16 SPORT SATURDAY 20 MAY 2017 Mumbai Indians Rally Kazakhstan: Must-win race storm into IPL final

Bangalore for defending champion Abdulla IANS runal Pandya's unbeaten 30-ball 45 helped Mumbai Indians record Aatau City, Kazakhstan FIA T2 Ka facile six- win over Kolk- The Peninsula Adel Abdulla in action during ata Knight Riders (KKR) in their Indian a desert rally in this file photo. Cross-Country Premier League (IPL) second qualifier atari driver Adel INSET: Saudi Arabian driver Rally World Cup clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Hussein Abdulla and championship leader Yasir Bangalore yesterday. knows that nothing Saeidan in action during an Positions after round 4 Mumbai, who finished on 111/4 in 14.3 short of victory will earlier stage of FIA T2 Cross- 1. Yasir Saeidan (SAU) 140pts overs, will now take on Steve Smith's Ris- Qbe sufficient if he is Country Rally World Cup. 2. Mansoor Al Helai (ARE) 91pts ing Pune Supergiant in the final on to stand any chance of retain- 3. Adel Abdulla (QAT) 50pts Sunday. ing his title as Saudi Arabian 4. Ahmed Al Shegawi (SAU) 36pts Earlier, Mumbai leg-spinner Karn driver Yasir Saeidan arrives 5. Mohammed Al Harqan (QAT) 30pts Sharma took four to bowl out on the shores of the Caspian 6. Ahmed Al Malki (SAU) 27pts KKR for a paltry 107 in 18.5 overs. Sea to take part in the inau- 7. Emil Khneisser (LEB) 24pts Karn (4/16) was brilliant on the night gural Rally Kazakhstan with 8. Marat Abykayev (KAZ) 18pts taking the wickets of (10), a commanding 49-point Gautam Gambhir (12), Colin de Grand- championship lead. homme (0) and Ishank Jaggi (28) to derail The event gets underway Rally Kazakhstan Presi- KKR's innings. in Aktau City tomorrow. dent Marat Abykayev and Brief scores: Minor problems and per- fellow countrymen Kirill : 107 (Surya- sistent misfortune sees Chernenkov and Pavel Logi- kumar Yadav 31; Karn Sharma 4/16, Abdulla arriving in Aktau City nov will also be hoping for Jasprit Bumrah 3/7) trailing Saeidan by 90 points podium finishes on their Mumbai Indians: 108 for 4 (Kru- after a non-finish at his home home event. Abykayev lies nal Pandya 42 not out, Piyush Chawla event in Qatar with the QX eighth in the points’ standings 2/34) Rally Team Nissan last month. after his second position in Second place in Dubai was the He and French navigator firmly on course to win back have not made the trip to Cen- Baja Russia back in best result so far this season Sébastien Delaunay will use a the title for series production tral Asia because of logistical February. for the Doha-based driver, Nissan Patrol Y62 prepared by cross-country vehicles that he difficulties. That means the After weeks of dry We don't have time although he has set several TOK Sport. lost in the FIA appeal court son of the experienced Abu weather, heavy rain has fastest stage times. The Toyota Land Cruiser after the 2016 season had fin- Dhabi driver Yayha Al Helai lashed the area in the last few to think negative, “I know that this rally is driver, Saeidan has been a ished. Frenchman Laurent will not be able to challenge days, but the forecast is for just so important,” said Adel. model of consistency this sea- Lichtleuchter will co-drive. Saeidan and could well fall brighter, warmer weather says Mortaza “I have to win, simple as son and victories in Baja Mansoor Al Helai features into the clutches of Adel during the six days of com- that. I need the 50 points. I Russia, the Abu Dhabi Desert on the original entry list issued Abdulla if the Qatari enjoys a petition. In a compact route have to close the gap at the Challenge and the Qatar by the Automotorsport Fed- good run through the western of around 2,500km before Dublin top. There are plenty of events Cross-Country Rally and third eration of the Republic of deserts of the eighth largest the finish in Aktau City on AFP left yet, but it has not been my position in the Dubai Interna- Kazakhstan, but the Emirati country by land mass on the May 27, over 1,850km will be year so far.” tional Baja have put the Saudi and navigator Khalid Al-Kendi planet. timed against the clock. angladesh captain Mashrafe Mor- taza is happy to go straight back into Baction today as the Tigers go in search of their first win in the Tri-Series in Dublin. Barnes, Hahn share After their first game in the one-day Sharapova to play international tournament, a warm-up for next month's Champions Trophy in Eng- land, against Ireland was rained off, they lead at Byron Nelson lost to New Zealand by four wickets. Wimbledon qualifiers But they have less than 36 hours before they face Ireland again at Dallas Paris testing positive for then newly-banned heart Malahide. AFP Reuters condition drug meldonium at the 2016 Aus- "It means we don't have time to think tralian Open. The Court of Arbitration for negative thoughts after this loss, we have ames Hahn (pic- aria Sharapova will probably have Sport (CAS) reduced the sanction to 15 to regroup and take positive things into tured) fired a bogey to win 10 matches to claim a sec- months, saying she was not an "intentional the game against Ireland," said Mortaza. Jfree six-under 64 to M ond Wimbledon title this year after doper". "Playing Ireland in Ireland is always take a share of the lead deciding yesterday not to request a wild- The US-based player called her pun- difficult, so we have to be careful and not with fellow American card for the championships. ishment "unfairly harsh" saying she had make the mistakes we made in the first Ricky Barnes after the The 