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FOOTBALL/EPL SPOTLIGHT Guardiola defends Pep draws fi rst blood goalie as Man City win derby Bravo It was the first encounter between Guardiola and Mourinho, former El Clasico sparring partners since 2013, and gave the former Barcelona coach an eighth win in 17 clashes with the ex-Real Madrid manager

AFP Manchester

ep Guardiola enjoyed victory over his old nemesis Jose Mour- inho as his Manchester PCity side won 2-1 at Manchester Manchester City’s Chilean United in yesterday’s eagerly goalkeeper Claudio Bravo. anticipated derby at Old Traf- ford. AFP First-half goals by Kevin De Manchester Bruyne and put City in control and despite new goalkeeper Claudio Bravo’s anchester City man- gaff e allowing Zlatan Ibrahi- ager Pep Guardiola movic to hit back for United, spoke out in defence City held fi rm. It was the fi rst of Claudio Bravo after encounter between Guardiola Mhis new goalkeeper’s error-strewn and Mourinho, former El Cla- debut in yesterday’s 2-1 win at sico sparring partners since Manchester United. 2013, and gave the former Bar- First-half goals from Kevin De celona coach an eighth win in 17 Bruyne and Kelechi Iheanacho clashes with the ex-Real Madrid gave City victory, but a blunder manager. by Bravo, who spilled a high ball, “We are happy. I think the allowed Zlatan Ibrahimovic to re- spectators enjoyed it because it duce the arrears. was open until the end,” Guar- The former Barcelona goalkeep- diola told the BBC. er was also fortunate to avoid con- “First half we were better. In ceding a penalty after he overran the second half it was diffi cult. the ball and lunged in on Wayne We had counter-attacks and we Rooney, but Guardiola expressed didn’t fi nish.” satisfaction with his display. City’s win, their 50th in com- “We played good in the fi rst half petitive derby matches, saw because of Claudio,” the former them end United’s perfect start Manchester United’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho (L) and Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (R) watch from the touchline during the EPL clash between Barcelona and Bayern Munich to the season. the two teams at Old Traff ord in Manchester yesterday. coach told the BBC at Old Traf- It left Guardiola’s side and ford. Chelsea, who visit Swansea players’ performances. Daley Blind to the ball before Bravo gifted his side a lifeline Mourinho repaired his error deeming Bravo to have won the “I like the keepers to attack City today, as the only teams in “In the fi rst half we were be- clinically wrong-footing David three minutes before half-time. at half-time, introducing An- ball cleanly. the ball and after what happened the with 100 low the level to play this match,” de Gea. The Chilean allowed Roon- der Herrera and terrace darling Guardiola responded to (with Ibrahimovic’s goal), the sec- % records. Mourinho was an- he said. United had barely had a ey’s deep free-kick to slip from Marcus Rashford for Mkhitary- Mourinho’s changes by bol- ond half he continued to play and gered by referee Mark Clatten- “We lost easy balls and let kick and Rooney’s frustra- his grasp and Ibrahimovic pro- an and Lingard. stering his own midfi eld, with that’s a good thing about his per- burg’s decision not to award the them recover the ball. We paid tion showed as he grappled duced an athletic volley to spear Bravo’s jitteriness gave the Fernando and debutant Leroy sonality.” home side a penalty after Bravo for our mistakes.”Mourinho’s with Guardiola for the ball at a the loose ball into the net. home fans renewed belief and Sane coming on and De Bruyne Guardiola brought Bravo to committed a wild challenge on decision to start Mkhitaryan throw-in before catching Fern- It was an unexpected foot- he was extremely fortunate taking up a central forward role. the club after sidelining previous Wayne Rooney inside the City and Lingard in place of Anthony andinho late. There was worse hold for the hosts and they fi n- to avoid conceding a penalty A beautifully poised game fi rst-choice goalkeeper Joe Hart, area. Martial and Juan Mata was a to come for the United skipper ished the fi rst half strongly. in the 56th minute.In turn- swung from end to end there- who has joined Torino on loan. “Claudio Bravo is a penalty surprise and it backfi red as City as City made it 2-0, Iheanacho Rooney crossed for Ibrahi- ing away from Ibrahimovic, he after. Guardiola explained the move and a red card,” he said. took a deserved 15th-minute tapping in from six yards after movic to head at Bravo and the overran the ball and launched United had a goal disallowed by emphasising the importance of Mourinho withdrew full deb- lead. Aleksandar Kolarov’s high De Bruyne’s low curler struck Swedish striker then saw an ef- himself into a lunging challenge when Rashford’s shot clipped having a goalkeeper who is com- utant Henrikh Mkhitaryan and ball was fl icked on by Iheanacho the base of the left-hand post. fort blocked by John Stones af- on Rooney. Rooney was left Ibrahimovic, who was standing fortable with the ball at his feet Jesse Lingard at half-time and — in for the suspended Sergio Mourinho wore a face of ter the City goalkeeper failed to writhing in pain, but Clatten- in an off side position, and beat and he said Bravo’s ball-playing strongly criticised some of his Aguero — and De Bruyne beat thunder on the touchline, but fi eld a stray ball. burg waved play on, apparently Bravo. ability would prove invaluable. “Yes, it can be too risky. If you lose the ball they will score. But you can control the game,” he said. “Until my last day in England I will try to play with the ball as much as possible. I know it’s im- possible for 90 minutes, but I’m sorry, I will not negotiate that.” De Bruyne gave City reward for Ronaldo nets for Real aft er injury return a dominant start by breaking the deadlock in the 15th minute, beat- AFP 15 straight La Liga wins as Danilo’s low fore Euro 2016’s top scorer Griezmann ing Daley Blind to Iheanacho’s Madrid drive and a towering header from Sergio headed home his fi rst two goals of the fl ick-on and coolly fi nding the Ramos extended the lead before half- season in the fi nal 20 minutes. bottom-left corner. time at the Bernabeu. Angel Correa added a fourth two Iheanacho tapped in from close ristiano Ronaldo took just fi ve Osasuna goalkeeper Nauzet Perez minutes from time. range after De Bruyne had hit the minutes to score on his return meekly turned Pepe’s header into his In an uncharacteristic outburst, post, before Ibrahimovic halved from a three-month injury own net for Real’s fourth before Luka Griezmann had claimed after the 0-0 City’s lead in the 42nd minute. layoff as Real Madrid contin- Modric’s fi ercely struck shot from out- stalemate at Leganes two weeks ago Bravo’s contentious challenge uedC their 100 % start to the season with side the box made it 5-0. that Atletico would be “fi ghting against on Rooney occurred 11 minutes a 5-2 rout of Osasuna yesterday. Ronaldo was withdrawn to a stand- relegation” rather than challenging into the second half and left the Antoine Griezmann kick-started ing ovation to make way for Karim Barca and Madrid for the title if they United captain writhing in pain Atletico Madrid’s La Liga campaign Benzema with one eye on Wednesday’s did not improve fast. inside the City area.United man- with two goals and an assist as a 4-0 clash with his fi rst club, Sporting Lis- However, he apologised for those ager Jose Mourinho said referee hammering of Celta Vigo gave them a bon, in the Champions League. comments after coming alive in the Mark Clattenburg should have much-needed fi rst win of the season. However, Real’s defensive defi cien- second-half against Celta Vigo. awarded penalties for both that Champions Barcelona will attempt cies were exposed in the second-half “We needed a game like this,” Griez- incident and an alleged handball to join Real at the top of the table on as Oriol Riera and David Garcia cut Os- mann told BeIN Sports . by City centre-back Nicolas Ota- nine points at home to Alaves later. asuna’s defi cit, whilst Roberto Torres “I apologise, I shouldn’t have said mendi. Ronaldo was making his fi rst appear- saw a penalty saved by Kiko Casilla. what I did publicly. It was in the heat of “Mark made two big mistakes,” ance since limping off in tears during Earlier, Griezmann handed Atletico a the moment, but I am very happy with he said. “Claudio Bravo is a pen- the Euro 2016 fi nal, but was handed the much-needed boost after being held by what we did as a team today. alty and a red card. perfect return on a plate by Gareth Bale promoted Alaves and Leganes in their “I am still getting back into my “If one of my players do that in as the Welshman squared for Ronaldo opening two league games. rhythm (after the Euros) and still have the middle of the park — if (Mar- to tap into an unguarded net. Koke met Griezmann’s fi ne cross a way to go, but I am giving my all and ouane) Fellaini or Rooney do that Despite failing to hit top gear Real eight minutes into the second-half in I’m very happy to get the goals and the in the middle of the park — it’s a comfortably matched a club record of Real Madrid’s scores against Osasuna in the La Liga yesterday. Vigo to give the visitors the lead be- assist.” red card and a free-kick.” Gulf Times 2 Sunday, September 11, 2016 FOOTBALL

