Khawaja steers Australia to comfortable win over Sri Lanka PAGE 19

TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2019

Aston Villa seal Premier League return with 2-1 win over Derby County PAGE 18

QATAR TEAM ARRIVES IN BRAZIL AHEAD OF COPA AMERICA

The Qatar national football team arrived in Brazil on Monday, kicking off the final phase of preparations for the 2019 Copa America which will take place from June 14 to July 7. The delegation consists of 28 players selected by coach Felix Sanchez. Qatar will train in Rio de Janeiro in preparation for a friendly match with Brazili on June 5 in Brasilia at the Mani Garincha Stadium, followed by a second friendly meeting with a Brazilian club side on June 9. Qatar will become the first West Asian team to participate in the Copa America. Qatar are in Group B where they face 14-time champions Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay in the June 14-July 7 tournament.

FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP Ooredoo to sponsor Qatar national team for the next 2 years

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK sorship, Sheikh Abdullah “Our team is participating “We look forward with our Ukraine edge DOHA bin Mohammed bin Saud al in the Copa America for the Ooredoo to further joint work Thani, Chairman of Ooredoo first time in a few days, and we to serve Qatar football, as this OOREDOO has announced Group, said: “Our sponsorship are confident that it is capable sponsorship is an extension of Qatar 1-0 in its sponsorship of Qatar’s first of the team comes as a result of honoring Qatari football be- the sponsorship of the Amir football team under a two-year of our support for Qatari sport Stimulus cause it has unique elements Cup and the various activities agreement starting in 2019. and the fact that this support Ooredoo’s sponsorship of the capable of making a differ- supported by Ooredoo. This Ooredoo will be the patron of is part of the corporate social first team follows the victory ence,” he added. sponsorship also underscores even contest Al Annabi in the upcoming responsibility.” Commenting on the part- the company’s commitment to tournaments, which will be the “The team has been able of the national team at nership, QFA president Sheikh supporting Qatari sport in gen- top of the Copa America 2019. to achieve a unique achieve- the 2019 Asian Cup in an Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed eral and football in particular.” Ooredoo’s sponsorship of ment by winning the Asian Cup unprecedented achievement al Thani said, “We thank Oore- Ooredoo is a key supporter the first team follows the victory well deservedly, and its suc- for Qatari football. doo for sponsoring the team, of the football federation, con- of the national team at the 2019 cess in raising the flag of Qatar which underscores the long- tributing effectively to sup- Asian Cup in an unprecedented as a bounty and square on the port the achievement of more standing relationship we have porting the UEFA Champion- achievement for Qatari football. throne of Asian football and this achievements at the continental with a leading telecom brand ships and sponsoring many Commenting on the spon- requires us to continue to sup- and international levels. for 10 years.” tournaments and events. Serena survives Russian scare to win 800th match

AFP of Wimbledon last year, broke PARIS Williams twice in the open- ing set in the fifth and seventh Qatar’s Andri Syahputra in action during the FIFA U-20 World Cup SERENA Williams survived a games, claiming the opener on match against Ukraine on Monday. first-set scare before defeating a third set point. Russia’s Vitalia Diatchenko Williams fired four aces in FIFA.COM on Monday during Group C 2-6, 6-1, 6-0 to reach the sec- the set but also 14 unforced TYCHY action of the FIFA U-20 World ond round of the French Open errors. Cup Poland 2019. The result on Monday. Suddenly, she was staring DENYS Popov is the man saw La Celeste secure their The 37-year-old American, at only her second first round for the big occasion. The place in the knockout stage. who is attempting to equal loss at a Slam after her 2012 Ukraine defender scored his Uruguay’s first was the Margaret Court’s all-time re- defeat in Paris by Virginie second consecutive winning product of a well-worked cord of 24 titles, Razzano. goal at the FIFA U-20 World set piece in the 41st minute. racked up her 800th career But she stormed back to Cup Poland 2019 in his Brian Rodriguez’s delivery main draw win with her victo- level the encounter, cutting side’s 1-0 victory over Qatar from more than 40 yards out ry in front of a half-full Court the errors by half and breaking in Tychy in Group D, which reached the head of Sebastian Philippe Chatrier. in the second and sixth games confirmed their place in the Caceres on the right-hand side “There is always a lot fear of the set. knockout phase. of the penalty area. for a first round match,” said She swept through the After an evenly-contest- The 19-year-old defend- Williams who eventually raced decider, breaking in the first, ed first half, Popov headed er flicked the ball tantalis- to victory, taking 12 of the last third and fifth games. home in the 59th minute on ingly across the face of goal, 13 games. I made lots of mis- One year after her ‘Black a second-chance opportuni- teeing up Acevedo’s right- takes in the first set and I just Panther’ catsuit caused con- ty from an initial corner for footed blast into the back of said ‘good luck, Serena’. troversy, Williams returned the Ukrainians. Serhii Bu- the net. “I was strong after that... to Roland Garros, dressed in letsa provided the delivery Coming off a thorough de- now I feel like I need to go and a zebra-striped cape embla- for his second assist of the feat at the hands of New Zea- practice.” zoned with the words ‘mother, competition. land, Honduras coach Carlos Williams, the 2002, 2013 champion, queen, goddess’ all Things went from bad to Tabora made five changes to and 2015 champion in Paris, translated into French in a nod worse for Qatar as captain Na- his starting XI, and the im- will face either Japan’s Kurumi to her hosts. sir Peer was shown a straight provement was immediately Nara or Dalila Jakupovic of Slo- Serena Williams in action against Russia’s Vitalia Diatchenko during her first round match of the French Open Once the