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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015 SPORTS

Junaid out of World Cup Huth joins Leicester Hamburg sign Diaz LONDON: Stoke City defender Robert Huth became Leicester City’s third BERLIN: Troubled Hamburg SV have signed Chilean defensive midfielder KARACHI: Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Junaid Khan has been ruled out of the signing of the transfer window yesterday when he joined on loan from World Cup after failing a fitness test on a hamstring injury. “Junaid has been Marcelo Diaz from Swiss side Basel to bolster their backline as they battle to their Premier League rivals until the end of the season. found not fit to play in the World Cup,” a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman said avoid relegation from the Bundesliga. However he is ineligible to play in Saturday’s match at home to Crystal yesterday. Junaid was due to leave with the Pakistan team for New Zealand last Chile international Diaz signed a contract to 2017 after passing a med- Palace as he completes a two-match ban for breaching FA rules by interact- month but the PCB held him back and sent Bilawal Bhatti instead. “Junaid had ical in Hamburg on Monday, the club said. “We saw Marcelo’s qualities at sustained a hamstring injury while bowling during the short conditioning camp ing with a Twitter account that asked users to guess the gender of individu- the World Cup last summer,” Hamburg sporting director Peter Knaebel in Lahore prior to the team’s departure for New Zealand,” the spokesman said. als in explicit pictures. said. “He is someone who wants the ball, wants the game focused Junaid, 25, has been Pakistan’s leading paceman in the last two years The 30-year-old former Germany international, who has also played for on him even in difficult situations. with 65 test and 75 one-day international wickets. “It is very disap- Chelsea and Middlesbrough, has been signed to bolster a Leicester “He can be a bridge (from defence to attack) for our game pointing to miss out on such a major event but I don’t want to let defence that has conceded 37 goals in 23 matches. The Foxes are propping when we go forward. That is what I expect from him and that is anyone down and can’t play without being 100 percent fit,” up the table but, with only nine points separating the bottom nine clubs, what he has already done at top level.” Hamburg, who have Junaid told Reuters. “I tried my best to make a full recovery but I they have a chance of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship seen billionaire Klaus-Michael Kuehne pump more than am still not comfortable while bowling,” he said. Pakistan were after winning promotion from the second tier last season. 18 million euros ($20.4 million) into the debt-laden already without leading spinner Saeed Ajmal who is suspended Leicester and Stoke confirmed the deal for Huth on their websites on club, have also boosted their frontline by bringing in for an illegal bowling action and there are doubts over deadline day and he will link up with his ex-Middlesbrough team mate, experienced Croatian striker Ivica Olic from VfL whether all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez will be allowed goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, and club record signing, Croatian Andrej Wolfsburg. Hamburg are in the relegation playoff to bowl.—Reuters Kramaric, who signed in January.—Reuters spot in 16th place on 17 points.—Reuters Hirscher and Vonn among Alpine Ski Worlds favorites BEAVER CREEK: Three-time defending intriguing mix of veterans like Body Miller, World Cup overall champion Marcel who appears to be on his last legs, and ris- Hirscher and US star Lindsey Vonn, the ing stars like Shiffrin and Travis Ganong. most successful female skier ever, lead top And then there is Vonn, whose miracle global racers into the Alpine Ski World comeback this season follows two knee Championships. The world’s top skiers surgeries and two years of on and off return to North America this week as the rehab work. She took her record 63rd global event is contested in the United career World Cup victory two weeks ago States for the first time in 16 years. and is a favorite in downhill and Super-G, Americans Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin will leading