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FOOTBALL / EMIR CUP 7PM FOCUS Coming to Qatar Sadd, Lekhwiya one of the best to face off in decisions of my high stakes fi nal life, says Xavi Ferreira’s men look for a hat-trick, Belmadi’s team for their first Emir Cup title

Xavi celebrates a goal with his teammates during their Emir Cup match against Al Rayyan last week. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil

l Sadd captain Xavi Hernan- Cup fi nal and were much the better dez’s fi rst season in Qatar will side. They have the experience of play- come to a fi tting fi nale today ing the big fi nals. Sevilla’s achieve- when the former Barcelona ment is outstanding, but Barcelona are Askipper leads his side out for the decid- the best team in the world at the mo- er of the Emir Cup against Lekhwiya. ment and I hope that they can win and With the whole country looking to Al achieve the double.” Sadd Sports Club Stadium in anticipa- Refl ecting on his fi rst season since tion of the match, the FIFA World Cup leaving the Catalan side last year, the Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira and Lekhwiya coach Djamel Belmadi talk to the media during a press conference yesterday. PICTURES: Mamdouh winner has his sights fi rmly set on add- 2010 FIFA World Cup winner said he ing further silverware to his glittering had made one of the best decisions of By Joe Koraith trophy cabinet. his life in coming to the host nation of Doha “We are very happy to be in the fi - the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. nal, we will try to fi nish the season in “Of course, I miss my former col- the best way possible – by winning leagues, the day-to-day and training hen you are a football- the Emir Cup,” Xavi told www.sc.qa. sessions with the ‘rondo’ to start off ing powerhouse, winning “It would be the ideal way to fi nish the with, the happiness of the dressing trophies is not a mere season with His Highness the Emir room. I spent many years there and, of requirement but a neces- present, and as captain I would love to course, I miss things. But I can say that Wsity. Al Sadd and Lekhwiya are two of lift that trophy.” it has been one of the best decisions of the biggest names in Qatar football but The former Spanish midfi elder con- my life to come to Qatar. It is a fantastic this season they haven’t been able to tinued: “For the Qataris this is the most country which has welcomed me and perform to their expectations or their important competition and we are ea- my family, and it is a great project here potential. But they still have one last ger to win this fi nal. We are playing a with Aspire and the 2022 FIFA World shot at glory this season when they great team with very good players in Cup. In the coming years, I hope to give face each other today in the fi nal of the Lekhwiya - they have beaten us twice an even better performance. I am proud prestigious Emir Cup. this season and we have won once. It and very satisfi ed to be here.” The match that will be played at will be a diffi cult match, but we have Xavi concluded by highlighting Qa- the Al Sadd stadium promises to be trained well all week and I am looking tar’s organisational capabilities which a keenly contested encounter. Both forward to winning my fi rst title in Qa- have transformed Doha into a world teams fell well short in their Qatar tar. We want to give our fans a moment capital of sports. “Qatar is right now Stars League campaign with Sadd fi n- of happiness because they deserve it.” one of the capitals of sport in the world. ishing third and Lekhwiya fourth. In Xavi, who will be looking to add a 29th They invest a lot in sport. It is not just the Qatar Cup, Sadd were defeated by senior title to his collection today, also football but every week you have top El Jaish, who also defeated Lekhwiya tipped Barcelona to add a second domes- competitions here in athletics, chess, in the fi nal to claim the trophy. Le- tic trophy to their La Liga title on Sunday rugby, swimming and many other dis- khwiya were able to avenge that defeat in the Copa del Rey fi nal in Madrid. ciplines, all of which have been organ- when they beat Jaish in the Emir Cup “Barcelona are the favourites in the ised with great effi ciency. Qatar wants semi-fi nal. Sadd too come into the fi - El Jaish’s Hamedallah Abderrazzaq (second from right) vies for the ball with Lekhwiya players during their AFC Champions fi nal. Sevilla played a fantastic second to be known as a world capital of sport, nal having defeating QSL champions League match in Doha on Tuesday. Lekhwiya had lost the match 0-4 and have had only two days to recover going into half against Liverpool in the Europa and that is laudable.” (SC.qa) Al Rayyan. today’s Emir Cup final. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil When it comes to numbers, both teams have their own records to make/ madi is backing his players to put that Emir Cup fi nal after all. One of the most Ferreira also believes that making break. Sadd has won the competition a loss behind them. “This is another important games this season. I have the it a hat-trick of Emir Cup titles “is record 15 times, including the previous competition. You cannot compare the confi dence that we can win this trophy,” more motivation”. The 69-year-old two editions. The Wolves will be look- two. The previous result has defi nitely said the Algerian yesterday. stressed that confi dence and concen- ing to win the 2016 edition and com- hurt us. But I trust my players to show Meanwhile, Sadd coach Jesualdo tration will be key factors that will dic- plete a hat-trick of titles. Lekhwiya on a diff erent attitude during this fi nal. Ferreira is confi dent that his players tate the result of this nerve-wracking the other hand, for all their domina- We want to win this for sure,” said Bel- are well motivated to win this encoun- fi nal. “To have confi dence is impor- tion of the QSL, have never won the madi during the pre-match press con- ter. “For everybody at the club, it’s a tant. We have been telling the players Emir Cup. Not just that, this will be ference yesterday. proud moment. This Emir Cup is very to be confi dent. With the teams evenly their fi rst appearance in the Emir Cup Another factor that could aff ect the important for us. Our motivation is matched, you can win or lose the title fi nal. The Red Knights will be hoping outcome is Lekhwiya getting just two the Cup itself,” said Ferreira yesterday. in a mere 10 seconds. We cannot aff ord to secure the trophy in their maiden days to recover – physically and men- And the Portuguese veteran coach to make mistakes,” said Ferreira. appearance in the fi nal. tally – from their disastrous loss in the believes that Lekhwiya’s loss against The last chance for silverware. A What would be a slight bother for Asian Champions League. But Belmadi Jaish will have no bearing on this great chance to win a treble. A chance Lekhwiya is that they come into the believes playing in the fi nal of the Emir match. “The big teams have shown to create history with a fi rst-ever tro- fi nal having being thrashed by Jaish Cup will act as an inspiration for the that one bad result doesn’t change phy. There is a lot at stake in today’s 4-0 in their Asian Champions League players. “I believe my players will show anything. Them playing a Champions Emir Cup fi nal, which means that nei- Round of 16 encounter. That could character. I know we didn’t have enough League match just two days before is ther team will be willing to give a quar- have a demoralising eff ect on the play- time to prepare for this game. But I be- not an advantage for us because Le- ter. We can expect a thrilling encounter ers. But Lekhwiya coach Djamel Bel- lieve the players will recover. It’s the khwiya are a very strong side.” and that only bodes well for the fans. Gulf Times 2 Friday, May 20, 2016 FOOTBALL

PREVIEW SPOTLIGHT France extends post-attacks state Shades of 1990 for of emergency to cover Euro 2016

AFP “new form of attack” in which Paris terrorists would place explo- Van Gaal as United sive devices in areas where big crowds gather. rance’s parliament ap- He said such attacks would proved yesterday a be repeated “to create a climate two-month extension of panic”. of the state of emer- Calvar said France was “to- gency,F in place since Novem- day clearly the country most ber’s jihadist attacks, to cover threatened” by both IS and a face Palace again the Euro 2016 football tourna- resurgent Al Qaeda. ment and Tour de France. The state of emergency was Already backed by a large imposed following the No- ‘The expectation is very high. Too high. We are a team in transition’ majority in the upper house vember 13 attacks that left 130 Senate last week, the lower people dead in the French cap- house National Assembly con- ital, and was already extended fi rmed the measure on Thurs- by three months in February day by 46 votes to 20. until May 26. “The terrorist threat re- It allows police to hold un- mains at a high level and der house arrest people whose France, like the EU, is a target,” behaviour is considered “a said Interior Minister Bernard threat to security and public Cazeneuve ahead of the vote. order”. Prime Minister Manuel Valls But under the latest exten- had earlier said there was no sion, police will no longer have question of cancelling the Euro the power to raid homes with- 2016 football tournament, out a court order, as they have which is expected to draw two since November. million fans to the country be- Since the measures were tween June 10 and July 10. imposed some 3,500 searches Millions of spectators are have been carried out, at least also expected for the Tour de 56 suspects taken into custody France cycling race, which is and 69 people placed under set for July 2-24 and this year house arrest, the government covers a route of 3,519 kilome- said in mid April. tres (2,247 miles). The French Human Rights “Giving up on sporting League (LDH) has criticised events and cultural events is the extension, saying the precisely to give in to the ter- government was becoming rorist threat,” he told RTL ra- “hooked on the state of emer- dio, vowing that everything gency”. had been done to limit the risk “It refl ects... of attacks. a desire to condition us to French internal intelligence living under this regime, hop- chief Patrick Calvar told a ing that the women and men parliamentary committee of this country will forget that last week that France remains the defence of our freedoms is “clearly targeted” by the Is- another essential way of fi ght- lamic State group. ing terrorism,” the LDH said in Calvar said France feared a a statement last month.

City go top with Toronto draw

New York City FC moved to the top of Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference standings on Wednesday after extending their unbeaten run to five matches with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Toronto FC. City, fresh from a 2-1 victory over champions Portland on Sunday, took the lead through Ghanaian international Kwadwo Poku, the Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney with his teammates midfielder curling a finish past Clint Irwin on 16 minutes. during a training session yesterday. (Reuters) But Toronto hit back just before the break when Will Johnson tapped in from close range after good work from Josh Williams and Mo Babouli. City coach Patrick Vieira had fielded a new-look starting line-up, Reuters gave the Scotsman a reprieve. the second fewest goals of the Munich manager is adamant he League. We have still the FA Cup with Italian star Andrea Pirlo and Spanish World Cup winner Dav- London He went on to build a dynasty league’s top 10 teams this term. will remain, irrespective of what fi nal to go. id Villa both left out, having played in Sunday’s win at Portland. that won 13 Premier League ti- happens at Wembley. “Everyone has to make up his Villa later entered the fray as a second half substitute and swiftly tles and two Champions League He went on to build a “Yes, because I have signed mind at how we have done this picked up a yellow card for unsporting behavior. anchester United trophies, alongside a host of do- dynasty that won 13 a three-year contract,” he told season at that time.” Three other City players received cautions along with Toronto’s manager Louis van mestic cups. Premier League titles and reporters. Van Gaal understands Crystal Palace, who fi nished US international midfielder Michael Bradley. Gaal goes into the Van Gaal, who took charge two Champions League the fans’ disappointment, but the Premier League fi ve points The draw leaves City - part of the same group which owns FA Cup fi nal against in May 2014 and guided United trophies, alongside a host of says they should be realistic as above the relegation zone, are in English Premier League side Manchester City - one point clear MCrystal Palace tomorrow fac- to fourth in his fi rst season, is United chase their fi rst FA Cup the fi nal for the fi rst time since domestic cups of Montreal Impact at the top of the Eastern Conference, having ing echoes of the 1990 show- under similar pressure after his title since 2004 and their fi rst losing the 1990 replay 1-0 fol- played one game more. piece between the two sides that side fi nished fi fth in the Premier The 64-year-old was booed major trophy since the 2013 Pre- lowing a 3-3 draw in the fi rst City face the New York Red Bulls in the Big Apple derby on proved so pivotal in the career of League and dropped out of the by some fans during his end-of- mier League. match. Saturday. Alex Ferguson. Champions League in the group season speech after Tuesday’s “The expectation is very high. “I remember Sir Alex’s career The Red Bulls warmed up for this weekend’s showdown with City Ferguson’s United were strug- stages. The Dutchman has been fi nal 3-1 win over Bournemouth Too high. We are a team in hinged on that game and maybe with a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire on Wednesday. gling in the 1989-90 season and accused of moving United away at Old Traff ord. transition,” Van Gaal said. “I LVG’s career will hinge on this,” Mike Grella scored the game’s only goal at the Red Bull Arena, the clamour was growing for the from United’s traditional brand Speculation is rife over his have tried to explain that. We said Palace boss Alan Pardew, finishing after good work from Mike Grella and Bradley Wright- manager’s dismissal, but the FA of attacking football to a more future, but the former Ajax Am- didn’t reach our aim. We have who played for Palace in the fi nal Phillips. Cup win in a replay over Palace laboured style, which yielded sterdam, Barcelona and Bayern to qualify for the Champions 26 years ago.

