SPORT Tuesday 29 May 2018 PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22 LeBron carries We aren’t the best Cavs back nor the favourites, to Finals warns Messi Handball: Reigning champions Qatar kick-start Asian Games preparations ARMSTRONG VAS 33-31 in a keenly-contested final in a keenly contested semi-final, Qatar, which ended as sur- QATAR SQUAD: THE PENINSULA in Suwon, South Korea. having earlier outplayed the UAE prise runners-up three years ago Ahmed Nader Salah, Rachid Youssef, Zine El Din Boumenjel Qatar’s advancement to 34-20, Bahrain 29-21 and in Qatar at the Worlds, (Al Sadd), Rafael De Costa Capote, Amin Noureddine Qheis, DOHA: Asian Games semi-final stage of the Asian Japan 40-23 in the looked on track in hunt Daniel Serche, Ahmed Mohamed Meddi, Wagdy Ibrahim Sinan, defending cham- Handball Championship also Group stage. for their maiden title Fress Mustapha Al Shayeb, Bilal Lebinka, Alaeddin Balrachid, pions in handball, secured them a berth in Riveira’s side after they stunned Al Zawawi (Arabi), Abdul Razzaq Ahmed Murad (Al Gharafa), Qatar have kick next year’s IHF Handball were unlucky in the European champions Amin Muwafaq Zukar (Rayyan), Petrand Rooney, Mustapha -started their World Cup which will at the 2017 IHF Germany 21-20 in a Amir Hiba and Abdul Aziz Buhandi Hilal preparations take place in Men’s Handball nail-biting battle in the for this year’s Denmark and World Champi- last-16 stage but failed multi-sport Germany. onship as they were in the next round. runners-up title at the World The final programme event by In Suwon, knocked out in the , who guided Championships in Doha, con- includes all 33 sports that will be announcing a quarter-finals fol- Qatar to the tinues to be in charge of the team staged at the 2020 Olympics in strong 18-member lowing a 32-30 loss to and will kick start the training Tokyo, as well as others that are squad yesterday. Slovenia. programme from June 2. popular in Asia such as additional The event will be held in The list of players called up martial arts, sepak takraw, Indonesia from August 18 to Sep- for the training are drawn from kabaddi, jet ski, paragliding and tember 2. Al Sadd, Al Arabi, Al Gharafa and the card game bridge. Qatar, which won the Asian Qatar were on Al Rayyan. In 2014, Indonesia stepped in Games title four years back by a high and fin- Indonesia will host a total of to host the Games after the defeating South Korea in the final, ished as the only 40 events at this year’s Asian original hosts, Vietnam, pulled will be looking to carry forward unbeaten team in the Games in Jakarta and out to financial reasons. the same form which helped them tournament, a fact which Palembang. The only previous time Indo- clinch the Asian Handball Cham- will help them score some The Games - larger than nesia hosted the Asian Games pionship at the start of this year. brownie points over their Asian the Olympics both in terms of was in 1962, when there were In January, Qatar clinched opponents at the Games in the number of sports and fewer than 1,500 athletes and 13 their Asian Handball title for a third Indonesia. competitors - will incor- sports, making next year’s edition consecutive year when they fought Spanish coach Valero Rivera’s Qatar's Rafael Capote prepares to shoot against Germany porate 40 sports and 462 by far the biggest sports event back to overcome rivals Bahrain side defeated South Korea 32-21 during the 2017 Handball World Championship in this file photo. gold medal events. ever held in the archipelago.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic hits a return to ’s Rogerio Dutra Silva during their men’s singles first round match on day two of the Roland Garros 2018 French Open in Paris yesterday. Djokovic won 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Former champ Wawrinka crashes as Djokovic makes it to round two

AFP plagued by a knee injury and Former world sets as the Belarusian slumped to arrived at Roland Garros having number one Novak a 7-5, 7-5 loss to Katerina PARIS: Former French Open won just one match on clay in Djokovic launches Siniakova. champion Stan Wawrinka was Geneva last week, his first event Azarenka, who missed much dumped out in the first round by in three months. French Open campaign of last season after being Guillermo Garcia-Lopez yesterday, The defeat means that the with a comfortable win. embroiled in a custody battle over a defeat which will send his world three-time Grand Slam champion her son, was broken to love in the ranking plummeting, while late will slip from 30th in the world to  12th games of each set to be evening rain halted Rafael Nadal’s outside the top 250 after the tour- World number two dumped out by the Czech world first match in his pursuit of an 11th nament, having failed to defend Caroline Wozniacki in number 57. Roland Garros title. the ranking points he gained in solid form early in Paris. It was Azarenka’s first Grand When play was called off just 2017. Slam match since losing to Simona before 20:00 (1800GMT), world There were worrying signs for  Halep in the Wimbledon fourth number one Nadal was 6-4, 6-3, 0-3 his fans when he pulled up and Rafael Nadal leads round last July, but she still ahead of Italian lucky loser Simone called for a medical timeout after against Italian Simone believes she can return to the top Bolelli. just six games, but he played down Bolelli in rain-hit first of the game. The downpours also prevented fears he had caused further round tie. Petra Kvitova also found life two-time champion Maria damage to his already trou- hard, but the two-time Wimbledon Sharapova from starting her blesome left knee. champion dropped serve three champion fought back from a set opener against Richel Hogenkamp “My knee is good. I blocked times and will have to markedly