ASIAN GAMES | Page 3 FORMULA 1 | Page 6 Bopanna and Raikkonen Sharan, rowers keeps Ferrari add gold to on top in Indian tally Spa practice

Saturday, August 25, 2018 TENNIS Dhul-Hijja 14, 1439 AH Federer, Djokovic GULF TIMES could meet in US Open quarters SPORT Page 5 PREVIEW Samba, Haroun lead Qatar’s gold hopes in athletics ‘Immediate focus is the Asian Games. This is his (Samba) first Asian Games and he’s completely focused on the job’

By Anil John Jakarta

f Qatar’s stated ambition is to surpass their best-ever gold medal tally at the Asian Games, the process has to Istart in right earnest at the Gelo- ra Bung Karno Stadium today where the extensive track and fi eld programme gets underway with the men’s marathon early in the morning. Six of the 10 gold medals won by Qatar four years ago in Incheon came from athletics, but three of their stars, who ac- counted for fi ve of them, are con- spicuous by their absence in the Indonesian capital.

Qatar’s Abdallelah Haroun ran a personal best of 44.07 seconds in 400m at the London Diamond League meeting last month.

with the 400m and 100m fi nals scheduled for tomorrow. Medals tally (top 10) Haroun, who fi nished third at the 2017 IAAF World Champion- G S B T ships in London in the 400m be- hind winner Wayde van Niekerk 1. China 66 46 27 139 of South Africa and silver med- 2. Japan 29 31 43 103 allist Steven Gardiner of the Ba- 3. South Korea 23 26 29 78 hamas, has a personal best of 44.07 seconds set during a stun- 4. Iran 12 11 8 31 ning winning performance at the 5. Indonesia 9 9 14 32 London Diamond League meet- 6. North Korea 8 5 6 19 ing last month. Fellow Qatari Mohamed Nasir 7. Chinese Taipei 6 7 12 25 Sprinter Femi Ogunode, mid- Abbas, who clocked a personal 8. India 6 5 14 25 dle-distance runner Mohamed best of 45.15 seconds during the al-Garni and high jump world World Challenge in Madrid in 9. Thailand 6 4 20 30 champion Mutaz Essa Barshim Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba (right), who is only the second man to go under 47 seconds in 400m hurdles, has repeatedly beat world champion June, is also in contention for a 10. Uzbekistan 4 10 7 21 are missing the Games because medal in the 400m. Karsten Warholm (left) of Norway at this year’s Diamond League meetings. 28. Qatar 0 0 1 1 of injuries, leaving the athletics The Asian record over the dis- squad short on heft and experi- Cuban Javier Sotomayor’s long- against the might of the China, onships”. His coach Hennie Kotze the prospect of showcasing his tance belongs to Yousef Ahmed ence. standing world record of 2.45m Japan and South Korea. is busy plotting a plan of action talents at the Games, the fi rst Masrahi of Saudi Arabia who nearly a year now because of Ogunode had repeated his at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial in Samba, who recently became with the aim of making him the multi-sport event he is taking clocked 43.93 seconds during injury problems. On top of it sprint double in Incheon, having Szekesfehervar, Hungary, in early only the second man in history world champion next year, with a part in. the heats at the 2015 IAAF World several runners in Asia, among fi rst won the 100 and 200m four July. after Barcelona Olympics cham- gold medal in Jakarta as the start- “I am really excited to be in Championships in Beijing. He them China’s Su Bingtian, have years earlier in Guangzhou, while He underwent surgery and is pion Kevin Young to go under 47 ing point. Indonesia to participate in the had improved his own record by gone under 10 seconds in recent al-Garni had stunned some of ruled out for the rest of the sea- seconds, is a sure shot gold pros- “The world title and a possible Asian Games. Staying with the about half a second then, but he events, something which Tosin the favourites in the 1500m and son, with reports indicating he pect, going by his recent form in world record are all part of our other athletes at the Athletes Vil- is not listed in the Saudi squad at has never done. 5000m to cause a sensation in will be only back in action during the Diamond League where he plan but the immediate focus is lage has been a new experience the Asian Games this time. “My brother told me to just go 2014. the IAAF World Championships repeatedly got the better of world the Asian Games. This is his fi rst for me and I am relishing every The 100m fi nal is also sched- there and do your best. That’s Barshim, who was looking in Doha next year. champion Karsten Warholm of Asian Games and he is complete- moment of it,” he said. uled for tomorrow with Femi what I’ll try to do,” he said. forward to a hat-trick of Asian That puts the onus on 400m Norway. ly focused on the job at hand. He Qualifi cation for the 400m Ogunode’s brother, Tosin, at- Hammer thrower Ashraf Elsei- Games gold medals – he was the hurdler Abderrahman Samba Ever since arriving in Jakarta, is a great athlete to coach as he is hurdles will begin tomorrow tempting to make a mark. fy, the winner of the junior world champion in Guangzhou and and 400m fl at specialist Abdale- Samba has been totally focused very receptive to my methods,” with the fi nal on Monday, but if That is, however, easier said title in 2012 and 2014, and javelin Incheon – suff ered a ligament lah Haroun to inspire the oth- for the “most important event of Kotze told the Gulf Times. all goes well Qatar could already than done as Tosin hardly has thrower Ahmed Bader are also in injury while attempting to break ers in the squad which will be up my life after the World Champi- Samba himself is cherishing have a couple of medals by then, any competitive experience for medal contention.

SPOTLIGHT Fresh start for decathlete al-Mannai in Jakarta

By Anil John the Indonesian capital today. European Championships earlier in Doha next year. Jakarta “He is one of the most talented this month at the age of 32. “We are going event by event. athletes I have ever worked with. “Becoming a top decathlete is a Consistent training over the last He has been unlucky with inju- long process but I am very positive, few months has given him the ohamed al-Mannai ries and had been out of action so is Mohamed. He likes to work confi dence that he can go far. may not be a name for several years,” van Vuuren hard and he is in tune with my vi- “As of now we are focused on to reckon with yet told Gulf Times yesterday. sion for him,” van Vuuren added. the Asian Games but I hope by the on the international “But now he is much more According to van Vuuren, al- time we near the World Champi- Mstage but the Qatari decathlete is focused and mature, his body is Mannai’s fi rst coaches at Aspire onships he would be in a position shaping up well as an athlete of also maturing and if he manages Academy gave him a set of basic to challenge the top guys.” immense potential, according to to steer clear of injuries he can skills that have stood him in good In Jakarta, al-Mannai will be up his coach Jaco van Vuuren. reach the moon,” the South Afri- stead. against defending champion Kei- The only decathlete in the Qa- can coach added. “What he has learned at Aspire suke Ushiro of Japan and his com- tari squad for the Asian Games, Al-Mannai is already 26 but has helped me in my job. It makes patriot Akihiko Nakamura who al-Mannai had been slogging van Vuuren says history shows my job easier as I have to build on had won the bronze in Incheon. it out in Jakarta in the hope of decathletes reach their pinnacle it.” “In a way I am starting afresh upstaging some better-known in their thirties. Van Vuuren said he is not as I have had too many injuries in names in the gruelling 10-disci- He cited the example of thinking about medals at the the past,” al-Mannai said. “A good pline event which begins at the Germany’s Arthur Abele who Asian Games but building up to performance here will surely be a Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in clinched the decathlon title at the the IAAF World Championships good thing for my confi dence.” Gulf Times 2 Saturday, August 25, 2018 ASIAN GAMES

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Qatar has good Al-Tamimi’s exit chances to win medals: al-Kuwari

QNA good chances to win more med- Jakarta als in various disciplines such as athletics. He added that Qatar causes heartbreak will participate in the 4x400m atar Olympic Com- race for the fi rst time in such mittee’s (QOC) sec- competitions. Qatar stay on ond vice-president Dr Regarding the absence of Thani al-Kuwari ex- world champion Mutaz Barshim, course in beach pressedQ happiness with Qatar’s al-Kuwari said athletes are al- fi rst medal won by shooter Ha- ways exposed to injuries, and volleyball, handball, mad al-Marri, who won bronze that Qatar has other champions in Qatar camp in the Double Trap fi nal at the in various athletics competi- 3x3 basketball 2018 Asian Games. tions, who are capable of achiev- Dr al-Kuwari said that al- ing good results. By Anil John Marri’s medal was just the begin- Dr al-Kuwari wished a speedy Jakarta ning, and also noted that it was recovery for Barshim, adding the fi rst Gulf medal in shooting. that he will be present in Jakarta He said that Team Qatar has to support his fellow players. atar stayed in the hunt for a medal in handball, 3x3 basket- ball, volleyball and Qatar at Asiad beachQ volleyball but suff ered the heartbreak of seeing Abdulla al- Tamimi crash out in the quarter- fi nals of the squash tournament at the Asian Games yesterday. While Qatar, who have already entered the semi-fi nals in hand- ball, beat Japan 24-17 in their last main round group match, the spikers proved they were not too far behind with a 3-0 (25- 16, 25-22, 25-18) win over Hong Kong in their Pool F encounter. In beach volleyball, the Qatar pair of Cherif Samba and Ahmed Janko sailed through to the quarter-fi nals with a 2-0 (21-18, 21-19) victory over Kazakhstan’s Alexey Kuleshov and Alexander Babichev. Qatar’s Abdulla al-Tamimi fought back from two games down to level They will now clash with the the match at two games all before Malaysia’s Mohamed Nazifwan Qatar volleyball team players celebrate their victory over Hong Kong Iranian duo of Arash Vakili and won the quarter-final yesterday. in their men’s Pool F match yesterday. Bahman Salimiinjehboroun in the last 8 today in Palembang. all it was anybody’s game. How- The Iranians had accounted for ever, my opponent played the Japan’s Yuya Ageba and Kat- big points better,” the Qatari Qatar’s Ali al-Marri rides Fernhill Friendly Touch during the suhiro Shiratori 21-18, 21-15 in added. eventing (team dressage) equestrian event during the 2018 the last 16. Meanwhile, Qatar will take on Asian Games at Jakarta International Equestrian Park yesterday. In 3x3 basketball, Qatar South Korea in the semi-fi nals Along with compatriots Hassan al-Naimi and Saeed al-Rashdi, beat Jordan 21-7 but later were of the handball tournament on Qatar were placed seventh. PICTURE: Lotfi Garsi shocked by Japan 21-15. August 27 after they topped But while there were plenty their pool in the main round of positives for Qatar yesterday, with three wins out of three. al-Tamimi’s defeat to Malay- The prolifi c Anis Zouaoui was sia’s Mohamed Nazifwan would once again the star for Qatar Ticket chaos: crackdown on VIP surely be diffi cult to stomach. with six goals, while Bertrand seats, touts Al-Tamimi was the fl ag-bear- Roine had fi ve and Moustafa er of the contingent at the open- Heiba four. Alaeddin Berrached Indonesian off icials vowed to out after diff iculties booking ing ceremony and plenty was and Rafael Capote scored three crack down on excessive VIP tickets online. expected of him, considering the each. seating and illegal re-selling Organisers switched to new e- fact he had won the Malaysian For Japan, Hozuki Higashi- yesterday at the Asian Games, commerce company Blibli on Open a few weeks ago and bro- nagahama top-scored with six, where ticketing chaos has left the eve of the games after its ken into the top 30 of the world while Hiroki Motoki had fi ve. angry fans unable to attend original online vendor’s server rankings. Qatar are the defending even as thousands of seats broke down. The 23-year-old showed tre- champions in handball at the remain empty. Francis Wanandi, deputy head mendous resolve to stay in the Asian Games besides being the The Olympic Council of Asia of Games organising commit- match after losing the fi rst two winners of Asian Cup three complained to Indonesian tee INASGOC, told reporters games but three straight errors times in a row. organisers over the number two additional sites would in the fi fth and deciding game Today, rally and shooting ace of vacant seats at venues, now be selling tickets after allowed his Malaysian opponent Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah will be instructing them to reduce the complaints that tickets were to wrap up the match 11-9, 12- seen in action in the individual number of places reserved for still not accessible online. 10, 9-11, 5-11, 11-9. skeet competition in Palem- off icials after VIP allocations But each would have its own Top offi cials of the Qatar Ol- bang. reached as high as 40 percent allotted quota, meaning buy- ympic Committee, including Al-Attiyah, who has a team in some arenas. ers may need to visit all three second vice-president Dr Thani gold at the Asian Games and also “This is causing a great deal of in some cases, he said. al-Kuwari, secretary-general an individual silver and bronze, confusion and does not look Some tickets which appeared Jassim al-Buanain, and director will be aiming for his fi rst indi- good on the broadcasting to be sold out on the new of sports Khalil al-Jabir were in vidual gold in what is his seventh when there are empty seats,” vendors’ sites would become attendance at the match. Asian Games. the OCA said in a letter to the available after being trans- “I had my chances but unfor- “I am really excited to be par- organising committee. ferred from the old server in tunately couldn’t capitalise on ticipating in my seventh Asian Hundreds of people have “one or two days”. them, congratulations to Na- Games. I hope to cap it with been left queueing for hours The move to e-ticketing would zifwan,” al-Tamimi said. an excellent show. The gold, in the heat for Asian Games also help to tackle the prob- “It was a tough encounter but of course, will be fantastic,” he Qatar’s Ahmed Janko (right) goes for smash as teammate Cherif Samba (left) looks on during the men’s tickets, while fans have lashed lem of ticket touts. once I drew level at two games said. beach volleyball round of 16 match against Kazakhstan in Palembang, Indonesia, yesterday.

