MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016 SPORTS

Pakistan legend Jahangir expects British Open breakthrough

KINGSTON UPON HULL: A new era Gawad rose to a career-high world num- and perhaps also on how well sport’s most popular player and its most Camille Serme, the titleholder from could emerge at this year’s British Open, ber seven after capturing the Swedish Mohamed El Shorbagy, his conqueror in talented. Three years ago he became France, Raneem El Welily, the Egyptian predicts legendary Pakistan squash Open the following month, and Mosaad five games in last year’s final, handles the first Egyptian in almost 50 years to who succeeded David as number one player Jahangir Khan, who won the is at world number four after reaching the pressure of a title defence. win, but he has been unable to compete last year, and her compatriot Nour El world’s oldest tournament a record ten the World Open final. “El Shorbagy’s still quite young even for four months because of a chronically Sherbini, a 20-year-old who has beaten times. “They are good talents coming up,” though he’s been around for a few years troublesome hamstring. both David and Massaro this year. Jahangir believes the new wave of Jahangir said. “They all know what the so he may have more hunger than the That is only one in a catalogue of ail- players could break through at the tour- guys at the top of the rankings have to others as well,” Jahangir said of the 25- ments which have threatened Ashour’s Seeds nament in the Airco Arena starting struggle with. And they are younger year-old Egyptian. Successfully defend- stop-start career, but if he is fit enough Men today. than the others and hungrier.” ing the Tournament of Champions title in he is more than good enough to win Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY x1), “There were a lot of upsets in the A spectacular exception to this is New York in January should have aided El again. Gregory Gaultier (FRA x2), Nick Matthew World Open last year (in November) and Gregory Gaultier, the Frenchman who Shorbagy’s self-belief, though he needed (ENG x3), Omar Mosaad (EGY x4), Ramy we weren’t expecting them,” said 52- has become world champion for the another five games in a hard final with DAVID EYES SIXTH TITLE Ashour (EGY x5), Miguel Angel year-old Jahangir. “I think a new era is first time at the age of 32, belatedly Nick Matthew. This may quieten those Meanwhile, Malaysian Nicol David, Rodriguez (COL x6), Simon Roesner (GER quite near. There could be a lot of achieving what many thought was past who claim the Englishman is too old to 32, is seeded number two as she bids to x7), Mathieu Castagnet (FRA x8) upsets at the British Open too.” him. win a fourth British Open at 35. capture the title for a sixth time. Jahangir identified three Egyptians Gaultier expects to return to compe- If Matthew does this he will have Although David lasted a record 103 Women as possible challengers-Ali Farag, a 23- tition next week after nine weeks out achieved a notable record. He is 18 months as world number one she only Laura Massaro (ENG x1), Nicol David year-old Harvard graduate, Karim with a ruptured ankle, as he bids for a months older than the Australian Geoff captured one title last year, and now (MAS x2), Raneem El Welily (EGY x3), Gawad, 24, and Omar Mosaad, a steadily third British Open title. Hunt when he became the oldest British Laura Massaro, a fellow 32-year-old from Nour El Sherbini (EGY x4), Camille Serme improving 28-year-old. Whether Gaultier achieves this may Open champion of the professional era England is the top seed. (FRA x5), Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY x6), Farag beat three top ten players on depend on how well he understands his in 1981. Another attempting to return These two could face significant chal- Amanda Sobhy (USA x7), Nouran Gohar the way to the Detroit title in January, body and mind after such an absence, from injury is Ramy Ashour, perhaps the lenges from at least three other players- (EGY x8). —AFP

ATHLETICS BRIEFS

Carter wins shot put gold from American duo and PORTLAND: Michelle Carter of the to take the tape in United States snatched a dramatic last 51.45sec at the Oregon Convention throw victory in the women’s shot put at Center. Spencer claimed silver while the World Indoor Athletic Championships Hayes finished with a bronze. Adekokya, here Saturday. Carter, the bronze medal- 23, controversially switched allegiances to list at last year’s World Championships in Bahrain in 2014 despite complaints from , took the gold with a throw of athletics authorities in her native Nigeria. 20.21m. Anita Marton of Hungary won In 2014 while representing Bahrain she the silver with Valerie Adams of New won the 400m and 400m hurdles at the Zealand claiming bronze. Carter attrib- 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South uted her gold medal-winning last throw Korea. to the power of prayer. “It came from a prayer,” she laughed. “I just had to focus Berian wins 800m gold for USA on what I knew I could and needed to do. of the United States pro- I was able to take some time and put duced a superb display of front-running everything together.” Kiwi star Adams-the to win the men’s 800m at the World two-time Olympic champion who had Indoor Athletics Championships on been chasing a remarkable fourth con- Saturday. Berian led from start to finish to secutive gold at the world indoors-said take the tape in 1 min 