RRUGBYUGBY | Page 4 FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 6 Revived Martial strike Scotland end earns United a France’s Grand derby double Slam hopes against City

Monday, March 9, 2020 CRICKET Rajab 14, 1441 AH beat GULF TIMES India to win fi ft h T20 World Cup SPORT Page 3

GOLF / COMMERCIAL BANK MASTERS Heartbreak for Drysdale as Campillo wins epic playoff Scotsman came close to his first European Tour victory in his 498th event, but Spaniard wins his second title instead

By Yash Mudgal

o rest for the weary, they say. David Drysdale knows that all too well. A struggle of nearly 21 Nyears and almost 500-odd tourna- ments continues for the Scot as, in fading light at the Education City Golf Club, Spain’s Jorge Campillo prevailed over Drysdale in an epic fi ve-hole playoff to win the Commer- cial Bank Qatar Masters yesterday. Campillo had a two-shot lead go- ing into the fi nal two holes, despite a bogey on the 16th. But a double bogey on the 17th and a par on the fi nal hole meant that he was Spain’s Jorge Campillo (right, also left with ) celebrates his win over tied with Drysdale at Scotland’s David Drysdale (left) in the playoff for the Commercial Bank Qatar 13-under to push the Masters at Education City Golf Club yesterday. PICTURES: Jayaram matters into a playoff for the second time rican Brandon Stone in a playoff in elated Campillo said. in as many weeks. the third edition of the European It is Campillo’s second title, hav- Last week, Sami Tour event. ing won his fi rst European Tour title Valimaki of Fin- Yesterday, Campillo found sand after 229 events at the Trophee Has- land overcame off the tee on the fi rst playoff hole san II in 2019. diffi cult con- but a 25-foot putt brought a birdie “I played not so good on the fi rst ditions to win which Drysdale matched from six few holes and then in the middle of the Oman feet. Another 20-footer brought an- the round I played okay. Apart from Open after other birdie for the Spaniard, with 17, I was solid. You know how the beating Drysdale even closer to the hole than mind works, I wasn’t expecting to South his previous eff ort. The duo could make a bogey on 16, on that tee shot Af- not be separated as they made rou- I was comfortable, but I was a little tine pars on the third and fourth. bit scared of the driver on 17. I missed Continuing to play the 513-yard it there and then I hit a bad putt, I 18th for the fi fth time, another putt don’t normally hit bad putts from off from beyond 20 feet brought Camp- the green. illo a birdie. But the 44-year-old “You have to be patient, you have Scot, whose wife Vicky caddies to try hard. I knew I was going to for him, missed from similar make some putts. It was a tough range for a heart-breaking win but I’m glad I pulled it off ,” the end to his campaign around 33-year-old said. ECGC. “It’s a great par four, 18, a tough It was the fourth time hole. David was hitting some great Drysdale had fi nished shots into the hole and I had to make runner-up. some putts. Three birdies out of six on “I’m just so 18 to win is something to be proud of.” proud right now Earlier, Dane Jeff Winther bogeyed of the way I the 16th and 17th to fi nish one shot played in out of the play-off alongside Swede the play- Niklas Lemke and Finn Kalle Sa- off ,” an mooja. Lemke made birdies on the second, fourth, fi fth, sixth, eighth, 11th, 13th and 14th to surge up the leaderboard but made two late bo- geys in a 65. Samooja holed very long putts on the ninth and 11th in a 69 containing four birdies and two bo- geys. Swede Alexander Bjork was at 11-under, a shot clear of countryman Marcus Kinhult, Italy’s Nino Berta- sio, South African George Coetzee, Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal and Eng- land’s Chris Paisley. India’s SSP Chawrasia, a four- time European Tour winner, fi nished tied 28th.

LEADING FINAL ROUND SCORES 271: Jorge Campillo (ESP) 66-66-67- 72, David Drysdale (SCO) 67-69-64-71 Campillo wins on fifth play-off hole 272: Niklas Lemke (SWE) 68-69-70- 65, Kalle Samooja (FIN) 70-67-66-69, Jeff Winther (DEN) 66-69-65-72 273: Alexander Bjork (SWE) 70-63- 69-71 274: Nino Bertasio (ITA) 72-69-67-66, George Coetzee (RSA) 70-68-69-67, Marcus Kinhult (SWE) 68-65-73-68, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 72-67-63-72, Chris Paisley (ENG) 69-70-67-68 275: Marcus Armitage (ENG) 67-71- 66-71, Lorenzo Gagli (ITA) 66-70-69- 70, Gavin Green (MAL) 70-69-71-65, Scott Jamieson (SCO) 67-68-69-71, Adrien Saddier (FRA) 69-70-67-69 Gulf Times 2 Monday, March 9, 2020 GOLF

FOCUS Commercial Bank, ECGC conclude a successful ‘...Qatar Masters is a premier event sponsored by Commercial Bank over the last 15 years and demonstrates Qatar Masters our support to Qatar’s Vision to be a global sports hub’

Qatar Golf Association President Hassan al-Naimi, Qatar Olympic Committee second vice-president Dr Thani al-Kuwari, QOC secretary-general Jassim al-Buenain and other off icials watch the action on the final day of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters yesterday.

Spain’s Jorge Campillo (second from right) receives the winner’s cheque for his Commercial Bank Qatar Masters victory from Commercial Bank Board member Sheikh Faisal bin Fahad bin Jassim al-Thani, Commercial Bank Group CEO Joseph Abraham (left) and Qatar Golf Association President Hassan al-Naimi (right) at Education City Golf Club yesterday.

ommercial Bank, the ti- ment on the European Tour, with the exclusive Commercial Bank to 25 years old had the chance to tle sponsor of the Com- the participation of some of the Majlis which has impeccable learn more about the game, its mercial Bank Qatar world’s top golfers. Commercial views and landscapes. Moreover, techniques and values. Masters, and Education Bank’s sponsorship of the tour- Commercial Bank’s tent show- Additionally, the Bank organ- CityC Golf Club (ECGC) have suc- nament for the 15th consecutive cased several entertainment ised a mini-golf at Doha Festival cessfully concluded a fantas- year provided not only a world- and educational activities for City, thus giving mall-goers the tic golf tournament which took class sporting tournament to vis- the visitors, where children had chance to try out golf and win ex- place at the brand-new course itors, but also a range of exciting the chance to play games while clusive gifts. from March 5-8. hospitality and entertainment for adults could watch the tourna- Through this widespread cam- After what was a truly capti- adults and children. ment and enjoy the atmosphere. paign, Commercial Bank en- vating fi nal day of the European Abraham said: “The Com- During the past month, Com- hanced public knowledge about Tour event, Commercial Bank mercial Bank Qatar Masters is a mercial Bank teamed up with golf and contributed to raising mercial Bank Qatar Masters has lar event have praised our facility to grow the game of golf here Group CEO Joseph Abraham premier European tour golf event ECGC and planned a set of ac- awareness about the sport and proven successful. Our campaign and the outstanding organisation in Qatar and become an active presented Jorge Campillo the sponsored by Commercial Bank tivities and events to raise aware- the internationally-renowned which included numerous ac- of the event.” player in the international tourist esteemed Mother of Pearl tro- over the last 15 years and dem- ness on the tournament and golf tournament. tivations and events has helped Al-Abdulla added: “The event market. And, as we look forward phy, while Board member Sheikh onstrates our support to Qatar’s itself, and create a buzz around Apropos of the tournament the public to get more familiar which was broadcasted on TVs to more successful tournaments Faisal bin Fahad bin Jassim al- Vision to be a global sports hub Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and its dedicated campaign con- with the golf and its spirit. The was fantastic and the social me- in the future, I would like to ex- Thani gave the Spaniard the win- and host to major international 2020. Several visits to schools ducted by the Bank and ECGC, tournament has been an excel- dia exposure has been remark- tend my gratitude to all of our ner’s cheque of USD 291,660. sporting events.” and universities have been or- Commercial Bank Chief Market- lent showcase for Education City able. This tournament provided proud sponsors without whom Commercial Bank Qatar Mas- VIP guests attending the tour- ganised, during which over ing Offi cer Hussein al-Abdulla Golf Club and golf in Qatar, as all us with a unique platform to we wouldn’t have achieved such ters is an annual golf tourna- nament had the chance to visit 9,000 students ranging from 3 said, “For another year, Com- the participants in this spectacu- help us accomplish our mission success.” Gulf Times Monday, March 9, 2020 3 CRICKET

FOCUS Australia crush India to win fi ft h T20 world title Lanning: I’M JUST REALLY PROUD OF THIS GROUP OF PLAYERS SPOTLIGHT Healy claims family bragging rights aft er stunning knock

