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Friday, February 5, 2021 TENNIS Jumada II 23, 1442 AH Nadal says he is not GULF TIMES fully fi t ahead of SPORT Page 4 FOOTBALL/ FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT Gignac double sends Mexico’s Al Ahly edge out Tigres into Club Duhail to set up World Cup semis Bayern last-4 clash Elshahat’s 30th-minute strike proved to be the diff erence between the two sides

By Sahan Bidappa was ruled out after a VAR review with the Ahly forward marginally off side. The visitors continued to press for the second goal but Du- l Duhail, making their hail held on to go into the break FIFA Club World Cup with just a one-goal defi cit. debut, had vowed to After the break, Lamouchi put up a fi ght against made a tactical switch bringing in AfricanA champions Al Ahly, and Almoez Ali and Mohamed Mun- the Qatari side delivered on their tari for Olunga and al-Rawi. The promise. But the home side’s changes seemed to work for Du- best eff ort wasn’t enough as they hail as they looked more threaten- slumped to a 0-1 loss to the Egyp- ing than their opponents. tians at the Education City Sta- With the Brazilian duo Edmil- dium yesterday. son and Dudu forming a devas- Hussein Elshahat’s 30th- tating front line with Almoez, minute strike proved to be the dif- Duhail were always in the game. Tigres’ forward Andre-Pierre Gignac celebrates scoring against ference between the two sides, as Edmilson, in particular, was Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium yesterday. Al Ahly secured a semi-fi nal date livewire in the second half, but with European powerhouse Bay- the 26-year-old was poor with AFP Tigres set up a meeting with ern Munich on Monday. his fi nal pass. Doha Palmeiras, who beat Sao Pau- For Duhail and coach Sabri In the 56th minute, Edmilson lo rivals Santos last weekend Lamouchi, it was a case of what dispossessed in the fi - could have been as they wasted but his shot was blocked by Aliou ormer France striker nal. at least three scoring chances in Dieng. With Duhail going out all Andre-Pierre Gignac No team from the CON- the second half. Now, the reign- in attack, goalkeeper Mohamed scored twice as Mex- CACAF region of North, Cen- ing QNB Stars League champions Elshenawy came to Ahly’s rescue ico’s Tigres defeated tral America and the Carib- will have to do with a consolation on more than one occasion. The AsianF champions Ulsan Hy- bean has ever reached the fi fth-place playoff against Ulsan African champions’ captain fi rst undai 2-1 yesterday to qualify Club World Cup fi nal. Hyundai, who had earlier lost to defl ected a powerful shot from for the semi-fi nals of the Club Bayern Munich are the Mexican side Tigres UANL. Muntari into the corner before World Cup. overwhelming favourites to Lamouchi reverted to a 4-3-3 denying Mohamed Moussa and Tigres, the CONCACAF cap a remarkable last year as defensive formation and kept Al- Dudu in quick succession. Champions League winners, they head to for the de- moez Ali on the bench, instead At the other end, Ahly them- will face Copa Libertadores layed FIFA Club World Cup, opting to start with new recruit selves had a chance to double the champions Palmeiras of Bra- taking place later than sched- Michael Olunga. The Frenchman Al Ahly’s midfielder Hussein Elshahat (C) gestures in celebration after scoring against Al Duhail of Qatar lead but Dieng shot inches wide zil tomorrow for a spot in next uled because of the impact of also surprisingly left out the ex- in the FIFA Club World Cup at the yesterday. At bottom, a piece of the action from of the post. With time running week’s fi nal. the Covid-19 pandemic which perienced Luiz Martin and Assem the match. PICTURES: Shemeer Rashid out, Duhail were desperate for the Defender Kim Kee-hee overshadows the tourna- Madibo. equaliser and they nearly had one headed Ulsan ahead from a ment. Bayern qualifi ed after Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane in the 79th minute when Muntari corner in Al Rayyan, as the their triumph in last season’s kept his usual 4-2-3-1 forma- headed the ball towards the goal South Koreans returned to UEFA Champions League, the tion, giving Congo striker Walter but Elshenawy pulled out a stun- the Gulf state just six weeks crowning moment of a 2020 Bwalya a place in the starting XI ning save. after their triumph in Asia’s which also saw ’s instead of Mohamed Sherif or Four minutes later, Muntari top club competition. team win the Bundesliga, . And it proved was once again in the thick of the Gignac slammed in a volley German Cup, UEFA Super to be an inspirational choice action but the Qatari midfi elder’s to level on 38 minutes after a Cup and German Super Cup. from the South African as Bwalya header off a corner went over the Tigres corner was fl icked on Now they are hoping to be- played a key role in Ahly’s goal. bar. That was the last real chance by Diego Reyes, and the CON- come the eighth consecutive The Cairo-based outfi t started Duhail could conjure, as Al Ahly CACAF Champions League European winner of the Club brightly and dominated pos- held on. winners went ahead in fi rst- World Cup, a run that start- session but couldn’t carve out a Duhail’s attacking approach half stoppage time. ed when Bayern themselves clear-cut opening until Bassam in the second half was evident as As Gignac rose to meet lifted the trophy in Morocco al-Rawi gifted them one. The Du- they had a whopping 15 attempts another corner his header in 2013. If they do so they hail centre-back lost the ball to with seven shots on target. Al struck the raised arm of Ulsan can — albeit with the caveat an alert Bwalya, who set it up for Ahly attempted just seven shots centre-back Kim, and Tigres that this competition is being Elshahat to fi re a low shot into the at goal with one shot on target but were awarded a penalty fol- played in a diff erent calendar bottom corner from just outside that was enough for them to set- lowing a VAR review. year — match the achieve- the penalty area. up a mouthwatering semi-fi nal The ex-Marseille forward ment of ’s Bar- Just minutes later, Bwalya had against Bayern at the Ahmad Bin smacked the resulting spot- celona, who won six trophies the ball in the net but the goal Ali Stadium on Monday. kick low into the corner as in 2009.

PREVIEW Olympics chief apologises, but refuses to resign over controversial comments

Reuters organising committee into drop- to make sure their speaking time “I don’t talk to women that Tokyo ping Mori from the top post. is restricted somewhat, they have much lately so I don’t know,” Mori The 83-year-old Mori, a former diffi culty fi nishing, which is an- said, when asked by a reporter Japanese prime minister and head noying,” said Mori, according to whether he had any basis for say- okyo Olympics chief of the Tokyo organising com- the Asahi report. ing that women board members Yoshiro Mori yester- mittee, acknowledged that his “We have about seven wom- talked too much during meetings. day apologised for mak- comments that women board en at the organising committee Mori’s defi ant response is un- Ting sexist remarks about members talked too much were but everyone understands their likely to tamp down public criti- women, saying he retracted the “inappropriate” and against the place.” cism and anger over his com- comments and would not resign, Olympic spirit. In a hastily-called press brief- ments is likely to further alienate despite calls for him to step down Mori made the comments at ing, Mori tried to explain himself, a Japanese public that has grown on social media. a Japanese Olympic Committee at fi rst apologising, then later wary of Tokyo’s attempts to hold The hashtag “Mori, please re- (JOC) board of trustees meeting saying that he did not necessar- the Games during a pandemic. sign” was trending on Twitter in this week, according to a report in ily think that fretting over the Nearly 80% of the Japanese Japan yesterday and some users the Asahi newspaper. number of women in high-rank- public opposes holding the Games on the platform were calling on “If we increase the number of ing position was what was impor- as scheduled in July, according to sponsors to pressure the Tokyo female board members, we have tant. the most recent poll. Gulf Times 2 Friday, February 5, 2021 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Hosting Club World Cup big step in Qatar’s journey to 2022 The games being played in some of the FIFA World Cup stadiums has really added to the sense of occasion

By Samuel Eto’o In recent years, the tournament has been dominated by the UEFA Champi- his week, the eyes of the world ons League winners and I think Bayern will be on Qatar, as it takes an- Munich will be going into the tour- other big step on its journey to nament full of confi dence that they the FIFA World Cup in 2022 by can take home the trophy. The Bayern Thosting the FIFA Club World Cup 2020 squad is full of quality, and with one from 4-11 February. of the world’s best strikers in Robert During my playing career, I was very Lewandowski leading the line, they will lucky to have had the opportunity not be diffi cult to stop. If Bayern win the only to compete in this great competi- tournament, they will become only the tion, but to win it with . My second team after Barcelona in 2009 to memories of the Club World Cup could win all six domestic and international not be better, as for the fi rst time, I had titles up for grabs in one season, which the pleasure of playing in a fi nal against would be an amazing achievement. a very beautiful African team, TP Maz- While Bayern will be favourites, the embe. last non-European club to win the I had a lot of emotions for this match tournament was Corinthians of Brazil for both my home continent, Africa, in 2012. With Brazilian club Palmeiras and my duty to ensure victory for Inter. to represent South America after win- It was an honour to win the competi- ning the Copa Libertadores, I’m sure tion with Inter for the fi rst time in the they will travel to Qatar with a winning club’s history and to share this victory mentality and the belief that they can with my brothers from TP Mazembe. challenge Bayern for the title. After the game, I went to the Maz- It is always a challenge for the clubs embe dressing room, I stayed a while, from the other regions to compete with and I shared the moment with their the big European and South American players. These are great memories for clubs, but it will be a great opportu- me, especially as I also won the Golden nity for the players from Al Duhail, Al Ball as the best player of the tourna- Ahly, Tigres UANL and Ulsan Hyundai ment. Winning this honour was a sur- to show their ability and compete with prise for me, but made me very happy. some of the best players in the world. It was the fi rst time an African player I know Qatar is ready and very ex- won this distinction at the competi- cited to host the FIFA Club World Cup. tion, so it was a great honour for me. Tournaments like this are really impor- During interviews, I would often get tant for Qatar on its journey to hosting asked about the celebration after my the World Cup in 2022, as it allows the goal in the fi nal with my team-mate country to not only get some invaluable Marco Materazzi. For me, every goal experience of hosting a major event, celebration with my brother Marco was but to learn from it and make the nec- special throughout my stay at Inter, but essary improvements to ensure the 1.5 the signifi cance of my celebration dur- million fans expected to travel to the ing this game is still a secret, and some- some of the FIFA World Cup stadiums experiences Qatar has to off er was in- football fans will create a great atmos- empty stadiums for almost a full season country in 2022 for the World Cup have thing that will always remain that way. really added to the sense of occasion for credible and a fi rst look at what people phere in the stadiums. now. A huge amount of work has been an incredible experience. Last year, I had the privilege of at- both the players and the fans. can expect when the FIFA World Cup The news that the two venues host- done by the Local Organising Com- Based on my experience as a player, tending the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup To meet fans that had travelled from comes to the country in 2022. ing the tournament – Ahmad Bin Ali mittee to put strict protocols in place I believe the opportunity to play at this as a Supreme Committee for Delivery & countries like Brazil, Mexico and Eng- While it’s a pity that the number of Stadium and Education City Stadium – – such as mass testing and a socially tournament will be a special moment Legacy Ambassador. The atmosphere land – all famous for their passion and international fans attending this year’s will be operating at a reduced capacity distanced seating plan – to allow this to for the players involved and will leave in Qatar during the tournament was in- love of football – to enjoy this special tournament will be extremely limited for all the matches is great for the play- happen and make sure it is safe for fans behind many happy memories for them credible and the games being played in tournament and the many amazing due to the pandemic, I’m sure the local ers, as most will have been playing in to attend and enjoy games. to look back on in the future.