45.83sec, ahead of she was satisfied with her performance Burundi’s Antoine Gekeme and compatri- after only recently returning from injury. ot Erik Sowinksi who took bronze. The win “I’ve been out for a while due to injuries, was the biggest of 23-year-old Berian’s so it feels really good to be back,” she said. unusual career. The college dropout was “Everyone expects a miracle, but you working in a McDonald’s as recently as have to work hard.” 2014 before resurrecting his career last season. “My game plan was simple-get Maslak defends 400m crown the lead and hang on,” Berian said after Reigning champion Pavel Maslak of his victory. “It is so exciting to have two the Czech Republic won the 400m at the Americans (in the top three),” he added. World Indoor Athletics Championships here Saturday to successfully defend his Dong strikes gold for China title. The talented 25-year-old surged past Dong Bin became only the third ath- Bralon Taplin of Grenada in the home lete from China to win a gold medal in PORTLAND: United States winner , center, stands with Ukraine’s Oleksiy Kasyanov, left, who finished second, and straight to win in 45.44sec. Abdalelah the history of the World Indoor Athletics Germany’s Mathias Brugger, second from right, who finished third, during the World Indoor Athletics Championships, Saturday, inPortland, Haroun of Qatar took silver in 45.59, while Championships here Saturday after claim- Ore. — AP Deon Lendore of Trinidad and Tobago ing victory in the triple jump. The 27-year- won bronze. Maslak’s win makes him the old from Changsha led the competition first man in more than a decade to win from start to finish, taking gold with a Eaton captures 3rd straight back-to-back 400m indoor world titles. best leap of 17.33m at the Oregon Convention Center. Germany’s Max Hess Adekoya wins 400m gold took silver with 17.14 while Frenchman world indoor heptathlon title Oluwakemi Adekokya of Bahrain pow- Benjamin Compaore won bronze. Only ered to victory in the women’s 400m at two other Chinese athletes — sprint hur- the World Indoor Athletics champi- dler Liu Xiang in 2008 and shot putter Sui PORTLAND: His gold medal was nice. His onships here Saturday. The Nigerian-born Xinmei in 1991 have won gold at the wife’s meant even more. sprinter held off a fierce late challenge world indoors before. — AFP That is what Ashton Eaton told the home- town crowd on Saturday night, drawing quite a few “Ahhs.” Then again, he did win by a very comfortable margin - again. Alonso flips car after Eaton captured his third straight hep- tathlon title at the world indoor track and dramatic collision field championships, taking all the suspense out of the competition with another dominat- MELBOURNE: Fernando Alonso thanked closing his eyes at the impact, but was alert ing performance. the advances in Formula One technology throughout and his thoughts immediately The only real drama was whether he could for being able to walk away from a horrific went to family back home. “I was flying, so break his own indoor world mark, but an crash at the Australian Grand Prix yester- you see the sky then the ground, then the exhausted Eaton didn’t have a burst in the day. About a third of the way through the sky, then the ground,” Alonso said. 1,000 meters, the final event of seven. He fin- race, the right front tire on the Spaniard’s “You want to stop but it doesn’t stop. It ished with 6,470 points - 175 behind the McLaren collided with the left rear on keeps going and going and going. It was Esteban Gutierrez’s Haas as the Mexican quite scary, but at the last moment the car indoor mark he set four years ago in . driver braked to make the bend at Turn 3. stopped and I had a little space to go out This has been quite a world indoor champi- Alonso’s car was launched at high speed and I said ‘I will go out quickly because my onships for Team Eaton, with his wife, Brianne into the trackside concrete barrier and was mother will be watching at home.’” Theisen-Eaton of Canada, winning the pen- sent into a barrel roll, flipping twice before Gutierrez quickly made his way over to tathlon title the day before with an incredible coming to rest in a crumpled wreck. the stricken McLaren and gave Alonso a performance in the last event. He greeted her So violent was the force of the crash that handshake and embrace, clearly thankful with a hug after her race. She greeted him this fans were left fearing the worst before that no greater harm was done. time, the crowd applauding for the first cou- Alonso crawled out of the cockpit and “It was a big relief to see that he was ple of multi-events who met at the University limped away, shaking hands with a con- fine,” Gutierrez said. “It was a very scary of Oregon. cerned Gutierrez and waving to the crowd. moment and not very pleasant to see how “You know what, it didn’t matter what hap- “I’m thankful for the safety of these cars,” his car ended up. “We were both a bit pened to me today - (Brianne’s performance) Alonso said. “I’m alive thanks to the job of shocked from the crash. We came together made the whole meet for me. You guys know, the last 10 to 15 years of Formula One.” and spoke a little bit, but we’re all good she stole the show,” said Eaton, who beat Alonso would have been forgiven for most importantly.”