BAHRAIN SPORT Raffii set for GT3 Middle East race Email: [email protected] TEAM Bahrain’s Raef Raffii is set to battle for top places in round two of the sixth edition of Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East starting today at Dubai Autodrome. An impressive international line-up of 17 world-class drivers representing over ten nations, including the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar, will battle it out over two days. Raffii will follow-up his return to Porsche racing in the opening round at Bahrain International Circuit recently where he was sixth and eighth following an absence from racing for 21 months. “I was satisfied with my results in Bahrain as it takes a bit of time to get up to speed again especially in the Porsche. It is built for pure racing and needs drivers to be at their very best. But I’m comfortable in Dubai, I’ve had some strong finishes here and if I can continue the progress I made in the opening round I’m hoping for at least a top six place. The circuit is technical and fast so there are plenty of opportunities for passing n Action from the Bahrain leg of the Porsche GT3 Challenge so it should be an exciting race,” said Raffii. At the front of the grid all eyes are predicted to follow the fortunes of reigning champion Zaid Ashkanani of Kuwait and former champion Clemens Schmid of Dubai-based Al Nabooda Racing who currently sit at the top of n Nass stars in LBC win Pursued Whoever manages to get to the front of the grid can expect to be hotly pursued by Skydive Dubai Falcons teammates duo Shaikh Hasher Al Maktoum and Saeed Al Mehairi of Skydive Dubai Falcons around their home circuit, with Al Maktoum currently third in the standings. For local motorsport fans, the pure race action featuring the sublime Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and one of the strongest grids ever assembled in the series means intense rivalries throughout the field. Drivers who could also contend for a high place finish include Team Bahrain’s Raed Raffii, Al Nabooda’s Ahmad Al Harthy and Charlie Frijns. THE Second Showjumping Championship is set to take place tomorrow at the Military Sports Association Ground. It will be held under the patronage of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Shaikh Faisal is expecting the second event of the season to be a challenging one. He added that a number of juniors and beginners will be taking part in the event. Shaikh Faisal pointed out that Breef will continue to organise various tournaments as part of the federation’s policy to promote the sport in the Kingdom. n Showjumping event set n BTC finals scheduled BAHRAIN Tennis Federation will host the final matches of the Third Bahrain Women’s Open Championship tomorrow at its courts in Isa Town. Maryam Al Ammadi takes on Jeng Ebdani of the Philippines in the intermediates final while Claire Pelabel of the Philippines clashes with Mani Zhing of China in the pro category. facility will serve the game better,” said Shaikh Salman. The AFC president asserted the keenness of AFC to continue its support to football in India in order to extend its development process and to prepare for the next edition of the Under-17 World Cup. n Showaiter wins Thanked Patel thanked Shaikh Salman for inaugurating the stadium and AFC and Fifa for supporting football in his country. Shaikh Salman also met the new chief minister of the western Indian sate of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis and thanked him for the warm welcome and hospitality he received in the city. 29 JONATHAN Nass scored 20 points, including three in extratime, as LBC-Tamaraws beat three-time champions Nafex 73-67 in the commercial division of FCBG First Batelco Cup First Conference 40th Season. It was Tamaraws fifth victory against one loss and they share the top spot with defending champions Union Press. Other results: Inter-Kulay Division - ELoys bt Garmin-Brotol 52-35; AL Zayani Trading bt APM Terminal 73-49; BluePrint bt Eastern Precast 68-44; PPO-Azad bt Tia Betty Restaurant 60-57; Ballers bt Al-Rashid 61-42; Uniform Express bt Sampaguita Rice 63-48, KIB Illonggo bt Triskellion 59-47; Union Press bt Zenjex 71-55; Verminex bt AMPS WLL 67-51, Sulb bt Dabarkadz 61-59. Commercial-Invitational Division: Faisal Tradings-Hackers bt Arsenal Interiors-Dabarkadz 84-78; BMMI bt GPZ-Spartans 48-46. the standings after the opening round. Following a gripping fifth season which was won by the narrowest of margins as Ashkanani snatched the title by a single point from Schmid, the story now continues in the UAE as the two rivals battle around the Grand Prix Circuit at Dubai Autodrome. AFC chief opens Mumbai stadium ASIAN Football Confederation president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa yesterday inaugurated the refurbished Cooperage Stadium in Mumbai, India. The function took place in presence of All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel, representatives of Fifa and high-ranking Indian officials. Speaking on this occasion, Shaikh Salman congratulated the football family in India and said hosting the Under-17 World Cup in 2017 will boost the development of sport in the country. “We are fully aware of the historical significance of Cooperage Stadium for the Indian football family. The extensive renovation to this Gulf Daily News Friday, 5th December 2014 n AFC chief Shaikh Salman win AIFF president Patel, right, and Nita Ambani, left, wife of India’s top industrialist Mukesh, during the inauguration ceremony ABDUL Rehman Showaiter beat Daniel Clemente 5-7, 6-1, 10-5 on the fourth day of the Indian Club Centenary Tennis Tournament last night. Serwin, Mert Ekici and Hames Abdul Aal have also moved to the next round of the tournament. The tournament, which will run until December 18, is classified into eight categories – men’s singles, men doubles, veteran singles, veteran doubles, mix doubles, under-18 boys, ladies singles and super singles. Players from France, Netherlands, Philippines and GCC countries, besides local players, will compete in the super singles on invitation. Ainslie to work with Red Bull n A volleyball championship was organised by Bahrain Embassy in Amman for Bahrainis studying in Jordanian universities. It was held at Al Yarmouk University, located in the northern city of Irbid, in the presence of cultural counsellor Ghada Juma’a Al Mehza who honoured the winning teams.Above, the winners with officials. n Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia was named new president of Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF). He takes over the post from Prince Nawaf bin Faisal Al Saud. This was announced at an extraordinary meeting of the federation held in Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, yesterday. Bahrain were represented by Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) general secretary Abdulrahman Askar, sports advisor Abduljalil Asad and Arab Relations head Mohammed Al Zayed. Above, Askar, centre, with Abduljalil Asad, left, and Al Zayed at the meeting LONDON: Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) have teamed up with Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT) to work on their challenge for the 35th America’s Cup in 2017, the British team announced yesterday. The BAR team, conceived by the most successful Olympic sailor of all time in June 2014, will draw on the “simulation” and “modelling skills” of the winners of four of the last five Formula One World Championships. “BAR are really excited to be partnering with Red Bull Advanced Technologies,” Ainslie, part of Oracle Team USA’s triumph last year, said yesterday.