Aussie star Kyle Chalmers storms to 100m freestyle win

DOHA -  In a battle of giants, Australia’s Kyle Chalmers on Friday emerged on top when he won the men’s 100m freestyle final ahead of Russian star Vladimir Morozov on day two of the FINA World Cup Series Doha 2021.  Chalmers clocked a time of 45.03 seconds at the Hamad Aquatic Centre, with Morozov nudging to the second spot in 46.31 seconds. Korea’s Hwang Sunwoo finished third (46.46 seconds).  “I am very, very happy. It has been a rough week since Budapest. My shoulder has been giving problems. That was a fast time. That’s a half second (off the record). It was very close (to the world record of 44.94 seconds),” Chalmers, 23, said.  In the women’s 100m breaststroke final, Russia’s Yulia Efimova edged past South Africa’s Emily Visagie in the penultimate final of the night on Friday. Efimova, 29, clocked 1:06.08 for the gold while Visagie grabbed the silver in a time of 1:06.92. Korea’s Suyeon Back placed third (1:07.35) “I did a great morning session. I felt better all day and I hope to feel better every day. I hope I have speed tomorrow also,” Efimova, a six-time world champion, said.  Japan’s Daiya Seto proved to be too hot a target to chase as he finished the men’s 200m butterfly final ahead of Kregor Zirk of Estonia and American Tom Shields. Seto, who won the men’s 100m medley final on Thursday, on Friday clocked 1:49.76.  Also on Friday, South Africa’s Pieter Coetze picked up his second gold in Doha in as many days when he won the men’s 50m backstroke final in a time of 23.13 seconds. Szebasztian Szabo (Italy, 23.55 seconds) finished in second spot while Korea’s Won Youngjun (23.70 seconds) clinched the bronze   “Nice way to start a Friday, yes. I am happy with the time here. Just enjoy racing here. I am enjoying Doha. I will be going to December World Championships,” Coetze said. Madison Wilson of Australia retained her fine form from Thursday by winning the women’s 200m freestyle final on Friday. Wilson clocked 1:53.54 and finished ahead of Katja Fain (Slovakia, 1:54.51) and Annika Bruhn (Germany, 1:56.29).  “I have just one race after this and I was trying to bring it home by pacing it well,” Wilson said. South African star Matthew Sates picked up another gold in Doha on Friday when he comfortably won the men’s 200m medley final (1:52.32) ahead of Danas Rapsys (Lithuania, 1:54.29) and Israel’s YakovToumarkin (1:55.56). Qatar’s Hamza Shalan (2:26.30) also featured in the race. “Tried to pick up pace at the start of the race. It was good, (I) got the gold,” Sates said.  Dutch star Kira Toussaint clinched win in the women’s 100m backstroke final (55.79 seconds) finishing ahead of Michelle Coleman (Sweden, 57.23 seconds) and Australia’s Wilson (58.64 seconds).  “Very happy with the second gold. It has been a good season. I am content,” Toussaint said.  Kamminga shared the men’s 50m final (26.10 seconds) gold with Peter Stevens of Slovakia while Germany’s Fabian Schwingenschlogl settled for a bronze (26.17 seconds). Dutch swimmer Ranomi Kromowidjojo won the women’s 50m butterfly final with a commanding performance (24.74 seconds) while Australian pair of Holly Barratt and Emma Mckeon completed the top three.  “I wanted really to swim well so I am very happy with my race. Always good to win a gold medal. It is always nice to swim here in a fast pool,” Kromowidjojo, 31, said. Results on Friday:  1 - Men’s 50m Backstroke Final Pieter Coetze (RSA) 23.13 SzebasztianSzabo (ITA) 23.55  Won Youngjun (KOR) 23.70 2 - Women’s 200m Freestyle Final Madison Wilson (AUS) 1:53.54 Katja Fain (SLO) 1:54.51 Annika Bruhn (GER) 1:56.29 3 – Men’s 200m Medley Final Matthew Sates (RSA) 1:52.32 Danas Rapsys (LTU) 1:54.29 YakovToumarkin (ISR) 1:55.56  4 - Women’s 100m Backstroke Final Kira Toussaint (NED) 55.79  Michelle Coleman (SWE) 57.23 Madison Wilson (AUS) 58.64 5 - Men’s 50m Breaststroke Final Arno Kamminga (NED) 26.10 Peter Stevens (SLO) 26.10 Fabian Schwingenschlogl (GER) 26.17  6 - Women’s 50m Butterfly Final Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) 24.74 Holly Barratt (AUS) 25.06 Emma McKeon (AUS) 25.07 7 - Men’s 100m Freestyle Final Kyle Chalmers (AUS) 45.03 Vladimir Morozov (RUS) 46.31 Hwang Sunwoo (KOR) 46.46 8 - Women’s 100m Breaststroke Final Yulia Efimova (RUS) 1:06.08 Emily Visagie (RSA) 1:06.92 Suyeon Back (KOR) 1:07.35 9 - Men’s 200m Butterfly Final DaiyaSeto (JPN) 1:49.76 KregorZirk(EST) 1:53.06 Tom Shields (US) 1:53.11  

