MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2014 SPORTS

New Indian soccer league First jewel of Triple Crown Santoso wins Singapore Open ARKANSAS: Danza and Dance With Fate entered the Kentucky Derby discus- SINGAPORE: Unseeded Indonesian Simon Santoso pulled off a major MUMBAI: Leading Spanish club Atletico Madrid and former cricketers Sachin shock when he thrashed badminton’s world number one Lee Chong Wei to Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly are among the owners of eight franchises of a sion on Saturday after winning major prep races for the first jewel of win the Singapore Open for the first time yesterday. The 28-year-old, con- new Indian soccer league set to kick off later this year, organisers said yester- American horseracing’s Triple Crown. sidered a rank outsider against Malaysia’s imperious Lee, upset the form day. La Liga leaders Atletico and former India captain Ganguly were part of the Danza, a 41-1 long shot trained by Todd Pletcher, romped to a 4 3/4 length book in style with an emphatic 21-15, 21-10 victory in just 48 minutes in consortium that won the bid for the Kolkata team in the Indian Super League victory at the grade one $1 million Arkansas Derby in Hot Springs, Arkansas, (ISL), proposed to start in mid-September and run till the end while Dance With Fate charged to a 1 3/4 length win at the Blue Grass Stakes the Singapore final. Santoso reeled off nine straight points to of November. in Keeneland. Danza, with Joe Bravo in the irons, stormed away from Ride on stifle Lee’s second-game revival and take the match, drop- The ISL is bank-rolled by India’s Reliance Industries, Curlin, making Pletcher a four-time winner of the Arkansas prep. Bob Baffert- ping his racquet to the court and raising his arms in cele- controlled by the country’s richest man Mukesh trained favorite Bayern was third. Dance With Fate came from well off the bration in front of a bemused crowd. Ambani, Rupert Murdoch’s Star India and sports pace, Corey Nakatani pulling away from Medal Count down the home stretch The third Superseries tournament win for the 52nd- management group IMG. “I am very excited to have for the win. Trainer Peter Eurton said he would wait to decide whether the colt ranked Santoso cements a stirring comeback by the for- won the Kolkata Franchise of the ISL and being the would run at Churchill Downs on May 3. “I just don’t know,” said Eurton on mer world number three, who dropped out of the top first international team to be directly owning a club in KentuckyDerby.com. “It’s three weeks and kind of quick back. “I know he loves 100 last year following back problems. India we along with our Indian Partners and IMG- synthetic better, (likes) turf. I just don’t know if he likes dirt. “I am really satisfied with my performance especially Reliance aim to revolutionise football in the country,” “I know I’m going to hear it from everybody, though.” While Eurton will after beating one of the best players, Lee Chong Wei, in the Miguel Angel Gil Marin, the owner of Atletico, said in a take time to consider his horse’s chances, Nakatani had no doubt Dance final. I am really happy and proud,” Santoso said. statement. Former batting great Tendulkar bagged the Kochi With Fate belongs in the Kentucky field. “I don’t have any doubt he can “I am really happy (because) it’s been a while team with PVP Ventures, a company which has interests in real (get 1 1/4 miles),” Nakatani said. “It’s just a matter of whether he’ll handle since I beat Chong Wei and also because I fought estate, media and also finances film projects. “I will always the Churchill Downs surface at this point. “He’s done things right. He hard from the qualification rounds here in remain a sportsman at heart who is keen to positively impact seems to do well on the grass and at Churchill, I’ve won the (Kentucky) Singapore.” It was only Santoso’s second win in the sporting fabric of the nation,” Tendulkar, who retired from Oaks on a filly that won on the grass so hopefully we’ll get (Dance With 11 matches against the All-England champion, cricket last November, said. —Reuters Fate) there after this race.” — Reuters who had lost just once this year. —AFP Bruins thrash Sabres kings fall