Reuters total dismissals in Test cricket, ing top of the runs list with 259 Melbourne would have beamed in pride at an average of 64, the highest when his niece snaffl ed an edge total in the tournament’s seven to remove India’s 16-year-old editions. ustralia’s pugnacious prodigy Shafali Verma for two. Although Australia have won wicketkeeper-bats- Asked who had the upper plenty of global , see- woman Alyssa Healy hand now in the family, Alyssa ing 86,000 fans at the MCG has another claim for Healy wasted no time in re- was a fi rst for a team that have braggingA rights in her famous sponding. claimed almost all of their ma- cricketing family after starring “One hundred percent me,” jor silverware overseas. in her team’s fi fth Women’s she told reporters, beaming. With the attendance eas- Twenty20 World Cup triumph “I’ve been a part of a lot of ily the biggest for a women’s yesterday. successful World Cup cam- sporting event in the country, Opener Healy led from the paigns now but to do it here on it felt like a watershed moment front with a brilliant 39-ball home soil was always going to for the game and for women’s 75 as Meg Lanning’s Australia be incredibly diffi cult to do. sport in general. roared to an 85-run win in front “I guess Mitch and I are 1-1 The Australian players, for all of a crowd of 86,000 at the on that stage.” their brilliance, have long been Melbourne Cricket Ground on Healy was dropped on nine overshadowed by the men’s International Women’s Day. by fellow opener Verma at cover team and their achievements Her husband Mitchell Starc, and made sure India would pay. only belatedly recognised. fast bowler for the Austral- She scored consecutive sixes “I don’t think that anything’s ian men’s team, was among off spinner Rajeshwari Gay- ever going to top that,” said Meg Lanning of Australia and her teammates celebrate with the trophy after winning the Women’s T20 World Cup final against India at the the thrilled fans, having come akwad and later, three sixes in 29-year-old Healy, who danced MCG in Melbourne yesterday. home early from the tour of succession off the hapless me- with her team mates on stage South Africa to watch his wife dium pacer Shikha Pandey to with American pop singer Katy AFP hammer the Indian bowlers. send the terraces into delirium. Perry at the post-fi nal concert. Melbourne Five years before at the same By the time she was dis- “I hope that there are girls in SCORECARD venue, Starc bowled New Zea- missed slogging spinner Radha this side that are going to expe- AUSTRALIA INNINGS J. Rodrigues c Carey b Jonassen 0 land’s hard-hitting captain Yadav, Healy and opening part- rience that for a long period of ner Beth Mooney had put 115 on time. B. Mooney not out 78 H. Kaur c Gardner b Jonassen 4 Brendon McCullum for a duck rampant Australia emphati- in the fi nal of the one-day the board by the 12th over. “But for me I never thought cally swept to their fi fth women’s A. Healy c Krishnamurthy b R. Yadav 75 D. Sharma c Mooney b Carey 33 World Cup to set Australia on Mooney went on with the job that we would get the opportu- Twenty20 World Cup title yester- M. Lanning c Pandey b Sharma 16 V. Krishnamurthy c Jonassen b the path to a dominant win in and went off unbeaten on 78, nity to do something as cool as day, crushing India by 85 runs in front of 93,000 fans. having driven Australia to an we did today and play in front A. Gardner st Bhatia b Sharma 2 Kimmince 19 frontA of more than 86,000 fans at the Mel- Her uncle Ian Healy, who imposing 184 for four. of almost 90,000 at the MCG *R. Ghosh c Carey b Schutt 18 bourne Cricket Ground. R. Haynes b P. Yadav 4 kept wicket for Australia and Mooney was named player in a home World Cup fi nal. Alyssa Healy smashed a quick-fi re 75 and N. Carey not out 5 S. Pandey c Mooney b Schutt 2 is third on the all-time list for of the tournament after fi nish- “It’s a dream come true.” Beth Mooney an unbeaten 78 as the defend- Extras R. Yadav c Mooney b Jonassen 1 ing champions plundered an ominous 184 (b1, nb1, w2) 4 for four — the highest score ever in a wom- Total (4wickets, 20 overs) 184 P. Yadav c Gardner b Schutt 1 en’s T20 fi nal. India could only manage 99 Did not bat: Jess Jonassen, Sophie R. Gayakwad not out 1 all out in reply to end a 17-day tournament Molineux, Delissa Kimmince, Georgia *concussion substitute that reinforced Australia’s dominance, Wareham, Megan Schutt having now won fi ve of the seven World Extras (w5) 5 Cups held. Fall of wickets: 1-115 (Healy), 2-154 (Lan- Total (all out, 19.1 overs) 99 ning), 3-156 (Gardner), 4-176 (Haynes) “I’m just really proud of this group of Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Verma), 2-8 (Rod- players,” said Australian skipper Meg Lan- Bowling: Sharma 4-0-38-2, Pandey 4-0- rigues), 3-18 (Mandhana), 4-30 (Kaur), ning. “There was a lot of expectation on us, 52-0, Gayakwad 4-0-29-9, P. Yadav 4-0-30- 5-58 (Krishnamurthy), 6-88 (Sharma), 7-92 inside and out. Defi nitely some tough times 1, R. Yadav 4-0-34-1 (Pandey), 8-96 (Ghosh), 9-97 (R. Yadav), in there, but we stuck with each other, 10-99 (P. Yadav) had each other’s backs. It’s been massive, 86,000 people at the MCG, I’ve never seen INDIA INNINGS Bowling: Schutt 3.1-0-18-4, Jonassen it before and didn’t think I’d be part of it in S. Verma c Healy b Schutt 2 4-0-20-3, Molineux 4-0-21-1, Kimmince the middle,” she added. 4-0-17-1, Carey 4-0-23-1 S. Mandhana c Carey b Molineux 11 The blockbuster showdown between the Result: Australia won by 85 runs world’s top-ranked team and fast-improv- T. Bhatiya retired hurt 2 ing India was billed as the biggest in wom- en’s cricket history. A #FilltheMCG campaign was launched India had upset Lanning’s team in the Healy smashed two big sixes in succession to help bring the sport to a new generation opening game of the tournament, but they off Gayakwad before bringing up her 12th and fans responded with 86,174 attending, never got a look in yesterday. “I still have a T20 half-century. despite fears about the deadly coronavirus lot of faith in my team,” said disappointed They reached 91 without loss at the half- Alyssa Healy of Australia bats in the final yesterday. that has seen other global sporting events Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. “We way mark, with Healy then hitting three cancelled or played behind closed doors. need to focus, especially in fi elding. But I consecutive sixes off Shikha Pandey. They were targeting the offi cial world trust this team. It’s part of the game, some- Her luck fi nally ran out going for another ACHIEVEMENT record for a women’s sporting fi xture — set times you win and sometimes you lose. You big one, caught for 75 from just 39 balls. SELECTION at the 1999 football World Cup fi nal when have to keep learning.” At the other end, player-of-the-tourna- Afghanistan seal 90,185 watched the United States beat Chi- After Australia won the toss, Healy ment Mooney quietly went about her busi- T20 series win na in California — but fell just short. showed her intent with a boundary off ness to bring up her ninth T20 half-century It was nevertheless a record crowd for a Deepti Sharma’s fi rst ball. She smacked two before three late wickets fell. Pandya back, India against Ireland women’s cricket game helped by the lure of more in an eventful opening over which also India got off to a horror start with explo- pop superstar Katy Perry, who performed saw her dropped by Shafali Verma. Opening sive 16-year-old opener Verma, who has Greater Noida, India: Teen- before and after the game. Australia came partner Mooney also had an early let-off , used the tournament to announce herself, rest Rohit for South age spinner Mujeeb Ur Rah- into their sixth successive fi nal as heavy with Rajeshwari Gayakwad putting down out for two. Taniya Bhatia retired hurt after man took three wickets to help favourites, in contrast to India who were a caught and bowled chance when she was being hit on the helmet before Jemimah Ro- Afghanistan beat Ireland by 21 playing their fi rst decider. on eight. India was jittery and an aggressive drigues fell without scoring. Africa ODI series runs and claim an unassailable 2-0 series lead in the second Reuters Twenty20 international in India PAKISTAN SUPER LEAGUE Mumbai yesterday. Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat, but started slug- it-again all-rounder gishly before skipper Asghar Hardik Pandya re- turned to India’s one- Afghan’s 49 off 28 balls lifted day squad yesterday but the team to 184 for 4 from 20 Dunk powers Qalandars openerF Rohit Sharma, who is re- overs. covering from a calf injury, was Mujeeb struck early in Ireland’s left out of the three-match se- innings to claim the wickets ries against South Africa begin- of openers Paul Stirling and ning next week. Kevin O’Brien, and finished past Karachi Kings Pandya underwent back sur- with 3-38 to earn the man of Agencies 80 runs off 48 balls, Alex Hales gery in October last year and was the match. Lahore Lahore was the top scorer for Karachi in fi ne form on his return to ac- Captain Andrew Balbirnie (46) Qalandars’ Kings. tion in an invitational Twenty20 and Harry Tector (37) mount- Earlier, Multan Sultans be- tournament earlier this month. Ben Dunk (R) ed a recovery but it was not ahore Qalandars’ revival hits a shot as came the fi rst team to ensure Opener Shikhar Dhawan also continued in the Paki- Karachi Kings’ qualifi cation to the playoff s as returned after a shoulder injury enough, with Ireland finishing stan Super League as wicketkeeper they thumped Islamabad Unit- kept him out of the team’s recent New Zealand. on 163-6. they thrashed Karachi Chadwick ed in a rain reduced nine-over tour of New Zealand. India begin their series against “Happy to win the series. We LKings by eight wickets for their match in Rawalpindi. Fellow opener Rohit, however, South Africa in Dharamsala on focused on some strike rota- Walton looks third win in the tournament. on in Lahore. The nine wicket victory fur- continues to be sidelined by the Thursday, followed by match- tion before going for quick The Qalandars easily chased ther consolidated Sultans’ stay injury which cut short his tour of es in Lucknow (March 15) and runs,” Afghan told Cricinfo down the 188-run target, scor- at the top of the HBL PSL 2020 New Zealand. Kolkata (March 18). after the match. ing 190 for the loss of just two points table. Swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Ireland captain Andrew Balbi- wickets with fi ve balls to spare. Kumar, who was sidelined with a India’s ODI squad: Shikhar rnie said his team needed to Ben Dunk’s 99-run knock off Scores in brief hernia last year, was also back in Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Virat build on its strong starts. 40 balls was the highlight of Islamabad United 91 for 7, 9 the Virat Kohli-led side. Kohli (captain), KL Rahul, Manish “We started pretty well but you the innings. The winners got off overs (Colin Munro 25, Luke India dropped opener Mayank Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh to a poor start and lost opener Ronchi 18; Imran Tahir 2-13, Agarwal, middle order batsman Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra have to be good for the whole Fakhar Zaman in the fi rst over Junaid Khan 2-17) Kedar Jadhav, all-rounder Shi- Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 20 overs... The series is now bowled by Mohamed Amir. Multan Sultans 94 for 1, 6.4 vam Dube and quicks Shardul Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit gone but it’s a big year and Sohail Akhtar, who remained as he fi rst built a 48-run part- the ninth over, Akhtar built a overs (James Vince 61 not out, Thakur and Mohamed Shami Bumrah, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep we need to focus on the third not out with 68 off 46 balls, was nership with Mohamed Hafeez 140-run stand with Dunk. Zeeshan Ashraf 16; Shadab from the squad which lost 3-0 in Yadav, Shubman Gill. game,” Balbirnie added. one of the stars of today’s match (16). After Hafeez walked off in With an impressive knock of Khan 1-30) Gulf Times 4 Monday, March 9, 2020 SPORT

