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Wednesday, July 5, 2017 BOXING Shawaal 11, 1438 AH Beaten Pacquiao GULF TIMES to ‘think hard’ about retiring SPORT Page 5 SPOTLIGHT Federer, Djokovic get free passes at Wimbledon It was great to be back on Centre Court. It’s the cradle of tennis history, but you REQUEST never like to end a match this way: Novak Djokovic, after his first round match Federer pleads for no AFP panic measures over oger Federer and Novak Djok- ovic barely had to break sweat Wimbledon pull-outs to make winning starts at Wimbledon as their injury-hit AFP the Slams opt for the best-of-three Ropponents retired hurt from their fi rst sets format rather than the tradi- London round matches yesterday. tional best-of-fi ve. Federer is chasing a record eighth Wimbledon title and he was already oger Federer pleaded with ‘GIVE UP THEIR SPOT’ well on top at the start of his 19th All Grand Slams not to be pan- “I hope it doesn’t happen. But I be- Club campaign when Alexandr icked into reducing matches lieve that more players clearly would Dolgopolov was forced to quit with an to best-of-three sets after fi nish their matches,” said Federer ankle injury. injuredR players were accused of taking who is bidding for a record eighth The world number three raced into a the money and running yesterday. Wimbledon title. 6-3, 3-0 in 43 minutes on Centre Court Federer reached the Wimbledon “A player should not go on court if before the Ukrainian limped off . second round when Alexandr Dolgo- he knows he should not fi nish. The Federer, who hit his 10,000th career polov quit when trailing 6-3, 3-0 af- question is, did they truly believe ace in the eighth game of the fi rst set, ter just 43 minutes on Centre Court they were going to fi nish. will face either Dusan Lajovic of Serbia complaining of an ankle injury. “If they did, I think it’s okay that or Greek qualifi er Stefanos Tsitsipas for Earlier, title rival Novak Djokovic they walk on court. Otherwise, I feel a place in the last 32. booked his second round spot in just they should give up the spot. “It feels great to be back on Centre 40 minutes when Martin Klizan, suf- “The ATP has adjusted its rule. Court,” said Federer, who recorded his fering from a calf injury, retired at Maybe the slams should have a look 85th match win at Wimbledon, passing 6-3, 2-0 down. at what they could do for the players the mark he shared with Jimmy Con- It meant that the Centre Court to make it just a little bit easier.” nors. crowd had seen just 83 minutes of Federer believes that players who Having unexpectedly won the Aus- action involving the two men who insist on competing in the fi rst round tralian Open in January before taking have won 10 Wimbledon titles be- despite obvious physical ailments the clay-court season off to rest, Fed- tween them. should not necessarily be damned. erer, making a record-equalling 70th Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in action during his first round match against Slovakia’s Martin Klizan. “I feel for the crowd,” said Federer. “For some, they just want to be out Grand Slam appearance, is the favour- “They’re there to watch good tennis, there because they feel like miracles ite to take the Wimbledon crown for the of his career, the 12-time major winner open in a generation. had lost his “respect” for tennis follow- proper tennis. At least they see the two happen: maybe the other guy retires, fi rst time since 2012. losing in the Australian Open second World number one Angelique Ker- ing his lacklustre 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 loss to of us who gave it all they had. They saw or maybe the other guy is carrying an “Everybody’s got a chance to win round and the French Open quarter- ber, the 2016 Australian and US Open Mischa Zverev. other players that tried at least.” injury. Wimbledon and for me it’s no diff erent. fi nals. winner, is among the favourites after “I don’t know why but I felt a little bit Five men have retired from the fi rst “If I win, I have a day off , maybe I already achieved my dream to be back “He had issues walking on to court. reaching last year’s fi nal, which she lost bored out there, to be completely hon- round — on Monday, Victor Troicki I will feel better on Thursday. All here healthy. Now we’ll see how far I I tried to focus on my game plan, I was to Serena. est,” Tomic said. quit after just 20 minutes. these things play into the equation can go,” Federer said. serving well and when it mattered I The German has failed to maintain French 22nd seed Richard Gasquet First round losers all receive as well. Don’t forget those things as Djokovic, a three-time Wimbledon made a break,” said Djokovic, who is that form this season and her poor run slumped to a 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 loss £35,000 ($45,220). well. Could be rain, come back the champion, was leading 6-3, 2-0 when aiming to win a fi rst Grand Slam title culminated in an embarrassing French against Spain’s David Ferrer. There is a rule on the main ATP next day. You never know what the Slovakian world number 47 Martin since last year’s French Open. Open fi rst round loss to Ekaterina Former French Open champion Gar- Tour, but not at the Slams, that an player’s motives are.” Klizan retired after just 40 minutes on “It was great to be back on Centre Makarova last month. bine Muguruza, the 14th seed, defeated injured player can give up his place to Djokovic said he backed the ATP Centre Court due to a calf problem. Court. It’s the cradle of tennis history, ’s Juan Martin Del Potro, Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-2, a ‘lucky loser’ from qualifying while rule being used at the Slams but also The 30-year-old Serb will face Adam but you never like to end a match this a semi-fi nalist in 2013, defeated Aus- 6-4. keeping the prize money. refused to criticise opponents who Pavlasek of the Czech Republic for a way.” tralian Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3, 3-6, Australian qualifi er Arina Rodiono- The thinking behind the move is fail to fi nish. place in the last 32. With defending champion Serena 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 as the 29th seed moved va, ranked 166th, saved seven match to preserve the integrity of a tourna- “If you walk out on the Centre It was the kind of trouble-free fi rst Williams sidelined while she prepares towards a potential third round classic points before defeating Russian 16th ment and prevent fans from feeling Court, there is a responsibility. I’m round Djokovic would have been hop- to give birth to her fi rst child, the race to against Djokovic. seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 3-6, short-changed. sure they tried their best, but it is ing for after the most turbulent period win the women’s title is the most wide ’s Bernard Tomic said he 7-6 (8/6), 9-7. But Federer does not want to see what it is,” said the Serb.

BOTTOMLINE Kerber fi nds it tough going at the top Reuters Kerber is unlikely to repeat her spec- “It’s easier to go there than to stay pared with a WTA tour-leading eight in 2016 London tacular 2016 run when she fi nished there.” — that one false move here and the chasing runner-up to Williams. Such have been Kerber’s trials and tribula- duo of Karolina Pliskova or Simona Halep “Playing fi rst rounds in grand slams tions this year — reaching only one final com- could unseat her from the top spot. here can be few things in tennis are always tough, especially with (the more embarrassing than be- memory of) my fi rst-round match that Pliskova lives up to favourite tag with strong start ing beaten in the fi rst round of I lost in ,” Kerber told reporters af- a grand slam tournament while ter registering her fi rst win at a grand Karolina Pliskova underlined why rankedT number one in the world. slam tournament since bowing out in she is the bookmakers’ favourite to It is a painful memory that is still the fourth round at January’s Austral- win Wimbledon as the world number fresh in Angelique Kerber’s mind, hav- ian Open. three crushed Evgeniya Rodina 6-1, ing suff ered that misfortune at the “I was actually just thinking about 6-4 in the first round yesterday. French Open just fi ve weeks ago. point-by-point, trying to fi nding my With defending champion Serena Wil- It is a fate that has befallen only two rhythm during the whole match,” liams sidelined due to the impending women at Wimbledon in the profes- added the German who produced 13 birth of her first child, there is a power sional era — fellow German Steffi Graf unforced errors and only eight winners vacuum at the top of women’s tennis in 1994 and Martina Hingis in 1999 and in a below-par opening set against Fal- and Pliskova could be poised to fill it. 2001. coni. The 25-year-old Czech emerged as a But such has been the woeful form of A season after being the toast of the potential star when she reached the Kerber, many pundits feared she might tennis world by winning two grand US Open final last year and she has be heading for a Paris-London fi rst- slam titles and fi nishing runner up to followed up on that breakthrough by round exit double yesterday — a day Williams at the All England Club, the making the French Open semi-finals when she had been handed the honour 29-year-old admitted that life at the last month. of opening Centre Court proceedings in top had not been an easy ride. Pliskova showed her grass-court the absence of title holder Serena Wil- “There is much more expectation, prowess by winning the Wimbledon just 71 minutes. liams. much more pressure, from me, from warm-up at Eastbourne last week and Hoping to reach the Wimbledon third Luckily for her she proved the nay- Germany’s Angelique Kerber celebrates her win against USA’s Irina Falconi. outside, from everything,” said Ker- looked at home on Court One at the round for the first time, Pliskova will sayers wrong with her 6-4 6-4 win ber, whose number one ranking is on All England Club as she demolished face Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova over American qualifi er Irina Falconi. against an opponent who had never vious visits and is ranked 247th, would the line during the Wimbledon fort- Russian world number 80 Rodina in in the last 64. However, the manner of her win won a match at Wimbledon in four pre- have done little to quell the belief that night. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, July 5, 2017 TENNIS

