TENNIS | Page 6 ATHLETICS | Page 7 Federer does Coe ready family proud for IAAF to to battle into rule on quarters Russia return

Friday, October 12, 2018 FOOTBALL Safar 3, 1440 AH PSG star Mbappe is GULF TIMES Time magazine’s ‘Future of Soccer’ SPORT Page 3 FOOTBALL Qatar face Ecuador in international friendly today

By Sports Reporter tournament and show our rivals coach Hernan Dario Gomez has Doha what we are capable of,” Sanchez recalled Carlos Gruezo but there had said last week. “Obviously is no place on the roster for Man- we want to have our best play- chester United captain Antonio oach Felix Sanchez will ers in the squad for the Asian Valencia. After facing Qatar to- hope Qatar can continue Cup and the friendlies are a great day, Ecuador head to Oman for its good run in interna- opportunity for us to test our- another friendly. tional friendlies as they selves,” he added. Gruezo played in the 2014 FIFA hostC Ecuador at the Jassim Bin Ecuador, who missed out World Cup as a 19-year-old, hav- Hamad Stadium today. In the two on qualifying for Russia World ing only debuted for his nation a friendlies held in September at Cup earlier this year, are physi- month before the tournament in home, Qatar had defeated China cally strong, which will pose a Brazil. Gruezo’s time with La Tri and Palestine. challenge to Qatar players. But has not been as productive re- Ecuador will pose a bigger Sanchez is hoping his men can cently. This will be his fi rst call- challenge to Qatar but Sanchez raise their level against the South up in a year, since a 2-0 defeat to is hoping they can snatch an- Americans. Brazil in September 2017 that saw other morale-boosting win in the Spaniard has said Qatar’s prepa- Qatar are also scheduled to the 23-year-old fail to make it off build-up to the prestigious Asian rations for the Asian Cup were meet Switzerland and Iceland the bench. His last appearance Cup early next year. After Ecua- continuing apace and the friend- in friendlies in November, and came in September 2016 in a 1-2 dor’s match, Qatar will travel to lies would give him a clearer possibly also Brazil and Iran in loss to Peru. Tashkent to face Uzbekistan in picture as to the make-up of the March in the build-up to the Gomez returned to the Ec- Tashkent on October 16. squad for the continental event. Copa America in which Al An- uador side he coached between Sanchez has announced a bal- “The Asian Cup is a very im- nabi would be participating for 1999 and 2004, having led Pan- anced team combining youth and portant tournament for us. We the fi rst time. ama to this year’s World Cup in Qatar players take part in a training session at Al Sadd Sports Club on the eve of the international friendly experience for the friendlies. The want to be competitive in the Meanwhile, Ecuador’s head Russia. against Ecuador yesterday.

CRICKET / PAK VS AUS, DAY 5, 1ST TEST Khawaja shines as Aussies draw Pakistan in thriller Left-hander hits solid 141 for his seventh Test ton z Yasir scalps four but Paine and his men hang on

AFP take a wicket in the fi rst session. Dubai The pair eventually put on an in- valuable 132 runs for the fourth wicket. pener Usman Khawaja Khawaja, who was born hit a fi ghting hundred in Pakistan but moved to to foil Pakistan and Australia as a child, help Australia escape batted for eight withO a draw in the fi rst Test in hours 44 min- Dubai yesterday. utes and faced The left-hander hit a solid 141 302 balls before for his seventh Test hundred, he was sixth man while skipper Tim Paine (61 not out in the fi nal out) and Travis Head (72) also session. He was hit half centuries as Australia trapped leg-before fi nished at 362-8 late in the day sweeping Yasir. with lights coming on at Dubai Khawaja, who hit 11 stadium. boundaries, had a top After Khawaja was dismissed score of 26 in fi ve previ- with 14.3 overs left and Yasir ous Tests in Asia. Shah quickly removed Mitch- His innings was the ell Starc (one) and Peter Siddle second longest in the (nought), Paine and number ten fourth innings of a Test, Nathan Lyon (fi ve not out) sur- behind England’s Michael vived 12.1 overs. Atherton’s 645 minute Both had some anxious mo- vigil in scoring 185 not out ments before players shook hands against South Africa in Jo- with one ball to go in leg-spinner hannesburg in 1995. It was Yasir’s fi nal over. the highest fourth-in- Yasir had shaken the Austral- nings score by any visiting ian innings with 4-114 but Aus- batsman in Asia, beating tralia clung on. They have now New Zealand’s Daniel Vet- won two and drawn two of their tori’s 140 made at Colom- 16 Tests in Asia since 2012. bo against Sri Lanka nine Pakistan captain Sarfraz years ago. Ahmed was full of praise for Kha- Pakistan started the day need- waja. ing seven wickets to win but “We hoped to roll them out but nothing worked for Sarfraz, de- we have to give credit to Khawa- spite multiple bowling changes. ja,” said Sarfraz. “We had an idea Pakistan could have had Head Australia’s that he would understand our leg-before off leg-spinner Yasir Usman Khawaja. tactics but it wasn’t easy to bat on 44, but Sarfraz did not review and despite that he soldiered on, umpire Richard Kettleborough’s we must give him credit.” not out decision. Replays showed Scorecard Paine admitted it was hard the ball was hitting the stumps. work to save the Test. Pakistan were only rewarded PAKISTAN 1st inn 482 all out M. Starc c Azam b Yasir 1 “It was an extremely tough when they took the second new AUSTRALIA 1st inn 202 all out P. Siddle lbw b Yasir 0 Test match,” said Paine, after his ball as soon as it was due and second Test as captain. Hafeez trapped Head leg-before PAKISTAN 2nd inn 181/6 decl. N. Lyon not out 5 “Pakistan played very well with the fi rst ball. Australia wob- AUSTRALIA 2nd inn (overnight: 136/3) Extras (b 13, lb 4, nb 3) 20 but I am proud of our comeback. bled but Khawaja and Paine, who A. Finch lbw b Abbas 49 Total (for 8 wkts; 139.5 overs) 362 There was a bit of a collapse but batted for 3 hours and 39 min- U. Khawaja lbw b Yasir 141 Fall of wickets: 1-87 (Finch), 2-87 (S. the guys have been working hard utes, ensured a draw. Marsh), 3-87 (M. Marsh), 4-219 (Head), over the last few months and I’m The second Test starts in Abu S. Marsh c Sarfraz b Abbas 0 5-252 (Labuschagne), 6-331 (Khawaja), happy everything’s gone to plan.” Dhabi from October 16. M. Marsh lbw b Abbas 0 7-333 (Starc), 8-333 (Siddle) Pakistan opener Imam-ul- Australia’s hero was Khawaja, T. Head lbw b Hafeez 72 who started the day on 50 not out Haq will miss the match after he Bowling: Abbas 27-7-56-3, Hafeez 6-0-29-1, as Australia resumed on 136-3. suff ered a fractured fi nger fi eld- M. Labuschagne lbw b Yasir 13 Yasir 43.5-9-114-4, Riaz 16-3-42-0 (3nb), Asif Khawaja and Head added 79 ing yesterday. T. Paine not out 61 37-8-87-0, Sohail 9-1-16-0, Shafiq 1-0-1-0 before lunch as Pakistan failed to Pakistan’s Yasir Shah (right) had shaken the Aussie innings with the figures of 4-114. (AFP) Gulf Times 2 Friday, October 12, 2018 CRICKET

PREVIEW FOCUS Chase says Windies ready to ‘fi ght back’ Kohli shields Shaw against India