FOCUS Chinese businessman to buy struggling Villa

Reuters Under the leadership of Xi, an in the squad and the club’s in- his investment have been dashed. London/Shanghai avid soccer fan, China has set it- frastructure, including its iconic “Aston Villa’s relegation really self the goal of one day winning Villa Park stadium. played in their favour,” said Fre- the World Cup, and has ploughed “Tony’s excitement to develop drik van Huynh, Shanghai-based hinese businessman Xia huge amounts of investment into Villa Park shone through. director of HHC Sports Group.”It Jiantong has agreed to grassroots academies, TV rights I remain convinced that this is will have pushed down the price buy struggling former and transfer deals for overseas a crucial part of the club’s future quite signifi cantly.” English champions Aston players. as it provides a critical, long-term Xia, who studied at Harvard Villa,C the latest in a series of in- The acquisition of one of Eng- second source of revenue and University and has a doctorate, vestments as president Xi Jinping land’s most historic clubs by a therefore sustainability for the took to his offi cial microblog late aims to make China a global pow- Chinese businessman follows club from which squad-funding on Wednesday to wish the club’s erhouse in the sport. China’s biggest overseas invest- can potentially come,” Lerner fans “health and happiness”. Xia, who will be the fi rst main- ment in soccer last December, said. “Tony has built his career Earlier this month he post- land Chinese to fully own an Eng- when a consortium led by state- around infrastructure. ed: “Go, Villa, Go! We will be lish team, told Reuters his compa- backed China Media Capital took He is certainly a hugely suc- back.” ny, Recon Group, could pay more a $400 million stake in the owner cessful businessman but impor- The club said Xia’s immediate than 100 million pounds ($146 of Manchester City. tantly for me he is passionate objective was “to return Aston million) for the club, though he The Villa deal, however, with about architecture, site design Villa to the Premier League and also said he would not be “burn- 100 percent ownership, is not and planning. then to have the club fi nish in the ing money” to turn it around. just an investment. “The Chi- Villa’s website said Xia, who top six, bringing European foot- Villa have been in decline since nese ownership now get to decide studied at Harvard and spent a ball back to Villa Park”. American Randy Lerner, who how to run the club,” said Mark period at Oxford University, had It added the deal would also once owned the NFL’s Cleveland Dreyer, Beijing-based founder of become a Villa fan “many years help make Villa the most famous Browns, bought the club for $125 sports information website China ago”. football club in China - a claim million in 2006. Sports Insider. Crosstown arch- Fans of the club will be wary dismissed as ludicrous by Dreyer They were relegated from the rivals Birmingham City are also though. at China Sports Insider. Premier League this season after run from Asia, following the 2009 Lerner was popular at fi rst, en- “I think fans of the club will winning just three matches. takeover by Hong Kong business- grossing himself in the club’s his- remain sceptical until it becomes Lerner reportedly pumped man Carson Yeung. tory and restoring the Holte Hotel clear what his true motivations $300 million into the club but took near the stadium, but fans have are,” he added. Recon Group, Xia’s a back seat in recent seasons as the INVESTMENT become increasingly disillusioned privately owned holding compa- club fi nished 16th, 15th, 15th and In a fi nal message to Villa’s at the decline in fortunes for the ny, owns a controlling interest in 17th in the Premier League before fans, Lerner said he was confi dent 1982 European champions. fi ve publicly listed companies on this season reached a new low as that Xia, introduced on the club’s Villa’s plight means the Ameri- the Hong Kong and Chinese stock they fi nished rock bottom. website as Tony Xia, would invest can’s hopes of recouping some of exchanges. Gulf Times Friday, May 20, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

REPORT Coke breaks Liverpool hearts in Europa League triumph ‘We never got started in the second half and it is devastating. We didn’t show near our ability and that is the biggest disappointment’

AFP Basel, Switzerland Final defeat can be catalyst evilla right-back Coke for bright future: Klopp broke Liverpool hearts with a second-half brace A spirit-crushing defeat in a major final can often signal the end in a controversy-fi lled for a manager, yet Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp believes their 3-1S victory that secured a record Europa League final heartache could prove to be a bright new third consecutive Europa League beginning for his club. title on Wednesday. A self-confessed fan of “heavy metal football”, Klopp would have Liverpool travelled to St Ja- loved nothing more than to get his hands on a weighty piece of sil- kob-Park with an army of fans verware in Basel, but his hopes of glory were dashed by a 3-1 loss and confi dent in their chances to the competition’s masters Sevilla. of a fi rst Europa League trophy As Sevilla captain Coke held aloft the trophy at St Jakob-Park, Liv- since 2001 after an impressive erpool’s German coach had already disappeared down the tunnel, campaign in Europe’s second not waiting to applaud opponents who had dashed his hopes of tier competition. ending his first season at Anfield with a trophy. But Jurgen Klopp’s men failed “We will use this experience - that is what we have to do,” German to build on Daniel Sturridge’s Klopp told reporters. superb 35th minute opener, and “The players are still young. when Kevin Gameiro found Liv- Some day everyone will say Basel was a decisive moment for erpool asleep to level seconds Liverpool FC.” after the restart, it opened the Klopp arrived at Anfield in October to take charge of a team low fl oodgates. on confidence who had developed a reputation for lacking the Liverpool’s heads went down steel to get over the line on big occasions. and, as they began to sit back, While the latter accusation could still be levelled at Klopp’s squad, Coke struck in six second-half confidence abounds that the German is steering the Liverpool minutes to give Unai Emery’s ship to new horizons and a second cup final defeat in three men a 3-1 lead by the 70th months will not have swayed fans who have been captivated by minute. the German. Coke looked off side, but af- After going three seasons under Klopp’s predecessor Brendan ter angry scenes that saw Klopp Rodgers without making a major final, to reach two in such a sprint down the touchline to short space of time is perhaps a glaring signal that Klopp means confront the linesman, Swedish business. referee Jonas Eriksson pointed to Liverpool also lost to Manchester City in this season’s League Cup the centre circle after consulting final. with his offi cial. He has been far from a panacea to cure all Liverpool’s ills, how- “We didn’t do ourselves jus- ever, and their erratic league form attests to the fact that there is tice,” Liverpool captain James still so much work ahead for the Liverpool boss. Milner told BT Sport after a de- Yet there is no mistaking a change in atmosphere at Anfield and a feat which also denied the club sense that people around the club has changed, in Klopp’s words, a Champions League place next from doubters to believers. season. It was perhaps a shame, therefore, that belief was the one thing “We never got started in the Liverpool seemed to lack when Sevilla clawed their way back into second half and it is devastating. the match on Wednesday. We didn’t show near our abil- Daniel Sturridge’s opener was wiped out 17 seconds into the ity and that is the biggest disap- second half by Kevin Gameiro’s close-range eff ort and Coke’s two pointment. goals finished the job. “We were ready, we made “It was obviously the first (Sevilla) goal (that changed the game). sure we said the right things at In this moment we lost faith in our style of play,” Klopp said/ half-time. We gave a sloppy goal “We changed from passing simply and quick, to slow and compli- away and never got back into the cated.” game.” While next season will not see Liverpool return to the European Milner added: “It is nothing stage after their eighth-place Premier League finish, Klopp be- to do with the referee, it is about lieves this could give his side an edge on the domestic front. us. We didn’t do it on the night “We will have no international tournament next year, we will have that mattered. “We didn’t think time to train. about the Champions League, it We will use it and come back stronger,” he said. was about winning this trophy. We didn’t manage to get over the line. It is a double blow not to be in Europe next season.” Emery had demanded a last push from some of the experi- enced players who had helped the Spaniards to four Europa League crowns since 2006, and they came good in a stunning second half. Yet Klopp looked to have made the correct choice when he left Sevilla’s Coke celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the UEFA Europa League Final. (Reuters) Jordan Henderson and Divock Origi on the bench as both re- uously quiet after the interval. to run past him into the area. found Sturridge unmarked to his villa right-back was allowed to cently recovered from respective UEFA made history by using left the England striker coolly power unchallenged down the injuries. Penalty appeals Hawk-Eye goalline technol- beat Soria at his far post. right to deliver for Gameiro, who Sturridge stepped in for Origi Sevilla got off lightly when ogy in a Europa League fi nal for Neither Firmino nor Stur- tapped home from yards out. to play in front of Coutinho, Liverpool twice saw penalty the fi rst time, but the organisers ridge could get to the ball when Liverpool’s confi dence sunk Roberto Firmino and Adam appeals waved away, while De- could have done with it around Lallana released Nathaniel Clyne and Coke got his fi rst after a Lallana and spurned two half- jan Lovren saw his header from the penalty area as well. down the right for the right- great combination with Banega, chances before beating David Sturridge’s corner ruled off side. Sevilla were kept on a tight back to deliver an inviting ball who dribbled through the Reds Soria with a delightful shot with Eriksson waved away the fi rst, rein in the opening half although across the face of goal just before defence before seeing Coke ram the outside of his left boot on 35 in the early stages, after the ball Gameiro, with 28 goals this sea- half-time. the ball past Mignolet from 20 minutes. came off the hand of Daniel Car- son including seven in eight Eu- It would prove costly, because yards. It sent St. Jakob-Park into rico when Firmino turned inside ropa League games, had his fi rst whatever Emery said at half- It took several minutes for of- raptures, although the massive the central defender. sniff with an ambitious overhead time worked wonders. fi cials to fi nally decide whether army of Reds supporters - some Carrico was even luckier to kick after Coke’s cross on the When right-back Mariano Coke’s second was valid, but it of whom got into scuffl es with escape punishment when he de- right following a corner. Ferreiro pounced on a poor will take Liverpool’s fans much Sevilla fans inside the stadium liberately put his hand down to But Liverpool were begin- clearance from Alberto Moreno longer to get over what was a prior to kick-off - were conspic- slow the ball as Sturridge readied ning to fi re, and when Coutinho seconds after the restart, the Se- poor second half display.

COMMENT Basel loss will hit Liverpool recruitment: McManaman

AFP McManaman believes that could deter time on the training ground could prove London potential signings, telling BT Sport: “It benefi cial again. Liverpool team arrive at Liverpool will be harder to attract the real star play- “It’s all looking forward now and I Airport yesterday. (Reuters) ers to Liverpool. think they’ve got the right man in place to iverpool’s failure to qualify for the “Yes, Liverpool have got an amazing do the job,” he said. Champions League will make it history, they’ve been in two fi nals, and “As he (Klopp) says, time on the train- harder for manager Jurgen Klopp that will help. ing pitch -- that’s a positive -- time to get to attract leading players to the The manager will certainly help. more belief in the squad and maybe add Lclub, according to former Anfi eld favour- “His aura will drag players to the team, one or two new faces to it. ite Steve McManaman. but the very, very best want to play at “But start looking forward. Liverpool could have secured a return the very highest level and that is in the It’s going to be disappointing for a few to Europe’s top competition by beating Champions League.” weeks, maybe even longer, but at some Sevilla in Wednesday’s Europa League Former Liverpool striker Michael point you’ve got to put it behind you and fi nal in Basel, but despite going ahead Owen, however, echoed Klopp by saying start looking to the future. through Daniel Sturridge, Klopp’s side that the lack of continental distractions “Once pre-season starts there will lost 3-1. could bolster the club’s eff orts to return to be a new wave of optimism and as I said Having fi nished eighth in the Pre- the upper reaches of the Premier League. the last really good season in the Premier mier League and lost to Manchester City Liverpool’s last sustained title chal- League that Liverpool had was when they on penalties in the League Cup fi nal, it lenge, in 2013-14, came during a season weren’t in any European competition, so means they will not be involved in Euro- when they were not involved in European maybe use that as an advantage on your pean competition next season. competition and Owen believes the extra competitors.” Gulf Times 4 Friday, May 20, 2016 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS EPL fans to get smartphone vote Palace and parade to substitute player

AFP Doha

n English Premier League club wants to allow support- for Leicester on ers to vote via smartphone for the player they want sub- stituted during a match, a data analyst has told a Doha football conference. AFans would cast their votes via an app on their phones after being given real-time performance data for every player on the pitch, said Mark Sear, chief technology offi cer with data and ana- lytics company EMC. The leading club, which cannot be named, wants to introduce Thailand tour the interactive innovation for fans in order to boost attendances at Under-21 matches. If the club gets permission from the English Football Associa- ‘I am a fan of Liverpool but I am happy to see football stars from UK’ tion, the scheme could be brought in from as early as next season. “The club is considering allowing fans to vote on substitutions,” said Sear. “They are asking for permission to free up data for the crowd. They get small crowds for Under-21 games but they think they can get up to 10,000 fans for such games.” The data the fans will look at will be gathered from “wearable” technology. In this case that will be a high-tech armband which can measure performance as well as such things as heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure. A spokeswoman for the FA said that at the beginning of the current season “the Premier League permitted clubs to use EPTS (Electronic Performance Tracking Systems) devices provided they are approved by the League”. The wearables in the proposal for voting on substitutes are used by players in training but are, for now, not allowed to be used in competitive matches, Sear told AFP on the fringes of the World Stadium Congress conference in Doha.

‘Championship Manager’ However that will not stop clubs from lobbying for further change he said. Under this proposal, the information the fans will be able to see will be the same as that viewed by the club’s coach via a tablet. However, despite the public vote, the coach will still be able to ignore the fan’s wishes and substitute which player he wants. “It actually makes it very similar to Championship Manager (football management computer game) because you judge people off their numbers,” he said.”It makes it a fascinating experience.” Two other clubs are thought to have approached the FA seeking permission for using wearables during fi rst-team matches, said Sear. The potentially ground-breaking scheme not only demon- strates the increasing power of analytics in professional sport, but also football’s changing relationship with its fans, said Sear. He said at least 70 per cent of football fans use their smartphone while in a stadium watching a game. Turning up just to watch a match is no longer what the modern- day fan wants, but they also want to interact, he said. At the moment that is via social media platforms such as Twit- ter. But technology may take that interaction a step further. If the scheme gets the green light, in the future it could allow fans to see heart rates of players about to take a penalty, said Sear. It could even be used by supporters to see the analytics for play- ers who have just been sent off .

Leicester City football manager Claudio Ranieri (C) gives a traditional Thai “wai” gesture to the crowd during an open-bus parade in Bangkok yesterday. (AFP) Adidas sets sights on football stars in big US drive

