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Sunday, May 1, 2016 FOOTBALL Rajab 24, 1437 AH Protests mark GULF TIMES Arsenal win, Townsend lift s Toon SPORT Page 3 RACING Galileo Gold makes history This is the first success for the Qatari silks of Al Shaqab Racing in a European Classic race

By Our Correspondent for Galileo Gold to run in several world- Newmarket, England class races this season.” Galileo Gold went up a level in the winter. He is trained by Hugo Palmer who also won his fi rst classic yesterday. he colours of Al Shaqab Racing “I am very lucky to train a horse like lived a great moment at New- him. He is a very good horse who keeps market yesterday when Galileo improving. We have worked a lot with Gold created history by win- him. Not against him but to teach him Tning the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas (Gr1). to be better.” Nasser Sherida al-Kaa- Fast in the lead, the Frankie Dettori bi, Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club ridden Galileo Gold accelerated deci- (QREC) General Manager, was elated sively at the 400m post and quickly left with Galileo Gold’s success. his rivals behind. “This victory adds a lot to Qatar’s This success is the fi rst one for the equestrian sport in general,” said al- Qatari silks of Al Shaqab Racing in a Eu- Kaabi “It is the fi rst of its kind for Qatar ropean classic race. given the value of this race which has Khalifa bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, Al been staged for 208 years now. Galileo Shaqab Racing General Manager, was Al Shaqab racing consultant Harry Herbert (right), Al Shaqab Racing General Manager Khalifa bin Mohamed al-Attiyah Gold has made history with this well- thrilled with the win. (second right) with ace jockey Frankie Dettori after Galileo Gold’s win yesterday. At left, Dettori celebrates at the finish. deserved victory over a fi eld of top- “Galileo Gold was not a fi rst favour- class horses. In fact, he defi ed the odds ite. He had to defy odds with other team, especially as we were looking continue victories at Europe’s premier to win this race at Newmarket today. We and made a pleasant surprise, enhanc- odds-on favourites. Pressure was al- forward to winning this title and con- racecourses,” said al-Attiyah. hope to continue such victories and add ing the standing of Qatar’s equestrian ready there on us at Al Shaqab Racing fi rming Al Shaqab’s commitment to “That’s why our happiness is so great more titles, especially as there are plans sport worldwide.” Gulf Times 2 Sunday, May 1, 2016 FOOTBALL

Arsenal to play pre-season Redknapp joins A-League Ben-Hatira denies doping Robben rules himself out of Freiburg back in Bundesliga, friendlies in Australia Mariners as consultant after social media post CL return against Atletico Leipzig must wait for a week

Arsenal yesterday confirmed two 2017 pre-season Former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp will work Eintracht Frankfurt Anis Ben-Hatira Dutch winger Arjen Robben will miss Bayern Freiburg will return to the Bundesliga next season, friendlies in Sydney, continuing the growing trend with Australian side Central Coast Mariners as a has denied doping following speculation which Munich’s crunch semi-final return leg against following a year’s absence, having had their of top clubs choosing Australia as a warm-up recruitment consultant next season while helping arose from a photo he himself posted on social Atletico Madrid in the Champions League this promotion from the second division confirmed destination. The Gunners will play A-League side promote the club overseas. The announcement media. The German anti-doping agency NADA Tuesday. Robben confirmed yesterday that he on Friday, while RB Leipzig must wait for another Sydney FC on July 13 next year at ANZ Stadium was made by the A-League team, who are based began an investigation on Friday but Ben-Hatira would not be fit for the game as he recovers from week to know their fate. Freiburg’s 2-1 win at and Western Sydney Wanderers two days later at at Gosford, north of Sydney, at their end-of-season rejected anything to do with doping, telling the a groin injury, but told Bayern TV he hoped to Paderborn means they return to Germany’s top the same venue. “Our pre-season matches enable dinner on Friday evening. “CCMFC owner Mike Bild newspaper it was “all nonsense”. The 27-year- return before the end of the season in his club's flight at the first attempt as they now have a the squad to complete final preparations ahead Charlesworth announces that Harry Redknapp will old Berlin-born Tunisia international had posted final games. Robben last played in early March 10-point lead ahead of third-placed Nuremberg of a new campaign,” Arsenal chief executive Ivan join the Mariners as a consultant,” the club tweeted. a picture on Snapchat which showed various against . Bayern, meanwhile, with two games left. Leipzig, who are currently Gazidis said in a statement on both clubs’ web- “Harry Redknapp will visit CCMFC during the @ syringes and a bottle of Lipotalon, which contains welcomed back central defender Jerome Boateng second, must wait for another week to have their sites. “The trip also gives our travelling squad a ALeague 16/17 season. Welcome ‘Arry.” Redknapp, the banned substance dexamethasone, a type of to the starting line-up for yesterday’s Bundesliga promotion confirmed after their 1-1 draw at home wonderful opportunity to see our loyal supporters who has also coached West Ham and Southamp- steroid medicine. Ben-Hatira said he posted the game against Borussia Moenchengladbach to Bielefeld. RasenBallsport Leipzig, who were in a country so passionate about football.” Arsenal ton, will also help to “connect the Yellow & Navy picture from a doctor’s surgery but the objects which ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Boateng had not taken over by energy drinks giants Red Bull in last visited Sydney in 1977, well before long-time with his ties abroad”, the club added on their were not connected to his treatment. “I only played since suff ering a groin muscle tear at SV 2009 when in Germany’s fifth tier, will be in the manager Arsene Wenger’s days, losing 3-1 to an website. His last role in club management was at photographed the table and did not pay attention Hamburg on January 22 in the first league game Bundesliga for the first time next season if they Australian XI. Queens Park Rangers. to what medicines were on it,” he said. following the winter break. beat Karlsruhe at home next Sunday.

LIGUE 1 FOCUS Pellegrini wants PSG blank Rennes, Sterling to fi nish season on a high

AFP equal points record anuel Pellegrini has challenged French champions match their Ligue 1 points record from the 2013-14 season with Raheem Sterling (pic) to end his fi rst Friday’s 4-0 rout of Rennes moving them to 89 points with three games still to play Mseason with Manchester City on a high as the Champions League semi-fi nalists travel to Southampton today. Paris Saint-Germain Pellegrini will be without players celebrate a goal injured pair David Silva and during their 4-0 defeat of Yaya Toure at St Mary’s and, Rennes on Friday. (AFP) although the former is ex- pected to be out for up to three weeks with a hamstring injury, the City manager has not given up hope of the latter recover- ing in time to face Real in the Champions League semi-fi nal second leg next week. But in the meantime, Sterling is back after recovering from a lay-off with a groin injury and Pellegrini has challenged the inconsistent England winger to show why City paid £49 mil- lion ($71 million) to sign him their domestic games on a Fri- from last year. day,” Pellegrini said. “The problem is that when “So I think it’s better for you arrive at this stage of the English football, because if Champions League, I think it’s you don’t continue in the very important to arrive at your Champions League, and I’m best moment, as an individual not talking just about Man- player and as a team,” he said. chester City, maybe we are go- “It’s diffi cult for Raheem, to ing to lose a spot for the next arrive at his best moment after Champions League. one-and-a-half months when “So we are representing he doesn’t play. But I think he England, but I repeat I cannot can give our team diff erent op- tell you more reasons because tions, depending on what he I didn’t speak directly with can do in his next game. them. I think it’s important “Of course we bought him not to give any advantage to because he was a player who the other team but also you can make a diff erence and also need three days to recover. because we are not just evalu- “It’s not the best thing. If ating him for just one season. you can have four days to it’s “He is a very young player, better, and I think the mental- he has a very important future. ity should be not to give any Big players can make the dif- advantage to your rivals.” ference in these kind of games. Southampton manager Ro- Unfortunately for him, he was nald Koeman is hoping to en- not 100 per cent in his best gineer his fi rst victory in four performance, before his injury.” meetings with City since taking AFP Rennes are now without a win in four the ball home. Cavani hit the bar shortly two points behind Lyon and Monaco, will Pellegrini takes his players charge at St Mary’s Stadium. Paris games as their European hopes continue to after as PSG fl exed their muscles, Costil aim for a sixth straight win at home to to Southampton angered by Victory will strengthen fade, with the defeat leaving the Brittany making a string of fi ne saves to keep out Toulouse. the ’s decision Southampton’s hopes of re- club a point behind Lille, in the race for Ibrahimovic, Javier Pastore and Lucas and Marseille travel to Angers today looking to force his team to play in the peating last season’s feat of aris Saint-Germain matched their sixth place which would warrant a Europa temporarily limit the damage for Rolland to snap an 11-game winless run in the league last fi xture of the weekend. qualifying for the Europa Ligue 1 points record from the League spot should PSG beat Marseille in Courbis’ side. which has left the struggling French giants City must face Southampton League and Koeman hopes 2013-14 season with Friday’s 4-0 next month’s French Cup fi nal. However, there was nothing the Rennes just fi ve points above the relegation zone. on the south coast in a game the combination of his side’s rout of Rennes moving them onto A sparse crowd in the capital witnessed keeper could do as Ibrahimovic shrugged Elsewhere, Nantes delivered a damaging that kicks off at 4.30pm today good home form, together P89 points with three games still to play. little of interest in the opening 45 minutes, off Ludovic Baal after being played in by blow to Nice’s Champions League hopes to satisfy television schedules, with City’s imminent trip to Maxwell struck the opening goal fi ve Ibrahimovic and Angel Di Maria—both Pastore to blast in his second goal of the as they infl icted a 1-0 defeat on Claude even though the club face Real Madrid, can tip things in the minutes after half-time on a soggy evening named on the four-man shortlist for Ligue game 12 minutes from time. Puel’s side. Adrien Thomasson fi red home Madrid on Wednesday. south coast club’s favour. at the Parc des Princes before Zlatan Ib- 1 Player of the Year—going close with the Marco Verratti, who replaced Benjamin the only goal after 68 minutes at the Stade Pellegrini’s club appealed “We know we can be strong rahimovic scored twice to increase the Argentine also denied by Benoit Costil. Stambouli for the fi nal half-hour, released de la Beaujoire as Nice were punished for to the League to be allowed to at home,” he said. “We have Swede’s goal haul to 34 for the campaign. But PSG burst into life after half-time Cavani in stoppage time with the Uru- failing to properly clear a cross. move the game to Saturday, to had six wins out of the last Edinson Cavani added a fourth in stop- as Maxwell rolled the ball through the guayan putting a series of earlier misses Nice had ridden their luck until that enjoy an additional 24 hours eight home games. page time as PSG earned their 28th win of legs of Rennes defender Joris Gnagnon as behind him by picking out the far corner point, with Nantes hitting the woodwork recovery time, but the request “Maybe City have some the season to surpass the previous mark he strolled into the area before drilling a for his 16th goal of the season. on three occasions—once through Emiliano was rejected by the authori- players who are already think- set two years ago. right-foot shot past Costil via the under- Lyon host Gazelec Ajaccio in the Sala’s fi rst-half header before US interna- ties, with the manager still at a ing about the next Real Madrid With games to come against Gazelec side of the crossbar. evening’s late game as they bid to keep tional Alejandro Bedoya struck the post and loss to explain why. game. If you can start well Ajaccio, Bordeaux and Nantes, Laurent Ibrahimovic combined with Di Maria hold onto second place and an automatic then the bar in the space of fi ve minutes. “For me it is unbelievable, and aggressively and make it Blanc’s side have every chance of breaking to double the home side’s lead just four Champions League qualifying spot, while Nice remained two points behind both but if you see other leagues, a tough game for them, maybe another record in a domestic season that minutes later, the Swede stretching to third-place Monaco host Guingamp. Lyon and Monaco in fourth place as Nantes including Italy, the teams that it’s another reason as to how has been completely dominated by Paris. reach the Argentine’s cross and fl icking Saint-Etienne, who like Nice are just snapped a run of fi ve games without a win. play Champions League play we can win the game.”

SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP make Celtic wait for fi ft h straight Scottish title

Celtic players AFP Leigh Griffi ths then took advan- “We were totally dominant in the tunity and Kazim-Richards fi red celebrate Glasgow tage of a John Souttar error to rifl e fi rst half and could’ve been 2-0 Celtic in front. The Turkish striker their 3-1 win home his 39th goal of the season up. There was determination today showed great skill to control a Mi- over Hearts in in the 85th minute to start the cel- and the energy was very good. We kael Lustig cross on his chest before eltic moved closer to ebrations amongst the travelling haven’t reached all our goals this smacking a half-volley through the their Scottish clinching a fi fth consecu- support at Tynecastle. season but this one is the biggest.” legs of Alexander. Premiership tive Later in the evening, closest ri- Elsewhere, Kilmarnock’s 4-0 Hearts came close to an imme- clash yesterday. title following their 3-1 win vals Aberdeen beat Motherwell 4-1 thrashing of Hamilton means Dun- diate equaliser but Jamie Walker’s The Hoops hold overC Hearts at Tynecastle yesterday. to temporarily suspend Celtic’s of- dee United need to defeat city rivals fi erce strike was denied by an in- a nine-point Colin Kazim-Richards fi red fi cial confi rmation as champions. Dundee on Monday night if they stinctive save by . advantage over home his fi rst league goal for Celtic However, the Hoops hold a nine- are to avoid relegation. Griffi ths should have restored closest rivals in the 16th minute but the Hoops point advantage with three games Following a bright start, Celtic Celtic’s advantage in the 40th Aberdeen, were stunned in the 57th minute left and a goal diff erence that is thought they had taken an 11th minute when he latched on to a who beat as Abiola Douda scored a superb vastly superior to the Dons’ mean- minute lead when Callum McGre- long ball over the top to race in on Motherwell 4-1 equaliser for Hearts following a ing the title is fi rmly in the Glasgow gor fi red past Alexander after the goal but his shot was brilliantly in a later game, surging run. club’s grasp. keeper had parried a shot from blocked by the legs of Alexander before squirming out for a corner. with three On-loan Manchester City wing- Out-going Celtic manager Roberts but the midfi elder’s eff ort er Patrick Roberts restored Celtic’s Ronny Deila was delighted to have was ruled out after a very tight off - At the other end Gordon made a games left. advantage in the 66th minute as he all but sealed a second title in two side decision. good save to tip Djoum’s strike round (Action Images pounced on a loose ball to slot past years at the club. “I was so happy However, the Hoops didn’t have the post after the Celtic defence had via Reuters) Neil Alexander. with the boys today,” Deila said. to wait long for another oppor- allowed him plenty of room. Gulf Times Sunday, May 1, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