CYCLING/ -NICE Schachmann claims rain-hit stage 1 victory AFP says Schachmann, who had been “It’s my hardest race so far this Evenepoel. Today, the second Plaisir, France entered in the Tirreno-Adriatico season. I did not have great legs but stage heads south in a fl at 166.5 stage race. in the end, I felt that in spite of the kilometre run from Chevreuse to The Race to the Sun began in pain, I still had some strength left Chalette-sur-Loing that favours aximilian Schachmann miserable northern French late to make it back on the two leaders sprinters. won the opening stage winter weather. The rain made the in the last stretch.” in the Paris-Nice yes- course treacherous. Two of the Bardet fi nished 2:42 behind the FIRST STAGE RESULTS terday, taking a fran- French favourites, Warren Barguil winner. 1. Maximilian Schachmann (GER/ Mtic four-man sprint at the end of a and Romain Bardet suff ered costly “A place in the top fi ve has be- Bor a) 3hr 32min 19sec, 2. Dylan Te- dank day’s racing through northern falls. come diffi cult to envisage,” said uns (BEL/BAH) same time, 3. Tiesj France. Bardet, who rides for AG2R Vincent Lavenu, the head of the Benoot (BEL/SUN) s.t., 4. Julian Schachmann, a German who Mondial, lost more than two min- AG2R team, adding that there was Alaphilippe (FRA/DEC) at 3sec, 5. rides for Bora, edged two Belgians utes. Barguil, of Arkea-Samsic, was a silver lining on a cloudy day. “In Cees Bol (NED/SUN) 15 sec, 6. Nils Dylan Teuns and Tiesj Benoot. disqualifi ed for slipstreaming the the tough stages, he will have more Politt (GER/ISR) s.t., 7. Giacomo Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe was car of his team’s sporting director freedom. We’re going to try for Nizzolo (ITA/NTT) s.t., 8. Sergio three seconds back in fourth at the Yvon Caer. some individual exploits.” Higuita (COL/EF1) s.t., 9. Felix fi nish of a 154-kilometre loop that Alaphilippe, who rides for De- Caer and Barguil were fi ned. Grossschartner (AUT/BOR) s.t., 10. began and ended in Plaisir on the ceuninck, and Benoot of Sunweb, “The rules and laws are there to Yves Lampaert (BEL/DEC) s.t. outskirts of Paris. were the last survivors of a group be applied, but sometimes there Schachmann collected a 10-sec- of 16 riders created when the pack is also the spirit,” said Arkea team Overall standings ond bonus for victory and the over- split after a crash at a roundabout boss Emmanuel Hubert. “He was 1. Maximilian Schachmann (GER/ all lead. after 90 kilometres. groggy after his fall and did not yet Bora) 3hr 32min 19sec, 2. Dylan The opening day of the race, At 124 kilometres, Alaphilippe know which decision to take. Teuns (BEL/BAH) at 2sec, 3. Tiesj which went ahead while competi- and Benoot escaped. The pack gave “The only aim was to help him Benoot (BEL/SUN) 4sec, 4. Julian tions in Italy were cancelled, was chase but only Schachmann and recover his spirits and get him back Alaphilippe (FRA/DEC) 7sec, 5. marked by preventive measures re- Teuns of Bahrain McLaren could in the race, if possible.” Pello Bilbao (ESP/BAH) 24sec, 6. lated to the coronavirus, including catch them. Schachmann, 26, won three Rudy Molard (FRA/FDJ) same time, limiting contact with the riders for “On the last climb I went with stages of the Tour of the Basque 7. Cees Bol (NED/SUN) 25sec, 8. the public and the media. Dylan and we bridged across. It was Country last year. He fi nished sec- Nils Politt (GER/ISR) s.t., 9. Giacomo “I planned to go to Italy but a crazy last corner but somehow I ond in the recent Tour of the Al- Nizzolo (ITA/NTT) s.t., 10. Sergio German rider Maximilian Schachmann celebrates on the podium after winning the 154km 1st France has turned out pretty well,” managed it,” Schachmann said. garve in Portugal to Belgian Remco Higuita (COL/EF1) s.t. stage of the 78th Paris-Nice yesterday. (AFP)

RUGBY/ SIX NATIONS GAME SPOTLIGHT French teams in Abu Dhabi hotel Revived Scotland leave quarantine

Reuters cleared and allowed to leave the Dubai country and return to France, it said. Organisers are still work- ing with authorities on the re- wo French cycling maining teams, to ensure they end France’s Grand teams confi ned to a are coronavirus free before luxury Abu Dhabi ho- lifting the quarantine, WAM tel due to coronavi- added. ‘We wanted to put in a performance Trus concerns left quarantine “We are already at the air- yesterday, state news agency port, going home,” a member to inspire the nation and hopefully WAM reported, a week before of Cofi dis team told Reuters an initial date set by the Gulf yesterday morning. we’ve done that today’ state’s health authorities. The W Abu Dhabi Hotel Slam hopes Members of the French confi rmed that some guests teams Cofi dis and Groupama- have been allowed to leave but FDJ as well as Russian outfi t others will remain in quaran- Gazprom — including 18 rid- tine as per directions of the ers — had been confi ned to UAE’s health authorities. the fourth fl oor of the W Abu “We will resume normal Dhabi Hotel since February 27. operations as soon we have Last week, they were instruct- clearance from the health au- ed to remain in quarantine un- thorities,” a spokesperson of til March 14. the hotel said, declining to give Emirati authorities ordered more details, referring ques- the lockdown of the Crowne tions to local authorities. Plaza in Yas Island and the The health ministry said nearby W hotel after two Ital- last week that six new cases ian participants involved in of coronavirus relating to the last month’s UAE Tour were cycling event had been discov- suspected of contracting coro- ered. They were identifi ed as navirus. Russian, Italian, German and Tests carried out on mem- Colombian nationals but it was bers of the Cofi dis and not clear if they had been con- Groupama-FDJ teams, includ- fi ned to W Abu Dhabi hotel. ing their administrative and The Crowne Plaza hotel said technical staff , were negative the lockdown of its premises and showed they are not in- ended on February 29. fected by the virus, WAM re- A manager of the Cofi dis ported, citing a statement from team threatened to go on hun- the UAE Tour’s organising ger strike tomorrow if authori- committee. ties did not allow his team to The two teams have been leave the country.