AFP lionaire club-owner Vichai fi lled with employees - including watch the bus pass by. markable league success. Adidas wants to sign dozens of deals with US sports stars in Bangkok Srivaddhanaprabha, alongside a group of cheerleaders - decked “I am a fan of Liverpool but King Bhumibol, the world’s coming years, hoping that will provide a more lasting boost to his son Aiyawatt and manager out in team colours. I am happy to see football stars longest serving monarch, is the sales than the current fashion fad for its retro sneakers, its North Claudio Ranieri, presenting the from UK,” he told AFP. object of an intense personality America head told Reuters. ewly crowned English trophy to a portrait of the king Thai traditions “It’s not often we can see cult and his frail health is a sub- Since falling into third place in the United States behind Nike and Premier League cham- as they and the team then took a But thousands of fans and cu- football stars in Bangkok.” ject of signifi cant public con- Under Armour, the German firm has regained some ground in pions Leicester City deep bow. rious bystanders also lined the Photos from the palace visit cern. recent months after raising marketing spending in the world’s received a royal seal of The team later went on an route, which wound its way from showed the team kneeling in He is also protected by one of top sportswear market. Napproval yesterday at Bangkok’s open-top bus parade through a King Power-owned shop- front of Bhumibol’s portrait. the world’s most draconian royal Mark King has put a big focus on signing top athletes in sports Grand Palace, with the Thai- the capital’s notoriously grid- ping and hotel complex through It has become common prac- defamation laws, making debate like American football, basketball and baseball since he took over owned team presenting its trophy locked streets that were briefl y Bangkok’s downtown commer- tice for subjects to sit on the about the royal family’s role in- as president of the region for Adidas in 2014, after more than a to a portrait of the king before a cleared of traffi c thanks to a po- cial district. fl oor or kneel to avoid being side Thailand all but impossible. decade running the company’s golf business. bus parade through the capital. lice escort. Most Thais knew little about higher than the king. Under junta rule in the last He said Adidas wants to sponsor 250 National Football League The East Midlands team is In scorching conditions - with the one-time minnows before Thai athletes often present two years, use of the lese majeste (NFL) players by 2020, up from 95 now, plus 100 National Basket- currently visiting the football- the mercury hovering around Vichai bought the club in 2010. their medals and trophies at the law has skyrocketed with some ball Association players (NBA), up from about 70 now. mad Southeast Asian nation as 37C (98F) - key players including But many locals are readily palace as a way to show respect. transgressors jailed for more “When you do well in football in the United States, it is like doing part of a publicity blitz after its captain Wes Morgan and goal- changing -or at least doubling- Vichai has brought some than 20 years. well in soccer in Germany,” King, an American who appeared as fairytale title triumph. keeper Kasper Schmeichel waved up - their allegiances from per- of the kingdom’s traditions to Not all Bangkok’s citizens, a business role model on reality show “The Apprentice”, said in a Day two of the tour focused Thai fl ags and snapped pictures ennial English favourites like Leicester City, with Buddhist many of whom have to endure phone interview.“The more grounded that we are in America, in on Thailand’s top institution of each other on their phones as Manchester United, Liverpool monks regularly fl own out to agonisingly long daily com- American sports, the more success we’re going to have.” with a visit to the sprawling crowds cheered them on. and Chelsea, clubs that are much bless players and the stadium. mutes, were happy with the rush Adidas this month reported a 31 percent jump in first-quarter Bangkok palace complex of the Vichai’s King Power brand, more commonplace on advertis- During their title celebrations hour road closures. sales of its core brand in North America, driven by the popularity revered but ailing 88-year-old a duty free monopoly that has ing billboards across the king- at the King Power stadium, a “Do you have to do a parade, of retro shoes such as Superstar and Stan Smith. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who made him a billionaire and is dom. portrait of Bhumibol was held isn’t winning enough?” wrote But some analysts are concerned that the company could be left has been hospitalised for most of emblazoned on both Leicester’s Ben, a 27-year-old worker in a aloft as players like Riyad Mah- one user of Pantip, a popular exposed to the fickle winds of fashion fads if it does not do more the last two years. shirts and its stadium, ensured 7/11 store along the parade route, rez, Jamie Vardy and Danny Thai social media forum, before to establish its credentials in US sports. Local television showed bil- the start of the parade route was was one of those who stopped to Drinkwater revelled in their re- adding “God bless Man U”.

OPINION Leicester owners shoot for Thai World Cup entry

AFP training there, with plans to send more in ibility for a duty-free brand little-known Bangkok the coming years. outside of Thailand. “We have a plan,” Top told report- King Power have also launched a real- ers, adding that the trainees “will eat ity television show in Thailand to scout for eicester City’s billionaire own- at the same canteen” as players such as fresh talent. ers say they hope to use the Pre- Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and Danny Following the club’s success Thais are mier League winners to nurture Drinkwater. readily changing - or at least doubling-up young football talent with the aim “It’s up to the Thai kids, whether they - their allegiances from perennial English Lof Thailand qualifying for the World Cup can absorb the English tradition, the pro- favourites Manchester United, Liverpool within a decade. fessionalism,” he added. and Chelsea. The newly crowned English champions The Thai national team has a tough road Ahead of this year’s publicity tour, Top are on a celebratory post-season tour of ahead to qualify for Russia 2018 - they face has warned his players to be on their best Thailand, home of publicity-shy billion- Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE behaviour in a kingdom whose wild night- aire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and his son and Iraq in their group. life belies a deep-seated social conserva- Aiyawatt -- better known as ‘Top’. Football-mad Thailand has belatedly tism. The two men, alongside manager Clau- fallen for Leicester after the astonishing A tour last summer ended in a public re- dio Ranieri, are credited with steering the success story of a club with deep links to lations disaster for the King Power family. club to one of football’s greatest fairytale the kingdom. Then, three young players including the wins. Vichai now hopes some of that suc- Vichai’s duty-free King Power brand is son of former manager Nigel Pearson, were cess will rub off on his homeland, a nation emblazoned across the shirts of the team, sacked after a racially charged sex tape fea- mad about football but with little interna- whose home ground 90 miles (145 kilo- turing local women was leaked to British tional success to boast of. metres) north of London named the King media. “I’d like to see Thailand secure their Power Stadium. Manager Pearson was quietly dismissed fi rst ever World Cup berth in 10 years,” he His family’s shrewd investment in play- a few weeks later in an apparent dispute told reporters in Bangkok on Wednesday ers and club facilities has already brought a over his handling of the scandal, paving during the fi rst day of a publicity tour. massive return on their $57 million initial the way for the avuncular Ranieri to take Leicester City’s owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha (centre R) looks on as his son and vice-chairman Aiyawatt The Midlands club is already hosting 16 outlay. charge and steer the club towards sporting Srivaddhanaprabha holds the Premier League trophy while posing for pictures ahead of a parade in an young Thai players who are studying and Now they can look forward to global vis- legend. open-bus with the club’s players through Bangkok yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times Friday, May 20, 2016 5 TENNIS

PREVIEW Sharapova may not play again, Djokovic chases says Russian tennis president elusive French title Serb targets Roland Garros crown with time and history threatening to conspire against him

The biggest threat to Novak Reuters returned a positive test for the Djokovic’s quest for a first French Moscow Latvian-made heart medication Open crown could come from which was added to the World Andy Murray (left) of Britain Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) aria Sharapova may banned list from Jan 1. not play again after The world’s highest-paid Mtesting positive for the sportswoman claimed to have banned substance meldonium, been taking meldonium on the president of the Russian doctor’s orders for 10 years and tennis federation was quoted as had failed to note that it had saying yesterday. become a banned substance Shamil Tarpishchev told the until hearing of her failed test at R-Sport news agency that Shara- the year’s first Grand Slam. She pova’s situation was “bad”. was provisionally suspended on The five-times Grand Slam March 12 pending the hearing, champion faces a possible ban and has lost a number of her of up to four years for failing lucrative sponsorship deals. a drugs test at the Australian She said at the time that she Open in January. British media hoped she would be allowed to reported that she had been due play again. The World Anti-Dop- to attend an International Tennis ing Agency WADA said in April, Federation (ITF) anti-doping after hundreds of athletes had hearing in London on Wednes- tested positive for meldonium, day. There has been no subse- that bans might be overturned quent comment by the ITF. due to a lack of clear scientific Sharapova stunned the world information on how long the in March when she said she had drug takes to be excreted.

SPOTLIGHT Forget targets growth, on and off the court

AFP Paris

s a player, Guy Forget AFP never made it past the Paris fourth round of the Injured Federer withdraws from French Open French Open but as theA recently-appointed tourna- him after the Australian Open until Monte Roland Garros in 2017.” welve months after his latest bid oger Federer withdrew from the ment director at Roland Garros, Carlo before a back problem ruled him out Federer’s withdrawal from the French to complete a career Grand Slam French Open yesterday after failing the 51-year-old believes he has of Madrid. The Swiss then lasted just two Open, which starts on Sunday, means that was thwarted, Novak Djokovic to recover from a back injury, bring- the talent to make it “the most R matches at the Rome Masters where he nine-time champion Rafael Nadal will be targets an elusive French Open ing to an end the 17-time major winner’s beautiful in the world”. was dumped out by Dominic Thiem. promoted to fourth seed in today’s draw Ttitle with time and history threatening to However, there are challenges run of 65 consecutive Grand Slams. Federer, however, insisted he will keep behind Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and conspire against him. “I regret to announce that I have made both on and off the court at the playing and will concentrate on preparing defending champion Stan Wawrinka. It also The world number one was left in tears the decision not to play in this year’s French famed venue, nestled in the for the grass-court season and a fresh bid to means that dangerman Nadal cannot meet in 2015 when Stan Wawrinka unleashed Open,” the 2009 Roland Garros champion wealthy, leafy western suburbs see the historic site of Roland win an eighth Wimbledon, the scene of his Djokovic or Murray before the semi-finals. a battery of single-handed backhand wrote on his Facebook page. “I have been of Paris. “It’s necessary that the Garros expand as planned but most recent Grand Slam triumph in 2012. Federer completed a career Grand Slam winners to all corners of Court Philippe making steady progress with my overall fit- experience be positive and en- there have been hiccups on the “This decision was not easy to make, but when he captured the 2009 title in Paris. Chatrier on his way to a shock Paris title. ness, but I am still not 100% and feel I might riching and the tournament be- way. At the moment, Roland I took it to ensure I could play the remain- His overall record in the French capital Djokovic turns 29 on Sunday and will be taking an unnecessary risk by playing in comes the most beautiful in the Garros is squeezed into 8.6 der of the season and help to extend the stands at 65 wins against just 16 losses with be playing Roland Garros for a 12th time this event before I am really ready.” world, one that will make the hectares; the All England Club rest of my career,” the Swiss veteran added four defeats in finals, all at the hands of where he remains the overwhelming fa- The 34-year-old world number three, players dream,” Forget said. which hosts Wimbledon boasts in his statement. Nadal with the most recent back in 2011. vourite to secure a trophy which would who has been plagued by knee and back Forget, a former world number a roomy 17.7 hectares. Expan- “I remain as motivated and excited as Federer’s absence is another blow to Ro- also place him halfway to the fi rst calen- injuries this year, last missed a Grand Slam four, a two-time Davis Cup win- sion will see the complex in ever and my plan is to achieve the highest land Garros organisers who have seen two- dar Grand Slam since 1969. event in 1999 when he skipped the US ner as a player and coach of the Paris grow to 12.8 hectares. level of fitness before returning to the ATP time women’s champion Maria Sharapova But tennis is littered with great names Open. Federer, with his 35th birthday loom- national team from 1999 to 2012, But at the moment work World Tour for the upcoming grass court sidelined through a doping suspension whose Grand Slam pedigree endured shat- ing in August, has played only four tourna- only replaced Gilbert Ysern as is suspended after environ- season. I am sorry for my fans in Paris but while former world number one Caroline tering reality checks on Roland Garros’s ments this year. A knee injury sidelined French Open chief in February. mentalists and local residents I very much look forward to returning to Wozniacki is out injured. unforgiving crushed red brick surfaces. The tournament, which starts groups successfully pushed for Pete Sampras won 14 majors but 13 times on Sunday, boasts improved a halt to construction in the the great American tried to win the French tournament and playing fi nals is great,” ish player since Patrick Hughes in 1931 and 29-year-old Spaniard won in Monte Carlo prize money for 2016 with 32 neighbouring Serres d’Auteuil Open and 13 times he failed. Stefan Edberg said a weary Djokovic who has won the ended Djokovic’s 17-match winning streak for the ninth time and then clinched the million euros representing a botanical gardens. also made 13 fruitless visits while Djoko- last three majors. “I got what I was looking against top 10 opponents. Murray’s three Barcelona crown to equal Guillermo Vilas’s 14% increase on 2015. That ranks “The work has stopped for vic’s coach Boris Becker tried nine times. for, a lot of matches, and confi dence and career titles on clay have all been in the last record of 49 career clay-court titles. third of the four Grand Slams, the moment, we are waiting John McEnroe also fl opped, the four- I spent a lot of hours playing on the clay, 12 months—Munich and Madrid in 2015 A semi-fi nal run in Madrid and quar- behind the US Open (37.3 million for a decision by the Council of time US Open and three-time Wimbledon which now, leading up to Roland Garros is topped off by Rome. ter-fi nal spot in Rome—where it took euros and Wimbledon (33.6 mil- State,” added Forget. winner having to console himself with exactly what I need. Hopefully it’s going He has also steadily improved in Paris Murray and Djokovic respectively to halt lion euros) but ahead of the Aus- “If we resume work, in 2018 a runners-up spot in Paris against Ivan to help me perform well in Paris.” with three semi-fi nal runs in his last four him—illustrated his enduring power. tralian Open (28.4 million euros). there will be an alley to a semi- Lendl in 1984. An extra motivation for the Serb appearances, losing a fi ve-set epic to Djok- Defending champion Wawrinka, 30, “It would be lacking in prag- submerged court which will Djokovic, with 11 majors under his belt, is knowing that he is just a little over ovic in 2015. has endured a roller-coaster clay-court matism to believe that we are ease enormously the pressure has come closer than all of them. He has $300,000 short of becoming the fi rst “I had always been told that clay should season—a quarter-fi nal run in Monte the biggest, the fi nest, the on the grounds.” been runner-up three times and a semi- player to earn $100 million in prize money. really be my best surface. I’m going to Ro- Carlo followed by an opening loss in Ma- strongest and that as indomita- He added: “The space (at the fi nalist on four occasions. His record in World number two Murray is shaping land Garros with a lot of confi dence and drid and just one victory in Rome. ble French we are the best. The moment) is too small. When it 2016 reads 37 wins and just three defeats up as Djokovic’s greatest threat. He may really good preparation. I feel like I’m on World number six Kei Nishikori of Japan Roland Garros tournament has rains in the fi rst week, there is although two of those came on clay— be 8,000 points behind in the world rank- the right track,” said the Scot. remains an outside hope. The 26-year- to move with the times,” added congestion and it’s hard to move against Jiri Vesely in a freak Monte Carlo ings, but the former US Open and Wim- Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal could old was runner-up in Barcelona to Nadal Forget. “We must be ambitious. in the passageways.” opening-round exit and a loss to Andy bledon winner has developed a taste for be the kingmaker in Paris where he will and then lost semi-fi nals to Djokovic in When I was competing, it was “We sell 450,000 tickets for Murray in last weekend’s Rome fi nal. clay relatively late in his career. His 6-3, be seeded at fi ve and a likely quarter-fi nal Madrid and Rome. But Nishikori’s record to win, I hated losing. I want to the fortnight. If we had a big- “All in all, it was very good two weeks 6-3 win over Djokovic at the Foro Italico opponent for either Djokovic or Murray. at the French Open is modest with a quar- make this tournament the most ger stadium with more capacity after dropping out in Monte Carlo early. I came on his 29th birthday. Written off after a 2015 campaign saw him ter-fi nal spot last year representing his prestigious of the Grand Slams.” we could sell 600,000, 700,000 needed these kind of results, winning one It was the fi rst title in Rome by a Brit- endure his worst season in a decade, the best performance. Forget’s grand ambition is to tickets,” he added.

