THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 SPORTS

Vlasic back in training Concussion knocks South Young dives into controversy ZAGREB: Croatia’s former world high-jump champion Blanka Vlasic is back in training LONDON: Manchester United’s Ashley Young plunged headfirst into another diving after recovering from a foot injury. “Already after my first training sessions I did not Africa’s Smith out of ODIs controversy when the winger tumbled over to win a penalty during Tuesday’s 0-0 feel the usual pain, which showed me clearly that I’m on the right path,” Vlasic said in a Champions League draw at Real Sociedad. Robin van Persie smashed the spot kick statement on her official website. Vlasic said she resumed DUBAI: South Africa test captain Graeme Smith has been withdrawn against the right post but Young’s apparent theatrics left former United players accusing training earlier this week after undergoing seven days of from their last three one-day internationals against Pakistan because of him of “conning” the referee. treatment at a sports clinic in Carlow, Ireland. “There is “post concussion syndrome”, team manager Mohammed Moosajee said “If you are a Manchester United player and you see a play- still a lot of hard work ahead of me, but I will stay patient yesterday. Smith received a blow to the head in the second test er getting tugged back you want him to go down. Ashley and keep a smile on my face,” said Vlasic who will turn 30 between the two countries in Dubai late last month and although he Young has obviously gone down too much over the last on Friday. has since played in two successive ODIs in the United Arab Emirates, he few months,” former United captain Roy Keane said on ITV On when she would return to competition, the Croat has felt dizzy and had difficulty focusing in recent days. television. “He’s been heavily criticised in England, but of was less sure. “I am not in a hurry, I have to respect every “We took him for an MRI scan on Tuesday which showed no injury to course we’re playing in a foreign country and it’s almost step of my rehabilitation, but for the time being I’m very the brain but it is prudent to withdraw him. He needs to rest. It could more acceptable. But I think he’s conned the referee there.” satisfied with the development,” she said. Her next medical take a week or two or maybe a bit longer than that to recover,” Young, who was warned by manager David checkup in Ireland was scheduled to take place in three weeks Moosajee told SuperSport television before the third ODI in Abu Dhabi Moyes earlier in the season about diving, went time, she added. on Wednesday in which Smith was due to play. down easily in front of the referee in the 69th Vlasic said in August that her withdrawal from competition this Smith was struck on the head by a bouncer from Pakistan opening minute after Sociedad’s Markel Bergara season would not mean the end of her career. She missed last year’s bowler Mohammad Irfan on his way to a double century in the test, appeared to tug his arm. “This is as bad for Olympics because of repercussions from a poorly-performed opera- which South Africa won to level the two-match series in the UAE. me as all these over-the-top tackles we’re tion on an ankle, but had shown she was returning to form after “He had a slight headache after that but seven days post-injury, dur- getting at the moment because that is a a 20-month absence with victory in her first event back, the ing the second ODI in Dubai, he started complaining of blurred vision conning of the referee,” Sky Sports pundit Diamond League meet in New York. The Croatian won world which progressed to dizziness, unsteadiness on his feet and difficulty and former United player Ray Wilkins gold in 2007 and 2009, as well as silver in 2011. —AFP focusing,” Moosajee added.—Reuters said.—Reuters