BUNDESLIGA Bayern made to wait for historic 4th straight title

AFP Hahn in behind the Bayern defence and Schuerrle scored a consolation. Munich he wrong-footed Medhi Benatia before At the other end of the table, Hanover fi ring his shot past Manuel Neuer. 96’s relegation was confi rmed by their There was some good news for Bayern 3-1 defeat to Schalke. Eintracht Frank- ep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich as Jerome Boateng played his fi rst game furt boosted their survival hopes with a must wait to have their histor- since January. The Germany defender 2-1 win at Darmstadt to go 16th, which ic fourth consecutive Bundes- is now in line to face Diego Simeone’s carries a two-legged promotion/relega- liga title confi rmed after being Atletico with a place in the Champions tion play-off at the end of the season. Pheld to a 1-1 draw at home to Borussia League fi nal on May 28 at stake. But 17th-placed Werder Bremen can Moenchengladbach yesterday. In Dortmund, Borussia hammered push Frankfurt back down the table if The champagne had to be put back Wolfsburg with Japan midfi elder Shinji they beat VfB Stuttgart, who are 15th, on ice at the Allianz Arena after Thomas Kagawa scoring their fi rst, and creat- at home tomorrow in a crunch rel- Mueller’s fi rst-half header for Bayern ing their second, before Pierre-Em- egation battle. Mid-table Hamburg was cancelled out by Andre Hahn’s su- erick Aubameyang came off the bench played out a goalless draw at home to perb second-half strike for Gladbach. to score twice. The Gabon striker now Mainz, who stay seventh and on course Second-placed Borussia Dortmund has 25 league goals this season, leav- for a Europa League place. romped to a 5-1 win at home against ing him two short of Bayern’s Robert Hoff enheim looked to have escaped Wolfsburg to trim Bayern’s lead at the Lewandowski. relegation under 28-year-old coach top to fi ve points with two games left. Dortmund took the lead when Hen- Julian Nagelsmann, the youngest in the Bayern are away to mid-table In- rikh Mkhitaryan’s bullet pass was de- Bundesliga’s history, and they are four golstadt next Saturday, then host rel- fl ected home by Kagawa, who then points from the drop zone, after their egated Hanover on the fi nal day of the set up Ramos to leave Dortmund 2-0 2-1 win at home to Ingolstadt. season in a fortnight. up inside nine minutes. Marco Reus The draw with Gladbach comes grabbed their third by chipping home Results three days before Tuesday’s crunch with an hour gone. Bayern Munich drew with Borussia Champions League home semi-fi nal Aubameyang replaced Ramos on 69 Moenchengladbach 1-1 against Atletico Madrid with Bayern minutes and scored his fi rst just eight Borussia Dortmund beat Wolfsburg 5-1 having lost the fi rst leg 1-0 away last Bayern Munich players and mascot look disheartened after their 1-1 draw against Borussia Moenchengladhach yesterday. (Reuters) minutes later when Mkhitaryan’s pass Darmstadt lost to Eintracht Frankfurt 1-2 Wednesday. found him unmarked to header home, Hannover-96 lost to Schalke-04 1-3 Bayern were punished for sitting headed opener. Gladbach, one of only league this season, hit back when Hahn gone close just moments before. then netted a second header just a Hoff enheim beat Ingolstadt 2-1 back after Mueller’s sixth-minute two clubs to beat Bayern in the German slotted home on 72 minutes having A superb pass from Lars Stindl put minute later before Wolfsburg’s Andre Mainz-05 drew with Hamburger SV 0 -0

PREMIER LEAGUE Anti-Wenger protests Bale keeps Real afl oat, mar Arsenal victory, Atletico win Reuters breaking the deadlock with Madrid 10 minutes remaining, leap- ing at the near post to glance Vazquez’s cross into the top eal Madrid’s Gareth corner for his 19th goal of the Bale again came to league campaign. Townsend lift s Toon rescue by heading the With top scorers Ron- winner in a 1-0 suc- aldo and Benzema facing a cessR at Real Sociedad yester- race against time to be fi t for Fans protesting against long-serving Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger drowned out day that kept their La Liga title Wednesday’s Champions hopes alive. League semi-fi nal, second leg by supporters backing him before Welbeck’s 59th-minute strike settled proceedings Atletico Madrid substitute with City, Zidane was pleased Antoine Griezmann fi red them Bale delivered again. to a 1-0 home win over strug- “It was great to see a player gling Rayo Vallecano to also of his importance score a goal keep the pressure on title fa- ahead of Wednesday,” Zidane vourites Barcelona. said. “We had to suff er and Atletico, who made several that’s what the players did. We changes, are provisionally top were up against a diffi cult op- on 85 points, one ahead of Real ponent but I’m happy with the in second and three in front of work we did and to pick up the Barca, who visit Real Betis in points.” the evening’s late game. Atletico coach Diego Sime- Bale, who scored twice as one made seven changes to Madrid came from two goals the team that beat Bayern down to win 3-2 at Rayo Val- Munich 1-0 on Wednesday to lecano last weekend, again de- edge closer to the Champions livered when it mattered, nod- League fi nal, with only keeper ding in Lucas Vazquez’s cross Jan Oblak, Jose Gimenez, Gabi in the 80th minute. and Juanfran keeping their It was the Welshman’s ninth places. headed goal in the league this Simeone was serving the season, more than any other fi rst of a three-game touch- player in Europe’s top fi ve line ban and watched his side leagues, and earned Madrid struggle to break down Rayo. the points despite a frustrat- The hosts created only one ing afternoon against the side clear chance before the break, who beat Barcelona earlier this a low shot from Angel Correa month. that was superbly tipped away With Cristiano Ronaldo and by Rayo goalkeeper Juan Carlos. Karim Benzema injured, it was Atletico’s top scorer Griez- again up to Bale to lead the line, mann was brought on along with coach Zinedine Zidane with Fernando Torres in the 54th making fi ve changes from the minute and needed less than 60 team that drew 0-0 at Man- seconds to have an impact. chester City in the Champions The France striker pounced League semi-fi nal, fi rst leg in on a loose ball on the edge of midweek. the area and, with his next Bale missed two early chanc- touch, smashed it high into the es to score, fi ring wide from a net past Juan Carlos, his fi rst James Rodriguez through ball goal in fi ve games in all com- and missing with a header. petitions. Hundreds of Arsenal fans hold up posters bearing the words ‘TIME FOR CHANGE’ during the team’s Premier League match Norwich City at the Emirates Stadium yesterday, venting He also squandered his Torres squandered a chance their frustration at Arsenal’s 12-year league title drought under long-serving Frenchman Arsene Wenger. Arsenal won the match 1-0 to keep their top-four chances alive. (Reuters) clearest chance of the game to seal the win and Rayo near- just before the hour mark, ly punished Atletico, who AFP game, in a nod to Arsenal’s 12-year league because we won and then we will focus Leighton Baines scored the winner as failing to beat Geronimo Rulli were relieved to see striker London title drought. In response thousands of on the next one against Aston Villa, which Everton prevailed 2-1 at home to Bourne- from close range after a loose Javi Guerra head over the bar fans chanted “There’s only one Arsene will be a tough one.” mouth, after Tom Cleverley’s seventh- ball dropped into his path. after appearing unmarked in Wenger!”, with some holding aloft plac- Townsend broke the deadlock in the minute opener for the hosts had been Yet Bale compensated by the box. quickfi re goal from substitute ards in support of the under-fi re French- 58th minute at St James’ Park, the one- swiftly cancelled out by Marc Pugh’s de- Danny Welbeck united squab- man, who has been in place since 1996. time England winger sending a free-kick fl ected strike. But it was an uncomfortable bling supporters as Arsenal de- However, with Norwich creating the from wide on the right whistling into the afternoon for Everton manager Roberto feated Norwich City 1-0 yester- best of the fi rst-half chances, there were top-left corner. Twelve minutes later, Martinez, with protesting supporters pay- dayA to advance their pursuit of a Premier boos at the half-time whistle. Injury Cabaye had a chance to equalise, but the ing for a plane trailing the banner “TIME League top-four fi nish. forced Wenger to send on Gabriel for cen- France international, who angered New- TO GO ROBERTO” to fl y over Goodison Fans protesting against long-serving tre-back Per Mertesacker early in the sec- castle fans by leaving for Paris Saint-Ger- Park during the game. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger were ond half, but it was his second change that main in 2014, saw his penalty brilliantly Meanwhile, skipper Troy Deeney scored drowned out by supporters backing him was to prove decisive. turned away by Darlow. a last-gasp brace as Watford twice came before Welbeck’s 59th-minute strike set- Welbeck replaced Alex Iwobi in the 56th Elsewhere, Jermain Defoe scored a stop- from behind to infl ict a 3-2 defeat on al- tled proceedings, keeping Norwich in the minute, drawing more boos, but less than page-time penalty to rescue a 1-1 draw at ready-relegated Aston Villa at Villa Park. bottom three. three minutes later Olivier Giroud nod- Stoke City for Sunderland. Although Sam Leaders Leicester City can become Eng- Arsenal established a provisional eight- ded Hector Bellerin’s cross into his path Allardyce’s side were left a point behind land’s fi rst new top-fl ight title-winners point cushion over the teams below the and the England striker slashed home the Newcastle in the bottom three, they, like since Nottingham Forest in 1978 if they Champions League places, ahead of next winner. Norwich, have a game in hand. win at Manchester United today. Should weekend’s high-stakes trip to Manchester Norwich fi nished the day two points “Where would you be without Jermain they fail to win, they can still be crowned City, who trail them by three points ahead from safety, but with a game in hand on Defoe? Relegated probably,” said Allardyce champions tomorrow if second-place of their trip to Southampton today. fourth-bottom Newcastle, who beat Pal- after Defoe scored his 17th goal of the Tottenham Hotspur cannot better their Meanwhile, Andros Townsend scored ace courtesy of Townsend’s memorable season to cancel out Marko Arnautovic’s result when they visit Chelsea. a stunning free-kick as Newcastle United strike and a Karl Darlow penalty save from 50th-minute opener. “I am going home edged Crystal Palace 1-0 to escape the rel- Yohan Cabaye. satisfi ed it is a point gained rather than Results egation zone at the expense of northeast “The victory means a lot. It gives us two dropped.” Everton 2 ...... Bournemouth 1 rivals Sunderland. momentum, confi dence and a connection West Ham United captain Mark Noble Newcastle 1 ...... Crystal Palace 0 In a pre-planned protest at the Emir- with the fans,” said Benitez, who succeed- scored twice for the second game in succes- Stoke City 1 ...... Sunderland 1 ates Stadium, a smattering of fans held ed Steve McClaren as Newcastle manager sion as his side won 3-0 at West Bromwich Watford 3 ...... Aston Villa 2 up A4 posters bearing the words “TIME last month. “We still have to play another Albion to replace Manchester United in fi fth West Brom 0 ...... West Ham United 3 Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale celebrates his goal against Real FOR CHANGE” in the 12th minute of the two games. We will enjoy this weekend place, with Cheikhou Kouyate also on target. Arsenal 1 ...... Norwich City 0 Sociedad with teammates Marcelo (left) and Dani Carvajal. (AFP) Gulf Times 4 Sunday, May 1, 2016 FOOTBALL

FOCUS Klopp fumes over Liverpool’s hectic schedule AFP ers should have been given more time Back-up goalkeeper Danny Ward generally considered to be enough to London to rest, having only arrived home from made his debut in that victory at secure safety. Spain in the early hours of Friday. Bournemouth, and Klopp is set to se- But since then, they have had little “We have to respect the intensity of lect him again so that Simon Mignolet to be positive about, following up a 3-0 frantic fi xture programme is not the last game and think about the line- can have a break. “Danny did really defeat at relegation-threatened New- about to ease up for Liverpool, up for Sunday,” Klopp said. well against Bournemouth, especially castle with a 4-0 loss at Leicester. who face their ninth match in “A 12 o’clock kick off ? I can’t believe with no rhythm,” Klopp said. “It was Head coach Francesco Guidolin, though, 30 days when they visit Swan- it. We got home at 3.30am on Friday, very impressive. I have not yet spoken can be satisfi ed with his work in pulling the Asea in the Premier League today. and I guess no one slept straight away. to John Achterberg, the goalkeeping club away from the bottom three and to- Reds manager Jurgen Klopp (pic) On Sunday all English people will have coach, but it is likely he will play at wards the security of what will be a sixth has indicated he will respond to the lunch while we play football. It is my Swansea.” successive season in the top division. demands on his team by making sev- fi rst time with a 12 o’clock kick-off . Who Liverpool’s fringe players are likely to If a fi nish in the bottom half of the eral changes for a game that takes place made this decision?” get a chance all over the fi eld, with Brad table seems something of a comedown between their two Europa League semi- Klopp switched his side around sig- Smith, Connor Randall, Martin Skrtel, for a club who were eighth last season, fi nal meetings with Villarreal. nifi cantly for the league games that Pedro Chirivella, Kevin Stewart, Cam- full-back Angel Rangel believes there is Klopp’s hand has been forced by the took place after both legs of Liverpool’s eron Brannagan, Sheyi Ojo and Jordon still much to be proud of. timing of the fi xture, which will kick off Europa League quarter-fi nal against Ibe all likely to start. “We have had three managers and just 62 hours after Thursday’s fi rst leg Borussia Dortmund earlier this month. Despite their recent glut of fi xtures, when this happens, you know it’s going against Villarreal fi nished, with Liver- He made 10 changes for the trip to Liverpool managed to stay unbeaten in to be tough,” Angel said. pool losing 1-0 to Adrian Lopez’s stop- Bournemouth that followed the fi rst the league in April, and while a top-four “Sometimes we can take things for page-time goal. leg, and seven for the home match fi nish is very unlikely, they are only four granted… maybe people expect us to The decision to have the Swan- against Stoke. The fact Liverpool won points behind fi fth-placed Manchester fi nish in the top 10. But it’s been hard for sea match kick off at 12pm local time, both of those league games justifi ed United going into the weekend’s fi xtures. us, and I think staying up this year will made to suit television schedules, has the manager’s selection policy, which is It is three weeks since opponents be a fantastic achievement considering annoyed Klopp, who believes his play- likely to be used again. Swansea reached the 40-point mark what’s happened.”

