16 SPORT FRIDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2017 Qatar bag equestrian silver

“At least we ended up on the Ashgabat 2017 Games podium so I am very happy about that. In our sport, you always have a chance until the last Fawad Hussain jump.” The Peninsula The star Qatari rider lauded his team-mates after the close tar rider Hamad Ali Al contest and hoped for better Attiyah expressed his results in the future. delight after Qatar “It couldn’t have been closer. clinched the equestrian But we have a new team here jumping team event sil- and it’s the first time we jumped S ver medal at the Ashgabat 2017 as a team. The boys gave their Asian Indoor and Martial Arts best and did really good for a first Games yesterday. time. Hopefully we will do bet- Al Attiyah riding Clinton, Al ter next time.” Ajami Faleh (Armstrong van de Meanwhile, one of the title Kapel), Al Suwaidi Salmen Sul- favourites – Qatar got off to a fly- tan A M (Cantaro 32) and Al ing start in 3x3 basketball contest Emadi Salman Mohammed A S at Ashgabat 2017 thrashing (Zorro Z) participated in the team Samoa in a one-sided match. event final and displayed an The Al Anabi making their overall impressive performance debut at the Games played a very to claim second position on the concise game for a command- podium. ing 21-11 victory over their Qatar were stealing the show opponents. and were ahead before a one- Abdulrahman Saad, who was time fault cost them the gold the star performer for Qatar, Qatari team celebrates on the podium after medal. played down the favourites tag winning the silver medal following equestrian Saudi Arabia finished on top and said his team will have to jumping team final at the Ashgabat 2017 Asian by only one-time point while work hard to win a gold medal. Indoor and Martial Arts Games yesterday. Syria took the team event bronze “There is a general impres- medal. sion that we are the favourites, Al Attiyah expressed satisfac- but it will not be proven unless claiming two easy and impres- tion with his team’s it will happen,” he said. sive victories - over Tajikistan Qatari rider Hamad Ali Al performance. Qatar so far won have won and Lebanon - and scored an Attiyah in action during the “Thank God for the silver a total of five medals including impressive 21 points each time. equestrian jumping team medal, we are happy. The team two gold, a silver and a pair of “We netted 21 points in both final at the Ashgabat 2017 could have done better, but that’s bronze. of them and this is great,” said Asian Indoor and Martial sport. One day you have it, one Meanwhile, Iraq stole lime- Iraq’s Ali Ismael. Arts Games yesterday. day you don’t. light at the 3x3 basketball “We didn’t expect to do so but, since it happened, it is more than welcome. Now we have to play Turkmenistan and we will try to beat them as well. “We are fighting in every It couldn’t have been closer. But we game for every ball, for every point. We are like lions and never have a new team here and it’s the first quit the battle.” time we jumped as a team. The boys Before losing to Iraq, Leba- non had shocked Turkmenistan gave their best and did really good for a 17-11. With the superior scoring first time: Hamad Ali Al Attiyah ability of their guard Hanna Jhonny Nemer (Lebanon) as their key weapon the Lebanese side played a smart defensive game that forced the hosts into a low- scoring defeat. Al Gharafa and Umm Salal in goalless stalemate QSL: Al Sadd target maximum points against upbeat Al Sailiya

The Peninsula

fter getting the Al Markhiya Al Sadd awarded 3-0 win breakthrough, Al Sadd are Anow eyeing Al Sailiya scalp over penalised Al Markhiya as the two sides meet for the QNB Stars League (QSL) tie at Al Ahli Sta- The Peninsula dium today. Head coach Jesulado Ferriera NB Stars League side Al Sadd have been awarded a 3-0 victory said his team will have to remain in their opening game of the season against Al Markhiya follow- focused against Al Sailiya. Qing a decision made by the QFA Disciplinary Committee. “I don’t know the strategy of Al The decision has been made in relation to Al Markhiya fielding an Sailiya for this match, but we must ineligible player in the match which they won 2-1 in the opening round focus on our performance in order of the QNB Stars League season. The verdict means that the previous to get the result we need.” result is now void, and that Al Sadd won the game 3-0. The result While giving an update on star means that Al Sadd are now top of the QNB standings. Bagdad Bounjah, the Portuguese Al Sadd are set to take on Al Sailiya in their second match of the coach said: “Bounjah had a serious QNB Stars League season, whilst Al Markhiya are set to play fellow injury in the Sheikh Jassim Cup. We promoted side Qatar SC this weekend. will make a decision on him in the coming days. However we have a big squad, and we have players who opening day win against Al Arabi “We have to follow up on our can replace Bounedjah if he is una- and will be targeting for more of the good match against Al Arabi. We vailable against Al Sailiya. same. have to nullify the Al Sadd attack Al Sailiya, on the other hand will Head coach Sami Trabelsi said and fight right until the very end of also be looking to inflict early sea- his team will have to give their the game” added Trabelsi. son misery over Al Sadd. best show against the title The Al Sailiya coach, however The Peregrines registered a fine contenders. said his team will enter the battle Al Gharafa’s Khaled Abdelraouf Al Zrigi (left) and Dheyab Hassan Al Inabi vie for “We will have to be at