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Wednesday, December 13, 2017 Rabia I 25, 1439 AH New Zealand wrap GULF TIMES up West Indies series with 2-0 victory SPORT Page 3 Sheikh Joaan participates in Olympic Refugee Foundation board meeting

resident of the Qatar Olympic The Members of the Foundation Committee, HE Sheikh Joaan Board were formally introduced dur- bin Hamad al-Thani, has at- ing the meeting and represent a group Ptended the inaugural Board of individuals who share the belief in meeting of the Olympic Refuge Foun- the power of sport to make the world a dation following its offi cial launch in better place and who have concretely September at the International Olym- demonstrated it through their inter- pic Committee (IOC) Session in Lima, est and experience. In addition to HE which also saw the Qatar Olympic Sheikh Joaan, they include: Filippo Committee confi rmed as a founding Grandi, High Commissioner of UN- donating partner. HCR; Zaiqing Yu, IOC Vice President; Playing sport in a safe environ- Dr Chungwon Choue, President of ment is not a right granted to every- World Taekwondo and the Taekwondo one around the world, especially for Humanitarian Federation; and Yiech the 65 million or so people who have Pur Biel, member of the fi rst Refugee been forced to leave their homes by Olympic Team at the Olympic Games war, famine and other natural disas- Rio 2016. ters, and who are now living in refugee During the meeting, IOC Honor- camps. ary President Jacques Rogge was ap- Working in co-operation with the pointed as Honorary Member of the UNHCR, the Foundation, which is Foundation. The former Special En- Chaired by IOC President Thomas voy of the UN Secretary-General for Bach, will support projects across the Youth Refugees and Sport has advo- world, to create safe, basic and ac- cated tirelessly around the world the cessible sports facilities and develop benefi ts that sport can bring to young sporting activities for vulnerable peo- refugees and supported the direct im- ple. Projects, which will use sport as a plementation of sports programmes pathway to social, physical and emo- in Jordan, Ethiopia, Colombia and tional well-being, will take a commu- Rwanda. nity-based approach. The creation of the Foundation is During the Foundation’s fi rst- a major initiative which stems from ever Board meeting, the operational the strong and longstanding engage- framework and scope of activities ment of the IOC in social development were approved, allowing the Founda- through sport. This engagement has tion to go forward with the creation of materialised, in particular, through the fi rst safe spaces. Starting in early the partnership between the IOC and 2018, the Foundation, in close collab- the UNHCR, which dates back 1994. oration with the UN Refugee Agency QOC president HE Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani (third from right) with IOC president Thomas Bach (fourth from right) and other board members of the Olympic Through this co-operation, sport pro- (UNHCR) and with the relevant in- Refugee Foundation. grammes have been implemented in ternational partners and local au- various camps and refugee communi- thorities on the ground, will start the partners, governmental institutions increase the understanding of sport ympic Refuge Foundation will cre- Olympic Movement’s considerable ties around the world, addressing the implementation of programmes and and private donors. as a positive factor for protecting and ate tools, policies and resources that network in order to advocate for the needs for basic sport equipment, and allocating grants through the gener- The Olympic Refuge Foundation supporting vulnerable people. Based will contribute to deliver eff ective adoption of policies related to the po- the rehabilitation of sport facilities, in ous donations of Olympic Movement is providing a unique opportunity to on knowledge and evidence, the Ol- programmes. It will also leverage the tential of sport as an agent for change. close to 50 countries.

CRICKET FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT Gayle Neymar in blasts 18 Zidane delighted Brazil, to sixes as miss PSG Rangpur Cup tie triumph to call on ‘world’s best’ Ronaldo AFP Real Madrid to take on Al Jazira in Club World Cup semi-final today Paris Reuters Dhaka Reuters arch-rivals and record winners Bar- aris Saint-Germain will again Abu Dhabi celona on three victories. Madrid be without Neymar for their trail Barca by eight points at the top League Cup tie at Strasbourg hris Gayle hit 18 sixes on his of La Liga and fi nished second to Ptoday, the club confi rmed. way to an unbeaten 146 off eal Madrid coach Zinedine Tottenham Hotspur in their Cham- Coach Unai Emery confirmed on 69 balls for Rangpur Riders Zidane said he was delight- pions League group, which proved Monday that the world’s most ex- against Dhaka Dynamites to ed to be able to call on the costly as they were paired with pensive player had been allowed to createC Twenty20 cricket history in the “best player in the world” in free-spending Paris Saint-Germain return to his native Brazil to deal Bangladesh Premier League fi nal yes- RCristiano Ronaldo as his side gear up in a blockbuster last 16 tie on Mon- with a family matter. terday. to defend their Club World Cup title. day. However, traces of the Madrid Neymar had already missed the Gayle, who was dropped by Shakib Ronaldo won his fi fth Ballon d’Or, that swept aside the likes of Bayern 3-1 weekend win against Lille due to Al Hasan on 22, broke the record he for world player of the year, last week Munich, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, suspension, and Emery said on Mon- set when he smashed 17 sixes in an un- to draw level with his rival and Bar- Manchester United and Barcelona in day that he hoped the former Barce- beaten 175 for Royal Challengers Ban- celona forward Lionel Messi. the spring and summer were back as lona star would be back in “three or galore against Pune Warriors in the The debate about who is the great- Real hit fi ve past Sevilla before half- four days”. Indian Premier League’s 2013 fi nal. er player is a perennial feature of time in a 5-0 rout on Saturday. But PSG’s confirmed squad for the The 38-year-old Jamaican’s knock soccer punditry, but Zidane is con- Until then Madrid had lacked the last-16 tie in Strasbourg — where also took him past 11,000 runs in the vinced he has the world’s best at his same killer instinct as last season they lost 2-1 in the league 10 days shortest format of the game and made disposal. with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim ago — was missing Neymar as well him the fi rst player to score 20 centu- “I have the best in the world and Benzema scoring a combined total of as Thiago Silva, Thiago Motta, Adr- ries in T20 cricket. he is showing it in this shirt,” Zidane just six times in La Liga, while Gareth ien Rabiot and Layvin Kurzawa. They Gayle, who has now struck 819 sixes told a news conference in Abu Dhabi Real Madrid’s French coach Zinedine Zidane attends a press conference on Bale has made just one brief appear- have won the League Cup in each of in T20 cricket, last played a T20 inter- yesterday. “I am delighted to have the eve of their FIFA Club World Cup semi-final match against UAE’s ance as a substitute since September. the last four seasons. Amid specula- national for West Indies in September him, for me he is the best.” Al Jazira in Abu Dhabi yesterday. “We are improving in every sense,” tion as to the reasons behind Ney- and his last Test match was against Madrid face United Arab Emirates said Zidane after thrashing Sevilla. mar’s trip home, Brazilian website Bangladesh in 2014. league champions Al Jazira on their win this competition,” he said. “It rybody wants to have a great game “If you play well, you will create Globoesporte published social media His unbeaten 201-run partnership home soil in the semi-fi nal today, will not be easy, fi rst we have to get to and for that we will go out focused.” more chances. We created plenty of messages accompanied by photo- with New Zealand’s Brendan McCul- with the fi nal on Saturday. the fi nal. We’re only thinking about Madrid won the competition for chances.” graphs which suggest he could have lum steered Rangpur Riders to 206 for Although Madrid’s next La Liga winning the Club World Cup. the fi rst time in 2014 and again last Ronaldo scored twice at the week- been at the birthday party of his 1. match is a crucial Clasico clash “There are no easy games. We have year, when they beat Japanese side end to celebrate picking up his fi fth friend’s father and had also visited a In reply, Dhaka Dynamites were re- against Barcelona at the Santiago a semi fi nal against, a team that peo- Kashima Antlers 4-2 after extra time. Ballon d’Or in style and his return to dental clinic. stricted to 149 for 9, giving Rangpur Bernabeu on Dec. 23, Zidane said his ple say is easy, but we don’t think The Spanish champions can become form is timely, as Madrid face Barce- On Monday, Neymar published a Riders a massive 57-run victory. Jahu- squad is fully focused on the inter- that it will be, quite the opposite. the fi rst side to successfully defend lona in their fi nal game of the year on photo of himself on Twitter with the rul Islam with 50 was the top scorer for continental tournament. “Look at last year against Kashima the trophy since the tournament be- December 23 once their work in the message: “Focus, strength and faith the losers. “We will do everything we can to (Antlers). Against Real Madrid eve- gan in 2000 and can pull level with Middle East this week is done. for the celebration of another day!!” Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, December 13, 2017 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT EAGER England face last Mitchell Marsh raring Ashes stand at to go if called WACA graveyard in Perth Test ‘Off -field behaviour needs to improve and we all know that’

