SPORT

Thursday 24 August 2017

PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22 PAGE | 23 Maxwell suffers Nadal, Federer NeymarNe denied Barca mild heatstroke in eye US Open returnre in Champions Bangladesh swansong League groups Umm Salal Rooney calls time on England beat Al Khor in London AFP Rooney’s England career in numbers What they say about Rooney’s Dutch friendly retirement from International football ngland’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney 119 – Appearances for England, the most by an outfield The Peninsula announced yesterday he is retiring from player and only six shy of goalkeeper Peter Shilton’s all- international football with immediate time record. “It is a fantastic career, sometimes he has been NB Stars League sides Umm effect after manager Gareth Southgate 71 – England wins in which Rooney appeared, with 29 criticised but fact is fact -- the games he has played Salal and Al Khor were involved tried to recall him to the squad. draws and 19 defeats. and goals he has scored. If I was the manager I would Qin a friendly against each other EThe 31-year-old - scorer of 53 goals in 119 53 – Rooney’s England-record goal haul. try to convince him to delay it (the international during their training camps in the appearances for his country - told Southgate of his 7 – Seven of his 53 goals have been scored from the retirement) until after the next World Cup.” Netherlands. decision during a phone conversation on penalty spot. Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, Mahmoud Jaber’s men ended up Tuesday. 6 – Rooney has played in six major tournaments, with who gave Rooney his debut in 2003 and for whom defeating Al Khor by a score of 3-2. Southgate had phoned Rooney -- who had lost England missing Euro 2008. he shone at Euro 2004, to Sky Sports. Ismail Mahmoud, Ibrahima both the captaincy and eventually his place in the 4 – Times he was named England Player of the Year, in Nadiya and Khaled Zekiba scored for squad as he became a peripheral figure under Jose 2008, 2009, 2014 and 2015. “Congratulations on an incredible @England Umm Salal while Saud Al Khulaki had Mourinho at Manchester United last season - to career!” a brace to his name in an end to end congratulate him on his early season performances Everton, the club that nurtured Rooney and gave encounter. for new club Everton. were extinguished when he broke a bone in his foot him a new lease of life after taking him back in the This friendly match was set up so Rooney has looked rejuvenated and happy - in the last-eight clash against hosts Portugal. close season after he became a peripheral figure at that both teams could prepare for the scoring in both their Premier League matches so “Hopefully the exciting players Gareth is bring- Manchester United under Jose Mourinho, tweeted. upcoming season which begins on far -- since he re-signeded for the club that nurturednurturedd inging throughthrough can taketake that ambitionambition further and I September 15th. his talent as a teenagerr bbeforeefe oro e hhe llefteft foforr UnUnited.ited. hopehoopep eeveryoneveryyono e wiwwillll ggetet bbehindehe ind thtthee teteam.am. “You“You ddoo know as an internationalinternationa player when “It was great that GarethGareth SouthgateSouthgh atte cacalledlledd mmee youyou havehave reachedreached thethe point ofof no return.retur Sometimes this week to tell me he wantedwanted me back in the Eng-Eng- youyou want to jump before you are pushed.pu I would land squad for the upcomingpcoming matches. I reallyreally havehah ve lovedloved himhim toto havehave gonegone to RussiaRussia and led Eng- Qatar SC go appreciated that,” saidd RooneyRooney inin a statementstatement sentsent landland at a fourth World Cup but he hahas had 13 great to Press Association Sport.port. yyearsears and he will know in his heart anda head that “Having already thoughthought lolongng and hhard,ard, I ttoldold it mmakesakes sensesense ttoo concentrateconcentrate on Everton.”Eve down fighting Gareth that I had noww decideddecided to retireretire forfor goodgood Former England Terry Butcher,Bu capped from international football.otball. 77 ttimes.imes. “It is a really tough decisiondecic sion and one I have dis-dis- in Slovenia cussed with my family,ly, mmyy mammanagernaager at EEvertonverton “He“He has always shownshown a greatgreat deald of dignity (Ronald Koeman) and thosthosee clclosestosest to mme.e. and class.” TerryTerry Butcher. The Peninsula “Playing for Englandnd hashas alwaysalwayys beenbeen specialspep cial to me. Every time I wass selectedseelectc ede asas a playerplp ayyeer or cap-caap-p “Toda“Todayy marks the end of an erae in interna- atar SC lost 2-1 to Slovenian side tain was a real privilegee anandnd I ththankhank eveveryoneeryone wwhoho tional football. Wayne RooRooneyne is an icon of Celia in a friendly match on helped me. hishis generation andand anan undoubtedun leg- QTuesday evening at the Kings “But I believe now iiss thtthee titimeme ttoo boboww out.” endend of tthehe game. As his country’s ‘Slovenian pre-season training camp. Rooney, England’s mostmosts cappedcappep d outfieldoutfield player,player, all-timeall-time leading goalscorerg and The match acted as a good train- said his sole purpose nonnoww in ffootballoootball is ttoo enensuresure most-cappedmost-capped ooutfield player, ing exercise for the recently promoted Everton win trophies. it goes withwithouto saying that team as they will face Al Duhail in the He had alluded to hihiss prpprioritiesiorities iinn a popost-matchst-matchh Wayne hhas deservedly first round of the Qatari League. interview on Sky Sportsorts onn MMondayonnday afafterter he earnedearne the right to Qatar SC’s lone goal was scored matched Alan Shearer in scoringscs orini g 2002000 PremierPremier foreverforev