AFP Hyderabad

est Indies all- from Tendulkar rounder Roston Chase said yester- day the West Indies Another century in the second match against Wwere looking to come back fi ght- ing in the second Test against In- the WI would see ‘boy wonder’ join a group of dia after their crushing defeat in Rajkot. greats who all hit tons in their first two Tests “We didn’t play well in the fi rst shadow game but are looking to fi ght back in the second,” Chase said a day AFP ahead of the game in Hyderabad. Hyderabad India’s Prithvi Shaw (second from right) “Had a bit of nervous energy in takes part in a training session ahead of the fi rst one but guys are good to the second Test against West Indies in go in the second,” said Chase, top irat Kohli sought to Hyderabad, India, on Wednesday. (AFP) scorer with 53 in his side’s 181 all protect prolifi c teen- out in the fi rst innings in Rajkot. Test to return home for a funeral. ager Prithvi Shaw yes- A hapless Caribbean side, Skipper Jason Holder, recov- terday from the weight led by opening batsman Kraigg ering from an ankle injury, might Vof comparisons with India leg- Brathwaite, went down to hosts also be back. India have retained end Sachin Tendulkar after the India by an innings and 272 runs the 12 they had announced for young batsman’s Test debut in Rajkot to trail the two-match the fi rst Test. century last week. series 1-0. “It is always good to have the Another century in the sec- Prithvi Shaw, 18, became In- captain back, but I am not sure ond match against the West In- dia’s youngest player to score a what the line-up will be for the dies which begins today in Hy- debut century and his country’s next match,” Chase said. derabad would see Shaw join a second youngest in all Tests after “I can’t say who’s playing but small group of greats including the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, it’s good to have Kemar back as Mohamed Azharuddin, Sourav notching up a sparkling 134. well, he is a senior player and Ganguly and Rohit Sharma who “That youngster Shaw took us brings a lot of experience to the all hit tons in their fi rst two apart early in the fi rst game, so team,” he added. Tests. hope we can learn from our mis- Both Holder and Roach have The 18-year-old became In- takes and move on smartly in the played 82 matches between them dia’s youngest player to score a second game,” Chase said. and remain the team’s most ex- debut century and his country’s A boost in the second Test for perienced players. second youngest in all Tests after the West Indies will likely come Holder has captained West In- Tendulkar — who was 17 when from the return of fast bowler Ke- dies in 26 of his 34 Tests. Roach has he made an unbeaten 119 against mar Roach after he missed the fi rst taken 163 wickets in 48 matches. England in his ninth Test. Shaw’s sparkling 134 in the fi rst Test rout in Rajkot had some SELECTION commentators dubbing him In- dia’s “boy wonder” ahead of the tour of Australia next month. But captain Kohli warned In- Pant gets ODI call-up dia’s notoriously demanding fans not to expect too much too soon from Shaw, who was ear- against West Indies marked as a future star when as in the same Harris Shield com- a 14-year-old he hit a record 546 Kohli comes out swinging over Test balls petition more than two decades Reuters After proving his fi tness in off 330 balls in a Mumbai school earlier. Bengaluru Test matches against England game in 2013. Captain Virat Kohli said India used to be quite high before ball that is scuff ed up in five Shaw went on to make more and West Indies, fast bowler “We are all very happy for should ditch the SG ball for and I don’t understand the overs is not something that we headlines in India with debut Mohamed Shami was added to him but I don’t think we should their home games, complain- reason why it has gone down have seen before.” centuries in both the domestic icketkeeper-bats- the one-day squad to bolster the compare him to anyone yet or we ing that it scuff s up too easily because Dukes ball is still good The SG has always been used Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy man Rishabh Pant pace attack. should put him in a space where and that he would prefer to see quality, Kookaburra is still by India in Tests and domestic and he was awarded the captaincy could make his one- Fast bowlers Deepak Chahar he starts feeling pressure,” Kohli Dukes balls used for all Tests good quality,” Kohli said. games, while England use Dukes of country’s Under-19 team. day international and Siddarth Kaul, who featured told reporters. He led them to success in the Wdebut for India after he was picked in one match each at the Asia worldwide. He said the “quality of the ball for Test cricket and Australia, “He should be left to enjoy his India thrashed the West Indies has to be maintained otherwise South Africa, Bangladesh and Sri Under-19 World Cup in New in their 14-man squad for the fi rst Cup, were left out while left-arm cricket and slowly grow into the by a record innings and 272 you have too many dead ses- Lanka prefer the Kookaburra. Zealand this year where they two matches against West Indies, quick Khaleel Ahmed kept his cricketer that we all believe he runs last week but spinner Rav- sions in a Test match. You want Kohli said: “The Dukes ball is the beat Australia in the fi nal. the Board of Control for Cricket in place in the squad. can be,” said Kohli who hailed ichandran Ashwin said the SG to see exciting cricket and guys most suited ball according to He has featured for Delhi India (BCCI) said yesterday. The fi ve-match ODI series the diminutive right hander as ball was “disappointing”, and working hard for runs being in me in Test match cricket, and if Daredevils in the 2018 IPL but it Pant, who has impressed with kicks off in Guwahati on Oct. 21 “supremely talented”. that he preferred Australia’s the battle all day”. there is a situation I’d vouch for was his debut Test ton, with 19 114 and 92 in his previous two before moving to Visakhapatnam “He has shown that in the fi rst Kookaburra or Dukes. Kohli added: “I totally agree it to be used all over the world boundaries, that saw the rest of Test appearances, has replaced on October 24. Pune, Mumbai Test already and we believe he “The quality of the (SG) balls with him (Ashwin). To have a because of the consistency.” the cricket world take notice. an inconsistent Dinesh Karthik and Thiruvananthapuram will can keep repeating that because “Wow, carry on young man as cover for fi rst-choice keeper host the other three matches. he is a very keen learner, he is a mier League. exposure to this kind of crick- the scenario and I think that’s good luck,” wrote former Paki- Mahendra Singh Dhoni. India lead the Test series 1-0 very sharp guy and he under- et,” said Kohli. always going to be an advantage stan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar Karthik could not convert ahead of the second and fi nal stands situations really well.” BIG STAGE VETERANS “They have played in situ- because the guys can be fearless on Twitter. starts into big scores at the Asia match in Hyderabad, which be- Kohli said Shaw, 21-year-old “One always feels that pres- ations like the IPL where they and they can start doing the job Former England captain Cup and fi nished with a total gins today. wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh sure when you wear your coun- have played in front of so many from game one.” Michael Vaughan tweeted: of 146 in six matches, missing Pant and batsman Hanuma Vi- try’s cap on the morning of the people that they are not nerv- Shaw’s 2013 schoolboy ex- “Wow... 18 yrs old @Prith- the opportunity to secure the SQUAD: Virat Kohli (captain), Ro- hari, 24, had learned to handle match but yes, I think it’s not ous any more of the big stage,” ploits had already caused com- viShaw. 100 on Test debut.. number four spot India have hit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar the stress of top competition as intense as say 10-15 years he added. parisons to be made with Ten- Looks like #India have another been looking to fi ll ahead of the Dhawan, KL Rahul, Ambati Ray- by playing in the Indian Pre- back when you didn’t have any “They are not overawed by dulkar, who rose to prominence superstar”. 50-over World Cup next year. udu, Manish Pandey, Mahendra Captain Virat Kohli has re- Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), turned to the squad after missing Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, BOTTOMLINE COMMENT the Asia Cup, but quick bowlers Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Yadav, Mohamed Shami, Khaleel Bumrah were rested. Ahmed, Shardul Thakur. China crash to Root could be world’s best if freed from captaincy: Warne 26 all out — again AFP London AFP and only over as Binod Bhandari Kuala Lumpur smashed 24 in Nepal’s quickfi re reply of 29-0. hane Warne believes Cricket in China has a short England should seri- hina may have the history with its national team ously consider replac- world’s biggest popu- making its fi rst international ing Joe Root with Jos lation and the second appearance at the 2010 Asian ButtlerS as Test captain to allow largest economy, but Games. Root to focus on becoming the theyC are yet to impress in one The giant nation is known for world’s best batsman. area: the cricket fi eld, where they ploughing huge sums into sports, Australia spin great Warne SPOTLIGHT have been humbled by minnows especially football and the Ol- says the Yorkshire star could Nepal. ympic disciplines. But cricket dominate the global game with China’s latest foray on the in- does not enjoy a similar status in the bat and feels Buttler would ternational stage ended in a huge China. make a “very, very good” Test Bangladesh call up defeat on Wednesday as they “The size of country and its skipper. scored only 26 all out in a World power do not matter (in cricket),” Warne worked with Buttler Twenty20 qualifi er, a total which former Nepal captain Binod Das in his role as mentor for Indian Rabbi and Saifuddin Nepal surpassed in just 11 balls. told AFP in Kathmandu. Premier League team Rajas- It wasn’t even their worst in- “We shouldn’t undermine than Royals and is convinced nings of the tournament: China them because they may takeover the Lancashire player has for Zimbabwe series were 26 all out in their loss to in future as they have capacity to credible Test leadership skills. Singapore, and they had scores invest in infrastructure and skill “I’ve worked with Jos a AFP Hasan has a fi nger injury ex- of 35 for nine, 45, and 48 in de- development.” bit this year, and I think he’s Dhaka pected to sideline him for three feats to Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal, meanwhile, gained someone who would make an months, while Tamim has a wrist Myanmar. ODI status in March and have excellent captain,” said Warne. injury suff ered at the Asia Cup Given that the highest score now set their sights on joining “I really enjoyed working with angladesh have called last month. in top-tier T20 internationals is the world’s elite by achieving him, I’d like to think I helped up batsman Fazle Rabbi The series starts in Dhaka be- Australia’s 263 for three against Test status. him out a little bit.” and recalled allrounder fore the fi nal two matches are Sri Lanka in 2016, China still A former offi cial with Nepal’s Warne, who is promoting Mohamed Saifuddin to held in Chittagong on October 24 have some way to go. cricket association, Chhumbi his autobiography, said Root coverB for the injured Shakib Al and October 26. Against Nepal, opening bats- Lama, said the victory over Chi- is England’s best player but Hasan and Tamim Iqbal in three man Yan Hongjiang top-scored na was always a formality for the would be disappointed with one day internationals against SQUAD: Mashrafe Bin Mortaza for China with 11 runs. The small, Himalayan nation. his conversion rate when it Zimbabwe starting October 21. (Capt), Liton Kumar Das, Imrul next biggest contribution was “China might be stronger in came to hundreds. Rabbi, 30, has never played for Kayes, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, the nine extras, and IPL bowler terms of power and economy “He’d love to have more think about their best player cent concentrates on his crick- the full international side but has Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohamed Mit- Sandeep Lamichhane picked up than Nepal, but Nepal is strong- hundreds to be able to be spo- having the shackles off , not et, his batting and nothing else, been rewarded for strong per- hun, Mahmud Ullah, Ariful Haque, three wickets for four runs. er than China when it comes to ken about in the same sen- having the responsibility of then maybe we might see Joe formances in Bangladesh A’s tour Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Qun Tiansen, one of eight cricket. Beating China is not a tences as Virat Kohli and Steve captaincy, and give it to some- Root become the best batsman of Ireland this year. Saifuddin Rahman, Nazmul Islam Apu, Chinese players out for a duck, big achievement for Nepal,” he Smith,” he said. one like Jos Buttler,” he added. in the world,” Warne said. “He’s last played for the national side Rubel Hossain, Abu Haider Rony, then went for 21 runs in his fi rst told AFP. “Maybe England could “If he (Root) totally 100 per- got the talent to do it.” in January. Mohamed Saifuddin, Fazle Rabbi Gulf Times Friday, October 12, 2018 3 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT PSG star Mbappe is Time magazine’s ‘Future of Soccer’ AFP corer in World Cup history when he struck in a Paris 1-0 win over Peru in the group stages. The teenager from the gritty Parisian suburb of Bondy then tore apart Lionel Messi-cap- aris Saint-Germain striker Kylian tained Argentina, scoring twice and earning a Mbappe’s rapid rise to global fame has penalty as Les Blues eliminated the highly-fan- earned the teenaged World Cup win- cied South Americans 4-3 in the last 16 knock- ner an appearance on the cover of Time out round. Pmagazine’s international edition, to appear to- In doing so, Mbappe became only the second day. Time said Mbappe was a global superstar teenager, after Pele in 1958, to score two goals in who “is the future of soccer.” a World Cup match. When Mbappe scored with Mbappe made headlines in September 2017 a fi ve-yard strike in the fi nal, a 4-2 win over when he moved from Ligue 1 side Monaco to Croatia, he became only the second teenager to Paris Saint-Germain for a staggering 180mn do so, after Pele, in 1958. euros ($207mn), a deal that saw the then With a total of four goals in the tournament, 18-year-old player handed a reported monthly Mbappe received Fi Fa’s award for Best Young salary of 1.5mn euros ($1.8mn). Player of the World Cup. Arguably better still But the 19-year-old’s stock skyrocketed were the plaudits from Pele himself, who said: during this year’s World Cup, where a series of “If Kylian keeps on equalling my records, I’m phenomenal displays drew compliments from going to have to dust off my boots.” Brazil legend Pele on his way to helping France Mbappe’s teenage days will end when he cel- end their 20-year wait to win another World ebrates his 20th birthday on December 20. He Cup trophy. is expected to spearhead France’s attack when Mbappe became the youngest French goals- France host Iceland in a friendly in Guingamp.

