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Thursday, August 4, 2016 Dhul-Qa’da 1, 1437 AH OLYMPICS Doping for gold, Olympians ignore health risks Page 3

SPOTLIGHT Supermodel, dancers to lead Rio opening ceremony show If Beijing 2008 was ostentatiously lavish and London quirky, Rio will try to capture Brazil’s amazing diversity, love of music — and talent for fun. ‘We want to have the biggest party there has ever been in this country’

AFP Pele, probably the most famous Brazil- Rio de Janeiro ian of all. However he never played in the Ol- ympics and NBC, the US network with upermodel Gisele Bundchen, exclusive broadcasting rights for the trailblazing transgender beauty United States, suggests that organizers Lea T and carnival dancers will should look at Brazilian marathon run- show off Brazil in its multicol- ner Vanderlei de Lima. Sour glory at the Olympic opening cer- De Lima was leading in the 2004 emony tomorrow. Athens Olympics when a spectator ran Rio has a hard act to follow after Lon- out and grabbed him. don 2012’s alternately humorous and He ended up winning bronze and jaw-droppingly sophisticated version. forgave his attacker, earning plaudits This opening ceremony, held in a for his humility. country suff ering its deepest recession Olympic organising commit- in almost a century, will be more modest. tee spokesman Mario Andrada says Co-artistic chief Fernando there’ll be plenty of surprises tomor- Meirelles, who directed the hit movies row. “We didn’t show even 20 percent,” “City of God” and “The Constant Gar- he said. dener,” has said his budget is a fraction of the London splurge. Pele asked to light Rio But organizers promise to keep the Olympic pyre, checks with more than 70,000-strong crowd in sponsors Rio’s legendary Maracana stadium and the estimated three billion people Pele has been invited to light the Ol- watching it on television at the edge of ympic pyre for the Rio Games tomor- their seats. row but the Brazilian soccer great is If Beijing 2008 was ostentatiously checking with his sponsors to see if lavish and London quirky, Rio will try he is free to lead the torch ceremony to capture Brazil’s amazing diversity, in the Maracana stadium. love of music — and talent for fun. “I have a contract that I am bound “We want to have the biggest party to fulfil,” Pele told Globo TV late on there has ever been in this country,” co- Tuesday, adding that he was consult- artistic director Daniela Thomas says. ing the US company that holds the rights to his brand name whether he DANCING THROUGH HISTORY can take up the invitation from the No one does big outdoor parties better Olympic organising committee. than Rio — think the annual carnival — A member of Colombia’s Olympic team performs with dancers during a welcoming ceremony at the Athletes’ Village ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. “As a Brazilian, I’d love to do it,” said and music is at the heart of that. the 75-year-old, who helped his coun- Along with thousands of athletes Another heavyweight theme in the depicted an assault. “Brazil is vast and all this diversity, opponents in the crowd. “I am totally try win the World Cup three times parading behind their national fl ags, show, which starts at 8:00pm (2300 A well-connected columnist in in one way or another, needs to be rep- ready” for heckling, he said. and would be launching the Games as well as a contingent of refugees, GMT) and lasts roughly four hours, will Globo newspaper said the crowd mis- resented in an event like this,” she said. Outside the stadium, security will in the stadium where he scored his there’ll be hundreds of performers be global warming and Brazil’s crucial interpreted what was meant to be a skit be heavy in case of demonstrations by 1,000th goal in 1969. from a dozen local samba schools sing- role as home to the Amazon rainforest, about a street vendor, not a mugger. TENSIONS groups supporting Rousseff . Pele later told reporters that Interna- ing and dancing in wild costumes. reports say. In any case, Bundchen, who struts It won’t be all smiles and samba. As for the A-level attendance, US tional Olympic Committee President Two icons of Brazilian popular mu- out to the classic Brazilian hit “Girl Brazil is going through a major po- President Barack Obama will be among Thomas Bach and the head of the sic, Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, BEAUTIES from Ipanema,” will be safe yesterday. litical crisis. the many heads of state keeping away. Brazilian committee Carlos Arthur will feature. On the more contempo- One of the most famous Brazilians “There will be no robbery,” a spokes- The elected president, Dilma Rouss- According to O Estado de Sao Paulo Nuzman had personally asked him to rary side, there’ll be rappers and baile alive — Bundchen, who retired from man for organizers told AFP. eff , is suspended and likely to be eject- daily, the total of world leaders will be light the pyre and that he would have funk star Anitta. the catwalk in 2015 — and pioneering Lea T, a transgender woman who ed from offi ce in an impeachment vote the lowest in 16 years. an answer today. Leaks from a closed-doors dress transgender model Lea T will provide has broken into the mainstream fash- after the Games end. He said he would have to cancel a rehearsal on Sunday promise a run the glamour. ion industry, is billed as being the fi rst She has refused to attend the cer- SURPRISE! trip organised by his sponsors. through the transformation of Brazil, Bundchen’s role was mired in con- trans person to have a major role in an emony, saying she will not accept “a One thing the rehearsal did not show is Pele, regarded as the greatest player including a light show to recreate the troversy this week when her scene in Olympic opening ceremony. secondary role” while her former vice the lighting of the Olympic cauldron. of all time, played in four World Cups Atlantic Ocean crossed by Portuguese the dress rehearsal appeared to show Born to Brazilian soccer player Ton- president Michel Temer, now acting The identity of the lucky person car- and is the only player to have won it colonizers, depictions of slavery, a an attempted mugging before police inho Cerezo, who was part of the na- president, presides. rying the Olympic torch — which has three times: in 1958 in Sweden, when recreation of aviator Santos Dumont’s arrive and she forgives the assailant. tional team between 1977 and 1985, Temer is expected to say no more completed a 300-city relay — to ignite he was just 17, in 1962 in Chile and in fl ight in the plane 14 Bis, and the Responding to a wave of protest, Lea T told the BBC that she wants to than one line or so declaring the Games the cauldron is also a mystery. 1970 in Mexico. founding of cities. organizers angrily denied ever having embody Brazil’s diversity. open, but even that risks booing from The big favourite is football legend

TENNIS Nadal to play singles, doubles and mixed in Rio

AFP on centre court discussing his plans He is due to carry his country’s fl ag at “Yesterday (Monday) and today Rio de Janeiro with the team doctor and team captain tomorrow’s opening ceremony in Rio. (Tuesday) have been my strong- Conchita Martinez. Nadal admitted that his best medal est training in two months and He is scheduled to play doubles with chance may be in the doubles where the the wrist has not gotten worse,” afael Nadal committed himself Marc Lopez and mixed doubles with burden is shared. he added. to playing singles, doubles and French Open champion Garbine Mu- “It’s true that in doubles, I might go mixed doubles at the Olympics guruza. better, but you never know,” he said. son to recover from a knee injury. on Tuesday despite serious “Yesterday (Monday) and today “I will do everything possible to Fellow top ten players Milos Raonic, Rconcerns over whether or not his left (Tuesday) have been my strongest make my role the best and bring some- Tomas Berdych and Dominic Thiem wrist injury will survive the gruelling training in two months and the wrist thing positive for Spain.” have also opted out of the Olympics. challenge. has not gotten worse,” he added. The women’s singles have been “After discussing it with my team, Nadal hasn’t played at all since he MAJOR BOOST stripped of Simona Halep, Victoria I have decided I will play everything was forced to quit the French Open Nadal’s decision to play in all three Azarenka, who is pregnant, Belinda that I can. We are here and practice before the third round after damaging events was a major boost for the or- Bencic and Karolina Pliskova. has gone well — more or less,” said the tendons in his left wrist. ganisers who on Tuesday saw world Maria Sharapova, silver medal- 30-year-old Spaniard after an intense, He missed Wimbledon as a result. number four Stan Wawrinka pull out list behind Serena Williams in 2012, is 90-minute training session with com- The protective brace he wore on his with a back injury. serving a two-year doping ban. patriot David Ferrer. wrist since Paris was missing on Tuesday. Wawrinka was replaced in the draw The men’s doubles was also tainted “It’s not an ideal situation — there The 14-time Grand Slam title winner by big-serving Australian Sam Groth. when defending champions Bob and are always risks.” was the gold medallist at the 2008 Bei- Last week, world number three and Mike Bryan opted out, citing health World number fi ve Nadal spent a Spain’s Rafael Nadal answers journalists’ questions after a tennis training session jing Olympics but missed the 2012 Lon- 17-time major winner Roger Federer reasons but not specifi cally blaming the lengthy period after his practice session at the Olympic Tennis Centre in Rio de Janeiro. don Games because of a knee injury. also withdrew and shut down his sea- Zika virus. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, August 4, 2016

SPOTLIGHT BRAVERY Kuwaiti fencer goes it alone, defying Neymar tasked long odds

Reuters Olympics because I know how to Sao Paulo keep calm.” If he were more anxious, there would be plenty to worry him. ithout a national The International Olympic with delivering delegation, an Ol- Committee (IOC) banned Kuwait ympic scholarship from the Games last year due to or even an inter- sports legislation creating “un- Wnational ranking, Kuwait’s fi rst due government interference” in fencer at the Games in 16 years the Kuwait Olympic Committee. knows the odds are stacked The ban, upheld by a Swiss court against him. on Tuesday, means the country’s But Abdulaziz Alshatti has Olympic committee, and conse- Brazil’s elusive gold beat long odds before, includ- quently its athletes, are not eligible ing the stunning first place fin- for any funding from the IOC. ish at a qualifying event this Alshatti and eight fellow Ku- ‘I want to be dependent on Neymar. What coach in the world would not want a year that punched his ticket to waitis eligible for the Rio Games Rio de Janeiro. are still free to participate but Neymar in their team? He is appreciated, he’s a good guy with a huge heart...’ The Kuwaiti rattled off a string they will compete under the Ol- of upsets in that April tourna- ympic fl ag. ment, starting with a second- Organisers have told him not round win over Kazakhstan’s to wear the attire he brought with Elmir Alimzhanov, who placed Kuwaiti fl ags and other insignia. 11th in London four years ago. “I have to respect their rules. Even after going up 10-5 in I’m not here to make trouble,” he three minutes - a blistering said. “I play by the rules of my start for the cautious epee that sport and let them worry about he fences - Alshatti kept calm, their rules.” he said, shutting out the noisy Coming out of nowhere brings throng that gathered to watch. some advantages, Alshatti said, “For me to fence well I have to given that no one has had time to be very calm. If I play too angry, scout his strategy and style. I’ll lose,” said the 25-year-old. “For all the others, I can go on “My coach always says, ‘You YouTube and see how they play. need to get angry,’ but I hate to For me they won’t fi nd any vid- be aggressive. And I reached the eos,” he said with a grin.

EXPENSIVE MONSTERS Pokemon hunting proves costly for Japan’s Uchimura

AFP Tokyo

apanese gymnastics star Kohei Uchimura was left counting the cost of his recent addiction to Poke- monJ Go at the Rio Olympics. The reigning Olympic and world all-around champion be- Brazilian footballer Neymar takes part in a training session at the Fire Department Training Center in Brasilia. came hooked on the smartphone game after touching down in AFP which sealed Dunga’s fate as Brazil coach strongest squad on paper. ing Honduras and Algeria. Brazil to prepare for the defence Rio de Janeiro for the second time — to ensure he is Each team is restricted to just three World champions Germany can call of his title. fresh for the Olympics. players over the age of 23 in their 18- on the experience of the Bender twins But to Uchimura’s horror man squads. Lars and Sven of Bayer Leverkusen and he was hit with a 500,000 yen razil has barely got over its World STARLETS IN SUPPORT Wonder kids Gabriel Barbosa and Borussia Dortmund as two of their over- ($5,000) bill after discovering Cup disaster and now it is count- Rogerio Micale will take charge after Gabriel Jesus, both tipped to make big age players. that he did not have a fl at rate for ing on Barcelona star Neymar to leading Brazil to the under-20 World Cup money moves to Europe from Santos and A return to Brazil holds particularly overseas data usage. fi nally deliver a treasured fi rst fi nal last year. Palmeiras respectively after the Games, fond memories for Dortmund full-back “500,000 yen...” the de- Bfootball Olympic gold medal. Like the fans he also expects Neymar will support Neymar in attack. Matthias Ginter, who was part of the fending six-time world cham- Kohei Uchimura (JPN) of Japan Olympic gold is the only internation- to deliver. Meanwhile, Paris Saint Germain de- German squad that won the World Cup pion was quoted by Kyodo news sits during training at the Rio al title to elude Brazil in an illustrious He said: “I want to be dependent on fender Marquinhos and Neymar’s Bar- two years ago. agency as saying. Olympic Arena. history that has seen A Selecao win five Neymar. What coach in the world would celona teammate Rafi nha are also among Ginter has shown his commitment to Teammate Kenzo Shirai World Cups. not want a Neymar in their team? Micale’s squad. the cause by fl ying almost 20,000km in confi ded that Uchimura was the hefty bill after contacting And Brazilian football is in desperate “Neymar has exceeded my expecta- Brazil open their campaign against four days as he headed back from China shellshocked by the charges. his phone company to plead his need of a pick-me-up after the humiliat- tions. He is appreciated, he’s a good guy South Africa in Brasilia, one of six Olym- with Dortmund on Friday before jetting “He looked dead at the team case, eventually only having to ing 7-1 semi-fi nal defeat to Germany at with a huge heart especially around the pic football host cities, before facing Iraq off to Brazil. meal that day,” Shirai said. pay 3,000 yen. “I really lucked their own World Cup two years ago and younger players. and Denmark in Group A. “I’m still young and you have to take Uchimura, though, escaped out,” Uchimura said. a group stage exit at the Copa America “He has shown that he is more than Their biggest threat is likely to come the chances off ered to you. The Olym- Centenario in June. just a great player — he’s a great man ad- from eternal rivals Argentina. pics are special. We’re all motivated and Golden boy Neymar has been untar- mired by everybody.” Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa and want to reach the fi nal in Rio,” said the LEADER nished by the failures. Neymar was part of the Brazil side Giovanni Simeone — son of Atletico boss 22-year-old. Two broken vertebrae in his back suf- shocked by Mexico in the fi nal of the 2012 Diego Simeone — formed a lethal part- Germany start against 2012 gold med- fered near the end of a quarter-fi nal win Olympics, whilst even the likes of Ron- nership in scoring 13 goals to win the 2015 allists Mexico in Salvador before facing over Colombia left Brazil without their tal- aldo and Ronaldinho have come up short South American under-20 champion- Fiji and South Korea in Group C. Phelps chosen as US isman against the Germans two years ago. when charged with delivering gold. ships to qualify. Group B appears the closest to call as And as part of an agreement between However, Brazil are strong favour- They face Portugal in the match of the Sweden, Colombia, Nigeria and Japan all Barcelona and the Brazilian federation, ites to end their wait as on top of home opening round at the Rio Olympic stadi- start with realistic ambitions of reaching team fl ag bearer Neymar skipped the Copa America — advantage, they also possess by far the um on Thursday in a group also contain- the quarter-fi nals.