ALMOST THERE... CHAMPIONSHIP Birmingham draw dents Old Traff ord coronation ‘Boro’s hopes of promotion

Reuters beckons Leicester City London iddlesbrough’s hopes of auto- Leicester, the 5,000-1 outsiders, will be champions for the first time in their 132-year history if they matic promotion to the Pre- mier League suff ered a set- prevail today at the home of Manchester United, the dominant force of the Premier League era back when they were held to a M2-2 draw at Birmingham City in a thrilling Championship clash on Friday. ‘Boro moved top of the table on 88 points from 45 games before Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion, both on 87, host Queens Park Rangers and Derby County respectively tomorrow. They came from behind to lead with goals from and Gaston Ramirez but were pegged back by a superb strike before Grant Leadbitter hit the bar for the visitors. Middlesbrough were also denied a goal when Spanish defender Daniel Ayala was ruled off side as he drove a low shot into the net after 69 minutes though television replays showed he was onside. “I thought it was a goal. I haven’t seen the replay. But if we win the last game we’re still up,” Ayala told . ‘Boro, who lost to Norwich City in the playoff fi nal last year, welcome Brighton on the last day of the season on May 7 when Burnley visit already-relegated Charlton Athletic. A home win for Middlesbrough over Brighton would see them fi nish in the top two and win promotion to the Premier League, which is estimated to be worth a minimum of 100 million pounds ($146.06 million). The next four teams go into the playoff s. “We are ready for it (Brighton). We are one win away from going to the Premier League,” said former Liverpool defender A Leicester City scarf Ayala. Leadbitter added: “We know what hangs from the Liberty we’ve got to do from now, it’s up to us. We Statue in Leicester. The were unlucky not to win the game.” city's local landmarks Birmingham stunned ‘Boro at St An- have been lit up in blue in drews by taking the lead after 33 minutes anticipation of the team’s through Stephen Gleeson’s long-range first major silverware drive that Dimitrios Konstantopoulos got since the 2000 League a hand to but could not keep out. Cup. (Reuters) Middlesbrough were gifted an equaliser fi ve minutes before halftime when Rhodes AFP rifi cial lambs on the Leicester title altar. bundled the ball over the line after keeper London Fifth-place United boast the strong- Adam Legzdins dropped it at his feet after Foxes have British bookmakers in a fi x est home record in the division, having a free-kick. lost only twice on their own patch all Ramirez put ‘Boro in front with a close- eicester City can bring their fair- eicester City, 5,000/1 no-hopers Leicester were 5,000/1 (bet £1 to at odds of 7/4. Come March, Leicester season, and have conceded only seven range header in the 57th after being set up ytale pursuit of glory to a suit- before the season started, will be win £5,000) in pre-season but those were an even money chance and later goals in their 17 home games to date. by Rhodes, who had earlier hit the post af- ably spectacular conclusion to- Lresponsible for an “unprecedent- odds halved to a still generous 2,500/1 that month found themselves odds-on at They are currently on a run of six ter a free kick, with Ramirez blasting the night by beating Premier League ed” £15 million ($22 million, 19 million in September after the Midlands club, 8/15 after beating Crystal Palace. successive home wins, which has rebound over. standard-bearersL Manchester United at euros) pay-out by Britain’s bookmakers managed by Italian boss Claudio Rani- Second-placed Tottenham’s draw helped to keep their challenge for a Birmingham levelled through Davis 11 Old Traff ord to capture the title. if they win the Premier League title, eri, enjoyed wins over Sunderland and with West Brom on Monday left Leices- Champions League place alive, and minutes later before Ayala thought he had Seven points clear of second-place according to an industry insider. West Ham United as well as draws with ter at a miserly price 1/20, with Hills with Manchester City and Arsenal put the visitors back in front only for the Tottenham Hotspur with three games “We are looking at a £3 million pay- Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur. and other firms doing all they could to guaranteed to take points off each oth- defender to be harshly fl agged off side by remaining, Leicester, the 5,000-1 out- out and the industry as a whole £15 Early in October, the Foxes were minimise the impact of any late bets er when they meet next weekend, Van the linesman. siders, will be champions for the fi rst million,” Joe Crilly, of leading British back out at 5,000/1 again despite on the Foxes. Only a few punters took Gaal’s men are not short of incentives ‘Boro have spent seven seasons in the time in their 132-year history if they betting firm William Hill, said yesterday. beating Norwich City, with Manchester the 5,000/1 on Leicester but they were in their pursuit of a top-four fi nish. second tier of English football after fi n- prevail at the home of United, the dom- “This is completely unprecedented.” City installed as 4/6 odds-on (bet £6 to more than enough, as far as Crilly and “We have to beat them because we ishing 19th in the Premier League in 2009. inant force of the Premier League era. “In a ‘normal’ season, we might win £4) favourites. However, Leicester’s his colleagues were concerned. are still in the race for fourth position,” Elsewhere, Sheffi eld Wednesday But although Leicester are now so expect to break even on bets on the odds tumbled in October to 500/1 and “We had 25 punters take the 5,000/1 Van Gaal said. booked their place in the Championship close to the trophy that they can smell Premier League title,” he added. “If Chel- by the end of November, after an away at a combined stake of £58,” he said. “We cannot allow them to be cham- play-off s with a 3-0 victory in their top the silver polish, manager Claudio sea or Manchester United were running win against Newcastle United, they “Some ‘cashed out’ (stopped their bet in pions this weekend at Old Traff ord. six shoot-out against Cardiff . Ranieri is determined to make sure away with it, we might have stopped were down to double figures at 50/1. return for a payment less than the value They shall be champions a week later. Sixth-placed Wednesday knew avoid- that his players do not lose sight of the taking bets by now. But Leicester have Leicester’s continued good form meant of a winning return) and some split it We don’t spoil the party, only post- ing defeat against seventh-placed Cardiff task in hand. been such a ‘good news story’ that peo- that in February, after wins over Liverpool (cashed out part of their stake while pone it a little bit.” would be enough to guarantee their spot in “We have to fi ght a lot,” the Ital- ple have kept betting on them. We are and Manchester City, Hills installed the keeping the rest on Leicester). Those Leicester have not won at Old Traf- the end-of-season play-off s as they held ian told a packed now looking at a loss of £2.2 million.” Foxes as title favourites for the first time bets are set to cost us £350,000 alone.” ford in seven attempts, since a 1-0 a four-point lead over the Bluebirds with media room during his pre-game press league victory in January 1998, and two games left. conference yesterday. “It will be a fan- chettino’s Tottenham do not better “Once in the life it can happen,” While Ranieri continues to proceed will again be without 22-goal top scor- After a goalless fi rst half at Hillsbor- tastic match, but tough. We have to their result when they visit outgoing Ranieri said. “That is football. Once with caution, the city of Leicester is er Jamie Vardy, who completes a two- ough, Wednesday striker Gary Hooper stay calm and stay hungry. I want to champions Chelsea a day later. every 50 years a little team with less now fi rmly on a title footing. game ban stemming from his dismissal opened the scoring and Lee Peltier’s own see that. For the fi rst time in the club’s And with a home game against money can beat the biggest ones. If Fans sporting Leicester shirts and for diving against West Ham. goal with 15 minutes left was followed by life, they can win the title. It is unbe- Everton followed by their own trip to there are 20 teams who spend millions blue face-paint queued for photo- His Argentine understudy Leonardo another Hooper strike as the hosts cruised lievable. It is history.” Chelsea still to come, Leicester pos- of pounds at the end of the season, one graphs with the Premier League tro- Ulloa is expected to continue up front into the play-off s. After a sequence of nervy, narrow sess ample room for error. will win the title and three will go down. phy in a city centre bank on Friday and despite sustaining a minor back prob- Hull were already assured of a play-off wins and a fraught 2-2 draw with West Leicester’s surge to within touch- “Now there are very special circum- local landmarks have been lit up blue lem after scoring twice against Swan- place but they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Ham United, the title swam into pin- ing distance of the title is proof that stances. The big teams don’t have the in anticipation of the team’s fi rst major sea, while Ranieri must decide wheth- relegated Bolton. Substitute Stephen Do- sharp focus for Leicester this week money does not always yield success, consistency and normal teams have silverware since the 2000 League Cup. er to keep faith with Jeff Schlupp on bbie fi red home a cross from Lawrie Wil- when their breezy 4-0 victory over added Ranieri. the consistency during the season. It is a while since Old Traff ord host- the left wing or recall Marc Albrighton. son to give League One-bound Wanderers Swansea City was followed by Totten- Their opponents United spent £25 “From August to April and now it’s ed a title party, with a solitary Com- United, who beat Everton at Wem- a fi rst home triumph in 15 matches and ham losing ground in a 1-1 draw with million ($36.5 million, 31.9 million eu- important to keep the same consist- munity Shield the only trophy of note bley last weekend to reach the FA Cup only their fi fth win of the campaign. West Bromwich Albion. ros) on Memphis Depay and an initial ency in May. I’m waiting for next sea- that the club have won since Alex Fer- fi nal, are close to full strength, with Charlton restored some pride despite It means that Leicester can drop £36 million on Anthony Martial, while son. United at the top, Chelsea at the guson retired as manager in 2013. left-back Luke Shaw (broken leg) and relegation with a 2-1 win at Leeds which did points at United and still be crowned Leicester’s total spending was less top, Liverpool, (Manchester) City and But Louis van Gaal’s United side are far midfi elder Bastian Schweinsteiger nothing to improve under-pressure Steve champions, as long as Mauricio Po- than £30 million. Arsenal, and we are fi ghting.” from ideal candidates for the role of sac- (knee) their only absentees. Evans’ hopes of continuing as manager. Gulf Times Sunday, May 1, 2016 5 SPORT

EL JAISH WIN QATAR CUP HANDBALL

El Jaish players celebrate after winning the Qatar Cup handball tournament yesterday. They defeated Lekhwiya 27-23 in the final. This was El Jaish’s second Qatar Cup success in two days. On Friday, El Jaish’s football team had beaten Lekhwiya 2-1 in the final of the Qatar Cup.

CRICKET SPOTLIGHT India to resume Delhi climb to second Windies ties with with win over Kolkata Test series AFP ‘We have faith in our batters, we always spoke about that freedom to express’ Mumbai ndia’s cricket board yester- IANS imposing 186/7. A timely fourth- day announced the resump- New Delhi wicket partnership between Nair Delhi Daredevils bowler Zaheer Khan appeals as tion of bilateral cricketing and Billings helped shape Delhi’s Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Robin Uthappa ties with the West Indies, innings. Isaying its team will travel to the looks on during the IPL match at The Feroz Shah elhi Daredevils pro- Carlos Brathwaite (34) put the Kotla Cricket Stadium in New Delhi yetserday. (AFP) Caribbean for a Test series later duced a thorough all- fi nishing touches to an impres- this year. round performance to sive batting performance from “The BCCI (Board of Con- notch up their fourth the home team. KKR skipper trol for Cricket in India) and win,D beating Kolkata Knight Gautam Gambhir won the toss the WICB (West Indies Cricket Riders by 27 runs in an Indian and elected to bowl and his deci- Board) have resolved outstand- Premier League (IPL) clash here sion was given instant gratifi ca- ing issues arising out of the yesterday. tion by pacer Andre Russell. abandonment of the tour of the Delhi recovered from a poor The West Indian was includ- West Indies team to India in start to post an strong total of ed in the starting 11 and made 2014,” the BCCI said in a state- 186/8. It was enough as they prompt impact picking up two ment released to the media. claimed wickets at regular in- wickets in the fi rst over. “With this understanding, tervals to bowl out KKR for 159 He began with dismissing bilateral series as part of the Fu- in 18.3 overs. It moved Delhi to Shreyas Iyer leg before wicket for ture Tours Programme will be second in the standings, with a fi rst-ball duck. resumed with the Indian cricket eight points from six matches, And then accounted for Del- team touring the West Indies demoting KKR to third, due to an hi’s batting mainstay Quinton in July-August, 2016 for a four inferior run rate. KKR have also de Kock (1), who mistimed his match test series,” it added. played a game more. attempted pull to be caught Earlier this month India’s Delhi skipper Zaheer Khan at square leg. Delhi took some board dropped a $42 million (3/21) led the way for a disci- time to recover from the double damages claim against the West plined bowling performance. strike. Sanju Samson and Karun Indies over the abandoned 2014 West Indies’ World T20 hero Nair began the consolidation. tour after the team agreed to re- Carlos Brathwaite (3/47) also But it was jolted midway as off - turn to play in India next year. chipped in with the ball after spinner Sunil Narine trapped hitting a quick-fi re 34 while bat- Samson (15) to peg back Delhi at The West Indies players ting. 32/3 in six overs. fl ew home from India in A 106-run fourth wicket part- Nair (68) held the innings to- October 2014 when a long- nership between Karun Nair (68) gether and kept the scoreboard running pay dispute came and Sam Billings (54) shaped ticking, pulling Delhi to 70/3 in to a head in the middle of Delhi’s innings at the Ferozeshah 10 overs. Middle order batsman the tour Kotla stadium. KKR got into ear- Sam Billings (52 off 34 balls) jus- ly trouble while chasing, losing tifi ed his inclusion in the team as The huge damages claim skipper Gautam Gambhir and he gave company to nair. lodged by the BCCI had threat- pinch-hitter Piyush Chawla. Their fourth-wicket partner- ened to cripple the cash- Gambhir (6) produced a lead- ship of 106 runs not only enabled strapped West Indies, which has ing edge at cover off Zaheer Khan Delhi to recover but put them on been at loggerheads with its own in the third over. His departure a fi rm footing to fi nish strongly. players. allowed the introduction of Nair brought up a deserved “BCCI is happy to resume Chawla (8), who was pushed up fi fty in the 15th over, blasting Warner stars as Sunrisers beat Royal Challengers their bilateral ties with the in search of some quick runs. Narine for three boundaries in WICB,” Anurag Thakur, BCCI’s But it fl opped as he was also the over. Nair fi nally departed in The Sunrisers Hyderabad added two more ing De Villiers to the middle. Rahul was out Honorary Secretary, said in the claimed by Zaheer to reduce KKR the in 17th over after hitting nine points to their IPL tally when they beat the in the 10th over, having made his second statement. The West Indies to 33/2 in fi ve overs. fours and a six during his 50-ball Royal Challengers Bangalore by 15 runs half ton in as many games. players fl ew home from India in Opener Robin Uthappa (72) innings. India pacer Umesh Ja- yesterday, defending the 194 they made Shane Watson was run out off a great October 2014 when a long-run- carried the team forward but dav (3/33) fi rst claimed Nair and thanks to David Warner’s blistering 92. direct hit from the outfield by Barinder ning pay dispute came to a head lacked support. Hard-hitter Yu- then Chris Morris (0) two balls Bangalore were unable to pull off another Sran, leaving De Villiers and Sachin Baby in the middle of the tour. suf Pathan (10) went cheaply to later to jolt Delhi’s charge. big chase, and ended on 179 for six despite needing to go at nearly 12 to the over for The two teams had been due to compound their problems. Billings was there though and a few late lusty blows from the tail. Bhuv- half the innings, a seemingly doubtful task. play fi ve ODIs, three Test match- As did Suryakumar Yadav’s reached his fi fty with a huge neshwar Kumar bowled an excellent final It was made even more out of reach when es and a T20 international, but (21) brief but eventful stay at the six off veteran chinaman bowl- over, conceding just six runs. de Villiers, who had survived two dropped the tourists refused to play on crease. He hit a four and a six to ers Brad Hogg in the 18th over. The Sunrisers, having been put in to bat, catches already, was finally snaff led by after the fi rst four ODIs, with raise hopes but fl attered to de- Brathwaite (34 of 11) ensured a lost the early wicket of Shikhar Dhawan for Williamson. captain Dwayne Bravo leading a ceive, caught superbly by a for- grandstand fi nish with a fl urry of 11, but were then taken on a joyride by Aus- The Kiwi took a good diving catch in the revolt by the players. ward-lunging Shreyas Iyer. big hits. tralia’s David Warner and New Zealand’s deep to send AB packing for 47 off 32 balls. Bravo was subsequently Uthappa carried the bat “We have faith in our batters, Kane Williamson. Baby was out at the start of the 17th over sacked as skipper and has since through and Andre Russell’s we always spoke about that free- The pair put on nearly 130 runs in the next after doing well to reach 27, but one big been an outspoken critic of the lusty hitting (17) brought KKR dom to express. The good start 12 overs, with Warner going as his usual swing too many saw him caught in the West Indies board. closer to the target, needing 51 will come at some stage. Some brisk pace and becoming the tournament’s deep by Dhawan. After captaining the West In- off 24 balls. concerns but not really worried leading run scorer in the process. William- RCB still needed nearly 50 runs at that dies to victory in the fi nal of the Leg-spinner Amit Mishra’s about it. Billings was brilliant. son, in his first game of the season, showed point. World Twenty20 in Kolkata ear- sharp caught and bowled chance Plan was to create early pressure. no signs of rust. They needed 22 runs off the last over, and lier this month, Darren Sammy of Russell broke KKR’s momen- Pitch was a little sticky with the The stand was broken when the Aussie to smash a quick 31 not out off 14 balls in Kumar started with two dot balls. The took a swipe at the governing tum in the 17th over. new ball,” winning captain Za- was out for 92. He had faced just 50 balls, the final few overs. game ended with a catch on the bound- body over what he said was a lack It proved to be the pivotal mo- heer Khan said. including five sixes, before being caught This left RCB to chase 195 to win, with Kohli ary, punctuating a great eff ort from the of support for the players. ment of the match as KKR lost BRIEF SCORES by AB de Villiers. The South Africa skipper looking to reclaim the orange cap he’d lost Sunrisers. The board slapped Sammy two more wickets in the next Delhi Daredevils 186 for 8 (Nair took a catch to remove Naman Ojha later an hour earlier. He and KL Rahul got off to BRIEF SCORES down but also announced plans over, including Uthappa’s, to fall 68, Billings 54, Brathwaite as well. a good start, putting on 40-odd runs in the Sunrisers Hyderabad 194 for 5 (Warner for talks with senior players, 27 runs short, losing the fi nal fi ve 34, Russell 3-26, Umesh 3-33) Williamson was out in the next over for 50, first five overs. 92, Williamson 50) beat Royal Challengers many of whom have not played wickets in the 10 balls. beat Kolkata Knight Riders having faced 38 balls, caught behind off Kohli was out for 14 though, off the bowling Bangalore 179 for 6 (Rahul 51, de Villiers Test cricket since 2014, turning Earlier, Delhi recovered from a 159 (Uthappa 72, Zaheer 3-21, Shane Watson. This left Moises Henriques of star paceman Mustafizur Rahman, bring- 47) by 15 runs. out instead in lucrative domestic poor start to blast their way to an Brathwaite 3-47) by 27 runs. T20 tournaments. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, May 1, 2016 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT ALMOST HEROES Valiant Clippers fall short, lose to Blazers Heat down Hornets MCT Portland

