FOOTBALL | Page 5 AATHLETICSTHLETICS | Page 7 I want City to Gatlin, Merritt play beautiful cruise at US football, says trials for Guardiola Olympics

Saturday, July 9, 2016 BOXING Shawwal 4, 1437 AH Champion Fury to GULF TIMES meet Klitschko in October rematch SPORT Page 6 Qatar boxer Thulasi earns a Rio spot

Qatar’s Thulasi Tharumalingam (right) celebrates his win over Argentina’s Carlos Aquino in their light welterweight (64kg) category semi-final at APB/WSB Olympic Qualification Event in Vargas, Venezuela, on Thursday. (Right) Tharumalingam celebrates his win with Qatar Boxing Federation president Yousuf Ali al-Kazim in Vargas. With the win, Tharumalingam earned a spot at 2016 Rio Olympics. The 24-year-old will now be up against Armenia’s Hovhannes Bachkov for gold.

TENNIS Raonic ends Federer’s run Murray brushes aside Berdych challenge in straights sets to to reach fi rst fi nal make third Wimbledon title round

Reuters London

ilos Raonic made Roger Federer feel his age yes- terday as the Canadian sharp-shooter bombarded MCentre Court with a succession of 140 mph missiles to fl atten the seven-times champion and reach his fi rst Grand Slam fi nal in fi ve gripping sets. Waiting for Raonic tomorrow in the fi nale will be Britain’s Andy Mur- ray, who tormented Tomas Berdych to claim a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory and reach his third Wimbledon fi nal. Raonic appeared to be down and out as he trailed Federer by two-sets to one and 15-40 in the fi fth game of the fourth set but somehow he managed to cling on for a 6-3 6-7(3) 4-6 7-5 6-3 win and became the fi rst Canadian man to reach a major fi nal. “It’s an incredible comeback for me. I was struggling throughout the third and fourth sets, he was playing some really good tennis and just on a little opening I managed to turn it around and fi nish it off in a great match,” said the sixth seed. “It’s a great feeling.” Raonic appeared to be heading for a second semi-fi nal defeat in three years against the 34-year-old Federer but kept his wits about him to stay alive. After saving two break points in the fi fth game he managed to save a third in the ninth game as his thunderbolt serve got him out of trouble again. The contest appeared to be head- ing for a fourth set tiebreak as Federer moved to 40-0 in the 12th game but Switzerland’s Roger Federer lies on court after falling while trying to return against Canada’s Milos Raonic during their Wimbledon semi-final at The All England Club yesterday. (Right) Britain’s Andy Murray two days after the Swiss boldly stated celebrates his semi-final win over Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych yesterday. (AFP) that “my second serve has always been there for me... it never lets me down” — he had let that set get away from him. a fl ying forehand winner from Raonic to let him off the hook and four points second best for the fi rst time in 11 Wim- ed Murray another break, though, and guess what? It let him down. “Federer had it all going his way but and found himself sprawled face down later the Canadian had the break for 3-1 bledon semi-fi nal appearances. the 29-year-old pocketed the fi rst set. Two successive double faults you couldn’t script that this would go on his beloved turf. as he ended a dazzling net exchange with A fl at atmosphere, a contrast to the brought Raonic to deuce and while Fe- on and on,” exclaimed Raonic’s grass- He lay still for what seemed an eter- a rasping crosscourt passing shot. DOMINANT MURRAY nerve-jangling one earlier when Raonic derer saved two set points — with an court mentor John McEnroe. nity before getting back to his feet and From them on there only seemed to Murray was totally dominant in the beat seven-times champion Federer, unreturnable serve and a volley winner then slumped into his chair rather than be one winner and, after fi ring down early-evening sunshine on Centre livened up when Murray fl irted with — his luck ran out on the third. MENTAL SCARS heading for the baseline. 23 aces, with his fastest serve being Court, ruthlessly dispatching the burly danger at 2-3 in the second set, bril- A blazing backhand passing shot The third seed, who was about to con- The crowd started to chuckle, won- clocked at 144mph, Raonic bagged a Czech who never threatened to stop the liantly saving two break points. winner had Raonic pumping his fi sts test his 10th set in three days, called on dering if Federer was staging a sit-in place in the fi nal when Federer fl oated Murray bandwagon. From then on it was a one-sided towards his support box as a shell- the trainer to massage his aching limbs protest, but in fact he had called on the a tired forehand long to end the three The Scot’s only brief wobble came procession as Murray broke 10th seed shocked Federer, who had come back back to life but it was the mental scars trainer again to manipulate his left leg. hours 25 minutes contest. early on when he dropped serve in the Berdych twice in a row to move two sets from two sets and three match points that could not be rubbed away. The Swiss, chasing a record-extending “This one clearly hurts, because I third game, having broken in the game clear and again early in the third as he down to beat Marin Cilic in the previ- Four games into the fi nal set, with 11th appearance in the fi nal, managed to could have had it. I was so, so, close,” before. closed in on his 11th Grand Slam fi nal, ous round, was left to wonder just how the score at deuce, Federer lunged after save that break point but Raonic refused summed up Federer after coming off Some poor errors from Berdych gift- one more than Fred Perry. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, July 9, 2016 EURO 2016

OPINION Schweinsteiger and the great handball dilemma ’s penalty decision in verbatim (such as ) and ball like a low-rent Superman to get his So why not tweak the rules so that they the Euro 2016 semi-fi nal between those who take the predominant view head anywhere near it. are in line with the thoughts of the offi - Germany and France shows the of referees that a penalty or free-kick Germany captain That it hit his hand was probably cials who are enforcing them? If law 12 need for a rule tweak to clarify that should be awarded when a player’s Bastian Schweinsteiger not intentional but denied Patrice Evra said “handles the ball deliberately or in a handball is about body-shape and hands or arms are in an unnatural posi- consoles teammate from being rewarded for timing his way that is deemed unnatural” wouldn’t control as well as intent tion (such as Thierry Henry but, ahem, Thomas Muller after the leap and positioning his body much it help put a stop to the constant furore that’s Thierry Henry). loss to France. (Reuters) better than the Germany midfi elder surrounding these decisions? By Gregg Bakowski in Paris A quick totting up of the many e- did. But that is not written in the rules. It would also leave referees a little theguardian.com mails from readers in relation to the In an interview with the BBC about less open to abuse or libellous accusa- penalty during the Guardian’s minute- the grey area surrounding the handball tions. There are other rules that could by-minute report of the semi-fi nal rule the former referee be clearer too but the one relating to he varying reactions to Bas- shows there was roughly a 60-40 split David Elleray gave some insight into handball would appear to be the easi- tian Schweinsteiger’s hand- in favour of Rizzoli’s decision being the how offi cials arrive at decisions. est to align with the thought-process ball during Germany’s 2-0 correct one. “Referees look at two specifi cs – did of offi cials. Tdefeat by France on Thurs- It’s hardly a scientifi c poll, but it’s the hand or arm go towards the ball The general move towards greater day night said a lot about how much probably pretty accurate and points or in a manner which would block the leniency by referees at Euro 2016 has the rule relating to the off ence is still a towards more people tending to side ball, or is the hand in a position where been a refreshing one and has been re- cause of confusion for many. with the offi cials’ interpretation of the it would not normally be?” he said. ceived well by most spectators. The immediate response to Italian rule rather than the actual wording Again, none of this is in the football Many fans appreciate seeing a ref- referee Nicola Rizzoli pointing to the that a penalty or free-kick should be rulebook but most people would ac- eree bend the rules now and then but spot and booking the Germany captain given when a player “handles the ball cept that this is a fair way of looking at there is still, generally, a thirst for clar- was one of surprise: “What’s that for?” deliberately (except for the goalkeeper handball decisions. ity, particularly when an off ence in- Hardly anybody saw it at full speed. within his own penalty area)”. The fact that many players, Sergio volves a penalty being awarded. The Internet was quickly ablaze with If you were to enforce that rule as it Ramos being a prime example, lock So surely a tweak towards mak- conspiracy theorists and the usual is written could you really say for sure their arms behind their body when ing it clear that handball decisions are outraged brigade. that Schweinsteiger intended to block attempting to block shots inside the not solely about intent but also about Then, after numerous replays had the ball with his hands? 18-yard box shows that defenders ex- body-shape and control would help to been shown, people split into two The view of most people is that he pect penalties to be awarded if the ball offi cially make this rule clearer. camps; those who believe the “deliber- was punished rightly for being caught strikes an arm or hand whether inten- But be warned. You may fi nd that ate” handball rule should be enforced out of position and had to jump at the tional or not. Shearer agrees with you more often.

SPOTLIGHT France win breaks Germany’s 50-year hold over hosts at fi nals

ntoine Griezmann’s double for France in Thursday’s 2-0 semi-final win over Germany at Euro 2016 broke die AMannschaft’s 50-year winning streak against host nations at major tournaments. The French victory in Marseille was the first time Germany had Where now for lost to the hosts at a major finals since their famous 4-2 defeat to England in the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley. Germany had enjoyed half a century of ending host nations’ involvement in their own tournament until their defeat at the Stade Velodrome. Germany knocked Brazil out of the 2014 World Cup in emphatic style with a 7-1 thrashing in the semi-finals. And six years before that, Germany beat co-hosts Austria 1-0 in the group stages of Euro 2008 to end their opponents’ chances of reaching the knockout stages. Previous to that, the Germans beaten Germans dumped out South Korea after the co-hosts’ surprise run to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup. It was also Germany who dashed England’s dreams at Wem- bley in the semi-finals of Euro ‘96—the last time Germany won the European Championship—in a nail-biting penalty shootout. At the 1992 European Championship in Sweden, the home nation was beaten 3-2 by the Germans in the semi-finals before Denmark pulled off a shock 2-0 win in the final. At the 1982 World aft er Euro exit? Cup, a 2-1 win by Germany against hosts Spain in the second round ended the Spaniards’ hopes of progressing. Likewise, Mexico’s party at the 1986 World Cup was over in the ‘France has earned the right to be in the final and I think that the French quarter-finals on penalties as Germany went on to lose the final to a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina. will win against Portugal. I think France are good, but we were better’ At the European Championship in 1972, Germany beat Belgium 2-1 in the Antwerp semi-final, following that up four years later with a 4-2 extra-time victory against Yugoslavia in Belgrade in the last four of the 1976 tournament.

FOCUS Clattenburg to referee Euro fi nal

DPA Paris

ark Clattenburg will referee the Euro 2016 fi nal between MPortugal and hosts France, UEFA said yesterday. The 41-year-old from Newcas- tle also offi ciated the Champi- ons League fi nal in May between Real Madrid and Atletico Ma- drid, and becomes only the sec- ond man to take charge of both major European matches in the same year after the Portuguese Pedro Proenca in 2012. Clatten- burg was also referee for the FA Cup fi nal in May. The fi nal at the Stade de France will be Clattenburg’s fourth match at Euro 2016 fol- lowing Belgium v Italy, Czech Republic v Croatia and Switzer- AFP against France having played a back-three before the half-time break. The eagle- penalties were the thorn in Germany’s land v Poland. He will be the fi rst Marseille against Italy in the quarter-fi nals. eyed referee spotted a handball by Germa- side in the knockout stages. English referee of a Euro fi nal After the European Championships fi - ny captain Bastian Schweinsteiger from a Jerome Boateng conceded one in Bor- since Arthur Hollande in 1964. nals, Loew celebrates a decade in charge corner, pointed to the penalty spot and deaux which took their quarter-fi nal The 1960 fi nal was also offi ci- orld champions Germany and under his stewardship they have changed the course of the game. against Italy to penalties. Then Schwein- ated by English ref Arthur Ellis. fl ew home from Euro 2016 reached at least the semi-fi nals of the last The French could scarcely believe their steiger was caught out when defending Clattenburg will again be on wrongdoing. yesterday for a post-mortem six major tournaments. luck. Griezmann calmly slotted home the a corner and both players should have the pitch with Real’s Cristiano Clattenburg will be assisted in into how die Mannschaft The 56-year-old has a German FA spot-kick, then added a second after the known better. Ronaldo and Atletico’s Antoine the fi nal by countrymen Simon Wmissed the chance to add the European (DFB) contract until the 2018 World Cup break to put the result beyond doubt. Loew will point to injuries and Mats Griezmann in the Portugal- Beck and Jake Collin, additional title after their 2-0 semi-fi nal defeat to fi nals in Russia. His bosses want to extend “The penalty was of course a shock Hummels’ suspension as the main rea- France fi nal after the two play- assistants and France. his deal, but Loew has left his future open and I had to calm the players down in the sons they lost to France. ers were also on opposing side’s and fourth of- Antoine Griezmann’s double strike in and said he will consider his future in the dressing room,” admitted Loew. But with Mario Gomez injured, neither in the Champions League fi nal. fi cial of Hungary. Marseille sealed France’s deserved victory light of their Euro 2016 post-mortem. “Then it was hard for us, as they coun- Mario Goetze nor Thomas Mueller, who The referee was applauded said to send them to tomorrow’s fi nal against “I’ll speak to the players and coaching tered very well. We were brave and overall has now gone 11 straight games without for his offi ciating of the all- Clattenburg’s appointment Portugal and Germany home. staff when we look at the tournament,” our team did well.” scoring at Euro fi nals, hit the net in France. Madrid fi nal during which he at completes a strong two years for “France has earned the right to be in the said Loew. “There will be a relatively short But Loew knows the world champions On a positive note, after two years of one point contemptuously ig- English offi cials on the interna- fi nal and I think that the French will win analysis of the tournament, as I didn’t see lost their heads when the penalty was experimenting, Loew fi nally seems to nored the play-acting of Real’s tional scene, with Clattenburg against Portugal,” said Germany coach that we made many mistakes.” awarded against them and never fully re- have found his ideal back four with Joshua Portugul defender Pepe. and —also a Joachim Loew. “I think France are good, But die Mannschaft know they wasted gained their composure. Kimmich and Jonas Hector having nailed His refereeing though has Euro 2016 referee—now being but we were better.” their chance to beat the hosts. Germany Discipline was a factor in Marseille as down the wing-back berths. not been without controversy. in charge at the Euro fi nal, the Nevertheless, the scoreline contradicts were punished for some sloppy fi rst-half Liverpool’s Emre Can, in for injured Sami And in Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil, Ger- Early in his career he was heav- Champions League fi nal, the Loew’s appraisal as the post-mortem be- fi nishing and failed to convert any of their Khedira, picked up a needless yellow for many are never short of creative play- ily criticised for his offi ciating Europa League fi nal and the gins back home as to what went wrong. 18 shots on goal, despite 68% possession. bringing down Griezmann, then argued makers who fi nd holes in the opponents’ in a between UEFA Super Cup. “France totally deserved to win,” “We played our best game at these Eu- with Rizzoli. Mesut Ozil was booked for defence. But two years after Miroslav Everton and Liverpool, and in FA referees committee chair- ex-captain Michael Ballack told German ropean Championship, as weird as that kicking the ball away in disgust after the Klose retired, Germany still does not have 2012 the FA stood him down man David Elleray said: “Eng- daily Bild. sounds when you’ve lost 2-0,” admitted penalty decision, while Thomas Mueller a settled striker, a problem Loew must for a month after Chelsea com- lish football can be proud that Lothar Matthaeus, Germany’s most midfi elder Toni Kroos. “I can’t blame the had to restrain some teammates furious solve. Germany’s next match is a friendly plained about his use of “inap- not only were England the only capped player, was critical of Loew for team for anything and we went behind af- with the decision. against Finland in Moechengladbach on propriate language” towards country with two referee teams having again changed his system. “It cre- ter a stupid incident.” Ballack’s pre-tournament comment August 31, to warm up for their fi rst World in a match at Euro 2016, but that they have ates uncertainty,” he said. Germany re- The ‘stupid incident’ was Nicola Riz- that Germany lack strong leadership may Cup qualifi er against Norway in Oslo on against Manchester United. been appointed to some of the verted to their standard 4-2-3-1 formation zoli’s controversial penalty decision just well return to trouble Loew. Handball September 4. He was later cleared of any most important matches.” Gulf Times Saturday, July 9, 2016 3 EURO 2016