—AP Ukraine’s Oleksiy Kasyanov by 288 points.Eaton now has six straight major titles, including gold at the 2012 Olympics. Rosberg wins dramatic He will be the overwhelming favorite to defend his crown at the Rio Games. His wife will be one of the favorites, too. Can both win opener in Melbourne in Rio? MELBOURNE: Nico Rosberg won a dra- Ferrari enjoyed a brilliant start, with “It can be done, of course,” Eaton said. matic Australian Grand Prix yesterday after Vettel able to carve through the front-row “We’ll try everything we can to see if it can happen.” American Barbara Pierre used a blaz- a bungled tyre strategy dashed Sebastian occupying Mercedes duo on the run to the PORTLAND: The Netherlands Dafne Schippers (L) and Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson compete Vettel’s chances of a season-opening tri- first turn. His Finnish team mate Kimi ing start to beat a favored Dafne Schippers of during the 60 meters race at the IAAF World Indoor athletic championships in Portland, umph and Fernando Alonso survived a Raikkonen also got off to a flyer and he the Netherlands in the women’s 60-meter Oregon. — AFP spectacular crash that left his McLaren darted up the side to claim second place as final. wrecked. Rosberg’s rear left tyre made contact with “The crowd was very welcoming, especially talented field.”Got excited but stayed positive Czech Republic’s Pavel Maslak earned the Rosberg’s 15th Formula One victory was Hamilton’s front wing. when we all had to stay in the back (for the and trusted my training and hung on,” men’s 400 title. also his fourth in succession after the individual introductions) and then come out explained Berian, who quit his job at Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela won the German Mercedes driver won the final COMPOUND ISSUES and I heard my name and was like, ‘yeah,’ said McDonald’s in November 2014. women’s triple jump. three races of last season. Pole-sitter Lewis Vettel appeared poised for an unlikely Pierre, who finished in a time of 7.02 seconds. Think this sort of day would ever arrive Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands beat two Hamilton battled back to secure a win but the race turned on its head when “I felt like Ashton Eaton a little bit.” when working at the hamburger chain? Ethiopians to earn gold in the women’s 1,500. Mercedes one-two after the defending Alonso crashed into Haas driver Esteban “Not like this. Not this fast,” Berian said. The Oluwakemi Adekoya of Bahrain held off world champion recovered from a chaotic Gutierrez at high speed going into turn FROM FAST FOOD TO THE FAST LANE most interesting look of the evening Americans Ashley Spencer and Quanera start that pushed him back to sixth at the three of the 18th lap. Pierre’s performance was part of a banner belonged to Italian high jumper Gianmarco Hayes to win the women’s 400. first turn to finish eight seconds behind his The Spaniard’s car careened into a barri- night for the United States, which now has Tamberi, who was clean shaven on the right Michelle Carter set an American indoor team mate. er and was smashed to pieces before it eight gold medals and 15 total heading into Four-times world champion Vettel came flipped, rolled and flew end-over-end into side of his face and had stubble on the left. record to win the women’s shot put crown. the final day of the competition yesterday. third for Ferrari after leading for much of another barrier. By a razor-thin margin, he won the event over She launched it 66 feet, 3 3/4 inches (20.21 the race, but the German’s victory hopes Alonso walked away from the wreckage Some of the biggest names in track - Usain Robert Grabarz of Britain. meters) to beat a field that included three- faded with an aggressive tyre strategy that but the red flag came out to halt the race Bolt, and - skipped Tamberi’s half-beard look at major meets time world indoor champion Valerie Adams of fell flat after the race was halted due to for around 10 minutes as track staff swept the championships. The Russians aren’t here, has become his trademark. He is the consum- New Zealand. She took third. “I’ve been com- Alonso’s crash. away debris and repaired the barriers. either, because of pending doping and cor- mate entertainer, too, shaking hands with the peting against Valerie for a long time, and “The strategy was crucial today, so I’m During the break, Mercedes opted to ruption charges. fans and later executing a perfect flip into the she’s done a lot for the sport and you can’t really thankful the team did a good job on run both cars on medium compound Boris Berian of Colorado Springs, Colorado, mat after his win. take that away from her,” said Carter, who also that,” ecstatic German Rosberg told tyres and rode them to the finish, while has been on quite a journey from fast food to holds the U.S. outdoor record. “She’s earned reporters. Ferrari took the more aggressive route, the fast lane. Two years ago, he was working In other finals Saturday: everything that she has. “I’m looking forward “The car’s just been unreal today... We’ve sticking with their super-softs, which at McDonald’s to fund his training. He ordered Dong Bin of China took gold in the men’s to many great competitions this year. I think got to keep an eye on the red guys (Ferrari), were quicker but ultimately required up a win in the 800 meters by taking the lead triple jump and said the “future looks bright” it’s the year that women’s shot put is really they are very close as you saw today.” another stop.—Reuters during the opening lap and then holding off a for his nation in jumps. going to shine.” — AP