Category: Athletic

Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi received a hero’s welcome after flying to France on Tuesday to join Paris Saint Germain (PSG) following his shock departure from Barcelona.

The agreement to sign the 34-year-old Argentine is a major coup for wealthy PSG, who will add one of the best soccer players of all time to an already formidable front line that includes Brazil’s Neymar and young Frenchman Kylian Mbappe.

Wearing a T-shirt that read “This is Paris,” Messi beamed and waved at scores of fans who had come to greet him at Le Bourget airport on the outskirts of the French capital after his flight from Barcelona.

Chanting “Messi, Messi, Messi,” the fans cheered and let off firecrackers.

“It’s going to be mad. After all, it’s a legend who is arriving,” said Florent Chauveau, a PSG fan who has been back and forth to the airport every day since Sunday in the hope of seeing Messi arrive.

Messi gave no details of the deal, which was reached days after Barcelona said it could not afford to keep the midfielder because of Spain’s La Liga’s fair play rules.

But his father, speaking to reporters at Barcelona’s airport, confirmed reports by French newspaper L’Equipe and Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo that Messi had reached an agreement with PSG, which is owned by Qatar Sports Investment.

L’Equipe said the deal would be for two years. It also said Messi would have medical tests on Tuesday, and that a news conference to mark his arrival was likely on Wednesday.

PSG did not comment on the reports but released a short video showing scenes of Paris, a plane landing and a close-up of someone putting pen to paper. In the background, upbeat music can heard and the words “new diamond in Paris” and “mercato update” appear.

The video, seen on Twitter, does not show Messi but depicts an image of six Ballons d’Or – an annual award given to the player deemed the best in the world – by the Eiffel Tower.

Many Barcelona fans were distraught at the end of Messi’s glittering, trophy-laden career at the club he joined as a schoolboy.

But the arrival of Barcelona’s all-time record scorer with 682 goals will boost PSG’s ambitions to win the Champions League for the first time. Messi won four Champions League titles while at Barcelona, as well as 10 La Liga titles.

PSG Ambitions

Messi is the latest big-name arrival at PSG on a free transfer this summer after coach Mauricio Pochettino’s side snapped up Spanish defender Sergio Ramos after he left Real Madrid. Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum also joined after running down his contract with Liverpool.

Italy’s Euro 2020-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has also joined after his contract with AC Milan ran out, while Moroccan fullback Achraf Hakimi joined from Inter Milan for a reported 60 million euros ($70 million).

The arrival of Messi, whose last contract with Barcelona was worth a total of 555 million euros and reported to be the most lucrative in world sport, is also set to provoke a renewed new debate about UEFA’s financial fair play rules.

The rules were first introduced in 2009 to restrict some of the worst excesses of the game but have been criticized by some leading figures for being ineffective.

The arrival of Messi, who has 245 million followers on Instagram and is Barcelona’s most decorated player of all time, is also welcome news for France’s Ligue 1, embroiled in a crisis over TV rights.

Source: Voice of America

H.E. Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s SAMLLA wins Al Rayyan Cup

and SOKO wins Doha Cup

In prescience of His Excellency Sheikh Ali Bin Jassim Al Thani, Ambassador of Qatar to France, Deauville racecourse was the scene of action for two top races for Purebred Arabian races sponsored by the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) on Tuesday, 10 August. In the colours of Her Excellency Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, SAMLLA (Assy x Djakera des Forges) stormed to a new Group 1 Purebred Arabian victory when lifting the Al Rayyan Cup (Prix Kesberoy) (Gr.1 PA) over 2,000m. He was ridden by Olivier Peslier and is trained by Françcois Rohaut. With this top victory under his belt, SAMLLA now boasts 3 wins from 3 runs, and two Group PA wins following his win in the Qatar Coupe de France des Chevaux Arabes (Gr.2 PA) at Chantilly in June. He solidified his place as the leader of his generation of Purebred Arabian racehorses in Europe.