be called a by Qatari midfielder Ali Awad from League goals -- madee ssweeterweeeter aass it ccameame ThreeThr Lions a penalty kick. His goal however was against Manchester United’sited’s citycity rivalsrivals Man-Man- great.”gr not enough as the Slovenian hosts chester City. FA Chair- won the game 2-1. “Leaving Manchesterter UnitedUnU ited waswas a manm Greg Gabriel Calderon’s men are tough call but I know I mademmadee thethee rightright Clarke.Cla expected to return to Doha on next decision in coming homeomme too Ever-Ever- Monday. ton,” said Rooney. “Well“WW done on a They will be looking forward to “Now I want to focuscus aalllll mmyy record-breakingrecord @ their return to the League as they face energies on helping themhem bbee EngEnglandlan career, @ Al Duhail on the opening day. successful.” WayneRooney!”WayneR Elsewhere, Al Sailiya, who are Another former Eng-Eng- FormerFormer cclub Manches- currently on their preseason training land great, Gary Linekerekerr terter United on twitter.tw camp in Tunisia, faced Algerian side said earlier yesterday thatthah t ES Ben Aknoun in a friendly on Mon- Rooney had been unluckyuckky “England’s“England’s highesthighest everev goalscorer day. The match was part of the to be the only world-class-classs callscalls it a day.day. CongratulationsCongratulation to @Wayn- Peregrines preparations for the player in many Englandnd sisidesdes eRooneyeRooney on a magnificentmagnificent internationalintern career. 2017/2018 season. that struggled to mmakeake aann A pplayer’slayer’s player.”player.” Sami Trabelsi’s men ended up impression on either theheh worldwoorld FormerFormer Everton andand EnglandEnglan great Gary drawing the game against the Alge- or European stage. LinekerLineker on twitter.twitter. rian opposition with a final score of “One of my very fewew regretsrer grets 2-2. is not to have been partrtt ofof a suc-suc- “I thinkthink onlyonly now hehe is duckingducking outo will he get Qatari player Mohammed cessful England tournamentmennt sside,”ide,” thethe crecreditdit hhee trutrulyly ddeserveseserves as an EEnglandn player Mudather scored the first goal while said Rooney, whose fourouur gogoalsals in andand thethe recordrecord goalscorer.”goalscorer.” Romanian professional Valentin Euro 2004 propelled Englandngllanand tot tthehe FormerFormer ArsenaArsenall andand EnglandEngland striker Alan Lazar scored the second for Al Sailiya quarter-finals before ththeirheieir hohopespes Smith. to get their names on the score sheet and ensure both sides were honours even at full time. Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation prepares for busy season

The Peninsula Qatar will be represented by four For his part, Khalid Bettihthamou, Sailors in action during the Qatar International Regatta in Doha in this file photo. sailors including Hassan Al Tamimi, Coach of Qatar sailing team stressed he Qatar Sailing and Rowing Fed- Fares Al Bakri, Abdulrahmam Al Nasr that the training camp to be held in eration (QSRF) will participate in and Ali Al Muftah. Dominican Republic will help the play- Ta number of international events Commenting on the preparations ers who were selected to participate in during the 2017-2018 sports season. of the Qatari sailors for the upcoming the upcoming events” The QSRF board of directors, under events, Hassan Al Tamimi said that the On the other hand, the Qatar row- the leadership of Abdulla Al Sulaiti, Qatari team will participate in some ing team will participate in two announced a busy calendar of events important events in these coming international rowing championships for the sports season 2017-2018. months. to be held in in September and The Qatari sailing team will hold “After returning from United States October. two training camps in Dominican of America, I won the 2017 Qatar Inter- Qazi Muhammad Haji, coach of Republic and France in light of their national Sailing Championship and the Qatar rowing team said that Tala Abu- preparations for the 2017 World Laser 2017 GCC Sailing Championship held jbara will attend the training camp to Radial Championship to be staged on in Kuwait” Al Tamimi said. be held by the Qatari rowing team in September 12-19. “Now, I’m preparing for the France in preparation for two interna- Qatar will also take part in the 2017 upcoming events under the supervi- tional championship to be staged in the Asian Sailing Championship to be sion of our coach Khalid Bettihthamou same country and stressed that Tala is staged in Indonesia in November and and alongside my teammates Fares Al one of the promising players as she Laser Europa Cup 2017 to be held in Bakri, Abdulrahman Al Nasr and Ali Al participated in so many international Croatia in late December. Muftah” He added. events. SPORT THURSDAY 24 AUGUST 2017 21

Schooling snaps Mayweather and McGregor trade up butterfly gold verbal jabs ahead of ‘Money Fight’ at SEA Games Kuala Lumpur Las Vegas Mayweather said. “I think he’s AFP AFP 164 so he’s still got 10 pounds to go.” lympic champion Joseph School- loyd Mayweather and McGregor hit back at May- ing said he was searching for Conor McGregor weather’s comments. Oinspiration to get his career back traded verbal jabs on “He needs to shut his on track as he swam to Southeast Asian Tuesday as the cir- mouth,” McGregor said. “It is Games victory in the 100m butterfly cus-like countdown a fool of a thing. Let him keep yesterday. Fto their money-spinning praying, praying for weight, The Singaporean, who won the event superfight cranked into over- for fatigue, praying for me to at last year’s Olympics but dropped down drive on the Las Vegas Strip. take a backward step. All he to bronze at the world championships in Thousands of fans includ- is doing is praying, but he is July, said he needed a “different mindset” ing a sizeable