both in the World Cup standings. compete over two weeks for the title of homecoming queen while ’s Miller, Svindal uncertain Hirscher, seeking an unprecedented fourth Miller, 37, has yet to race this year and is World Cup overall crown in a row, leads a the oldest member of the team as well as host of men’s contenders in tackling the the biggest question mark. It’s not even treacherous Birds of Prey course. “It is awe- known if Miller will race in Beaver Creek some having the World Championships in and team boss Patrick Riml said they aren’t the US,” said American ski racer Ted Ligety. expecting much from Miller, who is in his “It is something I have never experienced eighth worlds. “We are going to see how before so it is going to be a lot of fun hav- he feels day-by-day and whether we put ing a big event in the US.” him in a race,” Riml said. “Everyone else is There have been only five worlds on US skiing on a very high level.” Norwegian snow and none since 1999. The Americans speed veteran was also hosted this event in 1950, 1960, 1980 named to the world team but like Miller and 1989. The mighty Austrians have had will be day-to-day. the most success at Beaver Creek since the Norway has plenty of firepower with World Cup circuit started racing on the lay- Olympic super-G champ Jansrud, who is out in 1988 but the Americans aren’t far fully recovered from blowing out his knee behind. Austria has six World Cup wins at the 2013 Worlds, and 20-year-old phe- while US skiers has five. “It is the worlds. nom Henrik Kristoffersen. You got to risk everything. It is about a “We have a mix of young and estab- medal,” said American Steven Nyman. The lished performers for this year’s World 26-strong US team will be the largest fol- Championships,” said team director Claus lowed by Austria with 25, with 22, Johan Ryste. “There is greater competition with 21 and the small but in each discipline than ever before. “We powerful Norwegian team will have nine will be in the fight for medals in all disci- racers, led by World Cup downhill points plines on the men’s side.” Germany has one leader . of the largest teams with a dozen skiers, The Austrian charge will be led by including eight men. Stefan Luitz is hoping Hirscher, who seeks a fourth World Cup to make his return from injury at Beaver overall crown to move one behind Marc Creek. ’s Daniela Merighetti is also Girardelli’s all-time men’s record. Hirscher expected to compete after suffering a ST LOUIS: Blues left wing Jaden Schwartz threads the puck between two defenders in this file photo. —AP leads the World Cup overall standings with recent injury. Swiss Dominique Gisin, who 1,014 points compared to Jansrud’s 834. suffered a fracture in a recent fall, will con- The Americans hope for a home snow sult with team doctors before deciding advantage with a team featuring an whether she can ski.— AFP Blues overcome Capitals

WASHINGTON: Alexander Steen had two goals tory in Pittsburgh in 11 years. Gabriel Bourque, WILD 4, CANUCKS 2 and an assist, and Brian Elliot stopped 33 shots Roman Josi, Eric Nystrom and Mike Fisher Devan Dubnyk stopped 35 shots to help as the streaking St Louis Blues held on to beat scored. Hutton improved to 3-1-2 while tem- Minnesota beat Vancouver. Zach Parise, Jared the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Sunday. Dmitrij porarily filling in as Nashville’s No. 1 goalie while Spurgeon, Thomas Vanek and Jason Zucker scored Jaskin and Vladimir Tarasenko also scored, and TJ All-Star Pekka Rinne recovers with a sprained for the Wild. Zucker sealed it with an empty-net Oshie added three assists for St Louis. The Blues knee that will sideline him for at least another goal with 55 seconds left. Ronalds Kenins and have won five straight and 10 of 11. week. Daniel Sedin scored for the Canucks.