Reuters SWIMMING Rio de Janeiro

ichael Phelps, the most decorated Ol- ympian of all time with 18 gold med- Australia and USA ready for duel Mals among his career haul of 22, will carry the US flag in Friday’s Reuters world champion. The two powers were more opening ceremony of the Rio Rio de Janeiro Team mate Cameron McEvoy, evenly matched at last year’s Olympics. Australia’s big hope of a fi rst 100 world championships in Russia The US Olympic Commit- freestyle men’s gold since 1968, with the Americans top of the tee said yesterday that Phelps, et the duel in the pool said there might have been a bit tree on 23 medals and eight golds who will be the first American begin. The big beasts of ‘eyeballing’ but both sides to Australia’s 16 and seven golds. male swimmer to compete at of Olympic swimming knew each other well enough. The rivalry over the years has five Games, had been chosen in have rolled into Rio, with “A lot of us are really, really been immense with the 4x100 a vote of fellow team members Michael Phelps (USA) of United LMichael Phelps and the mighty good friends with the Ameri- freestyle relay at the 2000 Syd- to lead the delegation into the States visits the Olympic US team following their Austral- cans,” he said. ney Games providing one of the Maracana stadium. swimming venue. ian rivals, and the buzz of expec- “It was excitement to see greatest duels after Gary Hall Phelps, who won eight of his tation is building. them coming because there’s junior boasted that he and his golds in Beijing in 2008, is set to so much more than medals.” The two superpowers have some familiar faces in the Vil- team mates would smash the add to his haul in Rio with three Taking part in the opening been sizing each other up already lage and because there’s so many Australians “like guitars”. individual events as well as relays. ceremony will mean a late night in the Athletes Village and across of them, there’s more probabil- The US had never been beaten “I’m honoured to be chosen, for Phelps on Friday, with the the pool deck, exchanging nods ity that you are going to run into in the event at an Olympics but proud to represent the US, and stadium at least an hour away and greetings before the serious them in the Village. the Australians broke the world humbled by the signifi cance of from the Athletes Village in Bar- action kicks off on Saturday. record and played air guitar in carrying the fl ag and all it stands ra, and plenty of standing around “I briefl y saw them this morn- POWERHOUSE TEAM celebration. “It’s always special for,” said Phelps. as well. ing, they were warming up as I “They are a powerhouse team to stand up against the Ameri- “For Sydney (in 2000), I just The 31-year-old will not be was swimming and by the time I and you can defi nitely feel their cans,” said McEvoy. wanted to make the team. For in action on the opening Satur- was hopping out they were hop- presence in the pool. That was “Over the years we’ve had a Athens, I wanted to win gold for day, however, with his fi rst event ping in,” said Australia’s double pretty exciting this morning to really healthy rivalry,” agreed my country. For Beijing, I wanted likely to be the men’s 4x100 free- gold medallist Emily Seebohm see them coming in.” 100 freestyle world record holder to do something nobody else had style relay on Sunday. when a reporter enquired about US swimmers won 31 medals Cate Campbell. “We’ve pushed done. In London, I wanted to The US team have not an- ‘trash talking with the Yanks’. (16 gold) four years ago in Lon- them and they’ve pushed us. make history. nounced their lineup for that “So I didn’t really catch any- don, more than three times as “I don’t think America would “And now, I want to walk in event and Phelps is unlikely to one but I’m sure I’ll see them many as Australia who slumped be where they are today with- the Opening Ceremony, take it all take part in the afternoon heats, at the pool. We’ve got to train to a mere 10 and just one gold in out Australia....and America has in, represent America in the best meaning he will make his com- at the same time,” added the The American swimming team gets into a huddle during a visit to a Games that prompted soul- pushed us to be the great swim- possible way and make my family petitive entry in the pool late in 100 and 200 metres backstroke the Olympic swimming venue. searching Down Under. ming nation that we are as well.” proud. This time around, it’s about the evening if selected. Gulf Times Thursday, August 4, 2016 3

SPOTLIGHT SENSELESS Doping for gold, Olympians ignore Olympic chiefs health risks

AFP letes, he said, “the desire to win” Paris trumps the risk of physical harm — or the potential shame of join- ing cyclist Lance Armstrong and or as long as athletes have sprinter Ben Johnson in the circle struggle to contain been battling for gold of gold medal cheats. medals, they have been In what is known as “Goldman’s taking fortifying tonics — dilemma”, half of elite athletes Fsome stomach-churning, others questioned in the 1980s and 1990s downright dangerous — with lit- said they would take an undetec- tle concern for their health. table drug for success, even if it As revelations of Russian dop- killed them within fi ve years. ing have shown going into the Rio “It seems that some athletes doping scandals Olympics, top-level competitors don’t care much,” said Lundby are willing to take almost any of the health dangers associated concoction to go faster, higher with blood doping erythropoietin ‘IOC is calling for a more robust and eff icient anti-doping system. This requires clear stronger, despite risks to body, (EPO) used by bikers and runners. mind and reputation. Misuse of EPO and other responsibilities, more transparency, more independence and better harmonisation’ Ancient Greek Olympians, substances for “blood doping” researchers say, ate sheep’s tes- — boosting the production of AFP ticles for a testosterone boost, oxygen-carrying red blood cells Rio de Janeiro while gladiator physician Clau- — can heighten the risk of heart dius Galen prescribed the boiled disease, stroke and blood clots. hind hooves of Abyssinian asses, he Olympic movement struggled fl avoured with rose petals. NO WINNER to douse mounting wrangling “Besides using strychnine... According to a report by Cana- over the Russia doping scandal the athletes of antiquity also dian lawyer Richard McLaren as football prepared to launch the used hashish, cola plants, cac- which found Russian state- TRio Games yesterday. tus-based stimulants and fun- backed doping programme, its International Olympic Committee gi, with varying success,” San pharmacopeia included a cock- (IOC) president Thomas Bach called for Francisco-based lawyer Yush tail of three steroids dissolved in deep reforms of the World Anti-Doping Lee wrote in a research paper on whiskey or vermouth. Agency, while the Court of Arbitration doping and the law. The concoction was swilled in for Sport (CAS) rebuff ed appeals by 17 Fast forward nearly 3,000 the mouth for the drugs to be ab- Russian rowers against their exclusion years and it is more of the same, sorbed, then spat out. from the Rio Olympics. albeit with a new arsenal of per- Prolonged steroid use is known With appeals involving a dozen oth- formance-enhancing elixirs. to cause problems ranging from er Russian swimmers, wrestlers and In 1886, one cyclist is recorded hair loss to heart attacks and liver weightlifters still to be decided, the con- to have died after taking a “speed- cancer, as well as delusions, de- troversy over state-run doping blamed ball” mix of heroine and cocaine. pression and severe aggression. on the Russian government threatened to Incredibly, Thomas Hicks ran Drug cheating will not disap- overshadow Friday’s opening ceremony. the 1904 Olympic marathon on pear, experts say, as long as a Late on Tuesday, Brazilian police used a cocktail of strychnine — a rat competitive spirit remains part tear gas against demonstrators trying to poison — and brandy. of human nature. obstruct the tour of the Olympic fl ame in He won, but nearly died. Yet, for now, the arms race for a Rio de Janeiro suburb. In the 1930s, players for the new drugs and detection methods Offi cial competition started yesterday Wolverhampton Wanderers foot- appears to have stalled, or at least with Marta’s Brazil taking on China in the ball club in England were injected slowed. The most popular taboo top tie of the fi rst day of women’s football with monkey gland extract for the tonics have been around for dec- matches. Zimbabwe’s women, ranked purported prowess it conferred. ades — EPO, blood transfusions, 93rd in the world, take on number-two “Doping has likely gone on for- growth hormones and steroids. ranked Germany in their fi rst ever match ever,” Carsten Lundby, a sports And improving the human at the Olympics. drug expert at the University of body through “gene doping” Today, football golden boy Neymar’s Zurich’s Institute of Physiology, — long mooted as the next big Brazil start their campaign for a fi rst-ev- told AFP. threat — has not yet material- er football gold in a match against South For many professional ath- ised, say observers. Africa. But sports politicians have been hogging the limelight in the run-up to the Games as they argue over how to an- SADNESS swer Russia’s widespread doping. The IOC president said the Russia scandal, which he has described as “con- temptuous,” had exposed defi ciencies From cycling hero in WADA. “Recent developments have shown that we need a full review of the WADA anti-doping system,” he told an International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach is broadcast on television screens as he speaks during the 129th to rickshaw rider IOC session. International Olympic Committee session, in Rio de Janeiro.

REEDIE OFFENDED a break in the meeting. The tribunal must still give a verdict Canoeist Andrey Kraytor and wrestler “The IOC is calling for a more robust and “I heard a view this morning that the on appeals by three swimmers, a wrestler Viktor Lebedev made their own appeals effi cient anti-doping system,” Bach add- system is broken,” he told IOC delegates. and the Russian weightlifting federation. against the order along with swimmers ed. “This requires clear responsibilities, “I would like to say that all of it is not Russia has been at the center of a new Vladimir Morozov, Nikita Lobintsev and more transparency, more independence broken, part of it is broken and we should doping storm after an independent in- Yulia Efi mova. and better worldwide harmonisation.” start identifying those parts that need vestigator, Canadian lawyer Richard Decisions on the swimmers had been He blasted calls for a “nuclear option” attention.” McLaren, said in a report for WADA that expected on Tuesday. blanket ban on Russian athletes. The international sports tribunal is there had been widespread state-backed The Russian weightlifting federation is Other IOC members launched direct holding special hearings in Rio to help doping in Russia. seeking to overturn its suspension by the attacks on WADA and veiled asides at its the process of deciding how many Rus- In reaction, the IOC ordered sporting International Weightlifting Federation British chief Craig Reedie. sians will compete in Rio. federations to draw up lists of Russians over the doping. “It saddens me to say this, but at times CAS rejected a challenge by 17 Russian who could compete in Rio. If successful, it said, the organisation WADA has seemed to be more interested in rowers against their exclusion from the The federations have eliminated at would launch a new case on behalf of eight publicity and self-promotion rather than Olympics over doping, a tribunal offi cial least 117 competitors from the group of weightlifters banned from the Olympics. doing its job as a regulator,” Argentina’s told AFP. 387 athletes the Russian Olympic Com- Yesterday, the IOC session is ex- IOC member Gerardo Werthein said. Daniil Andrienko led 16 other rowers mittee had entered. Once all federations pected to accept that climbing, karate, Reedie said he was “personally off end- lodging a case against the World Rowing have reported and CAS has ruled on the surfing, skateboarding and baseball- ed” by Werthein’s comments, revealing Federation and the IOC on Monday de- appeals, a three-member IOC panel will softball join the Olympic program at This file photo shows former Pakistani Olympian Muhammad Ashiq that he confronted the Argentine during manding to compete in Rio. decide the fi nal Russian lineup. the 2020 Tokyo Games. waiting for passengers in his auto-rickshaw in Lahore.

AFP choked streets. BOTTOMLINE Lahore, Pakistan He lives in a 450 square foot house on which he owes more than one million rupees ($9,500) ormer Olympian Mu- — a near-insurmountable hammad Ashiq looks amount, given his rickshaw sala- daily at the trophies he ry of roughly 400 rupees per day. won in a glittering cy- His wife has passed away, and Indian hockey team staying clingF career for Pakistan decades his four children no longer live ago.”Perhaps most people think with him, he says, adding he that I have died,” he laments. does not want to be dependent “I just recall that I have shaken on them. hands with... former Pakistani He used to hang his medals in focused in Rio ‘magic world’ prime ministers, presidents, his rickshaw, but not anymore. chief executives,” the 81-year- Instead, the canopy is in- Reuters senior side. India are the most decorated old tells AFP tearfully. scribed with a twist on the fa- Mumbai He made crucial saves during nation in the sport’s Olympic “Why and how they all forgot mous quote by former US Presi- the 2014 Asian Games fi nal when history but the South Asians me, I cannot believe.” dent Calvin Coolidge: “Nations India beat arch-rivals Pakistan, collected the last of their eight Ashiq, who competed for Pa- and states who forget their he- R Sreejesh says his dual which sealed their spot for Rio. gold medals back at the Moscow kistan at the 1960 and the 1964 roes can never be prosperous.” role as India hockey In 2015, Sreejesh received the Games in 1980. Olympics, now scrapes by as a When passengers ask him captain and goalkeeper Arjuna award for his contribu- After failing to qualify for rickshaw driver in the teeming about the message, he says he is to allow his team- tion to the national team. Beijing, India made it to London eastern city of Lahore. tells them his story — using it as Pmates the freedom to express Sreejesh said the captaincy four years later but fi nished last He began his sporting career a cautionary tale for the poor in themselves in Rio but knows he would not have a huge infl uence of the 12 countries taking part. as a boxer, switching to cycling particular, whom he warns never must keep them focused on the on his role. India, who are in Pool B in Rio in the 1950s when his wife com- to take part in sports. medal hunt in the “magic world” “I am a goalkeeper. My fi rst along with Argentina, Canada, plained about his injuries. His wife and four children of the Olympics. duty is to save the goal,” he said by Germany, Ireland and the Neth- He competed in Rome in 1960 begged him over the years to stop The 30-year-old was second telephone from the team’s train- erlands, have created optimism and Tokyo in 1964 and though he thinking about his fall in life, choice at London 2012 behind ing camp in Bengaluru. “The sec- back home thanks after a strong won no medals, he was hailed as he said. “Once my wife started then captain Bharat Chetri but ond is to communicate with my build-up to the Games. a national hero for Pakistan. weeping. I asked her why... She has since established himself as defenders and organise them. Sreejesh feels India have the “I was so happy... I considered said she was just worried about the clear number one. “Third is I need to give them right balance between youth and myself lucky to represent Paki- my health. He was named captain for the confi dence as a goalkeeper. I experience, with a number of stan in the Olympics,” he says. “She told me to be happy all recent Champions Trophy in think as captain too I have to do players from London 2012 still But when his cycling career the time and forget those who London where India rested some these three things. There is no part of the mix for Rio. ended, so did his luck. forgot us. I said OK, and she be- seniors, including regular cap- File picture of Indian hockey captain P R Sreejesh. extra burden on me. Consistency will be the key, he He took a PR job but left it for came happy for a while. tain Sardar Singh, ahead of the “It’s all about giving them the added. “The last couple of years health reasons in 1977. “And after some period, she Rio Games. While Sreejesh led “I never expected it,” Sreejesh the team and leading the side in freedom to do what they want. has given us confi dence. We He briefl y drove a taxi and a died.” That was two years ago. the side to the silver medal, as told Reuters in a recent inter- the Olympics. It’s a great honour.” “Olympics is a place where have beaten all the top teams and van then bounced around sev- Now, he says, his hands shak- India lost the fi nal to Australia in view. “I have always said being Sreejesh has been a rock for In- you can be easily distracted to won medals,” he added. eral other small business ideas, ing, he too prays for death. a penalty shoot-out, he said he part of the team and winning a dia in front of goal since making a lot of things and it will seem “It has given us confi dence but for the last six years has been “I pray... to meet my beloved never imagined it would lead to medal for my country was my the junior national team in 2004. like a magic world. It will all be that now we are ready to beat reduced to driving a rickshaw, wife in heaven. I think it is better him wearing the armband at the fi rst preference. It took him another couple about reminding them our goal any team and we will carry that ferrying low-income passen- to avoid this pathetic situation I Rio Games too. “I never dreamt of captaining of years to make the cut for the as a team.” to Rio.” gers around Lahore’s bustling, have endured,” he says. Gulf Times 4 Thursday, August 4, 2016