BUNDESLIGA MUSSOLINI’S GREAT-GRANDSON HOPES HE European champions Bayern Munich WON’T BE JUDGED BY HIS NAME AT LAZIO Milan: The great-grandson of club icon Paolo Di Canio gave able for Saturday’s trip to New- Italy’s late fascist dictator Benito a fascist salute to Lazio fans in castle United after his red card head to Qatar via Khedira’s Hertha Berlin Mussolini hopes he will not be the Curva Nord after playing in against Manchester United was judged by his name after being a derby win against city rivals rescinded. Bednarek was sent AFP Last season’s Champions League winners Rose’s future) as soon as possible”, Gladbach called up for the youth team at AS Roma. off for a last-man challenge on Berlin will play their semi-fi nal on Monday against sporting director Max Eberl said. Serie A club Lazio. After receiving a ban, Di Anthony Martial in Southamp- African Champions League winners Al Ahly. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, the veteran Dutch Romano Floriani Mussolini, Canio was reported to have ton’s 9-0 loss at Old Traff ord. Mueller said yesterday that the Club World striker, could make his fi rst Bundesliga ap- 18, has been part of the squad said “I am a fascist, not a rac- ayern Munich striker Thomas Mu- Cup was Bayern’s chance to “crown an in- pearance since 2017 after making a surprise for Lazio’s Under-23 ‘Primavera’ ist”. He has since said he was AJAX ADMIT ‘ERROR’ IN eller is hoping to spoil fellow World credible year” after winning only their sec- return to Schalke from Ajax in January. team for the past two matches, misquoted. It is unclear whether HALLER EUROPA LEAGUE Cup winner Sami Khedira’s home- ond ever treble in 2020. Huntelaar, 37, was prolifi c for Schalke be- including their 2-0 loss to Romano has signed a profes- REGISTRATION FIASCO coming today when the Bundesliga Second-placed RB Leipzig will look to tween 2010 and 2017, and has now returned Juventus on Saturday. “Here at sional contract with Lazio. Dutch champions Ajax admitted leadersB take on Hertha Berlin before depart- keep the heat on Bayern with a win at bot- to help them launch an improbable bid to Lazio I’m judged only for the that they had made a “huge” ing for the Club World Cup in Qatar. “I am tom club Schalke, while Borussia Dortmund avoid relegation in the second half of the way I play and not because my FA DISMISSES LUIZ RED mistake in failing to register really happy that Sami is back. He’s a child hope to break back into the top four on their season. Bottom of the league and nine points surname is Mussolini,” Romano CARD APPEAL, OVERTURNS record signing Sebastien Haller of the Bundesliga,” Mueller told the Bayern trip to Freiburg. adrift of safety, Schalke’s season hit a new told newspaper Il Messaggero. BEDNAREK BAN for the remainder of their website ahead of today’s clash. “I’m excited Dortmund should return to full strength low as they were knocked out of the cup by “I hope I can make my debut for Arsenal have lost their ap- Europa League campaign. The to see how his return to Germany pans out, on Saturday after injury scares for veteran Wolfsburg on Wednesday, with Huntelaar the Primavera one day.” peal against David Luiz’s red Franco-Ivorian striker joined even if I hope it starts badly on Friday.” defender Mats Hummels and English winger making a 10-minute cameo as a substitute. Romano is the third child of card during Tuesday’s Premier the club from West Ham in Former Germany midfi elder Khedira, Jadon Sancho. Hummels missed Tuesday’s Alessandra Mussolini and hus- League match against Wol- early January for a club record who won the World Cup alongside Muel- narrow German Cup win over Paderborn FIXTURES band Mauro Floriani, and great- verhampton Wanderers, but 22.5mn euros ($26.9mn) and ler in 2014, could make his fi rst Bundesliga with a knee problem, while Sancho limped (all times 1430 GMT unless stated) grandson of Benito Mussolini, a ban for Southampton’s Jan ought to have been included on appearance in over a decade on Friday after off the fi eld in extra-time. Yet Dortmund who was prime minister of Italy Bednarek has been overturned their Europa League roster but joining Hertha from Juventus in a headline- director Sebastian Kehl told Bild newspaper Today: Hertha Berlin v Bayern Munich from 1922 to 1943 after a fascist by the Football Association. somehow was overlooked. grabbing move earlier this week. he hoped both players would return against (1900) coup. Alessandra is a former Luiz was sent off for the third “It’s a huge administrative The 33-year-old is charged with helping Freiburg. Tomorrow: Bayer Leverkusen v Stuttgart, member of the European Parlia- time in his Arsenal career after error on our part,” Ajax coach hapless Hertha turn their season around, Elsewhere, Borussia Moenchengladbach Freiburg v Borussia Dortmund, Schalke v ment for Forza Italia. the centre back was adjudged Erik ten Hag said on the club’s with the ambitious capital club currently prepare to take on local rivals Cologne amid RB Leipzig, Mainz v Union Berlin, Augsburg The 18-year-old defender is to have committed a last-man website. “Something went stuck just a single place above the relega- growing speculation over the future of coach v Wolfsburg, Borussia Moenchengladbach v currently completing his last foul on Willian Jose in the box in wrong, an administrative error tion play-off spot. For Bayern, the game is Marco Rose. Rose, 44, has been touted as a Cologne (1730) year at the St George British a 2-1 defeat at Wolves. Contact with major consequences. But a chance to consolidate their seven-point potential successor to interim coach Edin International School in Rome, appeared to be minimal but the as long as there is a chance that lead at the top of the table before they travel Terzic in the Dortmund dugout at the end of Sunday: Hoff enheim v Eintracht Frankfurt, which is close to Lazio’s training decision was upheld by VAR. we can still register him, we to Doha for the Club World Cup next week. the season. “We want to have clarity (about Arminia Bielefeld v Werder Bremen (1700) ground. A minority of Lazio Arsenal have accepted the FA’s have to go for it. We did not get fans, known as “ultras”, have decision but said they are “dis- him for nothing.” links to the far right. appointed that our appeal has Ajax face French club Lille A number of banners been unsuccessful”. Luiz will in the round of 16 on February expressing pride in the fascist miss Arsenal’s 18 and 25. Since his transfer, movement have been flown game at Aston Villa tomorrow. 26-year-old Haller has stood out at the Stadio Olimpico’s Curva Meanwhile, Southampton will with two goals and four assists Nord over the years. In 2005, have defender Bednarek avail- in six Eredivisie appearances.

FOCUS Liverpool barred from entering Germany for Champions League AFP interior ministry said in a state- tions for medical workers and Berlin ment. others in key professions, the Leipzig are now looking for an interior ministry has repeatedly alternative location. said that there are “no special iverpool will not be al- The Bundesliga club are set to provision for professional sport- lowed to enter Germany host Premier League champions speople”. for a Champions League Liverpool in a Champions League According to German me- match against RB Leipzig last-16, fi rst leg game but the dia reports, UEFA’s regulations Lon February 16 because of strict planning for the match has been decree that Leipzig must fi nd a entry rules imposed over the upended by Germany’s recently way of hosting the match or risk pandemic, the German interior updated travel restrictions. forfeiting it as a 3-0 defeat. Po- ministry said yesterday. The new rules, slated to last tential solutions include play- “German federal police in- until the day after the game, ban ing the game at a neutral ground formed RB Leipzig today that the travellers from countries hit by outside of Germany, or switching described case does not meet the new, more contagious corona- the home and away legs of the tie requirements for an exception” virus variants such as Britain. so that the fi rst leg would be in Bayern Munich will play their semi-final on Monday against African Champions League winners Al Ahly. (AFP) to the travel restrictions, the Though there are some excep- Liverpool. Gulf Times Friday, February 5, 2021 3 FOOTBALL

PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND-UP Rangers march Brighton put huge dent towards title AFP Glasgow

angers moved a step closer to winning the in Liverpool’s title hopes Scottish Premiership title as Wednesday’s 1-0R win against St Johnstone Defeat to lowly Brighton at Anfield leaves Klopp's men seven points behind leaders Manchester City gave Steven Gerrard his 100th victory as Ibrox boss. Ianis AFP Hagi’s second-half strike lifted Liverpool Rangers 23 points ahead of sec- ond-placed Celtic. Thanks to the Romania mid- righton condemned Liverpool fi elder, former Liverpool star to their second straight Pre- Gerrard has reached a century mier League home defeat on of wins in just 152 matches since Wednesday night, winning 1-0 taking his fi rst managerial role toB leave the champions with a mountain with the Glasgow club. Just six to climb if they are going to retain their more victories will see Gerrard title. Jurgen Klopp’s men appeared to lead Rangers to their fi rst league have turned the corner with impressive crown in a decade, ending Celt- victories against Tottenham and West ic’s hopes of lifting the trophy Ham after a fi ve-match winless run. for a 10th consecutive season. But defeat to lowly Brighton at An- Motherwell secured their fi eld leaves them seven points behind second successive win, beating leaders Manchester City, who also have Dundee United 2-1, after going a game in hand. ’s men three months without a victory. executed their gameplan to perfection, Devante Cole and Christopher snuffi ng out Liverpool’s dangermen and Long scored in the fi rst half and off ering a threat up front. United pulled one back through The only goal of the game came in the Ryan Edwards. 56th minute courtesy of a Steven Alzate Ross County came from be- strike and Liverpool could not respond. hind to win the basement battle Liverpool captain against Hamilton 2-1. County was again drafted into central defence midfi elder Stephen Kelly put in the absence of any of the club’s sen- through his own net after 16 ior centre-backs, with new signing Ben minutes. Davies on the substitutes’ bench. But debutant Jordan White Goalkeeper Becker was ab- levelled in the 80th minute be- sent due to illness, meaning Caoimhin fore setting up fellow substitute Keller made only his second Premier Billy McKay to volley in the win- League appearance. Forward Sadio ner shortly afterwards. Mane was also missing from Liverpool’s attack. NAPOLI, ATALANTA Liverpool enjoyed the bulk of pos- BATTLE TO GOALLESS session in the early stages but in-form DRAW Brighton were organised at the back and Holders Napoli and Atalanta off ered a threat on their forays forward. battled out a goalless draw on had a golden chance to Wednesday in their Italian Cup give Liverpool the lead in the opening semi-fi nal, fi rst leg clash with all minutes when he collected a long ball to play for on the return trip to from Henderson. Bergamo next week. The Egyptian forward, who scored Brighton’s Steven Alzate (right) celebrates after scoring against Liverpool in the Premier League in Liverpool, north west England on Wednesday night. (AFP) Napoli goalkeeper David Os- twice in Liverpool’s 3-1 win at West pina proved decisive on the night Ham at the weekend, controlled the ball header over in the closing moments of ball across the area and Adam Webster mistake from Burnley keeper Nick Pope Lingard, who signed on loan from pulling off key saves as Atalanta but put his left-footed shot over the bar. the fi rst half. produced a superb, muscular challenge and Raheem Sterling grabbed the sec- Manchester United last week, struck came closest to breaking the Salah off ered an occasional threat down Jurgen Klopp’s men went in at half- to stop the Egypt forward in his tracks. ond before half-time. in the 56th minute after a fl owing West deadlock in the Diego Armando the right but Liverpool looked short of time having failed to muster a single But Brighton were still threating at the Leicester beat struggling Fulham 2-0 Ham counter. Maradona Stadium. ideas in the fi nal third when faced with shot on goal. The second half shaped up other end. Keller saved smartly from to improve their superb away league Villa’s Ollie Watkins scored in the Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are the massed blue shirts of Brighton. like the fi rst, with Liverpool probing but Pascal Gross and also record. Despite the absence of in- 81st minute, but Lingard bagged his bidding to win only the second The visitors had a chance to take the looking short of inspiration. Roberto forced a save. The result lifts Brighton to jured leading scorer Jamie Vardy, Kel- second two minutes later as fi fth placed major trophy in their history and lead midway through the fi rst half when Firmino had a defl ected shot wide but it 15th in the table, 10 points clear of the echi Iheanacho opened the scoring for West Ham held on for a fi fth win in their fi rst since the 1963 Italian Cup. the ball fell to after Neal Mau- was Brighton who took the lead with the relegation zone. Brendan Rodgers’ men and James Justin last six league games. Lorenzo Insigne had a couple pay’s shot was blocked but he skied over game’s fi rst shot on target. Earlier, Manchester City moved three doubled their lead on the stroke of half- Dominic Calvert-Lewin got back of early chances for the hosts, from close range. Brighton, full of con- Burn, on the left side of the Liver- points clear at the top with a 2-0 victory time. Leicester now have eight wins out on the goal trail as sixth placed Ever- testing Pierluigi Gollini in the fi dence after taking seen points from pool area, headed a cross-fi eld ball back against Burnley. Pep Guardiola’s side of 11 on the road, in contrast to their ton won 2-1 at Leeds. Calvert-Lewin Atalanta goal. their past three matches, were hoping to across goal and Alzate ran onto it to loop had watched Manchester United draw mixed form at the King Power Stadium, notched his fi rst goal in eight league Gennaro Gattuso’s six-time match the heroics of Burnley, who won a shot inside the far post. Klopp threw level on points with them on Tuesday where they have suff ered fi ve defeats. games to take his tally for the season to Cup winners have left every- at Anfi eld last month. on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Di- after their bitter rivals crushed South- Jesse Lingard scored twice on his 12 after Gylfi Sigurdsson had given the thing to play for in the Gewiss The visitors showed ambition when vock Origi for ampton 9-0. West Ham debut to clinch a 3-1 victory visitors an early lead. Stadium on February 10. Cris- they had the chance to get forward, at- and as he sought a way But City underlined their determina- at Aston Villa. Tomas Soucek opened Raphinha pulled one back for Leeds tiano Ronaldo scored twice as tempting to use their height advantage back into the match. tion to hold onto top spot with a com- the scoring after 51 minutes when he soon after the interval, but Everton se- Juventus came from behind to to full eff ect. headed over Salah fl ashed a left-footed shot over posed, mature display at Turf Moor. latched into Said Benrahma’s pass and cured a fourth successive away league beat Inter Milan 2-1 at the San from a free-kick and Maupay also put a after Trent Alexander-Arnold fi zzed a Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring after a drilled into the corner. win for the fi rst time since 1985. Siro in their fi rst leg on Tuesday.