EMPHATIC Ruthless Liverpool crush spluttering Leicester City After 13 minutes the hosts scored the first goal in front of their new stand, with Milner making a superb, in-field pass to Firmino

AFP Liverpool RESULTS AND STANDINGS Manchester Utd .1 Manchester City .2 6 Arsenal 4 2 1 1 8 6 7 iverpool turned on the style to Bournemouth ...... 1 West Brom ...... 0 7 Hull City 4 2 1 1 5 3 7 mark the opening of the new- Arsenal ...... 2 Southampton ...... 1 8 Everton 3 2 1 0 4 2 7 look Anfi eld with an imperi- Burnley ...... 1 Hull City ...... 1 9 Middlesbrough 4 1 2 1 4 4 5 Lous 4-1 rout of Premier League Middlesbrough ...1 Crystal Palace ...... 2 10 Watford 4 1 1 2 7 8 4 champions Leicester yesterday. Stoke City ...... 0 Totten. Hotspur ..4 11 Crystal Palace 4 1 1 2 3 4 4 Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane put West Ham ...... 2 Watford ...... 4 12 West Bromwich 4 1 1 2 2 3 4 Jurgen Klopp’s side two goals ahead as Liverpool ...... 4 Leicester City ...... 1 Albion they played at home for the fi rst time Today 13 Burnley 4 1 1 2 3 5 4 this season and for the fi rst time since Swansea City Chelsea 6pm Qatar 13 Bournemouth 4 1 1 2 3 5 4 expanding Anfi eld’s capacity by 8,500 to Time 15 Leicester City 4 1 1 2 4 7 4 54,000. 16 Swansea City 3 1 0 2 2 4 3 reduced the defi cit to a P W D L F A Pts 17 West Ham Utd 4 1 0 3 5 9 3 single goal after Lucas’s mistake. 1 Manchester City 4 4 0 0 11 4 12 18 Southampton 4 0 2 2 3 6 2 But Adam Lallana’s fi ne strike restored 2 Chelsea 3 3 0 0 7 2 9 19 Sunderland 3 0 1 2 3 5 1 Liverpool’s two-goal advantage and 3 Manchester Utd 4 3 0 1 7 3 9 20 Stoke City 4 0 1 3 2 10 1 Firmino’s late eff ort wrapped up a wor- 4 Totten. Hotspur 4 2 2 0 7 2 8 rying defeat for Leicester, who have won 5 Liverpool 4 2 1 1 9 7 7 only one of their fi rst four matches. The new £115mn main stand at Anfi eld was treated to an enthralling contest but sent Daniel Sturridge sprinting away Mignolet looked particularly rattled by one which Liverpool only had themselves from a static back four. the experience and, a few moments later, to blame for not killing off inside the The England forward then opted for failed to deal with a long throw-in from opening half hour. a selfl ess and skilful back-heel that left Luis Hernandez which allowed Huth to After 13 minutes the hosts scored the Mane unmarked in the centre and able to head against the Liverpool bar. fi rst goal in front of their new stand, with score via the hand of Schmeichel. Klopp’s decision to select a back four stand-in left-back James Milner making Liverpool were rampant and the home featuring two specialist midfi eld players, a superb, in-fi eld pass to Firmino. The crowd almost delirious. Lucas and Milner, had looked a gamble Liverpool forward had only to advance a But the joy would be short-lived as before kick-off and now looked like it few yards but did so eff ectively, scything Liverpool’s unfamiliar centre-half Lucas might prove disastrous. between Wes Morgan and Robert Huth gifted them a foothold in the game. That said, only Schmeichel had pre- before drilling a low shot past the diving Simon Mignolet’s short pass played vented Liverpool scoring another goal on from 14 yards. Lucas under pressure and, after the Bra- 26 minutes after Mane played a brilliant On 31 minutes Liverpool doubled the zilian — normally a deep-lying midfi eld- one-two with Lallana and crossed to the advantage with the increasingly impres- er — miscontrolled the ball, he panicked near post, where a Sturridge shot was sive Jordan Henderson carving out the and rolled it across an open goal for Vardy superbly kept out by the Leicester goal- goal with a defence-splitting pass that Liverpool’s Adam Lallana celebrates scoring their third goal against Leicester City yesterday. to convert a simple fi nish. keeper. CONTROVERSIAL Kane opens Cazorla’s contested penalty account as Spurs smash Stoke helps Arsenal sink Saints Imbula and bent a shot into the top AFP, Stoke-on-Trent corner. AFP Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger at Mo- But most spectators had already London naco. The student clearly learnt well arry Kane grabbed his spotted an offside flag that halted as Southampton steadied themselves first goal of the season the Austrian’s celebrations in their to reach half-time without further and South Korea’s Son tracks. anti’s Cazorla’s controver- alarm.While Arsenal had plenty of Heung-Min scored twice Another cross by Arnautovic sial stoppage-time penalty possession Saints goalkeeper Fraser H as Tottenham Hotspur romped to forced a panicked clearance from gave Arsenal their fi rst home Forster was well-protected, his only an emphatic 4-0 win away at Stoke Ben Davies and Stoke kept up the Swin of the season as they saw moment of concern coming when City yesterday. pressure. off Southampton 2-1 in the Premier Hector Bellerin fl ashed a shot wide. Dele Alli was also on target as the A crisp volley by Glenn Whelan was League at the Emirates Stadium yes- With an hour gone Wenger sum- north London club finally kick- deflected over the Tottenham bar terday. moned the cavalry. Lucas, whose de- started their Premier League title by Davies before Ryan Shawcross’s It was a bitter pill for the visitors to but could most charitably described challenge. header from a corner by Allen was swallow, with Southampton still seek- as ‘quiet’, was replaced by Giroud and It completed a miserable day for stopped by France goalkeeper ing their fi rst win under new manager Sanchez came on for Alex Oxlade- Stoke manager Mark Hughes, who Hugo Lloris. Claude Puel. Chamberlain. was sent to the stands at the Britan- Tottenham’s first chance arrived in An unfortunate 18th-minute own- It was, though, Southampton who nia Stadium for remonstrating with the 26th minute when Alli tried a goal by Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech should have made the breakthrough. officials when the score was 0-0. snap-shot from a tight angle, forc- was cancelled out in spectacular fash- Long linked with Tadic who drew both He watched on helplessly as Son ing veteran Stoke goalkeeper Shay ion by Laurent Koscielny 11 minutes Arsenal centre-backs towards him gave Tottenham a 1-0 half-time lead Given into his first save. later. before releasing the Irishman with an before doubling their advantage The visitors should have taken The north London side looked like Arsenal’s Spanish Santi Cazorla (C) celebrates with Arsenal’s French exquisite back-heel. As Cech came after the break. the lead on the half-hour when a having to settle for a draw until referee striker Olivier Giroud and Arsenal’s Nigerian striker Alex Iwobi (R) after out, Long sought to chip the ball over Alli then made it 3-0 before crossfield ball from Spurs defender Bobby Madley decided Jose Fonte had scoring the winning goal from the penalty spot against Southampton yesterday. him but put it agonisingly wide. England striker Kane grabbed his Toby Alderweireld caused chaos in pulled Olivier Giroud to the ground in At the other end, Sanchez had add- first goal in 10 games for club and the Stoke defence. the penalty area. were rested ahead of Arsenal’s Cham- his body. ed energy and purpose to the home at- country. A ricochet fell for Alli but he Saints players protested furiously pions League opener away to Paris The goal stirred Arsenal into up- tack. Dropping into space to receive a It might have been so different for dragged a shot well wide with only but did not distract Cazorla, who Saint-Germain on Tuesday. ping the tempo. As Southampton were pass from Mesut Ozil he shot just over. Stoke, who now sit bottom of the Given to beat. tucked away the 94th-minute penalty. The Premier League, however, is not pushed back, Arsenal won set-play Monreal then shot wide when well- table without a win in four. The flashpoint arrived in the 34th The win was barely deserved. Ar- a competition in which big clubs can opportunities. These are not normally placed as Arsenal pressed anew, Alex Loan signing Wilfried Bony had minute when Arnautovic was senal had more possession but lacked take liberties with team selection and their strength but in the 25th minute Iwobi, on for Walcott, being the sup- almost made a perfect start on his booked for diving and Hughes incisiveness and south coast side Southampton started the sharper and Theo Walcott rose to glance a Cazorla plier. Stoke debut when he found space reacted angrily on the sidelines. Southampton will rue two excellent took a deserved lead. free-kick just over. Four minutes later Again, though, it was Southamp- in the penalty area and exchanged His protests upset fourth official chances spurned by Shane Long in the Nathan Redmond, who began on a corner led to Koscielny acrobati- ton who were the more penetrating passes with Joe Allen in the open- Jonathan Moss, who persuaded second half. the left of a front three, cut across goal cally rising to volley in with a stunning and with six minutes left Long once ing minutes. referee Anthony Taylor to send the Arsenal gave debuts to late transfer but was scythed down needlessly by overhead kick. more passed up a chance to put Saints But Bony’s second touch let him Stoke boss to the stands. window signings in Shkodran Mus- Nacho Monreal. The left-back was Southampton complained that ahead. down and his eventual shot was Hughes marched down the touch- tafi and Lucas Perez, acquired from La booked, but further punishment fol- Koscielny’s foot was too high, and it When Pierre-Emil Hojbjerg’s shot blocked. line to the tunnel while geeing up Liga clubs and Deportivo La lowed as Arsenal conceded from the did fi nish very close to Oriol Romeu’s was only parried by Cech, Long was Stoke then found the net to send the Stoke fans, who became even Coruna respectively for a combined free-kick, albeit unluckily. brow, but Madley let the goal stand. fi rst to the rebound and seemed sure a section of the home crowd into more riled moments later when Alli £52mn. Dusan Tadic’s free-kick was bril- Puel, who replaced Ronaldo Koe- to score. But he scuff ed his shot and raptures, when Marko Arnautovic escaped punishment for what they Francis Coquelin also returned to liantly touched onto the bar by Cech, man as Southampton manager in pre- the recovering Cech was able to clear collected a fine pass from Giannelli believed was a dive. the team as Giroud and Alexis Sanchez but bounced down to rebound in off season, played under long-serving with his feet.

