| Page 2 NNBABA | Page 5 Ailing Celtics push skipper Virat James, Cavs to Kohli to miss the brink with county stint game 5 win

Friday, May 25, 2018 TENNIS Ramadan 9, 1439 AH Resurgent Djokovic GULF TIMES ready for fresh start, says Wilander SPORT Page 3 Xavi agrees two-year extension

‘I am happy to keep on being a part of the Al AFP and spoke about not being able to cope with Doha the physical demands of professional foot- ball as he got older. Sadd family...’ But with Al Sadd still in the AFC Cham- avi Hernandez could play on un- pions League the player is still feeling good til the age of 40 after it was an- physically, announcing earlier this month nounced yesterday he has signed a that he would continue playing until the two-year extension to his contract end of this year at least. withX Qatari club Al Sadd. He has now changed his mind again. The legendary former Barcelona and Although criticised by some for choosing Spain midfi elder will stay with the Doha- to see out his playing career in Qatar, the based club until the end of the 2020 sea- controversial host of the 2022 World Cup, son, according to a statement released by Al Xavi has embraced life in the Gulf and his Sadd on social media. daughter was born in Doha in 2016. “I am happy to keep on being a part of Since being in the emirate he has been the Al Sadd family for two more years,” said named as a global ambassador for the Qa- Xavi. tar World Cup, helped in the offi cial launch “I am delighted to be at the club and with of Lusail stadium, the venue for the 2022 its fans. World Cup fi nal, and has been strongly “Everyone here is one big family and I am tipped to be the team’s coach by the time satisfi ed and thrilled to continue.” the tournament comes around. Announcing the new deal on Twitter, Al Xavi was a World Cup winner with Spain Sadd said: “The maestro stays!” in 2010 and was handed 133 caps by the na- Xavi joined Al Sadd in 2015, originally tional side. on a two-year contract, after making more He was also in a Barcelona side which than 700 appearances for the Catalan gi- took eight La Liga titles, four Champions ants. League titles, and he became synonymous He extended the original contract by 12 with the club’s tiki-taka style of play. months but the 38-year-old was widely Since playing in Qatar he has won three expected to retire at the end of the Qatari more trophies but none in the season just domestic season, which fi nished earlier this completed. The announcement comes on month, to concentrate on earning coaching the same day as his former Barcelona team- badges. Xavi himself had even signalled mate Andres Iniesta offi cially announced that the season just ended would be his last he was moving to play in Japan’s J-League.

FIRST TEST Pakistan expose England’s top-order again

AFP pionship last season, as the left-arm SCORECARD London quick produced a brilliant that cut away late off the pitch to clip the top England 1st Innings Pakistan 1st Innings of the off stump. A. Cook b Mohamed Amir ...... 70 Azhar Ali ...... 18 akistan pacemen Mohamed England, who had been 165 for fi ve at M. Stoneman b Mohamed Abbas ...... 4 Imam-ul-Haq lbw b Broad ...... 4 J. Root c Sarfraz Ahmed b ...... 4 Haris Sohail not out ...... 21 Abbas and Hasan Ali took four tea, lost their last fi ve for a mea- D. Malan c Sarfraz Ahmed b Hasan Ali ... 6 Extras (lb7) ...... 7 wickets apiece as England suf- gre 16 runs in 27 balls. J. Bairstow b ...... 27 Total (1 , 23 overs, 108 mins) ...... 50 Pfered yet another top-order , the England , opted B. Stokes lbw b Mohamed Abbas ...... 38 To bat: Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz collapse at Lord’s yesterday to bat fi rst in the opening match of this J. Buttler c Asad Shafiq b Hasan Ali ...... 14 Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, , Mo- Hopes that a return home and a re- two-Test series despite the fact that D. Bess c Asad Shafiq b Mohamed Abbas hamed Amir, Hasan Ali, Mohamed Abbas jigged top-order picked by new national both sides had concerns over the reli- ...... 5 Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Imam) selector Ed Smith would help rid Eng- ability of their respective top orders. M. Wood c Mohamed Amir b Hasan Ali .7 Bowling: Anderson 5-2-11-0; Broad 7-4-10-1; S. Broad lbw b Mohamed Abbas ...... 0 Wood 6-3-9-0; Stokes 4-2-9-0; Bess 1-0-4-0 land of the slumps that plagued The overcast skies above Lord’s al- J. Anderson not out ...... 0 Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Haris them during a run of seven straight lied to a green-tinged pitch promised Extras (b1, lb6, nb1, w1) ...... 9 Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Tests without a victory in Australia and Pakistan’s Mohamed Abbas to assist Pakistan’s pacemen but several Total (all out, 58.2 overs, 280 mins) ..184 Ahmed (capt/wkt), Faheem Ashraf, Shadab New Zealand quickly proved illusory as (R) celebrates the wicket of England batsmen were the architects of Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Stoneman), 2-33 Khan, Mohamed Amir, Hasan Ali, Mohamed they were dismissed for just 184. England’s Stuart Broad for a their own downfall. (Root), 3-43 (Malan), 4-100 (Bairstow), 5-149 Abbas Abbas, in his fi rst match at ‘the home duck at Lord’s yesterday. Pakistan were soon in the wickets (Cook), 6-168 (Stokes), 7-168 (Buttler), 8-180 Toss: England of cricket’, fi nished with excellent fi g- with Cook looking on as the other three (Bess), 9-180 (Broad), 10-184 (Wood) Umpires: Rod Tucker (AUS), Paul Reiff el Bowling: Amir 14-3-41-1; Abbas 14-7-23-4; (AUS) ures of four for 23 in 14 overs. members of England’s top four all fell in Hasan 15.2-2-51-4 (1nb, 1w); Ashraf 9-2-28-1; TV umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS) Meanwhile the recalled Hasan, who single fi gures. Shadab 6-0-34-0 Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL) did not play in Pakistan’s win over Test Azhar Ali was 18 not out and Haris cessive appearances at this level, was Abbas made the breakthrough when debutants Ireland in Dublin concluded Sohail, missed in the slips when Ben the only England batsman to play an he bowled (four) with a last week, took four for 51 in 15.2 overs. Stokes dived across Dawid Malan, un- innings of substance, the left-handed late swinging delivery. tain Sarfraz Ahmed. Dawid Malan call’ lbw review verdict on 23 and went Pakistan then consolidated the good beaten on 21. opener making 70. Root, promoted up the order to (six) also fell to the combination of to fi fty with a four to third man off Amir. work of their bowlers by reaching Alastair Cook in his 153rd consecu- But shortly before tea Cook was number three, also fell for four when Hasan and wicket-keeper Sarfraz. But , promoted up the stumps having lost just Imam-ul-Haq tive Test, which equalled Australia great bowled by Mohamed Amir, a teammate he drove at a wide ball from Hasan Cook, England’s all-time leading Test order to number fi ve, was bowled by to be 50 for one — a defi cit of 134 runs. Allan Border’s all-time record for suc- when Essex won the County Cham- and edged behind to opposing cap- run-scorer, benefi ted from an ‘umpire’s Faheem Ashraf for 27. Gulf Times 2 Friday, May 25, 2018 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT RAMADAN TOURNAMENT Runaway victories for Selex and Ailing Kohli to Masters Club miss county stint

Men of the matches: Moazammil, Asif, Israr and Umer

By Sports Reporter eight wickets, leaving CBQ with Doha 16 runs in the fi nal over. as Test tour looms Bilal however rifl ed a six and a four with three doubles to clinch elex and Masters Club the match off the nalfi ball with The 29-year-old India captain will undergo rehabilitation that will decide recorded runaway wins an unbeaten 16 in seven balls. over their respective Earlier for Gladiators Club, when he joins India’s games in England starting in July, the BCCI said SGroup C rivals in the Shahbaz hit 46 in 29 balls with Ramadan Twenty20 Cricket four sixes and three fours to lift Tournament at the Asian Town them to 142 in 18 overs. Tariq Cricket Stadium. chipped in 33 not out with two Man of the match Asif Ashraf sixes and as many fours. clobbered four sixes and ten Moazzamil (three for 11) and boundaries in his blazing 80 not Mustafi z (two for 13) caused the out to spark a 10-wicket romp collapse of Pak Falcons at 68 in for Selex against Khan Young- 14 overs. Saiful (25 in 23 balls sters, chasing the 136-run target with three fours) and Raihan in just 9.3 overs. (24 in 37 balls) helped the team His partner in the 137-run un- avert the crisis and clinch the broken stand was Shihab, who match in 12.4 overs. Moazzamil hit two sixes and as many fours to was given the man of the match fi nish with 36 not out in 24 balls. award for three wickets and two Masters Club made light of the run outs. Gulf Contracting Club’s stiff - looking 166-run target as Umer BRIEF SCORES Group C Swedi led the pursuit. In his 26- Selex beat Khan Youngsters by 10 wickets ball blitz, he fi red seven sixes and Khan Youngsters: 136 for six in 18 overs two fours to compile 61. He was (Abrar 39 in 26 balls, Shahzad 39 in 38 balls, Mujtaba 24 not out in 23 balls; Shihab 2/19) declared the man of the match Selex 137 for no loss in 9.3 overs (Asif Ashraf as he had grabbed two wickets 80 not out in 32 balls, Shihab 36 not out in 24 balls) earlier. Man of the match: Asif Ashraf (Selex) Talha chipped in 41of 30 de- Masters Club beat Gulf Contracting Club liveries, including three sixes and by five wickets Gulf Contracting Club: 165 for seven in 18 one four. Khalid also came up overs (Dinesh 46 in 31 balls, Rishad 37 not with an unbeaten 32 off 19 balls, out in 17 balls, Varghese 24 in 23 balls, Poojari which contained three sixes as 23 in 19 balls; Umer Swedi 2/19, Zahid 2/28, Talha 2/33) well. Masters Club: 166 for five in 15.5 overs (Umer In two Group B matches, Swedi 61 in 26 balls, Talha 41 in 30 balls, Khalid Virat Kohli is battling Commercial Bank Qatar and 32 not out in 19 balls; Sudheesh 2/19) Man of the match: Umer Swedi (Masters a neck injury. Chittagong Rising Stars essayed Club) contrasting victories. While Group B CBQ edged Gladiators Club by Commercial Bank of Qatar beat Gladiator Club by two wickets two wickets off the last ball, with Gladiator Club: 142 for five in 18 overs Bilal fi nishing the match with a (Shahbaz 46 in 29 balls, Tariq 33 in 26 balls pulsating 16 not out, Chittagong (retired hurt); Hadi 2/14, Hassan 2/34) CBQ: 143 for eight in 18 overs (Israr 80 in Rising Stars overcame a stiff re- 46 balls, Moazzam 15 in 20 balls, Bilal 16 not sistance from Jasim (four for fi ve) out in 7 balls; Kaleem 3/18, Shahbaz 3/28, Aman 2/22) to beat Pak Falcons by four wick- Man of the match: Israr (CBQ) ets. Chittagong Rising Stars beat Pak Falcons by Israr hammered 80 off 47 balls four wickets Pak Falcons: 68 all out in 14 overs (Dost with three sixes and eight fours Mohammad 14 in 12 balls, Manan 13 in 9 balls; to launch the chase with a 55-run Moazammil 3/11, Mustafiz 2/13) opening-wicket stand, shared by Chittagong Rising Stars: 69 for six in 12.4 overs (Saiful 25 in 23 balls, Raihan 24 in 37 Moazzam (15). Later, the match balls; Jasim 4/5, Ibrahim Khawash1/ 2) headed for a nail-biting fi nish as Man of the match: Moazzamil (Chittagong the opponents recovered to grab Rising Stars)

