THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013 SPORTS Guan and Ko offer Photo of the day glimpse of future

SINGAPORE: Guan Tianlang offered a tan- Korean-born Lydia Ko, 16. talizing glimpse of the future this year as a Ko, already the world number four, has group of emerging teens showed how been winning professional tournaments Chinese players could finally become a since the age of 14, when she became the force in world golf. Despite some difficul- youngest player of either sex to do so. After ties in a “year of consolidation” for Asia, missing out on millions of dollars in prize Guan provided hope of better times to money due to her amateur status, Ko come with a stunning appearance at the announced her long-awaited decision to US Masters. The Guangzhou schoolboy turn pro on YouTube in October. She won became the tournament’s youngest ever her first event as a professional this month player, aged just 14, and then the youngest in Taiwan. World number one Park In-Bee to make the cut and the highest placed was player of the year on the back of six amateur. wins this season, while Taiwan’s Tseng Ya-ni With Andy Zhang also competing at last fell off the top ranking and plunged to 29. year’s US Open aged 14, and Ye Wocheng Off the course, it was in some respects a playing a European Tour event at the tough season for Asian golf, with tourna- record-low age of just 12, it seems some- ments dropping off what has become a thing is stirring in Chinese golf. Golf in congested calendar. The Singapore Open, China has made huge strides over the past once dubbed “Asia’s major”, took a break decade and the country now hosts one of while it searches for a title sponsor, while the world’s richest tournaments, the $8.5 the Hong Kong Open struggled on without million WGC-HSBC Champions. Until now, corporate backing. The Avantha Masters, players in the communist country, where India’s only European Tour event, fell victim golf was once banned as a bourgeois pur- to economic woes, and the OneAsia circuit suit, have lagged behind, with just a hand- cancelled two events, the Charity High1 ful ranked in the world’s top 1,000. Resort Open and the inaugural OneAsia But China’s new group of teenagers, Championship. The Asian Tour, locked in a backed by well-heeled “Tiger Dads” and bitter turf war with OneAsia and seeking Robby Naish at the PWA JP Aloha Classic in Maui - 2013.— www.redbull.com trained by some of the world’s best coach- out new markets, also postponed the inau- es-often with the 2016 Olympics in mind- gural Vietnam Masters, which is due to be could be the start of something big. “I think its first event in the country. With two rival people getting to see (Guan) play around circuits and expansion into the region by Warriors whip Pelicans 104-93 the world, especially the Masters, is great both the US PGA Tour and the European for the game,” said America’s Rickie Fowler. Tour, it is no surprise some events are being OAKLAND: Stephen Curry had 28 points and 12 “And there’s going to be, probably in the squeezed out. “Whilst there are new spon- assists, David Lee added 21 points and 17 next 10 to 15 years, some good players sors out there, getting them on board, cer- rebounds and the beat coming out of China, more so than what tainly in Asia, is not easy,” David Parkin, the short-handed 104-93 there has been before.” Women’s golf has OneAsia director of tour operations said on Tuesday night in Andre Iguodala’s long-await- long been dominated by Asian players but earlier this season. One Asia separately ed return. Iguodala finished with two points and another teenager stole the headlines this called it “a year of consolidation... for the two assists in 17 minutes after missing the previ- year in the form of New Zealand’s South industry in general”.— AFP ous 12 games with a right hamstring injury. The Warriors led by 10 points in the first quarter, 18 at halftime and 26 late in the third quarter. The Pelicans played without injured starters Anthony Davis (broken left hand) and Tyreke Evans (sprained left ankle). Ryan Anderson had 21 points and six rebounds and Jason Smith scored 12 for New Orleans, which has lost its first two games of a five-game trip. The Warriors outshot the Pelicans 45.1 to 37.5 percent and outre- bounded them 58 to 44 to control the game - for the most part - from start to finish. New Orleans made a brief run in the fourth quarter against Golden State’s backups before the starters returned and restored order. The Warriors went 5-7 after Iguodala injured his hamstring Nov. 22, losing three of its last four games.