SWIMMING Ikee takes record haul; Japan, China share honours

Reuters Ikee looks set to be one of the came to Jakarta straight after the champion Joseph Schooling had Jakarta faces of that Games after her vic- Pan Pacifi c championships, where been the only gold medallist in Ja- tory in the 50 metres freestyle fi nal she won a gold, two silvers and a karta from outside China and Japan gave her the biggest haul of swim- bronze. IMPRESSIVE FEAT Sun but Kim Seo-young gave South eenager Rikako Ikee be- ming gold medals in Asian Games arrived in Indonesia hoping to Korea a boost ahead of their host- came the fi rst swimmer history. “I was the most nervous win fi ve gold medals as he began ing of next year’s world champion- to win six gold medals at before this race,” the 18-year-old his two-year drive towards To- ships. a single Asian Games on a said after just beating China’s Liu kyo and, while he came up short The 24-year-old was also re- Tthrilling fi nal night in the Jakarta Xiang to the wall in 24.53 seconds in a relay, his feat in winning the duced to tears after winning the pool which left continental powers in the 50m freestyle. “I really didn’t 200m-400m-800m-1,500m free- 200m individual medley in 2.08.34, Japan and China with 19 gold med- think I was going to win but I abso- style was impressive. depriving Yui Ohashi a second gold als apiece. lutely did not want to lose. My time There was never any real doubt of the Games and the chance to seal Three-times Olympic champion was okay but the big thing was that that he would complete the set de- the top of the medal table for Japan. Sun Yang also completed a remark- at the end I didn’t give up.” spite Vietnamese silver medallist That sent the Sino-Japanese able four-gold sweep and 16-year- Only North Korean shooter So Nguyen Huy Hoang’s brave swim gold medal race down to the men’s old Wang Jianjiahe a freestyle dis- Gin-man, who won seven golds and he kicked on with four laps to medley relay where champion tance triple for China in the 400m, and a silver in New Delhi in 1982, go to clinch a third straight 1,500m faced off against champion in a while Yasuhiro Koseki won his has won more titles at one Asiad title in 14 minutes 58.52 seconds. sensational race which was won by third breaststroke gold in the 50m. but Ikee, having also won two relay The 26-year-old was reduced China in 3.29.99. The battle for Asian supremacy silvers, equalled his record tally of to tears after winning the race at a World champion Xu’s feat in therefore came down to the fi nal eight medals. distance in which he won a London winning all three backstroke titles event of the meet, the men’s 4x100 Her close win over Liu, who Olympic gold medal six years ago and two relay golds in Jakarta will metres medley relay which China swam a world record time in the but no longer trains for. inevitably be overshadowed by the won in dramatic fashion by four 50m backstroke earlier this week, “It is not easy for me to remain exploits of Ikee and Sun but he was hundredths of a second to give Xu added the freestyle sprint title to dominant in an event for three delighted with it nonetheless. Jiayu his fi fth Jakarta gold. those she won in the 100m free- Asian Games,” he said through the “It’s unbelievable, I want cry to Japan shaded meet honours style, 50m and 100m butterfl y as tears. release the pressure,” he said after with 52 medals to China’s 50 but, well as the 4x100 freestyle and “I was a bit rusty and exhausted matching compatriot Shen Jianqiang more importantly, will take home medley relays. after 4x100m freestyle relay. I did record tally for men’s swimming at confi dence that their swimming All six gold medals came in think about quitting the event but the 1990 Beijing Asian Games. programme is on track for a good Games’ record times and her I just tried to do my best with my “I have given so much to swim- showing at the 2020 Tokyo Olym- achievement was all the more re- endurance.” ming,” he added. “Now is the time Japan’s Rikako Ikee celebrates winning the women’s 50m freestyle at the GBK Aquatic Center in pics. markable for the fact that she Singapore’s double butterfl y to reap the harvest.” Jakarta, Indonesia, yesterday. (Reuters) Gulf Times Saturday, August 25, 2018 3 ASIAN GAMES

