Board of Directors of Doha 2030 Asian Games Organising Committee hold…

The Board of Directors of the Doha 2030 Asian Games Organising Committee held its second meeting yesterday, chaired by President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Organising Committee’s Board of Directors H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani. The meeting reviewed the progress made in preparations for the 21st Asian Games, with members discussing the latest developments and key milestones as Qatar continues its planning for the continent’s premier multi-sport event. The board also assessed ongoing work across various operational areas to ensure the successful delivery of the Doha 2030 Asian Games in line with the highest international standards.

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Foxborough: Kylian Mbappe recovered from having a first-half penalty saved to score a magnificent opener that set France on their way to a 2-0 win over Morocco in their World Cup quarter-final showdown on Thursday.

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Mbappe's weak spot-kick was easily saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, but he made up for that by producing a brilliant curling finish to make it 1-0 on the hour mark.

That was Mbappe's eighth goal at the tournament, moving him level again with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, before he came off late on and watched the final minutes with an ice pack around his right ankle.

Before exiting, he set up Ousmane Dembele to run through and settle the contest watched by 63,811 at the Gillette Stadium, as France knocked Morocco out, just as they did in 2022.

Their 2-0 win four years ago in Qatar came in the semi-finals, and this time the victory for Les Bleus takes them through to the last four. They will face Spain or Belgium in Dallas next Tuesday.

France are looking to reach a third consecutive World Cup final in their last tournament before long-serving coach Didier Deschamps stands down.

Winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, it has felt like they have eased through to another semi-final and they were too strong for a Moroccan team lacking firepower in the absence of the injured Ismael Saibari.

Mbappe is one of the greatest goal-scorers of his generation, and the World Cup continues to bring the very best out of him.

After netting braces in the group-stage wins over Senegal and Iraq, as well as the last-32 defeat of Sweden, he got the only goal from the penalty spot against Paraguay in the last round.

He has now scored 20 goals in 20 World Cup appearances, within one goal of Messi's overall tournament record of 21.

More could have been expected from Morocco, who had more of the crowd behind them but lacked a cutting edge in attack as France kept a third clean sheet in as many knockout games.

Nevertheless, they have plenty of exciting young talents -- including former France Under-21 captain Ayyoub Bouaddi in their midfield -- and will surely be a force to be reckoned with again when they co-host the next World Cup in 2030 alongside Spain and Portugal.

On Thursday they were just the latest team to find containing Mbappe at a World Cup to be an impossible task.

The Real Madrid star provoked the penalty as he was scythed down in the area by Noussair Mazraoui after a quick breakaway in the 25th minute.

Argentinian referee Facundo Tello immediately pointed to the spot, although a review was needed to rule out a foul on Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi in the build-up.

Maybe the wait got to Mbappe, whose kick was uncharacteristically weak and easily stopped. It was a reminder that he remains human, just like Messi who has squandered two penalties at this World Cup.

The excellent Bounou frequently kept France at bay in the first half, notably tipping a Desire Doue shot around the post after Bouaddi was robbed of the ball.

Lucas Digne crashed a shot onto the top of the bar from distance as the opening half ended goalless, but France got the reward for their pressure 15 minutes after the restart.

Doue slipped the ball to Mbappe just outside the area, and he controlled before using Issa Diop as a screen to direct a superb strike into the net.

France's all-time leading marksman now has 64 international goals from 104 appearances.

His lay-off in the 66th minute allowed Dembele to advance on goal and curl a shot low into the same corner, a hand from Bounou proving unable to make it 2-0.

Dembele is the reigning Ballon d'Or and now has five goals at this World Cup, but Mbappe continues to hog the limelight.

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s high jump superstar Mutaz Barshim is looking to build on his return from injury, when he competes against an impressive field at the Monaco Diamond League today, being held at the iconic Stade Louis II.

The Tokyo 2020 gold medallist arrives in Monaco after clearing a season’s best 2.27m in Doha last month, his best jump in more than a year, as he continues his comeback following a long spell on the sidelines.

“It’s really good to be back here in Monaco. I have a lot of great memories in this stadium,” Barshim said during the press conference yesterday.

“Last year was really difficult for me, dealing with some very serious injuries. Now I’m finally back, able to put on my spikes and do what I love the most, which is jumping and competing,” the 35-year-old said.

“My legs are a bit more tired than they were 15 years ago, but I’m ready to jump. I feel good,” Barshim, who made the second highest jump in the history, said.

Reflecting on his career, Barshim said he is “lucky to have competed through three generations.”

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“When I retire, I want people to remember that I produced high-level performances for a very long time. The longer you perform at the highest level, the more you separate yourself from everyone else,” Barshim said.

Beyond his own performance, Barshim also spoke about his involvement in promoting athletics through his What Gravity Tour, a high jump series designed to bring elite competition closer to fans.

“I’ve been travelling for more than a decade and writing down ideas. I feel like this is the right time to make them happen,” he said.

The series has seen immense success during its previous outings in Doha, Germany and Slovakia, with Monaco set to host the next stop on August 5.

“It’s a show for the people while also giving athletes a World Athletics-certified competition. Hopefully we can attract new fans to the sport we love,” Barshim said.

The men’s high jump at tomorrow’s Diamond League meeting promises to be one of the most competitive events, with a field featuring six athletes who have cleared at least 2.33m in their careers.

The Qatari superstar remains the standout performer on paper with a personal best of 2.43m, comfortably the highest in the field, although his season’s best of 2.27m reflects his gradual return to his usual form.

Among his challengers today, Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk has the best seasonal best mark (2.33m) while Czech Republic’s Jan Stefela also arrives in excellent form with a season best of 2.32m.

Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi, who famously shared the gold medal with Barshim at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, also returns to Diamond League action following a long hiatus, while Doha meeting winner Matteo Sioli of Italy, Mexico’s Erick Portillo, Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford and American JuVaughn Harrison also add strength to the field.

Among other highlights, the meeting will also features some of the biggest names in world athletics, led by pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, who has set his sights on a 16th world record at his new home stadium after relocating to Monaco.

Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred headlines a stacked women’s 200m field that also includes Olympic champion Gabrielle Thomas and world leader Adaejah Hodge, promising one of the fastest races of the season.

The men’s 100m is also under the spotlight, with reigning world champion Oblique Seville taking on Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo and world indoor champion Jordan Anthony, promising fireworks at the 10th stop of the prestigious series.