SPOTLIGHT LONE STAR Rodionova ends Wimbledon as a Australia’s woe mom, a whole new game: Azarenka Australia’s Daria Gavrilova lost to Croatia’s Petra Martic. AFP fi rst round with a reverse to 25th London seeded Spaniard Albert Ramos- As Serena awaits birth of her child, the experience of Azarenka, who gave birth on Vinolas. Nick Kyrgios, Andrew Whit- 19 December is proof of the diff iculties players with children can experience rina Rodionova saved tington and John Millman all lost Australia’s blushes — on Monday. Key Results and seven match points “That hurts,” said Kokkinakis, — as she became the when the overall performance fiA rst Aussie through to the sec- was pointed out to him. MEN’S 23-John Isner (U.S.) beat Taylor Fritz ond round at Wimbledon yester- “Obviously a few of us have (U.S.) 6-4 7-6(3) 6-3 day after six previous hopefuls played some tough players. Eve- 8-Dominic Thiem (Austria) beat Vasek crashed out. ryone has got their own reasons. Pospisil () 6-4 6-4 6-3 The qualifi er, and world Obviously Nick is hurt. Bernie 13-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) beat number 166, dumped out Rus- had a tough one. John played Diego Schwartzman (Argentina) sian 16th seed Anastasia Pavly- Rafa (Nadal). 7-6(4) 6-2 6-2 uchenkova 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 9-7 in “Draws are a bit of a part of 10-Alexander Zverev (Germany) beat a rollercoaster encounter, taking it. But I don’t know, maybe we Evgeny Donskoy (Russia) 6-4 7-6(3) 6-3 it on her own fi fth match point. didn’t all collectively play that Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) beat The Australian number four’s great, but everyone’s got their James Ward (Britain) 6-4 6-4 6-3 reward for her fi rst Wimbledon own reasons to why they didn’t 2-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Martin singles win is a second round clash perform,” he said. Klizan (Slovakia) 6-3 2-0 (Klizan with Han Xinyun of China or Ka- Kokkinakis was dismissive of retired) zakhstani wildcard Zarina Diyas. the suggestion that there may be 6-Milos Raonic (Canada) beat Jan- Meanwhile Ashleigh Barty lost an institutional problem in Aus- Lennard Struff (Germany) 7-6(5) 6-2 to fourth seed Elena Svitolina tralian tennis. 7-6(4) and 20th seed Daria Gavrilova “No, that’s just trying to make 15-Gael Monfils () beat Daniel suff ered a shock loss to Croatian something — no, not at all. We Brands (Germany) 6-3 7-5 6-4 qualifi er Petra Martic. just didn’t play well,” he said, 29-Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina) Australia’s 2011 US Open win- The only other time since beat Thanasi Kokkinakis (Australia) ner Sam Stosur is out injured. World War Two when Australia 6-3 3-6 7-6(2) 6-4 failed to have a second round David Ferrer (Spain) beat 22-Richard MEN WIPED OUT men’s participant was in 2012 Gasquet (France) 6-3 6-4 5-7 6-2 Australian tennis suff ered a hu- and the result is a major disap- 27-Mischa Zverev (Germany) beat miliating wipeout yesterday pointment for a country that Bernard Tomic (Australia) 6-4 6-3 6-4 with all six of their men’s singles has the third largest number of 3-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat hopefuls eliminated in the fi rst Wimbledon champions. Alexandr Dolgopolov (Ukraine) 6-3 round for just the second time Australia has 21 Wimbledon 3-0 (Dolgopolov retired) since World War Two. men’s singles champions, bet- Bernard Tomic’s lacklus- tered only by the United States WOMEN’S tre straight sets loss to Mischa and Britain. 5-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) beat Zverev, in which he later claimed In the open era, Australia has Timea Babos (Hungary) 6-4 4-6 6-1 he was “bored” was followed by had six winners, second only to 12-Kristina Mladenovic (France) beat a stronger eff ort from Thanasi the United States. Pauline Parmentier (France) 6-1 6-3 Kokkinakis who pushed Juan But the country’s last men’s 3-Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) Martin del Potro hard before los- winner at the All England Club - beat Evgeniya Rodina (Russia) 6-1 6-4 ing in four sets. or in any grand slam event - was 9-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat But Jordan Thompson was Lleyton Hewitt who won Wim- Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 7-6(3) 6-0 the fi nal Australian to lose in the bledon 15 years ago. Petra Martic (Croatia) beat 20-Daria Belarus’s Victoria Azarenka celebrates beating US player Catherine Bellis during their women’s singles first round match. Gavrilova (Australia) 6-4 2-6 10-8 14-Garbine Muguruza (Spain) beat Ekat- ON FIRE By Caroline Davies, The Guardian ed playing on the No 1 court at 7.13pm, at Wimbledon with her on the day of her erina Alexandrova (Russia) 6-2 6-4 London the end of the day’s play, which meant match – he was cared for away from the 1-Angelique Kerber (Germany) beat her game did not fi nish until around 9pm. grounds. “As I said, it’s tough to know Irina Falconi (U.S.) 6-4 6-4 Asked what it was like not knowing what time I was going to play, and this Arina Rodionova (Australia) beat Canadian Raonic he Wimbledon championships when she was due to play, she smiled: “It is way past his bedtime, so I wouldn’t do 16-Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) are tough enough, but new is unusual, you know. I had to be here the that to him,” she said, after dispatching 3-6 7-6(6) 9-7 mothers face unexpected chal- whole day, which, for a new mom, is a lit- Bellis 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. booms through to lenges, as one former world No tle tough. Hopefully, I won’t play like this Azarenka, who is originally from T1 player has discovered during this year’s again.” Minsk and now lives in Monte Carlo, Mo- Asked whether women can balance tournament. Azarenka , who is ranked 683rd in the naco, reached the No 1 ranking in 2012. motherhood with tennis, Azarenka re- round two As Serena Williams awaits the birth of world, was playing for the third time She is one of the few elite female tennis plied: “It is possible. Even before me, we her fi rst child, the experience of unseed- since giving birth. players who have had a child to remain on had players do this – you know, like Kim ed Belarussian player Victoria Azarenka, She is no stranger to Wimbledon, hav- the professional circuit. Clijsters [mother-of-three] and a lot of 27, who gave birth on 19 December to her ing reached the semi-fi nals at the All Serena Williams will be the most high- girls who are maybe less ranked so their son Leo, is proof of the diffi culties players England Club in 2011 and 2012, losing to profi le to join the group. Mandy Minella, story isn’t as big. with children can experience. eventual champions Petra Kvitová and 31, from Luxembourg, revealed after los- “One of my biggest inspirations was Azarenka said that her match against Serena Williams. ing to Italian Francesca Schiavone, 37, [beach volleyball player] Kerri Walsh, American player CiCi Bellis, 18, forced She stepped back from tennis after last on Monday, that she is four-and-a-half who came back after three kids and was her to hang around waiting all day, which year’s French Open. Six weeks after giv- months pregnant with her fi rst child, by still playing for a gold medal. Nothing is was especially challenging as the mother ing birth, she was back in training. her coach Tim Sommer, who she married impossible: for women, that’s defi nitely of a six-month-old. She eventually start- Azarenka did not bring her son to in October 2014. true,” she said.

BOTTOMLINE

Canada’s Milos Raonic reacts after a winning a point against ‘Bored’ Tomic crashes out and Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff during their first round match. Reuters In a tight fi rst set, the Cana- London dian, beaten by Andy Murray in straight sets in the 2016 fi nal, was a frequent visitor to the net, questions own commitment ast year’s Wimbledon albeit it with mixed results, and By The Guardian be play less tournaments. But to “I know the way he plays. It’s runner-up Milos Raonic drew on a serve that regularly London me right now, I’m just not super not always easy because it seems boomed down the fastest topped 130 mph to keep him out pleased, not happy with myself, like maybe, let’s say he’s the op- serve of this year’s tour- of trouble. but I’m in between.” posite of, let’s say, Rafa [Nadal] Lnament so far at 141 mph as the He stepped on the gas in the ernard Tomic has joined Told that he had faced strong on the court with the intensity Canadian beat Germany’s Jan- second set and looked to be the Australian exodus criticism on social media for his level between points especially. Lennard Struff 7-6(5) 6-2 7-6(4) cruising into the second round from the Wimbledon performances, including calls “But he knows what to do on in the fi rst round yesterday. when be broke Struff in his open- singles draws with an for him to be deported back to the grass court, knows what The sixth seed struck 20 aces ing service game of the third set. insipidB straight-sets loss to Australia, Tomic responded by shots to use. and only dropped one game on But Struff , 27, with only four German Mischa Zverev and af- saying: “ Well, I’ll have to take “He beat me quite easily a few serve but was made to work hard tour-level wins on the grass in terwards claimed that winning … that’s pretty bad. Well, that’s days ago, so I was expecting a at times by the world number 53, his career, broke back as Raonic trophies no longer satisfi ed him, his opinion. I’m sure he’s on the very tough match.” who had plenty of fi repower of was serving for the match, even- adding that he did not have the computer somewhere making Tomic, who reached the his own and claimed second spot tually forcing another tiebreak. commitment to work hard any- $50 an hour.” fourth round last year for the on the fast serve list with a 138 The understated Raonic only more and was bored on court. Tomic said he felt some re- second time since making the mph zinger. let his emotions show when he Tomic complained of hurt- sponsibility for his perform- last eight as a teenager in 2011, Raonic has been struggling went 6-4 up in the breaker with ing his back in the warm-up but ance. “While I do feel a bit of has a history of back trouble. with a hamstring injury and was a backhand winner down the even his victorious opponent guilt and I’m like maybe I could He showed no signs of discom- beaten in the fi rst round at Lon- line, pumping his fi st and shout- was left surprised by the ease of have played four or fi ve sets, but fort before seemingly jarring it don’s Queen’s Club last month, ing “Go”. his passage through to the sec- in my opinion, [Zeverev] played while bending down innocuously making it the fi rst year he had He fi nally broke into a smile ond round as he won 6-4, 6-3, well and I was just playing ter- for a forehand half-volley. not won a match on grass before when Struff ’s challenge to a 6-4 in just 84 minutes yesterday. rible and I just couldn’t fi nd any He dropped serve for the fi rst Wimbledon since 2014. backhand service return that “It was defi nitely a mental is- rhythm, and he deserved to win. time soon after to concede the “Just not having that constant was called wide was overruled sue out there,” said Tomic after- Zeverez was surprised by how opening set before labouring on back-to-back match play, going by Hawkeye to give Raonic the wards. “I just tried to break a bit easily his victory came given he for several games until calling through those situations many match. of momentum but just couldn’t Australia’s Bernard Tomic reacts against Germany’s Mischa Zverev had been well beaten in East- for treatment while trailing by a times over, I think that’s where it “Beginning of the fi rst set felt fi nd any rhythm and, you know, during their men’s singles first round match yesterday. bourne last week. “I thought it break and 4-3 in the second. sort of showed,” said Raonic. like a deja vu of two weeks ago. I wasn’t mentally and physically was going to be a complicated The 24-year-old needed medi- “I’m happy with how that got really stepped up and did a better there with my mental state to pletely honest with you.” can’t seem to fi nd, like, the com- match because I played him a cation, but Zverev only needed better. I just have to pay a lit- job for the rest of the match,” he perform. I don’t know why, but, Asked if he should have mitment to work hard, to enjoy, couple days ago in Eastbourne,” one more service break in the third tle bit more attention, be more told reporters. you know, I felt a little bit bored worked harder, Tomic replied: and to lift trophies. Maybe I have said Zverev, the tournament’s set to wrap up the match in less aware of it, have more discipline. Raonic, 26, plays Mikhail out there. You know, to be com- “It’s a roller coaster, and I just to look at a few things and may- 27th seed. than an hour and a half. It doesn’t come as easy.” Youzhny of Russia in round two. Gulf Times Wednesday, July 5, 2017 3 FOOTBALL

