FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 3 TTENNISENNIS | Page 7 Barca await Debutantes Madrid as Bertens, Julen looks Stephens enter for lifeline semi-fi nals

Saturday, October 27, 2018 CRICKET Safar 18, 1440 AH Pakistan upstage GULF TIMES Australia by 11 runs, clinch T20 series SPORT Page 4 48TH ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DOHA 2018 SPOTLIGHT Al-Dayani, Kohei thrills fans with Mosa delight home crowd By Sports Reporter spectacular display Doha me like that but with the second-highest individual when I compete total behind Ruoteng. Mikulak ral- eam Qatar’s male gymnasts Ahmed al-Day- JapaneseJapanese men I feel it, I feel the lied his squad after, like Japan, three ani and Ahmed Nabil Mosa, who were in ac- pressure. I feel like of his teammates missed routines tion in men’s sub-division fi ve, competing mmanageanage seconsecondd I have to do well.” on pommel horse in the fi fth rota- in all the six apparatus, at the Doha World Meanwhile, Russian tion. Mikulak appeared calm as he GymnasticsT on Thursday evening couldn’t progress afafterter ffinishinginishing men, who had stormed stepped up to the Pommel Horse ahead but were appreciated by a strong home sup- into the lead in the despite his teammates’ inability to port for their performance. ffiveive pointpointss team qualifi cations break 13.000 mark before him. While Mosa came up with his best in the Hori- on the opening “It defi nitely put a lot pressure zontal Bar returning a score of 12.500, to fi nish bbehindehind RRussiaussia (on me), but I think that moment I 48th, Dayani’s best came on Vault where he tallied realised I needed that, I wanted that, 13.066 to be placed 78th. because it’s going to be a lot of pres- Their overall scores aside, it was a step forward sure in the next couple of meets. To for both the gymnasts given the experience they really get out on this big stage and gained competing the world’s highest stage. prove I’m a big competitor out here, “We are pleased with the performances though we I think making the statement was have not qualifi ed for the fi nal stage,” said al-Dayani. what I wanted this day to be,” he “I think I performed well to some extent. There were said. some mistakes, but the last time I performed on all six By Sahan Bidappa apparatus was in Glasgow (2015 Worlds). Doha “This was my seventh time at a world champion- ship, and I think I did a good job. I still have the as- piration to be among the best,” he added. ven when he is not at his day, fi nished on Egged on by a vociferous home crowd, al-Dayani best Kohei Uchimura can top and look good to win their fi rst admitted that it made him nervous. woo you with his pyrotech- World Championship medal in 12 Meanwhile, defending rings “Many of my friends and family members were nics, like he did at the Aspire years, after posting a massive score champion Eleftherios Petrounias among the crowd tonight. That made me a little bit DomeE yesterday. of 258.402. of Greece put his lack of prepara- nervous, but the experience that I gained from pre- The Japanese legend is not the Yesterday, Japan could only man- tion aside to top the qualifi cations. vious international events helped me,” he said. gymnast he used to be after tear- age a second after completing their Petrounias, who will undergo a The 25-year-old, who’s been in the sport for quite ing his ankle ligaments at the World routine, fi nishing fi ve points be- shoulder surgery in two weeks, long, said he can’t imagine his life being without Championships last year. His return hind Russia. The United States were scored 15.266 points. “It was a good gymnastics. “It has been 18 great years. I’m addicted has been slow and painful, but Uch- third, with Great Britain coming performance if you think that I to gymnastics now. If I take one week away from gym- imura is making steady progress as fourth. China were competing late haven’t done anything since Euro- nastics, I don’t feel well. It’s simply my life.” he makes a comeback with an eye on in the night, in the last of the ten peans,” said Petrounias, referring to On his teammate, the 18-year-old Mosa, al-Dayani the 2020 Olympics at home. sub-divisions. his gold medal-winning perform- said,said, “ForFor him,him, this was only theth second appearance Yesterday at the Doha World ances at the European Champion- atat a worworldld championship.championship. I try tot keep him calm and Championships, the three-time ships in August, when he last per- makemake himhim lessless nervous aaheadhead of bigb events like this. He Olympic gold medallist and six- formed a full rings routine. “I used is a very goodgood gymnast anandd hhasas a good future.” time world all-around champion all my experience and everything MMosaosa bbetteredettered hhisis own sshowingh at the venue produced a magical display on the was good.” wwhwhereere hhee aalsolso trains on a reguregularl basis. “It was only Horizontal Bar to top the individual Women’s qualifi cations will be mmyy seconsecondd appearance at ttheh world champion- standings with a score of 14.600 and held today and tomorrow. Based shshipsips anandd ttherehere was a llittleittle bbitit more pressure, with help Japan qualify into the team fi - on their performances in qualifi ca- ththee homehome crowdcrowd andand thethe fact thatt I was competing nal. tions, competitors will advance to aatt tthehe same placeplace I train. I hadhad expected to perform Uchimura has opted out of all- team, individual all-around and in- bbetteretter tthanhan this.this. I mademade somesome mistakes, but I still round competition here in Doha dividual apparatus fi nals. pperformederformed better than I did lalast year in Canada (at with his ankle still in recovery mode The competition will determine tthehe 2017 Worlds in MontrealMontreal),”),” he said. and is focusing himself to just three the winners of eight sets of medals ““It’sIt’t s ana honourhonour to bebe in thethe same team with the events. While he erred on Pommel for men (Team, All-around, Floor exexperiencedperienced AAhmedh (al-Dayani). I Horse, the 29-year-old posted the Exercise, Pommel Horse, Still Rings, lellearnearn many tthingshin from him. He is best score on the Horizontal Bar. Vault, Parallel Bars, and Horizontal mmy iidoldol anandd llikeike a big brother to me,” Uchimura said he is still way Bar) and six for women (Team, All- hhe aadded.dded. short of peak physical condition af- around, Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance ThThee two nanationalt gymnasts were ter slipping off the Pommel Horse Beam, and Floor Exercise). aapappreciatedpreciated byb offi cials of Qatar in the fi nal rotation. “If I could say The three medal-winning nations GyGymnasticsmnastics Federation, specta- I competed six events, I could say I in the Team fi nals for both men and ttotors,rs, frienfriendsds aandn family alike. was tired. But I didn’t. Even though women will earn team berths di- TTeameam QQatar’s other mem- I didn’t do six events, I felt kind of rectly to the 2020 Olympic Games bebber,r, JJanaan al-Kiki, will com- tired when I got to pommels. And Russia, China, Japan, USA, Britain, in Tokyo while the others will have peppetete iin the women’s qual- also, I didn’t have good training on Brazil, the Netherlands, and Switzer- further chances toqualify in 2019 ifi ccationsa today. the pommel horse,” he said. land wrapped up the team qualifi ca- and 2020. AAl-Kiki was cho- With less than 22 months to go tion on top 8 positions respectively ssesen by the Organising until the Tokyo 2020 Games, Uch- with France fi nishing 12th. China’s Xiao Routeng and Samuel CCoCommittee to take the imura knows the pressure will only Xiao Ruoteng was star of the day Mikulak (top left) of the US compete Qatar’s cceceremonial oath at the grow. “I come to the Worlds and replacing Russia’s Nagornyy Nikita in the qualification round for men’s Ahmed oopening ceremony, everybody is looking at me like I am (87.098) in Men’s All-Around Qual- horizontal bar at the 2018 Artistic al-Dayani ssasaida she felt honoured the king,” said Uchimura. “The oth- ifi cation after earning 87.332 points. Gymnastics World Championships (left) and Ahmed aand that it has been a er Japanese gymnasts don’t look at Sam Mikulak led the Americans at Aspire Dome yesterday. (AFP) Nabil Mosa. ggreat morale boost.

FOOTBALL FIFA put plans for new Club World Cup, Nations League on hold

AFP criticised by opponents who say uted to peace in the world today if a four-year format, 12 of them “no sovereign fund is involved”. Kigali, Rwanda the international calendar is al- some were seeing it so dramatic,” European. Currently the compe- The source added: “UEFA ready overcrowded and have ac- Infantino remarked. tition, which elicits little inter- are against these new competi- cused the FIFA president of using “Everyone agrees the Club est outside of Latin America, is tions, because the Club World IFA President Gianni the projects to help win votes for World Cup needs to be revamped, played every year in December. Cup would trim their share of Infantino has delayed re-election in June next year. everyone in the world. His other project is to launch a the market from the Champions any decision over his A source told AFP that Infan- “There are some who have biennial league tournament for na- League, and by creating a glo- plans for a lucrative new tino stepped back from adopting diff erent interests. We were not tions, the global Nations League, a bal Nations League, FIFA would ClubF World Cup and global Na- the new competitions yesterday going to decide today how to re- sort of mini-World Cup with eight want to take over the commer- tions League amid widespread when UEFA delegates threatened vamp them, there are diff erent national teams competing. UEFA cialisation of the rights for all opposition, instead setting up a to walk out of the meeting. options on the table. recently launched its own Euro- Nations Leagues.” taskforce to further look into the That is after the World Leagues “FIFA’s duty is to organise pean Nations League. FIFA will also raise the prize proposals. Forum, a grouping of profes- competitions, so I don’t under- Infantino says he has an off er money for the Women’s World Speaking at a press confer- sional leagues, sent a letter to stand why we cannot talk about of $25 billion over 12 years for the Cup from $15 million to $30 mil- ence in the Rwandan capital Ki- Infantino demanding that no them.” two competitions from a group lion starting with next year’s edi- gali, where the FIFA Council has fi nal decision be taken in Kigali of investors, which the Financial tion in France. Infantino said that been meeting, Infantino said the and lamenting the lack of any ‘NO SOVEREIGN FUND Times has identifi ed as SoftBank $20 million would be made avail- taskforce will present “concrete consultation. UEFA President INVOLVED’ from Japan, backed by Saudi Ara- able for pre-tournament prepa- proposals” at a meeting in Miami Aleksander Ceferin has also been Infantino is pushing to revamp bia among others. rations, meaning that $50 million next March. critical of the plans. the Club World Cup by boost- The 48-year-old FIFA presi- in total would be allocated across The plans have been harshly “I am happy to have contrib- ing it from seven clubs to 24 in dent nevertheless insisted that the 24 participating nations. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, October 27, 2018 GYMNASTICS

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Belgium’s Derwael aims to make history