NATIONS LEAGUE FOCUS Monaco sack coach Jardim aft er England turn to poor Ligue 1 start

AFP coach had to cope with the sale Monaco of many of the stars of his title- winning squad over the last two seasons. next generation onaco, languish- This summer Thomas Lemar, ing 18th in Ligue 1, Joao Moutinho and Fabinho fol- said yesterday that lowed earlier departures Kylian they have sacked Mbappe, Benjamin Mendy, Ber- MLeonardo Jardim, who led nardo Silva, Tiemoue Bakayoko them to a French title in 2017. and Valere Germain out of the Monaco wished Jardim, who club in lucrative transfers. for Croatia match also led the club to a Champions Monaco lost their last game League semi-fi nal in 2017, and 1-0 at home to humble Angers his staff “the best for the future.” and have not won in Ligue 1 'There’s a lot of great young players out there. They’re so determined to play' The club from the principal- since their opening match and ity would not comment on a have lost both their Champions AFP replacement, but their former League group games. Against Rijeka, Croatia player Thierry Henry has been Angers, the only key members of linked to the job. Henry was the title-winning team to feature youth player with the club and were skipper Radamel Falcao and ust three months on from the bit- scored seven goals in the 1997-8 the defensive trio of Jemerson, ter disappointment of losing a fi rst Champions League as another Kamil Glik and Djibril Sidibe. World Cup semi-fi nal for 28 years, talented Monaco team, this one Meanwhile, a summer spend- England visit Croatia today in the coached by Arsene Wenger, ing spree headed by the signing of NationsJ League seeking not only revenge, reached the semi-fi nals, where Russian World Cup star Aleksan- but also a long-term solution to a familiar they lost to Juventus. dr Golovin has not yet produced shortcoming. He was then sold to the Turin positive results for a club owned For all the progress made by the Three club and went on to a successful by Russian billionaire Dmitry Lions in a glorious Russian summer, a spell with Arsenal in England and Rybolovlev. “I would like to sa- familiar lack of midfi eld authority ulti- World Cup and Euro-2000 win- lute Leonardo with the utmost mately undid England as Croatia’s Luka ners medals with France. Henry respect for all the work done,” AS Modric and Ivan Rakitic took control is an assistant coach with Bel- Monaco Vice-President Vadim of their semi-fi nal to come from a goal gium, which fi nished third in the Vasilyev said in a statement. “His down in Moscow. It was a similar story summer’s World Cup. brief time will remain as one of when Spain came to Wembley last month He has recently been linked the most beautiful pages in the to puncture England’s feel-good factor with jobs at Aston Villa and Bor- history of the club. Leonardo will by dominating the ball in a 2-1 Nations deaux, but in both cases nego- always be part of the family of AS League win. A run to the last four with the tiations broke down after initial Monaco.” third youngest squad at the World Cup meetings. Jardim was at Monaco Monaco’s next match, after raised expectations of what is to come since 2014 and was under con- the international break, is on Oc- from a richly talented generation under tract until 2020. tober 20 away to Strasbourg in Gareth Southgate’s tutelage. The 44-year-old Portuguese Ligue 1. However, Southgate has gone even younger in his search for the midfi eld Croatian players Luka Modric maestro he believes England have lacked (left), Ivan Rakitic (right) with since the days of Paul Gascoigne. Jadon coach Zlatko Dalic during a Sancho, 18, and Mason Mount, 19, who training session in Rijeka, made moves to get more fi rst team foot- Croatia, yesterday. (Reuters) ball, and James Maddison, who jumped to the Premier League, are all rewarded with a fi rst call-up. Maddison and Mount aren’t yet play- Mount is still a Chelsea player, but his participation was limited after being Sancho has lit up the Bundesliga since ing at that level, but they too have after scoring 13 goals on loan at Vitesse recalled by Dortmund halfway through making the brave decision to turn down shunned the glamour of the top six sides Arnhem last season, is enjoying anoth- the tournament to play for the fi rst team. Pep Guardiola’s pleas to keep him at in the Premier League to ensure more er fruitful loan spell with Derby under “The growth in England at the moment Manchester City and join Borussia Dort- minutes on the fi eld. Wanted by Liver- former England and Chelsea midfi elder is crazy,” added Sancho. “There’s a lot of mund last year. Compared to Neymar by pool as a teenager, Maddison instead Frank Lampard. “He can be top, top level great young players out there. They’re his former England under-16 coach Dan moved to Norwich before joining Leices- because he’s 19 and plays with ability and so determined to play. The Champions Micciche, Sancho has more assists than ter this summer to join two members of quality. Technically he’s brilliant,” said League is the greatest stage, so I hope the any player in Europe’s top fi ve leagues the World Cup squad, Harry Maguire and Lampard. young players reach their potential and with nine this season, including one in Jamie Vardy. Mount has already shown his ability in enjoy it too.” the Champions League. “I looked at the Leicester squad and an England shirt as he was named player England have also won the 2017 Un- “I believe in myself, so moving to Ger- saw Harry and Jamie as regulars in the of the tournament in winning the 2017 der-20 World Cup and the prestigious many didn’t faze me,” said Sancho as he England set up. I thought that is where Under-19 European Championships. Under-21 Toulon tournament for the past faced the media glare for the fi rst time in I want to be, that is where I want to get Sancho got the same award at the Euro- three years. The trick for Southgate, hav- an England shirt. “I’m a bit tricky, direct, to,” said Maddison, who has scored three pean Under-17 championships last year, ing recently signed a new contract until confi dent obviously. I believe in myself in goals and provided two assists in eight as well as being part of the squad that 2022, is to harness that potential into a one versus one situations.” Premier League appearances. won the Under-17 World Cup, although future Modric.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY Italy draw against Ukraine as Genoa bridge victims remembered AFP also the Genoa club’s top scorer win- in Russia, but has just one win in six Leonardo Bonucci volley. There was Genoa, Italy ning a Serie A, four Italian Cup and games since May, against Saudi Ara- a double chance just before half- a European Cup Winners Cup with bia. “We regret not having made the time, as Lorenzo Insigne’s eff ort was the club. Play was halted at the 43rd fans happy up until the end, even if beaten away by Pyatov and a Barella uslan Malinovskiy cancelled minute to remember the 43 people we did good things,” added the Italy volley defl ected over. out Federico Bernardeschi’s who died in last August’s bridge dis- coach of whistles which accompa- But Bernardeschi fi nally got the second half strike as Italy aster, with the words “Genova nel nied the players off the pitch. better of Pyatov after 55 minutes be- were held 1-1 by Ukraine in cuore” (Genoa in the heart) fl ashing “I’m fed up of not winning and so fore being replaced by Lazio’s Ciro anR international friendly in Genoa on up on the stadium’s big screens with is everyone. The positive thing is that Immobile. Federico Chiesa missed Wednesday during which the victims players and supporters carrying out a today the team played good football a chance to close down the game of the bridge collapse in the city were minute’s applause for the victims. for long periods. It was a friendly, so for the Italians, and moments later remembered. With 12,000 fans in attendance, hopefully we can start winning on Mykyta Burda headed down for Ma- Bernardeschi’s low strike beat around 105,000 euros was raised for Sunday.” linovskiy to volley in. Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov the disaster fund. For Mancini it was For Italy the game was a warm- “We deserved to score at least a after 55 minutes, but seven minutes “a strong moment of emotion” hav- up ahead of the weekend’s Nations couple of goals tonight,” said Man- later Malinovskiy volleyed in for the ing lived years in Genoa and crossed League game against Poland, with cini. “Now we have four days to pre- visitors. Italy coach Roberto Mancini the bridge many times. “It was a the Ukraine playing the Czech Re- pare for Poland and will try to give spent most of his playing career in touching moment and an important public on Tuesday. Paris St Germain our best.” Genoa, at Sampdoria, and the friend- one for the victims of this horrible midfi elder Marco Veratti returned In the Nations League, Italy play ly at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris was accident. Being the Italy coach in my after a long lay-off with Cagliari Poland in Chorzow, after drawing organised to raise money for those af- old stadium was particularly moving midfi elder Nicolo Barella, 21, making 1-1 against the Poles in Bologna and fected by the collapse of the Morandi for me.” his senior Italy debut. losing 1-0 to European champi- bridge on August 14. Mancini took over four-time Pyatov has made a number of fi ne ons Portugal. The Ukraine play the Ukraine’s midfielder Ruslan Malinovskiy (right) celebrates after scoring against Italy in the Mancini, 53, was the most capped world champions Italy after their saves, clearing a low Bernardeschi Czech Republic at home in Kharkiv friendly match at the Luigi-Ferraris stadium in Genoa. (AFP) player in Sampdoria’s history and failure to qualify for the World Cup curling shot after fi ve minutes and a on Tuesday. Gulf Times 4 Friday, October 12, 2018 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Turan probed over fi ght with singer

Istanbul prosecutors have opened an investigation after Turkish football star Arda Turan, currently on Barcelona’s books, was reportedly involved in a fight with a Turkish pop star in which he Mamaev, Kokorin to be broke the singer’s nose. Turan, who is this season playing for Istanbul side Ba- saksehir while on loan from Barcelona, was summoned to give a statement to Istanbul police over the fight with sing- er Berkay Sahin. The Hurriyet daily said he was released after giving a state- detained for two months ment to police in questioning. Turkish media said that Turan became involved in the fight earlier this week with Sahin Both players apologise for their behaviour at a court hearing in Moscow outside a nightclub that ended with the singer’s nose broken.

Vidal lacked respect for teammates: Barca director

Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal “lacked respect” for his teammates by complaining on social media about not playing enough, the club’s sport- ing director Pep Segura said. Vidal has started only two games for the Catalan giants since his summer move to the Nou Camp from Bayern Munich. He Croatia’s Ivan Rakitic and Brazil- ian trio Philippe Coutinho, Arthur and Rafinha for places in a quality-packed Barca midfield. He recently took his frustration out by posting messages on his Instagram account featuring angry or frustrated emojis.