FOCUS WEIGHTLIFTER Aljumaili bags Iraq’s fi rst gold of the Asiad Bopanna-Sharan, was just glad to be competing AFP Jakarta after a horror injury three years ago. “It was my own fault. I kicked afaa Aljumaili stole the a barbell and broke my leg,” he weightlifting show yes- revealed. terday, ripping off his “I thought I would have to give shirt and screaming in up lifting but my father helped rowers add gold to wildS celebration after a dramatic me with rehabilitation. Every day last-gasp lift secured Iraq’s fi rst he trained with me.” gold of the Asian Games. North Korea’s Jon Myong Song Indian women settle for silver It was Iraq’s fi rst medal of any took the bronze, after watching colour at the 18th Asiad and was his team-mates sweep to a na- in kabaddi after loss to Iran; greeted with jubilant scenes at tional-record fi fth weightlifting the Jakarta International Expo gold in the women’s 63kg, along shooter Sidhu wins bronze arena. with a fi rst ever Asian Games Indian tally As Aljumaili roared in delight women’s one-two. he was joined by an Iraqi team Little-known Kim Hyo Sim IANS with a score of 237.6. offi cial who kissed the platform pulled off a shock win, trounc- Palembang/Jakarta Manu Bhaker, the other In- several times in thanks. ing her namesake compatriot dian to reach the fi nal, fi nished Aljumaili had already failed and Rio Olympic silver medallist at a disappointing fi fth position with the 202kg he needed for Choe Hyo Sim by the huge mar- ndian tennis stars Rohan with a score of 176.2. gold but somehow managed to gin of 12kg. Bopanna and Divij Sharan lock out his arms on the fi nal lift Kim couldn’t hold back the won gold in the men’s dou- GHOSAL, PALLIKAL, of the 85kg competition to pip tears on the podium as she re- bles category, while rowers CHINAPPA IN SQUASH SEMIS South Korea’s brave Jang Yeon- ceived gold and then tried to ISawarn Singh, Dattu Bhokanal, Squash stars Saurav Ghosal, hak by just 1kg. break into a smile, but thought Om Prakash and Sukhmeet Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Josh- Jang was left with silver af- better of it with the frosty-look- Singh came up with a superb na Chinappa registered con- ter collapsing on his fi nal 197kg ing Choe standing crestfallen be- performance to add second gold vincing victories to assure India attempt and being stretchered side her. of the day to India’s tally yester- of a medal each as they entered away wearing an oxygen mask. Her win pushed the secretive day. the semi-fi nals of the men’s and He recovered in time to collect nation past its record Asian Games Bopanna-Sharan defeated women’s singles matches re- his silver medal. “I hyperventi- record of four golds achieved in Denis Yevseyev and Aleksandr spectively. lated,” he told AFP. “I knew Alju- Incheon four years ago. Bublik of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-4 Ghosal defeated compatriot maili had a strong clean and jerk Wamalun Rattanawan was de- in the fi nal. Harinder Sandhu 3-1 (9-11, 11-7, and I knew if I didn’t make it he lighted to take bronze on 225kg, This is the fi fth time that In- 11-7, 11-7). Ghosal, a three-time would probably win.” the fi fth medal for the consistent dia have won gold in men’s dou- Asian Games singles medallist, The 2017 Asian Junior Cham- Thailand weightlifting team (one bles at the Asian Games. This is will now take on Leo Au of Hong pionship gold medallist said he silver, four bronze). also the maiden Asian Games Kong in the semi-fi nals. title for top seeds Bopanna and In the other semi-fi nals, Ma- Sharan. laysian Mohamed Nafi izwan Bopanna and Sharan forced Adnan will meet Max Lee of the early advantage by break- Hong Kong. ing their opponents’ serve in the Chinappa got the better of Jo- second game of the opening set. India’s Rohan Bopanna (left) and Divij Sharan celebrate with their gold medals after their win in the men’s ey-Chan Ho-ling of Hong Kong The Indians were stretched to doubles tennis final in Palembang, Indonesia, yesterday. (Reuters) 3-1 (11-5, 12-10, 5-11, 12-10) in break point on Bopanna’s serve the late game to also assure her- in the fi fth game but managed self a medal. to hold serve and preserve their In the semi-fi nals, Chinappa lead. will meet Malaysian young talent Having notched up a 4-1 lead Sivasangari Subramaniam, who in less than half an hour, the got past Annie Au of Hong Kong. advantage was clearly with the Earlier, Pallikal stormed past Indians. The top seeds held on Japan’s Misaki Kobayashi 3-0 to their serve in the subsequent (11-5, 11-6, 11-8) in a resound- games before Bopanna used his ing fashion to ensure a top-four powerful serve to wrap up the berth as well. fi rst set. Pallikal will face three-time The second set went with the defending champion and Ma- serve before the Indians earned laysian great Nicol David for a SETBACK a service break in the seventh place in the fi nal. game. Seasoned boxer Manoj Kumar Win in the men’s quadruple brought the smiles back to the sculls was only the second gold Indian fans with a dominating for India since they started par- 5-0 thrashing of Bhutan’s San- Turkmen doping ticipating in the rowing events gay Wangdi in the men’s Welter- at the Asiad. The fi rst was won weight (69kg) category Round- by Bajrang Lal Takhar in men’s of-32 clash. case puts wrestling singles sculls at the 2010 Games. In badminton, Indian wom- The Indian team clocked en’s doubles pair of Ashwini a time of 6 minutes and 17.13 Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy under pressure seconds while hosts Indonesia India’s men’s quadruple sculls team celebrate their gold medal victory in the rowing event yesterday. advanced to the Round of 16. clocked 6:20.58 to take the sil- Reigning champions India AFP champion Artur Taymazov was ver. Thailand had to be content third place. of South Korea clinched silver. is the fi rst time that India have continued their winning streak Jakarta last year stripped of his Beijing with the bronze at 6:22.41. South Korea’s Hyunsu Park (7 failed to win gold in a major at the Asian Games as the men’s 2008 medal after his re-ana- The other Indian rowers in minutes and 12.86 seconds) se- HISTORIC LOSS IN KABADDI championship. team notched up a 8-0 victory lysed samples tested positive for the men’s section also enjoyed cured the gold while Hin Chun The Indian women’s kabaddi For India, this was a devastat- against Japan in their third Pool wrestler from Turk- banned steroids. a successful day with bronze Chiu (7 minutes 14.16 seconds) team suff ered a historic loss to ing blow, especially after their A match. menistan became the Last week United World Wres- medals coming in the light- bagged silver. Iran in a hard fought fi nal yes- men’s team were outplayed by With yet another high-scor- fi rst doping case at the tling, which governs amateur weight single sculls and light- India bagged another bronze terday which saw the defending Iran in Thursday’s semi-fi nals. ing victory margin, India have Asian Games and has wrestling, decided to hand over weight double sculls categories. when Bhagwan Singh and Ro- champions lose their crown af- taken their total goals scored in beenA disqualifi ed, the Olympic its full anti-doping programme Dushyant started India’s hit Kumar fi nished third in the ter an eight-year reign. SIDHU TAKES BRONZE the tournament to a record 51 Council of Asia said yesterday, to the newly created Interna- campaign on the sixth day of the men’s lightweight double sculls The defending champions lost Experienced shooter Heena goals after winning 17-0 against days after it threatened to expel tional Testing Agency, according Asian Games on a positive note fi nal. 24-27 in a nail-biting encounter Sidhu earned her fi rst individual Indonesia followed by 26-0 the worst-off ending sports from to the agency’s chief. by bagging the bronze medal Clocking a time of 7 minutes as Iran celebrated its fi rst ever medal in the Asian Games as she against Hong-Kong China in future tournaments. The ITA was set up last month, in the men’s lightweight single 04.61 seconds, the Indian pair gold medal at the Asiad. got a bronze medal in the wom- their fi rst-two matches. Rustem Nazarov tested posi- in the wake of the Russian state- sculls fi nal. were at the third place in the fi - Later in the day, the men’s en’s 10m Air Pistol event. SV Sunil (7th minute), Dilpreet tive for the banned substance sanctioned doping scandal that The 25-year-old, who had nals. team made it a double delight for Heena scored 219.2 in the fi - Singh (12th), Rupinder Pal Singh furosemide, a masking agent, in emerged from the 2014 Sochi also clinched a bronze at the The Japanese pair comprising Iran with 26-16 win over South nal. Qian Wang of China won (17th, 38th), Mandeep Singh a pre-tournament urine test last Winter Games. It is intended to 2014 Asiad, clocked a time of 7 Masayuki Miyaura and Masahiro Korea in the fi nal. gold with a Games record score (32th, 57th), Akashdeep Singh week, the OCA said. back-stop federations and na- minutes and 18.76 seconds to Takeda secured gold, while By- Iran thus scripted history in of 240.3, while South Korea’s (46th) and Vivek Sagar Prasad Nazarov “has been disquali- tional anti-doping labs, which fi nish the competition at the umhoon Kim and Minhyuk Lee the annals of the sport as this Kim Minjung took the silver (47th) scored in India’s win. fi ed from the 18th Jakarta-Pale- have proven vulnerable to ma- mbang Asian Games 2018... and nipulation. his results during the competi- Its director-general told AFP tion held on the 19th August an- last week it would regain the Pakistan win men’s kabaddi bronze Indonesia nulled”, said a statement. “trust” of athletes and fans who The athlete, 24, had competed lost faith in the fairness of sport. take fi rst-ever in the men’s 57kg freestyle event But other major international and was defeated in his fi rst match. sports federation, including rowing gold His compatriot Shyhazberdi football, athletics and cycling, Ovelekov won bronze in the have not yet signed on. Host nation Indonesia took men’s Greco-Roman 87kg cat- Six athletes tested positive at its first-ever Asian Games egory on Wednesday. the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. rowing gold yesterday to On Monday, the OCA’s presi- the delight of cheering dent said that sports with the ‘SPORTING AUTHORITY OF home fans watching the last highest number of doping cases THE FATHERLAND’ rowing race of the tourna- in recent Games could face pun- Other athletes from Turkmeni- ment. ishment, including expulsion. stan, a Central Asian country, Victory in the lightweight “We would like to see which have failed doping tests at major men’s eight was the sport in the past three Games sporting events in recent years. country’s ninth gold medal had the highest number (of dop- Weightlifter Umurbek Ba- in the regional Olympics, ing cases),” Sheikh Ahmad al- zarbayev failed a drugs test at a bringing it only two short Fahad al-Sabah told reporters in world championship event in the of its record set in 1962, the Asian Games host city Jakarta. United States in 2015, and track last time the nation hosted “When we know this sport, athlete Yelena Ryabova tested the event. we will put it under pressure. It positive at the 2013 world athlet- As they crossed the finish will not be one of our sports any- ics championships in Moscow. line, the team stood up in more, or it will have less medals.” Turkmenistan’s sports chiefs their boat, pumping their A count of re-analysed sam- have been under intense pres- fists in the air while over- ples from Beijing 2008 and Lon- sure to deliver success, following joyed supporters repeatedly don 2012, carried out last year by a public dressing down from the chanted “Indonesia!” the International Olympic Com- country’s President Gurbanguly Uzbekistan took the silver, mittee, found wrestling had the Berdymukhamedov after coming while Hong Kong’s bronze third-highest number of posi- home empty-handed from the was its second rowing tive cases, after weightlifting and Rio 2016 Olympics. medal of the day after athletics. Berdymukhamedov publicly bagging silver in the men’s Wrestling has been hit with rebuked sports committee chief lightweight single sculls. a spate of high-profi le doping Kaakbay Seiidov for failing to In the day’s other six rowing cases in recent years. “justify the trust of the nation”, races, China scooped up British freestyle wrestler Chinu threatening to sack him if he did three more golds, bring- Sandhu, who won bronze at the not “increase the sporting au- Pakistan men’s kabaddi team pose with their bronze medals during the podium ceremony in Jakarta yesterday. Pakistan and India ing the giant to an all-time Commonwealth Games in 2014, thority of the fatherland”. had to settle for bronze medals after losses to South Korea and Iran in their respective semi-final matches on Thursday. Iran won Asian Games gold medal was handed a four-year ban for a Oil-rich Turkmenistan, with a the gold after beating South Korea 26-16 in the final yesterday. (AFP) tally of 1,400. doping violation last year. population of fi ve mn, has never Uzbekistan’s triple Olympic won an Olympic medal. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, August 25, 2018 SPORT

RUGBY SPOTLIGHT Pumas scrumhalf Bertranou not resting Wounded Wallabies on his laurels

