THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 SPORTS Winter Olympics may have to move for 2022 World Cup : The 2022 Winter Olympics may have to Olympics are still under the bidding process and ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, said 76 per- are not ready to talk or discuss it.” move from its traditional January and February there are only two candidates ( and Almaty). cent of players at the last two World Cups were con- On Tuesday Sebastian Coe, vice-president of the dates to accommodate the World Cup finals being “With wisdom and debate it is possible to achieve tracted to ECA clubs and whatever decision is even- International Association of Athletics Federations staged in Qatar, leading European soccer clubs’ offi- a solution which will satisfy the majority.” FIFA tually taken about the 2022 World Cup would “need (IAAF) and chairman of the British Olympic cial Umberto Gandini said yesterday. awarded the 2022 finals to Qatar in 2010 and since the goodwill of the ECA”. Association, suggested governing bodies must have Gandini, vice-chairman of the European Club then the question of when they would be played Rummenigge, the chief executive of German more contact to avoid conflicting schedules. Association of Europe’s top 200-plus clubs and has been an issue for debate. FIFA agreed in princi- champions Bayern , added: “The first thing “We are going to have to have a global conversa- Director of Sport at AC Milan, told delegates at the ple earlier this year that matches could not be we must recognise is that FIFA’s decision was based tion that looks at the global sporting calendar,” Coe Leaders In Sport summit at Stamford Bridge that the played in the searing heat of the Gulf summer. on holding the World Cup in the summer of 2022. told delegates at a sports security conference in World Cup should take precedence over the Winter World soccer’s governing body, whose president “If there is now a strong wish for the stakehold- London. Games. “Not to be controversial, but the World Cup Sepp Blatter is also on the International Olympic ers, FIFA, UEFA, FIFPro, and so on, to want to change, “You cannot be left by powerhouse sporting is one of the major events in the sports landscape Committee, has set up a task force under Asian we are ready to discuss under one condition-that organisations who say that under no circumstances with the Summer Olympics,” he said. “But the Winter Football Confederation (AFC) president Shaikh there is no damage for club football, because if we can you stage your sporting event at this time of this Olympics, with all due respect, are not up there,” said Salman of Bahrain and FIFA secretary-general change from summer to November or January then year. “It may be better to be more flexible around Gandini. “When you have such a huge event like the Jerome Valcke, which met for the first time last it will affect our business, our calendar. “And we are the bidding process and say we don’t want to stop World Cup, and you have to move it from its summer month. not ready to pay such a bill. countries that have climatic challenges in the sum- window, don’t tell me it’s not possible to find a solu- That cost cannot be paid for by the clubs. We are mer months from staging sport. “That way you give tion and move the Winter Olympics a bit so they GOODWILL HUNTING not ready to pay it and it has to be made clear to the rest of the world of sport some notice in order to don’t clash-especially now where the Winter Gandini, on a panel at the Leaders summit with FIFA that they need the goodwill of the clubs or we change their schedule.” — Reuters LA Kings to hoist title banner as season opens

LOS ANGELES: The National Hockey League’s over eight seasons while Kane has 178 over sev- 98th season opens late yesterday with the Los en seasons. “To have the chance to continue Angeles Kings raising a Stanley Cup champi- with this amazing group of teammates and peo- onship banner, Boston playing host to ple throughout the organization is an incredible Philadelphia and two matchups between honor. There’s nothing we want more as players Canadian rivals. than to continue to win Stanley Cups,” Toews Bouncing back after a lockout shortened the said. Boston led the NHL last season with 117 2012-2013 campaign to 48 games per team, the points but Pittsburgh, with star Sidney Crosby, NHL enjoyed revenues of $3.7 billion (2.9 billion figures to make another run at the crown, which euros) last season with this year’s salary caps hit- last went to the US Steeltown in 2009. ting a record $69 million (54.6 million euros) per The top three teams in each division advance club. The Kings will celebrate their