DUBAI // Majed Hassan, the UAE international, has welcomed the Asian Football Confederation's decision to grant the Emirates the 2019 Asian Cup, saying it should serve as motivation for the national team to take the title in four years' time.
The UAE were awarded the continental showpiece on Monday, when they were preferred to Iran in the vote. It marks the second time the UAE have been chosen to stage the Asian Cup following the 1996 tournament, where they finished runners-up to Saudi Arabia.
At the most recent Asian Cup, which took place in January, the UAE placed third - their best performance on foreign soil. Hassan was part of Mahdi Ali’s squad in Australia, making three appearances. Looking ahead to the 2019 Asian Cup, the Al Ahli midfielder highlighted the Emirates’ history of organising major tournaments as reason to believe it will prove a success.
In the past, the UAE have hosted the 2003 Fifa World Youth Championship, the 2009 and 2010 Fifa Club World Cups and the 2013 Fifa Under-17 World Cup. The Asian Cup, expanded from 16 to 24 teams for 2019, represents the most prestigious tournament to be played here.
“The UAE are no strangers to hosting major football events,” Hassan said. “We’ve hosted the Asian Cup before, as well as the FIFA U17 World Cup. It’s something that gives us a lot of pride and it’s also a huge positive for us to play on home soil, among our home fans. Hopefully it will encourage us to win the title.”
Scheduled for January 2019, at present the Asian Cup will be spread across six stadiums in three emirates: Zayed Sports City and Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi; Hazza bin Zayed Stadium and Khalifa International Stadium in Al Ain; and Dubai’s stadium under construction in Dubai Sports City, as well as the Dubai International Cricket Ground.
Cosmin Olaroiu, the Ahli coach, said the improvements to infrastructure that will be made between now and the tournament will be only beneficial to the sport in the UAE.
“It’s a fantastic thing for the Emirates,” he said. “It’s something that I hope they will develop a new infrastructure for all football in the Emirates. For sure, this will help develop football here for the future.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
FIGHT CARD
Welterweight Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Tohir Zhuraev (TJK)
Catchweight 75kg Leandro Martins (BRA) v Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Flyweight Corinne Laframboise (CAN) v Manon Fiorot (FRA)
Featherweight Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB)
Lightweight Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) v Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG)
Featherweight Yousef Al Housani (UAE) v Mohamed Arsharq Ali (SLA)
Catchweight 69kg Jung Han-gook (KOR) v Elias Boudegzdame (ALG)
Catchweight 71kg Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) v Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
Featherweight title Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
Lightweight title Bruno Machado (BRA) v Mike Santiago (USA)
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Premier League results
Saturday
Crystal Palace 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 2
Cardiff City 2 West Ham United 0
Huddersfield Town 0 Bournemouth 2
Leicester City 3 Fulham 1
Newcastle United 3 Everton 2
Southampton 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Manchester City 3 Watford 1
Sunday
Liverpool 4 Burnley 2
Chelsea 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1
Arsenal 2 Manchester United 0
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OIL PLEDGE
At the start of Russia's invasion, IEA member countries held 1.5 billion barrels in public reserves and about 575 million barrels under obligations with industry, according to the agency's website. The two collective actions of the IEA this year of 62.7 million barrels, which was agreed on March 1, and this week's 120 million barrels amount to 9 per cent of total emergency reserves, it added.
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Stage 3 results
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 4:42:33
2 Tadej Pocagar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:03
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana 0:01:30
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ
5 Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:56
General Classification after Stage 3:
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2 Tadej Pocagar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:07
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana 0:01:35
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:40
5 Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Wilco Kelderman (NED) Team Sunweb) 0:02:06
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Esperance de Tunis 0
Al Ain 3 (Ahmed 02’, El Shahat 17’, Al Ahbabi 60’)
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