AFP Perth, Australia

ngland, battered from their latest off -fi eld booze-related scandal, will try to cling on to the Ashes urn at a venue where theyE haven’t won since 1978 in the third Test starting tomorrow. England’s chaotic tour reaches the point of no return as Australia, 2-0 up in the fi ve-match series, look for an Ashes-clinching victory in the last ever Test to be played at the WACA Ground in Perth. Joe Root’s tourists were rocked last weekend by a third alcohol-related incident in as many months after Eng- land Lions batsman Ben Duckett was suspended from a two-day tour match for pouring a drink on the head of sen- ior player James Anderson following a heated argument. The Duckett incident follows Ben Stokes’ involvement in a brawl out- side a Bristol nightclub in September and Jonny Bairstow’s headbutt greet- Reuters huge honour,” he added with a laugh. ing for Australia Test opener Cameron Perth While Marsh’s improved batting Bancroft in Perth in late October. had no doubt put him back in the “As professionals — with the young frame, the all-rounder said his recon- kids watching and hearing all the news ustralia all-rounder Mitch- structed shoulder was holding up well — it’s very important we are on our ell Marsh said he was ready to the rigours of bowling. best behaviour,” England’s teetotal to go if his improved batting “Shoulder’s feeling really good, spinner Moeen Ali said. in domestic cricket earned body’s feeling really good, got through “Off -fi eld behaviour needs to im- Ahim the nod for the third Ashes test the last two Shield games bowling, prove and we all know that.” against England that starts in Perth ready to go if I get the chance,” he said. It is against this backdrop that Eng- tomorrow. “I know I’ in great form at the mo- land must somehow prevent Australia The 26-year-old underwent shoul- ment, I probably didn’t expect to get from sweeping to another victory amid der surgery earlier this year and faced back in so soon after my injury. I’ve predictions of a 5-0 series whitewash. nine months on the sidelines but re- worked hard over the last nine months The tourists could not fi nd a more This file photo taken on October 26, 2013 shows members of the England Ashes team participating in a light turned for Western Australia in Octo- to get my body back into shape. inhospitable setting for their must- training session at the WACA Ground in Perth. The WACA ground, where the third Ashes Test will be played from ber and scored 680 runs in all forms of “If I get an opportunity to play, I’ll not-lose encounter with Steve Smith’s December 14, has been described as ramshackle, frozen in time, evocative and a veritable graveyard for visiting teams. cricket at an average of 68. bowl as many overs as Smudger (cap- fl ying Australians after heavy defeats He has scored two centuries, a 95 tain Steve Smith) needs me to bowl. in Brisbane and Adelaide. fi repower to take 20 on good ters have all showed they can all ac- Teams (probable): and 80 in his 14 innings and is ex- “Rhythm-wise, the ball’s coming England have not won at the WACA decks, and then whether their top or- tually play at this level but we’ve just Australia — David Warner, Cameron pected to be in competition with Peter out really well, pace-wise I think I’m for 39 years and have lost their last der can score enough runs to put Aus- got to do it for longer. Making 20s, Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Handscomb for a position in the third up where I was 18 months ago.” seven Tests in Perth, all by hefty mar- tralia under pressure,” McGrath said. 30s, 40s, 50s at this level is not good Smith (capt), Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Test lineup. If selected, elder brother Marsh added that his possible Test gins. England have to decide whether enough.” Marsh, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Pat Shaun is likely to move to number return on his home ground, which was It is little wonder England teams do to call up Mark Wood to inject some Australia are likely to make a change Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan fi ve with Mitchell slotting in at six, hard and generating good pace, would not relish playing in the unrelenting much-needed pace into the bowling with recalled all-rounder Mitchell Lyon. where his medium-pace bowling will be special if he gets to play with his heat of the baking venue, which is be- attack, although coach Trevor Bayliss Marsh in line to come into the side for England — Alastair Cook, Mark complement the all-out pace trio of brother, but the job was to wrap up the ing used for the last time before future has indicated he was happy with the struggling batsman Peter Handscomb. Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and series with two Tests remaining. games are switched to the new Perth four pacemen who played in Adelaide. “Other people might be unlucky to (capt), Dawid Malan, Moeen Ali, Jonny Pat Cummins. “It’d nice to be back playing for Stadium. “I thought the four pace bowlers miss out but Mitchell fi lls the role we Bairstow, Chris Woakes, Craig Over- “I am renowned as the ‘glue’ of the Australia and playing with Shaun Australia fast-bowling great Glenn we had in the last match went pretty need for this particular Test match,” ton, Stuart Broad, James Anderson. cartel,” Marsh told re- again, it’s always special,” he said. McGrath said England have two areas well,” said Bayliss, referring to veter- Australia coach Darren Lehmann said. Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA), Chris porters in Perth yesterday. “But we’re playing an Ashes test they desperately need to sort out for ans Anderson and Stuart Broad, all- “As a batter he was in some good Gaff aney (NZL) “I did a bit of sucking up and I’m and we have an opportunity to win the the WACA showdown to avoid further rounder Chris Woakes and debutant form. But we needed his bowling as TV umpire: Aleem Dar (PAK) back in their WhatsApp group. The series so all I’m focused on, if I get an humiliation. Craig Overton. well. Now he’s bowling, we can con- Match referee: Richie Richardson cartel are happy to have me back. I got opportunity, is doing my job for the “Firstly, whether they have the “As I said after the last Test our bat- sider him.” (WIS) invited to dinner last night. It was a team.”

BOTTOMLINE Final farewell to England’s theatre of nightmares

AFP “You need to leave a lot of balls and if you Perth leave well then you can have great success. “Fast bowlers usually come here and get car- ried away,” he added. he WACA ground, where the third “They have heard about the WACA so they Ashes Test will be played this week, bowl it far too short. has been described as ramshackle, fro- “It fl ies through to the keeper and the bowler zen in time, evocative and a veritable thinks ‘Ah...’, and the batter thinks, ‘Come on, Tgraveyard for visiting teams. keep on doing it baby.’” The minimalist venue on the edges of A large part of the fondness towards the Perth’s CBD is hosting its 44th and fi nal Test WACA is the prevailing afternoon sea breeze, match from tomorrow before future games are dubbed “The Fremantle Doctor”, which pro- switched to the swanky new 60,000-capacity vides respite for fi elding sides from the scorch- This file photo taken on February 15, 2008 Perth Stadium across the Swan River. ing heat or those frazzling in the old stands that shows Australian opening batsman Adam The Western Australian Cricket Association off er little shade. Gilchrist celebrating his century against (WACA) ground is well past its use-by date as But to visiting English teams, the WACA is a at the WACA ground in Perth. an international cricket venue and has been left nightmare as history bears out. behind by refurbished venues in other capital England last won a Test in Perth in 1978 and cities throughout the country. touring Ashes sides have lost the last seven en- The lead-up to the Ashes Test has conjured counters there, and heavily. enduring memories of iconic cricketers and It has always been iconic fast bowlers who their daring deeds in its open-air theatre. wrought the destruction, whether it was Lillee It ranges from Adam Gilchrist’s 57-ball hun- and his partner in crime Jeff Thomson terror- dred pyrotechnics to Curtly Ambrose’s spell of ising touring batsman — David Lloyd had his seven for one, Doug Walters hooking the fi nal protective box spilt in the 1974-75 series — or ball from Bob Willis for six to complete a centu- and Ryan Harris taking 18 ry in a session and button-down shirted Dennis wickets between them in the thumping 2010 Lillee thundering in to bowl with the wind at his win. back. It’s little wonder one English journalist de- The WACA Ground once boasted it was the scribes the WACA as England’s Ashes necropo- fastest pitch in the world until a relaid in lis, the cruellest of grounds, a theatre of night- the late 1980s slowed it down a tad. mares. West Australian Test great Justin Langer re- But there will be some sadness to see the back calls facing Pakistan’s express bowler Shoaib of a ground fi rst used as a Test venue in 1970. Akhtar on a fl yer of a WACA pitch in 2004. Opener Graeme Wood cherishes the memo- “Ricky Ponting and I were just laughing our ries of his home ground, which include a bril- heads off , because we could have got a single liant 111 against the fearsome West Indian every ball given how far Moin Khan, the wick- bowling attack in 1988. etkeeper, was standing back,” Langer said. “It’s known worldwide, so as a homegrown “I was very happy letting the take the boy it is very dear to me,” he said. strike. When you’re batting at the end with the “It’s going to be the last one here. It’ll be a lit- sea breeze behind the bowler, you feel alive. tle bit sad to see it go to the new stadium.” Gulf Times Wednesday, December 13, 2017 3 CRICKET