LA LIGA Griezmann double leads Atletico Liga lift -off

AFP Koke met Griezmann’s fi ne cross eight season after fi nishing sixth last term, wide with just Oblak to beat. second period. Yannick Carrasco had Madrid minutes into the second-half to give but just as in losing out narrowly to In an uncharacteristic outburst claims for a penalty waived away and the visitors the lead before Euro 2016’s Real Madrid two weeks ago, they paid Griezmann claimed Atletico would be Kevin Gameiro somehow fi red wide top scorer Griezmann headed home his for not taking their chances in a prom- “fi ghting against relegation” rather with an open goal to aim at as Atletico ntoine Griezmann kick- fi rst two goals of the season in the fi nal ising fi rst-half. than challenging Barca and Madrid for grew in confi dence. started Atletico Madrid’s La 20 minutes. Sense fi red into the side-netting af- the title if they continued to play like However, it was Griezmann who Liga campaign with two goals Angel Correa added a fourth two ter bursting through the Atletico de- in their opening two games after a 0-0 sealed the points with a towering and an assist as a 4-0 rout at opening two league games. minutes from time. Champions Bar- fence and rounding Jan Oblak just nine stalemate at Leganes two weeks ago. header from Saul Niguez’s cross. CeltaA Vigo gave them a much-needed And they were outplayed for the celona and Real Madrid will attempt minutes in. And after a quiet fi rst-half, Griez- Griezmann added his second of the boost yesterday. fi rst-half in Vigo on Saturday too, to continue their 100 % starts to the Bongonda’s pace was also causing mann came alive after the break fi rst afternoon with another headed eff ort It was a fi rst win of the current La as Josep Sense and Theo Bongonda season at home to Alaves and Osasuna Diego Simeone’s men serious problems with a brilliant in-swinging cross for 10 minutes from time before Correa Liga season after they were held by missed great chances. respectively later on Saturday. and the Belgian should have opened Koke to slot home the opener with fi red home at the near post to seal a promoted Alaves and Leganes in their But Atletico’s luck turned when Celta are still to pick up a point this the scoring when he dragged his shot Atletico’s fi rst shot on goal early in the second-half rout. Gulf Times Sunday, September 11, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

LIGUE 1 ‘ROME NOT BUILT IN A DAY’ SAYS INTER BOSS

Milan: Embattled A recent takeover by the Chi- PSG suff er heartbreak coach Frank De Boer has called nese Suning Holdings Group, for patience amid a frustrat- and a subsequent summer ing start to the campaign that spending spree that helped has already dented hopes of lure Joao Mario from Sporting contending the title. Lisbon and Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Inter kickstart their Europa from Brazilian side FC Santos, in late home draw League campaign against Ha- has injected fresh hope. poel Beer-Sheva on Thursday But anything less than a win but first face a tricky trip to at Pescara today would dent Lyon lose at new home for first time as Bordeaux provisionally move top of table league newcomers Pescara morale ahead of a crucial week today, a week before hosting that could see De Boer either Serie A champions Juventus. vilified, or revered by fans. The After a shock opening defeat former Ajax manager, who to Chievo and a limp 1-1 draw could hand former Sporting at the San Siro with Palermo Lisbon midfielder Mario his last time out, De Boer is under Inter debut, is relishing the pressure less than a month challenge — even if time to after succeeding sacked Rob- work fully with the squad has erto Mancini. The Dutchman been at a prime. said he accepts the flak, but, “We’re looking forward to following the disruption of the the next three games. The international break last week, only downside is the fact we insists he needs more time to haven’t had the chance to train get the ‘Nerazzurri’ firing on all all together. A lot of the players cylinders. were on international duty so I “The criticism is normal, I’m only had seven players on the the new coach and I’ve come in pitch,” he said. “But the squad here from a diff erent country,” is determined to improve and De Boer said. “But you have to start collecting some points. look at the big picture, I only Already, I’ve seen improve- arrived here a few days before ments that I’m satisfied with the opening game of the and I think we’ve taken a season so I need some time. couple of steps forward.” Rome wasn’t built in a day. This Mario, fresh from winning is Inter Milan, the pressure is the Euro 2016 title with Portu- normal but for me it’s not a gal, is “ready”, added De Boer problem. I’m sure we’ll find suc- — although the Dutchman was cess soon.” tight-lipped on where exactly Inter, Italy’s last Champions the midfielder would play. League winners in 2010 when “He’s ready, so he’ll travel they completed the treble with us tomorrow (Sunday),” under former coach Jose added De Boer. “He’s a Mourinho, have struggled in complete midfielder that we recent seasons. Even the return can use in various positions of Mancini, who led the club to whether in the centre of the seven trophies including three park or out wide. That’s a big consecutive league titles in advantage for us.” Ahead of 2004-2008, failed to provide the weekend fixtures, Inter sit the spark after he was drafted in 17th place with one point, in by the club’s former owner, five shy of league leaders Indonesian Erick Thohir. Genoa after two games.

Paris St Germain’s Marco Verratti (centre) reacts after St Etienne were awarded a penalty during French at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on Friday night. (Reuters)

AFP underneath him when well placed in the replied for Bordeaux on the half hour. Lyon’s lead on 22 minutes when Cedric Paris box, but the referee waved away furious Lyon captain Maxime Gonalons was Carrasso tipped the youngster’s acrobatic home appeals for a penalty. sent off for a reckless challenge on the eff ort onto the crossbar. Meanwhile goalkeeper Kevin Trapp Bordeaux goalscorer midway through But Malcom drove a left-footed strike aris Saint-Germain conceded had to be at his best to thwart the away the second half, and the visitors took full from the edge of the area to draw Bor- an injury-time equaliser as they side when he was down smartly to his left advantage as Gregory Sertic headed the deaux level on 33 minutes. warmed up for their Champions to save from close range at the Parc des visitors in front. The 19-year-old was then left writhing League clash next week against Princes. PSG, runaway league winners Jeremy Menez then sealed a third vic- around in agony after Gonalons caught PArsenal with a disappointing 1-1 home last term, had plenty of the ball in the tory in four games for Jocelyn Gourven- him badly with a poor challenge that draw with Saint-Etienne on Friday night. second period but did little with it, with nec’s side in the dying stages with his fi rst prompted the Lyon midfi elder’s dismissal The big-spending Parisians looked set Emery calling for winger Angel Di Maria goal for his new club. on 67 minutes. to top Ligue 1 thanks to a second-half Lu- off the bench shortly before the hour For Lyon, who were without Clement And Bordeaux were ahead just four cas penalty, but Robert Beric popped up in the hope he would inject some badly Grenier, Mathieu Valbuena and Nabil Fe- minutes later as Sertic glanced home a in the second minute of added-on time to needed pace and guile. kir, it was their fi rst loss suff ered at their free-kick for his fi rst goal in over two somehow eke out an unlikely point for the They fi nally made the breakthrough new home since it opened in January, and years, having missed most of the last visitors. in the 67th minute thanks to a penalty a second straight in the league following campaign through injury. “Am I angry?” said new PSG coach from the Brazilian winger Lucas, after a shock 4-2 defeat at promoted Dijon last The afternoon lurched from bad to Unai Emery. “No. The result is hard to Matuidi again took a tumble. The Paris- time out. worse for Lyon as Lacazette, the league’s accept but I have to keep a cool head. I ians were cruising to victory, before Beric Alexandre Lacazette, who hobbled off leading scorer, limped off before the have nothing to reproach the players for neatly chested down a deep cross late on at half-time during the Dijon debacle, end with more injury problems, leaving tonight. I am the coach and I am the one and knocked the ball into the ground and shook off a knee injury to feature in a his status for Wednesday’s Champions responsible,” added Emery, whose side over the stretched arms of Trapp. PSG, front three that included Rachid Ghezzal League clash with Dinamo Zagreb uncer- were well beaten 3-1 at Monaco in their now without defender David Luiz follow- for the fi rst time this term after a summer tain. last game and lie third after four matches. ing his return to Chelsea, host Premier of stalled contract extension talks and ru- Menez then completed a miserable af- The French champions gave a fi rst start League Arsenal on Tuesday. mours of a move away. ternoon for Lyon in the 90th minute as this season to international midfi elder Yesterday, Lyon crashed to a fi rst home The hosts enjoyed a dream start as Ka- his defl ected strike looped in. after the former Saint- defeat at Parc OL as Bordeaux provision- lulu was the benefi ciary of a fortunate Etienne player saw a proposed transfer to ally moved top of Ligue 1 by coming from defl ection, the youngster tapping in after LIGUE 1 RESULTS Italian champions Juventus fall through. behind to claim a 3-1 victory. Aldo Kalulu Sergi Darder’s attempted pass rolled in- Lyon 1 (Kalulu 2) Bordeaux 3 (Malcom 33, He was involved in the major talking marked his fi rst appearance of the season vitingly into his path. Sertic 71, Menez 90) Inter Milan coach Frank de Boer is under pressure less than a point of a tepid fi rst-half when he ap- for Lyon with the opening goal inside two Mouctar Diakhaby, deputising in cen- Paris SG 1 (Lucas 67-pen) Saint-Etienne 1 month after succeeding sacked Roberto Mancini. peared to have his legs swept out from minutes, but Brazilian teenager Malcom tral defence, went close to doubling (Beric 90+2)