HH the Amir Attends Final of the Amir Cup

Doha: HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani attended Friday the final of HH the Amir Cup that took place between Al Sadd and Al Rayyan at Al Thumama Stadium that was inaugurated today. HH the Personal Representative of HH the Amir Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani, and a number of Their Excellencies sheikhs and ministers attended the match. The final was also attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a number of heads of Arab and international sports associations, members of the press and media, and football fans. Al Sadd defeated Al Rayyan in a penalty shootout 5-4, after the end of original time with a 1-1 draw. Following the conclusion of the match, HH the Amir handed the trophy and gold medals to Al Sadd team and the silver medals to Al Rayyan team. (QNA)  

Asal defeats Momen to reach semifinals of Qatar QTerminals Classic

Doha:  World No.3 Paul Coll came back from two match balls down to register a fighting win over Egypt’s Mohamed Abouelghar and advance into the semi-final of the Qatar QTerminals Classic on Thursday. The New Zealander looking for his third final in Doha will clash with No.7 seed Mostafa Asal who won a marathon all-Egyptian battle with No.3 seed Tarek Momen.  In a repeat of this month's US Open final, Asal inflicted more hurt on the 2019 World Champion winning 4-11, 12-10, 11-9, 12-14, 11-4 in a match which lasted 114 minutes. The last match of the day between Asal and Momen which witnessed high end drama including a 15-minute injury break as Momen reported injured in the fourth game and returned after treatment but lost the fifth and decider to hand Asal a place in the semi-final. The last matches of the day were touch and go affairs. It started with the one between Coll and Abouelghar which lasted 93 minutes and went to the wire and. The New Zealander, who won his maiden British Open in August this year, had the last laugh in the end but not before surviving some anxious moments in the five-game thriller to script a 11-5, 4-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-8  win. The spectators saw some high-quality squash and both players came up with some free-flowing rallies. Coll had the better of the middle of the court in the first game, but Abouelghar really found his range at the front of the court to take the second. Coll was unable to capitalise on a 6-3 advantage in the third as Abouelghar changed the angles and finished his opportunities well. The World No.15 then stormed into a 7-3 lead in the fourth and found himself two match balls up, but Coll dug in and came back to set up a nail-biting decider. It was neck-and-neck until 8-8, when Coll was able to outmanoeuvre his opponent to seal the win and a place in the last four here for a second year in succession. “It was an enjoyable match to be a part of and it was high quality,” said Coll. “I was a little bit disappointed with some of the leads I had throughout the match, especially the third, when I didn’t close it out. Things kept going the wrong way for me, so it was a real mental battle for me. At the start of the fourth, I went down 6-1, I thought I was playing good squash but not winning rallies. “I had to really stick to it mentally, dig deep and push through. I felt like it was close to me playing well and running away with it, there were a few leads here and there and a few shots that didn’t go my way. But I’m very happy to close it out and I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Coll will take on the winner of the all-Egyptian tie between Tarek Momen and Mostafa Asal in  the semi-final. In the other encounter on Friday, Diego Elias of Peru and Welshman Joel Makin will clash, with both aiming to reach their first final in Doha. Earlier, Elias defeated Germany’s Raphael Kandra 11-9, 8-11, 14-12, 11-1 to reach his first semifinal in Qatar.  “He’s a very tough opponent,” said Elias. “We played two weeks ago at the US Open and I was winning comfortably, but then he started fighting and it was a very hard match. I’m very happy with how I fought and I’m happy with this win.  “I reached my first (major) semi final here in Qatar. Now it’s time to reach my first final.” In the second match of the day, Makin defeated World No.13 Mazen Hesham in three games at 11-9, 11-4, 11-3 victory in just 29 minutes earning the Welshman back-to-back Platinum semi finals for the first time after a run to the US Open last four earlier this month.

