. Yesterday, in the absence of Gubaydullina, the Olympic champion Chloe Esposito of Australia and her celebrated compatriot Laura Asadauskaite, Batuleviciute seized her chance to scale the top of the podium. Batuleviciute was delighted having won her second individual title of her career in Doha. “I am surprised that I won,” said the beaming  28-year-old. “This is the second title of my career and the first was last month in the World Military Championships. I know that I am a good fencer but I am surprised that my riding went so well after a bad day yesterday at the jumping test. The facilities are very good here in Doha, probably the best of anywhere I have competed. It’s is a very high level of completion in Doha. There are some strong competitors out there, so I am glad I could win the title,” added Batuleviciute. The Lithuanian had already claimed victory in one UIPM Category A competition this year when she won gold at the CISM World Military Championships in Drzonkow, Poland. She also finished 14th in the World Cup Final in Vilnius in her homeland, where the 2012 Olympic champion Asadauskaite was the star attraction. Only three of the 17 participating athletes managed a clean round in Riding, but one of them was Batuleviciute  whose perfect round kept up her momentum in the race for gold. Sotero could have snatched the title from Batuleviciute if the Italian had finished higher than the Lithuanian in the combined event, but she could only manage a fifth spot. Sotero performed consistently well in all her events yesterday but never managed to take a top spot in any of the five Olympic disciplines. The Italian’s best finish came in swimming, where she was second. Clouvel, meanwhile, was delighted to have come third. The Rio Olympic silver medallist too had a chance to grab the winner’s trophy. But the Frenchwoman could only manage 12th place in the combined shoot and run using a laser pistol. Clouvel started Laser-Run in first place 15 seconds ahead of Sotero and 16 more than Batuleviciute. Clouvel protected her lead until the second shooting range, where Sotero and Batuleviciute stole the initiative. Batuleviciute proved she had the greater composure on the day as she edged ahead of Sotero to win by seven seconds, with Clouvel crossing the line five seconds later. Clouvel, however, was content to have finished in the podium. “It was a very good competition. I love Qatar, it’s an amazing place. I had just a one week of training for this event. I wanted to finish in podium this year because it’s my second time in Qatar. I want do much better next year,” Clouvel said. “Having said that, I am happy with my performance here. My fencing was good today, swimming was ok. I loved competing with my horse. I want to come back here again win gold,” she added. The 28-year-old Clouvel has already set her sights on the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. “Now I have to start preparing for the next season. My main goal is to do well in the 2020 Olympics. I want a gold medal this time as I have won silver in Rio Games,” she noted. Meanwhile, the men’s competition will be held today, with another strong field of 18 athletes battling for the honours. The 2016 Olympic champion Alexander Lesun of Russia will be the star attraction, who will look to dethrone last year’s champion Patrick Dogue of Germany. The 29-year-old Lesun has also won gold at the World Championships in Rome (2012) and Warsaw (2014). Frenchman Valentin Belaud, who is currently ranked No. 9, will also be seeking his revenge from Dogue, having finished second to the German last year. Qatar will have no representation this year as Khalid al-Nuaimi, who had participated in the last edition, is out with a shoulder injury. Qatar is hosting the event for the fourth consecutive year. This is the first time the Qatar Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon Federation will organise the event after both the bodies merged earlier this year. Top 10 Results 1. Lina Batuleviciute (Lithuania) 1273 points; 2. Alice Sotero (Italy) 1266; 3. Elodie Clouvel (France) 1261; 4. Shino Yamanaka (Japan) 1241. 5. Janine Kohlmann (Germany) 1237; 6. Ekaterina Khuraskina (Russia) 1236; 7. Anna Maliszewska (Poland) 1226; 8. Ronja Steinborn (Germany) 1217; 9. Sophia Hernandez (Guatemala) 1205; 10. Gloria Tocchi (Italy) 1182.