SERIE A Higuain, Pjanic guide Juventus to win over Sassuolo

Agencies Ragusa, who was off side when redi- Turin, Italy recting it on to the upright. Sassuolo had penalty appeals waved away for a Chiellini handball on Pietro onzalo Higuain’s brace, in- Iemmello’s header. Substitute Mario cluding a stunning volley, and Mandzukic saw his angled drive saved Miralem Pjanic saw Juventus after a Dybala through ball, then Franc- sweep aside Sassuolo 3-1 in esco Acerbi was decisive to stop a Dy- Gthe Serie A yesterday. bala tap-in after Pjanic’s stone-cold The Bianconeri gave Miralem Pjanic fi rst touch on a long Bonucci pass. his debut, while it was the fi rst time Yet Sassuolo so nearly made it 3-2 in Higuain and Paulo Dybala started to- the fi nal minutes when Politano sprung gether, but was rested. the off side trap on Federico Ricci’s pass, Sassuolo had technically won their went round Buff on and was only denied fi rst two rounds, but the 2-1 victory by a Lichtsteiner goal-line clearance. against Pescara was overturned due to Sassuolo were without Domenico the irregular registration of Antonino Berardi, the club’s star striker who has Ragusa. They made the trip without been a proven threat against some of injured Domenico Berardi and Gregoire the biggest clubs in Serie A. Berardi, Defrel, while Paolo Cannavaro and Si- who is sidelined through injury, is ex- mone Missiroli were rested for the Eu- pected to join Juventus next year fol- ropa League. lowing an agreement between the clubs It was an action-packed start, as earlier this summer. Having already be- Matteo Politano burst down the right come the youngest Italian player since and his low drive was fi ngertipped the 1994-95 season to score 40 goals in round the base of the near post by Gigi Serie A, Berardi is already a household Buff on. However, Juve struck on the Juventus’ players celebrate after their win over Sassuolo at Juventus stadium in Turin, Italy, yesterday. (Reuters) name in Italian football. counter with Dybala feeding Higuain Juventus coach Massimiliano rested for a precise angled strike into the far in a spectacular volley from 12 yards. peals waved away, but the move con- Antei. It was the fi rst goal the Neroverdi fenders at the by-line with a delight- and Andrea Barzagli yes- bottom corner. Dybala wasted a good chance by try- tinued and Pjanic’s header came off the had scored here in their fourth visit. ful dummy to test Consigli at the near terday ahead of Wednesday’s Champi- Sassuolo continued to push for- ing to set up Pipita for a hat-trick, then bar, so the Bosnian pounced to tap in After the restart Andrea Consigli stick, then nodded ons League fi xture Sevilla FC for their ward with Ragusa and Alfred Duncan, ’s header from a cor- the rebound. beat away a Khedira snapshot, while in wide from a corner. opening Group G Champions League but Higuain scored with a moment of ner whistled just wide. Sassuolo were shell-shocked, but a double chance Pjanic forced a point- Lichtsteiner fi red straight at Con- clash. Sassuolo are in action in Europe astounding quality. A loose ball was The dominance was remarkable in got one back when Buff on missed a blank save and fl ashed the sigli from six yards and a double tackle too as the Tuscans embark on the group knocked up into the air and, surround- Turin and debutant Pjanic got on the Politano corner and Alex Sandro’s de- follow-up across the face of goal. stopped him getting the rebound. Poli- stage of their continental campaign ed by defenders, he managed to smash scoresheet too. Dybala had penalty ap- fensive header ricocheted in off Luca Dybala got away from three de- tano’s fi ne run turned into an assist for against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday. Gulf Times 4 Sunday, September 11, 2016 FOOTBALL

BUNDESLIGA Red-hot Lewandowski fi res Bayern Munich past Schalke Super-sub Pohjanpalo nets treble in Leverkusen win, Borussia Moenchengladbach go down to Freiburg