PREMIER LEAGUE Chinese ref ‘beaten’ as draw sparks Everton hope early deals match-fi x claim

Shanghai: The Chinese FA launched an investigation into a match where a fourth of- can help them bridge gap ficial was reportedly attacked following a controversial draw that triggered claims of match-fixing. Baoding Rongda Michael Keane’s arrival took Ronald Koeman’s summer spree beyond the £80mn mark and the were leading 2-1 when the ref- eree awarded visitors Wuhan Goodison faithful will be hoping their manager’s decisiveness filters through to the team this season Zall a penalty during seven minutes of stoppage time at By Paul Wilson the end of Saturday’s fixture The Guardian in China’s second division. The spot-kick was converted and the match ended 2-2. here is no doubt which Premier League Angry fans pelted the club has made the quickest start in the match off icials with debris as race to do business in the summer transfer they were escorted by secu- window. One might not go as far as Robbie rity personnel from the pitch TFowler, who believes Everton’s resolve and targeted at the end, reported state-run investment are making the rest of the league look newspaper the Beijing News. stupid, though there is plenty to admire in the way Baoding chairman Meng Ronald Koeman and his club backers go about their Yongli burst into tears at a business. chaotic post-match press con- Everton have made fi ve major signings before ference, alleging his side had most clubs are properly back from their holidays, been cheated out of the win. although Henry Onyekuru will be going straight out The Beijing News reported to Anderlecht on loan. The others off er straight- that fourth off icial Yang Kaizi down-the-middle solidity, almost literally since was beaten up in his dressing Koeman has brought in a goalkeeper, centre-half room, but the newspaper did and striker. Everton set their transfer record when not say who was responsible they signed Jordan Pickford for a fee that could rise for the attack. Meng gathered to £30mn, though the former Sunderland player reporters on the pitch to has long been regarded the best English goalkeep- announce he was pulling the ing prospect around and if he fulfi ls his potential team out of the league, before he will soon start to look a snip even at that price. quitting as chairman hours The club then paid roughly the same amount, later citing “personal reasons”. £25mn going on £30m, for the 24-year-old Baoding, from near Beijing, Michael Keane, another proven performer at the subsequently apologised and right age with no shortage of admirers and a prom- said the club had no inten- ising future. tion of leaving the competi- By Everton standards this is a huge level of in- tion. The Chinese Football vestment, particularly as the Holland midfi elder Association (CFA) announced Davy Klaassen has also been signed for around an investigation into the £24mn, but as soon as someone meets Southamp- controversy. ton’s asking price for Virgil van Dijk, or perhaps “CFA is taking this seriously when Romelu Lukaku fi nally gets his inevitable and will treat everyone in- move to a club in the Champions League bracket, volved sternly based on facts Everton’s outlay is likely to be dwarfed. and regulations,” it said in a It has not all been big spending either. Picking statement. “We would like the up Sandro Ramírez from Málaga for a fee of around club to express its opinion in a £5mn could be the sharpest piece of business of calm manner. In the meantime the summer so far, even if it is unlikely the former we call on the fans to remain Barcelona striker on his own will be able to fi ll the rational and restrained.” hole Lukaku leaves. To an extent Everton have been The state People’s Daily rebuilding in the knowledge that they will have to Michael Keane said that the Everton manager Ronald Koeman was big factor in his decision to join the club. newspaper hit out at Meng react and reshape once their leading scorer de- and Baoding, accusing them parts, and to an extent they have been spending in By Everton standards this is a huge Everton have a capable, go-ahead manager, it enough for Koeman, never mind the owners or of damaging the reputation the expectation of a large fee being received before level of investment, particularly as the must be admitted, and a top-four fi nish seems an fans, but it is not diffi cult to see the same pattern of Chinese football. “In the the end of the window. Holland midfi elder Davy Klaassen has achievable ambition for a club of Everton’s stature repeating itself this season. history of football there hasn’t They will probably need to recruit again once also been signed for around £24mn, but and spending power, yet it cannot have gone un- This time Everton will have to cope with the de- been any precedent where Lukaku goes. Koeman is still an admirer of Gylfi as soon as someone meets Southampton’s noticed that Arsenal and Manchester United man- mands of the Europa League, too. They may even one could use beating and Sigurdsson and there are even reports of a move for asking price for Virgil van Dijk, or perhaps aged to miss out last season. try to win it, and take the Manchester United route scolding, as well as quitting Olivier Giroud, though regardless of what happens when Romelu Lukaku fi nally gets his That’s the Arsenal currently vying with Real to Champions League qualifi cation, though such a the league, to get what one later in the summer it is never a bad idea to have inevitable move to a club in the Champions Madrid to pay more than £100mn for highl-rated plan would inevitably have implications for their wanted,” it said in a strongly your principal targets identifi ed early and to bring League bracket, Everton’s outlay is likely to Monaco forward Kylian Mbappe, and the Man- league aspirations. worded comment piece. them in with a minimum of fuss in time to take part be dwarfed chester United who boast the world’s most ex- Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, “For football, when the club in a full pre-season. pensive player in Paul Pogba and could well end up with all the resources at his disposal, ended up boss is crying and shouting Were there a prize for this sort of thing, Everton Any player is entitled to be optimistic upon join- paying a similar amount for Lukaku. It was put to having to prioritise at the end of last season. It is to quit the league, when the would have just put themselves in pole position, ing a new club for a considerable fee, and there is Koeman when he arrived on Merseyside this time unlikely that Everton would be able to prosper on perpetrators are attacking with other clubs still dithering and debating at perhaps no harm in being unrealistically so, but last year from Southampton that there seemed to two fronts, and it will be interesting to see how referees at the door, they have the back of the grid. Perhaps Everton also deserve were this an Alfred Hitchcock fi lm the menacing be little anyone could do to elevate Everton beyond Koeman approaches the European competition. probably forgotten about some sort of industry award for having the fore- music would now be building to a crescendo. Were fourth-best team in the north-west. Yet for now, before a ball has been kicked, Ever- what they first really wanted sight to recruit Steve Walsh from Leicester as foot- it a Vic and Bob show there would be tumbleweed They would never be able to match the spending ton followers can at least take satisfaction in their in their heart (which is to win ball director and head of scouting. rolling across the set. power of the Manchester clubs, and could hope to club doing something right. the game).” Football does not work quite like that, however, Players do not generally move to Everton to win overtake Liverpool only on the few occasions when They should be a tougher proposition this sea- Chinese football has a his- and one has to assume that the real prize Everton “plenty of silverware”. That has not been the case standards at Anfi eld slipped. The manager did not son, and with their fi ghting spirit and the ability to tory of controversy involving are after is a place in the top four. “It will be a big since the mid-80s, and even then the revival under disagree, though Leicester had just won the league make Goodison a diffi cult place to visit, they could referees and off icials and in season for us,” Sandro said on arrival, possibly a Howard Kendall was a relatively short-lived aff air, at the time so anything seemed possible. prove a surprise package in 2017-18. As long as 2009 launched a high-profile little prematurely. “Everton have made some big bookended by underachievement and far less dis- What happened in Koeman’s fi rst season at everything continues to go to plan. Any unpleasant crackdown on corruption signings, I’m excited about being able to compete tinguished managers. In the 21 years Sandro has Goodison was that the six clubs with regular surprises, such as potential buyers driving down dogging the sport, leading to here and win plenty of silverware. Hopefully we been around Everton have not won a thing. Their Champions League experience strengthened and Lukaku’s price or perhaps even looking elsewhere dozens of arrests and prison can achieve that aim of getting into the Champions last glimpse of silverware was the 1995 FA Cup, a improved, leaving an improved Everton still best for a striker, could make life more interesting still sentences. League.” couple of months before he was born. of the rest, a nailed-on seventh. That is not good before the start of the season.

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Shin replaces Stielike as South Lyon striker Lacazette has Korea national team coach Arsenal medical: Reports Reuters Reuters London Seoul Shin Tae-yong yon striker Alexandre Lacazette (right) outh Korea hope Shin Tae-yong’s fa- underwent a medical at Arsenal yesterday miliarity with the squad, good com- with a view to a 44mn pounds ($56.91mn) munication skills and ability to get move, British media reported. the best out of young players will LThe deal should be completed before Arsene helpS get their World Cup campaign back Wenger’s squad fl ies to Australia on Sunday and will on track after naming him the new national be for a club-record fee, beating the 42.5mn pounds team coach yesterday. Arsenal paid Real Madrid for Mesut Ozil in 2013. The 46-year-old former international Lacazette’s arrival is Wenger’s fi rst piece of sig- midfi elder replaces German Uli Stielike, nifi cant business in the transfer window and fol- who was sacked last month in the wake lows the promise from chief-executive Ivan Gazidis of a poor run of results that left the side’s last week that “top quality” summer signings would 2018 World Cup hopes in the balance. Stie- arrive this summer. Arsenal are now likely to end like took the Koreans to the fi nal of the 2015 their widely reported interest in Monaco striker Asian Cup just four months into the job, but Kylian Mbappe. Lacazette’s signing could also has been unable to get the team back to that mean the departure from Arsenal of another French standard and was fi red after a 3-2 defeat to international, Olivier Giroud, who struggled to hold Qatar in mid-June. down a fi rst-team place last season. Korea Football Association (KFA) techni- For Lacazette, 26, the move to London represents cal director Kim Ho-gon said Shin had been a return to the ground where he began his profes- given a contract that would see him coach sional career seven years ago, playing for Lyon the team through the 2018 fi nals if they against Celtic in an Emirates Cup match. Since then qualifi ed, but terminated if they failed to he has developed into one of Europe’s most pro- reach Russia. “Shin has worked as an assist- lifi c strikers, scoring 129 goals in 275 games for his ant coach for the national team and that’s last 16 of the recent U-20 World Cup on back on track as the side aims to play in the hometown club. naco, and Remi Garde, who played under Wenger at why he knows the players better than any- home soil. fi nals for a ninth consecutive time. With Beginning his career as a winger, Lacazette has Arsenal. Lacazette is Arsenal’s second signing this one,” Yonhap News quoted Kim as saying. He also coached the Olympic side at the Iran already assured of top spot in Group A, scored at least 22 goals each season since converting summer after Schalke left-back Sead Kolasinac, “One of his strong points is his communi- 2016 Rio Games where they reached the Korea, just a point ahead of Uzbekistan with to a striker in 2013 and last season netted 37 times in who arrived on a free transfer and trained with his cation skills, so he will make a good atmos- quarter-fi nals, and worked as an assistant two games remaining, must hold onto sec- 45 matches. His 28-goal Ligue 1 tally was bettered new teammates for the fi rst time at the club’s Lon- phere in the team again.” to Stielike before taking over the U-20 team. ond spot to secure automatic qualifi cation only by Edinson Cavan’s 35 for Paris St-Germain. don Colney complex yesterday. Shin has been part of the coaching staff Shin, who made 23 appearances for the for Russia. They host the Iranians in Seoul Lacazette, who has won 11 caps for France, has FA Cup winners Arsenal play champions Chelsea for the national youth sides since 2015 and national team, faces a task in getting Ko- on Aug. 31 before travelling to Tashkent fi ve spent his career playing under two of Wenger’s pro- in the Community Shield, the traditional curtain- was in charge of the team that reached the rea’s 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign days later to face the Uzbeks. tegees: Claude Puel, whom he managed at AS Mo- raiser to the new season, on August 6. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, July 5, 2017 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Terry out of his comfort zone and ready for new chapter The former Chelsea captain is aware of his public image but is eager to prove himself as a player and personality by leading Championship club Villa back to the top flight

