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Home , Amar Virdi, Luciano Spalletti, Scott Borthwick, Victor Moses

CCYCLINGYCLING | Page 4 FORMULA ONE | Page 6 Dumoulin Kimi on pole has title in as Ferrari sight as Pinot secure Monaco wins stage front row

Sunday, May 28, 2017 Ramadan 2, 1438 AH Stokes stars as GULF TIMES clinch South Africa series SPORT Page 3 FOOTBALL Arsenal beat Chelsea to fi re Wenger to record 7th FA Cup ‘The team showed strength and unity and played spectacular football today. I’m proud to have won seven of these cups’

AFP London

aron Ramsey scored a 79th-minute header to earn Arsenal a stunning 2-1 win over double-chasing Chelsea yes- terday and deliver embattled man- Aager Arsene Wenger a record seventh FA Cup. Wenger has been barracked by his own fans and failed to secure Champions League qualifi cation for the fi rst time in 20 years, but he ends the sea- son by surpassing Aston Villa’s George Ramsey as the FA Cup’s greatest manager. Alexis Sanchez’s early opener for Arsenal, allowed to stand despite an apparent handball, was cancelled out by Diego Costa, only for Ram- sey to reply immediately with the second FA Cup-winning goal of his career. “This team has suff ered,” said Wenger. “They’ve united and re- sponded. They showed strength and unity and played spectacular football today. I’m proud to have won seven of these cups.” Arsenal, plagued by defensive selection is- sues, claimed a third FA Cup win in four seasons and 13th in total, making them the outright most successful team in the competition’s history ahead of Manchester United. ’s Chelsea, who had Victor Moses sent off after he received a second booking for diving, were thwarted in their attempt to complete a and FA Cup Double for the second time. It meant no glorious farewell for departing skipper , who bows out on 717 appear- ances and 17 major honours after spending the match on the bench. Victory was rich vindica- tion for Wenger, whose Arsenal future is due to be decided by a board meeting on Tuesday, and Arsenal players are ecstatic as they celebrate with the trophy after beating Chelsea to win the FA Cup at the Wembley Stadium in London yesterday. (Reuters) allowed him to salvage something from the most diffi cult season of his 21-year tenure. he charged down Kante’s clearance. Arsenal’s mentum tilted yet further in their direction. He is reported to have been off ered a two- play brimmed with belief, Mesut Ozil forcing Already booked for holding back Welbeck on year contract and while dissent against him has Gary Cahill to clear off his own line and Danny the touchline, Moses was shown a second yel- mounted this season, the stirring nature of his Welbeck and Ramsey hitting the same post in low card for hurling himself to the ground in the side’s win will surely have won back some of quick succession from a corner. Arsenal box in anticipation of an Alex Oxlade- his team’s disgruntled fans. Ramsey said: “Of The absences of the suspended Laurent Ko- Chamberlain challenge that never came. course I want him to stay at the club. He de- scielny, the injured Gabriel and the concussed Despite going a man down, Chelsea con- serves this. I’ve got the winner again. I love this Shkodran Mustafi brought club captain Per trived to equalise in the 76th minute when Costa competition.” Mertesacker into Arsenal’s back three for his chested down substitute Willian’s pass before Arsenal took a fourth-minute lead with a goal fi rst start of the season. But there were few signs beating Ospina with the aid of a slight defl ection that will be debated long after the fi nal whistle. of ring-rust as the former Germany defender off Mertesacker. But Wenger reacted by sending After blocking N’Golo Kante’s attempted clear- produced three crucial last-ditch blocks to on Olivier Giroud and within a minute of coming ance on the edge of Chelsea’s box, Sanchez ran thwart Costa. on for Welbeck, he crossed from the byline on through to skewer a shot past , Chelsea stepped things up in the second half, the left and Ramsey charged in to net the winner only for an off side fl ag to be raised against Ram- with Arsenal goalkeeper foiling with a stooping header. sey. Referee Anthony Taylor consulted his as- Kante and Moses and Pedro curling narrowly Bellerin shot just wide and Ozil hit the post sistant referee before concluding, correctly, that wide. But Arsenal continued to threaten on the after cutting inside Cesar Azpilicueta, but just Ramsey had not been interfering with play, but break, Hector Bellerin working Courtois with a as in the 2014 fi nal against Hull City, Ramsey’s replays showed Sanchez had handled the ball as fi rm, low shot, and in the 68th minute the mo- goal was to prove the winner. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (left) and Alexis Sanchez celebrate after FA Cup triumph. (Reuters)

FOCUS Qatar boys enter ISF World Schools football fi nal

By Sports Reporter Doha

atar boys football team has entered the fi nal of the 19th ISF World Schools Championship in held in Prague, Czech Republic. In the fi nal to be held today, Qatar will take on Germany. QIn the semi-fi nals yesterday, Qatar boys beat Austria 2-0. Khaled Mohamed Saleh opened the scoring in the 29th minute. Three minutes later Abdulla Nasser al- Murisi made it 2-0 and that was enough for Qatar to sail into the semis as Austria failed to fi nd the net. In the quarter-fi nals, Ahmed Mohamed al-Ganehi turned out to be a hero as his 21st minute strike gave Qatar a narrow 1-0 win over New Zealand boys. 36 teams were divided into six groups, with the top two from each group entering the knock-out stages. Qatar fi nished second in Group B behind France. They beat Belgium 2-1, Greece 2-0 and Finland 4-0, drew with Slovenia 1-1 and lost to France 1-3. At the end pool matches, Qatar was tied with Greece on 10 points, but qualifi ed for the knockouts thanks to a head-to- head record. The Championship, which is also held for girls concurrently, is organised by the International School Sport Federation. Qatar will face Germany in the final of the 19th ISF World Schools Championship in Prague, Czech Republic. Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Yazidi (left) in action. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, May 28, 2017 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Totti set to start on bench Celtic win Scottish Cup for Roma swansong

Asiago, Italy: Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said secur- to clinch historic treble ing a win, and not giving a full game on his swansong, remains the priority in their final match of 'It was a very tough game and obviously to win it as we did was special. It’s an incredible feeling' the season at home to Genoa. A sold-out Stadio Olimpico AFP is set to bid farewell to iconic Glasgow club captain Totti, 40, when he brings his 25-season career with Roma to an end stoppage time strike from today. But with second spot Australian international Tom up for grabs in , and Rogic saw Celtic come from third-placed Napoli only a behind to defeat Aberdeen 2-1 point further behind before toA lift the Scottish Cup and seal a his- they travel to Sampdoria, toric domestic treble the hard way. Jon- Spalletti said Totti’s needs ny Hayes gave Aberdeen a ninth minute come second. lead which was quickly cancelled out by As he has done for most Celtic’s Stuart Armstrong two minutes of this season, Spalletti is set later. The game looked destined for ex- to start Totti on the bench tra time before substitute Rogic scored a and give the club legend a superb solo goal in the second minute of substitute’s appearance in added on time to break the Dons’ sup- the second half. “The biggest porters hearts and ensure Celtic won threat for us tomorrow are the Scottish Cup for a record-extending the distractions caused by 37th time. the game,” Spalletti told me- The Hoops are now the fi rst Scottish dia yesterday. “What kind of team to end a season unbeaten domes- party will it be if we don’t get tically as joins Jock the three points? We have to Stein and Martin O’Neill as the only think about winning first and Celtic managers to lead the Glasgow foremost.” giants to all three major honours in A second-place finish will the same season. “It is a monumental guarantee Roma a place in achievement,” the Celtic manager said the group stages of next of his side’s fi rst treble since 2001. season’s Champions League, “It was a very tough game and obvi- but would represent their ously to win it as we did was special. It’s ninth runners-up spot since an incredible feeling and congratula- winning the Serie A title for tions to the players.” the last time, in 2001. “I think that any time you lose a But Spalletti, who has been game in injury time is diffi cult but it’s linked to the vacant coach’s compounded by it being a cup fi nal,” position at Inter follow- McInnes said. “There was nothing in ing the recent sacking of Ste- the game except we lacked a wee bit of fano Pioli, said he won’t rain legs and impetus to go forward and ap- on Totti’s parade. “He will play ply pressure.” a good portion of the game, After basking in glorious sunshine for the most important part,” he the previous week, a torrential down- Celtic players celebrate after winning the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen at the Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday. (Reuters) added. Before today’s outing, pour welcomed the players out on to Totti has racked up 784 ap- the pitch at Hampden as they observed Aberdeen’s lead lasted just two min- The introduction of Socceroo star Lewis was off his line quickly to block fore fi ring a shot that cannoned off the pearances for Roma, 618 of a minute’s silence for the victims of the utes as Armstrong hauled Celtic level. Rogic saw Celtic switch to a back three his shot. However, it was the Dons who base of the post. which have been in Serie A. terrorist attack in Manchester earlier Callum McGregor danced past a cou- with Niall McGinn, Ryan Jack and should have found themselves in front Player of the year Sinclair then fl uff ed Although Roma won only this week. ple of tackles before slipping the ball Stockley forcing Craig Gordon into again. Hayes robbed McGregor of pos- a chance to win as he completely miss- one of their three league The conditions didn’t seem to bother across the edge of the box to Armstrong, saves as the Hoops struggled to adjust session just inside the Celtic half and hit his volley from a Griffi ths pass al- titles in Totti’s time at the the fi red up Aberdeen players as their who lashed a low shot between a couple to the change. A reorganised Celtic ran at goal but his pass across the box lowing Lewis to make the save. It didn’t club, he has scored 307 goals high-tempo start paid off when Hayes of Dons defenders and into the bot- emerged after the break and immedi- was behind Kenny McLean and a glori- matter though, as Rogic glided past two for Roma, 250 of which came fi red them into the lead. Leigh Griffi ths tom right-hand corner. Celtic’s joy was ately came close when Griffi ths got be- ous chance was spurned. Patrick Rob- Dons defenders before rifl ing an angled in Serie A. Juventus secured switched off at a Niall McGinn corner short-lived as left-back Tierney was hind the Dons defence only to see his erts, who missed the U20 World Cup shot low under Lewis to beat the ‘keep- a record sixth consecutive allowing the Irishman space to send a forced off with a mouth injury after be- defl ected shot bounce narrowly wide. with England to play in the fi nal, then er and seal victory in the week that the scudetto with a 3-0 win over low volley into the net despite the best ing caught in the face by Jayden Stock- Sinclair then beat the off side trap to looked to inspire the Hoops as he twist- Hoops celebrated the 50th anniversary Crotone last week. eff orts of Kieran Tierney on the line. ley’s swinging arm. collect a lofted pass from Rogic but Joe ed and turned on the edge of the box be- of their European Cup win.