contingent of praying to the new god of to chart his path forward. Irish supporters thronged the boxing.” Schooling won in 51.38sec, a new heart of the Nevada boxing McGregor could face a Games record but well outside his Asian capital to greet Mayweather painful financial penalty if he mark of 50.39 from the Rio Olympics, and McGregor at their separate is unable to tip the scales when he stunned his idol Michael Phelps. grand arrival ceremonies. inside the limit. Boxers often Asked whether he had shaken off the Mayweather, the 40-year- have the option of cancelling complacency that he blamed for his dis- old undefeated former a fight or collecting a larger appointing showing at the Budapest welterweight boxing cham- UFC lightweight champion share of the purse if an oppo- worlds, Schooling laughed and shook his pion, has been lured out of Conor McGregor arrives at nent fails to make weight. head. retirement to face McGregor, Toshiba Plaza in Las Vegas, Estimates vary but some “It’s something that I’m going to have a star of mixed martial arts’ Nevada on Tuesday. McGregor projections indicate May- to go back and reassess and head into the Ultimate Fighting will fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. weather could make as much new year with a different mindset,” the Championship. in a super welterweight boxing as $200m from Saturday’s 22-year-old said. Mayweather and McGre- contest, with McGregor col- “Right now I’m here to support my match at T-Mobile Arena on gor - who clashed repeatedly lecting around $100m. country, to support my team, and I’m not during an expletive-laden Saturday. RIGHT: Undefeated Mayweather has fought at really too worried about what’s going to world press tour to drum up boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. of 154 pounds before but is more happen next year. interest for the fight last month the US arrives at Toshiba Plaza used to fighting at welter- “I feel like I can do a lot better and this - insist however that they are in Las Vegas . weight (150 pounds). is a good test of my focus and how I can ready to deliver a battle for the McGregor however has fought step up, not only for myself but for my ages. “If he survives, I will decide A relaxed-looking May- “That’s what makes this at 170 pounds in MMA. team.” McGregor, a massive whether I embarrass or seri- weather meanwhile had fight so intriguing, I’ve been McGregor, 29, last week Schooling, blowing hard after his race, underdog in what will be his ously hurt him. earlier encouraged fans to bet out a few years, feel like I’ve insisted he was in peak con- said he was feeling the pace halfway first professional boxing fight, “I’m calm and cool, same on the fight finishing inside 12 lost a few steps,” Mayweather dition following a gruelling through the meet, with three gold medals insisted Tuesday he was ready as I am in every fight. I’m fit, rounds. said. training camp that had taken in the bag. After winning nine titles at the to stun the oddsmakers. sharp and I’m gonna be ruth- “I talked to you before and “So we’ll just have to wait him to “hell and back” and left 2015 SEA Games, he is targeting six in “This is not even close to less in there. I believe he’ll be said that this fight wouldn’t go and see.” him primed to face either a Kuala Lumpur. my toughest challenge ever. I unconscious inside one round.” the distance,” Mayweather Earlier on Tuesday, May- long or short fight. Longer-term, Schooling is sizing up will crumble him,” McGregor McGregor and May- said. weather had taunted “There is no way in hell next year’s Commonwealth Games in the roared. weather passed each other “If you’re going to bet, bet McGregor over his fitness, tell- that I’m not ready to fight in Gold Coast and the Asian Games in Jakarta, “I have adapted perfectly after their separate introduc- it won’t go (the distance).” ing the US website FightHype the deepest of trenches in this with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics approach- to boxing, I am very pleased tions, with McGregor taunting Mayweather did his best that he believed his opponent contest,” McGregor said. ing the horizon. and ready. I’m a special man, the American with a shout of to play down his status as a would struggle to make the “We are ready for both Schooling is spearheading a strong I will prove that August 26, this “Why didn’t you want to face heavy favourite, insisting that 154-pound limit for Saturday’s scenarios. I’m ready to go to meet for Singapore, which Quah Ting Wen will go one or two rounds, off?” - triggering a melee his two-year layoff from the bout. war for 12 rounds and I’m continued when she won the women’s 100m maybe I will bang him out and between their two ring had blunted his “Conor McGregor is ready to put him away early freestyle in a tournament-record 55.74, and hurt him. entourages. prowess. extremely heavy right now,” on.” then added gold in the 50m butterfly. India court Maxwell suffers mild heatstroke in Bangladesh