BOSTON: The Boston Bruins clinched the NHL’s best record 40- club. and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs with a 4-1 Logan Couture also scored and Dan Boyle had a pair of win over the league-worst Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. It is assists for the Sharks, who will face the Los Angeles Kings in the first time the Bruins have claimed the Presidents’ Trophy the opening round of the playoffs. since the 1989-90 season. Antti Niemi stopped 30 shots, including Shane Doan on a David Krejci scored two goals, Patrice Bergeron netted his breakaway late in the third period. Mike Ribeiro and Doan 30th of the season, one fewer than his career high set in scored for Phoenix, which lost its seventh straight. 2005-06, and Gregory Campbell got his eighth. Cody Hodgson scored for Buffalo. Sabres goalie Matt PREDATORS 7, BLACKHAWKS 5 Hackett was taken from the ice on a stretcher after Boston Patric Hornqvist scored the go-ahead goal with 58.2 sec- defenseman Torey Krug fell on his right leg with 11:35 left. He onds left and Shea Weber added an empty-netter as Nashville was replaced by Connor Knapp, who allowed Krejci’s second rallied with five goals in the third period. goal one minute later. The teams combined to score seven goals in a wild and It is the second time the Bruins have won the Presidents’ furious final period. Chicago was up 3-2 going into the third, Trophy, given to the NHL team with the most regular-season and Nashville finally put the Blackhawks away with the two points, since the award was instituted for the 1985-86 season. goals inside the final minute. Nashville had scored more than seven goals only once in franchise history. DUCKS 4, KINGS 3 Hornqvist also had an assist. Craig Smith had a goal and Devante Smith-Pelly scored his first goal in regulation an assist. Ryan Ellis, Matt Cullen and Colin Wilson also scored since Halloween, then got the only goal in the shootout as a goal apiece as the Predators took the season series 4-1. Ben Anaheim secured the top seed for the Western Conference Smith, Marian Hossa, Matt Carey and Jeremy Morin each playoffs. scored a goal for Chicago. Nick Bonino and Matt Beleskey also scored in regulation and Frederik Andersen stopped 27 shots for the Ducks, who OILERS 5, CANUCKS 2 will face Dallas in the opening round of the postseason. Anze Taylor Hall had three assists to reach 80 points on the sea- Kopitar had two goals, including the tying on with 3:12 left in son and help Edmonton beat the Vancouver in Oilers forward the third period, and Dustin Brown also scored for Los Ryan Smyth’s final game. Angeles. The Kings fell short of getting their franchise-record Roman Horak, Jeff Petry, Will Acton, Jordan Eberle and 47th win in their regular-season finale. Both local rivals Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored for the Oilers, who snapped a scored in the final 5 minutes of regulation, and Smith Pelly two-game losing skid in their season finale. The win moved then beat Jonathan Quick in the fourth round of the the Oilers past Florida into 28th place overall with Tuesday’s shootout. EDMONTON: Ryan Smyth No. 94 of the takes a shot on Jacob Markstrom No. 35 of the Vancouver NHL draft lottery looming. Canucks during an NHL game. — AFP The fans, however, were more interested in seeing Smyth FLYERS 4, PENGUINS 3 go out on a win after a career that saw him total 386 goals, Mark Streit beat Marc-Andre Fleury 2:10 into overtime to Mason to start the third period. Jussi Jokinen, James Neal and out the regular season with a win. 456 assists and 842 points in 1,270 games. lift Philadelphia over Pittsburgh and set up a first-round play- Kris Letang scored for the Penguins. Fleury stopped 17 shots Pavelski scored his 40th goal on a power play early in the Shawn Matthias and Zack Kassian scored for Vancouver, off matchup with the New York Rangers. and hardly looked sharp while giving up the game-winner. first period and added No. 41 midway through to join Owen which lost for the sixth time in seven games. The Canucks Streit’s backhand shot from the right circle caromed Letang scored in the final minute of regulation to force over- Nolan, Jonathan Cheechoo and Patrick Marleau in San Jose’s close the season Sunday at home against Calgary. — AP between Fleury’s pads and into the net as the Flyers clinched time after Giroux gave the Flyers a 3-2 lead with 1:15 left. third place in the Metropolitan Division. Jakub Voracek scored twice for the Flyers, and Claude CANADIENS 1, RANGERS 0 Giroux added his team-high 28th goal of the season. Ray Brian Gionta scored on a shot at 2:04 of overtime Emery made 12 saves after replacing injured starter Steve to allow Montreal to finish the regular season with 100 points. Gionta was awarded the shot after he poked the puck NHL results/standings away from Raphael Diaz and then was tripped by the defenseman on a breakaway. He deked to the backhand to beat Cam Talbot on the shot. Boston 4, Buffalo 1; Philadelphia 4, Pittsburgh 3 (OT); Carey Price made 41 saves as Montreal moved past Tampa Montreal 1, NY Rangers 0 (OT); Ottawa 1, Toronto 0; Bay for second place in the Atlantic Division. The Lightning Columbus 3, Florida 2; Nashville 7, Chicago 5; San Jose 3, can