AFP against on May 17, damage to spinal nerves and that he may The team fi nished third from bottom New Delhi BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choud- miss part of the England tour if the injury in the eight team league round after los- Border hails ‘amazing’ Cook as he equals his mark hary said. worsened. ing eight of their 14 matches. The batting “Mr Kohli, who was scheduled to play Kohli missed a one-day international was heavily reliant on Kohli and South London: Australia great Allan and able to play that many con- ndia captain Virat Kohli yesterday for Surrey CCC in the month of June, has during a recent tour of South Africa be- African great A.B. de Villiers, who on Border praised the “amazing” secutive games is remarkable,” pulled out of a month long stint with been ruled out from participating. cause of a strained neck. Wednesday announced his retirement Alastair Cook as the England the 62-year-old added. English county Surrey because of a “This decision was taken following BCCI offi cials, speaking on condition from international cricket. batsman equalled his record of But despite his 244 not out neck injury and is now in a race to be assessments by the BCCI medical team, of anonymity, said Kohli was also suff er- “We could not pull our way and we are 153 consecutive Tests by playing against Australia in the fourth Iready for his country’s tour of England. subsequent scans, and a specialist visit. ing from “fatigue” however. not very proud of how the season went in the series opener against Paki- Test at Melbourne in December, The key 29-year-old batsman will “The Team India captain will now un- Kohli in January married Bollywood for us,” Kohli said in a video on his social stan at Lord’s on yesterday. Cook came into the two-match undergo rehabilitation that will decide dergo a period of rehabilitation under the actress Anushka Sharma in a celebrity media. This was the 154th Test of opener Pakistan series under greater when he joins India’s games in England supervision of the BCCI medical team.” wedding that put him at the centre of at- The captain, who criticised his bowl- Cook’s career — with only illness pressure than usual. starting in July, the Board of Control for The board said that after restarting tention in India. ers and fielders several times during the after he made a century on debut Border, however, forecast Cook’s Cricket in India said in a statement. training Kohli will “undergo a fi tness In the past year, Kohli has appeared in season, added that he was “deeply hurt against India at Nagpur in 2006 Test career could run for a while Kohli, who has one of the most inten- test” in Bangalore from June 15. nine Tests and 29 of India’s 32 one-day by how we played... deeply sorry for interrupting a sequence where yet. “There is no reason why he sive playing schedules in cricket and is “The BCCI medical team is confi dent internationals, and nine of their T20s. not living up to the expectations of the he has never been dropped by can’t keep going for a few years one of the world’s top paid athletes, was that Mr Kohli will regain full fi tness He also played in 14 IPL matches in Ban- fans.” the selectors. “To have stayed fit yet,” said Border. to play for Surrey in the English county ahead of India’s upcoming tours to Ire- galore’s disappointing campaign. “Having said that, it is all a part of championship in June to prepare for the land and England.” Kohli did not make any comment about life and you cannot always get what you tour. Indian media reports said Kohli went the injury, but the withdrawal announce- want. It’s up to the players to understand Kohli suff ered the injury while fielding to a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday. The ment came on the day he apologised to what to do about this the next season, re- IPL for his side Royal Mumbai Mirror said Kohli saw an ortho- fans for Bangalore’s failure to reach the ally want to turn things around next sea- Challengers Bangalore in their match paedic surgeon who told him there was Indian Premier League playoff s. son,” he declared. Sunrisers focused BOTTOMLINE on job, says Saha

IANS win tomorrow without thinking of the consequences.” Talking about the KKR’s Warner’s wife miscarried aft er bowling arsenal which has the espite coming into the feted spin trio of Sunil Nar- Qualifi er 2 on the back ine, Kuldeep Yadav and Piyush of four straight losses, Chawla, Saha said Sunrisers are Sunrisers Hydera- ready for the challenge and hav- ball-tampering scandal Dbad wicketkeeper Wriddhiman ing the likes of and AFP rica had started badly, with “We got the longest and tough Saha feels “two-three overs” Shakib Al Hasan in their ranks, Sydney Warner charged with bringing route. No one knew I was preg- can change their fortunes in the can tackle any situation. the game into disrepute during nant and Dave did everything to big-ticket game against Kolkata “We are not banking on the the fi rst Test for an altercation get me home safely, fearing any Knight Riders (KKR) here today. conditions. It may turn out that he wife of disgraced with Quinton de Kock. more strain could aff ect our un- “We have forgotten the past. wicket behaves diff erently to- cricketer Warner claimed de Kock made born child,” she said, adding that We have been told to forget the morrow. We are ready for any revealed yesterday she a “vile and disgusting” remark she was in “a bad state”. last match and get ready for situation. Tsuff ered a miscarriage about his wife. On arrival in Sydney, they were this match. We are not think- “We have played many in the aftermath of her husband’s “That attack during the fi rst met with a media scrum, adding ing about the four losses. We matches against them. We know part in a ball-tampering scandal Test in Durban when Quinton to the ordeal. know that two-three overs can their bowling pattern. Ulti- that rocked the game. called me names — I should’ve “We’d been assured it was a change the course of a game in mately will have to deliver on Candice Warner said the cou- known it wasn’t going to end private exit and we’d managed T20,” Saha told reporters on the the fi eld,” Saha said. ple lost the baby a week after his well,” said Candice Warner. to leave quietly from Johannes- sidelines of their practice at the Saha has been woeful with tearful press conference in Syd- She said she was watching on burg,” she told the magazine. Eden Gardens. the bat this season with 87 runs ney in late March after he was File photo of the Warners. TV with her two children when “I was completely gutted when Sunrisers were the fi rst to from 10 matches at an average sent home from Australia’s tour the ball-tampering incident fl ared I saw the media — especially af- qualify for the playoff s but of 12.42 and a shoulder injury. of South Africa and banned for the Australian Women’s Weekly children, Ivy Mae, 3, and Indi up during the third Test and “I sat ter 23 hours fl ying, knowing the slumped to defeats to Royal In his absence Saha’s Bengal a year. magazine. Rae, 2, and Warner said she dis- slumped on the bed and wondered world had no idea I was carrying Challengers Bangalore, KKR teammate, Shreevats Goswami She attributed the loss to “The miscarriage was a heart- covered she was pregnant again if I could take any more.” our third child.” and Chennai Super Kings twice. has featured in fi ve matches stress and an arduous fl ight breaking end to a horror tour. in Cape Town. In the aftermath, her husband Her husband, banned from Saha though said, KKR hav- with little success (47 runs from home, describing the couple’s “The ordeal from the public “We were overwhelmed, wanted to return to Australia state and international cricket ing won four matches on the fi ve matches). devastation at realising she was humiliations to the ball-tamper- knowing another little Warner with and Cameron for his part in the plan to use bounce won’t impact much as “Maybe I was not up to the miscarrying. ing had taken its toll and, from was on the way,” she said. “I Bancroft, who were also involved sandpaper to tamper with the Sunrisers are ready for any situ- mark and could not deliver that “I called Dave to the bathroom that moment, we decided noth- don’t think either of us realised in the scandal, but they were ball, will begin his road to re- ation. aff ected the middle-order. The and told him I was bleeding. We ing will impact our lives like that how much we longed for this put on separate fl ights with the demption by playing club cricket “We started off well. We eff ort is there to come out of knew I was miscarrying. We held again.” baby.” Warner family handed the long- with Sydney’s Randwick Peter- could not win because lack of it and back among runs,” Saha one another and cried,” she told The couple already have two Australia’s tour of South Af- est route back. sham from September. fi nishing ability. We will play to said. Gulf Times Friday, May 25, 2018 3 TENNIS

FOCUS FRENCH OPEN Serena, Sharapova Resurgent Djokovic poised for last-16 duel; Nadal gets dream draw ready for fresh start: AFP pion Caroline Wozniacki starts Paris against another American, Dan- ielle Collins. ‘He is pretty much in the same situation Top seed Nadal starts his bid hree-time champion for an 11th Roland Garros title now as he was when he was 17, 18, 19 Serena Williams could against Ukraine’s world number face longtime rival Maria 54 Alexander Dolgopolov. before he won his first major’ Sharapova in the French Nadal, fresh from an eighth Wilander TOpen last-16 after yesterday’s Rome clay court title having also draw which also handed Rafael won his 11th trophies in Barce- Nadal a dream route to an 11th lona and Monte Carlo already title. this spring, has a 7-2 record over Serena, the champion in 2002, Dolgopolov. 2013 and 2015, will start against “It’s always special when I come Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech back to Paris where I have had so Republic. many wonderful moments in my Former world number one career,” said Nadal at the draw cer- Williams, now ranked a lowly emony ahead of the French Open 453, is playing a Grand Slam for which starts on Sunday. the fi rst time since she won her One glance at the draw would 23rd major at the 2017 Austral- have left the 31-year-old Span- ian Open after which she stepped iard feeling even more special off the tour to give birth to her after former champions Novak daughter in September. Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka as well Pliskova, the twin sister of as clay court dangerman Domin- world number six Karolina, has ic Thiem all landed in the other never won a main draw match at half of the draw where Alexander Roland Garros. Zverev is the second seed. Williams, 36, has played just Nadal’s path to the fi nal could four matches on the tour in 2018 see him face childhood friend Ri- and not featured at all since Mi- chard Gasquet in the third round, ami in March. possibly Denis Shapovalov in the Sharapova, champion in 2012 last-16, then Kevin Anderson, and 2014, could face Serena, who he beat in the 2017 US Open against who she lost in the 2013 fi nal, and third-seed Marin Cilic fi nal at Roland Garros, in the in the semi-fi nals. fourth round. Zverev, who lost to Nadal in The Russian, who missed last the Rome fi nal last weekend, has year’s event after she was re- never got beyond the third round fused a wild card as she battled in Paris and was defeated in the to rebuild her career following fi rst round last year. a 15-month doping ban, has not The 21-year-old German, defeated Williams since 2004. who is seeded second in the ab- The American leads their sence of Roger Federer, begins head-to-head series 19-2. his French Open against Ricardis Top seed and two-time run- Berankis of Lithuania. ner-up Simona Halep faces Ali- Djokovic, the 2016 champion, son Riske of the United States starts against a qualifi er and in her opener while second seed could meet Grigor Dimitrov in and Australian Open cham- the fourth round.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns the ball during a training session ahead of 2018 French Open in Paris yesterday. (AFP)