AFP cause that is never the case,” Buenos Aires Bertranou told reporters on the eve of Saturday’s test. “When you begin to believe ew Argentine you are the owner of some- back themselves to scrumhalf Gonzalo thing, that’s when you lose it. Bertranou knows he “I don’t know if there are can ill aff ord to rest other teams in the world with Non his laurels after dislodging so much competition for the one of the country’s most ex- scrumhalf position, with citing players from the Pumas such great players as Marta squad and bringing a 61-test (Landajo) and Cubo (Cubelli). streak to an end. “I’ve worked hard to get to upset All Blacks The choice of Bertranou to this moment. I trained hard, I face South Africa in Satur- doubled my eff orts. I eat bet- ‘We believe in our shape, we believe in what we can do... the mindset’s confident’ day’s Rugby Championship ter, I sleep better, I did what I clash in Mendoza, in tandem had to do,” added Bertranou. AFP with the selection of Tomas LITTLE HERMIT Auckland Cubelli on the bench, means Saturday’s game will be Martin Landajo will not be in- Bertranou’s second for Ar- volved for the fi rst time in fi ve gentina in front of his home he under fi re Wallabies years. crowd in Mendoza. He came presented a bullish face MICHAEL HOOPER Landajo, now 30, has been off the bench in the last few in Auckland yesterday ever-present for Argentina minutes to replace Landajo in on the eve of the second since August 2013, playing last year’s Rugby Champion- TTest despite the All Blacks be- either in the starting XV or ship defeat by Australia at the ing on the verge of claiming the coming off the bench, as he Estadio Malvinas Argentinas. Bledisloe Cup for a 16th consec- did last Saturday in Durban “It’s going to be really spe- utive year. where the Pumas were beaten cial. I’ve worked hard for this “Our backs are not against the 34-21 by the Springboks. moment but you’re never wall,” insisted captain Michael But new coach Mario calm when you play for the Hooper when questioned about Ledesma, who made Bertra- Pumas and less so when you New Zealand’s dominant 38- nou fi rst choice for the Jag- do it in your home province,” 13 win in the opening match in uares in Super Rugby this sea- he added. Sydney last week. son, is not one for sentiment The scrumhalf is the only “We believe in our shape, we and turned to the 25-year-old Mendoza player in the squad, believe in what we can do... the from Mendoza to run aff airs which has meant a lot of ex- mindset’s confi dent, the mind- from the base of the scrum, tra attention this week. But set understands what we need while dropping Landajo from Bertranou has sought to cut to do to be a contending team all the match-day squad for the himself off to concentrate on the time.” second game in this year’s Saturday’s game. The All Blacks’ win in Sydney southern hemisphere compe- Not even his father Miguel, put them one up in the best- tition. who won 15 caps as a loose of-three series. The fi rst two Cubelli last played for the forward for the Pumas, was matches form part of the Rugby Pumas almost a year ago. allowed to visit the team ho- Championship which also in- “All the training I’ve done tel. volves South Africa and Argen- has helped me to this position “My old man wanted to tina. They dominated the set but I’m well aware that I can- come to see me but I didn’t let pieces and outscored the Walla- not aff ord to relax or believe him. I have cut off everyone, bies six tries to one with a points that I’m the fi rst choice, be- I’m a little hermit.” explosion in the fi nal quarter. The Wallabies have not held the Bledisloe Cup since 2002 and it has been 32 years since they Teen spirit puts Hataoka in lead last beat the All Blacks in Auck- land but New Zealand coach Ste- ve Hansen played down sugges- tions that today’s outcome was a foregone conclusion. period of time. Australia could have scored It’s all black magic at Eden Park for Australia “So we’ve done a good amount four or fi ve tries but “just made of work on that this week. I’m wee mistakes” in Sydney, he It’s not just the All Blacks that Australia face today At Eden Park, the All Blacks are even more confi dent with where our line- said. As injuries and form forced but also the Eden Park curse which has denied dominant over the Wallabies with an 85.19 percent outs are at and the options we’ve both sides into changes for the visiting teams a taste of victory for 24 years. success rate, having won 23 of 27 Tests. got there.” return encounter, Hansen said The arena, a suburban Rugby venue since 1913, But the Wallabies are adamant their thoughts are All Blacks fl anker Sam Cane the Sydney win was not as one- has been the burial ground for many a team with totally on winning the Bledisloe Cup and the All sat out the fi nal training run and sided as it seemed and he expect- the All Blacks on a 41-match unbeaten streak since Blacks’ impressive record in Auckland has had no while the world champions ex- ed a desperate Wallabies to be a being beaten there by France in 1994. bearing on their preparation. pect him to take the fi eld at Eden tougher proposition a week later. Overall, they have only lost 10 of 84 Tests at the “No win this week, no Bledisloe Cup,” coach Park his absence highlighted a “We have to play better than field they call their “home ground”. Michael Cheika said. “Players and coaches, we’ve lack of test-level depth at the last week because we know they Australia, who haven’t won anywhere in New all thought about how we can get the best pos- position. Cane sat out the ses- will,” he said, adding that back- Zealand since a win in Dunedin in 2001, last tasted sible outcome this week, we’ve prepared that way sion yesterday after picking up Japanese teenager Nasa Hataoka produced a final-hole birdie ing up from one good perform- victory at Eden Park 32 years ago with a 22-9 and we’ll be ready when the whistle goes.” a knee injury the previous day to grab a share of the first round lead at the Canadian Wom- ance was “the hardest thing to result in 1986. The All Blacks also rate winning the Bledisloe as but captain Kieran Read told re- en’s Open on Thursday with a scintillating eight-under-par 64. do” in sport. They have lost 17 Tests to New Zealand in Auck- more important than maintaining their unbeaten porters the decision was purely The 19-year-old prodigy joined a three-way tie at the top of the The All Blacks focus leading land since then. Overall, the All Blacks and Wal- run at Eden Park, although they cannot do one a precaution. “It’s just precau- leaderboard at Wascana Country Club in Regina after carding up to the Test has been on ball labies have played 162 times, with New Zealand without the other. “This is Bledisloe 2 and is a tionary and he’s having a day off nine birdies and one bogey in a superb opening round. protection and controlling the winning 112 and drawing seven for a 69.14 percent chance for us to get both hands on the cup and we today,” Read said. “At the mo- Hataoka capped her strong start after nailing a birdie on her breakdown. win rate. In New Zealand, the win rate is up to love playing here,” captain Kieran Read said. ment he’s still good to go.” 18th hole to move alongside Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn and “They’ve obviously got some 78.05 percent, with the All Blacks coming out on “It’s our home in New Zealand and our home fans The injury, however, high- Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe at eight under. All three members great guys over the ball so mak- top in 64 of 82 Tests and drawing one. and we just enjoy it.” lighted a wider concern for Steve of the leading group equalled the course record at Wascana. ing sure we try and recycle as Hansen’s side, with Ardie Savea World number two Ariya, who bagged the second major many phases as we can” has been the only other specialist open- of her career with victory at the US Women’s Open in June, the central preparation, accord- die Barrett at fullback with Ben Michael Cheika has reacted with Israel Folau. Hooper said the side fl anker in the squad. drained nine birdies and only one bogey for her 64. Uribe, ing to captain Kieran Read. Smith moving to the right wing a front row shake up, bringing in Wallabies had done a lot of work Savea would likely start if ranked 173rd in the world, produced a flawless round with The All Blacks have made two and Waisake Naholo switching Brumbies props Allan Alaalatoa to improve their set piece. Cane is ruled out, with blindside eight birdies and 10 pars. Ariya made a dream start after tee- injury enforced changes with to the left. and Scott Sio. “It obviously wasn’t up to par fl anker Shannon Frizell expected ing off on the 10th, reeling off four consecutive birdies to drop Ngani Laumape at inside cen- Much of the fi nger-pointing In the backs, Jack Maddocks last week and it stifl ed our at- to move onto the bench but there to four under early on. She dropped a shot on her seventh tre for Ryan Crotty while Rieko in the Australian camp after last gets his fi rst Test start on the tack, put a lot of pressure on our is some doubt as to who would be hole of the day but then unleashed another birdie blitz on her Ioane’s unavailability has seen week’s loss has been levelled right wing while Dane Haylett- defence to be able to deal with called into the side if the fl anker inward nine, with five more birdies to finish on eight under. a reshuffl e to accommodate Jor- at the tight fi ve where coach Petty replaces injured fullback New Zealand which we did for a was out for any length of time.

GOLF Tiger makes mediocre return to FedEx Cup playoff s Reuters another round of par or better on Friday to fi rst three holes. Paramus, United States make the cut. “I just wasn’t quite hitting it “Good way to start, kind of lost it in the close. I just didn’t quite have the feel to hit middle of the round and then found some those really soft shots.” good stuff coming in,” said the 30-year- iger Woods made his FedExCup Koepka, who also won this year’s US old, who entered the playoff s ranked 86th. playoff s return on Thursday after a Open, was rewarded for his typically ag- The top 125 players in the FedExCup fi ve-year absence and shot a medi- gressive approach off the tee. Starting on standings were eligible for the fi rst of ocre level-par 71 in the fi rst round the back nine, the highlight of his round four playoff events that culminate with a ofT The Northern Trust to sit fi ve shots be- was an eagle at the par-fi ve 17th. 30-player fi eld for the Sept. 20-23 Tour hind the leaders in Paramus, New Jersey. “I like being able to hit driver on most Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson holes and if you put it in position you can Atlanta. carded 67s to lurk a shot off leaders Jamie have some wedges in here and take advan- Lovemark, Vaughn Taylor, Sean O’Hair and tage of your length,” he said. LEADING SCORES AFTER FIRST ROUND Kevin Tway on a day of fairly low scoring on “And I did that pretty well today. A few 66 - Kevin Tway, Jamie Lovemark, Vaughn the rain-soaked layout, where players were misses in the rough but these fairways Taylor, Sean O’Hair allowed preferred lies. aren’t exactly wide so I don’t expect to hit 67 - Hideki Matsuyama (JPN), Scott Piercy, Justin Thomas, who won last year’s $10 them all.” Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Andrew Putnam, million bonus as the FedExCup champion, At the 17th hole, Koepka picked up fi ve Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Paul carded a two-under 69. strokes on playing companion Johnson, Casey (ENG), Kevin Na, Alex Cejka (GER), Former world number one Woods, in his who ran up a triple bogey after a wild hook Danny Lee (NZL), Jhonattan Vegas (VEN), fi rst start since a runner-up fi nish behind off the tee. Rafa Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Beau Hossler. Koepka at the PGA Championship this “The triple was just so bad,” said John- 68 - Bryson DeChambeau, Ryan Palmer, month, mixed two birdies with two bogeys son. “I hit that 70 yards left of where I was Bronson Burgoon, Peter Uihlein, Phil Mick- at Ridgewood Country Club as he contin- looking. elson, Austin Cook, Trey Mullinax, Brian ued a trend of so-so starts. “I haven’t hit that shot in a long time, so Stuard, Sam Saunders. Woods, who has broken 70 in the open- it was kind of funny. Wasn’t funny when I SELECTED ing round only twice in 15 events in 2018, made a triple though.” 69 - Adam Scott (AUS), Ian Poulter (ENG), said less-than-ideal yardages were to Johnson fought back and almost had a Patrick Reed blame for his lack of precision with his ap- hole in one at the par-three sixth where his 70 - Jordan Spieth proach shots. ball lipped out of the hole. 71 - Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, Jason “I kept having the half-club,” said the Joint leader Lovemark could hardly have Day (AUS) Tiger Woods of the United States lines up a putt during the first round of The Northern Trust at the Ridgewood 14-times major champion, who might need wished for a better start with birdies at the 72 - Francesco Molinari (ITA) Championship Course in Ridgewood, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP) Gulf Times Saturday, August 25, 2018 5 SPORT

FOCUS Uncertainties surround Murray in Grand Slam return AFP He acknowledged that he won’t nati he posted three gritty victories in New York know how his body responds to best- the weather-disrupted Washington of-fi ve set matches until he’s called event. Moments after his 3 am fi nish upon to play them. won in a three-hour third-rounder ndy Murray admits his return “You don’t know until you actually there, Murray was collapsed in a chair, to the US Open brings mixed get out there and do it,” the 31-year- sobbing, a reaction he admitted took emotions as he wonders how old said. “That’s the thing. I played him by surprise. his surgically repaired hip some long matches in Washington. “I was physically tired. My body willA hold up to the rigours of his fi rst They were all over two-and-a-half was sore. I hadn’t been in that sort Grand Slam in over a year. hours, and a three-hour match. Three of match or position for a really long “It feels slightly diff erent, this one, of them in four days. The benefi t of the time. It was a combination of lots of because for the last 10 years or so I’ve Slams is having that day off to recover things. It’s strange that during the been coming and trying to prepare to in between, which will help me.” match, I wouldn’t have anticipated win the event, whereas I don’t feel like that that’s how I would have felt at the that’s realistic for me this year,” Mur- BODY FEELS BETTER end of it. But obviously was just really ray said as he met reporters on the new Murray also dodged a bullet in the emotional for lots and lots of diff erent Armstrong Stadium court yesterday. draw. Unseeded at a major for the fi rst reasons.” “It’s a slightly diff erent mental- time since Wimbledon in 2006, he The next day a weary Murray with- ity for me coming in than what I have could have faced a fi rst-round clash drew from the tournament. Although had the last 10, 11 years of my life. That with any of the top seeds but instead he didn’t make much headway with feels a bit odd.” will take on 445th-ranked Australian his match fi tness in Cincinnati Mur- Murray, who won the fi rst of his James Duckworth - who has endured a ray said his return to New York was three Grand Slam titles at Flushing litany of injuries himself. already yielding benefi ts. Meadows in 2012, arrives this year Murray, who pulled out of Wimble- “It’s been good,” he said of the ranked 378th in the world and still don on the eve of the Championships chance to practice with the game’s working his way back from hip surgery saying he wasn’t yet ready for best- best players. “My body feels better in January. of-fi ve set matches, has played hard- than it did a few weeks ago, so that’s In all he was off the court for 11 court tournaments in Washington and positive. Just being around these play- months. The 31-year-old hasn’t Cincinnati in preparation for the fi nal ers and practising with them more and played a Grand Slam since losing in the Grand Slam of the season. more on a more consistent basis is go- Andy Murray of Great Britain talks to the reporters ahead of the US Open in the new Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Wimbledon quarter-fi nals last year. Prior to a fi rst-round exit in Cincin- ing to help me improve.” Jean King National Tennis Centre in New York yesterday. (AFP)

