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Home , Karim Boudiaf, Khouma Babacar, Kinchit Shah, Pitch and putt, Usman Shinwari

BOXING | Page 6 | Page 7 Alvares hands beat Golovkin Hong Kong by fi rst loss of eight at pro career Asia Cup

Monday, September 17, 2018 FORMULA 1 Moharram 7, 1440 AH Hamilton opens GULF TIMES 40-point lead with Singapore win SPORT Page 4 FOOTBALL / AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Duhail face tough away match against Persepolis

By Sports Reporter hran’s Azadi Stadium. porting Persepolis but we have Persepolis coach Branko scored the only talked it over and the players are Ivankovic said there would be goal of the fi rst leg in Doha to confi dent about dealing with it,” pressure on his side as they had maintain Al Duhail’s 100 percent said Maaloul. lost the fi rst leg. wo Qatar clubs in the record as they matched Ulsan The return of central defend- “There are two Iranian teams semi-fi nals of the pres- Hyundai’s nine successive wins er Karim Boudiaf from injury in the quarter-fi nals and fans tigious AFC Champions from the 2012 competition. One will defi nitely boost Al Duhail’s would be expecting both to make League! It’s a dream sce- more victory would set a new chances against Persepolis who the semi-fi nals. That would Tnario for Qatar which could come record for a single campaign, al- have a formidable record in front mean there will be pressure on us. true today when Al Duhail and Al though Ulsan did record 11 wins of their home fans. As such we can’t aff ord to be lax,” Sadd take on Iranian oppositions in a row between 2012 and 2014. “Karim’s return is good news said the Croatian. in their quarter-fi nals second leg Persepolis, though, have won for us. He is a key member of the “But we are proud of the fact matches. all four of their games in front squad whose contributions to the that we have come this far in the While 2011 winners Al Sadd of home support and recovered team’s cause has been fantastic.” tournament, and we hope the meet Esteghlal on their home turf from a fi rst-leg defi cit against Al Al Duhail, who have won all presence of thousands of fans in Doha today, Al Duhail lock horns Jazira in the Round of 16. They their nine matches in this season’s will be an advantage for us.” with Persepolis in Tehran, both the have conceded just once at Azadi Champions League so far to equal He added that Persepolis will Qatar giants sitting pretty with Stadium and are chasing a second Ulsan Hyundai’s Asian record, are be looking to take the lead early fi rst leg wins under their belts. consecutive semi-fi nal. looking to go one better. and put Duhail on the back foot. Al Sadd, who won the fi rst leg Al Duhail’s new coach Nabil Al Duhail players take part in a training session at Azadi Stadium in Tehran yesterday. (Twitter/DuhailSC) “That would be fantastic. We “When you are trailing that’s 3-1, are clear favourites to seal Maaloul, who took over from don’t look for records as such the best strategy. Everybody their last four spot as they have , is keen to take “We have forgotten our 1-0 vic- second leg. It will be a tough match 100,000 strong partisan crowd because our job is to win every knows it because we don’t want home advantage, while Al Duhail the club’s campaign to the next tory over Persepolis in the fi rst for us, but it’s also a tough match expected at the stadium will not match we play, but if we achieve to fall behind and then play need to ensure they don’t fritter level and was looking to play an leg,” the Tunisian told reporters in for Persepolis,” he added. intimidate Duhail. the record along the way it would catch-up. That would be disas- their 1-0 advantage away at Te- attacking game. Tehran. “We will start afresh in the Maaloul added that the “Surely the fans will be sup- be the icing on the cake.” trous considering our situation.”

HORSE RACING Sheikh Abdullah’s Yazeed wins Dragon at Longchamp Victory at Qatar Arc Trials meet, first at the revamped Parisian track, was Yazeed’s maiden Group 1 PA victory

Qatar Racing’s Roaring Lion wins QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (Gr1)

Sheikh Fahad al-Thani with jockey Oisin Murphy after he rode Roaring Lion to victory on Saturday.

Agencies The latter finished second, a Leopardstown, neck from Roaring Lion. Aidan Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) general manager Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi (second from left) with Jockey Olivier Peslier rides Yazeed to victory in the — Prix O’Brien placed second, third the winners of Qatar Cup — Prix Dragon (Group 1 PA) at Longchamp in Paris yesterday. (JDG) Dragon (Group 1 PA) at Longchamp in Paris yesterday. and fourth in this Group 1. atar Racing Limited- Deauville came third more than Agencies Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Qatar Prix Foy (Group 2). owned Roaring Lion two lengths behind and Athena Paris also to be organised at the iconic After being held up in sec- Qwon his third consecu- was fourth. track. ond last position, the chestnut tive Group 1 when he emerged “It was the best thing I’ve seen Under Olivier Peslier, Alban de showed his authority by domi- victorious in the QIPCO Irish at a racecourse,” said Qatar azeed, owned by His Mieulle-trained Yazeed cantered nating his stablemates Talis- Champion Stakes in Leopards- Racing Limited racing manager Highness Sheikh Abdul- amongst others during the race, manic and Cloth of Stars, win- town, Ireland, on Saturday. David Redvers. lah bin Khalifa al-Thani, following Yas Horse Racing Man- ning with ease by two and a half Cantering on the outside at the “It was an unbelievable ride and won his fi rst Group 1 PA agement’s Shahm. lengths. back of the field under Oisin a fantastic performance and it byY imposing himself in the Qa- The latter took the lead at the Dietrich Von Boetticher, the Murphy, he accelerated at the is just an absolute honour to be tar Cup – Prix Dragon as Qatar start of the home straight and co-owner of Waldgeist, said, start of the home straight. involved with such a horse. I’m Arc Trials made a return to a re- kept accelerating until Yazeed “He’s a physically imposing type After a long acceleration, the so thrilled for Sheikh Fahad and vamped Longchamp in Paris yes- was pulled out by Peslier 300m who tends to carry a lot of con- John Gosden-trained colt man- all the team. It means a lot. We terday. from the post. Yazeed eventu- dition and he has needed time aged to take the advantage thrive to find a horse that can do The Qatar-sponsored nine- ally took the advantage in order to reach maturity. He has done over Saxon Warrior and get the this. It has taken us years to find race meet, which was held in to win by a short neck in front of nothing but progress and his better of him again after the Sheikh Fahad one. We have had the presence of His Highness Shahm. trainer André Fabre knows how Eclipse, at the very end with a some great successes, but not Sheikh Abdullah in the French His Highness Sheikh Moham- to graduate his training accord- final turn of foot. one like this.” capital, featured two Group 1 ed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Gazwan ingly. I thought he was impres- races, including the Arabian fea- fi nished third. Another His sive today.” ture and the Qatar Prix Vermeille Highness Sheikh Abdullah horse, Hot favourite Kitesurf topped de Pomone (Gr2) at Deauville, Arc. Brundtland had won both for Thoroughbreds, besides a Tayf, fi nished fourth. QREC GM Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi (left) with Paris Saint-Germain star the Qatar Prix Vermeille (Gr1). showed her impressive turn of his previous two career starts but number of other Group races. “I think that good older Edinson Cavani at the Qatar Arc Trials meet yesterday. In a strongly- race, the Fa- foot taking the measure of Magic was tackling group class for the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Purebred Arabian horses can bre-trained fi lly struggled to Wand in the dying strides. fi rst time. However, he retained Club (QREC) general manager progress,” de Mieulle said after challenger in the big one. with the thoroughbreds.” go the pace and had consider- Zarkamiya took third but his unbeaten record after setting Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi and Yazeed’s victory. “My horse still has progress to Andre Fabre’s Waldgeist as- able ground to make up on Magic without being able to land a blow a moderate tempo and showing Paris Saint-Germain star Edin- “We did not race this summer make. This afternoon, he was not sumed the mantle as the top Wand at the top of the straight. at the principals. commendable tenacity to shake son Cavani were among those at before this prep-race. I am sur- 100 percent and needed this race. French contender for the next With around 150m to go, Kite- Qatar Prix Niel (Gr2) went to a off the challenge of the well- the races, which were held less prised by the second. He runs We have no horse for him in the month’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de surf, who was coming off an colt, who had to battle very hard travelled Hunting Horn. Neuf- than three weeks ahead of the very well and will be a serious morning. We have to train him Triomphe with a victory in the amazing win in the Darley Prix but isn’t currently entered in the bosc fi nished third. Gulf Times 2 Monday, September 17, 2018 FOOTBALL

AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MLS Zlatan strikes Al Sadd not taking 500th goal of last-4 spot for granted career despite 3-1 advantage ‘We will strive to perform to the best of our ability in order to establish our credentials as one of the best teams in Asia, and for that we are targeting nothing less than a victory’