FOOTBALL Sweden kick off Games with win Reuters turn possession into goals. Rio de Janeiro The result means South Africa have yet to win an Olympic football match in their four fi nals appear- outh America’s fi rst Olympic ances. Games kicked off with wom- The second game in Group A was en’s football yesterday, when scheduled for later yesterday when Sweden beat South Africa home side Brazil, seeking their fi rst 1-0S in Rio de Janeiro. Olympic gold after two silver medal Although the opening ceremony performances, take on China. takes place tomorrow, the football Holders and No. 1 ranked side the competitions begin ahead of time United States play New Zealand at with six women’s matches yester- night in Belo Horizonte. day and another eight men’s games The men’s competition begins today. today, with eight games, includ- The opening action at Rio’s Ol- ing Brazil against South Africa and ympic stadium was lacklustre with holders Mexico versus Germany. few clear chances. Nilla Fischer scored Sweden’s Sweden player Nilla Fischer (fourth winner after 74 minutes, bundling from left) scores a goal against the ball into the net with her knee South Africa during the Rio 2016 after the South African keeper failed Olympic Games women’s first round to hold a cross. Group E football match at the Olym- Sweden were superior, particu- pic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro yester- larly in the fi rst half, but could not day. (AFP)

SPOTLIGHT CYCLING Team pursuit Ali legend inspires US gold is Britain’s boxers in gold assault to lose, says ‘He coming straight out of high school and into the Olympics, and me doing the same thing, it’s a real big inspiration and motivation for me to go and win a gold’ Wiggins Reuters full fi tness after a spate of back AFP but I can try and be close.” Rio de Janeiro problems. Rio de Janeiro Wiggins cemented his selec- BOXING DIRTY tion in March when he helped The United States are the most successful radley Wiggins says only Britain to team pursuit silver he United States are drawing country in Olympic boxing history. a gold medal will justify behind Australia at the world on the memory of heavyweight But they have not won gold in the men’s his return to his track championships in London before legend Muhammad Ali to power competition since Andre Ward in 2004 cycling roots at the Rio winning the Madison alongside them to Rio Olympics boxing and face fresh challenges in Rio with pro- BOlympics, declaring the men’s fellow track returnee Mark Cav- Tgold, team fi ghters said yesterday. fessionals now allowed to compete and no team pursuit title is Britain’s to endish. “The Greatest,” who died two months more headguards in the male fi ghts. lose. He fully expects Britain to ago aged 74 after a long battle with Par- There will also be a new points-scor- The 36-year-old will become turn the tables on Australia, who kinson’s disease, announced his name ing system using judges — all designed his country’s most decorated along with New Zealand, will be to the world at the 1960 Rome Olym- to bring Olympic boxing closer into line Olympian ahead of fellow cy- the main threat. pics when he won gold as a little-known with the professional fi ght game. clist Chris Hoy with a medal of “I’m still adamant that the 18-year-old. The AIBA, the world governing body any colour in the team pursuit speeds we were riding on the There may be no heavyweight in the for amateur boxing, ditched the unseemly in Rio’s velodrome which would track, it was always ours to lose Team USA ranks in Rio, but its eight fi ght- headwear because, it said, there was am- take his career haul to eight. at the worlds,” he said. ers — six men and two women — say they ple evidence that there were fewer con- But Wiggins, who has four “And we were understrength will have Ali very much on their minds cussions without them. golds, a silver and two bronzes there with Ed and his problems when the Olympic boxing gets under way Opponents say it will result in more from the last four Games, wants so in the circumstances it was a on Saturday. cuts and American light fl yweight Nico to end his glittering 16-year Ol- fantastic result. With Ed back to “Muhammad Ali paved the way for me Hernandez said he was braced for oppo- ympic career on the top step of full fi tness I think it’s ours to lose and the rest of the team,” said Charles nents to deploy roughhouse tactics to cut the podium. again if you like.” Conwell, a teenage middleweight. an opponent. “Anything less than a gold will The British quartet, also in- “He coming straight out of high school “Being previously cut in the past, I’ve be a huge disappointment the way cluding Steven Burke and Owain and into the Olympics, and me doing the worked on some things like (defending we’re going at the moment,” Wig- Doull, is in superb form having same thing, it’s a real big inspiration and against) headbutts and keeping myself gins told British Cycling yesterday set an unoffi cial world record of motivation for me to go and win a gold out of trouble from that,” said Hernan- from the team’s training base. three mins 51.659 seconds for the medal and fi ght even harder.” dez. “Taking the headguards off does risk “Something will have to go 4km event in training. Claressa Shields, reigning middle- us getting cut. Boxing is not a clean sport seriously wrong for us to lose Sprint king Hoy, who has six weight Olympic champion who is fancied so people could do that (headbutt).” and if that’s the case whether it’s Olympic golds, believes the re- to repeat the feat in Rio, said she had met Gary Russell, a light welterweight, said someone struck down with ill- turn of Wiggins has been the key another American boxing legend, the re- he was relishing a scrap. ness or we have a crash or mis- factor. cently retired Floyd Mayweather, on the In this August 8, 2012, picture, Claressa Shields (left) of the US celebrates her win over “You will have some fi ghters who will hap, then it will be a huge disap- “You cannot overstate what day Ali died. Kazakhstan’s Marina Volnova in the women’s boxing middleweight semi-finals at the intentionally try to headbutt you,” he pointment.” his contribution will be,” said “On the day he died I felt like a huge 2012 London Olympics. (Los Angeles Times/MCT) said. “But knowing me personally and Wiggins began his Olympic Hoy, who will be commentating part of me had left,” said Shields. this is a gladiator-type full-impact sport, medal collection in Sydney with for the BBC in Rio. “I remember when I met Muhammad “He gave you that belief that you are fi ghters in the game. it doesn’t make a diff erence. a bronze in the team pursuit. “But there was no automatic Ali, I felt this sense of pride. He was the fi rst beautiful and you are pretty,” added “I hope I can do justice to him when I “The same concept — it is still some- He won gold in the event in selection for him. He had to earn African American who stood up and said, Shields. speak about him and when I fi ght. No- one trying to knock your head off , point- Beijing alongside Ed Clancy, Paul his place and produce the times. ‘I’m black and I’m pretty and I can fi ght.’” “He was one of the most dangerous body else will ever be ‘the greatest’, ever, blank.” Manning and Geraint Thomas. “He has the experience, the Clancy will again be a team calmness, the engine and the mate when the team pursuit be- horsepower when it matters in BOTTOMLINE gins on Aug. 11 having recovered the fi nal.” At 41, it’s mission possible for Tom Cruise fan Chusovitina

Reuters er than the youngest gymnast in Rio, pic champion Kerri Strug cannot believe Rio de Janeiro 15-year-old Belgian Senna Deriks, the Chusovitina, who has a 16-year-old son, next oldest competitor after Chusovi- is still going strong since they both made tina is 32-year-old Vasiliki Millousi from their Olympic debuts at the Barcelona eing the oldest gymnast to com- Greece. Games. pete at an Olympics has earned “It’s hard to believe that someone “Unbelievable. I have the utmost re- Oksana Chusovitina admira- Oksana’s age will be competing at the Ol- spect for her,” Strug told Reuters. tion as “brave”, but there seems ympics,” Romanian great Nadia Comane- “I mean she’s had a child, and to keep toB be one big reason why the 41-year-old ci told Reuters. getting into a leotard and stay in such keeps punishing her body — a love of Tom “How can someone her age dare to do phenomenal shape. To be able to bear Cruise. that to their body?” all that pounding over the years, I don’t “I have a picture of Tom Cruise on my “You’ve got be a little bit crazy to do know how she does it. wall as I really like him. So I look at him such a brave thing. Hats off to her. It’s “Kudos to her for being so disciplined every day and think I have to look young amazing.” with her diet, staying lean and mean at for him. Someday, if and when I meet Following the break up of the Soviet that age. It only gets harder to compete him... I shouldn’t look too old,” said the Union, Chusovitina was a member of with these youngsters but she’s doing it. gymnast who won team gold with the the Unifi ed Team in 1992, represented “In gymnastics, it usually one or two Unifi ed Team in 1992 on her Olympic de- Uzbekistan at the next three Olympics, Olympics but seven? It’s just crazy and but. then won a silver on the vault in Beijing it’s amazing. Whether she wins any med- Chusovitina may not want to look old in 2008 after switching allegiance to Ger- als or not, it’s inspiring to people of all for her Hollywood hero but in a sport many. She has now gone back to her roots lifestyles to see somebody is able to do over-populated with teenagers, she is and will compete for Uzbekistan in Rio. that.” almost pre-historic as her gymnastics While a lifetime of dedication and pain And what do the vault specialist’s cur- lifespan of competing in seven successive has earned her nine world championship rent rivals think? In this March 6, 2016, picture, Mark Cavendish (left) and Bradley Olympics defi es logic. medals, including three golds, over the “It’s so insane,” summed up 2012 all- Wiggins of Britain celebrate winning the men’s madison final at the While she is almost three times old- past quarter of a century, 1996 Olym- around champion Gabby Douglas. UCI World Track Cycling Championships in London. (Reuters) Gulf Times Thursday, August 4, 2016 5

SPOTLIGHT Moments that left a mark

From ‘The Greatest’ to the slowest Black Power salute The reaction was even stronger Mexico City 1968 when they returned home to an 100m, here’s a look at some landmark America still reeling from race mericans Tommie Smith riots and the assassination that moments from Games gone by and John Carlos were de- year of Martin Luther King. Atermined to make a state- Smith and Carlos were subject to ment about racism after coming anonymous death threats and US fi rst and third in the men’s 200 sports offi cials ensured they never metres in Mexico City — what raced for their country again. followed became an iconic mo- But their action resonated with ment in Olympic history. the black community and today As “The Star Spangled Banner” it is recognised as a civil rights played, the pair stood on the milestone. podium shoeless and bowed their The third man on the podium, heads, then each raised a gloved Australian silver medallist Peter fi st in the gesture universally Norman, had insisted on wearing known as the Black Power salute. a civil rights badge in solidarity The silent protest prompted with the Americans. boos in the crowd and Olympic He too was vilifi ed, frozen out chiefs slammed the politicisation of future Games selection and, of the Games as “a deliberate and until recently, airbrushed from violent breach of the fundamental Australian Olympic history. principles of the Olympic spirit”. But Smith and Carlos never Smith and Carlos were sus- forgot his support and they were pended and kicked out of the pallbearers at Norman’s funeral athletes’ village. in 2006.