COPA DEL REY LIGUE 1 Griezmann double inspires Barcelona PSG sweep past Nimes as cup comeback against Granada Marseille blow two-goal lead AFP AFP Madrid Paris

ntoine Griezmann led Barcelona aris Saint-Germain back from the brink on Wednes- shrugged off the absence day as the Catalans beat Granada of a suspended Neymar 5-3 after extra-time to win a riv- to beat basement side etingA cup tie and reach the Copa del Rey PNimes 3-0 in Ligue 1 on Wednes- semi-fi nals. Barca looked set to crash out day, while crisis-hit rivals Mar- at Los Carmenes when Granada led 2-0 seille let slip a two-goal lead with two minutes of normal time remaining against Lens. but Griezmann scored one goal in the 88th Angel di Maria pounced on minute and then set up Jordi Alba for a dra- a misplaced pass to steer PSG matic equaliser in the 92nd. ahead on 17 minutes at the Parc Griezmann headed his team in front in des Princes, with Pablo Sarabia extra-time only for Granada’s to heading in a cross from the Ar- make it 3-3 with a penalty. Yet Frenkie de gentine to double the advantage. Jong’s fi nish and a thumping volley from Thilo Kehrer rattled the cross- Paris Saint-Germain’s Angel Di Maria in action during the French Alba, also set up by Griezmann, sent a re- bar at a corner before PSG goal- Ligue 1 match against Nimes Olympique in Paris. (AFP) lieved Barcelona through. “It was a brilliant, keeper Sergio Rico, again fi lling beautiful cup tie,” said Griezmann. in for the injured Keylor Navas, club’s academy, took control of through Canadian substitute Ronald Koeman admitted the Copa del reacted sharply to tip over from the team following the suspen- David. Rey is his team’s “shortest route” to a tro- Lamine Fomba. sion of coach Andre-Villas-Boas Lyon stay two points behind phy this season and with Atletico Madrid Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann (centre) celebrates with Lionel Messi after scoring a goal Kylian Mbappe bagged a third on Tuesday. The Portuguese had Lille after their 1-0 victory at 10 points clear in and Paris Saint- during the Copa del Rey quarter-final match against Granada on Wednesday night. (AFP) for the hosts midway through the earlier off ered to resign following struggling Dijon, who are still Germain to come in the Champions League, second half with a superb curling a row over transfers. winless at home this term. Bra- it may prove their only route too. Barca’s reward is a place in the semis and goalkeeper and in. strike from 20 yards, his league- Lille recorded their fi fth con- zilian midfi elder Lucas Paqueta Granada, though, came within a whisker they will be heavy favourites after early ex- Granada had four minutes of added time leading 15th goal of the season. secutive victory with a 3-0 win at collected a pass from Karl Toko of another huge upset as goals from Robert its for Atletico and Real Madrid. They join to survive and they held out for only two, a PSG surrendered top spot at the Bordeaux. Yusuf Yazici, Timothy Ekambi to slot in the game’s only and put them in Sevilla, who beat Almeria on Tuesday, and carbon-copy pass from Messi fi nding Griez- weekend following a shock 3-2 Weah and Jonathan David scored goal on 22 minutes. sight of the last four. Instead, Koeman’s side Levante, who also came through after extra- mann in the same spot, this time the strik- loss at Lorient, Mauricio Pochet- second-half goals as Lille stayed Monaco made it six wins from rallied, with Lionel Messi the architect and time for a surprise 1-0 win against Villar- er heading across for Alba to nod in. Luis tino’s fi rst defeat since taking out in front of chasing duo Lyon six in the new year as captain Griezmann delivering surely his best per- real. Real Betis or Athletic Bilbao play for Suarez could still have won it for Granada charge, and remain three points and PSG. Wissam Ben Yedder netted twice formance since he joined Barcelona from the last spot. Samuel Umtiti was at fault for in normal time but drove wide when sent back of leaders Lille ahead of Turkey international Yazici in a 2-1 victory over Cote d’Azur Atletico 18 months ago. Granada’s opening two goals, fi rst robbed by clear and it looked like Barca had it wrapped Sunday’s trip to Marseille. slammed a pass from Jonathan neighbours Nice. Ben Yedder’s It is the kind of performance that could Alberto Soro, who fi red a quick pass across up when Griezmann scored again in extra- After three league defeats in a Bamba into the roof of the net fi rst-half penalty was cancelled prove a starting point for Koeman’s team. for Kenedy to score, and then outrun by time, heading in Alba’s cross from the left. row, Marseille surged 2-0 ahead on 54 minutes as Lille eventu- out by a Pierre Lees-Melou goal, “A match and a result like this will feed Soldado, who fi nished into the corner. Sergi Granada struck back almost immediately, at Lens as Florian Thauvin and ally broke down Bordeaux. US but the France striker rifl ed in a our spirit and our strength,” said Koeman. Roberto went off with what looked like a though, Sergino Dest knocking over Car- Arkadiusz Milik, making his fi rst international Weah then applied free-kick from distance to keep “These are moments that can be very im- hamstring strain and Barca searched for a los Neva in the box and Fede Vico convert- start for the club, struck near the the fi nishing touch from a Luiz Niko Kovac’s side within touch portant in a season.” way back. ing the penalty, only for Barcelona to fi nd a end of the fi rst half. But Florian Araujo lay-off as the Brazilian of the top three. Griezmann now has six goals and seven Francisco Trincao and Messi both hit the fourth. Sotoca halved the defi cit right ran free of the Bordeaux defence Fifth-placed Rennes conceded assists in his last nine games. “Now I need woodwork while Griezmann drew a smart Messi’s shot was parried out for De Jong after half-time and Facundo Me- following a blistering counter- a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at consistency,” said Griezmann. “I’ve felt save from goalkeeper Aaron Escandell with to poach the rebound. Granada were on the dina fl icked in the equaliser with attack just past the hour. home to resurgent Lorient. Metz good since January and I want to keep it a bicycle kick. Finally the pressure told in the ropes and a fi fth proved the knock-out blow. an hour gone, the 2-2 draw leav- Lille goalkeeper Mike Maignan extended their unbeaten run to going until the end of the season. I feel like 88th minute, Griezmann sliding onto Mes- Griezmann swept a superb pass out to Alba, ing Marseille with just one win in made a superb refl ex save to turn six matches following a 1-1 draw I have the confi dence of my coach and my si’s curled pass to the back post and catching who nonchalantly volleyed in for perhaps 10 games in all competitions. away Hwang Ui-jo’s header, and with Montpellier, while Brest teammates.” it on the bounce, the ball cannoning off the the best goal of a thrilling night. Nasser Larguet, head of the the visitors added a late third drew 2-2 at Strasbourg. Gulf Times 4 Friday, February 5, 2021 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT ASSERTION Nadal says he’s not Tournament to go ahead fully fi t ahead of despite hotel virus case Reuters Dan Andrews has made it clear Melbourne the safety of the community is Australian Open paramount and said there were “no guarantees” the Australian he Australian Open Open would go ahead. ‘I’ve never been obsessed with Grand Slams, truth be told’ will begin as sched- “At this stage, the tennis uled on Monday even shouldn’t be impacted by this,” Reuters though a worker at one he told reporters. “These things Tof the Melbourne hotels used can change (but) this has been a Melbourne to quarantine players and their textbook response to this.” entourages tested positive for Michael O’Brien, the leader orld number two Covid-19, tournament director of the opposition in Victoria’s Rafa Nadal yes- Craig Tiley said yesterday. state parliament, called on the terday said doubts The day’s warm-up matches government to make a call by remain over his fi t- at Melbourne Park were called Saturday on whether the tour- nessW ahead of next week’s Aus- off after the case was announced nament would take place. tralian Open. late on Wednesday, and those “We don’t want to see a situ- Nadal pulled out of Spain’s who underwent quarantine at ation as we did with the Grand ATP Cup tie against Australia on the Grand Hyatt hotel were in- Prix, where crowds were literal- Tuesday with a lower back prob- structed to get tested and isolate ly turning up, only to be turned lem and, despite some improve- until they had a result. away,” he told Melbourne’s Her- ment, said he was still far away “We’re absolutely confi - ald Sun newspaper. from the level required to play at dent the Australian Open will “I think people are entitled the year’s fi rst . go ahead,” Tiley told reporters. to know what’s happening, and “It’s not that I’m in a really “We are starting on Monday.” the government should be mak- bad way, but I’m also not alright He said the 507 people af- ing their minds up in the next 24 in the sense that I can’t play ei- fected, 160 of them players, had to 48 hours.” ther,” Nadal told Spanish televi- their tests completed by late The Australian Grand Prix, sion channel Movistar+. yesterday afternoon. the traditional season opener of “I’ve improved a little but I’m If the results are negative, the the Formula One championship, not in a position where I can go players would be free to partici- was cancelled because of the and play a game at full intensity.” pate in the six warm-up events Covid-19 pandemic last March Nadal’s name was also absent at the Grand Slam venue to al- a few hours before the cars were from Spain’s ATP Cup tie today low them to get match practice due to take to the track at Mel- against Greece at Melbourne after 14 days in quarantine. bourne’s Albert Park. Park’s John Cain Arena with “This does give us three days Tiley rejected the compari- Roberto Bautista Agut and Pablo for the lead-in events to be son. Carreno Busta to lead the chal- Spain’s Rafael Nadal attends a completed,” he said, adding that “The probability is very low lenge in the singles matches for training session in Melbourne the draw for the Grand Slam that there’ll be an issue. We ex- last year’s fi nalists. on January 31. tournament had been post- pect them all to test negative,” The 34-year-old practised for poned from Thursday to Friday. he said. “The plan is to continue an hour on yesterday evening Earlier, Victoria state health to play tomorrow as planned.” at the Rod Laver Arena and his offi cials said the testing of the Tiley is experienced in re- fi tness was improving “little by He then defeated Dominic surgery, the Spaniard would go well, the season goes on,” he three out of his seven major ti- tennis cohort was precaution- scheduling matches because of little, step by step”, sources close Thiem 7-5 6-4 last Friday in an have the chance to become the said. tles at Melbourne Park. ary. rain, hot weather and bushfi re to Nadal told Reuters. exhibition match between the all-time major record holder “I’ve never been obsessed “That’s a worry for sure, he “We think the risk to other smoke and organisers released The Spaniard was one of the men’s world number two and in the men’s game for the fi rst with Grand Slams, truth be would want to play maybe a couple guests in the hotel — tennis the orders of play for Friday, top players who quarantined three at Adelaide’s Memorial time. told.” of matches. That’s kind of scary I players and their accompanying when wet weather is forecast, in Adelaide for 14 days after Drive Tennis Club. He insisted, however, that The 14-day quarantine and think for him,” Eurosport expert staff — is relatively low,” Allen with 67 matches scheduled their arrival Down Under and Nadal sits level with Roger was not something he was fo- lack of competitive matches Wilander told Reuters this week. Cheng told reporters. across the six tune-up events. were allowed five hours a day Federer on 20 Grand Slam titles cused on. “First things first, ahead of the Grand Slam could “I don’t remember him hav- Victoria endured one of the “With the rain, we do have to train during the mandatory and, with the Swiss not taking and that’s to play the Austral- prove problematic for Nadal, ing back problems before. He’s longest and toughest lockdowns the luxury of having three sta- isolation. part in Melbourne after knee ian Open, and if that doesn’t feels Mats Wilander, who won not young any more.” in the world to contain the new dium courts and eight indoor coronavirus, and Wednesday’s courts,” he said. “That will en- case was the fi rst to be locally able us to not get ahead but at FOCUS acquired in the state for al- least to be able to fi nish by Sun- most a month. State Premier day.”