FIG Doha

wo-time European Uneven Bars champion Nina Derwael could make more history for Belgium with a gold medal at the World Championships in Doha, but individual Tsuccess is in the back of her mind. “The main objective is to do a great team per- formance and to really be there for my team,” the 18-year-old Derwael says. This competition is all about team for the Belgian women, who have risen from obscurity over the past decade. In 2016, the Belgian women Gymnas- tics qualifi ed a full team to the Olympics for the fi rst time in 68 years. It was a big leap for Belgium, which a decade ear- lier did not even enter a full women’s team at the 2006 World Champion- ships in Aarhus, elimi- nating any chance of qualifying to the Olympic Games in Beijing. The team fi nished 15th in Rot- terdam in 2010 and 16th BILES: in Tokyo in 2011. French coach Marjorie Heuls and husband Yves Kieff er are the architects of the team, which they built from the ground up after arriving in Belgium SUPERWOMAN in 2009. THE “This is the fi rst generation that we’ve taken from junior to senior,” Heuls says. “In four years, they didn’t have the opportunity to reach their very best level, so this is the result of six years of work that we OF US GYMNASTICS can now show.” Hard work is nothing new to the coaching couple, who guided two of France’s most successful gym- The nasts in history, Émilie LePennec, the 2004 Olym- pic champion on Uneven Bars, Isabelle Severino, 21-year-old is who won a bronze medal on Bars at the 1996 Worlds and the European title on Floor Exercise in 2005. known for her skills in The team qualifi ed in third place at the European Championships, held in August in Glasgow. Despite competition but such is her status she the good chance of an unprecedented team medal, lete to say she Belgium withdrew from the team fi nal in Glasgow is now influencing how gymnastics is governed was a survivor of out of fear of aggravating nagging injuries that By Beau Dure gymnastics’ history at the age tweet of Bono drawing over a Nassar, the longtime USA Perry could prove costly in Doha, the fi rst Olympic quali- The Guardian of 16, when she added a new, Nike swoosh in response to the gymnastics team doctor who should step up fi cation event for the 2020 Olympic Games. fi endishly diffi cult leaping tum- company’s campaign featuring pled guilty to the charges and and speak more. “Yes,” Biles However, Belgium picked up a complete set of ble to the sport’s code of points; quarterback-turned-activist is now serving an eff ective life said. “It’s her job.” Less than a medals in the apparatus fi nals in Glasgow. Derwael lenty of athletes have in the same year she won the Colin Kaepernick. Biles off ered sentence for his crimes. That month later Perry resigned. won her second title on Uneven Bars and a silver the power to transform fi rst of her three successive a short but pointed response would be Rachel Denhollander Biles’s implicit support of medal on Balance Beam, and Axelle Klinckaert won their sports. LeBron World Championship all-round on Twitter: “Don’t worry, it’s , who broke the long-standing Kaepernick during Bono’s the bronze on Floor Exercise. Maellyse Brassart James changes the bal- titles. not like we needed a smarter silence on Nassar and eventu- attack on the quarterback is in- also qualifi ed to the fi nal on Balance Beam. They Pance of power in the NBA every She was one of the stars USA gymnastics president or ally opened the fl oodgates for teresting. Although the former are joined in Doha by Olympians Senna Deriks and time he moves teams. – in any sport – of the 2016 any sponsors or anything,” she a wave of survivors to tell their San Francisco 49ers quarter- Rune Hermans, who helped the team place 12th in Serena Williams has forced Rio Olympics, winning four wrote. stories, many of them Olympic back’s activism has attracted Rio. tennis to confront issues of gold medals. She took a break Bono promptly deleted her medallists. While Biles did not far more attention than Biles’s The team is targetting another top-12 fi nish in racism and sexism. Neymar’s in 2017, but has returned to original tweet, but a headline in appear at Nassar’s hearing to own foray into social issues, her Doha, but their upward momentum means a top- contract demands may soon competition this year and is as Deadspin summed up the situa- tell her story of abuse under his impact has arguably been more eight fi nish in qualifi cation is not out of the ques- aff ect global GDP rankings. dominant as ever. tion in US gymnastics: “Simone care, she has made a power- concrete. Kaepernick deserves tion. An appearance in the team fi nal would be the We should now include a 4ft It’s away from the gyms and Biles Has All The Power, And ful impact, using her position immense credit for infl uencing icing on the cake for the tight-knit group, who train 8in 21-year-old on that list. arena that she’s truly fl exing her She Knows It.” Fellow Olympic as the sport’s biggest star to the national conversation on together at the Belgian national centre in Ghent. Through a perfect storm of cir- muscles. She has spoken about champion Aly Raisman then change gymnastics, often with race and freedom of expres- “The atmosphere is really good because we are all cumstances — a strong claim to her diffi cult childhood – she followed up Biles’s lead. She an economy of words. sion in America, but the NFL friends,” Klinckaert says. “We’re living everything be the greatest ever in her sport entered foster care at the age of attacked Bono for her ties to In August, two days before has dug in its heels on national together, and that’s really great.” and a series of misadventures three before she was eventually a consulting fi rm she accused the US Championships, Biles anthem protests and he is still The future looks bright for Belgium, which has in her national federation — she adopted by her maternal grand- of failing to act on the Larry responded to a question about without a team. Biles, in con- more talents waiting in the wings. wields incomparable infl uence. parents – and has worked with Nassar sexual abuse scandal the overhauled management trast, has helped remove two “We also have four juniors turning senior in Jan- She’s Simone Biles, and she is organisations that help children while it worked with USA gym- of USA gymnastics – includ- CEOs from her sport’s govern- uary who I hope will strengthen the team,” Heuls changing gymnastics in innu- in similar situations. nastics. On 16 October, Bono ing Kerry Perry, who had been ing body, advocated for abuse says. merable ways. But it was this month, when resigned. Under fi re from Biles named president/CEO in survivors and arrived in Doha as The younger gymnasts are following in the foot- When the American com- USA gymnastics appointed a and Raisman, her reign hadn’t November 2017 and had been the fi nest gymnast in the world. steps of trailblazer Derwael, who made history petes at the World gymnastics new interim president/CEO, even lasted a week. criticised for her inaction over She clearly isn’t going away with her bronze medal on Uneven Bars at the 2017 Championships in Doha this that Biles’s infl uence became Even before the Bono in- the Nassar scandal. With a either: she has spoken of her Worlds in Montreal (CAN), the fi rst for a Belgian fe- week, few of her competitors clear. Mary Bono, a former cident Biles had emerged as succinct but withering state- desire to compete at the 2020 male gymnast. will have any hope of challeng- gymnast and Republican a fearsome force for change ment Biles said: “Hopefully, it’s Olympics in Tokyo. It’s a safe “It was very special for me, especially at my fi rst ing her. congresswoman, was appointed within USA gymnastics in the going in the right direction but bet she won’t be silent – or world championships, to go out there and show the On the mat and various ap- to the position on 12 October. wake of the Nassar scandal, nobody can know until Kerry powerless – in the run-up to exercise that I could do,” she says, “and then to win paratuses, she is beyond com- She didn’t last long. The next which shook the sport to its Perry speaks up. It’s kind of the Games, and perhaps for the bronze medal was unbelievable.” parison. She literally rewrote day, gymnastics fans found a core. Biles wasn’t the fi rst ath- hard.” Biles was then asked if years to come. Adds Derwael, “I’m hoping to do even better this year at worlds.”

BOTTOMLINE ‘King’ Kohei helping Japan thrive under Olympic glare

FIG other Japanese gymnasts don’t pionships was only fi t enough “In order to get the gold medal “I am staying in the same room Doha look at me like that but when I to compete on three apparatus at 2020 we are thinking that this as Kohei and he is taking a lot of compete I feel it, I feel the pres- and made some uncharacteristic year and next year are just (part care over his eating and sleep- sure. I feel like I have to do well.” mistakes on the Pommel Horse. of) a process to make that dream ing, so I wanted to pay him back en-time World and two- Perhaps unsurprisingly, the “If I competed in six events I happen,” Tanigawa said. “So we by doing a good performance to- time Olympic champion superstar of modern gymnas- could say I was tired but I didn’t,” have to win these World Cham- day,” said Shirai, who currently Kohei Uchimura has tics handled it pretty well during Uchimura said. “But even though pionships for Tokyo 2020 – that lies fourth in All-around. shown again and again men’s qualifi cation yesterday. I didn’t I felt kind of tired by is what we have been thinking. It is hard to imagine that there Tthat he does not have a problem Uchimura, who won every ma- Pommel and I haven’t done good “Before I came I was feeling has often been a hotel room with carrying the burden of expecta- jor global All-around title from training on Pommel (recently).” the pressure.” that much talent in it. Not that tion. But, with the spectre of a 2009-2016, produced a magical With less than 22 months to go This pressure has been cranked Shirai is able to use the time to home Olympic Games looming display on the Horizontal Bar to until the Tokyo 2020 opening cer- up even higher with Uchimura’s mine his illustrious teammate and the hopes of a nation al- top the individual standings with emony, Uchimura knows the pres- relative lack of fi tness putting for advice on how to handle the ready building, the 29-year-old a score of 14.600 and heledp Ja- sure will only grow. But it’s not just a greater emphasis on his four pressure of success. is having to show all his mental pan into the team fi nal. the great man who has to bare it. teammates than they have per- “He always goes to sleep strength not to crumble under The fact that Uchimura is even It might be Wataru Tanigawa’s haps been accustomed to. Al- fi rst, before me. He asked me the intense glare. in Doha is indicative of the focus debut on the world stage at Doha though, to be fair, in two-time something the other night and “I come to the Worlds and eve- Japan is already putting on the 2018 – a huge moment for a 22 2017 World Championship gold I answered but he was already rybody is looking at me like I am Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The year old – but he is well aware medallist Kenzo Shirai, they have asleep,” Shirai laughed. “He just the king,” said Uchimura. “The veteran of eight World Cham- that it is all part of a bigger plan. a pretty solid replacement. goes out after one minute.” Gulf Times Saturday, October 27, 2018 3 SPORT

LA LIGA Barca await Madrid as Julen looks for lifeline

AFP but to stand up,” Toni Kroos told the players too. Lopetegui might have many champions in the World weighed heavier with every chance away a wobbling rival will see the Barcelona AFP this week. “We have to show have added the one the club did let Cup and the Champions League, missed. doubts circling again, but win, and how good we are against a diffi cult go last summer took an average of and we have shown we can turn When Barca went three games a seven-point gap opens up. opponent and I think we can do it.” 50 goals a season with him. around tough situations. Remem- without a win last month, the feel- Or, Madrid can cut it to one, with ulen Lopetegui said it was A surprise success would make Players though are never ac- ber that in the last few years, we ing was both clubs were in crisis. only a single game, at home to Real the happiest day of his life sacking Lopetegui harder to jus- countable — certainly not ones have not only played good games, Lopetegui was under pressure, but Valladolid, against an opponent being named coach of Real tify but fi ve games without a win, crowned European champions there have been bad ones too. so was Valverde. in the top half before Christmas. JMadrid but he could not have more than eight hours without a only fi ve months ago — and be- “We are creating, we are doing Then Messi blew away Totten- It will either be a chance for a Lo- imagined this. goal, these are not quickly forgot- sides, the coach sets the tone. everything we can to get good re- ham at Wembley and, a day later, petegui revival or, the perfect start Four and a half months, 138 days, ten either. He instils confi dence, which sults and that proves we are behind Madrid lost 1-0 to CSKA Moscow, for his successor. nine La Liga games. One defeat at There were disgruntled whistles leads to creativity and precision. the coach. He is a very good coach lacking the snap and spark Ronaldo Camp Nou on Sunday and that at full-time on Tuesday, the home He also sets the rules and for some, in my opinion and I’m confi dent we once provided and that Messi had Today might well be that. fans defl ated after watching a team perhaps Perez included, this team can turn this around with him.” given the night before. Girona v Rayo Vallecano (1100), If Florentino Perez’s mind is al- that featured UEFA’s best goal- has been indulged for too long. Opposite Lopetegui this week- Momentum has diverged since. Athletic Bilbao v Valencia (1415), ready made up, the result against keeper, defender and player hang For their part, the players might end will be Ernesto Valverde, Two more Madrid defeats followed Celta Vigo v Eibar (1630), Levante Barcelona may not matter. A draw, on for a 2-1 victory over Viktoria argue they have struggled before watching his Barca side with their to leave Lopetegui on the brink v Leganes (1630), Atletico Madrid v or even a Madrid win, is not beyond Plzen. and come through, not least under own superstar extracted too. while Barca are now 10 points from Real Sociedad (1845) the realm of possibility. After all, After the match, Lopetegui Zinedine Zidane last season. This will be the fi rst Clasico 12 and top of the table. Tomorrow this game rarely has much respect talked about turning points and “The confi dence in my opinion is without Lionel Messi or Cristiano “Madrid will be even more dan- Getafe v Real Betis (1000), Barce- for form and Lionel Messi is in- changing dynamics but his de- ance had weakened his position, not a problem,” said Kroos, whose Ronaldo since December 2007. gerous,” Valverde said on Wednes- lona v Real Madrid (1415), Alaves v jured. meanour perhaps betrayed the not strengthened it. Germany coach Joachim Loew is Messi will return, in three weeks if day. “They will come here to dem- Villarreal (1630), Sevilla v Huesca “It’s a great game for us in this truth. “I don’t often smile anyway,” Isco insisted on Monday that if among those considered a poten- his right arm heals as expected, but onstrate all the strength they have.” (1845) moment because we have no choice he said. Madrid’s chaotic perform- they fi re the coach, they should fi re tial successor to Lopetegui. “We Ronaldo’s permanent absence has He also knows failure to put (All times GMT)