AC Milan confi rm Paqueta deal, Ibra a possibility

AC Milan have reached agreement to sign rising Brazilian star Lucas Paqueta with Swedish veteran Zlatan Ibrahimov- ic a possibility to return to Italy, club sporting director Leonardo said. The Se- rie A giants are reported to have agreed a 35mn euro deal with Flamengo — the club Paqueta joined as a ten-year-old — in what would be the most expen- sive signing of a Brazilian player by an Italian club. The 21-year-old completed his medical in Rio, and should arrive in Milan in January. Leonardo confirmed that the club have also “thought about” signing Ibrahimovic, who joined LA Galaxy this season and has a contract through the 2019 season.

Aston Villa appoint Smith and Terry as new coaches Russian footballer Pavel Mamaev, detained as a suspect in a probe over hooliganism following an unprovoked attack on two government off icials, attends a court hearing in Moscow yesterday. (AFP) Former England captain John Terry AFP hearing for their behaviour. “I am Mamaev’s contract while Zenit has On Tuesday, Russian President last selected in 2016. It is not the fi rst took his first steps into coaching on Moscow ashamed for the fans and the club, and condemned Kokorin’s role as “dis- Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry time the players’ behaviour has raised Wednesday when he was named as I apologise for my outrageous actions,” gusting”. The Saint Petersburg club Peskov said the Kremlin — “just like eyebrows. The Russian Football Union right-hand man to new Aston Villa boss Kokorin was quoted by TASS as saying. removed all shirts bearing his name the whole country” — was aware of (RFU) suspended the pair in July 2016 Dean Smith. The second-tier English isgraced Russian footballers Mamaev added: “I want to apolo- following reports of the attack. Pak’s the incident and described the video after a video emerged from a Monte club also appointed Jesus Garcia Pavel Mamaev and Alexan- gise once again publicly to the victims lawyer Gennadiy Udunyan told Rus- as “rather unpleasant”. Carlo nightclub in which Mamaev and Pitarch as sporting director as the der Kokorin were yesterday of my scandalous acts. I am ready to sian state television on Wednesday: Commentators, meanwhile, were Kokorin allegedly spent $296,000 on former European champions moved to ordered to be detained for make amends for the moral and mate- “They started to mock (Pak’s) eth- keen to underline the players were not a champagne-fuelled party following replace Steve Bruce who was sacked twoD months following an unprovoked rial damage suff ered. I should not have nicity”. The players then allegedly as- part of the Russia team that punched Euro 2016, where Russia fl opped. last week. Terry, 37, who spent the bulk attack on two government offi cials, done it.” Video footage caught the two saulted Pak when he made a critical above its weight to reach the quarter- Kokorin, who sat out this year’s of his career with Chelsea, captained prosecutors said. Krasnodar mid- men attacking two Russian trade min- comment. He added: “He has a con- fi nals as hosts of the World Cup this World Cup with a knee injury, later second-tier Aston Villa last season. fi elder Mamaev and Zenit Saint Pe- istry offi cials in an upscale Moscow cussion.” summer. “We should specify that apologised for his behaviour and was Capped 78 times by England, the cen- tersburg forward Kokorin will remain cafe at the weekend. One of the offi - Before the cafe assault the football- those two...are not currently members welcomed back into the national team. tral defender recently rejected a chance behind bars until December 8 pending cials, Denis Pak, an ethnic Korean, was ers attacked the driver of a television of the national squad,” Igor Rabiner, a “Now they’re just lowlifes who went to play for Spartak Moscow, saying a their trial for “hooliganism”, a crime hit with a chair while eating a meal. host and damaged her Mercedes in columnist for the Russian daily news- berserk,” Rabiner added. move to Russia was not right for his for which they face up to fi ve years in Russian Premier League chiefs have a separate incident on Monday. The paper Sport Express, said. “Just ill-bred people who went cra- family. His last game as a professional prison, Russian agencies reported. requested a lifetime ban for the pair. driver was hospitalised with injuries Kokorin last played for the national zy on the huge money that they receive was Villa’s 1-0 Championship play-off Both players apologised at the court Krasnodar has pledged to terminate and a criminal probe was opened. side in late 2017, while Mamaev was from their clubs.” final defeat by Fulham in May.

ANNOUNCEMENT FOCUS Coach Miguel Real Madrid to sue over Ronaldo ‘rape’ saga report AFP hotel and that their sexual encounter was names Qatar squad Madrid “completely consensual.” “Once again, for the avoidance of doubt, Cristiano Ronaldo’s position has for U-19 Asian Cup eal Madrid said yesterday it had always been, and continues to be, that fi led a lawsuit against a Por- what happened in 2009 in Las Vegas was tuguese newspaper that wrote completely consensual,” lawyer Peter Qatar under-19 the Spanish giants pushed Christiansen said in a statement. CristianoR Ronaldo to hush up an alleged Ronaldo freely admits signing the non- players train yesterday. rape case. Real said it had taken legal ac- disclosure accord but his lawyer insisted tion against Correio da Manha after the he simply wished to put an end to the al- paper reported on Wednesday that “Real legations. Madrid pressured him to sign” a non- Christiansen also said that documents disclosure accord and pay compensation reproduced by media outlets in recent to his accuser, Kathryn Mayorga. days purportedly quoting the player and “Real Madrid has absolutely no knowl- including details of the non-disclosure edge of any of the information that the accord involving a payment of 375,000 newspaper published with regard to the dollars to his accuser were false. player Cristiano Ronaldo, and therefore He said “documents that allegedly the club could not have taken action on a contain statements by Cristiano Ronaldo matter of which it had no knowledge,” the lice last week. a contract with Real Madrid in a mega and were reproduced in the media are club said in a statement. The case was originally closed after transfer deal from Manchester United. pure invention.” Ronaldo, 33, who left Real Madrid over Ronaldo signed a confi dentiality agree- The Portuguese newspaper report- Der Spiegel, the German magazine the summer to join Italian champions Ju- ment in 2010 with Mayorga, a former ed that Real, wishing to avoid scandal, which published the story released a ventus in deal worth 100mn euros, has model now aged 34, who received a pay- pressed Ronaldo to pay compensation to statement which said, in part: “Our story been in turmoil since a case involving off in return for her silence. Mayorga al- Mayorga to hush up the aff air. Ronaldo’s is carefully researched. We have hundreds rape allegations against him, dating back leged that she had been raped on June 13, lawyer insisted on Wednesday the player of documents from diff erent sources that to 2009, was reopened by Las Vegas po- 2009, just days after Ronaldo had signed did not rape the woman in a Las Vegas substantiate our reporting.” By Sports Reporter in the preliminary stages of the Doha tournament. Qatar won the 2014 edition in Myanmar by beat- ing North Korea in the fi nal. The atar coach Bruno champions in 2014 later qualifi ed HAZARD RULES OUT JANUARY MOVE TO REAL MADRID Miguel yesterday to play the 2015 FIFA U-20 World named the national Cup held in New Zealand. London: Chelsea forward Eden Hazard nine years while playing for Spanish don’t want to lie today. It is my dream squad for this month’s appeared to dismiss the possibility of a clubs. Ronaldo was the last player from since I was a kid. I was dreaming about AFCQ U-19 Asian Cup, the Qatar QATAR SQUAD: Humam Amin, January move to Real Madrid yesterday outside of Spain to win the award when this club. We will see. I don’t want to talk Football Association (QFA) has Abdullah Saie, Abdulrashid despite casting fresh doubt over his he was at Manchester United in 2008. about this every day. I don’t have time confi rmed. Qatar, who topped a Ibrahim, Yousif Ayman, Nasser future in recent days. The 27-year-old Hazard has been instrumental in but we will talk about my future soon.” testing qualifi cation group above Abdelsalam, Ali Mal, Mohamed was speaking at a press conference on Chelsea’s unbeaten start under Maurizio Hazard, whose Chelsea contract runs Iraq and Lebanon, are ready for Waad, Khalid Mohamed, Hashim national team duty with Belgium. Sarri, scoring eight goals in all competi- until June 2020, was asked whether he the October 18-November 4. Ali, Khalid Waleed, Mohamed It was put to Hazard that to win the tions. The Belgian was selected the is the world’s best player on form and he Qatar will leave for Indonesia Khalid, Shihab, Mamdooh, Nasser Ballon d’Or — as the world’s best player second best player at the World Cup answered with an unequivocal “yes.” on Wednesday morning and will Saleh, Ahmed Yassir, Baha — he would have to play in Spain. “That’s and, after leading his country to third “The team is helping me a lot also,” resume training for their Group A Mamdooh, Yousif Razaq, Ahmed why I want to go, maybe,” said Hazard, place in Russia, said it “might be time” he said. “I can improve for sure. We can matches the same day. The teams Suhail, Nasser Ber, Issa Ahmed, smiling. Asked if that move might hap- for a fresh challenge, with Madrid his always improve in football. We can score in Group A are hosts Indonesia, pen in January, he added: “No.” preferred destination. more goals, more assists.” Belgium play Adam Hamdi, Abdullah Nasser, Chinese Taipei and UAE besides Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and former Speaking after Chelsea’s 3-0 victory at Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League Ahmed Janhi, Salah Zakariya, Qatar. Miguel’s boys face UAE Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo Southampton on Sunday, he said: “Real today, before hosting the Netherlands in Marwan Sharif, Ahmed Minhali on October 18, Indonesia on Oc- have won the Ballon d’Or for the last Madrid is the best club in the world. I a friendly on Tuesday. tober 21 and UAE on October 24 and Mahmoud Ibrahim Gulf Times Friday, October 12, 2018 5 SPORT