HAMILTON TEST SPOTLIGHT India aim to bounce back in second ODI New Zealand wrap the spin duo of Yuzvendra IANS Mohali Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav did not get to bowl and would be itching to get back into action till licking their after a month’s gap. wounds after the hu- Sri Lanka, on the other miliation in Dhar- hand will have a golden op- amsala, India will be portunity to seal the series up Windies series aimingS to roar back when they after ending a 12-match losing face a rejuvenated Sri Lanka streak on Sunday. in the do-or-die second One- The visitors will, however, day International (ODI) at the need to revisit their top order Punjab Cricket Association’s batting after opener Danush- I.S. Bindra Stadium today. ka Gunathilaka and one-drop The embarrassing seven- Lahiru Thirimanne failed to wicket loss in Sunday’s open- click in the fi rst match. with 240-run win er of the three-match rubber The Sri Lankans will take was not only an eye-opener a lot of heart from the per- ‘It was great to put two strong performances on the board. Credit to the way for the Men-in-Blue, who formance of their experienced are expected to face similar all-rounder , we stuck to our plans and executed them well in both games’ conditions when they land in who not only came good with South Africa later this month. the ball picking the crucial Reuters While Mohali may not be as wicket of Dhawan but also Hamilton cold as Dharamsala, the pac- guided the visitors home with ers could still have a say in the an unbeaten 25. second match, considering it The tourists will also be ew Zealand’s bowlers is another 11.30 a.m. start to expecting another brilliant steadily chipped away the day-night aff air. show from their bowling unit at the West Indies line- In such a scenario, Rohit led by pacer , up to record a ruthless Sharma’s men will need to who returned with fi gures of N240-run victory shortly before pull up their socks and learn 4/13 along with Mathews and tea on the fourth day of the sec- from the mistakes of the fi rst . ond Test at Seddon Park in Ham- match, where the top order The spin combo of Ak- ilton yesterday to wrap up a 2-0 fell like ninepins. It was once ila Dananjaya and Sachith series sweep. again the old war-horse Ma- Pathirana, complimented the Mitchell Santner took wick- hendra Singh Dhoni, who pacers beautifully despite ets on successive balls to end the stood tall with a patient half getting little help from the tourists’ second innings on 203 century to lift the team’s total pitch at Dharamsala. for nine as they tried in vain to to 112 after being down 29/7. chase the 444 runs needed to se- Moreover, the exclusion of TEAMS cure an unlikely drawn series af- the experienced Ajinkya Ra- India: Rohit Sharma (Cap- ter New Zealand dominated the hane in the playing XI without tain), Shikhar Dhawan, fi rst Test in Wellington. regular skipper Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, The hosts did not need to take also raised questions on the Manish Pandey, Washing- all 10 wickets after Sunil Am- team management’s strategy ton Sundar, Dinesh Karthik, bris retired hurt when a short in the opening game. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (WK), Neil Wagner broke his India went in with a rela- Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, arm, as the visitors resumed on tively inexperienced middle Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra 30-2 and were never really able order, comprising debutant Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhu- to establish a solid partnership Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pan- vneshwar Kumar, Siddarth throughout the day. dey and Dinesh Karthik, who Kaul. “New Zealand did a great job failed to cash on the oppor- Sri Lanka: but when we batted we didn’t tunity after the hosts lost (Captain), , produce, especially in the fi rst the opening duo of Rohit and , Lahiru innings of the fi rst Test,” stand- Shikhar Dhawan cheaply. Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, in West Indies captain Kraigg In the bowling department, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Brathwaite said. “Tough loss, the worry for India will be the Dickwella (WK), Chaturanga but we saw on the bouncy pitch- performance of all-rounder de Silva, Akila Dananjaya, es that we have to be better with Hardik Pandya, who once again Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan our shot selection and we need leaked runs when the hosts Pradeep, Sadeera Samaraw- to be more incisive.” were defending a paltry score. ickrama, , Trent Boult became the sixth Considering Sri Lanka can- , Sa- New Zealander to claim 200 test tered to victory in 20.4 overs, chith Pathirana, . wickets when he had Brathwaite caught in the gully by skipper Kane Williamson for 20 to leave Afghanistan to play fi rst-ever Test in India the visitors fl oundering at 43-3 and they failed to recover from Afghanistan will play their first ever Test match in India, off icials the early blow. from both countries announced on Monday, amid speculation “It was great to put two strong that the game could be played as early as next year. Afghani- performances on the board. New Zealand players celebrate their Test series win after the second Test against the West Indies at Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday. (AFP) stan and Ireland were given Test status in June by the Interna- Credit to the way we stuck to our tional Cricket Council. plans and executed them well in times impetuous, batsman into a in the next over before walking (J. Raval 84, C. de Grandhom- ...... 0 “The Afghans were scheduled to play their first Test in 2019 both games,” Williamson told player able to dominate attacks. off when Wagner returned to me 58; Gabriel 4-119, Roach R. Reifer c Williamson b Southee versus Australia but considering the historic relationship reporters. “Both teams fought “At the start of my career if resume his bouncer barrage. “He 3-58) ...... 29 between India and Afghanistan, we decided to host their first really hard but it was nice for us you’d told me I’d get 17 Test hun- has been taken to hospital and X- West Indies first innings 221 (K. K. Roach b Santner ...... 32 Test,” BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said. to stick to our plans for long pe- dreds, I’ve had said ‘no chance’,” rays confi rmed a fractured arm,” Brathwaite 66; Boult 4-73) M. Cummins c Boult b Santner 9 The BCCI did not say if the Test against Afghanistan is included riods and get the rewards.” Taylor told reporters after the a team spokesman said. “This New Zealand second innings S. Gabriel 0 in India’s 81 home matches scheduled for 2019-2023, leading Boult was not the only New milestone. means he will also be out of the 291-8 dec (R. Taylor 107 not Extras: (lb5, w1) ...... 6 to speculation that the two nations are looking to play the Zealander to achieve a signifi - “I always thought I’d be just a ODI series.” out, K. Williamson 54; Cum- Total: (for 9 wickets; 63.5 match next year. Atif Mashal, the Afghanistan Cricket Board cant personal milestone during white-ball player. Ambris made unwanted his- mins 3-69) overs) 203 (ACB) chairman, said on Twitter that the date and venue will be the game with Ross Taylor join- “(I) had some good nights with tory in the opening Test against West Indies second innings Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Powell), 2-27 announced soon. India has acted as a mentor for Afghanistan ing former mentor Martin Crowe ‘Hogan’ (Crowe) over some red New Zealand when he became (overnight 30-2) (Hetmyer), 3-43 (Brathwaite), cricket, hosting some of the war-torn nation’s home matches and Williamson on 17 Test cen- wine. Talking about my batting, the fi rst person to be out for a K. Brathwaite c Williamson b 4-68 (Hope), 4-80 (Ambris re- This year, spinner Rashid Khan and former captain Moham- turies, the most by a New Zea- and lot of it probably not posi- golden duck in his debut innings Boult ...... 20 tired), 5-80 (Dowrich), 6-158 mad Nabi became the first Afghans to be picked in the Indian lander, on Monday. tive. It came from a good place by stepping on his wicket. K. Powell c Southee b Boult ...... 0 (Chase), 7-166 (Reifer), 8-203 Premier League auction. Choudhary said after a BCCI meeting Taylor fi nished on 107 not out and I guess that’s why I’m here.” In the fi rst innings of the sec- S. Hetmyer c Wagner b Southee (Cummins), 9-203 (Roach) that there would be home games against England, Australia when Williamson declared on Luckless Ambris was on four ond Test, his misfortune con- ...... 15 Bowling: Southee 19-3-71-2, and South Africa but Pakistan is still not included in India’s 291-8 with about an hour’s play when caught by a rising delivery tinued when he became the fi rst S. Hope c de Grandhomme b Boult 16-1-52-2, Wagner 15-5-42-3 schedule. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan have not played a remaining on the third day. during a feisty spell from New person to step on his stumps in Wagner ...... 23 (1w), de Grandhomme 9-5-20-0, bilateral series since 2013 because of political tensions. India’s Crowe, who died in 2016, has Zealand short-ball specialist consecutive Tests. R. Chase c de Grandhomme b Santner 4.5-0-13-2 next fixtures cycle has more home matches than the current had a major impact on Taylor’s Neil Wagner. Wagner ...... 64 Result: New Zealand won by schedule, but the number of playing days has been cut follow- career, helping him transform He stayed on the fi eld to SCOREBOARD S. Ambris retired hurt ...... 5 240 runs ing complaints from players led by skipper Virat Kohli. from a swashbuckling, and at take a single off Tim Southee New Zealand first innings 373 S. Dowrich c Nicholls b Wagner Series: New Zealand won 2-0

ASHES England have let down captain Root: Bairstow By Ali Martin we can’t go forward.” There is a feeling among the The Guardian Asked if Root had been let squad that the delay in exoner- down, replied: “I think every- ating Bairstow and the curfew Cook not thinking about retirement ahead of 150thTest one realises that is something we which then resulted was an er- Alastair Cook has “no idea” “That’s probably not a guy onny Bairstow accepts have done. And not just him. But ror. Those above them are in turn when he will be retiring and is who’s given in. To be honest England’s players have let we move on from that now. It is staggered that certain individu- completely focused on beating with you, I have no idea (when down their captain, Joe something that has been dealt als seem unable to grasp the sig- Australia in his 150th Test this I’ll retire). And I’ve said that Root, and must rebuild with. We’ve got a chance as a nifi cance of representing their week to keep the Ashes series since I gave up the captaincy.” publicJ trust by delivering on the group to go out there and front country, not least given that the alive, the former England cap- The opener said retirement fi eld during the remainder of the up.” brief relaxation of the midnight tain said yesterday. might not end up being his own Ashes series. croft took place at the start of the A year ago the spinner was cut-off resulted in another in- Cook, England’s most prolific choice if he continued to fail to Root and Trevor Bayliss, the tour has given rise to the percep- on the brink of being dropped – cident. test run scorer, has made 62 make runs and said becoming England head coach, expressly tion of a squad out of control, now he is the linchpin of the side The responses of the ECB and runs in four innings as the the first England player to play told the players to behave fol- something not helped by their and his fi zzing deliveries are tor- the team management to two tourists have gone 2-0 down in 150 Tests was “quite special”, lowing Ben Duckett’s suspen- being 2-0 down with three to menting batsmen acts that may otherwise have the five-match series and some especially as the last 147 have sion from Lions duty for tipping play in what has been a faltering Trust between the players, been considered trivial have former players turned pundits been consecutive. a drink over Jimmy Anderson. Ashes defence. the ECB hierarchy and the secu- been shaped by the arrest of Ben have suggested he might be Cook has enjoyed an Ashes tri- England insist their investiga- “We need to rebuild the trust rity staff may also need rebuild- Stokes in Bristol last September about to call time on his career. suggested that Cook had the umph in Australia in 2010-11 as tion into events has concluded, we had built over the last few ing over the coming weeks, not after a night out, the fallout from “I haven’t made any decision on look of a man who might be well as the 2013-14 debacle and with no further action to be years as a team,” said Bairstow, least since it was the latter who which continues to aff ect events anything. All my focus is on this ready to hang up his bat. said the current party would taken against others present as the team’s representative at fl agged up the Duckett incident on and off the field. game, the biggest of our lives “For the people who are saying not fail for want of trying. that night. The midnight cur- an event for Yorkshire Tea on to the team management, who Certainly Australia are keen to coming up,” Cook said in Perth. that, they’ve had no contact “I will say this about this Eng- few is now restored – much to Monday, the type of sponsors then decided to release the news use this latest situation to their Cook captained England on time with me,” Cook, who is 33 land side, I’ve never seen a side the chagrin of the squad mem- the England and Wales Cricket pro-actively. advantage, with their wicket- their last Ashes tour Down later this month, said. “They a work as hard as this side,” he bers who know how to conduct Board fears could be put off by Both of those calls were made keeper, Tim Paine, saying he and Under when spinner Graeme wouldn’t know the extra nets said. themselves – and the focus is such a sequence of events. in light of the Bairstow situation his team-mates intend to sledge Swann retired mid-series with I’ve been doing behind closed “Win, lose or draw, whether we on the third Test which starts on “You rebuild it by winning at the start of the tour, which England’s players about it on the the tourists 3-0 down and doors. play well or we play rubbish, Thursday. games of cricket. You’ve got to only came to the attention of the fi eld when what has been an ac- headed for a 5-0 whitewash. “I was with (my batting coach) the eff ort from the guys is un- That it occurred in the same go out and win games and that ECB and the coaches four weeks rimonious series resumes at the Former Australian paceman yesterday for an hour-and-a- believable. There’s a group of Avenue bar in Claremont where starts at training and then in the after the event – during the Bris- Waca this week. Mitchell Johnson and England half in the morning, desperate men in there, 16 or 17 of them, Bairstow’s now infamous “head- Test. The lads are still feeling bane Test – when a local reporter “I’m sure someone will bring batsman Kevin Pietersen have to keep working on my game. desperate to do well.” butt” greeting to Cameron Ban- positive and there is no reason put it to them. it up at some stage,” said Paine. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, December 13, 2017 SPORT

NHL WINTER GAMES Russian Olympic Committee to Rangers rally late support athletes

Reuters ure skaters, speed skaters and Moscow the presidents of winter sports federations. Announcing the decision, he Russian Olympic ROC President Alexander but fall to Dallas Committee (ROC) Zhukov said: “All participants agreed unanimously were of the same opinion — our yesterday to support sportsmen need to go to Korea, RussianT athletes who choose need to compete, achieve vic- to compete in next year’s Win- tory for the glory of Russia, for ter Games in South Korea. the glory of our motherland.” The International Olym- Zhukov said Russia would pic Committee (IOC) last do its best to support Russian Stars in shootout week banned Russia from the athletes competing under a Games, due to take place in neutral fl ag and hold serious ‘It was unacceptable for the team that we’re supposed to be. Getting something out Pyeongchang in February, for talks with the IOC in the near what it called “unprecedented future to discuss the problems of this game was all Pav. We had no business getting something out of this game. systematic manipulation” of and practicalities of the ar- the anti-doping system. rangement We gave it a push in the third. In terms of 60 minutes, that’s below standard’ But it left the door open for “Russian sportsmen have athletes to compete as neu- stated their readiness to take trals if they have a clean his- part in the Olympic Games, tory of not doping. President despite the diffi cult conditions Vladimir Putin said last week and decision of the IOC, which Russia would not prevent its is undoubtedly unfair in many athletes from competing, dis- ways,” he said. missing calls by some for a In the weeks leading up boycott, and an ROC offi cial to the IOC ban, more than said on Monday most Russian 20 Russian athletes who com- athletes still wanted to attend. peted at the 2014 Sochi Games The Russian committee were banned for life from met to agree its position on the Olympics for allegedly vio- Pyeongchang at a meeting lating anti-doping rules. yesterday attended by sport- Russia has repeatedly said ing fi gures including the na- there was no state-sponsored tional men’s hockey team, fi g- doping system in the country.

Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) President Alexander Zhukov during a news conference in Moscow yesterday. (Reuters)

South Korea conducts anti-terror drills ahead of Winter Games Dallas Stars centre Jason Spezza (R) scores the game winning past Rangers goalie Ondrej Pavelec during a shootout at Madison Square Garden. PICTURE: USA TODAY SPORTS Set to host the Winter Olympics in February, South Korea con- By Steve Zipay only one goal, on an uncontested no business getting something misses and blocks _ to the Rang- Early in the second, Pavelec ducted a series of security drills yesterday to prepare against Newsday slapper by defenseman Julius out of this game. We gave it a ers’ 23. handled the puck outside the terror attacks ranging from a hostage situation, a vehicle ram- Honka at 6:30 of the second pe- push in the third. In terms of The Rangers started poorly trapezoid and was whistled for a ming a stadium and a bomb-attached to a drone. riod. 60 minutes, that’s below stand- again, chasing the Stars because delay of game at 1:44. Police and firemen were among around 420 personnel partici- ndrej Pavelec’s fi n- Brady Skjei’s shot caromed off ard.” they rarely had the puck in the The Blueshirts kept the Stars pating in the exercise, held in front of the Olympic Stadium at est performance of Rick Nash’s leg in front to tie the Ryan McDonagh said the fi rst period. at bay, even after Jesper Fast Pyeongchang, just 80km (50 miles) from the heavily fortified the season was wasted score with 3:41 left in regulation, Stars, who had lost three Pavelec was focused, not fl us- went off for tripping Jamie Benn border with North Korea. During the simulated drills, members except for salvaging a as Stars coach Ken Hitchcock’s straight, “were going to be des- tered, and made 16 stops in his and the Stars had a fi ve-on- of a SWAT team shot down a drone with a bomb attached that point.O challenge for goaltender inter- perate. We didn’t match it. We’re best period of the season. three for 50 seconds. was flying toward a bus carrying athletes. Pavelec made 44 saves in 65 ference was denied. too far into the season to have a His top saves came on close- In an attempt to get some of- In another part of the mock exercise a terrorist took hostage minutes, but the Rangers were In the shootout, Alexander game like this. Thankfully, Pave- in attempts by Remi Elie and fense going, jug- athletes on a bus, and tried to ram the vehicle into the stadium sluggish and strangely emotion- Radulov and Jason Spezza scored lec was really sharp, and that Devin Shore with 3:42 left. Ear- gled lines in the third. before being gunned down by police. Off icers in gas masks also less for two-thirds of Monday for the Stars and Mats Zuccarello point was all because of him.” lier, Gemel Smith’s shot rang the The Rangers had scored 40 removed a chemical bomb. night’s game at Madison Square had the lone goal against Kari Pavelec, who came in with a crossbar, although it may have times in the third period this Anxiety on the Korean Peninsula has been rising in recent Garden, a 2-1 shootout loss to Lehtonen. 2-4 record, a 3.45 goals-against grazed Pavelec’s glove. season. They got one, but that months due to a series of missile tests by North Korea as it the Dallas Stars. “I think everyone in here average and an .899 save per- The Rangers, with fi ve shots wasn’t enough on a frustrating continues its pursuit of nuclear weapons in defiance of UN After four straight games knows that was embarrassing for centage, was impressive. on Lehtonen, were fl ummoxed. night. sanctions and warnings from the . against Metropolitan Division two periods,” Zuccarello said. “Tough, tough loss,” he said. They couldn’t sustain a fore- “Please keep in mind that accidents always happen where no opponents, the Rangers sank “They smacked us around. “I was able to see the puck, the check until the last fi ve minutes RESULTS one has expected,” South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon with a thud in the fi rst two pe- We didn’t win one battle. We shots from the point. Most of of the period. Islanders ...... 3 Capitals ...... 1 said. “Please check until the last minute whether there are any riods. weren’t fi rst on the puck. them I saw. They spent a lot of At the other end of the ice, it Avalanche ...... 2 ..Penguins ...... 1 security loopholes.” They were outshot 33-10 and “It was unacceptable for the time in our end.” was the opposite: 13 Stars had Stars ...... 2 Rangers ...... 1 (SO) were in the game solely because team that we’re supposed to How dominant were the at least one shot, and Spezza, Panthers ...... 2 Red Wings 1 (OT) of Pavelec. be. Getting something out of Stars? After 40 minutes, they Radulov and Brett Ritchie has Jets ...... 5 Canucks ...... 1 In his fi fth start, he allowed this game was all Pav. We had had 64 shot attempts _ on goal, especially good looks. Ducks...... 3 ..Hurricanes ...... 2 DOPING FOCUS IOC bans 6 Russian Castle shatters rugby union glass ceiling female AFP nications roles.” He added that she players for life Sydney would bring “a fresh set of eyes” to the challenges facing the sport. Reuters Castle said she had followed Lausanne Galina Skiba. aelene Castle shattered rugby union closely for 30 years and “The Russian Team is dis- the glass ceiling yesterday was looking forward to developing qualifi ed from the Women’s Ice by becoming Rugby Aus- and strengthening the sport. he International Ol- Hockey Event and the Interna- tralia’s new chief executive, “I am especially looking for- ympic Committee tional Ice Hockey Federation is makingR her the fi rst woman to over- ward to getting out into the rugby (IOC) has banned six requested to modify the results see the sport anywhere in the world. communities across Australia and Russian female ice of the event accordingly,” the She takes over from Bill Pulver, meeting the diverse range of people Thockey players from the Ol- IOC said in a statement on its who quit in the fallout from West- that make the game tick,” she said. ympics for life over doping website. ern Force being axed from Super The Australian-born Castle, who allegations linked to the 2014 The Russian women’s hock- Rugby. Castle, a former boss of moved to New Zealand as a child, Sochi Games, the ruling body ey team fi nished sixth at the Netball New Zealand, has been becomes the fi rst woman to lead said yesterday. 2014 Sochi Games. tasked with unifying the sport after the national governing body and in The decision came a week The IOC decision increased the protracted and acrimonious Su- doing also becomes the fi rst female after the IOC banned Russia the number of Russian ath- per Rugby saga. She beat more than boss across all of the major national from next year’s Pyeongchang letes banned for life from the 200 candidates, including highly- unions in world rugby. Winter Olympics for what it Olympics over alleged doping fancied former Wallabies captain New Zealand Rugby chief execu- called “unprecedented sys- violations at the Sochi Games Phil Kearns. tive Steve Tew hailed her appoint- tematic manipulation” of the to more than 30. “Raelene is an extremely impres- ment as heralding “a new era for anti-doping system. The IOC did not disclose the sive executive who covered every international rugby”. The IOC, however, left the nature of the hockey players’ base as far as what the board was “We congratulate Raelene on her door open for Russian ath- alleged doping violations. It looking for in a chief executive of- appointment, which is an acknowl- letes with a clean history of also said it had closed a case fi cer to lead our game into an impor- edgement of her strength as a lead- non-doping to be invited to against a seventh unnamed tant new chapter,” said Rugby Aus- er, and her ability to drive success compete in Pyeongchang as athlete without sanction. tralia chairman Cameron Clyne. both on and off the fi eld,” he said. neutrals. Russia’s Olympic Commit- “She off ers an incredible wealth “I have known Raelene for a The banned ice hockey tee agreed earlier yesterday of experience in sports admin- number of years, and have a huge players are Inna Dyubanok, to support the athletes who istration and business, with an regard for her and we are really Ekaterina Lebedeva, Ekaterina choose to compete in next outstanding track record in com- looking forward to working with Raelene Castle passes the ball for the media after becoming Rugby Australia’s new chief executive, Pashkevich, Anna Shibanova, year’s Winter Games in South mercial, marketing and commu- her.” making her the first woman to ever oversee the sport anywhere in the world. (AFP) Ekaterina Smolentseva and Korea as neutrals. Gulf Times Wednesday, December 13, 2017 5 SPORT

NBA NFL Warriors and Dolphins snap Patriots’ Rockets roll on eight-game win streak

The Sports Xchange sive 123-2 yardage advantage after one as Celtics crash quarter but led just 6-0. The Dolphins Miami scored on fi eld goals of 30 and 44 yards Curry missed the match but Durant and Thompson excel for Golden State by Cody Parkey. The fi rst fi eld goal was ay Cutler threw three touch- the result of a 13-play, 69-yard dive. down passes as the double-digit The second was set up by an intercep- underdog Miami Dolphins upset tion by Howard. the New England Patriots 27-20 New England got untracked in the onJ Monday night at Hard Rock Sta- second quarter, taking a 7-6 lead on a Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots dium. 3-yard run by Rex Burkhead. against Portland Trail Blazers Jarvis Landry caught two of Cutler’s On the next possession, Miami drove center Meyers Leonard (11) TD throws. After his second touch- 80 yards in seven plays and took a 13-7 during the second quarter of down grab, he celebrated by pretending lead on a 5-yard touchdown pass from their game on Monday. to infl ate the football — perhaps mock- Cutler to Landry. PICTURE: Kyle Terada-USA ing New England quarterback Tom New England closed its defi cit to 13- TODAY Sports Brady’s “Defl ategate” issues. 10 on a 46-yard fi eld goal by Stephen Cutler completed 25 of 38 passes for Gostkowski with two seconds left in 263 yards. Kenyan Drake led Miami’s the fi rst half. ground game with 114 yards on 25 car- Miami extended its advantage to 20- ries. It was the second straight 100- 10 when Jakeem Grant made a spec- yard game for Drake, who also had fi ve tacular, leaping, 25-yard touchdown receptions for 79 yards. catch, crashing to the turf in the end The Patriots (10-3), who visit the zone. 11-2 Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday The Dolphins closed the third-quar- in what was looking like a battle for ter scoring with Landry’s 4-yard re- home-fi eld advantage throughout the ception for a 27-10 lead. AFC playoff s, may have been caught New England crept closer as Brady’s looking ahead. Their eight-game win 3-yard touchdown pass to James White streak was snapped. cut the defi cit to 27-17 with 13:05 to Brady got off to a poor start, missing play. all four of his fi rst-quarter passes. He The Patriots, who had a fi rst-and- completed 24 of 43 passes for 233 yards goal at the Miami 1-yard line late in the and one touchdown, but he was inter- fourth quarter, had to settle for a 33- cepted twice, both times by cornerback yard Gostkowski fi eld goal after get- Xavien Howard. ting hit with illegal-shift and holding Before Monday, Brady had just four penalties. interceptions all season and never more Trailing 27-20, New England failed than one in a game. to recover an onside kick, sealing the Miami (6-7) compiled an impres- win for Miami.