The two-day International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) Champion of Champions will be held today and tomorrow at the Qatar Foundation Recreation Centre and Al Shaqab arena, with the sport’s best athletes competing at the season-ending event. A strong field is guaranteed as only the top 18 men’s and women’s athletes are invited to compete. The women’s competitions will be held today, while the men will be in action tomorrow. Qatar is hosting the event for the fourth consecutive year. This is the first time the Qatar Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon Federation will organise the event after both the bodies merged earlier this year. The action takes places in a single day, which differs from the usual UIPM competition format when competitions are hold over several days.  The event begins with a 200 metres freestyle swim. A round robin of epee fencing will then take place before the fencing bonus round, with show jumping following on a course with 12 obstacles. Champions will then be crowned after a combined shoot and run using a laser pistol. Last year, the Germans dominated the event with Patrick Dogue winning the title, while Annika Schleu emerged as the women’s winner. The 24-year-old Dogue had held off the challenge of world champion Valentin Belaud to triumph in 2016. This time he will face stiff competition from Rio Olympics gold medallist and World No. 6 Alexsandr Lesun of Russia. The 29-year-old Lesun has also won gold at the World Championships in Rome (2012) and Warsaw (2014). Frenchman Belaud, who is currently ranked No. 9, will also be seeking his revenge from Dogue. Qatar will have no representation this year as Khalid al-Nuaimi, who had participated in the last edition, is out with a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, Schleu will be missing in action this time from the women’s field. The German had won the last two editions of the competition in Doha. It will be interesting to see who takes the top spot in Schleu’s absence. However, there is no dearth of high class athletes who will be in action today. Last year’s Olympic Games silver medal Elodie Clouvel of France will be the one to watch out for. The 28-year-old, who also won silver at the 2016 Moscow World Championships, will be up against Hungarian Tamara Alekszejev, who is ranked four. World No. 10 Italian Alice Sotero is also a strong contender. Competitor’s list Women: Bian Yufei; Elodie Clouvel; Joanna Parker Muir; Ronja Stelnborn; Alexandra Bettinelli; Janine Kohlmann; Tamara Alekszejev; Gloria Tocchi; Alice Sotero; Tomoyuki Ono; Shino Yamanaka; Lina Batuleviciute; Anna Patrycja Maliszewska; Anna Buriak; Ekaterina Khuraskina; Isabella Isaksen; Ana sophia Hernandez Cuellar; Kat Bridgid Coleman Lenehan. Men: Sergio Ali Villamayor; Luo Shuai; Valentin Belaud; Joseph Tzen Zhun Choong; Patrick Ibrahim Dogue; Marvin Faly Dogue; Riccardo de Luca; Daniele Colasanti; Taishu Sato; Pavel Ilyashenko; Vladislav Sukharev; Manuel padllla Lazcano; Szymon Piotr Staskiewicz; Jaroslaw Tadeusz Swiderskil; Pieter Barend Francois Oosthulzen; Aleksandr Lesun Revised Today’s Schedule Women * Swimming (QF Recreation Centre, 10am) * Fencing round-robin (QFRC, 11am) * Fencing bonus round (Al Shaqab, 1:45pm) * Riding competition (Al Shaqab, 3pm) * Running & Shooting Combined event (at Al Shaqab, 4:15 pm) * Award ceremony (Al Shaqab; 4.45pm).