Seto and Sates sparkle as FINA World Cup Doha 2021 kicks off in style

DOHA : FINA World Cup Doha 2021 on Thursday got off to an exciting start as Japan’s Dalya Seto won the gold in the men’s 100m Medley Final at Hamad Aquatic Centre where South African giant Matthew Sates picked up two medals. Seto, 27 won the 100m medley final in a time of 51.56 seconds and secured 873 FINA points for his efforts. The Japanese swimming star edged Sates – the overall ranking leader in the ongoing FINA World Cup series - into second spot as the South African clocked a time of 51.74 seconds in what turned out to be an exciting battle. Korea’s Sunwoo Hwang grabbed the bronze out of a field of 10 swimmers on the starting ramp. Hwang clocked 52.74 seconds. “I am so happy to be back in the pool,” Seto said after his victory. Earlier in the evening on Thursday, Sates won the 400m freestyle gold to underline his intentions in Doha this week. Sates sealed the deal in a time of 3:38.64 and picked up a tally of 914 FINA points. Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys grabbed the silver in a time of 3:38.88. Estonia’s Kregor Zirk was the third-best (3:42.35). Qatar’s Nour Eddine Kheddache (4:20.91) also featured in the finals. “It’s good to get this result in the first final for me here,” Sates said on Thursday. “The time seems a bit slow but we are working on it. We (the swimmers) had a great time in the pool. We always have a go at each other. That’s what happened out there,” he said. In the women’s 100m medley final, Swiss star Maria Ugolkovaon overcame a strong field of nine swimmers to win the gold in a time of 58.82 seconds. Ugolkova also picked up 886 FINA points. Sweden’s Michelle Coleman finished in second spot in a time 59.18 seconds while Belgium’s Fanny Lecluyse grabbed the bronze (1:00.09). “It is a nice way to start the weekend. I hope I keep winning like this,” Ygolkova said. In the men’s 50m freestyle final, Russian star Vladimir Morozov added to his personal collection of gold medals after a long break by winning in a time of 20.89 seconds. Morozov also collected 898 points for his convincing win. Kyle Charlmers of Australia (21.02 seconds) and Dutch swimmer Jesse Puts (21.13 seconds) grabbed the silver and bronze to complete the top three.  “It is a great way to start here. I am very happy. This is the first win in two years. I took a break. It is easier that way (to get back to winning),” Morozov said. In the women’s 50m freestyle final, Dutch swimmer Ranomi Kromowidjojo produced a flying start to win the gold medal in a time of 23.46 seconds. Australian pair of Emma McKeon (23.54) and Madison Wilson (23.90) finished with a silver and bronze respectively. “It’s been a great day. I have good memories of Doha, of this pool. So, it is good to be back here. I was training back home. It is very nice to be here,” Kromowidjojo said. In the men’s 100m breaststroke final, Dutchman Arno Kamminga showed amazing speed to grab the gold medal in a time of 56.35 seconds in a field of 10 entries. Germany’s Fabio Schwingenschlogl (56.63 seconds) and Russia’s Anton Chupkov (57.56 seconds) completed the top three. “It is a good time to race. I am happy to go away with this win. Every race is a clean slate. I want to keep winning and that’s my goal for the next two weeks,” Kamminga, who celebrates his 26th birthday on Friday, said. Kamminga won the 100m and 200m breaststroke finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. In the women’s 200m breaststroke final, Russian star Yulia Efimova produced a near-flawless routine to win the gold in 2:22.19. South African swimmer Emily Visagie (2:23.20) won the silver while Back Suyeon of Korea settled for a bronze (2:23.22) “I am surprised to be here (smiles). I am excited with this result. I am looking to have some fun in the pool,” Efimova said. In the men’s 100, butterfly final, American swimmer Tom Shields beat a strong field to win the gold in 49.46 seconds. Hungary’s Szebasztian Szabo grabbed the silver (49.92) while Belgium’s Louis Croenen bagged the bronze (51.54 seconds). “Nice way to start. Always good to be here. I like this pool. We got American representations here (smiles),” Shields said after picking up the gold medal. In the women’s 200m backstroke final, Hungary’s Zsuzsanna Jakabos sealed the deal with a six-entry field clocking a time of 2:06.23 to win the gold. Switzerland’s Maria Ugolkova clinched the silver (2:06.47) while Slovakia’s Katja Fain was third-best (2:09.90). “It was a good competition. I feel happy,” Jakabos said after the race. In the men’s 200m backstroke final, South African star Pieter Coetze clinched the gold medal in a time of 1:52.09 finishing ahead of joint silver medalists Israel’s YakavToumarkin (1:52.98) and Lee Juho (Korea, 1:52.98). Qatar’s Ibrahim Al Hilal (2:18.62) also featured in the race. “It was a great race. I am very happy to get the win. I would like to be faster. I am excited for the rest of the week. It is definitely exciting to see so many South Africans here,” Coetze said on Thursday. In the women’s 50m backstroke final, Dutch swimmer Kira Toussaint emerged winner in a time of 25.93 seconds while Australia’s Holly Barratt finished second-best (26.47). Germany’s Annika Bruhn was third in a time of 28.42. “It’s a great way to start races in Doha. I think 25.93 is a good time. I am happy with it. Winning is always good. I am a happy girl. After every race I watch it back and analyze and try to get better. I always race, watch and learn,” Toussaint said with a huge smile. In the women’s 400m freestyle final, Australian Olympic Games star Madison Wilson produced the first win of the Doha event by clocking a time of 4:03.58. Italy’s Simona Quadarella clinched the silver medal with a time of 4:03.74. Australian swimmer Leah Neale grabbed the bronze in a time of 4:05.66. “Definitely the event I am not used to. Some good girls were in the pool. I am so happy,” Wilson, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, said after the presentation ceremony. “I had a training camp in Israel before I came here. That training camp really helped me,” the 27-year-old added.