Scott targets Capitals pound Islanders

WASHINGTON: Alex Ovechkin returned from a shoulder was called for tripping 32 seconds into the extra period, and the Flames. Reto Berra stopped 13 of 15 shots through two major ‘slam’ injury to score his 11th and 12th goals of the season, and the Arcobello sent a slap shot from the left circle past goalie Jacob periods before the Wild broke the game open with two goals Washington Capitals rode a second-period flurry to a 6-2 win Markstrom 1:23 later. Taylor Fedun netted his first NHL goal, in 33 seconds midway through the third. MELBOURNE: Australia’s Adam Scott has set a goal of over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night. and Philip Larsen also scored for Edmonton. Devan Dubnyk winning a career grand slam of golf’s four majors and After being sidelined for two games, Ovechkin scored made 20 saves. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two assists. BLUES 3, CANADIENS 2 says his breakthrough US Masters win is yet to pay full twice on the power play in a five-goal second period for the Upshall scored two third-period goals, and Marcel Goc also TJ Oshie’s shootout goal lifted St. Louis over Montreal. dividend to his game. Capitals, who have won three straight and are above .500 for scored for the Panthers. Markstrom stopped 23 shots. Florida Alexander Steen and Chris Stewart scored for St. Louis (9-2-2) “I’d love to win the career grand slam and put the first time this season (8-7). John Carlson, Marcus has lost six straight and nine of 10. in regulation. Jaroslav Halak stopped 25 shots through over- myself in that really small group of players who have Johansson, Alexander Urbom and rookie Tom Wilson also time and turned away three shots in the shootout. won all four majors,” the 33-year-old told reporters at scored for Washington, which netted four power-play goals. HURRICANES 2, FLYERS 1 Rene Bourque and Michael Bournival scored for Montreal Australia’s Gold Coast yesterday, his first trip to his Nicklas Backstrom had three assists, and Braden Holtby made Manny Malhotra scored 2:40 into overtime, and Carolina (8-7-1), and Carey Price made 30 saves. St. Louis opened the homeland since his Augusta triumph. 34 saves. John Tavares and Kyle Okposo scored for the broke a five-game losing streak by rallying to beat scoring at 2:38 of the first period when Steen fired home his “I think that would be a good goal but that’s a long Islanders, who had won two in a row. Evgeni Nabokov had 33 Philadelphia. NHL-leading 13th goal of the season. Stewart tied it 2-2 at way off for the moment. I’ve only got one, so there’s a saves. Justin Peters stopped 28 shots and earned his first win of 10:31 of the third period by deflecting Kevin Shattenkirk’s shot lot of work to do.” Only South African Gary Player and Americans Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and STARS 3, BRUINS 2 Gene Sarazen have achieved the feat since the Masters Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley scored in a shootout was founded in 1934. against their former team and lifted Dallas over Boston. It was Having enjoyed the best year of his career with two the second straight shootout win for the Stars. PGA Tour titles, few would dispute the world number Vernon Fiddler tied the game for Dallas on a penalty shot two has the game to win more majors. with 2:34 left in the third period after he was tripped from Scott infamously blew a four-stroke lead in the last behind by Dennis Seidenberg. It erased a lead Boston took four holes of the 2012 British Open to finish runner-up. with 8:21 remaining when Milan Lucic tipped in Dougie The US Open is the only major tournament not to Hamilton’s shot from the blue line. yield a top-10 finish for the Australian. The other goals came in the first period with Benn scoring In the meantime, Scott has turned his attention to for Dallas at 3:38, and Torey Krug tying it at 4:16. The game the far more achievable goal of clinching a career was the first against the Bruins for Seguin and Peverley, who grand slam in the three marquee events of Australia’s were traded to Dallas after last season. Boston lost for the golfing summer. Having won his country’s national fourth time in five games after a four-game winning streak. Open title in 2009 and the Australian Masters last year, Scott will bid to win the Australian PGA Championship SABRES 5, SHARKS 4 trophy at Royal Pines starting on Thursday. Like his Cory Hodgson scored in the fourth round of the shootout mentor and former world number one Greg Norman, and Ryan Miller made 47 saves for Buffalo, which overcame a Scott has been a solid supporter of Australia’s battling pair of blown third-period leads and beat San Jose for its third local tour throughout his career, but returns this time win in 17 games this season. Henrik Tallinder, Cody for a lap of honor and without the major milestone McCormick, Drew Stafford and Tyler Ennis also scored for the around his neck. Sabres, who have defeated the Sharks five straight times. “I think all the great things that come from winning Tyler Kennedy and Tomas Hertl scored 70 seconds apart the Masters are still yet to happen for me as a golfer early in the third to erase a two-goal deficit for the Sharks. personally,” said Scott, who showed off the green jack- Tommy Wingels got another equalizer late in the third, but et at a sponsor’s dinner on Tuesday. San Jose still lost its third straight game. Marty Havlat also “Knowing I’m going back there for the next, hope- scored and Antti Niemi made 32 saves. fully, 50 years or something, being involved with that Matt Moulson and Logan Couture each scored in the first golf club and that golf tournament for that amount round of the shootout, and then Miller stopped three straight of time and going to the champions’ dinner, there shots before Hodgson beat Niemi for the winner. WASHINGTON: Washington Capitals right wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, goes for the puck against New York may be a little less pressure on me to play great Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey (14) during the third period an NHL hockey game. — AP down here. “I feel good with where my game is at. SENATORS 4, BLUE JACKETS 1 “But (there’s) just a little less to prove after having Erik Karlsson scored two goals, and backup goalie Robin the season while starting his fifth straight game since replac- from the blue line off the post and Price. won a major and maybe shown the ‘mongrel’ or Lehner made 32 saves as Ottawa topped Columbus and ing the injured Cam Ward on Oct. 24. Tomas Plekanec was awarded a penalty shot in the final whatever it was that everyone wanted to see in me,” snapped a five-game losing streak. Clarke MacArthur and Scott Hartnell had given Philadelphia a 1-0 lead with 3:58 minute of the third period, but missed the net high and wide. Scott added, using the classic Australian term mean- Chris Neil also scored, and Jason Spezza had two assists. left in regulation, but Jared Staal tied it with 52.3 seconds ing ‘toughness’ or ‘aggression’. Lehner earned his first win of the season while filling in for remaining to force overtime. The Flyers, who have lost three of COYOTES 3, CANUCKS 2 Scott was to receive the keys to the city from the Craig Anderson, who was sidelined with a sore neck after a four, have scored more than two goals only once this season Antoine Vermette scored the deciding goal in the shootout Gold Coast mayor on Wednesday and tournament collision with Dallas rookie Valeri Nichushkin on Sunday. RJ in 14 games. for the second straight game, and Phoenix topped Vancouver organisers have deemed Friday ‘Green Day’, asking Umberger scored a power-play goal from his knees for for its fifth straight win. fans to turn up in green in tribute to the Australian’s Columbus, which lost its fourth in a row. The Senators are 4-3- WILD 5, FLAMES 1 Vermette, who gave the Coyotes a victory at San Jose on Augusta win. With world number nine American 2 on the road but just 1-3-2 at home. Zach Parise scored twice and Josh Harding made 24 saves Saturday, trickled the puck just past the line in the sixth round Brandt Snedeker, the tournament’s second biggest in winning his fifth straight start as Minnesota routed Calgary. of this tiebreaker. Henrik Sedin lost control of the puck on his drawcard, a late withdrawal due to a knee injury, Scott OILERS 4, PANTHERS 3 Harding leads the NHL with a 1.10 goals-against average chance after Vermette’s goal, and the Coyotes skated off with has a clear run to tear up the innocuous Royal Pines Mark Arcobello scored his second goal of the game and and .950 save percentage. Parise put the Wild ahead 2-1 with a their third consecutive shootout win. course where young American Rickie Fowler, ranked season 1:55 into overtime, and Edmonton snapped a five- power-play goal at 6:28 of the second period. Mikko Koivu, Radim Vrbata and Shane Doan scored in regulation for the 43rd in the world, is among the challengers.—Reuters game losing streak with a victory over Florida. Justin Fontaine and Zenon Konopka also scored for Coyotes, 7-0-1 at home. Dan Hamhuis and Ryan Kesler had Edmonton went on the power play after Scottie Upshall Minnesota. Jiri Hudler scored his sixth goal of the season for goals for Vancouver. — AP Motorsport superstars to judge Red Bull Car Park Drift Regional Finals