Two-day event will see top athletes compete in five Olympic disciplines Qatar will host the annual International Federation of Modern Pentathlon (UIPM) Champion of Champions event, tomorrow and on Sunday at the Qatar Foundation Recreation Centre and Al Shaqab arena. The tournament, first hosted by Doha in 2013, will see the top 34 UIPM ranked athletes – 17 men and women each – compete to claim the crown for the best modern pentathletes in the world. The women’s competitions will be held tomorrow, while the men will be in action on Sunday. The two-day competition will see top athletes from 16 countries compete in five Olympic disciplines –- Swimming, Fencing, Riding, Running and Shooting. Last year, the Germans dominated the event with Patrick Dogue winning the title, while Annika Schleu emerged as the women’s winner. In fact, Schleu has won the last two editions of the competition. The event is organised by the Qatar Equestrian & Modern Pentathlon Federation for the first time after both the bodies merged earlier. At a press conference yesterday, Ali al-Rumaihi, Event Director of Champion of Champions, said the aim is to stage the event successfully like in the previous years. “We are excited for this fantastic opportunity to host this event in Qatar again, allowing us to build on previous editions of the Modern Pentathlon Champion of Champions competition. Working closely with the International Federation of Modern Pentathlon, we hope to showcase this sport in Qatar and across the whole of the Middle East, supporting Qatar national vision 2030 to develop Qatar into an international sporting hub,” he said. “In addition to being an international world class sports event, our hosting of the COC competition, provides the opportunity for the community to discover and understand the sport, especially those who are not familiar with it,” the Event Director of QEF added. Al-Rumaihi also reckoned the event was an Ideal stage to encourage the youth in Qatar through the sport. “Promotional plans are being put together to encourage the younger generation to attend such a competition, to generate an interest in sports among the young and develop a healthy lifestyle. Through organising such international competitions, we hope to inspire the community and realise more participation from local residents in Qatar,” he added. President of UIPM, Dr Klaus Schormann was effusive in his praise of Qatar for hosting the event successfully in the last three years. “The magical city of Doha is staging this competition for the fourth time and we know that this is always a highlight of the season for our athletes, coaches and fans watching all around the world,” he said yesterday. “One year ago during the 2016 Champion of Champions, we witnessed a very special moment of sportsmanship and also this year I welcome you all to celebrate together wonderful moments through Modern Pentathlon in the spirit of friendship and peace. “For the first time we saw an athlete from Qatar participate at this high level and when he completed his final lap of the Laser-Run, all the other athletes gathered at the finish line to applaud him. This was a true expression of the values of Olympic sport, as established by the founder of the Modern Olympic Games and Modern Pentathlon, Baron Pierre de Coubertin. These values remain central to our sporting movement today,” he added Schormann said the high class field will be in action in Doha. “These are top class athletes of our sport. They all have participated in the Olympics are one of the toughest contenders. We can expect a high-class Modern Pentathlon event amid the high-quality facilities in the Qatar Foundation Recreation Centre and Al Shaqab Arena. Doha is a special pillar of our movement and I thank our hosts for conducting this magnificently over the last three years,” added the German, who has been the head of the global Modern Pentathlon movement since 1993. Schedule Tomorrow Women: Swimming (at QF Recreation Centre 9am) Fencing round-robin  (QFRC 10am) Fencing bonus round (Al Shaqab at 1.15pm) Riding competition (Al Shaqab at 2.55pm) Running & Shooting Combined event (at Al Shaqab, 5pm) Award ceremony (Al Shaqab; 5.45pm).

Hassan al-Thawadi, the Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), has said there will be no restrictions on fans from any country to travel to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup.  Hundreds of thousands if football fans from GCC are expected to pour into Qatar to watch the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East.  Al-Thawadi said fans from all countries – including Saudi Arabia – are welcome to watch the mega tournament, despite the blockade of Qatar, which has entered the third month. The SC secretary-general was not concerned that because of the GCC crisis many Gulf fans would not travel to Qatar, even though the World Cup is five years away.  “This is a World Cup. The nature of the football is it’s a game for the people. It’s a game that is meant to differentiate between political ideology and it’s actually promoting unity, more than anything else. From our side everybody is welcome. The whole world is welcome, we have always said that,” al-Thawadi said on Thursday at the unveiling of the Al Thumama Stadium design at the Hamad International Airport.  “This is a World Cup and a platform to bring people together at a time when unity is of utmost importance. Therefore we are not restricting anybody from attending. As a matter of fact, today everybody is welcome. We have not restricted anyone from coming. It will be a shame if people from any GCC country miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch football World Cup in the Middle East. If anyone takes a unilateral action, that is something out of our control,” he said.  