down to beat Paraguay’s Veronica of the Netherlands. something else at the beginning improve to challenge Nadal in the Cepede Royg 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 on Court But there were no such of the first set, and that’s why I had latter stages of the tournament, but Philippe Chatrier. problems for 2016 champion to ask,” he said. he was still far too good for Dutra “I’ve won 12 matches straight Novak Djokovic or Australian Open The 23rd seed found his Silva on Court Philippe Chatrier. on clay, but I’m still a long way winner Caroline Wozniacki who rhythm from nowhere after a poor “It was good to start this year from Rafa,” she said in reference both cruised through to the second first set, crunching two massive with a win. I wasn’t at my best, he to Nadal’s upcoming bid for an 11th round before the rains came. forehands to break for a 3-1 lead played with a lot of spin. I didn’t men’s singles crown. Wawrinka, who lost to Nadal in the second. play very well, but I won in three Wozniacki held off the chal- in last year’s final and won the 2015 Serbian star Djokovic had little sets,” said the 20th seed, who will lenge of American Danielle Collins title, was beaten in a five-set thriller trouble in reaching round two, next face Spanish qualifier Jaume to ease through their match 7-6 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 by the though, seeing off Brazilian world Munar. (7/2) 6-1, while men’s seventh seed Spanish world number 67 on Court number 134 Rogerio Dutra Silva Former world number one Dominic Thiem, a semi-finalist in Suzanne Lenglen. 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Victoria Azarenka’s return to each of the last two years, brushed The 33-year-old has been The 12-time Grand Slam Grand Slam tennis lasted just two aside Ilya Ivashka in three sets. 22 SPORT TUESDAY 29 MAY 2018 Maclaren called into We aren’t the best nor the Socceroos squad

REUTERS favourites, warns Messi SYDNEY: Hibernian striker Jamie Maclaren has received a World Cup lifeline after being AFP “The other day I was dreams not only of playing for but in called back into Australia’s squad for their final talking to a friend and he Argentina, preferably for his boyhood club New- training camp as concerns grow over the : Argentina captain said to me: ‘Look, if you ell’s Old Boys. fitness of FC Luzern forward Tomi Juric. has urged his compatriots to be realistic in their had stayed with Spain, “I am more and more clear that, in Europe, Bar- Maclaren was culled by coach Bert van World Cup expectations, warning that other teams you would be world celona is going to be my only home,” he said. “I’ve Marwijk earlier this month as he reduced the heading to Russia are better. champion’,” Messi said. always said that I want to play someday in squad from 32 to 26 players for their training In an interview with Argentine Canal 13, Messi “But it wouldn’t Argentina.” camp in Antalya in Turkey. also discussed why he did not take the chance to have been the same. “It would be Newell’s, no one else. I’d like to do The 24-year-old, who is on loan at the play for Spain and said that Barcelona will be his Obviously, it never that for at least six months, but you never know Scottish Premier League side from German only European club. crossed my mind at any what is going to happen.” second division side Darmstadt 98, rejoined “People need to know that we are not going to time.” In Russia, Argentina will face Iceland, Nigeria the squad on Sunday for the camp and a Russia as favourites but we have a group of very Messi and Croatia in what he called “a complicated group”. warm-up friendly against the Czech Republic good players and we are ready to scrap,” Messi said. repeated Iceland, he said, “compete with anybody” in Austria on June 1. Asked if Argentina could win the World Cup, that he pointing to their surprising run at Euro 2016. “Tomi Juric has had a knee issue over the Messi swerved between hope and realism. Nigeria, Messi said, are “always tough for us”. last three weeks which is being monitored by “I believe so, I have faith in this team,” he said. He missed the friendly in Krasnodar in November our medical team,” van Marwijk said in a “We have players with talent and experience. that Nigeria won 4-2. The countries have met four statement of the 26-year-old. We cannot send the message that we are the best, times in the World Cup and Argentina have won “We hope that Tomi will be able to train because that’s not true.” by one goal every time. and play this week, but his recovery might also “Quite a few squads are better,” he said sin- Messi compared Croatia to Spain “for con- take longer. That is why we have decided to gling out Brazil, Spain and Germany. trolling the ball, the quality of their midfield bring in Jamie Maclaren now so that he also Messi has won multiple Champions League players”. has a fair chance to display his qualities before and Club World Cup titles with Barca. “We have to think we will finish first in this the final 23-player squad must be announced.” But he “would swap any one of those titles group, but it won’t be easy.” The squads for the tournament in Russia with Barcelona” for a World Cup win. Argentina play Haiti today in Buenos Aires need to be finalised by June 4, with the Soc- Messi moved to Barcelona at the age of 13 and Israel on June 9 in Jerusalem in their two ceroos playing their last warm-up against and would have been eligible to play for Spain. warm up games. Hungary in Budapest five days later. They have been drawn in Group C for the June 14-July 15 finals with Denmark, Peru and 1998 winners France, who they meet in their Group B to first game on June 16 in Kazan. throw up first ’s Luis Suarez (left) takes part in a training heavyweight session with a team-mate in showdown yesterday.