ustin Rivers bent over, inconsolable, after his heave from just inside the half-court line fell to force Game 7 short.A DeAndre Jordan walked over to try anyway, patting his team- Wade led the Heat with 23 points, supported by 21 from Luol Deng, 14 from Goran mate tenderly and lingering for a round of hugs before depart- Dragic and 12 from Hassan Whiteside, who closed with 12 points ing the court. A season built on his teammates’ converging at his MCT home last summer was reduced Austin Rivers #25 of the Clippers Charlotte to a solitary walk into the off - reacts on the bench. season. The Los Angeles Clippers were turned his ankle and fell to the he Miami Heat will play into beat up, bandaged, swollen and ground. Jordan banged the fl oor May. Whether it’s for more than ultimately defeated, a 106-103 with one hand and bit the other one day will be decided in today’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in in pain. He would return to fi nish Game 7 against the Charlotte Game 6 off their rst-roundfi play- with 20 rebounds and 15 points. THornets at AmericanAirlines Arena. off series sending them home with Damian Lillard had 28 points Why? Because Dwyane Wade decided another unhappy ending. for the Trail Blazers, who set a so. Pushing the best-of-seven opening- They were right there, even franchise record with 14 three- round NBA playoff series to its limit, the without injured stars Chris Paul pointers. Heat pushed past the Hornets, 97-90, and Blake Griffi n, with posses- Portland had what looked like Friday night at Time Warner Cable Arena sion of the ball and facing only a a stranglehold on the game and after losing the previous three games in two-point defi cit. Then Clippers the series when Lillard drove into the series. guard Jamal Crawford missed a the paint and passed to C.J. Mc- And so two teams that fi nished with driving layup with 1.9 seconds Collum for a corner three-point- identical 48-34 regular-season records left, Portland’s Mason Plumlee er that gave the Trail Blazers a and then split their regular-season se- grabbed the rebound and was 101-95 lead. ries 2-2, now also have split the fi rst six fouled. It wasn’t over. The Clippers games of this series. Plumlee missed the fi rst free ripped off an 8-2 run to tie the After the Hornets made their road throw and made the second, al- score with 32 seconds left on breakthrough with their Game 5 victory, lowing the Clippers to inbound Crawford’s free throws, a prelude the Heat responded with arguably their the ball and set up some sem- to the fi rst dramatic ending in the best road eff ort since just after the All- blance of a fi nal shot. But Rivers’ series. Star break. attempt wasn’t close, cinching a “We’ve just been a little un- Ultimately, it came down to Wade out- result that had seemed inevitable lucky this season,” Jordan said duelling Hornets guard Kemba Walker since Paul and Griffi n went down at the morning shoot-around in down the stretch. in the second half of Game 4. what might be the understate- Wade led the Heat with 23 points, sup- “That team had more heart ment of the year. ported by 21 from Luol Deng, 14 from than any team I’ve ever seen,” The Clippers were down a Goran Dragic and 12 from Hassan White- Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. second point guard midway side, who closed with 12 points, fouling “It was amazing to coach them.” through the fi rst quarter when out midway through the fourth quarter. The Trail Blazers advanced to Austin Rivers took an inadvert- Walker, who had a key late shock play the Golden State Warriors in ent elbow to the face from Al- blocked by Wade, fi nished with 37 points, the Western Conference semifi - Farouq Aminu while fi ghting for supported by 18 from Al Jeff erson and 12 nals after prevailing, four games an off ensive rebound. Rivers’ eye from Cody Zeller. to two. The Clippers returned to gushed blood onto the court and Whiteside was forced to the bench Los Angeles to face another sum- he eventually retreated to the with foul trouble with 6:59 to play, after mer of uncertainty. locker room to have four stitches being called for his fi fth foul, with the Crawford fi nished with a play- on a cut above his eye and seven Heat up 83-76. off career-best 32 points and stitches on a cut below it. The Heat then extended their lead to Rivers gutted out 21 points after “I can’t really see out of it,” nine, but that’s when Walker responded Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat reacts after making a shot late in the fourth quarter against the Charlotte Hornets. requiring 11 stitches for two cuts Rivers said, his eye black and blue with a driving layup and, following a near his left eye. and nearly swollen shut. “We Heat turnover, a 3-pointer to draw Char- Jeff erson layup with 39.3 seconds to play, Results tering to defend Al Jeff erson and keep The Clippers nearly lost Jor- needed everybody out there.” lotte within 85-81 with 4:21 to play. drawing Charlotte within 93-90, only to Whiteside from picking up a third foul dan in the fi nal minutes when Short of bodies, their heart Whiteside then returned, retrieved a have Wade drain a jumper on the other Raptors ...... 83 Pacers ...... 101 before the end of the half. he stepped on Plumlee’s foot, was nearly enough. Josh Richardson miss and scored inside end. Heat ...... 97 Hornets...... 90 The Heat ended the second period with to push the Heat to an 87-81 lead. The Heat went into the fourth quar- Clippers ...... 103 Trail Blazers .... 106 Whiteside, Joe Johnson, Dragic, Josh Ri- That’s when Wade, facing an expir- ter up 75-70. That left Charlotte trying chardson and Winslow with two fouls. ANALYSIS ing shot clock, stepped up with his fi rst to win for the second time in the series, The Heat took a 27-24 lead into the 3-point conversion since December for a and second consecutive time, after trail- limited only by seven fi rst-half turnovers second period behind 11 fi rst-quarter 90-81 lead. ing entering the fourth quarter behind, as that Charlotte maximized into 14 points. points from Deng. The Hornets then got a free throw from they did in Game 5. There were 12 lead changes and 11 tie in The Heat, though, also had to sit Wh- Hire of Walton has a Walker, retained possession, and got a The game took a turn for the worse for the fi rst half. iteside late in that fi rst period, when he Walker 3-pointer to pull within 90-86. the Heat with 3:43 to play in the third, Walker had 15 fi rst-half points for picked up his second foul with 2:24 left in The foul on Walker forced Whiteside out when Whiteside was forced out with his Charlotte, with Zeller with 12, already the quarter. twist for the Lakers with his sixth foul. fourth foul as the Hornets trimmed what matching his career playoff high by half- Spoelstra again went with Josh A Dragic missed on one end and a had been a 13-point defi cit to three. That time, in only his second career double- McRoberts as his fi rst big man off the Walker layup on the other drew Charlotte had Heat coach Erik Spoelstra going with digit game. bench, sending him in when Whiteside front offi ce within 90-88 with 1:40 left. Udonis Haslem ahead of McRoberts. With Whiteside already with two was forced to the bench. The Heat then called time with 1:33 The Hornets then continue to work fouls, Dragic was forced out of the game But Spoelstra did alter his rotation Bill Plaschke, MCT 39-4 until Kerr returned. to play, still up two, with Wade probing through Jeff erson, showing the varied just 62 seconds into the second quarter amid the Heat’s early scoring struggles, Los Angeles “He’s one of the brightest until the Heat were called for a 24-sec- facets of their off ense, with Jeff erson for his second foul, while scrambling on utilizing Green as his fi rst wing off the young coaching minds in the ond violation after a 3-point airball from with 10 in the third period. the court for a defensive rebound. That bench, ahead of Winslow, who entered game and we feel fortunate that Deng. The Heat took a 59-50 lead into halft- had Spoelstra rushing Wade back into the late in the opening period. chant from the past has he’ll be leading the on-court fu- The Heat held on the other end, with ime, after Deng earlier had given them a game after minimal rest. The Hornets jumped to an early 18-11 become a cry for the fu- ture of our team,” said Kupchak. Walker missing a 17-foot jumper. 13-point lead on a corner 3-pointer. The result of the Heat’s foul issues put lead behind the play of Walker, who scored ture. “Luuuuuuuke.” All that is absolutely true. You Wade then again probed the defence Deng had 16 at the intermission, with the Hornets in the bonus with 6:47 left nine fi rst-quarter points, before the Heat A smart, selfl ess don’t win 91 percent of your through most of the shot clock before yet Wade with 13 to that point. in the second period, after a rebounding pushed back in front. The Heat had fi ve Abenchwarmer with two cham- games by simply putting a team another 3-pointer, one that put the Heat The Heat stood at 60 percent from the foul by Winslow. fi rst-quarter turnovers and at one point pionship rings as a player has in cruise control. Yes, once Kerr up 93-88 with 46 seconds left. fi eld at halftime, 4 of 5 on 3-pointers to The Heat were 10 deep by late in the early on were being outscored 10-0 by returned to that bench, only this showed up, the Warriors went Walker then executed for an assist for a that stage, with a 23-11 rebounding edge, second period, with Udonis Haslem en- Charlotte on points off turnovers. time in the main seat, the be- 34-5 en route to an NBA record loved working man from the last 73 wins, so Walton was obvi- glorious Lakers era charged with ously handed greatness. But he BOTTOMLINE hammering out a new one. knew what to do with greatness. “Luuuuuuuke.” He knew how to handle stars. He Is this cool, or what? A fan fa- was acting like a Lakers coach vourite who grew up on the Sta- long before he dreamed he’d be ples Center fl oor is coming home the Lakers coach. to command its sidelines. An av- True, Walton is only 36, and erage dude who went away to be- he’s only been an NBA assist- Lakers hire Walton as head coach come a coaching star is bringing ant for two seasons, and his last MCT Walton told the Los Angeles “We’re excited to bring Luke that star back to town in the hopes Lakers job was running their Los Angeles Times last November. “I told back to Los Angeles, where we he can revitalise with its glow. developmental league team. them early on that, look, it’s my feel he’s going to start an out- Luke Walton is the new coach But he showed during the fi rst responsibility to get on you guys standing coaching career,” Kup- of the Lakers, and one can already three months of this season, he’s he coaching search didn’t if we’re not playing to a certain chak said in a statement Friday. predict what the folks on Figueroa ready. And man, are the Lakers last long, the Los Angeles level, to get upset if it needs to “He’s one of the brightest young will be saying next season when ready for him. Lakers hiring one of their come to that. Obviously, that’s coaching minds in the game and Lawrence Tanter bellows out his It is believed that basketball own - Luke Walton. not the role I’ve had before but we feel fortunate that he’ll be name on opening night. boss Jim Buss relieved Scott of TA pass-fi rst role player who this is the situation our team is leading the on-court future of No, unlike the cries heard dur- his duties so suddenly Sunday won championships as a for- in so that’s kind of the direction our team.” ing the last two seasons, the two night because he realised he ward with the Lakers in 2009 this has to go. They were recep- Kupchak wasn’t the only one worst seasons in Lakers history, might lose Walton to another va- and 2010, Walton will try to turn tive to it.” praising Walton, who averaged those will defi nitely not be boos. cancy if he waited much longer. around the fortunes of a fran- Walton replaces Byron Scott, 4.9 points and 2.3 assists in nine In their most sensible coach- It is also believed that the Lakers chise that missed playoff s the who was not retained by the Lak- seasons with the Lakers. ing hire in the fi ve years since hired Walton without even inter- last three seasons. ers after winning only 38 games “He has all of the intangibles Phil Jackson left town, the Lak- viewing any other candidate, but He became a fan favourite after over the last two seasons, the two necessary to be an outstanding ers announced Friday they have who can blame them? being drafted in 2003, a second- worst in franchise history. head coach in this league, includ- pulled Walton away from his It’s a roll of the dice, but a round pick whose hustle and Lakers executives Mitch ing a terrifi c understanding of the assistant coaching job with the smart roll, and timely roll, one team-oriented mind-set led to Kupchak and Jim Buss inter- game (and) the ability to com- glittering Golden State Warriors that will probably be roundly mellifl uous “Luuuuke” cheers at viewed Walton in the Bay Area municate with a wide range of to replace Byron Scott less than a supported by most, although one Staples Center when the Lakers File picture of then Golden State Warriors interim head coach Luke on Thursday. He was believed to people,” Kerr said in a statement. week after Scott’s dismissal. notable guy isn’t going to like it. were championship contenders. Walton during the game against the Charlotte Hornets. be the only person they met with “He’s certainly ready for this op- Surprised it took them that Yeah, in a recent interview, Terms of his contract were not in person. The coaching search portunity and I’m confi dent he’ll long.“We’re excited to bring Bill Walton advised against his immediately known. The Lakers Golden State advanced to the rules _ Walton tied for eighth in lasted fi ve days, the Lakers do a great job with the Lakers once Luke back to Los Angeles, where son leaving Golden State for called it a multiyear deal. Western Conference semifi nals voting for NBA coach of the year. plucking Walton from among a our season is complete.” we feel he’s going to start an out- anybody. “Stay where he is, head Walton was an assistant coach after eliminating Houston on Kerr fi nished fi rst. crowded fi eld that included San Walton is a triangle disci- standing coaching career,” said coaching jobs are open for a rea- for two seasons with the Golden Wednesday. The Warriors made a point of Antonio Spurs assistant Ettore ple, familiar with the off ense in General Manager Mitch Kupchak son,” Walton said. “What he has State Warriors and guided them Walton was not available for honouring Walton as well, post- Messina and University of Con- which he spent seven years when in a statement. right now doesn’t get any bet- to a 39-4 record earlier this sea- comment Friday but a person ing photos to their website of necticut Coach Kevin Ollie. Phil Jackson coached the Lakers. Well, that’s not exactly true. ter than that. Money cannot buy son while Coach Steve Kerr re- familiar with his thinking said it Walton and Kerr jointly holding Walton is already known as It was not immediately clear if Walton actually started his out- what they have on the Warriors covered from two back surgeries. best: “Once you grab that clip- up the Red Auerbach trophy af- a players’ coach, one who can Walton would run the triangle as standing head coaching career right now.” The Warriors fi nished 73-9, set- board, it’s hard to give it up,” a ter a news conference earlier this relate to the modern-day NBA a head coach. this season while subbing for in- At that point the interviewer ting the mark for best regular- reference to Walton’s half-sea- week. athlete. This would be diff er- Jackson told the Los Angeles jured Warriors Coach Steve Kerr. asked, “Is he going to listen to season record in NBA history. son of success as interim coach. “Some of the good advice that ent from Scott, who employed a Times on Friday he was “happy You know what happened next. you?” Bill Walton replied, “Did Walton, 36, will stay with Even though he was not cred- Steve gave me when I took over “tough love” approach, publicly for Luke.” Under Walton the Warriors won you listen to our dad?” the Warriors through the play- ited with any of the victories was to just continue to be my- criticizing the Lakers’ young “He’s a natural _ was a coach on their fi rst 24 games - an NBA Glad you didn’t, Luuuuuuuke. off s before joining the Lakers. - they belong to Kerr, per NBA self _ be honest with the guys,” players. the fl oor as a player,” Jackson said. record - and wound up going Welcome home. Gulf Times Sunday, May 1, 2016 7 SPORT

NHL HERE’S THE PLAN First a break, then all Sharks rip Preds work for Rams’ Goff in series opener Ward played his best game of this season’s playoff s, assisting on a tying goal by Tomas Hertl and scoring go-ahead goal with 8:11 left in the third period

Rams’ coach Jeff Fisher (left) and quarterback Jared Goff .