SPOTLIGHT Aft er extended Euro ’16, 2020 event to enter new frontiers Boyish Griezmann DPA Paris

ootball comes home again in 2020, but only after some Fpotentially long trips across shapes himself into thousands of kilometres and sev- eral time zones. If you thought Euro 2016 in France with 24 instead of 16 teams was too complicated, then for the pan-European tournament in 2020 you better not read on. Not even European organising France’s superhero body UEFA knows yet how this 13-venue event—the brainchild of ‘He is our little man that gives us that little bit extra. He took his responsibilities well, to take the penalty now banned erstwhile president Michel Platini—is going to work and slam it in the back of the net. He’s lethal when he’s in the penalty box. He’s our little Mr Extra’ out in four years. Between Dublin and Baku it is a distance of around 4,000 kilometres as the crow flies. Between Bilbao and St Peters- burg it is 3,000. A quick shuttle between venues, the special charm of a tournament with one host country, is hardly going to be possible. Matches are also set for Munich, Brussels, Amsterdam, Copenha- gen, Budapest, Rome, Bucharest and Glasgow. But England will at least per- haps be able to revive its ‘Football Coming Home’ motto from Euro 1996, with football’s motherland hosting both semi- finals and the final at Wembley Stadium in London. A tournament match plan has yet to be worked out—that will come at a UEFA executive com- mittee meeting in December, while the search is on for the venue for the opening match. One idea had been for the defending champions to have the host venue. But neither tomor- row’s finalists France nor Portugal have host cities for 2020. The favourite now is Brussels, as a symbol of European Union given it is the de-facto capital of the EU. The idea of holding a European Championship in 13 cities in 13 diff erent European countries is to mark the 60th anniversary of the tournament. But it was also a response to ne- cessity: financial diff iculties across Europe was making an extended 24-team tournament less attrac- tive for a single host. The only single candidate was Turkey, with joint bids from Azerbaijan/Georgia and Ireland/ Scotland/Wales. Platini then came up with the multiple countries idea, and France forward Antoine Griezmann (left), who scored both goals for France in the hosts’ 2-0 win over Germany in the Euro 2016 semi-final on Thursday, poses for a photograph with fans. (AFP) various packages were off ered as minutes following a rare blunder by this Euro, he’s been decisive for us. He people were shot dead, and he had to Atletico. City rivals Real Madrid went regional criteria also came into Reuters the reckoning for choosing hosts. Paris Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. can score, and he can help others score.” wait several hours before knowing she on to capitalise, and won their 11th Eu- There was another moment in the Griezmann, who scored plenty of had escaped unhurt. ropean title in Milan. On Thursday, he With Azerbaijan getting the nod match that showed what kind of player goals to help Atletico advance to the In May, he missed a penalty in the coolly scored the penalty after a Bas- for a quarter-final, the winning very saga needs a hero and that he is, when he took off to win an aerial Champions League fi nal, had started Champions League fi nal when Atletico tian Schweinsteiger handball. team in Baku will have to cross role for France at the European duel with towering German centre- the tournament in sluggish fashion lost to local rivals Real Madrid. “I wanted to take a penalty again in four time zones and several Championship has fallen to a back Benedikt Hoewedes. and some feared a gruelling season All those images must have been an important moment and I’m happy I thousand kilometres for the slight, unassuming forward with “He is our little man that gives us might have taken its toll. on his mind on Thursday but his feel- did, and happy I scored,” he said. “For London semi-final. boyishE looks—Antoine Griezmann. that little bit extra,” said fellow strik- Unlike others such as Germany’s ings after the fi nal whistle were all the second goal I was hanging back to For German fans, there is at er Olivier Giroud, summing up what Thomas Mueller or England’s Harry about pride and joy. “It was our duty wait for an error from the goalkeep- After Michel Platini, who fi red les least the prospect of three group Bleus to the 1984 European title, and Griezmann had just done in the Mar- Kane, however, he improved from to win matches to give the French joy er,” he added. German keeper Manuel Zinedine Zidane, who inspired them to seille game. “He took his responsibili- match to match, suggesting Atletico and reach the end,” Griezmann said. “I Neuer punched Paul Pogba’s cross into games and a quarter-final in Mu- their 1998 World Cup triumph, France ties well, to take the penalty and slam it coach Diego Simeone was right to call hope we will make it a beautiful end.” Griezmann’s path and he slotted the nich. Two of those group games needed a new leading fi gure in their in the back of the net. He’s lethal when him one of the world’s top three players. He rejected comparisons with Plati- ball through his legs. are guaranteed for Germany at campaign for more glory on home soil. he’s in the penalty box, and he got his Griezmann, whose Portuguese ma- ni, though with six goals already in his “I have to stress that it’s a victory for the Allianz Arena if the losing Whatever happens in tomorrow’s fi - second goal. He’s our little Mr Extra.” ternal grandfather played football for fi rst European Championships, Griez- everyone, the whole staff at our train- 2016 semi-finalists qualify. nal against Portugal, the speedy Griez- France rarely had the ball and spent Pacos de Ferreira, a small town outside mann is only three short of equalling ing base including the players who’ve Yet the qualifying structure has mann, who scored both goals in Thurs- most of the match resisting sustained Porto, was remembered for his tears the French legend’s record of nine been working really hard during train- also changed. day’s historic 2-0 semi-fi nal win over pressure from the world champions but after France lost 1-0 to eventual win- goals at the 1984 tournament. ing even though they don’t get to play a The two top teams from 10 world champions Germany, has prob- Griezmann still did what he does best: ners Germany in the 2014 World Cup “I am happy with the goals but I am lot. I’m really happy for everybody. I feel qualifying groups advance to the ably done enough to top the scorers’ playing with the energy and enthusi- quarter-fi nal in Brazil. still a long way from Platini,” he said. “I immense joy, pride and happiness.” finals, leaving four further places table and is a worthy candidate for the asm of a little boy in a school match. He had a traumatic experience the hope one day I can get closer to it (the Tomorrow, Griezmann has the ‘best player of the tournament’ award. “Antoine Griezmann is a great play- last time he faced Germany in Novem- record)... We’re delighted, we’re like kids chance to take revenge for the Cham- to be established via play-off s The 25-year-old striker, who stands er,” coach Didier Deschamps, usually ber, on the night of the attacks in Paris here, but now we have to win the fi nal.” pions League defeat by beating Portu- from the four divisions of the new 1.76 metres tall, caught the eye on the reluctant to single out someone, said that killed 130 people across the French Now, Le Bleu is Griezmann—and gal and stopping Real striker Cristiano UEFA Nations League, another big stage against Germany, driving after a scintillating performance by the capital. The young forward found in Marseille he was ruthless. In the Ronaldo from securing one of the few Platini initiative which is set to home a penalty at the end of the fi rst Atletico Madrid striker. “He showed out that his sister Maud was at a rock Champions League fi nal in May, Griez- trophies he still lacks—a major fi nals start in September 2018. half before poking in the ball on 72 what kind of generous player he is. In concert at the Bataclan hall, where 90 mann missed a fi rst-half penalty for title with Portugal.

BOTTOMLINE Euro success helps Les Bleus win back the love of fans

AFP There were 90,000 people in a fan dent of the Picards Foot supporters’ is now excluded from the squad. of federation politics and the wishes of match against Ukraine in November Paris zone under the Eiff el Tower and tens club. “You feel the diff erence in the Tragedy struck France days later. respective coaches. 2013. They had to win to qualify for of thousands more in front of giant behaviour of the players,” added Herve Militants who staged attacks that left Moquet points to the arrival of Noel Brazil and did 3-0. screens in cities around the country. Mougin, head of another fan group. 130 people dead across Paris on No- Le Graet as French Football Federation “When I entered the ground and I rance has rediscovered its love “The support of the people is ex- “Before, this team had trouble ex- vember 13 sent suicide bombers to the president in 2011 as a turning point. felt the atmosphere, I knew that we for the national football team traordinary,” said France coach Didier pressing joy and communicating with Stade de France where France were Before that opening up to support- couldn’t lose,” said Patrice Evra, who after years of scandal and dis- Deschamps. “Before we came to the sta- the fans.” playing Germany in a friendly. ers had not been a priority for the FFF. was captain of the French team that Fappointment. dium we saw people going crazy—they The European Championship has The country has been in a state of In South Africa in 2010, Domenech returned home from South Africa in Antoine Griezmann’s two goals that are going to be even crazier on Sunday,” enabled the France squad to redeem emergency ever since. opened training sessions and some- disgrace. saw France to a landmark 2-0 win over he added. France will meet Cristiano their image, after the uproar that has Deschamps’ squad has somehow times the team hotel to the public, said Paul Pogba was among those to Germany in the Euro 2016 semi-fi nal Ronaldo’s Portugal at the Stade de never been far away in recent years. remained focused on football, build- Mougin. But the squad strike ensured salute supporteers at the Stade Velo- set off football fever that has not been France tomorrow. The players went on strike at the 2010 ing up a groundswell of support that such access to players was soon cut off . drome on Thursday, and Les Bleus will seen since the country won the World Last weekend, before France’s 5-2 World Cup following a dispute between is starting to resemble the 1998 World Le Graet’s election as FFF president be relying on more of the same when Cup in 1998. victory over Iceland in the quarter-fi - striker Nicolas Anelka and the manager Cup-winning campaign with Zinedine helped foster a better understanding they bid for a record-equalling third Tens of thousands took to the streets nal, the players climbed over advertis- of the time Raymond Domenech. Last Zidane at the heart. and the appointment of Deschamps European crown this weekend. of Paris after Thursday’s win in ing hoardings behind a goal to applaud year, star striker Karim Benzema was Relations between the team and the further improved links with the public. “It’s great, it’s crazy. Look at all the celebrations that were partially the home supporters in Paris. charged with complicity in a sex-tape public tailed off after that historic win The start of the reconciliation was people here to support us, it’s magnifi - tainted by clashes with riot police on “It’s the fi rst time I have seen that blackmail scandal involving interna- over Brazil. Dealings with fans became seen in the rousing reception France cent,” he said. “It’s great, but it’s not the Champs Elysees. since 1998,” said Herve Moquet, presi- tional teammate Mathieu Valbuena. He frosty and complex, often at the mercy received during a World Cup play-off over yet.” Gulf Times 4 Saturday, July 9, 2016 EURO 2016

FOCUS Euro fever grips France, Portugal as fi nal looms AFP 1958. There have been three heartbreak said the Sporting Lisbon star when control of the ball in the second half Paris defeats in the World Cup since. asked about French hopes of a home but Griezmann rattled them again with Air horns and blue-red-white tri- This combination of pictures win tomorrow. a 72nd-minute goal. Neuer fumbled colour fl ags dominated the night-time shows the Eiff el Tower lighted “They can believe that but 100 % of a cross and Griezmann fi red the ball atriotic fervour has gripped streets after the win. with the colours of French flag the Portuguese people believe in a Por- home through the goalkeeper’s legs. Euro 2016 hosts France and Some 90,000 people watching the on July 7 (left) and Portugal tugal win,” he told a press conference. Deschamps said “we found it tough Portugal with Antoine Griez- game on a giant screen under the Eif- flag on July 1. (AFP) “Twelve years ago we were playing in but we didn’t give up”, praising his Pmann and Cristiano Ronaldo fel Tower erupted in joy. Riot police Portugal and there was an incredible players’ determination. “I’ve always cast as the rival superheros ahead of charged youths who caused trouble on atmosphere across the country.” believed in my players,” added Des- the tournament fi nal. the Champs Elysees avenue however. Portugal lost the Euro 2004 fi nal in champs. “The ones I chose to form France saw a return to the feverish “There is a lot of fervour and a lot of Lisbon to Greece in one of the biggest this squad have repaid me handsomely. days of 1998 when Zinedine Zidane joy and happiness,” said French coach upsets in the history of the tourna- This is their story, their victory.” guided the country to a World Cup Didier Deschamps. “This team has ment. “I hope this time we will be the Griezmann was particularly re- triumph. Portugal go into tomorrow’s done everything possible to be loved winners,” said Joao Mario. “We believe lieved to have scored the penalty, hav- fi nal seeking to erase their football and it makes me very proud.” in ourselves, we have always believed. ing missed one when Atletico Madrid nightmare of losing the Euro 2004 fi nal Politicians sought to catch the wave The coach (Fernando Santos) has given played in the Champions League fi nal on home ground to unheralded Greece. of football popularity. us this confi dence, this spirit.” against Ronaldo’s Real Madrid in May. National celebrations broke out “I never doubted France’s victory” France’s win was set up by a penalty “I wanted to take a penalty again in an across France after Griezmann scored in the semi-fi nal, said Prime Minister in injury time of the fi rst half that in- important moment and I’m happy I twice in a famous 2-0 win over Ger- Manuel Valls, adding that he was also furiated Germany, who had dominated did, and happy I scored,” he said. many in Marseille on Thursday. A pen- “confi dent” for the fi nal. the game. Italian referee Nicola Riz- Germany felt the defeat was harsh. alty awarded seconds before half-time After their image was tainted by zoli spotted German captain Bastian “We have played well at these Europe- caused turmoil in the German camp. player strikes at the 2010 World Cup Schweinsteiger handle the ball. Griez- an Championship fi nals, but we’re out. Griezmann made no mistake with the and star striker Karim Benzema being mann sent goalkeeper Manuel Neuer That’s very bitter,” said Neuer. “It’s not spot-kick and scored again in the sec- implicated in a sextape blackmail, polls the wrong way with his spot-kick. a fair result.” ond half to extend his lead as the tour- show the French nation overwhelm- matches on giant screens. Much atten- Portugal midfi elder Joao Mario said German coach Joachim Loew said he Loew refused to say whether he nament’s top-scorer with six goals. ingly behind Deschamps’ team. tion will be on superstar Ronaldo, who yesterday that his country’s 11 million had to “calm the players down” in the would extend his time as Germany’s It was France’s fi rst victory over Tens of thousands have also packed has won virtually everything as a club people also believe their team will win. dressing room at half-time because of manager beyond the campaign for the their rivals in a major tournament since Lisbon squares to watch Portugal’s player but no trophy with his country. “Probabilities don’t win matches,” the penalty. Germany renewed their 2018 World Cup in Russia. SPOTLIGHT Klopp signs ‘long-term’ Santos the power Liverpool behind King Ronaldo extension The dynamic goalscorer and coach duo have taken Portugal to the Euro 2016 final and given them a chance to become the latest little nation to upset the continent’s giants