TRAIL BLAZERS 119, CAVALIERS 116 Damian Lillard made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining, lifting Portland to the road win. Lillard had a career-high eight 3- pointers while scoring 36 points. The 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year also had a fadeaway jumper as time expired to give Portland a 111-109 over- time victory over Detroit on Sunday. Portland (22-4) has the best record in the NBA and is 11-0 against the Eastern Conference. The Blazers have won five straight and are 12-2 on the road. Kyrie Guan Tianlang of China Irving’s bid for a tying 3-pointer bounced off the back of the rim at the buzzer. Irving and scored 25 points apiece for Cleveland. LaMarcus Aldridge had 26 points and 15 OAKLAND: New Orleans Pelicans’ Lou Amundson (left) and Golden State Warriors’ David Lee fight Glory for LeBron, more rebounds for Portland. for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA game on Tuesday, Dec 17, 2013. —AP THUNDER 105, NUGGETS 93 BOBCATS 95, KINGS 87 rebounds for Sacramento, which shot 37.5 per- heartbreak for Derrick Kevin Durant scored 30 points, powering the Kemba Walker scored 24 points, helping cent from the field. The Kings have dropped Thunder to their seventh consecutive victory. Charlotte snap a three-game losing streak. three of four. Kings forward Rudy Gay scored NEW YORK: LeBron James cementing his started playing basketball, even though it Durant had 30 or more points in a game for the Gerald Henderson added 20 points and reserve four points on 1-of-6 shooting in his worst game status as one of the all-time best players, was six or seven years ago. It’s just crazy.” 12th time this season, most in the NBA. He is Ramon Sessions scored 16 for the Bobcats, who since he was acquired in a seven-player trade another devastating injury to Derrick Rose averaging a league-high 28.6 points. Russell went 8 for 17 from 3-point range. Walker also with Toronto on Dec. 9. He departed with 5:23 and a once-unthinkable power shift in Los REJUVENATED CLIPPERS Westbrook had 21 points, 13 rebounds and eight had five assists in his 10th game with at least 20 left in the third quarter due to right knee stiff- Angeles all occurred during basketball’s For point guard Rose, the assists for the Thunder. Serge Ibaka added 17 points. DeMarcus Cousins had 30 points and 17 ness.— AP memorable 2013. The year also will be year ended the same way it began, with points and 10 rebounds. Denver had won 10 of remembered for a series of “lasts” for out- him on the sidelines because of an injury 13. JJ Hickson had 20 points and 14 rebounds, going NBA Commissioner David Stern and that has robbed the 25-year-old of another but the Nuggets dropped to 0-2 this season NBA results/standings against Oklahoma City. Ty Lawson added 17 a Canadian making history as the top pick season in his prime. Rose, who missed all of Charlotte 95, Sacramento 87; Portland 119, Cleveland 116; LA Lakers 96, Memphis 92; Oklahoma City 105, Denver in the NBA Draft. the 2012-13 season recovering from a torn points and 13 assists. 93; Golden State 104, New Orleans 93. After facing loads of criticism for past ACL in his left knee, was injured 11 games playoff failures, James inched his way up into the current 82-game campaign before LAKERS 96, GRIZZLIES 92 Eastern Conference Western Conference Atlantic Division the list of all-time greats by leading the undergoing season-ending surgery to Kobe Bryant scored 21 points in his sixth Northwest Division W L PCT GB Portland 22 4 .846 - Miami Heat to a second consecutive NBA repair the medial meniscus in his right game of the season, and the Lakers closed out a four-game road trip with a victory. Pau Gasol Boston 12 14 .462 - Oklahoma City 20 4 .833 1 championship in June and putting his team knee. The injury was a devastating blow to Toronto 9 13 .409 1 added 21 points and nine rebounds for the Denver 14 10 .583 7 on the verge of becoming a dynasty. While a Bulls team that was considered a con- Brooklyn 9 15 .375 2 Minnesota 12 13 .480 9.5 not always at his best in the 2013 playoffs, tender for the Eastern Conference crown Lakers, who were coming off a 114-100 loss at NY Knicks 7 17 .292 4 Atlanta on Monday night. Nick Young had 18 Utah 6 21 .222 16.5 James raised his game when it mattered with Rose rejoining a team that reached Philadelphia 7 19 .269 5 Pacific Division Central Division most, scoring a game-high 37 points and the conference semi-finals last season with- points, and Jodie Meeks finished with 13. Zach LA Clippers 17 9 .654 - Indiana 20 4 .833 - adding 12 rebounds in a championship- out him. In Los Angeles, the spotlight that Randolph had 18 points and a season-high 16 Phoenix 14 9 .609 1.5 Detroit 12 14 .462 9 rebounds for Memphis. The Grizzlies played Golden State 14 12 .538 3 clinching victory over the San Antonio was usually reserved for Kobe Bryant and Chicago 9 14 .391 10.5 Spurs in the decisive seventh game of the the 16-time NBA champion Lakers has without Mike Conley, who sat out after bruising LA Lakers 12 13 .480 4.5 his left thigh in Sunday’s loss to Minnesota. The Cleveland 9 15 .375 11 NBA Finals. since been shifted to the rival Clippers, who Milwaukee 5 19 .208 15 Sacramento 7 16 .304 8.5 “For me, I can’t worry about what every- opened the season with lofty goals given Grizzlies led 69-67 in the fourth quarter before Southeast Division Southwest Division body says about me. I’m LeBron James, the championship pedigree of former the Lakers went on a 17-4 run. Bryant