SERIE A PREMIER LEAGUE Teenager Kean caps stellar season Watford name Silva as new boss AFP for treble-chasers Juventus London AFP pile seven points ahead of second-placed he has scored 307 goals for Roma, 250 of atford hired former Hull City boss Milan Roma. Roma host Genoa today in what will which came in Italy’s top fl ight. Defeat for Marco Silva (right) as their new be Francesco Totti’s fi nal game with the club Roma could see Napoli, who are away to manager yesterday following Walter after a 25-year career spent entirely with Sampdoria, spoil Totti’s farewell party. Mazzarri’s departure from the Premier eenage starlet Moise Kean came off the Giallorossi. But with second spot up for Elsewhere, Atalanta capped their stun- WLeague club. Silva left Hull earlier this week follow- the bench to score a last-gasp win- grabs, and third-placed Napoli only a point ning season with a 1-0 home win in Bergamo ing the Tigers’ relegation from the English top fl ight ner with his maiden Serie A goal as further behind before they travel to Samp- where Papu Gomez’s 52nd minute strike se- and Watford quickly made him their top target to Juventus closed their record-setting doria, Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said cured the points for Gian Gasperini’s men. replace Mazzarri. Although Silva couldn’t stop Hull Tseason with a 2-1 win at Bologna yesterday. Totti’s needs come second. Atalanta, fi nishing well ahead of Lombardy slipping into the second-tier Championship, the Fresh from securing a record third succes- “What kind of party will it be if we don’t cousins AC Milan and Inter, moved up to Portuguese coach earned praise for his work during sive league and Cup double, Juventus looked get the three points? We have to think fourth, two points ahead of Lazio, before the fi ve months in charge of a club dealing with board- to be heading for a disappointing draw after about winning fi rst and foremost,” he said. capital side visit Crotone today. room turmoil for much of the season. The 39-year- Paulo Dybala levelled Saphir Taider’s superb A second-place fi nish will guarantee Roma Crotone need a win against Simone Inza- old had been linked with the vacant jobs at Porto 52nd minute strike on 70 minutes. a place in the group stages of next season’s ghi’s visitors if they are to have any hope of and Crystal Palace, but Watford won the race for his But Kean, who replaced Argentina play- Champions League, and seal a ninth run- beating the drop. signature on a two-year contract. into that category as Watford fi nished the season maker Dybala with 11 minutes to play, had ners-up spot since winning the Serie A title The Calabrians sit one point behind “Marco was one of the most sought-after head only one place above the Premier League relegation the fi nal say for the Turin giants with a great for the last time, in 2001. fourth-from-bottom Empoli, who visit al- coaches in the Premier League,” Hornets chairman zone after losing their last six matches. diving header from Miralem Pjanic’s free But Spalletti, who has been linked to the ready-relegated Palermo. Scott Duxbury told the club’s website. “His pedi- The Italian reportedly alienated Watford’s play- kick in the 94th minute. It was the fi rst goal vacant position at following gree and promise speaks for itself, with his achieve- ers with an egotistical approach and he struggled to scored in Serie A by a player born in 2000 or the recent sacking of , said he RESULTS ments in top divisions elsewhere across Europe as win them over during a campaign that featured em- after, and has underlined 17-year-old Kean’s won’t rain on Totti’s parade. “He will play a Atalanta 1 (Gomez 52) Chievo 0; Bologna 1 well as his work at Hull City last season. “We are barrassing cup exits against third tier Millwall and bright future after being given his debut by good portion of the game, the most impor- (Taider 52) Juventus 1 (Dybala 70, Kean 90+4) delighted to have secured his services and to be Gillingham. Silva will be expected to lift Watford earlier this season. tant part,” he added. Today’s fixtures (all times GMT) welcoming a head coach of his profi le and potential. back to mid-table respectability as he looks to build Juve’s 29th win of the campaign left the Before today’s outing, Totti has racked Cagliari v AC Milan (1300), Roma v Genoa, It’s an exciting time to be a Watford fan and I’m sure on his burgeoning reputation. champions, who secured a record sixth con- up 784 appearances for Roma, 618 of which Sampdoria v Napoli (both 1600), Crotone v all supporters will join me in off ering Marco and his He won the Greek title with Olympiakos in 2016 secutive scudetto with a 3-0 win over Cro- have been in Serie A. Lazio, Fiorentina v Pescara, Inter Milan v Udi- family the warmest of welcomes to Vicarage Road.” and the Portuguese Cup with Sporting in 2015. Af- tone last week and face Real in the Although Roma won only one of their nese, Palermo v Empoli, Torino v Sassuolo Silva becomes the ninth man to take charge of ter moving to Hull this January, he forged a strong June 3 Champions League fi nal, top of the three league titles in Totti’s time at the club, (all 1845) Watford in just fi ve years, with owners the Pozzo bond with his players and their impressive results family notoriously quick to punish perceived un- at home kept the Tigers in with a chance of avoid- derachievement. Mazzarri, who replaced the popu- ing relegation until the penultimate weekend of the lar Quique Sanchez Flores last year, certainly fell season.

FOCUS Ventura names Italy squad AFP SQUAD Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buff on (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan), Simone Scuff et (Udinese) Defenders: Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barza- taly coach Giampiero Ventura has called up gli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Mattia a squad of 26 to face Uruguay in a friendly Caldara (Atalanta), Federico Ceccherini (Crotone), Gior- and Liechtenstein in a 2018 World Cup quali- gio Chiellini (Juventus), Danilo D’Ambrosio (Inter Milan), fi er next month. The Italians play Uruguay in Matteo Darmian (Manchester United/ENG), Emerson Ithe French city of Nice on Wednesday June 7, and Palmieri (Roma), Leonardo Spinazzola (Atalanta); Liechtenstein at home in Udine on June 11. : (Roma), Claudio Marchi- There is a call-up for Brazilian-born Roma de- sio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (AC Milan), Lorenzo fender , while AC Milan midfi eld- Pellegrini (Sassuolo), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Ger- er Riccardo Montolivo makes his return to the squad main/FRA); after a long injury absence. Strikers: Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Antonio There are just three foreign based stars in the Candreva (Inter Milan), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), squad in Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti, (Napoli), Andrea Belotti (Torino), Eder Manchester United’s Matteo Darmian and South- (Inter Milan), Manolo Gabbiadini (Southampton/ENG), Juventus’ Moise Kean (left) scores during the Italian Serie A match against Bologna at the Renato Dall’ara stadium yesterday. (AFP) ampton's Manolo Gabbiadini. Ciro Immobile (Lazio) Gulf Times Sunday, May 28, 2017 3 CRICKET

ENG VS SA, 2ND ODI FOCUS Revenue share Stokes stars as is ‘starving’ grassroots, says England win Cricket Australia

Reuters With more than 80 percent of the Sydney country’s 5,584 cricket facilities cur- rently having no provision for women and girls, meeting the needs of female series against SA ricket Australia chief James players was the sort of project desper- Sutherland believes the rev- ately required, he added. enue-share model which the Sutherland said that because the Victory put hosts 2-0 up with one to play at Lord’s tomorrow body is trying to dump in its agreement was for revenue rather ongoingC pay negotiations with players than profi t share, any new investment is “starving” the grassroots of the game Cricket Australia made would need to of funding. guarantee a 32 percent return just to Australia faces the possibility of an break even, “an untenable situation for embarrassing player strike or lockout any business”. if the protracted negotiation over a new “The current model of player pay- fi ve-year pay deal for country’s inter- ments has done its job, but now risks national and state cricketers cannot be starving other vital parts of the game,” resolved by the end of June. he concluded. At the heart of the dispute is the ar- “That must change.” rangement whereby the players share Cricket Australia has come under fi re a fi xed percentage of up to 26 percent for not explaining its position clearly of Cricket Australia’s revenue, which enough in what has been a tense stand- Sutherland’s executive team want to off with the Australian Cricketers’ As- end. sociation (ACA). The players, through their union, The ACA on Saturday blasted Crick- have remained steadfastly opposed to et Australia for “lacking in common such a change but Sutherland says it is sense” by refusing mediation to end the essential if the grassroots of the game is dispute and said the governing body’s to get the investment it needs. “claims” on the grassroots needed to “The model was created in 1997, be closely examined. when players were poorly paid, but “CA take 80 percent of revenue and now our top male players are easily yet blames the players for under ex- the most highly paid team sportspeo- penditure on grassroots,” it said on its ple in Australia,” he wrote in a column website (www.auscricket.com.au) in The Weekend Australian on Satur- “That is a nonsense. CA’s grassroots day. argument therefore has no factual ba- “The main issue in 2017 is the chron- sis.” ic under-funding of grassroots. This The ACA on Wednesday said it had will require an investment over time of set up a company to manage and mar- many hundreds of millions of dollars ket player image rights and intellectual and we must start now. property if the pay negotiations failed “We believe we can achieve both a to produce a deal by the deadline. healthy increase in player payments Australia captain Steve Smith, in and our grassroots funding objectives London for the Champions Trophy, has over the next few years by sensibly backed the move but downplayed the adapting the current player payments prospect of a players’ strike impacting model.” on this year’s Ashes series.