30-year-old returned from a not realised meldonium, a product she had match." first round of the USPGA 15-month doping ban last month and has used legally for much of her career, had Bangladesh enjoyed a much better Tour's Byron Nelson failed to gain a high enough ranking for been added to the World Anti-Doping start against the Black Caps, putting on 72 tournament yesterday. automatic entry into the 128-strong main Agency (WADA) banned list. for the first wicket in 15 overs but they lost Hahn, who is seek- draw. Her comeback has been aided by wild- their way in the middle overs and were ing his third win on the Set to enter the top 200 on Monday, cards in Stuttgart, where she reached the restricted to 257 for nine at Clontarf. Tour, tallied six birdies however, she is eligible to play in the qual- semi-finals, Madrid and Rome. "We are not far away, three batsmen with no bogeys at the ifying event the week before in Several players have voiced their dis- got in and got out and next time we must Four Seasons Resort Roehampton, where she would need to approval at Sharapova's return, most correct the mistakes," said Mortaza. course. survive three rounds just to take her place noticeably Canada's Eugenie Bouchard Matt Kuchar, Jho- in round one at the All England Club. who said Sharapova should have been nattan Vegas of Russian Sharapova, the 2004 cham- banned for life, calling her a "cheater". Venezuela, Jason pion and former world number one, Bouchard beat Sharapova in Madrid. Karthik recalled for Kokrak and Cameron announced the news on her website. Sharapova will have to break new Tringale are two "Because of my improved ranking after ground if she is to win Wimbledon this Champions Trophy strokes back after the first three tournaments of my return, year as no qualifier has won the women's carding 66s. I will also be playing ...in Roehampton, and singles title. New Delhi World number one will not be requesting a wildcard," said American Alexandra Stevenson came AFP Dustin Johnson, Bud Sharapova, who has received a wildcard closest when she reached the semi-final Cauley, Brooks for the Wimbledon warmup event in in 1999 before losing to Lindsay icketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Koepka, John Huh, Birmingham. Davenport.avenpot. Karthik has earned a recall to Sean O'Hair, Ryan Sharapova could hhaveave securesecuredd a pplacelace WIndia's one-day international Armour and Peter Mal- in the Wimbledon mainain draw by right had squad for the upcoming Champions Tro- nati were tied for seventh after Amateur champion, went on she reached the semi-finalsi-finals at thethe ItalianItalian phy, replacing injured Manish Pandey, the shooting 67s. an up-and-down ride, as his Open in Rome, but shehe withdrew injured country's board said. Scores in the afternoon scorecard featured eight bird- during a second roundd matchmatch against Mir- Karthik was included in the 15-man averaged more than two ies and two bogeys. jana Lucic-Baroni. squad yesterday after Pandey sustained strokes higher than the morn- "I played solid, kept the "I have already startedtarted getting treat- a side strain during a practice session with ing group, as winds swirled hole in front of me even though ment on the injury I sustainedsustained a fewfew daysdays the Kolkata Knight Riders for the ongo- around the Texas course. I didn't hit many fairways," ago in Rome, and willl begin my preparaprepara-- ing Indian Premier League Hahn, whose last win was Barnes said. tion as soon I get better,"tter," thethe five-timesfive-times tournament. at the 2016 Wells Fargo Cham- Johnson two-putted from grand slam championn saisaid.d. The 31-year-old Karthik, who was part pionship, found the fairway on 90 feet on the 18th hole to stay Her decision takeskes the heat off the of India's title-winning Champions Tro- 12 of 14 chances and hit all but a part of his group. Wimbledon wildcardd ccommitteeommittee wwhichhich phy campaign in 2013, last played an ODI one green in regulation. "I felt like I hit a lot of good meets on June 20 andnd could technically against Afghanistan during the 2014 Asia "It's playing tough out shots and ended up in really still offer her automaticic entry into tthehe main Cup. there," Hahn said. "You know, bad spots due to the wind con- draw. However, in lightght ofof thethe decisiondecision ofof Karthik was one of the five Indian once you start counting up ditions blowing really hard and French Tennis Federationation (FFT)(FFT) on Tues-Tues- players kept on standby for the ICC tour- your strokes in the middle of it's gusty, which made it day to snub Sharapovava forfor a nament starting June 1 in England and the round it's kind of when tough," Johnson said. French Open wildcard,card, Wales. things go haywire. "It was tough to judge the they would have beeneen Besides a consistent showing in first- "I had a great conversation distance, tough putting, tough under pressure to followlloww class cricket this year, Karthik has been with my caddy on almost every all around." suit. the second-highest scorer (361 runs) for hole trying to leave ourselves World No. 6 Jordan Spieth Sharapova was his IPL team Gujarat Lions. the best opportunity for a and fourth-ranked Jason Day initially banned for India begin their Group B campaign birdie." of Australia headlined a list of two years after Maria Sharapova against arch-rivals Pakistan in Birming- Barnes, the 2002 US 12 players at 68. ham on June 4. SATURDAY 20 MAY 2017 SPORT 17 Baku Games: Qatar's Bader wins gold in javelin