Wales captain calls for action against Marler Wales captain Alun Wyn ref about anything, it feels. Jones called on World Rugby, “I look at the touch judge, the sport’s governing body, obviously he didn’t see what to review an incident during happened and that’s fine. his side’s 33-30 Six Nations There’s a lot of footage that Scotland’s players celebrate with the Auld Alliance Trophy after winning their Six Nations match against France at in Edinburgh yesterday. (Reuters) defeat to England on Satur- has been shown, it seems day when opposition prop like a lot of supporters saw Reuters Scotland’s win sends them up lost their new linchpin Romain Joe Marler appeared to grab what happened. Edinburg to third in the Championship ta- Ntamack early to a head injury him around the groin area. “It’s very frustrating that we ble, an encouraging turnaround after seeing powerhouse re- After just 10 minutes of the talk a lot about TMOs and after a hapless start to the cam- placement hooker Camille Chat Twickenham game a melee footage reviews, yet there red card for a moment paign that saw arguably their limp off in the warm-up. broke out when Wales had a doesn’t seem to be a lot of it of recklessness by Mo- best player Finn Russell walk But their misery was equally try disallowed for a George happening.” hamed Haouas ended out of the squad after a spat with self infl icted, as in addition to North knock-on, and the inci- Jones was asked whether France’s hopes of a Six coach . Haouas’s moment of madness dent was caught on camera. the incident should be taken NationsA yesterday, Champions Wales meanwhile they spilled passes, infringed “What would you do?” Jones lightly or treated as a more as they lost 28-17 to a clinical have slumped to fi fth in the table repeatedly in the loose and even said in a post-match media serious matter. Scotland in a meltdown with with only a solitary win, piling came off second best at scrum conference when asked “I think it needs to be taken echoes of their ill-disciplined the pressure on for their game time. about the incident. “I’ve got in the context of the game,” exit from the World Cup last Oc- against resurgent Scotland in They were in truth lucky not 138 Tests for my country. If Jones added. “But with tober. Cardiff on Saturday. to have suff ered a red card ear- I react, I get a red card. It’s regards to the judicial panel Scotland’s victory, secured lier in the game when Francois tough, isn’t it? that rugby has surrounding with two tries for Sean Mait- RED CARD Cros tipped Grant Gilchrist onto “Hopefully World Rugby each game, as players — re- land and one by Stuart McI- Yesterday’s game at Murray- his head in a tackle, the French have a look at it. Joe’s a good moving myself and Joe from nally, means no team can next fi eld turned on the expulsion in fl anker escaping with a yellow bloke, lots of things happen this and the game itself — Saturday win the most chaotic the 33rd minute of Haouas for card. on a rugby field. It’s diff icult that’s what we need to focus Six Nations in recent memory, throwing a punch, in an echo of as a captain these days on. Not the incident or the thanks to the postponement of Sebastien Vahaamahina’s red for SCOTLAND INSPIRED Scotland’s Sean Maitland scores their first try yesterday. (Reuters) because you can’t speak to a individual.” Reuters Italy’s remaining fi xtures due to an elbow in France’s World Cup Scotland, playing in a gar- coronavirus. quarter-fi nal defeat by Wales in ish powder blue change strip, ended in the right-hand corner. a jinking break down the left, England are in pole position, last year. seemed a diff erent side from the Stuart McInally then brought before quicksilver scrumhalf however, assuming they claim a French prop Haouas swung his outfi t that had fumbled so many the rain-drenched home fans to Antoine Dupont found Damian bonus point and score heavily as fi st at Jamie Ritchie’s head amid scoring chances earlier in the their feet again as he scooped up Penaud with a pinpoint cross- expected whenever they do get a wider melee to leave the match tournament. a bouncing ball from his own lin- fi eld kick to the corner. to play their remaining fi xture offi cials with little choice, al- Maitland struck his fi rst after eout to romp over the line. That was as good as it got for against bottom-ranked Italy. though man of the match Ritchie a break from Adam Hastings, “We wanted to put in a per- the visitors, however, barring a France’s failure to secure even said he bore Haouas no ill will whose clinical goalkicking had formance to inspire the nation late consolation try for captain a bonus point leaves them tied after the fi nal whistle. earlier punished France for their and hopefully we’ve done that Charles Ollivon. on 13 points with England, and “It’s international rugby, tem- relentless infringements at the today,” Hogg said. In the weekend’s other game, probably needing a big win over pers get heated and it’s a physical scrum and breakdown. France took until the 33rd England beat Wales 33-30 at Ireland in their last game. game,” he said when asked about The winger then bagged his minute to show a glimpse of the Twickenham on Saturday in a Ireland are also still in the title the incident. second try after Stuart Hogg attacking fi nesse of their previ- clash marred by a red card for hunt with nine points and a game Les Bleus were in trouble even slipped Chris Harris into space ous games, but it was worth the try-scorer Manu Tuilagi and an in hand, but need to beat France before the card. down the left, with the centre wait. unsavoury moment when prop England’s Joe Marler (second left) in action during their Six in Paris and then win their post- Their collapse was partly bursting through to feed Ali Price Replacement fl yhalf Mathieu Joe Marler grabbed Alun Wyn Nations match against Wales on Saturday. (Reuters) poned fi xture against Italy. the result of bad luck, as they in a swashbuckling attack that Jalibert lit the touchpaper with Jones’s groin. Gulf Times Monday, March 9, 2020 5 SPORT

NBA NHL Lightning top Bruins in brawl-fi lled game Curry-less Warriors Reuters coach Todd Richards was also Los Angeles ejected from the bench. Tensions fl ared again at pe- riod’s end, and Nick Ritchie ndrei Vasilevskiy and Blake Coleman were held on with 35 saves tossed. throughout a tumul- Killorn’s power-play goal tuous night as the on a torso-level redirect at rally to beat 76ers, TampaA Bay Lightning beat the 1:08 of the third made it 4-2 host Boston Bruins, 5-3, on Tampa Bay. Pastrnak an- Saturday. swered with a power-play Anthony Cirelli and Mikhail one-timer at 6:37 but was lat- Sergachev scored short-hand- er denied the tying goal by Va- ed, and Cedric Paquette and silevskiy on a solo breakaway. Alex Killorn also tallied as the Kucherov’s empty-netter Lightning won for just the with 1:02 left sealed the Cavs hold off Nuggets third time in their last eight result. games. Nikita Kuch- erov added an emp- RESULTS THE VICTORY SNAPPED A 10-GAME HOME LOSING STREAK FOR THE WARRIORS ty-netter. Charlie McAvoy, Carolina 4-2 Islanders Sean Kuraly and Dav- Washington 2-1 Pittsburgh id Pastrnak scored for the Bruins, who had a Nashville 4-0 Dallas four-game winning Los Angeles 3-2 Minnesota streak snapped. Tu- Tampa Bay 2-1 Boston ukka Rask made 20 saves. Florida 6-3 Montreal The teams com- New Jersey 4-0 Rangers bined for 94 penalty Philadelphia 3-2 Buff alo minutes after play- ing four days earlier Ottawa 2-1 San Jose in a 2-1 Boston win at Edmonton 6-3 Columbus Tampa Bay. Barclay Goodrow got it started on an PANTHERS TOP HABS elbow to the head of Ondrej On a night in which a great Kase at 5:01 of the fi rst period, goalie was honored, Chris and the Bruins went on the Driedger was pretty good, too, power play. making 33 saves and leading But it was the Lightning the host Florida Panthers to a who scored seven seconds in 4-1 win over the Montreal Ca- when Cirelli got the puck off nadiens on Saturday night. the faceoff and went top shelf Prior to the game, the Pan- to fi nish off a breakaway at thers retired former goalie 5:08. Sergachev then struck on Roberto Luongo’s No 1 jersey. a feed from Yanni Gourde from Luongo, who is third in NHL behind the net for a 2-0 lead at history with 489 wins, became 6:10. the fi rst player in Panthers Boston continued to go af- history to have his number re- ter Goodrow, culminating in a tired. fi ght between him and Chris Saturday’s game was score- Wagner at 10:45. Play calmed, less midway through the sec- and the Lightning took a 3-0 ond period, but then Lucas lead when Paquette was left Wallmark, Mackenzie Weegar, alone in front of the net at 6:50 Jonathan Huberdeau and Mike of the second. Hoff man scored for the Pan- Chaos ensued as the Bru- thers. Driedger, 25, improved ins rallied. On a four-on-four to 6-2-1 in just his 10th career after off setting roughing mi- start. nors, McAvoy scored at the For Wallmark, it was his tail end of a triangle breakout fi rst goal as a member of the up ice at 14:50. Kuraly’s goal Panthers, in his sixth game trickled through the legs of since he was acquired from the Vasilevskiy with 1:23 left in Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. the period, but it wasn’t until 24. Golden State Warriors forward Eric Paschall (left) shoots the ball over Philadelphia 76ers forward Mike Scott (centre) in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports 1:06 that the horn sounded af- This game was selected for ter initial confusion regarding Luongo’s ceremony because Reuters game on a three-point play by Glenn Rob- utes, allowing Denver to go up 93-90. Sex- whether the puck crossed the he is a Montreal native. Luon- RESULTS Los Angeles inson III with 1:59 left in the third quarter. ton ended the drought with a pair of free line before being cleared. go retired after last season. But the Warriors never lost touch, hang- throws with 5:50 left, and that started a At the sound of the horn, The star-studded goalie Charlotte 108-99 Houston ing within 90-82 at the end of the third be- 10-0 run that put Cleveland ahead 100-93 Boston’s Zdeno Chara got tan- matchup of Florida’s Sergei illanova product Eric Paschall Utah 111-105 Detroit fore fi nally catching up at 106-all on Lee’s with 2:50 remaining. It was 104-99 after gled up with the Lightning’s Bobrovsky against Montreal’s capped a 23-point perform- Cleveland 104-102 Denver hoop with 3:42 to play. Love hit a shot, but Harris drained a corner Pat Maroon, Cirelli subse- Carey Price - which would’ve ance with a pair of go-ahead Memphis 118-101 Atlanta All nine Warriors who saw action scored, 3-pointer to make it a two-point game with quently blindsided Chara with been expected less than one free throws with 51.7 seconds including seven in double fi gures. Marquese 41.3 seconds left. Thompson missed two a check to the back and a melee week ago - never happened. Vremaining on Saturday night, as the Gold- Golden State 118-114 Philadelphia Chriss had 13 points and a game-high-tying free throws with 20 seconds to go, but Mur- ensued. Kuraly and Erik Cer- Bobrovsky is out due to a low- en State Warriors outscored the visiting Sacramento 123-111 Portland 10 rebounds, while also fi nding time for a ray missed an 11-foot fadeaway at the buzzer nak were tossed for miscon- er-body injury, and Price was Philadelphia 76ers 118-114 in San Fran- career-high eight assists. that would have sent it to overtime. duct, and Lightning assistant rested. cisco in a nationally televised game that after Lee forged a 106-all deadlock with a Al Horford collected 22 points, 10 re- The Cavaliers trailed 61-58 at halftime featured more star power on the sidelines fl oater with 3:42 to go. bounds and a team-high seven assists for but grabbed their fi rst lead in the opening than on the court. Harris gave Philadelphia its last lead at the 76ers, who beat Golden State 115-104 in minutes of the third quarter. Osman and Damion Lee, a Drexel alum who is an- 114-113 with a long 3-pointer with 1:31 re- an earlier meeting in Philadelphia. Sexton scored fi ve points each in the fi rst other of Golden State’s Philadelphia con- maining. But the 76ers, in losing for the fi fth 3:03 to give Cleveland a 72-67 lead. The nection, had a game-high-tying 24 points, time in their last eight games, never scored CAVS SWEEP SEASON SERIES Cavs enjoyed a six-point advantage after including a key three-point play with 1:40 again. Kevin Love scored 27 points, Collin Sexton another 3-pointer from Osman. to play that turned a one-point defi cit into Meanwhile, Paschall’s free throws put had 25 and the host Cleveland Cavaliers beat Denver climbed within a point on a free a two-point lead. Golden State up for good, after which My- the Denver Nuggets 104-102 on Saturday throw by Harris with 4:16 left in the third, The Warriors learned during the day chal Mulder fi nished off a season-best night. but the Cavaliers stretched the lead to 83-78 that Stephen Curry would be joining fellow 18-point night by making 3 of 4 free throws. Cedi Osman added 20 points, Tristan a minute later. Monte Morris’ fl oater in the former All-Star teammates Klay Thompson The win snapped a 10-game home losing Thompson had nine points and 13 rebounds, fi nal seconds of the period cut Cleveland’s and Draymond Green out of action because streak for the Warriors. and Matthew Dellavedova had seven points lead to 85-83 heading into the fourth. of an illness. Curry had returned from a 58- Seeking a second straight win in North- and 14 assists for Cleveland, which swept Michael Porter Jr.’s layup tied it on the game absence because of a broken left hand ern California after winning 125-108 at the season series against the Nuggets and fi rst possession, but a 3-pointer by Love and on Thursday. Sacramento on Thursday, the 76ers scored ended a four-game skid. a putback dunk from Larry Nance Jr made it Tobias Harris matched Lee’s point total the game’s fi rst seven points and held the Will Barton scored 22 points, Gary Harris 90-85 in favour of the Cavs. with 24 for the 76ers, who likewise were upper hand for most of the game’s fi rst 44 had 18 and Jamal Murray added 17 for Den- The Nuggets led by as many as 11 in the without three injured starters — Joel Em- minutes. ver. Nikola Jokic had just eight points but fi rst quarter and by three at intermission biid, Ben Simmons and Josh Richardson. The visitors led by as many as seven in added eight rebounds and eight assists. despite just six points from Jokic in the fi rst Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (left) and Tampa Bay After the 76ers led most of the way, the each of the fi rst two periods, before taking The Cavaliers led by fi ve early in the half. Barton had 15 and Harris 12 in the fi rst Lightning defenceman Braydon Coburn battle for the puck during game had three ties and fi ve lead changes their fi rst double-digit advantage of the fourth but went cold for nearly fi ve min- half to lead the way. the third period at TD Garden. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports

BASEBALL Yankees slugger Judge to miss two weeks with rib fracture Yelich signs nine-year deal with Brewers New York Yankees star bones healing and then outfielder Aaron Judge will hopefully we’ll have an idea Reuters waukee and playing the game that I love miss the next two weeks what it looks like.” Los Angeles for this amazing city,” Yelich said. of Major League Baseball Boone said the injury likely The Brewers acquired Yelich, now 28, pre-season games with a dates to the end of the 2019 from the Miami Marlins in exchange fractured right rib, manager regular season when Judge tar outfi elder Christian Yelich for four prospects in January 2018. He Aaron Boone said Friday. hit the ground making a signed a nine-year contract won the National League Most Valu- Only then will the Yankees diving catch. extension with the Milwaukee able Player award that season and fi n- reassess the status of the “It’s probably an injury that Brewers on Friday. ished runner-up for the award to Cody 27-year-old slugger and a dates back to September SWhile the team did not announce the Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers in timetable of when he might when he dove, we think,” fi nancial terms, multiple reports said 2019. be able to return, with Boone said. “It shows signs the contract is worth $215mn. It runs Last season, Yelich topped the league surgery not off the table for of healing, so we will give through 2028 with a mutual option for with a.329 average, a.429 on-base per- the two-time All-Star. it the next couple of weeks 2029. The extension reportedly added centage and a.671 slugging percentage Judge was diagnosed with and then we will retest it to seven years and $190mn to Yelich’s ex- that also led the majors. He hit 44 hom- a stress fracture in his first show how much healing is isting contract. ers and 97 RBIs before his campaign right rib, Boone said, after going on.” “Since becoming a Brewer, Chris- ended Sept 10 due to a broken kneecap. doctors gave him numerous While Boone wouldn’t rule tian has established himself as one of Yelich also led the NL in batting with tests, including shoulder out surgery, he said that it the premier players in our game,” said a.326 average during his MVP season MRIs, to try and discover was less likely if the rib heals David Stearns, the team’s president when he had 36 homers and 110 RBIs. what was causing him well. of baseball operations, in a news re- “I really enjoy this city and it’s some- trouble. “You could do surgery at lease. “Today’s agreement ensures that where that I’m very passionate about,” “A lot of tests to get,” Boone some point to remove the Christian will continue to lead our team Yelich said Friday. “I don’t have any said. “It’s a tough diagnosis rib so I wouldn’t say that’s off and impact our community for the bet- visions or aspirations, really, of going to find, so that’s what we’re the table,” Boone said. “You ter part of the next decade.” anywhere else. I had to pick and choose dealing with. wouldn’t want to go do that The deal is the biggest in team his- where I want to play, I would pick and “We’ll reassess in two weeks right now, especially if the tory. choose to play here. My two years here where he’s at as far as the bones heal.” AFP “I am excited to be staying in Mil- have been that special.” Gulf Times 6 Monday, March 9, 2020 FOOTBALL

EPL SPOTLIGHT Lampard hails his returning heroes as Martial strikes as Chelsea hammer hapless Everton

Reuters London young prospects who have bro- United beat City ken into the team this season. But Lampard paid particular helsea coach Frank tribute to the returning former Lampard turned a selec- stalwarts who had endured frus- tion crisis into a golden trations earlier in the season. Copportunity for half a “That is what we need. That’s dozen players who have strug- football, whether you’re four gled to make Premier League ap- months from the end of your for derby double pearances this season but starred contract, no matter if you were in the 4-0 thrashing of Everton out of the team for a month,” he Liverpool are now just a maximum of two wins away from the title yesterday. said. You have to train every day, Lining up at kick-off were full pelt. You have to be a bril- AFP three veterans who have failed liant team mate and when you Manchester, United Kingdom to even make the substitutes’ come in you have to try and con- bench at times recently — Span- tribute.” iards Pedro and Marcos Alonso The Chelsea coach praised anchester United and France striker Olivier Gir- 33-year-old Giroud for focus- completed a fi rst oud. ing on the job even when a move Premier League dou- They were joined by mid- away from Stamford Bridge was ble over Manches- fi elder Ross Barkley and goal- blocked by Chelsea’s failure to Mter City for 10 years as Anthony keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga who sign another striker in January. Martial and Scott McTominay have recently languished on the “I’ve got complete respect for punished two errors from visit- sidelines after struggling to live him for that and now he’s play- ing goalkeeper Ederson for a 2-0 up to their big-money moves to ing really well on the pitch,” he win at Old Traff ord yesterday. Chelsea. said. Victory keeps United hot on Giroud, standing in for injured Lampard added that he was the heels of Chelsea for a top- fi rst-choice striker Tammy Ab- not getting carried away by four fi nish in the Premier League raham, scored Chelsea’s fourth Chelsea’s recent return to form, just three points behind the goal while Barkley provided including a 2-0 win over Liver- Blues in fi fth place, which could passes for two other strikes. pool in the FA Cup fi fth round on be good enough for Champions Lampard also gave a fi rst Pre- Tuesday which featured many of League football next season. mier League start to 18-year-old the players involved in Sunday’s Outgoing English champions anchor Billy Gilmour in the ab- thumping of Everton. City are banned from European sence of experienced midfi elders He warned his players that the football for the next two years N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovac- battle for the fourth Champions pending an appeal to the Court ic, who were both injured, and League spot — which Chelsea of Arbitration for Sport, and on Jorginho who was suspended. currently occupy — remained this display seem to already be Two more teenagers who alive. “I don’t think we are there concentrating on completing a joined Chelsea as youngsters — yet,” Lampard said. “To think treble of cup competitions this Faustino Anjorin and Armando that we are there and to think that season. Broja — came on in the second we are over the issues that we A seventh league defeat of the half to make their league debuts, have had here at home... would campaign for City means Liver- following on the heels of other be over-confi dent.” pool are now just a maximum of two wins away from claiming a fi rst league title in 30 years. City dominated possession early on, but lacked their nor- mal potency without the injured Kevin De Bruyne as United cre- ated the better chances on the counter-attack. Manchester United’s Anthony Martial celebrates scoring against Manchester City yesterday. The January signing of Bruno Fernandes has been key to Unit- characteristic error from Eder- diving when he appeared to have Moments later Ederson es- tion on Riyad Mahrez’s cross and ed’s 10-game unbeaten run and son that gifted United the lead. been taken down inside the area caped gifting another goal as a De Gea got down well to deny the Portuguese’s fi rst impact Fernandes was the creator by Nicolas Otamendi. routine backpass rolled under Gabriel Jesus. in the game put Daniel James again with a scooped free-kick United fans were frustrated his foot and the former Ben- However, where United may through, but the Welshman fi red to pick out the Frenchman and VAR did not intervene on that fi ca stopper needed to produce have buckled earlier in the sea- too close to Ederson. his shot squeezed under Eder- occasion and when it did early in a last-ditch tackle on Martial to son, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men Martial also allowed the Bra- son’s right hand and crept in at the second half, City were nearly deny United breathing space. held fi rm to record a third win in zilian to make a comfortable save the near post. the benefi ciaries. City then slowly started to up four meetings with City this sea- Chelsea’s English head coach Frank Lampard salutes the fans after with a clear sight of goal after Confi dence was now fl owing Sergio Aguero was fl agged the pressure. Phil Foden’s long- son. McTominay sealed the three his team’s win over Everton yesterday. outmuscling Fernandinho. through United as Fernandes off side long before he fi red past range drive forced De Gea into a points deep into stoppage time City’s defensive defi ciencies headed wide at the end of an ex- David de Gea, but the Argentine fi ngertip save. when he strode onto a wayward have allowed Liverpool to streak cellent team move before Fred was only fractionally off when Raheem Sterling then could throw by Ederson to steer the FOCUS 25 points clear. But it was an un- was controversially booked for the move was reviewed. not stretch to get a good connec- ball into an unguarded net.