second NHL to the playoffs along with two wildcard teams Rory Mcllory crown in three seasons at a ceremony before from each conference. Columbus and Detroit they entertain the San Jose Sharks, the same took the spots in the East, each team having club that led the Kings 3-0 in the first round of moved last season from the West to the East. McIlroy and Tiger return last season’s playoffs before rallied “The league is coming off what many consid- to win the last four games and capture the er and have characterized as its best season ever, to the top of new season series. both on the ice and off,” NHL deputy commis- The Kings went on to defeat Chicago in the sioner Bill Daly said. “We are in a good place NAPA: Rory McIlroy seeking a third consecutive titles past his 39th birthday, as Woods must now Western Conference final, a seventh-game over- right now. But the really exciting part is that we major triumph and Tiger Woods making his in order to match Nicklaus. But another target is time goal avenging a loss to the eventual Cup all believe it can get even better. The game is comeback from a nagging back injury will high- within reach in the new season if he regains top winners at the same stage the season before, growing, and it will continue to grow.” light the 2014-15 US PGA season that begins form. Woods has 79 career PGA titles, three shy and conclude their title run with a victory over Several minor rule changes were introduced today. of the all-time record held by the late Sam Snead. the New York Rangers in the NHL Final. for the season, the most notable of which will Just 25 days after American Billy Horschel Six tournaments outside the majors will be Other opening-night matchups find the see teams switch ends before the start of over- won the season-ending Tour Championship to played on new courses in the new campaign, Bruins, the most recent Eastern Conference club times in regular-season games. claim the playoff title, the next championship including the National, another event owned by to claim the Cup back in 2011, entertaining the Meanwhile, Klay Thompson scored 20 points chase begins with the Frys.com Open at Woods that benefits his charity foundation. It Flyers, who reached the 2010 final but have not and the Golden State Warriors beat the Los Silverado as American Jimmy Walker defends his moves to the Robert Trent Jones course from lifted the trophy since 1975, as well as Montreal Angeles Clippers 112-94 in the teams’ preseason title. World number one McIlroy, who helped Congressional Country Club, both in the at Toronto and Vancouver at Calgary. opener on Tuesday night. inspire Europe to victory over the United States Washington suburbs. No Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup David Lee had 13 points and Stephen Curry, in the Ryder Cup last month, was named the US LOS ANGELES: (Left-right) Marian Gaborik PGA Tour Player of the Year for last season after SEASON ENDS IN ASIA since the Montreal Canadiens in 1993. The only Draymond Green and Nemanja Nedovic each Canadian finalist over the past seven seasons and Jeff Carter of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup scored 12. Curry fouled out with 7:18 left in the winning back-to-back major titles at the British The new campaign will conclude next champions Los Angeles Kings bring the Open and PGA Championship, the third and October with the Presidents Cup in South Korea, was Vancouver in 2011. third quarter on a three-point play by Chris Paul Stanley Cup to the game between the fourth majors of his career. the team event’s first stop in Asia with holders Slovakia’s Marian Gaborik, who scored 14 that tied the score at 68. Blake Griffin had 24 It sets the stage for McIlroy to complete a United States facing the Internationals collection playoff goals to lead the Kings, signed a seven- Arizona State Sun Devils and the USC Trojans points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, Paul career grand slam at the age of 25 with a victory of non-European talent. year deal worth $34 million (26.9 euros) with Los at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. — AFP had 14 points and nine assists, and Jamal next April at the Masters. And if the Northern In addition, the start of 2015 will mark the Angeles after last season. and a Stanley Cup. And we have that here. I don’t Crawford also scored 14 points. Ireland star dons a green jacket, he could com- beginning of the final calendar year for the ban “Everybody realizes the type of situation we see why you would want to leave.” Trailing by eight, the Clippers narrowed the plete a “Rory Slam” by winning next year’s US on anchored putting, which could cause