Cold War boycott their spirit had been murdered,” fencer Moscow 1980 Yehuda Weinstein, who was in another apartment and escaped over a balcony, he 1980 Moscow Olympics were later said. overshadowed by Cold War ten- Tsions when the United States led Derek Redmond a 65-nation boycott in response to the Barcelona 1992 Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan a year earlier. ritish sprinter Derek Redmond There had been boycotts before — brought Barcelona’s Olympic more than 20 African nations pulled Bstadium to its feet when he tore out of the previous Games in Mon- his hamstring but stubbornly insisted treal over a New Zealand rugby tour on fi nishing his race, supported by his to apartheid-era South Africa — but father Jim. never on such a scale. Redmond had experienced Olympic Only 80 nations participated in agony four years before in Seoul, when Moscow, with 6,000 athletes compet- his Achilles tendon snapped just min- ing, down from the 10,000 originally Richard Jewell (not in picture), a securi- utes before he was due to race. expected. ty guard who had spotted a suspicious After numerous surgeries he ap- While designed to send a message to package and began clearing people peared back to his best in Barcelona Ali lights the torch the ceremony. Moscow, the boycott prompted furious from the area before the explosion, was and cruised through the 200m prelimi- Atlanta 1996 On the big night, the Georgia debate in the Western world over the initially named the prime suspect in the nary rounds, only for his hamstring to Eric Moussambani of Equatorial Guinea Dome crowd gasped in surprise as politicisation of the world’s largest Atlanta bombing. go in the semi-fi nals. tlanta 1996 marked the cen- Ali emerged from behind a curtain in sporting event. Determined to fi nish this time, he Moussambani, from Equatorial tenary of the modern Olym- a white tracksuit, his arms and head Critics said athletes who had been July 27, 1996, killing two people and pulled himself up from the track and Guinea, had only taught himself to Apics and organisers hatched shaking erratically. training for years for a shot at Olympic injuring more than 100. began dragging himself around the swim eight months before the Games a top-secret plan for Muhammad As a global audience of 3bn held glory were only being punished by a US president Bill Clinton said the course one-legged, waving away med- and had never seen a 50m pool before Ali to light the torch at the opening its breath, Ali momentarily con- ban. “evil act of terror” would not be al- ics. arriving in Australia. ceremony. quered his trembling to defi antly As a result, close US allies such as lowed to derail the Games and vowed Father Jim was watching from the His heat began bizarrely when The American had won a light- hold aloft the Olympic fl ame before Britain and Australia sent teams after those responsible would be brought to stands and vaulted the barricades to his only two rivals were disqualifi ed heavyweight gold medal in 1960 as slowly lowering it to light the caul- their national Olympic committees justice. reach his weeping son, wrapping his for false starts, leaving Moussam- Cassius Clay, before changing his dron’s fuse. resisted pressure from their govern- Within days, anonymous law en- arms around him and helping him hob- bani to swim by himself in front of a name and becoming “The Greatest”, “Tears of joy fl owed easily and gen- ments to boycott. forcement sources named the prime ble to the fi nish line. 17,000-strong crowd. a boxer whose exploits in the ring erously from the eyes of many specta- The move was divisive even in suspect as Richard Jewell, a security “When I got there he insisted on His technique, which more closely transcended his sport to make him tors,” the Olympic Museum said. the United States, with Washington guard who had spotted a suspicious fi nishing the race, so I said to him, ‘we resembled doggy paddle that the arguably the world’s most beloved Ali also received a new medal dur- threatening to strip the passports of package and began clearing people started your career together and we slick efficiency of freestyle, initially athlete. ing the Atlanta Games to replace the any athletes who defi ed their govern- from the area before the explosion. will fi nish it together’,” Jim Redmond caused ripples of laughter in the But 36 years after his triumph at original that he furiously threw into ment and went to Moscow. In fact, Jewell was innocent and later recalled. stands. the Rome Games, Ali’s once mighty the Ohio River after returning home The US State Department notes the authorities later conceded his actions Redmond senior said his father’s But cheers of encouragement fol- body was wracked by Parkinson’s from Rome as an Olympic cham- boycott did not change the Politburo’s probably saved many lives, but he was instinct kicked in and he initially didn’t lowed as Moussambani continued disease and he had not been fi t pion, only to be refused service in a Afghanistan policy. hounded relentlessly and left a broken understand the fuss following the churning through the water as con- enough to take part in rehearsals for racially segregated restaurant. “In actuality, the Soviet-Afghan War man before the FBI formally cleared standing ovation they received upon cerned lifeguards stood ready to pluck continued and did not end until 1989,” him. crossing the line. him from the pool. it noted. The real bomber, Eric Robert Ru- “Now I can see that we brought into Gasping for breath, he fi nished in Ben Johnson scandal called “a legacy of cynicism” that per- The Soviets reacted to the boycott by dolph, was identifi ed in 1998 after a the Games, the spirit of the Games, but 1:52.72, the slowest 100m recorded at Seoul 1988 sists today when an athlete completes a retaliating with a communist-bloc ban string of bombings on abortion clinics at the time it was just what a parent the Games, more than double the time stunning performance. of their own at the 1984 Games in Los and a gay nightclub. does,” he said. of the other heat winners. en Johnson’s steroid-assisted Johnson himself faced a huge back- Angeles. He hid for years in the mountains “He didn’t win a medal but he won Moussambani gained instant victory in the men’s 100 metres lash in Canada and was reduced to of North Carolina but was arrested the hearts of the world.” celebrity and a short-lived sponsor- Bfi nal in Seoul revealed for the racing horses and stock cars at charity Atlanta bombing in 2003 and sentenced to life without ship from a swimwear manufacturer, fi rst time the scale of the doping prob- events. 1996 parole in 2005. Eric ‘The Eel’ returning to the London Games in 2012 lem facing modern sport. He has campaigned against drugs in Sydney 2000 as his country’s swimming coach. It became known as “the dirtiest sport in recent years, although he still evellers were enjoying a rock Massacre in Munich He came to embody the sentiment race in history”, with six of the eight complains he was unfairly singled out concert at Atlanta’s Olympic 1972 ric ‘The Eel’ Moussambani fl ailed of the founder of the modern Olym- fi nalists eventually implicated in drug and “crucifi ed” in an era when doping RCentennial Park when a pipe his way into Olympic history with pics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin: “The scandals. was rife among his rivals. bomb exploded in the early hours of unmen from the radical Pales- Ehis inept but dogged performance important thing is not winning but The focus heading into the fi nal tinian Black September group in the 100m freestyle in Sydney. taking part.” was squarely on the contest between Gbroke into the Israeli team’s Canada’s Johnson and his hated rival fl at at the Munich Olympic village on Carl Lewis of the United States. September 5, 1972, sparking one of the But Johnson was untouchable, Games’ darkest chapters. exploding from the blocks to blitz the They immediately shot dead two fi eld in a world record time of 9.79sec, athletes and threatened to shoot a hos- even taunting Lewis with a raised index tage every hour unless 232 Palestinian fi nger gesturing “number one” as he prisoners were released. crossed the line. West German police responded with Three days later he was stripped of a bungled rescue operation in which his medal, his time and ultimately his nine more Israelis were killed, along career after it was announced that he with fi ve of the eight hostage takers had tested positive for stanozolol, a and a police offi cer. banned anabolic steroid. The news sent shock waves through Other Olympians had tested positive Germany just 27 years after the before, but never the winner of one of Holocaust and opened a deep rift with the Games’ top events. Israel, where it was felt police had not It was a revelation to the sporting taken enough steps to prevent more public, if not administrators, creating deaths during the rescue. Jim Redmond tries to comfort his son Derek (left), who cries after suff ering an in- what Britain’s Guardian newspaper “The Games admittedly went on but jury during the 400m semifinal at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

Five sports you won’t see in Rio

Live pigeon shooting the Games since. nastics was a medal sport in 1904 at shoes, so heavy, in fact, it was with Pigeon shooting featured for the first St Louis and in Los Angeles in 1932. great eff ort they could lift their feet — and only — time at the Paris Olym- Pistol duelling America’s George Roth won the gold in from the ground”. pics in 1900, where around 300 birds Twelve years later, at the Stockholm 1932 when the Games were held in the were killed in the pursuit of sporting Games in 1912, there was also plenty midst of the Great Depression. Reports Cricket glory. The event was messy: six birds of shooting but happily, less blood. claimed that unemployed Roth was Golf and rugby will both make long- were released in front of the shotgun- The duelling competition wasn’t to awarded his gold medal and then awaited returns to the Olympics in Rio, wielding competitor, who was elimi- the death with pistols at dawn; rather, hitch-hiked home. but there’s no sign of another appear- nated if he missed two of them. The shooters would fire at dummies 30 ance by cricket, which was played just result was an awful lot of blood and metres (33 yards) away dressed in Tug of war once at Paris 1900, with limited suc- dead birds, although the event was frock coats, with a target placed at So beloved of school sports days, cess. The gold medal was contested by described as “very aristocratic” in the the throat. America’s Al Lane, aged the sport was once part of the track Britain and France after Belgium and off icial Olympic report. Belgium’s Leon only 20, took gold, ahead of Sweden’s and field programme and featured in Holland pulled out. The British side de Lunden was champion for downing Paul Palen and Hubner von Holst. The the five Olympic Games from 1900 was a touring team, the Devon and 21 birds, one more than runner-up event later morphed into the men’s to 1920. The 1908 gold was won by a Somerset Wanderers, while the French Maurice Faure of France; Australia’s 25m rapid-fire pistol, a category which team of British policemen, but it was side was made up of expatriate Britons Donald MacIntosh was third with 18 endures to this day. a controversial victory as the United living in Paris. Britain won the match, kills. However, the gory event does not States protested over their rivals’ staged at the Velodrome de Vincennes, get a mention on the Olympics results Club swinging footwear. A report at the time said the while the host nation was sniff ily writ- too excitable to enjoy the game and no more than once,” scoff ed a newspaper database, and it has not reappeared at The forerunner of rhythmic gym- police team competed “in enormous ten off . “The French temperament is Frenchman can be persuaded to play report at the time. Gulf Times 6 Thursday, August 4, 2016

PICTURE PERFECT

Street sweeper Renato Sorriso smiles while lighting the first of five posts that will remain lit during the A South Korean gymnast practices on the Parallel Bars of the men’s Artistic gymnastics at the Olympic Arena. (AFP) Rio Games. (Reuters)

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach signs at the Place of Mourning, which was installed in remembrance of those who died during the Games in the past. (Reuters)

Russian cyclists train at the Olympic Velodrome ahead of the Rio Olympics. (AFP)

A man wearing a 360 camera helmet walks in the Olympic Park ahead Australian rugby player Evania Pelite (right) arrives at the Athletes’ Village. (AFP) of the Rio Games. (AFP)

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic serves during a training Brazilian sailors carry the Olympic flame from Niteloi to Rio de Janeiro. (AFP) session at the Olympic Tennis centre in Rio de Janeiro. (AFP) Gulf Times Thursday, August 4, 2016 7 SPORT

WORLD 9-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP Ouschan to face Pagulayan, Van Boening meets Cheng After a week of most highly competitive pool matches, the field was whittled down to four at the Al Arabi Sports Club

Chinese Taipei Yu Hsuan Cheng (left) and Shane Van Boening (right) of USA in action during the World 9-ball Championship at the Al Arabi Sports Club. “This is completely diff erent than 2004,” RESULTS By Sports Reporter Van Boening came within of whisker of win- rybody plays. I’m just here to have fun. It’s not Pagulayan said. “For some reason when I was 18 QUARTER-FINALS Doha ning against Taiwan’s Ko Pin Yi last year. Since about the money. I’m just going to do the best or 19 I looked for this kind of situation. Now it Albin Ouschan (AUT) 11-7 Jayson Shaw (GBR) then, he has continued to play top level pool in I can. I’ve won other tournaments, the World looks like I’m trying to avoid the pressure. I just Alex Pagulayan (CAN) 11 -10 Ko Ping Chung (TPE) every single tournament he has entered. Cup of Pool, the World Pool Masters, US Open. want to relax. But I love playing 9-ball again. Shane Van Boening (USA) 11-9 Alexander Kazakis ustria’s Albin Ouschan, a runner-up Except for one hiccup in the group stages, the This is just another tournament.” It brings a lot of enthusiasm, inspires me a lit- (GRE) here in Doha two years ago will take on 33-year-old Van Boening has played impecca- Van Boening will need that no-nonsense tle bit. I’m just taking it one game at a time and Cheng Yu Hsuan (TPE) 11-3 Dennis Grabe (EST) Canadian-Filipino veteran Alex Pagu- ble pool this week. Yesterday, in the round of steady hand when he goes up against Taiwan’s don’t take it too seriously.” RESULTS LAST 16 layan in the semi-fi nal of the World 16, the American found himself down 4-1 early Cheng. The 28-year-old Taiwanese beat Chi- Pagulayan next faces, Ouschan. The Austrian Jayson Shaw (GBR) 11 - 10 Artem Koshovoj (UKR) 9-ballA Championship here today. against Kuwaiti upstart Omar al-Shaheen. na’s Dang Jin Hu 11-8 and in the quarter0fi nals fi rst grinded out a win against his room-mate Albin Ouschan (AUT) 11-9 Mario He (AUT) The other semi-fi nal pits USA’s Shane Van However, Van Boening simply took his time, he overcame Estonia’s Dennis Grabe 11-3. and compatriot Mario He 11-9. He then headed Alex Pagulayan (CAN) 11 - 7 Muhammad Bewi (INA) Boening, a runner-up here last year and a four- stayed in stroke, and beat Al Shaheen, 11-5. Meanwhile, Pagulayan, who won the World over to face the red-hot Jayson Shaw, who had Ko Ping Chung (TPE) 11 - 9 Carlo Biado (PHL) time US Open champion, against Taiwan’s Van Boening would face a much tougher task 9-ball Championship in 2004, fi rst took down just come back from 9-3 down to barely de- Alexander Kazakis (GRE) 11-7 Chu Bing Jie (CHN) Yushuan Cheng, who currently holds the US in the quarter-fi nals against Greece’s Alexan- Indonesia’s Muhammad Bewi 11-7. Then he feat Ukraine’s Artem Koshovoj, 11-10. Ouschan Shane Van Boening (USA) 11 - 5 Omar Al Shaheen Open crown. der Kazakis, who had just come off a convincing squared off against 21-year-old Ko Ping Chun, pounced on several early mistakes by the Brit, (KUW) After a week of most highly competitive pool victory over China’s Chu Bing Jie in the round of the younger brother of 2015 World 9-ball then put the clamps on for a solid 11-7 win. Dennis Grabe (EST) 11 - 6 Daryl Peach (GBR) matches, the fi eld was whittled down to four 16. The two traded blows for over an hour with champion Ko Pin Yi. The 2016 World 9-ball Championship is be- Cheng Yu Hsuan (TPE) 11 - 8 Dang Jin Hu (CHN) yesterday at the Al Arabi Sports Club. Both Kazakis always one step ahead of the American. Ko raced out to a 5-0 lead but Pagulayan kept ing hosted by The Qatar Billiard and Snooker semi-fi nals, which will be race to 11, alternate Van Boening didn’t panic and took advantage of his focus and tied the match midway through. Federation (QBSF), and is sanctioned by the TODAY’S SCHEDULE break, will be played concurrently and will one mistake by the Greek to take his fi rst lead at From there the two engaged in a brilliant bat- World Pool Billiard Association, the governing Semi-finals (at 11pm) commence at 11am today. The fi nal, which will 8-7. Kazakis kept the pressure on but the four tle of wits that went straight to the cliff . Tied body of the sport of pool. Albin Ouschan (AUT) vs Alex Pagulayan (CAN) be race to 13, alternate break, will begin at 3pm. time US Open champion did the same, potting at 10-10, Ko took on a long diffi cult cut on the The winner of the 2015 World 9-ball Cham- Cheng Yu Hsuan (TPE) vs. Shane Van Boening It seems near impossible to predict who will fl awlessly on the way to a solid 11-9 win. 2-ball but missed by a thread. Pagulayan stood pionship will receive $40,000. The runner up (USA) emerge as the champion, but American Van “I fought my way through” Van Boening said. up and calmly cleared the colours to claim his will receive $20,000. The total prize fund is Final at 3pm Boening can be considered to have the edge, “I feel confi dent, comfortable. I know how eve- fi rst World 9-ball semi-fi nal in 12 years. $200,000. Race to 13, Alternate Break

RUGBY TENNIS ROUND-UP FORMER FERRARI South Africa’s Murray to carry Britain fl ag at Rio DRIVER AMON