EPL SERIE A Juve and Ronaldo eye Empoli scalp Guardiola has no Traff ord. With fellow central AFP Milan defender Leonardo Bonucci he helped Juve to their third Cham- pions League clean sheet. resh from upstaging The duo are a formidable Manchester United at force, with United boss Jose Old Traff ord in midweek Mourinho noting: “Mr. Bonuc- Juventus resume their ci, Mr. Chiellini, they could go time for sulkers questF for an eighth consecutive to Harvard to give some classes Serie A title at strugglers Empoli about how to be a central de- today. fender.” ‘The guys who don’t play deserve to play, it’s always like this’ Cristiano Ronaldo may not As it is, Chiellini graduated have scored against his former from the University of Turin employers but he played a piv- with a Master’s degree in busi- AFP otal role in Paulo Dybala’s win- ness administration last April. Manchester ner as Juventus opened up a fi ve- His thesis? “The Business Model point lead over United at the of Juventus Football Club in an top of their Champions League International Context”. ep Guardiola has Group H. Coach Massimiliano Allegri warned his Manchester Ronaldo did score in last is likely to rotate his squad after City players they risk week’s 1-1 stalemate against Manchester but he will still be losing their place in his Genoa for the 33-year-old Por- unable to call on Sami Khedira, Pfi rst-team squad if they react tuguese’s 400th career goal in Emre Can and Mario Mandzukic. poorly to being left out of the Europe’s top fi ve leagues, mak- Juve and Roma, who swept starting line-up. ing him the fi rst player to reach CSKA Moscow aside 3-0, were The return of Kevin De Bru- that tally. the two Italian winners in the yne, ahead of schedule, from a Turmoil of rape allegations Champions League this week knee ligament injury means that appear not to be unsettling Ron- — Napoli were held 2-2 at Paris competition for places has never aldo on the pitch with last week- Saint-Germain and Inter Milan been more keen among City’s end’s goal his fi fth since leaving lost 2-0 at Barcelona. glittering, star-studded squad. Real Madrid for Turin. The strength in depth at Against today’s hosts who are Today Guardiola’s disposal means that in relegation territory with de- Atalanta v Parma (1300), Em- senior players will inevitably feats in fi ve of their nine match- poli v Juventus (1600), Torino v be disappointed as they spend es Juve are aiming to regain the Fiorentina (1830) time on the bench or out of the winning thread after Genoa end- Tomorrow matchday squads completely. ed their eight-game blemish free Sassuolo v Bologna (1030), But, while the City manager run in the Italian championship. Cagliari v Chievo, Genoa v Udi- has been pleased so far by the “We were a little careless nese, SPAL v Frosinone (1300), response of those left on the against Genoa and our move- AC Milan v Sampdoria (1600), sidelines by the Premier League ment wasn’t great. We have to Napoli v AS Roma (1830) champions, he has warned that kick on from this performance Monday anyone guilty of sulking, or re- tonight and keep improving,” Lazio v Inter Milan (1830) sponding negatively, will harm said Giorgio Chiellini at Old All times GMT their chances of a recall. “It’s always a problem. I am unfair,” Guardiola told a news conference yesterday. Loft us-Cheek treble boosts Chelsea “The guys who don’t play de- promising youngster Phil Foden stadium, it’s a lot of money. diola. “I’m pretty sure Totten- tire soon!,” joked former Barca serve to play, it’s always like this. has seen scarce game time off “But it’s a top side. It was my ham have a good greenskeeper manager Guardiola. London: Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek had a Europa League when they are training in a bad the bench. fi rst defeat (in English football) (groundsman). “Hopefully not. Messi is go- night to remember by scoring the first hat-trick of his career as the way they are out of the selection Guardiola’s next team issue and I know how strong they are. “The Premier League don’t ing to come back, he’s unlucky midfielder inspired them to a 3-1 home win over Belarus champi- for themselves. will come when City face Tot- “Last season, we did well in like it too much, Tottenham because he’s never injured and ons BATE Borisov on Thursday. “If they are professional they tenham Hotspur at Wembley on both games, but they’ve got a neither. strong. Sooner it will happen. Arsenal also celebrated a victory in their group after a late strike know what it is. If they have Monday. good manager (Mauricio Po- “Hopefully they can fi nish But Barca-Madrid is a special by Danny Welbeck secured a 1-0 win over Sporting in Lisbon, bad faces, bad moods or want The game features two of the chettino) and good players.” the stadium as quickly as pos- game, the game of the week in while Real Betis pulled off the shock of the evening with a 2-1 win to show how disappointed they Premier League top fi ve head- Repeated delays of Totten- sible. There’s no point com- Europe and will be interesting at former European Cup winners AC Milan. are, they will have a big prob- ing into the weekend — a top fi ve ham’s move into new stadium plaining, we have to adapt.” to watch it.” Making the most of a rare start for Maurizio Sarri’s side, Loftus- lem because they are not going which is separated by two points have led to Monday’s fi xture Meanwhile Guardiola will be Cheek fired Chelsea ahead in the second minute when he to play.” only. being played at Wembley, the an interested spectator when Today whipped home a low cross by Davide Zappacosta and then Bernardo Silva, one of City’s And that has led Guardiola national stadium that is near Sunday’s Classico between Southampton v Newcastle, Wat- doubled their lead six minutes later with a clever touch. best performers so far this sea- to conclude that Tottenham, their north London headquar- Barcelona and Real Madrid ford v Huddersfield, Brighton v The 22-year-old England international made it 3-0 with a sublime son, appears the player most along with Liverpool, Chelsea ters. takes place at the Camp Nou. Wolves, Fulham v Bournemouth, finish in the 54th, side-footing into the bottom left corner from 22 likely to come under pressure and Arsenal, are all genuine With other events already It will be the fi rst time in 11 Liverpool v Cardiff (1400), Leices- metres after taking a loose ball in his stride. from the return of De Bruyne to contenders to displace City in a scheduled to take place on the years that Spanish football’s ter v West Ham (1630) BATE right back Aleksey Rios netted a 79th-minute consolation for full fi tness. fi ve-horse title race. outfi eld — an NFL American showpiece takes place with- Tomorrow the visitors, whose goalkeeper Denis Scherbitski made several fine But big-money signings such “The line-up 11, 12, 13 play- football match is scheduled out either the currently in- Burnley v Chelsea, Crystal Palace saves in the second half. as Leroy Sane, Nicolas Ota- ers from Tottenham, for the last for Sunday — the pitch may jured Barca star Lionel Messi or v Arsenal (1230), Manchester The result left Chelsea top of Group L with a maximum nine mendi and Gabriel Jesus have fi ve or six years they are always not be in pristine condition for former Madrid hero Cristiano United v Everton (1500) points, while BATE, PAOK Thessaloniki and Hungary’s Vidi are struggled for signifi cant min- there,” he said. the kind of passing football fa- Ronaldo, now at Juventus. Monday locked on three each after Vidi enjoyed a surprise 2-0 win at utes in City’s unbeaten start to “They cannot invest in play- voured by both Spurs and City. “Cristiano is gone, Messi Tottenham v Manchester City PAOK. the Premier League season while ers because of their incredible “It is what it is,” said Guar- is injured, I hope he will re- (1900)

LIGUE 1 Chastened PSG head to old foe Marseille AFP risk of an early exit. Tuchel’s team are already eight points clear of not ideal preparation for the meeting with PSG Paris “I knew it was perhaps the most diffi cult Lille atop the table, and 11 points above Marseille at the Velodrome. group we have had in my time here,” said mid- in fourth. A sixth title in seven seasons seems in- Marseille, the only French team to have won fi elder Marco Verratti after Wednesday’s game. evitable even now. the Champions League, despise the club from aris Saint-Germain’s deepening Cham- “Now we need to go and get a great result in That should not be a huge surprise, given that the capital, and the clash between the coun- pions League woes have turned the fo- Naples, and then everything will be decided PSG’s operating budget — a reported 500mn eu- try’s two biggest sides is a major event in France. cus back to the strength of competition at home against Liverpool. I still think we can ros ($568mn) — is almost double that of France’s However, seven years and 17 games have passed P— or lack of it — in the French top fl ight qualify.” next richest club, Lyon. since Marseille last beat PSG. as they prepare to face bitter rivals Marseille this Tuchel admitted Paris have to improve, but When PSG played Lyon earlier this month, Second-placed Lille host Caen today, while weekend. weaknesses in his team were badly exposed by they won 5-0, and perhaps the lack of a proper Thierry Henry makes his home debut as Monaco On Wednesday, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe Napoli. challenger domestically removes some sharp- coach against Dijon. were shut out and PSG needed a brilliant injury- Yet at the same time PSG go to Marseille ness from their game in Europe. time goal from Angel di Maria to salvage a 2-2 having won all 10 games in Ligue 1 this season, Nobody said that of Monaco when they Today draw at home to Napoli. smashing the previous French record of eight reached the semi-fi nals of the Champions Angers v Lyon (1500), Amiens v Nantes, Gu- Thomas Tuchel’s side now face a real fi ght just straight victories at the start of a campaign, set League in 2017, of course. Nevertheless, the re- ingamp v Strasbourg, Lille v Caen, Monaco v to qualify for the Champions League knockout PSG coach Thomas Tuchel with Angel Di Maria. by Olympique Lillois in 1936. sults of French teams in Europe this season have Dijon, Toulouse v Montpellier (all 1800) rounds, having already been beaten at Liverpool. Another three points on Sunday and PSG will led to much soul-searching. Tomorrow After disappointing last-16 exits against Bar- owned club a genuine contender in the Cham- match Tottenham Hotspur’s achievement of 11 Europa League fi nalists last season, Marseille Rennes v Reims (1400), Bordeaux v Nice celona and Real Madrid in the last two seasons, pions League. It is therefore galling for those in successive wins at the start of the 1960-61 sea- are already staring at an early exit from the com- (1600), Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (2000) Tuchel is tasked with fi nally making the Qatar- charge in the French capital to fi nd themselves at son, a record in Europe’s big fi ve leagues. petition after losing 3-1 to Lazio on Thursday, (All times GMT) Gulf Times 4 Saturday, October 27, 2018 SPORT

HATHAB EQUESTRIAN SERIES

Awad al-Qahtani won the Medium Tour title at the second leg of the Hathab equestrian series yesterday. At the Qatar Equestrian Federa- tion’s Indoor arena, al-Qahtani was in fine form with his 12-year-old mare Gerenice of Colors to finish on top. Mohamed Said Haidan was Winner Ali Mohamed al-Qadi (centre), runner-up Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi (left) and third-placed Abdulla Rashid close second in Apple Bee, followed by Mohamed Sultan al-Suwaidi in third with Numero Uno T. al-Marri pose after the Small Tour event.