cape was re- red card for a late tackle on evident. Los Catrachos were venia for a place in the last 32. at the Roland Garros on Monday. The 37-year-old American, chasing Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam moved, Williams revealed a Maksym Chekh. stingy in defence and at times Williams won her most re- titles, dropped a set before recovering to win 2-6, 6-1, 6-0. (REUTERS) black and white zebra-stripe Ukraine have now ad- overwhelmed Uruguay with cent major at the Australian print dress. vanced to the Round of 16 in their attacking movement up Open in 2017 while pregnant. that meeting and stalled her as- Her cam- entered – retiring in the third She fell foul of tournament all four of their appearances the left flank. She returned to Grand sault on a fourth title in Paris. paign in January ended in a round of Indian Wells and organisers last year with her in competition history (2001, But Uruguay struck again a Slam tennis after giving birth Defeat in the 2018 Wim- quarter-final loss to Karolina withdrawing after winning one-piece black outfit which 2005, 2015 and 2019). How- minute into second-half stop- to her daughter at Roland Gar- bledon final and US Open Pliskova despite having led a round in Miami, and after she said she needed to wear to ever, they have yet to reach the page time. Nicolas Schiappac- ros in 2018, making the last championship match, where 5-1 in the final set and holding winning one round in Rome boost her circulation. quarter-finals. asse barrelled into position to 16 where she had been set to her now-infamous meltdown four match points. due to a right knee injury. Williams had suffered life- Late goals in each half finish off an elegant counterat- resume her bitter rivalry with overshadowed Naomi Osaka’s Since Melbourne, Williams On Monday, the 83rd- threatening blood clots when helped Uruguay outlast Hon- tack, ensuring his side a spot Maria Sharapova. title triumph, followed her had been unable to finish the ranked Diatchenko, who she gave birth to her daughter duras 2-0 at Lublin Stadium in the last 16. An arm injury torpedoed Paris heartbreak. three tournaments she had knocked Maria Sharapova out Alexis Olympia in 2017. Sports Tuesday, May 28, 2019 17 French Fries Merciless Nadal, Slam-chasing Djokovic get into cruise mode

Wozniacki loses, injured Kvitova Teenager Parry triggers Mauresmo withdraws comparison REUTERS/AFP PARIS: One victory at the PARIS French Open and a single- handed was all it CLAYCOURT master Rafael took for 16-year-old wildcard Nadal quickly adapted to the Diane Parry to draw compari- new surroundings at Roland sons with former world num- Garros with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 ber one and fellow French- demolition of German quali- What I did during all woman Amelie Mauresmo on fier Yannick Hanfmann in the Monday. Parry, ranked 457th first round of the French Open my career probably is in the WTA rankings, beat on Monday. go on court with the Belarussian world number On a revamped Court goal to improve 102 Vera Lapko 6-2 6-4 to Philippe Chatrier, the 11-times advance into the second champion wasted little time in something, and that round. It was her first win despatching Hanfmann after makes me feel alive in the main draw of a Grand the German had the audacity to always and makes me Slam or WTA event. The result say in the run up to the match was a welcome win for French that he could do ‘some damage’. feel passionate about women at Roland Garros on Hanfmann failed to seize the process of Monday after both Pauline potential opportunities as Na- improving anything. Parmentier and Alize Cornet dal, who usually starts slowly RESULTS were sent packing. Parry, at Roland Garros, limited his who grew up on the edge of unforced errors to 11. MEN SINGLES: 1ST RD Rafael Nadal (ESP x2) bt Yannick Hanfmann (GER) Roland Garros in Boulogne- The quest for perfection has 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 Billancourt, was immediately always defined Nadal and the Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Hubert Hurkacz (POL) asked if she was like Mau- win improved his Roland Gar- 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 resmo considering she also Henri Laaksonen (SUI) bt Pedro Martinez (ESP) 6-1, ros record to a remarkable 87- 6-0, 7-6 (7/4) plays with a single-handed 2. The Spaniard is hoping to be- Salvatore Caruso (ITA) bt Jaume Munar (ESP) 7-5, backhand. “It’s Amelie Mau- come the first player to win the 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 resmo that taught me. I love same Grand Slam title 12 times. Gilles Simon (FRA x26) bt Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 it. I’m very happy to have a “What I did during all my Lloyd Harris (RSA) bt Lukas Rosol (CZE) 6-1, 4-6, one-handed backhand,” she career probably is go on court 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 said. “I’m one of the very few with the goal to improve some- Borna Coric (CRO x13) bt Aljaz Bedene (SLO) 6-1, players to have one, so I stand thing, and that makes me feel Spain’s Rafael Nadal, seeking his 12th French Open title, in action against Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann during their men’s singles first round 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4 Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) bt Alexandre Muller out thanks to this.” Parry alive always and makes me match of the French Open on a revamped Court Philippe Chatrier at the Roland Garros in Paris on Monday. (AFP) (FRA) 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 usually goes to train in the feel passionate about the pro- Filip Krajinovic (SRB) bt Frances Tiafoe (USA x32) neighbouring Centre National cess of improving anything,” 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 d’Entrainement with an electric the second seed explained. Stan Wawrinka (SUI x24) bt Jozef Kovalik (SVK) 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 6-3 scooter. On Monday, she After suffering consecutive Cristian Garin (CHI) bt Reilly Opelka (USA) 7-6 made an exception, allowing semi-final exits in Monte Car- (7/0), 7-5, 7-6 (9/7) her mother to drive her to the lo, Barcelona and Madrid this Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) bt (GER) stadium. “I tried to approach season, questions were asked 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 Alex De Minaur (AUS x21) bt Bradley Klahn (USA) this match as a run-of-the-mill about Nadal’s form heading 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 match so as not to have too into his favourite Grand Slam. Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) bt Joao Sousa (POR) 6-3, much pressure on my shoul- He answered many of 6-1, 6-2 ders,” she explained. Being Benoit Paire (FRA) bt Marius Copil (ROU) 6-4, 6-7 those doubts by beating rival (5/7), 6-0, 6-1 the youngest female French Novak Djokovic to win the Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) bt Daniil Medvedev player to win a match in the Italian Open title in Rome, (RUS x12) 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 main draw here since a then but even that was not enough Juan Ignacio Londero (ARG) bt Nikoloz Basilashvili 15-year-old Cornet in 2005, (GEO x15) 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 to convince Nadal that he was Richard Gasquet (FRA) bt Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-3, Parry now has to deal with the ready for Paris. 6-4, 6-3 weight of expectations. “It’s “It’s very difficult to be Corentin Moutet (FRA) bt Alexey Vatutin (RUS) 6-4, true that there are expecta- convinced that you’re okay. I 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 Guido Pella (ARG x19) bt Guido Andreozzi (ARG) 7-6 tions. We’re French. We play don’t know if many people are (7/2), 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 at the French Open. There are convinced about anything in Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) bt Denis Kudla (USA) 6-0, expectations,” said Parry. She this life,” he said. 6-7 (7/9), 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 next faces Belgian 20th seed “I think when you’re con- Yannick Maden (GER) bt Kimmer Coppejans (BEL) or Slovenian vinced about something, 7-6 (7/0), 7-5, 6-3 Tamara Zidansek. (REUTERS) you’re very arrogant, because WOMEN SINGLES: 1ST RD most of the time you can hope 10-Serena Williams (USA) bt Vitalia Diatchenko that something is going to (RUS) 2-6, 6-1, 6-0 Rafa sees off Danielle Collins (USA) bt Tatjana Maria (GER) 6-0, 6-2 happen, and have the desire Ashleigh Barty (AUS x8) bt Jessica Pegula (USA) 6-3, 6-3 German named for something to happen. Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) bt Mihaela Buzarnescu Yannick; next up, “But to be convinced, I’m Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, who is bidding for a second Roland Garros title and to become the first man in the professional era tohold all four Grand (ROU x30) 6-4, 6-4 almost convinced about noth- Slam titles on two separate occasions, celebrates his first round win over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz at the French Open on Monday. (REUTERS) Aliona Bolsova (ESP) bt Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 6-4, 6-2 another German Sorana Cirstea (ROU) bt Kaja Juvan (SLO) 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 ing in this world.” Jennifer Brady (USA) bt Ivana Jorovic (SRB) 7-6 named Yannick! Meanwhile, top seed No- He broke serve in the 78 Juan Ignacio Londero. first round. should be fit for Wimbledon, (7/5), 4-6, 7-5 vak Djokovic eased into the opening game on his way to Russian 12th seed Da- The Danish 13th seed had which starts on July 1. Polona Hercog (SLO) bt Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR PARIS: For nine minutes, x32) 4-6, 6-2, 8-6 second round with a 6-4 6-2 taking the opening set in rou- niil Medvedev also exited the retired injured from her two “(I’ll be out for) two to three Rebecca Peterson (SWE) bt Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 6-3, 7-5 Yannick Hanfmann dared to 6-2 defeat of young Polish tine fashion and the only blip tournament, blowing a two-set previous matches in the lead-up weeks, so I’ll do some fitness Donna Vekic (CRO x23) bt Liudmila Samsonova dream as the world number player Hubert Hurkacz. was when he dropped serve at lead to lose 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, to Roland Garros, and fell away and everything that I can do to (RUS) 6-2, 6-4 184 from Germany carved The 32-year-old Serb is bid- 4-1 in the second set. 7-5 against Frenchman Pierre- badly after a strong first set. prepare my body for the tennis Johanna Konta (GBR x26) bt Antonia Lottner (GER) 6-4, 6-4 out four break points on ding for a second Roland Gar- The match was more or Hugues Herbert. “I think she got very lucky at on the grass,” said the Czech. Lauren Davis (USA) bt Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) 6-2, 6-4 the serve of Rafael Nadal. ros title and to become the first less in the bag by then, how- Three-time Grand Slam the start of the second set and Dutch fourth seed Kiki Viktoria Kuzmova (SVK) bt Alize Cornet (FRA) 6-4, 6-3 But the 11-time champion man in the professional era to ever, and Djokovic cantered champion Stanislas Wawrinka took advantage of the opportu- Bertens looked in fine fettle, (NED x4) bt P Parmentier (FRA) 6-3, 6-4 saved them all in the first hold all four Grand Slam titles to victory to set up a second- of Switzerland recovered to go nities she got,” said Wozniacki. though, beating home player Shelby Rogers (USA) bt Astra Sharma (AUS) 6-3, 6-3 Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP x28) bt Dayana game of the match and on two separate occasions. round clash with Switzerland’s past Slovakian Jozef Kovalik “I ran out of steam in the Pauline Parmentier 6-3, 6-4. Yastremska (UKR) 2-6, 7-6 (7/0), 6-0 that was about as good as Djokovic more than Henri Laaksonen. 