AFP tional trophy. Paris Portugal drew against Portugal captain and forward Iceland, Austria and Hun- Cristiano Ronaldo and coach gary in Group F and needed Fernando Santos during a ristiano Ronaldo an extra-time goal to beat training session yesterday reigns over the foot- Croatia in the last 16. ahead of their Euro 2016 final ball pitch but Fern- The team were criticised. against France. (AFP) ando Santos calls But Santos shrugged it off . C Reuters the shots behind the scenes. When Ronaldo does not per- The dynamic goalscorer form then the likes of Ricardo London and coach duo have taken Quaresma, , Pepe and Portugal to the Euro 2016 fi nal now teenager Renato Sanches and given it a chance to be- can stand in. If it takes an ugly anager Juergen Klopp has come the latest little nation to win then so be it. extended his contract with upset the continent’s giants. “I have always seen Portu- MLiverpool, less than a year After Denmark beat Ger- gal as a team. Sometimes we since joining the club, the English many in 1992 and Greece beat have played better than the Premier League side announced Portugal in Lisbon in 2004, others, but I think the match yesterday. the Portuguese now dream of against Croatia was of strate- The 49-year old took over from upsetting France in their na- gic importance,” he said. “It Brendan Rodgers in October, after a tional stadium tomorrow un- does not matter to us whether der Santos’ guidance. it is spectacular or not. Some- seven-year stint with Borussia Dort- Ronaldo’s threat has grown times you play in an unspec- mund, where he won two German with each match at the Eu- tacular way and you win. League titles and reached the finals of ropean Championship fi nal Other times you play very the Champions League. while the 61-year-old San- spectacularly and you lose.” The German’s initial deal with tos has taken the strain and Ronaldo fi nally produced Liverpool ran until 2018, with an op- made sure Portugal come back a classic performance in the tion of extending it a further year, and stronger each time they have 2-0 win over Wales—scoring while no details of the extension were ridden their luck. one goal and making one for disclosed, British media reported that Santos, who built his career Nani. The star striker said he Klopp has signed a six-year contract. with top clubs in Portugal — wants to be “crying with joy” “We are very much at the beginning Benfi ca, Sporting Lisbon and at the Stade de France tomor- Porto — and in Greece as well row. Santos says he wants to of our journey, but to already have the at the Greek national side, “strengthen” Ronaldo with connection we have with this very spe- said tomorrow’s fi nal “will be some of the characteristics of cial place is incredible,” Klopp said on the high point of my career.” the other players in the squad. the club website (www.liverpoolfc.com). “It is my country, my fl ag, “You cannot either ask “It is my job to lead that and ensure my fatherland, so from a per- Cristiano to play as a winger every element of the LFC football sonal point of view it is very in defence because, he makes environment reflects the best practices important for me,” he said of such an eff ort attacking, being in the game. It is fantastic that the club’s the achievement of reaching the best player in the world, ownership is just as committed to this the Euro showdown. the most prolifi c goal scorer, as we are.” Santos has dramatically he cannot behave like a de- Klopp has made an instant impres- changed Portugal’s luck and fender,” he said. sion during his nine-month tenure at outlook since taking over as Santos may be inspired by coach in September 2014. Greece. Greece beat Portugal , guiding the club to the finals Portugal had lost their fi rst on home territory in the fi nal of the League Cup and the Europa Euro 2016 qualifying game 1-0 of the 2004 Euro — and re- League final after a barren three-sea- to Albania. Santos took over in duced Ronaldo to tears. son spell under Rodgers. controversial circumstances, And Santos inspired a The attacking flair brought in by facing an eight-match touch- Greece team short on indi- Klopp has been highlighted by the fact line ban after being sent off vidual talent to the knockout that no Premier League team has cre- when managing Greece at the rounds at Euro 2012 and the ated more chances that the mersey- 2014 World Cup. 2014 World Cup. They were side club since his arrival. He was accused of verbally already great achievements. “When you have an individual of And Santos has the weap- abusing Australian referee Juergen’s quality in the building it Ben Williams when Costa Rica ons alongside Ronaldo to win beat his side. Appeals to FIFA the fi nal tomorrow. makes perfect sense to secure that and the Court of Arbitration Much is now expected of person for the long term,” principal for Sport saw the ban cut to Bayern Munich’s new 35 owner John Henry, chairman Tom two matches, with two sus- million-euro ($40mn) pur- Werner and Fenway Sports Group pended. chase Sanches. Quaresma and president Mike Gordon said in the Santos’s luck has stayed Pepe have come into their own statement. with him. And he has also in the team. Klopp’s assistants Zeljko Buvac found the right way to build a The key to Portugal’s and Peter Krawietz have also signed team around a genius like Ro- success is therefore likely lengthened deals, the club announced. naldo. The country won seven to be whether Santos can “I am the first to recognise that with straight competitive matches maintain the organisation and this great commitment comes a great to win their qualifying group. defensive structure that has responsibility,” Klopp added. “All of our He has taken the burden brought his team to the gates off Ronaldo’s shoulders in a of the Stade de France. coaching careers we have looked to way that eminent predeces- “Two years ago we set the make teams and clubs better, with the sors like Paulo Bento, Carlos target to get here,” he said. ultimate goal of making the supporters Queiroz and Luis Felipe Sco- “We told each other that we proud and happy.” lari could not. had to do our utmost to get to Liverpool, who finished eighth Ronaldo, three-time world France and reach this fi nal. We last season, will start their quest to player of the year, and own- have worked like crazy to get win their first league title in 27 years er of a truckful of football here. Now we have a fi nal to against Arsenal at the Emirates Sta- records, now has a chance to play and you know that a fi nal dium on August 14. win his fi rst major interna- is not played, it is won.” Gulf Times Saturday, July 9, 2016 5 FOOTBALL

APPEAL DEAL RETIRES ALLEGATIONS CONFLICT CAS to hear Blatter case Skrtel to join Fenerbahce Veteran goalkeeper Cech Valcke ‘threatened’ Platini, Sneijder fights huge on August 25 from Liverpool ends international career claims whistleblower Galatasaray fine

FIFA’s disgraced former president Sepp Blatter’s Fenerbahce are set to sign the fiery Slovakian Veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech has announced Sacked FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke Galatasaray’s Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder appeal against his six-year ban from football will international defender Martin Skrtel on a free his retirement from international football after made a “direct threat” to Michel Platini imme- was yesterday locked in a bitter conflict with the be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport transfer from Liverpool, the Istanbul giants said a record 124 games for the Czech Republic over diately before the former UEFA president’s sus- club after it reportedly ordered him to pay a fine (CAS) on August 25, it was announced yester- yesterday. Last season’s Turkish runners-up an eventful 14-year career. “I would hate to end pension, a sports marketing consultant alleged of 2.3mn euros for picking up too many yellow day. The CAS made no off icial statement on said in a brief statement they were in advanced up in a situation when I would start feeling tired yesterday. Platini, 61, is banned from football cards. Sneijder, a favourite with the Istanbul Friday but released a list of hearings with Blatter talks with Liverpool and the player, who made a midway through a qualifying campaign,” the for four years over a “disloyal payment” of two crowds since arriving in 2013 at Galatasaray, pencilled in amongst a number of other cases. strong showing in helping Slovakia to the last-16 34-year-old told reporters in Prague on Friday. million Swiss francs ($2.2mn) that ex-FIFA presi- returned for pre-season training on Thursday In May the CAS reduced UEFA chief Michel at Euro 2016. “I like to do things at a 100 %.” dent Sepp Blatter authorised from FIFA funds. saying he was sad over the events but there was Platini’s ban to four years saying the penalty Daily Fanatik sports reported the club would “The decision is final. I feel there will be a mo- Valcke was banned for 10 years over miscon- no question currently of him leaving the initially imposed by FIFA’s ethics committee was off er Skrtel a three year contract on an annual ment when I will need more time to rest,” said duct regarding television deals and World Cup club. “too severe”. salary of 2.5mn euros ($2.75mn) and would pay the former Chelsea and current Arsenal stopper. ticket sales. “I am really sorry for what has happened. It’s not In December 2015 FIFA judges originally Liverpool a nominal sum for the transfer. The Cech played all three games for the Czech Benny Alon, an Israeli-American sports market- possible to say at the moment what is going to banned Blatter and Platini for eight years over a Istanbul giant’s club chairman Aziz Yildirim is Republic at Euro 2016, where his team lost to ing consultant and friend of Platini’s, exposed happen. We will wait and see what the coming 2mn Swiss franc ($2mn, 1.8mn euros) payment hoping that the formal signing ceremony will Spain and Turkey and drew with Croatia, bowing Valcke’s ticket dealings at a press conference in days will bring,” he told NTV television after that Blatter sent to Platini in 2011. take place as soon as Monday. out after the group phase with a single point. Zurich in September last year. flying into Istanbul.

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Spanish judge drops Neymar case I want City to play AFP DIS and the taxman missing Madrid out on their cuts. ‘Irregularities” detected Spanish judge yes- The judge said irregulari- terday dropped a ties in Neymar’s transfer were fraud and corruption detected but it was an issue case against Brazilian for a civil court, not a criminal beautiful football, superstarA Neymar and his fa- court to settle. He added that ther in relation to the player’s it was not up to him to decide 2013 transfer to Barcelona. “if FIFA rules had been re- The case had been brought spected” by the Brazilian investment Neymar, widely regarded fund DIS, former owners of as one of the fi nest talents the rights of the player, now 24 in world football, last week and who moved to the Camp signed a fi ve-year contract ex- says Guardiola Nou from Santos in his home- tension with Barcelona which land. DIS, which held 40 % includes a buy out clause of up of Neymar’s sporting rights to 250mn euros. ‘It’s the right moment to come here and prove myself’ when he played at Santos, had The player was already un- claimed it was cheated out of der contract until 2018 with its real share of the transfer Barcelona and the deal will due to parallel contracts that keep him at the Catalan side Barcelona and Santos allegedly until June 30, 2021. used to hide the true cost. The prolifi c Brazil striker High Court judge Jose de la has played brilliantly for the Mata ruled that while the case Catalan club as part of a much “could have sporting, ethi- feared attacking trident along- cal and disciplinary repercus- side Lionel Messi and Luis sions”, it “cannot be pursued in Suarez. the criminal courts”, the court He helped Barcelona win the said in a statement. Spanish league last season for Neymar and his father, who the second year in a row, nar- acts as his agent, and Barce- rowly beating their fi erce rivals lona president Josep Maria Real Madrid. Bartomeu and his predecessor But speculation had mount- Sandro Rosell all denied any ed around whether or not wrongdoing when they ap- Neymar would extend his stay peared in court in February. at the Camp Nou or make an- The ruling comes less than a other lucrative move. month after Barcelona accept- Paris Saint-Germain, Real ed to pay a 5.5-million-euro Madrid, Manchester United ($6.2mn) fi ne over the con- and Manchester City had been tested transfer in a deal with named as possible suitors. prosecutors that allowed the The scandal surrounding club to avoid trial on tax eva- Neymar’s transfer prompted sion charges. Rossell to resign as Barcelona The agreement freed up president in January 2014. Bartomeu and Rosell from The club and its players have possible criminal proceed- been plagued by a series of le- ings that could have seen them gal woes. jailed. Barcelona had originally A Barcelona court on published the fee in the shady Wednesday sentenced Bar- transfer as 57.1mn euros, with celona’s Argentine striker Li- 40mn euros of that given to onel Messi and his father to the player’s family. 21 months in jail for tax fraud But Spanish authorities be- although they are not expected lieve the true transfer fi gure to serve the term as is common was at least 83 mn euros. in Spain for sentences of less Santos — the Brazilian club than two years for non-violent of a young Pele where Neymar crimes. started his career — received Messi’s Barcelona and Ar- 17.1mn, 6.8mn euros of which gentina teammate Javier went to DIS. Mascherano was sentenced in But Spanish judicial author- December to a one-year sus- Manchester City’s Spanish coach Pep Guardiola poses outside the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, yesterday. (AFP) ities believe another 26mn eu- pended sentence for tax fraud ros from the parallel contracts after he was found guilty of Reuters added: “That’s why I am here. fi ve games in a row. That is the Guardiola sought to play down Guardiola said he would like to were shared between Neymar, failing to pay 1.5mn in taxes for Manchester I want to play the way I want. challenge and we are going to try the potential for renewed con- have an English core to his squad. his family and Santos, with the 2011 and 2012. But wherever you go you have to and win more points. fl ict between them. “I am curious about Sterling. adapt to the quality of the play- “You have to understand our “I think Jose said it pretty well The money they paid for him ew Manchester City ers. We have to fi nd each other as body language — maybe we will the other day, it is not about him was always in the mind of the manager Pep Guardiola soon as possible. not be able to win every day, but or me. It is so tough to win here. people. But I am looking forward has come to England “What we want is so simple. we are going to try. It could be We played many times against to helping him so he can show us to prove himself and When the opposition have the the biggest challenge [of my ca- each other and the best coaches what a good player he is,” said Nwants to produce the “beauti- ball to get it back, when we have reer] because City have not won helped me reach another level as Guardiola. ful football” for which his teams it to move it as quickly as possi- as many titles as Barca or Bay- a coach. They made me better. City have not revealed how are famed, he told reporters ble, to create the most chances as ern. I don’t know. “We are going But all managers want to win — much they paid for Sterling but yesterday. possible.” to train to win as many matches and it is the same here.” media reports said he cost 49 Speaking at his fi rst news con- Answering questions in Eng- as possible. It is better to be with City’s new manager would not mn pounds ($63.48 mn) when he ference since joining the club, lish, Spanish and Catalan, he that pressure.” be drawn on the prospect of any signed from Liverpool — a record the former Barcelona and Bayern said he relished the expectation additions to a squad which has for an English player. Munich coach said his personal in his new role and added this job MOURINHO RIVALRY already been strengthened by “I would like to work with an learning curve would be steep as could be the biggest challenge of Guardiola, who said he had the arrival of 19-year-old mid- English basis but English players he came to terms with his new a nine-year coaching career in not been set any targets by the fi elder Oleksandr Zinchenko are so expensive so it is diffi cult, team and adapted to the rigours which he has won fi ve league ti- club’s hirearchy, was speaking from Russian club FC Ufa and added Guardiola. of the Premier League. tles and two Champion Leagues. three days after Jose Mourinho striker Nolito from Celta Vigo. City play their opening pre- “It’s the right moment to “In my career people are al- was unveiled as the new Man- Asked about City’s England season game against Guardiola’s come here and prove myself,” he ways making demands of my chester United manager. players, goalkeeper Joe Hart and foremr club Bayern at the Allianz said. Asked if he could get City to teams. But it is good to live with The pair were famed for their winger Raheem Sterling, both of Arena on July 20. Their fi rst Pre- play the sort of beautiful football that pressure. In England it is rivalry in Spain when Mourinho whom were criticised for medio- mier League game is at home to trademarked by Barcelona, he diffi cult to fi nd a team that wins was in charge at Real Madrid, but cre performances at Euro 2016, Sunderland on August 13.