AFP quishing the New Orleans Pelicans “You can see why they have the we are fi nding each other and we are Los Angeles 130-123 at the Toyota Center. best record in the league,” Gentry bringing that energy that the team The Rockets had a late scoring said of the Rockets. “I thought we did needs,” Mirotic said. spree from guards James Harden and everything we had to do to try and put Boston fell to 23-6 with the defeat he Golden State Warriors Chris Paul to thank for the win, which ourselves in a position to try to win but remain secure on top of the East- shrugged off the absence of saw them overturn a 13-point third it.” ern Conference table with Toronto Stephen Curry to edge past quarter defi cit to claim a 10th straight Elsewhere on Monday, Nikola Mi- (17-8) their nearest rivals. the Portland Trail Blazers on victory. rotic and Bobby Portis provided fur- “Sometimes, you get your butt MondayT as a depleted Boston Celtics Harden scored 26 points — 12 of ther proof that their violent alterca- kicked — it’s as simple as that,” Celt- crashed to defeat against the Chicago them in the fourth quarter — while tion in October had been forgotten ics coach Brad Stevens said. Bulls. also notching a career-high 17 assists. after teaming up to inspire the Chi- “Chicago dictated the whole game, The injured Curry and Draymond Paul also left his scoring late, with cago Bulls’ victory over the Boston they played harder than we did, they Green were both missing from the 16 of 20 points in the fourth. Celtics. played with more presence than we Warriors line-up in Oakland but Harden later revealed he had urged Mirotic and Portis came to blows did, they played more competitive Kevin Durant stepped up with 28 Paul to raise the tempo in the fourth before the season started in a clash than we did, they played with more points as the NBA champions claimed quarter. that left Mirotic with multiple facial authority than we did. a 111-104 win at the Oracle Arena. “I told him to be aggressive. He was fractures and a concussion. Meanwhile the Toronto Raptors Klay Thompson also grabbed 24 passive throughout the entire game,” However the two Bulls players pro- missed the chance to close the gap points for the Warriors, who remain Harden said of Paul. vided the bulk of the scoring — Mi- on Boston in the Eastern Conference second in the Western Conference “I told him, ‘Be aggressive, take rotic with 24 and Portis with 23 — as after being pipped 96-91 by the Clip- Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jakeem Grant (19) makes a catch over New standings with a 22-6 record behind your shots.’ He made some big threes, the Bulls recorded a blowout 108-85 pers in Los Angeles. England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) for a touchdown during the fi rst place Houston. got to the basket a couple times, and win over the Celtics, who were badly second half at Hard Rock Stadium. PICTURE: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports The Warriors recorded their sev- gave us some momentum off ensively. missing the injured Kyrie Irving and RESULTS enth straight victory after overcom- And then defensively we got stops.” forward Marcus Morris. Golden State ...... 111 Portland ...... 104 ing a virtuoso performance from New Orleans were without talis- The Bulls have not lost since Mi- LA Clippers ...... 96 Toronto ...... 91 BASEBALL Portland’s Damian Lillard, who fi n- man Anthony Davis, struggling with rotic returned last Friday after recov- Chicago ...... 108 Boston ...... 85 ished with 39 points. a left adductor strain. Pelicans coach ering from the injuries sustained in Houston ...... 130 New Orleans ...... 123 The Rockets head the standings in Alvin Gentry was left impressed by his fi ght with Portis. Memphis ...... 82 Miami ...... 107 the Eastern Conference after van- Houston. “Bobby and I, we are playing good, Oklahoma City....103 Charlotte ...... 116 Stanton relishing SCOTTISH SCENE BOTTOMLINE NY Yankees role

AFP tion we will be a better team. We are go- New York ing to perform. I want to make this team better.” Stanton will now team up in a formi- NFL reviewing concussion ational League MVP Gian- dable looking Yankees batting line-up carlo Stanton completed his with American League rookie of the blockbuster move to the New year Aaron Judge. York Yankees on Monday and Stanton blasted 59 home runs for Nrevealed the iconic franchise had always the Marlins last season while Judge protocol aft er Savage hit been his preferred destination. smashed 52 in 2017. Stanton said he had been impressed It means the Yankees will fi eld a line- AFP protocol is an important part of our Texans coach Bill O’Brien on Mon- is OK. They went, they checked him, by the way the Yankees developed last up with two 50-homer players for only Los Angeles overall eff ort on protecting our players day defended the decision to allow they came to me, they were not satis- season, where they fell just short of a the second time in major league history. health and safety. But we do under- Savage to return after the initial hit in fi ed with his answers to the questions place in the World Series after losing The last team to do it were the Yankees stand that it is our obligation to look the second quarter, saying he would that they were asking him, and they out to eventual winners the Houston in 1961, when Roger Maris (61) and at where the protocol may not have never have allowed the quarterback to pulled him from the game.” Astros. Mickey Mantle (54) chased down Babe he National Football League been followed, and just as importantly go back on the fi eld if he had seen the O’Brien hit back at suggestions he The 28-year-old Los Angeles native Ruth’s record. said Monday it was reviewing to see where the protocol can be im- images of him shaking violently. was “passing the ” over the issue. had been linked with moves to several Stanton said Monday he had already the league’s concussion pro- proved. That’s an ongoing eff ort.” “I fi gured he got hit, didn’t know he “At no point in time in my coaching clubs, with the San Francisco Giants and spoken to Judge over the weekend once Ttocol after Houston Texans The announcement follows the dis- got hit, very diffi cult from where I’m career, in my 25 years of coaching... is the Los Angeles Dodgers among several his move was set in motion. quarterback Tom Savage was allowed turbing sight of Savage lying prone, standing to even see he got it. There’s there anything more important to me teams in the hunt for his signature. “We respect each other’s game and to play on despite suff ering a heavy hit his hands shaking involuntarily after no video on the sideline,” O’Brien said. than the safety of our players,” O’Brien But Stanton said the Yankees had had fun at the Home Run Derby,” Stan- that left him twitching and shaking on a bone-jarring hit by San Francisco “With benefi t of the video, I never said. been “on top of my list” that he gave ton said. the turf. 49ers defensive end Elvis Dumervil on would have allowed the player back “I love our players and I care about to his former employers at the Miami “We spoke a couple of days ago, ex- NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart told Sunday in Houston. in the game and I don’t think (trainer) them and I cannot stand when players Marlins when he made it clear he want- cited to work together, learn from each reporters on a conference call that Savage was taken to the sideline Geoff Kaplan would have let Tom back get injured. Again with benefi t of see- ed to leave Florida. other and make each other better.” the league had opened an investiga- medical tent for evaluation but re- in the game.” ing the video that people are seeing, I “Watching them from afar, their Judge meanwhile was similarly en- tion with the NFL Players Association turned to the fi eld on the next Tex- O’Brien said after the fi rst “quick would have never put him back in the young, dynamic group and the way thused about what Stanton’s arrival to look into the existing concussion ans drive. He threw two incomplete check,” he told Kaplan that Savage game.” they fl ow together,” Stanton told a press means for the Yankees already impres- rules. passes. needed to be re-evaluated. The NFL has faced growing scrutiny conference. “The atmosphere, storied sive batting line-up. “That work started yesterday after- On the next drive, Savage tried to “It wasn’t anything that I particu- in recent years over the issue of con- franchise. There’s not much reason why “I feel sorry for the baseballs,” Judge noon and continued into this morn- return to the game again but was seen larly saw on the fi eld. I just said, look, cussions and head trauma. I wouldn’t want to be there. said on the YES Network. “It’ll be a good ing, but I think we’ll withhold further arguing with team offi cials before that was a quick check,” O’Brien said. In 2015, the league agreed to a $1bn “The team, the dynamic. They strike dynamic. We are going to be tough, it’s comments until we’ve had a chance to heading back to the locker room. T.J. “It was a three-and-out on that settlement to resolve thousands of from everywhere, they are well-bal- going to be hard to get through us all. conduct the review,” Lockhart said. Yates replaced him for the rest of the series. Let’s continue to check him to lawsuits by former players suff ering anced, hungry. They got close enough They are going to have their work cut “We believe very strongly that the game. make sure that the player, Tom Savage, from neurological problems. this year, but hopefully with my addi- out for them.” Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, December 13, 2017 SPORT

FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT ‘It looks like someone’s gran’: Maradona statue Celtic are still sharp, unveiled in India says striker Dembele ‘I’m expecting a tough game. I think they’ll come to Celtic Park and try. The busy fixture schedule was the same for us last season as well. We are all fit and ready to compete in any game. Every team wants to beat us, but they always have and we are still unbeaten’