NFL Patriots invest extra prep on recipe to slow Chiefs Reuters “You don’t want to give it all to ‘em in one the NFL in yards allowed (461.8). New York play,’’ Belichick said. “He is one of the greatest quarterbacks, With an extra day to spend on Mahomes, if not the greatest, to ever play,’’ Mahomes Belichick did come away impressed. said. “I am going against their defense, but ill Belichick did his patented best “He can throw it out of the stadium,” he as a team we are going to go in and try to to downplay any excitement gen- said. compete.’’ erated by a matchup his New Eng- Added safety Devin McCourty: “It’s a Each team has allowed just six sacks, land Patriots face Sunday night team that doesn’t even need to get to sec- which is tied for fi rst in the league. againstB the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs ond down a lot of times. You’ve got to force Mahomes had not thrown an intercep- in Foxborough, Mass. them to move the ball (gradually) downfi eld, tion until last week, when he was picked Asked if the AFC showdown had a special but they can do that too.” twice by Jacksonville. The Patriots have an feel to it, the Patriots coach deadpanned: The last 10 quarterbacks with 10 career interception in all fi ve games using schemes “Feels like we’re playing Kansas City.’’ starts or fewer when pitted against New Belichick readily changes. With that, however, Belichick recognised England went 0-10. “He is the best at that,’’ said Chiefs coach the Chiefs’ potent off ensive strengths, fo- Such historic trends seem to have little Andy Reid. “He mixes and matches.’’ cusing on the entire ensemble rather than bearing on Mahomes. The Chiefs will be without starting right just the dazzling presence of Patrick Maho- Kansas City became the fi rst visitor at guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who frac- mes, Kansas City’s fi rst-year starting quar- Denver in 56 games to rally from a defi cit of tured his fi bula and suff ered torn ankle terback. 10 points or more and beat the Broncos, do- ligaments in the Jacksonville win. The sec- “It’s really fortunate that we’ve had a ing so in Week 4 on a Monday night. Also, ondary also remains thin, prompting Kan- couple of extra days to work on Kansas during their torrid start, the Chiefs won in sas City to work out wide receiver Marcus City,’’ said Belichick, whose Pats (3-2) are Pittsburgh for the fi rst time since 1986. Last Kemp as an emergency safety, a position coming off a Thursday night victory over week, Mahomes ended a streak of 15 games where veteran Eric Berry has yet to play be- Indianapolis. “They give you a lot of prob- in which Jacksonville had not allowed a cause of an injured heel. Linebacker Justin lems with their scheme and the way they’re 300-yard passer. Houston is also doubtful. coached.’’ As good as Mahomes has been getting the Running back Sony Michel (knee) and Throw it all together, especially with the Chiefs off to a fast start, his counterpart has wide receiver Chris Hogan (thigh) were way Mahomes can throw it, and the Chiefs a much more extensive list of achievements. new additions this week to the Patriots (5-0) are capable of burning opponents That happens to be Tom Brady, who will list of nine who were limited in practice on from just about anywhere on the fi eld. oppose a Kansas City defense ranked last in Wednesday.

NBA LOSS Triangle pioneer Once an underdog, Winter dead at 96 Reuters New York

red ‘Tex’ Winter, the pioneer of the triangle off ence, died Wednesday Butler has turned into at the age of 96, the Chi- cagoF Bulls confi rmed. Winter spent 14 years with the Bulls as an assistant coach from 1985-99. Chicago, led by head of our coaches and players. In coach Phil Jackson and star player addition to his numerous con- Michael Jordan, won the NBA Fi- tributions to the game of bas- nals six times during his tenure. ketball, Tex was a wonderful man an egomaniac star “Tex Winter was a basketball and he will be dearly missed. Our legend and perhaps the fi nest thoughts and prayers go out to Butler’s game stopped growing three, four years ago, as his head grew ever larger fundamental teacher in the his- the Winter family.” tory of our game,” Bulls execu- Prior to his success as an NBA By Patrick Reusse tive vice president John Paxson assistant, Winter spent two sea- Star Tribune (Minneapolis) said in a statement. sons as head coach of the Houston “He was an innovator who had Rockets from 1971-73 and posted high standards for how basket- a 51-78 record. Winter’s colle- ark Wahlberg ball should be played and ap- giate coaching career included a starred in and was proached everyday. Those of us successful 15-year run at Kansas a producer of the who were lucky enough to play State from 1953-68. The Wildcats movie ‘Broken City’ for him will always respect his made the NCAA Tournament six Mthat was released in 2013. devotion to the game of basket- times in that span, including two That was the same year ball. His contributions to the Final Four appearances. Wahlberg was fi lming a ‘Trans- Bulls organization will always be “We are saddened by the pass- formers’ movie in Chicago, and remembered.” ing of such a legendary coach in met Jimmy Butler playing Winter followed Jackson to Tex Winter, who touched nearly pickup basketball at the Bulls Los Angeles, where Winter spent every level of basketball,” K- practice facility. fi ve years as an assistant with State men’s basketball coach Wahlberg and Butler started the Lakers from 1999-2004. The Bruce Weber said in a tweet. a friendship that both the blue- Lakers won three titles in that “He left a tremendous mark of collar juvenile delinquent from time, and Winter was a con- achievement at K-State. Our the Dorchester neighbourhood sultant when the team won it all thoughts and prayers are with of Boston and the abandoned again in 2009. his wife, Nancy, their children kid from the dusty streets of “On behalf of the entire Lakers and grandchildren.” Tomball, Texas have made pub- organisation, I’d like to express Winter also coached at Mar- lic with great pride. our sadness at the passing of Tex quette, Washington, North- I’m not saying that Wahlberg Winter,” said Lakers CEO and western and Long Beach State. was the adviser for the dramatic controlling owner Jeanie Buss His career record was 451-336. short featuring Butler that was in a statement. “Tex helped lead Winter was inducted into played out on Wednesday at the team to four NBA Champion- the Naismith Basketball Hall of Mayo Clinic Square, but it was ships and was a mentor to many Fame in 2011. done well enough to be a Marky Mark Production. Heck, ESPN could even use the tape of Rachel Nichols’ on- Cubs star Bryant reportedly turned the-spot interview with Butler down $200mn extension to weave into an E:60 on his feud with the Timberwolves. Kris Bryant has rejected a long- hit.272, all career lows. In his And we already have the title: term contract extension off er MVP season, he hit 39 home ‘Broken Franchise.’ from the Chicago Cubs worth runs with 102 RBIs and a.292 The Timberwolves have con- at least $200 million, according average. This is not the first time fi rmed the organisation had no to multiple reports. An MLB. that Bryant and the Cubs’ front idea Nichols and ESPN were in com report on Wednesday said off ice have disagreed. In 2015, town until they saw the network Bryant, in the last few months, the Cubs kept him in the minor airing snippets of the interview turned down an off er “in the leagues longer than he wanted as a set up for NBA shows and neighbourhood of $200 million.” to have an extra year of control Sports Centers that would follow. ESPN’s Dave Kaplan said on on his contract. Had they not, he The fact Butler showed up ESPN 1000 in Chicago that the could have been eligible for free for practice for the fi rst time Cubs reached out to Bryant with agency a year earlier. Wednesday, went bonkers on an off er for a larger contract everybody, stormed out and was extension. “Whispers are telling D’BACKS RELIEVER ZIEGLER sitting with Nichols for a prear- me that the Cubs approached ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT ranged interview soon thereaf- (agent) Scott Boras to do a mas- Veteran relief pitcher Brad Zie- ter is not a conspiracy theory. sive extension with Kris Bryant in gler announced his retirement That’s one plus one being two the last several months,” Kaplan on his 39th birthday Wednesday, – that’s a conspiracy, period. said. “And it was turned down by tweeting thanks to his family, Some people are throwing Bryant and Boras. “I was told that friends and fans and saying it is around a third part of the con- the Cubs’ off er was more than “time to move on.” spiracy and it’s all preposterous fair, well north of $200 million. The right-hander pitched for theory: That basketball boss and Not enough.” four organisations in 11 seasons coach Tom Thibodeau was in on otic scene during which Butler gestion was that Jimmy came the Bulls decided to trade him play call for a last possession in Bryant, a 26-year-old third in the majors, finishing his career it, fi guring Butler’s antics would charged onto a practice court, into the league driven by his un- before the Butler distraction a tight game was to have some- baseman and outfielder, won with the Arizona Diamondbacks. lead to being fi red by owner Glen checked himself into a 5-on-5 derdog status, and that changed grew into something more seri- one toss the ball to Butler, so the National League Rookie of He posted a 2.75 ERA in 739 Taylor, thus allowing Thibs to session with third-teamers, and a few years later when he started ous. he could yo-yo with the ball 23 the Year in 2015 and the league’s career appearances, going 37-38 walk away with $24 million owed screamed profanely at various hanging out with Wahlberg and The legend was that Thibode- feet from the basket until there Most Valuable Player award with 105 saves in 142 chances for three more seasons. parties – coaches, teammates, seeing himself as a star. au was getting back his No 1 guy, were four seconds left, and then the following season, when the and 479 strikeouts in 717 1/3 in- There’s nothing more im- and GM Scott Layden. The feeling in Chicago was Butler, when the Wolves traded throw up a game-losing rock. Cubs won the World Series. He nings. Ziegler released a lengthy portant in Thibodeau’s life than The greatest embarrassment that Butler’s game stopped what are now three players for “Why not get the ball to KAT is under club control through statement on Twitter. “For the coaching basketball, includ- in all of this is that Thibod- growing three, four years ago, as Butler in June 2017. and see if you can actually get a 2021. He earned $10.85 million last 11 years, I’ve been living ing money. If he left with a huge eau apparently did not confront his head grew ever larger. We now know Thibodeau was good shot?” you would mum- in 2018, the most ever awarded out the dream of almost every check and a monumental mess, Butler in any manner. The coach Thibodeau was the Bulls wrong. He wasn’t getting hard- ble. to a first-year, arbitration-eligible little boy that grows up in this Thibodeau would be done as a might have seen more practice coach when Butler arrived in nosed, underdog Jimmy Butler, And now we know: player. He is eligible for arbitra- great country and many other head basketball coach - in the energy than in the entire pre- 2011. The pair probably was the player he had coached in Butler was the star who had tion for three more years and countries around the world. NBA or at a top 200 college pro- season, but he also lost this ros- joined at the hip in the early Chicago. He was getting big- to be the hero, and Thibs didn’t won’t hit the free agent market It’s been an absolute privilege gram. The odds are improving by ter forever if he would not chal- years, as Butler was writing that headed Jimmy, a star with no have the guts to take the ball until 2022 and age 30. Because to wear the uniforms of the 4 the moment that Taylor will fi re lenge Butler. terrifi c underdog story. interest in having a co-star, an away from him. And it’s now re- of a lingering shoulder injury, teams for which I played. But it’s Thibodeau, but it won’t be some- There was insight sought Thibs was fi red after the 2014- egomaniac the Bulls were de- ported the coach didn’t have the he appeared in just 102 games time for me to move on to the thing that fulfi ls a hope for Thibs. from a Chicago media person 15 season. He was out of the pic- lighted to trade. guts to take practice away from in the 2018 season. He had 13 next chapter in my life, whatever The reports from Wednes- who had watched Butler from ture as Jimmy’s head – meaning, Repeatedly last season, I Butler on Wednesday. home runs and 52 RBIs and that may be.” day’s practice described a cha- the start of his career. The sug- ego – grew larger, to the point wondered why Thibodeau’s Embarrassing. Gulf Times 6 Friday, October 12, 2018 TENNIS