FOCUS Serena aims to go level with Steffi AFP a defeat that recalled her shock fi rst- calm and I don’t feel stress to, like, have pova out of the picture under a doping Paris round exit at the hands of Virginie Raz- to win. You know, I feel like I just am cloud, the opposition to Williams is ex- zano two years previously. happy to be out here,” she added. pected to come from Europeans in the That defeat to the lowly-ranked French The victory in Italy came at an op- shape of Germany’s Angelique Kerber, erena Williams will have a player resulted in Williams re-dedicating portune moment for Williams as she who upset Williams in Melbourne, two- third go at winning a 22nd Grand herself to the game under the guidance had gone title-less since Cincinnati time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvi- Slam singles title at the French of French coach Patrick Mouratoglou. in the buildup to last year’s US Open. tova of the Czech Republic, 2014 fi nalist Open, which would draw her The result has been spectacular with her There then followed losses in the fi nals Simona Halep of Romania, Poland’s Ag- Slevel with Steffi Graf as the most suc- winning two Wimbledon titles, three of the US and Australian Opens and a nieszka Radwanska, as well as Azarenka. cessful female player in the Open era. consecutive US Opens between 2012 and defeat to main rival Victoria Azarenka But there could be an emerging threat But to do so, the 34-year-old Ameri- 2014, one further championship in Paris at Indian Wells. from her fellow American Madison Keys, can will have to achieve something she and the Australian Open in 2015. A fourth-round loss to Svetlana who ran Williams close in the Rome fi - has so far failed to manage—defend She feels that with age she is now bet- Kuznetsova at Miami saw Williams pull nal, and who seems to have developed a her crown in Paris. Just three of Wil- ter positioned to stay the course as de- down the shutters for a while only for taste for claycourt action at just 21. liams 21 Grand Slam titles have come fending champion in the second of the her to roar back to form in Rome. Asked “I think having a couple of top 10 wins in France—the fi rst in 2002 and then a year’s four Grand Slam tournaments. how relieved she felt to fi nally get an- this week was really big for me and play- long gap until 2013 and 2015. “I have tried to defend there (in Paris) other win—the 70th of her career—un- ing people who have done very well in The year after her inaugural French once, twice, three times before. Didn’t der her belt Williams replied: “It feels Roland Garros and just on clay in gen- Open title, she lost in three tough sets quite work so well,” she said after win- great. But I mean, I have played, let’s eral,” she said. “But I think the biggest to eventual winner Justine Henin— ning the Italian Open on Sunday—her see, US Open, Australian, Miami, Indian thing is just how calm I have stayed on hardly a major upset at that time. But fi rst title triumph in nine months. Wells. So it’s only four tournaments. So court and really, even in tough situations, in 2014 she lost a second-round tie to “But this year is diff erent. I’m going it’s not like I was playing every week.” stayed calm and collected and I feel like young Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, to defi nitely go in there and I feel more With two-time winner Maria Shara- I’m just playing much smarter tennis.” Gulf Times 6 Friday, May 20, 2016 SPORT

GYMNASTICS Unexpected phone call put Biles on path to glory Reuters Ron’s sister took in Shanon’s other children taking their barriers down and 10-times world champion. London two children. While changing one’s SimoneWINS THE Biles STICKWAR: is already Waseem Abbas (R) of before you know it there is uncondi- So when exactly over the last 15 years mindset from being a step-grandpar- beingPakistan hailed celebrates as the best after a goal against South tional love that’s there between both of did Nellie realise that her decision to ent to a parent almost overnight was femaleAfrica. (AFP) gymnast ever us, or between myself and my husband, trade in grandparent duties for that of s she approached her 50th not easy, it is a decision that helped and Simone and her sister. That goes for a mother had been the right call? birthday, Nellie Biles had to make three-times world all around her brothers too, they feel the same way. “I have no idea when it happened thought her days of dealing gold medallist Simone Biles into the “It’s not something you can plan, but it happened at some point when with stroppy teenagers and champion she is. it just happens. Making a decision to all the barriers came down. I would do adolescentA mood-swings would soon “It’s really hard to explain because adopt Simone and her sister... it was anything for those girls. I would kill for be a thing of the past as her two sons you do not one day wake up and decide the best decision we made.” those girls,” Nellie said. were getting ready to fl y the nest and ‘oh good, I’m going to be her mother While to the outside world the Biles As her elder daughter, who is al- head for college. and I’m going to love being her moth- family set-up could be considered ready being hailed by many pundits Then a phone call from a social er’,” Nellie told Reuters in a telephone rather unconventional, to Simone, as the best female gymnast ever, looks worker in Ohio sparked a chain of interview as her 19-year-old daughter things could not have been more nor- to produce fi reworks at the Rio Games events that shattered the dreams of a gets ready to make her Olympic debut mal. “It never aff ected or bothered me with her powerful tumbles and aerial quiet future even before it had begun. at the Rio Games in August. because I was so young, so I don’t re- acrobatics, Nellie had time to refl ect on The caller informed her husband “It wasn’t an easy transition because member anything. It was all very nor- her own relationship with Simone. Ron that his daughter Shanon, who they didn’t have any connection to me mal,” Simone, who will be aiming to “The best thing about being Si- battled alcohol and drug addiction, and I didn’t have any connection to become only the fourth woman to win mone’s mum is looking at your child was incapable of looking after her four them. It was a very trying time for me back-to-back world and Olympic all who sets goals for themselves and young children. because they were not my children, around titles, told Reuters. works very hard towards their goals. By the end of 2000, Nellie and Ron they were related to Ron. “It’s never been an issue. It’s all I’ve And when you see the outcome, it’s found themselves responsible for “I don’t think you could prepare ever known,” added Simone, who still great to be Simone’s mom, it’s a very, the upbringing of a three-year-old yourself for something like that. Being sees Shanon from time to time. very proud feeling. “The worst part of Simone Biles and her toddler sister a grandparent... that’s not something ily of six worked through their feel- slogan that ‘It takes someone strong, The stability that Nellie and Ron of- being Simone’s mom is that at times Adria—having decided to formally you can change. But then making a de- ings in counselling over the next two to make someone strong’ as part of the fered included enrolling Simone into she is a very stubborn 19-year-old adopt Ron’s biological grand-daugh- cision to adopt Simone and her sister...” years. “Over time you take your bar- company’s “Thank You, Mom” Olym- a tumbling programme in Texas after teenager that I could just kill at times,” ters after Shanon’s parental rights were Those initial worries lingered for a riers down and that goes both ways,” pic campaign. a daycare fi eld trip to a gym—a deci- she added as mother and daughter terminated. while and the newly-expanded fam- explained Nellie, who lives up to P&G’s “Me taking my barriers down and the sion that eventually turned her into a both dissolved into laughter.

COMMENT ROUND-UP Japan rider, 75, to miss Tyson Fury tries to Rio record aft er his apologise his way out horse falls ill AFP Tokyo

apanese equestrian rider Hiroshi Hoketsu, 75, is to miss out on be- coming the oldest ever Olympic of jungle of prejudice athlete after his horse fell ill with a cough,J offi cials said yesterday. Hoketsu was set to break the 96-year- ‘Though it is not an excuse, sometimes the heightened media scrutiny has caused me to act out in old record of Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn, who was 72 years and 280 days public. I mean no harm or disrespect to anyone and I know more is expected of me as ambassador when he won his sixth Olympic medal at Antwerp 1920. of British boxing, and I promise in future to hold myself up to the highest possible standard’ Hoketsu, who turned heads as the oldest athlete at London 2012, had been keen to compete at the Games in Au- gust in Rio, in what would have been his fourth Olympics. But he had to ditch his bid after his horse, Brioni W, developed a cough, Ja- pan Equestrian Federation spokeswom- an Azusa Kitano told AFP. “Unfortunately I have given up on the dream of competing in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, because I don’t want to make undue demands on my horse,” Hoketsu said in a statement released by the fed- eration. “For now, I’d like to concentrate on helping the horse get better.” Hoketsu’s previous mount, Whisper, competed with him at the last two Olym- pics, but she was euthanised in 2013 after an infection following surgery. He had been trying to qualify for Ja- pan’s four-member equestrian team in Rio before Brioni W, a 15-year-old geld- ing, fell ill. Hoketsu didn’t elaborate on whether he will now try to break Swahn’s record at the 2020 Olympics on home ground in Tokyo, when he will be 79. “I haven’t de- cided anything yet about the future,” he said in the statement. An appearance at Tokyo 2020 would complete a circle for Hoketsu, whose fi rst Olympics was in the Japanese capital in 1964, when he came in 40th in show jumping. Forty-four years later, in Bei- jing, he was 34th, before placing 41st in London. Japan’s Watanabe among two candidates for FIG presidency Japanese gymnastics chief Morinari Watanabe will be one of two candidates to succeed Bruno Grandi as president of the International Gymnastics Federa- tion, the FIG said yesterday. Watanabe, 57, and France’s Georges Guelzec, the 68-year-old president of the European Gymnastics Union (UEG) were the only two bids received by the By Kevin Mitchell in London were boxing fans—which is not to say has caused me to act out in public. I match with Wladimir Klitschko. never wish anyone to suff er the same. deadline of midnight on May 17. theguardian.com a lot of boxing fans were not appalled mean no harm or disrespect to anyone Rather, it seems he is some times daz- He has many friends of a wide range FIG members will choose a successor also—but their revulsion was driven and I know more is expected of me as zled by the attention and gets a buzz of backgrounds and races and wishes for 82-year-old Grandi, whose fi fth term also by their abolitionist tendencies. an ambassador of British boxing, and I from sharing his thoughts. no ill to anyone of any race, religion or will expire at the end of 2016, during the hen Tyson Fury (pic) They rightly abhor antisemitism, promise in future to hold myself up to For most of his life nobody cared sexual orientation.” FIG Congress in Tokyo scheduled to be strayed again into the but they don’t much like boxing, and the highest possible standard. Anyone what Tyson Fury thought about any- It continues: “Mr Fury is a devout held between October 18-20. weird jungle of prejudice that opened up another front on the who knows me personally knows that thing. But he is a sensitive man, and Christian and a family man. However A former gymnast, Watanabe joined he seems to have con- battlefi eld as bloggers went at it. I am in no way a racist or bigot and I intelligent, too. he accepts that in the past he has said the Japanese Gymnastics Association Wstructed for himself—this time sin- But what did the man himself really hope the public accept this apology.” When a video media outlet known things publicly which are misrepre- in 2001 with the mission of reviving gling out Jews to join his cast of targets think about the hour-long video in- So, to all those who regarded criti- as SportsView London spoke to sentative of his beliefs and usual good Japanese gymnastics after returning – he attracted a mixture of responses. terview he gave? It transpires he also cism of Fury as over the top, knee-jerk him last week, there was no fi lter on character. He appreciates he has a duty without a medal from the 1996 and 2000 His super-defensive fans turned felt sorry for what he said, which may liberalism, listen to the man himself. the content—because that is Fury’s as the heavyweight champion of the Olympic Games. hard and fast on anyone who dared come as a blow to those who were so He has shown courage and dignity. It schtick: he says the fi rst thing that world. He knows it comes with certain Japan have since won medals at every criticise the world heavyweight quick to defend the dreadful senti- cannot be easy to confess so openly to comes into his head, it gets massive responsibilities and anything he says Games since. champion, citing freedom of speech ments of his interview. indulging in prejudice so ill-informed hits on social media and a storm of publicly will be heavily scrutinised. He also headed the organising com- and pointing to what they derided as This is what Fury said in a state- and poorly thought out. protest is the natural consequence “Mr Fury now wishes to move past mittees of the 2009 Rhythmic Gym- soft, politically correct liberal over- ment released last Tuesday: “I apolo- He has a point, too, in saying the much of the time. this and instead concentrate on what nastics World Championships in Mie reaction. gise to anyone who may have taken pressure on him to pronounce on His representatives clearly have he does best, which is boxing, starting and the 2011 Artistic Gymnastics World Others were appalled by Tyson’s off ence at any of my comments. I said demand as the standard bearer for a been stung by the criticism because with his defence of the heavyweight Championships in Tokyo. naive assumption, drawn from an- some things which may have hurt sport that so often is under intense they realised in retrospect the irony of championship of the world in the re- Guelzec, also a former gymnast, com- cient stereotypes, that there actually some people, which as a Christian scrutiny is immense. It is in his nature the situation, which was represented match against Wladimir Klitschko on peted in the 1972 Munich Olympics and was something called an international man is not something I would ever to be open and candid. in the tone of the press release: “As July 9 at the Manchester Arena.” has been UEG president since 2009. Jewish media conspiracy. want to do. It’s doubtful if he makes these a man of Traveller heritage, Mr Fury Like many fi ghting men, Fury is The new president will the the ninth in But these people were from an en- “Though it is not an excuse, some- statements to stir controversy in the has suff ered bigotry and racial abuse safest and most comfortable in the the history of the organisation founded tirely diff erent constituency. Not many times the heightened media scrutiny interest of selling tickets for his re- throughout his life and, as such would space he knows best, the boxing ring. in 1881. Gulf Times Friday, May 20, 2016 7 SPORT

NBA NHL BRIEFS Stewart signs up with Blaze Curry sparkles as AFP Glasgow

iam Stewart, the son of legendary rock- er Rod Stewart, has signed for British ice hockey team Coventry Blaze. While many children of famous mu- Lsicians follow their parents into show business, Warriors roar back Stewart’s son has taken a diff erent path to his iconic father, who has sold over 100 million records worldwide. Liam Stewart was born in London but de- veloped his love for ice hockey in the United States, where he moved to live with his mother, the model Rachel Hunter, in southern Califor- nia at the age of three. to level series 1-1 He played at a junior level with Spokane Chiefs before joining Quad City Mallards and ‘That’s the way we’ve got to play going forward. We’ll get freshened up and get ready for another then making 13 appearances for Alaska Aces last season. Now the 21-year-old will ply his dogfight on Sunday. That’s what this series is going to be about—who wants to be more physical’ trade with Coventry’s Elite League side. “My dad loves it. It’s diff erent from soccer, but he loves the intensity of it,” Stewart told the BBC. “He’s only an hour and a half away, so he’ll be able to get to watch me play more than he’s ever done.” Stephen Curry (30) of the Golden State Liam Stewart does have a strong sporting Warriors goes up for a shot against the heritage as his 71-year-old father is an avid Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 2 Celtic and Scotland football supporter who had of the NBA Playoff s’ Western Conference a trial with Brentford before making it in mu- Finals in Oakland on Wednesday. (AFP) sic. Blaze, who won the Elite League fi ve times in eight seasons between 2003 and 2010, fi n- ished sixth last season.“Liam is a very impor- tant signing for us,” Blaze head coach Danny Stewart said.”He adds to our depth which will be crucial next season.” Montreal Canadiens agree to terms with Reway