AFP Berlin Bayern Munich’s striker Robert Lewandowski scores past Schalke’s goalkeeper Ralf Faehrmann during a match in obert Lewandowski and Joshua Kim- Gelsenkirchen, western Germany. (AFP) mich struck late goals in Bayern Mu- nich’s 2-0 win at Schalke in the Bun- desliga on Friday as teenage Portugal starR Renato Sanches made his debut for the Ba- varian giants. Dutch forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar rattled the crossbar for Schalke early in the second half as the hosts frustrated the reigning champions for much of the evening in Gelsenkirchen. But Lewandowski struck his fourth goal in two games nine minutes from the end to put Bayern ahead, before setting up Kimmich in stoppage time to wrap up a second victory in as many matches for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. The Italian handed Sanches, 19, his fi rst Bay- ern start following his return to fi tness from a thigh injury initially sustained during Portugal’s triumphant Euro 2016 campaign. Schalke coach Markus Weinzierl introduced two new faces of his own by fi elding Ukrainian winger Yevhen Konoplyanka and Algeria midfi elder Nabil Ben- taleb after both joined the Royal on loan last month. Lewandowski scored a hat-trick in Bayern’s 6-0 demolition of Werder Bremen on the sea- son-opening weekend, and the Poland striker missed an opportunity to add to his haul when he dragged wide from a Thomas Mueller cut- back on 24 minutes. But Schalke, beaten 1-0 by Eintracht Frank- furt a fortnight ago, showed plenty of promise and Manuel Neuer and David Alaba combined to deny Huntelaar shortly before the break after Konoplyanka skipped past Mats Hummels. The Netherlands international went even closer on 56 minutes when Neuer produced a superb fi ngertip save to tip Huntelaar’s thun- derous long-range eff ort onto the woodwork. Lewandowski should have broken the dead- lock on 73 minutes when Alaba’s cross evaded a stunning second-half hat-trick as Bayer from done as he netted twice more in stoppage Freiburg midfi elder Maximilian Philipp turned Leipzig in Saturday’s late game. Mueller, with last year’s leading scorer then Leverkusen roared back to beat Hamburg 3-1, time to hand Roger Schmidt’s side their fi rst the game on its head before Nils Petersen added somehow spooning the ball over from point- while Borussia Moenchengladbach slumped to points of the season. a late third for Freiburg from the penalty spot. BUNDESLIGA RESULTS blank range. But he soon atoned for that glaring defeat at promoted Freiburg. Leverkusen begin their Champions League Wolfsburg laboured to a 0-0 draw at home Bayer Leverkusen 3 (Pohjanpalo 79, 90+1, 90+4) miss, taking Javi Martinez’s through ball in his US international Bobby Wood gave Hamburg adventure when they host CSKA Moscow in to Cologne, who were playing without injured Hamburg 1 (Wood 58) stride and rifl ing a clinical fi nish beyond Ralf the lead just before the hour at the BayArena, the opening round of group stage matches next goalkeeper Timo Horn, while Hertha Berlin VfL Wolfsburg 0 Cologne 0 Fahrmann to end Schalke’s resistance. but the introduction of Finland striker Pohjan- midweek, but Gladbach will have to recover picked up a second straight win as they defeated Ingolstadt 0 Hertha Berlin 2 (Ibisevic 8, Schieber 86) With the hosts pressing for an equaliser, Bay- palo on 72 minutes swung the game dramati- quickly ahead of their trip to Manchester City Ingolstadt through goals from Vedad Ibisevic Darmstadt 98 1 (Sirigu 90) Eintracht Frankfurt 0 ern hit Schalke on the counterattack in the dying cally in the home side’s favour. after losing 3-1 at Freiburg. and . Freiburg 3 (Philipp 54, 85, Petersen 88-pen) Borus- stages and Lewandowski played in Kimmich to The 21-year-old, who scored on his Bundes- Thorgan Hazard, the younger brother of Sandro Sirigu grabbed last-minute winner for sia Moenchengladbach 1 (T. Hazard 35) tuck away his fi rst goal in the German top fl ight. liga debut last month, equalised for Leverkusen Chelsea star Eden, fi red the visitors ahead 10 Darmstadt in a 1-0 home victory over Eintracht Schalke 0 Bayern Munich 2 (Lewandowski 81, Kim- Yesterday, substitute Joel Pohjanpalo scored within seven minutes of his arrival, but was far minutes before half-time, but two goals from Frankfurt, while head to RB mich 90+2)

FIFA get 2018 WC stadium ‘guarantees’ Dembele hat-trick in Celtic rout of Rangers

Saint Petersburg, Russia: FIFA have received “guarantees” from AFP Russia that the stadium which will host the 2018 World Cup semi- Glasgow final will be ready by the end of this year, world football’s govern- ing body said yesterday. Construction of the new 68,000-seater stadium in Saint Peters- oussa Dembele grabbed a burg — one of the most expensive in the world — had been stalled hat-trick on his debut as since mid-July because of a dispute between the former project Celtic thrashed 10 men manager and local authorities. Rangers 5-1 at Parkhead in Mthe fi rst derby in four years. The But work restarted after the nomination of a new contractor — Russian business Metrostroi — who say it will be delivered on French striker, only playing due to an in- schedule on December 26. “We have received new guarantees jury to top scorer Leigh Griffi ths, became from the government, who have assured us that the stadium will the fi rst player to score a hat-trick in the be ready before the end of the year,” said FIFA director of competi- fi xture since Ally McCoist’s treble in the tions Colin Smith. “We’re satisfied with the progress of work on the 1983 League Cup