In the following race, there was a big surprise when the outsider SOKO) (NIESHAN x SAKA), under a brilliant ride from Olivier Peslier, who had a brilliant day at Deauville, took the Doha Cup (Prix Manganate) (Gr.1 PA), over 2,000m for 4-year-old and over Purebred Arabians.

His Excellency Sheikh Ali Bin Jassim Al Thani, Ambassador of Qatar to France presented the trophies to the winners after each of the two prestigious racea.

SAMLLA unbeaten

The 3-year-old Purebred Arabian SAMLLA (Assy x Djakera Des Forges) remains unbeaten after a comfortable success in Al Rayyan Cup (Gr.1 PA). Trained by Francois Rohaut, SAMLLA, who was ridden by Olivier Peslier added to a debut win at Toulouse and his Group 2 PA Qatar Coupe De France Des Chevaux Arabes victory, and remains unbeaten after three starts.

With only five runners following the scratching of Sahab (Af Albahar) a steady early pace was set by SAMLLA’s stablemate Hakeem (Sir Bani Yas) through the first half of the 2,000m contest. SAMLLA sat in third position about three lengths off the leader and travelled well for Peslier. On turning for home Penny (Nieshan) challenged on Hakeem’s outside, forcing a change in tempo. Once straightened up for home, SAMLLA was asked to close on the two leaders and closed the gap easily inside the final 200m. Pushed out under only a hands and heels ride, SAMLLA galloped smoothly to the line to take a one length victory over Hakeem, who stayed on well for second. Penny faded inside the final 100m and finished a further two lengths back in third.

Responsible for the first two home in this prestigious race, trainer Francois Rohaut said;

“ I have about ten three-year-old Purebred Arabians at home and they look like a very good bunch, with four of them capable of running in the top races. The two that ran today will be joined by two others and they will all run in the Group 1 PA at Saint Cloud [ED: the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains]. Normally it is Thomas Fourcy who is in front, but our 2021 team, especially the colts, look Olympic standard! I am very happy for my clients. Hakeem and SAMLLA are two very good colts. SAMLLA is progressing with racing, like a lot of my young horses. His last piece of work showed that he was a level above and we still don’t know how much. I hope he can continue to progress. We are able to travel with him too, as the programme allows us too.”

Bred by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Al Shahania Stud, SAMLLA is by their multiple Group One winner Assy (Amer).

SOKO SOLO IN DOHA CUP ROMP

The four-year-old pure-bred Arabian SOKO (Nieshan x Saka) displayed a fine front running success in taking the Doha Cup (Group One PA). Trained by Olivier Trigodet, the four-year-old improved on his third placed performance in the Qatar Derby Des Pure-Sang Arabes de 4ans (Group One) at Chantilly in June, to take a first Group One success under jockey Olivier Peslier.

Driven straight into the lead by Peslier, Soko set consistent fractions and held a two length lead throughout the first half of the 2,000m contest. The eventual runner-up Mon’nia (Amer) tracked the leader while the remainder of the field were happy to take an early lead. Turning for home, it was clear that Soko was travelling strongly and had most of his rivals under pressure. 400m from home Peslier asked Soko to extend and the colt galloped clear of the chasing pack. With an ever-widening advantage on passing the 200m pole, Soko continued to move well and galloped to a five and a half-length success. Mon’nia held on for second from the strongly finishing Hoggar De L’Ardus (Mister Ginoux) who finished third.

Speaking after Soko’s easy success, winnng trainer Olivier Trigodet said;

“I have always considered him to be a Group One horse. Even with the opposition I was quite confident today, thanks to the softer conditions. He is a colt with a big action, a big frame and lots of ability. I was happy out see him out in front. He is quite like his sire in both looks and temperament. At home he is easy but at the races he can be a bit keen. He ran very well at Chantilly when he finished third. We could try the four-year-old’s race with him at Doncaster, he has the profile for those kind of races. He is tough and is capable of setting a strong pace in front. Today he has confirmed everything we have thought of him, it is great for his breeder Mr. Jardel too”

Bred by Mr.J L Jardel, Soko is by four-time Group One winner Nieshan (Akbar).