TENNIS MOTORCYCLING Dovizioso sets pace at British MotoGP Federer, Djokovic The wind and cold morning AFP London temperatures (15°C) also didn’t bother teammate Rossi. The Ital- ian gradually upped his pace in ndrea Dovizioso set the FP1 and climbed up to the top-4 pace in free practice in the last 15 minutes of the ses- ahead of the British sion. As the competition heated MotoGP as the Ducati slightly in the fi nal stages, he put could meet in US riderA clocked the fastest overall in a soft tyre, just like his team- time at 2:01.385 yesterday. mate, and moved up from ninth Dovizioso, who won the title in the rankings to second place, at Silverstone last year, was fol- 0.189s behind Vinales. lowed in second place by Brit- Behind the front three was ain’s Cal Crutchlow, who on championship leader Marc Mar- Thursday extended his deal with quez (Honda) as the Spaniard LCR Honda until 2020. ended the opening day 0.144 Open quarters Crutchlow fi nished just from the top. Rounding out the 0.005sec off the Italian, while top fi ve was Austrian GP winner Nadal opens against compatriot Ferrer, Serena handed tough path to the final Maverick Vinales of Yamaha Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati), squeezing had a strong day as he got within into an automatic Q2 spot on his 0.061 of Dovizioso in third. fi nal lap, while Australia’s Jack Vinales was quick to get into Miller ended sixth fastest overall. the fl ow of things again in the af- Marquez will be chasing a third ternoon. He claimed the number win in his last fi ve events in Sun- one spot on his fi rst fl ying lap. day’s race following his victories He was pushed down to third, in the Netherlands and Germany. but kept dropping 2‘02s laps, showing his strong pace. LEADING PRACTICE TIMES He was on a late charge, eager 1. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) to regain the honour of fi nishing 2:01.385s, 2. Cal Crutchlow in fi rst place, but some chatter (GBR/LCR Honda) at 0.005sec, on the start-fi nish straight as he 3. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Mov- completed his penultimate lap istar Yamaha) at 0.061, 4. Marc prohibited him from fully ex- Marquez (ESP/Repsol Honda) ploiting the soft rear tyre. at 0.144, 5. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/ Nevertheless, he had still Ducati) at 0.397, 6. Jack Miller managed to set a new PB of the (AUS/Pramac Ducati at 0.434, day, a 2’01.446s, to take third 7. Johann Zarco (FRA/Monster place, just 0.061s from fi rst. Yamaha) at 0.577, 8. Valentino The threat of rain was in the Rossi (ITA/Movistar Yamaha) at air but it held off as the premier 0.767, 9. Andrea Iannone (ITA/ class got an important dry prac- Suzuki Ecstar) at 0.846, 10. Al- tice under their belts on a newly- varo Bautista (ESP/Angel Nieto) surfaced Silverstone track. at 1.063.

Schachmann sprints to victory to grab overall lead in Germany

Roger Federer (left) and Novak Djokovic after the Cincinnati Masters final in Mason, Ohio. Serena Williams could face sister Venus in third round.

AFP champion Rafael Nadal opens Lopez in the second round be- daughter Olympia last Septem- fi nish in Cincinnati last week New York his defence against a familiar fore a possible third-round ber 1. following a victory in Mon- foe in fellow Spaniard David clash with third-seed Juan Serena opens against Po- treal – where she beat defend- Home hope Maximilian Dumoulin and Schachmann Ferrer in a rematch of their 2013 Martin del Potro. land’s Magda Linette, but her ing US Open champion Sloane Schachmann won the second powered to the front when the ive-time champion French Open fi nal. Argentina’s del Potro, the seeding won’t protect her from Stephens in the fi nal. stage of the Tour of Germany pair broke away from the lead Roger Federer could It will be a 31st career meet- 2009 US Open winner, opens a possible third-round clash Stephens, the third seed, yesterday after beating Slov- group with six kilometres to go fi nd himself up against ing between the Davis Cup against a qualifi er. with her 16th-seeded sister. faces Russian Evgeniya Rodina enia’s Matej Mohoric in a photo and opened a ten-second lead Novak Djokovic in the teammates, with Nadal leading In the same quarter, eighth- It would be their earliest in the fi rst round, with the win- finish. Berlin-born Schachmann, just after the final climb in the quarter-fiF nals of the US Open, the series 24-6. seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bul- meeting in a Grand Slam since ner to face a qualifi er in the sec- who rides for Quick-Step, takes centre of Trier. where Serena and Venus Wil- “We have a great history to- garia received a nightmare draw: Venus beat Serena in the second ond round. Should Stephens get the overall leader’s red jersey “It was incredibly fast going liams could meet in a third- gether, we shared the Davis a fi rst-round meeting with 2016 round of the 1998 Australian through she could fi nd former from his Colombian teammate up the hill, then I followed my round blockbuster. Cup team a lot of times,” Nadal champion Stan Wawrinka, who Open. world number one Victoria Alvaro Jose Hodeg, who won instincts,” said Schachmann Federer, the second seed, said, adding that while his good received a wild card after miss- But Venus faces a poten- Azarenka waiting in the third the first stage on Thursday. told broadcaster WDR. opens against Japan’s Yoshihito friend has struggled this season ing last year through injury. tially diffi cult fi rst round match round. The 24-year-old Schachmann, “My team put me in the perfect Nishioka, anchoring a bottom “he’s still a player with a very Wawrinka, a three-time against 2004 champion Svetla- Wimbledon champion An- an ex-world junior time trial position and I am delighted to quarter of the men’s singles high level of tennis.” Grand Slam champion, oust- na Kuznetsova, who received a gelique Kerber, seeded fourth, silver medallist, timed his final have completed the job.” draw announced on Thursday Andy Murray, playing his fi rst ed Dimitrov in the fi rst round wild card into the main draw as faces Russian Margarita sprint perfectly to pip Mohoric Schachmann said the goal is that also features sixth-seeded Grand Slam since Wimbledon at Wimbledon in July. On the she continues her return from Gasparyan in the fi rst round, on the line after the 196km ride now to hold the jersey until the Djokovic, the reigning Wimble- of last year and still battling to women’s side, the Williams left wrist surgery. while in the same quarter Mar- from Bonn to Trier. final stage in Stuttgart on Sun- don champion who bested the regain full fi tness in the wake of sisters feature in a talent-laden ia Sharapova opens against This year’s Tour de France day with the Tour of Germany Swiss great in the fi nal at the January hip surgery, was handed top quarter headed by world HALEP SEEKS SECOND a qualifi er and sixth-seeded runner-up, Tom Dumoulin of the having returned this year after a Cincinnati Masters last week. a relatively gentle return to the number one Simona Halep. MAJOR Caroline Garcia of France faces Netherlands, finished third. 10-year hiatus. Fourth-seeded Alexander major stage, drawing Austral- Serena, seeking a record- Halep, gunning for a second Briton Johanna Konta. As he did on the opening day, German champion Pascal Zverev and seventh-seeded ian James Duckworth, ranked equalling 24th Grand Slam title, major of the year after her vic- Second-seeded Caroline Wales’ Geraint Thomas, this Ackermann, who narrowly lost Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open 445th in the world, in the open- is seeded 17th despite her world tory at Roland Garros, opens Wozniacki, who has battled year’s Tour de France winner, to Hodeg when the first leg fin- champion, are also in Federer’s ing round. number 26 ranking, US Open her campaign against Estonian injury since winning her fi rst again finished in the peloton. ished in Bonn on Thursday, fell half of the draw. So is mercu- If the Scot, who won his offi cials taking into account Kaia Kanepi, a quarter-fi nalist Grand Slam title at the Austral- The race burst into life with off the pace in the final push up rial Australian Nick Kyrgios, the fi rst Grand Slam title at Flush- her six titles at Flushing Mead- last year. ian Open, faces a tough fi rst- 50kms to go as Dumoulin and the last hill. “The last climb was 30th seed who could face Fed- ing Meadows in 2012, gets past ows in determining her seeding The Romanian has impressed round clash with former US Frenchman Romain Bardet put unfortunately too steep and too erer in the third round. Duckworth he would face either for the tournament she missed in the hardcourt build up to Open winner Samantha Stosur the lead group under pressure. long – too bad,” he said. Top-seed and defending Fernando Verdasco or Feliciano last year as she gave birth to her the US Open, her runner-up of Australia. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, August 25, 2018 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Red Bull deny Alonso was approached for 2019 seat

Reuters One’s commercial rights holders Liber- this weekend, a preview has shown Spa-Francorchamps ty Media about possible interest in the Alonso claiming he’s had six off ers from Fernando Alonso says he rejected six Spaniard. Horner suggested the Lib- the team “in 2007, in 2009, in 2011, ’13, diff erent approaches from Red Bull, erty approach was to be expected, with and two this year: one in Monaco, one including two this year prior to ed Bull have denied making an Alonso a major personality in the sport in August.” announcing his exit from F1. (Reuters) off er to McLaren’s Fernando whose absence would be felt. “From one of these top three teams Alonso as they sought a re- “There was just an enquiry as to I had an off er already a couple of times placement for Australian Dan- whether we would consider Fernando, this year,” he said. “It was not the time ielR Ricciardo. Double world champion which you can understand from a pro- for me to join that adventure. For me at Alonso, who has announced he is leav- moter’s point of view,” he said. “Fern- the moment Formula One is not giving ing Formula One at the end of the sea- ando Alonso is a great asset to Formula me the challenges I am looking for at son, told reporters on Thursday at the One. If he could be in a competitive the moment. Outside F1 I am discov- Belgian Grand Prix that he had turned car, I’m sure they would prefer him ering other series outside motorsport down a Red Bull approach for 2019. to be staying than pursuing his Triple which give you diff erent challenges and Ricciardo is joining Renault next Crown. I wouldn’t expect them to do makes you more complete driver. It’s year, with Frenchman Pierre Gasly an- anything diff erent,” he said. what I will try to fi nd in 2019.” nounced this week as his successor Horner said Red Bull’s position When asked if he was referring to Red graduating from Red Bull-owned Toro had always been that they invested in Bull and an off er to replace Ricciardo, Rosso. youth, and the drivers in the Red Bull he said: “Yes”. “Just to be totally clear, there was junior programme. “We were always Alonso is chasing the so-called ‘Tri- no off er to Fernando Alonso for next going to draw on the talent pool that we ple Crown of Motorsport’, having won year,” Red Bull team principal Christian have,” he said. the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race Horner said yesterday. “We have of- During the media day for the Belgian with Toyota this year. The 37-year-old, fered Fernando a contract in the past, Grand Prix Alonso said he had rejected a Monaco Grand Prix winner, is expect- but that was back in 2007.” approaches from Red Bull, despite cit- ed to switch his attentions to the Indi- Horner said Alonso’s manager Flavio ing his lack of a winning car as the anapolis 500 as the only missing com- Briatore, a former Renault team boss, reason for leaving. In a diff erent Sky ponent of a triple previously achieved had made an enquiry as had Formula Sports interview set to broadcast later only by the late Briton Graham Hill.

