TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (AP) — Qatar scored a win in Olympic politics Monday, with the emirate also aiming to host the 2036 Summer Games.
Olympic Council of Asia members elected Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani as their president to complete the term in office of Randir Singh of India, who stepped down for health reasons.
Sheikh Joaan was the only candidate nominated and received 44 votes, with one OCA member abstaining, at the Olympic body’s annual assembly. His term runs to 2028.
“I stand before you today with feelings of great pride and responsibility,” the sheikh said in an acceptance speech. He also leads the Qatar Olympic Committee and is senior vice president of the global group of national Olympic bodies, known as ANOC.
Sheikh Joaan is the younger brother of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who has been a member of the International Olympic Committee for 24 years.
Qatar’s influence in Olympic circles is growing as the IOC reflects on setting a process to choose the 2036 host. India and Qatar have been seen as the strongest bidders, with Saudi Arabia also interested.
Qatar will host the multi-sport Asian Games for the OCA in 2030 and the 2034 edition.
The next Asian Games opens in September in Aichi–Nagoya, Japan.
AP Olympics at https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
FILE - Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, center, of Qatar, flashes two thumbs up when celebrating Mutaz Essa Barshim's gold medal in the men's high jump at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, on Oct. 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Jannik Sinner may have felt lucky to survive the Australian Open third round but he rebounded quickly in a straight-sets win Monday over fellow Italian Luciano Darderi to reach the quarterfinals for a ninth consecutive Grand Slam event.
The two-time defending champion struggled with the extreme heat and cramping in his Saturday afternoon win over No. 85-ranked Eliot Spizzirri, and only took control after the roof was closed in the third set.
Sinner later admitted he got a bit lucky with the timing of the extreme heat policy being invoked, leading to an eight-minute break to close the roof. He was also able to refresh in a 10-minute extra cooling break between the third and fourth sets.
In an evening match in cooler conditions, he was cruising until Darderi lifted his tempo in the third set. Second-ranked Sinner missed match points in the 10th game on his opponent's serve but then clinched victory 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).
Darderi, who saved two match points on his serve, took the first two points of the tiebreaker but then had to pause for a few moments before serving because of a baby crying in the crowd at Margaret Court Arena.
He didn't win another point, with Sinner reeling off the next seven to triumph in 2 hours and nine minutes.
It extended his unbeaten streak to 18 against other Italians on tour and earned a quarterfinal against No. 8 Ben Shelton or No. 12 Casper Ruud.
“It was very, very difficult. We’re good friends off the court,” Sinner said. “Third set I had some break chances, I couldn’t use them. I got tight, so very happy I closed it in three sets.”
Sinner had 19 aces — a personal record — and no double-faults and said he was satisfied with the work he put into his serve over the offseason.
He also wanted to emphasize some minor changes to his game, including going to the net and trying to mix up his game.
In a tough hold in the third set, Sinner saved a breakpoint by changing the direction of the rally with a forehand drop shot, bending his knees low to win the point. He serve-and-volleyed to hold that game.
“Still room to improve, but very happy with how I’ve come back,” he said. “Now for sure, it (the serve) is a bit more stable. I try to go more to the net and being more unpredictable.”
Jannik Sinner of Italy plays a forehand return to his compatriot Luciano Darderi during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Luciano Darderi of Italy reacts as he plays against his compatriot Jannik Sinner during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Jannik Sinner of Italy plays a forehand return to his compatriot Luciano Darderi during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Jannik Sinner of Italy serves to his compatriot Luciano Darderi during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