full con- with full confidence. the ball possession during their QNB Stars League (QSL) match at Al Gharafa QSL FIXTURES centration against Al Sadd. Usually “Based on training over the Stadium yesterday. The match ended in a goalless draw following a thrilling these games are special occasions, week, the squad seems very confi- Today’s matches battle which saw exchange of attacks from both sides. Umm Salal have so far and we have to be ready for the dent. Sailiya have won their opening 17:50 - Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Rayyan at Al Khor Stadium challenge of Al Sadd, who will be game for the first time in their his- accumulated four points from a win and a draw while Al Gharafa have two 20:00 - Al Sailiya vs Al Sadd at Al Ahli Stadium looking to get their first victory,” tory and we have to build from the points following back-to-back drawn games. In today’s matches Al Sadd will 20:00 - Qatar SC vs Al Markhiya at Al Duhail Stadium said the coach. momentum.” take on Al Sailiya at Al Ahli Stadium while Al Rayyan will meet Al Kharaitiyat at Tomorrow’s matches He said after their first game Al Rayyan will take on Al

Al Khor Stadium. In today’s other match, Qatar SC and Al Markhiya will square 17:50 - Al Duhail vs Al Arabi at Al Duhail Stadium against Markhiya, Al Sadd will come Kharaitiyat while Qatar SC and Al

Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula off at Al Duhail Stadium. 20:00 - Al Khor vs Al Ahli at Al Khor Stadium hard on their opponents in their Markhiya will square off in other next matches. matches of the day. FRIDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2017 SPORT 17

Mexican track intact, Yadav hat-trick crafts big F1 race to go ahead

London win as India take 2-0 lead Reuters exican Grand Kolkata Tamim injured Prix organisers AFP M say next month’s in South Africa Formula One race in uldeep Yadav’s Mexico City will go ahead maiden hat-trick as planned despite the and a fluent 92 by warm-up capital being hit by its Virat Kohli helped deadliest earthquake in India cruise to a Benoni three decades. K50-run win over Australia in the AFP Marketing head Rod- second one-day international in rigo Sanchez told Kolkata yesterday. angladesh opening reporters that the Her- Yadav once again combined batsman Tamim Iqbal manos Rodriguez circuit with fellow wrist spinner Yuzv- Bwas forced to retire hurt in the southeast of the endra Chahal to dismiss the with a thigh muscle injury, city was not damaged. visitors for 202 in 43.1 overs after facing just 13 balls on the “It’s been inspected while chasing 253 and earn India first day of his team’s three- twice already from the a 2-0 lead in the five-match day match against a South track surface and also series. India’s Kuldeep Yadav African Invitation XI at Wil- the buildings, and it’s Pace spearhead Bhuv- celebrates after lowmoore Park yesterday. OK,” said Sanchez, who neshwar Kumar struck early dismissing Australia’s Bangladesh made 306 for was in Mexico City when after removing the two Austral- Pat Cummins during seven declared after winning the 7.1 magnitude quake ian openers including David their second ODI in the toss. The Invitation XI struck on Tuesday Warner for one in an inspired Kolkata, yesterday. were 21 for one at the close. afternoon. first spell that lasted six overs. Tamim, a veteran of 51 “We’ll continue Skipper Steve Smith, who Tests and the team’s all-time doing the assessments as made 59, and Travis Head then leading run-scorer, made five we go but so far there’s forged a 76-run partnership as Ashton Agar and Pat Cummins ran him out only to see the bats- argue with the on-field umpires runs before leaving the field really no concern (about the duo tried to steady the to become only the third Indian man walking off the ground for their run out call but in vain. in the fifth over. the facilities). We’ll have innings by counter attacking the after Chetan Sharma and Kapil following a slight drizzle. The third match is scheduled Team manager Minhazul a race.” Indian bowlers. Dev to ever record an ODI Smith and company tried to for Sunday in Indore. Nanna said the batsman had The Grand Prix, the But the introduction of spin hat-trick. suffered a strained right thigh 18th round of the 20 race once again proved troublesome Marcus Stoinis remained SCOREBOARD muscle. He left the field as a season, is scheduled for for the visitors with leg-spinner unbeaten on 62, but his valiant precaution and his condition October 29 on the week- Chahal sending back Head, for knock came too late in the day India H Cartwright b Kumar ...... 1 would be assessed today fol- end before Mexico’s 39, and then the big-hitting as Kumar wiped up the tail. A Rahane run out (Cartwright/Wade) ...... 55 D. Warner c Rahane b Kumar) ...... 1 lowing a scan. annual ‘Dia de Muertos’ Glenn Maxwell, for 14. Earlier, a fine effort R Sharma c and b Coulter-Nile ...... 7 S. Smith c Jadeja (sub) b Pandya ) ...... 59 Bangladesh are already V Kohli b Coulter-Nile ...... 92 T Head c Pandey b Chahal ...... 39 (Day of the dead) Maxwell, who looked threat- by Kohli made India post 252 all M Pandey b Agar ...... 3 G Maxwell st Dhoni b Chahal ...... 14 without leading all-rounder holidays. ening with two sixes during his out in 50 overs after the hosts K Jadhav c Maxwell b Coulter-Nile ...... 24 M Stoinis ...... 62 Shakib Al Hasan, who is Some 135,000 spec- brief stay, was by wick- elected to bat first at Eden M.S Dhoni c Smith b Richardson ...... 5 M Wade b Yadav ...... 