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Australian Open boss Craig Tiley says he is "absolutely confident" the Grand Slam will start as planned on Monday, despite 160 players waiting for the outcome of coronavirus tests. A total of 507 people connected to the event were told to isolate by Melbourne health officials on Wednesday after a hotel worker tested positive. Play at six warm-up events and the Slam draws were postponed on Thursday. "We fully expect to keep the original schedule after today," said Tiley. The warm-up events, which are all

The prestigious show features some of the finest horses from the 12 participating countries. The Title Show of the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival (KIAHF) featuring magnificent purebred Arabians began yesterday at Cultural Village Foundation, Katara. Colts and fillies in the Yearling and Junior categories competed in qualifying rounds. The Title Show commenced in the presence of a number of Their Excellencies, led by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Chairman of the Qatar Olympic

LeBron James says an argument between himself and fans during the Los Angeles Lakers' 107-99 win over the Atlanta Hawks was "blown out of proportion" and they did not deserve to be ejected. Two women heckled James after he had exchanged heated words with a man they were sat with and they were thrown out. There were about 1,300 fans at at the Hawks' State Farm Arena. James said: "I'm happy fans are back. I need that interaction. I don't feel like they

Rafael Nadal pulled out of Spain's opening ATP Cup tie with a lower back problem less than a week before he launches his bid for a record 21st men's Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. The world number two, 34, was scheduled to face Australia's Alex de Minaur at Melbourne Park on Tuesday. "I have a stiff low back," Nadal wrote on Twitter. "Hopefully I'll be better for Thursday." Spain play Greece on Thursday. Spain were runners-up to Serbia in the final

Roger Federer is hoping to make his comeback from double knee surgery in 2020 by competing at a smaller tournament after skipping the Australian Open; The 39-year-old is currently tied with Rafael Nadal on 20 Grand Slam titles Roger Federer is set to return to ATP Tour action in Doha, scheduled for the week of March 8, following an absence of 14 months due to injury. Federer made his last appearance at the end of January 2020, when he was beaten by Novak

Mall of Qatar welcomes football fans at the Oasis to watch FIFA Club World Cup 2021 taking place in Doha from February 4 to 11 in Education City and Ahmed Bin Ali (Al Rayyan) Stadiums. The Nation’s Mall offers its visitors the best opportunity to live the excitement by watching the matches on the giant screens at the 360 degrees Oasis stage, giving them an ideal alternative to live watching of the games, and allowing an integrated shopping, dining, and watching experience in

The Covid-19 awareness campaign urges people to wear masks, practice social distancing and hand hygiene. FIFA has announced the launch of a public awareness campaign with the World Health Organization during the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020. The awareness campaign will be launched by broadcasting messages in the stadium where the football stars participate in order to continue promoting the awareness initiative and to accelerate the availability of tools to combat Covid-19 pandemic. The Covid-19 awareness campaign urges people to wear muzzles,

DOHA: Al Sadd maintained their lead in the Qatargas U-23 League by beating Al Khor 6-1 in a Round 14 match at Al Shamal Stadium. With this victory, Al Sadd maintained the three-point gap over Al Gharafa. Al Sadd have 36 points. Al Sadd’s goals scored were scored by Abdullah Ismail (40), Mustafa Tariq (42), Hassan Ahmed (47, 70 and 89) Asaad Riad scored the only goal for Al Khor in the 84th minute of the match. In another match, Al Gharafa beat

Taking place from 4 –11 February 2021, FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020™ will feature the world’s six continental club champions including Qatar Airways partner and European champions FC Bayern München                      DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways is proud to be the Official Airline Partner of the FIFA Club World Cup™, hosted in Qatar for the second year running, where the clash of the world’s continental club champions will take place between 4 –

Stuart Baxter has been sacked from his position as manager by Indian Super League club Odisha after making comments about rape during a post-match interview. The British former professional footballer made the comments about refereeing decisions during his side's defeat to Jamshedpur on Monday."You need decisions to go your way and they didn't," Baxter told Indian channel Star Sports. "I don't know when we're going to get a penalty. I think one of my players would have to rape someone or get raped