Bielsa quits as Lazio boss 48 hours aft er appointment Rome: Former Argentina boss Marce- to begin Simone Inzaghi will step in 2004. At the 2010 World Cup Bielsa has a good reason to be running side top of the French league most of lo Bielsa has pulled out of coaching into the vacant breach, having taken led Chile to the last-16 and many feel somewhere. There is no reason the season with striker Andre Pierre Lazio in a shock move 48 hours after temporary charge in the second half he laid the groundwork for recent whatsoever for a player to be standing Gignac leading the way before a late his appointment which the Serie A of last season. back-to-back Copa America still.” slump saw them slide to fourth. club said could result in legal action. The intense Bielsa, known as ‘El Loco’ glory. After quitting Chile in a row over who Then came his stunning departure “We note with amazement the resig- (the Madman), called Lazio boss Chile took to the idiosyncratic Argen- would lead the national federation from Marseille after the first match of nation of Marcelo Bielsa in clear viola- Claudio Lotito overnight Thursday to tine who was voted the best coach in Bielsa took his firebrand football the season, saying he had fallen out tion of the commitments and agree- say he had decided not to come to the history of Chilean football during philosophy to the Basque Country and with the directors and leaving the club ments signed last week,” the Serie A Rome, Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport daily his 2007-2011 adventure by the read- Athletic Bilbao. somewhat in the lurch, they ended up club said in a statement yesterday. reported Friday. ers of football magazine El Mercurio. Instilling his total football he led them finishing 13th in the league. Just two days ago Lazio said that With Gabriel Batistuta and Hernan Cre- The country’s then President, Michelle to the Europa League final, where they The job at Lazio was to be his first Bielsa, who had been jobless since spo Bielsa’s Argentina were favourites Bachelet, hailed him a “role model for lost 3-0 to Atletico Madrid, and also time coaching in Italy and the task of he abruptly quit as Marseille handler for the 2002 World Cup on the back of youth” and praised his “ability to get to the Spanish Cup final in which they turning around their fortunes did not after the first match of last season, some terrifying form only to fall in the results with hard work, discipline and also lost 3-0 to Barcelona. promise to be an easy one: the club, would be arriving in Rome this first round after a defeat to England. enthusiasm”. He was soon to become an idol in Mar- which last won the Serie A in 2000, weekend having signed a contract as But he guided his homeland to One of his favourite maxims is: “Every seille after taking over there in May finished eighth last season, far behind coach. With pre-season training about Olympic glory at the Athens Games player, at whatever time in the match, 2014 the soccer mad city found their arch rivals AS Roma, who were third. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, July 9, 2016 SPORT

MLB BOXING Champion Fury to meet Klitschko in Flores homers as October rematch Mets win slugfest over Nationals 9-7 ‘I faced him a couple of times. The first pitch I saw, I put a good swing on it’

By Marc Carig Newsday

t was the stuff of slow-pitch softball games, with so many liners fi lling the hot air over Citi Field that even Ia relief pitcher couldn’t help but get a piece of the action. In Thursday’s showdown of the top two teams in the NL East, the Nationals and Mets com- bined for 16 runs on 27 hits, 13 Reuters 11 years. The Briton was then for extra-bases. The outburst London stripped of the IBF title, which included eight homers, two into is now held by compatriot the batter’s eye centre and two Anthony Joshua, for agreeing into the upper deck in right. orld heavyweight a rematch with Klitschko There were 310 pitches champion Tyson rather than facing their man- thrown, and though none of Fury’s much- datory challenger Vyacheslav them were underhanded tosses, anticipated re- Glazkov. it seemed that way. How else to Wmatch with former title holder Fury recently denied an alle- explain Nationals reliever Ollie Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine gation of doping after a Sunday Perez, the scorned former Met, will be held in Manchester on newspaper said he was under who had been hitless in six years, October 29. investigation. but nonetheless collected a pair “Sixteen weeks Saturday till Klitschko’s manager Bernd of hits, including one that ig- I blast @Klitschko spark out... Boente has asked for a full in- nited a rally? can’t wait #manchesterocto- vestigation of the champion by But once the dust settled on ber29,” the British boxer said on the UK Anti-Doping Agency. one of the weirdest nights in the his Twitter feed on Thursday. Fury, who is unbeaten in 25 history of Citi Field, the Mets The 27-year-old had been professional fi ghts, 18 of them emerged as 9-7 winners of the due to defend his WBA and won by knockout, caused con- Nationals. With three games left WBO crowns against the same troversy in May 2015 when he before the All-Star break, the opponent at the same venue on made homophobic, sexist and Mets have cut their defi cit in the July 9 but had to pull out after anti-Semitic comments in a division to three games. spraining his ankle in training. video posted online. It ended in controversy, when Fury claimed the WBO, Although he has since apol- umpires ruled that Jayson Werth WBA and IBF belts after scor- ogised, Klitschko said the sport slid into second base too late. It ing a shock points win over would be better off without a turned Daniel Murphy’s hard the Ukrainian in November, champion like Fury and that he grounder - that shortstop As- infl icting his fi rst defeat in should be banned from boxing. drubal Cabrera needed a lunge just to snag - into a critical dou- ble play that helped Jeurys Fa- New York Mets first baseman Wilmer Flores hits a three run home run against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning at Citi Field. New standardised shot clock for all NBA arenas milia escape a jam. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports The go-ahead homer came off A new shot clock and timing system will be used at all NBA are- the bat of the scorching Wilmer Twice, the Mets fell behind (Jose Reyes for getting picked single-game record at Citi Field. in 41/3 innings. With the excep- nas, the first time the league has standardised such equipment Flores, who blasted a three-run the Nationals, only to tie it. In off fi rst base even though he had The Nationals clubbed three tion of his June 21 start, when across every venue, the league announced on Thursday. shot in the fi fth inning to give the the fi fth inning, the Nats went homered earlier). in the fourth inning alone against he was knocked out of the game The equipment to be used from the opening of the 2016-17 Mets their fi rst lead of the game. ahead 6-4, their third lead of the Murphy had been cheered in Bartolo Colon, who endured his one batter in by a line drive off campaign will be displayed for the first time on Friday at the Improbably, it stuck. game. Only then did the Mets fi - his fi rst trip back to Flushing worst start of the season. his hand, it was the 43-year- NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and be integrated into all 29 Flores didn’t even start the nally go ahead on Flores’ timely following his defection via free Clint Robinson and Anthony old righty’s shortest outing of league arenas by the start of the season. game. As expected, he was swing. The homer injected life agency to the Nationals -has- Rendon hit back-to-back solo the year. But Lucas Giolito, the The sleeker new shot clock design by Swiss timekeeper sponsor squeezed out of the lineup, the into a vocal crowd on a sticky, tened of course by the Mets’ shots after Harper’s towering highly regarded Nationals pros- Tissot will use light-emitting diode glass technology developed victim of a numbers crunch, humid night here. They cheered refusal to give him a long-term blast. The Mets answered with a pect, had it worse. exclusively for the NBA, free of cables and conductors and with manager Terry Collins re- for a curtain call and until Flores deal. But his onslaught against pair of solo blasts of their own in transparent. solving to give playing time at fi nally obliged, ducking his head his former employees trumped the fourth courtesy of Reyes and RESULTS The clocks will integrate 24-second, timeout and game clocks in third base to Jose Reyes. out of the Mets dugout. whatever sentimental memories catcher Travis d’Arnaud. Asdru- LA Angels 5 Tampa Bay 1 one hardware item, a league first, with number transition so swift “I wasn’t playing today,” Of course, it wasn’t the fi rst fans may have harbored from his bal Cabrera smacked a solo shot St. Louis 5 Pittsburgh 1 that even high-speed television cameras cannot detect it, help- Flores said. “I got the opportu- time on a strange night that they magical postseason run. in the sixth. Toronto 5 Detroit 4 ing provide definitive replay footage to better assist referees and nity to go out there. And I was had expressed their emotions. Not that Murphy seemed to Curtis Granderson reached NY Yankees 5 Cleveland 4 NBA replay off icials in judging critical calls on last-second shots. just ready for him. I faced him a For perceived crimes big and mind. He continued his one- base in his fi rst fi ve plate appear- NY Mets 9 Washington 7 NBA vice president of information technology Michael Gliedman couple of times. The fi rst pitch I small, committed in the past man crusade for revenge. In 10 ances. He walked twice, singled Minnesota 10 Texas 1 said the system would provide the league with “the most sophis- saw, I put a good swing on it.” and the present, they showered games against his former mates, twice and added a double. In- Atlanta 4 Chicago Cubs 3 ticated shot clock the league has ever had.” Nevertheless, Flores entered boos upon old friends (Murphy Murphy has 14 RBIs, the latest deed, it was a brutal night for the (11 innings) Clock and scoreboard operators in all arenas will control the the game on a double switch, for knocking in three runs and on a seventh-inning solo shot off pitchers. Oakland 3 Houston 1 system as they have past timing mechanisms. then blasted his fi fth homer Perez for, well, being Perez), old Antonio Bastardo. Steady throughout the entire Kansas City 4 Seattle 3 The NBA introduced the 24-second shot clock during the 1954-55 since Sunday, giving Collins an- foils (Bryce Harper for blasting a By the end of the night, the fi rst half, Colon hit a wall, al- Colorado 11 Philadelphia 2 season to hasten the pace of games. other reason to reconsider. mammoth homer) and old stars clubs bashed eight homers, a lowing a season-high six runs San Diego 6 LA Dodgers 0

NBA Durant doesn’t see Warriors move as short cut to title

AFP rant. “Nothing in this league is impact was a sense of belonging ter,” Warriors general manager San Francisco easy. There are no short cuts. from his new teammates — two- Bob Myers said. “You never ex- This is the hardest road. I’ve time NBA Most Valuable Player pect to get this much better.” never lived in this community, Stephen Curry, 3-point sharp- BA star Kevin Durant don’t know anybody here. shooter Klay Thompson and for- Tough call to Westbrook dismissed critics of “We live in this superhero wards Draymond Green and An- Durant, whose 27.4 points a his leaving the Okla- comic book world and you are dre Iguodala — in a visit to make game ranks as the third-best homa City Thunder for either a superhero or a villain. their pitch last weekend. career average in NBA history, NGolden State on Thursday after I understand the fans in Okla- “When they came in to see me, called telling the Thunder he was signing a two-year deal worth homa City and around the world everything was real. They were a leaving “the toughest day of my $54.3mn to join the Warriors. are upset. I made the decision huge family walking in. They were life” and had trouble explaining “All I can control is how I based on what I wanted to do. a great fi t,” Durant said. “I just felt himself to ex-teammate Russell come to work every single day “I’m sorry you feel that way like I wanted to be a part of it.” Westbrook. and help this team get better,” but I just want to live my life Durant will play his fi rst game “I talked to him. It was tough. Durant said. “I can’t worry about the way I want to live it. I’ve got in Golden State’s arena since I’m sure he wasn’t happy about the outside noise.” a short amount of time to play joining the Warriors on July 26 the decision but he respected it,” Four-time NBA scoring lead- basketball and I just want to en- as a member of the US Olympic Durant said. “I wanted to leave er Durant, the 2014 NBA Most joy every day of it.” team against China in a warm- with some class and dignity. It Valuable Player, combined with Durant, 27, can opt out of the up contest for Rio. was diffi cult, being in a place for Russell Westbrook to lift the deal next July and take advantage It was in Oakland where the so long, the relationships I built, Thunder to the Western Confer- of television money boosting the Warriors ended Durant’s title it was hard.” ence fi nals four times in the past NBA salary cap to $107mn a club dream in May, defeating Okla- Neither can Warriors coach six years but has never won an to test free agency again. But he homa City to complete a rally Steve Kerr, who sees Durant as NBA title. says the Warriors are in his long- from 3-1 down to win the best- an easy scoring fi t, adding more Some say joining the Warri- term plans. of-seven Western Conference inside punch to go with Curry ors was his way of trying to take “I fi gured it was time for me to semi-fi nals. Golden State then and Thompson in an up-tempo a short cut to a crown by joining try a new challenge and there’s squandered a 3-1 NBA Finals attack. “You can’t do any better a Golden State club that retains no better place to do it,” Durant lead in losing to Cleveland. De- than adding KD to the current the core of a title that won the said. “I went with my gut and my spite coming so close to a repeat crew,” Kerr said. “To play with 2015 NBA crown and came with- instincts and I trusted the situa- crown, the Warriors dumped them and play our style, I think in one game of a championship tion. I’m out of my comfort zone. a fi stful of reserves and traded that was attractive to him. It repeat last month. I’m super excited. I’m pumped to Australian center Andrew Bogut does feel like it should be a per- (L-R) Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors sits with Kevin Durant and GM Bob Myers while “It’s not a popular decision get started.” to Dallas to make salary room for fect fi t. It’s going to be a lot of fun they speak to the media during the press conference where Durant was introduced as a Golden State but I can live with it,” said Du- Durant said what made a big Durant. “We just try to get bet- once we get rolling.” Warrior after they signed him as a free agent on July 7, 2016 in Oakland, California. (Getty Images/AFP) Gulf Times Saturday, July 9, 2016 7 ROAD TO RIO

