SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021 11

Clinical Bangladesh seal Bogatov: a new player enters series win over West Indies Featherweight division Bogatov proved himself worthy of a prominent position within the BRAVE CF Featherweight division

Bogatov came back to his roots,• in his home nation of Russia, to find himself once again

TDT | Manama West Indies’ Alzarri Joseph (L) takes a run as Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan throws the ball AFP | Dhaka ussia’s Roman Bogatov was making headlines and attracting eyeballs with his BRAVE Combat Federation amim Iqbal hit a half-cen- Rdebut, scheduled for the promotion’s first Ttury and spinner Mehidy card of the year, on January 16, in Sochi. Hasan claimed a career best But even amid such an optimistic scenario, four for 25 on Friday as Bang- Bogatov managed to make a splash upon his ladesh beat a weakened West 50 runs were scored by arrival, proving himself worthy of a prom- Indies by seven wickets to seal Tamim Iqbal off 76 balls inent position within the Featherweight the three-match, one day se- division. ries 2-0. Eager to make up from his disappointing Tamim hit 50 off 76 balls to last bout, Bogatov came back to his roots, in steer Bangladesh to 149-3 in his home nation of Russia, to find himself 33.2 overs after West Indies, Kjorn Ottley and Nkrumah once again. missing nearly all their top Bonner made 24 and 20 re - stars, were all out for 148 at spectively to boost the West the Sher-e-Bangla National Indies score. Stadium in Dhaka. West Indies spinner Akeal Bangladesh won Wednes- Hossain trapped Liton Das for day’s opening match by 22 before skipper Mohammed Roman Bogatov in action during a bout six wickets and kept up the grabbed the wicket of Najmul KNOW WHAT But only motivation and hype weren’t the attention of his competition. pressure after the West In - Hossain for 17 to give West enough to earn him his first BRAVE CF vic- And there will be a fierce competition on dies stand-in captain Jason Indies some hope. tory. Against the fellow newcomer Nurzhan Bogatov’s way upwards in the weight class Mohammad won the toss and Tamim, who hit three fours Akishev, from Kazakhstan, Bogatov had to ranks, as he joins the likes of Dumar Roa, opted to bat. and a six, and the experienced With a professional record of sweat and dig deep in order to get the “W”, Gabriel Fly, and Anzor Abdulkhozhaev, Mehidy led the attack while Shakib then frustrated the vis- 11 wins and single loss, Roman going as far as saying that this was the hard- Mochamed Machaev, all in the hunt of the spinner Shakib Al Hasan and itors to make sure of victory. Bogatov has finished 6 of his est fight of his 12-bout professional career. vacant Featherweight World Title. pacer Mustafizur Rahman Shakib remained unbeaten on opponents and is known for his But the struggle only made the success With a professional record of 11 wins and complemented with two wick- 43. unorthodox grappling and slick more relevant. And now, Bogatov arrives single loss, Roman Bogatov has finished 6 ets each. “It was nice to spend some submissions at the BRAVE CF Featherweight division of his opponents and is known for his un- Rovman Powell hit 41 off 66 time in the middle,” Tamim with the spotlight on him, having caught orthodox grappling and slick submissions. balls while debutant opener said.

Gilas starts training for FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers Boudot to Kickstart 2021 at The Saudi TDT |

