RRACINGACING | Page 2 GGOLFOLF | Page 3 Medina Bradley, Burns Spirit storms share Valspar to Kentucky lead as Homa Derby win charges

Monday, May 3, 2021 CRICKET Ramadan 21, 1442 AH Buttler’s maiden T20 GULF TIMES ton sets up Royals’ win over Sunrisers SPORT Page 4 FORMULA 1 MATCH OFF AFTER UNITED FANS PROTEST Hamilton grabs 97th GP victory in Portugal ‘That was such a tough race physically and mentally. I didn’t get a good start and also lost out at the restart but it was a great result in the end’

Supporters protest against Manchester United’s owners outside the Old Traff ord stadium in Manchester yesterday. The Premier League match between United and Liverpool was cancelled as a result of the protest.

MOTORCYCLING Miller wins in Spain as Bagnaia takes lead

AFP Frenchman Quartararo fi n- was a really tough track for us, Fabio Di Giannantonio Jerez de la Frontera, Spain ished 13th and doubled over, so to fi nish one-two is a really cruised to his fi rst Moto2 vic- Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton reacts after winning the Portuguese Grand Prix yesterday. seemingly in pain, at the fi nish. big result for us.” tory to give the grieving Gresini Miller started and fi nished Japanese rider Takaaki Nak- team their fi rst in the class since AFP RESULTS Verstappen was the fi rst of ustralian Jack Miller his immediate post-race inter- agami (Honda-LCR) was fourth the death of founder Fausto Portimao, Portugal the leading group to pit on lap rode to only his second view in tears. and Spanish world champion Gresini. 36, with Bottas next, followed victory at the Spanish “It’s a fl ood of emotions: Joan Mir (Suzuki) was fi fth. On his 38th Moto2 start, the RACE (TOP 10) by Hamilton, with Perez yet to MotoGP yesterday as happy sad, everything,” he said. Spaniard Marc Marquez, 22-year-old Italian led com- ewis Hamilton deliv- 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) change tyres, in front. ADucati team-mate Francesco “I thought when Fabio went who after crashing his Honda fortably almost throughout. ered a fl awless drive in 1hr 34min 31.421sec, 2. Max Verstap- With 13 laps left Hamilton Bagnaia fi nished runner-up to past OK he’s got a bit better in practice on Saturday, crashed Italian Marco Bezzecchi of his Mercedes to win the pen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) at pushed past Perez to regain con- take the overall championship pace,” Miller said. “I thought he again in the warm-up yester- Sky Racing was second, a dis- Portuguese Grand Prix 29.148sec, 3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/ trol of the third leg of the record lead. was going to bolt. day, fi nished a creditable ninth tant 1.722sec behind with Briton yesterdayL from his arch title rival Mercedes) 33.530, 4. Sergio Pérez 23-race season, and from there Miller, who underwent sur- “I didn’t expect him to come in his second Grand Prix after Sam Lowes of Marc VDS third, Max Verstappen. (MEX/Red Bull-Honda) 39.735, the race was his to lose. gery early in April, took the lead back to me but he did. nine months out with injury. another half second behind. Seven-time world champion 5. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren- “I think Max made a mistake when pre-race championship “He started to drop really off Morbidelli scored his fi rst Gresini, a former 125cc world Hamilton’s 97th Grand Prix tri- Mercedes) 51.369, 6. Charles Leclerc at some point and that was per- leader Fabio Quartararo started when I passed him. podium of the season. champion, founded the team in umph extended his early season (MON/Ferrari) 55.781, 7. Esteban fect. With Valtteri I had to make to lose pace midway through “There were still 12-13 laps Quartararo, who had won two 1997. He died at 60 from Cov- lead over Red Bull’s Verstap- Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:03.749, the move early on before the the race. left and I was thinking that’s a of the season’s fi rst three races, id-19 on February 23. pen in the Formula One drivers’ 8. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Alpine- tyres were destroyed and I just On a track where Ducati had long time out in front by myself said he had picked up an arm Australian Remy Gardner, standings to eight points. Renault) 1:04.808, 9. Daniel Ricciardo managed to get him at turn one. not won since 2006, Bagnaia but I was able to do it.” injury. who was fourth, remains atop In third place in Portimao was (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:15.369, 10. Right on my limit. Great race,” followed Miller home to take Bagnaia followed Miller “I had no strength at all, my the world championship stand- pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas in Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Honda) added Hamilton. the championship lead from home to give Ducati the fi rst arm was like stone,” said the ings on 69 points, three ahead the other Mercedes with Sergio 1:16.463, Fastest lap: Valtteri Bottas “We were not on top of it here Quartararo. two places and take the cham- 22-year-old who is now sec- of Lowes and six ahead of Span- Perez in the second Red Bull in (FIN/Mercedes) 1:19.865 but we’ll see what we can do in Italian Franco Morbidelli was pionship lead. ond in the championship, two iard Raul Fernandez. Di Gian- fourth. Retired Barcelona,” said Verstappen, re- third on a Yamaha. “I’m happy,” he said. “This points behind Bagnaia. nantonio is fi fth. “That was such a tough race Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Alfa Romeo ferring to next weekend’s race in physically and mentally. I didn’t Racing-Ferrari) Spain. RESULTS get a good start and also lost out Drivers standings Intrigue in the closing stages at the restart but it was a great 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 69 pts, 2. surrounded the question of MotoGP: result in the end,” said Hamilton. Max Verstappen (NED) 61, 3. Lando who would end up with a po- 1. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati) 41min “Today wasn’t all perfect and Norris (GBR) 37, 4. Valtteri Bottas tentially crucial point for the 5.602sec, 2. Francesco Bagnaia we need to get ready now for the (FIN) 32, 5. Charles Leclerc (MON) fastest lap. (ITA/Ducati) at 1.912sec, 3. Franco quick turnaround for Spain.” 28, 6. Sergio Pérez (MEX) 22, 7. Dan- Verstappen thought he’d Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha-SRT) At a sun-drenched Algarve iel Ricciardo (AUS) 16, 8. Carlos Sainz clinched it only for his eff ort to 2.516, 4. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/ International Circuit Bottas led (ESP) 14, 9. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 8, 10. be ruled out due to track limits Honda-LCR) 3.206, 5. Joan Mir Hamilton from the two Red Bulls Pierre Gasly (FRA) 7, with Bottas eventually taking (ESP/Suzuki) 4.256 into the fi rst corner. Constructors the honours. By the end of lap one it was the 1. Mercedes 101 pts, 2. Red Bull- The Red Bulls are emerging as Moto2 safety car which led after the two Honda 83, 3. McLaren-Mercedes serious challengers to Mercedes’ 1. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA/ Alfa Romeos collided, with Kimi 53, 4. Ferrari 42, 5. Alpine-Renault supremacy but the world cham- Kalex) 39:07.396, 2. Marco Bez- Raikkonen’s front wing littered 13, 6. AlphaTauri-Honda 9, 7. Aston pions have evidently worked zecchi (ITA/Kalex) at 1.722sec, 3. across the straight after clipping Martin-Mercedes 5, 8. Alfa Romeo hard to redress any imbalance Sam Lowes (GBR/Kalex) 2.229, Antonio Giovinazzi’s car. Racing-Ferrari 0, 9. Williams 0, 10. in performance between the two 4. Remy Gardner (AUS/Kalex) Bottas carefully controlled the Haas-Ferrari 0 teams. 3.019, 5. Raul Fernandez (ESP/ rolling restart on lap seven but in And after three legs of the sea- Kalex) 8.571 his rearview mirror he will have darting past on the inside with son it is Hamilton in his quest for seen Verstappen charge past Verstappen snapping: “I’m just a a record eighth world crown that Moto3 Hamilton and into second. sitting duck on the straight. It’s has won twice, adding this to his 1. Pedro Acosta (ESP/KTM) “That a boy” was the pleased unbelievable.” opening success in Bahrain, with 39:22.266, 2. Romano Fenati (ITA/ reaction on the team radio from Hamilton hit the front with a Verstappen the winner in Imola. Husqvarna) at 0.417, 3. Jeremy the Red Bull pits. superb sweeping move past Bot- Sitting third in the drivers’ Alcoba (ESP/Honda) 0.527, 4. An- But four laps later and a mis- tas at the start of lap 20, quickly standings is Lando Norris for re- drea Migno (ITA/Honda) 0.548, 5. take by the Dutchman on turn establishing daylight between surgent McLaren after the Briton Ducati Lenovo Team’s Australian rider Jack Miller celebrates on the podium after winning the Spanish Ayumu Sasaki (JPN/KTM) 0.971 14 let Hamilton regain second, the Mercedes men. took fi fth yesterday. Grand Prix at the Jerez Circuit in Jerez de la Frontera yesterday. Gulf Times 2 Monday, May 3, 2021 SPORT

KENTUCKY DERBY FOCUS Axelsen tests positive for Covid, Medina Spirit forfeits European delivers Baff ert badminton fi nal record 7th victory  Mandaloun second, Hot Rod Charlie third, Essential Quality fourth  Largest audience for US sporting event since pandemic started

AFP test after beating Finn Kalle Copenhagen Koljonen in the semi-fi nals on Saturday and must isolate in Kiev. adminton world “He will remain in hotel room number two Viktor quarantine for the next 13 days.” Axelsen was forced Axelsen, a singles bronze to withdraw from yes- medallist at the Rio Olympics, terday’sB fi nal of the European said he was in good health. Championship in Kiev after “There is no doubt that there testing positive for Covid-19. is nothing I would rather do Axelsen was to face fellow than stand in the fi nal today Dane Anders Antonsen, who against Anders,” the statement claimed his fi rst European title quoted Axelsen as saying. with a walkover. “I am also really sorry that it “Top seed and defending will take another two weeks be- champion Viktor Axelsen re- fore I can come home and see my turned a second positive test family again,” he added. for Covid-19, ruling him out of “These are the conditions we contesting the men’s singles fi - have to play under in this time nal of the 2021 European Cham- where isolation and quarantine pionships today,” Badminton is a risk that we know is present Denmark announced yesterday. when we compete. I still feel It said the 27-year-old Ax- no symptoms of illness and am elsen returned a fi rst positive otherwise in good spirits.”