Reuters of the imagination to imagine the same round of the Australian Open, he slumped while still not back to his authoritative London duo battling for the Roland Garros title to defeat against 109th-ranked Japanese best, the confi dence is returning and, on June 10. Taro Daniel. crucially, Djokovic appears fully moti- “He’s coming back for sure, if this slam “It felt like fi rst match I ever played on vated. ar from being a fading force, wasn’t called the French Open I think you the tour. Very weird,” was his post-match Wilander says Djokovic can approach 12-times grand slam champion would have to put him up amongst the reaction, admitting that he was battling the rest of the year as a new beginning. Novak Djokovic has shown signs seven or eight favourites,” three-times himself physically and mentally. “I think his career is like starting over,” that he is emerging from the champion Mats Wilander, who will fol- When he lost to Frenchman Benoit Wilander said. “He is pretty much in the toughestF spell of his career and is ready low Djokovic’s progress as part of the Eu- Paire in the Miami first round a week same situation now as he was when he for a fresh start ahead of next week’s rosport coverage team, told Reuters. later he said it was “impossible” to play was 17, 18, 19 before he won his fi rst major. French Open. “Even at the French, (he has a chance), the kind of tennis that made him all but He is 31 but he is starting over again. The 31-year-old will be seeded down at he played very well against Nadal in untouchable in 2015 when he was ago- “He is trying to fi nd his way on the around 20 for the claycourt slam in Paris, Rome. Obviously it’s easier to play when nisingly close to a calendar year grand court in terms of intensity. I think work- but there will be a few players anxiously you have nothing to lose and everything slam. ing again with Vajda is a great move. I eyeing the drawsheet hoping the 2016 to win in one way, but technically he is He split with coach Andre Agassi two think he has always made good moves, champion is not in their vicinity. back where he was, or very close.” months ago and in April parted company even though (the partnership with) Andre Last week in Rome Djokovic went toe- A few months ago Djokovic could bare- with another member of the team, Radek didn’t last he learned from the all.” to-toe with a rampant Rafael Nadal and ly register a win. Stepanek. Wilander expects Djokovic to progress though he lost their semi-fi nal 7-6 6-3 His return from the elbow injury that Since then Djokovic has found salva- into the second week, which is where his the level of tennis he produced in an ab- ended his 2017 season after Wimbledon tion in Slovak Marian Vajda, the coach true level will become apparent. sorbing contest was much closer to what and then fl ared up again at the Australian who launched him on the path to great- “I think mentally he will play smart we have come to expect from the Serb. Open was more diffi cult than expected. ness and was his right-hand man from matches until it’s crunch time,” he said. If they are in opposite halves of the At Indian Wells, in his fi rst match af- 2006-17 before taking a back seat. “Then it’s more about how much is he draw it would not be too much of a stretch ter losing to Chung Hyeon in the fourth The early signs are encouraging and, willing to suff er emotionally.”

BOTTOMLINE STRATEGY Svitolina no longer in the shadows Underarm serve? When all else as she chases French Open glory fails against Nadal, why not? Reuters winning a grand slam) because lots of London people (notice you) if you are number Reuters Wimbledon, told Reuters. one in the world,” said Svitolina, who London “The idea was perhaps just throw in has a large tiger draped with a necklace one! It goes under the heading of you ad it not been for a bout of tattooed on her left thigh. need to do things that make him un- childhood jealously, Elina “For the tennis world, winning a hen a respected tennis ana- comfortable, make him think twice, get Svitolina might never grand slam might be better but for lyst suggested recently that inside his head.” have become the most suc- people who do not know tennis, being an underarm serve could be There is a solid logic to O’Shannessy’s Hcessful tennis player to emerge out of number one gets more attention.” an eff ective weapon in halt- argument — in that Nadal stands a huge Ukraine or be tipped as one of the fa- At Roland Garros, she will not only Wing Rafael Nadal’s annual rampage on distance behind the baseline when re- vourites for this year’s French Open want to improve on her two quarter- clay most just chuckled. ceiving on clay, allowing him time to title. fi nal appearances but will also hope The trouble is that no one seems to impart massive amounts of topspin and Desperate to grab some of the at- to emulate a feat last achieved by one have come up with a better plan to the loop on his returns. tention her parents Mikhaylo and of her former coaches, Justine Hen- throw the Spaniard off -kilter as he eyes a win the Rome title last weekend. “Rafa backs up so far when he’s re- Olena showered on her older broth- in. A junior champion in 1997, the record-extending 11th French Open title. The truth is when Nadal is fully fi ring, ceiving serve he’s halfway to Moscow. er Yulian, in 1999 Svitolina began Belgian went on to win four French The 31-year-old has rarely been a hot- conventional claycourt combat against So an underarm serve? Why not?” pounding furry tennis balls with all Open titles from 2003 to 2007. ter favourite heading into the Roland the Mallorcan is an exercise in futility. O’Shannessy said. the power she could muster from her Svitolina hopes some of the lessons Garros fortnight. Yet, with very few exceptions, that is “People think it’s illegal. But it’s a legit fi ve-year-old body. blonde 23-year-old is not far off she learnt from Henin during their Apart from Nadal only Roger Federer, what players attempt to do — engaging shot. I’m not advocating a player con- “My brother was playing tennis... from becoming the best in the world. year-long association in 2016 will help Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic have in baseline rallies that inevitably have tinually doing it because a player like and he was getting all the attention Now ranked fourth, Svitolina has her to become the fi rst woman since got their hands on the Coupe des Mous- one outcome and often involve a fair de- Rafa would adjust. An underarm serve from my parents. So because of him been installed as one of the favour- her former mentor to achieve the jun- quetaires since 2005 and Federer will gree of pain. might not win the point, but it throws a I started playing tennis and for me ites to lift the Suzanne Lenglen Cup ior and women’s title double. miss this year’s tournament while the Once Nadal plants himself two metres curve ball into the match. it was very important to play well so after she destroyed top ranked Si- “There were small details that she form of Wawrinka and Djokovic is ques- behind the baseline and spins his web of “You need an agent of disruption. that I could get more attention from mona Halep in the Italian Open fi nal told me that I have to do on court tionable. forehands, there is no escape. Perhaps a slow serve and volley, more my parents,” she told Reuters in a tel- to win her 12th title on Sunday. and off court. She shared a lot of her Nadal claimed his 10th French title Which is why Craig O’Shannessy, drop shots. Do something radical.” ephone interview from Rome. But having bagged more tennis experience with me,” Svitolina, who last year, sweeping through the fortnight the ATP’s strategy guru, founder of the When Thiem beat Nadal in Madrid he “They were so into tennis, they trophies than any other Ukrainian — captured the junior title aged 15 in without losing a set, taking his career Brain Game Tennis and tactical adviser used the higher altitude and thinner air were travelling with my brother. So Andriy Medvedev held the previous 2010, said. Roland Garros record to an astonishing to Djokovic, threw out the idea of an un- to step in and take the ball much earlier playing tennis myself was the only record of 11 — what Svitolina really And what about her brother, is he 79-2. derarm serve. than he usually does — rushing Nadal way I could get their attention. It re- wants is to conquer the top ranking. too scared to play her now? “Yeah! In Madrid this month he won his 50th “Some people lost their mind at the and dictating rallies. ally motivated me and I became the “Defi nitely for me, my goal is to The last time we played against each consecutive set on clay before Austrian suggestion of it,” O’Shannessy, who de- It is a tactic Alexander Zverev also best in my group.” be number one. In Ukraine, being other was probably when I was 12,” Dominic Thiem fi nally snapped the vised Dustin Brown’s attacking blitz- used in Rome where he pushed Nadal to Almost two decades on, the number one is something bigger (than she added with a laugh. year-long sequence, only for Nadal to krieg that took out Nadal in 2015 at three sets in the fi nal. Gulf Times 4 Friday, May 25, 2018 SPORT

RALLYING Qatar’s Abdulla heads to must-win T2 encounter in Kazakhstan

Agencies tar until the fateful late delay and that perience here last year. This may be an manding selective sections and around Aktau City, Kazakhstan cost them 50 vital championship points advantage for us in this race. The target 1,900km of competition in a compact and handed an additional 14 points to is to win and close the gap. There are route, starting with a timed section of their rival. Such was the diffi culty of still several rounds to go and we need to 280.35km from Aktau City to a Caspian atar’s Adel Abdulla knows the the event in Qatar that no other driver focus on this race and the other rallies. I Sea Resort in Kenderly on May 28. importance of seriously chal- managed to score points and Russia’s still think we can do it.” The rally will be based here for lenging for outright T2 victory Yuliya Khegay-Migunova remains 27 Rally Kazakhstan is a round of the three nights, as teams tackle stages of in this week’s Rally Kazakhstan points adrift of Abdulla in third place. FIA World Cup for a second season and 414.12km, 327.47km and 398.57km be- ifQ he is to stand any chance of regaining Abdulla said: “Qatar was a blow to has attracted a strong entry, none more fore returning to Aktau City. The last the FIA T2 World Championship that he the push for the championship. We lost so than in T2 where al-Shegawi and two stages of 298.04km and 148.52km won in a Nissan Patrol in 2016. out on the win on the last day with the Abdulla face competition from the Ka- head north out of the city, with the last After a cruel late mechanical issue mechanical problem and now we are 56 zakh duo of Marat Abykayev and Kirill one passing along the shoreline of the at last month’s Manateq Qatar Cross- points behind. We need to forget about Chernenkov and Russian driver Kon- Caspian Sea before the ceremonial fi n- Country Rally saw him eventually cross that now and focus on this race in Ka- stantin Ivanov. ish on June 2. the fi nish line of the fi nal stage minutes zakhstan. My target is to win T2 here Abdulla’s campaign to win back the after the time control had offi cially and do my best for the team, my coun- FIA T2 Championship comes with WORLD CUP FOR CROSS-COUNTRY closed, the Qatari now trails T2 series try and my sponsors. valuable support from the Qatar Motor RALLIES T2 STANDINGS leader Ahmed al-Shegawi by 56 points “Kazakhstan is going to be the long- and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), 1. Ahmed al-Shegawi (SAU) 125pts in the title duel. est race until now, just under 1,900 kil- Ooredoo Qatar and Nissan Qatar. 2. Adel Abdulla (QAT) 69pts The Qatari and navigator Nasser ometres of special stages. It is going to Rally Kazakhstan will be fought out 3. Yuliya Khegay-Migunova (RUS) 42pts al-Kuwari held a massive lead in Qa- be tough for six days. We had good ex- over a revised route featuring six de- 4. Alexey Titov (RUS) 25pts