played 32 Miami 18 6 .750 - San Antonio 19 5 .792 - from Akron, Ohio. From the inner city. I’m Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers at the minutes, matching his most action since return- Atlanta 13 12 .520 5.5 Houston 16 9 .640 3.5 Dallas 14 10 .583 5 not even supposed to be here,” James, a helm. Rivers, one of only four active coach- ing from his torn left Achilles’ tendon. He was 9 Charlotte 11 14 .440 7.5 for 18 from the field, both season highs, despite Washington 10 13 .435 7.5 New Orleans 11 12 .478 7.5 two-time Finals MVP, said after the victory. es to win an NBA title, was acquired from Orlando 8 17 .320 10.5 Memphis 10 14 .417 9 “That’s enough. “Every night I walk into the the Celtics in June and is looking to bring running the offense most of the night. locker room, I see a No 6 with James on the the rejuvenated Clippers franchise its first back. I’m blessed. So what everybody say championship. The Lakers, long the pre- about me off the court don’t matter. I ain’t ferred destination for top players seeking got no worries.” For Stern, 2013 was a victo- an NBA title, found themselves in unfamil- US delegation to Sochi games includes gays ry lap of sorts after having previously iar territory having to battle for a playoff WASHINGTON: The United States has named for- official would attend the Sochi games, also without group, the White House said in a statement. announced his decision to step down as spot and then getting swept out of the first mer tennis star Billie Jean King, one of the first offering an explanation. In contrast, first lady Michelle Obama headed the longest-tenured commissioner in pro- round of the postseason.— Reuters prominent athletes to publicly acknowledge her President Barack Obama, speaking about the the US delegation to the 2012 London games and fessional sports. homosexuality, to be in the US delegation to the Russian law in a television interview in August, said Vice President Joe Biden performed that role for Stern, 71, will retire in February after 30 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where Russia’s anti-gay he had “no patience for countries that try to treat the 2010 winter games in Vancouver. The White years on the job, a period during which he policies have stirred controversy. Another openly House said the president’s schedule did not allow oversaw strong revenue growth, expansion gay athlete, two-time Olympic hockey player him to travel to Sochi, and declined to say whether to 30 teams from 23, a movement into Caitlin Cahow, will represent the United States at it was sending any message through its selection small markets like Oklahoma City and closing ceremonies, according to a White House of the delegation. “The US delegation to the Memphis and helped grow the game on a statement. Olympic Games represents the diversity that is the global basis. One week after the 2012-13 Although Russia has thrown itself into staging United States,” White House spokesman Josh NBA season ended, the the games, preparations have been overshadowed Earnest said. “All our delegation members are dis- used the top pick in the draft to select by international criticism of its human rights record tinguished by their accomplishments in govern- Toronto native Anthony Bennett, making and a recent anti-gay propaganda law that critics ment service, civic activism and sports.” him the first Canadian player taken first say discriminates against homosexuals. Russian The US delegation to the opening ceremony overall. President Vladimir Putin has said several times that also includes Olympic figure skating gold medalist Bennett, touted as a big-bodied gay athletes are welcome in Russia and that no dis- Brian Boitano, presidential aide Rob Nabors, and US specialist who played one season crimination will be tolerated. He has said the law is Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul. Cahow, the for the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, needed to protect young people. Tennis champion Billie Jean King hockey player, was on teams that won silver became the seventh player born outside The legislation, however, has drawn calls by medals in Vancouver and bronze medals in the the United States taken with the top pick human rights activists to boycott the Olympics. gays or lesbians or transgender persons in ways 2006 winter Olympics held in Turin, Italy. The but the first from a country better known German President Joachim Gauck has announced that intimidate them or are harmful to them.” The United States has also been unhappy with Russia’s for producing elite ice hockey players. he will not attend the Olympics even though he US delegation is also led by a lower-ranking official decision to grant temporary asylum to Edward “Yeah. It’s just crazy. Made history. I can’t went to the 2012 London Olympic games, but he than has been the case for recent Olympic games. Snowden, the former National Security Agency really complain about that,” Bennett said declined to comment on the reason for his deci- Former Secretary of Homeland Security Janet contractor who has leaked classified documents after being the surprise top pick. “It’s just sion. Likewise, France has said that neither Napolitano, who is now chancellor of the revealing the extent of US surveillance of phone like a long time dream that I had since I first LeBron James President Francois Hollande nor any top French University of California system, will lead the US and email traffic around the world.— Reuters