SPOTLIGHT EUROPEAN MEET Rutherford defends Euro title, Martina Gatlin, Merritt shocks Vicaut

AFP “I did my best, I ran well!” Amsterdam beamed Martina. “The false start from one of the others was a bril- liant start for me. cruise at US trials ritain’s Greg Ruther- “I did the second a little safer, ford defended his Eu- but I ran a good race.” ropean long jump title Vicaut called his bronze med- on Thursday, but Dutch al performance a “failure”. veteranB Churandy Martina “I was targeting gold and I fi n- shocked French favourite Jimmy ished third,” the Parisian said. Vicaut to claim gold in the 100m. “I’ll head home and rest up a bit. There was also a memorable I don’t even know if it’s the big- for Olympics victory on the second day of ac- gest disappointment of my ca- tion of the European Athletics reer, we’ll see in Rio. Championships for Thomas van “Rio is more important than The most impressive display of the round came from Merritt who could emulate der Plaetsen, the Belgian decath- the Europeans.” lete just returning to competition In the gruelling two-day de- the legendary Michael Johnson by winning the 400m and 200m in Rio de Janeiro after having suff ered testicular cathlon, van der Plaetsen was cancer last year. left ecstatic after what has been Rutherford, also the reigning a tough year after overcoming world, Olympic and Common- cancer, notching up a total score wealth champion, was given a of 8,218pts. Czech Adam Hel- stern test at Amsterdam’s Olym- celet took silver (8,157), just four pic Stadium by Michel Torneus, points ahead of Serbian Mihail the Swede jumping 8.21m on his Dudas. fi rst eff ort. “It’s diffi cult to say if this is The Briton could only manage my greatest win ever, but it is 8.12 before twice no-jumping defi nitely the one which I cher- and then increasing his mark by ish the most,” said van der Pla- 1cm, before going out to 8.25 on etsen. his fi fth attempt. “After everything that has Two desperate fi nal eff orts by happened over the last year, that Torneus no-marked to allow Ru- is why this has so much sig- therford to continue his amaz- nifi cance. It’s been a fantastic ing big-competition winning comeback on a high level.” record, the Swede taking silver. German shot putter Christina “Although 8.25 isn’t very big, Schwanitz joined Rutherford in it’s good to be the best of Europe defending her title, dominating again,” Rutherford said. “It’s her competition with a best of now about being the best of the 20.17m, her closest rival Anita world again. I now have fi ve ma- Marton of Hungaria winning sil- jor titles and not many athletes ver with 18.72. can say that. There were second golds on eased up a good 20 metres from the end “If I win the Olympics in Rio, the night for both Britain and and clearly had plenty left in the tank as he then I’ll have each title in dou- Germany by way of Dina Asher- crossed in fi rst place. ble.” Smith (200m) and Cindy Roleder Afterwards Merritt said the 200m re- Home favourite Martina pro- (100m hurdles) respectively. mains uncharted territory for him, with his duced a late surge to shock Vi- Asher-Smith timed 22.37sec priority still the 400m. caut in a tense 100m, which had in winning the 200m from 2012 “It felt cool,” he said. “It’s still a bit for- to be restarted following Briton champion Ivet Lalova-Collio of eign to me. But I know I’m fast and I’m Richard Kilty’s disqualifi cation Bulgaria (22.52). strong so I fi gure I can handle it. It wasn’t for a false start. Roleder clocked 12.62sec to a hard race. It’s only half of my race (the The Dutchman showed all his edge out Belarus’ Alina Talay 400m). It felt smooth.” 200m prowess with a fl awless fi - (12.68), with US-born Briton Tif- Asked about the possibility of attempt- nal 50 metres after fi nding him- fany Porter taking bronze (12.76). ing to emulate Johnson’s 400-200 double self at the back of the fi eld fol- Spaniard Ruth Beitia won the at the 1996 Atlanta Games, Merritt replied: lowing a sluggish start, clocking women’s high jump with a best of “If somebody did it; that means it can be a season’s best of 10.07 seconds. 1.98m while Latvian Zigismunds done again. (The 200m) is not really a seri- Vicaut, in 10.08sec, was beat- Sirmais produced a personal best ous thing for me. I just want to have some en into third by Jamaican-born of 86.66m to claim a shock men’s fun with it.” Turk Jak Ali Harvey, who lost out javelin victory over Vitezslav Gatlin meanwhile backed Merritt for by a matter of thousandths of a Vesely, the 2013 world champion the double. “If anyone can do it LaShawn second on Martina. from the Czech Republic. can do it,” he said. “I know he’s got it in the tank.” In other heats Thursday, the wom- en’s 100m hurdles once again showcased the fearsome strength of depth in the event amongst American runners. American women have dominated the event this season, owning the top 10 fast- est times of the year, with rising star Ken- dra Harrison threatening to break Yordanka Donkova’s 28-year-old world record of 12.21sec set in 1988. Harrison, 23, who ran 12.24sec on the Justin Gatlin competes in the first round of same track at the Prefontaine Classic in the men’s 200m during the 2016 US May, posted the second fastest time in Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at qualifying, winning her preliminary in Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. At right, 12.57sec. Brianna Rollins was fastest with LaShawn Merritt in action. a time of 12.56sec. “I felt a little stiff ; I’m just glad I made the next round,” Harrison said. In the women’s shot put, world indoor champion Michelle Carter confi rmed her Olympic berth with a winning throw of AFP est time this year en route to victory in the legendary Michael Johnson by winning 19.59 metres, comfortably clear of Raven Eugene, United States the 100m, jogged in 20.32 seconds behind the 400m and 200m in Rio de Janeiro. Saunders and Felisha Johnson. Ameer Webb at a rainswept Hayward Field. Merritt, who set the world’s fastest time The triple jump meanwhile was won “I just took my time, made sure I was in this year on his way to victory in the 400m by Georgia’s Keturah Orji with a leap of ustin Gatlin and LaShawn Merritt the top three; when the rain hits you, just on Sunday, has already clocked the world’s 14.32m. remained on collision course at the play it smart. Get to the next round, get fastest time in the 200m, a blistering In the day’s other fi nal, American record Britain’s Greg Rutherford reacts on the podium. US Olympic track and fi eld trials faster and rise to the occasion,” Gatlin told 19.78sec in Nassau on June 27. holder Emma Coburn triumphed in an here Thursday after coasting into the reporters. The 30-year-old booked his place in eventful 3,000m steeplechase, winning in Jsemi-fi nals of the 200 metres. The most impressive display of the the semi-fi nals of the 200m with a time of a time of 9 minutes 17.48seconds, cross- END OF THE ROAD Gatlin, who lit up Hayward Field at the round came from Merritt, the 2008 Olym- 20.09sec. Although it was the third quick- ing ahead of Courtney Frerichs and Colleen weekend by clocking the world’s fast- pics 400m champion who could emulate est time of the fi rst round, Merritt had Quigley. Japanese hammer BOTTOMLINE thrower Murofushi Stepanova eyes Rio spot with retires aft er failing to qualify for Rio

IAAF chief Coe’s blessing AFP Tokyo

AFP ed States, was handed the chance to com- athletes can face and how decisions they Amsterdam pete in the European Championships as a make aff ect them.” apanese hammer thrower “neutral” as recompense for her speaking Stepanova praised the IAAF for the Koji Murofushi has an- out on the systematic doping at the heart support it had off ered her. nounced his retirement uliya Stepanova’s interna- of Russian athletics. “I hope what you did for me gives per- from the sport, two weeks tional comeback may have end- Stepping on to the track in Amsterdam mission for more athletes. If you want to afterJ he missed out on a place at ed with a torn foot ligament and was a major breakthrough on her road to do something right, people in the world the 2016 Rio Olympics. Ydisqualifi cation, but the Rus- redemption and her presence was widely will support you to do the right thing.” Murofushi, who won gold sian doping whistleblower leaves with hailed. Svein Arne Hansen, president of Eu- in the 2004 Athens Games and Sebastian Coe’s blessing and seemingly Coe met with Stepanova on Thursday ropean Athletics, the body organising the bronze in London four years ever closer to a place at the Rio Olympics. and asked the 30-year-old to share her Euro championships, added: “It was our ago, came out of a two-year re- Stepanova herself served a two-year experiences and views with the IAAF pleasure to invite you to compete here at tirement to make his bid for se- “I’m retiring from top-level doping ban before she and her husband was installed as president in place of the Values Commission, which holds its fi rst our European Athletics Championships. lection but could not meet the competition, but will now con- Vitaly made startling revelations about now-disgraced Lamine Diack. meeting later this year. You have the full support of European qualifying mark of 77 metres centrate on contributing to state-sponsored doping in Russian ath- Russian athletes were promptly sus- “I want young athletes to feel strong Athletics. while fi nishing 12th at the Japan the Japanese sporting world,” letics. pended from international competition about decisions they make and the people “I am sorry you sustained an injury last national championships. Murofushi told the Kyodo news Associated, widespread corruption in November and now face a race a raft of they have around them to help them see night but hope it will get better quickly. The 41-year-old is also the agency. with the International Association of criteria to meet before even being in with the future,” Coe said. Your bravery and determination we want sports director for the 2020 To- Murofushi also fi nished ninth Athletics Federations (IAAF) plunged the a chance of competing in Rio. “I would like you to help us understand to share with others across Europe. We kyo organising committee, Kyo- at his fi rst Olympics in Sydney in body into its worst-ever crisis, just as Coe But Stepanova, now exiled in the Unit- the true nature of the problems young must all learn lessons from you.” do news reported. 2000 and fi fth in Beijing in 2008. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, July 9, 2016 ROAD TO RIO

SPOTLIGHT Golf on shaky road to Rio aft er top players pull out While only one woman player, S. African Lee-Anne Pace, has so far pulled out of global sport’s showpiece, the alarming exodus of so many high-profile names will not help eff orts to grow golf worldwide on the back of the Rio Games

Reuters simply because the sport is now back Los Angeles in the Olympics. “The general awareness about golf even years after successfully For Rory McIlroy, winning Claret Jugs and green jackets is a priority in Brazil has never been so big,” Love- pleading its case to be re-ad- lady told Reuters. “I talk to people all mitted to the Olympics follow- the time and there was never as much ing an absence of more than a interest as there is now. century,S golf is on increasingly shaky “Brazil is a country where golf is ground as it prepares to be showcased very small, it can only grow. The Ol- at the Rio Games next month. ympic course will be the fi rst public Three of the world’s top-10 play- course and I hope they can keep it ac- ers in the men’s game have already cessible, in terms of lessons and equip- opted out of Rio, along with four other ment rental and prices.” former major winners and exciting Lovelady, who is on the cusp of Japanese talent Hideki Matsuyama qualifi cation for Rio as she occupies among others. More withdrawals are the 60th and fi nal spot, felt that Zika likely to follow suit. fears had been overplayed in the media. Australian world number one Jason “Zika is a threat, but the chances of Day and fourth-ranked Rory McIlroy being bitten are very small,” she said. were vocal backers of Olympic golf “The mosquito season is in the sum- until they decided not to go because mer and the Games are in our winter so of concerns over Zika, a mosquito- there will be less mosquitoes around. borne virus that is spreading across the “As a Brazilian, I tell people I am Americas. not going to stop my life over this. You However, four-times major cham- need to use repellent and take precau- pion McIlroy of Northern Ireland in- tions, but it is not something that is dicated at last week’s French Open that going to stop my life.” Zika fears were not the only reason for Asked about the growing number of his withdrawal. golfer withdrawals from Rio, IOC Pres- “Most other athletes dream their ident Thomas Bach said in a statement: whole lives of competing in the Olym- “These are individual decisions taken pics, winning an Olympic Gold, and we by the players that stand in contrast to (golfers) haven’t,” McIlroy said. the WHO (World Health Organization) “We dream of winning Claret Jugs recommendations. (at the British Open) and we dream of “The IOC, of course, has to respect winning green jackets (at the Masters). the decisions of the athletes, but it is Whether that makes golf look insular obvious that this does not help the at- in any way... it’s just the way it is.” tractiveness of the golf competition. World number eight Adam Scott of “You can see that these are indi- Australia, another notable absentee, vidual decisions just by looking at told Reuters a year ago that he was un- (Germany’s former world number one) likely to be in Rio as he considered Ol- Martin Kaymer, who recently said that ympic golf to be an “exhibition”, with the Olympic golf tournament is a top other sports much more deserving of priority for him this year.” Games exposure. fast approaching and American world pete at the Rio Games. outspoken, telling Reuters: “Whether game the most, not us (professionals).” The IGF has said it “understands While only one women’s player, number three Jordan Spieth, who has Though golf was forced to answer I win an Olympic medal or not is not Scott also disagreed with the playing the challenges players face” while also South African Lee-Anne Pace, has so said he is still “uncertain” about going, tough questions on expensive equip- going to defi ne my career or change format for golf at the Rio Olympics, 72 regretting the absence of “a few lead- far pulled out of global sport’s show- is expected to make a decision by then. ment, men’s only clubs and environ- whether I’ve fulfi lled my career. holes of individual strokeplay which is ing players” from the “world’s greatest piece, the alarming exodus of so many This was most certainly not the sce- mental concerns, taped messages of “It’s nothing I’ve ever aspired to the bread and butter of every profes- celebration of sport”. high-profi le names will not help ef- nario expected when the golfi ng world support from former world number do and I don’t think I ever will. It’s all sional circuit around the world. Sources close to the IGF hierarchy forts to grow golf worldwide on the joyfully celebrated its Olympic return ones Tiger Woods and Ernie Els helped about the four majors for us and I think “Having another 72-hole golf tour- told Reuters that the governing body back of the Rio Games. in 2009, having overcome two main sway the IOC voting. that’s the way it should stay for golf.” nament with a weaker-than-most would prefer to judge the success of Furthermore, golf has only been obstacles in presenting its case to the Golf got the Olympic nod after Speaking at last week’s WGC- fi eld doesn’t really pique my interest,” golf’s return to the Olympics only af- guaranteed a spot in Rio and then in International Olympic Committee earning 63 votes for inclusion and 27 Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio, Scott he said. “A team event certainly would ter the 2016 Games have ended, with Tokyo for the 2020 Games, with future (IOC) for inclusion. against. presented the case for amateurs rather be interesting and get the most players a longer-term hope that the sport will voting set to decide whether the royal “One, does our sport speak with one However, Votaw did sound a note than professionals competing in Ol- there.” emulate tennis. and ancient game will remain within voice and two, what assurances can we of caution, saying: “The tricky part is ympic golf. Concerns over the Zika virus, disa- As golf will do next month, ten- the Olympic family beyond then. make about the top players compet- that no one knows who the top players “If I think back to when I was 16 or greement over the playing format in nis returned to the Olympics after a Viewed by many as an elitist sport ing at the Olympics?” International are going to be in 2016. All we can do 17 years old and a promising golfer, Rio and a hectic tournament schedule lengthy absence and it did not attract with a focus on the individual, golf Golf Federation (IGF) vice-president is take the top players of the day and making the Olympics would be some- for the top men’s golfers in particular all the leading players when it made its does not fi t the Olympic ‘mould’ for Ty Votaw told Reuters about the chal- present to the IOC their public state- thing I’d want to do very much and it during the two months prior to the comeback for the Seoul Games in 1988. everyone and the ambivalence shown lenges facing golf at the time. ments of support.” would also be a very big deal, not only Games have not helped the sport’s Since then, however, it has stead- by many of its top players during the Under the umbrella of the IGF, golf’s Votaw’s comments in 2009 certainly to me but to my country as well,” Scott cause ahead of its Olympic return. ily elevated its status among the play- build-up to Rio could be doing irre- professional and amateur bodies did ring true today with the Rio Games not told reporters. However, there are always two sides ers and a gold medal in tennis is now versible damage. indeed present a united front in 2009 receiving unanimous support from the “If the idea is to grow the game, I’d to every story and Brazilian golfer Vic- coveted just as much as a grand slam The July 11 deadline for golfers bid- while fi rm guarantees were given that leading players of this era. make an argument that having the am- toria Lovelady believes the future of crown by most of the world’s best. Golf ding to qualify for the Rio Games is the sport’s leading players would com- Australian Scott has been the most ateurs in the Olympics would grow the the game in her homeland is bright, hopes to follow suit.