2 being rested from the two- tators attended on race etkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni Gardens. H Pandya c Warner b Richardson ...... 20 A Agar lbw b Yadav ...... 0 Test series against South day last year, second who was quick to clip the bails India depended on a 102-run B Kumar c Maxwell b Richardson ...... 20 P Cummins c Dhoni b Yadav ...... 0 Africa which starts next only to British circuit Sil- off. second- stand between K Yadav c Wade b Cummins ...... 0 N Coulter-Nile c and b Pandya ...... 8 Thursday. verstone’s 139,000, with Smith though carried on the Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, who J Bumrah (not out) ...... 10 K Richardson lbw b Kumar ...... 0 Mominul Haque, captain Y Chahal run out (Wade) ...... 1 Extras (b4, lb6, w6) ...... 16 about 30 percent of them good work to register a gritty 50 made 55, to start strongly before Extras (B1, NB1, W13) ...... 15 Total all out: (43.1 overs) ...... 202 Mushfiqur Rahim and Sabbir foreigners. in his 100th ODI but the delight the Australian bowlers struck Total (all out) ...... 252 Fall of : 1-2 (Cartwright), 2-9 (Warner), 3-85 Rahman made half-centuries The race is backed by was short lived after he fell to back. Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-121, 3-131, 4-186, 5-175, (Head), 4-106 (Maxwell), 5-138 (Smith), 6-148 (Wade), for the tourists but Mah- the government, which paceman Hardik Pandya. Fast bowlers Nathan Coul- 6-204, 7-239, 8-239, 9-246, 10-252 7-148 (Agar), 8-148 (Cummins), 9-182 (Stoinis), 10-202 mudullah, who is hoping to pays the hosting fees to Yadav, plying just his ninth ter-Nile and Kane Richardson Bowling: Cummins 10-1-34-1 (w1), Coulter-Nile 10-0-51- (Richardson) make a comeback to the Test Formula One and sees it ODI, then turned on the heat claimed three wickets each. 3 (w5), Richardson 10-0-55-3 (w1, nb1), Stoinis 9-0-46-0 Bowling: Kumar 6.1-2-9-3, Bumrah 7-1-39-0, Pandya side after being dropped ear- as an important driver with his triple strike in the 33rd There was also a bit of (w2), Agar 9-0-54-1 (w3), Head 2-0-11-0 (w1) 10-0-56-2 (w1), Chahal 10-1-34-2 (w3), Yadav 10-1-54- lier this year, was out first ball Australia 3 (w2) Result: India won by 50 runs

for tourism and Mexico’s over that spelt doom for the drama in the 48th over of the (target 253) Series: India lead the five-match series 2-0 to 19-year-old fast bowler image abroad. visitors. Indian innings when Pandya was Michael Cohen, who took four Sanchez said the He got Matthew Wade, off a no-ball, but Smith for 23. immediate focus was on helping relief efforts and mobilising international support. Trent Bridge ODI rained off Windies wait on injured “We’re trying to put out there all the informa- tion relevant to how birthday boy Gayle people can help. Right now the concern is really getting everything back to Nottingham third of a five-match series at moving from the city per- AFP Bristol on Sunday. spective and supporting “Chris has been for scans,” any way we can,” he said. est Indies were left West Indies coach Stuart Law “If things stay the waiting to discover told reporters. “We don’t know same, we’ll just keep Wthe full extent of the results of them just yet. working on what we’re Chris Gayle’s hamstring injury “But he tweaked a ham- doing. The track is fine after the star batsman spent string in the warm-up,” the so we just need to re- part of his 38th birthday hav- former Australia batsman focus and get this show ing scans in a Nottingham added. done.” hospital yesterday. “We’ll monitor him and see Mexico’s only current The big-hitting opener was how he’s going for Bristol. Formula One driver, ruled out shortly before the toss “He said he didn’t want to Force India’s Sergio in second one-day international risk it -- which is fair enough.” Perez, has said he is against England at Trent Bridge Gayle only recently arrived donating 3m pesos A general view after the second ODI between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge, after damaging his right in Britain for the limited-overs ($168,000) towards the Nottingham was rained off yesterday. Only 2.2 overs were possible after West Indies won hamstring. leg of the tour, having missed relief effort. the toss and elected to field first. England lead the series 1-0. West Indies have yet to find West Indies’ 2-1 Test series loss out if Gayle will be fit for the to England. New UCI President vows to avoid another ‘Armstrong affair’

Bergen president. “We have to be team sponsors being local or said Cookson. “Someone president and until March the AFP stronger because I don’t want national companies rather than needed to stand up and take on French federation president too, tomorrow to have new Arm- global names. the previous regime, who had said it was “not a photo-finish, renchman David Lappar- strong affair -- it would be a Briton Cookson, 66, had dragged cycling into the gut- the message of the membership tient (pictured right) said disaster for our sport,” said beaten Ireland’s Pat McQuaid in ter,” he added. was clear: they want to have new Fhis main job after being Lappartient. a bitter and farcical election four In the build-up to yester- leadership”. elected the new President of the “To lose credibility takes five years ago but in defeat became day’s election, Cookson accused Lappartient, who said he was UCI yesterday was to maintain minutes, to regain it takes 20 the first UCI president to fail to his predecessor McQuaid of “deeply honoured” by his elec- cycling’s credibility. years -- we have to be careful earn a second term. working against him behind the tion, becomes the 11th president The 44-year-old beat