The Montreal Canadiens have agreed to terms with forward Martin Reway on a three- year, two-way contract. Reway, 21, completed the 2015-16 season with Fribourg-Gotteron in the Swiss National League A, posting 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 19 games. The 5-foot-9, 173-pound winger began the season with Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga and registered 15 points (fi ve goals, 10 assists) in 14 games. A native of Prague, Czech Republic, Re- way amassed 73 points (22 goals, 51 assists) and 74 penalty minutes in 67 regular-season games since making his pro debut in Europe in 2014- 15. He added one goal and six assists in seven playoff games. Selected in the fourth round of the 2013 NHL draft, Reway participated in the Canadiens’ Development Camp in July 2013. Martenet signs three-year deal with Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars signed defenseman Chris Martenet to a three-year entry-level contract, beginning in the 2016-17 season. Martenet, 19, fi nished the 2015-16 season ranked sixth in the Ontario Hockey League and fi fth on the Lon- don Knights with a career-high plus-44 rat- ing. He registered 12 points (three goals, nine assists) and a career-high 85 penalty minutes in 67 regular-season games in his second sea- son in the OHL. Martenet also had six penalty AFP “That’s the way we’ve got to play of the home crowd it’s a huge boost.” on Monday, overturning a 60-47 there was to be no fi ghtback from the minutes and a plus-3 rating in 18 postseason Oakland going forward,” he added. Asked how he had felt watching halftime defi cit to run out deserved Thunder. games, helping London win the OHL champi- Curry meanwhile played down Curry run riot, Kerr replied: “I feel winners. The Warriors had soon stretched onship and advance to the 2016 Memorial Cup. what looked like a swelling on his great joy. It’s true.” A similarly nail-biting encounter their lead to 20 points, a margin they The 6-foot-7, 200-pound native of St. Louis, teph Curry scored 28 points right elbow which appeared after he Kerr, meanwhile, said he would looked likely in the early exchanges held as they headed into the fourth Mo., was selected by Dallas in the fourth round as the Golden State Warriors tumbled into the stands. have no diffi culty motivating his in game two, with the Thunder al- quarter, ahead 88-68. of the 2015 NHL draft. roared back to life in their “We’ll get freshened up and get team for the challenge of facing Okla- ways managing to stay in touch de- An Andre Iguodala three-pointer Western Conference fi nals ready for another dogfi ght on Sun- homa City on the road. “We knew spite an error-strewn fi rst half char- early in the fourth followed by an seriesS against the Oklahoma City day,” Curry said. “That’s what this we needed to win tonight badly and acterised by several turnovers. emphatic dunk put Golden State 25 Vay set for two-year stint Thunder with an emphatic 118-91 series is going to be about—who we responded well,” Kerr said.”Now Yet the Warriors took control in points clear at 93-68, as the Thun- with Minnesota Wild victory on Wednesday. wants to be more physical.” we’ve got to go there and play well the third quarter with Curry’s devas- der reeled in the face of relentless Curry seized control of the contest Warriors coach Steve Kerr paid and it’s a tough place to play. I don’t tating scoring burst propelling them pressure. The Minnesota Wild have agreed to terms with a spellbinding third-quarter tribute to Curry’s virtuoso display. think we’ll have any problem getting to a double-digit lead. For Oklahoma City, Durant scored with free agent goaltender Adam Vay on a two- points blitz as the Warriors squared “He’s the MVP for a reason and ‘appropriate fear’ from our guys.” A technical foul from Oklahoma a game-high 29 points with one as- year, entry-level contract. Vay, 22, posted a 3.67 the series at 1-1 heading into Sun- he knows he didn’t have his best Thunder coach Billy Donovan City star Kevin Durant had pro- sist and six rebounds while the tal- goals-against average and.911 save percentage day’s game three in Oklahoma City. night in Game One. He came out and agreed Curry’s fl urry changed the vided the impetus, gifting Curry the ismanic Russell Westbrook fi nished in three games for Hungary at the 2016 IIHF The 27-point blowout victory pre- played exceptionally well,” Kerr said. game. “I thought we were in good chance to hit four free-throws to put with 16 points and 12 points. World Championship in Russia this month. served Golden State’s remarkable “It’s business as usual for him. This shape and then they hit us with that Golden State ahead 71-59. Yet in contrast to Monday’s all- Vay appeared in 39 games with Debreceni HK season-long record of never having is what he does.” fl urry,” Donovan said. “Obviously That was swiftly followed by two around Thunder performance, in the MOL League (Hungary and Romania) in suff ered back-to-back defeats. “They were playing well and they we let Curry get loose a few times swaggering three-pointers and an Westbrook and Durant were the only 2015-16 and posted a 2.77 goals-against aver- “Our ball movement was a lot bet- had some momentum; I just know and we need to do a better job in that outside jumper from Curry and sud- two Oklahoma City players to score age,.927 save percentage and two shutouts. Vay ter tonight. We got it going side to we made some stops and Steph got area. They played very well.” denly Golden State were up 79-59. in double fi gures, highlighting the went 28-4-0 with a 2.03 goals-against aver- side and set screens and found eas- loose,” Kerr added. “That’s what Oklahoma City had stunned the Curry eventually was responsible for problems the visitors had penetrat- age,.923 save percentage and fi ve shutouts in ier shots and thankfully they went Steph does, when he can fi nd some reigning NBA champions and their all 15 points of a 15-2 Golden State ing a determined Warriors defensive 32 games with El Paso in the Western States down,” a relieved Curry said. space and make a few threes in front fans at the Oracle Arena in Game One run in the third quarter and this time display. Hockey League in 2014-15.

NHL Penguins down Lightning to seize series lead AFP ed to stick with it and raise our inten- within 2-1 with 14:30 remaining. Pen- mandate yesterday, the IIHF said. The Washington sity level a little bit,” Murray said.”And guins captain Sidney Crosby answered 66-year-old Swiss national, who has that’s what we’ve done.” on a power-play goal with 9:10 re- headed the IIHF since 1994, was the Left wing Hagelin scored on a re- maining, the Canadian center taking a only candidate for the position. hil Kessel and Carl Hagelin bound with 10 seconds remaining in pass from Evgeni Malkin and blasting “I will do everything in my power each scored one goal and set the second period to give the Penguins a kneeling a quick one-touch shot high for the sake of our sport,” Fasel said up another to spark the Pitts- a 1-0 lead. Playmaker Kessel forced a into the net, the puck knocking Vasi- on the sidelines of the IIHF World burgh Penguins in a 4-2 Na- turnover and skated down the wing, levskiy’s water bottle into the air as Hockey Championship in Moscow, Ptional Hockey League playoff victory then fi red a shot off Tampa Bay goal- Pittsburgh seized a 3-1 edge. in comments translated into Russian on Wednesday at Tampa Bay. keeper Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Russian Braydon Coburn’s penalty 57 sec- by Interfax news agency. The vice- The Penguins, seeking their fi rst made the save but Hagelin was in front onds earlier for elbowing Pittsburgh’s presidents of the federation, Bob Ni- NHL crown since 2009, seized a 2-1 of him for the rebound and the Swede Hagelin had given the Lightning the cholson, Thomas Wu and Kalervo lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Con- swatted the puck into the net. one-man disadvantage. The Penguins Kummola, were also re-elected for ference fi nal, which continues today in Pittsburgh outshot the Lightning weren’t fi nished as left wing Chris Ku- four-year mandates. Fasel, who is a Florida. The Penguins-Lightning sur- 21-6 in the second period, dominat- nitz fl ipped in an unassisted goal with dentist by trade, was an international vivor will face the Western Conference ing play before breaking through in 6:48 remaining. hockey referee and served as the presi- winner, either the San Jose Sharks or St. the dying seconds. Kessel doubled the Tampa Bay, which won their only dent of the Swiss Ice Hockey Associa- Louis Blues, in the Stanley Cup fi nal. Penguins’ lead 5:16 into the third pe- NHL title in 2004, trimmed the fi nal tion before heading the IIHF. “We’re doing the right things,” said riod, the US right winger fi nding the margin with 1:44 remaining on a goal Russia face Germany and the Czech Penguins goaltender Matt Murray, net for his seventh goal of the playoff s. by Czech left wing Ondrej Palat. Vasi- Republic take on the United States in who made 26 saves.”We’re trying to “He has got an absolute missile (of levskiy had 44 saves in a losing cause. the quarter-fi nals of the World Cham- play fast, use our speed and make them a shot),” Murray said of Kessel.”You pionships in Moscow. The other quar- have to play in a rush.” never know on which side it’s going to ter-fi nal games taking place in Saint Since dropping the series opener on go and it’s coming quick.” Fasel re-elected for 6th term Petersburg, the tournament’s co-host home ice, the Penguins have bounced But only 14 seconds later, Tampa The long-time president of the Inter- city, will see Canada face off against back with a hustle the Lightning have Bay fi nally solved Murray as Lightning national Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Sweden and Denmark challenge the Pittsburgh Penguins players celebrate a goal against Tampa Bay Lightning during been unable to match. “We just want- center Tyler Johnson pulled the hosts Rene Fasel, was re-elected for a sixth unbeaten Finnish team. Game 3 of the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff s in Tampa, Florida, on Wednesday. (AFP) Gulf Times 8 Friday, May 20, 2016 SPORT

MOTOGP GOLF / IRISH OPEN Inspired Willett Champion Lorenzo sets the pace at Irish Open targets more Reuters winning the year’s fi rst major, London dropped only one shot at the K- Club on the outskirts of Dublin. Four-times major champion S Masters champion McIlroy, the world number three, Danny Willett conjured birdied the 18th at his home up eight birdies in a Open to complete a round of 67, success at Mugello sparkling fi rst-round one shot ahead of young Briton 65U to lead the Irish Open by two Callum Shinkwin and South Af- strokes from Rory McIlroy yes- rican Jaco van Zyl. 'It’s a track that I usually enjoy a lot and where I’ve had some fun in the past' terday. The 28-year-old Willett’s The British world number round of 65 was only one shot off AFP nine, who missed the cut in last the course record set by South Mugello, Italy week’s Players’ Championship African Charl Schwartzel in on his fi rst appearance since 2003.

orld champion Jorge Lorenzo is targeting a fi fth win in six years at the Italian MotoGP in Mugello this weekend to Wreinforce his position at the top of the overall standings. Lorenzo notched his second victory of the season in France last time out as Yamaha recorded a second straight one- two fi nish, with Valentino Rossi runner- up behind the Spaniard at Le Mans. Lorenzo, who pipped Rossi to the title in the fi nal race last year, replaced com- patriot Marc Marquez at the summit after the Honda rider trailed home in 13th at Le Mans following a crash. “At Le Mans we got an important vic- tory and we are leading the championship so we are pretty motivated for the com- ing races, especially the one in Mugello,” said Lorenzo, who has fi nished no lower than second in his previous seven races at Mugello. “(It’s) a track that I usually enjoy a lot and where I’ve had some fun in the past. It’s one of my favourite places to ride.” Rossi is no stranger to success on his home circuit either having reeled off a record seven successive victories from 2002-08, but the Italian admits it’s not always easy to keep his focus in front of an adoring crowd. “I love Mugello and its atmosphere. It’s very diffi cult for me to keep my concen- England’s Danny Willett plays out of the rough at the 15th hole during tration here because there are always so the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at The K Club in many of my friends and fans around, but County Kildare, Ireland, yesterday. (Reuters) the Mugello race is also special for me for that reason,” said Rossi, who is 12 points behind Lorenzo. “I’ve had some victories here, many McIlroy not concerned about great battles and a lot of good memories. I think this year we can be competitive winless start to the year because our bike is good and I’m getting into a good shape.” Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo is targetting his fifth win in six years at the Italian MotoGP in Mugello on Sunday. (Reuters) Rory McIlroy has expressed Marquez, the 2013 and 2014 world frustration at the “negative champion, will aim to atone for a disap- totally free to just focus on the work to do spin” that has been aimed pointing display in France by adding to on track,” said Pedrosa, who has been with at the Northern Irish golfer’s his Mugello victory from two years ago. Honda since his MotoGP debut in 2006. winless start to the season, The 23-year-old had registered four “So far my overall pace in races has adding there is nothing podium fi nishes prior to his Le Mans been better than it could be expected wrong with his game. setback, and Marquez believes the track from practices, so I’m hoping to start The 27-year-old has four layout in Italy -- and next month’s race in strong on Friday (in free practice) and to top 10 finishes in the 10 Barcelona -- will provide something of a keep improving over the weekend.” tournaments he has entered contrasting challenge. since the turn of the year. “We need to focus and concentrate on VINALES TO QUIT SUZUKI FOR Finishing joint third on two Mugello and Montmelo which are two ROSSI’S YAMAHA occasions has been his best very diff erent tracks from both Jerez and Maverick Vinales will ride for Yamaha for showing in 2016. Le Mans,” said Marquez. the 2017 and 2018 seasons, the team an- The world number three last “They require more corner speed and if nounced yesterday. Maverick Vinales triumphed in November when he won the DP World Tour champi- two years ago I would have said that they Vinales, who currently races for Suzuki onships in Dubai, but McIlroy brushed aside concerns about a dip were demanding tracks for us now I think and lies fi fth in the MotoGP Champion- in form. that maybe they can be better.” ship standings, will partner nine-time His racing career highlights include win- replace Vinales, who had his fi rst MotoGP “I know expectations for myself are higher than other players, but His Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa is world champion Valentino Rossi, whose ning the Moto3 World Championship in podium fi nish when he fi nished third in you look at my record this year and my bad weeks are top-10s, a distant fourth with fi ve races gone, but contract renewal was already announced 2013 as well as three ‘Rookie of the Year’ France earlier this month. basically,” McIlroy was quoted in the British media. the three-time championship runner-up in March this year and will likely see out awards in 2011 (125cc), 2014 (Moto2) and Triple MotoGP champion Lorenzo, “It frustrates me that the narrative is, ‘there’s something missing on Monday extended his contract with his career at the top level of motorcycling. 2015 (MotoGP). who leads the standings ahead of this in Rory’s game or what’s wrong with Rory?’. I don’t feel like there’s the Japenese outfi t until 2018. Vinales, 21, made his World Champi- Suzuki said separately that they had weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, anything wrong.” “With our future well lined up we’ll be onship debut in 2011 in the 125cc Class. signed Ducati’s Italian Andrea Iannone to is joining Ducati at the end of the season.