With his partner in decimating opposition batting line-ups, Ravindra Jadeja, ruled out of the four-match Test series against England starting from the 5th of February in Chennai, the pressure will be on R Ashwin to come up with the goods and perform for India in what is a hugely significant series keeping in mind the World Test Championship Final at Lord's in June.Ashwin has been a genius at home bamboozling opposition line-ups with his crafty off-spin and cricketing intelligence. He is, by far,

Barty will play American Shelby Rogers in the quarterfinals of the Yarra Valley Classic and could potentially face Serena Williams in the semifinals. Williams was playing Tsvetana Pironkova in a night match on Margaret Court Arena. Ash Barty looked like the world No. 1 in the first set, then struggled the rest of the way against No. 52-ranked Marie Bouzkova before completing a 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 win in an Australian Open tuneup tournament on Wednesday. In the third set, the 2019 French Open

Madrid said the 73-year-old Pérez is asymptomatic and tested positive after a routine test. No other details were released. Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has tested positive for the coronavirus, the club said Tuesday. Madrid said the 73-year-old Pérez is asymptomatic and tested positive after a routine test. No other details were released. Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane tested positive for the coronavirus last month.

His Excellency Prof. Khalid Bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti inaugurated the five-day festival The Katara international Arabian Horse Festival (KIAHF), held under the patronage of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani began on an impressive note at the Cultural Village Foundation, Katara, on 2nd February. His Excellency Prof. Khalid Bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti, General Manager, Katara and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Katara International Arabian Horse Festival, inaugurated the Festival. Visitors can look forward to enjoying several equine-related art exhibitions put up by

Wael Arkaji struck just before the buzzer to help Al Shamal reach the final of the Qatar Cup with a thrilling 74-73 win over Al Sadd yesterday. Al Shamal will now clash with Al Gharafa tomorrow for the title after the latter accounted for Qatar Sports Club 83-72 in a relatively sedate first semi-final. The second semi-final went down to the wire with Al Shamal showing greater stronger resolve as Arkaji, the leading scorer in the match with 34 points, found the basket

Qatari handball team player Frankis Carol Marzo won the top scorer award in the 27th World Men’s Handball Championship, which concluded on Sunday in Egypt. Marzo scored 58 goals in seven matches for the Qatari national team, which left the tournament in the quarter-finals. The Norwegian top goal scorer Sander Sagosen came second with 54 goals. Frankis Carol Marzo is the second Arab player to win the World Handball Championship top scorer title after Tunisian Wissam Hammam, who won the title in the

Star striker Almoez Ali is confident of Al Duhail’s chances against Al Ahly ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup match at the Education Stadium on Thursday. The Qatari champions received a bye into the second round their scheduled first-round opponents, New Zealand side Auckland City, pulled out of the tournament due to the nation’s coronavirus restrictions. That does not mean to say, however, Duhail will have it easy in their bid to go far in the competition. Their first opponents will be

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah ended his Premier League goal drought in style by scoring twice as the champions raided the capital again to crush West Ham United 3-1 on Sunday. Liverpool came to life after a first half almost devoid of goalmouth action at the London Stadium, with Salah providing two superb finishes as Liverpool moved into third spot. The Egyptian cut in to curl home with his left foot in the 57th minute -- his first league goal since Dec. 19 -- and

Rafa Nadal brushed aside questions about the Australian Open quarantine on Sunday and said it was time to get down to the business of playing tennis and entertaining fans around the world. The 34-year-old, who secured his 20th Grand Slam title at last year’s delayed French Open, completed his two weeks of isolation in Adelaide on Friday before playing an exhibition match and then heading to Melbourne. “When we arrived here, we have this quarantine. But I think that’s over. It’s the moment

Barcelona say they will take "appropriate legal action" against Spanish newspaper El Mundo after it published details of forward Lionel Messi's £492m contract. Barcelona denied "any responsibility for the publication of this document". According to El Mundo, Messi's four-year contract was worth a possible 555,237,619 euros until 30 June, 2021. It means the 33-year-old would be receiving up to £123m a season. Barcelona said in a statement that they "regret" its publication, adding: "FC Barcelona categorically denies any responsibility for the publication of