THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017 SPORTS

Southampton face anxious McIlroy aiming to Hit-man Aubameyang to wait over Van Dijk injury return from injury return for Dortmund

NEW YORK: Rory McIlroy is targeting the Mexico BERLIN: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the German league’s top scorer, is set LONDON: Southampton’s Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk may be set for a Championship in March as his return to tournament action to return for Borussia Dortmund at Mainz on Sunday after Gabon’s early lengthy spell on the sidelines after injuring his ankle in Sunday’s 3-0 Premier from injury. McIlroy aggravated a rib stress fracture while finish- Africa Cup of Nations exit. “He will be back with us again by Thursday so he League win over Leicester City. Southampton fear Van Dijk, who will miss ing runner-up at the SA Open in Gauteng two weekends ago. will definitely be fit and an option for our coach,” Dortmund CEO Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final, second leg at Those injuries typically take about six weeks to heal, and he Hans-Joachim Watzke told Kicker. Hosts Gabon Liverpool, could be out for up to three months, believes he’ll be ready to play again in the first World Golf crashed out of the Cup of Nations at the group stage according to British media reports. Asked how Championship of the year, from March 2-5. “I feel like I can after drawing all three pool games, but Aubameyang long Van Dijk would be ruled out, a club maybe get back before that, but if I were to play (the) Honda still managed two goals. He is the German league’s spokesman told Reuters: “Our assessment is still (Classic) and then go straight to Mexico, I’d be playing two top scorer with 16 goals in 15 league games. In his ongoing, we’re waiting on completion of the weeks in a row. I’d like to ease my way back in gently,” he said absence Dortmund won their first Bundesliga game of scans before we can say with any certainty”. With on Tuesday. He said the Mexico Championship in Mexico City 2017 on Saturday with a scrappy 2-1 victory at Werder manager Claude Puel already juggling resources was ideal because there was no cut. “I can see how everything Bremen to climb fourth. The 27-year-old Aubameyang, after defender Jose Fonte’s switch to West Ham feels, and I have a week off after that,” he told The Clubhouse who has made no secret of his desire to join Real United, a long-term injury to Van Dijk would golf podcast. McIlroy, the world No. 2, has already missed the Madrid, has a Dortmund contract until 2020, but hinted leave his squad short in defence. Southampton, Abu Dhabi Championship, and pulled out of the Dubai Desert last week that he may leave in the summer. On Monday who head into the tie at Anfield with a 1-0 lead Classic next week. The injury means he will also miss the Dortmund signed a potential replacement when Swedish from the first leg, host Arsenal in the FA Cup on Genesis Open in California and Honda in Florida next month. teenage prodigy Alexander Isak-dubbed the next Saturday before a Premier League trip to Swansea He put the rib injury down to an extra-busy offseason, when he Zlatan Ibrahimovic-joined for a reported 10 million City three days later. — Reuters hit a lot of balls to make a swing change and test drivers. —AP euros ($10.7m).—AFP into semis, Qatar out of worlds