FORMULA 1 RUGBY Whiteley blow for Boks as comeback Ricciardo smashes put on hold

Reuters yesterday. Johannesburg He missed six months last year with a groin injury and has sat out most of this year with a trou- n expected comeback blesome knee injury. Monaco lap record for Warren Whiteley Whiteley was named South this weekend has been Africa captain last year but was put on hold, eff ectively injured in the build-up to the fi - Verstappen was second quickest Aending his chances of an in- nal test of the three-match series ternational return when South against France last June. as Red Bull looks like the team to Africa play Wales and England He missed the entire Rugby next month and opening up the Championship campaign against beat on a tight and twisty circuit Springbok captaincy. Argentina, Australia and New in practice Whiteley, 30, participated in full Zealand, plus away tests against training this week and was expect- Ireland, France, Italy and Wales Reuters ed to be in Super Rugby action for in November and December. Monaco the Lions against the Stormers in Eben Etzebeth took over as Cape Town on Saturday, hours be- Springbok skipper but he, too, fore new national coach Rassie Er- has not played this year, having aniel Ricciardo lapped Mo- asmus is to name his squad for the undergone surgery on his shoul- naco’s metal-fenced streets in June 2 international against Wales der. record time yesterday as Red in Washington DC and three sub- Though speculation around Bull dominated practice for For- sequent tests at home to the tour- the captaincy continues, there mulaD One’s most glamorous grand prix. ing English. have been local media reports The 28-year-old Australian set track It would have been a timely re- saying that Etzebeth could be record times in both sessions, fi rst with turn, but Whiteley was left out of named in the squad after step- a one minute 12.126 lap before lunch and the Lions line-up without expla- ping up his training regime in re- then obliterating that mark in the after- nation when the team was named cent weeks. noon with a scorching 1:11.841. That compared to Kimi Raikkonen’s 2017 pole position of 1:12.178 for Ferrari, the previous fastest around the Mediter- ranean principality’s unforgiving streets and harbourside. Dutch team mate Max Verstappen was second quickest in both sessions as Red Bull lived up to expectations that they would be the team to beat on a tight and twisty circuit where aerodynamics mat- ter more than engine power. Verstappen, 20, was summoned to see the stewards after reversing onto the track in the opening session when he ran off at the fi rst Sainte Devote corner, but they decided to take no further action. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton and closest title rival Sebastian Vettel were third and fourth respectively in the morning before reversing those positions in the afternoon. Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo reacts in the pits after the first practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix yesterday. (AFP) Vettel’s best time of 1:12.413 after lunch SPOTLIGHT compared to Hamilton’s 1:12.480 in the weekend and track resurfacing. shorter here, so that concertinas it all to- problems with its brake-by-wire system. earlier practice, but he was still more than Ricciardo was third in Monaco last gether.” The double world champion had a bet- half a second slower than Ricciardo. year, after taking pole and fi nishing sec- Raikkonen was fi fth fastest in both ter afternoon and fi nished ninth fastest. Hamilton leads Vettel, last year’s win- ond in 2016, and is aiming to take the fi nal sessions while Valtteri Bottas was sev- Russian rookie Sergey Sirotkin hit F1 sponsors fi ll the ner in Monaco, by 17 points after fi ve step on Sunday. enth and then sixth for Mercedes. Mexi- the wall in his Williams in the morning, races. “Both drivers have got a good feel for can Sergio Perez, who holds the race lap limping back with a puncture, but went the car, the car’s working quite nicely, record of 1:14.820, was eighth for Force out again and was 10th fastest. He then gap left by models HYPERSOFT TYRES but it’s only Thursday morning,” Red India in the morning. dropped back to 15th in second practice. Drivers had predicted before the session Bull principal Christian Horner told Sky McLaren’s Fernando Alonso, who Father and son world champions Nico Reuters commonly used in Formula One started that lap records would tumble Sports television. missed last year’s race to compete in the and Keke Rosberg, both retired, entertained Monaco to refer to the walk-on models. thanks to the new hypersoft tyres which “We have had a competitive chassis all Indianapolis 500 instead, had a diffi cult the crowd between the sessions by lapping “Grid girls, as we have seen are making their competitive debut this year and of course the straights are a bit opening session with his car suff ering the circuit in their title-winning cars. holding drivers’ number cards, ormula One has dis- are not any more a part of For- pensed, since the begin- mula One”. BOTTOMLINE ning of the year, with That distinction appeared female models parading lost on some, with drivers asked Fon the starting grid but sponsors at a scheduled news conference have been quick to fi ll the gap. about the apparent return of Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix, walk-on models to the Monaco the most glamorous race on the starting grid. Hamilton contract delay has to be calendar, will see male and fe- “You won’t see much diff er- male representatives of watch ence,” opined French driver Ro- brand Tag Heuer positioned main Grosjean. “When it was around the 20 drivers where the removed, I thought it was a good about money, says Red Bull boss models once stood. thing for women in the 21st Cen- Instead of holding up the driv- tury because they were not used Reuters Talks between Mercedes and Hamil- ers’ racing numbers and posing as just a board holder.” Monaco ton, who is out of contract at the end of for cameras, they will be bran- Mercedes’ reigning champion the year, have been going on since 2017 dishing iPads to take pictures and current leader Lewis Ham- and have turned into something of a saga. that will be posted on social me- ilton said: “There’s races where ed Bull team principal Chris- Hopes of a deal by the end of last year dia and also relaying questions we’ve had guys standing at the tian Horner suspects the main turned into the possibility of something from fans. front of the car, and there’s been sticking point in contract talks being sorted before the season opener in There will also be so-called a mixture sometimes at races in between Formula One champion Australia in March and have since been ‘grid kids’, known as ‘future the past. LewisR Hamilton and his Mercedes team pushed back from race to race. stars’, although fewer than there “I think Monaco is a very ele- is an “eye-watering” amount of money. Both parties say they intend to renew have been at other races. gant grand prix and I don’t know Asked for an opinion during a Monaco and that there is no urgency. A Formula One spokesman how women feel about it. Grand Prix news conference yesterday, Wolff , who was in the same news con- dismissed reports suggesting “When we pull up to the grid Horner was sure the delay was all down to ference as Horner, said both had confi - the walk-on models were be- and there’s beautiful women cash and what his Mercedes counterpart dence in the other and saw no reason why ing brought back under another on the grid, that’s the Monaco Toto Wolff was prepared to pay. it should not happen. guise by Monaco organisers and Grand Prix, that’s a lovely thing “I should think it’s such a grotesque “There is a bit of email ping-pong on in defi ance of commercial rights — but I defi nitely don’t think that amount of money that Toto is talking details,” the Austrian added. holders Liberty Media. we should ever be supporting or about, it probably is what’s making his “I don’t want to set a date because then He said that a majority of the pushing these women in general and Niki’s eyes water at the moment,” you will be asking me why, why hasn’t it fi ve races so far had seen men and to feel uncomfortable.” he said, also referring to Niki Lauda, the been done, but maybe we choose one of women deployed on the grid to Formula One’s commercial Mercedes F1 non-executive chairman. the nice grands prix in the future, in the promote the title sponsor — in- managing director Sean Bratches “He (Hamilton) has an expensive life- next couple of months.” cluding airline stewardesses for said in February, when it was an- style. He’s a four-time world champion Hamilton is leading Ferrari’s Sebastian Gulf Air and Emirates in Bahrain nounced that the walk-on mod- and I doubt he’s cheap. I can only envis- Vettel by 17 points in the championship and Spain respectively. els would no longer feature, that age that that’s probably got something to after fi ve races, having won the past two “They are not acting as ‘grid the custom was “at odds with do with the delay.” in Azerbaijan and Spain. girls’,” he added, using the term modern day societal norms”. Gulf Times Friday, May 25, 2018 5 SPORT

NBA MLB Ohtani sparks Angels rally in ninth Celtics push James, to victory at Toronto

AFP Montreal

apanese slugger-pitcher Cavs to brink with Shohei Ohtani smacked a game-tying two-run single to centerfi eld to powerJ a ninth-inning rally that lifted the Los Angeles Angels over host Toronto 5-4 on Wednesday. The Angels entered the fi nal inning of their Major League game 5 NBA win Baseball matchup in Canada down 3-1 but Blue Jays pitcher ance in nearly a century, is batting Tyler Clippard issued consecu- .310 with 27 hits in 87 times at bat. ‘I think everybody at this point is tired or worn down or whatever the case may be’ tive walks to Mike Trout, Justin He has scored 12 times and hit six Upton and Albert Pujols. home runs while driving in 17 runs. Ohtani followed with his hit On the mound, Ohtani is 4-1 to lift the Angels level and An- with a 3.35 earned-run average drelton Simmons followed with and 52 strikeouts. a two-run single up the middle The Angels improved to 27- to complete a four-run ninth in- 22, 4.5 games behind American ning and give the Angels their League West division leader and fi rst lead of the game. reigning World Series champion Toronto answered in the ninth Houston. when Dwight Smith singled, Curtis Granderson doubled and RESULTS pinch-hitter Kendrys Morales Indians 1 Cubs 0 singled to create the fi nal margin. Astros 4 Giants 1 Toronto’s Teoscar Hernandez Angels 5 Blue Jays 4 lifted a fl y ball to right fi eld that Dodgers 3 Rockies 0 Kole Calhoun caught for an out. Mariners 1 A’s 0 He then threw the ball home for White Sox 11 Orioles 1 a tag out of Granderson at home Rangers 12 Yankees 10 plate to deny the Blue Jays the ty- Red Sox 4 Rays 1 ing run. Padres 3 Nationals 1 Angels pitcher Blake Park- Pirates 5 Reds 4 (12 innings) er struck out Toronto’s Justin Marlins 2 Mets 1 Smoak to complete the victory. Phillies 4 Braves 0 Ohtani, whose two-way eff ort Royals 5 Cardinals 2 (10 innings) on the mound and at the plate is Brewers 9 Diamondbacks 2 the fi rst regular such perform- Tigers 4 Twins 1