AFP Glasgow

eltic striker Moussa Dembele says his side’s The bronze statue of Diego Maradona in Kolkata, India. focus remains on winning with Hamilton due to The Guardian be made. visitC tomorrow despite dropping Maradona was in Kolkata for London points in two of their past three a charity event, nine years af- Scottish Premiership outings. ter making his fi rst appearance The champions extended nother football icon in the capital of India’s West their record-breaking domestic has been honoured Bengal state and three months unbeaten run to 68 games with by a statue with a after he was due to visit again. a 2-2 draw with Hibernian on bronze sculpture of His trip had been postponed Sunday but came close to seeing theA Argentina great, Diego several times. it end as Hibs came close to a late Maradona, unveiled at a club “I am not god of football but winner after battling back from in Kolkata, although the dubi- a simple footballer,” a smil- two goals down. ous likeness to the 1986 World ing Maradona said through an Celtic’s fi fth draw of the sea- Cup winner has attracted interpreter after the unveil- son means they have already online ridicule. ing. “I’m happy to be here in dropped more points than they The 12-foot statue features Kolkata again. did in the whole of the last cam- the 1986 World Cup winner “It’s amazing to have my paign when they sealed a historic with a healthy head of hair statue here.” treble. Brendan Rodgers’ side and holding aloft the trophy The Times of India reported face a hectic festive schedule he helped Argentina win in Maradona, now 57, handed out with six games over the next 17 Mexico, but bears little resem- cheques to 11 cancer patients days as the Scottish Premier- blance to the then 25-year-old at the event, which was at- ship prepares to shut down for a captain of the side. tended by around a thousand three-week winter break. Some online commenters people, some of whom were Dembele is confi dent Celtic said the statue looked more standing on rooftops of the can shrug off any despondency like the former England man- adjoining buildings. from the weekend and return to ager, Roy Hodgson, the former Maradona and Ronaldo are winning ways. “I’m expecting a NBA star, Larry Bird, Bobby not the only footballers to have tough game,” said Dembele. Ewing from Dallas or “some- been immortalised by statues “I think they’ll come to Celtic one’s gran”. – and they are not alone in at- Park and try. The busy fi xture It follows in the footsteps tracting controversy. schedule was the same for us last of the Cristiano Ronaldo bust Just last week, a bronze like- season as well. We are all fi t and unveiled earlier this year when ness of the current captain of ready to compete in any game. Madeira airport was re-named Argentina, Lionel Messi, was “Every team wants to beat us, after the Real Madrid star. vandalised in Buenos Aires for but they always have and we are Then, reaction to the bronze a second time this year. A pair still unbeaten so we must have effi gy was scathing and even- of boots and a football are all done something good.” tually prompted an update to that now remain. Dembele is also confi dent Celtic can make an impact in the Europa League as they look ahead to a last-32 tie against Zenit St Petersburg. The fi rst leg is at Celtic Park on February 15 with the return game in St Petersburg a week later. “I think it’s a good team to Celtic striker Moussa Dembele in action during the UEFA Champions League Group B match against Anderlecht at Celtic Park stadium in play. As a footballer you have Glasgow, Scotland on December 5. (AFP) to be ready to play against any team and we will be ready,” the sure we are ready to compete.” Murty says his players must and grind a win out. Elsewhere, third-placed Ab- 21-year-old France striker said. Rangers remain without a continue to show the resilience “Things aren’t always going to erdeen will attempt to keep pace “I think we’re good enough to manager but closed to within and character they produced go our way, and we have to show with Rangers when they take on make a mark on the competition, fi ve points of their bitter city ri- in coming from behind to beat a bit of resilience, which I think St Johnstone. otherwise we wouldn’t be there. vals with a 2-1 win against Ross County at the weekend. we did. “We were in the Champions County on Saturday. It was the “You can’t always fl ow, domi- “We have to be strong enough Fixtures League and it didn’t really go our fi rst time they had won three nate and dictate in the way we to stand up and accept mistakes, (1945 unless otherwise stated) way but we learn from our mis- games in a row in 2017 and they want to — and I don’t think we but I want players who are brave Today takes. Now we have the chance to will look to extend that run when did against Ross County,” Murty and go and get on the ball even Celtic v Hamilton, Hibernian v play in Europe after Christmas, they travel to take on Hibs today. said. if the last thing they did didn’t Rangers, Partick Thistle v Moth- Argentine footballer Diego Maradona in action during a football so we need to train hard and make Interim manager Graeme “Sometimes you have to scrap work.” erwell, St Johnstone v Aberdeen workshop with school students in Kolkata yesterday.

FOCUS BADMINTON/ WORLD SUPERSERIES FINALS India’s Sindhu and ICSS establishes fi rst dedicated Srikanth aim to end 2017 on a high sport integrity hotline In the women’s singles, IANS By Sports Reporter Unit and experienced sport in- Dubai Sindhu has been clubbed in Doha tegrity experts at the ICSS.” Group A with Japan’s Akane President WhistleBlower Se- Yamaguchi, Sayaka Sato and curity Inc. Shannon Walker add- ndian shuttlers P.V. Sind- ’s He Bingjiao. he Special Investigations ed: “WhistleBlower Security is hu and Kidambi Srikanth Defending champion and Unit (SIU) of the Inter- excited to partner with the ICSS will hope to end 2017 on a the year’s most successful sin- national Centre for Sport to provide the support and tools high when they compete gles player, Chinese ’s Security (ICSS) - an in- to introduce the Sport Integrity Iin the season-ending World Tai Tzu Ying, fi nds herself Tternational non-profi t organisa- Hotline, which is aimed at pro- Superseries Finals, starting in the company of last year’s tion working in the fi eld of sport viding a dedicated whistleblow- today. runner-up Sung Ji Hyun (Ko- safety, security and integrity - has ing platform to help protect the In the tournament featur- rea), Denmark Open champion announced the establishment integrity of sport globally and ing the eight best players and Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand) of an international sport integ- encourage more athletes and pairs of the World Superseries and World Championships rity hotline to help strengthen members of the public to come circuit across fi ve categories, bronze medallist Chen Yufei and protect the integrity of sport forward and report integrity is- Srikanth, who has four men’s (China) in Group B. around the world. sues in sport. singles titles and Sindhu, with In line with its overall mission “Indeed, sport is a growing two titles, will be favourites in In the tournament featuring to help safeguard sport, the ICSS area of interest for many in the their respective sections. the eight best players of the and its SIU has set up a special- ethics and compliance sector Srikanth, 24, has been World Superseries circuit ised and multi-lingual Sport In- and at Whistleblower Security; drawn in Group B alongside Srikanth and Sindhu are tegrity Hotline to help athletes, we appreciate the opportunity to world champion Axelsen of favourites in their coaches, administrators and align ourselves with committed Denmark, China’s Shi Yuqi respective sections members of the public around and leading international organ- and Chinese Taipei’s Chou the world anonymously report ICSS chairman Mohamed Hanzab (left) with ICSS Group CEO Michael Hershman. isations, like the ICSS, who are Tien Chen. Sindhu won Superseries ti- integrity issues in sport. dedicated to ensuring integrity Group A features top seed tles in India and South Korea Managed by a specialist ethics ted, an alert will immediately sportintegrityhotline@integ- Qatar’s position, and ongoing and ethics for their workplaces Son Wan Ho (Korea), All Eng- Open. The 23-year-old will and case-management third- be sent to an experienced sport ritycounts.ca, website: www. initiatives, as a leading nation in and within their industry.” land and Hong Kong Open begin her campaign against party provider, WhistleBlower integrity expert at the SIU, who integritycounts.ca/sportintegri- the fi ght against corruption. Led by a team of international champion Lee Chong Wei Bingjiao. The three-time Security, the Sport Integrity will analyze the case and review tyhotline “As we begin an international law-enforcement, anti-corrup- (Malaysia), Ng Ka Long (Hong World Championships medal- Hotline will be available to re- any evidence submitted. Details Speaking of the new Sport In- roll out of this new hotline, the tion experts and sport-integrity Kong) and China Open cham- list got a bronze last year and ceive confi dential reports 24 of the case will then be shared tegrity Hotline ICSS Group CEO ICSS is delighted to off er this investigators with over 60 years’ pion Chen Long (China). improving the colour of the hours a day / 365 days a week via with appropriate authorities or Michael Hershman said: “The dedicated and independent Sport combined experience, the SIU The top two players in each medal will be on her mind this phone, email or online. relevant bodies – including law launch of a new Sport Integ- Integrity Hotline to our local and off ers confi dential investigation group will progress to the time. Reports and allegations made enforcement agencies. rity Hotline is an important step international partners and stake- services, specialised training semi-fi nals. Srikanth, who “Since the semi-fi nal plac- to the hotline will be managed The newly-established Sport forward in the ICSS’s ongoing holders to help support their and independent integrity ad- clinched titles in Australia, In- es might be decided by the through a secure and encrypted Integrity Hotline can be con- eff orts to help safeguard sport work in the fi eld of sport integ- vice to support governing bod- donesia, Denmark and France, number of games won and lost case management system to tacted in confi dence through from the growing global integ- rity, as well as strengthen and ies, law enforcement, athletes faces a daunting campaign- if the players have an equal protect the identity of the re- one of the following platforms. rity threats sport faces, as well enhance the ongoing work of our and organisations across the opener against defending number of wins, it’s important porter. Once a report is submit- Phone: +974 4430 8010, email: as aiming to proactively support dedicated Special Investigations sports industry. champion Axelsen. to try to win every game.” Gulf Times Wednesday, December 13, 2017 7 FOOTBALL

EPL Manchester City eye record against Swansea AFP with goals in each of his past two ap- and the Ivory Coast forward is now Pressed repeatedly by Klopp to re- London pearances and a man-of-the-match back at the Liberty Stadium for a sec- veal whether he thought it was a pen- display on Sunday but the Premier ond spell. alty, the interviewer said it was “soft” League’s leading scorers have an array After failing to score in his fi rst eight but the correct call, to which the Ger- anchester City look un- of talent supporting him. games back at Swansea, Bony has now man laughed and replied: “Then we stoppable in their relent- However there could be conse- found the net in each of his past two. can stop the interview. I only want to less surge towards the Pre- quences on and off the fi eld following He struck on Saturday as they beat talk to people that have a little bit of mier League title, and only derby victory. Captain Vincent Kom- West Brom 1-0, climbing off the bot- an understanding of football.” Mhave lowly Swansea standing in the pany was substituted after an hour tom of the Premier League and easing Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Southampton way of Pep Guardiola’s men setting a with what appeared to be the latest in some of the pressure on manager Paul left them outside the top four, with new record of consecutive wins today. a sequence of muscle injuries. Clement. qualifi cation for next season’s Cham- City are 11 points clear at the top of With John Stones out until early “We have to go into our next game pions League a far more pressing goal the Premier League and the manag- January with a hamstring injury, it with no fear,” said winger Nathan Dyer. than chasing down City. ers of Manchester United and Chelsea means Guardiola has just two fi t senior “Manchester City are doing very With a derby at West Ham on the both eff ectively conceded defeat in the centre-backs — Nicolas Otamendi and well so we will have to ensure we are agenda today, Gunners boss Arsene title race at the weekend. Eliaquim Mangala. concentrating for the full game and Wenger knows his team must guard Their victory against Jose Mourin- And the Football Association has then take the chances we create.” against the kind of sloppy start that ho’s United on Sunday was their 14th demanded answers from both United United will look to bounce back from saw them straight win in the Premier League — a and City following reports of an ugly their fi rst home defeat in 41 matches concede against Southampton after single season record that also equalled fracas in the Old Traff ord tunnel after when they host Bournemouth. three minutes - just a week after they the best-ever run Arsenal established the match that reportedly left City as- If United can barely see City sprint- let in two in the fi rst 11 minutes of a loss over two seasons in 2002. sistant coach Mikel Arteta bloodied. ing off into the distance, the view for to United. Yet despite their frightening form, Guardiola must decide whether to champions Chelsea and the rest of the “They were a bit apprehensive to City defender Kyle Walker is urging recall striker Sergio Aguero, who was chasing pack is even more dispiriting. start well again and that’s why it is caution. an unused substitute on Sunday, after sometimes not good to talk about the “We have to keep our feet on the Gabriel Jesus played in a front three Tetchy Klopp problem because you create a bigger fl oor and keep working hard, prepar- against United alongside Raheem Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp one,” Wenger said. ing physically and mentally,” he said. Sterling and Leroy Sane. showed the strain of seeing his team’s “We have another important one on Swansea striker Wilfried Bony may faint title hopes go up in smoke in the Fixtures (1945 GMT unless stated) Wednesday against Swansea. We have feel he has a point to prove against his derby as he grumbled about Everton’s Today to keep getting three points.” former club. equaliser. Liverpool v West Brom (2000 GMT), Guardiola has declared repeatedly Bony had a disappointing year-and- Klopp, whose team host West Bro- Manchester United v Bournemouth that his team will lose a league match a-half in a City shirt, scoring just 10 mwich Albion in midweek, was seen (2000 GMT), Newcastle v Everton, at some point this season but few peo- goals in 46 appearances after joining remonstrating with referee Craig Southampton v Leicester, Swansea ple would expect that to happen at them from Swansea in January 2015. Pawson after the fi nal whistle before v Manchester City, Tottenham v second-from-bottom Swansea. An uninspiring season on loan at he fumed his way through a tetchy tel- Brighton (2000 GMT), West Ham v David Silva is in dazzling form, Stoke failed to rebuild his reputation evision interview. Arsenal (2000 GMT) Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. (Reuters)

