SPORTS SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2017

KIB cricket team beats Warba in NBK Trophy KUWAIT: The Kuwait International Bank (KIB) cricket team recently won their game against Warba Bank in the T20 NBK Trophy tournament, scoring a 10-wicket victory. After winning the toss, Warba Bank opted to bat first, scoring 171 runs in their allotted 20 overs. KIB cricket player, Moiz Vohra, was the star bowler and grabbed 4 wickets against 18 runs. Additionally, KIB cricket players Mohammed Rilwan and Manoj Mishra took 2 wickets each. While defending the target of an impressive 172 runs, the KIB team batted well from the start of their innings and chased down the target in the 16th over without losing any wicket. KIB’s leading run-scorer, Sheraz Siddiqi scored second consecutive century of the tournament with 113 runs off 57 balls, by hitting 5 massive sixes and 14 well-timed fours; Sheraz Siddiqi was dubbed “Man of the Match” by the match officials for his sensational batting performance. The rest of the team players played an equally impressive game, as Nadeem Ahmad scored 50 runs off 36 balls. Congratulating the team on their win, KIB’s Management wished the cricket team plenty of more victories and successes in their upcom- LAHTI: In this Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009 file photo, German referee Bibiana Steinhaus is seen during the first round Women’s ing games of the season. Euro 2009 soccer match between England and Italy. — AP It serves to note that KIB is a keen advocate of promoting a culture of sports internally amongst its staff. Accordingly, the Bank has established a number of sports teams, featuring German policewoman 1st many talented and highly skilled athletes. Through the Bank’s leading social responsibility program, it continues to focus on raising awareness within the local community on the impor- top-flight female referee tance of sports and physical activity in all its forms, actively encouraging people across the community to adopt a healthi- er and more active lifestyle. BERLIN: A 38-year-old German police- “Of course, I am aware that I will be The then-Fortuna Duesseldorf mid- woman will next season become the the first female referee in the fielder was banned for five games for first female referee in Europe’s top and will be closely watched by the telling Steinhaus that “women have leagues after she was promoted to offi- media and the public,” she added, hav- no place in men’s football” as he ciate in the Bundesliga yesterday. ing refereed 80 second-division games trudged off. As a further punishment, Bibiana Steinhaus has been a fourth offi- since 2007. “I am used to this pressure his club made Demirbay, who now cial for Bundesliga matches and and am convinced I will find my feet plays for Hoffenheim, referee a girl’s although a German FA (DFB) referee quickly in the Bundesliga.” football match. since 1999, knows the spotlight will be Steinhaus made headlines in October Steinhaus will referee the women’s on her when she takes charge of a top- 2014 when then Bayern Munich coach Champions League final in Cardiff on flight game. put his arm around her June 1 and is one of four referees who “For every referee, whether a man or shoulders, when she was the fourth offi- have been promoted to the list of a woman, it is always a big goal to be cial at a Bundesliga game, while arguing Bundesliga referees for 2017/18. She will able to blow a whistle in the about a refereeing decision. Steinhaus be the first female referee in Europe’s Bundesliga,” she told DFB.de. Steinhaus, coolly brushed Guardiola’s arm off and top five leagues. DFB president girlfriend of Englishman , the Spaniard was criticised in the Reinhard Grindel hopes Steinhaus will 45, who refereed the 2014 World Cup German media for inappropriate con- inspire girls to get involved in football. final, said: “I have worked very hard for duct. And in December 2015 during a “I’ve been following her path for many this in the last few years and suffered a second-division game she sent off years and am very much looking for- few set-backs. for a second booking. ward to it,” he said. — AFP Sharapova faces marathon to win Wimbledon title Sampaoli wants LONDON: Maria Sharapova will proba- draw by right had she reached the tional doper”. The USbased player bly have to win 10 matches to claim a semi-finals at the Italian Open in Rome, called her punishment “unfairly harsh” second Wimbledon title this year after but she withdrew injured during a sec- saying she had not realised meldo- Argentina job deciding yesterday not to request a wild- ond round match against Mirjana nium, a product she had used legally card for the championships. The 30-year- Lucic-Baroni. for much of her career, had been MADRID: Sevilla manager Jorge Sampaoli said yesterday it old returned from a 15-month doping “I have already started getting added to the World Anti-Doping had been a childhood dream to coach his native Argentina, ban last month and has failed to gain a treatment on the injury I sustained a Agency (WADA) banned list. but acknowledged any move from the La Liga club was “not high enough ranking for automatic entry few days ago in Rome, and will begin Her comeback has been aided by in my hands”. The 57-year-old has had an impressive debut into the 128-strong main draw. my preparation as soon I get better,” wildcards in Stuttgart, where she season in Europe with Sevilla sitting fourth in La Liga and he is Set to enter the top 200 on Monday, the five-times grand slam champion reached the semi-finals, Madrid and perceived as the perfect fit to rescue Argentina’s foundering however, she is eligible to play in the said. Her decision takes the heat off Rome. Several players have voiced World Cup qualifying campaign. qualifying event the week before in the Wimbledon wildcard committee their disapproval at Sharapova’s “There’s a clear intention from my country to have me as Roehampton, where she would need to which meets on June 20 and could return, most noticeably Canada’s coach and, since I was young, it’s something that has survive three rounds just to take her technically still offer her automatic Eugenie Bouchard who said Sharapova appealed to me,” Sampaoli said. “The reality will be given by place in round one at the All England entry into the main draw. However, in should have been banned for life, call- the president (of Sevilla, Jose Castro). There’s a contract to Club. Russian Sharapova, the 2004 cham- light of the decision of French Tennis ing her a “cheater”. Bouchard beat respect and nothing has yet been resolved. “I can sit back and pion and former world number one, Federation (FFT) on Tuesday to snub Sharapova in Madrid. talk today because the goal (with Sevilla) has been reached, announced the news on her website. Sharapova for a French Open wildcard, Sharapova will have to break new but it’s not in my hands. “The Argentine federation and Sevilla “Because of my improved ranking they would have been under pressure ground if she is to win Wimbledon this have to resolve whether I am to be coach of Argentina. I after the first three tournaments of my to follow suit. year as no qualifier has won the would not leave Sevilla for another club, only to go to the return, I will also be playing ...in Sharapova was initially banned for women’s singles title. American national team.” Spanish press reports that Sevilla want Roehampton, and will not be request- two years after testing positive for then Alexandra Stevenson came closest Argentina to stump up 1.5 million euros for the coach, who ing a wildcard,” said Sharapova, who newly-banned heart condition drug when she reached the semi-final in has one year to run on his contract. Argentina sit fifth in South has received a wildcard for the meldonium at the 2016 Australian 1999 before losing to Lindsay American World Cup qualifying with just four games to go. Wimbledon warmup event in Open. The Court of Arbitration for Davenport. John McEnroe reached the Only the top four qualify automatically for the tournament in Birmingham. Sharapova could have Sport (CAS) reduced the sanction to 15 men’s singles semi-finals as a qualifier Russia next year with fifth place earning a play-off against the secured a place in the Wimbledon main months, saying she was not an “inten- in 1977. — Reuters winners of the Oceania region. —AFP