raps BCCI for Dhaka are similar to what we faced in AFP Darwin, where it was perfect,” Maxwell said. inaction on ustralia are feeling the “I think the guys are more heat just days before their than well equipped to handle Afirst Test against Bangla- whatever comes their way in the reforms desh for more than a decade, first Test.” with batsman Glenn Maxwell Bangladesh have not played New Delhi revealing yesterday that he suf- a Test against Australia since AFP fered heatstroke during Ricky Ponting’s team visited the training. country in 2006, six years after ndia’s highest court yesterday “I caught a bit of heatstroke the hosts were granted Test accused top officials from the coun- on the first day, which wasn’t a status. Itry’s board of failing to clean good start,” Maxwell told report- Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell in action during Australia were due to play up the scandal-ridden body, more ers in Dhaka. a training session at the Sher-e-Bangla National two Tests in Bangladesh in Octo- than six months after they pledged to “I think just doing some run- Cricket Stadium in Dhaka in this file photo. ber 2015 but the tour was enforce reforms. ning outside, then going inside Bangladesh’s muggy conditions have taken a toll on cancelled over security fears The Supreme Court ordered that to do some fitness tests, and then Australia with batsman Maxwell revealing yesterday after a wave of attacks by Islam- the acting president, secretary and going back outside didn’t help he fell sick just days ahead of the two-Test series. ist extremists in the treasurer of the Board of Control for too much. Muslim-majority nation. Cricket in India (BCCI) appear before “The body shut down a lit- Cricket Australia agreed to a panel of judges on September 19 to tle bit but I was fine after the ice on the outskirts of Dhaka was “Yesterday was obviously The tourists trained in Dar- reschedule the series this year explain their inaction. bath and plenty of fluids.” cancelled due to flooding. pretty tough with the overnight win, in Australia’s tropical north, only after Bangladesh promised “You haven’t implemented any- Australia, who arrived last But 28-year-old Maxwell and morning rain, all the mois- before their Bangladesh tour to intensive security. thing despite our orders. Nothing has Friday, limited themselves to said conditions were still a little ture coming out of the ground prepare for the hot and humid The first Test starts on Sun- been complied (with) and the BCCI light training Wednesday after difficult for the newly-arrived and making sweaty work for monsoon weather. day, with the second in says it’s helpless,” the panel of three their two-day warm-up match squad. us,” he said. “The here Chittagong from September 4-8. judges said in its order. The board was placed under court administration in January after a string of high-profile scandals brought its Smith turns T20 coach Afridi’s blasts quick-fire management into disrepute. A panel appointed to reform its opaque administration was given an Johannesburg Johannesburg. undertaking from the acting president, AFP It will be the first century to lift Hampshire secretary and treasurer that they senior-level coach- would turn things around. ormer South ing post for the London all out with Liam Dawson and But the court-appointed Commit- Africa skipper 36-year-old since he AFP each taking three wickets. tee of Administrators last week said Fand batsman retired from interna- Hampshire promoted Afridi to opener the trio should be removed for failing Graeme Smith (pic- tional cricket three akistan’s blasted 101 against the county he played for in 2003 to implement any of their promised tured) will be among years ago. in only 43 balls to inspire Hamp- and he swept and drove four boundaries reforms. the coaches when the Geoffrey Toyana, Pshire’s 101-run victory at Derbyshire from Wayne Madsen’s first over before The board has been accused over maiden Twenty20 the successful coach in the Twenty20 Blast quarter-finals on Calvin Dickinson took two fours from its management of the Indian Premier Global League starts of all-formats South Tuesday. Hardus Viljoen. League, a glitzy Twenty20 competi- in the republic this African franchise the All-rounder Afridi hit seven sixes and Afridi’s previous high score in the com- tion that netted almost $380m in November. Highveld Lions, will 10 fours to power Hampshire to 249 for petition this season was 18 but he pulled revenue in 2016. The sixth season of His appointment assist Smith. eight, their highest T20 score. Ben Cotton for six before driving him over the lucrative franchise was marred in as coach of the Benoni Nicknamed Skipper made 55 from the top of the three-storey media centre. 2013 by a match-fixing scandal when Zalmi, one of eight teams in the “Biff”, Johannesburg-born Smith 36 balls as Hampshire passed their pre- He reached his fifty off only 20 balls with the son-in-law of then-board presi- nationwide tournament, was con- played 117 Tests, 197 one-day inter- vious best of 225 for two against Middlesex a top-edged six but after driving Imran dent Narayanaswami Srinivasan was firmed Tuesday by the owners of a nationals and 33 T20 matches for in 2006 and, faced with an improbable Tahir for another huge six, he was dropped accused of gambling on matches. franchise based in eastern South Africa. target of 250, the Falcons crumbled to 148 on 65 at long-on by Madsen. 22 SPORT THURSDAY 24 AUGUST 2017 Nadal, Federer eye US Open swansong

New York AFP

heir rivalry has stretched Pretenders line up in power 13 years and 37 matches Tbut Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have never met at the US Open, a staggering struggle at Flushing Meadows anomaly which seems certain to be corrected at 2017’s con- cluding Grand Slam. New York champion and world at Brisbane, Doha and East- Nadal, back on top of the AFP number three Garbine bourne this year but has world rankings for the first time Muguruza, Ukraine’s fourth- never won a Grand Slam, in three years, is a two-time erena Williams is about ranked Elina Svitolina, although she reached her winner in New York, his 2010 to have a baby, Victoria Denmark’s fifth-ranked only Grand Slam final last and 2013 titles forming part of SAzarenka will stay home Caroline Wozniacki and the year at New York. his 15-Slam portfolio which was with her baby and the US Open defending champion, sixth- “The energy of the city is embellished by a record 10th women’s field is pregnant with ranked German Angelique huge. Obviously love to be French Open in June. suspense over who might