DUBAI: A team of international motorsport superstars are difficult, technical course. The two international drifting stars will be joined by ishing fourth and also took part in the FIA GT3 World set to judge the forthcoming Red Bull Car Park Drift Judge Meang-Keun Lee, from MKRC, has been at the regional motorsports hero HRH Prince Abdulaziz Turki Championship. Regional Finals, in a high-octane event that will pit 17 final- forefront of the “Hankook DDGT Champioship”, which has AlFaisal who has two Porsche GT3 Championship titles This year’s competition introduces a new set of judging ists from 10 countries against each other. The regional finals strong roots in Korean motor sports, and has paved the way under his belt. With an impressive record in the region, in criteria. A total of 40% of the marks will be awarded for over- will take place on November 8 at the Dubai World Trade for the specialization and popularization of the sport in 2011, Prince Abdulaziz proved that he could succeed out- all drifting skills; 20% for the optimal clipping point; 10% for Centre as a main event of the newly announced Dubai speeds clocked at the Speed Trap; and an additional 10% Motor Festival, held under the patronage of His Highness each for the appearance of the car, the crowd’s reaction, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Regional drifters rev up their engines smoke generated from the drift and the engine. Crown Prince of Dubai. The spectacular techniques will leave the crowd at the Drift legends Meang-Keun Lee (Korea) and Alexandr to fight for the “King of Drift” title edge of their seats, while the drifters gear up to bring out Grinchuk “Grinya” (Ukraine) will be joined by HRH Prince their best skills and inner motion detectors, but only one will Abdulaziz Turki AlFaisal to judge the action filled event while be crowned the ‘King of Drift’. The participants will demon- Rallying legend Abdo Feghali AKA “Dado”, will assume the Korea. Lee participated in drag racing and became a Korean side the Middle East, winning the first race at FIA GT3 in strate their skills in the technical areas of going sideways, role of race director, after having broken the record for the record holder, acquiring nicknames like “midnight knight of Portugal. During 2010-2011, he took part in the Middle East braking and steering. Roaring engines and billowing tire world’s longest drift in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. drag” and “Full Speed Bullet”.” Porsche Cup Championship and finished in second place, smoke will be the name of the game in this action-packed The event has been one of the most anticipated events in The second judge is Ukranian drifter Alexandr Grinchuk, only two points behind the winner. He also tested to qualify drifting extravaganza. Tickets start at AED55 for general or the Middle East’s busy motorsport calendar, bringing smok- twice champion of Ukraine, and one of the most successful for Le Mans 24 Hours endurance, coming in second place. In AED200 for grandstand and are available at www.virgin- ing tires, flames, and spectacular sideways’ rides around a drivers in the history of Ukrainian drifting. 2012 he competed in the Dunlop 24-hour race in Dubai, fin- megastore.me and at the door.

Nasser Al Mutairi drifting. Red Bull Car Park Drift in UAE.