SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2013 SPORTS Godolphin and Coolmore in Sheikh Joaan’s sights

LONDON: Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al “To be competing with such organi- Al Shaqab Racing has around 110 England, on Monday. south-west of London, last month. Thani signalled his determination to sations is an amazing feeling,” said horses in training split between England “Frankel was a tremendous racehorse “Sheikh Joaan has ambitious plans for oversee the “best racing operation” in Nasser Sherida Al Kaabi, Sheikh Joaan’s and France, but the global aspirations of and has one of the best pedigrees in the Al Shaqab Racing and the exciting thing the world with the launch of the UK arm media manager, at Friday’s launch at the organisation were highlighted by world,” Al Kaabi said. “Nothing can stop for me is to have an opportunity to be of his Al Shaqab outfit. London’s Dorchester Hotel. plans to send a handful of horses to race him from being a great sire. We are involved at the highest level and be part Harry Herbert, the leading British turf “Our goals and objectives are to be in America for Todd Pletcher next sea- going to buy good horses, and Dancing of a team that is very serious about their figure and manager of the successful the best racing operation in the world. son. Rain is in our sights.” aspirations,” Herbert said. Highclere syndicate, has been appointed “We want the best horses, the best train- The racing operation is just one part It has been a meteoric rise within the Sheikh Joaan has also signed as a full-time racing adviser to the Qatari ers and the best people and the of the Al Shaqab plan, however, with a ‘sport of kings’ for Sheikh Joaan. The 27- arguably the world’s most famous jockey royal’s new British division, complete appointment of Harry is to help secure full-scale breeding operation also in the year-old had not seen a thoroughbred in Frankie Dettori as his retained rider with new racing silks. our future. “He is one of the most high- pipeline. Sheikh Joaan broke the world racehorse win in his grey and maroon and Al Kaabi revealed the Italian is set to But Sheikh Joaan’s racing ambitions profile figures in European racing and record price at auction for a yearling last silks before August 2012 but in Group mentor Faleh Bogunaim, a 21-year-old go well beyond fresh colours, with the has enjoyed great success with his syndi- month when he paid five million One company this season, in addition to promising Qatari rider, next season. aim of contesting the sport’s biggest cate ownership company.” guineas ($9.11 million) and the spending Treve, Toronado provided him with vic- “It is important that we show people prizes alongside the established global Sheikh Joaan’s horses have raced at spree could continue. tory in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood that Qataris are interested in racing,” Al giants of Godolphin, Dubai ruler Sheikh the highest level internationally in 2013, Dancing Rain, the 2011 English Oaks in England in July. Kaabi added. “This is part of our vision. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s with Treve’s victory in France’s Prix de winner, is in foal to Frankel, unbeaten in Olympic Glory, who handed the “We hope one day Faleh might win a international racing stable, and l’Arc de Triomphe, Europe’s premier all- his 14-race career and once the highest- Sheikh his first win at the highest level Group One. It would be a major joy for Coolmore, the Irish operation overseen aged flat race, last month the most high- rated racehorse in the world, and is to be last year in Paris, triumphed in the Sheikh Joaan and His Excellency the by businessman John Magnier. profile of four elite Group One wins. sold at Tattersalls in Newmarket, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, Amir of Qatar.” — AFP Pakistan women break new ground at kabaddi world cup

LAHORE: Sixteen young Pakistani women will make history this week- end as they compete in the kabad- di world cup-the first time the con- servative Muslim country has ever fielded an international women’s team in the sport. The traditional tag-wrestling sport involves players trying to tag an opponent before making it back to their half of the field. Kabaddi is hugely popular in the Punjab provinces of India and Pakistan, where it originates, and is played in countries around the world with South Asian populations. It has traditionally been seen as a macho sport but now Pakistan is OLD TRAFFORD: ’s captain , right, coach Tim Sheens, center, sending a women’s team to the and man of the match , left, celebrate after their 34-2 win over November 30-December 14 World New Zealand in their World Cup Final International match at Old Cup in India. For 24-year-old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, yesterdau. — AFP Sayeda Fareeda Khanum, who comes from a conservative, reli- gious family where she fought for years to be allowed to compete in Australia crush NZ sports, it is a dream come true. “I have been sports crazy since in one-sided final childhood and was selected for national events in various sports MANCHESTER: Australia ran New Zealand but that was the last time the Kiwis got many times, but I was never LAHORE: In this photograph taken on November 26, 2013, members of Pakistan’s women’s kabaddi team ragged to claim their tenth World Cup title close as their bitter-rivals upped the tempo. allowed by my family to attend a take part in a practice match at the Punjab Stadium in Lahore. Sixteen young Pakistani women they com- with and scoring After forcing New Zealand to drop out training camp outside college or pete in the kabaddi world cup — the first time the conservative Muslim country has fielded a women’s two tries apiece in a 34-2 victory yesterday. from their own goaline, a perfectly placed university,” she told AFP. team in the event. —AFP also touched down as chip by Thurston allowed Slater to outleap “But when I got selected for the Australia underlined their dominance of Kieran Foran and dive over from close