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-3. end and made some unforced Elsewhere in the women’s Elise Mertens (BEL x20) bt Tamara Zidansek (SLO) it got for Hanfmann as the matched the Spaniard Nadal’s Among others, Australian errors that I don’t usually do, draw, Australian eighth seed 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 world number two cruised display with a near faultless Alex De Minaur, seeded 21st, Wozniacki dumped out so that was very frustrating.” Ashleigh Barty saw off Ameri- Diane Parry (FRA) bt Vera Lapko (BLR) 6-2, 6-4 Mandy Minella (LUX) bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Monday. “That first game performance in the afternoon beat the United States’ Bradley Earlier on Monday, former Sixth seed and two-time can Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-3, (RUS) 6-4, 6-2 was disappointing,” said sunshine on Court Philippe Klahn 6-1, 6-4, 6-4, although world number one Caroline Wimbledon champion Petra while Britain’s Johanna Konta Anastasija Sevastova (LAT x12) bt Luksika Kumkhum 27-year-old Hanfmann, who Chatrier to seal a 22nd consec- Georgian 15th seed Nikoloz Wozniacki collapsed to a 0-6, Kvitova was forced to pull out clinched her first Roland Gar- (THA) 6-1, 6-4 arrived in Paris with just one utive win in Grand Slam play Basilashvili fell to a surprising 6-3, 6-3 loss to Russian world before her scheduled opener ros win at the fifth time of ask- Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) bt Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x13) 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 win to his name this year. since losing in the quarter- 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 thrashing at the number 68 Veronika Kuder- against Sorana Cirstea with a ing with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Zarina Diyas (KAZ) bt Audrey Albie (FRA) 6-2, 6-2 He had earned just $3,600 finals here last year. hands of Argentinian World No. metova in the women’s singles left arm injury, but said she German Antonia Lottner. Zhang Shuai (CHN) bt Varvara Lepchenko (USA) 6-1, 6-1. since the turn of the year while Nadal has already banked $3.7 million in the same period. Hanfmann became Nadal’s 87th victim Star in stripes Barty looks for World Cup cricket boost at Roland Garros but he took comfort from seeing the great Spaniard from up AFP men’s team defend their world title. caught the eye as much around, as well, with a lot of the Danielle Collins, a surprise close. For 32-year-old Nadal, PARIS “I will be glued to it,” said Barty as her game on Mon- girls are in black and in darker semi-finalist at the Australian Open next up is -- another Ger- after beating Jessica Pegula of the day, dressed in striking colours, and it al- in January. man qualifier in the shape ASHLEIGH Barty may have turned United States 6-3, 6-3 to make the black and white tiger ways look good But Barty, who saw off American of Yannick Maden, ranked her back on her cricket career, but that French Open second round stripes. against the red clay.” Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-3 in the women’s at 114. He had won just won’t prevent her from missing the for the third time. “I think it looks singles first round on Monday, is not one match on tour in 2019 World Cup when she leaves France for “I’ll be watching pretty good against getting too carried away by her chanc- before he doubled that tally England after Roland Garros. the women’s football the clay,” said Barty es of making the second week in Paris on Monday by beating Bel- The 23-year-old Australian took World Cup as well. after her win over for the first time. gium’s Kimmer Coppejans a break from tennis to play Twen- It’s a little bit of a 72nd-ranked “I think that the level is there. I 7-6 (7/0), 7-5, 6-3 to give ty20 cricket in 2015-2016. Since her sporting haven over know that there’s no red flags, noth- him a second round clash return, however, she has thrived, the next month for ing I need to stress or worry about. with Nadal. Like Hanfmann, reaching the top 10 as well as a earn- everyone. “It’s just about going out there 29-year-old Maden played ing a place in the Australian Open “So I think I’ll be Next up for and enjoying playing the matches, college tennis in the US quarter-finals this year. glued to the TV like the the Austral- enjoy competing, making sure I’m and until Monday had yet to At the French Open this year, she rest of the world.” ian is a clash there for every rally, there for every register a win at the Slams. is seeded eight, her highest level so Barty insists she made the right Pegula secured with against ei- point, and trying to give myself the “With YouTube you can find far at the Grand Slams. decision in returning to tennis after six breaks of serve in ther Ger- best chance.” things,” said Nadal of the The Cricket World Cup runs from her brief employment wielding a bat exactly one hour. many’s potential pitfalls of facing May 30 until July 14, neatly dovetailing rather than a racquet. “They’ve kind of released it spo- Tatjana Ashleigh Barty of Australia in action the relative unknowns of with the grass court season in England. “It was a natural decision and ob- radically over the year. But very Maria or against Jessica Pegula of the USA during Hanfmann and Maden. (AFP) And Barty says she will not miss viously a very good one,” she added. cool. I think it pops. Amer- their women’s first round match at the out on the action as the Australian Meanwhile, Barty’s outfit “There’s a bit of black going ica’s Roland Garros on Monday. (EPA-EFE) 18 Tuesday, May 28, 2019 Sports Team Oman Air get new racing campaign off to winning start

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK “We are a new team and the foundations for their ulti- “We struggled in a couple of MUSCAT trying hard, and we have been mate success with a hat-trick races today and slipped back a able to find some areas that of race victories on the third of little, but we held on for a really TEAM Oman Air got their first are definite strengths,” said four days of racing. good result and we are of course ever GC32 Racing Tour season Greenhalgh, Oman Air’s pro- Going into Sunday’s final happy with that.” off to the best possible start with ject manager, mainsail trim- races the crew held an eight Also delighted was Mashari, victory at the opening event of mer and tactician. point advantage, a lead they a regular with the Oman Sail or- 2019, the GC32 Villasimius Cup “We had a great team on pa- were able to maintain despite ganised team. in Sardinia. per and it all came good for us. persistent pressure from the He said: “It has been good Racing in sometimes tricky We are really good downwind chasing pack, notably Ernesto to have done so well at the and difficult conditions the and our manoeuvres have also Bertarelli’s Swiss team on Alin- start of our GC32 Racing Tour Oman Air crew showed their been good, and we have been ghi and multiple Olympic gold campaign. The other teams are mettle in a highly competitive competitive upwind as well. medal winner Ben Ainslie’s very competitive and we know 