Lambie still AFP I am 100% focused on winning here in Rio. trip to reach Rio. Radwanska had been play- DIES AGED 73 Rio de Janeiro The privilege of being the fl agbearer is a mo- ing at the Montreal WTA tournament last ment I will remember for the rest of my life week but was stranded in the Canadian city Auckland: Former Ferrari driver CHRIS AMON, often suff ering and will certainly be one of the highlights of when her connecting fl ight to Miami was described as one of the best in Formula One never to eigning Olympic and Wimbledon my career.” cancelled due to a mechanical failure. have won a race, has died at the age of 73 after a battle champion Andy Murray will be the The fi nal selection of Murray was made by She fl ew to New York but was unable to with cancer, family of the New Zealand motorsport great concussion fl agbearer for Britain at the opening a panel headed by Team GB Chef de Mission make it to Florida due to adverse weather said yesterday. ceremony for the Rio Games, it was Mark England, after Britain’s athletes also conditions, so decided to perform a quick Amon was part of a well-known trio of New Zealand confiR rmed yesterday. had their say. Decorated track cycling cham- trans-Atlantic dash and back again to pre- Reuters drivers competing in Formula One in the 1960s and Cape Town Murray, who triumphed at Wimbledon pion Chris Hoy led the British team out on serve her Olympic dream. Polish media re- early 70s alongside Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme, for the second time last month and won gold home soil at London 2012. ported that Radwanska jetted to Lisbon be- who both enjoyed more successful careers in the sport’s in London four years ago, is the fi rst tennis “The conviction with which Andy spoke fore fl ying to Rio. premier series. Bad luck was often cited as the key reason outh Africa fl yhalf Pat Lambie player to lead Britain into an opening cer- to me about the honour of carrying the fl ag Radwanska, the world number fi ve and for his lack of Formula One victories, with former world remains sidelined almost two emony. “To represent your country at the only underlined why he is such an excep- the 2012 Wimbledon runner-up, was not champion Mario Andretti once famously saying: “If he months after being knocked Games is an unbelievable experience, but to tional individual, and absolutely the right the only player struggling to make it to Bra- became an undertaker, people would stop dying.” out playing for the Springboks, lead out Team GB will be an incredible hon- choice,” said Mark England. zil in time for tomorrow’s opening ceremo- Like McLaren, with whom he won the Le Mans 24-hour raisingS questions over the future of his our, the biggest in sport,” said Murray, 29, ny. Russian doubles pair Elena Vesnina and endurance race in a Ford GT40 50 years ago, he founded career. Lambie was laid fl at in a high the world number two, adding that he was Radwanska takes long road to Rio Ekaterina Makarova were still stuck in Mon- his own team but Chris Amon Racing failed to achieve tackle by Ireland fl anker CJ Sander in “very proud”. treal on Tuesday. “And our plane from Mon- much success. “Chris battled cancer in recent years but the fi rst test between the two coun- “This is my third Olympic Games and it Agnieszka Radwanska’s commitment to the treal are still not fi xed.We couldn’t event get retained not only a close interest in Formula One — and tries at Newlands in Cape Town on is a very special competition for me. I obvi- Olympics can’t be faulted after the Polish out of here...No words,” tweeted Vesnina his very wide range of favourite topics — but also his June 11 and has not been able to return ously have great memories of London and tennis star clocked up a lightning 14,000km late Tuesday. wonderful sense of humour complete with infectious to training since. chuckle,” Amon’s family said in a statement. The 25-year-old had been expected McLaren chairman Ron Dennis praised Amon as he back for the closing stages of the Su- paid tribute to the driver. “It was with profound sadness per Rugby competition but the Sharks’ that I heard the news this morning that Chris Amon had medical staff said symptoms of the passed away,” Dennis said in a statement. concussion had not yet cleared. “He is “He nearly won a fair few, but always it seemed that his being monitored on a daily basis and luck would run out before he saw the chequered flag,” our medical staff are doing everything Dennis recalled, terming Amon as “one of the fastest they can to get him back on the fi eld,” racing drivers”. a statement from Sharks doctor Alan Williams also paid tribute to Amon who finished on the Kourie said. “But there is uncertainty podium 11 times, also driving for March and Matra among about when he will play again.” 13 teams in a career that spanned 14 seasons. Lambie had been the fi rst choice for the Springboks this year at fl y- half after injury to Handre Pollard, who had knee and shoulder surgery. South Africa this week called up 19 players for a camp and will on Saturday name their squad for this year’s Rugby Champi- onship against Britain’s Andy Murray trains at the Olympic Argentina, Aus- Tennis Center in Rio de Janeiro yesterday, ahead tralia and New of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. (AFP) Zealand. Gulf Times 8 Thursday, August 4, 2016 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT A six-month spell in Mexico set Guardiola on road to greatness Manchester City manager made only 10 appearances for Dorados de Sinaloa in 2006 but his coaching education took a great leap forward there

By Duncan Tucker in Culiacan, Mexico The Guardian

he city of Culiacán in north-west Mexico, best known as the bastion of the notorious Sinaloa cartel fronted by the billionaire drug kingpin Joaquín T“El Chapo” Guzmán, was an unlikely place for Manchester City’s new manager, Pep Guardiola, to begin the process that would culminate in him becoming the world’s most sought-after coach. Baseball, not football, has long been the most popular sport here and the newly founded local side Dorados de Sinaloa were minnows locked in a desperate relegation struggle when Guardiola, who turned 35 that month, arrived in January 2006. It was hardly the typical destination for a vet- eran footballer looking for one last pay cheque but, having won more than a dozen trophies at Barcelona and made a fortune playing in the Qa- tar Stars League, the Olympic gold medallist and European Cup winner did not make the move in search of further fi nancial reward or another trophy to add to his collection. Instead it was here, under the tutelage of his old friend Juan Manuel Lillo, who had taken over at Dorados the previous summer, that Guardiola began to prepare for what has proved one of the most spectacular managerial careers in modern football history. “We were in our second year in the top divi- sion and we’d just brought in Juan Manuel Lillo as our coach,” recalls the Dorados founder and former president, Juan Antonio García. “He told me there was a real possibility that we could sign was a leader and a coach on the pitch, always Rarely recognised in public, Guardiola spent Pep Guardiola was well Pep, who’d just reached the end of his contract organising the team. He was completely focused much of his time relaxing in his favourite res- schooled in possession-based in Qatar. Pep was already taking his coaching in preparing for the next phase of his career as taurants and cafés. His photograph hangs play under Johan Cruyff (left). badges and the objective of playing in Mexico a coach.” proudly on the wall of La Cocinita del Medio, a was above all to be close to Juan Manuel.” While Guardiola had already been well small, unpretentious establishment where he The pair had fi rst met in 1998, when Guar- schooled in possession-based play under Johan stopped off after training most days for a lunch diola played for Barcelona in a 4-2 win over Cruyff , Dorados’ former assistant coach Raúl of prawns, stuff ed peppers or enchiladas. Lillo’s Real Oviedo. “At the end of the match he Caneda believes he and Lillo helped the Catalan “He was well mannered and very generous,” knocked on the changing room door and he told to refi ne his understanding of collective posi- says the owner, José Luis Bracamontes. “He’d me: ‘I love your teams, I’ve heard great things tioning, defending from the front, and the idea often come in with his team-mates but he’d about you, can we be friends?’” Lillo says. “How that defence and attack are not separate entities. never let anyone else pay. Sometimes after eat- the hell could I not want to be friends with a “We tried to be a well organised and disci- ing he’d even take the dirty plates to the kitchen player I admired as much as Guardiola?” plined team that would keep the ball,” Caneda himself.” They stayed in close contact and when Lillo says. “We didn’t leave much down to improvisa- Although Guardiola could not stomach the took charge of Dorados he found that Guardiola tion, we wanted everyone to sing from the same spicier Mexican dishes, Bracamontes felt he was easily persuaded to join him. Shielding the sheet. We had a well defi ned style and we were adapted well to life in a troubled city that the defence in Lillo’s favoured 3-4-3 formation, very competitive despite being a humble team.” United States advises its citizens against visit- Guardiola scored once but suff ered persistent Guardiola would always study Dorados’ ing. injuries that restricted him to 10 league appear- next opponents closely and whenever he was As the home of Mexico’s dominant Sinaloa ances. “He already had a coach’s mentality,” absent through injury he would fi dget beside Cartel, Culiacán has long been synonymous Lillo notes, and they would talk for hours after Lillo on the bench and help to deliver instruc- with narco culture. The infamous El Chapo, who classy, dimly lit Café Miró, where the pair would says. “Those were diffi cult days but he went training each day about the importance of pos- tions. “Many players today become coaches by was recaptured in January after twice breaking swap books and bond over their mutual love of from hell to glory because just three years later session and diff erent ways of reading the game. virtue of their name but Pep knew this was not out of maximum-security prisons, owned at the Catalan musician Lluís Llach. Guardiola he won the Champions League.” Life at Dorados could scarcely have been more enough,” Caneda adds. “He was very intelligent, least seven houses there, all linked by a network would later invite Jiménez and his family to stay In late 2011, with three La Liga titles and two diff erent from what Guardiola was accustomed very humble and eager to learn, and he soon be- of secret escape tunnels that ran into the city at his New York apartment during his sabbatical Champions Leagues under his belt and widely to at Barcelona. The team trained at a local wa- came a very complete coach with great knowl- sewers. Guardiola arrived just as Culiacán was in 2013. regarded the world’s most coveted coach, Guar- terpark with only a palm-roofed gazebo for a edge of the game.” about to enter the most turbulent period in its “He’d often come on his own to read his books diola would look back on his time in Mexico and changing room. The players could not even cool A decade on from his six-month stint in Cu- history. Later that year the Mexican government and have a beer or a glass of wine,” Jiménez re- describe Lillo as “an essential fi gure” in his de- off after working up a sweat beneath the scorch- liacán, Guardiola is remembered fondly by the would unleash the army on the nation’s cartels, calls. “At this point he never imagined what was velopment: “I think highly of him and I’m very ing morning sun because there were no showers few locals who knew him well. “Every fortnight initiating a savage war that would claim some going to happen [in his managerial career]. He grateful to him, because he was very generous and the waterpark was closed for the season. he gave me envelopes full of cash to hand out 200,000 lives over the next decade. told me his dream was simply to coach young and passed his knowledge on to me.” Guardiola was on “by far the lowest wage he to the lowest paid employees at the club,” says Guardiola lived alone in a hotel at fi rst, with children at the Barcelona academy.” Unfortunately for Lillo, his former appren- ever made,” García says, but Dorados were on the Eliseo Martínez, his former guide and chauff eur. his family later fl ying out to join him, but he nev- Dorados ended that season in eighth place, tice’s competitive spirit would always take brink of bankruptcy and at one point they had to “He used to give me 3,000 pesos a fortnight. er felt the need to request a security detail. “He their highest fi nish in the club’s short history. precedence over any such charitable sentiment stop paying their players. “That had never hap- That was a shitload of money 10 years ago, al- was here at a diffi cult time,” says Bracamontes, That would normally be enough to progress on the pitch. They were reunited in Spain in pened to Pep before. We weren’t paying him or most half my salary.” whose home backs on to one of El Chapo’s now into the fi nal knockout phase of the season but November 2010, when Guardiola’s irrepressible anyone so the players protested by not wearing Many remember the Catalan as a reserved boarded-up safe-houses. “It was a very violent instead they were relegated under Mexico’s Barcelona side humiliated Lillo’s Almería 8-0. the offi cial club uniforms at training. Pep joined character but Martínez recalls that he loved try- year for Culiacán, with shootouts in the streets, convoluted system for having the lowest points Lillo was sacked hours later. Although prickly in out of solidarity for his team-mates.” ing to master the colourful local slang. “He nev- but he never talked about it and he didn’t seem average over the past three years. It was an in- when reminded of the result, Lillo insists he García adds that Guardiola was “a great pro- er got it quite right,” he says with a chuckle after worried by it.” auspicious way for Guardiola to end his illus- does not hold a grudge. Aiding Guardiola’s de- fessional who united the changing room. Even imitating Guardiola’s vain attempt at pulling off One of Guardiola’s closest friends in Mexico trious playing career. “He suff ered a lot as the velopment was “a very gratifying experience”, back then his vision as a leader was clear. He a particularly obscene phrase. was Rodolfo Jiménez, the owner of Culiacán’s prospect of relegation drew nearer,” Jiménez he mutters. “He’s like a son to me.”

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Pirates break losing streak with 5-3 victory against Braves

By Bill Brink in Atlanta grades, because they’re rebuilding an- Nick Leyva and Braves fi rst baseman who battled to a nine-pitch at-bat, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette yway, but more looking for able-bod- Washington Nationals' Wilson Freddie Freeman noticed something during which Cervelli allowed Inciarte ied men to take the mound each night Ramos hits a home run against was off . Tomczyk came out again, and to reach second on a passed ball. That because of injuries Arizona Diamondbacks. Cervelli left the game. Adam Frazier mattered when Pierzynski bounced a or fi ve innings Tuesday night, Foltynewicz entered Tuesday’s start (USA TODAY Sports) forced Foltynewicz to throw 12 pitches high chopper up the middle. Frazier, the Pirates’ off ense resembled with a 4.30 ERA and fi ts of inconsist- before lining the 13th to right fi eld for charging, booted the ball into left fi eld the group of hitters unable ency after returning from the disabled a double, putting pinch-runner Eric and Inciarte scored. to mount much of anything list June 30. In his previous start, he Fryer on third. Fryer ran on contact on againstF a trio of Milwaukee Brewers gave up seven runs and 12 hits in 51/3 Jordy Mercer’s grounder and scored to MLB RESULTS starters. As the sixth inning unfolded, innings. The Pirates scored fi ve runs tie the game at 1-1. (home team in CAPS) they came to life. against him in three innings May 19. The third time through the order PHILADELPHIA 13 San Francisco 8 The Pirates broke a three-game los- On Tuesday, Foltynewicz didn’t al- doomed Foltynewicz. John Jaso walked BALTIMORE 5 Texas 1 ing streak with a 5-3 victory against low a hit through the fi rst four innings. and took second on a grounder in the DETROIT 11 Chicago White Sox the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on He walked two batters during that beginning of a four-run sixth inning. 5 Kansas City 3 TAMPA BAY 2 Tuesday. The lineup cracked Braves time but erased one on a double play. Matt Joyce’s single brought home one Minnesota 10 CLEVELAND 6 starter Mike Foltynewicz the third time Francisco Cervelli left the game in the run, Jung Ho Kang’s double produced NY METS 7 NY Yankees 1 through the order. Gerrit Cole slogged fi fth during a sequence when the Pi- another and Adam Frazier’s second hit Pittsburgh 5 ATLANTA 3 through fi ve innings but was good rates tied the game. Foltynewicz’s 0-1 of the night provided some cushion. CINCINNATI 7 St. Louis 5 enough. New additions to the bullpen change-up hit Cervelli in the head. He He hit a two-run single to put the Pi- CHICAGO CUBS 3 Miami 2 helped hold the lead, and the Pirates fell to the ground, but was alert and rates ahead, 5-2. Toronto 2 HOUSTON 1 improved to 53-51. soon sitting up on top of home plate Cole stranded runners in scoring po- COLORADO 7 LA Dodgers 3 While the Pirates spent the past as head athletic trainer Todd Tomczyk sition during each of the fi rst three in- Washington 10 ARIZONA 4 few days reshaping their rotation with examined him. nings, but ran out of luck in the fourth. LA ANGELS 5 Oakland 4 trades, the Braves are also re-tooling Eventually Cervelli got to his feet Ender Inciarte’s two-out single kept SEATTLE 5 Boston 4 the unit. Not so much looking for up- and took his base, but fi rst-base coach the inning alive for A.J. Pierzynski, Milwaukee 3 SAN DIEGO 2 Gulf Times Thursday, August 4, 2016 9 FOOTBALL