Djokovic out to resume normal service in Melbourne Women’s matches shortened in Open tuneups Reuters being disqualifi ed in the fourth round for he shares with Rafa Nadal. Melbourne inadvertently striking a female line judge However, the Swede said Djokovic, Melbourne: Women will “All WTA singles matches from in the throat with a ball. while tough to stop in Melbourne, could play shorter matches at the Friday on will be a best of two Djokovic was then given one of his be vulnerable early on. Australian Open tuneups regular tie break sets with a ven in these tumultuous and un- worst beatings when he ran into an in- “I don’t see him as the head and shoul- from today due to a logjam 10 point match tie break if certain times across the world spired Rafa Nadal in the fi nal of the re- ders favourite over the likes of Nadal and in fixtures after yesterday’s required for a final set,” TA some things can always be relied scheduled — losing 6-0 6-2 (Dominic) Thiem,” Wilander, who will play was cancelled on news a said in the fixtures released for on to stay the same and Novak 7-5. be working as an expert for broadcaster quarantine hotel worker was today’s order of play. DjokovicE will hope to bolster that theory Even last month after arriving for his Eurosport during the tournament,” told infected with the coronavirus. The men’s tournaments will as he targets a record-extending ninth mandatory quarantine in Australia, he Reuters. Yesterday’s matches at the six continue to be held in its exist- Australian Open title. courted controversy by apparently criti- “He might not be able to necessarily events ahead of the Feb. 8-21 ing best-of-three sets formats, When Djokovic battled past Dominic cising the conditions players had to en- trust his form. It’s been a year (since he Grand Slam were cancelled with a tiebreak at 6-6 in the Thiem to win the 2020 title, most of the dure in hotels. won his last Grand Slam) and you can’t after a worker at the Grand final set. Over 500 people, in- world was blissfully unaware of the brew- That said, the 33-year-old Serb still just dig back to the other eight times you Hyatt Hotel, which was used to cluding 160 players, connected ing coronavirus pandemic and the impact enjoyed an impressive year, claiming won it. quarantine players and their to the Australian Open were it would have on normal life. three other titles in pandemic-interrupt- “But I actually think the complaining entourages, tested positive for considered “casual contacts” of Djokovic could never have imagined ed season, and when he walks back out on (about the conditions) or whatever it was the virus. the hotel worker and asked to what the rest of the year would bring him, to his beloved Rod Laver Arena he will do is actually a good thing for him because it That left organisers Tennis undergo coronavirus tests, Vic- both on and off the court. so as the favourite for the title. shows he’s keen, looking for revenge.” Australia (TA) with just three toria Premier Daniel Andrews In June he was heavily criticised for his ing protocols. Former Australian Open champion With 17 Grand Slam titles to his name, days to complete the matches said at a press conference late part in the ill-fated Adria Tour exhibi- A few months later on the eve of US Mats Wilander said the strange circum- Djokovic remains three behind the record before the year’s first major on Wednesday. tion event in which he, and several other Open, he was again feeling the heat after stances in the build-up to the tourna- of Federer, who is skipping the tourna- starts at the same venue from They are in isolation until they players, tested positive for Covid-19 after launching a breakaway players’ associa- ment will hurt Djokovic less than most ment, and Nadal and will view it as a per- Monday. receive their test results. showing scant regard for social-distanc- tion and he left New York humiliated after players because of the mental toughness fect opportunity to close in.

BOTTOMLINE I thought I had Covid, but it was cancer, says Spanish star Suarez Navarro

Reuters her diagnosis in an interview with Eu- tally, I’ve handled it very well,” she said. London rosport’s Players’ Voice series to mark “Tennis is an individual sport and we World Cancer Day, the 32-year-old said: are used to dealing alone with recovery.” “I had a PCR test to check if I had coro- The Covid-19 restrictions meant she navirus which came back negative, then was unable to meet groups of friends, but hen Spanish player Carla I went to the doctor because I had stom- she was able to play tennis, as well as en- Suarez Navarro had stom- ach pains. joying her brother’s cooking and family ach pains and sickness last “I kept feeling unwell so we went to chess tournaments. summer she suspected it was see more doctors until one of them spoke “I’ve also read a lot and have painted WCovid-19. about the possibility of lymphoma but we mandalas — that’s something that has After tests, however, the news was far had to wait for the results. I was having helped me pass the time,” she said. worse than she could have imagined as she tests and biopsies done all over my body The Spaniard admits that she is not was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, until they fi nally gave me the bad news.” missing the jet lag associated with trav- a type of cancer, and would need months Her initial reaction was wanting to elling to the Australian Open, but does of chemotherapy. know how she could recover. miss her friends on Tour and competing. The former world number six, known “Truth is I don’t know what I thought,” Her plan is for a swansong at the Tokyo for one of the best backhands in tennis, she said. “I didn’t ask questions about the Olympics, although knows she must fi rst had already decided earlier in the year to disease, why I had it or what was going on make the team. retire, but this was not how she wanted to — I just wanted to know what I needed to “So in my mind, if all goes well, I am bow out. do to recover.” hoping I can say goodbye the way I want A few months since that anxious Sep- Suarez Navarro, who last played in Doha to,” she said. tember news she has made a strong re- last February, said the mental toughness “It’s not up to me and it will depend on covery and is targeting a proper farewell she has always exhibited on court helped the rankings; for singles there can only be to the sport at the re-scheduled Tokyo her deal with the challenging months of four players in the draw so if Garbine (Mu- Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro. Olympics. treatment. guruza), Paula (Badosa), Sara (Sorribes) Suarez Navarro completed her chemo- “I didn’t know how my body would react and Aliona (Bolsova) do well at the start of therapy in January, a milestone moment to a new and unprecedented situation like this season, I’ll be out. after her life was turned upside down. this one, so there have been days which I “However, I hope if Garbine has a good Recalling the events leading up to have found physically very hard but men- ranking in doubles, we can play together.” Gulf Times Friday, February 5, 2021 5 SPORT

NBA NFL Quarterback Brady Clippers cruise past eyes improbable new chapter Cavs, Antetokounmpo

‘My teammates did a great job of looking for fuels Bucks me. They set me up and screened for me’