win. Kerber, are among the tro- coming back there, espe- Federer, the five-time US A wide-open array of phy favorites on the New cially after the fantastic last champion from 2004-2008, is contenders for the world York hardcourts. year.” An early Cincinnati bidding for a 20th major and number one ranking and the Evergeen Venus Wil- exit tumbled Kerber down Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates after winning the third of the year after capturing last Grand Slam title of the liams, the 37-year-old the rankings race, but the US Open title in New York in this September 9, 2007 file the Australian Open and Wim- year promise to make the American who has won 2016 US and Australian bledon titles. picture. Right: Rafael Nadal Flushing Meadows fortnight seven Grand Slam titles and Open champion is feeling Victory in the men’s final on that starts Monday a thriller was runner-up this year at the same drive she did a September 10 would also make “New York is a completely would be completely insane. I even without two of the Wimbledon and the Austral- year ago. the 36-year-old the oldest US different event,” said Nadal, who just hope I’m going to be 100% game’s top stars. ian Open, is ranked ninth “I’m thinking that my Open champion of the modern has not got past the fourth round ready when the moment arises,” Williams, who won her and a dangerous foe for all. fighting spirit is back and era and oldest overall since Bill at the US Open since 2013. said Federer who missed the 23rd Grand Slam title at the Muguruza has made her- I’m feeling that it’s getting Tilden in 1929. “Different ball and in the 2016 US Open to rest a knee Australian Open, announced self an oddsmaker’s darling better and better,” Kerber The path to the title for history of my career in New injury. in April she was pregnant after taking last year’s said. “Going, for sure, with Nadal and Federer has been York I played much better. When Murray stunned Djok- and would miss the rest of French Open, last month’s good memories to New eased by the removal of two- “I believe that I did the ovic to win the 2012 title, he the year. Wimbledon crown and last York.” time champion Novak Djokovic, things well enough during the became the first British man to Two-time Australian week’s Cincinnati title in the Halep isn’t after a 6-1, the former world number one whole year to be ready to com- lift a Slam singles title in 76 Open winner Azarenka last major US Open tuneup. 6-0 drubbing by Muguruza who has shut down his season pete at the highest level in New years. revealed she is in a custody But she hasn’t gone past in the Cincinnati final, her to recover from an elbow injury. York.” A hip injury contributed to fight over her baby son, who the second round in four third and by far worst loss Also out of the way is Federer, meanwhile, is a quarter-final exit at Wimble- cannot leave California, and tries at New York. of the year with the world defending champion Stan looking to move beyond Pete don and he has been sidelined thus will stay with him. “I’m looking forward to number one ranking just a Wawrinka, another long-term Sampras and Jimmy Connors since, although he made the Former world number be there and feel I can win away. casualty who is facing knee by claiming a sixth US Open trip to New York and expects one Maria Sharapova, a five- improve what happened the But that didn’t dim her surgery. and reach a first final in the to play. time Grand Slam champion, past years, because I feel hopes of claiming a first Add into the mix the ongo- city since his sensational With Djokovic, Wawrinka, will play as a wildcard in her like I never really found my Slam title at the US Open. ing hip problems of 2012 2009 loss to Juan Martin del as well as 2014 runner-up Kei first major tournament since (rhythm),” Muguruza said. “I will go to New York champion Andy Murray, and all Potro. Nishikori out of action, the tour- a 15-month doping ban after “I want to change that. I and I will be with the confi- the indications point to a tour- His record-blazing eighth nament should also present the testing positive for meldo- want to find the recipe dence up,” Halep said. “I nament where the sport’s two Wimbledon title in July was fol- perfect opportunity for the nium at the 2016 Australian maybe this year, maybe that played really good few most durable warriors are likely lowed by a Montreal final defeat widely-touted ‘NextGen’ to step Open. I have a little bit more months. So I don’t have neg- to be amongst the last men to Alexander Zverev and a pull- up. And while the Russian’s confidence. atives to take.” standing. out from Cincinnati with a back Alexander Zverev, the world return has been hit by fore- “The most important Svitolina, the youngest Not that they are getting car- injury. number six, downed Federer for arm and thigh injuries, she part is to recover, to be fresh in the favored pack at 22, ried away by their prospects. But with a 2017 record of the Montreal title but slumped remains a threat wherever because it takes a lot of has won titles this year at Nadal, 31, heads to New five titles, 35 match wins and first time out in Cincinnati to US she lands in the draw. energy, and then getting Toronto, Rome, Dubai, York on the back of a quarter- just three losses, the evergreen teenager Frances Tiafoe. Czech world number one used to New York vibe Istanbul and Taipei City and final loss to Nick Kyrgios in Swiss remains the sentimental Zverev has never got beyond Karolina Pliskova, Roma- again, because it’s matched her best Grand Cincinnati and a Montreal last- favourite. the fourth round of a Slam and nian world number two special.” Slam showing with a French 16 defeat to Canadian teenager “Winning my third of the was a second round loser in New Simona Halep, Wimbledon Pliskova has taken titles Open quarter-final run. Denis Shapovalov. year, my 20th Grand Slam, York in 2016. Qatar bags seven medals in Oman Dan battles to keep