fi nal. stadium.” He opened the scoring with a header The project got under way in 2007 on a budget initially estimat- in the 34th minute before fi ring home a ed at 6.9bn rubles, but should finally cost 39.2bn rubles (539mn fi ne solo fi nish to double Celtic’s advan- euros), making it one of the most expensive stadiums ever. tage eight minutes later. Rangers pulled one back in the 45th minute through Joe PORTUGAL BACK CEFERIN FOR UEFA PRESIDENCY Garner but Dembele then set up Scott The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) yesterday gave public Sinclair to make it 3-1. backing to Slovenia’s Aleksander Ceferin to become the new UEFA The former Fulham forward then president. sealed the fi rst Celtic hat-trick in an After the withdrawal of Spaniard Angel Maria Villar, Ceferin, a Old Firm league fi xture since 1966 in the 48-year-old lawyer and head of the Slovenian football federation 84th minute after Rangers had been re- since 2011, will go up against Dutchman Michael van Praag, in the duced to 10 men as Philippe Senderos’ UEFA election on Wednesday in Athens. picked up a second booking for a deliber- Ceferin already has the support of the French Football Federa- ate handball. tion while van Praag, the 68-year-old Dutch football chief, has Eng- Substitute Stuart Armstrong fi nished lish and Belgian backing with each of UEFA’s 55 federations having the scoring in stoppage time to continue a vote. “I know Michael van Praag for quite some time and I have a Celtic’s 100 per cent start to the season lot of respect for him and his ideas but we will vote for Aleksander as they move four points clear of Rang- Ceferin,” FPF president Fernando Gomes told AFP in a statement. ers with a game in hand against their Old Gomes, a member of the UEFA executive committee, had Firm foes. himself been touted among the potential candidates to take over It was the perfect start for Celtic man- from Michel Platini as European football chief. “It’s an honour and ager in his fi rst Old privilege to receive the support of the FPF, which represents an Firm match in charge. “It was an out- important nation in world football and are the reigning European standing team performance and a great Celtic’s Moussa Dembele scores against Rangers during the Scottish Premiership at yesterday. (Reuters) champions,” Ceferin said in the Portuguese statement. day for the club,” he said. “It was a very UEFA are seeking a new president after former France dominant performance and I thought we The Celtic striker has been living in the replaced Niko Krancjar and came close to Dembele sealed his hat-trick with a low midfielder Platini quit in May after failing to overturn his ban showed a lot of great traits in the game.” shadow of goal machine Griffi ths since an equaliser when Barrie McKay curled shot beyond Foderingham. Armstrong from all football activities. Platini was found guilty of eth- His Rangers counterpart Mark War- the start of the season but the French for- an eff ort inches wide of Dorus de Vries’ completed the rout late on as he fi red an ics breaches over a 1.8mn euro payment he received from burton couldn’t hide his upset at the ward grabbed his opportunity and fi red far post. angled shot past the Rangers’ keeper to former FIFA president Sepp Blatter. manner of defeat. “I’m obviously dis- the Hoops further in front. However, it was the Hoops who in- fi nish a free-fl owing passing move. appointed but that’s not strong enough Kiernan’s slack pass was intercepted creased their lead through Sinclair. in terms of a description. We’ve got to by Bitton who slid a pass through for Dembele split the Rangers defence as he SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP RESULTS be better than that. Good players make Dembele and the French striker turned slipped the ball through for the former Celtic 5 (Dembele 33, 42, 83, Sinclair 61, good decisions and too many times today Senderos before clipping the ball past Manchester City winger who calmly Armstrong 90+2) Rangers 1 (Garner 44) we made poor decisions in possession.” Wes Foderingham. Rangers’ hopes ap- slide the ball past Foderingham and in off Aberdeen 1 (McGinn 51) Inverness 1 (Vigurs Off the pitch the atmosphere was elec- peared to be slipping away but they the post. 68) tric as the two sets of fans introduced pulled a goal back from nowhere on the Worse was to come for Rangers in Dundee 1 (El Bakhtaoui 7) Kilmarnock 1 themselves to each other following a four verge of half-time. the 75th minute as Kiernan limped off (Coulibaly 32) year absence in the Scottish Premiership. ’s cross was headed injured before Senderos saw red as he Hearts 3 (Walker 69, 81-pen, Nicholson However, the entertainment on it was back across goal by and bizarrely opted to punch the ball away 90+3) Hamilton 1 (Crawford 50) limited until Celtic grabbed the opener. Garner leapt to nod the ball over the after a mistimed jump to pick up his sec- Partick 0 St Johnstone 2 (Anderson 21, Krestovsky football stadium currently under construction for the The Rangers defence switched off and line from close range for his fi rst goal for ond booking. This left Rangers with just MacLean 64) 2018 FIFA World Cup in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (AFP) Dembele was allowed a free run to head Rangers. The visitors started the second Lee Wallace and Tavernier as recognised Ross County 1 (Boyce 61) Motherwell 1 home Sinclair’s corner in off the post. half with more energy as defenders and Celtic took advantage as (Moult 67-pen) Gulf Times Sunday, September 11, 2016 5 RUGBY

SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS Being a 50-minute team is not good All Blacks surge enough: Pumas past Pumas with second-half blitz ‘We’ve got to go away and work better and prepare better. There’ll be one or two guys who will have a good look at how they played and be disappointed with that’ New Zealand’s wing Julian Savea (L) is tackled by Argentina’s Ramiro Moyano during their Rugby Championship match yesterday. AFP Hamilton, New Zealand Reuters 24 victory over the Springboks, Hamilton though they needed a late penalty devastating late surge broke from Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias to Argentina’s resistance as New seal that win in Salta after they had Zealand powered to a 57-22 vic- rgentina again showed let slip a 10-point advantage. tory to keep their Rugby Cham- how good they have Agustin Creevy’s side also let pionshipA title bid on track yesterday. become when they put South Africa off the hook a week The All Blacks scored eight tries to one New Zealand under earlier in Nelspruit as the South but it was not until Ryan Crotty crossed immenseA pressure in the Rugby Africans scored 17 points in the 13 minutes into the second half that they Championship on Saturday, but last 10 minutes for a 30-23 win. gained command at Hamilton’s Waikato scrumhalf Martin Landajo la- Stadium. mented they fact they again did “We made a good fi rst half With the score at 24-22, Crotty’s try not sustain the eff ort for a full 80 and then again at the start sparked a 33-point spree in the closing 27 minutes. of the second but it’s not minutes of the match. The All Blacks ran away in the enough. We need to do 80 By full time the dominance was clear- fi nal 30 minutes in Hamilton, minutes. We are playing 50 cut, but after strolling to victory twice scoring fi ve unanswered tries to or 60 minutes of great rugby over Australia in the opening rounds of clinch a 57-22 victory that in real- but it’s not enough so we the tournament, the All Blacks this time ity fl attered the world champions. need to change something” found a more formidable opponent until Until fl yhalf Beauden Barrett the Pumas ran out of steam. sparked a fl urry of three tries in They went into the break trail- Coach Steve Hansen said the All Blacks 10 minutes after the Pumas had ing 24-19 yesterday and it would were forced to rethink their game plan at reduced the defi cit to 24-22 the have been a 24-22 defi cit if Nico- half-time. visitors were threatening to se- las Sanchez had slotted his fi fth “We went back out and were a lot more cure their fi rst win over the All penalty on the stroke of halftime. eff ective in our roles and executing the Blacks in the 23rd test between The fl yhalf, however, did re- jobs we needed to do and that put a lot of the sides. duce the defi cit after his side had pressure on the Argentinians,” he said. “A bit of a lie the result but they hammered away at the All Blacks “We’ve got to go away and work better really deserved the win so we con- line for the opening 10 minutes and prepare better. There’ll be one or two gratulate them,” Landajo said. of the second period. guys who will have a good look at how they “We made a good fi rst half and “The second half we didn’t played and be disappointed with that.” then again at the start of the sec- score the tries we needed to,” Despite the scoreline, Pumas captain ond but it’s not enough. We need Landajo said. “Then the fi rst Agustin Creevy sensed his side are im- to do 80 minutes. time they came here (into Pumas proving. “We are playing 50 or 60 min- territory) they scored and that “For us it was a great advance that we utes of great rugby but it’s not was the diff erence. could play against them for 50 minutes in enough so we need to change “But we are happy that we are a great way, but they can produce a dif- something.” playing good rugby. It’s a young ference in the last 20 minutes,” he said. The Pumas entered the match at team and we are growing. We are Julian Savea, Ben Smith and Beauden Waikato Stadium fresh from a 26- on a good path.”