Armstrong Vas hammer throw final as Esref Apak The Peninsula clinched gold by the tiniest of mar- gins from compatriot Ozkan Baltaci. atar won one gold, silver and Apak fouled on his opening bronze each at the Islamic three efforts before he landed a sea- QSolidarity games in Baku to son’s best 74.32m on his fourth take their medals tally to double attempt to win the gold. Baltaci was digits. an agonising 19 centimetres short Yesterday, Magour Ahmed as he settled for silver in a Turkish Bader won gold in the Javelin throw one-two. while the silver went to Zaytsev Another Qatari in the final, Ivan of Uzbekistan and Pakistan’s Ahmed Elseify, finished seventh Nadeem Arshad took the bronze. with a 66.28m effort. In the men’s high jump, Hamdi Qatar major share of medals Mahamat Allamine took the second have come from shooting, Ahmad place while Syria’s Ghazal Majd Zayed Al Shammari gave winning Eddin Syr bagged the gold followed the 25m Standard Pistol Men’s while by Ghanbar Zadeh Keyvan of Iran. Kholoud Hassan Al Khalaf and The third medal of the day came Mohammed Khejaim combined to in table tennis with Li Ping clinch- win the bronze medal in the Mixed ing the bronze. Trap. With yesterday’s three medals Azerbaijan are leading the med- Qatar took their medal count to ten. als tally followed by Turkey while Earlier, Ashraf Amgad Elseify Iran and Uzbekistan are close on won men’s hammer throw bronze. heels of the top-two. Magour Ahmed Bader of Qatar in action in the Islamic Solidarity The 22-year-old athlete, the A total of 300 competitors, rep- Games in Baku yesterday. Bader won gold. INSET: Qatari high 2012 Asian Junior Athletics Cham- resenting 27 countries, battled for pionships gold medallist, threw honours in 15 Olympic and three jumper Hamdi Mahamat Allamine successfully clears the bar 73.17m to finish third. non-Olympic events at the 11-day to win the silver medal. It was a Turkish delight in the event.