It is worth mentioning that the two annual Gr1 PA events are held as part of the QREC’s vision to promote Qatar as a leader in the pure Arabian breed and enhance the standing of Arabian racing by holding such events at the most prestigious racecourses in Europe and the world.

Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club

Amman, Qatar’s table tennis team members will participate in the Arab Table Tennis Championship 2021 to be held from August 10-23 in Jordan’s capital of Amman.

Team Qatar consists from senior category, age group category and women team, who left Doha Monday to Amman to participate in the championship with high ambition to step up the podium.

In a pre-event statement on Monday, Mr. Thani Al Zaraa, the director of Qatar’s national table tennis teams confirmed that this championship will see a very tough challenge and Qatar team will fight tooth and nail for glory.

Source: Qatar Olympic Committee

Doha: Qatar’s Volleyball team stepped their preparations for 2021 Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship to be held in Chiba and Funabashi, Japan from September 12 to 19 with participation of 16 teams.

The Qatari team, which has been drawn in Pool A alongside Japan, India and Bahrain, will have a training camp in Slovenia from August 16 to 26.

The top two teams of the event will qualify for the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship as the AVC representatives.

Source: Qatar Olympic Committee

Tokyo: Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba will gun for the gold medal in the final of Men’s 400m hurdles event at Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games to be staged on Tuesday.

The world bronze medallist advanced to the final of 400m hurdles after clocking at time 47.47 in the semi-final held on Sunday.

In today’s final, Samba will face a tough task with World record holder Karsten Warholm of Norway and American Rai Benjamin also qualifying for the title showdown.

Also, on Tuesday, Qatar’s Musab Adam and Abdirahman Saeed Hassan will begin their campaign in Men’s 1500m event at the Olympic Stadium.

Adam secured his spot Tokyo Olympics when he won the qualifying 1500m race held in Doha earlier this year with a time of 3.32.41 minutes.

Abdirahman Saeed Hassan booked a spot at the Tokyo Olympic Games with a second-place finish at the II Meeting Challenge Nerja 2021 in Spain last May.

The 24-year-old comfortably dipped under the qualifying standard of 3 minutes 35 seconds with a
personal best 3:34.24.

After failing to qualify to Men’s 100m final, Femi Ogunode will participate in Men’s 200m heats on Tuesday.

For his part, Ashraf Amgad El Seify’s hopes of clinching an Olympic medal were dashed when he failed to qualify to Men’s Hammer Throw final. In the qualifications held on Monday, the Asian Games gold medallist took the 13th place with a throw of 71.84m.

On the other hand, the medal ceremony of Men’s High Jump event was held on Monday. Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi shared the gold medal while Maksim Nedasekau of Belarus took the bronze medal.

Both Barshim, 30, and the 29-year-old Tamberi cleared 2.37 metres on Sunday evening. Facing the prospect of a jump-off to decide the winner, they persuaded organisers to let them share the triumph.

The medal ceremony was attended by Qatar’s Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad, Asian Athletics Association President and World Athletics Council Member.

 

Source: Qatar Olympic Committee

TOKYO – A surfer jumping in to translate for the rival who’d just beaten him. High-jumping friends agreeing to share a gold medal rather than move to a tiebreaker. Two runners falling in a tangle of legs, then helping each other to the finish line.

In an extraordinary Olympic Games where mental health has been front and center, acts of kindness are everywhere. The world’s most competitive athletes have been captured showing gentleness and warmth to one another — celebrating, pep-talking, wiping away one another’s tears of disappointment.

Kanoa Igarashi of Japan was disappointed when he lost to Brazilian Italo Ferreira in their sport’s Olympic debut.

