25 Sports Tuesday, December 17, 2019 Kipchoge’s new shoes shatter two-hour barrier, fans shun Doha First human to run a marathon in under two hours LONDON: Most people said it couldn’t be done and claimed the official world record of 2:01.39 in Berlin, the record books say it hasn’t been, but for the thou- kept distance running in the spotlight and how the sands watching in Vienna and millions more online, sport needed some attention after the Doha world Eliud Kipchoge unquestionably this year became the championships lived down to all expectations. first human to run a marathon in under two hours. The blue riband event, the men’s 100 metres, was When the peerless Kenyan unleashed a final kick to tainted before it began by the ludicrous situation that charge through the tape in one hour, 59 minutes and 40 allowed Christian Coleman to escape, on a technicality, seconds in the specially set-up event in October, the what should have been an automatic ban for missing sporting world reeled at not only that such a notable doping tests under the whereabouts system within 12 barrier could be broken, but destroyed - and seemingly months. with ease. Having made a laughing stock of the sport’s anti- It did not count as an official world record due to the doping programme, the American duly took gold in a use of “in and out” pacers and a moving drinks scorching 9.76 seconds - the sixth-fastest legal time provider, yet probably the greatest aid of all - the latest ever - with evergreen, twice dope-banned compatriot version of Nike’s Vaporfly shoes - were entirely legal. Justin Gatlin taking silver in a virtually empty stadium. Anyone still unsure how much the combination of That patent lack of interest, repeated for the carbon plates and super-compressed foam was the x- women’s 100m, in what is normally the hottest ticket in factor that enabled Kipchoge to reach such levels, town, was only one of the fallouts of the controversial would have been convinced 24 hours later when Brigid decision to take the event to Doha, where cooling tech- Kosgei used Vaporfly trainers to smash the women’s nology worked inside the stadium but could do nothing marathon record. for those on the roads. The Kenyan took 81 seconds off Paula Radcliffe’s It was a harrowing sight to see more than 40% of official mark that had never been threatened in the pre- athletes dropping out of the women’s marathon in dis- vious 16 years. Then in December, the six year-old tress due to the heat and humidity, despite a midnight 10km world road record was also blown away by start. It made such an impression on the International Joshua Cheptegei - the Ugandan also wearing “the Olympic Committee that they almost immediately shift- shoes”. The sport’s governing body World Athletics ed the marathon and walk events in next year’s says it is comfortable that the technology gives no Olympics from Tokyo to the cooler northern city of “mechanical advantage”. Sapporo. While Coleman beat the system, highly-rated But, fair or foul, its arrival means that comparisons distance coach Alberto Salazar could not, as, despite Eliud Kipchoge with previous records are now about as useful as look- none of his athletes failing a test, he was given a four- ing at today’s golf driving distances using metal and year ban for doping violations. However, few were really listening after the country “road map” back towards acceptance and by reports carbon clubs versus the persimmon and bamboo shafts That came as music to the ears of many Russians, endured another sorry year on the drugs front. from WADA that evidence had been tampered with and of yesteryear. who have long claimed that they are being victimised in World Athletics and their task force were spectacu- so the Russian Federation remains banned heading into Kipchoge’s amazing feat - coming a year after he the battle against doping while others got away with it. larly unimpressed with Russia’s efforts to follow the the Olympic year of 2020. —Reuters Kuwait to compete in the ranking stage after losing to USA Woods completes road to redemption MELBOURNE: Two years ago the future for Tiger Woods looked bleak to the point of darkness. Four back surgeries, countless knee operations, marital strife and run-ins with the law meant Woods had not won a major since 2008, had no tournament victo- ries since 2013 and had seen his world ranking plum- met to 656. But on Sunday, US player-captain Tiger Woods capped a year that has seen one of the most memo- rable comebacks in sporting history by driving his team to a 16-14 victory over Ernie Els’ Internationals in the 13th Presidents Cup in