FOCUS ‘Angry’ Svitolina tees up Wang clash in Hong Kong AFP who she said was helping spear- Earlier, last year’s runner-up The 24-year-old described Hong Kong head the development of Chi- Daria Gavrilova admitted she Niculescu as a “fi ghter” but nese tennis. had lost her concentration as she added she had not made it easy “I’m just going to try and made hard work of dispatching for herself as she ground out the orld number fi ve bring my best game tomorrow unseeded Monica Niculescu over 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3) win. Elina Svitolina said and try and play as mean as I almost three gruelling hours. “I was losing concentration she was playing played today.” The Australian needed a third - I was really more mentally “mean” and “an- Svitolina looked in ominous set tiebreaker - which she closed tired than physically and that is Wgry” at the Hong Kong Open form Thursday as she brushed out with an emphatic smash - to probably where the errors came Thursday as she targets a place aside Japan’s Nao Hibino for the fi nally break her resilient Roma- from.” at the WTA Finals Singapore. loss of just three games. nian opponent, whose forehand Gavrilova, the world number The top seed breezed through Her Friday opponent is also slice and confi dent net play un- 34, has enjoyed an impressive her second round tie to set up a coming off the back of a hot nerved the seventh seed. run of recent form in Asia, beat- crunch quarter fi nal clash Friday streak which has seen her win Gavrilova started the match ing world number 18 Jelena Os- with China’s number one Wang two WTA titles in just four in cruise control but her game tapenko in Wuhan and stunning Qiang. months. started to unravel towards the world number seven Petra Kvi- The match will be a repeat of Sixth seed Wang also only end of the fi rst set as unforced tova in Beijing. August’s US Open third round needed two sets to get past errors crept in, and Niculescu But after two three-set contest, which the Ukrainian American Christina McHale 7-5, fought back with an armoury matches so far this week, she won in straight sets. 6-1. that also included a powerful now faces China’s number two “I was really angry today,” said “I think I played really well double-handed backhand. Zhang Shuai, who wrapped up the Rome champion, who is bat- tonight, so I have nothing to lose “I probably was getting a bit a 6-1, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1 victory tling four other players, includ- tomorrow,” she said. too emotional and frustrated be- against the Netherlands’ Lesley ing Karolina Pliskova, for the fi - Now ranked 24, Wang is chas- cause I felt like I was dictating, Kerkhove. nal three places in Singapore. ing more WTA titles to go with but I was making too many er- Speaking after the win, Zhang “We’re in the race for Sin- the two she picked up in July rors,” Gavrilova said. said she felt “everything is com- gapore - I want really bad to be and September in Nanchang and “I stepped up my game but I ing together”. there.” Guangzhou. wasn’t really happy with the way She added: “I like playing The 24-year-old added she She added: “I think next year I was going from super good to Asia, I like playing China, Hong Elina Svitolina of Ukraine hits a return during her second round match against Nao Hibino of Japan at the knew what to expect from Wang, the target is top 20.” not great.” Kong - I’m feeling happy here.” Hong Kong Open tennis tournament yesterday. (AFP)

SHANGHAI MASTERS SPOTLIGHT Wimbledon expansion one step closer Federer does family could be transformed,” All Eng- Reuters London land Club chairman Philip Brook said recently.