Not only did he blow his shot at gold on the beach he grew up surfing, he was also being taunted online by racist Brazilian trolls.

The Japanese-American surfer could have stewed in silence, but he instead deployed his knowledge of Portuguese, helping to translate a press conference question for Ferreira on the world stage.

The crowd giggled hearing the cross-rival translation and an official thanked the silver medalist for the assist.

“Yes, thank you, Kanoa,” said a beaming Ferreira, who is learning English.

Days later, at the Olympic Stadium, Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy and Mutaz Barshim of Qatar found themselves in a situation they’d talked about but never experienced — they were tied.

Both high jumpers were perfect until the bar was set to the Olympic-record height of 2.39 meters (7 feet, 10 inches). Each missed three times.

They could have gone to a jump-off, but instead decided to share the gold.

“I know for a fact that for the performance I did, I deserve that gold. He did the same thing, so I know he deserved that gold,” Barshim said. “This is beyond sport. This is the message we deliver to the young generation.”

After they decided, Tamberi slapped Barshim’s hand and jumped into his arms.

“Sharing with a friend is even more beautiful,” Tamberi said. “It was just magical.”

Earlier, on the same track, runners Isaiah Jewett of the U.S. and Nijel Amos of Botswana got tangled and fell during the 800-meter semifinals. Rather than get angry, they helped each other to their feet, put their arms around each other and finished together.

Many top athletes come to know each other personally from their time on the road, which can feel long, concentrated, and intense — marked by career moments that may be the best or worst of their lives.

Those feelings have often been amplified at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, where there is an unmistakable yearning for normalcy and, perhaps, a newfound appreciation for seeing familiar faces.

Restrictions designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have meant Olympians can’t mingle the way they normally do.

After a hard-fought, three-set victory in the beach volleyball round-robin final on Saturday at Shiokaze Park, Brazilian Rebecca Cavalcanti playfully poured a bottle of water on American Kelly Claes’ back as she did postgame interviews.

The U.S. team had just defeated Brazil but the winners laughed it off, explaining that they’re friends.

“I’m excited when quarantine’s done so we can sit at the same table and go to dinner with them. But it’s kind of hard in a bubble because we have to be away,” said Sarah Sponcil, Claes’ teammate.

For fellow American Carissa Moore, the pandemic and its accompanying restrictions brought her closer with the other surfers.

The reigning world champion said she typically travels to surfing competitions with her husband and father. But all fans were banned this year, and Moore admitted she struggled without their reassuring presence in the initial days of the Games.

Moore had flown to Japan with the U.S. team 10 days before the first heat, and soon adjusted to living in a home with the other surfers, including Caroline Marks, whom Moore considered the woman to beat.

Moore said she didn’t know Marks well before the Tokyo Games but on the night she was crowned the winner and Marks came in fourth, her rival was the first to greet her.

“Having the USA Surf team with me, it’s been such a beautiful experience to bond with them,” Moore said. “I feel like I have a whole another family after the last two weeks.”

After the punishing women’s triathlon last week in Tokyo, Norwegian Lotte Miller, who placed 24th, took a moment to give a pep talk to Belgium’s Claire Michel, who was inconsolable and slumped on the ground, sobbing.

Michel had come in last, 15 minutes behind winner Flora Duffy of Bermuda — but at least she finished. Fifty-four athletes started the race but 20 were either lapped or dropped out.

“You’re a (expletive) fighter,” Miller told Michel. “This is Olympic spirit, and you’ve got it 100%.”

 

Source: Voice of America

U.S. gymnast Jade Carey has won the gold medal in the floor exercise final at the Tokyo Olympics. Her performance Monday comes a day after she tripped while competing in the women’s vault final and left Ariake Gymnastics Center in tears.

Her teammate, gymnastic superstar Simone Biles is planning to compete in the balance beam final Tuesday at the Tokyo Olympic Games.   Biles withdrew from the team all- around competition last Tuesday, citing mental health issues.