AFP

PARIS: Reigning European champions Portugal will take on Iberian neighbours and well-fancied Spain in a mouthwatering Group B clash on just the second day of the World Cup. The only real heavyweight clash of the group stage will see Cristiano Ronaldo take on several of his La Liga friends and foes on June 15 in Sochi. Portugal have never reached a World Cup final and are hoping to build on their Euro 2016 triumph in France, while Spain will be desperate to prove their humiliating exit as holders four years ago was Suarez, Cavani carry only an aberration. Since the debacle in Brazil which saw a 5-1 humbling by the Netherlands and a 2-0 loss Uruguay’s hopes to Chile in the group stage, Spain have rebuilt under Julen AFP URUGUAY Lopetegui following a last-16 loss to Italy in the Euros. Argentina’s Lionel Messi Spain cruised through SALTO, URUGUAY: Lucas Motta flicks HONOURS: World Cup winners 1930, 1950; 15 times in action during a training qualifying for this tournament the ball to a team-mate and shouts for winners of Copa America; Olympic gold medallists and will arrive in Russia as one session in Ezeiza, Buenos a return pass, “One-two! One-two!” - 1924, 1928 of the favourites to lift the Aires yesterday, ahead of a like every kid in the town of Salto, his Past World Cup performance: Thirteenth participation. trophy on July 15. friendly match against Haiti dream is to follow in the footsteps of its Best result: Winners in 1930 and 1950 Barcelona great Andres which will be played today most famous sons. FIFA RANKING: 17th Iniesta, who scored the at La Bombonera Stadium in and Luis Suarez MAIN CLUBS: Penarol, Nacional winner in the 2010 World Cup Buenos Aires. were born in this northern Uruguayan NICKNAME: La Celeste (The Sky Blues) final, is likely to be playing in river town just three weeks apart in the HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Finished second in South his final international tour- late austral summer of 1987. American qualifying behind Brazil. nament after leaving the Down the years, tiny Uruguay, with Camp Nou for Japanese side World Cup 2026 its population of 3.5 million, has turned PROVISIONAL WORLD CUP SQUAD: Vissel Kobe. out an impressive list of stars of world Goalkeepers: (Galatasaray/TUR), It could also be a last soccer, players like Diego Forlan and Martin Silva (Vasco da Gama/BRA), Martin Campana World Cup for five-time Ballon Enzo Francescoli, and won the game’s (Independiente/ARG) d’Or winner Ronaldo as he candidates to meet biggest prize in 1930 and 1950. Defenders: Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Jose looks to finally make his mark Salto stands proud in that tradition, Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Maximiliano on football’s greatest stage. cradle of one of the hottest strikeforces Pereira (FC Porto/POR), Gaston Silva (Independiente/ The 33-year-old has in Zurich: FIFA at the World Cup in Russia. ARG), Sebastian Coates (Sporting Lisbon/POR), Guillermo struggled to produce his glit- On the windows of the clubhouse of Varela (Penarol), Martin Caceres (Lazio/ITA) AP tering best in World Cups, with committee members did not read or the 103-year-old Nacional de Salto Midfielders: Carlos Sanchez (Monterrey/MEX), Matias only three goals from three ignored in-house technical reports football club, two huge photos show the Vecino (Inter/ITA), Nahitan Nandez (/ARG), previous tournaments, against ZURICH: FIFA’s bid inspectors will hold which identified eventual winners local stars as children. Federico Valverde (Depotivo La Coruna/ESP), Giorgian de Ghana, North Korea and Iran. a meeting in Zurich tomorrow with the Russia Qatar as the highest-risk options “Many people see in them the future Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro/BRA), (Juventus/ But whatever happens in North American and Moroccan candi- among nine candidates. of their offspring,” says Jose Luis Per- ITA), Nicolas Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders/USA), the opening match, both Spain dates hoping to host the 2026 World FIFA’s bidding rules now allow the tusatti, the club’s secretary, adding that (Sampdoria/ITA), (Genoa/ITA), Gaston and Portugal will be expected Cup. unlikely prospect of its five-man task in Salto, “people identify” with Suarez Ramirez (Sampdoria/ITA), Cristian Rodriguez (Penarol) to ease through a group which Officials from the joint United force disqualifying a candidate for a low and Cavani. Forwards: Luis Suarez (Barcelona/ESP), also features Morocco and States-Canada- team and evaluation score. “They see them as being part of their (Girona/ESP), Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Iran. Morocco are invited to answer ques- While all the North American history,” says chairman Francisco Cano. Jonathan Urretaviscaya (Monterrey/MEX), Maximilano Morocco were impressive tions from a FIFA-appointed panel eval- venues are in place for a 48-team, A life-sized statue of Barcelona’s Gomez (Celta/ESP). in qualifying for the first time uating their bids ahead of the June 13 80-game