some have here,” Kings center Jarret Stoll said. Plenty of rivals will be trying to wrest the tro- gap to 88-84 on two free throws by Spencer Open at Chambers Bay. issues for players who use it such as Australian “Nobody wants to leave that. Some people leave phy from the Kings’ grasp, notably Chicago. The Hawes and a jumper by Griffin with 8:55 to play. Woods, the 14-time major champion chasing star Adam Scott. and maybe think it’s greener on the other side or Blackhawks have won two of the past five NHL But that was as close as they got. the all-time record of 18 majors won by Jack They might begin making transitions in style take more money. I think there’s something to crowns and could again pose a major roadblock. Barnes responded with a 3-pointer from in Nicklaus, is expected to return in December at during the upcoming season. The Masters fig- be said about being able to win and have fun Chicago stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick front of the Clippers’ bench and the Warriors the Hero World Challenge event he hosts in ures to feature McIlroy against Bubba Watson, and having a great group and a good coaching Kane agreed eight-year contract extensions with closed it out with a 14-2 run during the final 5 Florida. who has won two of the last three Masters, while staff. “Some guys try to chase a winning team the club after last season. Toews has 195 goals 1/2 minutes. —AP Woods, who turns 39 in December, missed McIlroy takes aim at the US Open with German most of last season after undergoing back sur- Martin Kaymer defending his title and Phil gery on March 31 and has not played since the Mickelson, a six-time US Open runner-up, seek- PGA Championship in August as he works to ing to finally capture the crown and complete his strengthen his back. The former world number career slam. After that, McIlroy will defend major Calls for rule change one has not won a major title since the 2008 US titles at the British Open at St. Andrews and the Open. He did not win in 2014 but won five PGA at Whistling Straits, where Kaymer beat times in 2013, most recently at the WGC event in Watson in a playoff in 2010 the last time the Akron, Ohio. No player has ever won four major course hosted the event. —AFP after Asiad storm

INCHEON: Countries may challenge new boxing judging rules after a storm of controversy that nearly brought the Asian Games boxing to blows outside the ring, sports officials told AFP. Ed Picson and Ricky Vargas, executive director and president of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the , told AFP they had already written to governing bodies demanding change. Boxers from the Philippines, India and Mongolia all claimed they were the victims of scor- ing that favoured the South Korean hosts of the games in Incheon. Nineteen-year-old Ian Clark Bautista’s loss to Choe Sang-Dong was the one that really hurt the Philippines. “How I am to explain to a 19-year-old kid, who practically threw away four years of his life training away from his family, that the world is not as beautiful as it used to look to him,” Picson said in an interview. “And what about the Korean boy who beat him? What sort of values are we teaching him? That he can win even if he was inferior?” Soliman defends Vargas said Mark Anthony Barriga, another Filipino, should also have won. They were two fights that were stolen from us,” he said. title against Taylor The Philippines body has written to the Incheon Asian Games Organising Committee calling for BILOXI: Australian defends his dropped four bouts out of five over a two- backing for rule changes after the acrimonious dis- lightly-regarded International Boxing year span, Taylor stepped away from boxing putes. “I think there can be a little bit more integrity Federation title yesterday for two years. in this process,” said Vargas. against American , a former Taylor returned to the ring in late 2011 “Boxing is a sport in that you practically put undisputed world champion trying to make and is 4-0 in his comeback, his most recent your life on the line every time you step in the ring. INCHEON: (Left-right) ’s Birzhan Zhakypov, gold medallist South Korea’s Shin Jong- a comeback at age 36. triumph a seventh-round stoppage of And this is what comes out. It’s really disappoint- hun and bronze medallists Philippines’ Mark Barriga and Kyrgyzstan’s Turat Osmonov stand on Soliman, who turns 41 next month, won Colombian Juan Carlos Candelo last ing.” The International Boxing Association (AIBA) the podium during the victory ceremony for the men’s (46-49kg) boxing event the crown with a over December. “Things have come full circle for introduced scoring rules similar