The SC secretary general said the 2022 World Cup is an opportunity to promote Middle East unity. “This is a World Cup to bring people together, to promote Middle East unity, culture and heritage. And more importantly it is a platform to bring the east and the west together among many other initiatives that we have, that is the need at this point in time in the world,” he said. “We are in co-ordination with our Arab brothers. In the end, simply put the rest of the Arab world is still supporting this World Cup and they are with us,” al-Thawadi added.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is still five years away but the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) is on track to complete the infrastructure projects well ahead of the event, Supreme Committee Secretary General Hassan al-Thawadi said on Thursday. He was speaking to journalists at the Hamad International Airport where a model of the Al Thumama Stadium, the sixth World Cup stadium to be launched by Qatar, was installed at the main departures hall. The stadium’s design is inspired by the ‘gahfiya’, a traditional woven cap worn for centuries by males in many Arab countries. In Qatar and surrounding countries, men wear the ‘gahfiya’ beneath the ‘ghutra’ (flowing cotton cloth) and ‘agal’ (decorative black rope). The style and even the name of the ‘gahfiya’ varies slightly from country to country, yet it still binds Arab nations together through shared tradition. Designed by renowned Qatari architect Ibrahim al-Jaidah, the Al Thumama Stadium is set to be completed by 2020.  The design of the Al Thumama Stadium Al-Thawadi insisted that the illegal blockade of Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt has had no impact on the massive infrastructure projects that are under way to prepare for the World Cup. “Our projects are on track, they are on schedule,” said al-Thawadi. “Projects are being delivered on time. As you can see this is one of the milestones, and we just finished another milestone with the Khalifa Stadium opening. We are on track to complete two more stadiums in 2018. As I have said before, all out projects are on track,” he added. Al Thumama Stadium will seat 40,000 spectators and will host matches leading up to the quarter-final stage when the FIFA World Cup kicks off on November 21, 2022.  “Most of our designs are based upon our unique heritage and culture. This one in particular is based upon our traditional gear. It actually represents what is common between many of our family members and within the GCC and Arab world. And it represents a significant portion of who we are and is part of our tradition,” al-Thawadi said. “Every tournament has its own unique way and flavour, representing its culture. From the very beginning we have said, this is the World Cup for Middle East and Arab world. And it is critical to showcase the richness of heritage, culture and hospitality the Arab world is known for. Therefore every element we have is to promote who we are to the outside world and is part of our vision and commitment towards delivering a successful 2022 and leave a legacy beyond,” he added. The innovative arena is being built by a Qatar-Turkey joint venture (JV) between AlJaber Engineering and Turkey’s largest construction company, Tekfen, with enabling works successfully completed in 2016. Architectural Design Consultant Heerim, who recently worked on the stunning Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan, will also be working on the stadium. The stadium will be equipped with both world-class standards of disabled access and the SC’s revolutionary cooling technology to enable year-round sporting activities after the tournament. The stadium capacity will decrease to 20,000 thanks to demountable modular seating sections which the SC will donate to developing football nations after the tournament. Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker, architect Ibrahim al- Jaidah and other dignitaries attended the airport ceremony.

Qatar sealed their spot in the 2018 AFC U-23 championship after a 1-1draw against Syria in their final qualifying match yesterday. The hosts needed just a point to progress to the next year’s event in China as the Group C toppers, and they achieved it after a gruelling battle against Syrians at the Al Sadd stadium. Sultan al-Breik gave Qatar the lead in the 37th minute with a sublime free kick, before Mohamed Muhtadi gave the Syrian dugout a sigh of relief by scoring through a header in the 61st minute.  Around 300 Syrians who cheered for their side at the Al Sadd were also delirious in the end as Syria too qualified for the main event as one of the five best runners-up across all groups. A loss would have been disaster for Syria but they managed to hung in right till the end. While Qatar were clearly a superior side, the physical nature of the game played by Syrians left the hosts exhausted. The game was interrupted many a time with Syrian players lunging at the Qataris and couple of them had to be substituted after picking injuries. The first casualty was Qatar captain Ahmed Moein, who had to be stretchered off the field in the 20th minute with a shoulder injury. Qatar had more possession and threatened the Syrian defence on a number of occasions. They had their first real chance in the 28th minute, but Akram Afif’s shot sailed well above the post. The breakthrough for Qatar came in the 37th minute after Almoez Ali was brought down just outside the box. Qatar had been poor in set-pieces so far in the tournament, but Sultan al-Breik produced an immaculate free kick to the right of the top post, with Syrian goalkeeper Mohamed Yazan Ourabi’s outstretched hands failing to even come close to the ball.  