Kane not for Legends Lahm, Alonso sale, vows Pochettino

bow out with Bayern Leicester AFP Berlin AFP auricio Pochettino insists there is no ayern Munich will Mchance Harry Kane farewell two giants of will be allowed to leave Tot- the game on Saturday tenham after his "special" when World Cup win- striker's four-goal blitz in the ners Philipp Lahm 6-1 rout of Leicester. Band Xabi Alonso retire from pro- Kane is odds on to finish as fessional football. the Premier League's top Manchester United's manager Jose Mourinho speaks to Bayern's game at home to scorer for the second succes- Freiburg promises to be an emo- members of the media at a press conference at the club's sive season thanks to his lethal tional afternoon as the training complex near Carrington, west of Manchester in display at the King Power Sta- Bundesliga champions lift the north west yesterday. dium on Thursday. trophy for the fifth successive The England international season. now has 26 goals, putting him Between them, Lahm, 33, United kids need more two ahead of Everton's and Alonso, 35, won every major Romelu Lukaku with one trophy and were key figures in game remaining in the race two of the 21st century's most time admits Mourinho for the golden boot. incredible matches. It was the kind of preda- Xabi Alonso celebrates after scoring a goal in this file picture Defensive midfielder Alonso tory performance that scored Liverpool's crucial third London next Wednesday. With United Pochettino believes further goal in their comeback from 3-0 three of the world's biggest clubs of his Liverpool days. He will AFP unable to finish in the Premier enhances Kane's reputation down at half-time in the 2005 -- Liverpool, Real Madrid and forever be remembered at League's top four, Mourinho as one of the world's best fin- Champions League final against Bayern. Anfield for his part in the fight ose Mourinho admits Man- is banking on winning the ishers. Inevitably, Europe's AC Milan, before winning 3-2 in He credits his moved to Mer- back in the 2005 European final, chester United's youngsters Europa League to seal a place top clubs will be considering a penalty shoot-out, in seyside in 2004, five years after netting a 60th-minute penalty Jare not ready for their sud- in next season's Champions mega-money bids for Kane Istanbul. signing his first pro contract with to win the Champions League den introduction to the Premier League. in the close season, but Lahm captained Germany home-town club Real Sociedad, title at the end of his first season League against Crystal Palace That means Joel Pereira, Pochettino has no intention from right-back when his team for kick-starting his career. in England. on Sunday. Kieran O'Hara, Demetri Mitch- of selling his prize asset at any scored four goals in six devas- "My time in England was, for He went on to become a key Mourinho intends to play ell, Scott McTominay, Josh cost. "It is very clear we will tating first-half minutes in their me, spectacular. I was 22, it was part of a golden Spain genera- a weakened side against Pal- Harrop, Matthew Willock, keep the players we want to 7-1 thrashing of hosts Brazil in my first experience of living on tion which won the 2010 World ace in a bid to keep his senior Zachary Dearnley and keep," Pochettino said. the semi-finals of the 2014 my own and of living in this file Cup in South Africa either side stars fit and fresh ahead of 16-year-old midfielder Angel "We are so calm about World Cup. picutersomewhere which wasn't of the 2008 and 2012 European the Europa League final Gomes will all be involved at our key players. They are Alonso made his mark at my home town," he reminisced titles. against Ajax in Stockholm Old Trafford this weekend. happy here, we have an excit- ing project." Kane's fifth Premier League hat-trick in just over two years took him to 32 Al Rayyan Futsal Championship begins on May 29 goals in all competitions this season, four more than he managed last term and one The Peninsula The tournament, which will placed team will take home more than the 31 he bagged see some interesting matches, QR75, 000. in the 2014-15 season. wenty futsal teams from will begin on the third day of the There will also be other cash The 23-year-old would Qatar will battle it at the Al Ramadan period and end on the awards for the top goal scorer, surely have scored more than TRayyan Channel Futsal 18th day. best goal keeper and MVP of the 40 if he hadn't missed two Championship which will kick The winner’s and runner’s up tournament. In addition, Al chunks of this season with off at Al Rayyan SC Stadium from will share an early Eid Al Fitr gift Rayyan Channel will give out ankle injuries, and Pochettino May 29, informed the of QR250, 000 and QR150, 000 QR48, 000 as Man-of-the Match spoke glowing about Kane's organisers. respectively, while the third awards throughout the appetite for success. championship. "We feel so proud of There will be 40 preliminary Harry, to score four goals was matches before the knockout fantastic," Pochettino said. stages all played at 15 minutes’ "He was injured twice this halves with a 2-minute break. season but he is so fresh now The opening day will feature and he is trying to score a lot the championships opening of goals to finish at the top. Al Rayyan Channel GM Mubarak Al Awammi conducting the speech, entertainment, prizes "Harry's a special player, and giveaways. The event is free embassy team draw with TV host Sabah Al Kuwari. he loves Tottenham. He and opens to the public. means a lot for the team. The tournament will bring Adaam who face new comers Al host and telecast live the sec- "I tell you always that he's some promising matches with Rahib Futsal while Al Annabi ond edition of our futsal one of the best strikers in the last year’s semifinalists Al Nour face 2016 title holders Al Jarayan. competition. I look forward to world. His performances and Al Galayel taking on Ein Al Rayyan Satellite Chan- welcoming the teams, players show that we are right." Khaled and Duhail respectively nel’s general manager and head and spectators to the Ramadan Kane can wrap up the in the opening match. of the Al Rayyan Futsal Com- feature which appears to be golden boot by getting on the Other standout games from mittee, Mubarak Al Awwami more fiercely competitive this scoresheet again in Totten- A section of the crowd attending the Al Rayyan Futsal the first round of matches said: “It is with great delight year and God willing more ham's final game at Hull on Championship draw at Al Rayyan SC Stadium. include last year’s runners up Al that Al Rayyan Channel will successful”. Sunday. 18 SPORT SATURDAY 20 MAY 2017

The jubilant Al Sadd players and officials celebrate with 2017 Emir's Cup at Khalifa International Stadium yesterday. Al Sadd registered a fighting 2-1-win over Al Rayyan in an exciting final to bag their 16th Emir Cup title.

