Shahar Peer, the 20-year-old from Jerusalem who has ignored an unofficial boycott that has kept Israeli players from competing in the Gulf states, was to make diplomatic history when she stepped on court at the US$2.5 million Qatar Open yesterday.
The 12th-seeded Peer's first round match against Francesca Schiavone, the world No. 23 from Italy, would normally attract no more than a couple of hundred spectators and a handful of lines in the local papers.
Instead Peer has created a sensation.
Peer has suddenly acquired a global focus, received round-the-clock security, and apparently been given a promise that she would be treated "like the Emir's wife."
"I'm here to play tennis," she said. "But if this opens up a window for the younger generation, with Arabs and Israelis working together for peace, I'd be happy."
There is probably more to it than a worthy desire by an individual to contribute something to world peace.
Israel and Qatar have no diplomatic ties, which raises the question as to how and why this is happening now.
The emirate is bidding for the 2016 Olympics, about which a decision will be made next year. So this is a perfectly timed way of trying to suggest that politics won't tarnish any Games which come to the Middle East.
Qatar is said to be one of several moderate Arab states trying to broker peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
"We'd love to open an embassy there," the Israeli Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Amira Oron has been quoted as saying. "But for now, it's impossible."
Peer apparently wanted to compete in Qatar before, but was doing her military service and Israel bans its soldiers from visiting Arab countries.
Despite this, Peer is one of the few players on the women's circuit who speaks some Arabic, which she studied briefly in school.
Religious prejudice doesn't seem to be part of her make-up.
In the past she has played doubles with India's Sania Mirza, a Muslim whose cosmopolitan attitudes have upset some Islamic clerics and who has since decided it is impossible to compete in her home country.
Peer has so far found the situation far less extreme.
"She's an entry. She's a good player. It's a normal situation, and it gets a normal reaction from us," tournament director Ayman Azmy said.
Taiwan kept its hopes of advancing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome last night, backed by solid pitching. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win was crucial for Taiwan, as a loss would have eliminated the team from contention for the next WBC. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) struck out one and allowed no hits, except for
The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) is considering reducing its pitch clock by two seconds to help players better adjust to the rules applied at the World Baseball Classic (WBC). The proposal aims to shorten the pitch timer from 25 seconds to 23 seconds with the bases empty, and from 20 seconds to 18 seconds with runners on base. Currently, the WBC mandates that pitchers deliver a pitch every 18 seconds with the bases empty and 15 seconds with runners on base. The issue was raised during a pre-season CPBL managers’ meeting on Tuesday by Rakuten Monkeys bench and batting
‘SETTING THE TONE’: Donovan Mitchell said that their determination to dominate had nothing to do with past results, but was about a potential post-season clash The Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday boosted their NBA-best record with a 142-105 romp past the New York Knicks, tightening their grip on the Eastern Conference lead with an all-around dominant display. Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points to lead six Cavs players to score in double figures, connecting on five of seven three-pointers as Cleveland drilled 19 from beyond the arc. “I think the biggest thing was just try to set the tone early,” Mitchell said, adding that the determination to dominate had nothing to do with the Knicks’ first-round playoff win over the Cavs two seasons ago and everything to do with
Taiwan kept their hopes of advancing to next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Saturday, backed by solid pitching. Taiwan last night played against Nicaragua. As of press time, Nicaragua was leading 6-0. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan on Saturday kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen struck out one and allowed no hits, except for a hit-by-pitch over
RSS