Established 1961 27 Sports Wednesday, June 20, 2018

SNIPPETS Poland’s mishaps help Senegal claim first African victory Win takes Senegal top of Group H with three points : Senegal became the first African team to win a match at the 2018 World Cup yesterday when they beat Poland 2-1, helped by two shocking errors in the European side’s defence. Poland defender stuck out a leg and deflected Idrissa Gueye’s wayward shot into the net in the 37th minute before goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny rushed recklessly out of his area and allowed M’Baye Niang to nip in and score into an empty net on the hour. Szczesny may have been caught out because Niang was having treatment on the touchline and re- entered the pitch as the ball was played backwards to the Poland goalkeeper by . Krychowiak headed Poland’s goal in the 86th minute. The win took Senegal top of Group H with three points, along with Japan who also beat Colombia by the same score. Colombia and Poland are both without a point. It was a relief for Africa after Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia all lost their opening games. Poland’s record scorer got little change out of a well-drilled Senegal defence, led by Kalidou Koulibaly, and they sorely missed key defender , still recovering from a training injury sustained two weeks ago. “I’m satisfied with my players, really proud of them. I think they arrived with a lot of determination, MOSCOW: Poland’s Grzegorz Krychowiak (R) scores a header during the Russia 2018 World Cup they have worked hard,” said Senegal coach Aliou Group H football match between Poland and Senegal at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow yesterday. — AFP Cisse. “I think it is really a generation that deserves a lot of credit and respect.” The first half hour was a sorry affair strewn with misplaced passes from both halftime as he won possession, burst clear and was Krychowiak partially made amends with his goal sides and neither of the danger men, Lewandowski up-ended by Salif Sane. He took the free kick himself but it was too late for the disappointing Poles. and Senegal’s Sadio Mane, saw much of the ball. The and although he managed Poland’s first shot on tar- “Second goal - I do not know,” said Poland defender first shot on target produced the first goal as Senegal get, it was saved by Khadim N’Diaye. Michal Pazdan. “The player ran in, he was behind the went ahead in the 37th minute. Poland appeared to be coming back into the game side line of the pitch. There are no such situations on Niang won a challenge with Lukasz Piszczek, until the most embarrassing moment of the World a daily basis. burst down the left and found Mane who in turn Cup so far. Krychowiak sent a long ball back from “But it does not change the fact that we lacked slipped the ball to Gueye. The midfielder’s shot deep inside the Senegal half, Szczesny rushed out of concentration at the beginning of the second half, appeared to be going wide until the hapless Cionek his area to collect the pass but Niang stole in to because it seems that we could have played a different stuck out a leg and deflected it past Szczesny. score to Polish disbelief. game, if they hadn’t scored the second.” — Reuters Lewandowski sprang into life five minutes after