10-strong fleet of high-speed “It’s also been working re- crew on INEOS Rebels UK, who they will come back strongly foiling catamarans to claim the ally well between Adam Mino- took second and third places throughout the season. first round by a clear nine points prio and I, calling the tactics respectively on the overall po- “There is a long way to go, in front of the pursuing pack. and getting the boat going dium. Victory was sealed with but we are a good team and we The win marked a suc- in the right direction, so we a second place in the 16th and will be trying our hardest to get cessful debut for the new-look are really pleased that that’s final race of the regatta. a good result at every event.” Oman Air crew, which has seen worked out as well as it has “It has been solid, relent- Team Oman Air – also established team members Pete – we are just nicely in synch less rain for the last few days supported by EFG Private Greenhalgh, Nasser al Mashari which is how it should be.” and we have had a lot of wind Bank Monaco – will be back in and Stewart Dodson joined by After sharing the early lead at times, with it being quite action at the end of June with the highly-rated New Zealand with defending GC32 cham- shifty – difficult conditions but the second event on the GC32 helmsman Adam Minoprio as pions Norauto, led by French we somehow managed to get Racing Tour schedule in La- skipper and the experienced ace Franck Cammas, the de- the racing in,” said Greenhalgh gos, southern Portugal, from British sailor Adam Piggott. termined Oman Air team built Team Oman Air with the GC32 Racing Tour Villasimius Cup after their victory in Sardinia, Italy. of the unseasonal conditions. June 26th-30th. Villa return to EPL with win over Derby County The win earns Aston Villa £170 million, the most lucrative single game prize in football history Chelsea’s manager Maurizio Sarri (right) and assistant Gianfranco Zola attend a training session during a Chelsea media day at Chel- REUTERS sea’s training ground in Cobham, recently. (EPA-EFE) LONDON

ASTON Villa returned to the Sarri on shaky Premier League, after a three- year absence, beating Derby County 2-1 in the Champion- ground as Chelsea ship playoff final at Wembley on Monday. Goals from Anwar El Ghazi and John McGinn put challenge Arsenal Villa 2-0 up before Martyn Waghorn pulled one back for Derby in the 81st minute, but for European glory Dean Smith’s side held on for the victory under intense REUTERS his future in the run-up to the pressure. BAKU trip to Baku. The playoff final is consid- “I have to speak with my ered the most lucrative single WHEN Chelsea meet Arse- club after the final. I want to game of football in the world, nal in the Europa League final know if they are happy with me with promotion earning Villa on the shores of the Caspian or not,” he said. an estimated £170 million in Sea on Wednesday, it might “I think we had a good sea- revenue. Aston Villa’s players celebrate on the pitch after the English Championship play-off final match against Derby County at Wembley Stadium in be coach Maurizio Sarri’s last son with a lot of problems, of Norwich City and Shef- London on Monday. Aston Villa won the game 2-1, and are promoted to the Premier League. (AFP) match in charge despite what course. We lost two or three field United had already se- appears as a solid first year at matches very badly but we had cured promotion to the top vantage in the 59th minute pressure in the final minutes, there now. I’ve led my boy- ture with the backing of own- Stamford Bridge. a good season in the end.” Sarri flight for next season after when a deflected shot from but were unable to break hood team to the Premier ers Nassef Sawiris and Wes Under the Italian, Chelsea appeared to be on the ropes in finishing in the top two po- El Ghazi looped into the area. through. League,” he said. Edens. have qualified for the Cham- February when Chelsea were sitions in the second tier Derby keeper Kelle Roos Villa’s local-born mid- A 10-match winning “It feels very good. The pions League next season and thrashed 6-0 in the Premier Championship. came out but was unable fielder Jack Grealish, who streak during the run-in pro- lads are a terrific bunch. They reached the final of the domes- League by Manchester City, Villa, European champi- to capture the ball under a was close to leaving the club pelled Smith’s Villa side into take on different ideas, they tic League Cup before losing not long after a 4-0 drubbing ons in 1982, were relegated challenge from McGinn, who before the start of the season, the playoffs where they got deserve it. I believe pressure in a penalty shootout against by Bournemouth. in 2016 and lost to Fulham in bundled it home. showed his class throughout past West Midlands rivals is what you put on yourself, Manchester City. But Chelsea stabilised last year’s playoff final. Derby, managed by for- and was delighted with pro- West Bromwich Albion in the we work hard every day, the By contrast Arsenal, under while Arsenal went on a miser- El Ghazi opened the scor- mer Chelsea and England motion. semi-finals. only difference is expecta- Unai Emery in his first season able run of form late in the sea- ing just before the break with midfielder Frank Lampard, “I’m speechless. It was Smith, who began the tion. We’ve got two owners in London, missed out on the son, costing them the chance a diving header from Ahmed got back in the game when such a hard game... It means season at Brentford and took have got a lot of money, and four Champions League spots of leap-frogging bitter rivals Elmohamady’s cross from the substitute Jack Marriott’s low the world to go up, we know over from Steve Bruce at are in it for the long haul. The on offer in the Premier League Spurs into fourth place. right. shot was turned in by Wag- where this club belongs. I’ve Villa Park in October, said potential now is massive,” he after a late slump in form. Arsenal’s strike force of McGinn doubled the ad- horn and they piled on the stayed here and we’re back the club had an exciting fu- said. The Gunners must now Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang beat their city rivals in the and Alexandre Lacazette will Olympic Stadium in Azerbai- fancy their chances against jan’s capital Baku to squeeze Chelsea’s often shaky defence, Quick read into Europe’s premier compe- which