AFP Los Angeles

wedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his- tory on Saturday, scoring his 500th career goal in stunningS fashion, but it wasn’t enough to lift the Los Angeles Galaxy to a win over Toronto FC. The 36-year-old Ibrahimovic has always had a fl air for the dramatic and he did just that in becoming the third active foot- baller to reach the milestone for club and country, joining Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The six-foot-fi ve (1.95 metre) Ibrahimovic delivered a perfect- ly-timed roundhouse kick in the 43th minute that fooled goal- keeper Alex Bono for his 17th goal of the season. The goal cut the defi cit to 3-1 and sparked a three-goal Gal- Al Sadd star Hassan al-Haydos smiles as he and coach Jesualdo Ferreira address the media yesterday. At right, Esteghlal coach Winfried Schafer. axy rally, but the defending MLS champions held on to win 5-3 By Sports Reporter us on.” in front of a crowd of 30,700 at Doha Earlier, Xavi had made no se- BMO Field in Toronto. cret of the fact that Al Sadd were the bet- “I am happy for Toronto be- ter team in the fi rst leg. cause they will be remembered l Sadd are not taking a semi- “I think we did well (in the fi rst leg) but as my 500th victim,” said Ibra- fi nal spot in the AFC Champi- there’s one more game,” said the 38-year- himovic. ons League for granted when old winner. “It could be just Ibrahimovic came into Sat- Athey clash with Iran’s Esteghlal 90 minutes or it could even go to extra urday’s game tied for second in at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium today. time. We don’t know; in football, we nev- MLS scoring. He has 17 goals and The match begins at 7pm. er know. eight assists in 22 appearances Although they are comfortably poised “At least, we did a really good job in Te- with the Galaxy. with a 3-1 advantage from their quarter- hran. It was a very good performance and Jonathan dos Santos volleyed fi nal fi rst leg in Iran, where the prolifi c I think we were much better than Estegh- the ball over to the Swedish star Baghdad Bounedjah scored twice after lal, especially in the second half. Also, in who whipped around and tapped Akram Afi f had given them a 60th minute the fi rst half, we could have scored at least it home. equaliser, Al Sadd are keen to book their one goal.” “I was close to the goal. It re- last four berth in style with their second The former Barcelona star is playing in minds me of a goal I did in Ajax,” victory over their rivals. his fi rst proper AFC Champions League said Ibrahimovic, who has fi ve Star player Hassan al-Haydos and campaign this year as Al Sadd were game winners for Los Ange- coach Jesualdo Ferreira were emphatic knocked out at the play-off stage in 2016 les. “It came from a cross and I in their view that they would be playing and 2017. turned around and I hit it. I was their normal attacking game and not hid- Meanwhile, Esteghlal coach Winfried just trying to hit the goal and it ing behind their two-goal cushion. Schafer said his team had no option but to went in.” “We are ready and raring to go,” al- believe in themselves. Ibrahimovic scored 62 of his Haydos said at yesterday’s pre-match “It may look like a diffi cult job for us as goals for Sweden with the rest press conference. “We will strive to per- we trail 3-1 but we have to back our abili- coming while playing for Malmo form to the best of our ability in order to ties and hope for the best,” said the Ger- FF, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Mi- establish our credentials as one of the man. “We have to constantly keep believ- lan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris best teams in Asia, and for that we are ing we can do it.” Saint-Germain, Manchester targeting nothing less than a victory,” he Schafer added that Esteghlal paid a United and now the Galaxy. added. Al Sadd captain Xavi trains with his teammates yesterday. heavy price for the many mistakes the Jonathan Osorio’s 75th- Al-Haydos, who last week bagged his committed during the fi rst leg. minute go-ahead goal halted a 100th international cap when Qatar faced mination to overturn their defi cit. But our starting the match on 0-0,” said the vet- team strategy or formations because they “Everybody knows Al Sadd are a three-goal Galaxy comeback Palestine in a friendly, said Esteghlal are preparations have been excellent and we eran Portuguese tactician. “We are not will reach the opposition.” great team and when you make mistakes and helped give Toronto some a dangerous team and cannot be taken are ready for then,” he said. thinking of our victory over them in Iran. However, he said crowd support would against them that could prove costly. Be- much needed points in their lightly. Coach Ferreira added that it would be That’s in the past. We are looking at the be important for his side. cause of those mistakes we are now fac- push. “They came to Doha several days ahead mistake for Al Sadd to rely solely on their future.” Ferreira, however, refused to di- “I appeal to Al Sadd fans to fi ll up the ing a diffi cult situation. But we will play Jay Chapman added an insur- of the match to get used to the conditions, fi rst-leg advantage. vulge his strategy for the match. stadium. The fans are very important to competitive football and try to reverse the ance goal in stoppage time with a which speaks volumes about their deter- “As far as we are concerned we are “Everybody knows I don’t talk about us and it would be great to see them cheer situation.” low shot to the corner.

EPL Jimenez’s goal leaves Burnley winless

AFP good football and stayed organised and created Early in the second half, Jimenez missed an- West Ham climbed off the bottom of the table Wolverhampton chances. Burnley are a good side and stayed in it other good chance when he carelessly shot over and up to 16th. Everton did not manage a shot on until the end with only defender Charlie Taylor to beat. target in the second half as they slipped to only “If there is a ‘but’, we could be more clini- Jimenez did score with a deft fl ick from Do- their third defeat by West Ham in their last 21 aul Jimenez scored the only goal of the cal. But if we can continue to make these many herty’s cross just after the hour. Premier League meetings. game as newly-promoted Wolverhamp- chances, it makes me very proud.” That goal was suffi cient to give Wolves their “We didn’t play with enough quality to win the ton Wanderers continued their impres- Meanwhile Burnley boss Sean Dyche urged fi rst home win of the season and meant Espirito match,” Silva said. “We started well with good sive start to the Premier League season supporters to keep faith with the side, telling Santo’s side had recorded back-to-back suc- pace and intensity, but we made mistakes, and at Rwith a 1-0 win at home to Burnley yesterday. the BBC their experience of losing streaks in the cesses following a 1-0 victory away to West Ham that moment we didn’t react well.” Victory lifted Wolves into the top half of the Premier League would stand the Clarets in good before the international break. West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini made table but this result left Burnley still searching stead. Defeat left Burnley second-bottom, with just six changes to the team that lost to Wolverhamp- for their fi rst league win of the campaign as they “We have been down this road before,” he said. one point from their opening fi ve games. ton Wanderers last time out, with Yarmolenko equalled a club record run of four successive Pre- “That is important now so we can realise it Meanwhile, West Ham United beat Everton handed his fi rst league start. mier League defeats. (climbing the table) can be done.” 3-1 at Goodison Park to secure their fi rst Premier He made an immediate impact, guiding the ball The win was no more than hosts Wolves de- The game started sluggishly, with the opening League points of the season as Marco Silva tasted into the net after Arnautovic had controlled a dif- served. They dominated and could easily have 20 minutes memorable only for an alert stop by defeat for the fi rst time as Everton manager. fi cult pass brilliantly before laying the ball across. been at least two goals ahead before Jimenez Burnley’s Joe Hart as the former goal- A much-changed West Ham side took the lead West Ham’s second was all down to Yarmolenko, broke the deadlock in the 61st minute when he keeper reacted well to the threat of Helder Costa’s after 11 minutes following a swift counter-attack though, as he capitalised on a poor clearance turned in Matt Doherty’s cross. cross. through Andriy Yarmolenko and the Ukrainian from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford before By contrast, Burnley rarely threatened and Wolves dominated from then on, with only forward curled a stunning shot into the net 20 curling the ball into the bottom corner. their only notable chances fell late in the match to Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Mexican some last-ditch eff orts from Hart and James minutes later to make it two. should have done better from the Johann Berg Gudmundsson. striker Raul Jimenez celebrates after scoring Tarkowski denying the home side on the half Gylfi Sigurdsson headed Everton back into the edge of the box, before Sigurdsson powered his “I am very, very satisfi ed,” Wolves manager against Burnley at the Molineux stadium hour when Jimenez, Jonny Otto and Doherty all match on the stroke of halftime, but Marko Ar- header into the net in fi rst-half stoppage time to Nuno Espirito Santo told Sky Sports. “We played in Wolverhampton yesterday. went close to opening the scoring. nautovic’s goal just after the hour mark ensured give Everton hope. Gulf Times Monday, September 17, 2018 3 FOOTBALL

SERIE A SPOTLIGHT Juve’s Costa apologises for Ronaldo on the spitting at Federico mark as Juventus keep 100% record ‘The important thing is that the team wins. I was a little tense with all the talk after my move from Real Madrid and not scoring, so there were a lot of expectations’

Juventus’ Brazilian forward reacts during the Italian football match Juventus vs Sassuolo in Turin yesterday.