Syria responded with some quick counter-attack, but Qatar defender Tarek Salman, who was outstanding on the night, cleared the danger on two occasions in the 42nd minute. In the very next minute, Syria had a chance to equalise. Substitute Mohamed Srour played a perfect through ball to Al Rahman Barakat, who only had to beat the goalkeeper. But the midfielder while attempting to control the ball handled the ball, which was spotted by the linesman. After the break, Syria started to press more in search of an equaliser and their wait to came to an end in the 61st minute. Moumen Naji wreaked havoc on the left, catching the Qatari defenders unawares. And one such moment came when Naji lobbed into the box, where Mohamed Muhtadi leapt between Qatar defenders Salman and Tameem al-Muhaza to head the ball into the net.  The Syrians, knowing well that a draw would be enough to confirm their ticket to China, were overjoyed as they joined their supporters in celebration. Understandably, both the teams tightened their defence thereafter and were happy to play out a draw.  Syria, however, still had a chance to snatch the game from Qatar. In the 79th minute, Barakat made a delightful pass to Najii, but the forward failed to react quickly as the ball went out of play. Qatar coach Felix Sanchez was pleased with his team’s qualification. “I am very happy for my team. They worked hard during the tournament. Tonight we were good in the first half, but they came back strongly in the second. I want to congratulate the Syrian team too for their qualification,” he said. The Spanish coach said the next year’s AFC Championship will be a golden opportunity for the Qatar under-23 players to learn and graduate to the next well. “My players are fortunate to play in these kinds of tournaments. It will only make them better players. Most of them are born after 1995, so they are still young and they have a lot to learn by playing at this level,” Sanchez said.

Qatar took a giant step towards qualifying for the Asian Under-23 championship after overcoming a resolute India 1-0 in their Group C qualifying match yesterday. The victory at Al Sadd stadium put Qatar in a pole position to qualify for next year’s championship in China, after Syria were held to a 0-0 draw by Turkmenistan in another Group C match. Qatar and Syria were jointly occupying the top spot after their opening fixtures. But after last night’s win over India, the hosts will just need to draw against Syria tomorrow to book their ticket to China. Only group winners will automatically qualify for the AFC U-23 Championship. The five best runners-up across all groups will also qualify for the finals. However, if hosts China win their group or are among the best five runners-up, the sixth best runner-up will also qualify. Despite the victory, it was a lacklustre performance from Qatar, with the inexperienced but spirited Indian team making Felix Sanchez’s side sweat for victory. Qatar wasted plenty of opportunities, and were especially poor in converting corners and set-pieces. Qatar were lucky to get the breakthrough after a lapse of concentration from the Indian goalkeeper, rather than any individual brilliance. After having kept his composure to thwart the Qatari attack in the first half, Vishal Kaith’s misjudgement resulted in a goal for the hosts in the 53rd minute. After receiving a long ball, Ahmed Mohamed al-Sadi headed the ball into the box, where Almoez Ali was stationed. Kaith at that moment rushed in to collect the bouncing ball but only to miss it completely as Ali positioned himself to slot the ball into an open goal. It was much-needed a strike for Qataris but the game was not over yet. Unlike during their loss against Syria, where Indian players fizzled out in the second half after a competitive first-half performance, Stephen Constantine’s boys did not let their guard down this time. They went on offensive in search for an equaliser and were unfortunate not to find the net on couple of occasions. The last ten minutes were particularly frantic as Qatari defenders were kept on tenterhooks. India came closest in the 80th minute when substitute Manvir Singh’s fierce shot hit the crossbar. As the ball bounced back into the box, Qatar were let off again as Jerry Lalrinzuala’s header just went over the bar. With around 1,000 Indian supporters cheering on vociferously, Indians intensified their attacks but were unable to get past Qatar goalkeeper Mohamed al-Bakari. In the 83rd minute, Golui Sarthak went for a header from a corner but al-Bakari managed to latch on to it. The visitors had a couple of goal-scoring chances in the dying minutes from corners and free kicks but failed to deliver a knockout blow. Despite a resolute show, Constantine’s men will miss out on a qualification after having lost both their encounters, with the match against Turkmenistan tomorrow an inconsequential one. For Qatar coach Sanchez the result was bitter-sweet as his star striker Akram Afif, who had a quiet night, went off in the 79th minute after sustaining what looked like an ankle injury. “It was a tough match but we got all three points,” said a relieved Sanchez after the match. “India played a tough game and we didn’t play our game. In the second half we had some good moments but in the last twenty minutes, we had a tough time. Our aim is to ensure qualification in the next game. Syria have very strong potential and it’s going to be a tough game against them,” the Spaniard added. Constantine, who is India’s senior team head coach but took charge of the young guns for the qualifiers in order to ensure a place in the continental elite, was left frustrated after having come so close to taking a point. “Congratulations to Qatar. They were fortunate to score a goal. I am proud of my players,” said the 54-year-old. The British coach rued a silly mistake, albeit a costly one from his goalkeeper, but took heart from another brave performance from his boys. “Some of the boys were playing international football for the first time and they didn’t deserve to lose this game. We lost because of another silly mistake. Another day it would have hit the crossbar and gone inside. They have shown fantastic determination,” Constantine said.