By Stuart James tually a nice guy.’ “People see you in a way and The Guardian put you in a bracket of ‘right, he’s an arsehole.’ But that’s not me. You grow up over the years as well, and you live and learn as a human being, as ohn Terry needed no reminding of the a professional and a player. I’ve given as good as day when he was booed off by Aston Villa I’ve got over the years from supporters all over supporters while lying on a stretcher. It the country and at the end of the day when I re- was 11 May 2013, and has gone down in tire, if they turn around and say, ‘He was a de- theJ history books as the game when Frank Lam- cent player,’ that will do me.” pard became Chelsea’s all-time leading goals- By Terry’s own admission it will be a strange corer. For the visiting captain, however, it was feeling to wear another club’s shirt and experi- a less enjoyable experience. “I think the [chant] ence everything that comes with being the new was ‘let him die’,” Terry said, laughing while boy. He fl ew out to Portugal with Steve Bruce, wearing his new Villa tracksuit. the Villa manager, on Monday afternoon to join Outside of Stamford Bridge, where Terry the squad on their pre-season training camp, spent 22 years and racked up more than 700 and was dreading the thought of having to sing appearances, there have been plenty of insults in front of everyone as part of the sort of initia- thrown at the central defender over the years. tion ceremony that he has enjoyed laughing at Villa Park, where Terry will be playing next sea- over the years at Chelsea. son after signing a one-year contract with the At the same time, Terry said that he was Championship club, was no diff erent in that re- genuinely excited at the prospect of a move spect. “Quite hostile” is how Terry described his that “takes me out of my comfort zone”. There memories of playing at the ground. “I’ve been were no shortage of off ers on the table for him, on the receiving end of that [atmosphere] and but Terry claimed that joining another Premier thrived on it,” he added. League club was out of the question, because Both parties will take little time to patch up he was unable to contemplate playing against their diff erences, now that they are on the same Chelsea next season. Teams in China and Major side. That is how football generally works and League Soccer also showed an interest, as did on that same theme it was interesting to hear Villa’s bitter local rivals, Birmingham City. Terry’s answer to a question about whether af- Terry admitted that he got himself into a bit of ter everything he has achieved in his career, in- a state over the decision – “I pretty much wasn’t cluding winning 15 major trophies at Chelsea, sleeping” – before Bruce convinced him with he feels fully appreciated in the game. “Maybe his regular text messages that Villa was the right not. I don’t know,” he said. “I think that’s a de- move. “I wanted it to be that once I decided, cision for you guys [the media] to make, or the then I was 100% in,” Terry said. supporters. I’ve run out at Villa Park many times “I’m not 50-50 or 70% – Aston Villa will get and given as good as I’ve been given and wound 100% of John Terry this year.” With Terry ex- people up, and I understand that. pected to earn around £60,000 per week on a “But when I walk down the street, whether contract that has an option to be extended for John Terry (right) is unveiled at Aston Villa on Monday alongside manager Steve Bruce, who believes his new signing is ‘worth every penny’ of his it be a Tottenham supporter or an Arsenal fan, another 12 months – plus huge incentives to be reported £60,000-per-week contract and can bring them back to the top flight status. they will say: ‘I don’t particularly like you but paid if Villa win promotion – the former Eng- you’re a good footballer and I appreciate what land international will be picking up a Premier leader as well as a player to a squad that fi nished challenge cannot start quickly enough. “It’s a pay day. I would be somewhere else if that was you’ve done in the game.’ That’s the message. League salary in the Championship. Bruce be- 13th in the second tier last season and struggled down to me to perform week in, week out to the case. The ambition, really, is to get us back to But what I do get a lot when you spend time and lieves, however, that Terry is “worth every pen- to handle the level of expectation. prove to the players I can still play. I’m not one of the Premier League and if I can, then that would have photos with people’s kids is: ‘You’re ac- ny” because of the contribution he can make as a For Terry, who turns 37 in December, that them players at the end of his career looking for be an unbelievable achievement.”

FRIENDLY FOCUS Qatar score two past Kyrgyzstan Djibril Cisse signs for Swiss third tier club

AFP which is very attractive.” Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland Di Pietrantonio said the sign- ing was made in a “very friendly, very human way. The winner is x-France striker Djibril the man, the desire he has”. Cisse has come out of Having spent his formative retirement to sign a one- years at Auxerre, for whom he year deal with third divi- was twice best scorer in Ligue sionE Swiss club Yverdon-Sport, 1, Cisse signed for Liverpool in club president Mario Di Pietran- 2004 before moving to Marseille. tonio announced yesterday. He then also played for Panathi- The 35-year-old Cisse, who naikos in Greece, Lazio in Italy, played for France at the 2002 Queens Park Rangers and Sun- and 2010 World Cups and won derland, and Kuban Krasnodar the Champions League with Liv- in Russia before initially bring- erpool in 2005, has not played ing his career to an end after two professionally since announcing years at Bastia. his retirement in 2015 while at Cisse’s fi rst match for Yver- French Ligue 1 club Bastia. don will be a pre-season clash “I ended my career, but the with Fribourg on July 15. Yverdon desire to play football was still Sport, which spent several sea- there,” said Cisse, adding that he sons in the Swiss fi rst division, had totally recovered from a hip aim to rebound rapidly into the operation two years ago. second division. "When I came here I met the They are coached by French- club president, and at the start man Anthony Braizat, who my arrival was almost a joke, played for Toulouse before go- I said why not? They have a ing on to play for and then coach short-to-medium term plan Servette FC in the Swiss league.

Sports Reporter been also named the interim was a result of some attacking Qatar U-23 players celebrate one of their goals against Doha coach of the senior national side play which caught the Kyrgyz Kyrgyzstan, while at bottom, coach Felix Sanchez gestures after Jorge Fossati’s shock res- defence napping. during the match. Pictures: Jayan Orma ignation, is trying out various Kyrgyzstan, who lost to the atar’s U-23 team re- combinations ahead of the Asian Uzbeks earlier, pressed hard for corded their fi rst U-23 qualifying tournament. the equalizer but failed to breach victory in the three- After a 3-3 draw with Kyr- the Qatari defence. nation Friendly Inter- gyzstan earlier in the tourna- The Qataris also missed a cou- nationalQ tournament in Doha ment and a 1-0 defeat to Uz- ple of chances but registered with a 2-0 win over Kyrgyzstan bekistan, Qatar fi nally found their second goal when they at the Al Sadd Sports Club yes- their groove and struck fi rst were awarded a penalty late in terday. through Ahmed al-Saadi in the the match after a serious Kyrgyz The tournament is being held 47th minute. foul. in preparation for Qatar’s U-23 Although the match was Uzbekistan will take on Kyr- Asian Cup qualifi ers to be held in largely played out in the midfi eld gyzstan today while Qatar take Qatar later this month. with both teams adopting a cau- on Uzbekistan in the fi nal match Djibril Cisse during training with the Swiss third Division club Coach Felix Sanchez, who has tious attitude, Qatar’s fi rst goal of the event on Thursday. Yverdon Sport FC in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times Wednesday, July 5, 2017 5 SPORT