AFP Milan anz Stadium, and grabbed a sec- ond 15 minutes later following a counter-attack involving Costa uventus forward Douglas and midfi elder Emre Costa has apologised after Can. being sent off for spitting Senegalese striker Khouma in the face of Sassuolo’s Babacar headed in a late goal for FedericoJ Di Francesco in a 2-1 Se- Sassuolo who fell to their fi rst rie A win in Turin yesterday. defeat of the season. Cristiano Ronaldo scored Just after Costa was given a his fi rst goals for Juventus but yellow card for locking horns the champions’ fourth win in with Di Francesco, the two bick- as many games this season was ering players came together overshadowed by Brazilian Cos- again and Costa elbowed his rival ta’s late red card for spitting at and than spat at Di Francesco’s Di Francesco — the 24-year-old face. son of Roma coach Eusebio Di The incident was referred to Francesco. VAR and Costa was sent off by “I would like to apologise to all the referee. the Juventus fans for my wrong “We could have scored a third reaction during today’s game,” goal, but instead we started to wrote Costa on Instagram. play as individuals, we tried “I also apologise to my team- to dribble past everyone, this mates, who are always by my wound up the opposition, who side, in good and bad times. It then reacted badly and then you was ugly, I am aware of that and get situations like Douglas Cos- I apologise to everyone for that. ta,” said Allegri. “I want to make clear that Allegri congratulated Ron- this isolated conduct has noth- aldo for breaking his duck before ing to do with what I’ve shown their trip to to play Va- throughout my career.” lencia in the Champions League Juventus’ Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after he scored his first goal since he joined the club from Real Madrid yesterday. Costa now faces an extended next Wednesday. ban with coach Massimiliano “You just had to see the fi rst AFP ing seven-time Italian champions moved next week’s Champions League trip to being deducted three points by the Ital- Allegri annoyed with the for- three games and how close Ro- Milan three points clear of Napoli. Red Star Belgrade. ian football federation for false account- ward for “rising to provocation”. naldo went to scoring,” he said. “I’m happy. I worked hard and I knew Sassuolo are third with seven points. ing, battled back in the second half. “Maybe he was irritated at a “I think he rushed a couple of that the goals would come,” said Ronaldo. Bolstered by fi ve-time winner Ron- Valter Birsa pulled a goal back in the foul before, but it doesn’t mat- chances today — it looked like ristiano Ronaldo scored his fi rst “I thank my teammates who really aldo, Juventus begin their quest for a fi rst 52nd minute, with Polish striker Mar- ter, because these things should he was absolutely desperate to competitive goals for Juventus helped me and allowed me to adapt to Champions League title since 1996 at iusz Stepinski sealing a point for the club absolutely not happen. The one score. yesterday with a second-half Italian football.” Valencia on Wednesday. from Verona seven minutes from time. thing we must avoid is rising to “Football has a way of evening double that ensured a 2-1 win Ronaldo — Real Madrid’s record all- “The Champions League is my fa- “This was a game we had under con- provocation,” said Allegri. things out and that was the sto- overC Sassuolo to make it four victories time goal scorer — showed his frustra- vourite tournament,” said Ronaldo, who trol, we should have killed it off . This Ronaldo fl icked in the fi rst ry of the fi rst goal, with the ball from as many Serie A games. tion, however, kicking the post as he scored 15 goals in the tournament last can’t happen against Real,” said Roma goal from close range in the 50th bouncing off the post and sitting But there was controversy in Turin as missed two more chances. season. “It’s a very diffi cult group, we coach Eusebio Di Francesco. minute amid a scramble in front up for him. The second goal was Juventus winger Douglas Costa was sent “This is football. The important thing know that we can do well and Juve must The Roma coach added: “We’ll be of goal, to euphoria at the Alli- brilliant. I’m happy for him.” off late on after being caught on camera is that the team wins. I was a little tense focus on being the best.” going out to challenge Real Madrid on spitting at Sassuolo’s Federico Di Franc- with all the talk after my move from Real Roma’s confi dence was dented ahead Wednesday. We mustn’t lose our heads, esco. Madrid and not scoring, so there were a of their daunting midweek trip to Cham- even if these results destabilise us.” CHAMPIONSHIP Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ron- lot of expectations, but I thank my team- pions League holders Real Madrid, as Roma are eighth with fi ve points from aldo, who arrived amid great pomp and mates for supporting me throughout.” bottom club Chievo came from two goals four games — already seven points adrift ceremony following a 100-million-euro Senegalese striker Khouma Babacar down to snatch a 2-2 draw at the Sta- of Juventus — and also behind city rivals ($117mn) deal from Real Madrid, tapped headed in a consolation goal for Sassuolo dio Olimpico. Stephan El Shaarawy and Lazio who won at Empoli with Marco Harrison preserves in from barely a yard out after a goal- in injury-time as the side from Modena Bryan Cristante put Roma, who lost to Parolo scoring the only goal. mouth scramble on 50 minutes. fell to their fi rst defeat of the season. AC Milan before the international break, Inter Milan slipped to 14th with a The 33-year-old added a second 15 Juventus are the only unbeaten side af- fi rmly in command at half-time. shock 1-0 home defeat by Parma on Sat- leaders Leeds’ run minutes later following a counter-attack ter Napoli infl icted a fi rst loss on Fioren- But Chievo, beaten 6-1 by Fiorentina urday ahead of their European opener orchestrated by Emre Can as the defend- tina on Saturday with a 1-0 win ahead of last time out and on minus points after against Tottenham at the San Siro. AFP Neal Maupay scored his sixth London goal in as many games when he BOTTOMLINE got on the end of Said Benrah- ma’s cross in the 24th minute. ack Harrison scored a late Wigan’s Sam Morsy was sent equaliser as Champion- off in the 58th minute at Griffi n ship leaders Leeds United Park following a clash of heads maintained their unbeaten with Yoann Barbet, who played startJ to the English second-tier a key role in west London club Champions League live on beIN season with a gruelling 1-1 draw Brentford’s second goal when his away to Millwall on Saturday. shot was blocked on the line be- By Sports Reporter Italian champions Juventus are in Jed Wallace gave south London fore Maupay doubled his and the Doha Group H where they will face Young Boys, side Millwall the lead 10 minutes Bees’ tally by slamming home the Valencia and Ronaldo’s former team into the second half with an ef- rebound in the 63rd minute Manchester United. The Red Devils have fort that went in off the - Bristol City went third, with he 2018-19 season of the UEFA been a disappointment under Jose Mour- work at the New Den after he got Marley Watkins’s header nine Champions League is set to kick inho and would want to get things back on on the end of a fl ick-on from Jake minutes from time securing a 1-0 off tomorrow and it will be live track for a fourth Champions League title. Cooper. win over Sheffi eld United at Ash- Tand exclusive on beIN. Lionel Messi’s Barcelona are in Group But Harrison, on loan from ton Gate. This year’s UEFA Champions League B fi nd themselves in a tough group with Premier League champions Elsewhere, Derby County promises to be a memorable one, as 32 games against Tottenham Hotspur, PSV Manchester City, equalised with manager Frank Lampard was teams battle it out for honours, with the Eindhoven and Inter Milan promising to a low shot into the bottom corner sent to the stands as the Rams’ fi nal at Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano on keep fans at the edge of their seats. The with a minute left on the clock. three-game winning run ended June 1, 2019. Catalans last won the competition in 2015 Millwall could still have with a 1-0 defeat away to Rother- Defending champions Real Madrid are but have failed to make it past the quarter snatched victory but a stoppage- ham. looking to add to their impressive record fi nal since then. Three time winners Inter time header from Tom Elliott hit Derby’s Tom Lawrence was of 13 Champions League titles and will Milan make their much anticipated return the inside of the post without sent off for a foul on Richard have a point to prove following the depar- to the UEFA Champions League after a 7 crossing the line. Towell in the 58th minute and fi ve ture of their star man Cristiano Ronaldo, year wait. Middlesbrough kicked off the minutes later the Millers made who left for Juventus this summer. Real English Premier League champions day in second place but suff ered their man advantage count when Madrid will have to face CSKA Moscow, Manchester City are in Group F with their fi rst defeat of the season Ryan Manning scored from the Roma and Viktoria Plzen in Group G of Lyon, Shakhtar Donetsk and 1899 Hof- when going down 1-0 away to spot after Kyle Vassell the group stages. fenheim. Pep Guardiola’s team are strong Norwich City, with Finland’s was ruled to have been fouled. Last year’s runners up Liverpool paid favourites this season and want to get Teemu Pukki scoring the only Former Chelsea and England the price of being seeded in the 3rd pot their hands on the Champions League goal of the game in the 58th midfi elder Lampard then saw red when they were handed a “group of trophy for the fi rst time in the club’s his- minute at Carrow Road. as his frustrations boiled over at death”. Liverpool will face Napoli, Paris tory. It was the fi rst goal Boro had New York Stadium. Saint Germain and Red Star Belgrade over Bayern Munich fi nd themselves in conceded in 561 minutes of Swansea went sixth after a two legs in Group C. Jurgen Klopp’s team Group E along with Dutch giants Ajax, league football. goalless draw at home to Not- have a tough task ahead of them if they AEK Athens and Portuguese side Benfi ca. Brentford capitalised on their tingham Forest, while QPR made are to replicate their run in 2016-2017 and The Bavarians will be looking to add a defeat to move up into second it three wins in a row as they won will be hoping their star player Mohamed sixth Champions League title under new with a 2-0 win at home to 10- 2-1 at Bolton, who avoided ad- Salah is at his best. Messi’s Barcelona are in Group B of the Champions League. manager Niko Kovac. man Wigan. ministration earlier this week. Gulf Times 4 Monday, September 17, 2018 SPORT

FORMULA ONE Hamilton opens 40-point lead aft er cruising to Singapore win Briton wins from pole for his seventh triumph of season; Ferrari struggle with tactics and pitstop

Reuters cause not helped by a questionable Singapore strategy and a poor pitstop. Hamilton won this race from the third row a year ago when Vettel, Ver- ritain’s Lewis Hamilton eased stappen and Kimi Raikkonen collided to victory from pole position at before Turn One but there was no re- the Singapore Grand Prix yes- peat of such drama this time after the terday as the Mercedes driver drivers got off to a clean start at the extendedB his championship lead over head of the fi eld. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to 40 points There has, however, been a safety car with six rounds remaining. period in every race in Singapore since Hamilton held off a mid-race chal- it joined Formula One in 2008 and it lenge from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was deployed on the opening lap af- to register a record-equalling fourth ter Sergio Perez pushed his Force India triumph at the fl oodlit Marina Bay teammate Esteban Ocon into a wall af- Street Circuit track, while Vettel fi n- ter Turn Three. “Sorry guys there was ished third to slip further behind in the no room,” Perez told his team over the title race. “Great job everyone, what a radio. weekend... keep pushing, keep push- Vettel got past Verstappen before ing, we’ve got this,” Hamilton told his the safety car emerged and slotted in team over the radio soon after crossing behind Hamilton, but his race unrav- the line at the end of the 61st lap. elled when the German pitted fi rst on Hamilton’s 69th overall victory was the 14th lap but got stuck in traffi c and his seventh of the season and it was overtaken by the Dutchman when he built on the foundations of a stunning made his stop for fresh tyres. qualifying lap on Saturday, when he Hamilton was cruising up front but stormed to pole in a car deemed infe- suff ered a mini-crisis on the 38th lap rior to the Ferraris and Red Bulls on this when he got stuck in a queue of tail- circuit. For Vettel and Ferrari it was an- enders, which allowed Verstappen to other disappointing weekend after the get right up behind him. The Dutch- car showed plenty of pace through all man had a look up the inside as Ham- three practice sessions, the German’s ilton struggled to pass the back mark-

ers but the Briton just stayed ahead and home in seventh, with Renault’s Carlos 4. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes-AMG) at Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) lap 1. was able to pull clear all the way to the Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg claiming 51.930; 5. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) chequered fl ag once he had a clear track eighth and 10th respectively, either side at 53.001; 6. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS ahead of him. of Sauber’s Charles Leclerc. Bull) at 53.982; 7. Fernando Alonso (ESP/ “It defi nitely got a little bit inter- “Overall we had a very strong pack- McLaren-Renault) at 1min 43.011sec; 8. 1. Hamilton 281 pts, 2. Vettel 241, 3. Raik- esting towards the end with the back age, both Kimi and myself looked very Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Renault) at 1 lap; 9. konen 174, 4. Bottas 171, 5. Verstappen markers as you could already feel the competitive throughout practice, but Charles Leclerc (MON/Sauber) at 1 lap; 148, 6. Ricciardo 126, 7. Hulkenberg 53, draft from the cars when you were fi ve in the end, the race result, we fi nished 10. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) at 1 8. Alonso 50, 9. Magnussen 49, 10. Perez and six seconds behind,” Hamilton third and fi fth,” Vettel said. lap; 11. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 46, 11. Ocon 45, 12. Sainz Jr 38, 13. Gasly added. “And you can’t really see the “Like yesterday, not where the speed at 1 lap; 12. Stoff el Vandoorne (BEL/ 28, 14. Grosjean 27, 15. Leclerc 15, 16. blue fl ags (telling back markers to move of our car belongs.” McLaren-Renault) at 1 lap; 13. Romain Vandoorne 8, 17. Stroll 6, 18. Ericsson 6, aside), they are quite dark.” Grosjean (FRA/Haas) at 1 lap; 14. Pierre 19. Hartley 2, 20. Sirotkin 1 Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas RESULTS (61 LAPS OF THE 5.063KM Gasly (FRA/Toro Rosso-Honda) at 1 lap; held off a prolonged late challenge from MARINA BAY STREET CIRCUIT) CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP 15.; Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) at 1 lap; Raikkonen in the other Ferrari to claim 1. Mercedes 452 pts, 2. Ferrari 415, 3. 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes-AMG) 16. Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India) at 1 fourth place, the pair fi nishing just Red Bull 274, 4. Renault 91, 5. Haas 76, 6. 309 km in 1hr 51min 11.611sec (average lap; 17. Brendon Hartley (NZL/Toro Ros- ahead of Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren-Renault 58, 7. Force India 32, 8. speed 167kph/103mph); 2. Max Verstap- so-Honda) at 1 lap; 18. Kevin Magnussen Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates after winning the Singapore Formula One who was closing on them in the fi nal Toro Rosso-Honda 30, 9. Sauber 21, 10. pen (NED/Red Bull) at 8.961 sec; 3. (DEN/Haas) at 2 laps; 19. Sergey Sirotkin Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit yesterday. (AFP) laps. McLaren’s Fernando Alonso came Williams 7 Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 39.945; (RUS/Williams) at 2 laps; Retired:

FOCUS CYCLING Tanak powers Toyota to third Britain’s Yates clinches Vuelta title AFP successive rally triumph Madrid AFP Marmaris, Turkey imon Yates stepped out of the shad- ows of British cycling giants Sky yes- terday to secure his maiden Vuelta a stonian Ott Tanak, in a Espana title for his Mitchelton team. Toyota, claimed his third Yates,S a former track racer whose road rac- consecutive victory yes- ing talents took him to the brink of victory in terday, at the Rally of this year’s Giro d’Italia, all but wrapped up Turkey,E to move up to second overall victory on Saturday after yet another place in the world champion- strong fi nish on the fi nal mountain stage. ship standings. Finland’s Jari- After a largely processional fi nal stage to Matti Latvala, also in a Toyota, Madrid yesterday claimed by Elia Viviani in fi nished second with New Zea- a bunch sprint, the 26-year-old Englishman land’s Hayden Paddon third in triumphed with a winning time of 82hr 5min a Hyundai after a tumultuous 58sec, Enric Mas fi nishing second overall at weekend in which Belgian cham- 1:46 and Miguel Angel Lopez completing Simon Yates pionship leader Thierry Neuville the podium. celebrates after and French rival Sebastien Ogier It was Yates’ fi rst victory in a three-week winning the La collected only fi ve points apiece. race and comes months after the stinging Vuelta cycling race Neuville and Ogier were both disappointment of losing the Giro d’Italia, in Madrid . (AFP) forced to retire following race having controlled the race for much of the incidents on Saturday, allowing opening two weeks last May. On that occa- formed in 2009 with the ambition to “win which included Wiggins and Colombian Tanak to take command and head sion, Sky leader Chris Froome capitalised on the Tour de , clean, with a British Nairo Quintana to claim victory on stage six. into the fi nal day yesterday with Yates’ collapse in the mountains to secure rider within fi ve years.” While Bradley Wig- With spaces on Team Sky at a premium, a 13-second lead on Latvala. Al- the race’s pink jersey and seal his third con- gins was on route to achieving that objec- Yates joined the Orica-GreenEdge outfi t in though Neuville and Ogier were Estonian driver Ott Tanak (right) and his co-driver Martin Jarveoja of secutive Grand Tour after winning the Tour tive within three years, in 2012, Yates was 2014 — a move that has indirectly led to his both allowed to start yesterday, Toyota Yaris pose after winning the Rally of Turkey. (AFP) de France and Tour of Spain in 2017. a budding track rider whose eff orts earned most recent successes. Tanak held fi rm during the fi nal Froome’s Grand Tour-winning streak him a place on British Cycling’s Olympic Former Orica sporting director Matt Chris Ingram (GBR/Skoda Fabia) stages to claim his third win on pushing.” Neuville, who broke came to an end in July, when teammate Ge- Programme. White holds the position at Yates’ current 20:21.3, 10. Sebastien Ogier (FRA/ the trot following successes in his suspension on Saturday’s raint Thomas, who also honed his skills on Yates, Froome’s teammate at the 2010 team Mitchelton, and has seen the slightly- Finland and Germany. opening stage (SS8), lamented a Ford Fiesta) 20:51.2 the track, upset the Kenyan-born Briton to Commonwealth Games in Delhi, won his fi rst built Englishman build an impressive port- Tanak leapfrogged Ogier into missed opportunity to stretch his triumph at the Tour de France. Yates’ win world title on the track three years later, in folio of results in the seasons since. second place in the champion- championship lead. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP yesterday meant British riders have domi- the points race. The same year, Yates off ered ship standings to sit just 13 points STANDINGS nated all three Grand Tours in 2018. a glimpse of his road racing instincts, too. FINAL OVERALL STANDINGS behind Neuville. Ogier (M-Sport RALLY OF TURKEY RESULTS He also took Britain’s impressive streak Competing for the national 1. Thierry Neuville (BEL/Hyundai 1. Simon Yates (GBR/Mitchelton) 82 h 05:58; 2. Ford), the fi ve-time world cham- 1. Ott Tanak (EST/Toyota Yaris) of consecutive Grand Tour victories to fi ve; squad at the Tour de l’Avenir — considered Enric Mas (ESP/QST) at 1:46; 3. Miguel Angel pion, is in third place at 23 points i20) 177 pts, 2. Ott Tanak (EST/ although it won’t be lost on British cycling a ‘mini Tour de France’ for riders aged un- 3hr 59min 24.5sec, 2. Jari-Matti Lopez (COL/AST) 2:04; 4. Steven Kruijswijk behind. “This rally was really dif- Toyota Yaris) 164, 3. Sebastien afi cionados that it was the fi rst British win der-25 — Simon Yates won stage fi ve, ahead Latvala (FIN/Toyota Yaris) at (NED/LNL) 2:54; 5. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/ fi cult,” said Tanak. “On Friday we Ogier (FRA/Ford Fiesta) 154, 4. outside of Team Sky. Thanks to their multi- of his twin brother Adam, who also rides for 22.3sec, 3. Hayden Paddon (NZL/ thought even fi nishing fi fth or Esapekka Lappi (FIN/Toyota million pound budget and ability to attract Mitchelton. Yates made sure it was no fl uke MOV) 4:28; sixth would be a good result, but Hyundai i20) 1min 46.3sec, 4. Yaris) 88, 5. Jari-Matti Latvala the best cyclists for specifi c roles and races, by winning the next day’s stage, on his way Teemu Suninen (FIN/Ford Fiesta) we also knew you didn’t jus have (FIN/Toyota Yaris) 75, 6. Andreas Sky are considered the ‘Real Madrid’ of the to a 10th place fi nish overall. FINAL STAGE RESULTS to be fast but the most cunning to 4:10.9, 5. Andreas Mikkelsen (NOR/ Mikkelsen (NOR/Hyundai i20) 75, professional peloton. Sky, who formed on Those successes, ironically, signalled 1. Elia Viviani (ITA/QST) 100.9 km in 2hr win here.” Hyundai i20) 7:11.7, 6. Henning Sol- 7. Dani Sordo (ESP/Hyundai i20) the back of the success enjoyed by Britain’s Yates’ potential as a Grand Tour winner well With three races remaining in berg (NOR/Ford Fiesta R5) 13:40.6, 60, 8. Teemu Suninen (FIN/Ford all-conquering world and Olympic track ahead of Froome, and Thomas. At the Tour 21min 28sec; 2. Peter Sagan (SVK/BOR) st; 3. the championship, Tanak added: 7. Jan Kopecky (CZE/Skoda Fabia) Fiesta) 54, 9. Elfyn Evans (GBR/ squad, would be forgiven for ignoring Yates’ of Britain later that season, Yates took what Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA/TRE) st; 4. Danny van “The championship is becoming 18:25.2, 8. Simone Tempestini Ford Fiesta) 53, 10.Hayden Paddon obvious talents. was his biggest career win when he sprinted Poppel (NED/LNL) st; 5. Marc Sarreau (FRA/ interesting, we have to keep on (ROM/Citroen C3 R5) 19:37.1, 9. (NZL/Hyundai i20) 49 Yates was only 17 years old when Sky clear of a select group of strong climbers FDJ) st Gulf Times Monday, September 17, 2018 5 SPORT

NFL Patriots to let play do the talking against Jaguars Reuters Gronkowski, a fi ve-time Pro Bowl selec- and are 1-11 overall counting postseason New York tion, said he is drawing motivation from matchups. Ramsey’s words. “I mean, if that’s how he “They were a great team last year and feels, that’s how he feels,” Gronkowski said gave us everything we could handle into alen Ramsey is developing a reputa- on a conference call. “It’s a big game this the championship game, and they’re at it tion as one of the NFL’s best corner- Sunday, we’re playing them. I’m sure I’m again this year,” Brady said on a conference backs as well as one of the league’s going to have opportunities to go versus call. “They’ve got the same players, similar most outspoken players. him. I’m sure he’s going to have opportuni- scheme - I mean, as good as any defense JThe New England Patriots (1-0) are let- ties to go versus me. I’m just preparing like I we’ll face all year. They’ve got an incredible ting Ramsey’s chatter carom off their always prepare.” rush, great linebackers, great secondary. It’s shoulder pads as they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Marrone has a much going to be very challenging, tough envi- Jaguars (1-0) on Sunday in a rematch of last diff erent view of Gronkowski’s talents. ronment and we’ll see what we’re made of.” season’s AFC Championship Game. “He’s probably one of the best guys, if Jacksonville defensive end Calais Camp- Patriots coach Bill Belichick, not sur- not the best, that’s ever played the game at bell said Sunday’s matchup is not a revenge prisingly, will discuss his admiration of his position,” Marrone said on a conference game. Ramsey’s skill level but isn’t the least bit call. “And we know that he’s a challenge “We weren’t happy with losing the game. interested in questions regarding Ramsey’s in many diff erent ways in what he can do. Nobody’s going to be happy losing when verbal shots. That’s how I feel and that’s how our team you’re one game away from the Super “Look, we know when the game starts feels.” Bowl,” Campbell said on a conference call. and we’ll be ready to go,” Belichick said on Tensions would be fl ying high in this “But that was last year. We had an oppor- a conference call. “I’m sure they will, too. game under any circumstance because of tunity, we didn’t get it done and now it’s a That’s when we’ll see what happens.” what happened in the AFC Championship whole diff erent scenario, whole diff erent Ramsey recently took aim at New Eng- Game in January. The Jaguars held a 20-10 season, whole diff erent situation.” land tight end Rob Gronkowski in an ESPN lead in the fourth quarter before Patriots Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette The Magazine article, saying in part: “I quarterback Tom Brady engineered a rally (hamstring) is unlikely to play, according don’t think Gronk’s good. Let me say - I and fi red two touchdown passes to Danny to a report from ESPN on Saturday night. don’t think Gronk is as great as people think Amendola to claim the Super Bowl berth. Fournette did not practice all week, and he is. Any time Gronk has been matched up Brady is expecting a fi erce battle with the team promoted running back Brandon with a corner, he’s had a very bad game - the Jaguars, who never have defeated New Wilds from the practice squad for depth at and that corner has had a very good game.” England in seven regular-season meetings the position. Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