SPOTLIGHT Muirfi eld loses Open aft er rejecting women members

AFP Honourable Company of Edinburgh of the world. If you want to hold your- London Golfers (HCEG), the club, located to the self out there, you have to give an equal east of Edinburgh, had recommended chance to everybody. that they vote in favour of the resolution. “Muirfi eld may go ahead and say we istoric Scottish golf course But after the postal ballot of mem- want to just be a small golf club and Muirfi eld lost its status as a bers failed to reach the required thresh- mind their own business and that’s British Open venue and pro- old, the R&A, which encompasses fi ne, but minding their own business voked a storm of criticism af- the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St isn’t holding the Open, is it?” Hter voting not to admit female members Andrews, announced that it was drop- Paul Lawrie, Open champion in on Thursday. ping Muirfi eld from its 10-course Open 1999, said Muirfi eld’s decision was A proposal to allow female members venue roster. “just not right”. did not receive the required two-thirds “We have consistently said that it is Ruth Holdaway, chief executive of the majority needed, with 387 members -- a matter for the Honourable Company Women In Sport charity, described the or 64 percent -- voting in favour and to conduct a review of its membership decision as “dreadful” and urged current 219 members -- or 36 percent -- voting policy and that we would await their members to leave the club in protest. against. decision,” Slumbers said. Women have played golf at Muirfi eld The R&A, the sport’s joint-ruling “The R&A has considered today’s since 1904. body with the United States Golf As- decision with respect to The Open Women’s and men’s single-sex golf sociation, reacted immediately by an- Championship. The Open is one of the clubs, although reducing in number, nouncing that Muirfi eld will no longer world’s great sporting events and going have been a feature of golf provision in be selected as a venue for the Open, the forward we will not stage the Champi- Great Britain and Ireland and comply oldest of golf’s four majors. onship at a venue that does not admit with equality legislation. “The Open is one of the world’s great women as members.” Muirfi eld has staged the Open on 16 sporting events and going forward we But he added: “If the policy at the occasions since 1892 and most recently will not stage the Championship at a club should change, we would recon- in 2013, when America’s Phil Mickelson venue that does not admit women as sider Muirfi eld as a venue for The Open In this July 18, 2013, picture, Rory McIlroy putts won. It was due to host the Open again members,” said R&A chief executive in future.” on the seventh green during the first round in 2023. Martin Slumbers in a statement. Announcing the result of the ballot, of the 2013 British Open Golf at Muirfield golf Royal Troon, the venue for this year’s Scotland’s political leader, First Min- Muirfi eld captain Henry Fairweather course at Gullane in Scotland. (AFP) Open, is also an all-male club. It will ister Nicola Sturgeon, branded Muir- said: “The Honourable Company is a vote later this year on whether to be- fi eld’s decision “indefensible” and it members club, and, as such, the mem- the clubhouse as guests and visitors, as has women leaders in every walk of life. that sent out “completely the wrong come a mixed club. was slammed by leading golfers includ- bers decide the Rules of the Club, in- they have been for many years.” It is 2016. This is simply indefensible.” message”. Two years ago, St Andrews chose to ing two-time Open-winner Padraig cluding its membership policy. David Evennett, Britain’s acting Ireland’s Harrington, Open cham- admit female members for the fi rst time Harrington. “Women will continue to be wel- TROON TO VOTE Minister for Sport, said it was “an pion in 2007 and 2008, told reporters in its 260-year history, with Royal St In an open letter to members of the come at Muirfi eld on the course and in Sturgeon wrote on Twitter: “Scotland extremely disappointing decision” at the Irish Open: “That’s the reality George’s in Kent following suit last year. Gulf Times Friday, May 20, 2016 9 SPORT

BADMINTON CYCLING Sagan wins S. Korea upset again on Tour China to move into of California AFP Stage fi ve on Thursday sees San Francisco the peloton start in the rolling hills of northern California’s wine country before winding its eigning champion Pe- way to Lake Tahoe in the Sierra ter Sagan extended his Nevada Mountains. Thomas Cup semis record for Tour of Cali- fornia stage victories on Stage 4 results (top ten) Wednesday,R bagging a 15th win in 1. Peter Sagan (SVK/Tinkoff ) 5hr In women's Uber Cup, India will square off with favourites China in semi-finals the American cycling showpiece 16min 33sec on a gruelling fourth stage. 2. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/ AFP The Slovak Tinkoff rider bided BMC) same time Kunshan, China his time before winning a sprint 3. Nathan Haas (AUS/Dimension fi nish at the famed Laguna Seca Data) s.t. motorsport circuit in Monterey, 4. Brent Bookwalter (USA/BMC on Wan-Ho led South Korea in his second triumph of the 2016 Racing) s.t. dashing the Chinese men’s dream race after a victory in Sunday’s 5. Tao Geoghegan-Hart (GBR/ of reclaiming the Thomas Cup fi rst stage. Axeon Hagens Berman) s.t. late Thursday, upsetting the tour- The 2015 world champion had 6. Neilson Powless (USA/Axeon namentS favourites in a shocking 3-1 quar- eff ectively given up hope of re- Hagens Berman) s.t ter-fi nal upset in Kunshan. taining his Tour of California 7. Rohan Dennis (AUS/BMC) s.t. China were forced to fi ght back from crown after a disastrous third 8. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL/ a defi cit early at the world badminton stage which left him with no Katusha) s.t. championship after top ranked Chen chance of challenging in the gen- 9. Rob Britton (CAN/Rally Cy- Long dropped a nail-biting one hour and eral classifi cation. cling) s.t. 27 minute match to ninth ranked Son. But Sagan took consolation 10. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA/Etixx- “He did well and was more patient to- with victory in Wednesday’s Quick Step) s.t. day,” Chen told reporters following the fourth stage, a 134.8 mile (217 12-21, 21-16, 15-21 loss. “I didn’t do well kilometre) run from Morro Bay General classification (top ten) because I think too much.” up California’s scenic Pacifi c 1. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA/Etixx- China’s troubles only deepened when Coast Highway before its climax Quick Step) 18:06:17 sec, South Korea’s Lee Yong-Dae and Yoo at Laguna Seca. 2. Peter Stetina (USA/Trek-Sega- Yeon-Seong unleashed repeated blitzing The 26-year-old took the line fredo) at 22 sec attacks to beat Fu Haifeng and Zhang Nan honors with a time of 5hrs 16min 3. George Bennett (NZL/Lotto in a three-game thriller. 33sec, ahead of Belgium’s Greg NL-Jumbo) 37 Badminton legend Lin Dan briefl y lift- van Avermaet (BMC Racing) and 4. Brent Bookwalter (USA/BMC ed the Chinese fans’ spirits with a 21-10, Australia’s Nathan Haas (Di- Racing Team) 40 21-15 win. mension Data). France’s Julian 5. Neilson Powless (USA/Axeon But momentum appeared fi rmly Alaphilippe of the Etixx-Quick Hagens Berman) 43 against the home team. South Korea’s Step team strengthened his grip 6. Laurens Ten Dam (NED/Team Kim Gi-Jung and Kim Sa-Rang made it on the yellow jersey after fi nish- Giant-Alpecin) 49 offi cial and clinched a spot in the semi- ing in 10th place. 7. Rohan Dennis (AUS/BMC Rac- fi nals with a straight sets triumph in the Alaphilippe leads the general ing Team) 1:01 face of dogged resistance from China’s Li classifi cation with an aggregate 8. Samuel Sanchez (ESP/BMC Junhui and Zheng Siwei. time of 18:06:17, 22 seconds clear Racing Team) 1:01 “Our players tried their best, but they of American rider Peter Stetina 9. Rob Britton (CAN/Rally Cy- lost. It’s unfortunate,” said badminton of the Trek-Segafredo team. cling) 1:12 fan Hai Yanwong, as fellow partisans Lotto’s George Bennett re- 10. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP/Trek- hissed and shouted at the result -- with mains in third place overall. Segafredo) 1:15 one weeping fan escorted out by security. South Korea will face Indonesia in the semi-fi nals on Friday.

CHINA’S WOMEN PREVAIL In the women’s Uber Cup, China ap- peared indomitable as they marched into the semi-fi nals, pummelling Taiwan 3-0. World number three Li Xuerui led the charge out of the gate and breezed past Taiwan’s Pai Yu-po 21-14, 21-17. Wang Shixian kept up the momentum, walloping Hsu Ya-ching 21-16, 21-12, while doubles duo Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei completed the sweep in straight sets in 32 minutes. In earlier play, Lee Chong Wei led Malaysia into the Thomas Cup semis, while there was Uber Cup heartbreak for Ratchanok Intanon as Thailand crashed out against India. Lee, the world number two, kick- started Malaysia’s eff ort with whipping overheads and delicate, cross-court drop shots as he beat Taiwan’s Chou Tien- chen 21-18, 21-18. Afterwards Lee brushed off sugges- tions that pressure was mounting on Ma- laysia’s men as they seek to end their 24- Son Wan Ho of Korea celebrates his victory over Cheng Long of China during their men's singles quarter-finals group match in the year drought at the Thomas Cup. Thomas Cup badminton tournament in Kunshan, China, yesterday. (AFP) “A win for today and then I’ll focus on tomorrow,” said Lee, who is eyeing a Malaysia will face the tournament’s packing 3-1. dapol 21-16, 21-18 as India clinched it 3-1. maiden Olympic title in Rio de Janeiro in second seed Denmark in the semi-fi nals, On the women’s side, second-ranked “We thought we had less of a chance August. after the Danes earned a dramatic 3-2 win Ratchanok utilised her crafty backhand after Saina losing,” said Shivani. “Our Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin over Japan late on Thursday. and sliced forehands as she beat Olympic fi rst step was to beat the Thai team... so thrashed Hsu Jen-hao before doubles Indonesia also reached the Thomas bronze medallist Saina Nehwal 21-19, 21-12. we’ll decide what to do (in the semis) team Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong Cup semis thanks to strong singles per- But Pusarla V. Sindhu made short work now.” won the decisive match as Malaysia formances from Tommy Sugiarto and of Busanan Ongbumrungphan and Gadde India will square off with tournament clinched it 3-1. Jonatan Christie as they sent Hong Kong Ruthvika Shivani beat Nitchadon Jin- favourites China in the semi-fi nals. Tinkoff ’s Slovak rider Peter Sagan