The Peninsula sixth title bid on track The delegation of the Qatari table tennis team returned to AFP Doha on Tuesday after participating in the 2017 Arab Table Tennis Cup which concluded in Muscat, Oman on hina’s Lin Dan came from behind to keep alive his hopes Sunday. of a sixth world title yesterday as the 33-year-old saw Qatar claimed seven medals in total including (one gold Coff Denmark’s Emil Holst 19-21, 21-8, 21-16 in a drain- medal, four silver medals and two bronze medals). ing 81 minutes. Qatar’s Fahad Al Moghni and Ahmad Mothana claimed The decider was close, with the score tied at 16-all before the silver medal of doubles event after beating Egypt’s Dan’s greater experience helped him win the final five points Mohammad Al Beyally and Ahmad Saleh in the semifinals. and gain revenge for a defeat in the Danish Open earlier this The tournament featured the participation of 180 players year. from 14 countries including Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Seeded seventh, Lin Dan admitted he was relieved to get Comoros Island, Somalia, Mauritania, Djibouti, Sudan, Tuni- through to the last 16. sia, Algeria, Morocco, Palestine, Yemen and hosts Oman. “I am very happy to win and prove myself again at the The state of Qatar was represented by Ahmad Moth- world championships,” he said. ana, Fahad Al Moghni, Mohammad Abdulwahab, Nawaf Al “I have prepared very well and for a long time for this week Malki, Yousef Hussain, Ali ba Ali, Khalid Al Yafai, Ayam and although it was a long match I am now looking forward Magdi, Maha Flamerzi, Kholoud Hussain, Maha Ali, Al Anoud to tomorrow.” Qatar table tennis team poses for a picture with officials of Qatar Table Al Saffar, Shouq Saad, Mayam Ali Abdulaziz and Shahd Al Holst, the world number 39, was heartbroken at missing Makki. Tennis Association on their return to Doha on Tuesday. out on a chance to claim the most famous of scalps. “I am very disappointed,” admitted the 26-year-old. “I had my chance to beat him, but I was very tired towards the end and he made me make tough decisions.” In the longest match of the championships, Vincent Wong Vandoorne given second season by McLaren Wing Ki, 12th seed from Hong Kong, survived a scare to over- come Japan’s Kanta Tsuneyama. The Japanese underdog had three match points -- and had London point this term came at the Hungarian Grand to save two of Wong’s -- before he went out 23-21, 15-21, 24-26 AFP Prix last month. in a marathon one hour and 24 minutes. “I’ll be able to approach the second half of “I wasn’t too nervous when I was facing the three match ookie Stoffel Vandoorne (pictured) will my rookie season with total focus on the job in points because I already prepared myself for a long and tough continue to drive for embattled former hand.” match,” said the winner, who sank to his knees in relief at the RFormula One giants McLaren Honda next Eric Boullier, McLaren Honda’s racing direc- end. “I lost to him recently in the Asian championships so I season, the team announced yesterday. tor, said Vandoorne deserved a second season knew it would be difficult. I am the 12th seed so the pressure The 25-year-old -- who has one point this after the promise and progress he’d shown. is on me.” season compared to team-mate Fernando Alon- “Like all rookies, he’s had to learn a lot in the Defending champion Chen Long and top seed, Son Won so’s 10 -- said the news takes a weight off his first half of his first Formula 1 season, but we Ho, both had easy passages into the last 16. mind. have great confidence in him, and he’s getting Chen, the Olympic gold medallist and fifth seed, trounced Vandoorne got the drive this season after better and better all the time,” Boullier said in a Indonesia’s Sony Dwi Kuncoro 21-3, 21-9. Britain’s former world champion Jenson Button statement. South Korea’s Son defeated Hungary’s Gergely Krausz announced his retirement last year -- the Bel- “His team-mate is a tough opponent - that’s 21-13, 21-9. gian had impressed by securing a point in an understatement in fact, because he’s argua- “I am so happy to have won in only two games,” said Chen. finishing 10th at the 2016 Bahrain Grand Prix bly the best driver in the sport today -- but “But I want to be prepared for the whole tournament. It will when Alonso was unfit to drive. Stoffel’s robust talent and fierce ambition make get harder.” “I’m delighted that the team has now for- us sure that he’ll achieve great successes with There was a huge shock in the men’s doubles with top mally announced that I will continue to race for us in the future.” seeds Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen failing to get past their first them next year,” said Vandoorne, whose sole match THURSDAY 24 AUGUST 2017 SPORT 23 CL: Napoli, Sevilla qualify for group stage deflected strike made it 4-2 on Neymar denied AFP the night before reduced the deficit further in the Jose Callejon goal final minute. Barca return helped Napoli ease “I have mixed emotions into the Champions because we didn’t defend well in Champions League group stage enough,” Rodgers told BT Sport on Tuesday, while after a scare that brought back League groups SevillaA also went through and memories of the same stage 12 Celtic suffered a scare in Kaza- months ago. Paris khstan before winning their Celtic beat Hapoel Beer- AFP play-off tie. Sheva of Israel 5-2 at home in Third in last season, the first leg of the play-offs last eymar will be denied Napoli were too strong for Nice, year and then wobbled in the an immediate return winning 2-0 in France with return, losing 2-0 to scrape Nto Barcelona when the Callejon and Lorenzo Insigne through. Champions League draw is both scoring as they progressed “We had our moment. I made in Monaco today. 