F1 FOCUS Bairstow may play Raikkonen keeps as specialist batsman in fourth Test

Reuters things might be convincing Jon- London ny of that. If that was the way we went, it would certainly be a deep Ferrari on top in conversation. Jonny’s a reason- ngland wicket-keeper able bloke... we know he wants to Jonny Bairstow could keep but there would be a lot of play as a specialist bats- explaining and chatting.” man in the fourth Test England were fortunate that againstE India if he is cleared to when Bairstow left the fi eld in- return from a broken fi nger, head jured at Trent Bridge they had a Belgian GP practice coach Trevor Bayliss said. ready-made replacement on call Bairstow fractured his left in Buttler, England’s wicket- middle fi nger after being struck keeper in limited-overs interna- by the ball while keeping on day tionals but chosen as a special- Hamilton comes 0.168 seconds off the pace, with teammate Bottas third fastest three of England’s third Test de- ist No, 7 batsman when recalled feat at Trent Bridge on Monday, to the Test side against Pakistan Reuters putting his participation in the earlier this season. Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium match in Southampton starting Buttler had been a keeper on Aug. 30 in doubt. early in his Test career and some “We have got to check with observers believe that one way pa veteran Kimi Raikkonen kept the medical guys in the next few to bolster England’s repeat- Ferrari on top of the Belgian Grand days. They’re suggesting he may edly fallible top order is to move Prix practice timesheets yester- not be able to keep but might Bairstow up a place to number day with Mercedes’ Formula One be able to bat. We’ll have to see four and have Buttler at seven. worldS championship leader Lewis Hamil- how it responds,” Bayliss said. Presently, England think it ton hot on his heels. Finnish driver Raik- England called up Hampshire is asking too much of Bairstow, konen, four times a winner at one of the batsman James Vince as cover who is proud of the work he has most exhilarating and daunting tracks on on Thursday and wicketkeep- done to improve his keeping, to the calendar and chasing the 100th po- er-batsman Jos Buttler could bat higher than fi ve and be be- dium fi nish of his career tomorrow, pro- once again take over behind the hind the stumps, especially if duced a time of one minute 43.355 sec- stumps if Bairstow cannot recov- England are in the fi eld for a long onds under leaden skies. er in time. Bayliss said Bairstow stretch at the start of a Test. “I enjoy driving on this track, it has a could also be asked to give up Equally, if Buttler — whose good fl ow and this generation of cars are keeping duties completely after 106 at Trent Bridge was his pretty nice to drive here,” said Raikkonen. his injury has fully healed, to help maiden Test century — performs “We always say that Friday is Friday and him focus on his batting higher well with the gloves, it may be times don’t really matter today. It was up the order. “That’ll be the hard he remains as England’s red-ball OK, but for sure we still have some work thing, trying to convince Jonny,” keeper. “Jos will have to do some ahead of us.” Hamilton was 0.168 sec- Bayliss added. hard work as well. He’s been onds off the pace, with Finnish teammate “That will be a decision that keeping a lot in one-day cricket Valtteri Bottas — who will start the race is taken from the team point of — but keeping 100 overs-a-day from the back of the grid because of en- view. He is a world-class batter, can be diffi cult, day after day, gine penalties — third fastest. “It’s really we know that, one of the diffi cult Test after Test.” close between us and Ferrari; it seems like we’ve both been bringing new updates at Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen drives during the Belgian GP practice session at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Spa yesterday. (Reuters) a similar rate,” Hamilton said. Raikkonen’s teammate Sebastian Vet- to make the short trip across the border, Briton had a new turbocharger, engine Britain’s Lando Norris made his Grand tel had been top in the morning session was second and fourth respectively in the and MGU-H and MGU-K motor gen- Prix weekend debut in the morning, tak- — the fi rst since the three-week August two sessions. Hamilton, last year’s win- erator units in his car. Those parts were ing Fernando Alonso’s McLaren for the break — in 1:44.358. The German, 24 ner in the Ardennes forests from pole po- within his allocation for the season but session, with the 18-year-old team re- points behind fellow four times cham- sition, had been third in the morning. teammate Bottas incurred penalties after serve lapping faster than under-pressure pion Hamilton with nine of 21 races re- Vettel had earlier expressed optimism being given a completely new power unit Belgian race regular Stoff el Vandoorne. maining, was fi fth in the afternoon. that Hamilton could be reeled in over the that exceeded his allowance. Norris, who is also chasing the Formula “Today it was a bit diffi cult to fi gure out remaining races, some of which should Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg will also Two title, lapped in 1:47.364, against where we are and I think we’ll have to wait favour Ferrari more than Mercedes. start from the back of the grid for the Vandoorne’s 1:47.452. for tomorrow to have a better idea,” said “Points-wise we know that we are a lit- same reason. “The focus for me will ob- Vandoorne drove only 13 laps compared Vettel. “The new engine has done what tle bit behind but I don’t think it’s any- viously be the race (rather than qualify- with Norris’s 26, however, kept in the ga- it was supposed to do. Today everything thing that we can’t do,” the German told ing),” said Bottas. rage as the team investigated a possible was working well.” reporters. “Fortunately, the long-run pace felt leak on the car. The Belgian was slowest Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, with tens Both Vettel and Hamilton will have up- good and I am confi dent that it is possible in the afternoon, with Alonso returning England’s Jonny Bairstow (right) fractured his left middle finger while of thousands of his Dutch fans expected graded engines, with Mercedes saying the to come up through the fi eld here.” to post the 16th best time. keeping during the third Test against India. (AFP)

CRICKET ROUND-UP Rajput welcomes return of players ahead of S. Africa, Bangladesh challenge

Reuters likes of Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams and to perform better in tough conditions. We demand players in the world in the short Harare Craig Ervine — their coming back means a have a two-month camp and one month is form of the game and is fresh from hitting great deal,” Rajput said in a media release already gone, and we have really worked his fi rst Test century in England’s third from Zimbabwe cricket. The players had hard on our fi tness. We have also worked test defeat to India. Buttler starred for the imbabwe coach Lalchand Rajput made themselves unavailable for selection hard on our skills — batting, bowling and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL this year and has welcomed the return of senior in a protest over unpaid salaries, but the fi elding skills. That is the biggest chal- returns to Sydney Thunder after scoring players to the national team as he International Cricket Council has since lenge and I think we can make a diff erence 202 runs in six innings during last year’s prepares to take the side on away stepped in to help the stricken union meet in that. I am very excited to get on the road Big Bash. Ztours to South Africa and Bangladesh in its outstanding debts. “My aim is to build a with this team.” the coming months. Former India interna- stronger team and take Zimbabwe cricket FINAL IRELAND-AFGHANISTAN tional Rajput was announced as the per- to the next level and that is my biggest ROOT, BUTTLER SIGN UP TO BIG T20 ABANDONED manent head coach of the side yesterday challenge,” Rajput added. BASH WITH SYDNEY THUNDER The fi nal Twenty20 international between having previously held the role in a care- “I would like the team to play positive England’s Test captain Joe Root and vice- Ireland and Afghanistan yesterday was taker capacity. cricket, play hard and play to win. Hard captain Jos Buttler have agreed a deal to abandoned without a ball being bowled During that period, he had to make do work, team work, consistency, discipline play for Sydney Thunder in the fi rst half of due to a wet outfi eld. Heavy overnight rain with a depleted squad in a 5-0 home one and maintaining fi tness levels would be the 2018-19 Big Bash League. Both play- saturated the ground at Bready Cricket day international series whitewash by Pa- my main focus areas.” ers will be available for seven games that Club, near Belfast, and that led the um- kistan last month. Zimbabwe were bowled Zimbabwe will play three ODIs and fall between England’s winter tours to Sri pires to call off the match before the toss out for just 67 in the third ODI and aver- three Twenty20 matches in South Africa Lanka and the West Indies. was due to take place. aged only 151 runs with the bat in fi ve com- starting on Sept. 30, before a further three Root went unsold in the lucrative Indian Afghanistan had already taken an un- pleted innings in the series, having also ODIs in Bangladesh in October. “South Premier League auction in January and has assailable 2-0 lead in the three-match been well beaten in a triangular involving Africa and Bangladesh are among the played just 12 T20 matches since England’s series after wins by 16 runs and 81 runs Australia before that. toughest tours,” Rajput added. defeat by West Indies in the World T20 fi - on Monday and Wednesday respectively. “To have a full squad will be excellent. “But I think tough tours make you and nal in April 2016 due to a combination of The teams, now both full Test nations, will They (senior players) will bring additional the players even tougher. So with my ex- his Test commitments and poor form. meet again in a three-match one-day in- strength and confi dence to the team. The perience I will make the players tough and By contrast, Buttler is one of most in ternational series in Belfast next week. Gulf Times Saturday, August 25, 2018 7 FOOTBALL

LIGUE 1 PSG to rest Buff on for upcoming games as Areola returns Henry fever grips France Paris: Gianluigi Buff on will sit out Paris Saint-Germain’s next two games with Alphonse Areola returning in goal for the French champions, coach Thomas Tuchel confirmed yesterday. Italian great Buff on, amid Bordeaux links 40, has played in PSG’s three competitive outings so far this season since his arrival on a Mbappe set to start alongside Neymar when defending champions PSG host Angers today free transfer from Juventus, and has conceded only one AFP football that if they come here.” goal in that time. Paris Bordeaux have had a terrible start to Areola, meanwhile, the campaign, losing their opening two returned late having been games, including a 2-1 defeat at Tou- part of France’s squad during hierry Henry is the name on louse last weekend under interim coach their triumphant campaign in everybody’s lips in France just Eric Bedouet. They took on Gent in Bel- Russia. The 25-year-old was now, with the Arsenal legend gium in the Europa League on Thursday PSG’s first-choice goalkeeper tipped to return to his home and tomorrow will face Monaco, Hen- last season, and will now Tcountry as the next coach of Bordeaux. ry’s fi rst club. start against Angers in Ligue The south-western club’s start to the There is already a familiar name at 1 today and next weekend at season has been marred by a public the top of Ligue 1, with champions Paris Nimes. “Afterwards we will row between Uruguayan coach Gustavo Saint-Germain having maximum points see. I do not like making long- Poyet and the board over transfers. after Kylian Mbappe came off the bench term decisions,” Tuchel said. Poyet, who took over in January and to score twice in a 3-1 win at Guingamp “It is important that Alphonse led Bordeaux to European qualifi cation, last weekend. That was Mbappe’s fi rst plays. He played in May, and was suspended for a week and now looks appearance since starring in France’s now he needs to play to adapt set to be shown the door. He was seen World Cup triumph, and the 19-year- to the team.” arriving just yesterday morning, before old will hope to start alongside Neymar Areola did not play at the leaving after a brief 10-minute encoun- when PSG host Angers. World Cup, sitting behind ter. Poyet said “some formalities” were Newly-promoted outfi ts Reims and skipper Hugo Lloris and all that had been discussed. Nimes have also won both games so far, Steve Mandanda in the French However, he is not expected to return as have Dijon, who go to Vieira’s Nice. pecking order. “Gigi has been to a club where he was only appointed in Nice are still without the suspended exceptional, magnificent in January, leading Bordeaux to European Mario Balotelli, but at least the Italian the last three matches. I don’t qualifi cation after a superb end to last striker is staying with the club after the like taking him out of the season. Nevertheless, for legal reasons, collapse of a move to Marseille. team, but on the other hand, it an offi cial announcement by Bordeaux Balotelli had been keen to leave, but is very important at this stage of Poyet’s dismissal would not be made Nice claimed Marseille refused to meet to give Alphonse the chance until early next week. their asking price of fi ve million euros to play,” added Tuchel. In the meantime, media reports in ($5.8mn). Nice president Jean-Pierre Central to Tuchel’s thinking France say Henry, 41, is keen on the idea Rivere then revealed that the former is that Buff on will not be able of succeeding Poyet at a club who are set Manchester City and Liverpool player to play in PSG’s first three to be taken over by American investors. informed the club of a change of heart Champions League group- Henry, France’s all-time record goal- this week. “Mario told us he wanted to stage matches as he serves a scorer, retired as a player in 2014 and stay for another season. three-game ban carried over has worked as an assistant coach for We never forced Mario to stay. In his from last season, when he was the last two years with Belgium. Lyon mind he is 100% with us,” Rivere said. still at Juve. With the German coach Bruno Genesio this week likened For Marseille, losing out on Balo- Kevin Trapp seemingly not Henry’s coaching trajectory to that of telli followed a chastening 3-1 defeat at in contention, Areola needs his former France teammate Zinedine Nimes. The news that Serbian winger to build up match fitness, es- Zidane, an ex-Bordeaux player. Nemanja Radonjic is set to join from Red pecially with an international “Henry’s path is similar. He has done Star Belgrade is a boost ahead of their break following the trip to his training, taken diff erent jobs where game against Rennes, however. Nimes on September 1. Marco he has had experience of working with a Verratti and Layvin Kurzawa group of players,” said Genesio. If Henry FIXTURES (GMT) are still missing for PSG as does arrive, he would follow in the foot- Today: Paris Saint-Germain v Angers they face Angers at the Parc steps of another 1998 World Cup winner (1500), Amiens v Reims, Montpellier des Princes. However, Edin- — Patrick Vieira took over at Nice in the son Cavani has been hoping v Saint-Etienne, Nantes v Caen, Nice v close season. to make his first appearance Dijon, Toulouse v Nimes (all 1800) Genesio added: “They are former since suff ering a calf injury at players who have had a big impact on the Tomorrow: Lille v Guingamp (1300), World Cup, while Thilo Kehrer Former Arsenal and French star Thierry Henry is keen on the idea of succeeding Gustavo Poyet at Bordeaux, who are set French game. They bring a lot of media Bordeaux v Monaco (1500), could feature for the first time. to be taken over by American investors. (Reuters) interest and I think it’s good for French Marseille v Rennes (1900)