REPRIEVE BOTTOMLINE From bullying victim, CAS upholds swimmer Argentine wrestler seeks gold

Reuters Park’s appeal, cleared Buenos Aires

Reuters ullied by a boy in her primary school, Ar- Seoul gentine Patricia Bermudez learnt to fi ght to get back at him and is now on her way to her second Olympic Games as a wrestler. he Court of Arbitration for Sport BFighting also prepared the 29-year-old from the cleared the way for former Olym- northern Argentine city of Santiago del Estero for a pic swimming champion Park career in the Gendarmeria, Argentina’s border po- TTae-hwan to compete at the Rio lice force which she joined in 2008. Games yesterday after upholding his ap- But if she could earn a living from wrestling she peal against a controversial Korean Olympic would have retired from the force to work full time Committee doping ban. on her goals of winning a world championship or Park, the fi rst Korean to win an Olympic Olympic title in Rio. swimming medal when he won gold in the “I went to the local club (in my district) and told 400 freestyle gold in Beijing, completed an the teacher I wanted to learn to fi ght to be able hit 18-month ban imposed by world govern- him,” Bermudez said of the bully she was targeting. ing body FINA in March after testing posi- “I was told I would need to train fi rst and that’s tive for testosterone ahead of the 2014 Asian how I started,” she said after qualifying for Rio in Games. the 48kg category. wards her goals. However, under a KOC regulation, he was Bermudez competed at the London Olympics in “There are no secrets in this (sport) because it’s then hit with an additional three-year ban 2012 on the back of winning the bronze medal at getting up, training, getting through it with injuries from the national team the day the FINA the Pan-American Games in Guadalajara the year and a mn other things which you often think get in suspension expired, eff ectively ruling him Games,” CAS said in a news release. that the International Olympic Commit- before. the way, but they fortify you.” out of contention for the Rio Olympics. Following the ruling, the KOC said they tee’s ‘Osaka Rule’, which banned athletes “I’ve got a lot of objectives, on a sporting level Bermudez only began competing in 2010 and Park took his case to CAS, sport’s highest would abide by the decision. serving suspensions of at least six months (to reach) a world podium and obviously dream of within a year returned from trips abroad with two tribunal, and also fi led an injunction against “As one of the IOC’s National Olympic from competing at the next Games, violated an Olympic podium,” Bermudez, who splits her day bronze medals. the KOC and Korea Swimming Federation Committees, the KOC respects the CAS de- its own statutes. between offi ce duties at the Security ministry in the “What happened to me in wrestling was very with Seoul Eastern District Court, which cision and will take action to modify its rule Despite the KOC ban, Park entered na- capital and training, told Reuters. sudden, in that fi rst year in which I started I had ruled last week he should be considered eli- on national athlete selection,” it said in a tional swimming trials in April and won all “I say dream because maybe I can see a world three trips all very close together,” she said. gible for selection. statement. The decision comes as a blow to four of his races in times quick enough for podium closer. The world championships are eve- “First, I was transferred to Buenos Aires from Yesterday, the deadline for South Korea the KOC, which had shown no sign of wa- Olympic qualifi cation. ry year but the Olympics are only every four years Cordoba where I was living at the time and working to submit its list of Rio swimmers to FINA, vering from its hard-line anti-doping stance The swimmer’s father Park In-ho said his which is why I see it more as a dream, though not in the border police, then came the South American CAS ruled that Park was eligible for selec- since Park’s FINA ban ended last year. joy was tempered. impossible,” she said in an interview during a break Games, a tournament in Cuba and the Pan-Ams. tion for this summer’s Games. However, CAS has previously struck “I feel heavy rather than happy, because at the Cenard national high performance centre in “In those early competitions after only two “The decision issued by the President of down double-barrelled punishments for we took a long and bumpy road to get here. Buenos Aires. weeks as a (full time) wrestler I had fi nished with the CAS Appeals Arbitration Division means athletes banned for doping-related off ences I am grateful to all the fans and people who “These are my second Games and I think I’m not two bronzes and I said to myself ‘If I’m getting that he is eligible to be selected to swim for and yesterday’s ruling was widely expected. encouraged Park Tae-hwan when he had the too far from a good result,” she added before going bronze after two weeks’ fi ghting what might hap- the Korean team in the Rio 2016 Olympic In 2011, the Swiss-based tribunal ruled most diffi cult time.” on to talk about the sacrifi ce of working hard to- pen if I dedicated myself to it’.” Gulf Times Saturday, July 9, 2016 9 SPORT

CYCLING/TOUR DE FRANCE Lee leads the way at US Open as big names struggle

ee Mi-rim birdied fi ve of her last seven holes to surge into a three- shot lead in the fi rst round of the US Women’s Open on Thursday, while Cummings powers to Lthe marquee group of Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson and Lexi Thompson all struggled in tougher afternoon conditions. Lee took advantage of cool early weather and softer greens at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, California to post an eight-un- der 64 and match the second-lowest score at the tournament, the third of the year’s fi ve win as arch collapses majors championships. Only Swede Helen Alfredsson has gone lower at the US Open, shooting a 63 in the ‘Of all my victories, I think it’s the best one. The Tour is the Tour, it’s special’ fi rst round in 1994, while Kelli Kuehne, Becky Iverson, Lorie Kane and Chella Choi have all carded 64s. “Everything was good, like driver is good and then (my) irons were good,” South Kore- an Lee told reporters after covering her back nine in a sizzling fi ve-under 31. “Putting, a couple of missed putts, but not bad. It’s good... just good play. “The course is perfect now.” Things were not quite so simple for world number one Ko, second-ranked Henderson and No.4 Thompson, who played together in the afternoon when the wind picked up and the greens got fi rmer. The threesome combined to make 14 bo- geys with Ko fi nishing with a 1-over 73, Thompson a 74 and Henderson a four-over 76. Cristie Kerr, the 2007 champion, is three strokes adrift along with Australia’s Minjee Lee and South Korean Amy Yang. Brittany Lang, Swede Anna Nordqvist and Malaysia’s Kelly Tan are one shot fur- ther back. Kerr relished playing the opening round with the pacesetting Lee. “Yeah, it defi nitely helps,” said the 38-year-old, who has won 18 LPGA titles, including two majors. “And it was fun. If you looked at Mi-rim’s card and my card, we might have shot a 59 best ball, or close to it. “You would expect the USGA (United States Golf Association) is not too happy with that score, so it will be interesting what they come up with for the rest of the week.” Defending champion Chun In-gee of South Korea launched her title defence with a one-over 73.

Leading scores after opening round 64-Lee Mi-Rim (KOR) 67-Amy Yang (KOR), Cristie Kerr, Min-Jee Lee (AUS) 68-Anna Nordqvist (SWE), Brittany Lang, Kelly Tan (MAL) 69-Ji Eun-Hee (KOR), Moriya Jutanugarn (THA), Sydnee Michaels 70-Jessica Korda, Gerina Piller, Park Sung- Hyun (KOR), Alena Sharp (CAN), Jodi Ewart Shadoff (ENG), Lizette Salas, Haru Nomura (JPN), Pornanong Phatlum (THA), Ariya Jutanugarn (THA), Christina Kim, Pernilla Lindberg (SWE), Park Hee-Young.

Great Britain’s Stephen Cummings celebrates as he crosses the finish line at the end of the 162,5km seventh stage of the 103rd edition of the Tour de France cycling race between L’Isle-Jourdain and Lac de Payolle yesterday. (AFP)

AFP characteristics, so I just carried on and I won.” were never allowed more than 40sec on the regret. Even with Nibali and Navarro collabo- Lac de Payolle, France It was also a great day for Belgium’s Greg Van peloton. With sprint points up for grabs farther rating, Cummings kept extending his lead and Avermaet, who was part of the original breaka- up the road, Germans Marcel Kittel and Andre fi nished a comfortable stage winner. way and fi nished fi fth to improve his lead in the Greipel put their teams to work to bring back tephen Cummings extended the Afro- yellow jersey competition. their sprint rivals. RESULTS British domination of the Tour de He now leads Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe No sooner was that group caught, than 29 STAGE SEVENTH France by winning yesterday’s seventh by 6:36 with Spain’s Alejandro Valverde two riders got away 50km into the stage, which had 1. Stephen Cummings (GBR/DDT) 3hrs 51min stage in the Pyrenees, but there was a seconds further back in third. been ridden at breakneck speed to that point. 58sec bloodyS fi nish when an infl atable arch collapsed. “I have to try to enjoy every moment, that’s The big surprise was that amongst them were 2. Daryl Impey (RSA/ORI) at 1:05. The 35-year-old’s victory was a fourth in also why I went full gas today: to keep (the yel- both the yellow jersey and Nibali. 3. Daniel Navarro (ESP/COF) 1:05. seven stages both for Brits and for the African low jersey) another day,” said Van Avermaet, Froome’s Sky, with some help from Quin- 4. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/AST) 2:14. team Dimension Data, for whom Mark Caven- who admitted he didn’t expect to succeed again tana’s Movistar, took up pace-setting in the 5. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) 3:04. dish had already claimed three of the fi rst six on Saturday. peloton, mindful that Nibali, while nine min- 6. Luis Ángel Maté (ESP/COF) 4:29. stages in sprint fi nishes. utes back from other favourites, could become 7. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) 4:29. “Of all my victories, I think it’s the best one. Bloodied a factor if given too much leeway. 8. Wout Poels (NED/SKY) 4:29. The Tour is the Tour, it’s special,” said Cum- There was late drama when an infl atable arch When the break crept up to almost six min- 9. Gorka Izagirre (ESP/MOV) 4:29. mings. Cummings was part of a 29-man break- indicating the fi nal kilometre collapsed and utes - giving Van Avermaet an 11-minute over- 10. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 4:29. away group before going solo 27km from the knocked young Briton Adam Yates off his bike, all lead on the road - the peloton reacted de- end of the 162.5km stage from l’Isle Jourdain leaving him with a bloodied chin. cisively. But around 35km from the fi nish, the GENERAL CLASSIFICATION to Lac de Payolle. Italian Vincenzo Nibali, the The collapsed arch also slowed the progress lead group started splintering, with four riders 1. Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium / BMC Racing) 2014 Tour champion, launched a counter-at- of the peloton containing the favourites, in- going clear at the front and another eight form- 34:13:40” tack of three riders but Cummings proved too cluding reigning champion Chris Froome, an- ing a chase group. 2. Julian Alaphilippe (France / Etixx - Quick- strong for them and rode away to win his sec- other Briton, and Colombian climber Nairo Cummings, a former Olympic silver medal- Step) +6:36” ond Tour stage in successive years. Quintana. The expected fi reworks on the fi rst list and world champion from the track in the 3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +6:38” South African Daryl Impey was second with major climb of this year’s Tour, the Col d’Aspin, team pursuit, then attacked on his own 27km 4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +6:39” David Navarro of Spain third, both 1min 05sec never materialised, with two more tough out while the 11 others - including Van Aver- 5. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) +6:42” behind. “It’s brilliant, it’s fantastic. I wasn’t Pyrenean stages to come over the weekend. maet and Nibali - formed a chase group behind. 6. Nairo Quintana (Colombia / Movistar) confi dent in that group with (climbers) Nibali French hope Thibaut Pinot suff ered badly on Once the 11 hit the Col d’Aspin, Nibali at- 7. Warren Barguil (France / Giant) and Navarro,” added Cummings. the climb and lost around 2min 30sec. tacked with only Impey and Navarro keeping 8. Pierre Rolland (France / Cannondale) “I cooked myself actually... Then a fi ve to six An early 12-man breakaway included top his wheel, while in the peloton Pinot’s FDJ team 9. Daniel Martin (Ireland / Etixx - Quick-Step) 10. percent climb like Col d’Aspin is good for my sprinters Cavendish and Peter Sagan but they set the pace, a decision he would perhaps later Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana)