MLB NHL Thornton says he’s ‘100 percent’ as Puig hits 3 HRs in Sharks open camp

Reuters “The Pittsburgh Penguins New York off er our deepest sympathy to Mike Sullivan and his family on the passing of Mike’s father, an Jose centre Joe Thorn- George, today,” the team released rout of Cardinals ton said he was fully re- in a statement. covered from knee sur- While Mike Sullivan is away ‘He’s focused and he understands the importance of every pitch’ gery when the Sharks on the leave of absence for a few openedS training camp on Friday. days, assistant coach Jacques Thornton, 39, had his 2017-18 Martin will handle the day-to- season cut short by full tears of day duties of the coaching staff . the anterior cruciate and medial “When you’ve got Jacques, collateral ligaments in his right he’s Mr. Organised. He’s an knee. organized as you get,” assist- He played the fi nal four games ant coach Mark Recchi said in a of the team’s fi rst-round playoff story in the Pittsburgh Tribune- series following the 2016-17 sea- Review. son with a torn ACL and MCL in “We’ll handle the load un- his left knee. til he gets back. It’s obviously a As camp started Friday, very tough time for him. We’ll Thornton was on the top line do what we have to do and we’ll with Joe Pavelski and Evander make sure things run like he Kane. would like them run and we’ll “I’ve had a long time for re- keep the machine rolling.” hab,” Thornton said, per NHL. Recchi enjoyed celebrating com. “Got checked out yester- with George Sullivan after the day. They said ready to go.” Penguins won Stanley Cup titles “I was close at the end of the in 2016 and 2017. year last year to join the fellas. To “He loved the fact that he got be back healthy, it’s a really good to be part of winning two Stanley feeling.” Cups,” Recchi said. Thornton returned to the “He was still doing pretty well Sharks in July with a one-year then and was able to really enjoy deal for his 21st season in the it. I just remember sitting on a NHL. deck out in Sewickley with him, He has been with San Jose smoking cigars, and he was just since arriving via trade from loving life. He was very proud of the Boston Bruins in 2005 and Sully, obviously.” scored 36 points (13 goals, 23 as- “I still keep pinching myself to sists) in 47 games last season. make sure it’s real,” George Sul- Thornton has scored 397 goals livan told ESPN.com when his and 1,030 assists for his career. son showed off the Stanley Cup The 2006 Hart Trophy winner in Boston in 2016. is fi rst in assists (745), points “I’ve been his biggest fan all per game (1.01) and plus-minus his life and I couldn’t understand (plus-172) in Sharks franchise how he wasn’t a head coach history. someplace. “We’ve got to be cautiously “Finally, it worked out for optimistic because he’s had him. He’s a hard-working kid. two surgeries, but he looks real He got what he deserved.” good,” said coach Peter DeBoer Mike Sullivan, who played in of Thornton, who last played on the NHL from 1990-2002, be- January 23. came the Penguins head coach in December 2015. His mother, SULLIVAN TAKES LEAVE Myrna died that year. AFTER FATHER DIES A Seattle city council com- Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike mittee has unanimously ap- Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig in action against the St. Louis Cardinals during the eighth inning of their MLB game at Busch Stadium. PICTURE: USA TODAY SPORTS Sullivan is taking some time off proved plans for a $700 million to be with his family after the renovation of KeyArena, the lat- Dodgers starter Rich Hill overcame a death of his father. est development in the city’s bid Reuters RESULTS cisco. St. Louis fourth-inning from rookie The Giants’ second consecutive shut- George Sullivan, 81 died Sat- to land an NHL expansion fran- Dodgers 17-4 Cardinals Patrick Wisdom to win for the third con- out win in the three-game series knocked urday in Scituate, Mass. chise. Giants 3-0 Rockies secutive time and improve to 7-1 in 11 the Rockies (81-67) out of fi rst place in asiel Puig hit three home runs starts since the All-Star break. Hill (9-5) the National League West. The Los An- for the fi rst time in his career on Astros 10-4 Dbacks gave up four runs on just two hits over geles Dodgers (82-67), winners earlier in Saturday to give him fi ve hom- Indians 15-0 Tigers fi ve innings with eight strikeouts. the day at St. Louis, moved a half-game Butler, Thibodeau to ers in two days and added seven Rays 7-5 Athletics Wisdom’s grand slam came in his sev- up on Colorado. meet about Wolves future RBIsY as the visiting Los Angeles Dodg- enth career major league start, and it was The Dodgers and Rockies go head-to- ers grabbed sole possession of fi rst place Blue Jays 8-7 Yankees his fourth home run of the season. Car- head for three games starting Monday Four-time NBA All-Star Jimmy but fed up with the noncha- in the National League (NL) West with a Red Sox 5-3 Mets dinals starter John Gant (7-6) gave up six night in Los Angeles. Bumgarner (6-6), Butler, whom the Minnesota lant attitude of his younger 17-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Cubs 1-0 Reds runs on six hits with four walks over 4 1/3 who had shut out Arizona and Houston Timberwolves acquired by teammates,” a not-so-veiled Cody Bellinger homered and drove innings. Machado has 35 home runs, 11 of for seven innings apiece in his previous trade with high expectations, reference to Towns, and that Pirates 3-1 Brewers in six runs, and Manny Machado also which have come since he joined the Dodg- two home games, limited the Rockies is beginning the final season he has “no intentions” of sign- went deep as the Dodgers (82-67) passed Nationals 7-1 Braves ers on July 20. Bellinger hit homer No 23. to fi ve hits in his six-inning eff ort. He of his contract, and he and ing a longer-term deal with Colorado (81-67) in the division. The Phillies 5-4 Marlins Justin Turner, Joc Pederson and Bell- walked one and struck out two. Timberwolves coach Tom the Timberwolves. Thibodeau Rockies lost late to San Francisco and are inger all had three hits, in addition to The win improved the left-hander’s White Sox 2-0 Orioles Thibodeau have some things has come under scrutiny from a half-game up on the Cardinals (81-68) Puig. Turner’s three hits came despite career record to 13-8 against the Rock- to talk about. club owner Glen Taylor, ESPN for the second wild card. Royals 10-3 Twins getting hit by a pitch on the left wrist in ies. The only team he has beaten more According to multiple reports, reported, saying Taylor was The Dodgers have won the fi rst three Rangers 6-3 Padres the third inning. Max Muncy reached often has been the Dodgers (15-10). After the two will be meeting having regrets about turning games of a four-game series at St. Louis Mariners 6-5 Angels base fi ve times for the Dodgers on a hit Bumgarner left a 3-0 game, Tony Watson Monday to cover some serious over control of the basketball after the Cardinals earned a three-game and four walks. Dodgers left-hander Ju- struck out all three batters he faced in the topics regarding the direction operations to Thibodeau, who sweep at Los Angeles last month. The fi fth and eighth innings to give him lio Urias, who had shoulder surgery last seventh inning, Mark Melancon pitched of the franchise. Thibodeau, is in Year three of his own five- Dodgers have outscored the Cardinals 21 home runs on the season. He had a year, made his 2018 debut with a score- around a Nolan Arenado double in the also the club’s president of year contract. 29-11 in the series. Since that sweep in chance for a fourth home run in the ninth less ninth inning. eighth and closer Will Smith worked a basketball operations, is feel- Thibodeau dealt Zach LaVine, L.A. by the Cardinals, the Dodgers have inning but popped out to shortstop. Be- one-hit ninth for his 12th save. ing pressure to keep Butler Kris Dunn and a No. 7 overall won 15 of their last 21 games, and they are fore his fi ve-homer outburst in two days, BUMGARNER, GIANTS KNOCK The Giants took the lead for good in the in the fold past this season pick to Chicago to get Butler in 6-3 with one more game remaining on Puig had just one home run over his pre- ROCKIES OUT OF 1ST second inning after a single by Brandon along with 22-year-old centre June 2017. In six seasons with their 10-game, three-city road trip. vious 23 games. Madison Bumgarner extended his con- Crawford and double by Nick Hundley. Karl-Anthony Towns. Butler, the Bulls and one in Minnesota, The Cardinals dropped their fourth “He’s focused and he understands secutive-innings scoreless streak at Austin Slater, who drove in the only however, has some issues with Butler has career averages of consecutive game but are still 33-22 in the importance of every pitch,” Dodgers home to 20 on Saturday night and helped two runs of Friday’s 2-0 victory, put the the 7-foot Towns, and in July 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and the second half and 34-22 since Mike manager Dave Roberts said. his own cause with a double, delivering Giants in front with an infi eld out that he was quoted by the Chicago 4.9 assists in 32.8 minutes per Shildt took over as manager from Mike “And when he does that, he’s as good the San Francisco Giants a 3-0 victory plated Crawford, before Hunter Pence Sun-Times as saying he is “all game. Matheny. Puig went deep in the fourth, as anybody in baseball.” over the Colorado Rockies in San Fran- singled in Hundley to make it 2-0. Gulf Times 6 Monday, September 17, 2018 SPORT