SPOTLIGHT Pakistan, Afghanistan England’s (right) plays a shot as South African -keeper Quinton de Kock looks on during the second ODI in Southampton yesterday. (AFP) to play debut Kabul AFP six balls in the last over. fl ighted delivery that took the left- fours but the real drama on a now glo- Southampton, United Kingdom Two singles were followed by a dot hander’s outside edge only for the ball riously sunny day was still to come. ball, a single and another dot ball. to go through Amla’s hands at slip for Twenty20 friendly Suddenly, South Africa needed four four. SCORECARD en Stokes struck a superb off the last ball and Morris could not Next ball produced another edge, ENGLAND AFP be held in Kabul, followed by a second century before pacemen Josh oblige. with wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock J. Roy b Rabada 8 Lahore, Pakistan fi xture in Pakistan. An international Ball and helped Earlier, Stokes made 101 and Jos failing to hold a more diffi cult chance. A. Hales c de Kock b Pretorius 24 series was also agreed between the two England seal a dramatic and Buttler a dashing 65 in Eng- Stokes subsequently hoisted both J. Root run out (Pretorius) 39 countries and slated for an unspecifi ed series-clinchingB two run-win over land’s 330 for six after South Africa medium-pacer Andile Phehlukwayo akistan cricketers will play later date. E. Morgan c de Kock b Rabada 45 South Africa in the second one-day captain AB de Villiers sent them into and Morris high over deep midwicket B. Stokes c Miller b Maharaj 101 their fi rst Twenty20 match in Afghanistan’s Mashal said that while international at Southampton yester- bat in overcast, bowler-friendly, con- for sixes. J. Buttler not out 65 Afghanistan’s capital later this the boards were “trying to keep sports day. ditions. He had equalled his previous ODI M. Ali c de Kock b Phehlukwayo 33 year, offi cials from the nations — especially cricket — away from poli- Victory put England 2-0 up with Stokes, who briefl y left the fi eld best of 101, against Bangladesh in Psaid yesterday, as the neighbours put tics”, he hoped the matches would have Extras (b1, lb6, w8) 15 one to play ahead of tomorrow’s fi nale with a knee injury in England’s 72-run Dhaka in October, when he found Total (6 wkts, 50 overs) 330 aside political tensions for two upcom- an impact. at Lord’s. win in the series opener at Headingley Miller at long-off to give Maharaj a Fall of : 1-12 (Roy), 2-70 (Hales), ing friendlies. “I hope this tour should be used to Stokes made South Africa pay dearly on Wednesday, showed no discomfort deserved wicket. 3-80 (Root), 4-175 (Morgan), 5-252 The announcement of the games, positively infl uence the political arena for dropping him off both fi rst and sec- with the bat, although he only bowled Stokes partly returned the favour (Stokes), 6-330 (Ali) the fi rst of which is scheduled for July and create a good atmosphere between ond balls after the all-rounder had been three overs. when he dropped de Kock, then on 28, Bowling: Rabada 10-0-50-2 (4w); or August, comes as Islamabad and Ka- the two friendly nations,” he said. passed fi t to play following a knee injury. His 79-ball innings, just his second when he fl oored a tough one-handed Morris 10-0-66-0 (2w); Pretorius 10-0- bul face off over border skirmishes and Afghans learned to play cricket in Yet in a match where the Proteas century in 55 matches at this level, caught and bowled chance with his 61-1; Maharaj 10-0-72-1; Phehlukwayo terrorism. refugee camps in Pakistan after they dropped six chances in all, they were featured 11 fours and three sixes. fi rst ball in the Proteas’ innings. 10-1-74-1 (2w) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), were forced to leave their homes in the still on course for a morale-boosting Stokes, the Indian Premier League’s De Kock went on to make 98 and which has long advocated supporting wake of the Soviet invasion in 1979. win ahead of the start of next week’s record two-million-dollar-man, shared a stand of 96 with de Villiers SOUTH AFRICA its war-ravaged neighbour to boost The sport struggled to get a foothold Champions Trophy ODI tournament shared stands of 95 with skipper Eoin (52). Q. de Kock c Buttler b Ali 98 the game in the region, also promised in Afghanistan under the hardline Is- in England. Morgan, himself dropped twice, and Amla was hit fl ush on the helmet H. Amla c Morgan b Stokes 24 to provide Afghanistan’s players with lamist Taliban, but has become hugely South Africa, the world’s top- 77 with Buttler. grille by Wood before falling falling for F. du Plessis c Buttler b Plunkett 16 a ground to use as their base, in an ap- popular in the country since the regime ranked ODI side, needed 20 off the last South Africa’s sloppy fi elding saw 24 when he drove Stokes to Morgan at AB de Villiers c Buttler b Plunkett 52 parent move to counter India’s growing was toppled in a US-led invasion in two overs chasing a target of 331. ODI debutant left-arm spinner Kes- short extra cover. D. Miller not out 71 infl uence. 2001. That became 10 off 10 balls when hav Mahraj, who bowled much better De Villiers, who made a sparkling 52 F. Behardien c Ali b Plunkett 17 PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said While Pakistan has supported the David Miller (71 not out) struck Jake than fi gures of one for 72 in 10 overs at better than a run-a-ball, gloved a C. Morris not out 36 politics will not be allowed to inter- Afghan team by supplying equipment Ball for a six and a four off successive suggested, have three catches dropped well-directed short delivery from fast Extras (lb5, w9) 14 fere in cricket, referring to the recent and arranging fi xtures with the fl edg- deliveries. off his bowling alone. bowler (three for 64) Total (5 wkts, 50 overs) 328 strained relations between Pakistan ling side, rival India has also been keen But South Africa — often accused of England were faltering at 80 for through to wicket-keeper Buttler. Fall of wickets: 1-56 (Amla), 2-93 (Du and Afghanistan. to lend its support. ‘choking’ in pressure situations — saw three when Stokes came into bat. South Africa then suff ered a further Plessis), 3-189 (De Villiers), 4-211 (De “This visit by Afghan board head has Last year, Afghanistan’s national Miller and Chris Morris (36 not out) The innings then took a decisive setback when de Kock, in sight of a hun- Kock), 5-266 (Behardien) helped in renewing the bond of friend- team shifted its base from Sharjah in fail to score the runs they required as turn when Stokes was missed twice in dred, tried to run off -spinner Mooen Ali Bowling: Wood 10-0-48-0 (1w); Ball ship,” Khan told a press conference in United Arab Emirates to Noida, Delhi, Ball and fast bowler Wood held their his fi rst two balls, with Maharaj again down to third man and was caught be- 10-0-81-0 (2w); Stokes 3-0-12-1 (2w); Lahore after a meeting with his Afghan while India’s former batsman Lalchand nerve. the unfortunate bowler. hind by opposing gloveman Buttler. Plunkett 10-0-64-3 (3w); Rashid 6-0-41- counterpart Atif Mashal. Rajput replaced Pakistan’s Inzamam- Wood defended a target of seven off He deceived Stokes with a well- De Kock faced 103 balls including 11 0 (1w); Ali 8-0-59-1; Root 3-0-18-0 Khan said the fi rst friendly would ul-Haq as their national team coach.

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP Sangakkara makes history for Surrey with fi ft h straight ton the biggest and, given the circum- the ground twice late in the day – was Simon Harmer and missed. James Fos- By Will Macpherson Surrey’s Kumar The Guardian stances, the best of fi ve in fi ve fi rst- dropped high to fi rst slip’s left. ter, back in the side, did the rest. class innings (the fi rst man to do so for Fortunately we have plenty longer The stand was worth 191, a mighty Sangakkara in Surrey and the equal of a champion- watching Curran, and will not wait effort after Surrey’s start. Quinn action against ith Essex top of the ta- ship record); only CB Fry, Mike Procter ages to see him make it beyond the did for the left-handers, with Mark Essex during ble, there is a chirp about and Don Bradman have scored six on nineties. Surrey picked a debutant, the Stoneman edging to second slip, their county Chelmsford right now, the spin. When he retires at summer’s off spinner Amar Virdi, because Gareth captain brilliantly taken match. (Twitter / and it only became louder end he will leave as big a hole in Sur- Batty has injured a toe. at gully, and Scott Borthwick caught SurreyCricket) Wwhen Jamie Porter and Matt Quinn, rey’s batting lineup as he will in the He is so fresh that cricinfo were behind, then Porter dealt with the destroyers of Hampshire last time out, game at large: cherish him. unaware of his birthdate (18 July 1998, righties: Dom Sibley was bowled by reduced Surrey to 31 for fi ve. But, like He reached his ton with another to make you feel ancient), and yet he’s a beauty and played on Lancashire, Warwickshire and Mid- perfect straight drive, his 13th four only a month older than Curran. pulling. dlesex before them, Essex met Kumar from his 174th ball. All the hallmarks Curran was watchful early, and was They enjoyed less success with the Sangakkara. They were undone by of last week’s Lord’s masterpiece hit on the hand by Porter before lunch; second new ball as Stuart Meaker something old and something new. were on show here – the stroked pull, as a result, he had to endure some leg (43no) shared 95 with Sangakkara There was a 61st fi rst-class century the cover drive on one knee, the ach- theory from Wagner. Having survived – who fi nished the day unbeaten on for Sangakkara and almost a fi rst for ingly elegant cuts. There was one half- that, he cashed in, pulling and swatting 177. Even batting this beautifully, you , 21 years his junior. San- chance, to reach 50, as a sharp edge down the ground for six and cutting could forgive Essex for being sick of gakkara’s was his third in eight days, off Wagner – whom he pumped down fi ercely. Eventually, he danced down to the sight of him. Gulf Times 4 Sunday, May 28, 2017 SPORT

CYCLING/GIRO D’ITALIA SPOTLIGHT Grace closes on surprise Wentworth Dumoulin has title leader Dodt