incum- about it.” He came to power in 2013 scenes. McQuaid was frank in his of the UCI since its creation in bent Brian Cookson by a He vowed to ensure inde- following years of doping scan- support for Lappartient, telling 1900. landslide 37 votes to eight at the pendence and transparency in dals and the fall-out from Lance Cyclingnews website that the UCI He was French federation world cycling governing body’s drug testing and “continue the Armstrong’s admission of cheat- “needs a change” and describ- president from 2009 until March Congress in Bergen, Norway. fight against technological ing throughout his career, which ing Cookson as a “fraud”. and has been European federa- And having vowed in his fraud”, although he said the UCI saw him stripped of his record The election vote was a sur- tion president since 2013, a election campaign to fight would “need to implement new seven Tour de France wins. prise for many who had expected position he now leaves to take against corruption, doping and systems”. “The UCI I leave behind is a close-run battle. on his new role. technological fraud, Lappartient He also admitted that the unrecognisable from the organ- But in earning 37 votes, Lap- The 44-year-old is also said he would not be getting “economic model of our sport is isation I took over in 2013 and I partient, the incumbent mayor of a small town in complacent now that he is not very strong”, pointing to the depart with my head held high,” European Cycling Federation Brittany. 18 SPORT FRIDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2017 Woods’ event looking Australian women go pro on back of for new title sponsor investment boom

Atlanta to potential sponsors, including Quicken Melbourne can expect A$55,000 and will AP Loans. One possibility for Quicken Loans to Reuters be able to top that up by play- renew is for the tournament to move to ing in the third season of the Detroit. isa De Vanna once had to women’s Big Bash Twenty20 he tournament that Tiger Woods “That’s clearly been something that has wash her sports attire in league. (pictured) launched 10 years ago been discussed, but not in great detail at this L the sinks of cheap hotels Underlining confidence in remained on next season’s PGA point,” Steinberg said. to save money but the foot- the women’s game, tickets for Tour schedule. Still to be deter- Even so, he said the goal is to stay in the baller is now relishing the good this year’s women’s Ashes mined is where — and if — it is Washington area. times as a surge of investment series against England T held. “We’ve built up a lot of synergy in the transforms women’s profes- will be sold for the first time Quicken Loans has not renewed as title market. Ideally, we’d like to stay there,” sional sport in Australia. rather than given away for free. sponsor, and the PGA Tour felt it had no Steinberg said. “But nothing is off the table. Over the last few months, CA has made significant choice but to opt out of its contract to play We are discussing any and all options. If De Vanna and her team mates investment in women’s sport at Congressional in 2018 and 2020. But that that’s what Quicken has a great desire for, in the ‘Matildas’ national soc- and chief executive James Suth- doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the tour- we would try to make that work.” cer team have become the toast erland is “very confident” it will nament, or even golf in the Washington, DC, The PGA Tour season will look much dif- of the nation, playing to bumper ultimately pay for itself. area. ferent in 2018-19 when The Players home crowds even as their “I’m not under any illusions For now, The National is scheduled to Championship moves back to March and the male counterparts struggle to that success will come over- be played from June 28 through July 1 at a PGA Championship is held in May. qualify for the World Cup. night,” Sutherland said. course to be determined. The tour also intends to end its FedEx The 2-1 defeat of Brazil in Another pathway that has “We are in discussions with Quicken on Cup season around Labor Day, meaning that Sydney last Saturday drew opened up only recently is in extending our partnership, but as we sit here at least two tournaments would have to some 15,000 fans, more than the women’s Australian Foot- today, we have not concluded those discus- move to the fall or go away. one of the weekend’s playoff ball League (AFLW), which sions,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan Monahan was not ready to consider a matches in the hugely popular proved a roaring success in its said yesterday. up playing just six of 10 years as he coped move to Detroit if it came to that. men’s Australian Football inaugural season this year. The tournament began in 2007 as the with issues off the course and with “We’re focused on DC. We’re hopeful League and a rugby union The AFL, the governing AT&T National to benefit the Tiger Woods injuries. we’re going to find a solution,” he said. international between Australia body of top flight Australian Foundation, with golf’s biggest name as the The tournament was held for two years “There’s a lot of markets that want to and Argentina. Rules football, had planned to host. It had a military theme and was held at Aronimink outside Philadelphia when have a PGA Tour event. I can sit here and we Another victory over the launch the competition in 2020 around the Fourth of July outside the nation’s Congressional was getting ready for the 2011 can talk about who they are. Brazilians on Tuesday attracted but took the plunge after huge capital. US