GOLF/SCOTTISH OPEN Kiwi Lee takes clubhouse lead on Day Two

AFP Manassero and in-form South that, too. “I don’t want to get kid- Olympians heading to Rio will Inverness African Branden Grace, who each napped. I don’t want to get sick. be competing indoors and in- shot 67s. I am still young to start a family, side stadiums whereas the golf Lee is far from pleased with the and at one point in my life, I hope competition is being played on ew Zealand’s Danny lack of information forthcoming I can have a family. reclaimed land with much water Lee took the clubhouse from the IOC on the safety of tee- “But the International Olym- lying about,” said Lee. lead on day two of the ing-up on August 10th in Rio de pic Committee need to provide “And from the information I Scottish Open and lam- Janeiro with regard to the health the truthful answer about the have received it is areas with large Nbasted the International Olympic issues surrounding the mosqui- Zika concern and all the security- bodies of near still water is what Committee over the lack of infor- to-born Zika virus and security. related issues going on there in you should be avoiding yet the mation concerning security and Lee is threatening to join com- Rio. It just seems like, and this is golf is being held in an area with health matters at next month’s patriot Tim Wilkinson in with- the view of many, and that is the such conditions. Olympics. drawing ahead of the cut-off date Olympic Committee is not giv- “It means being out at the golf The 25-year-old, who recorded for qualifying next Monday - July ing us a 100 percent answer to our course for fi ve to six hours every a six-under-par 66 to move to 11th. If so, the current World No. questions. day for some six days and I see seven under par and a one-shot 48 would bring to 15 the number “I am committed standing here that as exposing yourself to more lead, is threatening to add to the of leading male golfers deciding right now to go to Rio and proudly chance of being bitten by mos- spate of withdrawals from next not to compete in Rio. represent New Zealand but then if quitoes than compared to those month’s Games in Rio when golf “I am looking forward to rep- I do not receive the information I Olympians competing inside the makes its return after a hiatus of resenting New Zealand as it’s go- have been seeking for a long time main stadiums and arenas.” over a century. ing to be a huge honour for me to now, I will be withdrawing.” Wilkinson withdrew on May The Korean-born Kiwi capped compete as an Olympian,” said Lee said that golfers were far 10th and if Lee should also decide a bogey-free round with four Lee. “But it seems a lot of play- more at risk than other athletes not to go it would leave Michael birdies in a six-hole stretch at the ers are worried about security going to the Games because of the Henry and Josh Geary to repre- start of his inward nine to end his and the Zika virus and I have to venue they were playing at. sent the Land of the Long White round one clear of Italian Matteo be honest I am worrying about “The thing is the majority of Cloud. New Zealand’s Danny Lee during the second round of the Scottish Open in Inverness. (Reuters) Gulf Times 10 Saturday, July 9, 2016 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT AFRICAN TOUR NZ monitoring Zimbabwe situation Bats not to blame Reuters and water to go under the Wellington bridge... and at this stage its business as usual.” The team have scheduled a ew Zealand’s cricket nine-day training camp in Pre- team will leave for toria before they travel to Zim- their tour of Africa as babwe for the fi rst of two tests scheduled next Mon- at the Queens Sports Club in for bowlers’ plight, Nday despite unrest in Zimba- Bulawayo. The fi rst match starts bwe, though they will monitor on July 29, with the second test the situation before deciding beginning on Aug. 6. whether to continue into the NZC said the camp would country for two Tests, a spokes- also give them time to monitor man said on Thursday. developments in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s capital Harare New Zealand’s Ministry ground to a halt on Wednesday of Foreign Aff airs and Trade says David Warner as people stayed at home while (MFAT) have labelled the south- foreign banks and most busi- ern African country as having nesses shut down, in one of the “some risk” due to the political ‘It is a credit to the bat maker. He’s told he can use one cleft of wood. If he can use his biggest protests against high unrest. unemployment, an acute cash “The situation in Zimbabwe brains and technology to make a bat light and large, then it’s credit to them’ shortage and corruption for is mostly calm but some reports nearly a decade. of politically-motivated intimi- Wednesday’s protest fol- dation and violence continue,” lowed violent clashes between MFAT said on their website. taxi drivers and police on Mon- “New Zealanders should day that led to the arrest of 95 be vigilant and maintain a people. It also coincided with a high level of personal security strike by doctors, teachers and awareness in Zimbabwe.” nurses whose salaries had been Kane Williamson’s side also delayed. play South Africa in two tests, “We are continuing to moni- with the fi rst at Kingsmead in tor the situation,” a New Zea- Durban from Aug. 19-23 and the land Cricket spokesman told second in Centurion from Aug. Reuters. “There is a bit of time 27.

India in West Indies

Indian captain Virat Kohli has his shoulder checked by a team member during a practice session at the Warner Park stadium Dashing Aussie opener David Warner feels flat pitches rather than thicker bats are responsible for batsmen dominating cricket. in Basseterre, Saint Kitts yesterday. The Indian cricket team is on a seven-week long tour of West Indies, where they will play four Reuters wood, who wants the advantage for said he actually used a smaller bat in during the ODI tri-series in the Carib- Tests. Sydney batsmen to be negated. Tests unless they were playing in the bean last month and was subsequently “If we look around the country, I think subcontinent. sent back home. the wickets are pretty much dictating A report commissioned by the MCC The attacking left-hander is unlikely ustralia opener David Warner the Test cricket arena at the moment,” in 2014 found the thickness of bats had to be fi t for Australia’s fi rst warm-up FOCUS says fl at pitches rather than Warner told reporters in Sydney yester- marginally increased in the last century game but is expected to partner Joe bats with thicker edges are the day. and that edges had broadened by 300%, Burns at the top of the innings when the reason batsmen have the upper “A lot of batsmen are scoring a lot of meaning mistimed shots could still fi nd fi rst test against Sri Lanka starts on July Ahand in Test cricket. runs, there have been a lot of runs scored the boundary. 26 in Pallekele. Ballance surprised Former Australia captain Ricky Pon- in the last 12 to 18 months; you can’t As yet, however, there have been no “He probably won’t play the two- ting recently raised concerns about the specifi cally come out and say it is the restrictions imposed. day game but should play the fi rst-class rising imbalance between bat and ball big bats, because everyone around the According to Warner, bats with thick game — the tour game before we play the by England call-up and called for restrictions to be imposed country and around the world is scoring edges were not always an advantage. fi rst test,” coach Darren Lehmann told on the willow sizes in the longest format a lot of runs. “If you go back to the Ashes and have Fairfax Media. “Even if he didn’t, I am of the game. “It is a credit to the bat maker. He’s a look at my leading edges, I think it not too worried about that. Reuters brought back in place of Nick Ponting said he would raise the issue told he can use one cleft of wood. If he probably didn’t help me,” Warner said, “He is one of these guys who picks up London Compton, who is taking time at the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) can use his brains and technology to breaking into a laugh. “So there’s pros a bat quite quickly. He has had broken away from the game after a woe- world cricket committee meeting at make a bat light and large, then it’s credit and cons.” fi ngers and injuries before and we have ful run of form. Lord’s next week and found support to them.” Warner, whose bat sports one The 29-year-old was in fi ne form just plugged him back into test cricket ngland batsman Gary “It’s all come as a bit of a sur- from Australia fast bowler Josh Hazle- of the thickest edges in world cricket, before he fractured his left index fi nger and he is fi ne.” Ballance has admitted prise,” Ballance told British me- being pleasantly sur- dia. prised by his return to “It’s a great feeling to be back theE side for the fi rst Test against in the squad, especially when BOTTOMLINE Pakistan, a news that reached you’ve been out of the side for a him while he was busy grocery while. shopping. “I was just doing a bit of gro- Wishes pour in for Ganguly on 44th birthday The 26-year-old was dropped cery shopping when I got the during England’s Ashes series call from national selector James against Australia last year after Whitaker — just a standard IANS One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in the a poor run of form, but has been Thursday morning!” Kolkata 1998 World Cup and took charge of the Indian team following the match-fi xing scandal in 2000 replacing Mohammad Philander continues route back from freak injury t rained wishes for Sourav Gan- Azharuddin. guly as the former Indian captain Ganguly went on to bag 11 triumphs Reuters, Cape Town: Fast the Test team for next month’s turned 44 yesterday. from 28 Tests overseas, a record which bowler Vernon Philander two-match series against New Twitter was abuzz with love for stands to date. will return to international Zealand. “I never quite knew Ione of the country’s most celebrated The southpaw had also scored 7,213 action for the first time in the severity of the injury until cricketers with ‘#HappyBirthdayDada’ runs in 113 Tests and 11,363 runs from eight months after a freak a couple of months after and trending since morning. 311 One-Day Internationals. injury when he plays for South it’s been coming and going, but Former swashbuckling Indian opener In the 2002 Champions Trophy, Gan- Africa A against Zimbabwe A these last few weeks it’s really Virender Sehwag recalled the famous guly’s side were crowned winners along in Harare in a four-day match been holding up. shirt-waving indulged in by then skip- with hosts Sri Lanka. He then led the starting today. “I’m just looking forward to per Ganguly at Lord’s balcony after In- outfi t in the 2003 World Cup and the The 31-year-old has been getting out there and playing dia had defeated England in the NatWest NatWest trophy where after beating sidelined since November after cricket again,” Philander said tri-series one-day tournament in 2002. England in the fi nal he celebrated by damaging ankle ligaments in a Cricket South Africa state- “HappyBirthdayDada @SGanguly99. taking his shirt off at Lord’s balcony. playing a warm-up game of ment yesterday. May you keep on helping India wave our Ganguly hung up his boots in 2008 soccer while on tour with The return of the right-arm fl ag high, just like u waved ur shirt at during the home series against Austral- South Africa in India. seamer would be a boost to Lords,” Sehwag wrote. ia and presently is the president of the The injury forced him to return South Africa, whose pace New India head coach Anil Kumble, tional side in limited overs format sur- Banerjee too was not far behind. “Birth- Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). home early and miss the attack also missed the injured who had been Ganguly’s team-mate for passed his records. day greetings to @SGanguly99 Wish He also presently hosts a popular quiz subsequent series against Eng- Dale Steyn as they lost 2-1 to years, also took to the social networking Even the Board of Control for Cricket you all the success and happiness in show called Dadagiri. After retirement land. But Philander has since England in the four-test home site to wish him. in India (BCCI) wished the former left- life.” he had been a commentator for some made three first-class appear- series. Philander, who has “Happy birthday @SGanguly99! May handed batsman via Twitter. Ganguly had made his Test debut at years too. ances for Western Province taken 126 wickets in 32 Tests at the almighty shower lots of love and “Here’s wishing a very Happy Birth- Lord’s in 1996 and announced his ar- His supporters and fans too celebrat- and Cape Cobras at the end of an average of 22.08, is in the A blessings!,” Kumble posted. day to former #TeamIndia captain @ rival at the big stage with two back-to- ed his birthday by gathering around his last season, taking 10 wickets, team squad for two matches in Ganguly was the most successful In- SGanguly99 #HappyBirthdayDada,” back hundreds. Behala residence with giant posters, cut and sees playing for South Zimbabwe plus two in Australia dian captain before Mahendra Singh posted BCCI. Later, he had scored a scintillating 183 outs and cakes cheering for their be- Africa ‘A’ as a route back to at the end of the month. Dhoni, who is currently leading the na- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata against Sri Lanka – his highest score in loved hero. Gulf Times Saturday, July 9, 2016 11 SPORT

FORMULA 1 / BRITISH GRAND PRIX FOCUS Ferrari retain Hamilton fastest as Raikkonen for 2017

Rosberg hits trouble Reuters done,” the German told reporters Silverstone last month. The Ferrari seat is one of the ‘You come to Silverstone and that’s when the energy is in abundance’ most sought after, even if not ormer world champion currently the most competitive, Kimi Raikkonen will stay with the team the most glamor- at Ferrari next season, the ous and successful in Formula Italian Formula One team One history. announcedF yesterday. Ferrari had seemed to be run- “The driver line-up for the ning out of top level alternatives 2017 racing season will still con- to the ‘Iceman’, however, with sist of the Finnish driver and triple world champion Lewis Sebastian Vettel,” a Ferrari state- Hamilton contracted to Mer- ment said. cedes until 2018 and teammate Raikkonen, who won his title Nico Rosberg making clear he with Ferrari in 2007, is currently wants to stay. level on points with teammate Red Bull recently confi rmed Vettel ahead of this weekend’s they had Australian Daniel Ric- British Grand Prix, behind Lewis ciardo, who has Italian citizen- Hamilton and leader Nico Ros- ship and is a known Ferrari tar- berg. get, and Dutch teenager Max The Finn, who will be 37 in Oc- Verstappen locked in on long- tober, is the oldest driver on the term contracts. starting grid but also one of the Raikkonen’s extension also most popular among fans who rules out any immediate move admire his no-nonsense attitude for Frenchman Romain Grosjean, and focus on racing. at Haas, and Mexican Sergio Pe- Ferrari have yet to win this rez at Force India. season but are the closest team to The pair had been linked to champions Mercedes and hoping Maranello on the paddock grape- to fi ght for the title next season vine, with Perez a former Ferrari when the sport undergoes an academy driver. overhaul of the technical rules. Ferrari’s move should speed up Vettel, a four times world Rosberg’s talks with Mercedes champion with Red Bull before now that there are no more at- joining Ferrari last year, gets on tractive possibilities remaining. well with Raikkonen and had The focus of the driver mar- made clear he wanted the part- ket will now switch to McLaren’s nership to continue. 2009 champion Jenson Button, “It’s easy to work with him who is out of contract at the end because you don’t need to wor- of the year and likely to be replaced ry about any tricks or games or by Belgian Stoff el Vandoorne. whatever that are potentially Button has also been linked to a distraction to getting the job a return to Williams.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton drives during the second practice session for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone yesterday. (AFP)