Reuters bound to eventually reach the Virgina Water, England bunker lining”. Grace responded by say- ing that he simply played by outh African Branden the rules. “It is something in sight as Pinot wins Grace, who caused that brought attention to a lot controversy earlier this of guys out there who maybe week over a free drop he didn’t know about that rule but tookS from a bunker, climbed to now they know,” he said after within a stroke of the lead after posting a seven-under aggre- the BMW PGA Championship gate of 209 yesterday. third round yesterday. On a diffi cult day for scoring, STUNNING SEQUENCE last mountain stage especially on tree-lined Went- “Some guys are going to love worth’s front nine, as fresh it and some guys are going to winds gusted up to 20mph, hate it. That’s always the game. ‘I’m very happy to win this stage ahead of some of the best riders in this Giro’ Grace carded a two-under 70 I can only ask the question and to claim second place behind he gave me relief.” surprise leader Andrew Dodt of Helped by his low ball fl ight, AFP Australia (68). Grace picked up six birdies in Asiago, Italy There were huge roars from his round including a stunning the sizeable crowds surround- sequence of four in fi ve holes ing the 18th green when home from the 10th. olombian Nairo Quin- favourite Lee Westwood, bid- Dodt, twice a winner on the tana retained the Giro ding to win the title for the fi rst tour, also took advantage of the d’Italia pink jersey af- time on his 24th appearance in prevailing breezes on the back ter a 20th and penulti- the European Tour’s fl agship nine as he rattled off birdies at mateC stage won by Frenchman event, grabbed his third birdie the 11th, 12th, 14th and 17th. Thibaut Pinot that saw Dutch- in a row. The 44-year-old Eng- “The last seven holes were a man Tom Dumoulin remain in lishman’s sparkling run helped little bit easier playing down- victory contention. him complete a 72 and elevated wind compared to the fi rst two Pinot, of the FDJ team, him to joint third along with days,” said the 31-year-old. claimed his maiden Giro stage Italian Francesco Molinari (74), “But you’ve still got to hit the after dominating a fi ve-man three shots behind Dodt. shots and I managed to do that bunch sprint at the end of a On Thursday, Grace’s ball today.” thrilling 190km ride from Porde- was plugged on an awkward The little-known Dodt will none to Asiago that saw Dumou- upslope in a greenside bunker command plenty of atten- lin’s rivals attack the Dutchman at the par-four 13th hole. He tion in today’s fi nal round and throughout. summoned a rules offi cial, say- knows he will have to con- Quintana, the 2014 cham- ing his feet were touching rub- tend with a few butterfl ies in pion, fi nished just behind Pinot ber at the base of the sand, and his stomach. “It’s going to be in fi fth to retain the race lead the world number 26 was giv- tough out there,” said the world with a 39sec lead on Italy’s two- en a free drop. Last year’s US number 251. “There will be a lot time and defending champion Masters winner Danny Willett of nerves. “I’ve just got to do Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain) and said on his Twitter account: what I’ve been doing the last a 43sec cushion on Pinot. “I’m “@EuropeanTour please ex- three days. If I can do that I can very happy to win this stage plain that drop?! Burying feet give myself a chance.” ahead of some of the best riders enough in to get to the base of World number fi ve Henrik in this Giro,” said Pinot, who, as the bunker”. Stenson, the highest-ranked the French time trial champion, Former Ryder Cup captain player in the fi eld, needs a bar- will confi dently target a podium Paul McGinley was also less rage of fi nal-round birdies to fi nish in Milan today. than pleased, saying: “If you get into contention after he re- “I came for a stage victory, twist your feet enough you’re turned a 73 for 212. which I’m very happy about be- cause it’s always special to win a stage from a grand tour. Rookie Park seizes two-stroke LPGA lead “But to win the Giro I will need to have one of the best days of South Korean rookie Park of the biggest reasons why my life on the bike. In any case, Sung-Hyun fired a seven- I haven’t performed up to I’ll give it everything.” under par 65 on Friday to take my standards this year,” she However Dumoulin, 53secs a two-stroke lead midway said. “This week I’m able to let behind in fourth overall after through the LPGA Volvik things go a little bit more and fi nishing 15secs behind Pinot,is Championship in Ann Arbor, play my game.” the overriding favourite for Sun- Michigan. Lee teed off early and day’s 29.3km race against the Park fired six of her eight bird- notched a season-low 66 that clock from Monza to Milan. After ies on the back nine on the had her atop the leaderboard handing the pink jersey to Quin- way to a 12-under par total of for much of the day. tana on the fi nal summit of Pian- 132 and a two-shot lead over Pettersen was surprised to cavallo to drop to second overall Australian Minjee Lee and find herself at 10-under given at 38secs on Friday, Sunweb team Norway’s Suzann Pettersen. how little she has played this leader Dumoulin was warned he Lee carded a six-under 66 and year. would be in for a tough, fi nal day Pettersen signed for a 67. “I usually play good the more in the mountains. “I started birdie-birdie on the tournaments I play, and last Quintana, Nibali and Pinot first two holes and after that week was my first after a little kept to their word with a series of I kind of lost it a little bit,” bit of a break,” Pettersen said. attacks on the fi nal, 14km climb French cyclist Thibaut Pinot of Team FDJ crosses the finish line to win the 20th stage of 100th Giro d’Italia from Pordenone to Asiago in Asiago, said Park, who parred seven “My game is starting to shape to Foza that preceded a fi nal roll- Italy. (AFP) straight holes before picking up. Playing good golf, hitting ing section leading to Asiago. up a stroke at the 10th to start a lot of good putts. Just enjoy- But their combined eff orts RESULTS a run of three birdies in a row. ing this golf course.” failed to shake the Dutchman, “From that point on, I think China’s Feng Shanshan, who for the closing kilometres Stage: 1. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/FDJ) 4hr 57min bastien Reichenbach (SUI/FDJ) s.t., 9. Bauke Pinot (FRA/FDJ) 43, 4. Tom Dumoulin (NED/ my putting kind of came Australian Sarah Jane Smith was left in a fi ve-man group 58sec, 2. Ilnur Zakarin (RUS/KAT) same time, Mollema (NED/TRE) s.t. 10. Tom Dumoulin SUN) 53, 5. Ilnur Zakarin (RUS/KAT) 1:15, 6. back alive,” added Park, who and Americans Lizette Salas, containing allies in Bob Jungels 3. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/BAH) s.t., 4. Domenico (NED/SUN) s.t. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/ALM) 1:30, 7. Bauke notched seven victories on Cydney Clanton and Jennifer (Quick Step), Adam Yates (Ori- Pozzovivo (ITA/ALM) s.t., 5. Nairo Quintana General classification: 1. Nairo Quintana Mollema (NED/TRE) 3:03, 8. Adam Yates the Korean LPGA tour last Song were three shots off the ca) and fellow Dutchman Bauke (COL/MOV) s.t., 6. Bob Jungels (LUX/QST) at (COL/Movistar) 90hr 00min 38sec, 2. Vin- (GBR/ORI) 6:50, 9. Bob Jungels (LUX/QST) year. Although she leads the lead on 135. South Korea’s Lee Mollema (Trek). 15secs, 7. Adam Yates (GBR/ORI) s.t., 8. Se- cenzo Nibali (ITA/BAH) at 39secs, 3. Thibaut 7:18, 10. Davide Formolo (ITA/CAN) 12:55 Rookie of the Year race with Jeong-Eun was alone on 136. “Luckily, I had better legs than three top-four finishes, she South Korea’s Ryu So-Yeon yesterday,” Dumoulin said at the doesn’t feel she has played made the cut on the number fi nish. “I absolutely killed my- On the 10th stage time trial nearly three minutes faster than but he found some allies. “We fi rst Dutch winner of the ‘maglia to her potential on the LPGA at one-under par — stretching self, but I’m forever thankful and where he took the pink jersey Quintana. At the fi nish, Quin- took some time, which is bet- rosa’. But he added: “We’ll see. It Tour this season. her streak of cuts-made to grateful to the help from Bauke for the fi rst time in this 100th tana looked resigned to defeat as ter than nothing.” Another top all depends on the legs tomor- “I’ve definitely felt the pres- 64 events, a run dating back Mollema, Adam Yates and Bob edition, Dumoulin was over two he said: “We tried our hardest to performance into Milan today row. I’m already very happy it sure and that’s probably one to 2014. Jungels.” minutes faster than Nibali and take time from him (Dumoulin), could see Dumoulin become the worked out today.”

GOLF Lee, Kisner lead logjam at top of leaderboard

AFP (69), England’s Paul Casey (66) and air until Sunday. Los Angeles American Sean O’Hair (68) are tied for “I only had one bogey each day and I fi fth at fi ve under 135. played nicely coming down the fairway,” Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell Kisner said. “I probably got the better ew Zealand’s Danny Lee and is alone in ninth, two shots adrift. Tony part of the draw with the weather with red-hot Kevin Kisner were in a Finau shot a 65 and climbed into conten- the wind laying down this afternoon. four-way tie for the lead half- tion and into 10th place. We got to keep making birdies and we’ll way through the PGA Tour’s First-round co-leader Kelly Kraft look up on Sunday and see if we have a NColonial as an already crowded leader- stumbled to a 73 and is tied for 12th in a chance.” board got more congested on Friday. pack of nine golfers that includes Spieth, Spieth, who started on the back nine, Lee fi red a six-under 64 and Ameri- Stewart Cink (70) and Kevin Tway (70), began with bogeys on three of his fi rst can Kisner shot his second straight 67 to all four strokes back. fi ve holes but turned it around with a move into a tie with Webb Simpson (66) Lee’s round featured seven birdies and birdie on the par-four 15th. He added and Scott Piercy (66) for a one-shot lead a bogey and was the low round of the day. four more birdies on the front nine and at six-under 134. “I was hitting the ball very nicely to- parred his fi nal four holes. But there is no time to relax as a strong day,” said Lee, a Kiwi from Rotorua on “That’s what we needed to see,” said fi eld that includes several major winners the North Island. “I had strong fi nish, the Texas native Spieth. “I hit the fair- is nipping at their heels. and that’s what I need to have carrying ways, and if I missed the fairways they Windy conditions helped create the over the next couple days.” were good drives that were just off that logjam at the top with 21 players within Kisner continued his superb play this gave me an opportunity to be on the fi ve shots of the leaders after the fi rst season as his round included four birdies green. two rounds at the Colonial Country Club and a bogey on No. 17. “I’m playing well. I’m just either not course in Fort Worth, Texas. Kisner’s only PGA Tour victory came catching the breaks or my short game is Reigning Masters champion Sergio by an impressive six shots in 2015, but he just a little off .” Garcia (66) and two-time major winner has been knocking on the door with six Garcia, who earned his fi rst USPGA and defending champ Jordan Spieth (68) runner-up fi nishes in his career, includ- Tour title at the Colonial in 2001, fol- are within striking distance heading into ing the 2017 Arnold Palmer Invitational. lowed up a one-under 69 on Thursday the weekend. Kisner said the key for him is to simply with a second round four-under in his Kevin Kisner plays his shot from the 12th tee during Round Two of the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational at Colonial Country Garcia and fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm put his head down and not come up for eighth career start at the event. Club in Fort Worth, Texas. (Getty Images/AFP) Gulf Times Sunday, May 28, 2017 5 SPORT

NBA NHL Pittsburgh, Nashville clash in Stanley Amid comparisons to Cup of contrasts

