TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 SPORTS Russia crowned world champions MINSK: Russia claimed their fourth world shot past Pekka Rinne’s stick side to put his ice hockey championship in seven years side 3-2 in front. with a 5-2 win over Finland in the final in Danis Zaripov helped ease home nerves Minsk on Sunday to partly make up for with an excellently taken goal after good their Sochi Olympic disappointment. interplay with Shirokov to give Russia a Finland dumped Russia out of the two-goal lead with his 13th point of the Games in February at the quarter-final competition. With five minutes to go, the stage and just as in the Olympics, the Finns tournament’s leading scorer Viktor found themselves a goal down early on Tikhonov added his eighth goal and 16th when Sergei Shirokov gave Russia the lead point overall with a strike on the powerplay on 10 minutes on the power play. as Russia cruised to victory. Roared on by a partizan crowd who Belarusian president Alexander were firmly behind the Russians, it took Lukashenko and Russian president Vladimir time for the Finns, who had only scrapped Putin both attended the final. Sweden, the into the knockout stages, to find their form. world champions, gained some consola- They tied up the game with only three tion as they picked up the bronze medal seconds remaining in the first period after beating the Czech Republic 3-0. It was through Iiro Pakarinen and six minutes into Jaromir Jagr’s last game for the Czechs but the second period Erkka Westerlund’s side the 42-year-old did not end his internation- took the lead through Olli Palola. al career on a high note as Joakim Russia’s reply was instant, however, with Lindstrom opened the scoring after four Alexander Ovechkin tying up the game at minutes from Simon Hjalmarsson. Sweden 2-2 less than a minute later. Russia were wrapped up the victory midway through desperately looking for the all-important the third period, Erik Gustafsson orchestrat- go-ahead goal and they had a great oppor- ing a lightning counter-attack and feeding tunity with a power play late in the second Mikael Backlund who sent a wrist shot high period, Evgeni Malkin sending a fine wrist into the net.—Reuters OKLAHOMA CITY: Derek Fisher No. 6 of the Oklahoma City Thunder goes up for the ball against Kawhi Leonard No. 2 of the San Antonio Spurs in the second half during Game Three of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs. —AFP Thunder cuts Spurs deficit SAN ANTONIO: The Oklahoma City Thunder, “Serge gave us a big lift, not only on the defen- Popovich complimented Ibaka while also buoyed by the return of Serge Ibaka from injury, sive end but the offensive end,” Brooks told expressing disgust with his own team’s perform- recovered from two demoralising road losses to reporters. ance. “Serge is always great in the paint. He beat the San Antonio Spurs 106-97 in Game “We obviously missed him the last two blocks shots, he changes shots, he did a great Three of the Western Conference Finals on games but that’s part of sport. You have to deal job,” Popovich told reporters. “I thought our Sunday. with the injuries. We bounced back tonight.” defense was pretty poor. I thought our first half The Spurs lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 The Thunder, who lost the first two games of was probably the poorest defense we’ve played but the Thunder at least breathed some new life the series by a combined 52 points in San in a very long time. into their season, which was in danger of end- Antonio, looked like a different team as they “It was a miracle it was a one-point game ing with a whimper. played with energy and more than a touch of with 40 seconds to go in the first half. The only Power forward Ibaka, who missed the first skill in front of a raucous home crowd. thing that kept us in the game was those threes two games with a left calf strain, scored 15 (by Ginobili).” points on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor in near- POOR DEFENSE The Thunder out-shot the Spurs from the ly 30 minutes of action. He also grabbed seven Oklahoma City started the final quarter with floor, 46 percent to 40 percent, and also domi- rebounds and played strong defense, blocking a decisive 7-0 run to take a 14-point lead and nated the boards 52-36 in rebounds. Oklahoma four shots. the Thunder were never in danger from that City stars Russell Westbrook (26 points) and “I tried to give my team mates some energy point as San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich Kevin Durant (25 points) were not at their most in defense and offense,” the 24-year-old from rested most of his starters over the final few brilliant but still top-scored. the Republic of the Congo told TNT TV. minutes. Guard Tony Parker had a poor game for the “I think I did pretty well. Also, my team mates Guard Manu Ginobili led the Spurs with 23 Spurs, scoring only nine points on 4-of-13 too, we did a great job to make them take some points, including 6-of-9 from behind the arc, but shooting from the floor. Game Four is in tough shots.” Coach Scott Brooks praised Ibaka: scored only three in the second half. Oklahoma City today.