CRICKET ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL Imrul, Soumya hit tons as Bangladesh Pakistan upstage whitewash Zimbabwe AFP Scorecard Chittagong, Bangladesh ZIMBABWE mrul Kayes and Soumya H. Masakadza b Hider 2 Australia by 11 runs, Sarkar each scored a cen- b Saifuddin C. Zhuwao 0 tury as Bangladesh thrashed B. Taylor c Mushfiqur b Nazmul 75 Zimbabwe by seven wickets Iin the third one-day interna- S. Williams not out 129 tional to complete a whitewash S. Raza c Soumya b Nazmul 40 in the three-match series in P. Moor run out 28 Chittagong yesterday. Imrul made 115 off 112 balls E. Chigumbura not out 1 clinch T20 series and Soumya hit 117 off 92 balls Extras (b4, lb5, nb1, w1) 11 to guide Bangladesh to 288-3, Total (5 wickets, 50 overs) 286 Maxwell’s chancy 37-ball 52-run knock with four boundaries and a six goes in vain after Sean Williams’ career-best 129 not out helped Zimbabwe Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Zhuwao), post 286-5 at the Zahur Ahmed 2-6 (Masakadza), 3-138 (Taylor), AFP 4-222 (Raza), 5-284 (Moor) Shanghai Chowdhury Stadium. Chasing a modest target, Bowlers: Hider 9-1-39-1, Saifud- Bangladesh lost a wicket in the din 10-2-51-1, Ariful 3-0-17-0, akistan survived an on- very fi rst ball of the innings Mashrafe 8-0-56-0 (nb1), Sou- slaught by big hitter when opener Liton Das was mya 2-0-16-0, Nazmul 8-0-58-2 Glenn Maxwell to win judged leg before off Kyle Jarvis, (w1), Mahmudullah 10-0-40-0 the second Twenty20 but Imrul and Soumya put to- BANGLADESH Pinternational by 11 runs in a last gether a record 220 runs for the over fi nish against Australia in second wicket to put the hosts L. Das lbw b Jarvis 0 Dubai yesterday. on course. I. Kayes c Chigumbura b Masakadza Maxwell hit a chancy 37-ball 52 Soumya, who was playing his 115 with four boundaries and a six but fi rst match in the series, led the S. Sarkar c Tiripano b Masakadza could not score the 23 runs required charge with nine fours and six 117 in the fi nal over as Australia – chas- sixes to make the second century M. Rahim not out 28 ing 148 to win – ended up at 136-8 of his career. in their 20 overs at Dubai stadium. Zimbabwe had to wait until M, Mithun not out 7 Pakistan were lifted to 147-6 by the 30th over for their second Extras (w19, nb2) 21 Babar Azam (45) and Mohamed Ha- success when Hamilton Masa- Total (3 wickets, 42.1 overs) feez (40) after Sarfraz Ahmed won kadza forced Soumya to give a 288 the toss and opted to bat. Pakistan catch to Doland Tiripano at long won the fi rst match by 66 runs on, but Imrul remained fi rm to Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Liton), in Abu Dhabi. The third and fi nal complete his second century in 2-220 (Soumya), 3-274 (Imrul) match is also in Dubai tomorrow. the series. Bowling: Jarvis 6-0-47-1, The win is skipper Sarfraz’s Imrul, who hit 10 fours and Ngarava 5-0-44-0 (nb1, w2), 10th T20 series win since tak- two sixes in his fourth ODI cen- Tiripano 4-0-33-0 (w3), Raza ing over as captain in September tury, earlier made 144 and 90 in 10-0-47-0 (w4), W. Masakadza 2016, including a tri-series win the previous two matches to take 10-0-71-1 (w2), Williams 6.1-0- in Zimbabwe in July this year. his tally in the series to 349, the 43-0 (nb1, w8), H. Masakadza That highlights Pakistan’s Pakistan players celebrate their victory in the second T20I match against Australia at The International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. (AFP) highest by a Bangladeshi in a bi- 1-0-3-1 number one ranking in the short- lateral three-match series, over- Result: Bangladesh won by est format as they powered Aus- total but Maxwell and Nathan Scorecard taking Tamim Iqbal’s 312 against seven wickets tralia for a second match running. Coulter-Nile fought hard during Pakistan in 2015. Series: Bangladesh won series Australia were once again derailed their 59-run seventh wicket stand. “It’s been a great series for by 3-0 at the outset with D’Arcy Short run When Shaheen Shah Afridi start- PAKISTAN (Hasan) N. Coulter-Nile c Asif b Shaheen 27 me. I tried to give my best and out for two in a controversial man- ed the last over Australia needed 23 B. Azam c Finch b Short 45 Bowlers: Maxwell 1-0-5-0 (1w), A. Tye not out 2 I’m glad I got a chance to prove recover from 6-2 to post a decent ner with replays showing he had to win. Coulter-Nile hit a towering F. Zaman c Carey b Coulter-Nile 11 Coulter-Nile 3-0-18-3, Stanlake A. Zampa not out 0 myself in this series,” man of the score after Bangladesh skipper grounded the bat but was given out six off the fi rst ball and then took 4-0-36-2, Tye 4-0-40-0 (3w), series Imrul said after the match. Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss by television umpire Riaz Rashid. a single but Maxwell holed out off M. Hafeez c Short b Stanlake 40 Marsh 1-0-5-0, Zampa 4-0-21-0, Extras: (lb13, w5) 18 Imrul and Soumya earlier sur- and sent them in. Skipper Aaron Finch (three) the next ball to end all hopes of an S. Malik c Marsh b Coulter-Nile 14 Short 3-0-16-1. Total: (for eight wkts; 20 overs) 136 passed Tamim and Shakib Al Taylor, who was dropped on and big hitter Chris Lynn (seven) Australian win. Shaheen took 2-35 A. Ali c Short b Stanlake 9AUSTRALIA Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Short), Hasan’s record of 297 runs in the six by fast bowler Abu Hider, failed for a second match running while spinner Shadab Khan fi nished second wicket against West In- made 75, his second successive F. Ashraf not out 17 A. Finch c Zaman b Shadab 3 2-19 (Lynn), 3-31 (Finch), 4-61 as Australia were struggling at 31- with 2-30. Pakistan’s total was built (Marsh), 5-62 (Carey), 6-73 dies in July this year. half-century in the series, which 3. Maxwell, dropped thrice on 18, around a solid 70-run partnership H. Ali c Marsh b Coulter-Nile 0 D. Short run out 2 (McDermott), 7-132 (Maxwell), Zimbabwe skipper Masa- came off 72 balls with eight fours 34 and 52, then added 30 for the between Azam and Hafeez who built I. Wasim not out 1C. Lynn c Shadab b Wasim 7 8-134 (Coulter-Nile) kadza said the partnership made and two sixes. fourth wicket with Mitchell Marsh the innings after Fakhar Zaman was the diff erence between the two Williams, who smashed 10 Extras (lb 6, w 4) 10 (27) but Pakistan continued to take out for 11 with the score at 29. M. Marsh c Sarfraz b Shadab 21 Bowling: Wasim 4-1-8-1 (1w), teams. fours and a six in his second ODI wickets to keep the Australian Azam hit three boundaries in Total (for six wkts; 20 overs) 147 G. Maxwell c Malik b Shaheen 52 Ashraf 3-0-14-0, Shadab 4-0- “We had a good score, but that hundred, then added 84 runs 30-2, Shaheen 4-0-35-2 (4w), chase in check. When Marsh and his 44-ball knock while Hafeez Fall of wickets: 11-29 (Zaman), A. Carey c Zaman b Hafeez 1 second wicket partnership took with Sikandar Raza (40) for the Ben McDermott (three) fell in quick was in a more punishing mood, Hasan 4-0-32-0, Hafeez 1-0-4-1 the game away from us,” he said. fourth wicket after Taylor fell to 2-99 (Hafeez), 3-106 (Azam), B. McDermott run out 3 succession Australia were in dan- smashing two sixes and three 4-117 (Asif) 5-131 (Malik), 6-131 Result: Pakistan won by 11 runs Mushfi qur Rahim was un- left-arm spinner Nazmul Hos- ger of falling to another under-100 boundaries off 34 deliveries. beaten on 28 to complete Bang- sain. ladesh’s 13th successive win over Nazmul was the pick of Bang- Zimbabwe. ladeshi bowlers with 2-58. Earlier, Williams shared 132 The two teams will now play Dhoni dropped from T20I squad; Parthiv, Rohit back for Oz Tests with Brendan Taylor for the a two Test series, with the fi rst third wicket to help Zimbabwe starting on November 3 in Syhet. Former India skipper Mahendra Singh aren’t totally closed for Dhoni’s return to been left out. All-rounder Hardik Pandya, Squad for Australia T20Is: Virat Kohli Dhoni was yesterday dropped from the the shortest format, Prasad said: “Dhoni who was stretchered off the field in the (c), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Indian T20I squads for the three-match is not going to play the 6 T20Is because recently concluded Asia Cup, also failed Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Di- rubber against the West Indies and also we’re looking at the second keeper slot. It to find a place in the 18-man Test squad. nesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant (wk), Kuldeep the subsequent three T20I matches is not the end of Dhoni in T20Is.” Both Parthiv and Rohit last featured for Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington against Australia. Meanwhile, the selection committee also India during the South Africa tour earlier Sundar, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Rohit Sharma will lead India in the up- announced the comeback of all-rounder this year. With Wriddhiman Saha still re- Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, coming T20I series against the Windies Kedar Jadhav for the fourth and fifth covering from his injury, Patel was named Khaleel Ahmed. with regular skipper Virat Kohli being One-day Internationals against the Wind- as a back-up wicket-keeper to Pant, rested. Kohli, though, will be back to lead ies. Squad for the 4-Test series vs Australia: the men-in-blue in the three-match T20I The selection committee also announced Squad for Windies T20Is: Rohit Sharma Virat Kohli (C), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, series against Australia, that begins on the squad for the four-match Test series (c), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Dinesh Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya November 21. against the Kangaroos to be held later Karthik, Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Dhoni isn’t part of both the T20I squads, this year. Murali Vijay, Rohit Sharma Rishabh Pant (wk), Krunal Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Parthiv Patel, Ravichan- with rookie keeper-bat Rishabh Pant set and Parthiv Patel will their return while Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, dran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep to don the big gloves, announced BCCI’s Mayank Agarwal and Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant chairman of selectors MSK Prasad after both of whom earned their maiden Test Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed, Umesh Yadav, Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bangladesh players Imrul Kayes (right) and Soumya Sarkar pose with its meeting here. Assuring that the doors call-ups during the Windies series, have Shahbaz Nadeem. Bhuvneshwar Kumar. their man-of-the-series and man-of-the-match awards after the third ODI match against Zimbabwe in Chittagong yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times Saturday, October 27, 2018 5 SPORT