NFL Trump welcomes decision on anthem protests Reuters “You have to stand, proudly, Washington for the national anthem. Or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there. Maybe you S President Donald shouldn’t be in the country,” Trump welcomed the president said. a decision by the The NFL Players Association National Football said it was not consulted on the LeagueU to fi ne teams if play- new policy and may issue a chal- ers on the fi eld refuse to stand lenge should it violate the col- for the national anthem, say- lective bargaining agreement. Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (right) attempts a layup in front of Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James during game five of the Eastern conference finals of the 2018 ing if they do not want to stand The NAACP also criticised NBA Playoff s in Boston, Massachusetts, on Wednesday. (USA TODAY Sports) maybe they should not be in the decision. the country. “Instead of coming together AFP only other player to score in double fi g- A 9-0 Cavs run reduced the defi cit to 12 matching their seven fi eld goals. Last season some NFL players to address an issue dispropor- Washington ures for the Cavs, who host game six to- points, but Cleveland came up empty on kneeled during the anthem to tionately plaguing the African- day trying to stay on track for a fourth their next four attempts. SHOVING MATCH protest police shootings of un- American, the NFL owners straight trip to the Finals. “Defensively we gave ourselves a With 10:47 left in the second quarter and armed black men, provoking a have chosen to bury their heads he Boston Celtics, reinvigor- Game seven, if needed, will be back in chance,” said James noting the Cavs held the Celtics up 17 points, Boston forward controversy. Trump denounced and silence players,” the United ated by a return home, beat the Boston on Sunday. the Celtics to 36.5 percent shooting. Marcus Morris and Cleveland’s Larry the players as unpatriotic and States’ oldest civil rights or- Cleveland Cavaliers 96-83 on James himself is seeking an eighth “At one point we had two opportunities Nance tangled, with Nance sent sprawl- repeatedly demanded an end to ganisation said in a statement. Wednesday to move within one straight trip to the title series, although to cut it to single digits and missed some ing to the fl oor. such protests. “Players cannot disconnect Twin of reaching the NBA Finals. he said that streak wouldn’t be on his really good looks, two three-pointers. We Morris appeared to say something to Under the new policy un- from the aggression African- Rookie Jayson Tatum scored 24 points mind come Friday. couldn’t make. Nance before turning away, and Nance veiled on Wednesday by NFL Americans face every day.” to lead fi ve Boston players in double fi g- “Not at all,” he said. “It’s just all about “And if you don’t make, it’s going to rose from the fl oor and shoved him from Commissioner Roger Goodell, Democratic US Senator Ben ures as the Celtics took a 3-2 lead in the just win every game and it should put us come back to bite you.” behind. teams will be fi ned if players on Cardin said the president’s best-of-seven Eastern Conference fi nals. in position to play for a championship. The Celtics improved to 10-0 at home As offi cials and other players inter- the fi eld fail to stand during the words were “infl ammatory” but Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player “We look forward to having an oppor- this post-season, and Tatum said there’s vened Celtics guard Terry Rozier raced Star-Spangled Banner. Players not unexpected, and added that LeBron James led Cleveland with 26 tunity to force a game seven. It’s up to us no reason they can’t wrap up the series into the fray and pushed Nance. who choose not to stand may Trump’s suggestion that players points, 10 rebounds and fi ve assists. to see if we can come back here (to Bos- today, even though so far the home team It all ended with Morris, Nance and remain in the locker room until should be ousted is “never go- But James looked at times as if he were ton) for one more.” has won every game in the series. Rozier receiving technical fouls. the anthem is fi nished. ing to be acceptable to me and, feeling the eff ects of the heavy load he The winner of the series will play either “We’ve got to be focused, composed An energised Cleveland team then “I think that’s good. I don’t I think, to many Americans”. has carried for the Cavs in these playoff s, the Golden State Warriors or Houston and play with a lot of poise and we’ll be twice whittled the defi cit to eight points think people should be stay- Still, Cardin added, “what the coughing up six of Cleveland’s 15 turno- Rockets for the NBA crown. The West- fi ne,” he said, clearly up for the challenge. before the Celtics reasserted themselves ing in locker rooms but still I NFL is doing right now is mov- vers, including four in the second half. ern Conference rivals are locked at 2-2 in “It’s my fi rst year. We’re one win away to lead 53-42 at half-time. think it’s good,” Trump told ing in the right path,” noting “I think everybody at this point is tired their series. from going to the Finals. It doesn’t get “I didn’t think we played well tonight Fox News in an interview taped that employers can establish or worn down or whatever the case may With James on the bench to open the any better than that,” he said. at all,” said Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue. on Wednesday and broadcast reasonable standards over em- be,” James said. “I’m fi ne.” fourth quarter, the Celtics pushed a The Cavs got off to a rocky start, “So now we’ve got to go home, win game yesterday. ployees’ expression. Kevin Love, with 14 points, was the 16-point lead to 21. with fi ve fi rst-quarter turnovers nearly six and come back here for game seven.”

NHL Capitals blank Lightning to reach Final against Vegas

AFP seven championship series at Las Ve- jor sports title since the NFL Redskins game seven.” Miami gas, Nevada. won the 1992 Super Bowl. Holtby had not blanked a team in 84 “We’re pretty excited about the next Vegas, a club of castoff s from other starts before his two playoff shutouts, step,” Washington’s Tom Wilson said. NHL teams assembled by former Capi- becoming only the fi fth goalie in NHL lex Ovechkin put Washing- “It’s a crazy feeling. It hasn’t sunk in tals general manager George McPhee, playoff history with game six and seven ton ahead to stay after only yet. It’s going to be a wild ride in Vegas. went 2-0 against Washington in the shutouts. 62 seconds and the Capitals It’s going to be a historic one. We’re regular season. “Maybe in the past we had more skill advanced to their fi rst NHL looking forward to a heck of a show.” and looked better on paper, but this is StanleyA Cup Final in 20 years by defeat- Ovechkin, whose 607 regular-season WOULDN’T BE DENIED such a great team,” Holtby said. “I haven’t ing Tampa Bay 4-0 Wednesday. goals are the most of any active player, Ovechkin, the NHL goals leader this been on a team like this where in any situ- Andre Burakovsky scored two unas- is a three-time world champion and season with 49, put Washington ahead ation we’re confi dent in each other.” sisted second-period goals and Braden three-time Olympian for Russia, but 1-0 with his 12th playoff goal, firing a Holtby made 60 saves over the two Holtby made 29 saves for his second con- missed his compatriots’ Olympic gold slapshot under the right arm of Tampa games. secutive shutout as the Capitals ousted run at Pyeongchang in February as the Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. “He was unstoppable,” Ovechkin the host Lightning 4-3 in the best-of- NHL did not shut down for players to “He wasn’t going to be denied,” Wil- said. seven Eastern Conference Final. compete. son said of Ovechkin. “He put every- Capitals captain Ovechkin, a seven- “He has just been a beast,” Capitals thing into it. He’s a phenomenal team- FAIRY-TALE RUN time goals champion, will play for the coach Barry Trotz said of Ovechkin. mate. He has battled for this for a long The Capitals’ fairy-tale playoff run crown for the fi rst time in his 13-season “He has just taken it to the next level. time. So let’s keep it going.” saw them rally after two home losses NHL career. The 32-year-old Russian He wants to get us to the next level.” Austrian-born Swede Burakovsky to oust Columbus in round one and winger had never reached the playoff The Capitals reached their only prior scored 8:59 and 16:31 into the second beat arch-nemesis Pittsburgh, which fi nal four until this month. fi nal in 1998, when they were swept by period and Nicklas Backstrom added a ousted Washington the past two years, “We’re really happy but we’re not Detroit. fi nal goal with 3:43 remaining. in round two. fi nished, not done yet,” Ovechkin said. “Oh my God. It’s unbelievable,” “It’s a great feeling. I still can’t be- Against Tampa Bay, the Capitals won “We’ve been waiting for this moment Ovechkin said. “I can’t explain my lieve it,” Backstrom said. “We worked twice in Florida, then dropped three in for a long time. We understand what it emotions. I’m just happy for my boys, so hard for it. It only took (me) 11 years. a row before salvaging the series. takes to be in the fi nal.” the organisation, the fans. I can’t wait It was outstanding. I’m so happy. “Every series is tough,” Ovechkin said. Washington, seeking a fi rst-ever to come back home and play in the “This year we played confi dent every “We’re just playing our game. We stick Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals skates with the puck against the Tampa Cup, will face a fi rst-year expansion Stanley Cup Final. It’s going to be nuts game in the playoff s. Before this game I to the system. We deserved to win. We Bay Lightning during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals during the team, the Vegas Golden Knights, on up there.” thought we were really focused and re- had hard moments in every series and we 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff s in Tampa, Florida, on Wednesday. (AFP) Monday in game one of the best-of- No Washington team has won a ma- ally composed. That’s what you need in came through. We’re going to fi ght.” Gulf Times 6 Friday, May 25, 2018 SPORT

GOLF FOOTBALL Riches or heartache await Fulham and McIlroy confi dent Aston Villa

Reuters Ryan Sessegnon and prolifi c Ser- London bia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, on loan from Newcastle United, are slight favourites, Villa are ulham and Aston Vil- managed by Steve Bruce who he has regained la clash in the English holds the joint record for taking Championship playoff fi - sides into the top-fl ight from the nal at Wembley Stadium second tier. tomorrowF knowing either unre- He did it with Hull City in strained joy and fi nancial riches 2012-13 and 2015-16 and Bir- or crushing heartache await. No mingham City in 2001-02 and other game in world club football 2006-07 — two of those promo- has quite as much riding on the tions via the drama of the play- spring in his step outcome as the winner-takes-all off s. Cardiff ’s Neil Warnock is clash to decide who will be the the only manager to match him. 20th club in next season’s Pre- Fulham will also be wary of the mier League. presence of former Chelsea skip- McIlroy felt he is still not quite at the level as it was when he won back in 2014 Wolverhampton Wanderers per John Terry in the Villa back and Cardiff City claimed the au- four. Having won every honour AFP tomatic promotion places from in club football, Terry’s ability to Wentworth, United Kingdom the second tier — Cardiff pipped handle the big occasion and the Fulham to second place after the calming infl uence he will have on London club suff ered a 3-1 defeat his team mates could be crucial. orthern Irish golf star Rory by Birmingham City on the fi nal Villa lost their ever-present McIlroy believes the fi ve-under day of the regular season. Premier League status in 2016 af- par 67 he shot in the fi rst round It left Slavisa Jokanovic’s side ter years of stagnation, but have of the PGA Championship at two points behind Cardiff and been turned around by Bruce NWentworth yesterday can be a spring- quite how costly that defeat, who, despite his vast experience, board to a successful summer. their fi rst in the Championship says tomorrow’s showpiece will The 29-year-old quadruple major since December, will be will only be a nerve-jangling aff air. winner — who won here in 2014 but has become apparent after the fi nal “I won’t sit here and say that also missed the cut four times — added whistle tomorrow. The winning I’m not going to feel some but- he felt he was playing better than he had team will guarantee themselves terfl ies on the day but, like eve- done since a disappointing fi nal round at a minimum windfall of 160mn rything in life, if you’ve already The Masters saw him miss out again on pounds ($215.4mn) — their share experienced something then you the elusive green jacket. of the Premier League’s eye-wa- know how to handle it better,” McIlroy made a low key start to his tering broadcasting rights deal. he said. “Hopefully we can put a round dropping a shot early on but he hit That does not even refl ect the smile back on the faces of Aston his stride with four birdies on the inward increase in merchandising, po- Villa fans for a change because nine to put himself one off the clubhouse tential sponsorship deals and in- for fi ve or six year it’s been pretty leaders, South African duo Darren Fi- evitable spike in social media fol- desperate at times. Let’s hope it’s chardt and Dean Burmester. lowers, so the real prize is almost our turn again.” “Yes, most defi nitely,” McIlroy said re- immeasurable. Yet despite all the Villa’s only doubt for the fi nal ferring to it being a good platform for him talk of the world’s “richest game” is Egyptian winger Ahmed El- to build on. “Obviously there’s the next it will boil down to a match be- mohamady who suff ered a ham- three days to worry about, but you know, tween two proud old clubs trying string injury in the semi-fi nal on from that, I’ve got a few big tourna- to get themselves back to where against Middlesbrough. Fulham ments coming up in the States, and then a they believe they belong. will be at full strength. Both very busy summer with a lot of important While a free-fl owing Fulham clubs have sold out their 38,000 stuff coming up. So if I can keep playing side featuring teenage prodigy ticket allocation. like this, it should hopefully be a good summer.” McIlroy, who began the season in good form winning at Bay Hill on the US Tour and two top three fi nishes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, felt he played better than he has done in recent weeks but is still not quite at the level as it was when he won back in 2014. That proved to be the catalyst for him going on to win two majors (The British Open and the US PGA) as well as several other titles. “I am not quite as comfort- able with my game as I was in 2014,” said Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy plays a shot on the third hole during the first day of the PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club McIlroy. “But it is moving in the right di- in Surrey, south west of London, yesterday. (AFP) rection.” McIlroy, who earlier this year revealed weird relationship with the golf course in think if I play the par fi ves well for the rest cast the guilty party a killer look — which he has a minor heart defect caused by the past but appeared more upbeat now it of the week I will be up there come Sun- eventually fell short of the green and he getting a serious viral infection in Chi- has been radically revamped. “If you start day.” ended up making par. na in 2016, said he was delighted to be to chase it here it can bite you,” he said. McIlroy shrugged off being distracted “I wouldn’t say I wished him dead,” amongst the leaders as it is a tough course “The course is fairer than it was and I by a photographer when he took his sec- said McIlroy smiling. “It is a diffi cult Fulham will guarantee themselves a minimum windfall of 160mn to fi ght back on. feel comfortable with my game. I don’t ond shot on the par-fi ve 18th and look- enough shot as it is but look that sort of pounds — their share of the Premier League’s eye-watering McIlroy has admitted he has had a feel I have to be over aggressive and I ing good for at least a birdie — though he thing happens now and again.” broadcasting rights deal if they beat Aston Villa tomorrow. (Reuters)