MCT the Tennessee Titans. Los Angeles “So it ended up absolutely perfect for him,” Tollner said. The last time the Rams select- nce the whirlwind ends, ed a quarterback with the fi rst and after he’s able to get pick in the draft was 2010, when some sleep in his own they signed Sam Bradford to a bed, Jared Goff will re- six-year, $78-million contract. turnO all of his focus to football. Bradford did not sign until the That will begin next week eve of training camp in July. when the Los Angeles Rams hold Rookie salaries are now slot- a rookie orientation and mini- ted, so the Rams and Goff could camp for draftees and undrafted work out the terms of a deal free agents in Oxnard. much sooner, perhaps in the next In the meantime, the Rams’ week or two. new quarterback — “our fran- Last year, quarterback Jameis chise quarterback,” Coach Jeff Winston was selected No. 1 by Fisher said by way of introduc- the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The tion Friday — fi nished his initial day after the draft, he signed a media commitments by meeting four-year, $25.4-million deal with reporters at a downtown that included a $16.6-million Los Angeles hotel. signing bonus. The Rams selected Goff with Running back Todd Gurley, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft whom the Rams chose with the Thursday night. 10th pick last year, signed his He met family and friends for a rookie contract about 45 days af- late dinner Thursday night in Chi- ter he was selected. cago, experienced a TMZ moment Goff said he would adjust to the on a short walk from a car into his change in speed faced by all rook- hotel, and then traveled Friday ies who make the jump to the NFL. morning to Los Angeles. He played from a shotgun forma- “It’s been kind of nonstop since tion at California, but said he has I heard my name get called,” Goff since worked on taking snaps un- said after Friday’s news confer- der center. He also said he had ex- ence, reiterating that he was look- perience calling pass protections. ing forward to returning home to “Hopefully, I’ll get a playbook Northern California to decom- pretty soon here,” he said. press for a few days before prepar- The trade with the Titans cost ing for the rookie minicamp. the Rams their fi rst-round pick, The Rams traded up to the top two second-round picks, a third- of the draft to select Goff , a pas- round pick, and fi rst- and third- ser that General Manager Les round picks next year. They also Snead said gave the Rams “long- received the Titans’ fourth- and term stability” at one of the most sixth-round picks this year. Paul Martin #7 of the San Jose Sharks checks Viktor Arvidsson #38 of the Nashville Predators in to the boards in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round. important positions. So the Rams did not have any “But then when you step aside, picks in Friday’s second and MCT After taking a pass from Joonas Don- Results The Sharks went 11 for 14 (78.6 per- you go ‘Wow. We’re coming back third rounds. They will have two San Jose skoi, Ward came into the Predators zone, cent) on the penalty kill against the Kings to L.A. and there’s a move that fourth-round and two sixth- faked a wrist shot to freeze Predators Blues ...... 1 Stars ...... 2 to rank ninth out of 16 teams in the play- actually got buzz in this town,’” round picks Saturday. goalie Pekka Rinne, then held onto the Predators ...... 2 Sharks ...... 5 off s after one round. Snead said. “So there is a ‘cool’ The selection of Goff made he San Jose Sharks signed Joel puck long enough to tuck it in the net af- “Weber scored a goal and then (the factor there.” quarterbacks Case Keenum, Nick Ward as a free agent last off sea- ter Rinne went down to the ice. Ducks) changed their penalty kill up a lit- Bruce Tollner, one of Goff ’s Foles and Sean Mannion possible son for a handful of reasons. The Ward, who signed a three-year con- in the fi rst, sliding over to stop Viktor tle bit,” Sharks center Logan Couture said. agents, said his client felt good trade bait. Foles is the most likely biggest was because they knew tract with the Sharks last July, now has 41 Arvidsson’s wraparound attempt with “(Weber) has a big shot, Johansen likes to about the Rams even before they to be dealt for a possible pick dur- The could deliver the type of game he points in 59 career playoff games. his right pad. hold onto pucks and make plays and he executed the trade to No. 1 with ing or immediately after the draft. played Friday night. The Sharks couldn’t solve Rinne for the But Matt Nieto took an undisciplined shoots the puck well, too. So, we’re just go- Ward played his best game of this sea- fi rst two periods, but scored on their 27th tripping penalty just 2:45 into the second ing to stick to what we do and try to be bet- son’s playoff s, assisting on a tying goal by shot as Hertl scored from in close to tie the period, as he stuck his leg out and caught ter than their power play.” ANALYSIS Tomas Hertl and scoring go-ahead goal game 1-1 just 2:37 into the third period. the back of Colin Wilson’s leg nearly 200 Although home ice advantage may not with 8:11 left in the third period as the Mike Fisher and Ryan Johansen scored feet from the Sharks’ net. The Predators be hugely important in the NHL playoff s, Sharks beat the Nashville Predators 5-2 for the Predators, who were playing their took advantage, as Fisher took a pass winning the fi rst game has been of late. to take Game 1 of the Western Conference eighth game in 15 days after wrapping up from Ryan Johansen and beat Jones with In the fi rst round this year, the team Ducks fi re Boudreau, second round series at SAP Center. a seven game series win over the Anahe- a high wrist shot to the short side to take that won the fi rst game in each of the Logan Couture scored the winner on im Ducks on Wednesday. a 1-0 lead 4:33 into the second. eight series also won the round. In the the power play with 4:20 to go in the Rinne had a 10-5-4 record and a spar- The Sharks started to apply some con- fi rst two rounds of last season’s playoff s, but players don’t third period, then put things away with kling .945 save percentage and 1.80 sistent pressure after Fisher’s goal, but the winner of Game 1 went on to win the an empty net goal with 1:29 to go. Tommy goals against average in 20 career games Rinne stood tall. He made fi ve saves on a series nine of 12 times. Wingels also added an empty net goal, against the Sharks before Friday. He had San Jose power play that started less than Jones and Rinne showed they were escape the blame as the Sharks showed little rust after a won both of his starts against San Jose a minute after Fisher’s goal, and fi nished ready to play in the fi rst period, combin- week-long layoff following their rstfi this season, including a 28-save per- the fi rst two periods with 25 saves ing for 23 saves. Helene Elliott, MCT round series win over the Los Angeles formance on Feb. 6 in a 6-2 Predators The Sharks were looking to keep in Jones sparkled for the Sharks in their Los Angeles Kings. victory at Bridgestone Arena. check a Nashville power play that went 1 fi rst round win over Los Angeles, fi nish- Ward, who had four assists for the Sharks goalie Martin Jones had 12 saves for 26 in seven games against the Anahe- ing with a 2.18 goals against average and a Sharks in their fi rst round win over the in the fi rst 20 minutes, as he helped kill im Ducks. The Predators got a power play .912 save percentage in his fi rst fi ve games he common thread that Los Angeles Kings, put the Sharks ahead a Melker Karlsson tripping penalty mid- goal from Shea Weber in Game 2 against as a playoff starter. It also helped that he linked the Anaheim to stay scored one of the prettiest goals of way through the fi rst with two saves. He the Ducks, but came up empty in their Sharks allowed an average of just 25 shots Ducks’ latest Game the postseason to date. also made a nifty stop with 6:32 to go next 18 tries with the man advantage. per game to the Kings. 7 playoff exit to their GameT 7 loss last season and the season before that - and the sea- MLB son before that - was obvious. “It was almost the mental- ity was they weren’t going out to win, they were going out not to lose, and you can’t play hockey that way. You cannot,” General File picture of then Anaheim Manager Bob Murray said Friday. Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau. Padres thrash Dodgers, 5-1 “That’s just the group, and it was very disturbing to watch.” The Predators were fearless MCT scoreless innings. Results It was distressing enough and aggressive, correctly count- Los Angeles Wood matched Vargas with for him to fi re Coach Bruce ing on the Ducks becoming hesi- seven innings of one-run base- Padres ...... 5 Dodgers ...... 1 Boudreau, who had guided the tant. The Ducks lost this series ball. He struck out nine. A solo Royals ...... 0 Mariners ...... 1 Ducks from the pits of the Pacifi c when they came out fl at at home t 3:30pm on Friday af- home run by Yasmani Grandal Division to their fourth straight in Game 1 and didn’t compete ternoon, the Los An- in the sixth removed Wood from division title only to squander a hard enough in Game 6. geles Dodgers ushered the hook of a hard-luck loss. Puig grounded out on the fi rst 3-2 series lead and lose Game 7 They shouldn’t have put the media out of their Instead, Hatcher inherited that pitch he saw. at home for the fourth straight themselves in so precarious a clubhouseA and closed the doors. mantle. The hitters failed to make season. Murray, angrier over the position, not with a team full of After four losses in a row, all The Dodgers skidded into Fri- productive outs. Corey Seager way his team went out against world-class players, Olympic defeats marred by sloppiness, day. The group had just dropped led off the third with a double. the Nashville Predators than medalists, two Stanley Cup win- Manager Dave Roberts sought to four in a row to Miami. The of- He did not advance another over the loss itself, couldn’t let ners - Corey Perry and Ryan Get- reinforce the importance of the fense managed eight runs across foot, as Turner struck out on that pattern continue. zlaf - and others who had played game’s fundamentals. He made those 36 innings. a questionable call, Gonzalez “They weren’t ready to give in a Cup Final. There should the players laugh. He made the The team closed the clubhouse swung through a slider and Puig what the other team was ready to have been a sense of purpose and players cheer. to the media at 3:30pm. Manag- popped up. give. And that’s what the prob- calm determination. Leadership The doors opened a few min- er Dave Roberts held a meeting The hitters struggled to prop- lem is,” Murray said of his play- didn’t have to be yelled in a rah- utes later. to reinforce the importance of erly assess their limitations. ers. “I’d like to know where the rah speech - it could have come And nothing changed. fundamental baseball. The tone Grandal thumped a ball off the heck they were in Games 1 and by example and been just as ef- A team meeting cannot be of the meeting appeared light- wall to open the fourth. Trail- 2 (losses at home) ... . The play- fective, but that never happened. considered a cure-all, and the hearted: Laughter and applause ing by a run after an RBI single ers are going to have to answer It’s easier to fi re the coach result of Friday’s 5-1 loss to San could be heard emanating from by Melvin Upton, Jr., in the top that in the next four or fi ve days. than get rid of players, especially Diego served as proof. The of- the room as Roberts spoke. of the inning, Grandal decided Where were they? They showed those who have long, expensive fense was quieted by a career Padres’ Matt Kemp and Dodgers’ Yasmani Grandal watch the The doors re-opened, and lit- to test the right arm of Kemp. up for Game 7 but where was that contracts and no-move or no- minor-leaguer, wasting a stellar trajectory of Kemp’s towering three-run home run in the eighth. tle changed. In the fi rst four in- Kemp threw him out at second passion, the controlled emo- trade clauses. “I think the core outing by Alex Wood. The rick- nings alone, the lineup stranded base. tion? Where the heck was that? has to be held responsible and ety bullpen ignited at the hand of to former Dodger Matt Kemp in day. They could not solve Pa- seven runners. Grandal fi gured out a way to They’re going to have to be held they have to be better,” said Mur- Chris Hatcher, the group’s fore- the eighth. dres starter Cesar Vargas, who The hitters lacked patience. atone for the mistake in his next accountable too.” ray. “Maybe I haven’t been hard most arsonist this April. Hatcher With the loss, the Dodgers (12- debuted this season in double-A Ramos hit Justin Turner with at-bat. He hit the baseball over Good questions. Here’s an- enough on them in the last few decided the outcome when he 12) faded back to a .500 record and had only pitched four times two outs in the fi rst. He walked the fence. If only his teammates other: What if Boudreau wasn’t years, but they’re going to hear surrendered a three-run homer for the fi rst time since opening above that level, across 5 1/3 Adrian Gonzalez. Then Yasiel could do the same. their biggest problem? some diff erent words this time.” Gulf Times 8 Sunday, May 1, 2016 SPORT