Despite blowing many chances, Qatar scored a comfortable 2-0 win over Turkmenistan in the AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers here yesterday. In sweltering conditions at the Al Sadd stadium, Qatar were off to an impressive start, opening up a 2-0 lead within 15 minutes. But as the match progressed, the hosts wasted plenty of opportunities to score, which would have frustrated coach Felix Sanchez on the night. Qatar’s both goals came from the highly-rated Akram Afif, who showed his calibre with a slick display of technique as he found the net with ease. However, the 20-year-old benefited from some impressive build-up play and passing from his teammates. Afif first found the net in the fourth minute but Qatar were lucky to keep the goal, after the ball had clearly gone out of play. A throw-in from the touchline by Abdulrahman Anad was collected by Moez Ali, who ran past two Turkmenistan defenders into the box. But in doing so the Qatar forward clearly took the ball out of play, which was not picked up by the officials. Ali then picked up an unmarked Afif with a great pass, and the forward slotted home to the right of the top post to give Qatar a head-start. Qatar’s play brimmed with belief, with Afif, Moez Ali and skipper Ahmed Moein troubling the opposition. Moein had a golden chance to double the lead, but the captain fired wide, from just inside the box. The second goal, however, was around the corner and it was gifted by the Turkmenistan skipper Atayev Selim in the 15th minute. Anad intercepted a mistimed pass from Selim and laid it on to Moein, who played a perfect through ball to the waiting Afif, who took a couple of deft touches and found the net with ease. From thereon, it looked like it would rain goals from Qatar. But to the dismay of Sanchez and a sizeable home crowd Qatar wasted numerous chances to increase the lead. Moez Ali, playing as central forward, ran in hard with his speed catching the opposition unaware on many occasions but he lacked the finesse to finish as he glanced his header wide off the post, with plenty of open space available. Moez Ali was also brought down in the box couple of times, but the referee waved off the penalty shouts much to the relief of Turkmenistan.  With just three minutes remaining for the half-time, Qatar’s Bassam Alrawi came close in the 43rd minute but his free kick sailed just wide of the right post. Qatar continued to threaten after the break, with Afif carrying much of the workload. Five minutes into the second half, Afif, who plies his trade for Belgian club KAS Eupen on loan from Villarreal, found Moein with just goalkeeper to beat. But the captain sent the ball wide. Turkmenistan, which played most of the game in their own half, defended stoutly, relying on counterattack to score. And their first real chance came in the 53rd minute, when Rejebov Berdimyrat’s left-footed shot was well saved by Qatar goalkeeper Mohammed Ahmed al-Bakari. Afif, meanwhile, was prowling in the opposition box for his hat-trick and he almost had it in the 58th minute. But his low shot was anticipated by keeper Berdiyev Dovletyar, who dived to the left to make a neat save. In the 66th minute, Afif once again looked dangerous as he ran past Turkmenistan defenders after a nice pass from Abdullah Abdulsalam. But Dovletyar was there to deny Qatar’s talisman his much-deserved hat-trick. Sanchez soon replaced Afif by bringing in Nasser Ibrahim al-Nasr, as the Qatar coach chose to preserve his star striker’s energy from the sapping humidity for future matches. Even in the closing stage, Qatar had slew of chances but failed to find the net, which left Sanchez shaking his head in disbelief at the touchline. Qatar’s next match is tomorrow against India, who lost to Syria 0-2 earlier in the day. While Qatar will go into that match too as the overwhelming favourites, Sanchez will hope his boys will show more clinical display than they did against Turkmenistan.