SPOTLIGHT EUROPA LEAGUE Liberian President Weah honours Sevilla, Celtic and Rangers former coaches Wenger and LeRoy win, Burnley beaten AFP and called Arsene,” Le Roy, who AFP Paynesville, Liberia is currently coaching Togo’s na- London tional team, said. Over the past week, debate in iberian President George Liberian newspapers and radio ive-time Europa League winners Sevilla Weah gave his coun- shows has mounted over whether look set for another assault on the com- try’s top honour to Ar- the award — usually reserved for petition after Pablo Sarabia’s solitary goal sene Wenger and Claude individuals who have made an ex- earned a 1-0 away win to Sigma Olomouc LLeRoy, the two French coaches ceptional contribution to Liberia inF the fi rst leg of their playoff on Thursday night. who gave his football career an — is right. In the streets of Mon- Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers are also well- early boost, yesterday. rovia, some Liberians questioned placed to make the group stages, but Burnley’s At a red-carpet ceremony in the timing of such a ceremony, fi rst European adventure for 51 years looks likely the suburbs of the capital Mon- as the poor West African nation to come to an end next week as they lost 3-1 away rovia, Wenger, who signed Weah grapples with runaway infl ation to Greek giants Olympiakos. New Sevilla boss Pa- when the now-president was 22, and a host of other economic blo Machin left hat-trick hero Andre Silva on the was praised for the “development woes. “This honouring should bench from Sunday’s 4-1 win at Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla’s Pablo Sarabia (left) celebrates with of the youth in Africa” through- not have been prioritised now,” but Silva came on to make a vital contribution Andre Silva after scoring against Sigma Olomouc out his coaching career. said George Sackie, a 35-year-old with a defence splitting pass that Sarabia prodded in the Europa League playoff match. (Reuters) “Your positive role has not only teacher. The government main- into the top corner six minutes from time. aff ected the professional success tains, though, that both men Burnley’s faltering start to the season both do- worries as his Rangers side registered a sixth and personal life journey of many helped Liberia through helping mestically and in Europe continued as they paid clean sheet in 10 games under the former Liver- African footballers, but also the Weah. “If Arsene Wenger and a heavy price for the sending-off of Ben Gibson pool captain in a 1-0 win over Russia’s Ufa. One of entire generation of young Libe- Le Roy had not exposed George on just his second appearance for the club. The Gerrard’s centre-backs even got the solitary goal rians who follow President Weah Weah he would not have been the former Middlesbrough defender was shown a sec- at Ibrox as Connor Goldson smashed home from as a mentor,” the ceremony’s pride of an entire nation today,” ond yellow card for a handball which resulted in close range. Zenit St Petersburg took a command- speaker told Wenger as he re- said Andy Quamie, deputy min- Kostas Fortounis scoring Olympiakos’ third from ing 3-1 lead into their second leg against Norwe- ceived the distinction of Knight ister of youth and sports. the penalty spot on the hour mark. Chris Wood gian side Molde with one of Russia’s World Cup Grand Commander of the Hu- Among other Liberians — in- had cancelled out Fortounis’s opener before An- heroes Artem Dzyuba inspiring a late comeback mane Order of African Redemp- Arsene Wenger receives Liberia’s highest honour from President cluding many young people who dreas Bouchalakis restored Olympiakos’ lead. from 1-0 down in the fi nal 20 minutes. Basel edged tion, the highest in the country. George Weah during a ceremony in Monrovia, Liberia. (Reuters) helped propel the football great Celtic’s quest to put their Champions League a fi ve-goal thriller over Apollon Limassol to take a Wenger signed Weah when he to the presidency in January’s elimination at the hands of AEK Athens behind 3-2 lead to Cyprus next week thanks to a double was in charge of Monaco in 1988. European club football. tend. Le Roy met the young Weah elections — the event is a source them got off to the perfect start against Suduva in from Ricky van Wolfswinkel. RB Leipzig still have After four seasons with Monaco, After Weah was elected presi- while managing Cameroon’s of pride and excitement, placing Lithuania when Olivier Ntcham headed home on work to do in Germany in the second leg after a Weah moved to Paris Saint-Ger- dent in January, he invited national side. “He had signed to the impoverished country on the three minutes. But manager Brendan Rodgers be- 0-0 draw in Ukraine against Zorya. And Cham- main and then to AC Milan in Wenger to his inauguration, but Tonnerre Yaounde and came to world map. Hundreds gathered in moaned more woeful defending to allow Ovidijus pions League regulars in recent years APOEL Ni- 1995 — the year he became the the Frenchman, in what turned Cameroon national squad train- the capital Monrovia on Wednes- Verbickas to head home an equaliser 10 minutes cosia and Ludogorets Razgrad secured narrow 1-0 only African to win the coveted out to be his last season as Arse- ing even though he was a Libe- day, hours before the expected later in a 1-1 draw. fi rst leg leads over Kazak champions Astana and Ballon d’Or for the best player in nal manager, was unable to at- rian. I was dazzled by his talent arrival of the Frenchmen. Across Glasgow, Steven Gerrard has no such Torpedo Kutaisi of Georgia respectively.

Allegri will not shy away Roma fan jailed for Spurs’ Lloris sorry aft er Nigeria’s Mikel to miss Pekerman to miss Liverpool ‘not for sale’ from rotating Ronaldo Liverpool violence drink-driving charge Cup of Nations qualifi er Colombia’s friendlies aft er £2 billion bid

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri A Roma fan was jailed for two-and-a- France’s World Cup-winning captain Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel will miss Colombia have asked Under-20 coach Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group said yesterday he would not hesitate to half-years yesterday for his part in the Hugo Lloris has apologised for his his side’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier Arturo Reyes to lead the team in Sep- insisted the Premier League club is not leave Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench if violence ahead of a Champions League “unacceptable” behaviour after the against the Seychelles next month, but tember friendlies against Venezuela for sale after details emerged of a failed he felt the Portugal forward needed to semi-final which left a Liverpool sup- Tottenham keeper was charged with coach Gernot Rohr still named 16 World and Argentina after talks aimed at ex- £2bn takeover bid from a cousin of save energy. porter in a coma. Daniele Sciusco, 29, drink-driving yesterday. Just weeks af- Cup players in his squad yesterday. tending current coach Jose Pekerman’s Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour. Allegri confirmed that Ronaldo, signed from Rome, admitted violent disorder ter playing a key role in France’s World Chelsea star Victor Moses retired from current contact stalled. A report said that Abu Dhabi-based from Real Madrid for 105mn euros in ahead of the Anfield match on April 24. Cup glory, Lloris’s reputation has been international football after the Super Ea- Colombian Football Federation said yes- Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed al-Nehayan ap- the close season, would start in today’s A judge at Preston Crown Court, near tarnished by his late-night antics. gles’ group-stage elimination from the terday. Reyes will coach the side against proached the club in late 2017 and into game against Lazio, where he will make Liverpool in northwest England, was Lloris was pulled over in a routine stop World Cup in Russia, although Arsenal Venezuela in Miami on Sept early 2018. He then made the £2bn off er his home debut, but that things would told that Liverpool supporter Sean Cox, at 2:20am in Gloucester Place, central winger Alex Iwobi and Leicester pair 7 and Argentina in New Jersey four days that would have been the most expen- change as the season draws on. 53, remained in a serious condition as London. The 31-year-old was reported to Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho are later, the federation said. Argentine- sive takeover in the history of the game. “He has to understand that there will a result of a head injury sustained in have failed a roadside breathalyser test available. born Pekerman has been in charge of Liverpool — 18-times English champions be times when he starts on the bench the violence, although Sciusco was not and has been released on bail to appear Nigeria will visit the Seychelles on Sep- the South American side since January — said the club was still open to new and then just plays half an hour,” Allegri directly involved in his injuries. The at Westminster magistrates’ court next tember 7, looking to bounce back from 2012 but his future has been uncertain outside investment but is not for sale. said. “Even he will need a break at some court heard Sciusco was close by when month. After spending seven hours in their opening Group E defeat by South since Colombia bowed out of the World Malcolm Glazer’s £790mn purchase of point. At Real Madrid, he was excellently Cox was injured, but was not directly a cell, Lloris, a married father of two, Africa. Seychelles were thrashed 5-1 by Cup in Russia at the last 16 stage in a Manchester United in 2005 remains the managed.” responsible for the assault. returned home on foot. Libya in their first game. penalty shootout defeat by England. most expensive football takeover deal.