FOCUS Sane treads well-worn path to Premier League AFP and Samir Nasri also vying for going to happen in the future and cope with the physicality of play- Wolfsburg. Berlin starting places. when you’ll get an opportunity ing in England and was blighted by Mesut Ozil, however, has made The Premier League is argua- like this again. My family and I knee injuries last season. a success of his 2013 transfer to bly the world’s most high-profi le had a lot of conversations with Japan’s Shinji Kagawa signed Arsenal and is a fi rst-choice of eroy Sane’s transfer to and physically demanding do- Pep Guardiola, who has totally for United in 2012 while in great Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. Manchester City on Tues- mestic competition, which, un- convinced us of what he wants form having helped steer Borus- But his Germany teammate Lukas day follows a well-worn like some of its continental cous- to achieve in England and inter- sia Dortmund to the league and Podolski was shipped to Inter Mi- path of Bundesliga talent ins, does not break for winter. nationally in the next few years. cup double. He became the fi rst lan, then Istanbul’s Galatasaray Ltempted by high-profi le Premier Sane announced his arrival I feel prepared to make this next Japanese to win the Premier in 2015, after falling out of the League moves—but many then with a spectacular Champions step, but you can believe me when League, but after Alex Ferguson Frenchman’s favour. fail to secure a fi rst-team place in League goal in March 2015 at Real I say I will never forget Schalke,” left Old Traff ord in 2013, Kagawa Sane joins fellow Germany England. Madrid in Schalke’s 4-3 away win Sane wrote. was benched by his successor squad member Ilkay Gundogan, City have reportedly paid in the last 16, as they bowed out Sane’s sentiments echo the David Moyes and rejoined Dort- who signed for City from Dort- £37mn (43mn euros) for the 5-4 on aggregate, which led to his tears shed by Manuel Neuer, an- mund in 2014. mund and will also be under 20-year-old fl eet-footed winger, fi rst Germany call-up at the end other talent nurtured by Schal- Another example is ex-Schal- pressure to perform after back- who has just four caps for Ger- of last year. ke’s academy, in announcing he ke midfi elder Lewis Holtby, who to-back injury-ravaged seasons many and 47 Bundesliga appear- Many Schalke fans feel Sane’s was leaving to join Bayern Mu- joined Tottenham Hotspur as a with Borussia. ances under his belt for Schalke. move has come too soon, some- nich in 2011. 23-year-old in 2013 with a hand- Former City and Germany mid- Sane has bags of potential thing he rejects. “I have read But as former Germany captain ful of Germany caps, but after fi elder Dietmar Hamann is back- and will be battling England in- many of your comments on social Bastian Schweinsteiger is learn- two unfruitful seasons at White ing Sane to be a success. “He’s a ternational Raheem Sterling for media and many are of the opin- ing at Manchester United, hav- Hart Lane, he signed for Ham- very gifted player technically and playing time at City. He will add ion that this switch has come too ing been made to train with the burg last year. he’s got a lot of pace,” Hamann to the attacking options for City soon,” he wrote on Instagram in reserves by manager Jose Mour- Andre Schuerrle struggled to said. “He’s not been prolifi c for coach Pep Guardiola with Sergio an open letter to Schalke fans. inho, a dream move to England hold down a fi rst-team place at Schalke over the last couple of Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne, David “I wanted to simply use this can quickly sour. The 32-year-old Chelsea, and is now at Borussia seasons but I think he is a player Silva, Wilfried Bony, Jesus Navas chance. You never know what is Schweinsteiger has struggled to Dortmund after a short spell with who can, and will, score goals.”

ANALYSIS SPOTLIGHT Draxler wants to Bauza can reorder leave Wolfsburg Argentina against

AFP many, fumed. “As far as I am Berlin concerned, I expressed myself clearly after (last month’s) Eu- ropean Championship to coach background of chaos rsenal target Julian Dieter Hecking that I want to Draxler says he wants leave VfL Wolfsburg. The coach to leave Wolfsburg, has known that for three weeks.” The new coach may not be Marcelo Bielsa or Jorge Sampaoli but he has a history just 12 months into his Draxler trained with Wolfs- Afi ve-year contract — slamming burg for the fi rst time yesterday of making the impossible possible — and is determined Lionel Messi will help him the Bundesliga club’s coach and after the summer break and sports director in the process. disappeared without a word to The 22-year-old Germany reporters after the 90-minute winger joined to much fanfare session. The Gunners and Ju- last August for 35mn euros ventus are both reportedly ($39mn) from Schalke, the club chasing Draxler, who is very which nurtured him through surprised “that for weeks now their academy to become a things have been communi- Germany international. cated about me in the media” But with four years left on his — and the fact Wolfsburg have contract, Draxler wants out and failed to qualify for Europe next has gone on the off ensive, claim- season is an obvious factor. ing he told coach Dieter Hecking Having scored his only goal and director of sport Klaus Allofs of Euro 2016 in the 3-0 win three weeks ago of his wishes, over Slovakia in the last 16, although the pair have publically Draxler said shortly after Ger- said he is staying. many lost to France on July 7 in “Before committing yourself the semi-fi nals that he wanted publically, one should speak to leave. He said he told Heck- to me fi rst,” Draxler, who has ing how he “sees the whole made 24 appearances for Ger- situation and what I want”.

RETURN OF THE NATIVE Wolfsburg’s Kruse back at Bremen AFP Berlin

ermany striker Max Kruse completed his transfer back to Werder GBremen yesterday, in- sisting football is his main focus after a series of off -fi eld indiscre- tions at Wolfsburg last season. Bremen have reportedly paid 9mn euros ($10mn) for my fi rst game as a Bundesliga the keen poker player who cap- pro for this club. Now I want to By Jonathan Wilson tion, but Argentinian coaching has argu- forgetting Bauza’s name. among those who think that everybody tured the headlines by forget- help the club get back to fi nding The Guardian ably never been stronger. Five of the quar- Bauza is not Marcelo Bielsa, who per- has to attack and everybody has to defend,” ting 75,000 euros in a Berlin its former strengths again. It was ter-fi nalists at the 2015 Copa América were haps was never a realistic candidate, and Bauza said. “Football today is like this. You taxi last October, then row- clear to me that I needed to go to coached by Argentinians; six were this year. he is not Jorge Sampaoli, who might have can defend in the attacking half if the pres- ing with a female reporter in a a place that feels like home and a he news that Edgardo Bauza has The great surge of Conmebol’s Pacifi c taken the job had he not been appointed so sure is high. But it’s easier when you have nightclub in March. club that is 100% behind me.” been appointed Argentina coach nations described by Sergio Levinsky in Is- recently at Sevilla, but he is an experienced quality players like the Argentina team. The His behaviour led to him Both Kruse and his new has been greeted by a general sue 18 of The Blizzard is built on Argentin- coach with a recent history of success. In options they off er are many.” being kicked out of the Ger- club seek a return to former shrug: most seem to regard him as ian expertise. the context of the modern game, in which That, perhaps, hints at the biggest con- many squad by head coach glories. Werder battled relega- Tthe least worst available candidate. And it’s that, of course, that makes the international management tends to be for cern. Bauza is not used to options. Like Joachim Loew and scuppered tion in recent seasons, having That may not be entirely fair on a man 23-year drought since their last trophy so the old, the inexperienced and the patri- Griguol, his greatest triumphs have come his chances of playing at the last played Champions League who has, in the past eight years, done two galling. It’s painful not because Argentin- otic, it could even be argued that at 58, he is when triumph has not been expected, European Championship. football in 2010/11. things that had long been considered im- ian football is bad – it hasn’t stumbled into nearer his peak than many. when players have been prepared to stick The 28-year-old left Kruse won the last of his 14 possible – leading an Ecuadorian club to grouchy senescence like Brazil; it’s painful Bauza is also a realist, something evident to a system—even if his San Lorenzo had Bremen in 2009 for spells caps when he netted the win- the Copa Libertadores and leading because it’s so good and, realistically, the in the pragmatic football his teams tend to a reputation for being a little slower and at Hamburg-based St Pauli, ning goal in a 2-1 victory over San Lorenzo to the Copa Libertadores – good times can’t last forever. play, but also in his willingness immedi- more traditional than the general mass of Freiburg, where he made his Georgia last October in a key but it is also revealing. If there was ever a good time for Argentin- ately to address the Messi issue. clubs in Argentina’s post-Bielsa era. Germany debut in 2012, and Euro 2016 qualifi er. In part Bauza’s accession seems under- ian football administration, it is long forgot- Although Bauza hasn’t spoken to Messi He may argue that Messi is used, at Borussia Moenchengladbach He was set to join whelming because all things in Argentinian ten. It will be some time before the present yet, he said he was “optimistic” about his Barcelona, to close down space, but he no before joining Wolfsburg in Galatasaray before the political football will, until Lionel Messi reverses his AFA extricates itself from the shadow of its chances of persuading him to return. “Hope- longer does it with the ferocity he used to July 2015 and scoring just six unrest in Turkey scuppered the decision to retire from the national side. In former president Julio Grondona, who died fully the talk I have with him will help him to and, besides, it’s one thing to follow in- goals in 32 league games. deal. His transfer is set to be a part it seems underwhelming because the shortly after the World Cup in 2014 and so continue in the national team,” he went on. structions from Luis Enrique at Barcelona, Having been reprimanded club record, eclipsing the 8mn mess in which the Argentinian Football As- avoided a range of corruption charges. “I want to explain to Messi my ideas.” quite another to buy wholly into the plan of and fi ned by Wolfsburg last euros Werder paid Borussia sociation fi nds itself is so great that a change Even on the day of his funeral, AFA’s of- Those ideas are relatively easily sum- somebody whose highest-profi le jobs have October for misplacing the Moenchengladbach for Marko of coach feels pointlessly cosmetic. And in fi ces were raided by fi nancial investigators. marised. In his playing days at Rosario been at San Lorenzo and São Paulo. huge sum of cash, the striker is Marin in 2009. part, perhaps rather proving Harry Lime’s No permanent president has been appoint- Central, when he gained the nickname ‘el But then, as Euro 2016 demonstrated, seeking a fresh start. The Kruse signing has been point about chaos and creativity, Bauza ed to replace him, an election last Decem- Paton’—Bigfoot—Bauza was heavily infl u- basic solidity garnished with a little fl air “Football is the centre of my fi nanced by the sale of Nigeria seems underwhelming because Argentina ber producing a 38-38 tie despite there be- enced by his coach Carlos Griguol, a pio- can go a long way in international football. life,” Kruse said, after his med- striker Anthony Ujah to China’s has such a wealth of high-class coaches. ing only 75 delegates. A FIFA normalisation neer of video analysis noted for his beret Bauza may not be the most charismatic or ical, in a press conference when Liaoning Whowin, for 11mn eu- The great stream of playing talent that committee is in charge. and his habit of slapping players before exciting of choices, but against the back- asked about last season’s an- ros, and defender Jannik Vest- brought Argentina fi ve under-20 World Armando Pérez, the head of the nor- they left the dressing room. ground of chaos, he may not be the wrong tics. “I listened to my gut feel- ergaard to Gladbach. “We’re Cups between 1995 and 2007 may be dry- malisation committee, insisted Bauza was He specialised in getting the best out choice either. ing and heart for this transfer.” certain he will be a presence on ing up – Messi, Sergio Agüero and Ángel Di the best of the candidates interviewed, al- of smaller sides, winning the league with (Jonathan Wilson is author of the history of “Werder gave me the chance the pitch for us,” said Bremen María stand at the end of that great tradi- though he rather undermined his claim by Central and Ferro Carril Oeste. “I am Argentinian football, ‘Angels with Dirty Faces’) to be a professional and I played coach Viktor Skripnik. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, August 4, 2016 FOOTBALL

TRANSFER RUMOURS Liverpool likely to sign Jonas Hector from Koln

By Michael Butler in London Roma on Tuesday was described as “an You will know by now that Chelsea at Fiorentina, and while Conte has The Guardian example of how you can’t defend; leav- want Romelu Lukaku back. What you said he’s been impressed by Cuadrado ing spaces so big you could have cut might not know is that they’re will- in pre-season, the 28-year-old faces grass in between”, perhaps the back four ing to off er Loïc Rémy to Everton as some stiff competition for a starting lberto Moreno gets injured could do with some new blood anyway. a sweetener to the £65mn already on place, with Willian, Eden Hazard and and the world of Liverpool Another German defender that off er, and that Lukaku is reportedly Pedro all ahead of him in the pecking transfer gossip goes into could move to Ingerland is Valen- on the verge of handing in an offi cial order. Perhaps he will get an oppor- meltdown. So, after vari- cia’s Shkodran Mustafi . Valencia want transfer request. tunity in Chelsea’s latest pre-season Aous unwelcome bids for Leicester £42mn, so naturally Arsenal started In other Chelsea news, Antonio Con- match against Milan. City’s Ben Chilwell were sent back the bidding at £15mn. Just like that te has taken one look at Oscar not track- Southampton want to replace Vic- from whence they came, and ef- time when West Ham off ered £40mn ing back and told him to pack his bags. tor Wanyama with Anderlecht’s Steven forts to transform James Milner into a for Alexandre Lacazette, which was Since Javier Zanetti retired, Internazi- Defour, who is keen to leave the Belgian left-footed 23-year-old international rejected, so the following week Arsenal onale don’t really care about work rate, runners up after getting all manner proved unsuccessful, Jurgen Klopp has tabled a bid of … £33mn. and it just so happens that they’ve got a of stick from his own fans. He used to reportedly decided to pull the trigger Anyway, in lieu of any actual Mus- spare £30mn knocking about, which is play for Standard Liege, you see. Any- on Jonas Hector, Koln’s jewel, and tafi progress, one Arsenal fan/Gat- conveniently about what it would take way, £6mn should be enough to grease probably the weakest member of Ger- wick customs offi cial confronted the to snare the Brazilian. those wheels. many’s back four. 24-year-old—who was arriving for Oscar might have some company on Finally, Brighton have agreed a fee That will cost £20mn apparently. Valencia’s pre-season matches against the fl ight to Milan, with reports in Italy for Tottenham’s Alex Pritchard, who Ideally, Klopp would have Joe Gomez Crystal Palace and Bournemouth – on suggesting that Milan are in for Juan has suff ered the ill-fortune of being ex- spare, or even Mamadou Sakho, but Tuesday by joking: “Sign for Arsenal or Cuadrado. tremely good at football, but not as good both are crocked. Besides, after Liver- you can’t come through.” True story. The Colombian excelled last sea- as Christian Eriksen. He’ll cost £8mn, pool’s defensive performance against That’s what it’s come to. son for Juventus, and made his name once all the add-ons are totted up.