GOLF Stanford rides roller coaster to Evian victory AFP pretty cool.” aggressive with my fi rst putt. But Evian, France Stanford had started the fi nal this is my best ever fi nish in a tour- FINAL ROUND SCORES round fi ve shots behind Olson and nament. I have a lot of positives to still seemed an unlikely winner take out of it.” 272 - Angela Stanford (USA) 72 64 68 merican veteran Angela when she reached the turn in one Stanford was the fi rst American 68 Stanford shot a fi nal- under . But she then birdied the to win 273 - Austin Ernst (USA) 66 70 69 68, round 68 to score a shock tenth and the eagle from close range since it became a major fi ve years Amy Olson (USA) 69 65 65 74, Mo Mar- victory in the fi nal major at the long 15th helped catapult the ago. tin (USA) 68 66 69 70, Kim Sei-young ofA the season, the Evian Champi- Texan into a share of top spot. “I do feel sorry for Amy,” Stan- (KOR) 69 68 64 72 onship. On a roller-coaster round, ca- ford said. “I wasn’t rooting for her 274 - Ryann O’Toole (USA) 68 74 63 69, Stanford thought she had lost her lamity struck at the short 16th to miss the putt on 18. But she is Lee Jeon-eun (KOR) 72 66 67 69 chance of victory when she failed to where Stanford nearly went into young and her time will come.” 275 - Jessica Korda (USA) 69 71 67 68, make birdie at the 18th but Amy Ol- water with her second shot and “You always think you’re good Park Inbee (KOR) 68 69 67 71 son, who had led all day, then took a ended up with a pitch and putt enough to win a major, but after 18 276 - Lydia Ko (NZL) 72 70 67 67, double-bogey six at the last. double-bogey. years on Tour doubts defi nitely be- Brooke Henderson (CAN) 67 69 72 68, Stanford fi nished on 12-under- She hit back with a birdie from gin to creep in,” said Stanford, who Ryu So-yeon (KOR) 67 69 72 68, Lee par 272 and won the $577,000 fi rst 25-feet at the 17th and then just came close to winning the 2003 Mi-hyang (KOR) 68 66 73 69, Kather- prize by a shot from Olson (74), Mo missed her birdie attempt from 18 US Women’s Open but lost by one ine Kirk (AUS) 68 73 66 69 Martin (70), Kim Sei-young (72) feet at the 18th. At that stage, she stroke to Hilary Lunke in a three- 277 - Wei Ling Hsu (TPE) 69 67 69 72 and Austin Ernst (68). thought it was probably one too way 18-hole play-off . 278 - Minjee Lee (AUS) 72 68 69 69, The 40-year-old Stanford, 18 many. But when Olson came to the “Even today, I never thought Chella Choi (KOR) 70 69 69 70, Jenny years a professional, had fi nally last hole, she hit her shot into about winning until the 16th. And Shin (KOR) 70 66 72 70, Chun In-gee won a major. rough and then three-putted. then we know what happened. But (KOR) 68 70 70 70, Nasa Hataoka “I really don’t know what has Olson, who was four ahead with I am a grinder and a fi ghter and I (JPN) 67 71 68 72, Georgia Hall (GBR) just happened,” said Stanford, un- four holes to play, tried to hide her never give up. 68 68 68 74 able to hold back the tears. “But I disappointment. Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, the 279 - Lindy Duncan (USA) 72 67 71 69, am so happy.” “I was in the rough after two US Women’s Open champion, col- Charley Hull (GBR) 72 67 70 70 “Sometimes things just catch shots at the 18th,” the 26-year-old lected the Annika Major Award for 280 - Megan Khang (USA) 76 67 70 67, you off guard. Just when you think said. the season’s best results over the US golfer Angela Stanford poses with trophy after winning the Evian Championship in the Ji Eun-hee (KOR) 68 71 71 70 you’re done then this happens. It’s “I hit a good shot but I was too fi ve major championships. French Alps town of Evian-les-Bains yesterday. (AFP)

BOXING RUGBY Cheika points fi nger at Wallabies’ lack Golovkin suff ers fi rst of enthusiasm

AFP Gold Coast

roubled Wallabies coach loss of pro career as Michael Cheika has re- fused to blame Israel Folau for their fi rst home TestT loss to Argentina in 35 years, instead pointing the fi nger at his team’s lack of enthusiasm and energy. The 23-19 upset on the Gold Alvares prevails Coast was Australia’s fi fth defeat in their past six Tests, and with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. Mexican Alvares wins narrowly on points, Golovkin loses for first time since 2005 only a handful of games to play before next year’s World Cup in sloppy handling and wasted Japan, Cheika has plenty to wor- chances. With David Pocock as ry about. skipper after Michael Hooper The team now has a week back was ruled out injured, Cheika at their home bases before jet- lamented his team’s wasted op- ting to South Africa for a must- portunities. “There just wasn’t win clash against a Springboks enough enthusiasm is what it all side bubbling with confi dence boils down to and you need to be after shocking the All Blacks in accountable for that,” he said. Wellington. Folau could have “There just wasn’t enough en- won it for Australia after the si- ergy in the key moments.” ren, but rather than pass to an Their woes were compound- unmarked Bernard Foley three ed by an ugly incident after the metres from the line, he tried to whistle when fl anker Lukhan Tui steal the glory himself. got in a scuffl e with an irate fan. Instead of being a hero, he It capped a tough week for the spilled the ball when hit by a 21-year-old whose stepfather tackle and the match was over. died suddenly on Wednesday. He Cheika, however, said it was has asked for time away from the wrong to pin all the blame on his game and his Rugby Champion- star fullback, who was otherwise ship season appears to be over. one of their better performers. Argentina has been taking gi- Asked if he thought the Walla- ant strides under Mario Ledes- bies would have won the game if ma, a highly-regarded former Folau had passed to Foley, Cheika forwards coach with Australia said: “Yeah, but it’s irrelevant. who has now steered his team “It doesn’t come down to one to two wins out of three after instance. Yes, you win the game they also put South Africa to the by the score, but the perform- sword in Mendosa. ance was still the same. They played with an urgency “If the last pass goes, that that the Wallabies lacked and doesn’t change anything for the Ledesma is keen to build on what other 79 minutes and 59 seconds has been achieved.“It’s diffi cult of what went on.” to keep that motivation going, And what went on was a suc- but they do it and it’s a pleasure cession of poor defensive work, to work with them,” he said.

In hindsight, drop goal should have been attempted, says NZ’s Hansen All Blacks coach Steve Hansen drop goal option, despite both proved that hindsight is always Beauden Barrett and Damian perfect yesterday and said his McKenzie being in position to side probably should have taken attempt it, led to finger-pointing the opportunity to attempt a by rugby-mad New Zealand drop goal to win their Rugby fans, who have still not forgot- Championship clash with South ten a similar decision during Africa on Saturday. The world their 2007 Rugby World Cup champions were upset 36-34 by quarter-final loss to France. the Springboks at Wellington The All Blacks, however, have Regional Stadium, a result that consistently said that 20-18 loss kept the Rugby Championship was the catalyst for their entire Canelo Alvarez celebrates after defeating Gennady Golovkin in their middleweight WCB match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports alive and showed the All Blacks philosophy and team culture were fallible after three big since, which has led to a success Reuters ded crowd that included Mike world champion. Atlas agreed. two-way street. wins in the first three rounds. rate in excess of 80 percent Singapore Tyson, actor Will Smith and “I looked for a knockout but “There’s no doubt about it. The fi ght came after an ac- Hansen’s side, however, could and World Cup wins in 2011 and basketballer LeBron James at it’s diffi cult. He’s a great ghter fi Golovkin won the fi ght,” Atlas rimonious weigh-in during have snatched a dramatic 2015. It was also undoubtedly T-Mobile Arena, lived up to its but in the end I got the victory. said. “At the end of the day it which Alvares almost head- victory at the end of the game why South Africa coach Rassie ennady Golovkin suf- billing as the best two pound- “I’m very excited, very emo- was the wrong decision...” butted Golovkin, who is known when they eschewed several Erasmus expected the option fered the fi rst loss of for-pound fi ghters in the world. tional. I want to thank everyone Golovkin was tentative early aff ectionately through the Box- opportunities to attempt a drop would be in their playbook at his professional career Golovkin landed some big who believes in me. This is for as Alvares dictated the terms, ing world as ‘Triple-G’. goal as they hammered away next year’s global showpiece. when Saul ‘Canelo’ blows to the head in the closing them and long live Mexico.” but the Kazakh got more ag- The bad blood between the at South Africa’s line. “Should “I guess it was an option to GAlvares won an epic middle- rounds, opening a cut above Al- Kazakh Golovkin, 36, thought gressive as the bout progressed. pair has grown since Alvarez we have drop kicked a goal? Of score but that is not the New weight world title fi ght in Las vares’ left eye, but the Mexican he had perhaps done enough to But Alvares landed more was temporarily suspended by course we should have,” Hansen Zealand way,” said Erasmus. Vegas on Saturday. prevailed to improve his career get the decision. body punches, 46-6 by the of- the Nevada State Athletic Com- told reporters yesterday. “We “Maybe in a World Cup, Beauden A year after their fi rst fi ght record to 50-1-2, including 34 “I’m not going to say who fi cial count, and more power mission in April for testing pos- had plenty of opportunities and would do that. But not in a ended in a controversial draw, knockouts. won tonight, because the victo- punches, even as Golovkin itive for the banned substance we organised ourselves. It’s not (Rugby) Championship game.” Alvares clinched a points deci- Golovkin fell to 38-1-1, with ry belongs to Canelo according landed more overall punches. clenbuterol, forcing a post- something we don’t have in our While Barrett had a shocking sion that again divided experts 34 knockouts. It was his fi rst to the judges,” he was quoted as Both fi ghters were suitably ponement of their planned May back pocket, because it is. That’s a performance off the tee with in what many thought could defeat since the 2005 world am- saying by ESPN. bloodied by the end of a bruis- 5 rematch. But they embraced (lesson) and a game management only two successful shots at have gone the other way. ateur championships. “I thought it was a very good ing encounter, after Alvares at the end of Saturday’s fi ght as thing that this team has to go goal from six attempts, Hansen Two judges gave it 115-113 for “It was a very tight fi ght,” fi ght for the fans, and very ex- had somehow absorbed a series the crowed waited in anticipa- through and this will be a massive said that and the drop goal were Alvares, while the other had it a said Alvares in a ringside inter- citing. I thought I fought better of blows to the head and chin, tion of the judges’ verdict. opportunity for this team to grow.” not the reasons why they lost to 114-114 draw. The fi ght, in front view after becoming the WBC, than he did.” while Golovkin’s puff y face of- “One of the best fi ghts I’ve The decision not to take the the Springboks. of a sellout, celebrity-stud- WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine ESPN Boxing analyst Teddy fered proof that it had been a ever seen,” tweeted James. Gulf Times Monday, September 17, 2018 7 SPORT

CRICKET ROUND-UP Male tennis players Pakistan crush Hong punished more than women AFP Kong in Asia Cup Los Angeles ale tennis players are almost three times more likely to be Shinwari picks three wickets, Hasan and Shadab take two to dismiss Hong Kong for 116 in 37.1 overs fi ned for losing their Mtemper and smashing racquets than their female counterparts, The New York Times reported. Male players were slapped with 1,517 fi nes compared to 535 fi nes for females accord- ing to data compiled by offi cials at Grand Slam tournaments for the period covering 1998 to 2018. The fi gures obtained by the Times show that men re- ceived 649 fi nes for breaking racquets to 99 for women in tens of thousands of matches in the four Grand Slams over the last two decades. Men were fi ned 344 times compared to 140 for “audi- ble obscenity” and 287 to 67 for unsportsmanlike conduct. Last week, Serena Williams accused the chair umpire Car- los Ramos of being a “liar” and a “thief” after she was cited for verbal abuse during the US Open women’s fi nal against Japan’s Naomi Osaka. “Because I’m a woman you are going to take this away from me?” she said to the tournament referee Brian Earley. “That is not right.” In the post-match news con- ference, Williams doubled down on her claim there is a double standard when it comes to pun- ishment. She also smashed her racquet and threatened to make sure that the Portuguese umpire never worked another match of hers again in the second set of a Pakistan seamer Usman Shinwari (centre) is congratulated by his teammates after he dismissed Hong Kong batsman Scott McKechnie at the Asia Cup in Dubai yesterday. (AFP) 6-2, 6-4 loss to Osaka.