4-0 on aggregate. thought we were going to get Both his Paris Saint-Ger- Beaten by eventual winners through this campaign without main team and the Catalan Real Madrid in the last 16 last the anxiety. The players were on giants he left earlier this season, Maurizio Sarri’s side took the ropes for 15 or 20 minutes month for a world record the lead when Marek Hamsik but then they regained $264m have been placed in deposited a low cross from the composure.” pot two -- among the second left for Callejon to convert at the Greek champions Olympia- seeds. back post in the 48th minute. kos are also back in the group Reigning champions and The dangerous Dries Mertens stage following a 1-0 victory Spanish title-holders Real then hit the post before Insigne away to Croatian champions Madrid head the pot of top Napoli’s Italian striker Lorenzo Insigne celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions sealed the Italians’ win a minute Rijeka that took them through seeds -- the champions from from time. League play-off match against Nice at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, southeastern France, 3-1 on aggregate. German inter- the eight highest-ranked “Napoli must keep on play- on Tuesday. national Marko Marin scored the countries in the UEFA ing in the Champions League only goal on the night. rankings. every season, because this is League last season, survived an seemingly end any doubt, but Brendan Rodgers’ side had Maribor of Slovenia also pro- England’s Chelsea, Ger- where we belong. We are happy almighty scare against Istanbul Edin Visca levelled the scores won 5-0 in the first leg in Glas- gressed, beating Hapoel mans Bayern Munich, Monaco with the qualification,” said Basaksehir to go through. again on the night and an Emre gow and a super Scott Sinclair Beer-Sheva 1-0 with a Mitja Viler of France’s , Portu- Insigne. The Spanish side, 2-1 win- Belozoglu free-kick struck the strike in the 34th minute should strike as they won the tie on guese giants Benfica, Serie A Nice, for whom recent sign- ners in the first leg in Turkey, woodwork in the last minute as have killed the tie. away goals. champions Juventus, Russians ing Wesley Sneijder started, were drew 2-2 at the Sanchez Pizjuan Sevilla came within a whisker of Astana, who had gone ahead The remaining five ties will Spartak Moscow and Sha- thoroughly outplayed over the to advance 4-3 on aggregate. going out on away goals. on the night through a Kristof- conclude on Wednesday, with khtar Donetsk of Ukraine two legs and will have to settle They went behind on the Celtic went through 8-4 on fer Ajer own goal, were given the highlight seeing Liverpool make up the rest of pot one. for a place in the group stage of night to an Eljero Elia goal but aggregate despite losing 4-3 to something to cling onto as a goal take a 2-1 lead into their play- But if anything, pot two the Europa League instead. Sergio Escudero headed in a Astana in the second leg of their by Serikzhan Muzhikov and a off second leg against looks even stronger with both Sevilla, who won the Europa Jesus Navas cross early in the play-off in Kazakhstan as a sec- Patrick Twumasi brace made it Hoffenheim at Anfield. Manchester clubs, Borussia League three years in a row second half for the home side. ond-half wobble gave their hosts 4-1 on the night. The draw for the lucrative Dormtund, Atletico Madrid, before losing to Leicester City in Great play from Nolito then hope of pulling off a miraculous But Olivier Ntcham ended group stage will be held in Sevilla and Porto in alongside the last 16 of the Champions set up Wissam Ben Yedder to recovery. Astana’s hopes when his Monaco today. PSG and Barca. Dangerous sides includ- ing Tottenham Hotspur and Italian pair Napoli and Roma lurk in pot three, with Liver- pool potentially joining them Frontale give Reds the blues in ACL if they get past Hoffenheim on Wednesday evening. The final five qualifiers Kawasaki, Japan for the 32-team Champions AFP League group stages will be Australia captain Jedinak out known later on Wednesday. winkle-toed Japan striker Yu Kobayashi scored twice Each outfit will be drawn yesterday as Kawasaki Frontale beat J-League rivals into one of eight four-team TUrawa Reds 3-1 in their Asian Champions League quar- of World Cup showdowns groups where clubs from the ter-final first leg. same country are kept apart. Kawasaki’s captain proved a handful throughout for the The draw will take place overrun Reds, driving in a low left-foot shot after 33 minutes Sydney qualifying spots for the World against Australia this month. at 6pm (1600 GMT) in to cap a period of sustained pressure from Frontale. AFP Cup in Russia next year, with a Reports in the Japanese Monaco. Kobayashi’s pace led to a second goal for the home side six win over the Blue Samurai media yesterday claimed the minutes into the second half when his stinging shot was blocked ustralia’s hopes of quali- crucial. Bosnian, who led Algeria to the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE by goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa, allowing Brazilian Elsinho fying for next year’s Japan are due to face Saudi Round of 16 at the 2014 World to volley home the rebound. AWorld Cup have been Arabia in Jeddah in their last Cup in Brazil, would be sacked Pot 1: Urawa substitute Yuki Muto snatched an away goal against dealt a blow after injury con- group game. if Japan are defeated by the Real Madrid (ESP/champions), Bayern Mu- the run of play in the 76th minute that looked to have given cerns forced skipper Mile Coach said Asian champions at Saitama Sta- nich (GER), Juventus (ITA), Benfica (POR), the Reds a lifeline before the second leg in