FOCUS ATHLETICS CYCLING Spieth seeks Gatlin out with more PGA Yates clings to lead as Dumoulin success hamstring injury, AFP and Froome launch attacks Washington Coleman skips 200 AFP Reuters Prato Nevoso, Italy hree-time major win- Eugene, Oregon ner Jordan Spieth seeks his fi rst victory since iro d’Italia leader Simon Yates last year’s British Open orld champion buckled then rallied as his rivals Tat this week’s PGA Fort Worth Justin Gatlin has took turns to attack him on the fi - Invitational, where he produced withdrawn from nal steep climb to a summit fi nish top-two fi nishes the past three tomorrow’s Pre- Gon stage 18, which was won by Germany’s years. Spieth arrives at Colo- Wfontaine Classic with a ham- Max Schachmann after a long breakaway. nial Country Club, just down string injury and chief rival As the main contenders came up the fi nal the road from his hometown of Christian Coleman will only 18km climb, long after the 24-year-old Sch- Dallas, after placing 21st at the race in the 100 metres, their achmann had fi nished, defending champion Byron Nelson and 41st at the managers said on Wednesday. Tom Dumoulin made the fi rst bid to drop Players following his third-place A tight right hamstring led Yates, who initially stuck to his wheel with Masters showing. The 7,209- Gatlin to pull out of the Eugene said in an email to meeting or- about 1.5km to go. yard, par-70 Colonial layout has meet, wiping out a chance of ganisers. “At this stage of Jus- Then, on a gravelly surface devoid of been a tonic for Spieth the past facing Coleman in a high-cal- tin’s career, we must err on the tarmac, pre-race favourite Chris Froome few years. ibre 100m that also includes side of caution.” launched a spectacular assault and was fol- He was runner-up in 2015, one China’s world indoor silver Gatlin won his individual lowed by Dumoulin and third placed Do- stroke behind compatriot Chris medalist Su Bingtian, 2017 100m race in Osaka last week- menico Pozzovivo while Yates was unable to Kirk, and the winner in 2016 by British Diamond League 100m end in 10.06 seconds after fi n- answer. three strokes before losing again winner CJ Ujah and American ishing seventh in the rain at Dumoulin said after the race he’s been by a shot last year to American Ronnie Baker, the year’s fastest the Shanghai Diamond League determined to test the English leader. “He Kevin Kisner. “I don’t struggle man at 9.97 seconds. meeting. His next race, if the stayed with my fi rst attack, then Froome at- reading the greens at Colonial,” Coleman’s management leg continued to improve, tacked and I tried to follow Pozzovivo and Spieth said. And Spieth, with 11 company later announced that would be a 100m at Ostrava, Froome and Yates got dropped. Of course PGA wins at age 24, looks for- the young American would Czech Republic on June 13, Ne- it’s a good day but the coming two days are ward to even the most tedious not attempt a 100-200 me- hemiah said. going to be diff erent and much harder than work in improving his game with tres double on what will be his Coleman had also been today,” the Sunweb leader said. Germany's Maximilian Schachmann of team Quick-Step celebrates as he crosses the finish the US Open looming in June and Diamond League debut, opting scheduled to run in Shang- A haggard looking Yates had to dig deep line to win the 18th stage between Abbiategrasso and Prato Nevoso during the 101st his defense of the Claret Jug in instead to just run the shorter hai but withdrew for what his to limit the damage, crossing the fi nish line Giro d’Italia, Tour of Italy cycling race, yesterday. (AFP) July at Carnoustie. sprint.”Earlier mgmt consid- coach said were precaution- 28 seconds adrift of Dumoulin and Froome “I’m excited about anything ered a 100/200m double, being ary reasons. Tomorrow will be thereby maintaining half his advantage. to Yates, but the margin is so close a tense (ITA/BAH) 11:03; 13. Tom Dumoulin (NED/SUN) that’s off in my game. I’m enjoy- his fi rst race of the season, it is his fi rst individual race since Yates still holds a 28-second lead over the day of riding is on the cards. 11:03; 14. Chris Froome (GBR/SKY) 11:03; 20. ing working at it,” Spieth said. more prudent to only contest setting the world indoor 60m Dutchman in the overall standings with two Simon Yates (GBR/MIT) 11:31; 24. Thibaut Pinot “I’m trying to fi nd new and bet- the 100m. His opening 200m record and winning the global brutal mountain stages still to contest. STAGE 18 RESULTS (FRA/FDJ) 11:36. ter ways to be a better player will occur in @BislettGames title at the distance in March. Pozzovivo is third at 2min 43sec and 1. Maximilian Schachmann (GER/QST) 4hrs Overall standings and if the results come right (on June 7 in Oslo),” Coleman’s Even without him, the Eu- Froome remains fourth at 3 min 22 sec. Sch- 55min 42sec; 2. Ruben Plaza (ESP/ICA) at 10.; 1. Simon Yates (GBR/Mitchelton) 75hrs 06mins away great and if it takes a little agency said on Twitter. gene 200m fi eld will be an achmann had been part of a ten rider escape 3. Mattia Cattaneo (ITA/AND) 16.; 4. Christoph 24sec. 2. Tom Dumoulin (NED/SUN) at 28. 3. while I’m OK with that at this Gatlin, 36 experienced impressive one with Turkish group that opened a lead of over 14 minutes Pfingsten (GER/BOR) 1:10; 5. Marco Marcato Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/BAH) 2:43. 4. Christo- point. I’m taking a more patient tightness in his hamstring world champion Ramil Guli- on the main contenders at the start of the (ITA/EU) 1:26; 6. pher Froome (GBR/SKY) 3:22. 5. Thibaut Pinot approach to peaks and valleys during a 4x100m relay in Japan yev, US 300m world record fi nal climb. Michael Morkov (DEN/QST) 1:36; 7. Viacheslav (FRA/FDJ) 4:24. 6. Miguel Angel Lopez (COL/ throughout my career.” The fi eld last weekend and while the leg holder Noah Lyles and Bot- The Quick Step man won easily in the Kuznetsov (RUS/KAT) 1:52; 8. Jos van Emden AST) 4:54. 7. Rohan Dennis (AUS/BMC) 5:09. 8. also includes Webb Simpson, in was better, “the consensus was swana’s Isaac Makwala, the end, a fi fth stage on this Giro for the Belgian (NED/LNL) 3:22; 9. Alex Turrin (ITA/WIL) 3:29; 10. Pello Bilbao (ESP/AST) 5:54. 9. Richard Carapaz his fi rst event since winning the that Justin will not run at Pre”, world’s fastest man at the dis- team, as he outsprinted Spain’s Ruben Pla- Davide Ballerini (ITA/AND) 5:09; 11. Miguel Angel (ECU/MOV) 5:59. 10. Patrick Konrad (AUT/BOR) Players Championship. his agent Renaldo Nehemiah tance last year. za. Today’s stage is supposedly better suited Lopez (COL/ST) 10:48; 12. Domenico Pozzovivo 7:05. Gulf Times Friday, May 25, 2018 7 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Queiroz to quit as Iran Barca icon Iniesta joins coach aft er World Cup Reuters Japan club Vissel Kobe Hong Kong arlos Queiroz will not The 34-year-old is reported to have agreed a three-year deal with an annual salary of $30mn remain at the helm of the Iran national team AFP after the conclusion of theC country’s involvement in the Tokyo World Cup fi nals in Russia, the former Real Madrid coach said arcelona legend Andres Ini- yesterday. Queiroz, who has been esta joined Japan’s Vissel Kobe in charge of Team Melli since yesterday, calling his J-League April 2011, had been off ered an move an “important career extension to his contract by the challenge”B . “This is a very special day Iranian Football Federation until for me,” the 34-year-old World Cup January’s Asian Cup fi nals in the winner said after signing his contract at United Arab Emirates. a glitzy unveiling in Tokyo. But the 65-year-old has de- “I had a lot of off ers, other clubs cided to call time on his seven- showed an interest in me,” added Ini- year stint with the Iranians after esta, who is reported to have agreed a the World Cup, where they have three-year deal with an annual salary of been drawn to take on Morocco, $30mn, comfortably a J-League record. Spain and Portugal in Group B. “But I chose Vissel Kobe because it was “It’s almost one year since we an interesting project. There was also qualifi ed for the World Cup and a lot of trust and confi dence in me as a it’s true that they gave me an person and also as a player — that was off er to go for six months to the a big reason.” Asian Cup in the Emirates, but Iniesta, who lifted 32 major trophies it didn’t meet my expectations,” and made 674 appearances for Catalan Queiroz said by telephone from giants Barca, was handed his trademark his team’s training camp in Tur- number eight shirt by Vissel owner Hi- key. roshi Mikitani. “I am confi dent that “After all these years, for the Iniesta’s leadership philosophy and his Iranian federation to only extend DNA will be a terrifi c inspiration for not the contract for six months is a only Vissel Kobe but Japanese football,” decision that shows no appreci- said Mikitani. ation or recognition for what I’ve “His arrival in Japan will raise the done. It’s an off er that isn’t ac- profi le of Japanese football globally. ceptable from my point of view. Iniesta will inspire and empower us to The negotiations are closed, reach new heights in football in Japan. they are behind me. Before we We are very proud to see this day come.” came here to Istanbul the federa- The Spain icon’s decision to choose tion was supposed to review the Kobe arguably represents Japanese position and they did not come football’s biggest transfer coup, with back to me, so from now on it’s many top players now moving to cash- time to move forward.” rich Chinese clubs in the twilight of Queiroz had considered retir- their careers. It also comes as a timely ing after the World Cup to spend boost to the J-League, which used to at- more time with his family, but tract luminaries such as Brazilian great now wants to become the fi rst Zico and former England star Gary coach to secure qualifi cation for Lineker when it began in 1993 but has the World Cup fi nals on fi ve oc- struggled to attract marquee players in Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta poses with J-League side Vissel Kobe’s jersey at a news conference in Tokyo yesterday. (Reuters) casions. Brazilian Carlos Alberto recent years. Pereira and Serbian Bora Miluti- Iniesta will join former Arsenal strik- quickly as possible to be able to help top of Mikitani’s wishlist. The billion- last weekend in an emotional farewell vate jet overnight, along with emojis of novic have coached fi ve times at er Lukas Podolski in the western port with that process.” aire businessman is also the founder to the club he joined as a schoolboy. the Japanese fl ag and a football. the World Cup, with both taking city of Kobe after he completed a move Danish star Michael Laudrup, himself and CEO of Rakuten, Barcelona’s main The mercurial midfi elder won nine La Many Japanese fans retweeted the charge of teams that had either from Galatasaray last summer. Podolski a former Barcelona fan favourite and sponsor, and was heavily involved in the Liga and four Champions League titles photo of the pair shaking hands and wel- qualifi ed as hosts or stepped in was quick to send a “welcome” tweet to one of Iniesta’s boyhood heroes, also deal that brought Iniesta to Japan. Miki- among a massive haul of trophies at comed Iniesta to the country, while one as replacement coaches for al- Iniesta yesterday. “I’d like to help take played for Vissel in 1996-97. Vissel cur- tani said Iniesta “plays the most beauti- Barcelona. Iniesta had also been linked user posted a cartoon meme of Iniesta ready qualifi ed nations. this club forward and help the J-League rently sit sixth in the J-League fi rst di- ful football in the world”, predicting his to a move to Chinese Super League side dressed in a wizard’s cloak and waving a Queiroz, however, qualifi ed grow in Asia,” said Iniesta, who is set to vision standings after 15 games played. arrival in Japan could lead to an infl ux of Chongqing Lifan but they denied the ru- wand. Not everyone in baseball-mad Ja- South Africa for the World Cup join his new teammates after the World Iniesta, who famously scored Spain’s top foreign players joining the J-League. mours. As speculation of his next move pan was blown away, however, as some in 2002 only to step down from Cup in Russia. “I’m looking forward winning goal against the Netherlands Iniesta played his fi nal game for Bar- reached fever pitch, Iniesta tweeted a struggled to comprehend the signifi - his position before the fi nals in to getting to know the Kobe players as in the 2010 World Cup fi nal, had been celona in a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad photo of himself and Mikitani in a pri- cance of Iniesta’s move to East Asia. Japan and Korea.