RUGBY SPOTLIGHT Rio Olympics fall short in test events Hurricanes blow AFP generator so far to reduce costs. Rio With Brazil in the grips of a deep economic recession, about 20 percent of Rio 2016’s opera- ower cuts, faulty spot- tional budget was cut. lights, overheated It was also very hot on the swimming pools and in- lower levels of the aquatics sta- suffi cient air condition- dium, which became a sauna of away Golden Lions Ping were among the problems sorts. plaguing key test runs at the Rio “Temperatures during the Olympics facilities, highlight- Games will be completely diff er- ‘Lions problems began at the first scrum and continued at the breakdowns’ ing persistent challenges three ent, since it will be (the Southern months before opening day. Hemisphere’s) winter.” But the international gym- Temperatures average 25 de- nastics, swimming and shooting grees Celsius (77 Fahrenheit) in sports federations, along with August in Rio, down from 30 in the Rio 2016 organising com- this unusually warm month of mittee, insist that the test events April. “went well overall,” and that “The stadium is completely everything will be ready for the covered, and it’s important to Games. have artifi cial ventilation on the Gymnastics: Andre Gueis- lower levels,” FINA swimming buhler, who heads the Interna- federation executive Cornel tional Federation of Gymnastics Marculescu told AFP. (FIG), said fi ve power outages “We spoke with Rio’s Mayor lasting 15-90 minutes caused Eduardo Paes, who told us he delays in both training and com- would work on it. We will keep petition. a look, come here, stay in touch One of the outages that took with organisers.” place during training “endan- In fact, negotiations are un- gered the safety of athletes,” he derway, with the mayor’s offi ce added, without providing fur- intent on controlling its budget ther details. and refusing to fi nance addi- Another took place just before tional equipment. the French and Belgian women’s : “I chose artistic gymnastics rotated. to arrive early enough to train “I never saw a delay like that properly, but I was disappointed in the European or world cham- because the shooting range is pionships,” said a member of the not completed and installations French delegation. are not totally ready either,” said “In the end, the girls made a disappointed Delphine Reau, a it out okay, but it’s really a pain double-medallist for France. when the training is timed and The ISSF federation for you’ve set an entry at a specifi c shootings sports listed problems time in your mind and body.” with organisers, pointing to “in- The outage was due to a ca- complete constructions, lacking ble that broke due to construc- air conditioning and lighting tion around the site, Rio 2016 problems,” its secretary general sports director Rodrigo Garcia Franz Schreiber told AFP. explained. Nonetheless, a new world Swimming: The day of the record was set in 3x40 men’s ri- 50-meter freestyle swimming fl e shooting. competition fi nal, which saw “There was no air condition- Brazilian star Cesar Cielo elimi- ing, and we all suff ered in the nated, an outage with projectors heat of Deodoro” Olympic Park,” triggered a nearly hourlong de- Brazilian shooter Felipe Wu told lay. Similar electricity problems the Globoesporte sports website. had already taken place during “A Chinese Olympic cham- Lions South African prop Armand van der Merwe (2nd L) is tackled by Hurricanes New Zealand prop Jeff ery Toomaga-Allen (2nd R) during the Super Rugby clash at Ellis Park diving competitions in February. pion (Du Li) wasn’t able to fi n- rugby stadium on April 30, 2016 in Johannesburg. (AFP) An overheated generator was ish the competition. She got sick blamed. and dizzy, and they had to take AFP place. Despite being over- dominance for the Hurricanes.” A Jane try was converted teams struggled with that, but “The risk of this happening her away in an ambulance,” Wu Johannesburg whelmed, the Lions stayed top Wingers Cory Jane and Ju- by Barrett, who also kicked a our set piece dominated tonight again during the Games is zero, said. “But such things happen. of the Africa 2 standings, fi ve lian Savea scored two tries each penalty for a 24-0 lead after 27 and we got the win. because we will have a dual pow- For a test event, it’s better to get points above fellow South Afri- and centres Matt Proctor and minutes. Van der Merwe scored “Overall we’re tracking in the er feed system, Garcia said, add- it wrong now so that everything magnifi cent fi rst half can side the Coastal Sharks. Vince Aso and prop Reg Goodes a try off a driving maul for the right direction, but we just want ing that there has only been one can go well later.” performance by the Hurricanes’ dominated the one for the 2015 Super Rugby Lions only for the Wellington to build some momentum now.” Wellington Hurri- breakdowns and scrums during runners-up. Fly-half Beauden outfi t to cross the try-line twice Scrumhalf Nick Frisby put his canes set up a 50-17 the fi rst half and were helped by Barrett gave a near fl awless goal more before half-time via Jane hand up for Wallaby selection routA of the Golden Lions yester- two gift tries after Lions’ passes kicking exhibition, slotting six and Goodes with Barrett con- with an outstanding display Fu , Selby level aft er marathon frame day in a Super Rugby round 10 were intercepted. conversions and a penalty from verting the fi rst. that included two tries, while Hong Kong’s Marco Fu found himself all square at 12-12 with Mark match in Johannesburg. Former Springboks cum TV eight shots. Mapoe and Kriel tries nar- number eight Curtis Brown- Selby in their World Championship semi-final after losing a mara- The New Zealanders scored analysts were unanimous in Hooker Armand ‘Akker’ rowed the gap to 36-17 before ing scored the Reds’ other fi ve- thon 24th frame yesterday. fi ve tries before half-time to their praise of the Hurricanes, van der Merwe, centre Lionel the Hurricanes stamped their pointer. However, for the fi rst Both Selby, world champion in 2014, and Fu struggled to hit top turn 36-5 ahead and after a spell who have won six of seven Mapoe and fl anker Jaco Kriel authority again and Aso and 40 minutes the Cheetahs were form in a stamina-sapping morning session after resuming at 8-8 of second half dominance by the matches since a two-loss start scored a try each for the Lions Savea scored converted tries. the better team, dominating at Sheff ield’s Crucible Theatre in northern England. The 24th frame South Africans, the visitors fi n- to the season. and fl y-half Elton Jantjies slot- both possession and territory. alone lasted one hour, 16 minutes and 11 seconds, the longest in ished strongly. “It was an absolutely clinical ted one conversion. Reds hold on to The Reds were their own Crucible history, topping the record of one hour and 15 minutes Hurricanes succeeded on an performance by the Hurricanes Jantjies, favourite to be the beat Cheetahs worst enemies in the fi rst half set by Stephen Maguire and Mark King in a 2009 second-round Ellis Park stadium pitch that and the Lions faced an impos- South Africa in a The Queensland Reds re- with a host of dropped balls and match. Selby and Fu spent 22 minutes on the final yellow before the cut up badly in places, forcing sible task after turning over 31 three-Test home series against corded their second win of the some ill-discipline that saw in- Englishman eventually gained the upper hand and won the frame ground staff to intervene during points behind,” said 1995 Rugby Ireland during June, was be- season when they beat the Cen- side centre Anthony Fainga’a 73-43. World Snooker initially said the frame had lasted one hour, the match and make temporary World Cup-winning fl y-half low par and retired injured on tral Cheetahs of South Africa shown a yellow card for foul 14 minutes and 32 seconds -- 28 seconds short of the record—but repairs. Joel Stransky. 55 minutes. After early Lions’ 30-17 in their. play. After both sides traded then added a toilet break taken by Selby should have been included It was the Hurricanes’ second “Lions problems began at the pressure, the fl oodgates opened After the two teams were early penalties, the Cheetahs in the total time. A re-rack was also not counted in the off icial time, biggest win of the season after a fi rst scrum and continued at the on 11 minutes when superb han- locked together 10-10 at halft- crossed for the fi rst try when with the Selby and Fu opting to start again after they became 35-point drubbing of Australian breakdowns. It was a very poor dling between backs and for- ime, the Reds lifted in the sec- lock Uzair Cassiem scored bogged down four minutes into the frame. Long though it was, side the Western Force and the showing by them,” said Naas ward sent Savea over and Bar- ond period to run out comfort- from a rolling maul.The visitors Sunday’s frame was still short of the world record of one hour, 40 Lions’ heaviest defeat. Botha, another former South rett converted. able winners. “It was pretty looked certain to take their lead minutes and 24 seconds set by Scotland’s Alan McManus and Eng- Winning with a bonus point Africa playmaker. Proctor intercepted a careless scrappy out there with the into the break but right on half- land’s Bary Pinches at October’s Ruhr Open in Germany. thanks to a 7-3 try count, the Former Springboks coach pass from Lions skipper and No. humidity, but obviously we’re time the Reds’ dominant scrum No Asian player has yet been crowned world snooker champion but Hurricanes stayed third in the Nick Mallett said: “The Lions 8 Warren Whiteley to dot down pretty happy,” Queensland cap- won a tighthead on the Chee- an all-Far East final is a possibility this year, with Fu in one semi-final New Zealand conference and were played off the park with unopposed and Barrett added tain James Slipper said. tahs’ line and Browning crashed and China’s Ding Junhui playing McManus in the other. on course for a quarter-fi nals the breakdown a key area of the extra points again. “It was a slippery ball. Both over to level the scores.

EMIR CUP VOLLEYBALL

Al Sadd (L) defeated Al Wakrah 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-16) in the pre-quarter-finals of the Emir Cup Volleyball yesterday. In the second match of the day, Shamal (R) defeated Ahli 3-1 (25-18, 25-21, 21-25, 25-23). Shamal will meet El Jaish, while Sadd will take on Al Rayyan in the quarter-finals. PICTURES: Jayaram Gulf Times Sunday, May 1, 2016 9 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS Will McGregor’s absence hurt UFC Leicester City: from 200? It’s debatable unloved underdogs to favourite puppy

Leicester have injected the one ingredient that has been missing from English File picture of Conor McGregor entering the octagon. football since the ‘Big Five’ created the Premier League in 1992: uncertainty Josh Gross, The Guardian said during an a press conference London at Madison Square Garden this Kevin Mitchell, The Guardian week. “Now I’m here today with London no injuries ready to turn around e were told a re- and fi ght for you guys at UFC match would head- 200. That was a win in every way. very dog has his day,” is one of line UFC 200 on 9 “I did a mature move. I fought those patronising remarks bores July in Las Vegas. really smooth. Fifteen months in pubs reserve for teams or in- WNow we know which one. off and I was punched twice. You dividuals who supposedly do not When Conor McGregor feigned guys will see a real can of whoop- knowE their place. “Take Leicester City …” retirement and baulked at a three- ass when I fi ght DC.” goes the refrain. city press tour for his second By repositioning the lineup There is no doubt they are the dogs of fi ght against Nate Diaz, the UFC after McGregor hit pause on a re- this day and a few more to come in the did what it told him it would do. match he begged for, Zuff a, UFC’s Champions League next season, where It treated McGregor, the “No- parent company, countered with they will start at 100-1, according to torious” one, like any ordinary a showcase of its nimble roster’s most bookmakers. Leicester, whose best fi ghter and cast him to the bench. vast quality and depth. The mag- top-fl ight fi nish in 118 years was second On Good Morning America on netic McGregor and Diaz appear in 1929, were 5,000-1 to win the Premier Wednesday, UFC president Dana unlikely to make the date now League at the start of the season but they White attempted to move on. (even as a co-main), yet UFC are now everybody’s favourite adopted In place of Diaz-McGregor 2, 200 nonetheless presents itself puppy, it seems. which would have generated mas- among combat sports premiere Not only are they winning with the sort sive public interest, the card’s events of the year. of commanding elan rarely seen before at main event will feature Daniel Either way, it seems Zuff a the club, but they are turning an entire Cormier defending the UFC light wins. (This is presuming their sporting culture upside down. That is the title against the man cards remain intact, and that’s underlying reason for their popularity. it really belongs to, . never a sure thing.) They are not Manchester United, Man- Jones’s fi ghting skills – and Without the strong Diaz- chester City, or Chelsea, or Arsenal, or the animosity between him and McGregor hook, however, casual Liverpool or, dare I say it, Tottenham. Cormier – gives the fi ght some MMA watchers, who delivered While the tale of their ownership and appeal, but there’s no over- 1.5m pay-per-view buys for the management is a complicated one, on the whelming demand for the con- contest in March, are left sifting pitch Leicester have bloodied posh noses test. Not like Nate and Conor. through the rubble of a blown- on a weekly basis. This is a fresh narra- In the aftermath of Jones’ win up spectacle. Zuff a could lose tive, too long in coming and all the more in January 2015, few people lob- millions of dollars by keeping welcome for that. bied for an immediate rematch McGregor and his Irish horde Leicester have injected the one ingre- since the gap between Jones and from descending on Las Vegas. dient that has been missing from Eng- Cormier looked so wide. But then again, the promoter lish football since the “Big Five” created Off ering constant reminders may have gotten away lucky. the Premier League in 1992: uncertainty. that Cormier is an inferior fi ght- UFC 200, a huge event, will do They have become universally acclaimed er, Jones hasn’t let the current very well, and Zuff a is positioned gatecrashers. Everyone loves an upset. “champion” off easy in the me- to sell McGregor’s attempt at What a glorious journey Claudio Rani- dia. Any reason to believe Corm- vengeance against Diaz at a lat- eri’s team have had: from irrelevant out- File picture of Leicester’s Jamie Vardy celebrates with team mates at the end of the match against Sunderland. ier has a better chance at beating er date. White said if he had his siders to the point where they will win Jones now centers on his im- way UFC 201, 202 or 203 would the title if they beat the remnants of the perfection as anyone is allowed to get. es they have kept 12 clean sheets. won 2-1 and lost the fi nal to Arsenal – provement and success against host a McGregor fi ght, giving once dominant Manchester United at Old It was their biggest win of a remarkable To put their achievement in an his- 1-0, of course. The competition that year Anthony Johnson and Alexander an automatic boost to an event Traff ord on Sunday afternoon. It would season, a nerveless performance, exqui- torical context, only nine managers in featured the usual upstarts, but old, rich Gustafsson. that didn’t have a catchy round close the most pleasing circle. sitely timed. the 117-year history of league football in faces bossed the league, and there was Cormier is better today than number on the poster. It did not look promising in Leicester’s When they have drawn or lost this England have won the top division’s title widespread resignation that this was the he was against Jones the fi rst McGregor creates his own second match under the Italian, when season, Leicester have invariably come at the fi rst attempt. way it would remain. time. That’s undeniable. gravity, and fans are well within they drew 1-1 with Mansfi eld Town in back to win next time, the sign of a se- two years ago at Manchester City was Strachan smiled as he contemplated The pair nearly had the chance their rights to be upset about front of 4,273 fans in a friendly at the One riously good team. They beat Bury 4-1 the last – but he had more money at his the hegemony in the game at that time. to sort this out last weekend at missing him on 9 July. The UFC Call Stadium on 21 July last year. Nobody in the Capital One Cup after drawing disposal than George Osborne. In their “You’ve got Man United, Arsenal and UFC 197. Instead, following 15 promoted something epic and a much noticed when Jamie Vardy came on 1-1 with Spurs; when they could only time, so did the previous debutant win- then you’ve got Newcastle, Chelsea this self-infl icted months off dur- rematch with Diaz would have just past the hour alongside Leo Ulloa, draw at Bournemouth they rebounded ners: Matt McQueen (Liverpool, 1923); year. Then you’ve got Liverpool after ing the prime of his career, Jones qualifi ed. neither of them able to crack the home to come from 2-0 down to beat Villa 3-2; Joe Shaw (Arsenal, 1935), Tom Whittaker that. None of these others are really go- returned to the cage by winning When Diaz was announced team’s defence. It was one of those “so- Stoke City forced a draw next match – (Arsenal, 1948), (Liverpool, ing to be able to get anywhere near that. I a decision from the slow lane as McGregor’s opponent in what” afternoons. There would be no and Leicester immediately took it out on 1984), (Liverpool, 1986), think you can pop your head into the top against Ovince Saint Preux, who March for UFC 196, their hast- more of them for the rest of the season. West Ham; Arsenal trounced them 5-2 José Mourinho (Chelsea, 2005), Carlo six every now and then. But, on a perma- accepted the diffi cult task of re- ily arranged press conference Last Sunday, Ulloa stepped in for the in what many thought was the end of Ancelotti (Chelsea, 2010). nent basis, I don’t think those top sides placing an injured Cormier on pulled over 360,000 views on brilliant but banned Vardy to help secure their fairytale, and they returned to beat Those managers were in charge of will be overtaken in the next 10 years.” It’s three weeks’ notice. YouTube. Wednesday’s UFC 200 a 4-0 win over Swansea that put Leices- Norwich 2-1; when Southampton got a relative giants; Ranieri – who gave way taken 13 years for Leicester to disturb the Jones faced unfair criticism press conference with Jones and ter within one win of the prize. And draw, Leicester responded with a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge for the fi rst incarna- old order. Strachan wasn’t that far out. about his performance against Cormier at Madison Square Gar- Ranieri, the Tinkerman who had been over Crystal Palace; Manchester United tion of Mourinho – has moulded winners This week, more than 6,000 Leicester OSP. But that ignores the reality den registered just over 33,000. restrained in his selections all season, drew 1-1 at the King Power Stadium, and from losers, a team probably less loved in Mercury readers, 54% of those polled, that he wasn’t hit, he was rusty, That says plenty. tinkered elsewhere: on to the bench went Leicester went to Swansea and won 3-0. that city than their imperious rugby rep- reckoned their team would wrap up the he broke his opponent’s arm, It’s too soon to know whether Marc Albrighton, who had started in 33 Even when Leicester hit a proper dip – resentatives. title on Sunday afternoon; 39% said they and he displayed his big smile on skipping media duties in Iceland, of 34 league games, and in came Jeff rey one win in seven matches between Box- I remember a conversation I had with might not beat United but would fi nish Good Morning America after be- as other champions and top- Schlupp – who provided the ammunition ing Day and their 2-0 loss to Tottenham in 2003, when he was the job over the concluding two matches. ing announced as part of the UFC fl ight competitors took the time for Ulloa’s second and the team’s third. in the FA Cup three weeks later – they got managing Southampton and they were Many thousands of non-Spurs fans will 200 main event. to travel to Las Vegas last week When Albrighton reappeared, he stuck in up again. Only Arsenal have beaten them just about to play in the FA Cup semi- be pulling for them. Has there ever been Not bad. for press obligations, was smart the fourth. That is as near to managerial in 13 games since. In their past 17 match- fi nal against Watford at Villa Park. They a dog more loved? “I fought really smart,” Jones or rash on McGregor’s part.