will be missing the in- Wolff expects Bottas to be tition. jured Toni Rudiger. Yet it is Sarri who seems to Defensive midfielder Kane says he’s fit for Champions League be on the shakier ground, not N’Golo Kante is expected to final against Liverpool least because of Chelsea’s re- be fit for selection after a ham- fired up by Monaco setback cord of hiring and firing man- string injury but England’s Ru- LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane declared himself fit to agers - a dozen, including in- ben Loftus-Cheek and Callum REUTERS play in Saturday’s Champions League final and said the decision rests terim coaches, have come and Hudson-Odoi are out of Chel- LONDON with manager Mauricio Pochettino. Kane has been out since injuring gone since Russian oligarch sea contention with Achilles his ankle in the quarter-final first leg against Manchester City in early Roman Abramovich bought tendon injuries. MERCEDES expect an angry April. Spurs’ top scorer recently returned to training in preparation the club in 2003. The Gunners’ back line Valtteri Bottas to come back against Liverpool in Madrid. “When the injury happened, the only game Arsenal, by contrast, proved to be their own weak strongly after losing ground to available was this one because it was the only one in the timeframe,” gave former manager Arsene link during their domestic team mate Lewis Hamilton in Kane, who has 24 goals this season, said on Monday. Wenger 22 years in the job be- season, giving Eden Hazard a the Formula One championship “It worked well in terms of the rehab; there was no time to rush back fore he made way for Emery. chance to shine on what many through no fault of his own in because there were no games. I’m in a good place, the ankle feels Furthermore, Chelsea’s Chelsea fans fear will be his last Monaco on Sunday. strong. It’s down to the manager if I play or not, but so far, so good.” third-place in the Premier appearance for the Blues. He is The Finn is now 17 points Pochettino wouldn’t confirm Kane’s availability, but did call the England league table might look im- expected to move to Real Ma- behind the five-times world international’s rehabilitation “very positive.” pressive, but they finished 25 drid in the summer. champion after finishing third “We have one week to see how he is progressing, we’ll see what hap- points behind runners-up Liv- Arsenal will also suffer in Monaco following a pitlane pens,” he told a news conference. (DPA) erpool and were thankful that from the absence of Henrikh collision with Red Bull’s Max Tottenham Hotspur and Man- Mkhitaryan who decided not Verstappen early in the race. chester United, along with Ar- to travel to Baku because of Verstappen was handed Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes AMG GP on the podium after the 2019 Formula Conte poised to replace Spalletti as senal, stumbled badly. concerns over his safety in a five-second penalty for the One Grand Prix of Monaco at the Monte Carlo circuit on Sunday. (EPA-EFE) Inter Milan coach: Reports Some Chelsea fans have Azerbaijan, which has a long- unsafe release, a sanction that been very direct in their criti- running and sometimes bloody dropped the Dutchman from “From Valtteri’s point of the podium in every race so MILAN: Former Italy coach Antonio Conte is poised to replace Lu- cisms of Sarri’s tactics and have dispute with Mkhitaryan’s na- second to fourth. Hamilton view, he will be gutted. He far this season, with Mercedes ciano Spalletti as coach of Inter Milan, according to reports in Italy on made it clear to the club’s hier- tive Armenia. won, his fourth victory of the had the pace on the weekend, taking five successive one-twos Monday. Spalletti sealed Inter’s Champions League berth for a second archy who they would prefer The final gives Emery a season, with Ferrari’s Sebastian he could have been on pole in until Monaco, and has been a consecutive year with a 2-1 win over Empoli on the final day of the in the dugout next season by chance to win the Europa Vettel promoted to second after terms of raw speed and today different driver to the man who Serie A season Sunday. Multiple reports state that the 60-year-old chanting the name of former League for a fourth time hav- Verstappen’s drop. P2 (second) was the minimum failed to win anything in 2018. former Roma and Zenit St Petersburg coach will be axed in favour of midfield hero Frank Lampard. ing led Sevilla to glory in the “Valtteri lost a second place, I think. And that P2 was taken He has two wins and three ex-Juventus, Chelsea and ‘Azzurri’ boss Conte. Gazzetta dello Sport Sarri, who has been linked competition for three years in three points, and Mercedes away from him. The Valtteri second places as well as Sun- said “total agreement” had been reached with 49-year-old Conte, with with the vacant coach’s posi- a row between 2014 and 2016. (lost) a one-two,” said team of 2019 is going to get out of it day’s third, which was still his Corriere dello Sport and Sky Sport Italia reporting a three-year deal tion at Juventus, acknowledged By contrast, Sarri has yet to win principal Toto Wolff on Sunday stronger,” added the Austrian. first Monaco Grand Prix podi- would be sealed before the end of the week. (AFP) the uncertainty surrounding a major title as a coach. evening. Bottas has still finished on um appearance. Sports Tuesday, May 28, 2019 19 Rashid puts Zaman’s rise from positive spin Khawaja steers on Afghan navy sailor to WC bid AFP Oz to comfortable Pak’s talisman KABUL AFP in the World Cup.” AFGHANISTAN are making KARACHI Luck has been on the un- steady progress as a young assuming left-hander’s side cricketing nation and can FAKHAR Zaman was still es- since he defied his father’s ad- boast a true star in Rashid win over Sri Lanka tablishing himself in the Paki- vice not to play cricket in his Khan, whom they hope will to stan team when Jasprit Bum- native Mardan. take them to the next level. rah’s no-ball in the Champions Fakhar joined the Pa- The 20-year-old, who is The left-handed opener slams 89 to help his team post the victory Trophy final triggered his un- kistan Navy but cricket re- top of the Twenty20 world likely rise from navy sailor to mained his dream. rankings, will be a key weapon REUTERS World Cup talisman. He kept his hand in by in the World Cup in England SOUTHAMPTON India appeared to have playing