BAHRAIN SPORT
Email: [email protected]
Gulf Daily News Tuesday, 9th April 2013
n Albi Cricket Club have qualified for the Bahrain T25 Golden League quarter-finals. Albi secured their berth in the round of eight
after winning six of their eight first-round matches, while drawing another and losing just one. The rest of the quarter-final field will
be determined this weekend. Albi are captained by Romy Cherian, while Biji Thomas is the vice-captain. Above, Albi team members.
n Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin
Abdullah Al Khalifa received yesterday Nationality, Passports
and Residence Affairs (NPRA) undersecretary Shaikh Rashid bin
Khalifa Al Khalifa. The Minister was briefed about the NPRA’s
preparations coordinated with the Bahrain International Circuit
for the upcoming Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled to be
held on April 19 to 21. The minister gave directives to provide the
required services for F1 visitors through all borders with speed,
accuracy and competency. The undersecretary highlighted that
the NPRA is ready to provide its services to the kingdom’s visitors.
Also present at the meeting was NPRA assistant undersecretary
Shaikh Ahmed bin Isa Al Khalifa. Above, The Interior Minister,
right, with the NPRA undersecretary at their meeting.
Muharraq sign
NBA veteran
By PATRICK SALOMON
n Wright ... big addition
FIVE-YEAR NBA veteran
Antoine Wright has signed
with Bahrain’s Muharraq
Club for this year’s GCC Clubs
Basketball Championship.
This was confirmed last night by basketball team manager Hussain Al Durazi.
Wright, who was scheduled to arrive in
the kingdom last night, has played with
the likes of NBA greats Jason Kidd and
Dirk Nowitzki during his career. He has
battled with some of the world’s biggest
stars today, such as Lebron James, Kobe
Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane
Wade, to name a few, and Muharraq are
excited about having added the versatile
six-foot, seven-inch forward.
“Antoine is a very good player;
Muharraq always tries to bring the best
that we can and we are looking forward
to working with him,” Al Durazi told
the GDN last night.
“The GCC clubs competition will be
a very tough one, but we are confident
that we can fight for a good result, especially with Antoine on the team.”
Wright will be anchoring the paint for
Muharraq alongside former countryman
and naturalised Bahraini CJ Giles, who
has already been with the Arad-based
outfit the past two seasons.
Muharraq are one of eight teams in
the Gulf tournament, which will be held
in Muscat from May 2 to 9.
They have been drawn in group ‘B’ for
the preliminary round alongside defending champions Al Rayyan of Qatar,
Nizwa of Oman and Al Ahli of the UAE.
Group ‘A’ features Saudi Arabia’s Ohod,
Qatar’s Al Sadd, Kuwait’s Kazma and
another Omani team in Ahli Sadab.
Following a single round-robin, the
top two teams from each group move
on to the competition’s semi-finals.
Gold and bronze medal contests ensue.
Classification games will also be held
to determine places fifth through eighth.
Muharraq are competing for only the
second time in tournament history. They
have never won the event.
Muharraq were one of two sides representing the kingdom in last year’s
competition. They eventually bowed out
in the semi-finals against Al Hala.
Wright has played with four NBA
teams, including the New Jersey Nets,
who drafted him 15th overall in 2005,
the Dallas Mavericks, the Toronto
Raptors and the Sacramento Kings.
Since his NBA days, he has also seen
action as a professional in China, Spain
and Venezuela, and has also suited up in
the NBA’s D-League.
Muharraq have three games to play
in the second round of the Zain Bahrain
Basketball League before they fly to
Serbian capital Belgrade for a 10-day
camp on April 18.
They will make a short return to the
kingdom before travelling to Muscat for
the GCC clubs tournament.
Emperor of France
wins Bahrain Trophy
EMPEROR of France, ridden by A Sandesh, won
the Bahrain Trophy, the main event of the races
held Sunday at the Royal Western India Turf Club
in Mumbai.
Emperor of France was the favourite heading into the 1,000metre race. He finished ahead of runner-up Yellowzone, ridden
by D K Ashish, and third-placer Panthera, ridden by B Sreekanth.
Emperor of France is owned by Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan,
Waryam Singh and Ashok Kumar Gupta. Its trainer is Dallas
Todywalla.
Following the race, Consul General for the Kingdom of Bahrain
in India Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Khaja presented the Bahrain
Trophy to the owners.
The prestigious race has acquired a lot of fame over the years
and the trophy was presented in the presence of senior members of
the club, Bahrain Consulate staff and other dignitaries.
37
n Consul General Al Khaja presents the Bahrain Trophy to the winning owners
Oman club set
for GCC clash
against Hala
MEMBERS of Oman’s
Al Ittihad Club are
scheduled to arrive in
Bahrain today ahead of their
crucial clash against Al Hala
in group ‘A’ of the 28th GCC
Clubs Football Championship.
The tie is scheduled to take
place tomorrow at the Shaikh
Isa Sports City Stadium in Isa
Town.
Hala need a victory in order
to make it through to the quarter-final round. They are currently last in their group with
just one point from three games,
while Ittihad are second with
two points. Both teams are playing in their final group game.
Al Khor of Qatar are also
in their division. They have
already qualified, owning 10
points on the standings.
Also in action tomorrow will
be Bahrain’s Busaiteen Club
in a non-bearing group ‘D’
encounter with Saudi Arabia’s
Al Faisaly. The match will be
played in Saudi.
Busaiteen are already out of
contention for a berth in the semifinals. They are third in group ‘D’
with just one point. Al FAisaly
are top with seven points while
Bani Yas SC from the UAE are
second with five points.
Muharraq are the third team
in the tournament. They are
already in the last eight, taking
three wins from four games in
group ‘B’. The last slot is being
contested between Al Salmiya
of Kuwait and Naasdl’d.
Goalkeepers’
course begins
A GRADE ‘A’ goalkeepers coaching course,
organised by the Bahrain
Football Association (BFA) in
cooperation with the Asian
Football Confederation, got
underway yesterday at the BFA
headquarters in Riffa.
A total of 17 coaches are
taking part in the programme,
which will run until Friday.
Fifteen of the participants are
from Bahrain, one is from Oman
and the other is from Europe.
The course is being held
under the patronage of BFA
vice-president for technical
affairs Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa
Al Khalifa. BFA technical
director and competitions committee head Hassan Ismail was
also on hand.
Saudi Arabian official
Jassim Al Harbi is conducting
the course.