NBA James delivers triple-double in fi rst home win with Lakers It was the Lakers’ second win in two days after struggling to an 0-3 start to the season

AFP Los Angeles

eBron James had a triple-double in his fi rst home win at Staples Center as the Los Angeles Lak- ers came from behind to defeat Lthe Denver Nuggets 128-111 on Thurs- day. James had 28 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds while leading the Lakers’ late rally against the previously unbeat- en Nuggets. “We got stops. They are one of the best off ensive teams we have in this league and when you do that you are able to get out and run,” said James, who posted his 74th career triple-dou- ble. It was the Lakers’ second win in two days after struggling to an 0-3 start to the season. Lance Stephenson fi nished with 12 points but more importantly he hit back-to-back three pointers in the fourth to spark a 15-2 run for Los An- geles. “Make ‘em dance Lance. He was unbelievable coming off what he did last night,” said James. “We picked up where we left off and got this win.” Kyle Kuzma scored 22 points and JaVale McGee added 21 in support of James’ triple-double — his fi rst with his new team. With Kobe Bryant watch- ing from the stands for the fi rst time since James’s arrival in Los Angeles, the former Cleveland Cavalier James brought the Staples Center crowd to their feet with a go-ahead dunk with 3:31 to play. Nikola Jokic scored 24 points for the Nuggets, who were off to their best start since the 2009-10 season. The Lakers won despite playing without suspended starters Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo. Ingram will miss one more game for his part in the Lakers’ melee with the Houston Rockets last weekend, while Rondo returns today in San Antonio. “We have gotten better through all of our games and we want to try to continue that against San Anto- nio on Saturday,” said James. Elsewhere, Damian Lillard scored Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (centre) attempts to drive the ball past Denver Nuggets forward Paul Millsap (left) during the NBA game in Los Angeles. (USA TODAY Sports) 41 points as the Portland Trail Blazers stayed ahead wire-to-wire en route to points and 10 rebounds. Nikola Vucevic Magic cut the lead to three points but City Thunder 101-95. Marcus Morris 13 points, 15 rebounds and eight as- the game. I take responsibility for what a 128-114 win over the Orlando Magic. led Orlando with 24 points and 11 re- McCollum and Lillard combined for added 21 points, Al Horford scored 19 sists in the loss. The Thunder are one happened,” said Westbrook. Lillard scored 34 of his points in the bounds. Terrence Ross had 21 points off eight consecutive points to restore the and Kyrie Irving had 15 for the Celtics, of only two winless teams in the league. second half as the Trail Blazers put up the bench and Aaron Gordon and Evan double digit lead to 110-99. who improved to 3-2 on the season. Oklahoma City led 50-34 at the half RESULTS a rock solid defence and outhustled the Fournier had 17 apiece. In Oklahoma City, Jayson Tatum Paul George scored 22 points for but Morris nailed a three pointer with Detroit 110 Cleveland 103; Portland 128 Magic on the off ensive end. Ross kept the Magic within striking scored 24 points and the Boston Celtics Oklahoma City, who are winless on the 27 seconds remaining to give Boston a Orlando 114 ; Boston 101 Oklahoma city CJ McCollum had 22 for the Trail distance but the Trail Blazers compiled battled back from a 16-point halftime season. Russell Westbrook shot just fi ve 98-95 lead and they held on. “I got to Blazers and Jusuf Nurkic added 18 a 91-80 lead at the end of the third. The defi cit to beat the struggling Oklahoma of 20 from the fi eld. He fi nished with do a better job to make sure we close 95 ; LA Lakers 121 Denver 114

NHL ROUND-UP NFL Hornqvist, Kessel star in Penguins’ win Watson, Texans stay hot, Reuters Calgary, Danada drop defenseless Dolphins atric Hornqvist and Phil Kessel Reuters each scored twice on Thursday for Houston the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins in a 9-1 shellacking of the Calgary PFlames. Sidney Crosby had a goal and two eshaun Watson tossed a assists, and Bryan Rust, Jack Johnson, Jake season-best fi ve touch- Guentzel and Matt Cullen also scored for down passes, and the Pittsburgh, which won its third straight. Houston Texans ex- Derick Brassard had three assists, and tendedD their winning streak to Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Dominik fi ve games with a 42-23 victory Simon two each. James Neal spoiled goal- over the visiting Miami Dolphins tender Matt Murray’s bid for a shutout with on Thursday. two minutes left in regulation. Murray made Watson delivered a perform- 38 saves. Calgary goaltender Mike Smith, ance reminiscent of his break- who got scant defensive support, allowed through yet injury-shortened six goals on 21 shots before yielding to David rookie season, completing 16 of Rittich, who stopped 12 of 15 shots. The 20 attempts for 239 yards. He led Flames lost for the third time in four games. the Texans (5-3) on three scor- ing drives that elapsed less than COYOTES 4, CANUCKS 1 Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust (left) shoots the puck past Calgary Flames left a minute on the clock, including Clayton Keller, Brad Richardson and Lawson wing Matthew Tkachuk during the NHL match on Thursday. (USA TODAY Sports) a pair of two-play, second-half Crouse scored in the third period, and Darcy marches that sandwiched the Kuemper had 27 saves as Arizona beat Van- SABRES 4, CANADIENS 3 NHL goal as host Dallas roared past reeling second of three fi eld goals from couver in Glendale, Arizona. Keller scored Kyle Okposo scored a power-play goal with Anaheim. The win was the second in a row Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders. his fourth goal of the season on a point- 61 seconds remaining in the third period to for the Stars after they lost three straight. After Miami (4-4) closed the blank shot after a turnover early in the third lift Buff alo past visiting Montreal. Okposo Dallas has won 15 of its past 21 games defi cit to 21-17 on a trick play — period to break a tie at 1. beat Montreal goaltender Antti Niemi with a against the Ducks. Anaheim lost its fourth receiver Danny Amendola com- Alex Galchenyuk had an assist on the play, wrist shot for his second goal of the season. consecutive game and has been outscored pleted a 28-yard scoring pass to his fi rst point for the Coyotes in his second Buff alo’s Jason Pominville registered two 15-6 during the skid. Kenyan Drake with 4:55 left in Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson gives the ball to a game after missing the fi rst seven due to a goals, Sam Reinhart had one, and Skinner Heiskanen, a 19-year-old from Finland the third quarter — Watson con- fan after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Miami lower-body injury. Kuemper won his second fi nished with three assists. Carter Hut- who was the third overall pick in the 2017 nected with Will Fuller on a 73- Dolphins at NRG Stadium in Houston. (USA TODAY Sports) consecutive start in place of Antti Raanta, ton made 19 saves. Max Domi scored two draft, scored in his ninth game. yard touchdown pass that rebuilt who is ill. Arizona’s Alex Goligoski and Van- goals for the Canadiens, and Joel Armia also an 11-point lead. On the second ter, capped a two-play, 16-yard The sequence gave Miami a couver’s Darren Archibald scored second- found the net. Niemi stopped 38 of 42 Buf- WILD 4, KINGS 1 play of Houston’s next posses- sprint that followed a Justin Reid 7-0 lead at the 4:58 mark of the period goals. falo shots. Devan Dubnyk made 23 saves for Minne- sion, Watson found DeAndre interception of Dolphins quar- fi rst quarter. But Miller, who sota in a win over Los Angeles at Saint Paul, Hopkins alone in the secondary terback Brock Osweiler. rushed for 133 yards, covered 33 BLUE JACKETS 7, BLUES 4 OILERS 4, CAPITALS 1 Minn. Eric Fehr had a goal and an assist, and for a 49-yard pass play that ex- Osweiler fi nished 21 of 37 for yards on fi ve carries on the sub- Boone Jenner and Anthony Duclair scored Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored one goal and Jonas Brodin, Mikael Granlund and Mikko tended the advantage to 35-20 241 yards. His fumble late in the sequent possession for Houston, twice apiece for Columbus, which overcame assisted on another as Edmonton defeated Koivu also scored to help the Wild to their just 11 seconds into the fourth. fi rst half, returned by Texans and his 2-yard touchdown pulled an early two-goal defi cit to win at St. Louis. visiting Washington. Evan Bouchard, Alex fourth consecutive win. Watson and Hopkins hooked up cornerback Natrell Jamerson for the Texans even. David Savard, Josh Anderson and Seth Jones Chiasson and Connor McDavid each added Wild defenseman Ryan Suter had two as- again on a 2-yard touchdown a score, was reversed upon re- Reid followed with his inter- also scored for the Blue Jackets, who posted a goal as the Oilers snapped a two-game sists in his 1,000th NHL game. pass later in the fi nal quarter. view into an incomplete pass. ception, and the Texans scored their most goals since a 7-3 win over the Ed- losing streak. Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot Kyle Cliff ord ended Dubnyk’s chance for Watson also tossed a pair of Miami caught another break again 77 seconds later, securing monton Oilers on March 27. Goalie Joonas fi nished with 31 saves in the win. Braden his 30th career shutout when he scored an scoring strikes to rookie tight earlier in the game when a du- the lead for good. Dolphins re- Korpisalo recorded 33 saves as Columbus Holtby made 28 stops for the Capitals, who unassisted goal off a turnover at 3:39 of the end Jordan Thomas, the second bious personal foul penalty on ceiver DeVante Parker fi nished snapped a two-game losing streak. Vladimir got a goal from Andre Burakovsky. third period to make it 2-1, but Dubnyk re- of which covered 2 yards and fol- Houston’s Joel Heath enabled with six receptions for a career- Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz, Alexander Steen bounded to help kill three power plays in the lowed a 58-yard dash by running the Dolphins to erase a 42-yard high 134 yards. The Texans, who and Zach Sanford scored for the Blues, who STARS 5, DUCKS 2 fi nal 7 1/2 minutes. back Lamar Miller. Thomas’ fi rst Sanders fi eld goal and instead entered play 31st in the NFL in allowed their most goals since an 8-3 loss to Jason Dickinson racked up two goals and an Granlund and Koivu scored 21 seconds touchdown, a 13-yarder at the drove for a 12-yard touchdown red-zone effi ciency, fi nished the Minnesota Wild on Feb. 27. assist, and Miro Heiskanen scored his fi rst apart into an empty net. 14:14 mark of the second quar- run from Drake. 4-for-4 in the red zone. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, October 27, 2018 SPORT