is a tank from Kyrgios. “He’s just hitting the ball Kyrgios ruins as hard as he can. That’s fine but don’t expect us not to call it because it is.” Despite that helpful contribution from his Murray’s Queen’s good friend, Murray gradually ran out of steam England post and Kyrgios found his composure to seal his Club comeback first win over the Scot at the sixth attempt. “I new ODI record was thinking how great it was to see Andy back. I asked if he is was okay at the end of the LONDON: Andy Murray endured a frustrating match and he was,” Kyrgios said. total of 481-6 return from his injury nightmare as the former “He came out really good and I kind of world number one was beaten 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), expected that. Regarding my own style, I’ve NOTTINGHAM: England broke their own all-time 7-5 by temperamental Australian Nick Kyrgios been entertaining since I was kid. “I’ve got bad record for the highest total ever scored in a men’s in the Queen’s Club first round yesterday. and good things but I’m never going to one-day international when they posted 481 for six Murray gave an encouraging display in his change.” Watched by wife Kim and mum Judy, Australia at Trent Bridge yesterday. When Alex Hales, first competitive match in 11 months after finally Murray was given a rousing reception as he who already had a hundred to his name, hoisted Jhye recovering from the hip problem that required walked onto the court and responded with a Richardson for six in the 46th over it meant England surgery in January. But the 31-year-old Scot bashful wave to the crowd. had broken their previous world record total of this couldn’t secure a fairytale comeback as Murray had described his protracted reha- level-also set at Trent Bridge-of 444 for three against Kyrgios recovered from first set accusations of bilitation, which featured only two exhibitions Pakistan in 2016. ‘tanking’ (losing without trying to win) to outings since Wimbledon last year, as the Hales eventually holed out for 147 on his knock out the five-time winner of the toughest spell of his career-a painful period of Nottinghamshire home ground after opener Jonny Wimbledon warm-up event. Finally back on absence he said had reaffirmed his love for the Bairstow had made 139. Eoin Morgan, England’s ODI court for the first time since a Wimbledon sport. All the demons from those anxious med- captain, became the country’s highest run-scorer in quarter-final defeat against Sam Querrey 342 ical updates and gruelling hours in the gym this format during a 21-ball fifty-the fastest by any days ago, Murray had low expectations of his could finally be exorcised as Murray traded England batsman in terms of balls faced-on his way to 67. At one stage it seemed 2019 World Cup hosts return after several aborted comeback ground-strokes with Kyrgios from the baseline England might become the first side in the 4,011 attempts. But the two-time Wimbledon cham- before capping the first point of his return with a cathartic forehand winner. match history of men’s ODIs to score 500. But their pion, whose ranking has plummeted to 156, will chances of achieving that feat effectively ended when When Kyrgios tried an optimistic half-volley have taken heart from the way he competed, Hales and Morgan were dismissed off successive even if there were signs of rust in his shot- from the baseline, Murray scampered to the net deliveries to leave them 459 for five off 47.3 overs. making and movement at times. to meet with a superb winner that proved his Australia captain Tim Paine, who won the toss, Kyrgios has been accused of tanking in the desire remains as strong as ever. Murray’s used eight bowlers but was unable to stem the tor- past when matches have slipped away with lit- returns were driving Kyrgios to distraction-not rent of runs. An Australia attack missing injured tle effort. And just days after the world number that he needs much excuse to lose focus-and a Ashes-winning fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Pat 21 almost beat Roger Federer in Stuttgart, he double fault gave the three-time Grand Slam Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, were smashed to all sabotaged himself with a series of bizarrely champion the first break for a 4-2 lead. With corners of Trent Bridge with medium-pacer Andrew loose shots in the first set. Kyrgios apparently complaining about his fit- Tye’s nine wicketless overs costing 100 runs. Former British player Andrew Castle, com- ness and blasting a series of wild second serves, England lead this five-match series against world mentating on the match for the BBC, said: “This Murray finished the first set with ease. — AFP champions Australia 2-0. — AFP

Honda Alghanim sponsors Kuwait Youth Basketball Tournament 2018

KUWAIT: In line with its plan to support Kuwaiti youth and out of its firm belief in the necessity of building their capacities in all different fields, Honda Alghanim, the exclusive distributor of Honda cars, motorcycles and marine equipment in Kuwait, sponsored the second Kuwait Youth Basketball Tournament held at Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) between May 24 and June 3, 2018. Honda Alghanim’s sponsorship to this sports event came as part of its ongoing strategy “Honda Powers Dreams”, which aims to empower youth regarded as the country’s greatest wealth. Furthermore, the company does not only seek to satisfy its customers with an inno- First launched in 2017, the Kuwait Youth Basketball game. The tournament, which witnessed the friendly par- vative line of products, but strives as well to create a Tournament is an annual event that encourages young ticipation of professional players split into eight teams, valuable and lasting social impact and heritage for people aged between 15 and 21 years old to practice concluded with “Greatness” scooping up a win over everyone, especially the next generation, bringing a little sports in a competitive atmosphere during the holy “Elite Squad” scoring 70 over 61 in the final game. The sunshine into people’s lives and sharing with them their month of Ramadan. Competing teams can also include winning team was crowned the Kuwait Youth Basketball happiest moments. two players over that age to add more experience to the Champions.