huge expansion of the EYES WIDE OPEN Wimbledon tennis “And this isn’t about building championships which new big stadia, it’s about a won- would transform the derful opportunity...tennis in an proud to battle into tournamentA and bring qualifying English garden. on-site moved a big step closer “We are not planning to build yesterday after a local golf club de- hotels, multi-storey car parks, a cided all members would benefi t helipad, a shopping centre. equally from a proposed buyout. The aim was to move the qual- Wimbledon Park Golf Club ifying event on-site, he said. members voted by more than the “Most of the people who necessary 75 per cent to amend play qualifying lose and don’t quarter-fi nals their constitution. Now all ever make it inside of the gates members would benefi t from the of SW19, and we think that’s ‘I hope it’s going to help me that I played against Medvedev and also Bautista Agut, 65 million pound ($85.83 mil- a shame, and we’re the only lion) windfall, not just those of grand slam where that is the two really good baseliners. From that standpoint, I feel like I found a rhythm’ more than 10 years standing. case. Bringing that event on-site Under the All England tennis would be fantastic.” AFP club’s buyout off er, the golfers Should the golfers accept the Shanghai will receive a reported 85,000 off er, then part of the land will pounds ($112,285) each to sell the become available to the tennis declining asset - the tennis club club at the end of 2021, and other oger Federer said already owns the freehold to the parts available at a year’s notice. that he did not want land which would revert to the The heritage of the land to lose in front of his All England club in 2041 in any means it comes with numer- young family as he case. The golfers are expected to ous constraints, including some wasR pushed all the way for the vote on the off er before the end 40 trees which could never be second match in a row at the of the year. moved, Brook said, adding that Shanghai Masters yesterday. Wimbledon wants to use the the club had already done initial The reigning champion land – landscaped in the 18th work with external consultants squeezed into the quarter-fi nals Century by English landscape who are familiar with Capability after eventually defeating the architect Capability Brown – to Brown land. 28th-ranked Spaniard Roberto move qualifying on-site from its “We’re going into this eyes Bautista Agut 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. current location some three miles wide open in terms of that as- The top seed will play Japan’s (5km) away in Roehampton. pect of it. We are very interested eighth seed Kei Nishikori, while “The whole experience of in building grass tennis courts Novak Djokovic and Alexander being at Wimbledon we think over there.” Zverev are also through, albeit with far less hassle. The 37-year-old Swiss great was forced to fi ght in his Federer hails ‘super-inspiring’ opening match on Wednes- day against Russia’s Daniil Nadal for Majorca fl ood help Medvedev. Normal order appeared to have been restored when the 20-time Grand Slam champion comfortably claimed the fi rst set against Bautista Agut. But the Spaniard earned a piece of personal history after that, winning the second set – the fi rst time he had taken a set against the Swiss maestro. The 30-year-old Bautista Agut had the whiff of an upset in his nostrils and the prospect Switzerland’s Roger Federer celebrates after winning against Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut during their third round match at the Shanghai of a fi rst victory over the Swiss Masters yesterday. (AFP) at the eighth attempt. But in the ninth game of the the world at the time – in the deciding set, Federer made the Federer says new Davis Cup ‘not designed for me’ French Open quarter-fi nals breakthrough on his opponent’s Roger Federer added his heft to the growing de- “This was designed for the future generation of earlier this year. serve, pumping his fi st as an- bate around the controversial new-format Davis players.” It was part of a wretched run other hard-won victory loomed Cup, saying yesterday that “this was not designed Djokovic said that he is backing the rival ATP of form Djokovic suff ered after into view. for me”. World Team Cup, set to take place weeks after elbow surgery in February. Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal (centre) observes a minute of Federer’s wife Mirka and their The inaugural Davis Cup finals are slated for a the Davis Cup finals, at the start of the 2020 But he exploded back to life silence yesterday, with students and workers of the ‘Rafa Nadal four children were in the arena week in Madrid in November 2019 as part of a season. The 31-year-old said there was “confusion” mid-season, winning Wimble- Academy’ in Manacor to honour the victims of the flash flood that and he said afterwards: “I’m not revamp to the competition, but it has been con- with the two competing events coming so close don, the Cincinnati Masters and aff ected the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca. (AFP) sure if they give me more cour- tentious with players. Alexander Zverev, the world together and being so similar. US Open. age fi ghting on court, but they number five, said at the Shanghai Masters that he “I just feel like the date of the Davis Cup is really The 31-year-old says he is oger Federer hailed old rival Rafael Nadal as “super-in- were here today. will not compete in the men’s team event because bad, especially for the top players,” said Djokovic, back close to the kind of blister- spiring” after the world number one joined in the clean- “I was telling myself, partic- it comes at the end of a long season. echoing the strong sentiments of Zverev a day ing form that has brought him up operation after fl ash fl oods killed 12 people on the ularly tonight I cannot do this Third-ranked Novak Djokovic agreed yesterday earlier. 14 Grand Slams. Spanish holiday island of Majorca. (lose) because they were there, Djokovic will play South R that the timing was “really bad” and he also looks “Between the two, I will prioritise the World Team Spanish star Nadal, 32, was pictured wearing boots and white but I don’t know how much I unlikely to feature. Cup because that’s a competition of ATP. “But also Africa’s seventh seed Kevin gloves, mopping up the floor of a warehouse on Wednesday on the draw from that, quite honestly.” And then Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam cham- I think and I hope that there will be a larger discus- Anderson and said he was ar- island where he lives. Federer said that two stern pion, added his voice to the debate when quizzed sion between the players to understand how we rowing in on Rafael Nadal’s top The 17-time Grand Slam champion, currently sidelined through encounters had set him up nice- after beating Roberto Bautista Agut to reach the are going to approach these two competitions. ranking. The Spaniard is not in injury, has also off ered to open up his sports centre and tennis acad- ly for Nishikori on Friday. Shanghai quarter-finals. “Or hopefully we can make it to the point where Shanghai due to injury. emy to people made homeless by the floods. “I hope it’s going to help me “No, I highly doubt it, of course. We’ll see what we can have one big ‘Super World Cup’, if you “Obviously, I’m going to try “I know how important Majorca is to Rafa and I have been in touch that I played against Medvedev happens,” said the 37-year-old, who has been want to call it (that), or whatever it is, because to do everything I can to get to with him to see if I can help with anything,” Federer said in a video and also Bautista Agut, two re- carefully managing his schedule since 2017 to that’s the best thing for our sport. number one,” said Djokovic. message recorded in Shanghai where he is currently competing. ally good baseliners. wring the most out of his ageing body. “But the way it seems right now, we are going to “That’s one of the – probably “I have seen him helping in the village where he comes from and to “From that standpoint, I feel “I don’t think this was designed for me, anyhow. have two at the moment.” the – biggest goal of the end of see that is super-inspiring. Rafa, you have our support. like I found a rhythm.” the season.” “We are thinking of all the people in Majorca. We wish you strength Rising star Zverev was simi- in these diff icult times and I hope to be back on Majorca soon.” DELPO INJURY WOE four, who had already been suf- strapping put on his knee, but joyed a measure of revenge as he larly emphatic as he brushed Fellow rival Novak Djokovic, also taking part in Shanghai, said he One player who will not be in fering with a virus, lost his foot- conceded the match after losing booked his spot in the quarter- aside Australian teenager Alex hoped Nadal’s eff orts would inspire others. the quarter-fi nals is Juan Mar- ing at 5-5 in the fi rst set against the fi rst set 7-5. Coric, the 13th fi nals with a 6-4, 6-0 demoli- de Minaur, 6-1, 6-4. “A big hug and friendly regards to Rafa and well done amigo for tin del Potro after he hobbled Croatia’s Borna Coric. seed, faces Australia’s unseeded tion of Marco Cecchinato. The German fourth seed will helping out,” said the reigning Wimbledon and US Open champion. out of the tournament. The 30-year-old Del Po- Matthew Ebden next The Serbian was stunned next play 11th seed Kyle Ed- “I invite anyone to give their support in anyway they can. Gracias.” The Argentine world number tro had lengthy treatment and Second seed Djokovic en- by the Italian – ranked 72 in mund. Gulf Times Friday, October 12, 2018 7 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT EQUESTRIAN Generation Amazing reaches Tickets for LGCT 250,000 benefi ciaries globally Finals in Qatar eneration Amazing – Qatar’s learned to help with the crisis their com- on sale now innovative football for develop- munity faced.” ment programme – has ben- In addition to building football pitches efi ted more than 250,000 people and implementing social programmes, Gsince being launched during the coun- Generation Amazing has selected par- try’s successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA ticipants to attend successive FIFA World World Cup. Cup tournaments in South Africa, Brazil The programme is currently opera- and Russia. During the trips, participants tional in Nepal, Pakistan, Jordan, Leba- have attended matches, along with social non, the Philippines and India, and is set development workshops, such as leader- to expand to further countries over the ship courses. next four years. It has boosted 26 under- Legendary midfi elder Xavi Hernandez privileged communities, including refu- – a FIFA World Cup winner with Spain gee camps, by building football pitches in 2010 – was announced as a Generation and implementing bespoke social pro- Amazing ambassador two years ago. He grammes. said it was an honour to be involved with In addition, since 2016, Generation the programme. Amazing has been supporting workers “Generation Amazing really inspires and schoolchildren in Qatar through in- me through the fantastic work they are spirational and educational training ses- doing with different groups within so- sions. To-date, more than 180 coaches Legendary midfielder Xavi – a World Cup winner with Spain in 2010 – was announced ciety. Joining the Generation Amazing have been trained to deliver Generation as a Generation Amazing ambassador two years ago. programme, and helping children, mi- By Sports Reporter main arena. Amazing programmes in the country. grant workers, refugees and the people Doha Al Shaqab was established as Hassan al-Thawadi, Secretary General communication and organisational skills. “The great thing is we are seeing the who need it most, is a real privilege for part of His Highness the Father of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & It has been a great success. Our goal is to results develop organically,” added al- me.” Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Kha- Legacy, praised the programme during a reach a million people by 2022; so far we Thawadi. “During the recent fl ooding Further milestones are in the pipeline atar will host the lifa al-Thani’s vision and pas- recent speech in New York. have benefi ted 250,000 people.” in Kerala, for example, two Generation for Generation Amazing over the coming thrilling fi nals of the sion to preserve and perpetuate “Generation Amazing utilises the Al-Thawadi expects Generation Amazing ambassadors, who are work- year, with the programme set to rapidly 2018 Longines Glo- the Arabian horse in Qatar. It has power of football to help under-privi- Amazing to continue growing over the ers in Qatar and became part of the pro- expand both locally and internationally. bal Champions Tour since developed into a major in- leged people develop their leadership, next four years. gramme, utilised the skills they had (SC.qa) (LGCT)Q show jumping series and ternational equestrian facility tickets for this prestigious event encompassing multiple equine at Al Shaqab are on sale now. disciplines. ATHLETICS From November 8-10, the In collaboration with the Tour spectacular venue in Doha will since 2008, Qatar has contin- see the best athletes in the world ued to build on its reputation as pull out all the stops to win their a global sports destination and place in the prestigious LGCT a hub for major international individual Rankings and teams sporting occasions. battle for the Global Champions Local fans will be able to sup- League (GCL) title in a knife- port home city GCL team Doha ‘Probably December’: edge climax to 2018. Fursan Qatar, as well as watch The electrifying fi nale to 2017 LGCT Grand Prix of Doha the season will be hosted at Al winner Bassem Hassan Moham- Shaqab, a world-class eques- med fi ght to take a second con- trian facility and part of the Qa- secutive win on home turf. tar Foundation. The circuit has Last year, Her Highness consistently seen the highest Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, to- Coe ready for IAAF to calibre show jumping in spec- gether with children from the Al tacular destinations including Shaqab Riding Academy, pre- Mexico City, Miami Beach, Paris, sented both the coveted LGCT London, Berlin and Shanghai, Championship trophy to Harrie and the event will see the biggest Smolders and also the winning stars in the sport ensure thrill- medal to Qatari rider Bassem rule on Russia return ing competition for spectators to Hassan Mohammed. HE Sheikh witness in Doha. Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani was Families and friends fl ocked also in attendance along with ‘It’s important athletes get answers to an important question: do you trust the system?’ to the venue last year fi lling the diplomats from around the main grandstand and enjoying world. AFP the data from testing of samples fun activities including pony The impressive, cutting edge Buenos Aires at the Moscow laboratory from riders for children at the impres- venue of Al Shaqab will be a fi t- 2011-2015, so that the Athlet- sive Kids Academy as well as ting stage for the fi nal adrena- ics Integrity Unit can determine watching top sport from the chic line-fuelled individual and team orld athletics chief whether the suspicious fi ndings cafes with dramatic views of the series battles of 2018. Sebastian Coe reported in the Moscow lab’s told AFP Wednes- database should be pursued. day that a decision Coe said time will tell if GOLF Won whether or not Russia will WADA — who were accused of have their ban from interna- betraying clean athletes by their tional competition lifted “will decision to lift their Russia ban probably” be made in December. — were right. ‘Boring’ Burgoon However Coe, the president “We’ll have to see. It is very of the International Association important that athletes can get of Athletics Federations (IAAF), answers to a very important leads CIMB as admitted that “we will have to question and that it is simple: do wait and see” if WADA, the glo- you trust the system?” said Coe. bal anti-doping body, was right “The athletes ask that ques- Thomas, Casey lurk to lift its three-year ban on Rus- tion, so the IAAF, WADA, the sia’s own anti-doping agency. International Olympic Com- The ban was introduced in mittee — all those organisations 2015 after Russia’s ministry of have to give evidence to the sport and secret service were clean athletes that the system is found guilty of masterminding a clean system. institutional doping. “The philosophy of the IAAF Now, the spotlight is on Coe to was very clear. It was to try to allow Russia back into interna- separate the clean athletes from tional track and fi eld competition coming weeks with the Russian be some decision at the Council Firstly, Russian authorities a contaminated system, and that when the IAAF Council meets in Athletics Federation, as we have meeting in December in Monaco.” must acknowledge the fi ndings is why we have a neutral status Monaco on December 4. always done in the past, we will Coe had said following WA- of reports that sports ministry for Russian athletes. When asked if there will be wait for the recommendations DA’s controversial decision to offi cials were implicated in the “But, of course, it has to be a decision on reinstatement, of the working group and the lift the ban that Russia needed scheme to cover up the doping our ambition to have Russian 62-year-old Coe told AFP: “Yes Council will deliberate accord- to meet two pre-conditions to of Russian athletes. athletes again representing their there will be”. ing to my recommendation. be allowed to return to interna- And secondly Russian au- country. That has to be the fi nal “There’ll be a meet in the “But yes, there will probably tional athletics competition. thorities must provide access to goal.”

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AFP boring golf, but that’s always a Golf back in Pakistan aft er 11-year hitch Kuala Lumpur good thing,” said the Texan. “I chipped in for eagle from AFP But successful military op- “Sports should bring the in- the bunker on my ninth hole, Karachi erations in the country’s north- visible walls down between the merican Bronson Bur- which kind of boosted me, then I west near the Afghan border and two countries,” he added. goon outshone Ryder just kept going.” crackdowns in urban centres, India-Pakistan ties, includ- Cup stars Justin Tho- World number four Thomas, irds were released over including the restive port city ing sports and cultural contacts, mas and Paul Casey as winner of the event in 2015 and fairways and ceremo- of Karachi, have improved the plummeted after deadly 2008 heA shot nine-under par 63 to lead 2016, was happy with his start, nial drives were struck situation. attacks in Mumbai. the $7mn CIMB Classic yester- especially the fi nish to his round. as international golf The country has twice host- While cricket remains the day — and then played down his “It was a good day. Kind of up returnedB to Pakistan yesterday ed the Pakistan Super League undisputed number one sport round as “boring”. and down. I got off to a good start after an 11-year absence. cricket fi nals featuring inter- in Pakistan, golf is popular with At the revamped TPC Kuala and then kind of stalled out a lit- A full fi eld of 132 players from national stars plus successful the country’s powerful army, Lumpur, the 31-year-old Burgoon tle bit there in the middle,” said around the globe were teeing up limited-over series against Zim- with military areas where the chipped in for an eagle on the 18th the man with eight PGA Tour in the Asian Tour’s UMA CNS babwe, a World XI and Sri Lanka top brass reside frequently hole, his ninth after starting from wins in the last two seasons. Open Championship at Karachi in the past 18 months. home to some of Pakistan’s best the 10 tee, and then added fi ve “I hung in there and just re- Golf Club, the latest thawing of They cleared the way for more courses. birdies on his back nine. ally didn’t hit my irons very well. relations with the country that sports with squash, tennis and Pakistan’s Navy are hosting That gave him a one-shot lead I just didn’t take advantage of a has spent years in the sporting now golf having returned. this week’s Asian Tour event, over compatriot Austin Cook on couple opportunities, but kind of wilderness. which has a $300,000 prize a low-scoring fi rst day, with the found something there those last “Coming back to Pakistan is WALLS COME DOWN fund. “There is a very over- red-hot Billy Horschel in a three- fi ve holes and was able to at least a fantastic opportunity for us,” Former Asian Tour winner and whelming response by foreign way tie for the third place at sev- make a good round of it today.” Robert Andrew, event director of Former Asian Tour winner and Indian golfer Digvijay Singh speaks Indian national Digvijay Singh players and that surprised us,” en-under par. Horschel continued from the Asian Tour told AFP, brush- to media ahead of the Asian Tour’s UMA CNS Open Championship at said arriving in Pakistan felt like said Naval Commodore Mush- Thomas, the two-time CIMB where he left off in the FedEx Cup ing off any security concerns. Karachi Golf Club on Wednesday. (AFP) home, suggesting sport could taq Ahmed. champion and former world one, playoff s, where he fi nished inside “This is the starting point for pave the road for better relations Pakistan hosted its fi rst Asian shot four birdies in his last fi ve the top-three in four starts and future years after the success of surgent attacks. but in reality it is very diff erent.” between Islamabad and Delhi. Tour event in 1989, which was holes to move to three shots be- withdrew from the fourth. this event.” “It is always good to be here The 2009 attack on Sri Lan- “I am really feeling home here won by Filipino Frankie Minoza. hind the leader, tied sixth at six- Defending champion Pat Perez No major golf tour has visited as people are very lovely and ka’s bus in Lahore, in which and we are so overwhelmingly The country’s only Asian Tour under par along with seven other opened with a two-under-par 70 Pakistan since 2007. The last friendly,” said Australian golfer eight people were killed, caused welcomed here. We are seeing winner remains Taimur Hussain players including England’s Casey. in the tournament jointly sanc- scheduled tournament, in 2008, Marcus Both. “I came here 10 all sporting visits to be suspend- the same faces not diff erent to who triumphed at an event in “I drove it well and I putted tioned by the PGA and the Asian was cancelled after a wave of in- years ago. The perception is bad ed. us,” Singh told reporters. Myanmar in 1998. pretty good, so it was kind of Tours.