GOLF Resurgent Ko takes route 66 to Bad-luck bounce can’t lurk in Taiwan

Taipei: Former world number one Lydia Ko shot a dazzling six-under-par 66 to stop Finau in Shanghai lurk two strokes off the lead at the LPGA Taiwan Champi- onship yesterday. Ko, who tied for second Finau moves to 11-under, with overnight leader Reed at 8-under after managing only par yesterday in Shanghai last week — her best result since April — fired AFP seven birdies against a lone Shanghai bogey at par-72 Ta Shee Golf and Country Club. The Korean-born New ony Finau charged into a Zealander, 21, trailed halfway three-stroke lead at the mid- leader Hsu Wei-ling, who way point of the WGC-HSBC carded 67 for an aggregate TChampions yesterday with a score of nine-under 135, and splendid fi ve-under 67 that was slowed Jodi Ewart Shadoff who was only by an improbable hard-luck a shot off the pace. bounce off a sprinkler head. Finau had Home favourite Hsu shot snatched the lead from overnight front- a bogey-free five birdies to runner Patrick Reed and was pulling overtake England’s Ewart away after birdies on fi ve of the fi rst 10 Shadoff , who couldn’t repeat holes despite swirling winds at Shang- her pace-setting opening hai’s Sheshan International Golf Club. round of 65 and carded 71. But his approach on the par-four 11th Ko, who shot to promi- landed smack on a greenside sprinkler nence in her mid-teens but and bounded past the hole into a haz- endured her first winless ard, leading to double-bogey. season last year, has been “That’s about as bad a break as I have back in the swing with six ever had. But one thing I learned from consecutive top-16 finishes this game is you take the good with the after she missed the cut at bad,” Finau said with a laugh. But the the Scottish Open in July. 29-year-old American, whose fast- Earlier this year she improving game has vaulted him up the snapped her unaccustomed golf world rankings to 17th, righted the win drought at the LPGA ship with three birdies down the stretch. Championship in April, one “I knew I was still playing well and of six top-10 performances there was a lot of golf to be played,” said so far this season. Finau, who proved an inspired captain’s America’s Danielle Kang, pick for the USA in last month’s crush- the winner last week in ing Ryder Cup loss to Europe. Tony Finau of the US hits a Shanghai, withdrew from the The fi rst player of Polynesian descent shot during the second round second round through ill- to play on the PGA Tour, Finau totalled of the WGC-HSBC Champions ness, the LPGA said without eight birdies to move to 11-under, with golf tournament in Shanghai giving details. Reed at eight-under after managing yesterday. (AFP) only par for the day. Tied with Reed LEADING SCORES were defending champion and world number three Justin Rose and fellow 135 — Hsu Wei-ling (TPE) 68- Englishman Tommy Fleetwood. 67 136 — Jodi Ewart Shadoff Rose, who came from eight shots (ENG) 65-71 137 — Lydia Ko back in the fi nal round last year to lift (NZL) 71-66 138 — Lee Mi-rim the trophy, was feeling good after not (KOR) 71-67, Nelly Korda dropping a shot all day on the way to (USA) 67-71 139 — Kang Hae-ji a fi ve-under 67. “Those rounds don’t (KOR) 67-72, Megan Khang often come, especially in breezy condi- (USA) 69-70 140 — Ryu tions,” said Rose, who will tee it up with So-yeon (KOR) 68-72, Ko Finau and Reed today. tive Texan pulled off the shot of the day walk off with par,” he said. opening round even-par 72 with a 77 to 139 — Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 68-71, Jin-young (KOR) 71-69, Annie American Xander Schauff ele fi nished to avoid what he said could have been a Other big names failed to deliver the sit well off the pace. Keegan Bradley (USA) 69-70, Emiliano Park (USA) 70-70, Jacqui four strokes behind Finau after manag- “big number” on the par-fi ve 18th. goods in a tournament dubbed “Asia’s Grillo (ARG) 70-69, Pat Perez (USA) 70- Concolino (USA) 70-70, ing a one-under 71 in winds he said were After slicing his drive into the water, major” and which annually gathers a LEADING SCORES 69, Kyle Stanley (USA) 70-69, Thomas Ryann O’Toole (USA) 71-69, Reed faced a diffi cult third shot from a premier fi eld with its winner’s purse of Pieters (BEL) 75-64 “all over the place.” “If you look at the 133 — Tony Finau (USA) 66-67 Bronte Law (ENG) 70-70 leaderboard, no one is really running too downhill lie and with about 220 yards to $1.8mn. Newly crowned world number 140 — Ian Poulter (ENG) 69-71, Ryan Fox 141 — Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 136 — Patrick Reed (USA) 64-72, Justin far away with it, so it’s nice to not go the the green. Rather than lay up, he went one Brooks Koepka struggled to a 74 (NZL) 70-70, Billy Horschel (USA) 68-72 69-72, Jenny Shin (KOR) 72- opposite way today,” Schauff ele said. for it, fading a gutsy shot over the water to enter the weekend at two over par, Rose (ENG) 69-67, Tommy Fleetwood 69, Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) After a dominating opening-round which rolled to a few feet from the pin. while the man he replaced as the plan- (ENG) 68-68 141 — Rafael Cabrera Bello (ESP) 68-73, 68-73, Ally McDonald (USA) Paul Casey (ENG) 73-68, Alexander Levy 64, reigning Masters champ Reed had He just missed the birdie putt. et’s top-ranked player, Dustin Johnson, 137 — Xander Schauff ele (USA) 66-71 68-73, Brittany Altomare to scramble yesterday as he found water “After hitting the tee shot in the wa- was another stroke behind. Four-time (FRA) 71-70, Andrew Putnam (USA) 70-71, (USA) 73-68 three times. But the famously competi- ter, you’re always happy to be able to major winner Rory McIlroy followed his 138 — Patrick Cantlay (USA) 70-68 Jason Day (AUS) 71-70

ROUND-UP RUGBY Thai Suradit stays on top in India Wallabies look to conjure Agencies Salta magic against All Blacks New Delhi AFP in the world — we’re competitive last outing on the eve of their Tokyo blokes so you want to be in these showdown in Japan. “The second oung Thai talent Suradit Yongcha- situations and be out there when half of their last game is the kind roenchai maintained his overnight the lights are on.” of rugby you dream about, so we one-shot lead after signing for a ustralia must repro- New Zealand won the fi rst two know the threat they pose,” said bogey-free fi ve-under-par 67 at duce the form that saw Bledisloe matches 38-13 and 40- Read, who turned 33 yesterday. theY halfway stage of the US$400,000 Pana- them roar back to beat 12 in August while Australia’s “It’s going to be a tough battle.” sonic Open India yesterday. Argentina in their last form nose-dived, the Wallabies The New Zealand skipper was Suradit, who opened his campaign with matchA if they hope to beat New winning just six of eight games also mindful of how New Zealand a solid 66, returned with a fl awless round Zealand in Japan this week- before their astonishing come- failed to complete a 3-0 sweep of highlighted by fi ve birdies to sit atop the end, captain Michael Hooper back against Argentina. the annual series last year, losing leaderboard on 11-under-par 133 total at the said yesterday. The Wallabies Hooper agreed Australia 23-18 in Brisbane. “Certainly we venerable Delhi Golf Club’s par-72 course overturned a 24-point halftime needed to bottle the essence of do remember those losses and it measuring 6,935 yards. defi cit to stun the Pumas 45-34 that swashbuckling second-half is driving us at the back of our Suradit is chasing for his maiden victory earlier this month to ease the display in Salta before Novem- minds,” said Read. “You’ve got to on the region’s premier Tour. Prior to this pressure on under-fi re coach ber Tests away to Wales, Italy and be aware of what oppositions will week, he has claimed two top-fi ve fi nishes, Michael Cheika. England. “It really was a polaris- throw at you, but as long as we including a joint runner-up result in India But while the All Blacks will ing performance from one half to maintain as much control as we two months ago, to sit in 40th place on the be chasing a 3-0 Bledisloe Cup another,” said the fl anker. “It is a can it will help us.” Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings. whitewash in today’s clash in reference point for us — repro- Read demanded that the All Playing partners Ajeetesh Sandhu of In- Yokohama, Hooper insisted that ducing the consistency of that Blacks get off to a winning start dia and Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand there was more than pride at game-play is paramount for us, before facing 2019 World Cup matched Suradit’s eff orts of the day with stake for the Aussies. “There’s it’s as simple as that,” shrugged hosts Japan in Tokyo on No- matching 67s to lie one and two shots back always heaps of motivation play- Hooper. vember 3 and playing away Tests in second and third place respectively. ing for your country,” he said. “We need to defend better for against England, Ireland and Ita- Indian veteran Jeev Milkha Singh rolled “It’s a shame we’re not playing longer and attack better for long- ly. “We want to be able to dictate back the years by carding a bogey-free 68 for any silverware but every Test er. In both (Bledisloe) games we games in terms of territory and to share fourth place with countryman M match is massive for us,” added put in a lot of good minutes. But look after the pill as much as we Dharma (67) on 137 at the popular event, Hooper. “We are out here to build that’s obviously not enough.” can,” he said. “If we do that, we which is celebrating its eighth consecutive as a team. We get the opportu- New Zealand captain Kieran generally put ourselves in good edition on the Asian Tour this week. nity to play the number one team Read also referenced Australia’s positions.” Suradit Yongcharoenchai tees off at the Delhi Golf Club yesterday. CHAMP POWERS WAY TO EARLY LEAD AT SANDERSON FARMS less than a year after turning pro, fi nished after Thanksgiving. Rookie Cameron Champ is getting his PGA with eight birdies and just one bogey at Bob Dorfman from Baker Street Adver- Tour career off to a rousing start by fi ring the Country Club of Jackson on Thursday. tising in San Francisco predicted the match a 65 for a one-stroke lead in the opening There were 12 players who were still on the could attract up to one mn buys in the Unit- round of the Sanderson Farms Champion- course when the horn sounded to stop play ed States, but Neal Pilson, a former presi- ship. The long-hitting Champ closed his for the day on Thursday. dent of CBS sports who now heads Pilson round with four birdies on his fi nal six holes Communications, thought the viewing fi g- at the event in Jackson, Mississippi, which WOODS-MICKELSON PAY-PER-VIEW ures are more likely to be around the half a was suspended Thursday because of dark- MATCH TO CHARGE $19.99 mn mark. ness. The 23-year-old Champ fi nished tied The $19.99 charge for the pay-per-view Billed as The Match: Tiger v Phil, the for 25th in his Tour debut at the Safeway (PPV) exhibition between Tiger Woods and event will be played at exclusive Shadow Open after fi nishing sixth on the Web.com Phil Mickelson is likely bring in enough Creek in Las Vegas. The course will be closed money list last season. viewers to make the event fi nancially viable, to the general public. Woods has won 14 ma- Champ has a one-stroke lead over Cam- two sports marketing experts said. jor championships, trailing only Jack Nick- eron Tringale who shot a six-under 66. Turner Sports announced on Thursday laus on the all-time list, while Mickelson South Africa’s Rory Sabbatini and American that viewers in the United States will be has collected fi ve majors. Woods last month DJ Trahan are tied for third at fi ve-under 67, charged $19.99 to watch the 18-hole, $9mn ended a fi ve-year victory drought by win- two shots back of Champ. “winner-take-all” showdown between ning the season-ending Tour Championship Champ, who earned his PGA Tour card Woods and Mickelson on Nov. 23, the day on the PGA Tour. All Blacks’ Vaea Fifita passes a ball to Japanese students at an elementary school in Tokyo yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times Saturday, October 27, 2018 7 SPORT