Sheikh Joaan attends FINA Swimming World Cup Doha 2021 Opening Day

DOHA -  Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) president H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani attended  the opening day competitions of the  third meet of the FINA Swimming World Cup  (25m) series at the Hamad Aquatic Center (HAC), Aspire Zone on Thursday. The  competitions were also attended by FINA President Mr. Husain Al Musallam,  the QOC Secretary General, H.E Jassim Rashid Al Buenain and QSA President Mr. Khaleel Al-Jabir. This prestigious event brings together 115 swimmers from 25 countries. Doha hosts the third meet of FINA World Cup 2021 from October 21-23. The four-meet series started in Berlin (GER) on October 1, then the second meet was held in Budapest from October 7-9  while the fourth and final meet will be staged in Kazan from October 28 to 30.  

Sheikh Joaan visits Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum

Doha - President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani visited the Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum on Wednesday. During the visit, H.E. Sheikh Joaan toured the different exhibition halls, which highlight the history of the world's sports, the history of the Olympic Games, the world's best athletes, the history of Qatari sports and the most important sports events held in the country. The QOC President, who was accompanied during the visit by the QOC Secretary-General H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, QOSM President of the Advisory Committee Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Thani and the Director of Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum Mr. Abdulla Yousef Al Mulla, was delighted with the Museum's collection.  He lauded the efforts made by the Qatar Museums Authority under the leadership of Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani, Chairperson of the Qatar Museums Authority Board of Trustees.