CYCLING / GIRO D'ITALIA Greipel thanks Lotto aft er third stage win, then quits

AFP said Greipel. “But the team and LOTTO SHOW THE WAY and then I could accelerate in his Bibione, Italy myself decided I would go home After a hard day riding in rain slipstream,” explained Greipel. and leave the Giro today to pre- and tough winds, the welcome “It worked out really good. pare for the upcoming goals.” changes also allowed the sprint- I wanted to do the sprint from ermany’s Andre Greipel Bob Jungels (Etixx) retained ers and their teams a full reign in the corner and I’m happy that it saluted a Lotto team the race leader’s pink jersey the fi nal lap. worked out like that.” masterclass that de- ahead of the 13th stage on Friday, But it was Greipel’s Lotto team On the home straight the big livered him to his third a 170km race between Palmanova who showed the rest how to race. German hit the accelerator and Gsprint victory of the Giro d’Italia and Cividale del Friuli. After chasing down the last when Ewan tried to sneak up in- after a fl at 182-kilometre 12th But with the steep ascents and remnants of an earlier breaka- side the barriers in the fi nal 200 stage from Noale to Bibione. hair-raising descents of climbs way, Daniel Oss (BMC) and metres, Greipel promptly closed “It was amazing to follow the such as the Monte Zoncolan and Mirco Maestri (Bardiani), with the door. wheels of my teammates today,” Monte Crostis on the menu, the 23km remaining, the red Lotto It is Greipel’s third stage win of said Greipel. Luxemburger could see his race jerseys took over at the front this year’s race and sixth in total, The Lotto team sprinter, lead come under attack from big- with a pace that had the peloton having won stages in 2008, 2010 claiming his sixth win over- ger favourites like Alejandro Val- strung out, and many trailing and 2015. all from the race, held off a late verde (Movistar) or 2013 cham- off the back. challenge from Australia’s Caleb pion Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). When Lotto came under threat Stage 12 results Ewan to fi nish two bike lengths Given the technical fi nish of from the IAM and Lampre teams 1. Andre Greipel (Lotto) 4:16:00” ahead of the Orica rider. the 12th stage -- a 10km circuit keen to unhinge Lotto’s plans, 2. Caleb Ewan (Orica) ST With the tough mountains with 16 sharp bends that was to they promptly restored order. 3. Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek) stages up ahead, Greipel -- who be raced twice -- organisers de- A sharp bend coming around 4. Sacha Modolo (Lampre) announced earlier yesterday he cided to neutralise the fi nal lap. 400 metres from the fi nish line 5. Alexander Porsev (Katusha) would quit the race -- will now With no bonus seconds to race meant timing was crucial, but 6. Moreno Hofland (LottoNL) return home to prepare for “oth- for at the fi nish, and times be- Greipel stayed on his last re- 7. Ivan Savitsky (Gazprom) er goals”. ing taken from the fi rst passage maining teammate’s wheel to 8. Heinrich Haussler (IAM Cy- “My season is full of goals and of the fi nish line, the pink jersey corner well. cling) of course I’m not happy to pull contenders knew they could stay “The plan was Jurgen Roe- 9. Rick Zabel (BMC Racing) out of the Giro with the red jer- safe and lose no time with re- landts would hit the last corner 10. Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani Germany’s Andre Greipel celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 12th stage of the Giro d’Italia sey (for the points competition),” spect to their rivals. fi rst, and leave a little bit of a gap Valvole) from Noale to Bibione in Italy yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times 10 Friday, May 20, 2016 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT RUGBY Cheika to Mighty China rethinks abstain from Hayne its sporting obsession as hunt Reuters Sydney Rio Olympics approach ichael Cheika is hap- py to talk to Jarryd Hayne if his mission to play rugby sevens China’s sports system has been successful since the country returned to the Olympic fold in 1980 Mwith Fiji at the Olympics falls through but the Wallabies coach Reuters will not go out of his way to woo Shanghai the former National Football League player. Sydney-born Hayne dropped hange is unfolding at Shanghai’s No1 Chil- a bombshell earlier this week by dren’s Sports School Pudong New Area, a quitting the NFL after a single small cog in a state-run machine that has season with the San Francisco churned out Chinese Olympic champions A coach helps a girl during gymnastics lessons 49ers and announcing his bid forC three and a half decades. China’s sports system for the Rio de Janeiro Games. at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic has been enormously successful since the country School in Shanghai, China. (Reuters) But the former rugby league in- returned to the Olympic fold in 1980, culminating ternational has only this week- with the host nation topping the medals’ table at end’s London Sevens to impress the 2008 Beijing Olympics with only a slight dip Fiji coach Ben Ryan and has not into second place behind the United States in Lon- yet been guaranteed game-time don four years later. at the tournament. Due to eli- And yet, with the Rio de Janeiro Games less than gibility rules, Hayne’s selection three months away, the system is beginning to for Fiji would preclude him from break down due to the shifting demographics of a ever playing international rugby more prosperous nation. for Australia. If Ryan overlooked It poses a big challenge to the school’s party him, however, Hayne could still committee secretary, Huang Qin, whose institu- play for the Wallabies if he fi rst tion is one of 2,183 around the country producing committed to playing for a local 95 percent of the country’s Olympians. Fewer par- Super Rugby club. ents are willing to let their children endure gruel- “I’d be lying if I said: “Ah, no’ ling training routines from as young as six years of and tried to play it cool (about age, leading to a fall in student numbers. Hayne),” Cheika told reporters Some schools have closed and others are ad- in Sydney yesterday. “Of course justing the way they work. The number of sport he’d go well in Super Rugby. schools is down from 3,687 in 1990, government You’ve seen his form in rugby numbers show. “In the 1980s and 1990s, schools league before, you’ve seen what like ours were extremely attractive,” Huang said, Israel (Folau) has done in rugby recalling a time when families were poorer and as well, you’ve seen what many generous sports subsidies were more highly prized. other players who have come The school’s alumni include former Olympians across have done. But we’re go- such as hurdler Chen Yanhao and female footballer ing on a strategy more about Xie Huilin. “(But) parents are less willing now to players who want to come and send their child to sports schools if they perform did not pass its academic entrance exams, and tells play rugby. A player will always fairly well in exams...The source of students for parents it wants to use sports training to educate succeed when they want to come sports schools has shrunk as society placed more rather than as an end-goal, according to principal over -- not chase them and try importance on cultural education.” Sheng Maowu. and force them to change their Debates about the continued relevance of the “A lot of sport schools are moving in this direc- mind. “I’ve only met Jarryd a sports school system began to emerge around the tion...but this is a painful process,” he said. couple of times, he knows what 2008 Beijing Olympics, Huang and other schools “At present the existing thought is that educa- the game’s about, he knows what said, as emerging tales of diffi culties facing retired tion and training are two diff erent routes -- if you league’s about, he’s obviously athletes jarred against rising expectations of edu- want to be a world champion you cannot study. involved in the sevens. He’s an cation standards among China’s booming middle- This belief is wrong...and at the end of the day very achiever and he’ll succeed in class. The country’s declining birth rate as a result few become champions.” whatever he decides but that of China’s one-child policy has not helped either, The government does not publish student en- choice is totally up to him.” along with its cut-throat education system, which rolment at its sports schools, but there are signs A sublimely talented fullback sees Chinese students spend twice as much time that the changing landscape has already begun to in rugby league, Hayne defi ed on homework a day compared to the global aver- impact China’s pool of sporting talent. In April, the odds to win a contract as a age. Beijing responded to these concerns in 2010 the China Sports Daily reported that the number of running back at the 49ers but by issuing a new policy, known as document 23, Chinese athletes training to be table tennis players struggled to cement his spot. A ordering sport schools to improve teaching stand- had fallen by almost a quarter since 1987 to 23,266. number of Australia’s top-fl ight ards and to give more support to retired athletes. “In this changing situation, we must re-exam- National Rugby League (NRL) At the No.1 Children’s Sports School Pudong ine the traditional training system and model for clubs have expressed interest in New Area, Huang said it had improved its teacher competitive sports,” Liu Shaonong, head of the Hayne, who won two Dally M training. Three years ago, it also relaxed a 40-year table tennis and badminton centre of China’s Gen- medals as the competition’s best tradition of requiring its entire student cohort to eral Administration of Sport, was quoted as saying. player when at Sydney’s Parram- study, train and live full-time on campus. Reform, however, is proving slow to take root. atta Eels. Now, more than half of the school’s 700 athletes In March, a government survey found that some Securing a player of Hayne’s study at other schools. Of its remaining 300 or so schools inspected across nine cities and provinces profi le would be a marketing full-time students, about 10 percent live off -cam- did not spend enough money on education, and coup for Australian rugby, which pus. Other schools like the Shanghai Yangpu Youth some local education departments paid little at- has a much smaller following Amateur Athletic School, are going into kinder- tention to making improvements in line with doc- than the 13-man code. Austral- gartens to advertise gymnastics as an after-school ument 23, according to state media. But athletes ian Rugby Union boss Bill Pulver play time activity to parents.”We call it happy like Wang Linwen, a 25-year-old former profes- said the governing body had not gymnastics,” said principal Zhu Zengxiang. sional athlete who represented Shanxi province in sounded out Hayne on a switch At Beijing’s Shichahai, adorned with posters wushu, a martial art, said reforms, no matter how to rugby but said his door was extolling the feats of ex-students turned Olym- little, were crucial for those still willing to enter wide open. “Sadly, we didn’t pic champions, vice-head Zhang Jing said the sports schools. For fi ve years until she retired in get a call from Jarryd Hayne,” he school off ered “comprehensive development” and 2009, her weekdays were spent training with only told reporters. “He would be ab- equipped athletes with the skills needed for life the weekends for studying, she said. “I lost a lot solutely welcome to play rugby after sport. The Shanghai Sports School, whose because I didn’t experience the education system,” here in Australia, he’s a truly elite alumni include former Olympic swimming cham- she said.”(Reform) is good, that way sports school Girls do handstands during gymnastics lessons at the Shanghai Yangpu Youth Amateur Athletic School international athlete so we’d love pion Liu Zige, began in 2012 to reject athletes that students won’t come out knowing nothing.” in Shanghai. (Reuters) to have him.”

WRESTLING Doping fi ndings rough India grapple with wrestling selection dilemma for athletics: Bolt Reuters upgraded to a silver four years later in London. New Delhi Kumar is the only Indian athlete to win two Prague: Olympic sprint champion Usain individual Olympic medals but his hopes of a Bolt said the finding of 31 positive doping third hit a stumbling block with his move into samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics ndia are grappling with a dilemma over the 74kg category, the same as Yadav, who is marked a rough point for athletics, but who to select between the logical can- desperate to step out of his illustrious compa- backed the World Anti-Doping Agency in didate or a sentimental favourite as the triot’s shadow. its eff ort to crackdown on drug use in the country’s representative in men’s 74kg With only one quota place per country avail- sport. Ifreestyle wrestling at the Rio Olympics. able in each weight division, the duo are now Thirty-one athletes from six sports could Since winning India’s quota place by cap- locked in an unsavoury tussle, though Yadav be banned from this year’s Rio Olympics turing a bronze medal at last year’s World remains the likely man to fl y to Rio. “We follow after failing dope tests when 454 samples Championship in Las Vegas, Narsingh Ya- the tradition of sending whoever has earned were re-examined from the 2008 Games, dav had more or less taken his ticket to Brazil the quota. Now if we allow a trial in one cat- the International Olympic Committee said for granted. With the Wrestling Federation egory, it might lead to chaos with similar de- on Tuesday. of India (WFI) also backing the 26-year-old, mands in other categories,” Tomar said by tel- “It’s rough in the sport,” the it seemed his place was certain until double ephone. six-times Olympic Champion told British Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar approached “We feel a trial would be an injustice to media.”Something that’s been tarnishing the Delhi High Court on Monday demanding Narsingh. The whole episode has already put the sport for years.” a match between the pair to determine who him under pressure and with only two months The IOC said it would begin re-testing should compete in Rio. to go, Narsingh is peaking at the right time and athletes likely to take part in the Rio Games “As asked by the court, we heard Sushil and an injury in a trial would undo all that hard to prevent any drug cheats from compet- noted his point. We’d submit our observations work.” ing. “Hopefully, we can take steps forward and will wait for the court’s instruction,” WFI Also unhappy with the scenario but for dif- in making the sports better and in the com- assistant secretary Vinod Tomar told Reuters ferent reasons, Kumar has questioned the logic ing years we won’t have these problems,” yesterday. behind the government funding his overseas said Bolt, 29. Wrestling maintains a low-profi le in crick- training when Yadav was always the unani- “But I think it’s a process, and I think over et-obsessed India but the selection conun- mous choice for Rio. time we will get better because they’re drum has snowballed into a crisis, largely be- “Well, the government has been spending on (WADA) doing such a good job.” cause of Kumar’s lofty stature in India. Narsingh’s training as well. It’s not a question Bolt will take part in the 100m at the The 32-year-old has been the face of Indian of Sushil or Narsingh. Nobody can undermine Golden Spike IAAF World Challenge in wrestling since winning the 66kg freestyle Sushil’s contribution but there should not be Narsingh Yadav earned India’s quota place in men’s 74kg freestyle wrestling at the Rio Olympics Ostrava in the Czech Republic today. bronze in the 2008 Beijing Games, which he an injustice to Narsingh either,” Tomar added. by capturing a bronze medal at last year’s World Championship in Las Vegas. Gulf Times Friday, May 20, 2016 11 CRICKETSPORT

IPL Smith, Raina lift Gujarat to easy victory over Kolkata Smith stars with his medium pace bowling as Gujarat restrict KKR to 124 and then chase down the target with ease

IANS Kanpur Gujarat Lions' Dwayne Smith (right) celebrates after dismissing ujarat Lions overcame a scary Kolkata Knight Riders' Shakib Al start to not only beat Kolkata Hasan during the Indian Premier Knight Riders (KKR) by six League at Green Park stadium in wickets at the Green Park Kanpur yesterday. (AFP) GStadium here yesterday but also vault to the second spot of the Indian Pre- mier League table. Skipper Suresh Raina, who missed the previous match following the birth of his daughter in Holland, led from the front with an unbeaten 53 to an- chor the team to their eighth win with 27 balls to spare. Chasing a modest 125, the Lions had the most forgettable of starts with opener Dwayne Smith perishing to the very fi rst ball while his partner Bren- don McCullum (6) joined him soon in the dugout leaving the hosts at 18/2. Smith, who took 4/8 to restrict KKR to 124, failed to open his account as pacer Ankit Rajpoot got him caught behind while West Indian mystery spinner Sunil Narine’s seam-up deliv- ery trapped the former New Zealand skipper plumb in front. Next in skipper Raina and wicket- keeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik (12) looked good to add 20 runs for the third wicket before the Tamil Nadu right-hander was clean bowled by South African Morne Morkel with a full delivery. Karthik’s dismissal brought in Aus- tralian power-hitter Aaron Finch (26), who put on 59 runs for the fourth wicket with Raina before a collision in the middle sent him back. Finch, who looked good to stay till the end, blasted two massive sixes and a four in his 23-ball knock. With the team needing 28 from 61 balls, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (11) joined his skipper and the left-handed duo completed the formalities with- out any hiccups. For the visitors, Morkel, Narine and Rajpoot took one wicket each. Fourth- placed KKR will now have to win their last league match if they are to stay in overs. More than his bowling, it was Gautam Gambhir (8) got a life in the short midwicket and the two batsmen reeled at 44/3 in 6.2 overs. holed out by Eklavya Dwivedi at third the hunt for the IPL play-off s. the poor shot selections that led to third over off the bowling of medium were in confusion to take the single. KKR promoted Piyush Chawla (11) man. Later, Pathan and Suryakumar Earlier, Smith starred with his gen- dismissals of Kolkata batsmen. pacer Pravin Kumar as the left-hand- Afterwards, it was all about Smith to enable their main batsmen bat at Yadav (17) threatened but the latter fell tle medium pace bowling as Gujarat It was Yusuf Pathan’s run-a-ball 36 ed batsman off ered a diffi cult catch to as the West Indian took wickets regu- the death if the leg-spinner managed soon. But Pathan hit a six and three restricted KKR to 124 for eight in their that ensured that Kolkata managed to Smith at slip. larly. His fi rst wicket was Manish Pan- to score some but he too perished, be- fours to help their team reach 124-8. 20 overs. cross the 120-run mark while opener However, Gambhir failed to make dey (1), who edged it to Raina at second ing bowled by Smith through his de- BRIEF SCORES Coming in to bowl in the fourth Robbin Uthappa contributed 25 runs. the most of it as he was run out by slip, and Uthappa was next to go as he fence. Kolkata Knight Riders 124-8 (Yusuf over, Smith almost ran through the Asked to bat in the must-win tie for a direct throw from Shadab Jakati failed to negotiate a bouncy delivery, Smith dealt another blow to Kolkata Pathan; Dwayne Smith 4-8) lost to KKR and by the time he got his fourth both the teams, Kolkata never got the short midwicket after Uthappa played only to be caught behind by wicket- as Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Gujarat Lions (Suresh Raina 53, Aaron wicket, the visitors were 61-5 in 11.3 momentum right from the start. a Smith delivery in the next over to keeper Dinesh Karthik, as the visitors Hasan employed an upper cut and was Finch 26, Naarin 1/30).