F1 Hamilton takes relaxed ride towards fi ft h title AFP a fi erce scrap with both Ferrari a bit older, I have the experience “He was upset we didn’t win Mexico City and Red Bull at the high altitude now to know what I need to do the last race – he says he wants (2,200 metres) Autodromo Her- to get myself in shape – and I am us to win here.” manos Rodriguez. His car had really enjoying it.” Lauda, who survived a blazing ewis Hamilton is taking a been reassembled on Sunday Hamilton needs to outscore crash while racing in 1976, was relaxed ride towards his morning in Austin to change the Sebastian Vettel by fi ve points to released from hospital in Vienna likely fi fth drivers world water pumps. take the title. earlier this week, two months title and hopes his care- He showed no sign of anxi- after a lung transplant opera- Lfully-rebuilt Mercedes car will ety as he refl ected on his mission JOKING LAUDA PUTTING tion following an illness that had carry him to victory in tomor- to draw level with Juan Manuel PRESSURE ON MERCEDES threatened to take his life. row’s Mexican Grand Prix. Fangio as a fi ve-time champion TO WIN, SAYS HAMILTON “It’s great news about Niki,” After a chastening defeat by a with only seven-time champion Niki Lauda is recovering from his said Hamilton. “I spoke to him resurgent Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher ahead of lung transplant, cracking jokes and I had a nice call from him Ferrari in last weekend’s United them in the record books. and putting pressure on Lewis just a week ago and he said he States Grand Prix, Mercedes “Now I’m in it and living it, I Hamilton and Mercedes to tri- was hoping to get released from discovered cross-weight imbal- just want to get it done,” he said umph at this weekend’s Mexican intensive care.” ances that had hampered Ham- of the title race. “As long as you Grand Prix. Hamilton added that Lauda ilton’s progress in Texas. get it done, that’s what matters. The amazing recovery of the was now in intensive rehab, “They took the car apart and Of course, it would be a bonus in three-time world champion working hard to regain his when they put it together, it an already-great season to win Austrian put a smile on Hamil- strength. was imbalanced with a mas- the race and take the title – and ton’s face ahead of tomorrow’s “He’s still very much the same sive cross-weight in the order that’s my goal this weekend. race at the Autodromo Her- character, very funny on the of 50kg – if we hadn’t had that “If I were to win this title, it manos Rodriguez where he is phone, always cracking jokes,” problem, it would have been a will be one I would probably be seeking his fi fth drivers’ title. he said. “He’s in good spirits.” diff erent race,” he said. most proud of and appreciate “He’s obviously very much in Hamilton needs to outscore The four-time champion the most because it has been so touch with everyone here at the Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel by fi ve spoke late Thursday in Mexico competitive. team,” Hamilton, who had spo- points to claim his fi fth title, but City where he was set to take “But for me, it’s not my fi rst ken to Lauda by telephone, told has said he wants to succeed in part in the opening practice on rodeo! I’m guessing that at this reporters. “He’s such a racer. He style with a victory in tomor- Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP signs autographs for fans in the pitlane at Autodromo Friday knowing that he faced time of my life, this place, being loves a car! row’s race. Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico. (Getty Images/AFP)

TENNIS/WTA FINALS MOTORCYCLING Crutchlow crash mars Australia Debutantes Bertens, MotoGP practice

AFP He got straight back on his Phillip Island, Australia feet, but it wasn’t a good omen for a rider who crashed out of the Australian race in 2014 and 2016. taly’s Andrea Iannone Britain’s Crutchlow, the 2016 Stephens enter semis clocked the fastest time in winner, also had a big fall and practice yesterday ahead of was stretchered away holding his ‘I knew it was going to be a battle and just tried to play as hard as I could’ the Australian MotoGP in right leg before being transferred Ia fi ercely competitive session to Melbourne for treatment. AFP marred by a heavy crash that left He ended the day fi fth fastest Singapore Cal Crutchlow with a fractured but will not be racing tomorrow ankle. after fracturing his ankle. Suzuki’s Iannone, who has “The fall left Crutchlow with a confi dent Sloane never won a top level race, pow- bimalleolar fracture and anterior Stephens stormed into ered to a quickest lap of 1:29.131 tibia part right ankle fracture, a semi-fi nals slot at at the death after switching to an injury that will require the the WTA Finals with soft tyres, with fellow Italian Honda rider to undergo surgery,” aA convincing straight sets vic- Danilo Petrucci on a Ducati in MotoGP organisers said. tory against top seed Angelique second, 0.160 behind. They added that he had been Kerber yesterday, joining fel- “Our bike has been working “ruled him out for the rest of the low debutant Kiki Bertens in the really well, but it’s always dif- weekend”. knockout stage. fi cult here so a good eff ort from It was a big blow for the Briton The former US Open cham- the team today,” said Iannone. who had been hoping to build pion continued her unbeaten “But we still have to improve on his second place in Japan run in Singapore with a 6-3, in some areas. Everyone will be last weekend. Veteran Rossi, the 6-3 triumph in 101 minutes, her giving 110 percent in qualifying, Australian winner from 2001 to fi fth straight-sets victory in a so I will need to give my maxi- 2005 and again in 2014, could row over Kerber. mum as well.” only manage tenth on a dry track After topping Red Group, Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales, after the early rain cleared. Stephens will play Czech Karo- who topped the fi rst practice run, It was disappointing for lina Pliskova in the semi-fi nals. was third while Andrea Dovizio- the Italian, who is pressuring For the fi rst time since 2003, so, who suff ered for pace 12 Dovizioso in the sprint towards none of the top four seeds ad- months ago at Phillip Island, kept the season runner-up spot be- vanced to the semi-fi nals of the in close contention in fourth. But hind Marquez. WTA Finals. newly-crowned world cham- While a handful of riders “I stayed solid the whole time pion Marc Marquez, who has an came off their bikes, at least the knowing there was a lot on the insurmountable 102-point lead world’s best didn’t have to con- line,” Stephens said after the from Dovizioso at the top of the tend with the local wildlife, un- match. standings, struggled around the like the Moto3 contenders, with “I knew it was going to be a demanding circuit in seventh, a wallaby hopping across the battle and just tried to play as 0.608 off the pace. track in front of one bike at turn hard as I could.” The Spaniard, who won the 5. A black swan also took a liking The match started tensely, race last year ahead of Valentino to the picturesque circuit that with Kerber unable to convert Rossi, took a tumble, hitting the fronts the ocean, waddling over seven break points in Stephens’ deck on the hard turn 10 during the tarmac during a lull in pro- fi rst three service games, and fi rst practice. ceedings. the missed opportunities proved costly. An energetic Stephens made Sloane Stephens of the US celebrates after winning her group stage match against Germany’s Angelique Kerber yesterday. (Reuters) her pay by converting all three of her break points to draw fi rst on serve. tirement earlier yesterday. and worse every time I played. tournament of the year, it’s un- blood. “If the court was a little bit She won the fi rst set 6-3 in 47 I couldn’t even really practice believable.” The American impressively faster, maybe the result would minutes before US Open cham- that well today.” Osaka had started the match counterattacked and pinpoint- be on my side today,” she said. pion Osaka, who wiped away But it was enough for Bertens brightly, rolling through her ed the lines to frustrate Kerber, “I made a little bit more mis- tears, forfeited the match. to seal a fi nal four spot having service games before being bro- who survived an injury scare takes than usual.” It was a bitterly disappoint- defeated Kerber earlier in the ken in the eighth game. when she landed awkwardly On her fi fth break point, ing end for the 21-year-old, round-robin phase. With her upper leg heavily midway through the fi rst set. Stephens claimed the decisive who came into Singapore as the Bertens only qualifi ed for the strapped, Osaka called a medi- Kerber was immediately un- break in the eighth game and form player but lost three-set WTA Finals just days before the cal timeout after the eighth der pressure in the second set then served it out to knockout matches to Stephens and Ker- tournament after world number game and required treatment in and saved seven break points in the Wimbledon champion. ber. one Simona Halep withdrew the locker room. the fourth game before cracking “I hurt my left hamstring due to injury. She came back on court but under the pressure. TEARFUL WITHDRAWAL in the fi rst match (against “It’s never easy or never nice dropped her serve to love, cul- LCR Honda Castrol’s British rider Cal Crutchlow speeds through a There was still fi ght left in Bertens faces unbeaten Elina Stephens),” Osaka told report- to win a match like this, but it is minating in a double fault which corner during the second MotoGP practice session at the Phillip the German, who broke straight Svitolina after a hamstring in- ers. what it is,” Bertens said. turned out to be her last action Island circuit yesterday. (AFP) back but continued to struggle jury forced Naomi Osaka’s re- “It was just getting worse “To be at the last four, last at the WTA Finals.

FOCUS Hint of revenge as Zverev reaches Basel last four AFP hours.“He’s a tough player with “Copil has nothing to lose satisfi ed with his slow start, going Grand Slam champion served Basel, Switzerland a dangerous game,” the winner coming form qualifying, so I down a break in the third game. out a 41st victory of the season said as he prepared to face Ro- have to be ready for anything.” “I didn’t really get into the with a volley into the empty manian qualifi er Marius Copil, Zverev owns three titles this game. It’s been a long time since court on his fi rst match point. econd seed Alexan- who defeated Taylor Fritz 7-6 season, form Munich, Madrid I’ve played a match a match “It was a lot of rocky start, I der Zverev hammered a (8/6), 7-5. and Washington. without being broken. I have to had to clean up my game, I’m dozen aces to reach the Zverev needed an hour to Earlier on Thursday, Roger improve in the next round.” happy about that,” Federer said. semi-fi nals of the Swiss claim the opening set against Federer won his 17th consecu- The 37-year-old, ranked third “There were a lot of quick points IndoorsS yesterday with a 7-5, 6-3 Bautista Agut, reaching set point tive match at the Swiss Indoors in the world, trailed to the early – one or two shots max. defeat of Roberto Bautista Agut. in the fi rst with a backwards be- yesterday, dispatching Jan-Len- break but soon recovered for “There was no rhythm, it The win was a reversal of the tween-the-legs ‘tweener’ which nard Struff 6-3, 7-5 to reach the 3-all in the opening set. was a sprint on the majority of fi rst main draw match of Zver- landed good. quarter-fi nals. He then broke for 5-3 before points. I did a little better than ev’s career when, as a 16-year- In the second, he trailed, but The top seed, unbeaten in Ba- closing out the opener in 27 min- him I guess, that was the goal for old wild card, he lost to Bautista was able to recover and complete sel since 2013, is an eight-time utes. today.” Agut in Hamburg in 2013. victory, his 52nd of the season. winner of his home event and The second set stayed on serve Fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsi- The 21-year-old German ral- “(Trailing) 3-0 in the second, will next play Frenchman Gilles until a fi fth double-fault from pas dominated Peter Gojowczyk lied from a break down in the I started to play more aggres- Simon, who defeated Latvia’s Er- Struff , which opened the door 6-3, 6-1 to line up a quarter-fi nal Germany’s Alexander Zverev returns a ball to Spain’s Roberto second set to overhaul the Span- sive. I was able to play my game,” nests Gulbis 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/0). for Federer to move 6-5 ahead. with one of his toughest Next- Bautista-Agut during their quarter-final at the Swiss Indoors ATP 500 iard in one and three-quarter Zverev said. Federer admitted he was not Moments later, the 20-time Gen rivals. tennis tournament in Basel yesterday. (AFP)

Saturday, October 27, 2018 GULF TIMES SPORT

QNB STARS LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT Eto’o nets winner as Qatar SC beat Al Arabi 1-0