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Mourinho accuses Man City of lack North Korea fl oored of ‘education’

AFP Bournemouth. Manchester “This press conference is pre-Bournemouth, it is not post-Manchester City,” he ose Mourinho has ac- said. “That was already done.” by South in Tokyo cused Manchester City He admitted that United players of a lack of were keen to make up for Sun- “education” over their day’s defeat, which ended a ‘We were unlucky to lose against Japan but I’m celebrationsJ at Old Traff ord 40-match unbeaten run on following Sunday’s derby win. their own ground. less satisfied today. I don’t know what the whole The Manchester United “When you lose, you proba- manager was reluctant to bly have a little bit more desire reason is that we didn’t play well’ speak about the confrontation to win,” he said. “Nobody likes dust-up outside the dressing rooms to lose once, nobody wants to AFP that followed City’s 2-1 victory lose twice.” Tokyo at Old Traff ord. But he was adamant that Mourinho reportedly had the motivation was only based milk thrown in his direction on wanting to avenge a defeat, orth Korea fell to a after objecting to City’s cel- and not because it was against 1-0 defeat by South ebrations. City. Korea on the football City coach Mikel Arteta is “We lost against Chelsea pitch yesterday in a understood to have suff ered and in the next match we had Nfull-blooded international given a cut head in the ensuing row a little bit extra to try to win. added spice by simmering po- after he was hit by a plastic Chelsea lost at the weekend, litical tensions between the two drinks bottle – although it is for sure they are going to have countries. not known who threw it. in the next match a little bit A freak own goal by defender The Football Association more to give. I think it’s some- Ri Yong-Chol 25 minutes from has asked both clubs for their thing that every club in the time in Tokyo proved the dif- observations on the inci- world has.” ference in a tempestuous East dent and has given them until Mourinho suggested on Asian championship clash bris- Wednesday to respond. Sunday that United’s title tling with testosterone and City manager Pep Guardiola challenge was “probably” over pent-up emotion. said his players did not over- but said his players will seek The result dashed any faint celebrate following the victory, every chance to nibble away at hopes North Korea had of win- which put them 11 points clear the gap. ning the four-team tournament of second-placed United. “We go match after match, after they were sunk by a de- But Mourinho, speaking to one match at a time, try to win fl ected late goal in a 1-0 loss to reporters in Manchester, said: the match, try to get the maxi- hosts Japan at the weekend. “He says, he says. He says, he mum possible points,” he said. “It was a special game for us says. I am not here to comment “We have the number of points — special for the players and for on his words. that we have. the country,” North Korea coach “The only thing I can say is “Last season we had seven Jorn Andersen told reporters. that for me, it was just a ques- less or eight less than at this “I think for the fi rst 30 min- tion of diversity. Diversity in moment. So we have to try. utes the players were a little bit behaviour, diversity in educa- Last season we drew at home nervous. They weren’t as free, tion. Just that. And nothing against Bournemouth. Now like the game against Japan,” more than that.” let’s try to do better than we added the former Norway strik- The United manager at- did last season.” er. tempted to divert several Defender Marcos Rojo is a “We were unlucky to lose questions about the row, in- doubt for today’s game after against Japan but I’m less satis- sisting that he wanted to focus suff ering a cut to his head dur- fi ed today. I don’t know what the on today’s home match against ing the match against City. whole reason is that we didn’t play well.” Studiously avoiding eye con- Nigeria docked points, World Cup tact in the tunnel before kick- off , both sets of players belted qualifi cation unaff ected out their national anthems with Nigeria have been docked two points for fielding an ineligible player gusto before a grudge match in a World Cup qualifier against Algeria but their place at next year’s played out against the backdrop finals in Russia has not been aff ected, FIFA said yesterday. of Pyongyang’s recent missile Nigeria, who had already qualified for the finals, drew 1-1 but FIFA launches and spiralling war of awarded the match to Algeria by a 3-0 scoreline after the Super words with Washington. Eagles fielded the ineligible Abdullahi Shehu who had failed to serve North Korea, playing in red a one-match ban for accumulated yellow cards. and cheered on by several hun- “This sanction bears no impact on the final result of the preliminary dred pro-Pyongyang ethnic competition for the FIFA World Cup since Nigeria had already Koreans living in Japan waving qualified (and Algeria were eliminated) before the match took place,” North Korean fl ags, tore into soccer’s world governing body said in a statement. their cousins from south of their The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Twitter that it accept- heavily fortifi ed border. ed the decision. “The NFF president (Amaju Pinnick) has directed Forward Kim Yu-Song was that an internal inquiry be instituted immediately and persons booked for elbowing South Ko- found culpable be dealt with,” it added. rea’s captain Jang Hyun-Soo in Pinnick said: “I want to assure that persons responsible for this slip an early fl ashpoint. South Korean forward Jin Seonguk (R) battles for the ball with North Korean defender Ri Yong-Chol (L) during their match at the EAFF E-1 would not be given just a slap on the wrist. We are actually looking But it was the South, held 2-2 football championship in Tokyo yesterday. (AFP) at a re-organization of the Technical Department.” by China in their opening game, Nigeria, who topped African Group B, finished on 12 points instead who looked the likeliest to score, Relations between the two as a Kim Min-Woo cross rico- pan. nament was fi rst held in 2003 of 14, four clear of second-placed Zambia. Algeria still came bottom despite missing several key play- Koreas have been stretched to cheted off centre-back Ri and Despite United Nations sanc- when South Korea won the fi rst of the standings. Nigeria will face Iceland, Croatia and Argentina in ers such as Tottenham forward breaking point after the secre- trickled into the net almost in tions against North Korea over of their three titles, a year after their World Cup group in Russia. Son Heung-Min. tive North’s sixth nuclear test in slow motion. the country’s nuclear weapons reaching the semi-fi nals of the East Timor had forfeited seven of the 10 games they played in the Lee Chang-Min fi red a shot September, and tempers on the Jong Il-Gwan dragged a shot programme, their footballers World Cup as co-hosts with Ja- World Cup qualifiers for fielding nine players who were ineligible be- just wide with the best chance pitch threatened to fl are on sev- wide in a rare chance for North were allowed to compete in the pan. cause of nationality. This was based on a decision previously taken of the fi rst half, and then a snap eral occasions. Korea fi ve minutes later but four-team tournament after the The Japanese, who like South by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) which has annulled 29 shot from striker Jin Seon-Guk The match was punctuated by they never seriously looked like Japanese government waived Korea have qualifi ed for next matches involving East Timor and barred the team from the 2023 rattled the post just before the bone-crunching tackles and de- producing an upset following a travel restrictions. year’s World Cup, were taking on Asian Cup. The nine players were all born in Brazil. hour mark. cided by the scrappiest of goals plucky performance against Ja- The biennial East Asian tour- China in Tuesday’s late game.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

WORLD 9-BALL POOL BASKETBALL Johnson excels as Austria’s Ouschan stays on Wakrah thrash Ahli

By Sports Reporter turn in the final 10 minutes Doha with Wakrah all of a sudden ap- pearing a transformed side. course to defend title in Doha Their shooting improved arcus Johnson considerably as they ran circles By Sports Reporter fi rst in 2003, said he was looking forward to use his near scored a match- around Al Ahli, scoring a whop- Doha 25-year experience to see him through in the remaining high 30 points ping 31 points in the process. matches. M while Earnest Ross Al Ahli, on the other hand, “I had some good breaks,” the 38-year-old who lives and Adamu Saaka chipped in found the going tough and in the Philippines said. “But I was also lucky,” said the with 23 and 22, respectively, managed just eight points. ustrian Albin Ouschan’s dream of becom- veteran. Ten players had qualifi ed for the round of 64, as Al Wakrah thrashed Al Ahli Much to their disappointment, ing the fi rst back-to-back winner of the World of which four have made it to the last 16. They are Hsieh 90-72 in the Qatar Basketball they failed to score even a sin- 9-Ball Championship in Doha moved a bit Chia Chen, Liu Haitao and 2015 champion Pin Yi. Three League yesterday. gle point in the final five min- Acloser to reality when he made the last 16 of the Filipinos – Carlo Biado, Jeff rey Ignacio and Roland Garcia The huge margin of victory utes to allow Warkah post a tournament at the Al Arabi Sports club yesterday. – also advanced. hardly looked possible at the huge win. The 27-year-old defending champion ousted Kuwait’s halfway stage which saw Wak- For Al Ahli Seydou Ndoye had Abdulla al-Yousef 11-6 in the last-64 stage before beating Last-16 line-up rah edge their rivals 47-43 af- 16 points while Abdulrahman South Korean Woo Seung-ryu 11-9 in the last-32. He will Albin Ouschan(AUT) vs Wu Kun Lin(TPE) ter trailing 17-25 after the first al-Muftah had 15. now meet Taipei’s Lin Wu Kun today and will likely clash Thorsten Hohmann(GER) vs Hsieh Chia Chen(TPE) quarter. In another match Al Arabi with Germany’s Thorsten Hohmann in the quarters after Carlo Biado(PHI) vs Jeff rey Ignacio(PHI) The third quarter was also blew a 10-point first quarter the latter defeated China’s Xu Xiao Cong 11-5. Liu Haitao(CHN) vs Ko Ping Chung(TPE) closely fought with Al Ahli lead to go down 73-72 against “I prefer to take one match at a time,” Ouschan said af- Ko Pin Yi(TPE) vs Roland Garcia(PHI) holding a one-point advantage Qatar Sports Club. ter his win. “I am very happy with my performance today Jalal al-Sarisi (VEN) vs Dang Jinhu(CHN) (62-61), giving no indication of Yousuf Mohamed scored 21 but my wins were by no means easy. All of them are good Maung Maung(MYR) vs Joshua Filler(GER) what was to follow later. points for Qatar Sports Club, players,” he added. Hohmann, who won the tournament Klenti Kaci(ALB) vs John Morra(CAN) But matters took a dramatic while Baden Jaxen had 18.