SERIE A Bayern go clear at top as Bundesliga Genoa stun AC Milan at empty faces virus threat AFP under manager Hansi Flick. Berlin Since Flick took over, Mueller has scored six Bundesliga goals and assisted 12 more in 15 games. San Siro to boost survival hopes homas Mueller scored Augsburg had several chances as Bayern Munich to equalise on the counter. Their opened up a four-point best opportunity came when Tlead at the top of the Florian Niederlechner had two Bundesliga with a 2-0 vic- bites at the cherry just two yards tory over Augsburg at the Al- from goal in the 80th minute. lianz Arena yesterday, while He had his fi rst eff ort saved the spread of the coronavirus by Manuel Neuer and was un- An empty San Siro stadium where threatened to curtail the season. able to take advantage of a fortu- Genoa beat AC Milan yesterday. Bayern lacked fl uency in the nate bounce from the rebound, opening stages despite scor- shooting straight into the des- ing 13 goals in their previous perate Bayern defence. three Bundesliga games, but Niederlechner found the back did enough to edge closer to an of the net in the 89th minute, eighth straight title. but the goal was later ruled out German health minister Jens for a marginal off side near the Spahn yesterday called for the halfway line. cancellation of all gatherings of Leon Goretzka put the game Reuters Siro yesterday. The visitors raced into a iconic stadiums and fell to their fi rst home moved above Lecce and into 17th place more than 1,000 people in the beyond doubt with a goal in Milan two-goal lead before halftime after Goran defeat since Nov 3. on 25 points. At the Stadio Luigi Fer- country over fears surrounding second-half stoppage time after Pandev and Francesco Cassata both All Serie A matches are to be played raris in Genoa, a late double from Fa- the spread of the new corona- being expertly fed by Serge Gna- turned in crosses from close range. behind closed doors until April 3 as part bio Quagliarella earned Sampdoria a 2-1 virus. bry before dribbling the ball past elegation-battling Genoa Milan rallied after the break as Zlatan of measures introduced by the Italian comeback win over Hellas Verona that But the German league im- keeper Andreas Luthe. moved out of the Serie A drop Ibrahimovic pulled one back, but they government to tackle the coronavirus ended the visitors’ nine-match unbeaten mediately reacted, insisting that Mueller blamed his side’s zone thanks to a surprise 2-1 win could not fi nd an equaliser in an eerie at- outbreak. The result leaves Milan in sev- league run and kept the hosts one point it was “out of the question” that slow start on “a failure to invest Rover AC Milan at an empty San mosphere at one of Italian football’s most enth place on 36 points, while Genoa above the relegation zone in 16th place. the season would be delayed be- in running — both on and off the yond its scheduled fi nish on May ball” but praised his teammates 16, a week before the German for coming out “more forcefully Cup fi nal. in the second half”. Cases of Covid-19 in the “We didn’t show the killer Serie A ignores sports minister’s request to call off games country reached close to 850 on mentality that we’ve shown Rome: Italy’s Serie A league was sacrifices.” The Italian govern- kickoff in the day’s opening After a delay of 35 minutes, the AIC reiterated in a statement Sunday. in recent weeks. We can thank criticised by the country’s sports ment decreed on Thursday that match behind closed doors with it was announced the match its belief that football must be Bayern extended their un- Manu (Neuer) that it didn’t go to minister Vincenzo Spadafora sporting events could go ahead the players in the tunnel ready would start 75 minutes after the stopped as soon as possible. beaten run to 15 games despite 1-1 in the 80th minute,” Mueller yesterday for being “irresponsi- if they were played without fans, to start the game. scheduled kickoff time. “The signals that the sporting starting slowly. told Sky. ble” after ignoring his request to which Spadafora acknowledged. Spadafora posted on his Face- The subsequent AC Milan v institutions are sending out are It was not until near the end of Flick echoed Mueller’s senti- call off the day’s matches and However, after Italy ordered a book account that players, fans Genoa, Sampdoria vs Ve- terrible. It’s dangerous to travel the fi rst half when the home side ments. “We knew that it was go- suspend the competition over virtual lockdown across much and referees should not be put rona and Udinese vs Fiorentina to and from the red zones, it’s looked like troubling the scorers, ing to be a diffi cult game — and the coronavirus outbreak. of its wealthy north yesterday at risk at a time when authorities matches also went ahead in a dangerous to play football, it’s with Mueller shooting over the the fi rst half proved that,” he “Today, games have been played in a bid to contain the spread of were asking citizens to make surreal atmosphere and Juven- dangerous to shake hands. crossbar with just the keeper to said. because of an irresponsible act the virus, Spadafora — backing a “huge sacrifices” to battle the tus were due to host Inter Milan “The teams went out and played beat.Mueller made no mistake “Augsburg stood deep and of the Serie A league and its request from the players’ union outbreak. The players were then in the evening game, one of the today unfortunately out of a in the 53rd minute however, col- worked hard to close all available president Paolo Dal Pino,” Spada- (AIC) — asked the national foot- called back into the dressing top fixtures of the season. sense of duty towards those lecting a long ball from Jerome space.” fora told state broadcaster RAI. ball association (FIGC) to stop room by the referee as they The FIGC has called an emer- who don’t have the courage Boateng and side-footing into Mainz and Fortuna Dusseldorf “We are advising Italians to stay the matches immediately. awaited a decision on whether gency meeting for Tuesday. to decide that football isn’t an the net. drew 1-1 at the Opel Arena later at home. The world of football His request came shortly before the game would go ahead or Following the conclusion of the exception when it comes to the The goal, reminiscent of the yesterday, leaving both clubs feels immune to rules and Parma and SPAL were due to not. first game, which SPAL won 1-0, coronavirus.” prolifi c Mueller of a decade ago, well entrenched in a relegation continued his recent strong form fi ght. Gulf Times Monday, March 9, 2020 7 SPORT

QATAR OPEN No handshakes, only ‘namastes’ for India's world champ Sindhu on virus caution

New Delhi: Top Indian shuttler Double delight for and world champion PV Sindhu will not be shaking hands during next week’s All England Open Badminton Champion- ships in Birmingham and use the traditional ‘Namaste’ greeting instead following as Zhendong, the coronavirus outbreak, the 24-year-old has said. More than 106,000 people have been infected by the coronavirus across the world and 3,600 have died from it, according to a tally of govern- Meng win titles ment announcements. It has wreaked havoc on the sporting landscape as well forcing athletes into making lifestyle Zhendong has won 14 ITTF World Tour titles, two of which have come in Doha changes in the Olympic year. “Only Namaste,” world number six Sindhu told Sunday’s Times of India news- paper when asked how she planned to greet players and off icials during the March 11-15 tournament in Birmingham. “We need to avoid it (hand- shakes). It’s always good to be sportspersons and common on the safer side, to take extra citizens also to be careful while care of oneself,” said the Rio mingling with various people,” Olympics silver medallist. Rijiju tweeted last week. “Wear protective mask, use “For some time, it’s abso- hand sanitisers all the time, do lutely not necessary to shake not move in groups and avoid hands or hug. We can manage crowded places. It’s good to be with our traditional Namaste, careful all the time.” Salaam, Jai Hind and many local Seven Indian badminton words for greetings.” players have pulled out of England’s cricket team have the Birmingham tournament also decided not to shake hands over coronavirus fears. Sports on their tour of Sri Lanka this Minister Kiren Rijiju has also month and will use fist bumps asked the athletes to shun hugs instead to greet each other fol- or handshakes. “I advise our lowing the outbreak.