BOTTOMLINE Hamilton must recover his Formula 1 focus

Richard Williams, The Guardian against Rosberg by taking six of the last caught up in a fi rst-lap collision, which in-season testing was banned, the London seven races. By comparison, last year left him requiring a new front wing and drivers now have a large amount of time was a cakewalk. He won 10 of the fi rst 17 caused further residual damage. on their hands between race meetings. races before Rosberg closed the season Sometimes he gives the impression Lewis, we know, has spent much of it ewis Hamilton made his fi rst with a hat-trick after the destiny of the that if he had the choice of being Lewis pursuing his interest in music, particu- appearance in the Sunday Times championship had been settled. Hamilton or Jay Z, he’d choose the latter larly since he established a base in the Rich List this week, a current Rosberg is a fi ne driver and there are Those costly bad starts led to sug- US. Sometimes he gives the impression fortune estimated at £106m times when he looks better attuned gestions that Hamilton is adapting less that if he had the choice of being Lewis Ltaking him into the ranks of Britain’s than Hamilton to the relentless techni- easily than Rosberg to a new type of Hamilton or Jay Z, he’d choose the lat- wealthiest 1,000 people. He is pretty cal demands made of today’s drivers. manual clutch operation used to get the ter. And the work schedule of the mod- much at the back of the grid, 902 places He is also hungry for a fi rst world title. two Mercedes cars off the line. A poor ern grand prix driver gives him plenty and approximately £3.1bn below Sir Few people, however, would claim that start often leads to a chain of problems. of time, between visits to the Mercedes Philip and Lady Green, but still. he is the equal of his teammate in terms As champions from Fangio through simulator, to pursue that interest in his If that were not enough to confi rm of raw speed. So there must be some Clark to Schumacher knew, the safest own custom-built recording studio. his arrival among the elite, on Tuesday reason for Hamilton’s current eclipse, place to be is always at the front. “Here I can be me,” he said while he attended a party in New York given in which the Englishman has started But the most tempting explanation for giving an American TV interviewer a for the 100 people nominated by Time the new season by fi nishing second in Hamilton’s puzzlingly indiff erent per- preview of his forthcoming album a magazine as the most infl uential on the Melbourne, third in Bahrain and sev- formances over the past half-dozen races little while ago. Has he ever been able planet. One of only fi ve of the 100 who enth in Shanghai. is that on the morning after a victory in to say the same thing of the Formula were chosen to give a speech to the as- You can point to the small pieces of the Austin GP last October gave him his One paddock? For all his success, the sembled company, he was also pleased misfortune. After starting from pole third world title and brought him level mixed-race background that gave him a by the reception he received when his File picture of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team’s British driver Lewis Hamilton. position at Albert Park, he was forced with his hero Ayrton Senna, Hamilton special kind of marketability also made face appeared on the big screen. wide in the fi rst corner and dropped took his foot off the throttle. He would him something of an outsider among a He arrived in Sochi for this week- – a losing streak that demands analysis, fellow Mercedes driver and although from fi rst to sixth place. On pole again never admit it, of course. They never do. group of peers who, like Rosberg, gen- end’s Russian Grand Prix sounding re- given the advantages he enjoys. there are still 18 races to go he is fi rmly in Bahrain, he was beaten off the line by But sometimes it happens, even in the erally embody the traditional image of laxed and talking about how much he With by far the fastest car in the cur- on the back foot and urgently requiring Rosberg and then hit by another car, in- highly professional, super-competitive the European grand prix ace. had enjoyed doing a bit of child-mind- rent Formula One fi eld at his disposal, a change of fortune. fl icting damage that handicapped him world of Formula One. Now, before a long season gets much ing for members of his family in recent the reigning world champion has lost Two seasons ago Hamilton took his for the rest of the race. In Shanghai the Perhaps Hamilton’s problem has dif- older, he needs to readjust his priorities days. You would never have guessed all six of those races to Nico Rosberg, second championship, and his fi rst as penalties imposed for changing his en- ferent and less easily defi nable roots. A and prove that he is still the master of that two weeks ago he failed to win a the man he beat to the title in 2014 and a Mercedes driver, in the fi nal round in gine and gearbox meant that he start- friend with a close interest in Formula the other attributes that made him an grand prix for the sixth time on the spin 2015. He stands 36 points behind his Abu Dhabi, having clawed his way back ed from the back of the grid and was One pointed out this week that since exceptional champion. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, May 1, 2016 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT LPGA Piller grabs lead at weather-hit Ryder captains Texas Shootout hope Woods can make US team ‘Anytime Tiger plays in a tournament, he makes it even more special. With his record as a player, he’s one of the best players ever to play our sport. If he was to make the American team, I think it would be wonderful’

Reuters New York

nited States Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III says he will cheer on assistant captain Tiger Woods to give him reason to put him on Gerina Piller watches her tee shot on the third hole during the theU team as a player once the former world second round of the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout at Las number one returns to competition. Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas. Speculation has been mounting that 14-times major champion Woods could AFP it’s benefi ts as well. soon be returning to competitive golf after “The course is actually in soft a long layoff recovering from back prob- conditions so that always helps lems. to get the ball to stop,” Piller said. “He wants to be there and wants to be erina Piller tapped in for But accurate shots into the part of the team,” Love told Reuters in an birdie at the fi nal hole greens remained crucial, she interview promoting the next Ryder Cup, on Friday to take a one- said. which starts on Sept. 30 at Minnesota’s shot second-round lead “These greens are pretty Hazeltine course. Gin the weather-disrupted LPGA tricky. So getting it close is defi - “When he starts playing, he’s gonna try Texas Shootout in Dallas, Texas. nitely huge out here because the to show off for the captain and show that The American landed her ap- greens, some of them are pretty he can play. We’d love to have him in both proach at 18 two feet from the big, and some of the breaks you roles as a playing, assistant captain.” pin and rolled in the putt for her can get pretty fast putts going Woods, 40, last played competitively sixth birdie of a bogey-free day. downhill down grain, and you in August and has plunged to 499 in the Her 10-under total of 132 gave can also get really slow putts go- world rankings. her a one-shot lead over South ing the opposite way,” Piller said. Woods’ fellow Ryder Cup assistant Korean Ji Eun-Hee, who had six “It defi nitely helps to be hit- Jim Furyk will be returning from a nearly birdies and a bogey in her 66 for ting it really well.” eighth-month injury absence when he 133. Ji opened the second round tees it up next week in the Wells Fargo Overnight leader Hur Mi-Jung with a bogey at the par-fi ve 10th. Championship in Charlotte, North Caro- of South Korea had three birdies She bounced back with birdies at lina and would also love to play in the Cup in her fi rst 12 holes and was alone 14 and 18, then birdied four more matches. in third place at eight-under coming home, including the par- “They (both) want to be on that team with six holes remaining when four ninth to cap her round. and bring their golf clubs,” Love said. play was suspended for the day. “Yeah, I was sleeping there,” “We’re looking forward to Tiger getting The storms rolled in at Las The 2009 US Open champion back on tour and getting some points.” Colinas in the Dallas suburb of said of her three-putt opening Even European team captain Darren Irving with all 24 of the after- bogey. “But the greens were a lot Clarke would be happy to see his friend noon groups still on the course. faster than yesterday because I Woods competing at Hazeltine. Piller, a native of nearby Fort played in the afternoon yester- “I’d like to see Tiger on the team,” Worth, was pleased to complete day. I just fi gured out the putting Clarke interjected. her round before the weather hit. speed—it was better after that.” “Anytime Tiger plays in a tournament, “You know, it’s one of those Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn he makes it even more special. With his things where you just go out got off to an even slower start, record as a player, he’s one of the best there and go OK, this could be my opening with three straight bo- players ever to play our sport. If he was to last hole before the delay,” Piller geys before posting six birdies make the American team, I think it would said of playing on a day on which and an eagle at the par-fi ve 10th be wonderful.” the forecast was grim. to sign for a 66 that put her in Meanwhile, media speculation that However, the rainy week had fourth place on seven-under 135. Woods would make his PGA Tour return at next week’s Wells Fargo Champion- ship proved false when his name was not ZURICH CLASSIC included in the offi cial fi eld for the event after Friday’s deadline. Players had until 5 p.m. ET (2100 GMT) to register for the May 5-8 tournament at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina and Woods was a conspicuous absentee when the PGA Tour eventually released Lovemark, the full fi eld. A few hours earlier on the opposite side of the country, Woods gave a strong indi- cation that even he did not know when he would be making his competitive come- Vegas set back as he continues his recovery from back surgeries. On the fi rst day of his annual ‘Tiger Jam’ in Las Vegas, the former world number one hosted a golf clinic where he answered early pace a few questions from those attending. Asked when he would make his PGA File photo of Tiger Woods celebrating after his two-stroke victory at the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Doral, Florida on Reuters The 28-year-old Lovemark Tour return, Woods replied: “Dude, if I March 10, 2013. New Orleans racked up seven birdies knew, I would tell you. I’m sick of being on and a lone bogey to fi nish the sidelines ... I want to compete against paign, but he has ramped up his practice but his manager Mark Steinberg said last again, which is frustrating to say. But to be level with Jhonattan Vegas these boys. I miss it.” routine in recent weeks while at home in week there was “nothing new to report” honest with you, that’s what I’ve had to merican Jamie Love- of Venezuela, who followed The 14-times major champion has not Florida. with regard to a timetable. do. I’ve had to go with that mindset. mark produced siz- his opening 64 with a 69 competed anywhere since he tied for 10th Some analysts had suggested that On Monday, that was confi rmed by “I still have a long way to go. I’m on the zling form on the at the Wyndham Championship in August Woods could make his PGA Tour return Woods on his website when he said: “I back side ... getting closer to feeling better greens as he charged his form after having to play 27 as back surgeries then curtailed his cam- as early as the Wells Fargo Championship, haven’t set any date for when I’m playing every day.” Ainto a tie for the lead midway holes on Friday. through the second round of the “Most everything has been weather-disrupted Zurich Clas- pretty decent,” he told Golf BOTTOMLINE sic of New Orleans on Friday. Channel after a round high- Seeking his fi rst victory on lighted by birdie putts from 28 the PGA Tour, Lovemark ended feet at the fourth and 18 feet at a marathon day of golf by fi ring a the 16th. six-under-par 66 on a rain-sof- “I’m putting nice, aggressive tened layout at the TPC Louisi- off the tee, driving it well, try- ana to post an 11-under total of ing to kind of work my irons a Denmark’s Bjerregaard joins 133. little bit, and that’s something The 28-year-old Californian new for me. It’s all a process and racked up seven birdies and a slowly improving.” lone bogey to fi nish level with Lovemark’s best PGA Tour Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela, fi nish was a runner-up spot at Aguilar to lead China Open who followed his opening 64 the 2009 Frys.com Open but with a 69. this season has been his most AFP rently ranked 134 in the world— titles to his name but is hopeful Tyrrell Hatton and Sweden’s Harold Varner III (67) was at consistent since he turned pro- Beijing would be his fi rst on the Euro- for a victory in the China tour- Alex Noren. eight under, one stroke better fessional seven years ago and in- pean Tour. nament after making just one of Hatton managed a 67 after than fellow American Patton cludes four top-10s in 15 starts. He finished second at last his previous seven cuts. a trio of birdies on the last four Kizzire (70) and South Africa’s “I’ve had a pretty decent sea- enmark’s Lucas Bjer- season’s UBS Hong Kong Open, The 41-year-old managed six and an eagle on the eighth, while Thomas Aiken (69). son, just keep doing what I’m regaard joined Chil- losing by just one shot after a birdies in the round, dropping Noren racked up a score of 68 -- However, half the fi eld will doing,” he said. “I know obvi- ean Felipea Aguilar at two-horse race with English- his only shot of the day on the recovering from a double-bogey have to complete the second ously it works well. I’ve just got the top of the leader- man Justin Rose in the final par-3 13th. Belgium’s Nicolas on the fi fth by also eagling the round on Saturday after nearly to believe in myself and keep boardD after the third round of round. Colsaerts, who won the event in eighth. fi ve hours of play was wiped out pushing through.” the Volvo China Open in Beijing on the par-4 third, followed by World number 477 Aguilar, 2011 at Luxehills International South Korean Kim Tae-Hoon, by thunderstorms on Thursday, England’s world number 10 yesterday, boosting his chances four birdies on the back nine to who started the day with a one Country Club, also impressed, who surged 50 places up the lea- and those late starters include Justin Rose, who claimed last of securing a fi rst European Tour card a seven-under par 65 and shot lead, recorded a fi ve un- carding 65 after a bogey-free derboard in the second round Australian world number one year’s Zurich Classic title by one win. an overall score of 200 at the der par 67 to remain at the top round. An overall total of 202 with an impressive 64, including Jason Day who opened with a shot, was likely to miss the cut The 24 year-old began the Topwin Golf and Country Club. alongside Bjerregaard. The puts him alongside home fa- a hole-in-one on the 177-yard 69. after carding successive 72s for a round on top form with an eagle A win for Bjerregaard—cur- Chilean has two European Tour vourite Li Haotong, Englishman 13th, fell back again with 72. Lovemark was delighted with level-par total of 144. Gulf Times Sunday, May 1, 2016 11 SPORT