PREMIER LEAGUE LIGUE 1 Pochettino signs Troubled Ajaccio slump to play-off defeat new deal at Spurs AFP “I feel sorry for the guys who deserved Toulouse a comfortable cushion ahead of loan Lyon striker Jean-Philippe Mateta Montpellier, France to play in better conditions. They did the Sunday’s second leg. scored to put Le Havre 2-1 up. AFP step down. Spurs sealed Cham- maximum after a very painful week,” said Ajaccio’s scheduled play-off against Mateta was then sent off for the pro- London pions League football for a third Ajaccio coach Olivier Pantaloni. “I didn’t Le Havre had been postponed in surreal vocative manner in which he celebrated straight season by fi nishing third oulouse took a huge step towards even know where we were going to play.” scenes on Friday after fans of the Corsi- his goal. Two more players were also in the Premier League despite preserving their French Ligue 1 On Wednesday night, Max-Alain can club attacked the visitors’ team bus. dismissed, leaving the sides to complete ottenham manager having reportedly just the sixth status with a 3-0 win over trou- Gradel gave Toulouse, who were forced Players and offi cials from Le Havre were extra time with nine men each. Ajac- Mauricio Pochettino highest wage bill behind Man- bled Ajaccio in the fi rst leg of a into a play-off after fi nishing the Ligue 1 subjected to racist abuse, called “shitty cio’s Mady Camara made it 2-2 in the has signed a new fi ve- chester City, Manchester United, Trelegation/promotion play-off staged at season in third-from-bottom place, the French” and, according to videos circu- fi fth minute of added time in extra time, year contract, ending Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. an empty stadium in Montpellier. lead with a fi rst-half injury time free kick. lating on social media, sat in terror inside forcing penalties, and the Corsicans duly Tspeculation over his future at the Tottenham have also spent The match should have been played Ajaccio goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca in- the team bus as it was hit by stones and won the shoot-out 5-3. In Ajaccio around Premier League club. The Argen- only a fraction of the hundreds of at Ajaccio’s own Francois-Coty stadium jured his right shoulder trying to save the other projectiles. 2,000 supporters of the Corsican club tine, who has led Spurs to three millions paid out in the transfer but French league offi cials switched it to a shot and was replaced by Riffi Mandanda. Then on Sunday, the rescheduled tie watched the game on two giant screens successive top-three fi nishes in market by the two Manchester neutral venue and behind closed doors as Central defender Christopher Jullien fi nished 1-1 after 90 minutes, but Ajaccio inside the François-Coty stadium. the Premier League, has penned clubs, who took the top two spots the Corsican club were punished for the added the second goal in the 51st minute midfi elder Mathieu Coutadeur was sent Coutadeur and Joris Sainati, two of the fresh terms to keep him in north in the league. violent scenes which plagued their Ligue with striker Sanago tucking away a third off in extra time after pushing the referee, four players sent off on Sunday, turned up London until 2023. Instead, Pochettino has 2 play-off against Le Havre last week. on the night from a 65th free-kick to give who also awarded a penalty, which on- to lend their long distance support. “I am honoured to have signed worked wonders by develop- a new long-term contract as we ing and improving a talented approach one of the most signifi - young squad, featuring the likes ROUND-UP cant periods in the club’s history of England stars Harry Kane and be the manager that will lead and Dele Alli. But despite their this team into our new world- rapid improvement in recent class stadium,” he said. “This is years both domestically and in just one of the factors that makes Europe, Spurs have not won sil- Halilhodzic launches lawsuit over Japan dismissal this one of the most exciting jobs verware since 2008. Last week ormer Japan coach Vahid ATLETICO SIGN SPAIN fuelled speculation by starting to follow in world football and we are al- the Argentine, 46, called on the Halilhodzic launched a lawsuit HOLDING MIDFIELDER RODRI Balotelli on Instragram. ready making plans to ensure we club to match his ambitions by against the country’s football Atletico Madrid said yesterday they Balotelli has often been linked with a continue to build on the great being “brave” in the transfer association and its president have agreed to sign Spain international move to southern Italy as his daughter work that everyone has contrib- market ahead of the moving to a KozoF Tashima yesterday, saying he was Rodri from Villarreal, announcing the Pia lives in Naples with his ex-girlfriend uted to over the past four years.” new 62,000-capacity stadium fi red illegally just two months before 21-year-old holding midfi elder as their Raff aella Fico. Bundesliga side Borussia Pochettino, who joined the from their temporary home of the World Cup. The Bosnian’s lawyer fi rst signing ahead of next season. The Dortmund, French club Marseille, and club from Southampton in 2014, Wembley. However, Pochettino’s Lionel Vincent fi led the suit yesterday 21-year-old made his Spain debut in a 1-1 Serie A outfi t Roma are also said to be sparked speculation over his fu- wishes could be hampered by in a Tokyo district court, court offi cials draw against Germany in a friendly on interested, according to reports. ture in the closing weeks of the spiralling costs for the new sta- confi rmed. Vincent has suggested that March 23. Balotelli has resurrected his career English season. Following the dium, which reports say could hit Tashima, who personally fl ew to France He was left out of ’s since joining Nice in 2016 after less suc- FA Cup semi-fi nal defeat against £1bn ($1.3bn). First-team coach- to fi re Halilhodzic in April, should resign 23-man squad for next month’s World cessful spells with AC Milan and Liver- Manchester United, he hinted at ing staff Jesus Perez, Miguel over his handling of the dismissal. Cup in Russia but has been named in the pool, scoring 26 goals in all competitions a future with somebody else at D’Agostino and Toni Jimenez Halilhodzic is suing Tashima directly seven-player reserve list. Rodri came this season. the helm, even if there was no have also agreed new contracts because he believes the Japanese Football through Atletico’s youth academy but He received his fi rst call up to the indication he was intending to with the club. Association (JFA) president had acted fi nished his footballing education at Vil- national side in four years by Italy coach illegally in dismissing him without larreal, making his Liga debut in 2016. Roberto Mancini for upcoming friend- consulting the association’s board. The lies against Saudi Arabia, France and the Tokyo District Court confi rmed a civil NAPOLI EYEING BALOTELLI Netherlands. suit was fi led, with the plaintiff being AFTER ANCELOTTI DEAL Halilhodzic and defendants being the Nishino in early April after being at the Nice striker Mario Balotelli has been BAYERN’S ARTURO VIDAL CHARGED Japan Football Association and Tashima. helm since 2015 and successfully guiding linked with a move to Napoli after OVER NIGHTCLUB BRAWL Halilhodzic is also demanding a the Samurai Blue through World Cup Wednesday’s appointment of new coach German prosecutors said they had personal apology from Tashima and a qualifying for the tournament in Russia. . The 27-year-old’s con- brought a charge of grievous bodily nominal fee of one Japanese yen ($0.009) Tashima claimed at the time that the tract with his French Ligue 1 club expires harm against Bayern Munich midfi elder as compensation. Vahid thought that 66-year-old’s dismissal was due to his next month and he has been targeting a Arturo Vidal over a nightclub brawl last as the JFA is a public interest organisa- ‘lack of communication’. move away. year. A spokesman for the prosecutor’s tion, asking for a huge amount of money Japan, led by Halilhodzic’s successor Italian Serie A runners-up Napoli are offi ce in Munich, Florian Weinzierl, said doesn’t make sense because it is not why Nishino, will face Colombia, Senegal reported to be interested as they could Vidal could face a sentence of up to 10 he is doing it. and Poland in Group H at the June-July lose forwards Dries Mertens and captain years over the melee in a local disco last Halilhodzic was replaced by Akira tournament. Marek Hamsik next season. And the club September.