Reuters Pittsburgh had the second- Washington best record in the regular sea- son, while the Predators were the No. 16 team. stellar attack collides The Penguins have four of Jordan, James out to with a spectacular the top six scorers this posts- defense as the de- eason in forwards Malkin fending champion (playoff -leading 24 points), PittsburghA Penguins take on Crosby (20), Phil Kessel (19) the upstart Nashville Predators and Jake Guentzel (16). in a Stanley Cup Finals full of Nashville is paced by for- contrasts starting on Monday. ward Filip Forsberg, who has 15 Something has got to give points (eight goals, seven cement own legacy when the best-of-seven for the assists). National Hockey League crown But the hungry Predators gets underway in the Steel City have not needed to pepper the ‘I think I fell in love with the game because of Mike, just seeing what he was able to accomplish’ of Pittsburgh and home fa- net with goals given the stingi- vourites Sidney Crosby, Evgeni ness of Rinne and his lively AFP Malkin and friends try to work front men including Ryan El- Los Angeles the puck past brilliant Finnish lis, Mattias Ekholm, Roman goalkeeper Pekka Rinne. Jose and P K Subban, who have The Penguins could become helped ward off enemy eBron James was once the fi rst team in 19 years to attackers. among thousands of hoist the huge silver trophy in Despite the disparity in youngsters striving to back-to-back years since the their records, with Pittsburgh “be like Mike,” but the Detroit Red Wings, and claim amassing 111 regular season LCleveland Cavaliers superstar their third title in a decade. points to Nashville’s 94, they never dreamed he’d be men- “You just think of it as a have both earned the same tioned in the same breath as great opportunity,” said Pen- number of points (56) since Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jor- guins captain Crosby, easing January 1, and in the playoff s, dan as one of basketball’s great- the pressure of another title the Predators are 12-4, and the est. chase. “We don’t really look at Penguins 12-7. James eclipsed Jordan as the it as back-to-back.” “I think they’re a great NBA’s all-time leading playoff The Music City of Nash- hockey team,” said Penguins scorer on Thursday as he led the ville, far better known for defenseman Ian Cole. Cavaliers into a third straight honky-tonks than for hockey, “They’re a special hockey NBA Finals — fuelling compari- have been entertained by the team and probably one of the sons to six-time NBA champion artistry of Rinne, who has al- best D-corps in the league. Jordan. lowed a miniscule 1.70 goals That’s going to be a challenge As pundits parsed the stats against average in leading the for us to solve. showing Jordan achieved his Predators to their fi rst NHL ti- “Also, solving (Predators 5,987 playoff points in 179 tle shot. goalie) Pekka Rinne is going to post-season games while James Rinne shut down the fi re- be a challenge.” reached 5,995 in his 212th post- power of the Chicago Black- Predators center and captain season contest, James dismissed hawks, St. Louis Blues and Mike Fisher returned to the such conversations as “barber- Anaheim Ducks on the way to ice and participated in prac- shop” debates. When pressed, the Finals. tice Thursday for the fi rst time however, he acknowledged Jor- “It’s a dream come true,” since taking a knee to the head dan’s massive infl uence and the Rinne said. “But it’s a funny in Game Four of the Western signifi cance of the milestone. thing, though. With every- Conference Finals on May 18. “I think I fell in love with the thing that’s happening around “I feel pretty good,” Fisher game because of Mike, just see- us, you still feel hungry, and said after practice. “Still not ing what he was able to accom- now we have a chance to play cleared (to play), but it felt plish,” James said after scor- for the Cup. It’s a pretty amaz- good to get out there with the ing 35 points in the Cavaliers’ ing feeling.” guys.” 135-102 victory over the Boston Celtics that clinched the Eastern Schedule for the NHL Stanley Cup Finals Conference title. “When you’re growing up and All games start 0000 GMT/8 PM ET you’re seeing Michael Jordan, Game One: Monday, May 29 - Nashville at Pittsburgh it’s almost like a god. So I didn’t Game Two: Wednesday, May 31 - Nashville at Pittsburgh ever believe I could be Mike.” Game Three: Saturday, June 3 - Pittsburgh at Nashville From trying to emulate Jor- Game Four: Monday June 5 - Pittsburgh at Nashville dan’s fadeaway jump shot to cop- (if needed) ying his uniform quirks, James Game Five: Thursday, June 8 - Nashville at Pittsburgh said, “I did pretty much every- Game Six: Sunday, June 11 - Pittsburgh at Nashville thing MJ did when I was a kid.” Game Seven: Wednesday, June 14 - Nashville at Pittsburgh. “I didn’t go bald like Mike, but I’m getting there,” he quipped. “I wanted to be Mike, so for my name to come up in any discus- sion with Michael Jordan or Kar- Zimmer says he’ll coach with ‘one eye or two’ eem (Abdul Jabbar)... it’s a wow LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks against the Boston Celtics during Game Five of NBA finals in Boston. (Getty Images/AFP) Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said he plans to return factor.” to his duties even if he loses sight in his right eye. To be sure, “Air Jordan” still to James in seventh on 28,787. who’s the greatest of all time, to every aspect of the game makes the fundamentals of the game to Zimmer is away from the team during this week’s organized reigns over “King James.” James said at a summer basket- things of that nature — it doesn’t James, for him, the best ever. be as great as they can be. team activities after undergoing his eighth eye surgery in the Jordan’s six NBA titles are ball camp last year that he found matter to me.” “I’ll take LeBron James, abso- “If some kid or a group of past seven months. twice as many as James’s three motivation in “this ghost I’m lutely,” Laimbeer said this month kids from the West Coast or the “I’ll be back shortly with one eye or two,” Zimmer said during a — two of them won with the Mi- chasing — the ghost played in More than scoring on “The Rematch” podcast. East Coast or the Midwest or conference call. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll be back either way.” ami Heat before he returned to Chicago.” What does matter is the “LeBron can do anything. the South and everything in be- Zimmer’s latest surgery was on May 17 when doctors inserted Cleveland with the avowed aim But he said his goal is not just chance to cement his own legacy, Michael couldn’t get all the re- tween, all around the world can a gas bubble into his eye, designed to stabilise his detached of bringing a championship to to match Jordan’s numbers. one that inspires young players bounds. He couldn’t be the assist look at me and say, ‘Well, I made retina and keep it in place. his home state of Ohio. “It has nothing to do with to look beyond scoring as they man like LeBron James can.” the extra pass because LeBron The possibility of becoming permanently blind exists and the Jordan leads James in Most passing him in rings, passing him develop their games. James says he wants to be made the extra pass,’ or, ‘I got a 60-year-old Zimmer has pondered the situation. Valuable Player awards fi ve to in points, passing him in MVPs. Bill Laimbeer, stalwart of the known — and remembered — as chase-down block and I didn’t “I don’t want to go blind in this eye (but) if that’s what it is, four and Jordan is fourth all- It’s just my personal goal to keep Detroit Pistons’ “Bad Boys” more than a scorer. give up on the play because Le- that’s what it is,” Zimmer said. time in regular-season scoring me motivated,” James said. teams that were once the bane of “Scoring the ball is so heralded Bron didn’t give up,’ that would “This will not keep me from coaching.” with 32,292 points compared “The conversations about Jordan’s Bulls, says that attention in our sport,” James said. “I want mean the world to me.”

MLB Garcia’s big hit leads White Sox to win over Tigers

By Anthony Fenech this afternoon with a straight dou- inning, to close the gap to one run, Detroit Free Press bleheader. but after right-hander Shane Greene Boyd allowed too many hits (nine), cleaned up Boyd’s mess in the bottom didn’t throw enough innings (4 2/3) half of the inning, lefty Blaine Hardy here was a time on Friday and lost his third consecutive deci- allowed two runs in the sixth inning. night when the Detroit Tigers sion. He allowed three runs, struck Manager Brad Ausmus likely went had runners on second and out three and walked two. The big to Hardy because the Tigers trailed third base with nobody out. damage came in the third inning, and Greene has thrown on four of TIt was in the top of the fourth inning. when former Tiger Avisail Garcia the past six days. The Tigers have six Nick Castellanos was at the plate, tagged Boyd for a three-run triple games remaining on this trip in fi ve Mike Pelfrey was on the mound and to leftfi eld. In that inning, Boyd re- days. Chad Bell – who pitched pretty there were three balls and no strikes. tired the fi rst two men with ease but well – allowed a three-run home run The Tigers did not score that in- couldn’t get the fi nal out easily at all. to Melky Cabrera in the bottom of the ning. On the next pitch, Castellanos The Tigers opened the scoring eighth inning. grounded to third base, J.D. Martin- when John Hicks drove in Justin Up- The Tigers did not look good. They ez was thrown out at home and the ton on a groundout in the top of the will have two chances to turn the tide next two batters couldn’t get the run second inning. Upton reached on an later today. home. error then went fi rst to third base It was the biggest blunder in an- with good baserunning on a Castel- RESULTS other sluggish game of what’s look- lanos single. It looked like it would Atlanta 2 San Francisco 0 ing like one of those road trips for be a promising night against Pelfrey, LA Dodgers 4 Chicago Cubs 0 the Tigers: After they arrived in the whom the Tigers released in spring Colorado 10 St. Louis 0 Windy City at 4 a.m. Friday morning training. Chicago White Sox 8 Detroit 2 and arrived at Guaranteed Rate Field Instead, they squandered their Arizona 4 Milwaukee 2 (10 innings) around noon, they waited nearly 10 most sizeable opportunity of the Houston 2 Baltimore 0 hours for left-hander Matt Boyd to night in the fourth and never re- Tampa Bay 5 Minnesota 2 pitch erratically once again and the ally threatened again. Pelfrey, mean- Kansas City 6 Cleveland 4 off ence to miss opportunities once while, allowed two runs on four hits Miami 8 LA Angels 5 again. They were blasted by the in fi ve innings. He struck out seven Boston 3 Seattle 0 White Sox, 8-2. batters, one shy of his career-high. Toronto 7 Texas 6 With the loss, the Tigers fell three The Tigers owe him $8 million this Cincinnati 5 Philadelphia 2 games under the .500 mark for the season. NY Mets 8 Pittsburgh 1 fi rst time this season. They are 1-4 Alex Avila hit his sixth home run Oakland 4 NY Yankees 1 Chicago White Sox players Melky Cabrera (right), Leury Garcia (left) and Avisail Garcia celebrate after beating the Detroit Tigers in on a lengthy road trip that continues of the season, off Pelfrey in the fi fth Washington 5 San Diego 1 their MLB match. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Gulf Times 6 Sunday, May 28, 2017 SPORT

FORMULA ONE ATHLETICS Chespol stoops to conquer, Dibaba Raikkonen on pole fails in record bid