MLB BOXING Beaten Pacquiao to ‘think hard’ Cardinals overpower about retiring

AFP 22-year professional career in Manila which he won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions. Pacquiao briefl y re- ight-time world boxing tired from boxing last year to Marlins in 14-6 win champion Manny Pac- pursue his long-held politi- quiao has said he will cal ambitions and was elected ‘He’s struck me out quite a bit, and he got me tonight, but I’ve seen the ball well against him’ “think hard” about retir- senator. But he quickly made ingE after his stunning and con- a successful comeback against By Mitchell Forde troversial defeat to unheralded Jessie Vargas in November, say- St. Louis Post-Dispatch Australian challenger Jeff Horn. ing he still felt like a youngster. Arriving home in the Phil- The 29-year-old Horn’s ul- ippines a day after losing his tra-aggressive style proved too day after their lineup World Boxing Organization much for Pacquiao, with the was stifl ed by All-Star welterweight title in a major three judges scoring the fi ght pitcher Max Scherzer, upset in Brisbane on Sunday, 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113 to the Cardinals respond- the 38-year-old Pacquiao said the Australian after 12 rounds. edA with their highest-scoring he was thinking about hanging On Monday, Pacquiao made game of the season Monday. up his gloves for good. disparaging comments about The Cardinals beat the Mar- “I am also considering the his opponent. lins, 14-6. The off ense needed opinion of people, the opinion “He’s not really good but no time to warm up. of my family and my body,” he’s really strong,” Pacquiao The fi rst four Cardinals bat- Pacquiao told ABS-CBN tel- said of Horn, as he questioned ters of the game got hits off Mar- evision on Monday night when the decisions of American ref- lins starter Jeff Locke. Matt Car- asked about retirement. eree Mark Nelson. penter, starting at second base “I plan to relax fi rst and re- “There is no problem with for the fi rst time this season, led cover from the pains in my the style of Jeff Horn if he plays off with a single and scored when body and then after that, when dirty, because there is a ref- Tommy Pham hit a triple in the I have already relaxed, that’s eree,” Pacquiao said. following at bat. Pham then when I will think hard about it.” “The problem here is that scored on a single hit by Stephen Immediately after the fi ght, the referee, I don’t know if he Piscotty. Pacquiao had said he wanted a did it deliberately or he just did After advancing to third on a rematch with Horn. not have experience, he just al- single hit by Jedd Gyorko, who Pacquiao’s wife, Jinkee, and lowed it and did not even give later left the game with cramp- his trainer, Freddie Roach, had any warning for how many ing in his left leg, Piscotty scored said they would advise him to times. It’s as if the referee when Yadier Molina hit a deep fl y quit boxing after a phenomenal wanted to help my opponent.” ball to center fi eld. Gyorko scored the fi nal run of the inning when Luke Voit grounded out two batters later. The off ense outdid itself in the bottom of the third. Gyorko led off with his second single of the game to begin the inning. Molina singled as well, and Voit drove them both in with a double, recording his fi rst big league RBIs in the process. The Marlins then elected to intentionally walk shortstop Paul DeJong, loading the bases for pitcher Adam Wainwright. Wainwright lined a two-RBI sin- Joshua keen on Klitschko rematch, gle through the gap into center will fight Pulev otherwise fi eld. A total of 12 Cardinals came to the plate in seven-run third IBF, WBA and IBO heavy- that’s enough’. “But I think, inning. It was the fi rst time the weight champion Anthony whatever he decides to do, Cardinals have scored 11 or more Joshua says he is eager for we all respect him, and plan runs in the fi rst three innings of a a rematch with Ukrainian B would be look at the option game since May 2, 2012. Wladimir Klitschko after with Pulev, and where we Wainwright, who cruised April’s thrilling bout but will would fight him and the op- through the fi rst four innings, face Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev if tions available for the Pulev got roughed up a bit in the fi fth. Klitschko decides to retire. fight. “Now I have the IBF, He gave up six runs, allowing at Joshua beat Klitschko after WBA and IBO (belts) there are least four earned runs in a single 11 rounds to extend his un- obligations with mandatory inning for the third time in less beaten streak to 19 fights, and challenges, and Pulev is one. than a month. a clause in their contracts “So either it will be Klitschko, “I’ve faced him a lot,” Wain- allows the defeated fighter which would be great, or wright said. “He’s struck me out St. Louis Cardinals’ Luke Voit waves his helmet for a curtain call after hitting his first career home run in the eighth inning during a game to ask for a rematch. But the Pulev, which would be great. I quite a bit, and he got me to- against the Miami Marlins at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS) 41-year-old is yet to make am not bothered either way.” night, but I’ve seen the ball well decision about his future. The The Briton is hopeful that a against him.” The homer scored two runs pinch hitter Adam Lind. The a drawn-in infi eld with the bases RESULTS 27-year-old has to fight Pulev, showdown in Las Vegas will The Cardinal off ense, though, and Voit received hearty ap- winning pitcher was Matt Albers loaded off Texas reliever Ernesto who is the mandatory chal- tempt Klitschko to opt for a provided Wainwright enough plause in his fi rst curtain call. (4-1), who gave up two runs in Frieri and giving Boston its fi fth Nationals 3 Mets 2 lenger for the IBF title, and rematch. cushion that he still got the win. Ryan Raburn hit an RBI single the ninth. Paul Sewald (0-3) was win in a row. Benintendi dropped Red Sox 7 Rangers 5 Joshua is ready to fight the “Vegas – it is the Mecca of Pham fi nished off his perfect with two outs in the bottom of hit with the loss as he allowed the ball just over the head of a (11 innings) 36-year-old if the Klitschko Boxing, and this is an oppor- night at the plate with an RBI the ninth inning as the Washing- the walk to Wieters. New York’s back-pedalling shortstop Elvis Phillies 4 Pirates 0 rematch does not take place. tunity,” Joshua said. “People single in the seventh. Pham fi n- ton Nationals beat the New York Curtis Granderson hit a two- Andrus to score Tzu-Wei Lin, Brewers 8 Orioles 1 “The ball is in Klitschko’s wouldn’t mind travelling, ished the game 3-for-3 with a Mets 3-2 on Monday. run, pinch-hit homer on a 0-2 who had walked, and Mookie Yankees 6 Blue Jays 3 court,” Joshua told Sky and it is a nice big hurrah triple and added two walks. The hit to shallow left off count with two outs in the top Betts, who had doubled. Cardinals 14 Marlins 6 Sports. “I am going to for himself. He has achieved Then, in the eighth, Voit put Fernando Salas scored Matt Wi- of the ninth off Albers to tie the Dustin Pedroia, who went Twins 9 Angels 5 continue my career. It is up so much, does he have the an exclamation point on the of- eters, who led off the ninth with score at 2. 3-for-5 with four RBIs, includ- Rockies 5 Reds 3 to him whether he wants to motivation? fensive display by blasting his a walk, took second on a walk Meanwhile Andrew Beninten- ing a two-run single in Boston’s White Sox 7 Athletics 2 have a rematch or whether “I think Vegas will get his fi rst career home run 429-feet to by pinch hitter Stephen Drew di drove in two runs in the 11th three-run sixth, was intention- Royals 3 Mariners 1 he says, ‘You know what, blood boiling again.” dead center fi eld. and went to third on a fl yout by inning, blooping a base hit over ally walked to load the bases.

NBA Durant signs two-year deal with Warriors: report

AFP Derrick Rose meeting with Bucks Los Angeles Knicks free agent point guard Derrick Rose could are George Hill, Darren Collison and Shelvin Mack. be moving close to home. Rose is meeting with the But the Knicks have less than $15 million for free evin Durant and the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, according to ESPN. agency so Hill would appear out of their range. Golden State Warriors The Bucks are a rising young team, and Milwaukee They could try to move Kyle O’Quinn or Courtney have agreed on a two- is a quick drive from Rose’s native Chicago. Lee to free some money. (NEWSDAY) year contract worth That’s important to Rose, who left the Knicks unan- Kabout $53mn in a move that nounced in January and flew home to Chicago. comes two days after they came Rose didn’t respond to texts or calls from team to terms with superstar Stephen off icials. Rose called it a personal matter and said Curry. he needed to be with his mother. The Knicks were Durant, who is an unrestricted expected to try to re-sign Rose, especially when free agent, will have a player op- Phil Jackson was in charge. He traded for the tion on the second year, Ameri- former MVP last June. But Jackson and the Knicks can sports broadcaster ESPN re- parted ways last week, leaving the team in flux. ported on Monday. Rose played in 64 games for the Knicks and aver- The 28-year-old Durant is ex- aged 18 points and 4.4 assists. His season ended pected to have an annual salary early as he needed surgery on his left knee to of between $25mn and $26mn. repair a meniscus tear. The Warriors came to terms The Timberwolves and Spurs were potential suit- with point guard Curry on a fi ve- ors for Rose, but they each locked up point guards year, $201mn contract on Satur- Lakers ink Ball to Lakers new team president “You have to have a great shortly after the free-agent negotiation period be- day. Durant left the Oklahoma four-year deal Magic Johnson described the leader and somebody that can gan Saturday morning. The Knicks still need a vet- City Thunder last summer to The struggling Los Angeles 19-year-old Ball as the “new make their teammates better eran point guard to help mentor 18-year-old rookie sign with the Warriors. Lakers have signed second over- face of the franchise” at a news and somebody that has incred- Frank Ntilikina and Ron Baker. The second-year He played a key role this sea- all draft pick Lonzo Ball to a mul- conference last month. ible basketball IQ,” Johnson guard is the only free agent the Knicks have struck son in leading Golden State to its ti-million dollar, four-year con- The Lakers are in desperate said. a deal with, agreeing on a two-year contract. second National Basketball As- tract, the NBA team announced need of off ensive help as they “He is somebody that can get Rose is not completely out of the picture for the sociation championship in three on Monday. fi nished with the second worst his teammates to follow.” Knicks, although coach Jeff Hornacek has sounded years over the Cleveland Cava- No details were released but record in the Western Confer- Ball averaged 14.6 points, 6.0 lukewarm about bringing him back. liers. In this year’s NBA fi nals, the deal is expected to be worth ence after winning just 26 games rebounds, 7.6 assists per game as It’s possible the Knicks could try and work a sign- Durant averaged 35.2 points, 8.4 about $30mn which is the allow- last season. a US college player last season. and-trade involving Rose so they get something in rebounds and 5.4 assists as the able amount for a No. 2 overall They fi nished 41 games back The Lakers also signed for- return for him. Warriors won the series in fi ve pick under the collective bar- of the fi rst place Golden State ward Kyle Kuzma and guard Josh Some available point guards they’ve been linked to games. gaining agreement. Warriors in the Pacifi c Division. Hart. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, July 5, 2017 SPORT

CRICKET Galfar Al Misnad win Ibn Ajayan Ramadan tourney

By Sports Reporter runners-up Malabar XI received QR Doha 12,000 as prize money. Galfar Al Misnad’s Kamaran Khan and Tamoor Sajjad Zafar were de- alfar Al Misnad defeated Mal- clared the best batsman and the abar XI by eight wickets in the best bowler of the tournament re- fi nal to win Ibn Ajayan Ram- spectively, while Rizlan Iqbar was adan T20 Cricket Tournament adjudged the best fi elder. Gat Asian Town Cricket Stadium. Kansai Paints’ Adanan Mizra was The tournament was organised by declared man of the series. Fair play Ibn Ajayan Projects (IAP), the man- award went to Gulf Ware Housing agers of Asian Town and Labor City Company team. Workers Accommodation projects in This was the third consecutive Qatar, under the patronage of Min- year Ibn Ajayan Projects organising istry of Culture and Sports, to cel- Ramadan T20 cricket tournament ebrate the holy month of Ramadan. at Asian Town. This year, Ibn Ajay- Batting fi rst, Malabar XI batsmen an Projects was in association with were all out for 46 runs in 12.5 overs. QECC, in organising the tournament. Galfar batsmen achieved the tar- “Being the managers fi rst Inter- get in 9.1 overs after losing only two national cricket stadium in Qatar, wickets. we are always trying to promote the The tournament series was game of Cricket in Qatar and this is launched on May 28, 2017 and con- the third year we are organising Ra- clude up on June 28 at after a total of madan T20 Cricket Tournament. 31 matches played by 16 teams spread This tournament is an Eid gift for the between four groups of teams. cricket lovers in Qatar,” said Moham- The tournament champions, Gal- ed bin Mahdi bin Ajayan Al Ahbabi, far al-Misnad bagged QR20,000 and Chairman of Ibn Ajayan Projects.