kabaddi team, I told my mother “We decided to participate in yellow and blue tracksuits begins the first women’s team to represent the code and gained revenge for their 2008 range. that I would play this sport at any this team for the sake of Pakistan, with prayers and a recitation from Pakistan in international kabbadi. final defeat when New Zealand fought Melbourne Storm halfback Cronk got cost and left home to join the camp and for the sake of true patriotism. the Koran. After chants of “Long Head coach Ghulam Abbas Butt back from 16-12 down to win 34-20 and the second score, latching on to the ball in Lahore.” Khanum, the team’s best And we have tried our level best, live Pakistan” and “God is great”, said he was confident the women’s claim their first world title. after a break and grubber by , defender, spoke to AFP between and by the will of God we will suc- they begin physical training before team would live up to their prom- Australia led 16-2 at the break but any after which Thurston overtook Mick Cronin sessions in a tough fitness workout ceed,” vice-captain Sumera Zahoor, moving on to wrestling techniques. ise. “I hope the boys’ team will win hopes of another Kiwi fightback were as international league’s highest point scor- at Lahore’s Punjab stadium. who comes from a martial arts It has not been an easy task for the World Cup this time and the extinguished immediately after the restart er with the resulting conversion. “Getting the national colours background, told AFP. the support staff to get the team girls would also not disappoint in when Slater scampered away for his second While New Zealand would have been was my childhood dream. I am Having decided to build the together and direct their potential. their first appearance,” he said. try. hoping of another second-half fightback, going to India to make a do-or-die women’s team, the authorities “All the girls come from different “I have done this training with Their victory was built on the back of any lingering hopes were dashed immedi- battle for my nation and prove that wrote to top sports organisations games, some are from athletics, my heart, and they followed it the quick work around the ruck and precision ately after the restart when interplay play Pakistani girls can do whatever and educational institutions, col- some are weightlifters,” Aisha Qazi, same way. These were new girls kicking which allowed the Kangaroos to down the left by Smith, Thurston and Boyd women do in other countries,” she lecting a group of girls coming the team’s coach, said. and they have done whatever I dominate territory and possession. A fero- freed Slater for another simple try. said. from diverse sporting backgrounds. “These are individual players’ asked them to do. That’s why I cious defensive effort meant New Zealand On 52 minutes Morris ensured the New India and Pakistan, neighbours Half already represent various games but kabaddi is a team event, know that they will play well,” he barely had a sniff of crossing the line at Old Zealand reign as world champions would and ferocious sporting rivals, have other sports like athletics, so there is a huge difference and it said. Trafford, and by holding them tryless it come to a disappointing end, reaching the met in two of the three men’s world weightlifting and racket games, has taken me some time to teach The Pakistan women face meant Australia did not concede a four- ball first after a kick-ahead by . cup finals held so far, with India while a few new players with the them.” England, Mexico and Denmark in pointer in the tournament since their open- He collided with an advertising hoard- prevailing both times. The women right attitude and ambitions have Qazi, herself a first-class crick- their pool matches while arch rivals ing victory over England. ing after touching down, reminiscent of the are determined to succeed where also earned a place in the team. eter and international baseball India play the United States, Kenya “I am extremely proud,” Australia coach incident that saw Australia forward Luke their male counterparts have failed. Training for the women in green, player, said they were thrilled to be and New Zealand. —AFP Tim Sheens told the BBC. “We came over in Lewis miss most of the tournament after front of a great crowd and performed really dislocating a shoulder in a pool match well. Our defence was great and our atti- against Fiji. tude was terrific. With the match effectively sealed the Scott opens four-shot “We didn’t start the game thinking that Kangaroos did not let their defensive effort (hold New Zealand tryless) but with 20 slip, comfortably repelling the few oppor- minutes to go we did and to their credit tunities New Zealand created and with they really dug in.” After an early penalty eight minutes remaining Morris scored his to Johnathan Thurston New Zealand suf- second after a Hayne intercept. lead over McIlroy fered a blow when Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney who scored twice in the semi-final and said their rivals were simply too good. “I eight times in the tournament, was forced thought Australia’s performance today was : Adam Scott holds the upper hand in his which is an unbelievable spot to be in. If you’d told at the second but rallied to save par brilliantly as to leave the field with a recurrence of the outstanding, they were ruthless today,” he duel with Rory McIlroy going into the final day of me a month ago, I wouldn’t have believed you. Scott lipped out with a birdie putt. The Northern shin injury that put him in doubt for the said. “For us to have an opportunity we the Australian Open after the home favourite post- “One round to go but a lot can happen. It’s a phe- Irishman’s bogey at the fourth was not a disaster as match. needed a lot of things to go our way but ed a four-under-par 68 to open a four-shot lead nomenon playing behind me and I’m sure he’s Scott followed suit after finding a bunker but the Shaun Johnson, who scored the last- none of it happened for us. They saved over the Briton yesterday. going to throw plenty