SPOTLIGHT/ MARTA FOOTBALL BRIEFS Leicester sign Poland and always want to give the winger Kapustka maximum. But at 40, I am no longer able to give the required Premier League champions level for my club and national Leicester City yesterday signed team,” the former Hertha Berlin teenage winger Bartosz Ka- and Crystal Palace keeper said ‘Pele in a skirt’: pustka from Polish club Cracovia on his website. “(Hungary) for a reported £7.5mn ($10mn, manager Bernd Storck gave me 8.9mn euros). Kapustka agreed a the decision to stay or leave five-year contract with Leicester after Euro 2016, and what more after catching the eye of Foxes noble way is there to leave than boss Claudio Ranieri with his after taking part in a tourna- international performances for ment that set the whole country Poland over the last year. The in football fever?” In addition Brazilian soccer’s 19-year-old has linked up with his to his legwear, which started a new teammates in Stockholm craze in his home country as ahead of Leicester’s Interna- Hungary exceeded expecta- tional Champions Cup friendly tions by storming into the last against Barcelona. Kapustka 16 in this summer’s European made more than 60 appearanc- Championship, Kiraly was also es for Cracovia, with his impres- the tournament’s oldest ever sive form leading to a debut for player. Hungary finished top brilliant nomad Poland in September 2015. He of Group F in their first major was part of Poland’s Euro 2016 tournament since the 1986 campaign and gave an outstand- World Cup, downing Austria 2-0 ‘With her technique and speed, she could do anything she wanted. I think she’s the best ing display in their victory over and holding eventual winners Northern Ireland. As Leicester Portugal to a thrilling 3-3 draw player in the world. I wanted to be like her but of course I didn’t have the same attributes. gear up for their title defence, before being dumped out by Kapustka is Ranieri’s fifth signing Belgium 4-0 in the last 16. It’s like a men’s player wanting to be like Lionel Messi — you can’t copy someone like that’ of the transfer window following the arrivals of Luis Hernandez, Two Maribor players Ron-Robert Zieler, Nampalys killed in car crash Mendy and Ahmed Musa. UEFA have off ered their support Egypt winger Salah to Slovenian club Maribor fol- heads to Roma lowing the deaths of two of their young players in a car crash Egypt winger Mohamed Salah on Tuesday. Left-back Damjan has called time on his unsuc- Marjanovic and forward Zoran cessful spell with Chelsea after Baljak, both 20, were killed in joining Roma in a permanent an accident as they returned transfer, the Premier League from training. Two of their club announced yesterday. Salah teammates, Ziga Lipuscek and struggled to make an impact Ljubomir Moravac, who are both after joining Chelsea in January 19, were injured in the crash, 2014 and spent last season on with the latter in a serious condi- loan at Roma after a previous tion. “UEFA would like to send temporary stint in Serie A with its condolences to NK Maribor Fiorentina. The 24-year-old was and the Football Association of regarded as a hot property Slovenia following the untimely when he played for Swiss side death of two Maribor players,” Basel, dazzling the Blues with read a statement on the website his performances against them of European soccer’s govern- in Europe. But his move to ing body. UEFA also confirmed Stamford Bridge didn’t pan out that there would be a minute’s as expected and he was unable silence before Maribor’s Europa to nail down a first-team place. League third qualifying round He fared better with Roma last second-leg match at home season and helped them finish against Aberdeen today. third in Serie A, prompting the club to bring him back to the Villarreal sign Italy Italian capital for an undisclosed midfielder Soriano fee. Salah becomes the second player to leave Chelsea this Villarreal signed Italy midfielder week after Baba Rahman joined Roberto Soriano from Sampdo- Schalke on a season-long loan. ria on Tuesday as the Spanish club look to bolster their squad Zidane confirms talks ahead of the Champions League with PSG over Jese play-off s later this month. Sori- ano, 25, has signed a five-year Real Madrid coach Zinedine deal with Villarreal, who finished Zidane has confirmed Jese fourth in La Liga last season. Rodriguez could join Paris The German-born midfielder Saint-Germain before the end has played eight times for Italy of the transfer window but said but was not selected for Euro the forward may return to Spain 2016. He scored eight goals in 37 next summer. “It’s not a done league matches for Sampdoria deal, but it’s well on the way. last season. Villarreal reached When we return to Madrid we’ll the semi-finals of the Europa know more about it,” Zidane League last term, but Marcelino’s said in New Jersey yesterday, side are aiming to reach the By Carrie Dunn in London That is not to say that her career has ball simply isn’t there. vidually and with the national team had on the eve of Real’s final US Champions League group stage theguardian.com been easy. Brazil is historically not the Instead she’s been an asset to teams in simply not been capitalized on by the pre-season friendly against for the first time since 2011-12. most supportive country of women’s the USA as well as in Sweden—although powers-that-be. Bayern Munich. French media football. She has talked about her child- the fi nancial implosion of women’s clubs A decade ago, as she revelled in her in- have reported PSG could look Indonesia FA votes for rom the moment she burst on to hood games, recalling that she would is an all-too-regular occurrence, mean- dividual and team awards, she admitted: “I to sign the 23-year-old on a overhaul after ban the scene, Marta was hailed as happily join in the boys’ matches, ing that she has rapidly had to move on. struggled for this all my life and I can’t feel five-year deal in a transfer worth something special. As a 17-year- occasionally skipping school in favour of Now 30, she leads the line for FC Rosen- but proud when I know that little girls and around 25mn euros, contrary to Indonesian football’s ruling old, she was called up to the Brazil football; and she has added with a touch gard in the Swedish Damallsvenskan; and even boys who only dream at being profes- Zidane’s wishes. Last week, PSG body has voted for a total clear- squadF for the 2003 Women’s World Cup; of self-deprecation: “I was never the last she has often talked about how she misses sional players look up to me as an example.” coach Unai Emery indicated a out of its top ranks following the year after that, she scored three goals to be picked when teams were selected.” her family, left behind as she pursues her They will be able to marvel at her skill move for Jese was “a possibility” a year-long FIFA ban, as the at the Athens Olympics as the team won Of course she wasn’t. Marta’s close nomadic career, and crediting them as her on the global stage again this month as as the French champions look government vowed complete a silver medal; as a 21-year-old, she was control of the ball, taste for trickery and inspiration. Like so many pioneers, she she joins the Brazil squad for the Rio Ol- to draft in support for Edinson reform of the crisis-wracked the linchpin of Brazil’s success as they innate nose for goal are assets to any side. acknowledges that she has had to sacri- ympics—her fourth Games—and the Cavani up front following the sport. Football in Southeast fi nished second in China, picking up the She has always claimed that she never had fi ce a settled home life for football. hosts will be focused on a medal after departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic Asia’s biggest nation has been individual accolades of the Golden Ball any footballing idols as a child, although As well as blazing a trail on the pitch, missing out in London last time round. to Manchester United. in crisis after a row between the and the Golden Boot along the way. she admired Rivaldo, and loved the clips though, she is working to ensure that Her former teammate Sofi a Jakobssen sports ministry and the coun- She went in to the 2007 tournament she had seen of Pele. future generations can follow their foot- of Sweden is looking forward to playing Hungary’s Kiraly hangs try’s football association led as the FIFA women’s world player of the It’s perhaps no wonder that the media, balling dreams in their home countries, against her old friend in the group stage, up baggy trousers to world governing body FIFA year, so expectations were high. She met always keen for an easy comparison, took taking on the role of ambassador for recalling: “With her technique and speed, handing down a ban for govern- them—and then won the same award for to calling Marta “Pele in a skirt”, a nick- FIFA’s ‘Live Your Goals’ campaign, a mis- she could do anything she wanted on the Hungary goalkeeper Gabor ment meddling in May last year. fi ve consecutive years, showing that the name the man himself endorsed. sion to provide girls and women around fi eld. I still think she’s the best player in Kiraly, who became something The domestic league ground pressure was nothing to her. If only she’d had exactly the same sup- the world with the opportunity to play the world. I wanted to be like her but of of a cult hero during Euro to a halt and Indonesia could In 2015 she became the top goalscorer port and publicity as her forerunner. football at all levels. course I didn’t have all the same attributes. 2016 for his trademark grey not compete in international in Women’s World Cup history, scoring Her biographer couldn’t fi nd a She has been urging her own country It’s like a men’s player wanting to be like tracksuit trousers, announced competition, in just the latest her 15th against South Korea; perhaps publisher in Brazil, and she hasn’t been to take action for many years, asking for Messi—you can’t copy someone like that.” his international retirement crisis to hit Indonesian football breaking that particular record was no able to play in her home country for more governmental and fi nancial support for Marta is one of the shining stars of the yesterday after 107 games for in recent years. FIFA lifted the surprise when she averages a goal a game than a handful of games because the women’s football, and pointing out that women’s game—and her brilliance shows his country. “I am a maximalist suspension this May. at international level. structure for professional women’s foot- all the success she had achieved indi- no signs of dimming quite yet. Gulf Times Thursday, August 4, 2016 11 SPORT

CRICKET DEVELOPMENT India to host Bangladesh Test Sri Lanka proving for fi rst time

AFP season. New Delhi “As a leading Test-playing nation it is BCCI’s responsibil- ity to give opportunity to every there’s life aft er angladesh will play their Test-playing nation,” he said in fi rst-ever Test match in a statement. India next February, a India are currently second in top cricket offi cial said the International Cricket Coun- yesterday.B cil Test rankings while Bangla- Although India have crossed desh are ninth. the border to Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Cricket Board Tigers have never played a fi ve- chief Nazmul Hassan said the legends — Murali day match on Indian soil since match would be a memorable they gained Test status in 2000, experience for players and fans mainly because of scheduling of both countries. ‘There’s no doubt about the talent we have’ clashes. “The long wait for us to play Bangladesh have featured in a Test match on Indian soil is fi - two limited-overs tournaments nally over and this is a time for in India — the Champions Tro- celebration,” he said in the same phy qualifi ers in 2006 and the statement. World Twenty20 this year. The one-off match will be Board of Control for Cricket played in the southern city of in India (BCCI) president Anur- Hyderabad from February 8 to 12. ag Thakur called the upcoming India have won six of their match an historic occasion and a eight Tests against Bangladesh, “great addition” to India’s home while two have ended in draws.

Vincenzo Nibali signed by Bahrain Merida

London: The new Bahrain day one, because it has a clear Merida Team has confirmed its vision and is to be carried out first signing, of Italian cyclist by some of the best profession- Vincenzo Nibali, for the 2017 als in the sport. “This trust and cycling season. Nibali is also to confidence in me made me take be the team captain. A report in the final decision for this new Cyclingnews.com, a unit of the exciting adventure of my career. Immmediate Media company of I can’t wait to meet their expecta- London, cited a statement by the tions at the most important races new team in which Nibali praised in the world wearing the jersey of “this exciting adventure” for his Bahrain Merida,” he said, accord- career. ing to the team statement. He leaves Astana, which he had The signing of Nibali follows on joined as a rider in 2013. “I was the team announcement earlier immediately fascinated by the in the week of the aim to race at idea of a strong project plan built the highest level, with Merida as around me,” said the 31-year-old, its bike supplier and co-sponsor. who is currently in Rio for the Nibali is a two-time Giro d’Italia Olympic Games. winner and also won the 2014 “I have believed in the team from Tour de France.

SPOTLIGHT GB cyclist cites This file photograph taken on July 29, 2016 shows Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis as he plays a shot during the fourth day of the opening Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele. Sri Lanka’s first win over Australia in two decades proves the islanders have the talent to step into the boots of their recently retired greats, according to Test cricket’s most successful bowler Muttiah Muralitharan. family trauma in