AFP best of 14:15.41 set in 2015. Eugene, United States Dibaba unhappy with time eenaged Kenyan star Lilian Rengeruk was a dis- as Ferrari secure Celliphine Chespol tant second in 14:36.80 while recovered from a lost Sifan Hassan of the Nether- shoe to win the 3000m lands was third. Tsteeplechase with the second “I’m happy that I won but fastest time in history at the I’m not happy about the time,” Prefontaine Classic Diamond Dibaba said through an inter- League meeting on Friday. preter. “The pace was real slow Chespol, still just 18, and I’m not happy with how we Monaco front row stormed to victory after a started. thrilling duel with Olympic “We lost time in the fi rst champion and world record 3,000 metres and it was hard to ‘The opportunity was not there for me today. I just struggled with the car’ holder Ruth Jebet and fellow come back after that.” Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech In the long jump, 2012 Ol- over the closing laps at Eu- ympic champion Brittney FP gene’s Hayward Field. Reese of the United States Monaco Chespol’s hopes of a win posted a world-leading leap of looked to have evaporated 7.01 metres (23 feet) for victory. when she stumbled on the wa- Reese’s jump handed her imi Raikkonen secured ter jump on the penultimate victory over 2016 Olympic his fi rst pole for nine lap, appearing to lose her shoe gold medallist and compatriot years and Ferrari a fi rst as Jebet and Chepkoech pulled Tianna Bartoletta, who could front row lockout at the ahead. only manage a best of 6.83m. MonacoK Grand Prix since 2008 Despite stooping to ad- Britain’s Lorraine Ugen was after qualifying for Formula just her footwear, the teen- third with a jump of 6.78m. One’s glamour race yesterday. ager regained her compo- “The goal was to come out The Italian team’s domination sure and clawed back the lost and jump seven metres, just that left Lewis Hamilton strug- ground before producing a to see where my training and gling to take 14th for Mercedes devastating burst of speed everything was at,” said Reese, sparked celebration from the up the home straight to fi n- who will be aiming to dethrone tifosi perched on terraces below ish in 8min 58.78sec. Only the Bartoletta at the World Cham- the Monegasque palace. Kenyan-born Jebet of Bahrain, pionships in London in August. As softly-spoken Raikkonen the world record holder with “I feel like I’m headed in the savoured his fi rst pole since the 8:52.78, has run faster. right direction to where I want 2008 French Grand Prix, just “It was diffi cult but I try to be. It was really important to weeks after he had been sec- my best. I’m happy of course,” come out here and tell myself I ond behind Felipe Massa on the Chespol said afterwards. could perform.” Monte Carlo grid, Hamilton Chespol’s outstanding per- The women’s javelin mean- knew he faced a daunting chal- formance was the highlight of while saw a victory for Bela- lenge in today’s classic 78-laps the opening night of the two- rus’s Tatsiana Khaladovich, race around the Mediterranean day event, which resumes Sat- who topped a strong fi eld street circuit. urday with a star-studded pro- which included 2016 Olympic The 37-year-old Finn had gramme. gold medallist Sara Kolak of not taken pole for 128 races, but In the night’s other main Croatia and Czech world record dominated the afternoon’s ac- race, the women’s 5000m, holder Barbora Spotakova. tion to clock a fastest lap of one Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba Khaladovich claimed victory minute and 12.178 seconds, a failed in her bid to better the with her opening throw of the new record for the circuit and an world record of 14:11.15 set by night, a 66.30m eff ort which endorsement of the speed of this her sister Tirunesh in 2008. was more than a metre further season’s new era machines. Dibaba, the 1,500m world than her closest rival, China’s That left him 0.043 seconds champion, was racing against Liu Shiying, who fi nished sec- ahead of the world champi- the clock for the fi nal fi ve laps ond with 65.21m. onship leader and three-time after leaving the pack be- Kolak was third with a champion Vettel who in turn hind but could only fi nish in throw of 64.64m while Spota- was just two-thousandths of a 14:25.22, well outside the world kova was fourth with a best of second faster than third-placed record, and her own personal 63.30m. Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes. The Finn’s Mercedes team- mate, three-time champion Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen (centre) will start today’s Monaco Grand Prix ahead of teammate Sebastian Vettel (R) and Mercedes’ driver Valtteri Ibn Ajayan Trophy Ramadan T20 Cricket Hamilton, who is six points be- Bottas. (AFP) Tournament starts today hind Vettel in the title race, failed to make the cut for the top ten ando Alonso who is racing in the Ibn Ajayan Projects (IAP) will “This is a Ramadan gift from shootout, qualifying 14th after a THE GRID POSITIONS Indianapolis 500, was ninth for hold its Ramadan T20 Cricket Ibn Ajayan Projects for all miserable afternoon. 1st row: Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/ Force India), Romain Grosjean Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) McLaren ahead of his team-mate Tournament under the patron- cricket lovers in the country. “Obviously, it’s great,” said a Ferrari), Sebastian Vettel (GER/ (FRA/Haas) 8th row: Estéban Ocon (FRA/ Stoff el Vandoorne. age of the Ministry of Culture We take this opportunity to mumbling and taciturn Raik- Ferrari) 5th row: Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Force India), Jolyon Palmer Button has a 15-place grid and Sports from today until wish all residents of Qatar a konen afterwards, showing lit- 2nd row: Valtteri Bottas (FIN/ Rosso) (GBR/Renault) penalty for engine replace- June 28 at the Asian Town blessed month Ramadan filled tle emotion. “We’ll try to make Mercedes) Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 9th row: Lance Stroll (CAN/Wil- ments and that is expected to lift cricket stadium. with joy and peace.” the best of it tomorrow... Yes, of Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull 6th row: Kevin Magnussen liams), Pascal Wehrlein (GER/ Hamilton up to 13th. “I’m happy This is the third consecutive Ibn Ajayan Projects manages course it is good, but here it is all 3rd row: Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/ (DEN/Haas), Stoff el Vandoorne Sauber) enough with that,” said Button. year that Ibn Ajayan Projects the Asian Town and Labour about the fi ne details.” Red Bull) (BEL/McLaren) 10th row: Marcus Ericsson “My one and only qualifying is organising the Ramadan City workers’ accommodation “I don’t know what was wrong Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Toro Rosso) 7th row: Lewis Hamilton (GBR/ (SWE/Sauber), Jenson Button session this year and I’m ninth — T20 cricket tournament at projects in Qatar. there,” said Vettel of Mercedes’ 4th row: Sergio Perez (MEX/ Mercedes) (GBR/McLaren) but I start 20th!” Asian Town. This time, the problems. “But this is one of my Hamilton failed to make it out company is holding the tour- highlights of the season — to of Q2 when he was deprived of a nament in association with race at Monaco. It is a diffi cult rari. Hamilton was crestfallen. ilton, but it is unlikely. French- “It has been a tricky weekend late clean lap in the dying sec- QECC and Qbizz Events. one to get right, but if you do, it “The opportunity was not there man Olivier Panis’s 1996 victory for us. We lost some valuable onds. Hamilton’s hopes were ru- The tournament features 16 is great...” for me today,” he said. “I just from 14th on the grid for Ligier practice on Thursday, in FP2, ined when Belgian Stoff el Van- teams spread across four struggled with the car. came in a madcap race run in a and it was diffi cult to get a lap doorne went into the barriers at groups and there will be a ‘Yes, toasted’ “I don’t really know what to deluge and not under the blue time — and Lewis had problems the Swimming Pool exit, yellow total of 31 matches. There will Like Raikkonen, Vettel say at the moment. I’m defl ated, skies forecast here for today. with traffi c.” fl ags fl ying. one match per day at 8.30 pm stressed that he and the ‘iceman’ but will keep pushing tomorrow. Bottas, who will carry Mer- Dutch teenager Max Verstap- “That’s me out, right?” said throughout the month except would be free to race and not “That’s pretty much the cedes hopes of preventing a pen took fourth place ahead of Hamilton, deprived of a clean lap on Thursdays, when three will constrained by team orders, in weekend done. Tomorrow I will Ferrari triumph, added: “It was his Red Bull teammate Daniel and condemned to qualify 14th, be two matches - at 7.30 pm advance, at the fi rst corner. “We just be driving around in what- a really good lap for me. This is Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz of Toro one of fi ve men eliminated. and 10.30 pm. are here to race,” said the Ger- ever position. I will try to get into one of the most mentally-de- Rosso, Sergio Perez of Force “Yes, toasted,” came the reply Mohamed bin Mahdi bin man. Raikkonen, obediently, re- the top 10, but it will be a nice manding circuits and am glad I India and Romain Grosjean of as he pulled in to the pits, his Ajayan al-Ahbabi, chairman minded reporters that both men Sunday drive I imagine.” felt support from the fans and Haas. Briton Jenson Button, back chest heaving and hands waving of Ibn Ajayan Projects, said: raced for the same team — Fer- History may encourage Ham- appreciated it. from retirement to replace Fern- with frustration.

SPOTLIGHT Alonso looks to return to work with Indy 500 win

Reuters but has indicated that, while time I have worked very, very full of drama that began with Indianapolis tackling the French race would hard over the last month so I him taking P1 and ended with a be an easier leap because the cars cannot be better prepared than gun pointed to his head during a are more similar, the challenge I am. “Maybe it is not enough robbery while he was buying fast ernando Alonso will be would have to wait until after but I could not do anything more food at at a drive thru restaurant. hoping to return to his Formula One. than this.” No amount of time in Lining up alongside the popu- McLaren Formula One When the Spaniard was granted the cockpit of his McLaren An- lar New Zealander is Indianapo- day job next week with leave by McLaren to skip the Mo- dretti Autosport Honda could lis native and twice pole sitter Ed anF Indianapolis 500 victory and naco Grand Prix to chase Indy prepare Alonso for what awaits Carpenter and last year’s winner another jewel in motor racing’s 500 glory today it seemed a far- him today. Widely recognised Alexander Rossi. Triple Crown. fetched dream for a driver who as the world’s biggest single day “This is the biggest event on For over a century the Indy had never sat in an IndyCar never sporting event, drivers say there the calendar each year and it’s 500 has been a magnet to motor mind trying out oval racing on one is nothing that compares to the the one we set out to win fi rst,” racing giants and thrill seekers of the most notorious and danger- sight of 300,000 plus spectators said Dixon. “We fi nished second eager to test their skill and brav- ous tarmacs in all of motor sport. fi lling the sprawling grandstands here a couple of times and it’s ery on the sprawling 2.5 mile oval But the Spaniard, twice a for a day of high-octane action. almost the worst place to fi n- known as the Brickyard. grand prix winner on the streets Held on the Memorial Day ish when you come so close. We Dashing Spaniard Fernando of Monaco, has proven to be a holiday weekend in the heart of come here to win, and that’s the Alonso, a twice Formula One quick learner and has already the US Midwest, where the win- only goal. If we don’t achieve world champion, is the latest showcased his immense skill by ner chugs a quart of milk rather that, we’re disappointed.” driver to accept the challenge in clinically coming to grips with than expensive French Cham- Row Two will see Japan’s Ta- a one-off bid to match the late the nuances of oval racing to pagne, the Indy 500 is a unique kuma Sato and American JR Briton Graham Hill — the only qualify in fi fth place. American event. Hildebrand fl anking Alonso. man to claim the Triple Crown of “I feel ready,” declared Alonso. This year 33 drivers, includ- Brazil’s Helio Castroneves, a motor sport with victories at the “Lacking experience for sure be- ing four rookies, from 10 coun- four-time pole sitter and three- Monaco Grand Prix, Indy 500 cause (it is) my fi rst time with tries and both sexes will take time champion, signalled his and Le Mans 24 Hours race. everything that is going to hap- the green fl ag. Scott Dixon, the readiness to fi ght for an elusive The 35-year-old Alonso has pen from rolling starts and all 2008 winner, grabbed pole po- fourth win after clocking the top Chandon Honda driver Fernando Alonso during Carb day for the 101st Indianapolis 500 in Indianapolis, no experience of Le Mans either these things, but at the same sition last weekend on a Sunday speed in fi nal practice on Friday. Indiana. (Getty Images/AFP) Gulf Times Sunday, May 28, 2017 7 TENNIS