he training of the first batch Cup’s International Jockeys’ Challenge Tof players who will most TDT | Riyadh likely be part of the Philippine team for the Window 3 of the ne of Europe’s elite riders, FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers will OPierre-Charles Boudot, is start next month in Clark, Pam- the sixth participant to be con- panga. firmed for The Saudi Cup’s In- Known as Gilas Pilipinas, ternational Jockeys’ Challenge the first batch is made up of (IJC) on Friday 19 February at the core that won two games King Abdulaziz Racecourse, in Window 2 last November Riyadh. in Bahrain, and together with The Frenchman, who rode the coaching staff led by Gilas 12 Group 1 winners in 2020, men’s team Project Director including on Champions Day Tab Baldwin. at Royal Ascot and the Breed- The won two The first batch of candidates for the Gilas Pilipinas team ers’ Cup at Keeneland, is the games against Thailand in the mitment as we continue to lay second of seven male jockeys bubble in Bahrain, 93-61 last the foundation for the team we to be announced, while Nanako Pierre-Charles Boudot November 27 and 93-69 last will form in 2023.” Fujita of Japan will fill the fifth November 30, which improved These young men Panlilio said the first batch of seven spots for female riders. will again be his top target. the national team record to 3-0 have not only proven is in line with the SBP program He said: “I’m very excited to “This year, I would like to ahead of Korea (2-0), Indone- of focusing on the amateur or be competing in the Interna- begin with a nice winner at the their dedication to I’m very excited to sia (1-2) and Thailand (0-4) in the Gilas program younger players to prepare tional Jockeys’ Challenge this Saudi races and then I hope Group A. them for the 2023 FIBA World year. Being asked to come and be competing in the to find myself another good The Window 3 event will be but have also shown Cup the country is co-staging ride against the world’s best International Jockeys’ horse for the Prix de l’Arc de played at the Asian University their capability to with Japan and Indonesia. feels like a great achievement Challenge this year. Triomphe. I have been riding Foundation (AUF) from Feb- work well as a team However, expect Batch 2 to and I’m very proud. Being asked to come in France this month and things ruary 20 to 22 with the Phil- as we saw in the have more PBA players joining “2020 was a crazy and in - and ride against the are going well. I’ve got a very ippines hosting Group A and two games against the Inspire training bubble. credible year for me. I picked good strike rate at the moment, Group C with Australia, New “As always we appreciate up some extra rides due to Cov- world’s best feels like a with 17 winners from 40 run- Thailand in the last great achievement and Zealand, Hong Kong and Guam. window the unwavering support of PBA id and I ended up with 12 Group ners, so I feel in good form and The national team takes on Commissioner Willie Marcial 1 winners, including three for I’m very proud I’m ready to go.” Indonesia on the 20th and Ko- AL PANLILIO, PRESIDENT OF SAMAHANG and the PBA Board to the Gilas Coolmore, two at the Breeders’ Popular Japanese rider Fu- BASKETBOL NG PILIPINAS PIERRE-CHARLES BOUDOT rea on the 22nd. program,” said Panlilio. Cup and one at Ascot on Cham- jita was set to line up in last The initial group includes “We had very good discus- pions Day too.” Saudi Cup day last year and it year’s International Jockeys’ 2019 PBA Rookie Draft selec- the NLEX Road Warriors. sions with the PBA and we were The 28-year-old was not in- was a great experience. The Challenge but suffered a broken tions Isaac Go, Rey Suerte and “These young men have not able to get the commitment of volved in last year’s IJC but did turf was perfect and the dirt is collarbone a fortnight before brothers Matt and Mike Nieto, only proven their dedication to several PBA players who will be ride in two races on The Saudi possibly the best in the world.” while riding in Japan. as well as their Window 2 team- the Gilas program but have also part of the second batch coming Cup undercard on the Saturday, The Frenchman has been The exciting 23-year-old mates Javi Gomez de Liano, shown their capability to work into the bubble training on Jan- finishing fourth on the Fabrice busy riding winners in France jockey is looking forward to the Dave Ildefonso, Justine Bal- well as a team as we saw in the uary 22nd.” Chappet-trained Intellogent in already this year and is set to prospect of taking her chance tazar, Calvin Oftana, William two games against Thailand Aside from Baldwin, the Gi- the Middle Distance Turf Cup arrive at King Abdulaziz Race- this year: “I would like to thank Navarro, and Kenmark Carino. in the last window,” said Sa - las coaching staff includes SBP and fourth on Ala Sawab in The course in good form, though the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia They are joined by natu - mahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Coaches Commission director Jockey Club Local Handicap. Europe’s premier Flat race, for selecting me as one of the ralization candidate Angelo (SBP) president Al Panlilio. Jong Uichico and Boyet Fer- Remembering the day in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe participants at the Internation- Kouame and Kiefer Ravena of “I’m thankful for their com- nandez. 2020, Boudot said: “I rode on which takes place in October, al Jockeys’ Challenge.