USA Gymnastics announced the star athlete’s return to the games in a statement: “We are so excited to confirm that you will see two U.S. athletes in the balance beam final tomorrow – Suni Lee AND Simone Biles!! Can’t wait to watch you both!”

Biles, talking about her decision to withdraw, said on social media that she was also suffering with “the twisties,” a condition in which gymnasts have trouble maneuvering in the air. The condition can be dangerous for the athletes. Biles, who is 24 years old, was seen practicing at a local Tokyo gym that had soft landing materials.

Biles did not shy away from attending the competitions of her USA teammates after her withdrawal from the team and individual all-around competitions, as well as the vault, uneven bars, and floor exercises. She was in the arena to applaud Sunisa Lee, her 18-year-old teammate, when the teenager won the all-around gymnastic championship, a category Biles was expected to win.  Biles also saw Mykayla Skinner win silver in women’s vault final.

Biles is the current world champion on the balance beam.

In other events, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico won the gold for the women’s 100-meter hurdles. Camacho-Quinn was born in the U.S. and attended college in Kentucky. She decided, however, to compete under Puerto Rico’s flag since her mother is Puerto Rican.

Two men tied to win the men’s high jump, after each failed three times to conquer the Olympic-record height of 2.39 meters (7 feet, 10 inches). An official told Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy and Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar that they could share the gold medal and that is what the two athletes decided to do.

In another dramatic turn of events at the Tokyo Games, one of the women in a 1,500-meter heat, fell over a runner who had fallen.

Sifan Hassan, the Ethiopian-born Dutch runner tried unsuccessfully to jump over Kenya’s Edinah Jebitok who had fallen in a mishap. But Hassan never took her eyes off the prize, recovering quickly. She got up and ran past one runner after another to win the heat in 4 minutes, 5.17 seconds to move onto the semi-finals.

 

Source: Voice of America

Usain Bolt once tightly held on to the mantle of World’s Fastest Man in his lightening quick sprints at multiple Olympic Games.

That mantle now, however, has passed on to a Texas-born Italian — 26-year-old Lamont Marcell Jacobs who finished the 100-meter race in 9.8 seconds, clinching Italy’s first medal in the event.

“I mean, 9.8 from the Italian guy?” Canada’s Andre DeGrasse said. “I didn’t expect that. I thought my main competition would be the Americans.” DeGrasse won a bronze in the sprint with a time of 9.89.

American Fred Kerley who finished second for the silver in 9.84 seconds, said of Jacobs: “I really don’t know anything about him.”

They know now that Jacobs roundly beat them and took home the gold.

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico won the gold for the women’s 100-meter hurdles. Camacho-Quinn was born in the U.S. and attended college in Kentucky. She decided, however, to compete under Puerto Rico’s flag since her mother is Puerto Rican.

Two men tied to win the men’s high jump, after each failed three times to conquer the Olympic-record height of 2.39 meters (7 feet, 10 inches). An official told Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy and Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar that they could share the gold medal and that is what the two athletes decided to do.

In another dramatic turn of events at the Tokyo Games, one of the women in a 1,500-meter heat, fell over a runner who had fallen.

Sifan Hassan, the Ethiopian-born Dutch runner tried unsuccessfully to jump over Kenya’s Edinah Jebitok who had fallen in a mishap. But Hassan never took her eyes off the prize, recovering quickly. She got up and ran past one runner after another to win the heat in 4 minutes, 5.17 seconds to move onto the semi-finals.

 

Source: Voice of America

TOKYO – The Italian high jumper leaped into his rival’s arms, then belly-flopped onto the hard track, rolled around a few times and screamed.

Gianmarco Tamberi was just getting warmed up, too.

It’s not every day you tie your good friend for gold.

Tamberi and Mutaz Barshim of Qatar agreed to the tie Sunday at the Tokyo Games in a competition settled not by clearing the top height but through a subtle nod.