at me... but as long as the Australian opened up a four-shot lead as the wind gasp winning try in the semi-final win over their very best for this performance and we Two-time major champion McIlroy looked eye stays in with the putter, I think I should hold whipped up at the fifth. England, replied with a penalty of his own couldn’t match them today.” — Reuters down and out after a patchy front nine but rallied on.” McIlroy missed a shorter birdie putt at the 18th McIlroy undercooked successive chips from the for a 70 to remain in the hunt for his first win of the and so will resume on Sunday on 12-under, four bottom of a greenside slope and then two-putted year in front of bumper galleries at the Royal shots clear of Australians Max McCardle (69), Matt for a double bogey, while Scott missed a 10-foot Sydney Golf Course. Jones (72) and Richard Green (73) in a share of birdie putt but sank his second attempt from a foot Most of the crowd were backing Scott’s bid to third. for par. UTEP blown out by secure a “triple crown” of Australian titles and a “I played a good back nine, it could have been a Former world number one McIlroy was now huge cheer went around the course when he couple better, I felt I left a couple out there,” the 24- buried in the chasing pack and when Scott picked No. 23 Iowa, 89-53 birdied the last to double his overnight lead by year-old said. “But obviously I’m four back now and up shots at the three holes before the turn he reaching 16-under for the tournament. I’ve got a tough job on my hands to try and catch moved to 15-under, five clear of Jones and Green in PARADISE ISLAND: Box-and-one, triangle- Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on Nov. 25, 2012. “It’s an exciting position to be in, obviously a Adam.” second. and-two, nothing was working on the The Miners’ low for points this season great chance to win my national championship Scott started the day with a two-shot advan- Scott drove into the trees and then the sand to defensive end for Texas-El Paso. As such, had been 67 - and that was in a blowout tomorrow,” Scott, who has already won the tage over McIlroy and, with the sun shining bright- take a bogey at the 10th, however, and McIlroy the Miners knew right away that their trip win. The 89 points matched the second- Australian PGA and Masters titles this month, told ly, it looked being a day of low scoring when both capitalised with the first of three birdies in five to the Bahamas wouldn’t be capped by most allowed by UTEP since Floyd took reporters. players birdied the opening hole. holes, the last coming after he hit the pin with his playing for a championship. over; the most was 100, and that was in a “And then also win the three events down here McIlroy found himself in a thicket with his drive tee shot at the short 14th. The Miners let No. 23 Iowa shoot 53 per- triple-overtime game. Scott was only a little less accurate with his iron cent, allowed as many points as they ever “This is an embarrassing loss,” UTEP’s for a birdie at the same hole and the marquee pair- have in a regulation game under coach Tim Jake Flaggert said. “It’s going to motivate ing were now clear at the top of the leaderboard. Floyd, and wound up falling 89-53 to the us.” Aaron White scored 17 points, Zach Both found the greenside bunkers at the 16th Hawkeyes in the semifinals of the Battle 4 McCabe added 14 - including the first dunk but saved par, McIlroy just missing out on a birdie Atlantis on Friday night. of the senior forward’s collegiate career - with a long snaking putt, and the pair got up-and- Julian Washburn scored 13 for UTEP (4- and Peter Jok also scored 14 for the down from off the green for pars at the next before 3), which will play in the third-place game Hawkeyes (7-0), who moved into the title Scott drained his crucial five-footer at the last. yesterday. No other Miner finished with game. “I had to make (my putt) because I believed he more than seven. “Our inadequacies were “That was my first one,” McCabe said of would make his,” Scott added. “If it went the other obvious to even the casual basketball the dunk. “Took a long time.” That it did. way and I missed and he made, it’s two shots and observer,” Floyd said. “We didn’t get back on Wrapping up this win, that took far less that’s nothing. That can be gone on the first green defense. You shoot the kind of percentage time. After needing overtime to beat Xavier tomorrow. Four shots is a slightly better buffer.” they shoot, you’re shooting open shots, in the quarterfinals, Iowa took care of this McIlroy, who has endured a disappointing sea- layups, uncontested shots, rebound-put- one early. A 13-0 run in the opening min- son after a stellar 2012, lamented his miss with the back baskets. And we had deficiencies in utes put the Hawkeyes in control, and putter at the 18th but has not given up hopes of rebounding the ball. I think we’ve been Iowa’s first 20-point lead came a mere 14 overhauling his Australian friend. “(It’s possible) on outrebounded by 45 boards, something minutes into the contest. this golf course, where there can be a lot of two- like that, in two nights.” “I’d be more apt to look at the fact that shot swings and someone makes a couple of pars It was only the fifth time that the we had 22 assists on 31 field goals,” Iowa and someone gets off to a fast start and makes a Miners lost by more than 20 points coach Fran McCaffery said. “To me, the way birdie and an eagle and you’re right back in it,” since Floyd took over as coach before we distributed the ball, that shows you McIlroy said. the 2010-11 season. UTEP’s worst loss your transition game is working because “There’s plenty of chances out there and it’s just under Floyd had been 73-49 to guys are finishing, whether it’s Zach’s dunk SYDNEY: Matthew Jones of Australia hits out of a bunker during the third round of the Australian a matter of taking your opportunities when they Vanderbilt at the Old Spice Classic in or someone else.”—AP Open golf tournament played at the Royal Sydney course, in Sydney yesterday. — AFP come.” — Reuters