tournament, Morocco’s bid Suarez beams a toothy smile along the since 1998 but will struggle to vote, FIFA said yesterday. plan calls for building or renovating 14 city’s main street. The statue of “El Pis- hurt the European teams’ No date is set to publish the evalu- stadiums and more than 100 training tolero” is painted in the sky blue of the job. I want to do it so I can help my defences, while Iran can at ation reports ahead of the vote by up to bases. national team. family.” best hope for some solid 207 FIFA member federations in The FIFA panel made three-day On a wall by the river, a mural shows Cavani was the top scorer in the defensive displays under Moscow. visits to tour parts of both bidders’ “El Matador” Cavani wheeling away French league in the season just fin- Carlos Queiroz. Though voters are not obliged to projects in April, and Morocco was after scoring yet another goal, his long ished with 28 goals for Paris Saint- Should Spain and Portugal factor the reports into their choice, FIFA visited a second time to clarify more black hair flowing. Germain. Suarez heads to Russia having progress, both will be con- put a more rigorous assessment system details. To follow Paris Saint-Germain’s scored 25 La Liga goals for fident against either Russia, in place after criticism of the 2018-2022 Both candidates must be formally Cavani “is a dream that drives me every Barcelona. Uruguay, Egypt or Saudi World Cup hosting votes in December approved by FIFA’s ruling council at a day,” 13-year-old Lucas tells AFP. He has scored a 50 goals for Arabia from Group A in the last 2010. June 10 meeting in Moscow to get on “Today we are small, and it’s a Uruguay in 97 internationals. Cavani has 16. Then, some FIFA executive the ballot paper. pastime, but after that it will become a netted 42 in 100 appearances. TUESDAY 29 MAY 2018 SPORT 23

Trungelliti’s Engine trouble for Al Attiyah 1,000km road drive as Al Rajhi takes early lead not in vain AP

THE PENINSULA technical on the second part to overtake in the dust. I hope that Adel Abdulla at the start of Rally Kazakhstan PARIS: Eliminated from the beach and then fast to the Nasser can come back tonight French Open qualifying last KENDERLY KAZAKHSTAN: finish. I started the stage from and continue the race. We want week, Marco Trungelliti Four Minis dominated the clas- eighth place and overtook to fight with them.” headed home to Barcelona sification after the opening several cars including Nasser and Russian driver Vladimir Vas- and was preparing to spend 280.35km of competitive action (Boris) Gadasin.” ilyev missed the event in 2017 time at the beach with his in Rally Kazakhstan, round five Frenchman Luc Alphand was through injury and he was clas- 88-year-old grandmother, of the FIA World Cup for Cross- his closest rival in second place sified in a solid fourth overall in mother and younger brother, Country Rallies, between Aktau with the new MINI Buggy and his MINI Cooper Countryman, who all happened to be City and the Caspian Sea resort FIA World Cup leader Jakub Prz- while Czech driver Martin visiting from Argentina. of Kenderly yesterday. ygonski held third overall, 2min Prokop was fifth in a Ford F-150 Then came word that the Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al 38sec further behind, in his MINI Evo. 190th-ranked Trungelliti Attiyah had been the fastest John Cooper Works Rally. Vasilyev’s navigator Kon- could get into the main draw driver through the opening Przygonski said: “From the stantin Zhiltsov said: “Everything at Roland Garros as the eighth 90km section of the stage by 12 first stage we were opening all was okay and we were happy to “lucky loser” replacing seconds but his demise with a the day and it was a nice day. We finish this stage. It is a new race someone who withdrew with second successive engine- enjoy it. Sometimes there was for us. We have to take security. an injury from the Grand related issue paved the way for some tricky navigation but we We need to be careful. We treat Slam tournament - but only Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al Rajhi were trying to push.” “We just today like a Prologue.” if he returned to France in to move into an overnight lead have to pass Harry Hunt on the England’s Harry Hunt slipped time for yesterday morning’s of 2min 04sec in his X-raid MINI first stage. It was the first stage to 16th overall in his Peugeot issues on the first part and we event – 414.12km – heads sign-in deadline. John Cooper Works Rally. in Kazakhstan after the break 3008 DKR after sustaining a were running well on the second through the deserts to the east “Actually, my grandma The Saudi said: “It was a very and everyone was a little puncture and suffering tyre part before the puncture.” of the town of Senek. was in the shower,” Trung- fast first stage and everything nervous,” added Alphand. pressure issues. “Not a great Kazakhstan’s Kirill elliti recounted, “and I told was okay. The first part was fast “The navigation was not so stage for us, but it’s the first one Chernenkov drew first blood in RALLY KAZAKHSTAN RESULTS her, ‘OK, we go to Paris.’” So and smooth and it became more easy and it is quite dangerous to of a long rally. We had a few what promises to develop into a they quickly threw some fascinating tussle for T2 honours 2018 Rally Kazakhstan – positions after SS1 clothes in suitcases - Trung- Leading drivers release doves at the start for series production cross- 1. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU)/Timo Gottschalk (DEU) elliti’s was still packed - and of Rally Kazakhstan yesterday. country vehicles over the coming MINI John Cooper Works Rally 2hrs 22min 29sec hopped in his relatives’ rental five days. 2. Luc Alphand (FRA)/Andreas Schulz (DEU) MINI car for the roughly 10-hour, He was classified 3min 44sec John Cooper Works Buggy 2hrs 24min 33sec 650-mile (1,000-kilometer) in front of Konstantin Ivanov. 3. Jakub Przygonski (POL)/Tom Colsoul (BEL) MINI drive due north, arriving at Qatar’s Adel Abdulla held third John Cooper Works Rally 2hrs 27min 11sec about 11 p.m. on Sunday night. in a rented Toyota Land Cruiser 4. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS)/Konstantin Zhiltsov The road trip was well worth and OFF-ROAD Kazakhstan’s (RUS) MINI Cooper Countryman 2hrs 28min 25sec it. Not only did Trungelliti get Marat Abykayev was a distant 5. Martin Prokop (CZE)/Jan Tomanek (CZE) Ford his spot in the field, but he fourth. Series leader Ahmed Al- F-150 Evo 2hrs 29min 04sec won, beating Bernard Tomic Shegawi was a non-starter. 6. Yuriy Sazonov (RUS)/Vitaliy Yevtyekhov (KAZ) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 Monday to Spaniard José Pena Campo H3 Evo VIII 2hrs 29min 42sec reach the second round. surged into a 14min 10sec 7. Ronan Chabot (FRA)/Gilles Pillot (FRA) Toyota “I tried to treat it like a advantage in T3 over fellow Hilux Overdrive 2hrs 33min 19sec normal situation, a normal countryman Santiago Navarro. 8. Andrey Novikov (RUS)/Vladimir Novikov (RUS) match,” Trungelliti said. Kazakh Dmitry Pitulov was third, G-Force Bars 2hrs 34min 08sec Ah, but there was nothing 9. Victor Khoroshavtsev (RUS)/Dmitry Pavlov while Russia’s Ravil Maginov was normal about his story. (RUS) MINI John Cooper Works Rally 2hrs 34min a non-starter. “It’s kind of, like, the talk” 50sec Andrey Karginov led Team of the tournament, said 13th- 10. Jürgen Schröder (DEU)/Daniel Schröder (DEU) Kamaz Masters colleague Sergey seeded American Madison Nissan Navara 2hrs 35min 27sec Kupriyanov in the National Rally. 11. Andrey Rudskoy (RUS)/Evgenii Zagorodniuk Keys. Today crews will tackle the (RUS) G-Force Bars 2hrs 35min 51sec After all, who wouldn’t

first selective section that loops 12. Boris Gadasin (RUS)/Igor Petenko (RUS) G- appreciate someone seizing out of the bivouac in Kenderly. Force Bars 2hrs 37min 04sec this sort of chance in this The longest timed section of the manner? “To play in the main draw in a Grand Slam... you don’t drive,” said Ernests Gulbis, a 2014 French Open semifinalist who qualified this year, “you crawl.” Trungelliti, a 28-year-old Monaco under fire after ‘most Argentine, lost in the second round of qualifying on Thursday, stuck around Paris until Friday, then traveled to Spain, where he and his wife boring F1 race ever’ claims live. On Sunday, his coach AFP Red Bull Racing’s Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo competes during the Monaco Formula 1 over-heating,” Pirelli racing chief pointed out that 21st-seeded Grand Prix at the Monaco Street Circuit in Monaco on Sunday. Mario Isola said. Nick Kyrgios pulled out of the MONACO: The Monaco Grand “But if we go softer, it is the French Open, creating a new Prix faced a growing barrage of other way and there is over- spot. Another player who oth- criticism on Monday after heating and then they have to erwise would have been Fernando Alonso and Lewis cruise.” ahead of Trungelliti on the Hamilton described it as Meanwhile, Ricciardo’s stock “lucky loser” list already was “probably the most boring race has never been higher after a entered in a lower-tier event ever”. dominant Monaco Grand Prix in Italy, so Trungelliti would Daniel Ricciardo’s winning weekend that saw him stand on be the first alternate, pro- performance on Sunday in his the podium above two world vided he arrived in time. power-reduced Red Bull may champions whose 2019 team It took five minutes to have boosted his value in the mates have yet to be decide it was worth a try. drivers’ market and given him confirmed. The problem: Some Bar- an outside tilt at the title, but the The Australian is out of con- celona-Paris flights were can- dull procession behind him was tract with Red Bull at the end of celed, plus trains in France widely condemned as a the season and champions Mer- have been operating haphaz- spectacle. cedes or Ferrari, the top two ardly recently because of Two-time world champion teams, are obvious possible strikes. Alonso, twice a winner on the alternatives. “The best option,” Trung- narrow street circuit in the Med- Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel elliti