Six Tokyo Olympic torch staff ers catch Covid-19 Medina Spirit, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, (right) leads the field into the fourth turn on his way to winning the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on TOKYO: Six people who nosed with Covid-19, including Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky. helped with Japan’s Olympic a police off icer in his 30s Torch relay were diagnosed who guided traff ic in Kagawa with Covid-19, bringing the prefecture. Reuters “This little horse, he’s always under scrutiny from state horse total number of participants The Tokyo 2020 organisers Louisville, Kentucky shown that he is an overachiev- racing regulators in recent years in the event who got the urged people to comply with er,” Baff ert said of Medina Spirit, after some of the horses in his coronavirus to eight, organis- Covid-19 guidelines. who was purchased for $1,000 stables tested positive for banned ers said. Japanese authorities are edina Spirit stormed as a yearling, resold for a mere substances. Saturday’s Kentucky The six people, who included determined to protect to victory in the Ken- $35,000 in 2020, and is owned by Derby marked the fi rst time all 19 a man in his 20s and another Games participants and a tucky Derby on Sat- Zedan Racing Stables. participants ran without fi rst be- man in his 30s, helped on local population that opinion urday to give trainer “His heart is bigger than his ing injected with Lasix since the the relay in the southern surveys have shown is largely BobM Baff ert a record seventh win body and when he turned for drug became commonly used in prefecture of Kagoshima on opposed to the Olympics due in the $3mn Run for the Roses. home, something told me that the sport in the mid-1970s. April 27, Tokyo 2020 said in a to fears the event will lead to Under jockey John Velazquez, he doesn’t know how much he Lasix is used to prevent bleed- statement late on Saturday. more Covid-19 infections. Medina Spirit jumped out to an cost, he wasn’t going to let any- ing in horses’ lungs, which can All of them assisted with traf- Japan last month declared a early lead and fended off chal- body pass him.” Velazquez, 49, occur during strenuous exercise. fic control and wore masks, Covid-19 state of emergency lenges down the stretch in front said the emotion that comes But it is also a diuretic that causes with three of them doing for the major population of 51,838 fans in Louisville, Ken- with winning “the most exciting horses to shed pounds through so in the city of Amami and centres of Tokyo and Osaka tucky, in the largest US sporting two minutes in sports” has not urination before a race, which the other three in the city of and two other areas set to event since the start of the coro- diminished and praised the 12-1 can make them faster but can Kirishima, said the organisers. last until May 11 to contain a navirus pandemic. horse. also lead to dehydration. Earlier last month, two other fourth wave of infections. The win was Hall of Fame “Every time I asked him to give The use of drugs in North people who helped with the The Games, delayed by a year jockey Velazquez’s fourth in the more, he kept fi ghting on,” he American horse racing has been torch relay on the southern because of the pandemic, are fi rst race of the Triple Crown, said. “You couldn’t ask for more criticized after the high-profi le island of Shikoku were diag- scheduled to open on July 23. which returned to its usual spot – of a horse. When you ride a horse deaths of horses at tracks like the fi rst Saturday in May – after like this who is competitive, you Southern California’s Santa An- being pushed to September last can’t ask for anything else.” ita Park in recent years. year due to the pandemic. Longshot Mandaloun was None of the three Triple SPOTLIGHT Baff ert had downplayed his second, 5-1 Hot Rod Charlie was Crown races will allow the use of “little” horse’s chances heading third and 5/2 favorite Essential the drug this year. into the race and was stunned Quality was forced to settle for The second leg of the Triple to see the dark bay 3-year-old fourth after taking a wide turn Crown, the Preakness Stakes, is Kiwi Dixon breezes maintain his speed for the dura- heading into the stretch. scheduled to be held on May 15. tion of the 1-1/4-mile (2km) trip Trainer Bob Baff ert raises the trophy after Medina spirit won the Baff ert, one of the best known The third and fi nal race, the Bel- around the fast dirt track. 147th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. trainers in the world, has come mont Stakes, is set for June 5. to back-to-back wins

AFP “I have never been this BOTTOMLINE Fort Worth, United States bloody happy for second,” said McLaughlin, of Hamilton. “It was cool battling with my all cott Dixon captured time hero. Two Kiwis one and Aspetar Young Investigator Awards to be presented his second consecutive two. IndyCar Grand Prix of “I worked really hard behind Texas race on Saturday scenes to make it feel good. We at 36th FIMS World Congress of Sports Medicine Snight, cruising to his 51st ca- will get a win one day.” reer win by holding off a spirited Mexico’s Pato O’Ward fi n- spetar and The In- completing a research degree or challenge from fellow New Zea- ished third, followed by Spain’s ternational Sports medical residency and must not lander Scott McLaughlin. Alex Palou in fourth while and Medicine Federation hold a level higher than assist- “That was pretty awesome,” Graham Rahal rounded out the (FIMS) has a long his- ant professor. said reigning series champion top fi ve in the race that was de- Atory of collaborating on re- The Aspetar Young Investi- Dixon, 40. “I love Texas. It was layed several times by accidents. search and education in sports gator Awards Committee, fi ve a bit of a crazy night and very Palou started on the pole af- medicine and science. Aspetar experienced scientists and cli- tense at end. It was cool racing ter qualifying was cancelled will present the Young Investi- nicians from Aspetar and FIMS, my countryman for those last Saturday because of overnight gator Awards for the third time, will independently evaluate the few laps.” rain and morning mist. The as part of 36th World Congress presentations using standard- Chip Ganassi Racing’s Dixon scheduled start of the race was of Sports Medicine in Athens, ised assessment templates. has now won in back-to-back at also moved up about a half hour Greece from September 24th to Since establishing a for- the Texas Motor Speedway for because weather forecasters 27th 2021 at the Megaron Ath- mal partnership with FIMS in his fi fth career win on the oval said the chances of rain would ens International Conference 2016, Aspetar has contributed track. increase later Saturday evening Center. to the ongoing success of the Last June he won the pan- but the rain held off . These awards, presented to 4 FIMS World Congress of Sports demic-delayed 2020 season The 1.5-mile Texas track in- researchers for the best poster Medicine through key note lec- opener without any fans in Fort vites trouble at each corner and and oral presentations during tures, symposia and workshops Worth. Saturday was no diff erent. In- this biannual congress, aim to on various sports medicine and He also seized an 18-point dyCar has four oval-track races encourage and support young science topics. lead in the championship race as this season but Texas is the most scientists, and reward out- As one of the world leaders he chases a record eighth title. high-banked of the ovals. standing dissemination of their in sports medicine and science, Team Penske rookie Dixon started third and work to an international audi- Aspetar continues to prioritise McLaughlin made it a one-two jumped out to the lead ahead of ence. The Aspetar Young Inves- extensive clinical, research and Kiwi fi nish, reaching the po- Ganassi teammate Palou on the tigator Award will enable young education collaborations with dium in his oval debut and just third lap. and established researchers and many local, regional and inter- his fourth ever IndyCar start. Reigning Indianapolis 500 clinicians to further develop of research in sports medicine ing basic and clinical research All eligible reward winners national individuals, institu- He fi nished just 0.2646 adrift of winner Takuma Sato fi nished and apply the highest standards and science to benefi t ongo- projects. must be within six years of tions and organisations. Dixon. ninth. Gulf Times Monday, May 3, 2021 3 SPORT

FOCUS Kim claims Women’s World Championship AFP LEADING FINAL-ROUND SCORES Singapore 271-Kim Hyo-joo (KOR) 67-68-72-64 272-Hannah Green (AUS) 71-66-66-69 outh Korea’s Kim Hyo- 273-Patty Tavatanakit (THA) 70-70-68-65, Park In-bee (KOR) 64-69- joo staged a late fi ght- 70-70, Lin Xiyu (CHN) 67-68-67-71 back by fi ring a sparkling 276-Ryu So-yeon (KOR) 67-69-70-70 eight-under-par 64 to 277-Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 69-67-73-68, Chun In-gee (KOR) 71-69-66- winS the HSBC Women’s World 71, Lydia Ko (NZL) 69-68-69-71, Gaby Lopez (MEX) 68-71-65-73 Championship by one shot over Australia’s Hannah Green yesterday. win. Kim remained calm under continue this momentum and Starting her fi nal round at the pressure and carded two more who knows, have a good result Singapore tournament fi ve shots pars to sign off with a winning next week.” back of overnight leader Lin total of 17-under-par 271, ending Lin, who started the round Xiyu, Kim parred the fi rst four her fi ve-year title drought on the with a single-shot lead, signed holes before four birdies in the LPGA. off with a 71 to fi nish in joint third next fi ve holes helped her storm “My goal for this year is to get place alongside world number up the leaderboard. a win and I’m glad I achieved that two Park In-bee of South Korea After turning in 32, Kim con- today,” said Kim, whose last vic- and Thailand’s Patty Tavatana- tinued her relentless chase for tory was in 2016 when she won kit on matching 273s. Park, who her fourth LPGA victory with the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA is set to defend her Olympic title another pair of birdies on holes Classic. “I have not won for such at the Tokyo Games beginning in 11 and 12. a long time and this really feels July, insisted she was happy with The 25-year-old parred the like my fi rst win.” her performance. 13th hole and reeled in two more Green conceded nerves got The other two women’s golf birdies on 14 and 15 to share the the better of her as she let slip medallists from the 2016 Rio lead with Green at 17-under at the lead on the 16th hole, with Games, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko South Korea’s Kim Hyo-joo poses with the that stage. two costly bogeys on 17 and 18. and China’s Feng Shanshan, were trophy aft er winning the HSBC Women’s The Australian birdied 16 to “I’m pretty disappointed to have also competing in Singapore but World Championship yesterday. take the outright lead but un- two three-putts in the fi nishing fared even worse. Ko posted a fi - (Twitter/HWWCGolf) characteristically dropped two holes. I was feeling nervous,” she nal round 71 to fi nish tied seventh shots in her last two holes to said. “But I came very close to while Feng fi nished in tied 43rd leave the door open for Kim to winning, so I just hope that I can place.