still claim home ice advantage for their first round playoff Phoenix 2; Edmonton 5, Vancouver 2; Anaheim 4, Los Angeles 3 (SO). meeting versus Montreal with a victory on their final game Western Conference Sunday against Washington. The Rangers have home ice for Pacific Division the first round. W L OTL GF GA PTS Anaheim 53 20 8 263 207 114 BLUE JACKETS 3, PANTHERS 2 San Jose 51 22 9 249 200 111 Ryan Johansen scored the tiebreaking goal in the third Los Angeles 46 28 8 206 174 100 period to and Columbus beat Florida for the eighth straight Phoenix 36 30 15 214 230 87 time. Vancouver 35 35 11 191 222 81 Mark Letestu and Cam Atkinson also scored for Columbus Calgary 35 39 7 208 236 77 and Sergei Bobrovsky made 33 saves. Jimmy Hayes and Edmonton 29 44 9 203 270 67 Vincent Trocheck scored for the Panthers. Roberto Luongo Central Division stopped 35 shots. Colorado 52 22 7 248 217 111 The Blue Jackets clinched the first wild-card spot and will St. Louis 52 22 7 248 188 111 face Pittsburgh in the first round of the playoffs. Chicago 46 21 15 267 220 107 Philadelphia’s 4-3 overtime win over Pittsburgh earlier Minnesota 43 26 12 204 199 98 Saturday clinched third place in the Metropolitan Division for Dallas 40 30 11 234 226 91 the Flyers and forced Columbus to the wild-card spot. Nashville 37 32 12 209 239 86 Johansen’s 33rd goal of the season, a one-timer from the Winnipeg 37 35 10 227 237 84 left circle, got past Luongo at 5:58 of the third period to put Eastern Conference Columbus ahead. Atlantic Division Boston 54 18 9 259 174 117 SENATORS 1, MAPLE LEAFS 0 Montreal 46 28 8 215 204 100 Jason Spezza scored the game’s only goal and Craig Tampa Bay 45 27 9 239 215 99 Anderson stopped 27 shots for his fourth shutout of the sea- Detroit 38 28 15 219 230 91 son as the Ottawa Senators beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 1-0 Ottawa 36 31 14 233 263 86 Saturday night. Toronto 38 36 8 231 256 84 Spezza scored on the power play at 7:35 of the second Florida 29 45 8 196 268 66 period as Erik Karlsson found him alone in the faceoff circle Buffalo 21 51 9 154 244 51 and the Senators’ captain caught the inside of the post for his Metropolitan Division 23rd of the season. Spezza now has 56 points in 56 career Pittsburgh 51 24 6 247 204 108 games against the Leafs. NY Rangers 45 31 6 218 193 96 The Senators tied a season high with their fourth straight Philadelphia 42 30 9 231 229 93 win. James Reimer had 36 saves, making a number of big Columbus 43 32 7 231 216 93 stops to keep Toronto in the game. The Leafs capped off their Washington 38 30 13 235 239 89 season with 12 losses in their last 15 games, leaving them New Jersey 34 29 18 194 206 86 below the Senators in the standings. Carolina 35 35 11 201 225 81 NY Islanders 33 37 11 221 264 77 SHARKS 3, COYOTES 2 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L). Joe Pavelski had two goals to become the fourth player in team history with 40 goals in a season and San Jose closed VIVA invites youth to join in Man United soccer academy try outs

KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing and most devel- sional football players. VIVA is very committed to encourag- oped telecom operator, announced that it is extending an ing young people to develop their talents and hone their open invitation to all male youths with soccer skills and skills, and the Manchester United program is just one of the between the ages of 12 and 16 years old, to join in the many ways in which we are trying to do this. We look for- Manchester United Soccer Academy try outs, which are to ward to many youths entering the try outs next week.” be held on 17 April 2014, from 5pm at Corner Soccer field In 2011, VIVA announced its sponsorship of Manchester next to the Kuwait Towers. United for five years, starting with the 2011- 2012 Premier The try outs will focus on different technical areas, such League season. In August 2011 VIVA started to provide foot- as dribbling, short passing, turning and finishing. From these ball fans the chance to win VIP tickets to watch Manchester try out, professional coaches will select the best players to United play at Old Trafford in England. To support its spon- join Manchester United Soccer Academy. sorship, VIVA has also developed a number of exciting pro- Commenting on this occasion, Abdulrazzaq Bader Al- motional offers and distinguished gifts, entertaining pro- Essa, Director of Public Relations and Social Media at VIVA grams, interactive competitions, and organized a number of said: “We are very pleased to support these young athletes activities to provide the subscribers with chances to watch in bringing them closer to their dream of becoming profes- the club stars playing matches at Old Trafford.