AFP selves. But the man whose 800 Test wick- Muralitharan, a former off -spinner, failed repeatedly. Then they repaid his Colombo ets remains a world record six years after said he was “really impressed” with the faith big time. All the players who came doping case retiring has been keeping a close eye on Sri 25-year-old Sandakan who took 4 for 58 in into the national side when he was cap- Lanka’s rebuilding eff orts after the depar- the fi rst innings. tain went on to have long and successful ri Lanka’s fi rst win over Australia ture of some of the fi nest players in their But he said the fate of Ajantha Mendis careers. “The 1996 triumph ushered in a AFP in two decades proves the island- history. — another Sri Lankan spinner whose Test golden age as Sri Lanka churned out a suc- London ers have the talent to step into Despite his current role for Australia, career fi zzled out after an impressive start cession of top-class players. Sthe boots of their recently retired Muralitharan was delighted by the per- — should serve as a cautionary tale. When established batsmen such as greats, according to Test cricket’s most formances of Mendis, who hit a maiden “Look at what happened to (Ajantha) Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva stepped reat Britain’s world cy- successful bowler Muttiah Muralitharan. Test ton in Pallekele, and in particular that Mendis. He took a truckload of wickets aside, they were replaced by the likes cling road race cham- Speaking to AFP ahead of the second of Sandakan who took seven wickets on at the start. But when he went through of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jaya- pion Lizzie Armit- Test in Galle which begins today, Mu- his debut. It was only Sri Lanka’s second a couple of lean series, he was put under wardene who became Sri Lanka’s two Gstead said yesterday ralitharan refl ected in glowing terms on Test victory over Australia and the fi rst pressure and then went into a defensive highest run scorers. Both have retired in “incredibly diffi cult” family cir- batsman Kusal Mendis and spin bowler since 1999.But Muralitharan cautioned mindset,” he said. the past two years and other stars such as cumstances caused her to miss a Lakshan Sandakan’s key roles in last that Sandakan — a left-arm wrist spinner “Today he is nowhere.” dashing opener Tillakaratne Dilshan and pre-Olympics drugs test. weekend’s thrilling victory in Pallekele who got some dramatic turn in Pallekele Muralitharan said he was fortunate to slingy fast bowler Lasith Malinga have also UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) pro- even though both are newcomers to Test — would need careful mentoring if he is to have had a “strong leader” like Arjuna quit Test cricket. visionally suspended Armitstead “I am sorry for causing any- cricket. achieve his full potential and not fall by the Ranatunga who skippered Sri Lanka to Meanwhile their best bowler, spinner on July 11 for failing to correctly one to lose faith in sport. I am an Muralitharan, who is a member of the wayside. victory in the 1996 World Cup. Rangana Herath, is now 38 and has hinted notify testers of her wherea- example of what hard work and Australia squad’s tour coaching staff , has “There’s no doubt about the talent we “He (Ranatunga) was great in spotting at retirement. As a result, Sri Lanka have bouts, which led to her miss- dedication can achieve. I hate been involved in a war of words with Sri have. Those two young guys have bright talent and then guiding them,” Muralitha- slid down the Test rankings to seventh, ing three drugs tests within a dopers and what they have done Lanka’s board, bitter that his old employ- futures ahead of them,” Muralitharan said. ran said. making their victory over the top-ranked 12-month period. to sport.” ers have not sought out his advice them- “But the thing is we need to nurture them.” “He backed players even when they Australians all the more impressive. But the Court of Arbitration Armitstead is one of the fa- for Sport (CAS) said procedures vourites to win gold in the wom- were not followed correctly for en’s road race in Rio on Sunday. PREVIEW one of the tests and upheld her She won silver in the event in appeal, clearing the 27-year-old London four years ago. to race at the Olympics. Armitstead was charged with Armitstead missed the third three “whereabouts failures” test, on June 9 this year, due to a last month, leading to a suspen- serious family illness and said in sion pending disciplinary ac- a statement posted on Twitter: tion. Australia’s Smith banking on “My personal family circum- The fi rst missed test was at a stances at the time of the test World Cup event in Sweden in were incredibly diffi cult. August 2015, the second was in “In my defence, I was dealing October 2015 and the third was with a traumatic time and I for- in June this year. reverse swing on Galle turner got to change a box on a form. I Armitstead admitted fault am not a robot, I am a member with the second two missed Reuters the right handers, so we’ve got Starc who of a family — my commitment to tests, but successfully appealed Galle can do and Hazlewood can do and Mitch- them comes over and above my to CAS over the fi rst, which hap- ell Marsh bowls good reverse swing as commitment to cycling.” pened at a GB team hotel. well, so we’ve got the bases covered.” She added: “I love sport and CAS ruled that the UKAD alle has built a reputation as a Angelo Mathews’ side are reeling from the values it represents. It hurts doping control offi cer had not spinners’ paradise but Australia injuries to their fast bowlers with Dham- me to consider anybody ques- made reasonable attempts to lo- captain Steve Smith hopes there mika Prasad and Dushmantha Chameera tioning my performances. cate Armitstead at the hotel. will be substantial reverse swing ruled out of the three-match series, while Gat the venue as his top-ranked team bid Suranga Lakmal was also absent from the for a series-levelling win against Sri Lan- opening test at Pallekele due to an ankle England stars headline UAE talent showcase ka in the second Test. complaint. They suff ered yet another in- Sri Lanka infl icted a 106-run defeat on jury setback with seamer Nuwan Pradeep the touring side at Pallekele last week in injuring his hamstring during practice. London: England trio Tim White and Kent all-rounder the opening match of the three-test se- Mathews said the team will wait till Bresnan, Harry Gurney and Matt Coles complete a line-up ries with the spinners taking 18 out of 20 Thursday for Pradeep to get fi t, failing Liam Dawson will be the star selected using the Professional Australian wickets to fall. which uncapped left-arm seamer Vishwa attractions in a United Arab Cricketers’ Association’s Most The hosts’ three-pronged spin attack Fernando could be drafted in. Emirates-based ‘North v South’ Valued Player rankings. The will be brimming with confi dence on a The Sri Lanka captain was aware that series designed to discover rankings are based on this dry surface at Galle for the match that the Australians will devise a way to neu- fresh international talent. term’s One-Day Cup, with the starts on Thursday, and will hope to take tralise their spinners, especially left- The 50-over competition top four ‘MVPs’ in the north and an unassailable lead against Australia, armer Rangana Herath. comprises three matches in south plus the best spinner, ranked number one in tests by the Inter- Australian cricket captain Steven Smith (R) looks on during a practice session at “You can’t write the Australians off Abu Dhabi in March 2017 and automatically qualifying for the national Cricket Council. The Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle yesterday. against Herath,” he said. “They came up Bresnan, Gurney and Dawson 13-man squads. South Africa pacemen Morne Morkel with a diff erent strategy in the second are among eight players set to The rest of the squads will and Dale Steyn claimed 16 wickets be- injured Steve O’Keefe and will partner “Talking to Allan Donald (bowling innings, like using the crease a lot, and feature. England Lions batsman picked by Andrew Strauss and tween them as they bowled South Africa off -spinner Nathan Lyon. consultant) who was here with the South sweeping him a little bit. We have got to Ben Duckett and Somerset the rest of the England selec- to a 153-run victory in Galle in 2014. “Looks pretty dry, I daresay it’s going African team in that game, he said the be cautious. duo Lewis Gregory and Tim tors, who are due to attend Australia will hope their fast bowling to take some spin, which at the same time ball reversed quite signifi cantly from both “They didn’t get runs, but they are a Groenewald have also been the matches as they search for duo of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood there’s quite a big breeze so I think it will ends. very attacking top order and the guys who given invites. Northampton- potential stars ahead of the can do something similar. Debutant left- drift a lot for the spinners,” Smith told re- “Morkel had it going away from the didn’t get runs in Pallekele, we have to be shire slow left-armer Graeme 2019 World Cup. arm spinner Jon Holland will replace the porters. right handers and Steyn had it going into cautious of.”

Thursday, August 4, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

CRICKET SPOTLIGHT India board opposes two-tier Five-wicket Sohail Test plan: report

AFP inburgh last month and is due to New Delhi debate the plan further in Sep- tember. Under the scheme being con- stars as England he head of India’s pow- sidered, the top seven-ranked erful cricket board has teams would join a de facto pre- voiced opposition to mier league designed to boost controversial plans for a interest in Test cricket. Ttwo-tier Test system being con- The other three lowest ranked sidered by the game’s governing sides — which are currently the body, a report said yesterday. West Indies, Bangladesh and Anurag Thakur, president of Zimbabwe — would then join dismissed for 297 the Board of Control for Cricket a second division which would in India (BCCI), told a newspa- also include the likes of Afghani- Sohail took the new ball after Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss on a per smaller nations would lose stan and Ireland. out on revenue and the chance to Although England, Australia gloomy morning, with some moisture in the pitch after overnight rain compete against the top teams. and New Zealand have all come “The BCCI is against the two- out in favour of the proposal, In- tier Test system because the dia’s opposition could well mean smaller countries will lose out it is now dead in the water. and the BCCI wants to take care Former BCCI president of them. It is necessary to protect Shashank Manohar is head of their interests,” The New Indian the ICC and India, which is the Express, a Chennai-based daily, game’s fi nancial powerhouse, quoted him as saying. has a history of ensuring that its “In the two-tier system, they stance prevails on key debates will lose out on a lot, including within the global body. revenue and the opportunity to The plan has been fi ercely op- play against top teams. We don’t posed by the likes of Bangladesh want that to happen. and Sri Lanka, which is at risk of “We want to work in the falling outside the top seven after best interests of world cricket sliding down the rankings in the and that is why our team plays last year. against all the countries.” The smaller Test teams’ fi - The International Cricket nancial survival largely depends Council (ICC) fi rst discussed the on their ability to sell television proposal to split Test cricket into rights to matches against teams two divisions at a meeting in Ed- such as India and England.

SECOND TEST Windies dig deep against India

Pakistan’s Sohail Khan celebrates taking the wicket of England’s Joe Root in Edgbaston yesterday.

AFP SCORECARD this series and Ballance told BBC Radio’s before Rahat Ali had him lbw. Birmingham Test Match Special: “If we bowl well, this Cook reviewed, more in hope than ex- England 1st Innings could be a par score. With a bit of cloud pectation, but was duly given out to leave West Indies batsmen Roston Chase (L)and Jermaine Blackwood A. Cook lbw b Rahat Ali ...... 45 cover, we bowl well and get a second-in- England 75 for three. score a run off a delivery from bowler Mohammed Shami of India ohail Khan marked his return to A. Hales c Sarfraz Ahmed b Sohail Khan ...... 17 nings lead, we will have a chance.” James Vince guided England to 100 for on day five of their second Test match at Sabina Park in Kingston, Test cricket after a fi ve-year ab- J. Root c Mohamed Hafeez b Sohail Khan ...... 3 Sohail was recalled in place of Wahab three at lunch.But on 39, an uncertain Jamaica. sence with a maiden fi ve-wicket J. Vince c Younis Khan b Sohail Khan ...... 39 Riaz as Pakistan broke up the all left-arm defensive prod outside off stump against Shaul as Pakistan dismissed Eng- G. Ballance c Sarfraz Ahmed b Yasir Shah ..70 pace attack they had deployed for the fi rst Sohail saw Vince, yet to make a fi fty in his AFP Blackwood and Chase took on land for 297 on yesterday’s fi rst day of the J. Bairstow c Sarfraz Ahmed b Sohail Khan .12 two Tests of this four-match contest fol- eight Test innings, edge low to second slip Kingston, Jamaica all the Indian bowlers, unset- third Test at Edgbaston. M. Ali c Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohamed Amir ....63 lowing England’s 330-run series-levelling Younis Khan.Jonny Bairstow had rescued tling them via a succession of After Sohail sparked a top-order col- C. Woakes c Sarfraz Ahmed b Rahat Ali ...... 9 win at Old Traff ord. England from many a dire position in re- boundaries as they scored at lapse, England, who lost the toss, were S. Broad c Azhar Ali b Mohamed Amir...... 13 Sohail took the new ball after Pakistan cent times. ttacking half-cen- better than a run-a-minute. indebted to left-handers Gary Ballance S. Finn not out ...... 15 captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss on a But he made just 12 before, trying to cut turies by Jermaine Blackwood could have been (70) and Moeen Ali (63) for taking them to J. Anderson lbw b Sohail Khan ...... 5 gloomy morning, with some moisture in a sharply bouncing Sohail delivery, he was Blackwood and Ros- caught-and-bowled by Ravi- what could yet prove a challenging total. Extras (lb1, w1, nb4) ...... 6 the pitch after overnight rain. caught behind by opposing wicket-keeper ton Chase frustrated chandran Ashwin when on 37 Sohail, a 32-year-old right-arm quick, Total (all out, 86 overs, 383 mins) ...... 297 Alex Hales fell for an unconvincing 17 Sarfraz Ahmed. India’sA push for victory as the but the bowler pulled his hands removed a quartet of top-order batsman Fall of wickets: 1-36 (Hales), 2-48 (Root), 3-75 when caught behind off Sohail. Sohail had taken two for six in 10 balls, West Indies added 167 runs to out of the way of a fearsome on his way to fi gures of fi ve for 96 in 23 (Cook), 4-144 (Vince), 5-158 (Bairstow), 6-224 Joe Root had made a Test-best 254 at with England now 158 for fi ve. be 215 for five in the second in- straight drive. overs. (Ballance), 7-244 (Woakes), 8-276 (Finn), 9-278 Old Traff ord in a match where he and cen- Ballance, increasingly assured after a nings at lunch on the final day Having blazed a run-a-ball His return was all the more impres- (Ali) 10-297 (Anderson) tury-maker Alastair Cook, the England shaky start, hit 11 fours. of the second Test yesterday. 62 on the first morning of the sive as his previous two Tests — against Bowling: Amir 16-3-53-2; Sohail 23-3-96-5 captain, scored 506 runs between them But his 150-ball innings ended when a Trailing from the first in- match, the diminutive right- Sri Lanka at Karachi in 2009 and against (4nb); Rahat 20-4-83-2 (1w); Shah 27-3-64-1 for just twice out. glance off leg-spinner Yasir Shah was well nings by 304 runs, the hosts hander got to 63 off 54 balls Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2011 — had Pakistan: Mohamed Hafeez, Sami Aslam, Misbah had described the pair as the held by Ahmed, who made good ground will go into the afternoon ses- with nine fours and two sixes yielded a combined haul of one for 245. Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), “pillars” of England’s otherwise fragile to hold the tough chance in an example of sion with the sixth-wicket pair when Ashwin made amends A stress fracture of the back after last Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wkt), Sohail top order. Pakistan’s much-improved catching. of Chase (70 not out) and Shane via an excellent catch by year’s World Cup provided a further check Khan, MohamEd Amir, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali Pakistan knocked down the fi rst of Ballance’s exit ended a sixth-wicket Dowrich (33 not out) needing Cheteshwar Pujara at forward on his progress. Toss: Pakistan those pillars when Root, playing one of his stand of 66 with Ali. to further extend their resist- short-leg. “When I played my fi rst two Test Umpires: Joel Wilson (WIS), Bruce Oxenford favourite back-foot forcing shots, edged Ali completed a 99-ball fi fty when he ance with the Indians pressing His partnership with Chase matches, the pitches were fl at and it didn’t (AUS) Sohail and was held by sometimes falli- pulled Rahat for his fi fth four. for the breakthrough in pursuit was worth 93 runs at better swing for me,” Sohail told Sky Sports. TV umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI) ble slip fi elder Mohammad Hafeez for just Mohamed Amir then struck twice with of victory and a 2-0 lead in the than five runs per over. “But no excuses — I worked hard and it Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS) three. the new ball, including removing Ali when four-match series. Any hopes the Indians had of paid off . Sohail had taken two wickets for eight the batsman’s loose drive saw Ahmed hold Resuming on a sun-drenched scything through the rest of the “My plan was to hit the right area — you fewer in their fi rst innings of an Edgbaston runs in nine balls and England were 48 for his fi fth catch of the innings. last day with the innings in ap- batting were thwarted though can bowl against any batsman if you hit Test, having been sent into bat, they have two. Left-handed opener Cook, carrying Sohail, appropriately, ended the day’s parent ruins at 48 for four af- by Dowrich, who also played the right area,” he added. gone on to lose. on from where he left off in Manchester, play when had No 11 James Anderson lbw ter just 15.5 overs were bowled positively in partnership with All six times a side have posted 335 or But Pakistan’s top order have struggled made 45 in 52 balls, including eight fours for fi ve. on a rain-ruined day four, his fellow Barbadian.

CYCLING Qatar race gets upgraded to WorldTour status

Reuters est tour in the region,” QCF president Sheikh Jan. 29, a 174km one-day race in Victoria that Paris Khalid bin Ali al-Thani had said earlier. was first staged in 2015. “So if the WorldTour is coming to this area, “I am absolutely delighted our vision has it should come here first. We have good con- been realised and Australia now has its own he International Cycling Union fidence in that. We are trying to go WorldTour modern one-day classic,” Evans, who won the (UCI) has announced an expanded to bring the level up,” he added. Tour de France in 2011, told reporters. WorldTour calendar for 2017 that The Tour of Qatar was earlier part of the “And, our race will become a critical part T will see the series host premier level UCI’s Asian circuit. of the season with teams and individuals vy- races in five countries, including Qatar, Brit- “The expanded series will consist of 37 ing for early season points in order to set up ain and the United States, for the first time. events. Alongside the three Grand Tours, their entire year.” As a result, the annual Tour of Qatar to be there will be 14 stage races and 20 one-day The RideLondon-Surrey Classic, won by held in February 2017 becomes a UCI World- events,” the UCI said in a statement late yes- Belgium’s Tom Boonen on Sunday, has also Tour event for the first time in its history. terday. been added to the schedule, giving Britain The Qatar Cycling Federation had expressed A total of 10 new events were awarded a first event on the series, along with fellow the hope earlier this year that the UCI would three-year licenses to join a series that will first timers Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Tur- heed its request for an upgrade to WorldTour take the peloton to 15 countries over a nine- key and the United States. status because that would ensure the partici- month period, with the Tour Down Under “Alongside the prestigious events which pation of the best cycling teams from around kicking off the 2017 season in Australia from have already proven their worth, the UCI the world. Jan. 17-22. WorldTour is enriched by the addition of “We have applied to the UCI to be upgraded Australia will also host the first of the new some truly fantastic races across the globe. to the WorldTour and we hope that we have a events on the schedule when the riders line up I’m delighted to see this development,” UCI good chance because we are the first and old- for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race on president Brian Cookson added.