Open. “But that’s really not where we’re at. It’s an even bigger crowd and, on crowds turned out at exhibition Detroit-based Quicken Loans took over Since then, it has been played at the Rob- a matter of trying to be in a market that’s Wednesday, Victoria sports games. as title sponsor in 2015. ert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia and this been very good to us. minister John Eren proudly Debbie Lee, women’s foot- By then, Woods was struggling with inju- year at the TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm “And if we get to a place where we can’t trumpeted that the state would ball operations manager at the ries, and the timing of the event between the down the road from Congressional. accomplish that, then you’ve got to look at host two Matildas friendlies Melbourne Demons club and a US Open and British Open meant a weaker Mark Steinberg, Woods’ agent at Excel what those alternatives are and what fits against China in November. key architect of the AFLW, had fielder than when it began. Woods wound Sports, said Woods’ foundation is speaking best. But we’re not there yet.” The recent success of the to pay to play her 300-odd Matildas has played its part in games in the full-contact sport the explosion of interest but it but women players can now also echoes the development earn up to A$40,000 a of women’s professional season. Spieth primed for $10m Another year, another leagues in cricket and Austral- Free-to-air TV broadcasts ian Rules football, the popular of games have helped boost the indigenous sport. tournament but its develop- bonus at East Lake issue with 5th major The large swell of support ment is largely driven by a new Atlanta Atlanta for a once-neglected outfit has wave of fans, Lee said. Reuters AP been surreal for De Vanna, who “There’s a whole swell of after playing the 2007 World support from a new generation ordan Spieth (pictured) feels good about the quality of his game n the five years since the LPGA Tour decided that the Evian Cup had to return to her job as of young people who are ask- heading into the season-ending Tour Championship starting in Championship would be a major, the debate over its status has a petrol station attendant. ing, ‘Why shouldn’t women play J Atlanta this week, even if he is not holing as many long putts as I received as much attention as the winners. The latest edition Until quite recently, condi- football? Why shouldn’t have when he won the event in 2015. raised even more questions. tions were still “crap” for the they have these opportunities, Spieth will tee off at East Lake in top spot in the PGA Tour rank- The first round was washed out by rain and raging wind, mean- country’s top women ing, his sights set on staying there and finishing FedExCup champion ing Sung Hyun Park effectively got a really big mulligan. She was players, the plain- to collect the $10m bonus awarded to the winner of the season- 6 over when the round was scrapped and started over with a 63 spoken De Vanna long points race. the next day. That’s not worthy of an asterisk. It has happened told Reuters, using a A final round 65 at the BMW Championship on Sunday came before and it was the most equitable decision. more profane term to too late to challenge for vic- More disturbing was a “major” contested over 54 holes, a deci- describe her early tory at that event outside sion the LPGA reached with alarming swiftness. The LPGA Tour playing days. Chicago, but it was a wel- is off this week before going to New Zealand, so it’s not as though “I came in when come tonic. another tournament had to be considered. they just had the “I was pumped to have Heather Daly-Donofrio, the LPGA’s communications and oper- (professional) con- the round I had on Sunday, ations officer, said rain was in the forecast through Tuesday. tracts,” the prolific to maintain the number one Workers had to use squeegees on the 18th green during the play- 32-year-old striker spot,” British Open champion off on Sunday. said in an interview. Spieth told reporters at East “Monday was never taken off the table,” she said from France. “I was still wear- Lake. “We really anticipated we might need Monday to complete 54 ing boy’s clothes, still “I was a little off to start holes. It gave us the best chance for a compelling washing my under the week in my striking. I feel championship.” garments in the sink. now close to the way I was Only three majors have been contested over 54 holes dating We didn’t have Inter- hitting it the first two playoff to 1892 (the first year the British Open went to 72 holes). All of net, we were staying events. If it was a major I’d them were on the LPGA Tour. in budget hotels. feel very pleased with where The first was at the LPGA Championship in 1996 when rain “It was really things are.” turned already soggy DuPont Country Club into a swamp and they tough back then but The top five players in the were lucky to get in 54 holes. what we had was the standings -- Spieth, Justin Tournament organizers wanted a Sunday finish in 1996 because love for the game and Thomas, Dustin Johnson, it was on network TV (CBS), and because the hundreds of volun- that hasn’t changed. Marc Leishman and Jon teers needed to stage the tournament might not have been available “What’s changed Rahm -- control their own on Monday. is that we’ve got the destiny, meaning that if they The other 54-hole major also was at Evian in 2013, its first year proper support to be better ath- the same opportunities as win the tournament they also as a major, when the soil on a rebuilt course couldn’t handle