GOLF CYCLING Ineos’ Thomas wins Tour de Romandie Bradley and Burns Tour fl anked by Giro d’Italia Reuters Paris winners Tao Geoghegan Hart and Richard Carapaz, has not won a stage, however, since pre- eraint Thomas claimed vailing at L’Alpe d’Huez in 2018. his fi rst title since win- At the Tour de Romandie, ning the 2018 Tour he fi nished 28 seconds ahead de France when he of Australian team mate Richie share Valspar lead Gwrapped up the overall victory at Porte, with Italian Fausto Ma- the Tour de Romandie yesterday. snada of Deceuninck-Quick The Briton, who crashed in Step taking third place 38 sec- the fi nal straight with victory in onds off the pace while Woods sight in Saturday’s fourth-stage (Israel Start-Up Nation) slipped uphill fi nish, took third place down to fi fth. in the fi nal individual time trial Briton Chris Froome’s hopes won by France’s Remi Cavagna. of reaching his best form again as Homa charges It was enough for the Ineos- after a freak crash in 2019 suf- Grenadiers rider, who had start- fered yet another blow as he was ed the day in second place in the never in the mix, ending up 96th general classifi cation 11 seconds overall, more than an hour be- ‘I PLAYED REALLY WELL, GOT OFF TO A GREAT START. OVERALL, I PLAYED SOLID’ behind Michael Woods, to leap- hind Thomas. frog the Canadian as he beat him Once a top time-trialist, Is- AFP by 54 seconds on the 16.2-km rael Start-Up Nation’s Froome Miami course around Fribourg. fi nished Sunday’s solo eff ort Thomas, who is expected to against the clock a woeful 109th lead Ineos-Grenadiers on the out of 120 starters. mericans Keegan Bradley and Sam Burns each fi red a two- under par 69 to remain dead- locked for the lead after Satur- day’sA third round of the US PGA Valspar Championship. Burns, chasing his fi rst PGA title, sank a bogey putt from just outside eight feet at the closing hole while Bradley, the 2011 PGA Championship winner, missed a par putt from just inside eight feet at the par- 4 18th. That left them level for the 54- hole lead on 14-under 199 at Innisbrook resort’s Copperhead course in Palm Har- bor, Florida, with compatriot Max Homa third on 200 after fi ring a 66. Britain’s Geraint Thomas celebrates his yellow jersey of overall leader Bradley and Burns matched the 54- during the podium ceremony of the final stage of the Tour de Romandie hole course record set by South Korea’s Sam Burns of the United States plays a UCI World Tour 2021 race in Fribourg. (AFP) K.J. Choi in 2002 and equaled by Cana- shot on the seventh hole during the third da’s Adam Hadwin in 2017. round of the Valspar Championship on Burns, who has had four 36-hole PGA the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook SPOTLIGHT leads this season but only a best of third Resort Florida. (Getty Images/AFP) at Riviera in February, opened with an ea- gle and was four-under through fi ve, but “It gave me a little bit of energy,” Bra- bogeys at 16 and 18 dropped him back. dley said. Burns missed the green and Pine Valley ends 108 “I played really well, got off to a great made bogey at the par-4 16th to fall level start,” Burns said. “Overall, I played solid. with Bradley for the lead. “Tomorrow will be a fresh start. I’ll try Homa holed out from the fairway from years as a male-only to commit to the process and keep play- 138 yards to eagle the par-4 sixth and ing well,” Burns said. “Managing the golf dropped his approach inches from the course, putting it in the right spots, will cup to birdie the par-3 eighth and reach golf club: report be big tomorrow.” 12-under. He birdied the 15th from just Bradley produced the third-lowest 54- inside 30 feet but missed the green and AFP Valley Golf Club have voted hole score of his career but a host of near- made bogey at 16, then closed with a 33- New York unanimously and with enthusi- miss putts left him shaking his head over foot birdie putt. asm to remove all gender-spe- what might have been. “Everything felt really in control,” cifi c language from our bylaws. “Today could have been my best round Homa said. “I had my best ball striking ine Valley Golf Club, a “The club’s policies will now of the tournament. I just didn’t hole the day for sure.” men-only private en- allow all guests to enjoy our club putts I did the fi rst two rounds,” Bradley Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, Chile’s clave since its founding without restrictions and we will said. “But I’m still tied for the lead and Joaquin Niemann and Americans Ted in 1913, has voted to al- begin immediately identifying still in the tournament.” Potter and Cameron Tringale shared Plow women memberships and women candidates for mem- He would welcome another chance at fourth on 203. unrestricted play, Golf Digest re- bership with the expectation of some of the putts that went off target. ported Saturday. having our fi rst women mem- “I hit perfect shots. I put the ball where LEADING THIRD-ROUND SCORES The club, located in the New bers in the club by the end of this I wanted it. I was hitting the ball nicely,” (USA unless noted, par-71) Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia, year.” Bradley said. “I know I can do it. I feel like 199-Keegan Bradley 64-66-69, Sam has a layout that Golf Digest has Davis said all prospective if I go out tomorrow and stick to my proc- Burns 67-63-69 ranked as the top course in the members must “be socially ess I can have a chance at the end.” 200-Max Homa 66-68-66 United States, and among the compatible, share a deep pas- Final-pair partners Bradley and Burns 203-Ted Potter 67-73-63, Abraham Ancer world’s best, for several years. sion for the game of golf and be were both in bunkers at 18. Burns had a (MEX) 67-70-66, Joaquin Niemann (CHI) Pine Valley president Jim Davis able to play the golf course with plugged lie and powered the ball 75 feet 68-68-67, Cameron Tringale 69-67-67 wrote in a Friday e-mail to mem- the skill level our founder George from the hole while Bradley punched out 204-Charley Hoff man 68-66-70 bers obtained by the magazine Crump intended.” to just beyond seven feet, but each made 205-Brandt Snedeker 69-69-67, Bubba about the unanimous move by Pine Valley follows several no- fi ve. “I would have taken fi ve after seeing Watson 70-67-68, Troy Merritt 68-69-68 the club’s trustees and members table men-only private clubs in where that plugged lie was,” Burns said. 206-Scottie Scheff ler 73-67-66, Louis to bring in female members and changing rules to allow women. Oosthuizen (RSA) 73-67-66, Viktor allow them to play at any time. Augusta National, home EAGLE ENERGISES BRADLEY Hovland (NOR) 69-69-68, Vaughn Taylor Previously, women were only al- course for the Masters, wel- Burns dropped his approach inside three 70-67-69, Jason Kokrak 67-69-70, Hank lowed on the course as guests and comed its fi rst women members feet from the cup at the par-5 opening Lebioda 66-69-71 on Sunday afternoons. in 2012. The Royal & Ancient hole and tapped in for eagle while Bradley 207-Justin Thomas 69-71-67, Bronson “This evening at our annual Golf Club of St. Andrews in birdied. Keegan Bradley reacts after his eagle on the 14th green during the third round of the Burgoon 71-68-68, Bo Van Pelt 71-67-69, meeting of the members we Scotland allowed women mem- At the par-4 third, Burns sank a 34- Valspar Championship golf tournament in Palm Harbor, Florida. (USA TODAY Sports) Kevin Na 68-69-70, Danny Lee (NZL) made a historic change to Pine bers in 2014 and Muirfi eld be- foot birdie putt and made a 12-footer to 70-67-70 Valley’s bylaws,” Davis wrote. gan accepting women members match Bradley with a birdie at the par-5 putt at the par-4 12th to leave Burns Bradley missed a par putt from just 208-Matthew NeSmith 70-69-69, Camilo “The future of golf must move in 2017. The magazine said that fi fth. ahead by two. inside eight feet at the par-3 13th to fall Villegas (COL) 71-68-69, Corey Conners toward inclusion, and I am of 3,670 private US golf clubs, Bradley missed a four-foot birdie putt “Those greens were starting to get three back, but he holed out from 35 feet (CAN) 70-68-70, Charles Howell 70-68- pleased to report that the trus- fewer than a dozen remain male- at the par-5 11th and a seven-foot birdie fi rm,” Bradley said. from deep grass to eagle to par-5 14th. 70, Pat Perez 68-68-72 tees and members of the Pine only enclaves. Gulf Times 4 Monday, May 3, 2021 CRICKET

IPL Buttler’s century sets up Royals’ win over SRH AFP on as he tried to slog Sandeep that New Zealand captain Wil- New Delhi Sharma in the 19th over. liamson would replace Warner In all he faced 64 balls, with as skipper after the Australia Jos Buttler of Rajasthan Royals plays 92 of his runs in boundaries - 11 star had overseen fi ve defeats a shot during their Indian Premier ngland’s Jos Buttler fours and eight sixes. from six matches, the Sunrisers League match against Sunrisers struck his maiden Twen- “I think sometimes you have surprised many by dropping Hyderabad at the Arun Jaitley ty20 hundred as the Ra- to swallow your ego when you’re the dynamic opener from their Stadium in New Delhi yesterday. jasthan Royals beat a not in perfect touch. You have to XI. (Sportzpics for IPL) SunrisersE Hyderabad without give yourself time and fi nd your Although Warner has hit two dropped captain David Warner way. I tried to stay in and keep fi fties this season, the usually by 55 runs in the Indian Premier the belief that something will free-scoring left-hander rued League yesterday. click. It’s a small ground. Obvi- his slow batting in the Sunrisers’ Buttler’s 124 was the centre- ously, I really enjoyed that,” But- previous match against Chennai piece of the Royals’ 220-3, his tler told Star Sports. “I didn’t Super Kings and took “full re- century against fellow strugglers fi nd it easy and haven’t been in sponsibility” for the defeat. Hyderabad coming off 56 balls my best form for a while now. Hyderabad brought in Afghan including 10 fours and fi ve sixes. “I just tried to stay in against all-rounder Mohamed Nabi as The Sunrisers only managed Rashid. He has had my number the fourth overseas player in 165-8 in reply at Delhi’s Arun for a long time, so thankful to their XI. Never before has Aus- Jaitley Stadium as the bottom not get out to him. I spent the tralia opener Warner lost his side in the eight-team franchise most of my career in the middle place with an IPL franchise for competition lost to a Royals order, where hundreds are not reasons of form. team who started the day in sev- easy to come by.” Sunrisers director of cricket enth place. The Sunrisers’ Manish Pan- Tom Moody, himself a former Kane Williamson, the new dey opened in place of Warner. Australia all-rounder, defended Sunrisers captain, won the toss Together with Jonny Bairstow he the decision by saying before and elected to fi eld in a match put on 57 before he was bowled the match: “We had to make the again played without spectators by Mustafi zur Rahman for 31. hard call, somebody has to miss because of Covid-19, with the That turned out to be the top out and unfortunately it’s him coronavirus pandemic responsi- score of the innings, with Eng- (Warner). ble for more than 215,000 deaths land’s Bairstow out for 30 and “He’s shocked and disap- in India. After Yashasvi Jaiswal star batsman Williamson falling pointed. Anyone would be dis- was lbw early on to Afghanistan for 20. Bangladesh’s Mustafi zur appointed.” leg-spinner Rashid Khan, open- (3-20) and South Africa’s Chris er Buttler shared a stand of ex- Morris (3-29) led the Royals’ a BRIEF SCORES actly 150 with Rajasthan captain ttack. Rajasthan Royals 220 for 3 (But- Sanju Samson (48). tler 124, Samson 48) beat Sunris- Buttler, long regarded as one ‘SHOCKED AND ers Hyderabad 165 for 8 (Pandey of the best white-ball batsmen in DISAPPOINTED’ WARNER 31, Mustafizur 3-20, Morris 3-29) world cricket, eventually played While it was already known by 55 runs.