FRENCH OPEN FOCUS Injury-plagued Del Konta a real Potro confi rms for French Open contender despite AFP ter practice at Roland Garros. Paris “For me these days are for prepara- tion, to know how my body is, how I adapt to this tournament. I haven’t uan Martin del Potro, whose played for almost fi ve years and I hope career has been plagued by in- to be well on the day I play,” added the juries, confi rmed Friday that 28-year-old. clay conundrum he will compete in next week’s “It’s a tournament that I want to FrenchJ Open despite shoulder and back play, it gives me great hope to partici- concerns. pate.” Surface may not be ideal but Konta’s determination boosts her chances The giant Argentine, ranked 30 in the Del Potro, who fell in the second world, hasn’t played at Roland Garros round of this week’s ATP tournament By Kevin Mitchell since 2012 when he reached the quar- in the French city of Lyon to 125th The Guardian ter-fi nals, instead spending lengthy ranked Portuguese Gastao Elias, un- periods off court battling wrist injuries derwent tests in Paris before making a which pushed him to the brink of re- decision on whether to play the second erves can suff ocate or liber- tirement. Grand Slam of the season which starts ate and few have embraced “I’m very happy to return to Paris after today. both ends of that neurologi- fi ve years. I’m going to play this tourna- The 2009 US Open champion lost cal spectrum as dramatically ment again which is really nice and very to Roger Federer on his last appearance Nas Johanna Konta. The days when important. I hope to be in good condi- at Roland Garros fi ve years ago despite she was so gripped by anxiety that tion,” Del Potro told ESPN television af- winning the fi rst two sets. she smothered her talent near to the point of disintegration are so distant it is hard to believe it is the same person who now strides into the locker room at Roland Garros as a respected con- tender. This is her second slam as a top-10 player, although it is on her least fa- vourite surface. Nevertheless, in the absence of Serena Williams, no wild- card for Maria Sharapova and with the interim world No.1, Angelique Kerber, still prone to the jitters, Konta has mainly herself and the clay underfoot to worry about. To do otherwise would be to slip into the debilitating habits that con- sumed her when she was struggling to make a living or add even a meagre collection of points to her ranking to- tal. It took her six years to break into the top 100, in June 2014, but just an- other two months to make the top 50. Once she struck a winning rhythm, her self-belief soared. After moving inside the world’s But Konta is learning to adapt. “It’s being patient enough to build. The garded as the favourite for the French top 30, in January last year, she blos- not just that I haven’t played much on points are a bit longer here. The balls Open, she replied: “About 15 players.” somed. She was top 20 by mid-sum- the clay,” she says. “Obviously I have play diff erently off the court.” Kerber, who ought to be the logical mer and cracked the top 10 for the fi rst in the past – but it’s the level of players Technically dry, perhaps, but tow- pick but isn’t – partly because she does time last October. Three weeks ago, that I’m playing on the surface, which eringly important at the highest level. not like clay, mainly because her form is she hit a career-high No 6, although I haven’t had experience in. That’s a Konta is not a machine, though. as reliable as an opinion poll – said she she has slipped two places since. time factor. She talks as animatedly about gelato felt “not bad”. Having endured the hu- Most of her success has come on “However, as a game style, it’s more in Rome as the terre battue of Paris. miliation of a bagel recently, she added: hard courts and while clay would not of an adaptation process. Noticing She loves her food, music and driving “It’s always diff erent in grand slams. Al- be her chosen surface she does not how, for example, on the hard court, her new sponsored car. But she keeps ways. The fi rst rounds are always tough. fear it. As she said after being drawn to the movement side of it and then the an eye on all around her on one of the Everything is possible. Always.” play Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei in the fi rst way you’re able to take the ball early. most competitive circuits there has However, this fortnight more than round: “A big part of the challenge is Your general movement around the been in many years. Everyone is dan- for a long time uncertainty stalks the the time I spend on the surface, com- ball is slightly more straightforward gerous. Everyone is vulnerable. Nerves locker room. Against all expectations pared to the other ones.” than it is on the clay. abound. but her own in her darkest times, Kon- Elite athletes love the comfort of fa- “I just need to keep adapting well, When the world No.4, Simona Ha- ta can be numbered among Halep’s miliarity. They fear and abhor change. movement-wise around the ball. Also, lep, was asked in Rome whom she re- notional 15.

China’s former star Li Na joins business school SPOTLIGHT

AFP pursue a wide range of business inter- of Business (CKGSB). She has endorsed many brands Mathieu hits out at Beijing ests in my second career,” Li said in a Training since the age of 6, Li was the during her career, including as a statement. “I will be looking to develop first Asian player to win a grand slam Mercedes-Benz global brand ambas- on many levels, and making many new singles title. Her success prompted sador, and recently launched a new French federation boss hinese two-time Grand Slam friends while undertaking the rigorous rapid growth in the sport in China clothing line in partnership with Nike. champion Li Na enrolled yes- studies will also help to create more op- before she retired in 2014. CKGSB bills itself as China’s first Cterday in a prominent Beijing portunities for the future,” she added. Li’s runaway success came after she independent business school, with over wild card snub business school program for senior Li will be studying alongside 300 made the tough and controversial more than 40 professors who earned management executives. “As a retired students including famous pianist decision to split from China’s state their PhDs or held tenured positions Reuters said earlier this week. Mathieu, who athlete who has been in the tennis Zhao Yinyin in the two-year program sporting system and go it alone with at leading schools including Harvard, Paris reached the fourth round twice in Paris industry for many years, I hope to at the Cheung Kong Graduate School her own coaching set-up. Wharton and Stanford. and led Andre Agassi two sets to love in 2002 as he came close to a quarter- aul-Henri Mathieu has hit fi nals spot, hit back on Saturday. out at French federation presi- “Someone who says that knows ROUND-UP dent Bernard Giudicelli for nothing about high level,” the French- saying the 35-year-old, who man, who reached a career high rank- Pplayed some memorable matches at ing 12 in 2008, told French sports daily Roland Garros, did not deserve a wild L’Equipe. card for the French Open. “I got injured — hip and calf — and Mathieu, however, will be in the main could not play for six to eight weeks but draw after winning his three qualifi ca- that, they don’t know. I can’t under- Bertens retains Nuremberg tion matches and he will take on Bel- stand the way they acted, it was totally gian David Goffi n in the rst fi round. disrespectful.” “Enough with the farewell wild- Nine-time champion Rafa Nadal cards. ‘Paulo’ is not the future, his ca- maintains one of his biggest scare at reer is more behind than ahead of him,” Roland Garros was in a third-round 5-7 title; Stosur wins Strasbourg Giudicelli, who also denied two-time 6-4 6-4 6-4 win against Mathieu in champion Maria Sharapova a wild card 2006 that lasted almost fi ve hours. AFP take the fi rst set in 35 minutes. after she returned from a doping ban, The French Open starts today. Berlin Australia’s Samantha Stosur The second was an even quicker af- fair. Bertens, who blasted down seven aces in total to he rivals none, broke iki Bertens of the Nether- Krejcikova in the fourth game for a 3-1 lands won Nuremberg’s lead and won the next three to seal the WTA clay-court tournament second set in 23 minutes. for the second year in a row Kafter her 6-2, 6-1 victory over Barbora STOSUR BEATS GAVRILOVA Krejcikova in yesterday’s fi nal. Sam Stosur retained her Australian The 25-year-old Bertens, ranked number one position as she claimed 19th in the world, was never troubled the Strasbourg International title with by the Czech Republic’s Krejcikova. a 5-7 6-4 6-3 victory against compa- Bertens needed just 56 minutes to triot Daria Gavrilova yesterday. wrap up the title without losing a sin- On the eve of the French Open, gle set in any of her fi ve matches and Stosur, who has been the Australian which she adds to her victory at Nu- number one since October 2008, re- remberg last year. covered from a shaky start to boost Her third WTA win is the perfect her confi dence ahead of the claycourt build-up to the French Open, which grand slam in Paris, where she reached starts today. the fi nal in 2010. Bertens reached the semi-fi nals Sixth seed Stosur, 33, made a slow of Roland Garros last year — her best start, falling 3-1 behind in the open- result at a Grand Slam tournament to ing set, which Gavrilova, the seventh date — where she eventually lost to seed, claimed after another break in Serena Williams. the 11th game. “I am very happy, I did not expect to Stosur’s power was then too much win this week but I did it again,” said to handle for 23-year-old Gavrilova, Bertens following her victory. who off ered some resistance in the “I’m leaving on Sunday morning for Krejcikova, 21, who is ranked 254th early on until Bertens broke her in the second set but was completely out- Paris and I’ll be ready on Monday.” in the WTA standings, held her serve fi fth game, then won the next three to played in the decider.