RUGBY FORMULA ONE Kubica thinks he has ‘90 percent chance’ ‘Express yourself’, of his comeback

AFP tion that Kubica could be in London the frame to replace Britain’s Jolyon Palmer, who is having a diffi cult season and is yet to olish driver Robert score a point in eight races. coach tells All Blacks Kubica says his chanc- Kubica said his fi tness was es of a Formula One better than ever, despite the ‘We’ve done some really good stuff in the last two weeks but it’s clear that there’s more in us’ comeback have risen to limitations of his arm, and Va- P“80 or 90 percent” after a test lencia had been one of the best with Renault at Spain’s Valen- days of his life. cia circuit last month. “If I get the phone call, I The 32-year-old, the only don’t have to think about it or Pole to win a grand prix, left say, ‘Hmm, maybe I can’t do Formula One in 2011 after a it. I will reply, ‘Yes, I can do it. rallying accident that partially Let’s go for it.’,” he said, while severed his forearm. not wanting to hurry anything. He had been one of the “I cannot step straight into sport’s brightest prospects, racing F1. I won’t do it. It’d with a likely move to Ferrari on be crazy. If someone called the horizon. me and asked me to race next “If you asked me (before week, I wouldn’t do it. It’s not the test) how much I was re- because I don’t feel I’m capa- alistically thinking that com- ble of doing it; I just feel that I ing back to F1 was possible, I cannot rush,” he explained. would have put myself up to “It would be a diffi cult call to 10 or maximum 20 per cent say no, of course, but after the chance,” he told Britain’s Auto accident I worked a lot on my Express. mental comfort, my mental “Because I’m very realistic, zone, and these months have and I’m keeping my feet on the been the happiest months of ground, I’d put it at 80 or 90 my past six years.” per cent (now),” he added. Kubica completed an im- pressive 115 laps in Valencia in a 2012 Lotus, with the test carried out in considerable secrecy, and said he had been stunned by how well it went. Media reports indicated he was faster than Renault’s Rus- sian test driver Sergey Sirotkin while his simulator times were on a par with German race driver Nico Hulkenberg, who has scored all the team’s points so far this season. The BBC said Kubica would be testing again with Renault, although there was no confi r- mation from the team. There has been specula-

New Zealand All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster speaks at a press conference ahead of the third Test match against the British and Irish Lions in Auckland yesterday. (AFP) Cotter to develop diff erent AFP cumstances — whether it’s wet yet to see them play “champagne returning to Eden Park for the so we’ll just let the ref interpret Montpellier philosophy Auckland and cold or windy or whatever rugby”. winner-takes-all third Test felt how he wants to interpret and — we’re still able to express our- Foster said the Wellington like the fi nal of a World Cup — a make sure we do our basics really Montpellier have long been a much-maligned side in the Top 14, selves when we want to. defeat hinged on the red card, a tournament he has won twice. well,” he said. derided for their South African-heavy, forward-based gameplan ssistant coach Ian “We’ve proven we can get par- situation the All Blacks had not “It defi nitely has that feel. The The 80-Test veteran said a row under ex-Springbok coach . White has exited the Foster has urged the ity (in the forwards) and front- faced for 50 years and was diffi - excitement we had at training between Lions prop Kyle Sinck- Mediterranean stage, the reins of Mohed Altrad’s club now passed All Blacks to express foot ball and we’ve got to make cult to plan for. He conceded the today backs that up,” he said. ler and some All Blacks after the to New Zealander Vern Cotter, formerly of Clermont and . themselves and use sure we’re smart in using that.” All Blacks, while still controlling “The Lions are a great side and siren in Wellington would not Cotter’s task will be to rebuild interest in a city team that increas- theirA brains in this weekend’s The reigning world cham- the game for long periods, went there’s a lot of history between aff ect the hosts’ attitude toward ingly failed to capture local imagination, with home attendances Test series decider against the pions were convincing 30-15 into their shell slightly after los- these two teams, so being 1-1 it the match. having progressively fallen under White’s reign, which was notori- British and Irish Lions. winners in the fi rst Test at Eden ing a man and did not pursue at- does have that feeling about it.” “I don’t think it’s our style to ous for the number of South African players signed. While stung by a 24-21 loss to Park, where they out-muscled tacking opportunities with their Kaino said there was “an edge” drag things off the fi eld and carry That is not to say White was a failure, Montpellier having bagged the Lions in Wellington, Foster the Lions forwards. usual vigour. to the New Zealanders ahead it on. It just hinders what you the European Challenge Cup in 2016 and the club finishing third said “it’s not all doom and gloom The Lions then hit back a week “Probably our vision was a bit of the game and they wanted to want to do and how you want to in last season’s Top 14 before falling in the play-off semi-finals. for us” as the third Test looms in later after Sonny Bill Williams’ narrow,” he said. impose themselves while also improve,” he said. Cotter, however, has vowed to instigate what he said could be Auckland on Saturday. sending off for a shoulder charge “That’s a work-on for us, be- maintaining discipline. “There’s always going to be described as “diff erent philosophy”. “We’ve done some really good reduced the hosts to 14 men for cause it’s not something that’s He was not concerned about a feeling between these two team “We’re starting something that may be diff erent philosophical- stuff in the last two weeks but it’s much of the match. natural to us, but we allowed northern hemisphere referee — and when we cross those white ly,” said the Kiwi, who will be assisted this season by Australian- pretty clear that there’s more in Neither encounter featured ourselves to get into that mode.” France’s Romain Poite — being in lines we throw it out there, but born former Scotland lock Nathan Hines and ex-England us,” he said. the All Blacks’ trademark ex- charge of the match. once we leave I think we should playmaker Alex King, the latter having also played under Cotter “We’ve got to focus on that pansive game, with Lions coach Cup fever “We know how we can play dump it and not bring it into our at Clermont. and make sure that in all cir- Warren Gatland saying he was Flanker Jerome Kaino said physical and within the laws, preparation.” “We’ll define amongst ourselves the identity of our gameplan and we’ll develop that with our leaders. There are players with character in this squad because rugby always starts with Furlong looks for remarkable third win over All Blacks character.” One thing Cotter acknowledged that the club would have to and Brian O’Driscoll fortunate he is. “I am incredibly in my first game highly touted before the Lions times you’re just holding on to address would be to make rugby attractive once more, albeit won a combined 191 caps for lucky,” said Furlong, who played of playing them, having known tour began and his reputation get parity, especially on your ball adding a rejoiner that winning was crucial. “We’d like people and have been inducted in Ireland’s first victory over the that so many players... legends has been enhanced in New Zea- and it’s hugely competitive.” The who don’t know what to do on a Saturday afternoon to say to into ’s Hall of Fame world champions in Chicago of the game, had never beaten land after several battles with All Blacks battled with 14 men for themselves, ‘You know what, Montpellier are playing, let’s go but in 18 career games against in November and in the Lions’ them you feel lucky, privileged. All Blacks loosehead Joe Moody. almost 60 minutes in the second and enjoy that’,” he said. the All Blacks they failed to 24-21 win on Saturday in the “To do it twice, even more so.” Furlong said the All Blacks tight test after Sonny Bill Williams “I want players to enjoy themselves when they play, it’s our role register a single victory. Tadhg second test in Wellington. Furlong, who made his debut five were not given enough was sent off and did not score a as coaches. But the first thing is winning. We’re capable with this Furlong, the British and Irish Li- “I looked back at when we were against shortly before credit, particularly in the north- try, with all of their side’s points team of playing, of being strong in contact but playing. That’s what ons’ 24-year-old tighthead prop, playing New Zealand in Chicago the 2015 Rugby World Cup, ern hemisphere. “The outside coming from the boot of Beau- we’ll try to do — there are no guarantees in this sport, but we’ll try.” has already beaten the world and there are a lot of people cemented himself as Ireland’s world doesn’t give the All Blacks den Barrett. Furlong said the With pre-season under way, Cotter said ball skills would be para- champions twice in four tests who played the All Blacks five first-choice tighthead during scrum the credit they deserve,” Lions would need to improve at mount as he moulds his team ready for the resumption of Top 14 over the last eight months. And or six times and never won. “I’d this year’s Six Nations tourna- he said. “Believe me they are a Eden Park because the All Blacks duties on August 26. “Little by little we’ll try to build what we need the Irishman is fully aware how never played them and... to beat ment. The Wexford native was very, very strong unit. Some- would be stung from defeat. to play at a high level,” said the understated Cotter. Gulf Times Wednesday, July 5, 2017 7 SPORT