for the navy team and Wales. made the perfect start in and crucially benefited from a Afghanistan can also boast OPENER Usman Khawaja the 2017 Champions Tro- stroke of good fortune to fulfil 18-year-old spinner Mujeeb shrugged off injury concerns phy showpiece when Zaman his wish of playing for the na- Ur Rahman in their ranks but to guide Australia to a five- edged to wicketkeeper MS tional side. Rashid is regarded as the most wicket win over Sri Lanka in Dhoni off Bumrah. important bowler in Test, one- their final World Cup warm- However, the Indian fast “But with that fame day international and T20 up match at the Rose Bowl, bowler had overstepped the cricket. Southampton on Monday. crease and Zaman, who had comes responsibility and I As well as topping the Australia’s disciplined scored just three at the time, have become more mature T20 charts, Nangarhar-born bowling performance restrict- was given a reprieve that he and now I realise the Rashid has climbed to third ed Sri Lanka to 239-8, but they made the most of, reaching importance of playing my place in the ODI rankings since looked to have suffered a blow his first one-day international part. That will be my top he made his debut soon after when Khawaja limped off af- century. priority in the World Cup.” his 17th birthday. ter being hit on the knee while Fakhar changed the game He has developed an envi- fielding. with a crisp 114 to help Paki- able ability to take wickets be- He later emerged to open stan beat their bitter rivals by Pakistan opener Sharjeel cause he is not afraid of being the batting alongside captain a 180-run margin at the Oval Khan was banned in a spot- hit - a trait he picked up while Aaron Finch and continued to lift the trophy. fixing case during the second playing Twenty20 cricket in Since then Fakhar has edition of the Pakistan Super India, Australia and England. BRIEF SCORES been the lynchpin of Paki- League in 2017, just three Rashid took 43 wickets in stan’s batting and will be ex- months before the Champi- 16 ODIs in 2017, second only Australia 241 for 5 (Khawaja 89, pected to anchor the line-up ons Trophy. to Pakistan’s Hasan Ali, before Vandersay 2-51) beat Sri Lanka when the World Cup gets un- Fakhar’s aggressive bat- topping the 2018 charts with 239 for 8 (Thirimanne 56, Zampa der way in England on May ting had impressed head 48 scalps in 20 matches. 2-39) by five wickets 30. coach Mickey Arthur and The bowler achieved the “That no-ball made me. I chief selector Inzamam-ul- feat of being the fastest to had a dream before the final Haq. 100 ODI wickets, reaching that I will be dismissed off a They instantly selected the landmark in 44 matches, his push for a spot in the Aus- Australia’s Usman Khawaja plays a shot during the 2019 Cricket World Cup warm-up match against Sri no-ball and it proved to be Fakhar as an attacking option beating Australian paceman tralian top order with a 105- Lanka at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, southern England, on Monday. (AFP) true,” Fakhar said. “Initially I and he has paid them back by Mitchell Starc’s record by an ball 89. was very sad as I had prom- averaging a stunning 51.31 in eight-match margin. Shaun Marsh (34), Glenn sparked a middle-order col- ised my parents to do well in his 36 ODIs. Afghanistan coach Phil Maxwell (36) and Marcus After getting a blow on his knee while fielding, Khawaja lapse as Sri Lanka slipped that match.” “I saw a game changer in Simmons acknowledges Stoinis (32)failed to build on later emerged to open the batting alongside captain from 110-2 to 161-6. Fakhar’s role in that fa- Fakhar,” recalled Inzamam. Rashid’s importance as a solid starts but wicketkeeper- Aaron Finch and continued his push for a spot in the All-rounder Dhananjaya mous victory against India “We had to find someone to bowler. batsman Alex Carey and Pat Australian top order with a 105-ball 89. de Silva (43) shared a 64-run came in just his fourth ODI replace Sharjeel and after “Rashid... has got the mind Cummins ensured Australia seventh-wicket stand with and made him a household watching Fakhar we thought of a 30-year-old. He knows ex- chased down the total with 31 Thisara Perera (27) to ensure name in Pakistan. ‘here is our man’. actly what is expected of him,” balls to spare. games are great to keep tick- Lanka were off to a steady Sri Lanka breached the 200- But he said the recogni- “He lived up to that prom- Simmons said. Finch, who deployed eight ing the boxes and ensure we start after opting to bat first run mark, before Mitchell tion has not distracted him ise and we see him as an an- Rashid is confident he can bowlers on a chilly day in are doing our basics well. but wickets at regular inter- Starc rattled his stumps in the as he focuses on inspiring chor in the World Cup.” make the difference for Af- Southampton, was pleased “Guys are putting their vals from Australian spinners 47th over. Pakistan’s bid for a second The 29-year-old, called ghanistan. “To be the best you with preparations ahead hands up, and it will be a bru- in the middle overs meant they Fast bowler Pat Cummins World Cup win and first “soldier” by his teammates for need to believe in your skills,” of their World Cup opener tal selection call come our first failed to post a big score. was Australia’s most economi- since 1992. his navy connection, smashed he said. “How we played in the against Afghanistan on Satur- game. Opener Lahiru Thiri- cal bowler, collecting 1-23 “I was very lucky and ever Pakistan’s first double century Asia Cup was totally different day. “We have specific plans manne carved out a composed from eight overs, while leg- since that century I have be- in a one-day match in Zimba- and we showed that we can “Feels like we are ready against Afghanistan, they have half-century but his dismissal spinner Adam Zampa collect- come famous,” he said. bwe last year and knows what beat any side.” to go,” Finch said. “Practice some world class players.” Sri by off-spinner Nathan Lyon ed 2-39 from nine overs. “But with that fame is required of him in his coun- comes responsibility and I try’s World Cup campaign. have become more mature “My job is to score runs and now I realise the im- and I am doing that so I know portance of playing my part. that hard work will pay off,” England thrash Afghanistan in their last warm-up That will be my top priority he said.