—AP Washington’s Alex Ovechkin scored twice, giving him a NHL-leading 31 goals, and had an assist. He became the fifth player in NHL history to NHL results/standings start his career with 10 30-goal seasons. Ovechkin has 15 goals in his last 15 games. Karl Arizona 3, Montreal 2; St. Louis 4, Washington 3; Nashville 4, Pittsburgh 0; Minnesota 4, Vancouver 2. Alzner also scored for Washington. The Capitals Western Conference Montreal 32 14 3 130 111 67 are 1-4-2 in their last seven. Pacific Division Detroit 29 12 9 149 129 67 WLOTLGFGAPTS Boston 27 16 7 134 124 61 COYOTES 3, CANADIENS 2 Anaheim 32 12 6 147 134 70 Florida 21 16 10 115 132 52 Lauri Korpikoski scored two power-play goals San Jose 27 17 6 139 135 60 for Arizona as Montreal-area native Louis Vancouver 27 18 3 131 124 57 Ottawa 20 19 9 136 136 49 Domingue made 18 saves to win in his first NHL Calgary 27 20 3 144 129 57 Toronto 22 25 4 144 156 48 start. The 22-year-old Domingue helped end the Los Angeles 21 16 12 134 132 54 Buffalo 14 33 3 94 179 31 Canadiens’ five-game winning streak. Domingue Arizona 18 26 6 116 170 42 Metropolitan Division made his NHL debut Saturday in relief of Mike Edmonton 13 28 9 115 166 35 NY Islanders 32 16 1 158 139 65 Central Division Pittsburgh 28 14 8 145 129 64 Smith during the third period in a 7-2 loss in Nashville 32 11 6 149 115 70 Ottawa. His first start got off to a rough begin- St. Louis 32 13 4 160 120 68 NY Rangers 28 15 4 139 112 60 ning when Alex Galchenyuk scored twice on Chicago 31 17 2 155 115 64 Washington 25 15 10 147 129 60 Montreal’s first four shots in the opening 4:55. Winnipeg 26 17 8 142 132 60 Philadelphia 22 22 7 140 151 51 Oliver Ekman-Larsson also scored for the Dallas 23 19 7 157 159 53 New Jersey 19 22 9 113 138 47 Coyotes. Colorado 21 18 11 131 141 53 Columbus 21 24 3 120 151 45 Minnesota 23 20 6 135 140 52 Carolina 17 26 6 105 129 40 Eastern Conference PREDATORS 4, PENGUINS 0 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the Carter Hutton made 21 saves for this second Atlantic Division Tampa Bay 32 15 4 166 133 68 standings and are not included in the loss column (L). career shutout in Nashville’s first regulation vic- Lindsey Vonn in action in this file photo. Tina eager to bounce back at worlds

BEAVER CREEK: skier Tina all she has wanted to do since she was 3 Weirather can’t shake the Sochi Olympics. years old - all she ever answered when any- The occasional ache in her right leg serves one asked. as a reminder. Not surprising, really, considering skiing She crashed in a downhill training run runs in the family. Her mother, Hanni last February and badly banged her shin, Wenzel, was a two-time gold medalist at an injury that still lingers. “I have days the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. Her father, where I can 100 percent attack and go to Harti Weirather, won the downhill at the my limit, where I feel confident and strong. 1982 world championships as he repre- But I have days where it doesn’t work,” said sented Austria. Weirather, who will compete in the super- “This has always been my dream. That’s G, downhill and giant slalom at the world never changed,” she said. “Then, after so championships that begin Tuesday with many injuries, of course I had to think the women’s super-G race. “I’m working on about it.” Sometimes, Weirather can’t help it, having more of the good days. but wonder just how good she would’ve “If I can figure that out, I can be really been at her other favorite sport - tennis. good.” Because when healthy, Weirather is She does have a mean backhand. And her as fast as anyone. The difficult part has serve-and-volley game isn’t bad, either. been staying healthy. The 25-year-old has Weirather said she used to train with the torn the ACL in her right knee three times. mother of Swiss standout Martina Hingis - In Sochi, she was among the favorites until the same Martina Hingis who won an her crash. Australian Open mixed doubles title Sunday “I’ve had a lot of disappointments to - and that Weirather once was told she had deal with,” said Weirather, whose best finish what it took to be a top-flight player. “She at worlds was 13th in the downhill two really believed in me,” recounted Weirather, years ago in Austria. “I can’t say that my who also cross trains by biking, wind surfing confidence is super, super high, but I think and hopes to one day take up paragliding. everything is possible. The skiing is there.” “But in tennis, you always have to fight No question about that. She has finished against someone. “That’s why I love skiing, third in two races this season, including a where it’s just you and the mountain and SWITZERLAND: , of Liechtenstein, takes a jump during a training session for an alpine ski women’s World Cup downhill event in super-G in Italy two weeks ago. Ski racing is when you finish, you see your time.”—AP St. Moritz. —AP