the letes and it took a very long men?’” win the FedExCup. hard rain. time for it to happen. But you’ve New competition between The other 25 in the elite More of a “major” issue that year was the very idea that the seen the outcome.” the women’s sports is wel- field all have a mathemati- LPGA could declare a regular tournament a Grand Slam event. Basic salaries for women comed across the board by cal chance of being crowned Evian had been on the schedule since 2000. footballers in the domestic national federations, who see champion, but it would take That became a problem when Inbee Park headed to the Wom- W-League remain modest, even a chance to tap into new mar- a freak confluence of circumstances for those outside the top 15 en’s British Open at St Andrews trying to sweep the year’s majors. if they are expected to double kets while fulfilling pledges to to do so. No one ever had won a calendar Grand Slam of professional majors. to A$15,500 ($12,300) next boost equal opportunity. But the Spieth struggled with his swing when he won in 2015, but his But would it be a Grand Slam if there were five majors? season. rivalry may eventually get short game was sublime. Park never contended at St Andrews, but the Evian issue took Top internationals, how- heated as the battle for talent “It was one of my worst ball-striking rounds of the year,” he away from her bid for a Grand Slam. ever, can expect to earn a heats up. Just like in the men’s recalled. “I just chipped and putted so well I was able to win. At some point, the LPGA Tour has to ask itself if the decision respectable A$130,000 a year, sports, where rival codes fight “I don’t want to emulate that at all. That’s a lot more stressful to create a fifth major is worth the trouble. giving young girls hope of carv- bitterly to retain and lure mar- and I haven’t been making putts from outside 10 feet like I did that ing out a full-time professional quee players, the movements year consistently, so I can’t rely on that.” Anna career -- aspirations that were of top women athletes are now Fellow American Rickie Fowler, sixth in the standings, is also Nordqvist until recently only the province covered closely in major playing well, coming off a tie for second behind Australian Leish- from Sweden of talented boys. newspapers. man last Sunday. holds her Cricket is another sport Former Matildas goal- Fowler thinks a score of 14 or 15 under par might be needed trophy after with growing opportunities for keeper Brianna Davey played to win at East Lake, his prediction made with the proviso that rain winning women. Under the terms of a domestic soccer for Melbourne or strong wind could alter his thoughts. the Evian new collective bargaining City last year but switched “You can’t fake it at East Lake,” Fowler said in a telephone agreement, the average pay of codes to play as a defender for Championship interview on the tournament’s eve. “There’s some rough there but international cricketers will Carlton in the AFLW. last week. the course is playable.” more than double to A$180,000 “It’s going to be really inter- Rory McIlroy shot 12-under before winning in a playoff last in the 2017/18 season, accord- esting,” said Lee. “Other sports year, while Spieth won with nine-under in 2015. ing to figures from governing will realise if they don’t have a McIlroy has endured a lean season, and this week offers him body Cricket Australia (CA). good deal, they’ll lose their a final chance to taste victory on the PGA Tour in 2017. State players, on average, players.” FRIDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2017 SPORT 19

Star McGregor could address Batting issues worry Strauss Congress in rights move Nottingham, “There are going to be AFP opportunities there in Australia Current London for guys to make a very strong England Test Reuters ngland supremo case for a long-term England skipper Joe Andrew Strauss has career based on performing well Root (left) ixed martial arts admitted his side will when it really counts in Aus- is seen with champion Conor head to Australia for tralia,” Strauss, the England and former captain M McGregor could the defence of the Wales Cricket Board’s director Alastair Cook speak in the United States EAshes in just over a month’s time of England cricket told report- Congress to help with a cam- in this file still uncertain over their best ers at Trent Bridge. paign to extend the legal picture. Test-match XI. “I’d be lying if I said we were protections enjoyed by box- But he insisted Joe Root going to Australia with absolute ers to MMA fighters, could join him as a victorious clarity on what our best XI is. according to Congressman England captain “Down Under” We’re just not in that position at Markwayne Mullin. despite the lack of “absolute the moment.” Mullin, a former fighter, clarity” regarding the composi- Turning to the problems is trying to get a bill passed tion of the side just a week ahead England have had in filling his which would extend the “Ali of an expected squad old position, Strauss said: “I Act” - which protects the announcement. would resist any narrative that rights of boxers - to MMA. England may have enjoyed says we have been chopping and He says McGregor, who series wins over South Africa changing willy-nilly. lost a multi-million dollar (3-1) and West Indies (2-1) but “I think the reality is the boxing bout against Floyd they ended their home Test cam- secret to a long England career Mayweather last month after paign pretty much where they is not how good you are, it is how Australia too have concerns “It’s the biggest