AFP but Indiana, coming off Tuesday’s 134- Los Angeles 116 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, couldn’t slow a Bucks team that made 21 three-pointers. aul George bounced back from a Elsewhere, Luka Doncic, Kristaps Por- AFP rived at the team’s training fa- subpar contest and used it for mo- zingis and Tim Hardaway combined for 73 Los Angeles cility, to practice by himself. tivation as the Los Angeles Clip- points to help the Dallas Mavericks snap a When an injury to Drew pers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers six-game losing streak with a 122-116 win Bledsoe in September 2001 saw PWednesday to avoid losing consecutive over the Atlanta Hawks. f it is true that there are no Brady elevated into the starter’s games for the fi rst time this season. Doncic scored 27 points, posting his 11th second acts in American jersey, he seized his chance. George drained a season-high eight double-double with eight rebounds and 14 lives, Tom Brady clearly He kept his place for the threes en route to 36 points as the Clippers assists. Porzingis tallied 24 points and 11 didn’t get the memo. Patriots for the remainder of crushed the Cavaliers 121-99 to remain the rebounds, while Hardaway came off the IThe greatest quarterback in the season and led the team to only team in the NBA not to have suff ered bench to score 22. NFL history is poised to add an- a fi rst ever Super Bowl win in back-to-back defeats. In New Orleans, Zion Williamson other improbable chapter to his February 2002. On Wednesday, the Clippers couldn’t scored 28 points as the New Orleans Peli- two-decade career on Sunday That win marked the start of handle the trio of Kevin Durant, James cans defeated the Phoenix Suns 123-101. when he leads the Tampa Bay a two-decade reign that would Harden and Kyrie Irving as host Brooklyn Williamson made 12 of 14 fi eld-goal at- Buccaneers in the Super Bowl see Brady and coach Bill Beli- beat them 124-120, sending the Clippers tempts while grabbing seven rebounds and against the Kansas City Chiefs. chick’s Patriots emerge as the to just their second defeat in the last dozen dishing out six assists. When Brady sets foot on the dominant force in the NFL, contests. fi eld at Raymond James Stadi- encompassing eight more trips George doesn’t dwell on bad games but COLLEGE HOOPS STAR’S COLLAPSE um, he will be setting a slew of to the Super Bowl, fi ve of them rather sees an opportunity to learn about NOT COVID-RELATED: FAMILY new records – most of which al- victorious. While the person- himself and improve his skills. University of Florida basketball star ready belong to him – that in all nel on those championship- Keyontae Johnson’s frightening collapse in likelihood will never be beaten. winning teams evolved over December wasn’t related to Covid-19, his At 43 years and 188 days old, time, the one ever-present re- RESULTS family said in a statement Wednesday. he will be the oldest player ever mained Brady, who year after “We are so grateful for the outpouring to play in a Super Bowl. His 10th year, season after season would New Orleans 123-101 Phoenix of support and well wishes for Keyon- appearance in the NFL show- confound predictions that his Clippers 121-99 Cleveland tae and our entire family,” the statement piece is also a new record, four career was in decline. Washington 103-100 Miami released through the University of Florida more than his nearest rivals. “Guys come, guys go. Eve- San Antonio 111-108 Minnesota said. A win on Sunday would give rything changes. Except one “University of Florida Health treating Brady a seventh championship, thing – Tom,” is how former Dallas 122-116 Atlanta physicians consulted with other local another remarkable milestone Washington Redskins quarter- Sacramento 116-111 Boston and national experts who reviewed the that is hard to imagine being back Joe Theismann puts it. New York 107-103 Chicago relevant imaging and testing related to surpassed any time soon. Brady’s collection of Super this case. “I could never have imagined Bowl wins included the 2017 Oklahoma City 104-87 Houston “The unanimous conclusion of all ex- it would be like this. I don’t defeat of the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia 118-111 Charlotte perts is that Keyontae’s medical emergen- think anybody could have,” when he led the Patriots to Milwaukee 130-110 Indiana cy was not related to or a result of a previ- Brady refl ected this week dur- the biggest comeback in Su- ous or current Covid diagnosis.” ing a video call with reporters. per Bowl history, overturning a Johnson, a third-year player who was “The only reason I’ve got to 28-3 third quarter defi cit for a “Last night was great preparation for named the top pre-season player in the the point that I’ve gotten is be- 34-28 overtime win. tonight,” he said, who made eight-of-nine Southeastern Conference, collapsed on cause of the people I’ve had in Another Super Bowl appear- attempts from beyond the arc. court minutes into a game on December 12. my life. My coaches, my team- ance followed in 2018, when he “I did a bad job of shooting my shots. I He was hospitalised in critical condition mates, family, friends, all the fi nished with 505 passing yards told myself if I get the same looks, I am go- with his grandfather saying he was placed people that have supported me. in a losing eff ort to the Phila- ing to knock it down. My teammates did a in a medically induced coma. “It’s been an incredible team delphia Eagles, before his most great job of looking for me. They set me up Days later, he was upgraded to stable eff ort throughout my life on recent victory, a dour 13-3 win and screened for me.” condition, and after a week he was well and off the fi eld. “I’ve tried to over the Los Angeles Rams in It was a tired Clippers team that beat enough to post a video on social media play my ass off every week – 2019. That 2019 win over the the Cavaliers as they fi nished off their six- thanking fans for their support. and I’m still trying to do it.” Rams, at the age of 41, seemed game road trip on a winning note in front Wednesday’s statement did not specify By now the plot points of like a logical place to call time of a pandemic-limited crowd of 2,000 at the nature of Johnson’s medical emergen- Brady’s career have become the on his career. the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleve- cy, only saying that the family remained stuff of NFL folklore. He en- Instead, after a diffi cult land. “committed to sharing any information tered the NFL to little fanfare, 2019-2020 season with the Pa- “We wanted to end this trip on a great Paul George of the LA Clippers shoots the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket that could be helpful to others.” chosen by the New England triots, Brady stunned the NFL note. We didn’t want to lose two in a row,” Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. (Getty Images/AFP) Multiple reports on Johnson’s collapse Patriots with the 199th pick by opting to leave New England said George. had noted there had earlier been an out- in the sixth round of the 2000 for his swansong in Tampa Bay. Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points and George sank his eighth three-pointer points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists to fuel break of Covid-19 on the Gators team. draft. Upon arrival in New With Covid-19 torpedoing Croatia’s Ivica Zubac delivered 10 points with 5:09 left to give the Clippers their the Bucks’ 130-110 rout of the Indiana “Our hope is that the experts’ conclu- England, he was ranked way most of the pre-season, deny- and 16 rebounds off the bench for the Clip- biggest lead of the contest at 110-93. Pacers. sion that this instance is not Covid-related down the Patriots’ quarterback ing Brady the chance to prop- pers, who fi nished 4-2 on the road trip. “We’re getting better,” coach Tyronn Antetokounmpo connected on seven will bring some peace of mind,” the state- pecking order, a gangly fresh- erly acclimatise to his new sur- The Clippers started the trip without Lue said. of eight shots from the fi eld and seven of ment said. man with everything to prove. roundings, the odds on a Super both George and Leonard who were side- We’ve got some things we’ve still got to eight from the free throw line, and the So far, Johnson has not returned to com- Yet Brady slowly but surely Bowl run were stacked against lined by Covid-19 protocols. get better at. We’ve still got a long way to Bucks led from wire-to-wire, taking a petition, although he has rejoined his team began thrusting himself into the quarterback. However, the Collin Sexton scored 16 of his 27 points go.” 106-72 advantage into the fi nal period – helping out the coaching staff . the reckoning as a starting op- Bucs recovered from a shaky- in the fi rst half for Cleveland, and Darius Los Angeles was without Patrick Bev- when Antetokounmpo sat out along with “He will spend the rest of the season fo- tion, driven by a relentless work looking 7-5 record to reach the Garland contributed 23 points in the loss. erley, who missed every game on the road the rest of Milwaukee’s starters. cused on being the best coach ethic and competitive spirit playoff s, where Brady’s poise “Paul George had more threes than our trip with a sore knee. and teammate he can be,” the statement that have become the hallmarks once again helped deliver wins team,” Garland said. In Milwaukee, two-time reigning NBA DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR DONCIC said. of his career. Team offi cials over Washington, New Orleans “I don’t think we’re going to win many most valuable player Giannis Antetok- Domantas Sabonis led the Pacers with a “What comes next for Keyontae is for would get calls late at night to and the Green Bay Packers. All games shooting just twos.” ounmpo delivered a triple-double of 21 career-high 33 points and 12 rebounds, him to share on his own timeline.” inform them that Brady had ar- at the age of 43.

NHL Bruins pull level late, top Flyers in overtime Reuters start off ensively, the Flyers had for an extra skater, and Pastrnak Opening a six-game road trip, Vancouver several good scoring chances in soon completed his hat trick to the Red Wings pulled starting the fi nal minute of the period yet tie the game at 3. goaltender Thomas Greiss at trailed 1-0 at the fi rst intermis- Laughton was called for inter- 12:31 of the fi rst after the three- atrice Bergeron scored sion. The Flyers were awarded ference with eight seconds left in goal outburst on just fi ve Light- the winning goal on the their fi rst power play at 10:10 of regulation, setting up the Bruins ning shots. power play 31 seconds the second period after Voracek for their overtime power play. Calvin Pickard relieved the into overtime to lift was pulled down. German backstop during a TV Pthe visiting Boston Bruins past Boston’s Sean Kuraly stole the EARLY BARRAGE HELPS timeout and stopped 17 of 19 the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on puck with about 15 seconds re- LIGHTNING TORCH RED WINGS shots. Wednesday. maining on Philadelphia’s power Victor Hedman collected a goal Anthony Mantha scored for Bergeron added three assists play and had a terrifi c opportu- and an assist and the Tampa Bay the third straight contest, and while David Pastrnak collected nity for a short-handed goal, but Lightning produced another Dylan Larkin played in his 400th his ninth career hat trick and had his shot was knocked away by three-goal fi rst period Wednes- NHL game for last-place Detroit, one assist as the Bruins defeated Hart. The Flyers tied the game at day to stay spotless on home ice which is winless in its last seven the Flyers for the third time this 15:29 of the second when Hayes’ with a 5-1 win over the Detroit (0-5-2) and fi ve on the road (0- season. It was only Pastrnak’s shot glanced off Rask’s glove and Red Wings. 4-1). third game back after off season into the net. Hayes has scored a By moving to 5-0-0 at home, The Lighting pounced for the hip surgery. goal in three consecutive games. Tampa Bay extended its home three goals in the opening fi ve The game went to overtime Shortly after a Bruins power winning streak over its Central minutes – they also scored a trio after Pastrnak scored a power- play expired to open the third Division foe to 15 straight games in the fi rst Monday in a 5-2 win play goal with 14.9 seconds left period, the Flyers took advantage – the longest in franchise history. against Nashville – and the puck in regulation. Bruins goaltender and Voracek scored for a 2-1 lead The stretch is the second-best entered Tampa Bay’s defensive Tuukka Rask made 22 saves. at 1:03. active home streak in the NHL, end of the ice just twice. Kevin Hayes, Jakub Voracek Farabee stayed red hot with his trailing only the Philadelphia Hedman took advantage of an and Joel Farabee each scored a fourth goal in the past two games Flyers’ 16 in a row over the Chi- untimely Detroit line change by goal while Travis Sanheim had to give Philadelphia a 3-1 ad- cago Blackhawks. streaking through the neutral two assists for the Flyers, who vantage at 8:41. Scott Laughton In the one-sided aff air, Alex zone, cutting from the right cir- had their four-game winning stripped the puck from Pastrnak Killorn, Anthony Cirelli, Ryan cle into the slot and fi ring a high streak snapped. Flyers goaltender at center ice to set up Farabee. McDonagh and Brayden Point shot that beat Greiss on the stick Carter Hart stopped 31 shots. The Bruins closed within 3-2 tallied, and Blake Coleman side at 1:34 for his third goal. The Bruins jumped out to a when Pastrnak scored on the dished out two assists. In a goal-scoring drought, 1-0 lead just 12 seconds into the power play at 12:05. Starting his 34th straight Cirelli netted for the fi rst time game when Pastrnak skated in Hayes picked up a penalty with game, goaltender Andrei Vasilev- in seven games at 3:57, and Mc- swiftly and had his shot defl ect 2:01 to go, giving the Bruins a skiy allowed only one goal on 16 Donagh rang home his fi rst tally off Philadelphia’s Ivan Provorov coveted late power play. Rask was shots to raise his career record to just six seconds inside the fi ve- Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (right) celebrates his game-winning goal in overtime with center and into the goal. After a slow then pulled with 1:10 remaining 9-0-0 against Detroit. minute mark. Brad Marchand against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. (USA TODAY Sports) Gulf Times 6 Friday, February 5, 2021 SPORT