Melbourne. The second coming of Tiger began with a drought-ending victory at the Tour Championship 15 months ago and accelerated with a 15th major and By Abdellatif Sharaa beating Japan 14-12 in fifth round yester- fifth green jacket at the US Masters in Augusta. day. Japan took third place with four Having returned to the world’s top 10, Woods need- KUWAIT: The quarter finals of FINA points after defeating South Africa 26-11 ed yet more surgery to his troublesome left knee in World Men’s Junior Water Polo in the fourth round. China with two August before writing another remarkable chapter of Championship being hosted by Kuwait points and pointless South Africa will his storied career. until Friday will start today, as well as the play in the ranking stage. In his first tournament appearance after the arthroscopic operation, Woods equalled Sam ranking for 9 to 20th places. Spain guaranteed its leadership of the Snead’s record of 82 US PGA Tour wins when he The tournament is being held under Group 2 with eight points by defeating won the inaugural Zozo Championship in Japan. “It’s the patronage of House Speaker Canada 15-7 while Hungary defeated been an amazing year,” a beaming Woods told Golf Marzouq Al-Ghanem at HH Sheikh Russia 12-9. Hungary and Canada will TV in Melbourne. “I’m speechless. Nasser Al-Mohammad Olympic play in the quarterfinals, while Russia “To have won a major championship, a green Swimming Pools Complex, as Kuwait and Egypt will be in the ranking stage. jacket, to have tied Sam and to have won a cup with team will compete in the ranking stage Kuwait team lost for the third consec- all these guys, I couldn’t have asked for a better after losing to USA 8-16 in the fourth utive time, guaranteeing the USA to year.” The road to redemption began with his long- round. Leaders of the four groups will reach the quarterfinals along with Italy, awaited win at the Tour Championship, the FedEx play the quarterfinals starting tomorrow though Italy drew with Montenegro 12- Cup finale, at East Lake, Atlanta, in September 2018. by facing second and third place teams. 12. Greece was harsh on Uzbekistan and Woods had endured two years out of the game Greece, the current champion, Spain and beat it 27-4 to guarantee its eight points and shuffled out of the February 2018 Dubai Desert Serbia are guaranteed to lead their on top of the group, while Australia Classic, his tournament return, with back spasms, groups and it is most likely for Italy to defeated Brazil 9-6. causing observers to question whether he could join them. Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of compete again at the highest level. Those who end in fourth and fifth Kuwait Swimming Federation Hameed The thought had also crossed the mind of place in each group will play for the Al-Ghareeb said all matters related to Taha Al-Kushari from Oman and Khalil Al-Kushari and Al-Jaber, who attend- Woods. Less than a year earlier he had hobbled ranking from 9 to 20. Serbia was able to the championship are moving smoothly Al-Jaber from Qatar agreed that Kuwait ed the opening ceremony and FINA into the Champions Dinner on the eve of the 2017 secure first place with eight points by in a way that pleased all participating impressed everyone with its high ability meetings hoped this event will be a prel- US Masters nursing yet another back injury, telling defeating Croatia 11-6 in the fourth delegations. He said the KSF spares no to organize a world championship with ude for Kuwait hosting bigger events, those assembled: “I’m done, I don’t think I’ll ever play golf again.” round, then China in the fifth round 16-4. effort in serving Kuwait youth and host complete professionality for the second bearing in mind it has all the necessary But two-and-a-half years later, Woods was Croatia is second with six points by major world events. Members of FINA time following that in 1999. facilities. unsurpassed at Royal Melbourne as he won all three of his matches and overtook Phil Mickelson for the most wins in Presidents Cup history. “How about that? I like that stat,” smiled Woods, after being told his win-loss-tie Cup record was now 27-15-1 against Momota trumps badminton his great rival Mickelson’s 26-16-13. It left Els, not for the first time in his career, hav- greats with record-smashing year ing to pick up the pieces after a defeat to Woods. The big South African, widely praised for his cap- taincy which saw the Internationals lead after every SHANGHAI: Kento Momota was banned can be compared to him as a player and as session until Sunday when it mattered, might also from badminton for gambling in 2016.