CRICKET / WOMEN’S WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT Pakistan appoints Indians vie for Sarfraz Test captain AFP Islamabad

akistan yesterday rewarded Sarfraz Ahmed with the semi-fi nals berth country’s Test captaincy, a fortnight after he led the na- Ptional team to an elusive Champions Trophy title in England. Underdogs Pakistan trounced India by a record 180-run margin in the fi nal in London on June 18 to lift the Cham- pions Trophy, to the shock and ecstasy against Sri Lanka of the cricket-mad country. Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan named Sarfraz Test India are placed at the top of the pool with three wins and six points captain at a ceremony honouring the winning team hosted by Prime Minister IANS their margins of defeats have consist- Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad yesterday. New Delhi ently reduced. “I take this opportunity to announce since Misbah-ul-Haq retired after In the fi rst encounter against New Ahmed as our Test captain in addition winning a three-match Test series 2-1 Zealand they lost by nine wickets. to one-day and Twenty20 captain,” in the West Indies in May this year. ithali Raj, Harmanpreet They went down to the Aussies by Khan said. Ahmed said leading Pakistan in all Kaur and Jhulan Gos- eight wickets and fi nally to host Eng- The 30-year-old will lead Pakistan three formats is a great honour. wami will aim to continue land by seven wickets. in the three-match Test series against “I am honoured to be appointed Test their good form with the Barring Chamari Atapattu, their Sri Lanka, likely to be held on the neu- captain,” he said during the ceremony. Mbat when India take on Sri Lanka in batters have failed to impress, and tral venue of the United Arab Emirates “I will do my best to lift the team in a group stage match of the Women’s bowlers lack bite in the Sri Lankan at- in October. all three formats and will not rest on World Cup at the County Ground in tack. Ahmed has already led Pakistan in Champions Trophy laurels.” Derby, England, today. With a mammoth innings of 178 in nine one-day internationals since last Sharif rewarded every member of the In 2013, Sri Lanka pulled off a ma- 143 deliveries against the formidable year, winning seven and losing two. He Trophy winning team with a prize of 10 jor upset in the history of World Cup Aussies, Atapattu launched powerplay has also led in eight Twenty20s, win- mn rupees ($100,000) while members Cricket when they ripped through the innings throughout with 22 bounda- ning seven and losing just one. of the team management received fi ve Indian battling line-up after posting ries and six massive sixes, keeping the The Test captaincy has been vacant mn ($50,000). a stiff target of 283 runs at the Bra- wagon wheel evenly spread. bourne Stadium in Mumbai. Her strength lies in free fl owing India eventually lost that match by strokeplay and fi nding gaps on both GOLF 138 runs, and a few big names never the sides of the wicket. played for India again. Atapattu scored her fi rst century in However, it is a diff erent story now 2011, followed by two in 2014 against for the Indian girls in the 11th edition Ireland and , respectively, of the Women’s World Cup. before setting up her recent record of McIlroy strokes With three consecutive wins, the second highest individual score in the Indians have a massive advantage with history of World Cup. all round performances over the last Currently, she is also the second one week of the Women’s World Cup. most run getter at the World Cup. Matsuyama ahead Batting has been their main Her weakness is left-arm spin of strength, with Smriti Mandhana the which Ekta Bisht is an able exponent fourth highest scorer in the tourna- and Bijapur girl Rajeshwari Gaekwad ment with 198 runs in three outings is another good option for India. of Irish Open followed by Poonam Raut and Mithali It needs to be seen if India coach Raj at the eighth and ninth spots re- Tushar Arothe goes in for a rota- spectively. tion policy with the inclusion of Veda AFP The Indian bowling has been excep- Krishnamurthy, Nauzat Parveen and Portstewart, tional with Ekta Bisht and 19-year-old Gaekwad or sticks to the winning Deepti Sharma, at number one and combination. two respectively with six wickets each. India’s Ekta Bisht celebrates the wicket of Pakistan’s Diana Baig with teammates India are currently placed at the top ory McIlroy has singled out While Ekta castled Pakistan with during their match on Sunday. Bisht took five wickets in the match. (Reuters) of the pool with three wins and six world number two Hideki fi ve wickets with her dipping left-arm points followed by Australia, who are Matsuyama for special praise spin, Deepti has devastated the oppo- list against Sri Lanka with 20 scalps. four catches and three stumpings. She also on six points but are marginally ahead of this week’s Irish sition with consistent performances The Indian bowlers are ably sup- is ahead of high profi le names like Sa- behind on net run rate. OpenR at Portstewart. in all three matches. ported by the fi elders. rah Taylor of England and Australia’ India’s campaign henceforth will Matsuyama is the highest ranked Veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami, who Sushma Verma is currently the Alyssa Healy. get tougher as they will face defending player in this Irish fi eld and two spots has had a quiet World Cup thus far, is the leading wicket-keeper at the World Winless Sri Lanka have been strug- champions Australia, New Zealand higher than McIlroy, who was bumped second on the all-time wicket-taker’s Cup, dismissing seven batters with gling at the World Cup so far, though and South Africa. back to number three by the Japa- leagues in seeking their attendance at nese star after the US Open and then the Irish Open but he seemed to have to number four by Jordan Spieth, who little trouble encouraging the recent climbed to number three on the back runner-up in the US Open. of his dramatic play-off victory in last “I do not speak Japanese all that well Continue previous pay deal for 12 months, suggests Clarke month’s Travelers Championship. but then I heard he was interested in Matsuyama, the highest-placed playing some links golf ahead of The Reuters behind closed doors and sort this in them concentrate on the cricket,” Japanese golfer in the history of the Open, so when I heard that we got in Sydney private. Clarke said. “I don’t want to see any world rankings, is making his debut in touch with his management team say- “The players want to play... let’s allow cricket missed. the $7mn event as well as his fi rst ever ing that would love to have him com- them to play while this stuff gets “There will be a compromise. The journey to Ireland. pete at Portstewart and we would do ustralia’s cricketers and board sorted out in the background.” ACA and Cricket Australia will find a Strangely, his image is missing from anything to help in getting him to the should extend their previous At the heart of the acrimonious way to make this work.” any of the promotional banners and tournament,”said McIlroy. Aagreement by 12 months while dispute is Cricket Australia’s (CA) The ACA has called on CA chief posters lining the streets of the virtual “He is the second-best player in the they attempt to find a solution to a insistence that the two-decade-old executive James Sutherland to come twin towns of Portstewart and Por- world right now and went so close a few bitter pay dispute, former captain model, under which players get a to the negotiating table but he has re- trush. weeks back to winning the US Open. Michael Clarke said yesterday. fixed percentage of revenue, should mained silent since emailing players However, that has not diminished “When he got himself into conten- The previous Memorandum of Under- be jettisoned. in May, informing them they would be McIlroy’s glowing respect for Mat- tion at Erin Hills I was sort of pulling standing (MoU) expired at midnight CA believes the revenue-share model unemployed if they failed to agree to suyama. for him as it would have been great to on Friday with no sign of a deal in beforehand. is unfit for modern times and is starv- a new MoU by the June 30 deadline. “When you look at what he has have a reigning Major champion in the place, leaving around 230 leading “What needs to happen is keep the ing grass-roots cricket of funding, “It does seem very strange. You’ve achieved, not just last year and already Irish Open fi eld.” cricketers without contracts and the current MoU for the next 12 months while players say it has underpinned got to wonder what the hell is going this year, but over the past few years Matsuyama has won four times on fate of future tours in limbo. and allow the players to get back the game’s growth and prosperity on,” former Australia captain Ian it is impressive how he goes about his the PGA Tour including this year’s suc- Once the deadline passed, Australia’s to what they do best,” Clarke told over the past 20 years. Chappell said. business,” said McIlroy. cessful defence of the Phoenix Open. players threatened to boycott an reporters at Nine Network’s market- “I don’t want the Australian players “They’ve done a few strange things “He is a very hard worker and any- It was the end of last year Mat- “A” team tour of South Africa later ing launch for the Ashes. to be unprepared because they have and Sutherland not being involved is time you are on the practice range he suyama stamped his enormous poten- this month unless a new agreement “Cricket Australia, the ACA (Australian been concentrating on something one of them. I don’t see a really good always seems to always be there and it tial winning four of fi ve events on his was struck with Cricket Australia Cricketers’ Association), please go else; give them 12 months and let reason for him not to be.” is the same scenario when you are on home Tour starting with a fi rst the practice putting green. Japan Open title. A week after capturing the Japan VERY IMPRESSIVE Open he won the WGC HSBC Champi- BOTTOMLINE “He is very diligent around his practice ons in Shanghai to move to number six as he works very hard at it. in the world. “The thing I also like about Hideki is Matsuyama then stormed to a seven that he is aggressive as you only have to stroke success in the Taiheiyo Masters. look at some of the shots he hits and the In early December he went on to MCC chairman Brearley voices Ashes pins he will take in during competition. claim the Tiger Woods hosted Hero “So, all aspects of his game are very World Challenge in the Bahamas for a strong and he is very impressive.” fourth victory in fi ve starts. As tournament host, Northern Ire- Matsuyama will contest the open- concern amid ‘looming crisis’ fears land’s McIlroy has worked hard behind ing two rounds of the Irtish Open in the the scenes for three years now twisting company of McIlroy and Spain world AFP not getting close together, although the arm of his fellow PGA Tour col- number 11 Jon Rahm. London there’s some rumour that there might be, in which case somebody we’ll have to give way.” CC world cricket commit- Brearley, England’s captain when Woods released from programme, to tee chairman Mike Brear- they won the Ashes 5-1 in Australia in ley has said the threat of 1978-79 against a depleted home side continue treatment an Ashes boycott by Aus- weakened by mass ‘defections’ to Kerry Mtralia players is a “serious” concern Packer’s World Series Cricket, added: Former world number one Tiger Woods did not provide any details of amid fears of a “looming crisis” for “We think it’s a pretty serious thing. Woods says he has finished a the treatment or type of programme Test cricket as a whole. “It could stop tours they are under- programme to help him manage his and did not say when he expected to A bitter pay dispute between Aus- taking and series they are playing, in- medications, following his arrest in return to golf. tralia’s board and players saw the cluding even the Ashes.” May for impaired driving. Woods was arrested May 29 near his two sides unable to reach an agree- Brearley explained the committee’s Woods said he would move forward Florida home for impaired driving. ment before last week’s deadline after over-riding worry was how to ensure with his next round of treatment A breathalyser test showed no sign months of protracted talks. Test cricket remained fi nancially at- to ease back pain and sleep issues of alcohol but a police video showed The row, which threatens fi xtures tractive to all leading players in an with the help of his physician and Woods struggling to answer ques- including this year’s prestige home era of lucrative Twenty20 franchises relatives. tions and he said later he did not Ashes series, intensifi ed at the week- leagues especially enticing to crick- “I recently completed an out of state realise how prescription drugs he end when the Australian Cricketers’ eters from relatively weak domestic private intensive programme,” the was taking might interact. Association said players would boy- economies such as South Africa and golfing icon wrote Monday on his Woods made a comeback from back cott an Australia A tour of South Af- the West Indies. Twitter account. “I will continue to surgery in December in the Bahamas rica this month unless a new deal was Australia ‘A’ assistant coach Brad Haddin (left) talks to player Glenn Maxwell “I think the mood of the commit- tackle this going forward with my but has played only twice this year, agreed by Friday. during a training session in Brisbane yesterday. (AFP) tee was that there was, if not a crisis, doctors, family and friends. missing the cut at Torrey Pines and Brearley, whose infl uential commit- a looming, a potential crisis and that “I am so very thankful for all of the withdrawing from the European Tour’s tee has Australia great Rodney Marsh, among its members, said yesterday from Rodney Marsh that it seemed this crisis needs to be noticed and tak- support I’ve received.” Dubai Desert Classic in February. until recently the national selector, after a meeting at Lord’s: “We heard both sides were very intransigent and en seriously,” he said.