said, “was just (to) take iterranean principality, was not was second in Monaco with the car.” The quartet departed the first or only driver to com- championship leader Lewis at about 1 p.m. Sunday, plain after a contest lacking Hamilton third for Mercedes stopped for coffee two hours incident and excitement. sport needs to think a little bit so slow... it was not an attacking to create a closer race. but Ricciardo led every single in, then ate dinner at 9 p.m. It was the first Monaco race about the show because this is race -- we were just cruising. It “You look at NASCAR, they practice and qualifying Trungelliti drove for a few without the deployment of a very disappointing. was not racing. put in a bunch of safety cars for session and throughout the hours, but his brother was safety car since 2009. “So I think we probably need “I will be shocked if anyone no reason at all to bunch the race. usually at the wheel. That Ricciardo could win to give something to the fans at was awake at home while it was pack up. There’s like 100 yellow Red Bull also want the The voyage was not a big from pole position in a car that the end of the race just to pay the on, because I would have been flags in the race to bring them all 28-year-old to stay, but will be deal, he explained, because had its power reduced by 25 ticket back a little. I think it is asleep on the couch.” - Headache together.” expected to pay a lot more than lengthy car trips are the norm percent confirmed both his Monaco -- the way it is. It think for Liberty Media - The predict- The main problem, this time, at present given Ricciardo’s in Argentina. maturing talent and the enforced it is quite boring. We just start in ability of the Monaco race is nor- appeared to be the new “hyper- success. “If you’re not living in tedious mediocrity of the racing. our qualifying position and we mally forgiven if there is some soft” Pirelli tyres. “You could say the day’s Buenos Aires, then 1,000 kil- Alonso, of McLaren, was only run to the flag in that position.” incident to enliven the glam- They produced stunning one maybe made Daniel more ometers is like nothing. You echoing what championship Finn Kimi Raikkonen, in the orised choreography of what is lap speed, but lacked durability expensive, it’s put his value up,” make 1,000 kilometers, and leader and defending champion second Ferrari, started and fin- a largely corporate festival, but and, as a result, in a one-stop Red Bull principal Christian there is no city between,” Hamilton had said after finishing ished fourth. this year’s contest plumbed new race on a tight street track where Horner told reporters. Trungelliti said, then noted third behind Ricciardo and “Qualifying decides depths of mediocrity. overtaking is virtually impos- “Or you could say it’s put the that the main highway at fellow four-time champion everthing here,” he said. It has presented F1’s new sible, drivers were instructed to team in a stronger position in home can be precarious. German Sebastian Vettel of “Not a lot happens. Everyone American owners Liberty Media be conservative and make their terms of its value and potential “You never know,” he Ferrari. drives around behind each other with a major problem as they alternative “ultra-soft” tyres last to him.” added, “if you’re going to be “Extremely boring. I mean, and whoever is in front dictates grapple with the task of bright- the distance. Ricciardo has won two races alive after two hours’ this is probably the most boring the speed.” Hamilton had set the ening up the show without losing “We must decide what we this year, the same number as driving.” race ever,” said Alonso. tone among the senior drivers its traditional values. want... If they want to push, we Vettel and Hamilton, and is third Once he got on Court 9 on “Without a safety car, when he said: “The tyres were Hamilton suggested looking must produce more consistent overall -- albeit 38 points behind Monday, he felt at ease. No without yellow flags, I think the not great, but we were all driving over the Atlantic for inspiration tyres, less sensitive to Britain’s Hamilton. pressure at all. TUESDAY 29 MAY 2018 SPORT 21 I tried to squeeze the orange until there was no more juice. LeBron James after FOOTBALL TENNIS We’ve been counted out a long leading Cavs to NBA International friendlies: French Open: First round time this season. It’s a heck of an Finals with win in Mexico vs Wales; Albania LIVE ON of men and women’s accomplishment for our ball club decisive game. without our All Star forward. vs Kosovo TUBE singles continues De Villiers retirement a blow to Cup bid: Gibson Pitch-fixing allegations