TENNIS Kenin beats Friedsam to land second title of 2020 in Lyon

Reuters SVITOLINA, BOUZKOVA TO Lyon CLASH IN MONTERREY FINAL Top seed Elina Svitolina steam- rolled her way into fi nal of the op seed Sofi a Kenin won Monterrey Open when she rout- Qatar Table Tennis Federation Khalil al-Mohannadi (left) poses with men’s singles winner (second right) of China and runner-up Liam Pitchford (second left) of the inaugural Lyon Open ed Arantxa Rus 6-0, 6-1 in an England after the ITTF Qatar Open at the Aspire Dome in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Anas al-Samaraee with victory over un- evening semi-fi nal in Mexico on seeded German Anna- Saturday. his account in game three. Zhendong’s won in ; her immediate prior loss TLena Friedsam 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in Ukrainian Svitolina, who has By Sports Reporter Doha incredible power proved too hot to handle to that being in Yokyakarta, when on yesterday’s fi nal and became the not dropped a set in her four in game four but Pitchford reduced the 21st September at the 2019 ITTF Asian fi rst player on the WTA tour to matches, will try to keep her defi cit once again. With the scores sitting Championships, she had experienced win two trophies in 2020. record intact when she meets hina’s Fan Zhendong and Chen at 3-2, the question was whether Pitch- a semi-fi nal defeat at the hands of col- Kenin, the new Australian Czech ninth seed Marie Bouz- Meng won the men’s and wom- ford could force a deciding seventh game? league . Open champion, came into the kova in the decider. en’s singles titles respectively Spectators were wowed with sensational In Doha Meng made it four in a row; all tournament with a point to prove Bouzkova has not lost a set at the ITTF Qatar Open in Doha point after sensational point as both fi - on the ITTF World Tour, she succeeded in having not won a match in ei- either, after surprising British yesterday.C Zhendong put on an all-round nalists gave it their all. A match for the the Grand Finals in Lisbon; then last year ther Dubai or Qatar last month second seed Johanna Konta 6-3, masterclass to beat Liam Pitchford of ages, it seems a shame that it was brought in Sweden and again at the Grand Finals. but the 21-year-old found her- 6-4. Spectators who arrived for England 4-2 (11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 6-11, to an abrupt halt as Fan’s shot clipped the Furthermore, Meng has held top spot on self pushed to three sets for the the evening session had barely 11-7), while Meng beat Japan’s back edge of the table to bring the match the women’s world rankings since June fourth consecutive round. settled into their seats before in fi ve games to win 4-1 (3-11, 11-7, 11-9, to a close. 2019. Mima Ito seemed to lose her fi re Friedsam, in her second career Svitolina dispatched Rus in only 11-7, 11-7). Zhendong now holds a total of 14 ITTF after beating China’s Olympic champion fi nal and her fi rst since 2015 be- 50 minutes. Understandably all the attention prior World Tour men’s singles titles, two in the semi-fi nal on Saturday. fore injuries saw her fall outside Playing as though in a hur- to the fi nal was centred on Pitchford, the of which have come at the Qatar Open Despite quickly discovering her rhythm the top 350 in the rankings, could ry to keep a dinner reserva- no.15 seed who defi ed the odds to reach having also won in Doha in 2018. As for in the fi rst game and magically saving not live with Kenin in the open- tion, Svitolina was merciless in the fi nal. Pitchford had beaten Belaru- Pitchford, he can return home with his some points from Chen’s forehand at- ing set as the American won 81% pouncing upon the serve of her sian legend Vladimir Samsonov, in form head held high following a truly inspiring tacks, Ito didn’t fi nd much control over of her fi rst serve points. 76th-ranked Dutch opponent. A Chinese Taipei player Chuang Chih-Yuan campaign in Doha. the rest of the match. Kenin hit 29 winners but suf- winner of 13 career WTA titles, and pulled off arguably the shock of the Meanwhile, top seed Meng was ex- Chen, on the other hand, asserted her fered with 42 unforced errors she was a semi-fi nalist at both tournament with his stunning 4-2 win pected to win against the no.3 seed but dominance with her all-round techni- compared to her opponent’s 21, Wimbledon and the US Open over World no.1 , becoming the Mima Ito was in a rich vein of form. She cal capability. After losing the fi rst game, which helped give Friedsam a last year. fi rst Englishman to reach a World Tour had overwhelmed China’s Ding Ning, the Chen improved steadily and won four lifeline and a way back into the Earlier, an emotional Bouzkova Platinum event men’s singles fi nal. no.6 seed (11-6, 14-12, 11-0, 11-5), argu- games in succession. contest in the second set. was in tears after clinching vic- While 14 positions separated Zhen- ably the greatest female player of the past China’s table tennis team is already But Kenin regrouped in the fi - tory. The world number 57 saved dong from Pitchford in the seeding there decade. eyeing Mima Ito as its biggest rival at the nal set, earning the double break all fi ve break points she faced in was a sense of unpredictability heading The last time Meng had lost a wom- Tokyo Olympics, so Chen’s good per- to serve for the title and clinched the match, and broke Konta once into the fi nal – this was after all the fi rst en’s singles match on the international formance will undoubtedly increase her the win on her third champion- in each set. After earning the fi rst head-to-head contest between the two Women’s singles winner stage was on 11th October when she was chances of representing her country at ship point when she smashed a break of serve to lead 4-2, Bouz- on the ITTF World Tour. poses with her trophy. soundly beaten in the second round at the the Games. Chen has sealed victories in looping return at the net past the kova saved a break point as she Both players were switched on right 2019 ITTF World Tour Platinum German all three of her matches with Ito. Their German. served out the opener in just un- from the word go as Zhendong and Pitch- himself 2-0 up with under 20 minutes. Open by Singapore’s Feng Tianwei (11-6, last encounter was the women’s singles It was the fi fth title of Kenin’s der 40 minutes. ford went in chase of an early lead. It was Pitchford began to up the pace, forcing 11-2, 11-4, 11-8). Now Meng has gone 150 semi-fi nal at the World Tour Grand Fi- blossoming career after her three She then held off a game eff ort Zhendong who looked the more com- Zhendong from side-to-side and it ap- days without defeat. nals last December in Zhengzhou, China, triumphs last year in Hobart, from the British number one in fortable of the two at the start and found peared to work as the Englishman opened Prior to losing in she had which Chen also won 4-1. Mallorca and Guangzhou. the second set.

GOLF Hatton survives carnage for two-shot lead at Arnold Palmer Invitational

Reuters hout, South Korean Im Sung-jae, New McIlroy, Leishman and Bezuidenhout Florida Zealander Danny Lee and American avoided a double-bogey or worse on Harris English were three strokes be- a day when a few bogeys were pretty hind. South Korean Sung Kang, who much unavoidable. Even Hatton had a yrrell Hatton survived brutal shared the halfway lead with Hatton, double, at the par-four ninth, while Lee conditions to eke out a two- triple-bogeyed the fi nal hole after pull- doubled the last, and only then by sink- stroke lead over former cham- ing his drive out-of-bounds. ing a 20-foot putt. pions Rory McIlroy and Marc He previously had also tripled the McIlroy predicted it would be a simi- TLeishman in the third round at the Ar- 11th hole, shot 78 and fell fi ve behind. larly stern test on Sunday, when the nold Palmer Invitational in Florida on Kang was not the only player to run winds again are forecast to blow. “To- Saturday. On a day when a proverbial up a big number on a day of carnage morrow it’s all about keeping the big US Open broke out and Brooks Koepka as strong winds, rock-hard greens and numbers off your card and playing as shot the highest score of his PGA Tour thick rough conspired to prevent any- conservatively as possible,” he said. career, Hatton managed an excellent one from breaking 70 at the event for “I’m pretty confi dent in my game.” one-over-par 73 at Bay Hill in Orlando. the fi rst time in 40 years. American Koepka, the man McIlroy Boosted by an unlikely 30-foot birdie “It felt like a US Open out there. It’s a recently displaced as world number at the par-four 18th, the Englishman in nice change from the norm,” said world one, shot 81, which was nevertheless search of his fi rst PGA Tour title posted a number one McIlroy, referring to the better than three others. Max Homa six-under 210 total with one round left. major championship which is often the was the only player to break par, shoot- “You could be made to look pretty toughest test of the year. ing a 70 that included a double-bogey silly at times without hitting too bad a Leishman could hardly believe he at the last. shot,” Hatton told reporters. Northern had not broken par. “I added my score He trailed Hatton by seven shots. Tyrrell Hatton of England Irishman McIlroy (73), who bogeyed up and did a double-take,” he said. “It “It’s nice to have a two-shot lead but plays a shot during the the last after fi ring his second shot into added up to 72 (but) felt like a 65. Par today proved that there are doubles and Arnold Palmer Invitational rocks, and Australian Leishman (72) was a great score. I like it when you have triples just around the corner, so that in Orlando, Florida. (AFP) were equal second on four-under. to play really well to shoot even par.” two-shot lead can go extremely quick- South African Christiaan Bezuiden- Of the leading eight players, only ly,” said Hatton. Monday, March 9, 2020 GULF TIMES SPORT