TENNIS Murray insists Djokovic can be beaten

AFP of 49 clay-court titles. they’ll move into the net a bit Madrid Nadal will be eager to claim earlier and put him under pres- his 50th on home soil having sure. reached the fi nal in Madrid in six “However he has the ability to orld number one of the past seven years, although make shots from everywhere so Novak Djokovic re- he was comprehensively beaten it doesn’t always work. turns to the Madrid by Andy Murray as the Briton “It’s good to have multiple Masters for the fi rst claimed his fi rst Masters title on game plans against him, if one Wtime in three years, aiming to clay in last year’s fi nal. isn’t working you can switch to forget his blip at the Monte Carlo Murray has had an inconsist- something diff erent, it’s impor- Masters with a strong challenge ent season as he has dealt with tant to keep him guessing and expected from a resurgent Rafael the extra burden of becoming a make him as uncomfortable as Nadal. father for the fi rst time in Febru- possible.” Djokovic was stunned in his ary. Djokovic, Nadal and Murray opening match in Monte Carlo Yet, despite Djokovic’s domi- will be joined by Roger Federer in by the unheralded Czech Jiri nance over the past year, Murray the Spanish capital. Vesely, to lose for the fi rst time believes the 11-time Grand Slam The 17-time Grand Slam in 2016 other than when he was champion can be stopped in the champion had initially planned forced to retire with an eye in- tournament that starts today. to skip Madrid to reserve his fection against Feliciano Lopez “Everyone and anyone can be energy for the three remaining in Dubai back in February. beaten, but at the moment No- Grand Slams and Rio Olympics The Serb’s absence cleared the vak’s consistency is making him later in the year. way for Nadal to land his fi rst just that little bit harder to beat,” However, the Swiss’s plans Masters title in nearly two years said Murray. have changed having missed and the Spaniard extended his “He has incredibly consist- nearly three months of the sea- perfect start to the European ent ground strokes, so he likes to son due to knee surgery, includ- clay-court season by claiming a draw the points out. I think more ing the Masters series events in ninth Barcelona Open last week and more guys are trying to make Indian Wells and Miami. to equal Guillermo Vilas’s record the points against him shorter,

FORMULA ONE SPOTLIGHT Almagro stuns Kyrgios to reach Rosberg on pole as Estoril Open fi nal

DPA Estoril

icolas Almagro will face young Spanish compatriot Hamilton suff ers Pablo Carreno Busta in fi nal at the Estoril Open af- ter stunning second seed Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 7-5 in an upset semifi nal win yesterday. NKyrgios had come to the court after a solid week on the Portuguese clay, but he will not have the chance to play a sec- ond straight fi nal at the event after losing in 73 minutes to his experienced 30-year-old opponent. A year ago, the 21-year- old Kyrgios was beaten in the title match by Richard Gasquet. more engine woes Carreno Busta booked a spot in his second career fi nal 6-3, 6-3 over Frenchman Benoit Paire. Kyrgios, who earned his fi rst ATP trophy two months ago in Marseille, said he was ‘It’s the second engine I took at the last race and it’s the same failure as the last race; beaten on the day by a sharper Almagro. “It was tough condi- tions, he played better and I didn’t serve great. But this was only my fi rst week on clay,” he said. “I played two solid matches, so it’s not too bad.” Kyrgio, who beat Roger Federer in Madrid a year ago in the second round, added: “I fl y to Madrid now (for the Masters 1000). But I’m not expecting too much. “I’ll probably be back next years, this is one of my favourite clay events.” The 50th-ranked Carreno Busta, still seeking the fi rst tro- phy of his career, had multiple opportunities in his victory as Paire lost serve seven times. It was only slightly better for the winner, with Carreno Busta dropping his own serve four times including while serving for the match. He got the break back a game later to end with the win after an hour and a quarter. Carreno Busta was involved in his second semi-fi nal of 2016 after losing a title bid last February in Brazil against Pablo Cuevas of Uru- guay. The Spaniard stands 15-11 for the year after defeating Paire for the second time since 2014.

Safarova wins Prague Open Lucie Safarova won her fi rst title of the year by defeating Samantha Stosur of Australia 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 on clay in the Prague Open fi nal yesterday. Ranked 16th in the world, Sa- farova defeated fellow Czech Karolina Pliskova to get into the fi nal, while Stosur enjoyed a walkover when Russia’s Svetlana Kuznestova withdrew due to a thigh injury. Safarova, who lost to Serena Williams in the French Open fi nal last year, struggled on serve in the opening set and was soon 0-2 down. The Australian then had problems of her own on serve in the second set, four double faults allowing the home player to move ahead. The deciding set was a cliff -hanger with 29-year-old Safarova breaking to love to lead 4-3 before serving twice for the win. It was her fi rst title success since Doha in February of last year and follows an injury-hit start to the season that saw her crash out fi ve times at the fi rst round stage.

Thiem bounces back to reach Munich fi nal Austria’s Dominic Thiem, ranked 15th in the world, reached the final of Munich’s ATP tournament by fighting back to beat German teenager Alexander Zverev in yesterday’s semi-final. Having lost the first set, Thiem recovered to seal a 4-6, 6-2, Mechanics work on the car of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton during the qualifying session of the Formula One Russian Grand Prix at the Sochi Autodrom circuit yesterday. (AFP) 6-3 on clay in the Bavarian capital to end the run of 19-year- old Zverev. Reuters It was the 24th pole of Rosberg’s career motorsport head Toto Wolff told Sky Sports 3rd row In Sunday’s final, Thiem will face the winner of Saturday’s Sochi, Russia and the 40th in 42 races for champions Mer- television. “It seems like the same failure as Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull-TAG Heuer) other semi-final when Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber, who cedes. Hamilton, the triple world champion in Shanghai, which means we have to reas- Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India-Mercedes) won the Munich title in 2007 and 2012 but lost to Britain’s and winner in Russia for the past two years sess the root cause of the failure. 4th row Andy Murray in last year’s final, meets Italy’s Fabio Fognini. ormula One championship leader but 36 points behind Rosberg in a season “He seems to have all the bad luck and Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) Nico Rosberg seized pole position full of setbacks, saw his luck desert him in the other side of the garage has all the Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Red Bull-TAG Heuer) for the Russian Grand Prix yester- qualifying for the second race in a row. luck... It’s getting tough for Lewis now and 5th row day after a power unit failure piled The Briton had been quickest on Friday I have no doubt he will come out of it. But Max Verstappen (NED/Toro Rosso-Ferrari) moreF misery on Mercedes team mate Lewis and in fi nal practice but was sidelined from he has every right to be upset.” Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) Hamilton. the fi nal 10-car showdown for pole when Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and Williams’ 6th row The German, chasing his seventh suc- his car’s power unit failed during the sec- Brazilian Felipe Massa will share the sec- Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Toro Rosso-Ferrari) cessive win and fourth of the season, ond phase. He is set to start 10th, unless he ond row with Australian Daniel Ricciardo Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren-Honda) clinched one of the easiest poles of his ca- collects any further penalties. behind for Red Bull with Force India’s Ser- 7th row reer and will be joined on the front row by “It’s the second engine I took at the last gio Perez sixth. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Force India-Mer- Finland’s Valtteri Bottas in a Williams. race and it’s the same failure as the last Vettel starts in seventh place with Rus- cedes) Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel qualifi ed sec- race,” said an unhappy Hamilton, who was sian Daniil Kvyat, the Red Bull driver Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren-Honda) ond but has a fi ve-place grid penalty for an also summoned to the stewards for failing that the German accused in China of 8th row unscheduled gearbox change. to follow the race director’s instructions at behaving like a ‘madman’ and over- Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari) “I was quite confi dent that the lap was turn two. taking ‘like a torpedo’ as the Ferra- Esteban Gutierrez (MEX/Haas-Ferrari) good enough,” said Rosberg, whose best ef- “But, you know, I never give up.” ris collided, together on the fourth row. 9th row fort was a hefty 0.706 seconds faster than In China two weeks ago Hamilton start- Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Renault) Vettel’s. ed from the back of the grid after he failed THE STARTING GRID Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) “In Quali Two Ferrari was quite far away to set any lap time in qualifying due to a 1st row 10th row and I knew that Lewis was unable to par- power unit failure. Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes) Felipe Nasr (BRA/Sauber-Ferrari) ticipate in the last part of qualifying. I was The Briton, who took pole in the fi rst two Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Williams-Mercedes) Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Manor-Mercedes) very sure it was going to be enough,” added races of the season but then made slow starts, 2nd row 11th row the German, who also took pole last year in fought back to seventh in the race in Shang- Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) Rio Haryanto (INA/Manor-Mercedes) Sochi. hai. “It’s a very bizarre situation,” Mercedes Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams-Mercedes) Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber-Ferrari)

Sunday, May 1, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

INDUCTION Aspire welcomes 66 new sporting talents

By Sports Reporter Doha

spire Academy hosted a gathering to welcome 66 new sporting talents, as the next intake of the Academy’s stu- dent-athletes.A The meeting provided students and their parents with the opportunity to learn more about what to expect during their time at Aspire Academy, and address any questions they may have. In his opening remarks, Ali Salem Afaifa, Deputy Director General of Aspire Academy, greeted the students and their parents, explaining how Aspire Academy is proud to welcome such promising and talented individu- als for the forthcoming 2016-2017 academic year. He added: “Aspire Academy’s stu- dents receive the utmost care from all of our staff who are wholeheartedly dedicated to supporting their edu- cational, athletic and technical, aca- Delegates at the Aspire academy gathering to welcome new student-athletes. demic, and behavioural development. We aim to provide a world-class edu- enrich their personal growth, develop of the student-athletes, whether they ond panel discussion featured current cational experience at Aspire Acad- their character and teach them inde- decide to pursue a career in sports or and former Aspire Academy students, emy, and our faculty collaborate fully pendence. otherwise. who described their experiences at the with parents and sports federations in During their time at the Academy, During the meeting, the Academy Academy. delivering it.” the student-athletes benefi t consider- also organised a panel discussion in Such meetings support Aspire The Academy aims to provide a ably from interacting with their peers which Academy offi cials explained all Academy’s ongoing eff orts to provide unique experience for students dur- and teachers. The Academy’s teach- aspects of the world-class education- a world-class educational experience ing their time there. In addition to the ing faculty also engages in continu- al and athletic services on off er, and for its student-athletes, encouraging athletic and academic benefi ts, the ous dialogue and collaboration with outlined the personalised care stu- them to realise their full academic and Ali Salem Afaifa, Deputy Director General of Aspire Academy. support they receive is designed to parents to enhance the performance dents could expect to receive. A sec- athletic potential, a statement said.

SPOTLIGHT ‘Challenge 22 has turned my dream into a reality’ VCU scientist Dr Khaled Saoud excited to be part of the build-up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

ecember 2, 2010 is a day forever about what I could do to become a part he was informed he was being invited to “It’s accelerated it completely,” he remembered by every football of this. the second round. said. “It has enabled me to get materials I fan across the Middle East. The “I immediately began thinking about Programme organisers and stake- need, equipment I need, and to be able to day that Qatar was awarded the the environment around us here in Qa- holders arranged for him to meet with hire some people to help me because one rightD to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup tar. Heat is a big thing. I was trying to coaches to further the proposal from a person cannot do everything. So it accel- changed the sporting face of the region fi nd new ways to tackle these problems.” commercial standpoint. erated everything immeasurably. – but it was not only the lives of sports Although brimming with ideas and “They gave us extensive training and “This is very exciting because it is the enthusiasts that changed that day. excitement, and with a lifetime of re- a couple of coaches from the business fi rst time that my idea has come out of Dr Khaled Saoud, a physics pro- search behind him – it was not until a few world,” he continued. “I had some busi- the lab. Most of the time the ideas will fessor from Virginia Commonwealth years later, in 2015, that Dr Khaled got ness experience, but I was not a busi- stay in the lab or become published in University in Qatar, remembers exactly his chance to offi cially become involved nessman. What I had done I had always some scientifi c paper – but for the fi rst where he was. in the 2022 FIFA World Cup – thanks to done naturally and without training. So time it is going to see the light and actu- “I was in a restaurant with my family,” Challenge 22, a Supreme Committee for this help was very valuable to me.” ally become a product. he told www.sc.qa. “There was a TV on Delivery & Legacy (SC) innovation pro- Fast forward one year and Dr Khaled “For the fi rst time I can translate my – then suddenly outside all the streets gramme. has been able to hire two scientists to ideas from the lab to something that fi lled up with cars and people going crazy Challenge 22 aims to unite, inspire and help him continue his work. They meet will benefi t people in their everyday life. with celebration. It was big news for this challenge the region’s brightest minds, every day at VCUQatar, and admit the That’s a huge payoff for me as a scien- country and I immediately felt excited. providing innovative thinkers with the project has taken over their lives – in a tist.” “It is the dream of so many people opportunity to have their ideas show- good way. “This project is very special,” And fi nally, his message to anyone when they are young to attend one of cased in front of an audience of billions he said. “I think Qatar has suff ered at considering submitting an entry for the these matches – and now we would all in 2022 and beyond. least four or fi ve major incidents of fi res. 2016 edition of the programme was clear. have the chance right here at home.” “When I heard about Challenge 22, The insulation material is made of poly- “First identify problems. Identify Born in Jordan and having spent much the fi rst impression was ‘well this is styrene – so it works against you. problems that people could face, try to of his working life in America, Dr Khaled the time for me’,” Dr Khaled continued. “The experiments we have conducted fi nd a robust solution and try to dem- is a lifelong football fan. But he is also a “Within three days I had come up with here show that the material used in these onstrate a very good practice in your prominent scientist in the fi eld of nano- the proposal – because the ideas were places takes less than 50 seconds to shrink research. “People are not only coming materials and nanotechnologies – and as already there – and I submitted at the and to burn. With our product added as a here to watch football, this is impor- soon as the announcement was made, he very last minute. Just like a lot of my stu- coating, it can be exposed to 45 minutes of tant to remember too. They are coming began thinking about how he could play dents do!” heat with minimal damage.” to the Gulf to experience the culture, his part in the tournament. After submitting his idea – a sustain- And asked about the impact the FIFA the Arabic culture and explore the re- “I was naturally excited from a fan’s able way to create a more durable, less World Cup, the SC and Challenge 22 gion. So any project should expose perspective,” he continued. “But also fl ammable and lighter insulation mate- have had on his project, his answer was people to all of the very good things as a scientist I instantly began thinking rial – a couple of months passed before resoundingly positive. about our culture.”

HONOUR TABLE TENNIS FINAL Save the Dream Ambassador Rosa Mota returns to Marathon to carry Olympic Flame

Marathon, Greece: Save the the Olympic torch relay was a Dream Ambassador Rosa Mota, symbolic and poignant moment 1988 Olympic champion and for the Olympic Champion and winner of the fi rst ever Women’s provided an important platform Marathon in Athens in 1982, re- to promote the values of sport, turned to the birthplace of the as well as a moment to refl ect modern and lo- on her ground-breaking victory cation of her fi rst historic mara- in the fi rst ever women’s mara- thon victory this week to carry thon in 1982. Speaking of her in- the Olympic fl ame as it makes its volvement at the 2016 ISF World way to , Brazil for School Educational Games, Rosa the start of the XXXI Olympiad. Mota said: Following the recent offi cial “As a Save the Dream Ambas- lighting ceremony in Ancient sador, I am delighted to return Olympia, the Portuguese Mara- to Marathon and the ISF World thon legend carried the Olym- Building on a busy last few School Educational Games to pic fl ame during the Marathon weeks for Save the Dream – promote and inspire young peo- and Athens leg of the torch re- which included ringing the ple through the values of sport. lay and called on people around closing bell at the Nasdaq Stock “Marathon in Greece is a the world to promote the role Market to mark International special place that has had a sig- that the values of sport can play Day of Sport for Development nifi cant impact on my life and in society during educational and Peace and Save the Dream the person I am today. Return- Players and off icials speak to the media at a press conference ahead of the Emir Cup table tennis final yesterday. The final, to be played workshops and activities hosted Week, which was sponsored by ing to carry the Olympic Torch today, will be contested between El Jaish and Qatar Sports Club. at the 2016 3rd ISF World School Qatar Airways and Qatar Cham- has brought back many happy Educational Games. ber – Mosa’s participation in memories.