to those used in during the 17th Asian Games in this file photo. — AFP last May before his rival’s home me. I have another shot to become a world professional bouts on August 31. The Asian Games Boxing is not a fair sport under the current rules.” the medals at the tournament. “It’s not new in box- fans in . “It has taken me 20 hard champion and I’m not going to let this was the first international tournament to use them. The most controversial moment of the Asian ing. For many years boxing has had problems with years to get to where I am,” Soliman said. opportunity pass by without being victori- Now there are five judges scoring, but only three Games came after India’s Sarita Devi pounded athletes claiming unfairness,” Sheikh Ahmad said. “Being a world champion is a special feeling ous,” Taylor said. “I’ve made a bunch of mis- are counted at random. South Korea’s Park Ji-Na in the women’s light- “They’re trying to solve this problem.” “I didn’t see and one I plan on keeping. This is my first takes in boxing, losing to fighters I shouldn’t That means a fighter could win 3-0 or lost 2-1, weight semi-final. When Park’s hand was raised in those matches but I’m hearing a lot of rumours title defense and I’m leaving no stone have because of a lack of training, but I’m depending on the scores. The Philippines body will victory Devi’s husband launched into a rant at offi- (about) the Filipino guy and the Indian female who unturned to make sure it’s not my last.” ready to clear all that up. decide after discussions in Manila next week cials which saw scuffles and police called in. deserved a better position than what they got. But The fighter had defeated “Sam Soliman is a great fighter. He has whether to raise the matter at the AIBA congress Twenty-four hours later a sobbing Devi refused to in the end we have to respect the judges.” The Sturm in 2013 but that verdict was changed had a great career and he comes to fight, next month on Jeju island in South Korea. accept her bronze medal and instead hung it on AIBA’s decision to do away with headguards which to no contest after Soliman tested positive but I have to go in there and beat the hell Park’s neck. She has since apologised to the AIBA are primarily designed to prevent cuts has also for the banned stimulant methylsnephrine, out of him.” Soliman vows that will be easier BOXERS ‘WRONGED’ but they are pursuing a disciplinary case against come under fire. Together with the change in the leading to a nine-month ban for the Aussie. said than done. “I’m going to be stepping “Some people from other federations have her. scoring system the changes were intended to Soliman, 44-11 with 18 , will try to into the ring against a former world mid- already told me they would like to raise these attract more fans by mirroring . stretch his nine-bout win streak. His most dleweight champion and super mid- issues at the congress,” said Picson. Bat-Erdene CREDIBILITY Several fights in Incheon were stopped because of recent loss was to then-WBA super mid- dleweight contender who is chasing a Badmaanyambuu, Mongolia’s delegation chief, “AIBA president Wu Ching-kwo has always cuts which would not have occurred with head- dleweight champion and fellow Aussie comeback dream,” Soliman said. “Jermain backed calls for change. “What happened in boxing championed transparency and fairness, but things guards. “Now to prevent cuts they are clamping in 2008. Taylor has nothing to lose and that makes at these Games was not good. It was there for like these damage the credibility of the sport,” said down on ducking, even weaving. But what’s a guy Taylor, 32-4 with one draw and 20 knock- him a very dangerous opponent. “I know everyone to see. Our boxer was wronged, the Picson. The rows completely overshadowed to do if a punch comes his way? Keep his head up outs, claimed the undisputed middleweight how dangerous that mindset is. It’s the same Indian boxer was wronged too ... as were others. Kazakhstan’s achievement in winning six gold on to be hit?” said Picson. “How is all this and all the title in 2005 after defeating Bernard ‘all or nothing’ approach that I’ve taken into “Once we return home we will write to the AIBA Friday. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, the presi- controversy going to attract people to the sport? It Hopkins. But after losing back-to-back fights my last 10 fights to win the title. I’m bringing that the rules need to be changed. If they agree, we dent of Olympic Council of Asia, presented some of needs to be considered very seriously.” — AFP in 2009 at , and having the same intensity to this fight.” — AFP will co-operate with them in changing the rules.