QNB GRAND PRIX OF QATAR Emotional Nagashima storms to maiden Moto2 win in Qatar ‘Shoya was like a brother to me because when I started racing we were always together’

RESULTS AND STANDINGS Moto2: 1. Tetsuta Nagashima (JPN/ Moto3: 1. Albert Arenas (ESP/KTM) Kalex), 40 minutes 0.192 seconds, 38 minutes 8.941 seconds, 2. John 2. Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA/Kalex) McPhee (GBR/Honda) at 0.053sec, at 1.347sec, 3. Enea Bastianini (ITA/ 3. Ai Ogura (JAP/Honda) 0.344, Kalex) 1.428, 4. Joe Roberts (USA/ 4. Jaume Masia (ESP/Honda) Kalex) 1.559, 5. Remy Gardner (AUS/ 0.247, 5. Tatsuki Suzuki (JAP/Honda) Kalex) 1.901 0.789 World championship standings: World championship standings: 1. Tetsuta Nagashima (JPN/Kalex) 1. Albert Arenas (ESP/KTM) 25 pts, 2. 25 pts, 2. Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA/ John McPhee (GBR/Honda) 20, 3. Kalex) 20 pts, 3. Enea Bastianini (ITA/ Ai Ogura (JAP/Honda) 16, 4. Jaume Kalex) 16, 4. Joe Roberts (USA/Kalex) Masia (ESP/Honda) 13, 5. Tatsuki 13, 5. Remy Gardner (AUS/Kalex) 11. Suzuki (JAP/Honda) 11.

Japan’s Tetsuta Nagashima celebrates on the podium after winning the Moto2 race at the QNB Grand Prix of Qatar in Losail. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil Action from the Moto2 race during the Grand Prix of Qatar.

By Sports Reporter of lap seven. However, he ran wide and Doha allowed the VR46 bike back through, with Marini using the grip of his super- soft front tyre to build up a gap of eight apanese rider Tetsuta Nagashima tenths by lap 11. scored an unexpected and emo- He managed to eke this out to close tional victory in the Moto2 race to a second, but the chasing pack start- at the QNB Grand Prix of Qatar ed to reel him in, with Roberts coming yesterday,J dedicating his win to com- through at the last corner on lap 15. patriot Shoya Tomizawa who was killed Pons’ Lorenzo Baldassarri also saw in 2010. The 27-year-old Nagashima’s his opportunity and tried to pass the fi rst career victory came 10 years after pair of them at the same time, but ran Tomizawa won at the same Losail In- in too deep. But the ex-VR46 Academy ternational circuit before losing his life member managed to get his hooks into in San Marino later that season. “Shoya Roberts and scythed past at Turn 6, was like a brother to me because when I Spain’s Albert Arenas won the Moto3 while Marini’s pace dramatically fell started racing we were always together,” race at Losail International Circuit. into a void as his front rubber had cried Nagashima said, visibly very moved, enough. after the fi nish. “He taught me a lot. I close to the podium but I never got All this battling allowed Ajo’s new can’t believe that my fi rst victory is in there, so I forgot everything and pushed signing Nagashima to get into podium the same place. It’s unbelievable.” to win or crash. contention, before he launched a dar- Nagashima, on a Kalex, grabbed the “Starting from 14th position and I ing raid into Turn 1 on lap 18 and fended lead in the closing laps after starting had to overtake a lot of riders. In the off Baldassarri’s retaliation. Nagashima from 14th position and held off Italians beginning it was a little bit diffi cult to subsequently pulled the pin and went Lorenzo Baldassarri and Enea Bastiani- overtake, so I had to overtake them and onto the fi nal lap 1.2 seconds clear of ni also both on Kalex bikes. lost some speed, but fi nally at the end the fi eld – a gap he would not relinquish American Joe Roberts, who started it was okay. The last three or four laps I through to the chequered fl ag. from pole position, fi nished fourth don’t remember very well! When I went The race yesterday was the headline ahead of Australian Remy Gardner. to the top I felt like I didn’t know where event on a low-key opening weekend of While Roberts is not related to the leg- to brake, I forgot my braking points and a motorcycling season already shaken endary Kenny Roberts, Remy Gardner everything,” the Japanese added. by the coronavirus epidemic. The Mo- is the son of Wayne Gardner, the 1987 Valentino Rossi protege Luca Marini toGP elite class did not race and is not world champion in 500cc. Nagashima’s grabbed the holeshot from second on expected to make its debut until the described his maiden win as a dream as the grid on his Sky VR46 Kalex, with United States Grand Prix in early April, he charged up the order from 14th on poleman Roberts losing out to Italtrans’ because the Thailand GP has been re- the grid before bolting with four laps to Enea Bastianini at Turn 1. Bastianini scheduled. go to keep clear of chasing trio Baldas- came through to take the lead at Turn In Moto3, Spaniard Albert Arenas sarri, Bastianini and Roberts. 12, though was quickly repassed by won on a KTM ahead of Briton John “My feelings are just like a dream,” Marini on the run into the fi rst corner McPhee and Japan’s Ai Ogura, both on Nagashima said. “Yesterday in qualify- on lap two. Hondas. The race was tight until the ing I made a small mistake and my grid A moment for American Racing penultimate lap when the two leaders, position was not perfect. Then from the Team rider Roberts at Turn 1 early on South African Darryn Binder (KTM) HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali (centre), Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation beginning I had to push harder, harder, left him with work to do to get back into and Italian Tony Arbolino (Honda) col- (QMMF) president Abdulrahman al-Mannai (left), Losail Circuit Sports Club vice chairman and QMMF board member harder but I thought nothing like this. the podium places, but he got himself in lided, which also forced off Spaniard Khalid al-Rehmaihi (right), Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta (second right) and FIM President Jorge Viegas (second left) The team pushed me, as last year I was a position to attack Marini at the start Jaume Masia (Honda) in third. pose during the QNB Grand Prix of Qatar yesterday.

FOCUS Bahrain F1 race to be held without fans due to coronavirus Reuters asked people entering the country who had bought tickets, whose sales were Dubai have recently visited Italy, , suspended last week. Egypt and Lebanon to isolate them- Bahrain’s biggest global sporting selves for two weeks. event reported a three-day crowd of he Bahrain Formula One Grand Italy has ordered a virtual lockdown 97,000 in 2019, a record for the event, Prix will go ahead on March 22 across a swathe of its wealthy north, with 34,000 on the Sunday. That at- without fans due to the corona- including fi nancial capital Milan, in a tendance is small compared to other virus crisis, a blow to the Gulf drastic attempt to try to contain a rap- races, with 202,146 the average Formu- TArab state’s important tourism sector. idly growing outbreak of coronavirus. la One three-day crowd in 2019. Bahrain, which is hosting the second The Maranello base of Formula One’s Tourism is an important contributor round of the Formula One season at oldest and most successful team Ferrari to Bahrain’s economy, which in recent the Sakhir circuit outside Manama, has is within the aff ected area. years has been in defi cit and sought reported 83 cases of the virus, mostly Ferrari and Red Bull-owned Alpha- bailouts from its wealthier Gulf Arab linked to people who had travelled to Tauri, who are based in Faenza, will neighbours, and the race brings global Iran.“Bahrain has made the decision to still race in Bahrain because they will be exposure with millions of viewers. hold this year’s (race) as a participants- coming from Australia which hosts the Concerns over rapid spread of the only event,” organisers said yesterday. Bahrain is the second Formula One race casualty of the virus after the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai scheduled for opening race in Melbourne next week- coronavirus, which has killed 145 peo- “Convening a major sporting event, April 19 has already been postponed. (AFP) end. “Depending on where they fl ew ple and infected 5,823 others in Iran, which is open to the public and allows through on the way from Melbourne, has led to a raft of major events includ- thousands of international travellers go ahead as a televised event.” Bernie Ecclestone once mooted the idea the race weekend have been cancelled. there is a process that you go through,” ing concerts being cancelled in the Gulf and local fans to interact in close prox- Bahrain is the second F1 race casu- of a ‘VIP grand prix’ at France’s Le Cas- “We know how disappointed many will the spokesman said of the Italian teams. region. Formula One has two races in imity would not be the right thing to do alty of the virus. The Chinese Grand tellet circuit with only invited guests. be by this news...but safety has to re- Formula One has discussed arranging the Middle East, with Abu Dhabi host- at the present time,” they added. “To Prix in Shanghai scheduled for April A Bahrain International Circuit main our utmost priority,” the circuit a special charter for Italians working in ing the closing race in November. ensure that neither the sport, nor its 19 has already been postponed. Racing spokesman said accredited media said. Bahrain has suspended fl ights to Formula One to avoid transit through MotoGP’s season-opening race in global supporter base, is unduly im- without fans will be a fi rst for the sport, would attend as usual. Concerts featur- some destinations over concerns of airports in countries aff ected by the Qatar this weekend was called off , with pacted, the race weekend itself will still although former commercial supremo ing DJ’s Afrojack and Don Diablo over the rapidly spreading virus. It has also virus. Organisers will refund fans who only the Moto2 and Moto3 races held.