AFP down with arch rivals India, also in Du- nament, we should have won this game TAIWAN’S HSIEH WINS Dubai bai on Wednesday. by nine wickets. We also need to get SCOREBOARD JAPAN OPEN TITLE Hong Kong struggled after captain early wickets with the ball. Early on, the Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-Wei trounced Anshuman Rath won the toss and chose ball didn’t swing and we had alarm bells. HONG KONG INNINGS 3 (w1), Ashraf 4-0-10-1 (w1), Hasan 7-0- American qualifi er Amanda Ani- ormer champions Pakistan to bat in the Group A opener. Top-scorer We have time to adjust to this before the Nizakat Khan run out 13 19-2, Shadab 8-1-31-2 (w1), Malik 3-0-17-0, simova 6-2, 6-2 to capture the Fakhar 0.3-0-0-0 thrashed an inexperienced (27) and Kinchit Shah (26) India game. It’s good to win, but to win A. Rath c Sarfraz b Ashraf 19 Japan Women’s Open yesterday. Hong Kong by eight wickets in fought valiantly during their sixth- against India, we have to be at our very The second seed had too much st Sarfraz b Shadab 7 a one-sided match to open their stand of 53 runs to off er some best,” the Pakistan skipper added. PAKISTAN INNINGS experience on the big points as AsiaF Cup campaign in style yesterday. respite after Hong Kong were left reeling Hong Kong captain Anshuman Rath C. Carter c Imam b Hasan 2 she dashed her teenage oppo- c McKechnie b Ehsan 24 Pakistan’s attack was too hot at 44-5. Skipper Rath (19) and Nizakat lamented the loss of wickets at regu- K. Shah c Shadab b Hasan 26 nent’s hopes of claiming a maid- to handle for Hong Kong in Dubai as Us- Khan (13) were the only other two men lar intervals. “Lots of soft dismiss- Imam-ul-Haq 50 en WTA title in Hiroshima. Ehsan Khan lbw b Shadab 0 man Shinwari fi nished with 3-19 and to reach double fi gures for the minnows. als. 116 was not enough. It was a good Babar Azam c McKechnie b Ehsan 33 Anisimova, who only turned Hasan Ali took 2-19, while leg-spinner Man of the Match Shinwari was wicket. Our off -spinners are top class, Aizaz Khan b Shinwari 27 17 two weeks ago, suff ered from not out 9 Shadab Khan managed 2-31 to bowl pleased with his eff ort and said re- but we just didn’t have enough runs S. McKechnie lbw b Shinwari 0 stage fright in her fi rst fi nal on on the board. I think early on, it swung Extras: (nb1, w3) 4 Hong Kong out for 116 in 37.1 overs. Pa- verse swing helped him to take wickets. Tanvir Afzal b Shinwari 0 the women’s tour, committing kistan then completed the chase com- “When I came to bowl, I just tried to take a bit, there was a bit of bounce. We got Total: (for two wkts, 23.4 overs) 120 23 unforced errors. Hsieh, 32, Ehsan Nawaz run out 9 fortably for the loss of opener Fakhar a wicket with the new ball. But luck was through the start, but we couldn’t con- Did not bat: Sarfraz Ahmed, Asif Ali, showed far more composure as Zaman (24) and Babar Azam (33), while not with me today. In the second spell, I vert it. One fi fty-run partnership is not Nadeem Ahmed not out 9 Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Moham- she rolled to her third career sin- Imam-ul-Haq fi nished on 50 not out af- tried, and with the ball reversing, I was enough to post a good total,” Rath said. Extras: (w4) 4 med Amir, Hasan Ali, Usman Shinwari gles title following victories at ter just 23.4 overs. able to take wickets,” he said. On Saturday, Bangladesh had Kuala Lumpur and Guangzhou It proved another cakewalk for Pa- Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed thumped Sri Lanka by 137 runs in the Total: all out; 37 overs 116 Fall of wickets: 1-41 (Zaman), 2-93 in 2012. The tournament acts as kistan, like their two previous victories praised his team for a dominating per- Group B match in Dubai. Afghanistan Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Nizakat), 2-32 (Azam) an hors d’oeuvre to this week’s against Hong Kong, by 173 runs in the formance but said they can still improve will take on Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi to- (Rath), 3-39 (Carter), 4-44 (Hayat), 5-44 Bowling: Afzal 4-2-13-0 (1w), Nawaz Pan Pacifi c Open in Tokyo, where 2004 Asia Cup in Colombo and by 155 in a lot. “This was a complete performance. day. Top two teams from each group will (Ehsan), 6-97 (Aizaz), 7-97 (McKechnie), 4-0-27-0 (1w), Aizaz 3.4-0-19-0, Ehsna Japanese fans will hope tennis Karachi four years later. But as captain I saw a couple of things, qualify for the Super Four stage, with 8-97 (Afzal), 9-99 (Shah) 8-0-34-2 (1w), Nadeem 4-0-27-0 sensation Naomi Osaka can de- This was a perfect warm-up for Paki- we’ll work on that as well,” Ahmed said. the top two from that table contesting Bowling: Amir 7-1-20-0, Shinwari 7.3-19- Result: Pakistan won by eight wickets liver a strong showing after her stan ahead of their high-profi le show- “For us to go the distance in the tour- the September 28 fi nal in Dubai. US Open triumph.

FOCUS TENNIS Moeen’s all-round show leads Cool Coric steers Croatia into Worcestershire to T20 title Davis Cup fi nal with France Reuters Zadar, Croatia

orna Coric kept his cool to prevail in a thrilling winner-takes-all duel with fellow young gun Frances Tia- foe yesterday and steer Croatia into theB fi nal of the Davis Cup for the second time in three years with a monumental 3-2 victory over the US. The 21-year-old Coric came from two sets to one down to defeat the 20-year-old debu- tant Tiafoe 6-7(0), 6-1, 6-7(11), 6-1, 6-3 and fi nally subdue a remarkable fi ghtback from the Americans, who had earlier levelled the tie 2-2 from two down. Late understudy Sam Querrey had rewarded captain Jim Courier’s gamble by taking the tie into a decider in the fourth rubber, battling back from the brink of two sets down to beat home talisman Marin Cilic 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-3 6-4. Worcestershire captain Moeen Ali (centre) celebrates with players after winning the English T20 Blast title. Yet with everything resting on the fi rst Croatia’s Borna Coric raises his arms in triumph after winning against Frances Tiafoe of the duel between two of tennis’s brightest US in the Davis Cup World Group semi-final in Zadar, Croatia, yesterday. (Reuters) AFP On the fi eld, the Worcester- fi nal return of four for 21 from young ‘Next Gen’ men, Coric overcame the London shire captain scored 41 and took 20-year-old seamer Pat Brown. loss of two very contrasting tiebreaks to four hours six minutes. Friday when winning his 37th rubber against two for 16 with his off -spinners, “We were amazing. We won the book Croatia’s fi nal date against champi- At 2-0 down after Friday’s singles, there Tiafoe but the world number six was found including the wicket of England crucial moments in the game.” ons France. The French, who defeated Spain had not seemed the remotest chance of a US wanting when, after winning the opening set oeen Ali found him- teammate Jos Buttler, as his side Earlier, Cricket Australia (CA) 3-2 in the other semi-fi nal in Lille, will have team without their top two players John Is- on a tiebreak, he stood on the verge of a com- self making head- beat Lancashire by 20 runs in the responded to Moeen’s damn- home advantage in the November show- ner and Jack Sock recovering to reach a fi rst manding lead. lines on the fi eld as opening semi-fi nal. ing comments by saying it was down and hope to avenge their 3-2 loss to the fi nal in 11 years. Only when 40-year-old He took a 6-1 lead in the second set tie- well as off it after he He then took three for 30 as launching an investigation, say- Croatians in the 2016 semi-fi nal. Mike Bryan and Ryan Harrison fought cou- break in superb fashion only to crumble un- Mled Worcestershire to the English Worcestershire held Sussex to a ing the remark he’d allegedly For a moment, though, after Coric had ca- rageously to claw out a fi ve-set doubles win der Querrey’s onslaught with the American T20 Blast title with victory over total of 157 for six in the fi nal at heard was “unacceptable”. pitulated 7-0 in the fi rst set breaker and 13-11 on Saturday, were the Americans given even world number 61 winning seven straight Sussex in the fi nal at Edgbaston Edgbaston — a target the Mid- Moeen, a 31-year-old practis- in the third set decider, the shocked fans in faint hope. points. “I just hung in there. After being 6-1 on Saturday. lands side chased down with ing Muslim, said he was on the the Dalmatian resort feared Croatia could be But Courier was rewarded for a bold, if down in the tiebreak, I just played aggres- A memorable fi nals day for the wicket-keeper Ben Cox making receiving end of the slur, a refer- on the wrong end of one of the competition’s slightly desperate-looking risk when he sively and from then on the pressure just England all-rounder started with an unbeaten 46 and Moeen con- ence to Osama bin Laden, from unlikeliest comebacks. rested his No.1 Steve Johnson and instead builds,” said Querrey. an allegation, contained in an tributing 41 as they won by fi ve an unnamed opponent during his Coric, though, demonstrated why he is threw Querrey into the must-win fourth Cilic’s early dominance on the outdoor extract from his autobiography, wickets. “I just knew we were Ashes debut against Australia in seen as one of the sport’s best prospects, rubber even though the 30-year-old had clay, cheered by an enthusiastic crowd in the that he was called “Osama” by an going to win today,” said Moeen, Cardiff three years ago — a match holding his nerve against the brilliant young never previously beaten Cilic in six attempts. Dalmatian resort, then evaporated as Quer- Australia player during the 2015 whose side owed their place in where he scored 77 runs in the American and proving to be too solid over Cilic had also become the most success- rey took the next two sets to win in three Ashes series. the fi nal to an impressive semi- fi rst innings and took fi ve wickets. the fi nal two sets as he fi nally prevailed after ful Croatian Davis Cup player in history on hours and eight minutes.