—Reuters BELARUS: Russia’s players celebrate with their trophy after a gold medal game against Finland of the IIHF International Ice Hockey World Championship. —AFP Rangers inch towards finals A group photo of officials and shooters. NEW YORK: The New York Rangers beat that.” Hagelin had opened the scoring just the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in an overtime seven minutes into the first period with a thriller on Sunday to move within one vic- short-handed goal when his team mate Kuwaiti shooters get hero’s welcome tory of a first Stanley Cup appearance in Benoit Pouliot was in the penalty box for two decades. high sticking. By Abdellatif Sharaa and Khazakh shooter played for third place and Roared on by a boisterous Madison The Canadiens have struggled with their he ended in fourth. Square Garden crowd, the Rangers gave power play during the series and their KUWAIT: Kuwait Shooting Federation received a Meanwhile, Al-Otaibi said shooter Fuhaid Al- their long suffering fans cause for optimism inability to score was compounded when hero’s welcome at Kuwait international airport Daihani’s win of the bronze medal was not easy, that an overdue NHL title could be close Ryan McDonagh and Brian Boyle got the Sunday evening upon their return from and he had to exert tremendous efforts during when Martin St. Louis scored the Game puck to Hagelin on the breakaway. Kazakhstan. President of Kuwait and Arab the rounds until he was able to get a place Four winner six minutes into overtime. The Swedish left wing skated free then Shooting Federations Engr Duaij Khalaf Al-Otaibi, among the best six shooters, and relied on his The result gives the Rangers a com- shot through the legs of Tokarski for his KSSC Assistant Treasurer, Deputy Director experience during the final round and was able manding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven sixth goal of the playoffs. Tokarski, called General of PAYS for Sports Affairs Ahhmad Kazhal to beat the Italian shooter for third place. Eastern Conference finals with the next into the starting lineup after Corey Price were on hand. Kuwait’s shooter Fuhaid Al- Meanwhile, shooter Fuhaid Al-Daihani dedicated game in Montreal today. was ruled out of the series with a knee Daihani had earlier won the bronze medal in the his win to HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, St. Louis sealed the win when he com- injury, made 26 saves. World Cup trap competition which was held with HH the Crown Prince and Kuwait people. He said bined with Carl Hagelin and Brad Richards the participation of 83 shooters, representing 29 the competition was fierce, and the final six to slap the puck past Canadiens goaltender BIG RELIEF countries. Engr Duaij Al-Otaibi said this particular shooters were world champions including record Dustin Tokarski from an acute angle, whip- The Canadiens tied the game at 1-1 mid- championship attracted the attention of all holders. He said despite the strong competition, ping the Big Apple into a frenzy of excite- way through the second period when shooting federations, as it was one of the most “I was able to perform very well, but with the ment after a tense game. Montreal defenseman Francis Bouillon important on ISSF agenda. He said Kuwait’s par- new rules, even one target may even get the “It was a really competitive game but we rifled a snap shot past the Rangers goalie ticipation was excellent as Kuwait’s shooters shooter out of competition. He said that he is put ourselves behind the eight ball with all Henrik Lundqvist, who turned away 27 were determined to achieve good results. comfortable with the bronze, because “we are in those penalties,” Rangers coach Alain shots. “It’s a big relief, an exciting at the Al-Otaibi lauded the high spirits Kuwait a very good place to qualify for the Olympics, as Vigneault told reporters. “It was us. They same time, to get this win,” said shooters had, as shooter Abdallah Al-Rashidi was the competition will take place in Granada, Spain, were killing us and we can’t afford to do Lundqvist.—Reuters very close to get a model in skeet event as he to be followed with the Asian Games in Korea.