TENNIS Drive to promote ATP event starts Qatar Tennis Federation and ExxonMobil at the forefront of activities Al Wakrah’s Marcus Johnson drives ahead against Al Ahli in the Qatar Basketball League yesterday.

SQUASH Matthew beats al-Tamimi in last-16 atar’s Abdullah al- Ashour-Mohamed El Shorbagy Tamimi lost to fi fth match in the quarter-fi nals. seed Nick Matthew Earlier in the day Paul Coll Qof England 11-4, 11-8, became the fi rst male New Zea- 11-8 in the pre-quarter-fi nals of lander since Ross Norman in the World Squash Champion- 1991 to reach the quarter-fi nal ships in Manchester yesterday. stage of the championships after The 22-year-old Qatari player he survived a gruelling 82 minute had defeated Mathieu Castagnet third round match against Eng- of France 11-5, 6-11, 11-6 and 11-7 land’s Daryl Selby. in the second round on Monday. The pair were meeting for the Al-Tamimi, who recently won third time on the PSA World Tour the Qatar Circuit Squash, won with Coll winning their two pre- the fi rst round against ninth seed vious encounters. However vet- Simon Rosner of Germany 12-14, eran Selby, appearing at his 11th 11-9, 7-11, 11-7 and 11-3. World Championships took the Former champion Matthew opener 11-8 after working Coll will take on winner of the Ramy around the court well.

QSL CUP Arabi hold Rayyan, Al Ahli edge Al Sadd

QNA minutes. In the ninth minute, Al Doha Rayyan’s Mohammed Kassola nearly scored an own goal when he accidentally clipped the ball esterday’s QSL Cup past his own goalmouth. Group B fi fth and fi nal- At the other end, Khalfan Ib- round fi xtures saw a rahim misfi red from close range Qatar ExxonMobil Open Tournament Director Karim Alami, Vice-President and Director of Government and Public Aff airs for ExxonMobil Qatar Saleh al-Mana and Yfi ghting Al Arabi hold Al when he just had the Al Rayyan Secretary-General of QTF Tareq Zainal pose during the launch of the promotional activities at MIA Park yesterday. Rayyan to a goalless draw while goalkeeper to beat, but he hit the Al Ahli edged past Al Sadd 3-2. In ball straight at Saoud al-Khater xxonMobil Qatar and its partner the Qatar ExxonMobil Open is going to outstanding and successful tournament answers will win an exclusive prize. other action, Umm Salal beat Al in the 15th. Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) be outstanding in all aspects of planning, it is today.” The second competition invites fol- Markhiya 3-0. After Al Arabis Abdul Rehman have kick-started a series of pro- performance, and entertainment. The In tandem with joint activities lead- lowers to take a selfi e with one of the The result saw Al Rayyan, who Mansoor unleashed a powerful Emotional activities ahead of the tournament is important for Qatar be- ing up to the tournament, ExxonMobil installations between December 12 and had qualifi ed for the semifi nals shot that narrowly fl ew above Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2018, which will cause it refl ects its strong framework and Qatar will launch a corporate social re- January 1, and then post them on Twitter after the fourth round, confi rm the crossbar, Al Rayyan coach take place at the Khalifa International ability for hosting exceptional, world- sponsibility campaign, which will run for or using the hashtag #EMQ_ fi rst position in the group with Michael Laudrup brought in Tennis and Squash Complex on January class sporting events. Last year we had a three weeks starting December 13. The Winner and encourage their friends to 13 points. Both Umm Salal and star attacking midfi elder Rod- 1-6, 2018. fantastic 25th anniversary, but this year campaign will highlight ExxonMobil’s like it. Three weekly followers with the Al Ahli fi nished on eight points, rigo Tabata in the 65th, but they Saleh al-Mana, Vice President and Di- will undoubtedly be an even bigger tennis contribution to building human capacity highest number of likes on their posts but the former advanced on bet- still struggled to make inroads rector of Government and Public Aff airs spectacle,” he added. in Qatar. It will include several messages will win a prize – a total of 12 lucky win- ter goal diff erence (+3 as against against a determined Al Arabi for ExxonMobil Qatar; Tareq Zeinal, Sec- Tareq Zeinal added: “Qatar Exxon- that feature facts and fi gures related to ners. Al Ahli’s 0). side. retary-General Assistant of QTF; and Ka- Mobil Open has always been one of the ExxonMobil Qatar’s national outreach The third competition is a trivia one. In the fi rst semi-fi nal on Al Ahli posted a 3-2 win over Al rim Alami, Tournament Director inaugu- signature events in Qatar’s sporting cal- activities, particularly in educational de- Every week between December 10 and Saturday, 16th December, Al Sadd at the Al Shamal Stadium. rated an installation of the number “26” endar. With this promotional activity, velopment. January 7, ExxonMobil Qatar will post Gharafa will play Umm Salal at A double by Under-23 star Fadl made entirely out of tennis balls – which we are once again reiterating our com- Over the years, ExxonMobil has rolled information about the tournament, and the Al Wakrah Stadium (16:00), Omar (21st-min penalty, and represents the tournament’s 26 years and mitment to promoting tennis as much as out several corporate social responsibil- the company’s local education-focused followed by the Al Rayyan vs Al 68th) was the match-winning ef- the partnership – in the heart of Museum possible as well as creating a fun-fi lled ity programs in Qatar that support the community programmes. At the end Kharaitiyat encounter at the Al fort for Al Ahli, who also benefi t- of Islamic Art (MIA) Park. The inaugura- atmosphere ahead of the tournament. Qatar National Vision 2030, but based of each week, followers will be asked a Shamal Stadium (18:30). ed from an own goal by Al Sadd’s tion was attended by ExxonMobil Qatar We are proud of what we’ve been able to on feedback from various stakeholders question, the answers of which are in the In an all-round display of at- Hassan Kamal (26th). and QTF representatives and marks the do together with Qatar ExxonMobil and that include government, and education weekly posts. Once they fi nd the answer, tacking football, Umm Salal eas- For Al Sadd, Hassan Palang offi cial launch of the tournament’s pro- I believe this year’s tournament will be and industry partners, most of the com- they will need to repost it using the hash- ily got the better of Al Markhiya also scored two goals (24th and motional activities. Two other similar in- bigger and greater.” pany’s resources are very much focused tag #EMQ_Education. They will then at the Al Arabi Stadium. (Umm 74th) in a lost cause. stallations have been placed at the, Souq Karim Alami, QTF Board Member and on educational and human development. enter a raffl e for the chance to win one of Salal 3 Al Markhiya 0) Al Sadd’s Hussain Ali brought Waqif and Doha Festival City. Tournament Director commented: “The As part of the campaign, ExxonMobil three valuable prizes every week – a total Abdulaziz al-Yahri (31st), down Majid Hassan, resulting “We had an exciting launch of our pro- partnership between Qatar Tennis Fed- Qatar has planned three competitions for of 12 exciting prizes. Mahmoud al-Mawas (74th) and in a penalty, and Fadl converted motional activities for the Qatar Exxon- eration and ExxonMobil is an example its social media followers on Twitter and This year’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open will Yannick Sagbo (76th) scored the from the spot with ease. Mobil Open 2018 today. We want all resi- of what can be accomplished when two Instagram around the three installations run from January 1 – 6, 2018, and will in- goals for Umm Salal, who domi- Al Sadd soon equalised when dents of Qatar and those visiting to know organizations share a mutual respect for located in Souq Waqif, the MIA park, clude some of the world’s top players who nated the proceedings. Palang calmly slotted the ball about this annual world-class sporting each other and an unwavering commit- and Doha Festival City. Those interested will compete for the trophy and a share of It was the Orange Fortress’ home after catching the goal- event that is taking place in Doha next ment to supporting Qatar, as it works in participating can win fantastic prizes the prize money. Confi rmed tournament second victory in the tourna- keeper napping. week, and encourage them to be a part of towards the goals of the Qatar National that will be presented by ExxonMobil participants include: defending Qatar ment. A minute later, Kamal sent it,” said Saleh al-Mana. Vision 2030. Qatar. ExxonMobil Open 2017 champion Novak Al Arabi held group leaders Al the ball into his own net with a “The Qatar Tennis Federation has been “All activities that are planned for the The fi rst competition will run from Djokovic, Dominic Thiem, Tomas Ber- Rayyan to a goalless draw at the poorly-directed header that beat our partner for 26 years now, and every Qatar ExxonMobil Open highlight the December 12 to January 1 and will invite dych and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Qatar SC Stadium. his own goalkeeper. Later on, Fadl year, we work harder to make sure that long-standing relationship between the followers to guess the number of tennis Tickets for the six-day event are avail- In a tense start, Al Arabi cap- netted for a second time while the tournament is bigger and better than partners, and showcase the enthusiasm balls in the installations and post their able to the public online at www.qatart- tain Talal Ali went down after a Palang produced a near-perfect the one before. Our teams have done a and eff ort that has been put into the answer using the hashtag #EMQ_ten- ennis.org, as well as at various locations rough tackle by Younus Yaqoob snap-header for The Wolves’ wonderful job, and we are confi dent that tournament over the years, making it the nis26. Three followers with the closest across Doha. prompting a stop in play for a few second goal.