GOLF / SAUDI INTERNATIONAL FOCUS IOC’s Coates says Tokyo Olympics England’s Horsey ‘100%’ likely to go ahead: Nikkei

Reuters mined to host these games since Tokyo, Japan the pandemic broke in February goes on birdie blitz last year. We’ve maintained our resolve. And we see no impedi- senior offi cial of the ment to that.” International Olym- Coates, an Australian, is vice pic Committee (IOC), president of the IOC and chairs John Coates, said it was Tokyo 2020’s coordination com- “100%”A likely that the Games mission. Support for the Games would go ahead in Tokyo this has evaporated in Japan as the for one-shot lead summer, Nikkei Asia reported coronavirus crisis has worsened. yesterday. Nearly 80% of the Japanese Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher shoots 10 birdies and two bogeys for his 62 Coates also told Nikkei Asia public are now opposed to hold- in an interview that the decision ing the Summer Games as sched- Reuters on whether spectators will be al- uled this year, recent polls show. Bengaluru, India lowed to attend the July 23 – Aug. Yesterday, the head of Tokyo 8 Games will be made as soon as 2020 and a former prime minis- March or April. ter, Yoshiro Mori, apologised for nglishman David Horsey “It’s diffi cult. It’s diffi cult but sexist comments about women fi red a nine-under- the Games will take place,” he talking too much, but said he par 61 for a one-shot was quoted as saying. would not resign. lead over Scot Stephen “The IOC and the Tokyo Or- His remarks sparked a storm GallacherE after the opening ganising Committee, the Japan of criticism on social media and round of the European Tour’s government, the Tokyo munici- risked further tainting public Saudi International yesterday. pal government have been deter- opinion of the Games. Horsey started slowly at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Econom- COMMENT ic City, before hitting form on the back nine with seven birdies – including fi ve in a row just af- ter the turn – to take his tally for ‘Spectacular’ Beijing the day to nine. “It’s a shock actually. I’ve been playing rubbish the last 2022 will transform couple weeks. Didn’t feel like I controlled my ball the fi rst two events,” Horsey said. winter sport: Bach “I had a conversation with a pal back home last night, talking Reuters a few things through and he sug- Berlin, Germany gested something that I work on away from the tournament. “Knowing me, I thought, well, he Beijing winter Ol- can’t get any worse, so I may as ympics next year will well try it and here we are. It’s re- be spectacular and will ally just how my body is moving transform winter sports – quite sort of technical really. It’s T“for ever” by introducing some nice to have a feel you can wake up In this July 1, 2018, picture, England’s David Horsey plays during the final round of the French Open in Guyancourt, France. (Reuters) 300mn Chinese people to them, and pick up straight away.” International Olympic Commit- Former Ryder Cup player the Middle East, said. Mickelson had a round to for- Haotong (CHN), Marcus Kinhult Westwood (GBR), Tyrrell Hatton tee President Thomas Bach said Gallacher shot 10 birdies, but “It was one of those just go on get, carding 68 for a share of 31st (SWE), Bryson DeChambeau (GBR) yesterday. bogeys on the 12th and 18th held a roll and kept knocking them in.” place. (USA) 68 — Phil Mickelson (USA), In a video address to China, him back. World number one Dustin 66 — Masahiro Kawamura (JPN), Tommy Fleetwood (GBR), Tony Bach said Beijing, which will be- “I actually hit it really close Johnson was three-under after LEADING ROUND I SCORES Andy Sullivan (GBR), George Finau (USA), Justin Rose (GBR), come the fi rst city ever to have to the pin which was good, and a below-par round of 67, while 61 — David Horsey (GBR) Coetzee (RSA), Laurie Canter Viktor Hovland (NOR) staged both summer and winter managed to hole those sort of 2020 US Open champion Bry- 62 — Stephen Gallacher (GBR) (GBR), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR), 69 — Patrick Reed (USA), Paul Games after also staging the Bei- 10-foot putts for birdie I had,” son DeChambeau was tied for 64 — Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) Jhonattan Vegas (VEN), Mikko Casey (GBR) jing 2008 Olympics, was ready to Gallacher, who has won two of fourth. 65 — Ryan Fox (NZL), Calum Hill Korhonen (FIN) 70 — Sergio Garcia (ESP), Shane deliver ‘spectacular Games’. enthusiasm and support for the his four European Tour titles in Five-times major winner Phil (GBR), Thomas Pieters (BEL), Li 67 — Dustin Johnson (USA), Lee Lowry (IRL) “Our Chinese partners and Olympic Games,” Bach said af- friends will deliver spectacular ter signing the invitations for Olympic winter Games that will the athletes of the 206 Olympic SPOTLIGHT change the landscape of winter committees to attend the Games. sport for ever,” Bach said. “You can already feel this pas- Organisers, who have already sion for winter sport with the completed the majority of ven- excellent preparations for the ues, have promised a “joyful ren- Games. We can say already now dezvous upon pure ice and snow” with great confi dence China is McIlroy slams proposed rule that will kick off on Feb. 4, 2022. ready to welcome the world’s Artifi cial powder will likely be best athletes for unforgettable needed to help cover the slopes Olympic Games Beijing 2022.” carved out on the brown, arid However, dozens of human changes to reduce hitting distance mountains northwest of Beijing rights groups and some Western but the IOC is confi dent the in- politicians have criticised the Reuters risked making courses obsolete. troduction of millions of Chinese decision to let China host next Bengaluru, India “I think the authorities are looking at the to winter sports will help open up year’s winter Olympics, citing game through such a tiny little lens, that what a huge, untapped market. Beijing’s policies in Hong Kong they’re trying to do is change something that “Every time I have visited and the region of Xinjiang and its ory McIlroy has criticised golf’s pertains to 0.1% of the golfi ng community,” China I am impressed by the overall rights record. lawmakers for considering changes four-times major champion McIlroy said. to equipment that would tame the “Ninety-nine % of the people that play power of the game’s big hitters, say- this game play for enjoyment. They don’t ingR the campaign is “a huge waste of time and need to be told what ball or clubs to use. money”. “I think this report has been a huge waste Giro d’Italia to start from The Royal and Ancient (R&A), in conjunc- of time and money, because the money that Piedmont region: organisers tion with the United States Golf Association it’s cost to do this report could have been way (USGA), has proposed reducing driver shaft better distributed to getting people into the This year’s Giro d’Italia will start from the Piedmont region with an length to 46 inches from the current limit of game.” individual time trial in Turin, 160 years after it served as the first 48. US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, capital of the united Italy, organisers said yesterday. The second Another “area of interest” for the R&A and who tried out a 48-inch driver last year and and third stages, from Stupinigi to Novara and Biella to Canale, USGA is for the potential use of local rules topped the 2020 PGA driving distance charts respectively, will also be hosted by the region, which is hosting the that would specify the use of clubs and/or with a colossal 329-yard average, welcomed ‘Grande Partenza’ for the first time since the race departed from balls, resulting in shorter distances. the proposed changes. Turin in 2011. The three-week grand tour will return to Piedmont The proposals are part of the latest updates “I’m not worried about it. There’s no is- for the finish of stage 19 at Alpe di Mera in Valsesia, followed by a to the Distance Insights Report published sues,” he said. “It’s funny, I’m sure there’s a stage 20 start from Verbania the next day. The Giro is to be held last February that said increased hitting dis- lot of excitement about me having a poten- from May 8-30. tances changed the challenge of the game and tially controversial thought on it but I don’t.”

BOTTOMLINE Beijing boycott not the answer, says Canadian Olympic Committee

Reuters conversations on this topic but I GET TOUGH political disputes. over the Soviet Union’s presence Toronto, Canada must confess they don’t last very Canada’s participation at the Be- “We referenced the two in Afghanistan. long,” COC chief executive offi c- ijing Games has been further put Michaels in our op ed and we Four years later in a tit-for-tat er David Shoemaker told Reuters. in the spotlight by China’s de- have had conversations with the response the Soviet Union led a boycott of the 2022 “Our Canadian athletes are very tention of businessman Michael government and directly with the boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Beijing Olympics would much looking forward to the next Spavor and former diplomat Canadian ambassador to China,” Olympics. not bring home two Ca- two Olympic Games in Tokyo and Michael Kovrig in what Canada said Shoemaker. Canada’s senior IOC member nadian men detained in Beijing. “Calls for boycotts aren’t views as retribution for the ar- “We understand all of the is- Dick Pound says in both instanc- ChinaA for more than two years new. Having said that, we do have rest of Huawei Technologies Co sues of concern to Canadians es nothing was accomplished. or force a change to China’s hu- a heightened level of concern.” Ltd Chief Financial Offi cer Meng in China and they are being ad- “If the Canadian government man rights record but would only The United States Olym- Wanzhou on a US warrant. dressed by the Canadian govern- is mad at the Chinese govern- punish athletes, the Canadian pic and Paralympic Committee As Kovrig and Spavor languish ment as the highest priority. ment, it knows how to get that Olympic Committee (COC) said (USOPC) echoed a similar posi- in prison, calls for the Canadian “It is our view that this is message to them,” Pound told yesterday. tion on Wednesday saying they government to get tough with where we should place our trust Reuters. “There are all kinds of With the Feb. 4-20 Beijing Win- oppose boycotts because “they China have grown. and confi dence and the Canadian recognised international meas- ter Games scheduled to start in ex- have been shown to negatively A July poll found more than Olympic Committee and Paral- ures available. actly one year, the COC put out an impact athletes while not eff ec- half of Canadians believe Ottawa ympic Committee focus should “In 1980, the Canadian gov- op-ed confi rming a commitment tively addressing global issues”. should take more aggressive action be on delivering inspiring teams.” ernment leaned all over the COC to take part in the 2022 Games as A group of US Senators, how- People wearing face masks are seen near the lit-up Olympic rings at to persuade Beijing to release the and, over my dead body, ca- calls grow to boycott the event or ever, have a very diff erent view, top of the Olympic Tower, a year ahead of the opening of the 2022 two men who face spying charges. PAST BOYCOTTS pitulated, and it turned out the have it moved from China. introducing a resolution call- Winter Olympic Games, in Beijing, China, yesterday. (Reuters) The COC underlined that it The IOC is no stranger to boy- boycott was the only signifi cant “My regular communication ing on the International Olym- supports that eff ort but not at the cotts or the threat of one. measure they took. with athletes is via athletes com- pic Committee (IOC) to move the US’ designation the Chinese genocide by repressing Uighur expense of athletes, who too of- The US led a boycott of the “They know it is an ineff ective missions and we have had a few the Beijing Olympics following government was perpetrating a Muslims in its Xinjiang region. ten have been the pawns in geo- 1980 Moscow Summer Games gesture.” Gulf Times Friday, February 5, 2021 7 SPORT