TEST FOCUS Delhi Capitals beat Punjab Kings to go Sri Lanka sniff win top of IPL table

Agencies was my plan. It was my day, I Ahmedabad took that responsibility. Unfor- tunately we didn’t get too many in the middle overs, even though elhi Capitals climbed we fi nished well. Would have against Bangladesh to the top of the Indian loved two points more than any- Premier League with a thing else. But it is what it is. We seven-wicket win over have to shut this off , turn up next ‘I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE BATTED BETTER IN THE FIRST INNINGS’ PunjabD Kings in Ahmedabad game and do better,” said Punjab yesterday. captain Mayank Agarwal AFP Victory took 2020 runners-up “Managing the ups and downs Pallekele, Sri Lanka Delhi two points above Chennai is what captaincy’s all about. Super Kings, who have a game in Kudos to Harpreet who showed hand. Punjab suff ered a setback up for us today and last game as ri Lanka were fi ve wickets away before the match when captain well, he also hit a crucial bound- from a series win against Bang- K L Rahul was hospitalised with ary. We need to keep at it and ladesh after the tourists were re- acute appendicitis. click as a team,” he said. stricted to 177 for fi ve at stumps Stand-in captain Mayank Delhi captain Rishabh pant Son day four of the second Test at Pallekele Agarwal did his best to cover lauded his openers for the their yesterday. the loss of his fellow India bats- good show. Chasing a daunting 437 to win, Bang- man, and this season’s leading “I think Shikhy bhai and ladesh batsmen were troubled by Sri Lan- run-scorer in the IPL, with an Prithvi gave us a very good start, ka spinners Praveen Jayawickrama and unbeaten 99. But wickets fell that’s why the innings looked Ramesh Mendis who took the fi ve wickets around him as Punjab were held much better. The fi rst innings on a crumbling wicket. to a total of 166-6, with South it was really gripping. The way Sri Lanka set Bangladesh a formidable Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada they started was commendable. target of 437 by declaring their second taking 3-36. It feels so good when you have a innings on 194 for nine at the hill city of Agarwal went into the 90s in great start each and every match Pallekele. No team has reached such a the last over, a four and a six off with a mixture of youth and ex- large target in Test history. the penultimate two deliveries perience. You can see that every- The greatest run chase in the history of from Avesh Khan saw him to 95. one is doing so well around them. Test cricket is the 418 made by the West Needing six off the last ball for Most things are sorted out but we Indies against Australia in 2003 in An- his hundred, the opener could need to try out a few options for tigua. The most successful run chase at only manage a straight-driven the Kolkata matches,” Pant said. Pallekele, a picturesque hill resort, is 382 four along the turf. Agarwal “The competition in the team by Pakistan in 2015. Should Bangladesh faced 58 balls, including eight is very good. When you see, succeed in forcing a draw with 150 overs fours and four sixes. India bats- there is a lot of gun bowling that left in the game, Sri Lanka risk falling to man Shikhar Dhawan’s 69 not we have. I’m enjoying everyday, their lowest world ranking. out guided Delhi to 167-3 as they using my experience, using the Bangladesh, who are down to their last won with 14 balls to spare. seniors around me. We are trying recognised pair, need another 260 runs to “Rahul is going for a surgery to make an environment where win with one full day’s play left. Najmul and hopefully he should be back. everyone feels good.” Shanto, who scored 26 in the second in- Would’ve liked two points but nings after his duck in the fi rst, regret- I guess we were about 10 short BRIEF SCORES ted their performance in the fi rst innings on that wicket. And the kind Delhi Capitals 167 for 3 (Dhawan when they were bundled out for 251. of powerplay they had we re- 69*, Shaw 39) beat Punjab Kings “I think we should have batted better ally had to scrap and fi ght. One 166 for 6 (Agarwal 99, Rabada in the fi rst innings,” Shanto told reporters batsman has to bat through, that 3-36) by seven wickets. after the fourth day’s play. He said they could not maintain good partnerships like the 63 for the fourth wicket. “We couldn’t put together any more partnerships, which set us back.” Sri Lanka declared their second innings after lunch on 194 for nine and Bangla- desh lost three wickets in the afternoon session fi nishing on 111 for three at tea. Mendis claimed the big wicket of Tamim Iqbal when he was caught behind by Niroshan Dickwella for 24. Debutante Jayawickrama, who took six wickets in the fi rst innings, accounted for Saif Has- Sri Lanka’s Ramesh Mendis (centre) celebrates after he dismissed Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal (left) during the fourth day of the san and Najmul Shanto. The delivery that second and final Test at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy yesterday. (AFP) dismissed Shanto pitched outside off stump, spun sharply, went through bat Scorecard and pad and hit the top of leg-stump. After tea, Bangladesh lost captain Mo- SRI LANKA 1st innings 493 for 7 declared Extras ( nb1) 1 S. Hassan c Lakmal b Jayawickrama 34 minul Haque, who chopped a Mendis BANGLADESH 1st innings 251 all out Total (9 wkts, 42.2 overs) 194 declared N. Shanto b Jayawickrama 26 delivery onto his stumps to leave his side struggling at 134 for four. Mendis said it SRI LANKA 2nd innings (overnight 17-2) Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Thirimanne), 2-15 M. Haque b Mendis 32 would be hard work although they had L. Thirimanne c Shanto b M. Hassan 2 (Fernando), 3-39 (Mathews), 4-112 (Karu- M. Rahim c de Silva b Mendis 40 naratne), 5-124 (de Silva), 6-162 (Nissanka), one full day to take fi ve wickets. D. Karunaratne c Ali b Hassan 66 L. Das not out 14 “We need to do the basics right,” 7-178 (Dikwella), 8-180 (Mendis), 9-194 Mendis said. “It is going to be hard work. O. Fernando st Liton b T. Islam 1 (Lakmal) M. Hasan not out 4 There could be a bit of pressure because A. Mathews c Ali b T. Islam 12 Bowlers: Mehidy Hasan 14-3-66-2, Shori- Extras: (3b) 3 we have exhausted our reviews.” D. de Silva c Shanto b T. Islam 41 ful Islam 1-0-8-0, Taijul Islam 19.2-2-72-5 Total (5 wkts, 48 overs) 177 Earlier, Dimuth Karunaratne top scored (1nb), Taskin Ahmed 4-0-26-1, Saif Hassan P. Nissanka c Shoriful b T. Islam 24 Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Iqbal), 2-73 (Has- with 66 runs as Sri Lanka declared on 194 4-0-22-1. for nine. The Sri Lankan captain fi nished N. Dikwella c T. Islam b Ahmed 24 san), 3-104 (Shanto), 4-134 (Haque), 5-171 (Rahim) the series with 428 runs in three innings, R. Mendis c Tamim b T. Islam 8 having scored a double hundred, a hun- BANGLADESH 2nd innings Bowling: Lakmal 4-2-14-0, Mendis 20-0- S. Lakmal b T. Islam 12 dred and a half-century. Bangladesh’s T. Iqbal c Dikwella b Mendis 24 86-3, Jayawickrama 20-5-58-2, de Silva Mayank Agarwal of Punjab Kings plays a shot during their Indian left-arm spinner Taijul Islam bagged his P. Jayawickrama not out 3 4-0-16-0. Premier League match against Delhi Capitals at the Narendra Modi eighth fi ve-wicket haul, for 72. Stadium in Ahmedabad yesterday. (Sportzpics for IPL) Gulf Times Monday, May 3, 2021 5 SPORT

NBA NHL Knights blow lead Doncic delivers for but beat Coyotes in overtime

Reuters son. Marchessault set up the New York, United States score with a crossing pass from the right wing to the front of the Dallas, Curry sparks net where the puck hit Karlsson’s onathan Marchessault skate and caromed up and over scored the winning goal in Kuemper’s left shoulder. overtime and Marc-Andre Stone made it 2-0 early in Fleury moved into a tie the second period with his 20th forJ third place on the NHL’s all- goal of the season, fi nishing an time wins list with his 489th ca- odd-man rush with Max Pa- Warriors over Rockets reer victory as the Vegas Golden cioretty and fi ring a wrist shot Knights defeated the Arizona past Kuemper’s glove. It marked Porter’s double-double with 11 assists fired Rockets to a 143-136 upset win over Bucks Coyotes, 3-2, on Saturday night the seventh consecutive 20-goal in Glendale, Arizona. season for Stone. Fleury fi nished with 19 saves Fischer cut it to 2-1 midway and tied Roberto Luongo for through the third period with his third behind Martin Brodeur third goal of the season when he (691) and Patrick Roy (551) with walked in and fi red a wrist shot Dallas Mavericks guard Luka his 23rd win of the season. from the high slot past Fleury’s Doncic (centre) drives against the William Karlsson and Mark blocker side. Washington Wizards during the first Stone each scored goals and Arizona then tied it, 2-2, with quarter at American Airlines Center Marchessault added an assist 5:12 left in regulation on Dvorak’s in Dallas, Texas, United States, on for Vegas (36-12-2, 74 points), 14th goal of the season from the Saturday. (USA TODAY Sports) which maintained a four-point slot on the power play, snapping lead over second-place Colorado a streak of 21 straight penalty in the Western Division. kills by the Golden Knights. Christian Dvorak and Chris- tian Fischer scored goals and Darcy Kuemper fi nished with 31 RESULTS saves for Arizona (22-24-6, 50 points), which remained three Boston 6-2 Buff alo points behind fourth-place St. Detroit 1-0 Tampa Bay Louis, a 4-3 overtime loser at (SO) Minnesota earlier Saturday, in Carolina 2-1 Columbus the race for the fi nal playoff spot Montreal 3-2 Ottawa in the West. The Coyotes, who rallied from NY Islanders 3-0 NY Rangers a 2-0 defi cit in the third period New Jersey 4-1 Philadelphia to tie it, were penalized for too Toronto 5-1 Vancouver many men on the ice with 2:25 left in overtime. Marchessault then Pittsburgh 3-0 Washington scored 29 seconds later, one-tim- Colorado 4-3 San Jose ing a shot from the left circle off a Florida 5-4 Chicago pass from Alex Pietrangelo. Vegas, which had a franchise- Minnesota 4-3 St. Louis record 10-game winning streak Nashville 1-0 Dallas snapped with a 3-0 loss in Friday Anaheim 6-2 Los Angeles night’s front end of the back- to-back, took a 1-0 lead at the Las Vegas 3-2 Arizona 10:15 mark of the fi rst period on Edmonton 4-1 Calgary Karlsson’s 14th goal of the sea-