Saitama on Sep- Jedinak out of a 23-man squad he opted for experience for the dium on August 31. Chelsea (ENG), Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR), Mo- tember 13. to face Japan and Thailand in games -- against Japan in A victory would mean that naco (FRA), Spartak Moscow (RUS) But Kobayashi gave Kawasaki a deserved third goal five crunch qualifiers. Saitama on August 31, and Japan, who lead Group B in Pot 2: minutes from time, rising at the back post to head home a cross Jedinak missed the Confed- against Thailand in Melbourne Asia’s qualifying tournament, Barcelona (ESP), Atletico Madrid (ESP), Paris from Akihiro Ienaga. erations Cup in June with a groin on September 5 -- with Awer would seal their place at the Saint-Germain (FRA), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Sevilla (ESP), Manchester City (ENG), Kawasaki, currently third in the J-League table to Urawa’s injury, and has yet to play for his Mabil and Danny Vukovic the World Cup finals in Russia. Porto (POR), Manchester United (ENG) seventh, will be favourites to go on to face either Shanghai English Championship club only uncapped players. However, defeat against Pot 3: SIPG or Guangzhou Evergrande in the tournament Aston Villa this season. “I believe that the players Australia and Saudi Arabia, Anderlecht (BEL), Basel (SUI), Besiktas (TUR), semi-finals. Football Federation Aus- that we have named today are who they meet on September Napoli (ITA), Olympiakos (GRE), Roma (ITA), “It was important to make sure we got the win at home,” tralia (FFA) said on its website ready for these two very impor- 5, would leave the team fac- Tottenham (ENG), plus one more said Kobayashi, who also scored twice in last month’s 4-1 the 33-year-old was only now tant matches,” Postecoglou said. ing a series of playoffs to Pot 4: thrashing of Urawa in the J-League. being eased back into action at “Our focus is to get a posi- progress. Glasgow (SCO/possibly in pot 3), Maribor “But we conceded an away goal and we know we still have Villa after battling injury woes tive result against “All the talk right now is pos- (SLO), Feyenoord (NED), RB Leipzig (GER), to go there and finish the job.” over the past few months. Meanwhile, the Japan Foot- itive,” JFA technical director plus four more teams Japanese sides have struggled in the Asian Champions The Socceroos are unbeaten ball Association have said they Akira Nishino was reported as Group stage fixtures: League since Gamba Osaka were the country’s last winners in but lie third on their Group B will not discuss speculation over saying by Kyodo News. Matchday 1: September 12-13 2008, and Chinese teams could prove a tough nut in the last table with 16 points, behind the future of national team “We don’t discuss specula- Matchday 2: September 26-27 four again this year. Saudi Arabia on goal difference, coach Vahid Halilhodzic, after tions or ifs and buts, and the Matchday 3: October 17-18 Shanghai hold an overwhelming advantage in their quar- with Japan top with 17 points. reports said he will be replaced issue was not raised today. We Matchday 4: October 31-November 1

ter-final with Guangzhou after a 4-0 rout of their Chinese rivals This means Australia are one if the team lose their pivotal just want to get it done at home Matchday 5: November 21-22 on Tuesday, helped by a double from Brazilian international spot outside the automatic World Cup qualifying match against Australia and that’s it.” Matchday 6: December 5-6 Hulk. Rooney quality under-valued, says Lineker

London City when he joined Alan Shearer as Rooney had too often during his inter- Rooney had scored four times in AFP the only players to score 200 Premier national career carried the burden of the tournament before he broke a bone League goals -- and has garnered sup- being the national side’s only world- in his foot. “Those of us who remem- ayne Rooney’s (pictured) true port for a recall to the England squad class player. ber his early career -- he was worth as a player has not which will be named on Thursday. “England went through a time of phenomenal,” said Lineker. Wbeen properly appreciated, Lineker -- who also starred for both being bereft of world-class talent -- it “He did it in Portugal. We might according to England football great Everton and England -- said Rooney was just him,” said the 56-year-old, have gone on to win that one if he Gary Lineker. should figure among the top 10 in Brit- who also starred for Barcelona and Tot- hadn’t (got injured), we were looking Rooney has looked rejuvenated ish football’s hall of fame. tenham Hotspur. so good.” since returning to Everton, the club that “He probably is,” Lineker said, “He’s gone to play in tournaments, Lineker also attributes Rooney’s nurtured his talent when he was a teen- referring to whether Rooney is sometimes not fully fit, sometimes fit, lack of recognition to partisan football ager, after becoming an under-appreciated. in a team that’s not really good enough, fans. unhappy-looking peripheral figure at “He’d be (one of Britain’s) top 10 and he’s suffered a little bit from that.” “Everyone gets a bit under-appre- Manchester United under Jose ever -- he’s had a marvellous career. Lineker, who like Rooney also ciated because we are a judgemental Mourinho. “He’s been a great player for Eng- failed to land a major global trophy with society but it’s also very tribal, football The 31-year-old has scored in both lish football.” England, said it was a case of what -- if he’s playing for Manchester United, his league appearances for Everton -- Lineker, who scored 48 times in his might have been if Rooney had stayed automatically a lot of people would dis- including Monday’s against Manchester 80 international appearances, said fit at Euro 2004 in Portugal. like him,” said Lineker.