CRICKET SIX NATIONS Dulin and Villiere to Mehidy, Mustafi zur start for France AFP Paris

rice Dulin and Gabin Villiere, who both impressed during the , give Bangladesh Bwere named by coach Fabien Galthie yesterday in the start- ing line-up for France’s Six Na- tions opener. Dulin, 30, made his Six Na- tions debut against England in 2014 but he had been out in the cold since 2017 until his call-up Gabin Villiere. edge over Windies for the Autumn Nations Cup when, because of contractual eight , who has obligations with the French two caps and will play along- ‘Still have a long way to go. So looking forward to the challenge tomorrow’ clubs, Galthie was forced to side Johan Meyer and Sebastian dig beyond his regular pool of Negri. Gloucester scrum-half AFP players. The La Rochelle full- Stephen Varney and Treviso Chittagong, Bangladesh back took his chance, playing fl y-half return to in the fi nal which France lost a squad which has an average of narrowly to England, and re- just 20. “We follow our growth ustafi zur Rahman claimed two tains his place ahead of Antho- process by continuing to in- early wickets after Mehidy ny Bouthier who wore the shirt troduce new generations,” said Hasan struck his maiden Test in the last Six Nations. South African Smith. hundred to put Bangladesh on Toulon wing Villiere also David Sisi and Marco Laz- Mtop in the fi rst Test against the West Indies impressed in his two Autumn zaroni form the second row be- in Chittagong yesterday. Nations Cups starts against hind Cherif Traore and Marco Mehidy hit 103 off 168 balls to guide the Italy and England and keeps his Riccioni, both returning from hosts to 430 in their fi rst innings before place on the left wing ahead of injury. However, wing Mustafi zur’s 2-18 helped them reduce the who is on the was not been tourists to 75-2 at stumps on the second bench. ’s Teddy Tho- called up after taking a knock day. mas is on the right wing. in training on Tuesday. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Nkrumah Montpellier centre Arthur Bonner put 51 runs in an unbroken third- Vincent replaces Virimi SQUADS wicket stand to stave off further damage Vakatawa who has a knee in- FRANCE after Mustafi zur rattled the visitors by dis- jury, one of a number of absen- Brice Dulin; Teddy Thomas, missing John Campbell and Shayne Mose- tees for Galthie. Arthur Vincent, Gael Fickou, ley early. With still Gabin Villiere; Matthieu Jalib- Both the batsmen were judged leg-be- out with a double jaw fracture, ert, ; Gregory fore, making three and two runs respective- Matthieu Jalibert retains his Alldritt, (capt), ly. Brathwaite closed in on a 50 to remain place at fl y-half and will part- Dylan Cretin; Paul Willemse, unbeaten on 49 alongside debutant Bonner, ner up with scrum-half Anto- ; Mohamed 17 not out, at the close. ine Dupont. Flanker Francois Haouas, Julien Marchand, Cyril Mehidy was earlier the last man dismissed Cros is also out with an in- Baille in Bangladesh’s innings when he holed out a jured right foot, allowing Dy- Replacements: Pierre Bourga- catch to substitute Kavem Hodge at long on, lan Cretin to start in the back rit, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Dorian off off -spinner Rahkeem Cornwall. row alongside captain Charles Aldeghiri, Romain Taofifenua, Shakib Al Hasan also struck 68 as Bang- Ollivon and Gregory Alldritt, Anthony Jeronch, Baptiste ladesh dominated the West Indies’ bowlers who missed training last week Serin, Louis Carbonel, Damian to add 188 runs in two sessions after resum- to have minor surgery. Hooker Penaud ing the day’s play at 242-5. Scorecard Camille Chat, prop Demba Coach: Fabien Galthie (FRA) Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican was Bamba and full-back Thomas BANGLADESH 1st innings (Overnight 242-5) the top West Indies bowler, claiming four Ramos have also been ruled out Italy wickets for 133 runs. S. Islam lbw b Warrican 59 by injury. ; , Warrican struck early in the second day T. Iqbal b Roach 9 , , when he bowled overnight batsman Liton N. Hossain Shanto run out 25 BREX SET FOR ITALY DEBUT Montanna Ioane; Paolo Gar- Das (38) in the third over of the day. Argentina-born centre Ignacio bisi, Stephen Varney; Michele Liton could add just four runs to his over- M. Haque c Campbell b 26 Brex will win his fi rst cap for Lamaro, Johan Meyer, Sebas- night score but Shakib and Mehidy seized M. Rahim c Cornwall b Warrican 38 Italy after being named yester- tian Negri; David Sisi, Marco back the momentum with a 67-run part- S. Hasan c Brathwaite b Cornwall 68 day in their Six Nations opener Lazzaroni; , nership for the seventh wicket. against France in Rome. (capt), Cherif Traore The partnership ended when Shakib cut L. Das b Warrican 38 The 28-year-old Treviso Replacements: Gianmarco a loose shot to Brathwaite at point after hit- M. Hasan c Sub b Cornwall 103 player, who represented Ar- Lucchesi, , ting fi ve fours in his patient 150-ball knock. T. Islam c Da Silva b Gabriel 18 gentina for two years until Giosue Zilocchi, Niccolo Can- “I wasn’t a good batsman at the start of 2015, will line up alongside club none, , Maxime N. Hasan b Bonner 24 my career but I slowly improved myself. teammate Marco Zanon. Mbanda, , I think my hard work has paid off fi nally,” M. Rahman not out 3 Coach Franco Smith also Mehidy said. Extras (b2, lb7, w5, nb5) 19 gave a fi rst start to number Coach: Franco Smith (RSA). Brathwaite said he had enjoyed the Test Total (all out; 150.2 overs) 430 so far. “Still have a long way to go. So looking Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Tamim), 2-66 (Najmul), 3-119 Pakistan’s T20 league to allow limited crowds forward to the challenge tomorrow. We have (Mominul), 4-134 (Shadman), 5-193 (Mushfiqur), to continue batting well, keep backing our- 6-248(Liton), 7-315 (Shakib), 8-359 (Taijul), 9-416 A limited number of fans will be allowed to attend Pakistan selves and our plans,” he said. (Nayeem), 10-430 (Mehidy) Twenty20 league matches in coming weeks for the first time The visitors dropped Mehidy at 24 as Mo- Bowlers: Roach 20-5-60-1 (nb1), Gabriel 26-4-69-1, since strict coronavirus restrictions were introduced, cricket seley put down a simple catch at silly point Cornwall 42.2-5-114-2, Mayers 7-2-16-0, Warrican 48- off icials said yesterday. off , which would have given Warrican a 8-133-4(nb3), Brathwaite 4-0-13-0 , Bonner 3-0-16-1 The Pakistan Cricket Board said stadiums could be filled to 20 maiden fi ve-wicket Test haul. (nb1) percent capacity for this year’s Super League, which will be The all-rounder made the most of it, WEST INDIES first innings played in Karachi and Lahore from February 20 until March 22. forging two other sizeable partnerships of It means around 7,500 tickets will be available for matches in 44 and 57 runs, with Taijul Islam and Nay- K. Brathwaite not out 49 Karachi, and 5,500 for Lahore. The board said it hoped health of- eem Hasan respectively. J. Campbell lbw b Mustafizur 3 ficials would consider allowing more fans to attend the playoff s. Taijul made 18 before being dismissed by S. Moseley lbw Mustafizur 2 “Fans are the PCB’s biggest asset and we are delighted,” said Shannon Gabriel as Joshua Da Silva took a board chairman Ehsan Mani. N. Bonner not out 17 catch behind the stumps. Last year four league games were held in Karachi and Lahore Nayeem made 24 off 46 balls with four Extras (lb 1, nb3) 4 without spectators before the play-off s were cancelled after boundaries, including three in a single over, Total (two wickets; 29 overs) 75 English batsman Alex Hales revealed symptoms of the virus. before he was bowled by debutant Bonner The remainder of the season was rescheduled, with three play- Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-24 for his maiden Test wicket. off s and a final held without spectators. Mehidy swept Warrican to bring his hun- Bowling: Mustafizur 8-2-18-2 (nb1), Shakib 6-1-16-0, The country of 220 million has recorded more than half a million dred off 160 balls but soon lost his wicket to Mehidy 7-2-24-0(nb1), Taijul 5-2-9-0 (nb1), Nayeem coronavirus cases and over 11,000 deaths, but limited testing Cornwall to bring an end to Bangladesh’s 3-0-7-0 suggests true figures are likely much higher. innings. The national team is currently playing South Africa in a Test Cornwall fi nished with 2-114 and Mus- Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan celebrates after scoring a century during the second day of the first Test against West Indies at the match in Rawalpindi behind closed doors. tafi zur was unbeaten on three runs. Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong yesterday. (AFP)

RUGBY Scots ‘don’t have monopoly on pride’, says Jones

AFP the time,” Jones said after naming his team tactical acumen, Henry’s running skills and Redpath to make Scotland debut London yesterday. “But Scotland don’t have a mo- left-foot kicking and Ollie’s power. We feel nopoly on pride – our players get an op- that’s right against Scotland. Former England Under-20 international Cameron Redpath will portunity to play in this historic game and “Ollie is a good young player. He’s really make his Scotland debut in their Six Nations opener at Twickenham ddie Jones insisted Scotland “don’t they are going to be ready for it... they are developing well. We blooded him well in tomorrow. The Bath centre, the son of former Scotland scrum-half have a monopoly on pride” and playing for trophies,” the veteran Austral- the Autumn Nations Cup and he gets an- Bryan Redpath, starts in the Calcutta Cup clash just weeks after warned they could collapse under ian added, with the Calcutta Cup – fi rst other opportunity to start on Saturday. confirming his allegiance to Scotland. the weight of their own expecta- contested by England and Scotland in 1879 “He runs good lines and is a good defen- “He’s good enough to play,” Scotland coach Gregor Townsend told tionsE when they face England in a landmark – up for grabs. sive player. He’ll add a bit of punch to the reporters when asked about Redpath’s inclusion after naming his Six Nations clash tomorrow. “That’s a huge expectation for them and backline.” side yesterday. “He’s played really well for his club this season... He’s England will launch the defence of their maybe, with 15 minutes to go in the game, Although it is nearly 40 years since Scot- a fierce competitor and we’ll also see his skills in attack.” title at Twickenham in a match that marks the expectation is going to get pretty heavy land won at Twickenham, they came des- As for Redpath having once been a junior England international, the 150th anniversary of the fi rst meeting in for them. We know Scotland’s going to be perately close on their most recent visit in Townsend said: “I think Cam’s in a situation we find a lot of players ’s oldest international rivalry. up for it, but so will we. It should be a great 2019. Scotland were all but beaten at 31-0 are in, when they are dual-qualified. Although Scotland won the inaugural 1871 occasion.” behind. But Russell led a remarkable rally “Obviously his Dad played a number of years for Scotland, all his fi xture in Edinburgh, England have gener- England have beefed up their midfi eld by and they took the lead before George’s last- family are Scottish. He was born in France, he’s actually got three ally had the upper hand, with 76 victories selecting the powerful Ollie Lawrence as gasp converted try ensured the match end- qualifications, and he was brought up in England because that’s to 43 and 19 draws in the 138 matches be- one of their two centres alongside Henry ed in a 38-38 draw. where his Mum and Dad ended up living through work. tween the two nations. Slade. , the England captain, Asked what England had taken away “He played in Scottish age-group (rugby) and English age-group. But England coach Jones is angered by moves inside to fl y-half, with George Ford from that extraordinary encounter, Jones “That’s something players, because of circumstance and location, suggestions that Celtic nations such as dropping to the bench. said: “We learned that we allowed our- get to do. I know it was a tough decision for Cam about who he Scotland, who believe they have been po- The England trio will look to minimise selves to be seduced by the scoreboard. wanted to play for, but we are delighted that he chose Scotland and litically, culturally and economically op- the threat of Scotland playmaker Finn Rus- “It seduced us into playing a way that now he gets an opportunity to show what a good player he is.” pressed by England, have far more national sell but Jones said there were positive rea- suited Scotland and invited them back into Elsewhere in Scotland’s back division, wing and fit- pride. sons behind his choice. the game. Since then we’ve been working again fly-half have been recalled, while hooker George “For Scotland this is their most impor- “We feel this is the right balance,” he very hard to make sure that we just play Turner will make his Six Nations debut. tant game of the year, they talk about it all said. “It’s a good combination of Owen’s each minute of the game.” England coach Eddie Jones.