challenge an “That is why at the back end switching fighting codes, may started it -- with doubts over the consistent you are and those about the make-up of their side, England captain will ever have. if you are able to win -- certainly help him to do it. identities of numbers two, three guys have not been consistent both when it comes to their bat- “There’s all sorts of reasons for me it was my greatest “We have been told by his and five in their batting order. enough,” he added. ting and the fitness of some key for that. A lot of them are off- moment as an England captain, team that he (McGregor) was Tom Westley has yet to con- Nevertheless, Strauss -- who fast bowlers. field. You are living in this and I think Joe will be incredibly going to come to the (Capitol) vince at number three, having led England to a 3-1 Ashes tri- “The reality is there are two incredible bubble for a long motivated to do that early in his Hill to talk about this,” Mul- made five successive single-fig- umph in Australia in 2010/11 -- is teams with really strong assets period of time, everything is captaincy career. lin, a Republican from ure scores prior to a 44 not out adamant Root, for whom the and some vulnerabilities,” said directed towards you as England “He’s got a great chance, he’s Oklahoma, said. Enacted in in a modest and victorious run Australia tour will be his first Strauss. captain in terms of being respon- got his own way of thinking 2000, the Muhammad Ali chase against West Indies at overseas assignment as a Test “Our challenge is to start the sible for what’s happening on the about the game and that will Boxing Reform Act is intended Lord’s this month. captain, could match his tour well. If we start well, hit the pitch. stand him in very good stead in to protect the rights of boxers Dawid Malan has fared bet- achievement. ground running and some of “But also the conditions in Australia.” and to help US states to reg- ter at number five without England will be desperate to those guys who have not played Australia are very changeable The first Ashes Test takes ulate the sport and maintain nailing down a place while Mark exact revenge for the 5-0 drub- a lot of Test cricket get an early from one venue to another, to place in Brisbane from Novem- its integrity. Stoneman is the 12th opening bing they suffered in Australia in score, then I think we are in a different periods in the game, ber 23. Among the safeguards partner Alastair Cook has had 2013-14, even though they great position to win.” and you need to be able to adapt The remaining Tests will fol- offered to boxers by the Act since Strauss himself retired five wrested the Ashes back on home As for what lies in store for to those conditions you see in low in Adelaide, Perth, are protection from “coercive years ago. soil in 2015. Root in Australia, Strauss said: front of you. Melbourne and Sydney. contracts”, the establishment of an independent ranking system and the banning of promoters from having a “direct or indirect financial Botham Former India Pakistan interest” in the management ‘100 percent captain M paceman Irfan of fighters. S Dhoni in Mullin is pressing for wrong’ over action against raring to another hearing on the Ali Australia Extension Act in September Coughlin in Kolkata return after or October, yet as both a de yesterday. facto governing body and a move, says ‘fixing’ ban promoter, the UFC, the most high-profile and lucrative Strauss Lahore MMA organisation, is resist- Reuters ing the move. London UFC’s chief operating Reuters ohammad Irfan officer Lawrence Epstein said expects to avoid a that the body was already ll-rounder Paul Cough- M backlash from Paki- “exceeding the requirements lin did not move to stan fans after the paceman when it comes to health and A Nottinghamshire served a six-month ban for safety and contracts”. because the county’s director failing to disclose approaches While the UFC treats all of cricket Mick Newell is also made by bookmakers during of its fighters as “independ- an England selector, England a domestic Twenty20 tour- ent contractors” rather than cricket boss Andrew Strauss Hollioake would return to nament and is happy for the employees, they are not free said. chance to resume his career. to fight for other promotions. Durham chairman Ian The 35-year-old, who Nor can they undertake cer- Botham expressed his frus- played for Islamabad United tain commercial activities tration after the 24-year-old Kabul ‘in a heartbeat’ in the UAE-based 2017 Paki- related to their fighting Coughlin signed a three-year stan Super League (PSL), was careers without the UFC’s contract with Nottingham- fined and banned for a year permission, a situation many shire after rejecting a new -- six months of which were critics say is too restrictive in deal with his side. Kabul hundreds of “I didn’t want to just walk out suspended -- as part of a what can be a short and very The former England all- AFP spectators on the job,” said Hollioake probe by the country’s cricket tough career. rounder said the decision were watching whose younger brother Ben was board (PCB). McGregor, for example, could have been influenced the game. tragically killed in a car accident The PCB was investigat- still had to get the go-ahead by Newell’s position. ormer England captain No one in the Australian city of Perth in ing whether an international from the UFC and agree to England director of Adam Hollioake (pictured) inside the 2002, cutting short his own betting syndicate tried to share revenue with the body cricket Strauss said Botham F says he would return