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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 Nicola Rizzoli’s penalty decision in verbatim (such as Alan Shearer) 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 Premier League 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.