Wednesday, July 5, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

FOCUS Qatar’s Al Arabi in Asian club volleyball semis

Agencies quick play. That was why we tried to Ninh Binh, Vietnam carry out terrifi c jump serves to cause them a big problem, foiling their at- tempts to come up with fast attacks. n-form Al Arabi of Qatar saw off We succeeded in our strategy today,” Al Taichung Commercial Bank from Arabi SC’s head coach Lajenef Maaouia Chinese Taipei in straight sets 25- commented after the match. 19, 25-22, 25-16 to advance to the “In our semi-fi nal match against Isemi-fi nals of the SMM 2017 Asian Iran’s Sarmayeh Bank, of course it is Men’s Club Volleyball Championship at going to be a very tough match. How- the Ninh Binh Gymnasium yesterday. ever, we are ready to fi ght all-out to German Grozer Gyorgy proved again win the championship no matter which to be a great asset for Al Arabi after top- team we will face,” he concluded. scoring for the winning team with 23 Kazakhstan’s Altay VC, who beat points from 18 devastating spikes and China’s Beijing Motor 3-0 (25-19, 25- 5 aces, while Mohamed Ibrahim added 22, 25-14) in the quarter-fi nals, will 13 points. Liu Houng Jie led Taichung take on Japan’s Toyoda Gosei Trefu- Commercial Bank with only 8 points. erza, 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-21) winners “We knew before the match that over Vietnam Sports Club, in the other our opponents are very good at recep- semi-fi nal today. tion, so today we tried to put pressure on them with our good serves. They are Al Arabi players (in grey) celebrate their one of the strong teams in this cham- win over Taichung Commercial Bank pionship with an astonishing style of from Chinese Taipei yesterday.

CYCLING / TOUR DE FRANCE ATHLETICS Ogunode Sagan disqualifi ed leads Qatar’s challenge at from Tour for Asian athletics

By Sports Reporter Doha

Cavendish ‘elbow’ emi Ogunode, the fast- est man in Asia, will spearhead Qatar’s chal- Demare wins fourth stage even as drama unfolds behind him in hectic finale lenge in the 22nd Asian AthleticsF Championships to be Reuters held in the Indian city of Bhu- Vittel, France baneswar from July 6 to 9. Ogunode set an Asian record of 9.93 seconds in the 100m at the orld champion Peter Sagan 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, was kicked out of the Tour de South Korea, and improved it to France yesterday after send- 9.91 seconds at the 2015 Asian ing Mark Cavendish crash- Athletics Championships in Wu- Samba are the other members of Wing in a hectic fi nale to the fourth stage, han, China where he also won the the squad. sending shockwaves through the three- 200m. Secretary-General of the Qa- week cycling extravaganza. Ogunode came into promi- tar Athletics Federation Moham- French champion Arnaud Demare won nence at the 2010 Asian Games in ed Issa Fadhala is the head of the the stage, a 207.5-km ride from Mondorf- Guangzhou by winning the gold Qatar delegation. les-Bains, Luxembourg, but all the drama in the 100m and 400m thus be- Qatar fi nished second in the was just behind him. coming only the second athlete in 2015 event in Wuhan with 15 gold Slovakian Sagan elbowed Cavendish off Games history to have won both medals while Qatar were second balance as the Briton was trying to force events at the same competition – with seven and India third with his way between him and the safety barrier, Milkha Singh fi rst achieved this four. and Cavendish was sent crashing heavily. feat at the 1958 Asian Games. His Dimension Data team said the Ogunode’s younger brother, PAKISTAN CONTINGENT Briton was going to the hospital to have Tosin, is also in the Qatar squad GET VISAS checks on his wrist and collarbone. and will be competing in the A six-member Pakistan team will “Peter Sagan is disqualifi ed from the sprints. travel to Bhubaneswar for the after today’s tumul- Mutaz Barshim, Qatar’s two- Asian Athletics Championships, tuous sprint in Vittel,” race jury president time Olympic medallist, will be which will begin tomorrow and Philippe Marien told reporters. missing the Asian Champion- conclude on Sunday. He cited Article 12 of the International ships as he is preparing for the The development was wel- Cycling Union (UCI) rules, which states IAAF World Championships to comed by the Athletics Federa- that any rider making a wilful obstruc- be held in London in August. tion of India (AFI). tion “against one of the 1st 10 riders Middle distance runners Mo- Pakistan has had to miss, placed” faces elimination. hamed Hasan and Jamal Hairan, among other sporting events, In 2010, Cavendish’s then lead-out steeplechasers Hashim Salah and the Asian Wrestling Champi- man Mark Renshaw of Australia was Yaser Mubarak, javelin throw- onships and the Asian Snooker kicked out of the race for headbutting er Ahmed Bedeer and discus Championships in India this New Zealand’s Julian Dean in a sprint. thrower Maaz Ibrahim and 400m year after their players were de- Slovakia’s Peter Sagan (second from left) sends Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish crashing with an elbow near the finish line of the hurdles sensation Abdulrahman nied visas. THE ELBOW fourth stage of the Tour de France in Vittel, France, yesterday. (AFP) Cavendish, wearing a sling, said: “I get on with Peter well... if he came across it’s COMMENT one thing, but the elbow... “I’m not a fan of him putting his elbow in me like that. A crash is a crash. I’d just like to know about the elbow, really. I’d Sagan’s expulsion just like to speak to him about it.” Sagan, who later went to Cavendish’s team bus to apologise, added: “He was from Tour is harsh, coming from behind, I did not have time to react and go left.” German John Degenkolb, the 2016 Par- says LeMond is-Roubaix champion, also crashed as he ran into Cavendish on the ground. Reuters Tour in 1986, 1989 and 1990, The Briton eventually got back on his Vittel, France noted that some of the action bike and crossed the line after being at- could not be seen. tended to by race medics. “There is a part of the overhead The race’s yellow jersey holder, Brit- eter Sagan is an aggres- shot under a tree... You can’t tell if ain’s Geraint Thomas, hit the deck in a sive rider but he did not Cav’ tried to lean on him. However separate pile-up near the end, but as the deserve to be disquali- his (Sagan’s) response was way too incident occurred within the fi nal three fi ed from the Tour de severe,” he said. “In a sprint, when kilometres he will be credited with the PFrance because he did not inten- you’re in front you try to close the same time as the winner. tionally send Mark Cavendish door a little but sprints are very Thomas and defending champion crashing to the ground, three- dangerous.” Chris Froome, who was held up behind Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish receives time Tour de France champion Riders often reach 70kph in a the crash and is 12 seconds behind his medical assistance after falling near the Greg LeMond said yesterday. sprint and any change of line or compatriot in the overall classifi cation, finish line of the fourth stage of the Tour France’s Arnaud Demare celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the fourth stage World champion Sagan was contact can have dramatic con- are fi ne, Team Sky said. de France yesterday. (AFP) of the Tour de France in Vittel, France, yesterday. (AFP) kicked out of the race after elbow- sequences. “I went to the ground, but no serious ing his British rival off balance in “What Sagan did was wrong damage,” said Thomas, who was also victory was more special. guns in action as the 160.5-km ride from 9. Manuele Mori (UAE Team Emirates) a hectic sprint in the fourth stage, but was it intentional? Did he brought down in a crash on Sunday. “It’s really special because the Tour Vittel will fi nishup La Planche des Belles 10. Tiesj Benoot (Lotto) the race jury saying the Slovak wil- purposely send Cavendish into is something that goes beyond cycling,” Filles, a lung-busting 5.9-km climb at an fully obstructed Cavendish some the barriers? I don’t think so,” SPECIAL VICTORY said Demare, who for the fi rst time in average gradient of 8.5 percent. OVERALL STANDINGS 100 metres from the line. said LeMond. Norway’s Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) his career has dedicated teammates for 1. Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) 14:54:25” “It is too harsh, I think”, Amer- “I don’t think Cav’ would want came home third, but moved up to sec- the sprints on a , after FDJ re- STAGE 4 RESULTS 2. Chris Froome (Team Sky) +12” ican LeMond, who is on the Tour him out. It’s a loss for the Tour, ond after Sagan’s expulsion, as FDJ rider cruited two strong domestiques in Davide 1. Arnaud Demare (FDJ) 4:53:54” 3. Michael Matthews (Sunweb) as an analyst for Eurosport, said Peter Sagan is not an angry per- Demare, who has been in impressive form Cimolai and Jacopo Guarnieri. 2. Peter Sagan (BORA) same time 4. EB Hagen (Dimension Data) +16” in his daily chat with Reuters. son or a poor sportsman.” lately, had time to raise his arms in cel- Demare took the green jersey for the 3. Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) 5. (AG2R) +25” “Some riders hold on to a car LeMond explained that Sagan, ebration before crossing the line. points classifi cation and is now the fa- 4. Andre Greipel (Lotto) 6. Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step) +30” on the Tour and they are not not being a pure sprinter, was Demare, the 2011 under-21 world vourite to take it to Paris, a feat Sagan was 5. Nacer Bouhanni () 7. Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) +32” kicked out.” bound to make errors. “He’s an champion, burst into the limelight when looking to achieve for a record-equalling 6. Adrien Petit (Direct Energie) 8. Tim Wellens (Lotto) Overhead TV footage shows aggressive rider, but he’s not a he won the ‘Monument’ classic Milan- sixth time. 7. Juergen Roelandts (Lotto) 9. Arnaud Demare (FDJ) +33” Sagan clearly elbowing Cavend- pure sprinter, he is trying to take San Remo last year but he said yesterday’s Today’s fi fth stage should see the top 8. Michael Matthews (Sunweb) 10. Nikias Arndt (Sunweb) +34” ish but LeMond, who won the wheels,” the American said.