Friday, October 12, 2018 GULF TIMES SPORT

EQUESTRIAN FOOTBALL/QSL CUP Second Hathab Gharafa earn last-gasp season from today equaliser ‘It was a challenging season with many ups and downs. The competition level was very tough. I am looking forward to coming back stronger this season’ vs Duhail By Sports Reporter By Sports Reporter QSC 0 UMM SALAL 0 Doha Doha The encounter between Qatar SC and Umm Salal failed to produce any goal across the 90 he second season of the Hathab l Gharafa secured minutes, so both teams had to equestrian series will kick off to- a last-gasp (90+4) be satisfi ed with a point each. day, with the fi rst of the 12 legs equaliser against de- The chances were few and to be held at Qatar Equestrian fending champions far between, with perhaps the TFederation’s Indoor Arena. A brainchild AlA Duhail in the second round closest either side came to of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, QSL Cup match yesterday. scoring was Yannick Sagbo’s President of the Qatar Olympic Commit- A 17th-minute Al Duhail goal thunderous free-kick from the tee, Hathab was a runaway success in its settled the nerves at the Qatar right that was well kept out inaugural season. SC Stadium, thanks to Fahad by the goalkeeper. Qatar SC The series – worth QR1mn in overall al-Buyati’s early contribution. pushed late on, but it was not prize money – provides an opportunity Having won possession in mid- enough to grab a victory. for young riders from Qatar to gain expe- fi eld, Yousef El Arabi raced clear rience and test themselves against other of the defence before unselfi sh- KHARAITIYAT 2 ARABI 0 best talents in the country over a gruelling ly squaring the ball for the Qa- Al Kharaitiyat were able to put 12 legs, which is spread over six months. tari Under-23 attacker to fi nish their league form to one side Nasser al-Ghazali, who clinched the Big with composure. with an impressive cameo from Tour class last season, was eff usive in his Al-Buyati then had a chance Valentin Lazar. praise of Hathab and its benefi ts for young to double the lead early in the The Romanian was instru- riders. second half, but was denied, mental in much of the home “It was a great season for me. I got to thanks to fantastic goalkeeping side’s attacking play and was learn so much,” said al-Ghazali, who had by Qasem Burhan between the in prime position to watch secured 177 points to emerge as overall opposition posts. Majid Salmeen score the 37th- winner. “It was a challenging season with Al Gharafa were unfortunate minute opener. many ups and downs. The competition in the second half when fi rst The Qatari midfi elder re- level was very tough. I am looking forward Burhan denied Abdulghani ceived the ball far out before to coming back stronger this season.” Muneer, before Muaith al-Sa- advancing and launching a Hamad Nasser al-Qadi, who had fi n- lemi’s shot across the goal was powerful drive past the help- ished behind al-Ghazali, was also im- marginally wide, but they were less goalkeeper. pressed by the series and called it a step- not fi nished. The points were secured in ping stone to Qatar national team. “I got to Right at the end, Diogo the 40th minute as Salmeen learn so much. I may have fi nished second Amado’s header ricocheted off supplied the vital pass to Val- but it has been a great result. I went about the bar and onto the head of entin who snuck in front of doing well in a step-by-step fashion. I in- Abdulghani to rescue a point goal and fi nished in clinical tend to keep up the good work next season from close range. fashion. also. This is a great series for riders like us who want to be part of the Qatar national squad in the future,” al-Qadi said. Qatar Equestrian Federation’s Indoor Arena is all decked up for the first leg of the Hathab equestrian series today. PICTURE: Lotfi Garsi Like last year, the results of each leg will be used in the selection process of riders The series is also aimed at encouraging to represent Qatar in future international the involvement of private stables and in- competitions. Hathab will be held either dividual horse owners to grow awareness at Al Shaqab or Qatar Equestrian Federa- of horsemanship as part of Qatar’s history tion, the joint organisers of the series. and tradition. FEI rules and regulations The 12-leg equestrian series has also will be applied during all the competi- added a new concept to the popular event. tions, and the series will be broadcast on To engage community and businesses, a Al Kass Sports Channel. team system has been added to Hathab, where each team will consist of three rid- COMPETITION SCHEDULE ers, and each team will present one of the Today following sponsors: Al Salam (main spon- 3:30pm: Small Tour Table A, One round sor), Exxon Mobil, Al Kass, Al Shaqab, against the clock 100/115cm. Prize money: QNB, Lusail and Power Steel. QR10,000 The veterinarian check for horses was Medium Tour Table A, Special two phases held yesterday, followed by a technical 120/130cm: Prize money: QR20,000 meeting for the riders. Tomorrow The competition will begin today at 9am: Future riders class (for under-12) 3pm with Small Tour and Medium Tour Optimum Time 70/85cm. events. Tomorrow, the Future riders, Be- 10:30am: Beginner Riders: Table A, One ginner Riders, Open Class and Big Tour round against the clock 85/100cm events will be held. 3pm: Open Class Table A, One round Each rider and horse needs to have a against the clock 115/125cm. Prize money: valid license from Qatar Equestrian Fed- QR15,000 eration to be eligible to participate. A 5:30pm: Big Tour Table A, One round maximum of two horses are allowed per against the clock 130/145cm. (6-12 years); rider in each competition. QR35,000. A rider trains with his horse at the Qatar Equestrian Federation arena yesterday. Action from Al Duhail-Al Gharafa QSL Cup second round match.

MOTORSPORT QMMF ready to host 3rd round of Qatar National Baja By Sports Reporter Doha

atar Motor and Mo- torcycle Federation (QMMF) will host the third round of the Qa- tarQ National Baja Championship tomorrow. The ceremonial start in sched- uled for today, after the scruti- neering and pre-event briefi ng. Tomorrow, the fi rst leg will begin at 8:45 in the morning as the cars will run over challenging desert terrain, which will consist of a number of marked courses. Qatar Baja has attracted 11 en- tries as the drivers will battle it out in the sandy countryside for off -road honours. QMMF Presi- dent Abdulrahman al-Mannai was excited for the start of new season and said a number of activities have been lined up ahead. “We are looking forward to this week’s round. We are very excited at this point in time. We have planned a series of activities right through- out the season, like we always do. We shall give more details in the QMMF President Abdulrahman al-Mannai (left) lavished praise on Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (right) for Qatar Baja has attracted 11 entries. coming days,” al-Mannai said. winning the Rally of Morocco last week. It will be busy season at the we know he doesn’t give up. His dulla driving a Nissan Patrol Y62 marred on more than one occa- QMMF as beehive of activities has Qatar International Rally. That Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah Al-Mannai lavished praise on team and car have been working as part of the QX Rally Team with sion by cruel luck. been planned. The Manateq Inter- will host the big names in motor – a winner of the Qatar Inter- al-Attiyah after Qatar’s ace driv- really well for him. I think he is French navigator Jean-Michel “Adel showed a great fi ght de- national Rally of Qatar, the fi nale racing. We will special activities national Rally on 13 occasions er fought back to win last week’s getting good preparation for the Polato, fi nished the event in spite the setbacks in Morocco. to the 2018 FIA Middle East Rally during that week,” QMMF Presi- – bidding for a 14th regional ti- Rally of Morocco. It was al-Atti- Manateq Qatar International third place behind the Russian He did not give up until the end. Championship is the marquee dent said. tle in 16 years and trying to pre- yah’s fi fth successive victory in Rally and eventually the Dakar driver Andrey Titov. The great achievement is that he event to be looked forward to and it Formerly the opening round of vent Czech driver Vojtech Stajf the gruelling Rally of Morocco. Rally next year,” he said. After the tough fi ght in Mo- drove three diff erent cars this will be held from November 15-17. the prestigious regional rallying from snatching a fi rst ever series “The best news was the way Al-Mannai said Adel Abdul- rocco, Abdulla had the consola- season. It is just unbelievable. “It’s going to be a busy sea- series, this year’s revised three- win. The duo are separated by 32 he fought hard in trying condi- la’s, Qatar’s big hope in T2 class tion of fi nishing as runner-up in Hopefully he will come back son. Next month we will have day event will decide the out- points before the fourth round in tions,” al-Mannai said. “He’s in this year’s championship, has this year’s T2 World Champion- strong next season,” al-Mannai the hugely popular Manateq come of the championship with Kuwait at the start of November. had a tough time recently but been a revelation this year. Ab- ship after a campaign that was said.