AFP Maxi Kleber tallied 17 and Tim Hardaway court – and I’ve got to lead that – that’s Los Angeles, United States scored 16 points for the Mavericks, who RESULTS when good things happen.” improved to 36-27 on the season. Curry also had six rebounds and fi ve Russell Westbrook equalled his sea- Charlotte 107-94 Detroit assists while Canadian Andrew Wiggins uka Doncic posted a triple double son-high of 42 points and Bradley Beal Golden State 113-87 Houston chipped in 20 points. Draymond Green with 31 points, 20 assists and 12 had 29 points as the Wizards suff ered just Atlanta 108-97 Chicago fi nished with 11 rebounds and eight as- rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks their second loss in the past dozen games. sists for the Warriors. won their sixth game in the last Doncic hit a jump shot with 34 seconds Miami 124-107 Cleveland Kevin Porter, who was coming off a Lseven by edging the Washington Wizards left to tie it 122-122. Orlando 112-111 Memphis 50-point performance over Milwaukee 125-124 on Saturday. Bradley Beal put Washington in front Indiana 152-95 Oklahoma City on Thursday, scored 14 of his 16 points in It was the fi rst triple double for Don- with a pair of free throws with 26 seconds the fi rst half and added six assists for the cic since March 15 as he spearheaded a to go before Doncic found Finney-Smith New Orleans 140-136 Minnesota under-manned Rockets. Jae’Sean Tate Mavericks’ attack that led the game by 12 open for his clutch three. (OT) had 14 points for Houston, who led by as points after the fi rst quarter and by fi ve at Beal failed to connect on a potential Dallas 125-124 Washington many as 11 points in the fi rst half. halftime. game-winning three-pointer with two Denver 110-104 LA Clippers At one stage of the contest, Houston “Everyone expects greatness from him seconds left on the clock. went scoreless for 5:25, missing all 12 of Utah 106-102 Toronto every single night,” said Dallas coach Rick Elsewhere, Stephen Curry poured in their shot attempts. Carlisle. “Just think about it, at 22 years 30 points and the Golden State Warriors In Charlotte, Terry Rozier scored 29 old and having that kind of expecta- tightened up on defence to beat the Hou- both losses, surrendering a 25-0 run to points as the Charlotte Hornets used a tion put on him every night. But he is an ston Rockets 113-87 and give their playoff the Dallas Mavericks and then giving up 13-0 run in the fi nal quarter to beat the amazing player. push a much needed boost. 37 fourth quarter points against the Min- Detroit Pistons 107-94. Vegas Golden Knights center Jonathan Marchessault controls the “He does an amazing job of absorbing Curry scored 23 points in the third nesota Timberwolves. Charlotte improved to 31-24 on the puck against the Arizona Coyotes during overtime at Gila River Arena all of it.” quarter as the Warriors seized control by “We just need to bring a little joy. It’s season but they had to work for the vic- in Glendale, Arizona, United States, on Saturday. (USA TODAY Sports) Dorian Finney-Smith drained the de- going on a 24-0 run for a 77-59 lead. been tough trying to create consistency, tory after the Pistons went on a 20-6 blitz ciding three with nine seconds left in The win couldn’t have come at a better we’ve had guys in and out of the lineup that straddled the third and fourth quar- front of a pandemic-limited crowd of time for the Warriors, who halted a two- and really playing eight guys every night,” ters to cut the lead to just three points. NFL 4,300 at American Airlines Center in game losing skid after winning seven of Curry said. Frank Jackson led Detroit with 25 Texas. nine previously. “Bringing energy is our focus, but points, and Saddiq Bey added 22. The pair Finney-Smith fi nished with 22 points, The Warriors struggled on defence in when we bring joy and let that fl ow on the combined for 11 of Detroit’s 13 threes. Coach LaFleur MLB refuses to consider Brewers rally, take down Dodgers in 11 innings life without Rodgers Reuters Reuters New York, United States New York, United States RESULTS NY Yankees 6-4 Detroit osing Aaron Rodgers is ravis Shaw’s RBI single capped Washington 7-2 Miami not a thought Green Bay a three-run 11th inning, and the Packers head coach Matt Kansas City 11-3 Minnesota Milwaukee Brewers beat the vis- LaFleur is willing to en- iting Los Angeles Dodgers for a C White Sox 7-3 Cleveland Ltertain. Tthird consecutive night, 6-5 on Saturday. Baltimore 8-4 Oakland LaFleur, speaking Saturday After Will Smith’s two-run triple put Chicago Cubs 3-2 Cincinnati for the fi rst time since Rodg- Los Angeles up 5-3 in the 11th, the Brew- ers’ standoff with the franchise ers loaded the bases with nob outs in the Houston 3-1 Tampa Bay became public on Thursday, ad- bottom of the frame. NY Mets 5-4 Philadelphia mitted he is unwilling to accept Kolten Wong delivered a sacrifi ce fl y St. Louis 12-5 Pittsburgh any other reality than the one the team again. and Avisail Garcia smacked a tying single he has known as Packers head “We want him back here,” with two outs. Then Shaw, who homered Texas 8-6 Boston coach. And that means No. 12, LaFleur said Saturday. earlier in the contest, lined a shot to right Milwaukee 6-5 LA Dodgers the reigning NFL MVP, being on The Packers drew fi rst blood fi eld off Mitch White, the Dodgers’ 10th Toronto 6-5 Atlanta the fi eld in Green Bay. in Rodgers’ opinion by drafting pitcher of the night, to cap the comeback LaFleur said he continues to Utah State quarterback Jordan Colorado 14-6 Arizona and send Milwaukee to its ninth victory in view Rodgers as “the greatest to Love in the fi rst round of the 12 games. San Diego 6-2 San Francisco ever do it”. 2020 draft. Rodgers was openly Mookie Betts (two hits) homered off LA Angels 10-5 Seattle President Mark Murphy miff ed, and said he felt the team Brewers ace Brandon Woodruff on the and general manager Brian could have drafted a player ready fi rst pitch of the game, but Los Angeles Gutekunst took turns the past to contribute immediately. failed to hold three one-run leads and Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Travis Shaw reacts after driving in the winning run though, on Shaw’s long solo homer off two days singing the same tune: Love was inactive for every a two-run edge in the 11th. The Dodg- with a base hit in the eleventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at American Garrett Cleavinger, who replaced May, in bring back Rodgers. But there game last season. ers not only fell for the 10th time in 13th Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, on Saturday. (USA TODAY Sports) the bottom of the third. is little harmony in Green Bay, What if, then, LaFleur’s next games, but they lost promising start- Justin Turner’s RBI single in the 10th according to multiple reports, game as Packers head coach ing pitcher Dustin May to what the club motioned to the Los Angeles dugout. retired the first five Brewers he faced – gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead, but Urias’ which include the same, poten- doesn’t include No. 12? called only a right arm injury. May will undergo an MRI exam on his three on strikeouts – before Urias went sacrifi ce fl y with the bases loaded tied the tially debilitating summary for “I can’t even take my brain One batter after Milwaukee’s Luis right elbow Monday in Chicago, Dodgers deep. game in the bottom of the frame. the Packers. to that spot right now,” LaFleur Urias homered to tie the game at 1-1 in manager Dave Roberts said postgame. Los Angeles got the lead back in the Woodruff , owner of a 1.80 ERA, al- Rodgers reportedly told the said. “I just want to do every- the second, May tossed his 27th pitch of The 23-year-old May, who entered third on Corey Seager’s RBI triple off the lowed two runs on two hits and a walk front offi ce he wants a trade and thing in my power to ensure that the night. He then grimaced and quickly the game with a 2.53 ERA this season, center fi eld wall. Milwaukee tied it again, while striking out six over six innings. has no intention of playing for doesn’t happen.” Gulf Times 6 Monday, May 3, 2021 TENNIS

FOCUS PREVIEW Nadal aims to fi nd rhythm in Madrid as Basilashvili beats French Open looms

AFP Nadal is the top seed in Madrid Madrid and will play either compatriot Carlos Alcaraz or the Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in the fi rst afael Nadal said yester- round while he is due to meet Struff for Munich day he is ready to win his Dominic Thiem, a fi nalist at the sixth Madrid Open title French Open in 2018 and 2019, in as the 20-time Grand the last four. SlamR champion steps up his The tournament is also open preparation for the French Open. to spectators at 40 per cent ca- Nadal will be gunning for a pacity, which could give Nadal record-extending 14th triumph an extra boost on home turf. at Roland Garros, where victory Due to Madrid’s high alti- trophy and 5th title this year would also edge him tude, Nadal will need to adapt ahead of Roger Federer’s 20 ma- to the quicker conditions at La jor titles and to the top of the all- Caja Magica if he is to equal No- ‘It wasn’t easy and I was super-tight at the end. It was very diff icult. It’s never easy playing time men’s list. vak Djokovic’s record haul of 36 The 34-year-old arrives in Masters 1000 titles. As he did in Jan, he’s a very big fighter and serves really well. I was super-tight at the end’ Madrid on the back of winning Barcelona last week, Nadal will the Barcelona Open last week, look to harness the support of a FP/ATP when he had to come through reduced home crowd in Madrid. Munich a marathon fi nal against Stefanos “(Madrid) is the most diffi cult Tsitsipas in what was only the event [on clay] for me, everybody Spaniard’s third event of the year. knows. But at the same time [it] eorgia’s Nikoloz Basi- But there is room for improve- is one of the most emotional lashvili won his fi fth ment for Nadal, who struggled events for me, playing at home,” career title and second for his usual fl uency in Barcelona Nadal said. of 2021 yesterday when and will be hoping for better this “We (are) going to have a Ghe defeated Germany’s Jan- week in the Spanish capital. chance to play with a crowd Lennard Struff in the Munich “Barcelona was an impor- again. So that means a lot to me. clay court fi nal. tant week for me,” Nadal said (I am) super happy to be back World number 35 Basilashvili, in a press conference yesterday. here. 29, triumphed 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) “Without playing my best since “In terms of tennis, (it) is true against 31-year-old Struff who the beginning, I was able to be that here the situation is a little was playing in his fi rst fi nal. passionate, to stay positive and bit tougher. (I have) less control. Basilashvili had also captured to accept the challenge to try to (It is) more diffi cult to be under the Qatar title earlier this year, win matches without playing my control in the points. I had some beating Roger Federer on his best. success here... I had some good way to the trophy. “It wasn’t “I was able to achieve another tournaments. I’m excited to be easy and I was super-tight at the important title in my career. back and I hope to be ready to end,” said the Georgian. That’s important for my confi - play well.” “It was very diffi cult. It’s dence. Novak Djokovic has pulled never easy playing Jan, he’s a “I really believe that win- out of the Madrid Open and is very big fi ghter and serves really ning these kinds of tournaments expected to play in Rome and well. I am super happy. It seems when you are not playing that Belgrade as he prepares for next like German conditions suit me,” well can then make a big diff er- month’s French Open, where added Basilashvili who also won ence for the next ones. I feel that he will be hoping to deny Rafael the Hamburg clay court title that was a positive week. Now is Nadal a 13th title while looking to back-to-back in 2018 and 2019. another week and I hope to be add to his own single success in Basilashvili won eight of the ready.” Paris in 2016. fi rst nine points against Struff , showcasing the kind of form that helped him beat second seed Casper Ruud in the semi- fi nals. Play was suspended due to rain with the Georgian leading 4-2, but Basilashvili returned to wrap up the 35-minute opener without a problem. Basilashvili lost just three service points. In a competitive second set, Struff was unable to convert one break point in the sixth game. Both players served ex- tremely well in the tie-break, which turned at 4/4 when Struff struck a backhand into the net. Basilashvili completed his 14th win of the season on his second championship point with a fore- hand winner. He is now 14-2 on German clay, which includes the 2018 and 2019 Hamburg Euro- pean Open titles. “It’s a very good boost and to win a lot of matches is very im- portant for the upcoming tour- naments,” said Basilashvili. “I was hungry to play well at this tournament.... I’m not looking for a coach right now, Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili wears traditional Bavarian lederhosen as he celebrates with the trophy after winning the final against Germany’s but I am travelling with a physio Jan-Lennard Struff in Munich yesterday. (AFP) and a fi tness coach.” Struff , 31, was appearing in his phy here in Munich,” Struff told played an amazing fi nal today. there.”He had been attempting Fassbender (1974), Rolf Gehring fi rst ATP Tour fi nal and dropped ATPTour.com. “It was a great I served as well as I could, I left to become the seventh diff erent (1980), Michael Stich (1994), to an 11-10 match record on the week with an appearance in my a good level on the court today. German champion at the ATP Philipp Kohlschreiber (2007, ‘12, season.“I am defi nitely disap- fi rst ATP Tour fi nal and I hope With Madrid and Rome coming 250 tournament since 1968, fol- ‘16), Tommy Haas (2013) and Al- pointed not to have held the tro- I can continue this form. Nico up, I hope I can do some damage lowing in the footsteps of Jurgen exander Zverev (2017-18).