By Sports Reporter chances in the first half. The Arabi’s attacks lacked teeth. compound The Dream Team’s goal came as a result of a blun- There were missed chances woes, captain Abdulla Marafy Gharafa hit Doha der by goalkeeper Sataa al- at both ends before the half- had to be stretchered off with Abbasi, who fumbled with the time whistle. Qatar SC’s strik- a muscle pull and was replaced ameroonian great collection of a back pass and er Osama Omari hit wide from by Gaser Zakaria. Samuel Eto’o scored Eto’o trapped the ball before close range after 40 minutes, Al-Hail, who has been in the only goal of the placing it home in the 25th followed by El Neel’s shot that great form this season, was at Khor for six match as Qatar SC de- minute. was blocked by goalkeeper it again. This time, he palmed By Sports Reporter (against Al Rayyan and Al featedC Al Arabi 1-0 in Week 10 of Sataa was standing in for Jassim al-Hail after the striker over a power-packed shot Kharaitiyat in that order). Doha the QNB Stars League at the Al injured regular keeper Masoud had dodged past two defend- from just outside the box by Al Gharafa forced 11 corner Arabi Stadium yesterday. Zarayi who had missed their ers on top of the box. Fathy. kicks as against the rivals’ fi ve. This was only the third vic- previous match against Al Ahli Mailson took the field at the After Al Arabi’s Franco Hur- l Gharafa slammed six Sneijder was making his re- tory for Qatar Sports Club this as well. start of second half in place of tado’s shot went wide, al-Hail past Al Khor with- turn from an injury layoff that season and it took their tally With new coach Hatem al- Mohamed Ismaildin. The Bra- brought out a diving save to out reply in their QNB saw him miss a few matches. to 11, while Al Arabi crashed to Moaddeb opting to play with zilian striker’s presence surely thwart Mailson. Stars League match at Amro opened the fl oodgates their fourth successive defeat only one striker (Mohammed revitalised the Al Arabi ranks. Al Arabi’s all efforts late into theA Al Gharafa Stadium yester- off a pass from Muath Yahya. and remained on 12 points. Salah El Neel), Mailson Farias Al Arabi’s Ahmed Fathi had the game went in vain as the day. Brazilian striker Wagner Fer- Qatar SC created more started on the bench and Al a shot parried by al-Hail. To scoreline remained the same. Amro Seraj (16th), Wesley reira had found the net as early Sneijder (51st), Vladimir Weiss as the second minute, but the (53rd), Mehdi Taremi (64th and goal was ruled off side. QATAR CLASSIC SQUASH 83rd) and Ahmed Alaaeldin As the second half began, (72nd) scored the goals. Al Gharafa started from where Al Gharafa, coached by they left off . Frenchman Christian Gourcuff , Sneijder’s goal came off an as- thus got back to winning ways, sist from Iranian striker Mehdi having played out a 1-1 draw Taremi. Soon, it was Slovakian with Al Rayyan in the previous attacking midfi elder Weiss’ turn round. to get on to the scoresheet. The Cheetahs’ fourth victory Alaaeldin also got into the Elshorbagy targets helped them earn 14 points so scoring act in between Taremi’s far in the standings. goals. As the scoreline indicates, it On a day when Al Khor, under was Al Gharafa all the way with Frenchman Bernard Casoni, did 55 per cent ball possession. not get things right, Al Gharafa The red card to Rebin Solaka goalkeeper Yousef Hassan was in the 40th minute made mat- in exceptional form. ters worse for Al Khor, who had He thwarted attempts mainly fourth title in Doha won their previous two games by Wagner and Ahmed Yassin. The Egyptian world number 1 is the most successful player in the event’s history

By Sports Reporter Doha

orld No.1 Mohamed ElShor- bagy of Egypt is excited and confi dent ahead of his re- turn at the Khalifa Interna- Wtional Tennis & Squash Complex, where he has won three Qatar Classic titles. This year’s edition begins today ElShorbagy is leading the pack of 48 players, including most of the world’s top 20, who will be competing for the tour- nament’s total cash prize of $177,750 and trophy. The defending champion hopes to win his fourth title on November 2 as he says that he feels at home at the Qatar Classic after reaching six successive fi nals here. “Really excited to be back to Doha and Mohamed ElShorbagy of Egypt is welcomed at the Hamad International Airport yesterday. At right, Qatar’s Abdulla al-Tamimi. play one of my favourite tournaments, ElShorbagy, who has won the titles in US Open title on October 14, is drawn and I stepped up and won the tourna- twenty in the world rankings, achieving 2013, 2015 and 2017 said. on the same side of the draw as World ment. I really hope I can go back there the feat in 2012, in the second round to- The 27-year-old Egyptian is the most No.5 Simon Rosner and World No.8 Paul and do it one more time and let’s see what morrow. successful player in the tournament’s Coll, while Ali Farag, Tarek Momen and happens, there are a lot of good players Apart from Amjad, Qatari champion history, and he has also reached the World No.6 Miguel Angel Rodriguez are right now playing really well but hope- Abdulla al-Tamimi and Abdulrahman Al Gharafa’s Wesley Sneijder celebrates scoring as Vladimir Weiss World Championship fi nal here on two involved on the opposite side. ElShor- fully I will be up to the task and be able to al-Malki, who will appear in the main rushes to congratulate him during their QNB Stars League match occasions, in 2012 and 2014. bagy has received a bye through to round defend my title.” draw for the fi rst since the 2006 edition, against Al Khor at Al Gharafa Sports Club yesterday. “I have great memories from Doha,” two, where he will play either Qatari No.2 He started this season with a fi nal ap- are leading the Qatari challenge. World ElShorbagy told psaworldtour.com re- Syed Azlan Amjad or Hong Kong’s Tsz pearance at the Oracle NetSuite Open No.24 Tamimi will take on Malaysia’s fl ecting upon his success in Qatari capi- Fung Yip tomorrow. in San Francisco – where he lost out to World No.42 Eain Yow Ng in round one. tal. ElShorbagy has overtaken the legen- World No.2 Farag – before beating World As a PSA World Tour Platinum tourna- Al Sadd take on Al Ahli today He has a rich vein of form in Doha, dary Amr Shabana in August to become No.5 Simon Rosner to win the US Open ment, the winner of the event will auto- winning 29 of his last 32 matches here, the longest-reigning Egyptian World recently. matically qualify for a coveted berth at Al Sadd will concentrate their will prepare well for the match,” and he is looking forward to start his No.1. He has now held top spot for 36 World No.4 Momen and last year’s the season-ending PSA World Tour Fi- energies on the QNB Stars Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira campaign at the venue where he has months overall – three more than four- runner-up, who has ended a four-year nals. League title after their exit from said ahead of his team’s match dominated his opponents in recent past. time World Champion and compatriot trophy drought last week after beat- The venue has a new-look with attrac- the AFC Champions League against Al Ahli today. “I always love playing here,” he said. Shabana – across three spells atop the ing fellow Egyptian Farag 3-2 to win tive branding refl ecting the mood of the earlier this week. “We wished to play in the Asian “I have made six fi nals in the last six World Rankings and the Bristol-based the Channel VAS Championships at St tournament. “There is a huge expecta- “This game comes at a very sad competition’s final. We will now years, so I always feel that if there is Egyptian has 34 PSA Tour titles to his George’s Hill, PSA World Tour Gold event tion for this year’s tournament consider- time for us after our exit from focus on the league and we will somewhere where I am the hardest to name. held in Weybridge, is also in good form. ing the calibre of players on parade. We the AFC Champions League. The play for the title. We have some beat then it is defi nitely Qatar because I “I am really looking forward to start Momen also got a fi rst round bye and are delighted to play host to such a strong players are suff ering from physi- very important games coming always feel at home on that court.” my campaign and will try to defend the will take on Nicolas Mueller, the only fi eld,” says tournament director Tareq cal and mental agony, but we up.” The Egyptian, who captured his third title. I had a tough draw there last year Swiss player to have broken into the top Zainal.

MOTORCYCLING Champion Rea asserts supremacy at Losail

By Sahan Bidappa Doha

onathan Rea’s unbelievable run continued at the Losail Interna- tional Circuit yesterday as the Ka- wasaki rider closed in on history. JRea, who has already sealed his fourth successive World Superbike title, won the Race 1 of the Qatar round, for his 11th consecutive victory. It was Rea’s 17th win of the year, which equalled Doug Polen’s record from 1991. He also moved to within just 12 points of the highest points tally in one WorldSBK season, with the British rider having the opportunity to rewrite the record books in today’s Race 2. Rea snatched the lead from teammate Lucas Mahais of Yamaha in action at Losail yesterday. and pole starter Tom Sykes, and then was untouchable throughout the circuit stages and was passed by van der Mark Cluzel (NRT) completed the front row in to win comprehensively by 1.4 seconds. to end up eighth. second and third. “It was a fun race especially in the be- But Davies still has a 23-point advan- Separated by just fi ve points in the ginning. I must say in the last fi ve laps, tage going into today’s race and unless he standings, both men headed out onto I seemed to have some issues with the crashes and van der Mark wins the race, the Losail tarmac knowing that whoever front tyre which means we have some the Welshman should be able to retain wins the race today will also take the ti- work tomorrow I am so happy to have his second position in the world cham- tle. The competitiveness was apparent won my 17th race of the season,” Rea Jonathan Rea (c) celebrates on the podium with runner up Tom Sykes (L) and third placed Alex Lowes. pionship. right from the get-go, with Cortese’s said. fi rst lap only four thousandths of a sec- “I am so fortunate to be in this posi- Pata Yamaha’s Alex Lowes beat Eu- Laverty was ahead for most of the race was able to overtake again into Turn 12 MAHIAS TAKES WORLDSSP ond faster the Cluzel’s. However, both tion. I want to thank my team for putting gene Laverty to the fi nal podium spot in as he passed Lowes on the opening lap and Laverty made a mistake at the fi nal SUPERPOLE men were quickly surpassed by the 2017 me in this position and for being there a thrilling last-lap duel. “It was a sensa- and later breezed past the Yamaha on the turn, nearly crashing, before settling for In the WorldSSP, Lucas Mahias of Champion. for me all the time,” he added. tional race. It was a hard battle. I enjoyed main straight a few laps after Lowes had fourth. Yamaha took the Superpole for today’s That didn’t change in the fi nal min- Sykes was pleased with his runner- this battle. Hopefully we can improve for made a successful move to retake posi- Meanwhile, Ducati’s Chaz Davies race with a record lap of 2:00.461 secs utes of qualifying, with a confi dent up fi nish. “It’s not bad being second. It the fi nal race and get some more points,” tion. extended his lead over Michael van der around Losail International Circuit. The Mahias claiming pole despite Cortese’s is always better to win but we did well. Lowes said. Once Rea went ahead of Lowes never let Laverty escape and Mark of Yamaha by one point in the race Frenchman was unmatchable around best eff orts, with the German fi nishing We just couldn’t cope with the start to- Sykes even before arriving on turn 1, he passed him on the last lap at Turn 4, only for second overall position. Both the rid- the circuit and will head into today’s race 0.149 seconds behind. Cluzel fi nished day. We had good speed. All in all, a good quickly built a lead of over a second even for Laverty to launch a successful coun- ers were nose-to-tail for much of the alongside the two title contenders, as third and a whole four tenths behind his day’s racing for us,” he said. as Laverty and Lowes jostled behind. ter-attack two corners later. But Lowes 17 laps, but Davies struggled in the late Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing) and Jules championship rival.