ROUND-UP FOCUS Afridi sets sights on Pak comeback Strauss backs D/N Tests

AFP from June 3. Brathwaite and Marlon Samu- AFP Karachi els, who played key roles in West Indies’ Leeds, United Kingdom World T20 triumph earlier this year, have also been included but the squad does not ormer Pakistan captain Shahid include allrounder Andre Russell, Sammy, ndrew Strauss said yes- Afridi (right) said yesterday he Bravo and Gayle, all involved in Indian Pre- terday he was in favour hopes to force his way back into na- mier League cricket. of day/night Tests as tional contention and put the dis- The squad includes two players who are one of his fellow Eng- astrousF World Twenty20 behind him with yet to play in ODIs for the West Indies -- landA and Wales Cricket Board a strong return to English club Hampshire off -spinner Ashley Nurse, who was part of offi cials said it was just a matter this season. the World T20-winning squad last month, of time before such a match was The 36-year-old was not included in and fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, who has played in the sport’s birthplace. an ongoing boot camp ahead of Pakistan’s played 16 Test matches. Attendances for Test cricket in tour of England that begins in July, with The day/night series starts in at the Guy- England have held up well com- many pundits suggesting it was time for ana National Stadium from June 3-7 and pared to many other countries. the fl amboyant all-rounder to call time on then moves to Warner Park, St Kitts (June And there is a view that, with his two-decade long career. Afridi issued 11-15) before concluding at Kensington Oval, the English cricket season co- a video apology to the cricket-mad nation Barbados (June 19-26). inciding with the longest day- after Pakistan’s exit at the group stages of WEST INDIES SQUAD light hours in Britain’s calendar, the WorldT20, and his leadership style was Jason Holder (capt), Sulieman Benn, Carlos there is no great need for radical slammed in separate leaked reports by then Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, change. But the way spectators coach Waqar Younis and team manager In- Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Shannon fl ocked to the fi rst Test played tikhab Alam -- both since sacked. Gabriel, Sunil Narine, Ashley Nurse, Kieron under fl oodlights between Aus- “It was disappointing that people lied Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels, tralia and New Zealand in Ad- and tried to drag my name in the mud,” he Jerome Taylor elaide in November has not gone told AFP, without directly referring to the unnoticed by former England leaks.”They tried to save their positions and KING KOHLI CROWNED AS captain Strauss, despite con- ECB’s director of England cricket Andrew Strauss then I was subjected to a trial by media,” he IPL’S HIGHEST EVER SCORER cerns from players regarding the added.”We played badly and lost but it was 42 balls in the T20 semi-fi nal defeat to Som- Virat Kohli smashed an unprecedented visibility of the pink ball deemed Strauss has already been re- tain Michael Vaughan told BBC not correct to blame one man only. It was a erset, cementing his place as a fan favourite. fourth century of the Indian Premier League necessary for day/night matches. sponsible for introducing one Radio. “I think T20 cricket and collective failure.” “I have played for Hampshire before and (IPL) season -- despite nursing a fi nger in- “There’s much more of a will innovation this English season Test cricket is a diff erent sport. Afridi, who retired from one-day interna- enjoyed the stint and I am going to have jury -- to become the tournament’s highest around the world to embrace in the form of the ‘Super Series’. The focus has to be how do we tionals last year and from Tests six years ago, another blast this time around as well,” he ever run-scorer. Kohli, who batted with nine day-night Tests,” Strauss, now Taking a cue from the women’s make Test cricket stand alone. By said he was looking forward to returning to insisted. Pakistan are set to play four Tests, stitches after splitting the webbing in his the ECB’s director of England Ashes, for the fi rst time in men’s bringing them all together, you Hampshire for the fi rst time since 2011. “It fi ve one-day internationals and a Twenty20 left hand in the previous game, bludgeoned cricket, told BBC Radio. “There’s cricket points will be on off er in will dilute Test match cricket. will help me force my way back in the Pa- on the tour of England. 113 runs off 50 balls to reach 4,002 runs in still some niggley issues, but, in all the matches between Eng- “The administrators have to kistan Twenty20 team and I will always be In September and October, they will host the Twenty20 competition. principle, I’m for it,” he added land and Sri Lanka to produce look at Test cricket. They have to ready to play for my country,” he said. the West Indies in a series either in United Kohli surpassed Indian batsman Suresh in an interview broadcast dur- an overall winner across all three make promotion and relegation, Once a leading light in the game’s shortest Arab Emirates or Sri Lanka. Raina’s record of 3,985 runs as he led the ing the opening day’s play in the international formats -- Tests, so there’s a relevance.” format who helped his country to their only Royal Challengers Bangalore to another fi rst Test between England and one-day internationals and But Strauss defended the new WorldT20 win in 2009, Afridi’s form has GAYLE, SAMMY, BRAVO MISS crushing win against Kings XI Punjab on Sri Lanka at Headingley. “If peo- Twenty20 matches. system by saying: “This is one slumped badly in recent times. He managed WINDIES TRI-NATION SERIES Wednesday. The in-form 27-year-old this ple can come after work and see But while the rationale in the way of providing extra context. only 107 runs across his last 10 matches at an Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy and Dwayne week also became the highest run-getter a stunning spectacle in the fi ve- women’s game -- where far few- There is no harm in trying things. average of 13.4 -- almost half of them com- Bravo were all left out of the West Indies in a single season, and he now stands at day format, I’m for it.” er fi xtures take place in a bilateral We see quite diff erent audiences ing from a 49 against Bangladesh. squad for the fi rst four tri-nation one-day 865 runs in 13 games. Kohli is the fi rst bats- His comments were backed up series and often with no Tests for the three formats and this is His once sharp leg-bowling has also international series while T20 matchwinner man to hit four tons in a single T20 season, by ECB chairman Colin Graves, at all or just a lone long-format a way of connecting them to- fallen away, managing seven wickets over Carlos Brathwaite has been included. which, along with fi ve half-centuries, has who said: “You can’t turn your clash -- is clear, many pundits gether.” Meanwhile Graves in- the same period at an average of 36.0 and a Off -spinner Sunil Narine and all-rounder taken his average to 86.50 in this year’s com- back on it, it will happen. We just are unconvinced by the need sisted the ECB were committed best return of 2/27. But he has enjoyed suc- Kieron Pollard, who have not played inter- petition. Kohli and teammate AB de Villiers have to decide when it is going to for something similar in men’s to supporting England’s existing cess for English clubs throughout his career. national cricket since November 2015, were also shared a record 229-run second-wicket happen. We’re doing a lot of work cricket. 18 fi rst-counties, saying “two or Turning out for Hampshire in 2011, he took included in the 14-man squad for the series stand last week, the highest partnership in on it and we’d love to see day/ “I don’t get it. It doesn’t rock three” had been saved from in- 17 wickets in 10 matches and thumped 80 off against Australia and South Africa starting the history of T20 cricket. night cricket.” my boat,” former England cap- solvency in the past year. Friday, May 20, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Qatar Olympic Committee announces Rio Legacy Project ‘Shine’ will provide support and assistance to Rio de Janeiro’s talented young athletes

By Correspondent training programmes. Its world-class facilities Rio de Janeiro have also played host to a number of high pro- fi le sporting events, including the 2006 Asian Games, 2010 World Indoor Athletics Champi- he QOC has yesterday announced de- onships, and the annual Gymnastics World Cup. tails about its ‘Shine’ project, which The QOC also today unveiled its ambitious offi cials hope will deliver a compelling plans to host ‘Bayt Qatar’, its unifying hospital- legacy from the Rio 2016 Games. ity house for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Casa TThe project will provide an opportunity for Daros, a former museum and historical heritage underprivileged young athletes from across Rio site in Botafogo, will be transformed into a ven- de Janeiro to train at Qatar’s world-class facili- ue that will share Qatar’s culture, heritage and ties at the Aspire Academy for Sporting Excel- passion for sport with the world. lence, with specialised coaching and sports sci- Utilising the very latest in innovation and ence support. technology, visitors will be able to travel on an The QOC, Qatar Athletics Federation and interactive journey of Qatar to experience and Aspire Academy have partnered with Futuro understand its history, traditions and develop- Olimpico, an NGO founded by Brazil’s Olympic ment into the global sports hub that it is today. bronze medallist from Atlanta ‘96, Arnaldo de The hospitality house will also bring together Oliveira, and the Rio de Janeiro Athletics Fed- Qatari and Brazilian food, music and art in a eration to identify Brazil’s most talented young unique fusion of the two countries, bridging athletes to participate in the project. An athlet- sport, culture, education and diversity in a true ics competition held on 22nd May will see al- celebration of life. most 200 athletes battle it out to become one of Speaking about Bayt Qatar, Director of Mar- ten winners of the trip to Doha. keting and Communications at the Qatar Olym- Speaking about Shine, Secretary General of pic Committee, Sheikha Asmaa Al Thani, said: the Qatar Olympic Committee, Dr Thani Al Ku- “Casa Daros will provide a spectacular setting wari, said: “The Qatar Olympic Committee is to showcase Qatar’s culture, heritage and com- fully committed to the IOC’s Olympic Agenda mitment to developing sport at every level. Qa- 2020 reforms, particularly in terms of strength- tar is a nation passionate about sport and we are ening sport in society, spreading the Olympic very proud to be a part of the Olympic Move- values, and blending sport, education, and cul- ment. We have no doubt that Brazil will stage a ture. We believe in the power of sport to change vibrant, stunning and inspirational spectacle of lives. We are determined to ensure that we sport this summer, and we cannot wait to unite grasp the opportunity of the Rio 2016 Games to our cultures, share our passion for sport and life, deliver a true, meaningful legacy for Brazil’s and celebrate Olympism at Bayt Qatar.” young athletes. Members of the public will be asked to make "Through Shine, the QOC aims to utilise its a small donation to Futuro Olimpico in order to resources and commitment to the global devel- enter the house, further strengthening the sup- opment of sport to provide support and assist- port that the NGO will receive through its part- ance on the young athletes’ journeys to become nership with the QOC and enabling more young Brazil’s next Olympic heroes.” athletes to benefi t from the transformational Futuro Olimpico was founded in 2007 with power of sport. Following the Rio 2016 Games, the goal of taking athletics to students at Rio Casa Daros will be converted into a Brazilian bi- de Janeiro’s public schools. Currently around lingual public school called ‘Eleva School’. 200 students participate in the project, which As a further legacy from the Rio 2016 Games, off ers them support not only on sports matters the QOC will contribute to the installation and but also provides them with education, medical, implementation of the school’s library. social and psychological assistance. Speaking Bayt Qatar will be open for the duration of about Shine, Arnaldo de Oliveira, said: the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and further details The QOC, Qatar Athletics Federation and Aspire Academy have partnered with Futuro Olimpico, an NGO founded by Brazil’s Olympic bronze medallist “We are so grateful to the Qatar Olympic will be released over the coming months. in 1996, Arnaldo de Oliveira, and the Rio de Janeiro Athletics Federation to identify Brazil’s most talented young athletes to participate in the project. Committee for providing this fantastic oppor- tunity, which will assist the future careers of these talented athletes from Rio de Janeiro. I am so pleased that the Rio 2016 Olympic Games are providing an opportunity for Brazil and Qatar to unite in support of the development of young athletes who might not otherwise have the chance to fulfi l their potential. I am very excited to start our partnership and see the results over the months and years ahead.” The Aspire Academy for Sporting Excellence aims to identify and develop the best young ath- letes in Qatar, whilst providing them with high quality education. Its most notable graduate is high jumper Mutaz Barshim, the current World Indoor Champion, who this year will aim to be- come Qatar’s fi rst-ever Olympic Champion. The academy regularly hosts training camps for Asia’s most talented young athletes ena- bling them to enhance their development and performance through tailored and optimised QOC also unveiled plans for Bayt Qatar, its unifying hospitality house for Rio 2016

AL RAYYAN CLINCH QFA FUTSAL CUP CRICKET Hales, Bairstow revive England aft er Shanaka triple strike

Reuters Leeds

lex Hales and Jonny Bairstow led England’s recovery from a poor start as the hosts reached 171 for fi ve before rain ended the opening day ofA the fi rst Test against Sri Lanka in Leeds yesterday. Hales and Bairstow shared an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 88 to revive the hosts, who collapsed to 83 for fi ve after Sri Lanka seam bowler Dasun Shanaka picked up three quick wickets on his debut. Al Rayyan beat arch-rivals Al Sadd 2-1 in the final to win the Qatar Football Association Futsal Cup Hales moved on to 71 not out, his highest at the Qatar Sports Club Indoor Hall. Test score, with Bairstow unbeaten on 54 at tea and persistent rain prevented any play in the fi nal session to leave the match fi nely poised. Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the toss in overcast conditions at Head- ingley and England openers Alastair Cook and Hales negotiated the fi rst hour with Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka (left) celebrates after dismissing England’s Alastair Cook. (Reuters) few alarms in a partnership of 49. The game changed, however, when Shanaka came on. with England reeling at 51 for three. launched spinner Rangana Herath over long- Bowling a full length, the 24-year-old dis- Vince survived to lunch and hit two fl uent on for six before posting a half-century for missed captain Cook for 16 with his seventh fours after the interval on his way to nine, but the seventh time in Tests. delivery before removing Nick Compton and he perished when another drive off Shaminda SCOREBOARD Joe Root for ducks in an inspired spell. Eranga fl ew straight to Kusal Mendis at gully. England 1st innings Cook, needing 36 runs to become the fi rst Ben Stokes played in typically aggressive A. Cook c Chandimal b Shanaka 16, A. Hales not Englishman to reach 10,000 in Tests, looked fashion, striking three fours in his 12, but he out 71, N. Compton c Thirimanne b Shanaka in good form until he drove rashly at a wide carelessly chipped Nuwan Pradeep to Math- 0, J. Root c K. Mendis b Shanaka 0, J. Vince c ball from Shanaka and was caught by wick- ews at mid-on to leave England tottering on K. Mendis b Eranga 9, B. Stokes c Mathews b etkeeper Dinesh Chandimal. Compton, un- 83 for fi ve. Hales and Bairstow, however, dug Pradeep 12, J. Bairstow not out 54; der pressure for his place at number three, in. The former, trying to cement his place at Extras (lb-7 nb-1 w-1) 9 was undone by a full delivery just outside off the top of the order, reached his second Test Total (for 5 wickets, 53 overs) 171 stump which he edged low to Lahiru Thir- fi fty and struck 12 fours while Bairstow was Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-49, 3-51, ,4-70, 5-83 imanne at fi rst slip. Root was caught at gully his usual busy self at the crease. Bowling: S. Eranga 10-3-34- 1(nb-1), N. Pradeep following another loose drive and James The wicketkeeper, who survived two 12-6-26-1, A. Mathews 6-1-24-0, D. Chameera 10-0- Vince arrived at the crease on his Test debut confi dent lbw appeals following reviews, 33-0, D. Shanaka 9-3-30-3(w-1), R. Herath 6-1-17-0