Monday, September 17, 2018 GULF TIMES SPORT

ATHLETICS Kipchoge shatters marathon Kenyan shaves 78 seconds off compatriot world record in Berlin Kimetto’s 2014 mark

Reuters Berlin French decathlete Mayer smashes world record enya’s Olympic cham- pion Eliud Kipchoge AFP from athletics last year. pulverised the mara- Talence, France “Important thing to me has thon world record with always been to keep pushing Ka blistering run yesterday, slic- the limit and inspiring others ing a staggering 78 seconds off orld champion to do the same. The more 9k the previous best to land the one Kevin Mayer set a can become commonplace major running crown that had Wnew world record the better.” eluded him. in the decathlon with 9,126 The 26-year-old Mayer missed The 33-year-old, widely seen points at the Decastar meet out on adding the European as the greatest marathon runner yesterday to eclipse Ashton’s title to his world crown and of the modern era, ran an offi cial Eaton previous mark of 9,045. Olympic silver medal when time of two hours, one minute The Frenchman threw a he failed to register a mark and 39 seconds on a sunny day personal best of 71.90 metres in the long jump in Berlin last along the fl at inner-city course, in the javelin in the penulti- month. smashing Dennis Kimetto’s pre- mate event to leave him with But he put that disappoint- vious record that had stood since the relatively simple task of ment well and truly behind 2014. needing to finish inside 4 him on the opening day on Fellow Kenyan Gladys Cher- minutes 49 seconds in the Saturday with personal bests ono won the women’s race with 1,500 metres. of 7.80m in the long jump and a course record and best time of The 26-year-old cruised home 10.55sec in the 100m. the year of 2:18:11, leaving Ethio- in 4:36 to become just the A shot put throw of 16m, then pians Ruti Aga and pre-race fa- third decathlete to surpass 2.05m on his third and last vourite Tirunesh Dibaba in sec- the mythical 9,000-point bar- eff ort in the high jump and ond and third place respectively. rier, joining double Olympic a 400m time of 48.42sec Kipchoge’s run was the big- champion Eaton and Czech earned him a total of 4,563 gest improvement on the mara- icon Roman Sebrle. points at the midway stage. thon mark since Australian Derek “That was an incredible Mayer opened Sunday with Clayton took almost two and a display of ability! I’m super 13.75sec in the 110m hur- half minutes off the record in happy for @mayer_decathlon dles and threw a whopping 1967. & even more for the future 50.54m in the discus before “I lack words to describe this of the decathlon,” tweeted excelling at the pole vault in day,” said a beaming Kipchoge, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge celebrates as he wins the Berlin Marathon in world record time yesterday. (AFP) American Eaton, who retired front of a partisan crowd. a former world champion over 5,000 metres and marathon gold and with virtually no wind, it was with him up to the 30-km mark. medallist at the Rio de Janeiro clear Kipchoge’s only opponent Kipchoge kept up the pace to Kipchoge fi les Olympics in 2016. “I am really would be the clock. sprint through the Brandenburg grateful, happy to smash the His three pacemakers were Gate and complete a world record Name: Eliud Kipchoge Hengelo () world record.” pushed to the limit to keep the race that cements his reputation Date of birth: Nov. 5, 1984 5,000m: 12:46.53, 02/07/2004 “They say you can miss it twice tempo high as Kipchoge dipped as one of the greatest runners of Place of birth: Kapsisiywa, Kenya at Rome but not a third time. So I want to well below world-record time at all time. Nationality: Kenyan 10,000m: 26:49.02, 26/05/2007 thank everyone who has helped the halfway mark. Kenya’s President Uhuru Ken- Height: 1.67 metres (5ft 5in) at Hengelo (Netherlands) me,” said Kipchoge, who had won yatta congratulated him minutes Weight: 52kg (8st 1lb) Half-marathon: 59:25, in Berlin in 2015 and 2017. RUNNING ALONE after his win as well as second- 01/09/2012 at Lille (France) “I am just so incredibly hap- Yet even after the last pacemaker placed Amos Kipruto and Kip- HONOURS Marathon: 2:01:39, 16/09/2018 py to have fi nally run the world peeled off after 25 kilometres, sang, who completed the African OLYMPIC GAMES at Berlin record as I never stopped having Kipchoge showed no sign of nation’s podium sweep. Marathon: gold (2016) belief in myself. Running a sub slowing as thousands of Berliners “Congratulations Eliud Kip- 5,000m: silver (2008), bronze LAST 5 MEN’S WORLD two hours two minutes was sim- lining the streets egged him on. choge for breaking the world (2004) MARATHON RECORDS ply amazing and I believe I can Berlin has now been the stage record at the Berlin marathon WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2:01:39: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) still go below that with such good for the last six men’s world 2018. I also congratulate his com- 5,000m: gold (2003), silver on 16/9/18 in Berlin conditions.” records over the distance. patriots Amos Kipruto & Wilson (2007) 2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) Kipchoge, who last year took “It was hard running alone, Kipsang for going out valiantly to WORLD INDOORS on 28/09/2014 in Berlin part in the Nike Breaking Two but I was confi dent. I ran my bring a 1-2-3 victory for #Team- 5,000m: bronze (2006) 2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) project, where he ran two hours own race, I trusted my trainers, Kenya. You are our heroes. Kenya WORLD JUNIORS on 29/09/2013 in Berlin and 25 seconds with the aid of my programme and my coach. is proud of you,” Kenyatta wrote Cross-country: gold (2003) 2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) “illegal” in and out pacemakers, That’s what pushed me in the last on Twitter. on 25/09/2011 in Berlin started off at a sizzling pace. kilometres,” Kipchoge said, add- Kipchoge has won 11 out of the PERSONAL BESTS 2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie After quickly shaking off his ing that he could have gone even 12 marathons he has raced in, in- 1,500m: 3:33.20, 31/05/2004 at (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin biggest rival, Wilson Kipsang, faster had the pacemakers stayed cluding at the Olympics.

BOTTOMLINE SPOTLIGHT Second edition of AAB Chess Many volunteers commit to artistic Open concludes successfully gymnastics worlds in Doha

Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) president Ali al-Hitmi addresses the volunteers during an orientation session.

QCA president Mohamed al-Medaihki, executive director Hamad al-Tamimi and other off icials with the winners. By Sports Reporter nity members to be part of such a glo- tion of a major sporting event hosted Doha bal event, Heba Ali Mohamed, head in Qatar. By Sports Reporter rated. From the previous tournament Special prizes, including Best Un- of Volunteers and Spectator Serv- “It is a huge event that Qatar is host- Doha edition, six unrated players got their der-20, Best Under-12, Best Female, ices, said, “For the championship, we ing for the fi rst time, and this attracted FIDE Rating. Best Qatari Male, Best Qatari Female large turnout of nearly 400 need 800 volunteers but the number and encouraged me to participate with Sixty-six participants ranging from and Best Unrated Qatari, were also volunteers gathered at Aspire of those who have registered so far is the volunteers in organising the cham- bdullah Abdulghani & Bros age 6 and above with FIDE Rating un- given out in this second edition of the Academy Dome for an ori- 1,800.” pionship,” said al-Murisi. Co WLL (AAB), exclusive der 2200 battled for the championship tournament. A higher number of Qa- entation session — fi rst of a The orientation session featured a Moemen Ahmed, a 31-year-old, is distributor of Toyota and and special prizes at the Al Abdulghani tari chess players participated in the seriesA — as the Local Organizing Com- presentation that covered the diff er- also keen to put his past volunteering Lexus in Qatar, collaborated Tower. tournament. mittee of the 48th Artistic Gymnas- ent functions and roles of volunteers experiences in the service of the guests withA Qatar Chess Association (QCA) C&I Division COO Yazan Mustafa Meanwhile, a father and son duo, tics World Championships puts fi nal who will play a vital role in the success of the Artistic Gymnastics World to hold the second FIDE Rated Open and QCA general secretary and Board who garnered the highest combined touches for the event that Qatar hosts of the championship by ensuring that Championships in order to show that Chess Tournament in Qatar. member Ali Abdul Razak Hashim score, were also given recognition as from October 25 to November 3. operations in competition and non- “Qatar deserves the best and is capable Named as AAB Chess Open Edition made the First Move. The tournament Best Family. They were given the op- It would be the fi rst time that these competition venues are adequately of hosting any event at any level”. 2, the FIDE Rated Tournament brought was played across 5 rounds Swiss Sys- portunity to a Weekend Test of world championships will be held in supported. Over 700 female and male gymnasts in more Rated and Non-rated chess tem with 60 min + 30 seconds/move Toyota Land Cruiser VXS. the Middle East region. The volunteers came from diff erent from 83 countries from around the players in Qatar compared to the fi rst timing for the whole game. The champion received a trophy, In his opening remarks, Qatar Gym- community groups, including citizens world have registered to compete at tournament held in April. Ryan Mendoza of the Philippines cash prize and a Weekend Test Drive of nastics Federation (QGF) president and residents from various nationali- this World Championship. Organised to sustain the inter- won the second edition of the tour- the Lexus RCF. Ali al-Hitmi said that the number of ties and backgrounds in a refl ection of hree Team Qatar gymnasts will also est and passion of chess enthusiasts nament ahead of compatriots Rolen- QCA president and Qatar Grand applicants exceeded the target. “This Qatar’s vibrant multiculturalism. be competing against world-class in the community, the tournament son Loyola and Enrique Naperi. FM Master Mohamed al-Medaihki, and shows commitment to the culture of The 48th Artistic Gymnastics World gymnasts. This World Champion- paved the way for the Rated play- Boidiya Sidi of Mauritania and Florian QCA executive director Hamad al- volunteerism and love for sport and for Championships will be the fi fth time ship will serve as the fi rst qualifi cation ers to improve their world ratings de Joya of the Philippines rounded up Tamimi were present at the prize dis- Qatar.” Assem Nasser al-Murisi, a 28-year- event for Tokyo 2020 Summer Olym- and for the Non-Rated players to get the top fi ve. tribution ceremony. Stressing the interest of commu- old, volunteers to help in the organisa- pic Games.