Edge definitely to Tamberi, though, for the degree of difficulty in celebrations. That’s not even counting all the hugs and kisses he delivered — or all of the people he jumped into the arms of.

He was just that excited. This was that crazy of an ending.

“I still can’t believe it happened,” Tamberi said. “Sharing with a friend is even more beautiful. … It was just magical.”

In a huddle with track officials, the athletes were given the option to settle the tie with a jump-off.

Barshim had a better idea: How about two golds?

The official said that was possible.

Barshim nodded and Tamberi instantly accepted, slapping Barshim’s hand and jumping into his arms. It would be far from his last celebration.

“For me, coming here, I know for a fact that for the performance I did, I deserve that gold,” Barshim said. “He did the same thing, so I know he deserved that gold.”

It stressed sportsmanship, too — or so they hope. It also adds to Barshim’s Olympic medal collection, pairing nicely with silver in Rio and another medal at the 2012 London Games.

“This is beyond sport,” Barshim said. “This is the message we deliver to the young generation.”

Both high jumpers were perfect until the bar was set to the Olympic-record height of 2.39 meters (7 feet, 10 inches). Each missed three times.

Funny, they actually talked about this sort of situation before. Not in great detail, though.

“We just said, ‘Imagine,'” Barshim recalled. “Today, it happened.”

When Italian sprinter Marcell Jacobs surprisingly won the 100 meters a few minutes later, there was Tamberi to greet him. Not so much as greet him as celebrate by jumping into the sprinter’s arms and curling his own arm around Jacobs’ bald head.

“I was in ecstasy. My heart was exploding,” Tamberi said. “I was just full of emotions and I just screamed at him before he got in the blocks, and I just supported him. I’m the captain of the national team so I just felt to do something.”

Tamberi has kept a cast for five years — a reminder of his broken ankle just before Rio. He was in his best shape, too, which forced him to watch the Rio Games. When it came off, he wrote on it “Road to Tokyo 2020.” Then, he crossed out 2020 after the pandemic led to a postponement and wrote in red, “2021.”

“I said to myself that day, ‘I want to be back in Tokyo and I want to fight for the gold medal,'” Tamberi said.

They appeared to have all sorts of fun during a competition in which Maksim Nedasekau of Belarus earned bronze. Tamberi launched an imaginary jump shot after clearing a height.

Swish.

Barshim was the epitome of cool in shades that kept falling off after his jumps. One time, he even swatted them away after a successful leap.

They broke.

“I’ve got 50 pairs,” Barshim said.

Now, one gold.

Another for his buddy, too.

“He’s one of my best friends. Not only on the track but outside of the track,” Barshim said. “We’re always together almost. True spirit, sportsmen spirit, coming here and delivering this message.

“Appreciate what he’s done, he appreciates what I’ve done. This is amazing.”

 

Source: Voice of America

Tokyo: Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan qualified to the quarterfinals of the Tokyo 2020 men’s Olympic beach volleyball tournament.

The Qatari duo defeated USA’s Nick Lucena and Phil Dalhausser 2-1 (14-21, 21-19, 15-11) in the round-of-16 at on Sunday.

“Thank god we won this game!” Cherif exclaimed. “We were ready for a long game. We know each other really well. We trained in Orlando with them for about a month and a half. They know us really well. We know them really well. Even in practice, our games are always very long. So I can say we were not expecting an easy game. Now the first step is done. We’re ready for the second step.”

On the other hand, the world bronze medallist Abderrahman Samba of Qatar qualified to the final of Men’s 400m hurdles.

In the semifinals held on Sunday, Samba clocked a time of 47.47 seconds to secure his spot in final showdown on Tuesday.

In Men’s 100m event, Qatar’s Femi Seun Ogunode crashed out after clocking a time of 10.17 seconds in the semifinals on Sunday.

 

Source: Qatar Olympic Committee