SPOTLIGHT Osaka has ‘clay court plan’ despite defeat in Madrid AFP “So I think I’ll learn from that, and left, right, dropshots, but still in a fast Madrid hopefully – I don’t really want to play way.” her on clay anymore – but maybe next Muchova used a single break of time we play, I’ll make better deci- serve to claim the opening set before aomi Osaka said she has a sions. Osaka, a quarter-fi nalist at Madrid better plan for coping with “I’m really happy with how I was two years ago, fell 3-1 behind in the clay after she suff ered a able to talk with my team after I lost second but rallied to win the next fi ve second-round exit at the and after I came off the court. I think games and force a decider. NMadrid Open yesterday, the Japanese we really have a plan now, so I think Muchova regrouped and broke Osa- second seed losing 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 to it’s good.” ka early in the third set, and then again Karolina Muchova. Osaka is bidding to win a third con- for a 5-1 lead, before sealing victory in Elsewhere, two-time Madrid secutive major title at the French Open just under two hours. champion Simona Halep held off a late next month but has never previously The Czech will meet Greek 16th fi ghtback from China’s Zheng Saisai made it past the third round in Paris. seed Maria Sakkari, who brushed to win 6-0, 6-4 but Victoria Azarenka “These tournaments are called warm- aside Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit 6-3, is out, after she withdrew from her up tournaments and of course we all 6-1. Fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka also second round match against Jessica come here to win and do well at these made it through to the last 16 with a Pegula with a back injury. tournaments too, but I would prefer to 6-3, 6-3 win over Daria Kasatkina. Osaka, the reigning US and Austral- peak at the French as opposed to win- Sabalenka will face Pegula, following ian Open champion, has seven career ning this tournament and then kind of Azarenka’s withdrawal. hard-court titles, but has never man- going downhill,” Osaka said. aged to lift a clay-court trophy. Play- Muchova beat three top 20 players, RESULTS ing her fi rst clay-court event since the including world number one Ashleigh Aryna Sabalenka (BLR x5) bt Darya 2019 French Open, Osaka beat com- Barty, en route to the Australian Open Kasatkina (RUS) 6-3, 6-3 patriot Misaki Doi in the fi rst round, semi-fi nals earlier this year and she Jessica Pegula (USA) bt Victoria Aza- but she came unstuck against Mu- can now add world number two Osaka renka (BLR x12) - walkover chova, who is making her top 20 debut to her growing list of scalps. Simona Halep (ROM x3) bt Zheng this week. “I was trying to move her Saisai (CHN) 6-0, 6-4 “I have a pretty positive outlook on as much as possible,” Muchova said. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) bt it,” said Osaka after the match. “I can “That was the tactic. It sounds easy Karolina Pliskova (CZE x6) 6-0, 7-5 control my attitude and how hard I but she’s playing really fast so it’s not Jennifer Brady (USA x11) bt Jelena fought and for me, I thought I did that that easy on the court. Ostapenko (LAT) 6-2, 6-1 really well. Physically I don’t think I “In the second set especially, she Maria Sakkari (GRE x16) bt Anett got tired. I just made some pretty bad started to be very aggressive. I got Kontaveit (EST) 6-3, 6-1 decisions point-wise in really crucial back to what I did in the fi rst set in the Karolina Muchova (CZE) bt Naomi moments. third set, and again, tried to move her Osaka (JPN x2) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 Gulf Times Monday, May 3, 2021 7 FOOTBALL

PREMIER LEAGUE Man Utd’s Liverpool clash off aft er fans storm Old Traff ord Arsenal win for the first time in four games in all competitions thanks to Elneny and Aubameyang goals at Newcastle

AFP by which to make their views London, England known, but the actions of a mi- nority seen today have no justi- fi cation. anchester United’s “We sympathise with the po- clash against Liver- lice and stewards who had to deal pool was postponed with a dangerous situation that after furious fans should have no place in football.” Mstormed Old Traff ord in protest Arsenal won for the fi rst time at the club’s owners yesterday, in four games in all competitions while Arsenal kept Newcastle thanks to Mohamed Elneny’s fi rst waiting to confi rm their Premier Premier League goal and a superb League safety with a 2-0 win at strike from Pierre-Emerick Au- St James Park. bameyang. Manchester City would have Fourth bottom Newcastle re- been crowned English champi- main nine points clear of the rel- ons for the third time in four sea- egation zone with four games left. sons if second placed United had Thursday’s Europa League lost to Liverpool. semi-fi nal second leg against But Pep Guardiola’s side saw Villarreal has already been billed their hopes of a title party put by Gunners boss Mikel Arteta as on hold after ugly scenes several the “crucial moment” in Arse- hours before kick-off at Old Traf- nal’s season. ford. Arsenal will try to overturn a The Glazer family, already dis- 2-1 fi rst leg defi cit and they en- liked by many United supporters, joyed the ideal preparation on were widely criticised for their Tyneside. leading role in the failed breaka- In the sixth minute, Hector way European Super League. Bellerin ran onto David Luiz’s That prompted United fans to long pass and cut his cross back call for a demonstration before Manchester United fans protest on the pitch against club owners before the EPL match against Liverpool at Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny celebrates his goal during the match to Aubameyang. the Liverpool game and an angry Old Traff ord in Manchester, England, yesterday. (Reuters) against Newcastle United yesterday. (Reuters) Aubameyang miscued his at- mob of 200 protesters pushed tempted shot but the ball ran to down security barriers outside ner fl ag and some swung from the crowds away from the stadium. 1640 GMT. United States-based Glazer fam- test,” United’s statement added. Egypt midfi elder Elneny and he Old Traff ord before running onto crossbar of one of the goals. Both United and Liverpool’s “Following discussion be- ily, who bought the club in 2005. “However, we regret the dis- smashed a fi ne strike past Mar- the pitch. A fl are was fi red towards a tel- players were in their team hotels tween the Police, the Premier The angry scenes at Old Traf- ruption to the team and actions tin Dubravka from the edge of the Fans waved anti-Glazer ban- evision commentary gantry and when the breach occurred. League, Traff ord Council and the ford came after a smaller group of which put other fans, staff , and area. ners and set off green and yellow small sections of the turf were Some fans also blockaded clubs, our match against Liver- United fans broke into the club’s the police in danger.” Aubameyang killed off New- fl ares – the colours of United’s damaged. the entrance to the Lowry Ho- pool has been postponed due to training ground last week to pro- A Premier League statement castle in the 66th minute with his Newton Heath founders. There were also clashes as fans tel where the United players and safety and security considera- test against the Glazers. added: “We understand and re- fi rst goal in seven games. One protester was fi lmed pick- tried to break police lines outside, staff were staying. tions around the protest today,” spect the strength of feeling but The Gabon forward met Gabri- ing up a camera tripod from a with offi cers drawing batons to The scheduled 1530 GMT United said in a statement. ‘NO PLACE IN FOOTBALL’ condemn all acts of violence, el Martinelli’s cross with a superb pitchside media position and keep the crowds back and bottles kick-off was delayed while Pre- “Discussions will now take “Our fans are passionate about criminal damage and trespass, fl ying volley from six yards. hurling it onto the pitch. and other projectiles thrown. mier League chiefs discussed the place with the Premier League on Manchester United, and we com- especially given the associated Newcastle had Fabian Schar Others tried to get down the A line of riot police, backed situation, with United eventually a revised date for the fi xture.” pletely acknowledge the right to Covid-19 breaches. sent off in the 90th minute for a tunnel, while another took a cor- by horses, eventually pushed the announcing the postponement at Pressure is mounting on the free expression and peaceful pro- “Fans have many channels late challenge on Martinelli.

SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP Mourinho rules out return to management Champs Rangers thrash 10-man Celtic next season Jose Mourinho said he does not expect to AFP posed champions. received his marching orders for the return to management next season follow- Glasgow, Scotland Rangers’ biggest derby victory foul that occurred in the build-up to ing his dismissal by Premier League side since 2007 kept them on course for the goal. Tottenham Hotspur and will wait for the an unbeaten Scottish Premiership Celtic equalised from David right club with the right culture. The former cottish champions Rangers season. Turnbull’s corner on the half-hour Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid thrashed 10-man Celtic 4-1 Not only have Rangers ended mark, with Kristoff er Ajer’s knock- and Manchester United boss was sacked to ensure a miserable end to Celtic’s bid for 10 successive Scot- down headed home by Edouard from by Tottenham after 17 months in charge of Hoops captain Scott Brown’s tish titles this season, but they have point-blank range. the London club and six days before their OldS Firm career yesterday. now also completed an unbeaten Rangers were back in front when 1-0 League Cup final defeat by Manchester Celtic midfi elder Brown will join top-fl ight campaign against them Morelos picked the ball up on the City. “I have no plans. I’m going on with my Aberdeen in the close-season after for the fi rst time in 21 years. edge of the area and sneaked the ball normal life. I feel fresh. I feel calm. I’m on 14 years largely in the dominant po- And they now only have Living- between Brown’s legs before fi ring holiday. I have more time to be doing my sition in Glasgow’s bitter Old Firm ston and Aberdeen to overcome as home. homework and analysis,” Mourinho said in derbies. they seek to round off an invincible They struck again on 57 minutes an interview with Times Magazine. “I’ll wait There was no last success for league campaign. as Roofe sprayed the ball out to Ba- to be back in football. Not just for the right Brown however as Kemar Roofe’s McGregor was booked in the 23rd risic and hared into the box to get club, but for the right culture. Maybe next double and strikes from Alfredo minute for an innocuous trip on on the end of the Croat’s cross as he season is premature, we will see.” Morelos and Jermain Defoe gave Ryan Kent and the Hoops midfi elder powered his header into the net. Steven Gerrard’s side a convincing saw red after catching Glen Kamara That was Brown’s fi nal involve- Liverpool’s Klopp says victory at Ibrox. late three minutes later. ment as John Kennedy spared the Celtic were reduced to 10 men af- Adding to Celtic’s frustration, the captain any further humiliation, in- Van Dijk cannot be ter Callum McGregor collected two dismissal was only triggered after troducing Ismaila Soro. rushed back from injury quick-fi re bookings and Odsonne Roofe steered Kent’s shot into the Rangers’ Kemar Roofe (left) celebrates scoring their first goal with teammate But Celtic’s anguish was not over Edouard’s equaliser of Roofe’s open- bottom corner with his chest. Joe Aribo during the Premiership match against Celtic at Ibrox Stadium in yet as Defoe completed the rout with Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk’s recovery er was as good as it got for the de- As the hosts celebrated, McGregor Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday. (Reuters) a close-range fi nish in stoppage-time. and return to full fitness will determine whether he can play for the Netherlands in this year’s European Championship, and FOCUS WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE the 29-year-old must not be rushed back to action, manager Juergen Klopp said. Van Dijk had surgery on a knee injury in October and Klopp had previously said he thought Man City go top the European tournament starting in June Chelsea to face Barcelona in fi nal would likely come too early for the centre back. Netherlands coach Frank de Boer had as WSL enters AFP RARE FRENCH ABSENCE said he will not count on the team’s captain Paris, France It will be the fi rst Champions being ready for the tournament but it would League fi nal without a French be a “fantastic bonus” if he is fit. “Virgil’s fi nal week team since 2014 after Paris Saint- knee. I don’t want to hold him back, but you ernille Harder scored a Germain were knocked out by can’t force it as well. You can’t after 10-11 Reuters key late goal and Fran Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate. months out, train a week and play football. Manchester, England Kirby netted twice as Lieke Martens scored twice as That’s just not possible, it shouldn’t be pos- Chelsea overturned a Barcelona advanced to a second sible,” Klopp told reporters. P2-1 fi rst-leg defi cit with a 4-1 fi nal in three years with a 2-1 hloe Kelly scored twice as Manchester victory over Bayern Munich victory over PSG in the second German FA president City cruised to a 4-0 home win over Bir- yesterday to set up a Women’s leg of their semi-fi nal in Spain. mingham City to go top of the FA Wom- Champions League fi nal against After a 1-1 draw in France last urged to resign aft er Nazi en’s Super League yesterday, but Chelsea Barcelona. weekend, Dutch winger Mar- remark areC still in the driving seat as the competition en- England international Kirby tens put Barcelona in front on ters its fi nal week. gave Chelsea the lead on 11 min- eight minutes at the Johan Cru- German Football Association (DFB) president City lead the standings on 52 points after 21 of utes at Kingsmeadow, fi nish- yff Stadium with a superb curl- Fritz Keller faced calls to resign yesterday their 22 games, one point ahead of Chelsea who ing off a move she began inside Chelsea’s Fran Kirby (centre) celebrates her goal with teammates ing strike. after he sparked outrage by comparing have a game in hand against Tottenham Hotspur her own half after combining during the Women’s Champions League semi-final second leg She then ghosted in at the far his deputy to a Nazi judge. Presidents of that will be played on Wednesday. Arsenal have smartly with Australia forward match against Bayern Munich at Kingsmeadow in London. (Reuters) post to double Barcelona’s ad- the DFB’s regional associations, which run all but secured third spot on 47 points, three Sam Kerr. vantage on the half-hour, tap- Germany’s semi-professional and amateur ahead of Manchester United but with far superior Sarah Zadrazil equalised with record transfer fee, grabbed the want to play fi nals. We believed ping in a cross from Caroline leagues, announced after weekend crisis goal diff erence. a thunderous, dipping shot from decisive goal on 84 minutes as from the fi rst minute and put Graham Hansen. talks that Keller had lost a vote of confidence With Chelsea busy in UEFA Women’s Cham- distance that clipped the under- she glanced in a header from in a great performance,” said PSG, who ended Lyon’s fi ve- and has been “asked to step down from his pions League yesterday, City knew there was no side of the bar on its way in as Jessica Carter’s free-kick. Harder. year reign in the quarter-fi nals, position”. DFB general secretary Friedrich room for error if they were to keep the pressure on Bayern regained the upper hand Harder was a Champions “When (my goal) went in, it soon pulled a goal back when Curtius was likewise asked to vacate his role the Londoners. Kelly scored in the 10th and 23rd in the tie. League runner-up twice in the was the best feeling ever. We Marie-Antoinette Katoto prod- after losing a confidence vote. The turmoil minutes to put them on the road to victory. Ji So-yun gave Chelsea a 2-1 past three seasons with Wolfs- were almost in the fi nal and ded in after a goalmouth scram- comes after Keller in a recent meeting Manchester United needed an own goal from advantage just before half-time, burg. then, when Fran put the last one ble from a corner. likened DFB vice-president Rainer Koch to Yana Daniels 11 minutes from time to beat bottom steering low into the corner past Kirby made sure of Chel- in, it was just a relief.” Jenni Hermoso, the compe- Roland Freisler, the infamous head of the side Bristol City, but Kim Little’s stoppage time an unsighted Laura Benkarth sea’s place in the May 16 fi nal in The Blues become just the tition’s top scorer this season, Nazi party’s court in the 1940s. The remark penalty secured the third European spot for Ar- after smacking her initial free- Gothenburg as she rolled into an second English club to reach and Marta Torrejon both hit the triggered a storm of criticism and Keller has senal as they clinched a 2-1 win away to Everton. kick against the wall. empty net with the fi nal kick of the biggest match in European woodwork for 2019 runners-up since apologised to Koch, acknowledging Reading beat Brighton 3-2, while second-from- Danish forward Harder, who the game to complete a 5-3 win women’s club football after Ar- Barcelona in the second half as that his words were “totally inappropriate, bottom Aston Villa grabbed a vital point in their rel- joined Chelsea at the start of on aggregate. senal, who won the competition the Spaniards held on to return notably towards the victims of Nazism”. egation battle in a 0-0 draw with West Ham. the season for a reported world “It means everything: we in 2007. to the fi nal.

Monday, May 3, 2021 GULF TIMES SPORT

BEACH VOLLEYBALL COMMENT Younousse-Tijan reach third straight World Tour fi nal Neymar promises atar’s Cherif You- 21-15) quarter-fi nal win against triumph against Italians Adrian nousse and Ahmed Brazil’s Alison Cerutti and Al- Carambula and Enrico Rossi, ‘warrior’ display in Tijan are back in the varo Filho and claimed another both on Saturday. fi nal of an FIVB Beach two-set (21-15, 21-17) victory The 31-year-old Semenov and VolleyballQ World Tour 4-start against USA’s Phil Dalhausser the 25-year-old Leshukov, who City showdown event in the Cancun Hub for a and Nick Lucena in the semifi - have been partners on the World third-straight week, but this nals. Tour since 2018, are back in the AFP time the Qataris will face a dif- “We’re really thankful that fi nal of a 4-star event for the fi rst Paris, France ferent opponent as they will we are in back-to-back-to-back time since October in that same play the gold medal match at fi nals here in Mexico,” said You- year, when they won a tourna- Playa Delfi nes against Russians nousse, a Rio 2016 Olympian. ment in Yangzhou, China. eymar yesterday Konstantin Semenov and Ilya “We stopped in Florida on our “We struggled a lot with Car- promised a warrior- Leshukov. way to Cancun to adjust to the ambula’s serve in the fi rst set”, like performance from The only team to play in the time diff erence and had a really Semenov, a two-time Olympian, Paris Saint-Germain in fi nal of each of the three events good week of training with Phil refl ected. “We had played him Ntheir Champions League semi- held in Mexico between mid- and Nick there. We’ve been try- a long time ago and his skyball fi nal with Manchester City as April and early May, the Qataris ing to improve our volleyball IQ, wasn’t as eff ective as it is now his team attempts to overhaul a lost to Norwegians Anders Mol game by game, and just play bet- with the wind. From the second fi rst-leg defi cit. and Christian Sorum on both ter matches every time.” set on we started helping each PSG are 2-1 down as they at- occasions. They now have an- Semenov and Leshukov, who other more and that brought our tempt to reach the fi nal for the other chance to win their fi rst fi nished fi fth in the fi rst tour- best game out of us. We’re happy second successive year and Bra- gold together in a 4-star tourna- nament in Cancun and ninth in to be in our fi rst fi nal this year.” zil star Neymar is aiming to turn ment. the second, won all fi ve matches The Qataris have a 3-1 histori- things around on Tuesday and The 25-year-old Younousse they played in the third event, cal advantage against the Rus- give the French champions a and the 26-year-old Tijan had with the most recent being their sians in World Tour events. The chance of becoming European a strong day in Cancun on Sat- 2-0 (21-16, 21-17) quarter-fi nal Europeans, however, won the champions for the fi rst time. urday, when they knocked two Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan celebrate their win in the victory against Americans Tri most recent meeting between “We had a very diffi cult fi rst on the fi eld.” Olympic champions out of the semi-final of the third tournament at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Bourne and Trevor Crabb and a the teams, which took place two leg against Manchester City but On Saturday PSG struggled to tournament with a 2-0 (23-21, Tour Cancun Hub on Saturday. (FIVB) 2-1 (14-21, 21-15, 15-13) semifi nal weeks ago in Cancun. (FIVB) we have to believe, never mind a 2-1 win over Lens in Ligue 1 and what the stats say or what our Neymar admitted that there was percentage chances of winning a certain tiredness within the SERIE A are,” Neymar said in a statement squad. two days before the match at the “A large part of the team was Etihad Stadium. tired, more mentally than physi- “I think every Parisian should cally, and we need to recover as believe in us. I am on the front quickly as possible,” he said. line and I will be the fi rst warrior PSG can still win three major to go into battle for the team. trophies this season as they sit “I will do everything to secure one point behind Ligue 1 leaders Inter end Juve’s reign qualifi cation whatever happens, Lille and are also in the semi-fi - even if we need to die out there nals of the French Cup.