REUTERS day (opening World Cup match,” Roy Rashid Khan edged Root to slip for LONDON said. a golden duck. Root claimed his “We want to be doing this on third wicket as Aftab Alam chipped ENGLAND cruised to a nine-wicket Thursday and doing it throughout the straight to point. win over Afghanistan in their final whole tournament. The World Cup Mohammad Nabi offered some World Cup warm-up at The Oval can’t come soon enough.” resistance with a 42-ball 44, which on Monday after a Jofra Archer-led After England captain Eoin Mor- included three sixes, but he was the bowling attack restricted the under- gan won the toss and opted to field, last man out when a thick edge off dogs to 160. Archer and Root’s part-time off-spin Archer found Jonny Bairstow at deep Opener Jason Roy smashed an delivered three wickets apiece in third-man. unbeaten 46-ball 89, studded with bowler-friendly conditions. Earlier in the day, England’s med- 11 fours and four sixes, and Joe Root Barbados-born fast bowler Archer ical department delivered some posi- finished on 29 not out as England struck twice with the new ball, draw- tive news as seamer Mark Wood was chased down the total with 32.3 overs ing a top edge from Hazratullah Zazai declared fit to face South Africa. to spare. before wicketkeeper-batsman Rah- The 29-year-old Durham bowler After defeat to Australia in their mat Shah holed out to mid-on. had left the field after feeling discom- previous warm-up game, Roy was The wheels came off the Afghani- fort in his left foot against Australia pleased with his team’s all-round dis- stan innings when they lost four but scans have shown no sign of in- play ahead of Thursday’s World Cup wickets in the space of just eight de- jury. opener against South Africa at the liveries, with Hashmatullah Shahidi same venue. England’s Jofra Archer bowls during the (19) and Najibullah Zadran (1) care- Brief scores: “I am feeling really good. I want 2019 Cricket World Cup warm-up match lessly run out. England 161 for 1 (Roy 89*, Nabi 1-34) beat Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman celebrates his century during the second the tournament to start now. It was a against Afghanistan at The Oval in London Captain Gulbadin Naib (14) was Afghanistan 160 (Nabi 44, Root 3-22, Archer 3-32) by One-Day International (ODI) cricket match against England at The good preparation leading into Thurs- on Monday. (AFP) caught at long-on to Moeen Ali and nine wickets Ageas Bowl in Southampton recently. (AFP) Tendulkar advises India not to WC hosts happy with security press panic button after NZ loss amid ‘moderate’ threat AFP Lanka as a result of suicide there had been 3.2 million ap- AFP LONDON bombings on Easter Sunday. plications for tickets – some NEW DELHI “I will not judge the team after “When those incidents four times the actual availabil- each and every game. It’s a tourna- BRITAIN may be dealing happened so close to the tour- ity – with 110,000 women and INDIA must not press the panic button ment and things like these will hap- with a national threat level of nament, quite understandably 100,000 Under-16s expected despite losing badly to New Zealand in pen,” Tendulkar was quoted as say- “severe” but officials are con- that did cause some nervous- to attend. their first warm-up game for the World ing by the PTI fident they have the security ness,” Jill McCracken, the Officials are keen to attract Cup, the country’s batting legend Sachin measures in place for a Cricket World Cup safety and security family audiences to matches Tendulkar said. World Cup in England and director, told reporters at the and players have been remind- New Zealand thrashed India, one of while India face South Africa in South- Wales rated a “moderate” se- Oval on Monday. ed of the need to set a good ex- the World Cup favourites, by six wickets ampton on June 5. curity risk. McCracken, explaining the ample while on the field. at the Oval on Sunday with only Ravindra Tendulkar also said teams used warm- Recent terror attacks in security position regarding the “The definition of sledging Jadeja and Hardik Pandya scoring more up games to try different players, which cricket playing nations have World Cup, added: “The UK (verbal abuse of an opponent) than 20 in India’s total of 179. was another reason not to read too much heightened safety concerns national threat level sits at ‘se- is always difficult,” said ICC India’s batsmen were “blown away” Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar into the results. regarding the World Cup, vere’, which means an attack is chief executive David Richard- on the green wicket, the Hindustan Times “Teams are trying different combina- which features 48 one-day in- likely. son. said, sounding the alarm for their World one or two games may go here and there. tions,” he said. “Almost all teams are not ternational matches in 46 days “But we also work with “But one point we’ve em- Cup hopes. But Tendulkar called for calm. “India should make the most of the sure about their front-line playing 11. starting with tournament hosts security services to assess the phasised in all team briefings “I will not judge the team after each practice matches,” added Tendulkar, the Several bowlers and batsmen are rest- England against South Africa impact of the tournament itself is to uphold a good standard of and every game. It’s a tournament and highest scorer in Test and one-day cricket. ed,” he said. on Thursday. and they have come to us with behaviour. things like these will happen,” Tendulkar “They should understand what kind of “All the teams are preparing and try- In March, 51 worshippers a bespoke threat for the event “Any malicious or personal was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of surfaces they might get. I won’t panic at all ing different combinations in those con- were shot dead in mosque at- which is ‘moderate’ – the sec- comments won’t be tolerated. India news agency. as of now.” ditions which would work for them,” tacks in the New Zealand city ond lowest on the scale of risk.” Over the last 12 months it’s im- “The main tournament has not even New Zealand begin their World Cup said the former opener, who played in six of Christchurch while more Meanwhile the Interna- proved significantly, generally started yet. I think, we need to settle down, against Sri Lanka in Cardiff on June 1, World Cups. than 250 people died in Sri tional Cricket Council said teams are pretty well behaved.”