Sunday, May 28, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

EQUESTRIAN / GLOBAL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - HAMBURG FOCUS Curtain down on First podium fi nish another successful Aspire Tri-Series for Doha Fursan as competition Miami Glory win ‘I saved my best horse for here, I didn’t ride him on the first day, it worked today’

Agencies Hamburg, Germany

he powerful partnership of Scott Brash and Denis Lynch delivered a faultless victory for team Miami Glory in the Global Champions By Sports Reporter ticipate in this wonderful tour- TLeague fi nal in Hamburg, even as Doha nament. Our team played against Doha Fursan Qatar’s Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al- some brilliant opponents, and Thani and Bassem Mohamed combined they were very happy to make well for their fi rst ever podium fi nish in spire Academy’s Tri- use of Aspire Academy’s incred- the event. Series drew to a close ible facilities. When it comes to Brash-Lynch came into the fi nal round after a thrilling fi nal long-term youth development, in pole position and, as some of the other week of games, con- Aspire Academy is defi nitely on teams cracked under pressure, they were cludingA yet another successful the right track and we wish them the only ones to jump four clear rounds year of competition on Aspire the best of luck for the future,” over two days of thrilling team jumping. Academy’s world-class outdoor Sao Paulo Youth Team manager In the overall GCL ranking, Hamburg pitches. Rudolfo Pinheiro Canavesi said. Diamonds — 5th here on home soil — The annual series of weekly Thailand FA U-17 head coach leapt up one more place to the top of the competitions that run through- Valero Garcia added: “Taking series leaderboard on 98 points, nudging out the year features youth teams part in this competition has been out Valkenswaard United, who drop to from all over the world compet- very good for all the teams, par- second position on 93 points. St Tropez ing against teams from Aspire ticularly for us and for the teams Pirates stay in third with 86 points, but Academy. from Aspire Academy. Compet- the London Knights are in hot pursuit Visiting teams Sao Paulo FC ing against a team from Brazil with 85 points and will be determined to (Brazil) and FA Thailand took is great experience. Brazil is a move up the rankings as the GCL moves part in last week’s competition, footballing giant – and it is very to Cannes for leg 6 next month. playing against Aspire Acad- clear why, based on the quality Doha Fursan Qatar are ninth with 71 emy’s youth teams in three age of their youth players. Their per- points after the third place fi nish in Ham- groups – players born in 1999, formance was very impressive. burg. 2000 and 2001. A team from VfB Competitions like this are very Sheikh Ali rode First Devision to keep Stuttgart (Germany) also took useful for us coaches in enabling his team in contention in third place with part, competing against a youth us to take stock, evaluate our ap- a team total of two after a time-fault Miami Glory’s Scott Brash and Denis Lynch lift the winners’ trophy, ahead of second-placed Chantilly Pegasus (left) and Doha Fursan team from Aspire Academy made proach and look at opportunities apiece from the fi rst leg on Thursday. Qatar (right) in the Hamburg leg of Global Champions League yesterday. (GCL) up of players born in 2001. for further development.” “It’s our fi rst time on the podium, I’m Brazilian Club Sao Paulo dom- On the sidelines of the football so happy. I saved my best horse for here, swapping from Hello Forever to his top Mohammed and Gunder for the Doha inated the fi nal games of the Tri- matches, coaches from the visit- I didn’t ride him on the fi rst day, and it horse Ursula XII, who loves these big are- Fursan Qatar squad made no diff erence to series tournament, with its teams ing clubs also shared their exper- worked today,” Sheikh Ali said. nas and made the track look unfeasibly the team standings, but opened a narrow winning in all three age groups. tise on a range of football-related The huge Derby arena played to the easy. Chantilly Pegasus also fi nished on margin of leeway for the fi nal two teams. Sao Paulo player Anthony Math- topics, philosophies and coach- strengths of many horses, with Madrid In a zero score thanks to Martin Fuchs and In Madrid earlier this month, Bassem had eus won the tournament’s Most ing methods. These knowledge- Motion, Vienna Eagles and Mexico Ami- Clooney 5, who upped the pace consider- secured fi fth place in the grand prix event. Valuable Player for those born in sharing sessions benefi t coaches gos all conjuring up clears from their fi rst ably today. Lauren Hough and Ohlala, represent- 1999 and 2000, scoring fi ve goals from Aspire Academy as well as representatives. As the sun baked down, the competition ing Chantilly Pegasus, set off with deter- in three matches. Meanwhile, from the Qatar Football Federa- A clear from the Hamburg Diamonds’ intensifi ed. Further down the standings, mination but, agonizingly the fi nal fence Aspire Academy’s Elite team tion who are encouraged to par- Audrey Coulter on Capital Colnardo the Berlin Lions and last week’s winners fell for this speedy pair, leaving them on a made up of players born in 1999 ticipate. helped keep the formidable squad in con- Cannes Stars each pulled a clear round out four-fault team total. achieved second place, just one The Tri-Series was established tention, while a lovely, fl owing faultless of the bag, but then fault-free perform- All eyes were then on the in-form point behind Sao Paulo with FA in 2012. Since then, it has played round from Jessica Springsteen and Cy- ances were thin on the ground until the Denis Lynch and RMF Echo, winners of a Thailand trailing in third. Ger- a vital role in the development nar V helped keep the Shanghai Swans Monaco Aces, coming through on a team class here earlier in the week, as they set man side VfB Stuttgart achieved of the youth teams at Aspire snapping at the heels of the podium- total of 12, produced a clear courtesy of out to give Miami Glory the victory they second place in their age group. Academy. The Tri-Series pro- placed teams in fourth after the fi rst Daniel Bluman with Ladriano Z. Harrie so richly deserved. This long-striding Competing against diff erent vides coaches at Aspire Academy riders all jumped. Springsteen’s team- Smolders and Don VHP Z quickly followed chestnut cruised round without ever teams from all over the world with a useful benchmark against mate Janne-Friederike Meyer praised her for the Hamburg Diamonds — a score that looking like touching a rail and their im- provides Aspire Academy’s which to evaluate and compare “amazing round”; “we have girl power would prove pivotal in the overall standings maculate clear meant victory in Hamburg youth teams with ideal learning the Academy’s student-athletes’ and the crowd behind us” said the local and put them eventual fi fth in front of their for the Irishman and the Scotsman. opportunities as well as exposure performance. rider. home crowd. So the fi fth leg resulted in an outstand- to diff erent footballing styles and Participating teams have in- Just one mistake from Laura Kraut and Barely a fence separated the top teams ing win for Miami Glory, with Chant- competition experience. In this cluded major football clubs such Deauville S saw the Rome Gladiators drop but a clear from the Rome Gladiators’ illy Pegasus second on the podium with a way, the Tri-Series tournament as Liverpool FC (England), Paris down to fi fth but immaculate clears then second rider Olivier Philippaerts and team total of 4 and Doha Fursan Qatar in is an integral part of the work As- St-Germain (France), Ajax Am- followed from each of the top three teams H&M Cabrio Van De Heffi nck kept them third with 6 faults. pire Academy does to realise its sterdam (Netherlands), Zenit to pile on the pressure for the second riders. in fourth on a team total of 8. Earlier Ol- The GCL Championship now heads to vision of becoming the world’s St. Petersburg (), Nagoya Tactics came into play again as teams ivier had competed in Round 1 on Ikker Cannes for the sixth leg, where Hamburg leading sports academy for the Grampus (Japan), Esperance de took advantage of the ability to swap going clear and the team made a strategic Diamonds will be hoping to retain their development of youth athletes Tunis (Tunisia), Sao Paulo (Bra- horses and riders during the two rounds decision to swap to Cabrio for Olivier’s overall lead and Miami Glory will be aim- by 2020. zil) and Palmeiras (Brazil) as well of the competition. Miami Glory’s Brash second crucial round. ing to continue their rise up the leader Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani rides First “We’d like to thank Aspire as national youth teams from brought out the big guns for the fi nal, One fence down for Bassem Hassan board. Devision in Hamburg. Academy for inviting us to par- Canada, Thailand and Denmark.

BOTTOMLINE TENNIS Tsonga wins fi rst M. Pallonji emerge champions in claycourt title

Reuters the Frenchman’s service. Paris The Czech had to set points day-night cricket tournament at 5-4 40-15 on Tsonga’s serve, but like he did all week, Tsonga By Sports Reporter o-Wilfried Tsonga pol- played the big points perfectly. Doha ished his preparation for “It was a very close match. I the French Open in style had a very big chance at the end by claiming his maiden of the fi rst set when I had two set . Pallonji lifted the Qalco claycourtJ title, beating Czech points, and I think that was the Day-Night Cricket Tourna- Tomas Berdych 7-6 (2), 7-5 in the key of the match,” said Berdych. ment 2017 trophy with a fi ve- Lyon Open fi nal yesterday. wicket win over Asian Crick- The second-seeded French- WAWRINKA STORMS BACK Met Club (ACC) on Thursday. man, who was playing his fi rst TO WIN GENEVA The fi nal of the tournament, which fi nal on the red dirt, held serve World number three Stan saw the top 8 teams of Division I compet- throughout and broke decisively Wawrinka stormed back from a ing on a knockout basis at Lusail Cricket in the last game to clinch his 15th set down to beat German quali- Complex, was played at MIC Sports ATP title. fi er Mischa Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 Complex in Mesaieed. Tsonga’s victory on the eve of and retain the men’s title in Ge- M. Pallonji won the toss and elected the claycourt major raised hopes neva yesterday. to fi eld fi rst, a decision that eventually that he may fi nally end the coun- The top-seeded Swiss looked proved to be a good one. try’s 34-year search for a home- frustrated early on as Zverev, ACC scored 37 runs in the fi rst 6 overs grown male champion at Roland ranked 33, broke his serve and for the loss of 1 wicket. However, ACC Garros. Yannick Noah was the went on to take the fi rst set. could not carry the momentum after that last Frenchman to lift the Mus- In front of a partisan home and wickets fell at regular intervals due to Captains of champions M. Pallonji and runners-up Asian Cricket Club pose with their respective trophies, Qalco operations director keteers’ Cup in 1983. crowd, Wawrinka jolted into life some tight bowling and excellent fi elding Shahid Iqbal Chaudhry and Qatar Veterans’ Off icials after the Qalco Day-Night Cricket Tournament 2017 final on Thursday. Tsonga had gotten off to a poor and raced to a 3-0 lead in the sec- by M. Pallonji. start in the claycourt season, ond, sending fi zzing forehands ACC were wrapped up for 78 runs in confi dently, also putting up 37 runs for the successful chase. ACC’s Sameer took lin were presented the Best Batsman and withdrawing from his second- across court and down the lines 12 overs, with Bilal and Naveed the only the loss of one wicket like their oppo- three wickets but couldn’t stop M. Pal- Bowler awards respectively, while Hanan round match at the Madrid Mas- beyond Zverev to take the set. batsmen to enter double fi gures, scoring nents did in the fi rst inning. lonji from posting a win. XII’s Imran was given the Best All Round- ters before skipping the Rome Wawrinka, who won the French 15 and 12 runs respectively. M. Pallonji chased down the target of Tissaru’s all-round performance er award. Masters with a shoulder injury. Open in 2015, dropped serve once Tissaru was the pick of the bowlers for 79 runs in 12 overs. Neeraj was the top- earned him the Man of the Finals award. Qatar Lubricants Co’s Operation di- He seems to have recovered in the fi nal set but broke Zverev M. Pallonji, scalping three wickets, while scorer for the eventual winners, with an Teammate Neeraj was adjudged Best rector Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary was the well as he produced a solid per- three times, securing the title with Firdous and Rajesh took two wickets each. unbeaten 17 (one six). Ibrahim and Tis- Wicketkeeper of the tournament. chief guest at the thrilling fi nals. He gave formance against third seed Ber- another ripping forehand for his In reply, M. Pallonji started slowly but saru scored 15 and 12 runs respectively in CCRC Warriors’ Mazhar Iqbal and Fas- away more than 150 prizes. dych, who never found the key to fi rst tournament win of the year.