Saturday, August 25, 2018 GULF TIMES FOOTBALL

PREMIER LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT Mourinho denies Spurs threaten to rift with Woodward AFP on Sunday after a defeat at Manchester Brighton, that his attitude was not “right” in the game. “Paul said it, so he has to answer for ose Mourinho yesterday his words,” said Mourinho. “If denied a rift with execu- you want any explanation about pile more misery on tive vice-chairman Ed Paul’s words you must get him Woodward despite growing and ask him.” speculationJ over the power struc- The mood around Mourinho ture at Manchester United. The certainly summed up a diffi cult manager turned up for his weekly week for the club, which started pre-match press conference 30 with a poor performance in a 3-2 minutes early, ensuring most re- defeat at Brighton, a result that Mourinho’s Man Utd porters were not even in attend- followed an unconvincing 2-1 ance, and was clearly in no mood home win against Leicester on to answer questions about Unit- the opening weekend. United already trail title favourites City, Liverpool and Chelsea by three points ed’s diffi cult start to the season. But Mourinho bristled — not A testing summer, in which for the fi rst time — at sugges- AFP Woodward failed to deliver tions it had been a bad week for London Mourinho’s transfer targets, has his club. “No,” he said. “I think been followed by apparent diffi - ‘diffi cult’. Diffi cult is after the culties between the United man- match you lose, it is always dif- diffi cult start to the season for ager and French World Cup win- fi cult, especially for people that Manchester United promises ner Paul Pogba. Pogba has made really care about the job, about to get even worse unless Jose enigmatic comments, suggesting being a football professional. Mourinho can turn a tide of he is not happy at Old Traff ord, “But after that, you think negativeA publicity and inspire a reaction while his controversial agent about the next match. You do the from his side against Tottenham Hotspur Mino Raiola seemed to worsen same when you win, you have on Monday. United already trail title fa- the situation with a social me- to move on and focus on what is vourites Manchester City, Liverpool and dia outburst against United great next and when you lose you have Chelsea by three points after a dread- Paul Scholes. to do even more.” ful display in losing 3-2 to Brighton last Mourinho was tense and terse Experienced Mourinho- weekend and that gap could have dou- in his replies to questions on watchers will draw compari- bled by kick-off at Old Traff ord with all those topics in a press conference sons with his behaviour towards three expected to win again this weekend. that lasted just eight minutes the end of his second reign at City travel to Wolves and Liverpool host and was supposed to preview Chelsea, when his press confer- Brighton today, while Chelsea travel to United’s next Premier League ences became similarly mono- Newcastle tomorrow. game, at home to Tottenham on syllabic aff airs, although the Spurs are also yet to drop points af- Monday. But Mourinho, at least, United manager claimed he does ter defying off the fi eld distractions to claimed that his relationship not read or listen to the football see off Newcastle and Fulham. Mauricio with Woodward remained in- media. “Don’t ask me because I Pochettino’s response to not signing a tact. When asked if his relation- don’t read, I don’t know 10% of single player in the transfer window and ship with Woodward was “fi ne” what is written, of what is com- delays over the club’s move to a new sta- Mourinho would only answer: ing on TV screens, so I’m not the dium have been a lesson in diplomacy for “Of course”. And when quizzed right guy to answer it,” he said. At Mourinho. further on whether there was a least Mourinho had better news Rather than voice his frustration, Po- problem with the United execu- on the injury front with Antonio chettino has consistently called for unity tive, Mourinho responded: “No”. Valencia and Nemanja Matic, between the board, squad and fans and The veteran manager was both of whom missed the open- has been rewarded in the early weeks of equally unforthcoming when ing two games, back in full train- the campaign. United, by contrast, look asked about Pogba who claimed, ing yesterday. anything but living up to their name with divisions emerging between executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, key play- Tottenham Hotspur are yet to drop points, having beaten Newcastle and Fulham in their first two matches. (AFP) ers like Paul Pogba and Mourinho. Woodward’s failure to answer Mourin- not United will rival City, Liverpool and It may still be August, but Cardiff ’s ian national team,” he said. Wilson has ho’s pleas for a new central defender was Chelsea for the title. visit to Huddersfi eld already looks crucial scored in each of Bournemouth’s wins punished as Eric Bailly and Victor Lin- A summer of change at Arsenal and for both side’s chances of staying up. Un- over Cardiff and West Ham and could be delof were exposed in defeat at Brighton. West Ham has so far yielded no points for like free-spending Fulham and Wolves, rewarded with a call-up to the England But both players were brought in at a either, making today’s London derby vital Cardiff didn’t splash much of their new squad next week. combined cost of £60mn ($76mn) since for Unai Emery and Manuel Pellegrini to found TV riches in the transfer market Mourinho was appointed and the Portu- kickstart their new regimes. One of West and are heavy favourites to go straight guese coach has equally failed to harness Ham’s nine new recruits at a cost of nearly back down. Huddersfi eld are rock bottom FIXTURES their potential or get the best out of an £100mn will be in familiar surroundings having shipped nine goals in two games to (1400GMT unless stated) expensively assembled squad. as Jack Wilshere returns to the Emirates City and Chelsea. Today: Wolves v Manchester City (1130), Woodward may now be regretting hir- after a 17-year spell with Arsenal ended Everton’s trip to Bournemouth pits two Southampton v Leicester, Arsenal v ing Mourinho rather than going after Po- in July. Emery was handed an unforgiving of the in-form strikers of the season’s West Ham, Bournemouth v Everton, chettino, who has led Spurs into the top start with the visit of Manchester City opening fortnight against one another in Huddersfield v Cardiff , Liverpool v four for each of the past three seasons on and a trip to Chelsea to begin his reign as Richarlison and Callum Wilson. Richarli- Brighton (1630) a fraction of the resources. Arsene Wenger’s successor. son leads the early Golden Boot race along The Londoners have lost 1-0 on each of But the Spaniard is fully aware of the with Sadio Mane and Sergio Aguero after Tomorrow: Watford v Crystal Palace their last three league visits to Old Traf- importance of getting a win to keep the scoring three goals in his fi rst two Ever- (1230), Newcastle v Chelsea, Fulham v ford, though, and are also seeking re- fans onside. “We need to win this match,” ton games, and his lofty ambitions for the Burnley (1500) venge for defeat in last season’s FA Cup said Emery. “I think it’s very important to season ahead. “I want to be the top scorer On Monday: Manchester United v semi-fi nals. Reversing that run would be show them (the fans) a better perform- of the league, take Everton back to the Tottenham (1900) Manchester United’s manager Jose Mourinho (left) and the club’s a strong statement of intent that they and ance than in the two fi rst matches.” Champions League and reach the Brazil- executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward. (AFP)

HAZARD IS HERE TO STAY, SAYS SARRI FOCUS AS CHELSEA STAR EYES FIRST START Players strike threat leaves cloud over London: Eden Hazard is set or 60 minutes, I don’t know for this week, after I spoke to the to make his first Chelsea start 90 minutes, but he can start,” club, so I think that Loftus- this season against Newcastle Sarri told reporters yesterday. Cheek will remain with us. We La Liga with season up and running tomorrow after Blues manager “I am the coach of a very good can speak again about his situa- Maurizio Sarri insisted there is team, a very great club, and so tion, but only in December.” AFP no chance of the Belgian star I think with such an important England defender Cahill has Madrid being sold. Hazard has been the player I cannot sell without yet to figure in the Chelsea subject of interest from Real the possibility to buy another squad this season. There are Madrid amid talk of a possible player at the same level. So I reports from Turkey that the he prospect of a player strike hangs £200mn ($257mn) bid before think Eden will stay with us for 32-year-old is a target for over Spanish football heading into the Spanish transfer window the whole season.” Galatasaray and Sarri admitted the second week of the season, as closes next week. The long-term futures of he can’t find a place for him in Barcelona and Real Madrid look to Tbuild on winning starts to the campaign. La But Sarri is adamant the Chel- Chelsea duo Ruben Loftus- the team ahead of David Luiz sea playmaker won’t follow in Cheek and Gary Cahill remain and Antonio Rudiger at present. Liga bosses dropped a bombshell on the eve the footsteps of his compatriot unclear however, with Sarri “With Cahill I think at this of the campaign when they announced their Thibaut Courtois’s move from revealing he has held talks with moment for a defender it’s more intention to stage top-fl ight matches in the Stamford Bridge to Real earlier both. England midfielder Loftus- diff icult to play in my team after United States, starting from this season. this month. After using Hazard Cheek was left out of the squad only 20 days of training,” Sarri However, a move announced as part of at- as a substitute for Chelsea’s against Arsenal last weekend, said. tempts to improve the Spanish league’s glo- Premier League wins over Hud- but Sarri will keep him at Stam- “It’s easier for an off ensive bal popularity has this week been attacked dersfield and Arsenal while he ford Bridge at least until the player, but for a defender it’s by the country’s players union, AFE. “Foot- recovered from his World Cup next transfer window opens. more diff icult so at this moment ballers are not for sale. We don’t only think exertions, Sarri is set to start the “It was only a decision about he needs to have much more about money,” said AFE president David midfielder at St James’ Park this the positions I chose to put on training with us. I told him that Aganzo, once a striker on Madrid’s books. weekend. the bench to win,” Sarri added. he needs to be patient now but The union say they hope to persuade league “I think Eden is ready for 50 “I have spoken with him twice that he is very important for us.” chiefs to change their minds at a meeting next month, with strike action promised if they do Barcelona’s coach Ernesto Valverde at press conference yesterday. (AFP) not get the outcome they are hoping for. “We are worried for supporters. We see football in als of the last decade continue to be com- Angel Correa giving them the lead. Diego a diff erent way. Going to the United States is pared with one another, even with Ronaldo Simeone’s side have a derby at home to new- madness,” Aganzo added. having left for Juventus. ly-promoted Rayo Vallecano today evening The AFE have also said that match sched- “People rarely mention one without men- and come into the game with winger Vitolo uling is a concern, with Valencia’s opening tioning the other,” Valverde said in an inter- having been ruled out for several weeks with weekend draw with Atletico Madrid one of view with Barcelona club media. “A lot of a knee injury. Rayo look set to welcome back two games played on Monday night. Match- people are interested, me too, to see how it striker Raul de Tomas on loan from Real es that do not fi nish until after midnight are will aff ect Real Madrid’s football and what Madrid, with media reports saying he has Chelsea’s midfielder also a feature of the start of the new season, they might do in the transfer market, and agreed to return to the club for whom he Eden Hazard. (AFP) with champions Barcelona’s match at Val- also knowing that Ronaldo is at another club netted 24 times on loan during their run to ladolid one such game this weekend. and what that might mean for La Liga and promotion last season. Ernesto Valverde’s side face their newly the Champions League too.” promoted opponents fresh from starting The early signs for Real are that Gareth their title defence by beating Alaves 3-0 at Bale will step forward, after he scored one FIXTURES the Camp Nou, with Lionel Messi scoring a goal and made another against Getafe to brace, including a superb free-kick. “Find- give new coach Julen Lopetegui his fi rst win All times GMT ing a way to stop Messi is practically impos- at the helm. The European champions go to Today: Alaves v Betis (1615), Atletico sible,” said Valladolid coach Sergio Gonzalez. Catalonia tomorrow night to face Girona — Madrid v Rayo Vallecano (1815), Valladolid “We will try to ensure that he touches the ball who beat them in this fi xture last season — v Barcelona (2015) as little as possible. That is great in theory, with Thibaut Courtois still waiting to make Tomorrow: Espanyol v Valencia (1615), but the important thing is to stay focused.” his debut in goal following his arrival from Girona v Real Madrid, Sevilla v Villarreal While Messi looked as brilliant as ever Chelsea. (both 2015) against Alaves, Real began life in La Liga Atletico have been tipped to make a seri- without Cristiano Ronaldo by beating ous push for the title this season, and they On Monday: Levante v Celta Vigo (1815), Getafe 2-0. For now, the two great individu- started with a 1-1 draw at Valencia, despite Athletic Bilbao v Huesca (2000)