Al Sadd Emir Cup champions Armstrong Vas lead in the 49th minute through very early in the first half. crucial goals and set up one in pressed hard but Al Rayyan Al SADD'S SUCCESS The Peninsula Rodrigo Tabata while Hassan Al Playmaker Tabata, who is the 3-1 win over Lekhwiya in the keeper affected a couple of saves Haydos equalised seven minute dangerous when it comes to semifinals, made no mistake to keep the marauding strikers STORY AT l Sadd rallied from a later. executing free kicks, nearly with the second attempt as his at bay. goal down to register Al Sadd scored the match struck in the 16th minute. first one came back to him off With Al Rayyan going all out EMIR CUP a fighting 2-1-win winner in added-on time of the The Brazilian-born striker the rival keeper Al Dosari, who in search for the goal, Al Sadd over Al Rayyan in an match with Jugurtha Hamroun however watched with frustra- blocked the try but only to find notched the match winner in a QUARTERFINALS: exciting final of the notching the decisive goal for tion as his brilliantly executed Tabata latch on to the rebound counter attack. Beat Al Kharaitiyat 4-1 EmirA Cup at the renovated Kha- the Wolves. free kick flew a few inches off in a flash and score. Al Sadd’s Hamroun left a host lifa International Stadium Both the teams set a hot the far post much to relief of the The goal sent about wild cel- of Al Rayyan defenders behind SEMIFINALS: yesterday. pace from the very beginning of Al Sadd keeper Saad Abdulla Al ebrations among the Al Rayyan him and after covering a lot of Beat El Jaish 2-0 The iconic stadium was ear- the match, watched by FIFA Dosari. supporters. space beat the advancing keeper lier inaugurated by the Emir H H President Infantino and other At the other end, Al Sadd Al Sadd did not take time to with an adroit placement. FINAL: Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al high ranking football officials tried to break the impasse but get on level terms. Earlier, the Khalifa Interna- Beat Al Rayyan 2-1 Thani watched by a capacity from the region. failed to get past the Al Rayyan Italian referee Rocchi Gian- tional Stadium was declared crowd close to 48,000. With both the teams giving defense as a result the teams luca pointed to the spot kick as open in a colorful opening AL SADD is the team All the goals came in the sec- out their best and ready to out- went into the half time break Al Sadd player Baghdad ceremony. with most number of ond half to give Al Sadd their 16th smart their rivals with every deadlocked at 0-0. Bounedjah was deemed to have The renovated Khalifa Inter- Emir Cup title wins: Emir Cup. For coach Jesualdo Fer- trick in the bag, the packed In the second half, Al Rayyan been brought by unfairly by an national Stadium is the first reira’s team, this is the second title house at the renovated stadium came all the guns blazing and Al Rayyan defender. proposed host venue for the Al Sadd won in 1975, of the season, having earlier won had their money’s worth. took the lead five minutes into Off the resultant spot kick, Al 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. 1977, 1982, 1985, 1986, the Qatar Cup. Al Rayyan came close to the session. Haydos made no mistake shoot- With over five years until the 1988, 1991, 1994, Al Rayyan went in to the breaking open the rival defense Tabata picked up holes in the ing his try past the outstretched 2022 World Cup kicks-off, the 2000, 2001, 2003, Al Sadd defense to give the lead hands of Al Rayyan keeper unveiled stadium is the tourna- 2005, 2007, 2014, for The Lions. Oumar Oumar Barry. ment's first completed venue to 2015 and 2017. The striker who scored two Thereafter, Al Rayyan be thrown open.

Al Sadd's Spanish capitan and Barca legend Xavi Hernandez (right) is embraced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the presentation ceremony of the 2017 Emir Cup at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha yesterday . Al Sadd's Jugurtha Hamroun (not in the picture) scores their winning goal during the final. Pictures by Baher Amin/The Peninsula SATURDAY 20 MAY 2017 SPORT 19

Jubilant Al Sadd fans celebrate after their team beat Al Rayyan in the Emir's Cup final played at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha yesterday.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends the Emir Cup final at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha yesterday. Wolves' moment of glory

Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Al Sadd players celebrate with the Emir's Cup Ferreira reacts during after defeating Al Rayyan in the final. LEFT: Al the final. Sadd striker Hassan Al Haydos in action during yesterday's final. Pictures by Baher Amin/ The Peninsula