AFP “He is one of the best players in the world. He could hard to believe: SLC JOHANNESBURG: Coach Ottis have made a huge difference in REUTERS Gibson admitted yesterday that the World Cup and he knows Ashley De Silva ,CEO of the future,” SLC CEO Ashley De the retirement from interna- that... he’s chosen to walk away Sri Lanka Cricket speaks Silva said. tional cricket of AB de Villiers from the game at this time and COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s top during a news conference The documentary showed (pictured) was a blow to South it is what it is.” cricket administrators say it is after two people allegedly two men claiming to be the Africa’s hopes of winning the Gibson said the World Cup difficult to believe allegations of involved in match-fixing assistant manager at the Galle Cricket World Cup next year. in England and Wales in June pitch-fixing in a 2016 Test match were suspended, in stadium and another former Gibson revealed that he had 2019 was still a year away. against Australia which have Colombo, yesterday. cricketer speaking to an under- spoken to De Villiers the day “We’ll have to alter our triggered a probe by the Inter- cover reporter and explaining before last week’s plans obviously but it gives us national Cricket Council (ICC). how a pitch could be doctored. announcement by the star enough time to do that.” The ICC launched an inves- Last year’s Test between Sri batsman but had been unable De Villiers, 34, announced tigation after a documentary Lanka and India at Galle is also to convince him to change his his retirement last Wednesday, aired by news organisation Al under suspicion and match- mind. saying he was “tired” after a Jazeera on Sunday showed a fixers have targeted England’s “We had a conversation,” 14-year international career groundsman agreeing to doctor Test at the same venue in said Gibson, who was briefing during which he was hailed as pitches for Test matches November, The Australian journalists ahead of the South one of the best players in the involving some of the world’s top newspaper reported. African squad getting together game. He said it had been a teams. The SLC CEO said the board to undergo their annual fitness tough decision but that “I would In the second Test in Galle was not under any pressure from and medical assessments. like to retire while still playing two years ago, Australia were the England Cricket Board “HeHe called me the morning decentdece t ccricket”. c et . bowled out for 106 and 183 and regarding this year’s Test. before hehe mademade the “It’s“It’s disappointing for lost by 229 runs in less than Match-fixing has become a announcement,” said the countrycountry and world three days. major concern for cricket in Gibson.Gibson. cricketcricket that AB de “In that video, they only say that the Galle match ended in failure in protocols and to take recent years. “We“We had a long con-con- VilliersVilliers is’’t playinplayingg two-and-half days. Players measures to prevent similar inci- In 2010, Pakistani players versation around cricketcricket anymore,” never complained. Nothing was dents in the future. Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif whetherwhether hehe waswas saidsaid Gibson.Gibson. mentioned in the captains’ The SLC has suspended and Mohammad Amir were part making the right reports. No complaints from former players Tharindu Mendis of a gambling-inspired plot to decision.decision. HHee rreckonseckons hhee umpires and match referee as and Jeevantha Kulatunga, who bowl no-balls at pre-arranged is. He has spokenspoken to the We have taken well,” Mohan de Silva, the vice have been working as provincial times during a Test match peoplepeople in his close circle.” measures and we president of Sri Lanka Cricket coaches. against England at Lord’s. GibsonGibson said De VVilliers’illiers’ have showed all the (SLC), told reporters in Colombo The assistant manager at the The players served prison decision had yesterday. Galle cricket ground, who is sentences and were handed beenbeen a sshockhock world that we are on “So it is difficult for us to implicated in Al Jazeera’s alle- multi-year bans from the game to himhim.. top of it. We will not believe something wrong has gations, has also been after an ICC tribunal found them tolerate this even in happened. That is what the ICC suspended. guilty of spot-fixing. is investigating.” “We have taken measures Amir has now returned to the future: SLC CEO The SLC has appointed a and we have showed all the the Pakistan team and helped Ashley De Silva committee to look into the world that we are on top of it. them beat England in the first matter, to assess if there was a We will not tolerate this even in Test at Lord’s on Sunday. Atherton ‘highly sceptical’ of spot-fixing claims