LIGUE 1 to return to summit Bordeaux beat Rennes to ease of Italian football relegation fears AFP Defeat for Rennes denied them Paris, France the chance of climbing into the Conte’s men win the league for the first time since 2010 to clinch their 19th ‘Scudetto’ fi nal European spot in fi fth. Bordeaux remained fi ve points AFP ordeaux snapped a run clear of the bottom three after Milan, Italy Ronaldo saves of fi ve successive defeats Nantes hammered Brest 4-1 for Juventus with a 1-0 home victory their second win in a row. over European hopefuls Nimes are two points adrift nter Milan claimed the Se- blushes as late RennesB yesterday to edge clear of of the relegation play-off place rie A title yesterday for the double downs a potential relegation battle. following a 2-2 home draw with fi rst time in 11 years to end Teenager Sekou Mara scored Reims. Juventus’ nine-year reign in Udinese the winner 11 minutes into his Lorient, in 17th, are level with IItaly. fi rst Ligue 1 start after Rennes Strasbourg and a point back of Antonio Conte’s side clinched Two late goals from Cristiano were reduced to 10 men follow- Bordeaux after a 2-0 victory over their 19th ‘Scudetto’ after near- Ronaldo earned Juventus ing the early dismissal of France Angers, while Metz thrashed rel- est rivals Atalanta drew 1-1 at a 2-1 comeback win against midfi elder Steven Nzonzi. egated Dijon 5-1. Sassuolo to leave the ‘Neraz- Udinese yesterday to give Some 800 Bordeaux fans es- Montpellier coach Michel zurri’ 13 points clear with four the Turin club a precious corted the Bordeaux team coach Der Zakarian will leave the games remaining. three points in the Serie A from their hotel to the Matmut team at the end of the season, a Conte had started Juventus’s top-four race. Juve climbed Atlantique, in a show of support club source confi rmed prior to record run, winning the fi rst into third place on 69 points, for a struggling club that was Sunday’s game against Saint- three titles in a winning streak level with Atalanta in second placed into administration last Etienne. that stretched from 2012-2020. and AC Milan in fourth, but month. Der Zakarian, 58, has been The 51-year-old took over In- two points ahead of fifth- American investment fund in charge since 2017 and has ter in 2019 and lifted the trophy placed Napoli. The visiting King Street recently announced led Montpellier to this season’s after fi nishing second last sea- defence was caught napping it was going to pull its fi nancial French Cup semi-fi nals for the son. when Udinese wing back support for the six-time French fi rst time in 24 years. “I’m astonished,” said Conte. Nahuel Molina latched onto champions, sparking fears the “We’re breaking up a dynasty. a quickly taken freekick to club could go out of business. RESULTS Not even in my wildest dreams Inter Milan fans celebrate winning Serie A outside the Duomo di Milano in Milan, Italy, yesterday. (Reuters) fire home the opener after 10 Supporters, some carrying Bordeaux 1 (Mara 11) Rennes 0 could I have imagined that we’d minutes. But Rodrigo De Paul smoke grenades and others wav- Dijon 1 (Balde 48) Metz 5 make up this much ground on stuck out an arm to block a ing fl ags, again voiced their anger (Gueye 37, Sarr 42, Chafik 71-og, the team that dominated Serie A Ronaldo freekick with seven at president Frederic Longuepee, Vagner 82, Bronn 85) for nine years in the space of two minutes remaining and the accusing him of plunging the Lorient 2 (Wissa 44-pen, seasons. Portuguese converted the club into bankruptcy. Lemoine 48) Angers 0 “This doesn’t mean we’re resulting penalty to end his Last week, they had protested Nimes 2 (Ripart 47, Kone 72) better than Juventus, they have run of three games without a in front of the city’s town hall Reims 2 (Mbuku 30, Flips 80) a great squad; we’ve rolled our goal. Ronaldo then headed in demanding Longuepee’s resig- Brest 1 (Faivre 83) Nantes sleeves up and started doing an 89th-minute winner from nation. 4 (Simon 15, Blas 27, Louza 56, some important work, trying to close range to take his tally to Yesterday, many supported the Coulibaly 62-pen) make ourselves credible.” the season to a league-high team from just outside ground as Montpellier 1 (Delort 6) Inter are now second for 27 Serie A goals in 30 appear- Bordeaux won for only the sec- Saint-Etienne 2 (Hamouma 16, league trophies in Italy, one ances. ond time in 14 games. Debuchy 50) ahead of city rivals AC Milan’s 18, but still some way short of RESULTS Juventus’ 36. Lazio 4 (Correa 30, 56, FOCUS The Lombardy side had not Immobile 43-pen, Alberto won Serie A since Jose Mour- 48) Genoa 3 (Marusic 47-og, inho’s historic Champions Scamacca 80-pen, Shomuro- League, Serie A and Coppa Italia dov 81) AC Milan halt contract treble in 2010. Sassuolo 1 (Berardi 52- Their last trophy was the pen) Atalanta 1 (Gosens 32) Coppa Italia in 2011 and they Napoli 1 (Osimhen 13) talks aft er Ultras missed out on the Champions Cagliari 1 (Nandez 90+4) League for six seasons before Bologna 3 (Palacio 31, 71, Luciano Spalletti returned them 84) Fiorentina 3 (Vlahovic 22- confront Donnarumma to Europe’s top club competition pen, 73, Bonaventura 64) Reuters and who renews their contract,” in 2018. Udinese 1 (Molina Lucero Milan, Italy Maldini told ANSA. Conte is the 13th coach since 10) Juventus 2 (Ronaldo 83- “Certain choices are up to the Mourinho to sit on the ‘Neraz- Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte celebrates their 2-0 win over Crotone in the Serie A on Saturday. (AFP) pen, 90) coach, regarding the football zurri’ bench and the club has C Milan technical di- pitch, and up to the club, regard- changed hands twice over the Former Juventus director under Spalletti. before being held by Napoli on rector Paolo Maldini ing contractual matters.” past decade. Giuseppe Marotta, who had Despite a mixed start to this April 18. fi xing scandal and relegation to says the club has paused Donnarumma is not the only Billionaire Massimo Moratti, worked alongside Conte in Tu- campaign, Conte found the win- For goalkeeper and captain Serie B in 2006, sees Juventus contract renewal talks key player at Milan who will soon whose family controls Italian rin, joined Inter as CEO for sport ning formula and Saturday’s 2-0 Samir Handanovic, the most now fi ghting for a top-four fi n- untilA the end of the season after be out of contract, as playmaker oil refi ner Saras Group, sold to in 2018. win at Crotone stretched their senior member of the squad at ish and Champions League foot- a group of fans confronted goal- Hakan Calhanoglu is also yet to a consortium led by Indonesian In addition to Conte’s report- unbeaten run to 18 games. 36 years old, it was a fi rst title ball next season. keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma agree a new deal. business tycoon Erik Thohir in ed annual salary of 12mn euros After Inter crashed out of the after many setbacks since his The Champions League will at the club’s training ground. But Maldini said that there will 2013, with Chinese electronics ($14.4mn) Inter splashed nearly Champions League in the group arrival in 2012. be Inter’s new challenge, having The Italy international’s fu- be no progress about renewals retailer Suning Holdings Group 220mn euros on transfers in stage for the third consecutive The triumph ends Juve’s not reached the last 16 since the ture is uncertain as he is out of until the season is completed on taking a majority stake in 2016. 2019 after his arrival. season, fi nishing bottom of their golden era with the gamble on 2011/12 season. contract in June, and a group of May 23. It is the fi rst time that a for- “In coming here, I made the group, and their Coppa Italia coaching novice Andrea Pirlo, However, the future owner- hard-line ‘Ultras’ went to the “From this moment every sin- eign-owned Italian team has toughest decision,” said Conte. exit, the club could focus on who played under Conte and ship of the club remains in doubt club’s Milanello complex on Sat- gle renewal negotiation is frozen won the league title. “It’s a new planet for me. I their league campaign. took over from Maurizio Sarri with Inter making losses of 100 urday to address the situation until the end of the season, to al- Inter targeted Conte to pull off tested myself, I love big chal- A 2-0 win over Juventus in last summer. mn euros last season mainly due directly. low the team to focus solely on what he had done at Juventus, lenges. January fuelled their ambitions, Portuguese star Cristiano Ro- to the coronavirus pandemic. Italian news agency ANSA re- the league,” he said. who had fi nished seventh in the “It wasn’t easy to win over all followed by a 3-0 success over naldo remains the top scorer, but The Suning Group shut down ports that the fans told the goal- “In the meantime, we will two previous seasons before his the fans and I understand that, AC Milan in February to pull Juve suff ered frequent injuries to their Chinese club Jiangsu FC in keeper that he should not play continue to protect our players arrival in 2011. but I’m convinced that I’ve al- ahead in the table. players including forward Paolo February just months after it won in Milan’s crucial Serie A match as we have always done.” Club president Steven Zhang ways given my all for the teams Spearheaded by Belgian for- Dybala and veteran defenders the Chinese Super League title. against Juventus next Sunday Calhanoglu scored and Don- hailed the arrival of “one of the that I coach.” ward Romelu Lukaku and Ar- Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Talk of a sale have been denied unless he renews his contract. narumma kept a clean sheet as best coaches out there, to make Conte has turned the team gentine Lautaro Martinez Inter Bonucci. by the club in recent months by “It’s important to fi rmly re- Milan beat Benevento 2-0 on this club one of the best in the into a competitive unit again cemented their title credentials The demise of a reign which Suning who estimate the club’s iterate that no one outside of Saturday to climb to second in world again”. after two fourth-place fi nishes with a run of 11 consecutive wins followed the ‘Calciopoli’ match- value at one bn euros. AC Milan can decide who plays Serie A.