Friday, February 5, 2021 GULF TIMES SPORT

KATARA INTERNATIONAL ARABIAN HORSE FESTIVAL — TITLE SHOW Arabian horses continue to impress on day two Horses owned by Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa al-Thani and Al Shaqab top three and two qualifying classes respectively

By Mikhil Bhat Doha

orses owned by HE Sheikh Jassim bin Kha- lifa al-Thani topped three qualifying class- Hes, while Al Shaqab – Member of Qatar Foundation-owned con- tenders won two on second day of the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival (KIAHF) – Title Show yesterday. With a total prize money of QR13mn, the show, which will conclude with the championship round tomorrow, is of the highest quality with contenders from as many as 12 countries participat- ing over the course of four days. The Title Show is being con- ducted and organised by Katara, together with Qatar Equestrian Federation, and Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC). HE Sheikh Hamad bin Ali al- Thani, Manager of Breeding and Contenders go around the ring during the qualifying classes at the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival — Title Show yesterday. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam Show, Al Shaqab, expressed ap- preciation for the support given Jassim, rounded out the top three stallions gold last month. Al Shahaniya Stud’s Hamamat by His Highness the Amir Sheikh after being awarded 92.17 points Al Wazna Al Shaqab was the Al Shahania scored the highest Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani for each. fi rst winner for Al Shaqab in class yesterday in class 7B for four- the Festival. Sheikh Hamad also The next Sheikh Jassim-owned 3B for three-year-old fi llies. The six-year-old mares at 93.08 applauded Prof. Khalid bin Ib- contender to top a qualifying bay fi lly punched her ticket for points for her place in the medal rahim al-Sulaiti, Katara General class yesterday was Momayz the championship round with a round. Joining the grey mare to- Manager and KIAHF Organising Aljassimya with the grey colt 92.67 point haul, edging out Al morrow will be second-placed Committee Chairman, his team, winning class 6 for three-year- Dana Al Meslemani’s (Al Thu- Luolou Al Nasser, owned by Al and the partnering organisations old colts with 91.33 points. Al mama Stud) Maria Magdalena Nasser Stud, and Alsafwa Stud’s for the noteworthy preparation Shaqab’s Radhee Al Shaqab and NWA (92.17) and Al Jumail Stud’s Aria Dinara with 92.33 and 91.83 that went into the Festival. Fahad Al Shaqab were second and Adwaa Al Arab (91.83) for the points respectively. Yesterday, as many as 92 Ara- third with 91 and 90.58 points re- win. Nasser Mohamed al-Hajri’s bian horses participated in the spectively. Kashef Al Shaqab won class 10A Najla Aludham bagged class 7A seven classes for fi llies, colts, and Jaal Aljassimya topped class for four-six-year-old stallions af- for four-six-year-old mares with younger mares and stallions. 10B for four-six-year-old stal- ter being awarded 92.08 points. 92.25 points, ahead of Al Hamad Top three from the qualifying lions with 91.75 points in a close Al Reeh Stud’s Amir Al Reeh, colts Stud’s EM Queen Desert (91.83) classes across yearling, junior competition, with Aljumail champion last month in the na- and Al Adeed Stud’s Fajer Al and senior categories will reach Stud’s Badiea Al Nasser (91.67 tional show, and Al Jazeel Stud’s Adeed (91.08). the championship round for the points) and Jabor Nasser Sultan Badi Athbah were awarded 91.92 The Title Show will continue respective categories. amassed 92.42 points to ensure a ior fi llies champion at the 23rd Reem bint Mohamed al-Thani’s al-Towar al-Kuwari’s Sultan Al points each, and the former was today with competition in fi ve In class 3A three-year-old fi l- spot in the championship round Qatar National Arabian Horse Sultanah Al Shahania and Mona Rayyan (91.33) second and third. adjudged the runner-up with bet- qualifying classes, including lies, Sheikh Jassim’s Emarella tomorrow. The fi lly was the jun- Show last month. HE Sheikha Lisa Aljassimya, owned by Sheikh Badiea Al Nasser had won the ter score on type. senior mares and stallions.

CRICKET FOCUS Babar and Alam lift Pakistan as Pant to keep wickets for India vs England

Reuters Root said of the off -spinner. rain cuts short opening day New Delhi, India “I’ve played against him be- fore, scored some runs, and he’s probably had the better of me oe Root will go into his a couple of times as well. It’s 100th Test today deter- going to be a great little battle mined not to let his in- within the Test match.” dividual battles distract Former England opener Geof- himJ from his larger goal of cap- frey Boycott has said Root can go taining England to a series vic- on to play 200 Tests and eclipse tory in India, the 30-year-old Sachin Tendulkar’s record of said yesterday. 15,921 runs in the format. One of the sub-plots of four- Root, who has amassed 8,249 Test series will be a batting Test runs with a 49-plus average, one-upmanship between con- said he was not looking that far. temporary cricket’s two premier “It’s taken a long time to play batsmen in Root and his India these 100 Test matches... and it counterpart, Virat Kohli. India’s Virat Kohli (right) and Rishabh Pant (centre) take part in a will take a long time to poten- Australia’s Steve Smith and training session ahead of the first Test against England. (BCCI) tially do that again,” he said. New Zealand captain Kane Wil- “To get anywhere near him, I liamson complete cricket’s “Big add that to my own game,” Root a double century and a century have to play a hell of a lot more Four” but Root said his eff ort told a video conference. in his last two Tests in Sri Lanka. Test cricket and right now I just has always been to learn from, “In terms of those individual Root is also England’s best got to concentrate on trying to and not just compete with, the battles, for me that’s not the batsman against spin bowling be the best I can.” trio. most important thing. It’s not and his duel will Ravichandran England’s preparation has “It is silly not to watch how something that I will look at, Ashwin will be another point of suff ered a jolt after top order they go about things... how they what I will look is always trying interest in the series. batsman Zak Crawley was ruled manage their own games and to win this series.” “He’s a fi ne bowler, he’s got out of the fi rst two Tests with a keep evolving and getting bet- Root has been in scintillat- great record in India, and is wrist injury after slipping on the ter all the time, and then try and ing batting from, having scored probably full of confi dence,” dressing room fl oor. Pakistan’s Babar Azam (right) plays a shot past South Africa’s Dean Elgar (centre) as latter’s teammate Quinton De Kock looks on on the first day of the second Test in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, yesterday. (AFP) SPOTLIGHT AFP Scorecard hundred in the fi rst Test, was Rawalpindi, Pakistan steady with fi ve hits to the fence. When it looked like Azam PAKISTAN 1st innings would hit another hundred — his Root won’t let individual battles distract him kipper Babar Azam hit an I Butt c de Kock b Maharaj 15 third in the last three Tests at this attractive half-century Abid Ali c Markram b Nortje 6 venue — rain played spoilsport Reuters ter all the time, and then try and going to be a great little battle and in-form Fawad Alam as umpires Aleem Dar and Ahsan add that to my own game,” Root within the Test match.” Azhar Ali lbw b Maharaj 0 New Delhi, India batted solidly to help Pa- Raza — both from Pakistan — told a video conference. Former England opener Geof- kistanS fi ght back as the opening B Azam not out 77 called off the day’s play after an “In terms of those individual frey Boycott has said Root can go day of the second Test was cut F Alam not out 42 inspection of the ground. oe Root will go into his battles, for me that’s not the on to play 200 Tests and eclipse short by rain in Rawalpindi yes- Extras (b2, nb3) 5 Play will resume 15 minutes 100th Test today deter- most important thing. It’s not Sachin Tendulkar’s record of terday. early at 9:45 am on Friday to mined not to let his in- something that I will look at, 15,921 runs in the format. Azam was batting on 77 and Total (58 overs, for three wkts) 145 compensate for the lost time. dividual battles distract what I will look is always trying Root, who has amassed 8,249 Alam on a solid 42 as Pakistan re- Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Butt), 2-21 Earlier, Pakistan reached 21 himJ from his larger goal of cap- to win this series.” Test runs with a 49-plus aver- covered from a precarious 22-3 to (Azhar), 3-22 (Abid) without loss before throwing taining England to a series vic- Root has been in scintillat- age, said he was not looking that 145-3 in 58 overs, but play could Bowling: Rabada 13-1-36-0, away three wickets for one run in tory in India, the 30-year-old ing batting from, having scored far. not be started after the tea break. Nortje 11-3-30-1, Maharaj 25-7-51- the space of 23 balls. said yesterday. a double century and a century “It’s taken a long time to play Heavy rain lashed the stadium 2, Linde 2.5-1-2-0, Elgar 1.1-0-6- Maharaj, brought into the at- One of the sub-plots of four- in his last two Tests in Sri Lanka. these 100 Test matches... and it and covers were placed on the 0, Mulder 5-1-18-0 tack in just the ninth over, had Test series will be a batting Root is also England’s best will take a long time to poten- pitch before play was called off opener Imran Butt caught behind one-upmanship between con- batsman against spin bowling tially do that again,” he said. due to rain and a wet outfi eld at 30) had left Pakistan struggling for 15 and then trapped senior temporary cricket’s two premier and his duel will Ravichandran “To get anywhere near him, I 4:38 pm local time (1138 GMT). on 63-3 at lunch but Azam and batsman Azhar Ali leg-before for batsmen in Root and his India Ashwin will be another point of have to play a hell of a lot more The home team had won the Alam added 123 for the unbroken nought in his next over. counterpart, Virat Kohli. interest in the series. Test cricket and right now I just toss and batted on a fl at, brown- fourth wicket stand to steady the Nortje then produced a sharp Australia’s Steve Smith and “He’s a fi ne bowler, he’s got got to concentrate on trying to ish Rawalpindi Stadium pitch, innings. rising delivery to Abid Ali, New Zealand captain Kane Wil- great record in India, and is be the best I can.” which helped spinners from the Azam, who managed just whose fended push was caught liamson complete cricket’s “Big probably full of confi dence,” England’s preparation has outset, but Pakistan recovered seven and 30 in the fi rst Test, re- smartly at short-leg by Aiden Four” but Root said his eff ort England’s Joe Root. (ECB) Root said of the off -spinner. suff ered a jolt after top order from the early loss of three wick- turned to his stylish best, having Markram. has always been to learn from, “I’ve played against him be- batsman Zak Crawley was ruled ets. so far punched 12 boundaries in Pakistan lead the two-match and not just compete with, the they go about things... how they fore, scored some runs, and he’s out of the fi rst two Tests with a Spinner Keshav Maharaj (2- his 16th Test half-century. series 1-0 after winning the fi rst trio. manage their own games and probably had the better of me wrist injury after slipping on the 51) and pacer Anrich Nortje (1- Alam, who scored a fi ghting Test in Karachi by seven wickets. “It is silly not to watch how keep evolving and getting bet- a couple of times as well. It’s dressing room fl oor.