REUTERS England and India in targetted. In his column for The international players in very international cricket. The any of our players in any way December 2016 and the Aus- Times newspaper, Atherton said visible, high-profile matches? players are paid too well (espe- whatsoever,” England and LONDON: Former England tralia-India Test in Ranchi in he felt it unlikely that top Test In this case I remain highly cially those from India, England Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief captain Michael Atherton is March 2017. players would engage in such sceptical,” he said. and Australia). They have too executive Tom Harrison said in “highly sceptical” of claims Match-fixing has become a activity. “Since the match-fixing much to lose,” he added. a statement on Sunday. made on a television major concern for the sport in “When it comes to betting crisis of the 1990s, the Atherton, who played 115 “Together with the ICC, we programme that players for recent years and the Interna- and fixing, dangers are ever awareness among players of the Tests for England between are aware of the investigation England and Australia may have tional Cricket Council (ICC) has present. There is a massive problem of fixing, the potential 1989-2001, said there was more by Al Jazeera into alleged cor- been involved in ‘spot-fixing’ launched an investigation. black-market operation in India consequences (time in jail and likelihood of wrong-doing in the ruption in cricket,” Cricket Aus- activities during Test matches The documentary also made worth many billions of pounds,” five years out of the game for case of poorly paid ground staff tralia CEO James Sutherland in South Asia. allegations that the stadium Atherton wrote. Mohammad Amir, remember, and at minor competitions. said in a statement. The Al Jazeera programme manager at Galle in Sri Lanka “The game, especially for nothing more than a news- Cricket authorities in “Neither the ICC nor Cricket “Cricket’s Match Fixers”, may have doctored the pitch at around the fringes and where paper sting) and stringent con- England and Australia have Australia is aware of any broadcast on Sunday, alleged the behest of fixers and sug- there are enormous discrep- trols around dressing rooms by backed their players. credible evidence linking Aus- incidents of spot-fixing in a gested minor Twenty20 com- ancies in earning potential, is the ICC have made it much less “There is nothing we have tralian players to corruption in Chennai match between petitions had also been vulnerable. But highly paid likely to be a problem in seen that would make us doubt the game,” Sutherland added.

James carries Cavs back to Finals REUTERS making just 9-of-35 from long range. NEW YORK: LeBron James “As much as I was passing in squeezed every last ounce of the first half and guys weren’t effort from his misfiring knocking them down, I believed Cleveland team-mates on in the second half they would,” Sunday to lead the Cavaliers James said. back to the NBA Finals with an “I kept faith in them and they 87-79 victory over the Boston did that.” James has already Celtics in their Game Seven passed Chicago Bulls great Eastern Conference decider. Michael Jordan as the all-time The 33-year-old has reached leading play-off scorer and the the Finals for the eighth consec- “greatest of all time” debate is utive season but this campaign raging once again. may be his crowning glory. Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue With point guard Kyrie said that amid all the upheaval Irving traded to Boston in the with trades in and out, James had offseason, and a roster that been a true leader. Doha Golf Club’s Monthly Mug LeBron James (right) roars in jubilation after a win over Boston required a revamp during the “This whole year he led by Golfer Mike Tyrer with DGC Golf Operations Manager, Jordan Massey Celtics in Boston on Sunday. year, the Cavaliers were not example,” added Lue. after the conclusion of Doha Golf Club’s Monthly Mug last weekend. expected to get this far, even “We had a lot of guys in and Englishman Tyrer scored a superb 41 points to take the division 2 with James operating at a dif- and nine assists while playing who was sidelined with a con- out. (LeBron) played all 82 prize by two points over Nicholas White. The ladies division title ferent level. all 48 minutes of the series cussion suffered early in Game games in his 15th season. He’s went to Nguyen Thi Chau Ahn of Vietnam while new member Ben The three-time NBA finale. Six, left Cleveland without a true unbelievable. He’s the best Goodson was the winner in men’s division 3 event. A special mention champion said he had focused “We’ve been counted out a second scoring option alongside player in the world and I’m glad goes to 17-year-old Mikkel Mathiesen who scored a stunning gross on getting the best out of his long time this season. It’s a heck James. he’s on my side.” Celtics coach score of 66 that included a whopping nine birdies. His score of 40 team-mates all season long. of an accomplishment for our Despite playing with one of Brad Stevens said getting to the points thanks to a handicap of -2 saw him finish one point behind “I tried to squeeze the orange ball club to (to win) without our his least reliable supporting Finals eight straight times was Pratjush Jain in division one. As many as 86 golfers took part in until there was no more juice,” All Star forward for basically two casts, James still threw the ball “ridiculous” “And he does it at competition which was sponsored by Megarme. James told reporters after games.” around, firing passes for open this level with the pressure and logging 35 points, 15 rebounds The absence of Kevin Love, three pointers despite the Cavs scrutiny,” added Stevens.