Friday, May 25, 2018 GULF TIMES FOOTBALL

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOCUS Henderson praises ‘visionary’ Klopp Ronaldo versus as Liverpool target European glory AFP to another fi nal we’d be ready.” London Liverpool have played some Salah — the Ballon sensational football this season and are top scorers in the Cham- iverpool captain Jordan pions League with 40 goals. Henderson says a rous- Their place in the fi nal may have ing speech by manager surprised many but Henderson Jurgen Klopp following believes it shows the positive Ldefeat in the Europa League fi - mentality bred by Klopp. nal laid the foundations for their “He is our leader and everyone d’Or on the line? exhilarating Champions League looks up to him,” he said. “I have run. The England midfi elder said spoken about the manager hav- he has inspired by the manager’s ing a massive impact since he’s In a World Cup year, what happens in Russia will play a big part too — it is impossible motivational words after the come in, which he has. He has bitter disappointment of Liver- created a special dressing room to imagine Messi not winning a sixth Ballon d’Or should he lead Argentina to the title pool’s 2016 loss to Sevilla in the with special players and I’m sure showpiece in Basel, where he was that will continue in the sum- AFP an unused substitute because he mer with new players coming Kiev was not fully fi t. in and helping this squad out to Klopp predicted there would win trophies. I defi nitely feel we be more fi nals, outlining his vi- are going in the right direction. n an age when individual awards are sion of where he wanted the (I can) defi nitely see how hungry given ever greater importance, to- club to go, and Henderson was the team are to be successful.” morrow’s Champions League fi nal hooked. “We were obviously Henderson said winning the between Real Madrid and Liverpool down but when we got back to Champions League would be I— and Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed the hotel the manager had some- a huge shot in the arm for the Salah — could determine the winner of thing diff erent to stay,” he said. fi ve-time European champions. the next Ballon d’Or. “He looked at the bigger pic- “Getting over that fi rst hurdle After all, Ronaldo has won the prestig- ture and the future and he felt as as a team, winning the Champi- ious prize on the back of helping Madrid though it could be a big moment ons League would be a massive to each of their recent European Cup tri- in our careers to learn from the step,” he said. “The belief you umphs, in 2014, 2016 and again last year. experience. He had this sort of get from that going forward can It is reductionist in the extreme to bring vision that made me think, in the really put us in a good position tomorrow’s fi nal down to just two play- future, we’d get to another fi nal. over the next couple of years for ers, given the strength in depth available He wanted to use the experience the Premier League, Champions — especially in attack — to Madrid and of that fi nal to keep us together League, FA Cup — more trophies Liverpool. and use it as a positive. If we got we want to win.” But this is the era of the individual, at a time when Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated the Ballon d’Or for a decade. The status of each is such that the annual prize for the world’s best player generates ever fi ercer debate. Ronaldo has won the last two, but can he really win it again, having recently turned 33? In a World Cup year, what happens in Russia will play a big part too — it is im- possible to imagine Messi not winning a sixth Ballon d’Or should he lead Argen- tina to the title. But Ronaldo can certainly make his case in Kiev, while this is also a golden opportunity for Salah before he leads Egypt into the World Cup. Ronal- do’s decline in the fi rst half of this season was as concerning as his reawakening in 2018 has been breathtaking. The Portu- guese star has scored 41 goals in all com- petitions this season, but an incredible 28 of those have come since late January. Despite only scoring four times before La Liga’s winter break, he ended up with 26 goals in that competition, behind only Messi. But it is the Champions League that really brings out the best in him. Ronaldo scored in Manchester United’s 2008 fi nal win over Chelsea, and has Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah will carry their played a decisive role in each of the three team’s hopes when they meet in the Champions League final in Kiev, Ukraine, tomorrow. (AFP) fi nals won by Real since 2014. This season, despite his poor domestic can have diffi cult moments. That’s why rable run to the Champions League fi nal. do you have to look at to win the Ballon form, he had scored in every Champions he’s the best,” warned Real coach Zined- He has been ably supported by Rob- D’Or,” said Georginio Wijnaldum this League game prior to the semi-fi nal win ine Zidane this week. “Some players suf- erto Firmino and Sadio Mane, with that week. “If it’s winning a prize, if it’s scor- over Bayern Munich. Karim Benzema’s fer under pressure, others just the oppo- threesome netting 90 goals between ing the more goals. We will see.” brace in the second leg against the Ger- site, and he is one of them. The more you them in all competitions. Nevertheless, Defender Dejan Lovren was a little mans was crucial, but neither he nor criticise him, be careful.” Liverpool’s hopes of winning a sixth Eu- more optimistic. “He can be in the top Gareth Bale have been close to Ronaldo’s This has already been a record-break- ropean Cup depend to a large degree on three best players in the world. He has standard this season. ing season for Salah, the Egyptian’s 32- Salah. the quality, the world-class experience The ‘BBC’ may no longer be so fear- goal tally was a new best in the Premier Whether that would be enough to land already,” he said. “He is so calm, a man some as a trio, but after that diffi cult League for a 38-game campaign. Overall, the Ballon d’Or as well is something that down to earth and he deserves every spell, Ronaldo’s fi gures in 2018 mean he is he has scored a remarkable 44 in all com- seems to split his teammates. “But what credit for every goal he scored for now making his case to be crowned the world’s petitions since his arrival at Anfi eld from if Messi and Ronaldo win the World Cup? and defi nitely we will help him achieve best again. “Cristiano knows that a player Roma, including 11 in Liverpool’s memo- Do they deserve it? I don’t know what this dream.” Liverpool’s English midfielder Jordan Henderson attends a training session at Anfield stadium in Liverpool. (AFP)

BOTTOMLINE SPOTLIGHT Istanbul to Champions League price hikes spell misery host 2020 AFP Real Madrid fan Marcos Sanchez Kiev secured accommodation well in ad- vance but his bookings were cancelled CL fi nal and prices skyrocketed. “Everything eal Madrid fans have returned has been a nightmare,” he said. “I have Reuters 1,000 tickets for tomor- reported it on social networks and Kiev row’s Champions League fi nal Ukrainian journalists have even called against Liverpool as spiralling me because it gives a bad image for the accommodationR and travel costs de- city and the country. People have cre- stanbul’s Ataturk Olympic ter supporters from travelling to Kiev. ated a Facebook group off ering their Stadium will host the 2020 UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said houses in Kiev for free and it works bril- Champions League fi nal, the tickets could not be resold to Liver- liantly, it’s genuine.” UEFA President Aleksander pool fans for security reasons but they Spanish fan groups have organised ICeferin announced after an ex- would instead be put on sale for local accommodation outside Ukraine as ecutive committee meeting yes- fans in the Ukrainian capital. well as in Kiev and many fans are fl y- terday. The 76,000-capacity As anger mounts over the rocketing ing straight in and out. Nabil Alturek, stadium hosted the thrilling 2005 prices and cancelled bookings — with president of fan group Pena Capote Y showpiece where Liverpool came some hotels charging up to 100 times Montera, said two groups were travel- back from 3-0 down at halftime their standard rates — Liverpool said ling. One will sleep in Warsaw one night to draw 3-3 with AC Milan and they had complained to the “highest and Kiev the next before returning to win a penalty shoot-out. levels” of European football’s governing Warsaw and the other will spend the The venue beat competition body. Ukrainian UEFA vice-president night at the airport in the Ukraine capi- from Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz. Grigoriy Surkis criticised the behaviour tal. “It was cheap because we booked Gdansk Arena in Poland will of hotel owners looking to make a quick a long time ago,” he said. “We were host the 2020 Europa League buck for the clash between the two Eu- shocked by the cancellations, but we fi nal, while the Austria Arena ropean giants, who have won the com- Liverpool fans pose in front of the UEFA Champions League trophy on display at the fan zone in Kiev yesterday. (AFP) were lucky, we paid 40 or 50 euros per was chosen as the venue for petition 17 times between them. person” at the hotel in Kiev. the 2020 Women’s Champions “I am not disappointed, I am furious,” major city within real hitting distance of Istanbul’s 76,000-capacity Ataturk is I am not sure if it is possible to com- But Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko, League fi nal. The Gdansk Arena he said. “I think it is a disgrace for the it,” he said. Olympic Stadium was named as the host pletely prevent it, but we are trying to the former world heavyweight boxing was chosen ahead of FC ’s capital, where individual hotel owners “It’s not only aff ected Liverpool fans for the 2020 fi nal yesterday, while next do as much as possible,” he said. champion, gave a robust response about Estadio do Dragao, although the did not give everyone a chance to come but Real Madrid fans too. There will be season’s fi nal will take place at Atletico Liverpool head of club and supporter the situation in the city. “The fact that latter was named as the venue for here by raising the prices not ten-fold, lessons learned from this. Rest assured, Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano. liaison Tony Barrett said he sympa- prices are going up before a major event, the 2020 UEFA Super Cup fi nal, the way it happens in other cities, but I’ve raised this at the highest levels of Ceferin admitted that the black mar- thised with fans over their plight. “For this happens in other places besides played between the winners of nearly a hundredfold.” UEFA.” ket for tickets was a big problem, with those of you who get to Kiev, I hope it’s Kiev,” he said. “This is world practice. the Champions League and the Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore The decision to award the fi nal to each club originally allocated 16,626 worth every penny and every ounce of The city cannot regulate business — Europa League. Atletico Ma- said Kiev, which hosted the Euro 2012 Kiev was made before Ceferin’s election tickets despite worldwide fanbases. Ac- eff ort that you have put in,” he tweeted. these are the laws of the market.” drid’s Wanda Metropolitano sta- fi nal, was not fi t for purpose. “They just as president in 2016 and the Slovenian cording to UEFA, Kiev’s Olimpiyskiy “For those who don’t — and there are Real Madrid are targeting their fourth dium hosts the 2019 men’s fi nal, don’t have the airport infrastructure has already reintroduced a tender proc- Stadium has a capacity of 63,000 for already far too many in this position — I Champions League title in fi ve seasons with the Groupama Arena in Bu- and the hotel capacity to cope with an ess with evaluation reports on cities the game. “We cancelled the tickets that apologise for not being able to help you. while Liverpool are eyeing their fi rst dapest staging the women’s fi nal. event of this size and there isn’t another bidding for fi nals. were on the black market but the thing Football without fans is nothing.” since 2005.