PARIS: Holders France rallied past Sweden into the semi-finals of the world championships on Tuesday as Qatar, finalists two years ago, were dumped out of the tourna- ment. France held off Sweden 33-30 in a thriller which went down to the wire in Lille to set up a meeting with Slovenia, who ended Qatar’s run 32- 30 in Paris. edged 2013 champions Spain 30-29 in Montpellier, thanks to nine goals from left back Marko Mamic, as booked their first semi-final at the worlds with a 31-28 win over Amir’s 6th International Shooting Hungary in Albertville. French hopes had been boosted by the elimination Grand Prix to kick off on Saturday of Olympic champions Denmark and European holders Germany. By Abdellatif Sharaa the tournament which contributes to the But the French had to battle past a development of Kuwait Shooting which dogged Sweden with Lukas Nilsson KUWAIT: HH The Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- has gone to wider horizons and pointed to Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Sixth the achievements Kuwait Shooting made powering the Scandinavians with five International Shooting Grand Prix will kick at the International and Olympic levels, first-half goals as the hosts trailed 16- off on Saturday with the participation of especial in Rio, when six Kuwaiti shooters 15 at the break. 650 shooters from 47 countries. qualified while Fuheid Al-Daihani and With some key substitutions how- President of Arab and Kuwait Shooting Abdallah Al-Rashidi displayed a very strong ever and good work by Vincent Federations Eng Duaij Khalaf Al-Otaibi said performance there, despite all the prob- Gerard, Kentin Mahe and Nedim the tournament will include the 13th Arab lems Kuwaiti athletes are facing at the pres- Remili, the French battled back to Shooting Tournament that will continue ent time. He said Kuwait Shooting Sport keep their bid for a sixth world title until February 3rd. Club Board of Directors are concentrating on track. They take on Slovenia PARIS: Qatar’s Youssef Ali shoots the ball during the 25th men’s Handball World Championship Al-Otaibi was speaking at a press confer- on the base youth and juniors, and were today. It will be the third meeting Slovenia against Qatar at the Bercy arena in Paris, Tuesday. — AP ence held Tuesday night at Sheikh Sabah able to form teams at these stages, as we between the two teams in less than Al-Ahmad Olympic Shooting Complex absolutely believe in the importance of two weeks with the French winning along with secretary general of KSF and having links between the generations. the previous ties. ASF Obaid Al-Osaimi. He said the tourna- Obaid Al-Osaimi said that preparations The clash will also have a special ment is expected to see strong competition for this event started early, as the Higher flavour for Slovenian back Jure by shooters who look forward to win its Organizing Committee has been working Dolenec, voted man of the match prestigious cup. for a long time, getting ranges ready, work- against Qatar with five goals, and Vid Al-Otaibi highly appreciated the sup- shops, and training. Kavticnik, who will be up against port of HH the Amir to this sport of our her- He said there were special courses for many of their teammates from itage, and his patronizing of this tourna- referees who will officiate the event, for Montpellier. Qatar had shocked ment that is revered by all shooters. He also their very important role. He said the appreciated the support of Public Authority tournament coincides with Kuwait’s Germany in the previous round but for Sport led by Sheikh Ahmad Al-Mansour National and Liberation days, adding that were trailing from the outset as Al-Sabah. He said we are happy to organize all is ready. Slovenia pulled 9-5 ahead after 11 minutes thanks to Dolenec. Jan Grebenc was also on target as Slovenia entered the last 15 minutes with a nine-goal advantage. But despite a late fightback and eight goals from French-born Bertrand Roine it was too late for the Qataris to come back. Earlier, Norway broke new ground at the world championships with Espen Lie Hansen, Sander Sagosen and goalkeeper Torbjorn Bergrund lay- ing the groundwork for their quar- ter-final win. The Norwegians, whose highest world ranking of six was back in 1958, will meet Croatia, the 2003 champi- MONTPELLIER: Spain’s Alex Dujshebae, centre, attempts a shot on goal past Croatia’s Jakov Gojun, left, ons, tomorrow for the other place in and Luka Stepancic, during the 25th men’s Handball World Championship match between Spain and Sunday’s final. —AFP Croatia, in Montpellier, southern France, Tuesday. — AP Red Bull Reign’s 3-on-3 basketball tournament

KUWAIT: In continuation with Red Bull’s habit and 16th in Marina Crescent Basketball Courts The game will be played on a court with cessful free throw will be awarded one point. earn the chance to compete in the 3◊3 World of staging offbeat sports events, Red Bull and concluding with the finals at the same one basket. Each team shall consist of three The regular playing time during the first Final this held in Washington, USA in Reign invites Kuwait’s top basketball players location on February 17th, in partnership with players and one substitute, with no coach on round will be eight minutes and 10 during the September 2017. to compete in the ultimate 3-on-3 battle, test- Acqua Eva, GoPro and Marina World. the playground. The game officials will consist second round, at which the game will be Each qualifier will host 24 teams, players 16 ing teams’ endurance, skills, teamwork, and Unlike most 3-on-3 tournaments, Red Bull of one or two referees and time/score keep- stopped in the last minute. The clock will be and above can submit an application for their ability to own their court while trying to accu- Reign will push teams to their utter physical ers. Both teams shall warm-up simultaneously also stop during dead ball situations and free team of four players to compete during the mulate the most points possible to outlast and mental limits. The rules of the high prior to the game and a coin flip shall deter- throws and only restarted after the exchange qualifying competitions in Kuwait. The quali- their opponents. endurance, offense-driven tournament are mine which team gets the first possession. of the ball is completed. However, the first fiers will be held on two consecutive days at Besides other qualifiers happening in 14 simple: the teams that score the overall points Every shot inside the arc will be awarded team to score 21 points or more wins the Marina Crescent Basketball courts on 15 and other countries this year, the local qualifiers in each round will advance and continue to one point while every shot behind the arc will game even if it happens before the end of the 16 February. For more information, visit: will take place this month, on February 15th compete in the final. count for two points. Accordingly, every suc- time. The Red Bull Reign final champions will www.redbull.com/reignkw