to cricket ground international cricketing career. influence PSL matches and before signing to fight May- would be wrong to imply Kabul “in a heartbeat” despite was wounded “At the end of the day the also handed out five-year weather in one of the richest there was a conflict of inter- feeling the blast when a suicide in the attack security worked.” bans to batsmen Sharjeel boxing bouts of all time. MMA est and that players who swap bomber blew himself up just claimed by the Hollioake credits the explo- Khan and Khalid Latif as part fighters often complain that counties only consider the yards from a Twenty20 tourna- Islamic State’s sion for galvanising his players of the spot-fixing scandal. their UFC contracts limit their quality of teams and the ment in the Afghan capital. local Khorasan province affili- who had been struggling in the “I regret that I didn’t earnings, pointing to the chance to further their Hollioake, who is coaching ate and play was only briefly early matches of the 12-day report it and I have realised exclusive outfitting deal with careers. one of six teams in Afghanistan’s interrupted, highlighting how tournament. how serious it is if you don’t Reebok, which prevents them “He (Botham) is 100 per- domestic Shpageeza Cricket depressingly familiar such “We weren’t doing so well report a corrupt approach,” from wearing equipment cent wrong if he’s implying League, heard a “loud bang” assaults have become in the before that, we lost all our inter- Irfan told cricket website from any other manufacturer that (Coughlin) has gone there three overs into the second war-weary country. national players, but the local ESPN Cricinfo. “But I am still when fighting. on the back of one of our innings of the match between “It was one large blast so I players have stood up and we’ve very much accepted and peo- They are also not allowed selectors saying he’s got a his Bost Defenders and rivals didn’t feel like we were under lifted our game,” Hollioake said ple still like me. to include logos from other better chance of playing for Mis-e-Ainak Knights on Sep- attack but obviously I didn’t yesterday. “I don’t want to go into sponsors on their clothing or England coming to my tember 13. know so I had to be cautious,” “Now we find ourselves in details about whether the to display banners in their county,” Strauss told British “I thought it was a big fire- said Hollioake, who had been in the semi-final.” punishment was harsh. There corners, as is normal in other media. cracker or something,” the the changing room with his sub- Despite his close encounter were reasons I didn’t report promotions. This has led to a “They won’t say that. And Australian-born Hollioake said stitute fielders, assistant coach with the sort of deadly violence instantly but I did reject them considerable drop in income if they did, that would be a this week as his players warmed and manager when the attack that has killed record numbers (the bookies) straightaway. I for many fighters, with problem. If players are going up for their semi-final match. happened about “100 metres” of Afghan civilians this year, am happy that I am back after former women’s bantam- to move, they are thinking “But then when we had the away. Hollioake said he would “love a minor ban and still have a weight champion Miesha Tate about the quality of the club, after-effect... I could feel the The explosion on day three to come back” to help Afghani- chance to revive myself.” estimating in a 2015 interview their chances of playing and vibration of the blast go through of the tournament rattled for- stan where cricket is making a The giant Irfan, who has that the terms of the Reebok how that might further their my body. eign players, coaches and stunning revival. played four tests, 60 one-day apparel deal caused her to chances of playing for “When I saw a couple of the commentators unused to such The country was catapulted internationals and 20 lose 80 to 90 percent of what England. players... actually sprinting off attacks and some left Afghani- into the elite club of Test nations Twenty20 internationals, said she previously earned in “I don’t think the fact an the pitch I realised it was stan in fear of their safety in June and made their land- the death of his parents had sponsorships. England selector might be a serious.” -- including the three foreign- mark Lord’s debut the following clouded his judgement and Legal experts have been director of cricket influences Three people including a ers playing for the Bost month. led to his delay in reporting discussing in the media their decision.” policeman were killed and five Defenders. “I think within 10 years the approaches to the PCB. whether McGregor is now a Botham wound up his others were wounded when the But Hollioake decided to these guys could be top six in the “The last six months have boxer in the eyes of the law, first-class cricket playing for suicide bomber detonated him- stay after receiving assurances world, they’ve got that much tal- been very tough on me. In and thus entitled to the pro- Durham in 1993 while Strauss self at a police checkpoint just from Afghan President Ashraf ent,” he said. “I really believe the fact, it felt like six years, dur- tection of the Act, or if he will ended his Test career at the outside the Kabul International Ghani that security for the for- talent and passion is here in this ing which I incurred great lose that protection when he of English summer in 2012. Cricket Stadium where eign visitors would be tightened. country.” losses,” Irfan said. returns to the UFC.