Reuters Hamilton, 11 points behind Rosberg German to sit out the session. ken eloquently about the boost that he gets Silverstone, England after nine of 21 races, is hoping to win for Australian Daniel Ricciardo, fi fth for from racing in front of a home crowd. the third year in a row at Silverstone and Red Bull in the morning, was second “I personally draw a lot of energy from fourth time in total. quickest in the afternoon. the fans. There’s races where you have a ewis Hamilton enjoyed a perfect Rosberg, who was blamed by stewards Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg was few and races where you have a lot. You start to his home British Formula for a controversial last-lap collision at third fastest in the opening session with come to Silverstone and that’s when the One Grand Prix yesterday while the Austrian Grand Prix that brought a Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel fourth in both. energy is in abundance,” he said. car troubles left Mercedes team- ‘fi nal warning’ from Mercedes bosses for Vettel, who tested the sport’s prototype “I just absorb that. Seeing people that Lmate and championship leader Nico Ros- both drivers, was second in the morning ‘halo’ cockpit head protection system have saved up to come and spend their berg stranded in the garage. in 1:31.687. during the session, had what appeared to money here and put all of their energy Triple world champion Hamilton was However, he was last on the timesheets be a gearbox problem towards the end of towards you getting across the fi nish line quickest in both practice sessions, with in the afternoon, without a lap to his the morning. fi rst, it’s pretty much impossible to de- a best time of one minute 31.654 seconds credit as mechanics removed his car’s Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was fi fth in scribe how amazing that feels. on a cloudy and grey morning followed by fl oor and worked on a water leak. the afternoon. “And when there’s so many of them, all a 1:31.660 after lunch. A team spokesman said the car needed Hamilton could take the lead in the drivers will talk about it giving you that Both times were quicker than the Brit- more detailed checks which could not be championship for the fi rst time this year extra tenth or two on the weekend and I Perez, Hulkenberg staying at completed during practice, forcing the tomorrow if results go his way and has spo- generally fi nd that is the case.” on’s 2015 pole time of 1:32.248. Force India: Mallya

Mexican Sergio Perez and Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg are staying at Force India next season, the Formula One team’s co-owner Formula One coining it in gold and silver Vijay Mallya told Reuters. “I can confirm that both the drivers are signed up for 2017,” the Reuters a special edition for Silverstone. in this, it’s like buying a share in F1,” Indian said at the British Grand Prix. Silverstone, England Each coin is engraved with the off icial said Rosland chief executive Marin “They are a fine pair, both absolutely top class. I’ve never believed F1 logo and the names of all 2016 host Aleksov. “Gold is like F1, it’s sexy. I think in ‘pay drivers’ where talent or ability is compromised,” he added. venues. gold and racing has a lot in common.” “I always try to hire the best drivers we can aff ord. I am very ommercial supremo Bernie Ec- Rosland Capital, the firm that has He said the melt value alone of the 1kg happy with both Checo and Nico.” clestone has made a mint from agreed a deal to use the off icial For- coin was more than $40,000. Perez has been on the podium twice this season, in Monaco and CFormula One’s success over the mula One branding, said they went on The price of spot gold has risen more Azerbaijan, while Hulkenberg qualified on the front row in Austria years and now the sport is literally sale in the United States three weeks than $100 an ounce since Britain last weekend. Perez had been linked in media speculation to coining it. ago and four of the 1kg coins sold voted to leave the European Union last Ferrari but that possibility closed yesterday when the Italian team A limited edition 1kg, 24 carat gold For- straight away. Only 15 of them will be month. announced Finland’s 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen was mula One coin was shown to reporters made. “If I was clairvoyant, I would have staying for another season. at the British Grand Prix yesterday, “There has been a fantastic response. had a Brexit coin ready to go,” said (Rosland Force India, who have Mercedes engines, are currently fifth in the along with smaller ones that included Fans feel a sense of invested interest Aleksov. Capital) championship.

SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT Tamanivalu, McKenzie help Chiefs thrash Reds Iconic team owner

Reuters Prop Atu Moli had also scored an ear- Carl Haas dies at 86 Brisbane lier try following a sweeping movement, with McKenzie slotting four conversions as the visitors ran riot with numerous line Reuters peace Carl Haas. A legendary entre Seta Tamanivalu (cen- breaks and their ability to put runners Los Angeles owner, a hard business man with tre) and fullback Damian Mc- into space and pass out of tackles. a heart of gold. Hilariously ec- Kenzie scored two tries each as The match deteriorated in a sloppy centric, we’ll never see his like Waikato Chiefs kept up their second half before McKenzie fi nished off uccessful auto racing again.” chaseC for the top spot in Super Rugby a nice line break from inside centre Anton team owner Carl Haas, a Haas created and co-owned with a 50-5 demolition of the Queensland Lienert-Brown in the 55th minute. former business partner Newman Haas Racing with Reds at Lang Park in Brisbane yesterday. Chiefs hooker Nathan Harris then with the late Hollywood Newman and Mike Lanigan, a The Chiefs, who top the Australasian scored off an 80-metre counter-attack actorS Paul Newman, has died at team that became one of the group, moved to 51 competition points that was sparked by a Reds’ turnover the age of 86, his offi cial website most successful in Indy Car from with the victory, four ahead of South Afri- about 12 minutes later. (www.haasauto.com) reported 1983-2011 where Mario Andretti ca’s Lions (47), who were scheduled to play McKenzie then completed the rout on Thursday. spent the last 11 years of his illus- the 17th-placed Kings later yesterday. with his second try following a sim- Haas, whose teams won 16 trious racing career. It also gave them a six-point lead over ple play from an attacking scrum as the championships and more than He previously ran a Formula fellow New Zealand side the Canterbury Chiefs backs ran superb lines from depth 140 races over four decades in One team during the 1980s and Crusaders (45), who face Australia’s Mel- that put players outside them into space. Can-Am, Formula One, NAS- a NASCAR team in the 1990s bourne Rebels in Christchurch today. The Chiefs fi nal match of the regular CAR and IndyCar, died at his while he operated the Milwaukee The Reds were reduced to 13 men for season is against the Otago Highlanders, home surrounded by family on Mile race track and the Houston the fi nal 10 minutes of the fi rst half with who face the Jaguares in Buenos Aires to- June 29. Grand Prix race from 1998-2001. scrumhalf Nick Frisby given a yellow card day, before returning for the clash with Scotland’s Dario Franchitti, a Haas, known for his love of ci- for kicking the ball out of Lachlan Bosh- Briant then issued another yellow card Chiefs number eight Sam Cane and the twice champions in Dunedin. four-time IndyCar Series cham- gars, earned him a place on the ‘50 ier’s hands while the Chiefs’ fl anker was to Jack Tuttle less than a minute later Tamanivalu, who had opened the scor- pion, was among a host of big Newsmakers of the Half-Century’ reaching for the goal line. when the Reds’ fullback was penalised for ing in the second minute of the game, ex- RESULTS names in motor racing who paid list compiled by the American Referee Nick Briant also awarded the a dangerous charge in the air on Chiefs’ tended the visitors lead to 33-5 with the Blues (NZ) 40 Brumbies (AUS) 15 tribute to Haas on Thursday. Auto Racing Writers and Broad- visitors a penalty try. scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow. two-man advantage. Reds (AUS) 5 Chiefs (NZ) 50 Franchitti tweeted: “Rest in casters Association in 2004.

Saturday, July 9, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

HORSE RACING Al Shaqab’s Mehmas wins Arqana July Stakes

Agencies on ground and can have cover or Newmarket, England no cover and he has a kick, so it’s a question of pressing the but- ton. He’s a lovely horse with a he Al Shaqab Racing great nature.” silks kept the title in the Trainer Richard Hannon was Arqana July Stakes (Gr2) palpably pleased with his ward’s on the opening day of performance. Tthe Newmarket’s July Festival on “Frankie gave him a lovely ride Thursday. and he’s probably getting lazy After Shalaa’s win last year, as he’s never shown us much Mehmas did just as well over the at home, he tends to just do six furlongs for fi ne victory. enough,” Hannon said. Second in the Coventry Stakes “We can look forward to Good- behind an impressive Caravag- wood now. I think he deserved gio at Royal Ascot, Mehmas won a nice win after the Coventry. easily this time, ahead of Intel- It obviously didn’t dishearten ligence Cross, who fi nished well him, getting beaten, and he is after a bad start, and Broken defi nitely better on fast ground. Stones. He’s in the Phoenix Stakes so “He sticks his head down and we’ll look between that and the tries really hard, so you’re always Richmond. He looks like a two- guaranteed a good run from him,” year-old unless he shoots up two Al Shaqab’s Racing manager Harry Herbert (left), jockey Frankie Dettori (second from right) and said jockey Frankie Dettori. “He’s inches, so we’ll have to make hay trainer Richard Hannon (right) pose with their trophies after Mehmas won the Arqana July Stakes Jockey Frankie Dettori rides Al Shaqab Racing’s Mehmas to victory in the very uncomplicated and versatile while the sun shines.” at Newmarket on Thursday. (Racingfotos) Arqana July Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.

TENNIS / WIMBLEDON FOCUS Venus plans History calls as 20th anniversary Wimbledon return

AFP Just moments after losing to London Kerber on Thursday, she was back out on the court to partner Serena and Kerber her sister in the women’s dou- enus Williams in- bles. sists she will be back at Both sisters see the tourna- Wimbledon in 2017 to ment as key preparation for the celebrate the 20th an- Rio Olympics next month. Vniversary of her fi rst appearance, Venus also sees herself with even if she will be 37 by then. time to make up after be- The fi ve-time champion was ing struck down in 2011 with face off in fi nal this year the oldest woman to Sjogren’s syndrome, an illness reach the semi-fi nals since Mar- that causes fatigue and joint tina Navratilova in 1994 but pain. ‘I have to be aggressive, go for it, try to win the match... She will not miss’ failed to set-up a fi nal with sister In her absence, her world Serena when she was defeated by ranking slumped to 103. Angelique Kerber. The last of her seven majors “I would love to (be back in came at Wimbledon in 2008. 2017). It’s all in the plans. If it’s But she is still competitive, diff erent, I’ll be sure to let you keen to add to her 49 singles ti- know,” said. tles and 21 doubles trophies. Venus made her professional In the third round at Wimble- debut back in 1994, losing in don, she outlasted Russia’s Daria the second round in Oakland to Kasatkina, almost half her age, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario. 10-8 in a gruelling fi nal set. Her Wimbledon bow followed Longevity is also a common in 1997, the 17-year-old American theme in modern tennis. losing in the fi rst round to Poland’s The average age of the four Magdalena Grzyboswka. semi-fi nalists this year was 31 Contemporaries such as Lind- years, 9 months which was the say Davenport and Justine Henin highest average for a Grand Slam are long retired, but Venus says semi-fi nalist in the Open era. quitting is not on the cards. “In life there is no such thing “Well, when you’re an ath- as impossible. It’s always pos- lete, you’re not out here thinking sible. That’s what you feel as an about your age. You’re thinking athlete,” added Venus. about what you can accomplish,” “Pretty much our job is to she said. make the impossible happen “Perhaps people will think of every day. It’s like magic, you it more that way. I’m in a good know. I like that. I like to think place.” that people will continue to play Despite her semi-fi nal loss — a long time.” her deepest run at Wimbledon And her overall motivation to since she was runner-up to Ser- keep going as she settles into her ena in 2009 — Venus still has big late 30s? dreams. “Winning matches. Duh!”

Angelique Kerber (left) will be looking to become first German player since Steff i Graf to win Wimbledon, while Serena Williams will aim to equal Graf’s professional era record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles, when the two meet in the finals today. (AFP)

Reuters Slam fi nal, having triumphed at the Aus- met her a few times — the last time she stone at the Australian Open, Williams Williams sisters into sixth London tralian Open in January. told me, just believe in yourself. lost to Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in the Kerber, 28, would also become the fi rst “I will try to be the next one to win here French Open fi nal. Wimbledon doubles fi nal woman apart from Williams to win two after Steffi .” Her experience is almost unparalleled hen Serena Williams and Grand Slams in a season since Justine though: this is her 28th grand slam sin- Serena and Venus Williams Serena, 34, and Venus, 36, last Angelique Kerber walk onto Henin in 2007, when the Belgian player ‘SHE WILL NOT MISS’ gles fi nal, and ninth at Wimbledon, com- reached their sixth Wimbledon won the Wimbledon doubles Wimbledon’s Centre Court was world number one. Both players, who have never played each pared with her opponent’s solitary major doubles final yesterday with a tournament in 2012. for the women’s fi nal today, Williams, who turns 35 in September, other on grass, have been in fi ne form at fi nal appearance in Melbourne. 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory over eighth The American stars have Wthe legacy of Steffi Graf will loom large. is a six-times Wimbledon champion and the tournament. Whatever happens in today’s fi nal, seeds Julia Goerges and Karo- won all 13 of their Grand Slam The showdown will see world number the clear bookmakers’ favourite. But the Defending champion Williams has Williams will retain her number one lina Pliskova. doubles finals dating back to one Williams try to equal Graf’s profes- Graf milestone is nevertheless sure to be dropped just one set on her way to the ranking while Kerber will move onto her The Williams sisters have won their first success together at sional era record of 22 Grand Slam singles weighing on her mind. fi nal, culminating in her 48-minute shoulder into second spot, from fourth. the All England Club doubles the French Open in 1999. titles, while Kerber will seek to become She has fl atly refused to discuss it at demolition of Elena Vesnina in the last If the match is anything like the 6-4 crown five times and will face They have also won the gold the fi rst German woman to lift the Wim- this year’s championships, on one oc- four. Kerber has not dropped a set, and 3-6 6-4 Australian Open encounter, the fifth seeds Timea Babos and medal in the Olympic doubles bledon singles crown since her idol Graf casion testily telling reporters: “I’m not impressively outgunned Williams’ sister Centre Court is in for a nail-biting classic Yaroslava Shvedova in the fi- three times, in 2000, 2008 20 years ago. talking about that anymore. Sorry.” Venus in the semis. with both players stretching each other to nal as they bid for a 14th major and 2012. If Kerber prevails, completing a daunt- Kerber, free of such weight of expecta- Williams leads left-handed Kerber 5-2 their limits. doubles title. Serena, bidding for a record- ing double over the Williams sisters at the tion and history, has been happy to dis- in matches since their fi rst meeting nine Kerber knows what she must do to Hungary’s Babos and Kaza- equalling 22nd Grand Slam tournament, it could also signal a chang- cuss her ambitions to emulate Graf. years ago, and last season she won three thwart the champion’s march on history khstan’s Shvedova defeated singles triumph, is also in the ing of the guard at the top the women’s “She was always an idol for me, I have of the four majors, including Wimbledon, once again. Raquel Atawo and Abigail women’s singles final against game. watched a lot of her matches, on YouTube only to stumble with a calendar-year “I have to be aggressive, go for it, try to Spears 6-4, 6-4 in the other German fourth seed Angelique It would be the second time this year sometimes,” she said after dispatching Grand Slam in sight at the US Open. win the match and not hope she will miss. semi-final. Kerber today. she had beaten the American in a Grand Williams’ sister Venus in the last four. “I After Kerber denied her Graf’s mile- She will not miss.”