Results New Zealand’s flyhalf Beauden Barrett (R) is tackled during the Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Hamilton. IN SUPPORT At Brisbane, Australia Australia (holders) 23 South Africa 17 Barrett scored fi rst-half tries for the All minute when a deft pass from scrum-half ered his way up to the line. Blacks who turned with a 24-19 advantage, Martin Landajo sent Santiago Cordero When a further Sanchez penalty re- At Hamilton, New Zealand while Ryan Crotty scored twice and Charlie away on a 25-metre run to the line. stored Argentina’s lead, the All Blacks hit All Blacks scrumhalf New Zealand 57 Argentina 22 Faumuina, Smith again and Luke Romano Nicolas Sanchez landed the conversion back with a long-range penalty by Israel touched down in the second half. and kept the scoreboard ticking over with Dagg and a try to Barrett. Standings (played, won, drawn, lost, Argentina held the lead three times in four penalties in the fi rst half. Sanchez landed his fi fth penalty early Smith is world’s best points scored, points conceded, the fi rst spell. The All Blacks were keen to show they in the second half to close the gap to 24- bonus points, total) The game was less than three minutes had the muscle up front and opted for 22, but by then the Pumas were starting to New Zealand 3 3 0 0 128 39 3 15 old when they scored the opening try, and scrums over close-range penalties early tire — as the All Blacks stepped up a gear to player, says Gatland South Africa 3 1 0 2 71 72 2 6 while they did not cross the All Blacks line in the Test. score at better than a point a minute. Argentina 3 1 0 2 71 111 1 5 again they commanded suffi cient territory It paid dividends with a try to Savea, With their third win out of three, the Australia 3 1 0 2 40 88 0 4 to land a string of penalties. coming into the backline from the blind- victory kept the All Blacks on track to win It was not, however, the vaunted power side wing, after Kieran Read had plucked the southern hemisphere championship Points allocation: 4 - win, 2 - draw, of the Pumas pack that did the damage, the ball from the back of a scrum. for the fourth time in fi ve years. 1 - losing by seven or fewer points, but their turnovers and smart off -loads When the All Blacks slipped behind 13- They also remain unbeaten after 23 1 - scoring three tries more than op- in an expansive game that stretched the 7, Smith brought them back into the game clashes with Argentina, winning 22 and ponents All Blacks. with his fi rst try after a powerful run by drawing one, and stretched their current They scored the fi rst try in the second Savea in which the big wing steamroll- unbeaten run against all sides to 14.

BOTTOMLINE Wallabies beat Springboks to

snap six-game losing streak New Zealand’s Aaron Smith (L) during the match yesterday. AFP number eight Warren Whiteley, Springboks, before his second Brisbane who crashed over. penalty fi ve minutes from half- Reuters he’s the best player in the world ’ conversion time narrowed the gap to just Wellington at the moment. made it 7-0 after just three min- one point. “You take him out of that All ustralia edged South utes. The home side carried their Black team and they might be a Africa 23-17 to snap a A Foley penalty reduced the momentum into the second half ritish and Irish Lions little vulnerable, he’s pretty spe- six-game losing streak gap to 7-3 in the 11th minute, but and they hit the front with a coach Warren Gatland cial.” and ease pressure on he undid his good work when he third Foley penalty two minutes believes Aaron Smith The Lions have won only one coachA Michael Cheika in the threw a no-look pass with the after the restart, when Etzebeth is the best player in the of their 11 series against the All Rugby Championship yesterday. Wallabies deep in attack only was given a yellow card for slow- worldB at the moment and the All Blacks and were swept 3-0 in the After being down 14-13 at for Springbok captain Adriaan ing the ball down after a storm- Blacks would be a far less daunt- tests on their last visit in 2005, half-time, the Australians took Strauss to intercept. ing break from outside centre ing prospect for next year’s tour- when England’s World Cup- control of the second period and Samu Kerevi. ists without their scrumhalf. winning coach Clive Woodward they were 23-14 up within the AGGRESSIVE PACK Kerevi then went close to a try Gatland, himself a former All was at the helm. last 20 minutes thanks to Ber- Strauss unloaded to Jantjies, but a brilliant tackle from Goos- Black, coached the Lions to a 2-1 Gatland said he was hoping nard Foley’s try. who drew the last Wallaby de- en saved a certain fi ve-pointer, series victory in Australia in 2013 to watch all of New Zealand’s The Springboks fought back fender and kicked ahead for Kerevi’s leg brushing the side- and on Wednesday was handed remaining tests in the Rugby to within six points, but the fullback Johan Goosen to score line at the same time as the ball the task of leading the inter-na- Championship and the one-off hosts survived to give the em- under the posts. touched the ground. tional selection to a fi rst series tri- third test against Australia in battled Cheika some breathing The Wallabies were Despite dominating for much umph in New Zealand since 1971. Auckland that follows it. space with their fi rst win of the shellshocked at 14-3 down but of the second half, it took until Back in his native Hamilton to The 52-year-old, who is hand- year. they began to hold onto the ball the 61st minute for the Wallabies watch the All Blacks play Argen- ing control of the Wales squad to After losing the World Cup fi - and exert some pressure on the to fi nally crack the determined tina on Saturday, Gatland said Rob Howley while on Lions duty, nal to New Zealand last October, South Africans. Springbok defence when Foley Smith was a major factor in New said he would be naming his Australia have suff ered three With Genia dictating play crossed next to the posts after Zealand’s brilliant form this sea- backroom staff on Dec. defeats to England and two big Australian player celebrate a try during the Rugby Championship superbly behind an aggressive 18 phases of attack on the South son. 7 and his squad in mid-April losses to the rampant All Blacks match between Australia and South Africa in Brisbane. pack, they were back in the con- African line. “To be honest I think they’ve next year after spending some this year. test when giant lock Adam Cole- The Springboks, who lost to taken the game on to another time with the England, Scotland Australia had only lost seven But they got off to the worst Wallabies scrum-half Will man crashed over in the corner Argentina in their last outing, level,” Gatland told New Zea- and Ireland squads. matches in a row once before — possible start when the tower- Genia brought Mohoje down in after the Australians opted for threw everything at the Walla- land’s Sky TV. “It’s a huge honour to be a sequence that cost Eddie Jones ing made a break a try-saving tackle close to the a line-out instead of a kickable bies and Morne Steyn’s penalty “I think there’s one player in asked to lead the Lions again,” he his job as Wallabies coach — and down the right wing in the third line, but from the ensuing ruck penalty. got them to within a converted particular, in my opinion, who is said.”I’m really looking forward they were desperate to avoid minute and found fl anker Tebo- Genia’s opposite number Faf Foley converted from the try, but the Wallabies weren’t to the driving force and the key, and to it, it’s going to be a massive equalling the record. ho Mohoje in support. de Klerk slipped a short ball to sideline to make it 14-10 to the be denied. that is Aaron Smith. I just think challenge but hugely exciting.” Gulf Times 6 Sunday, September 11, 2016 PARALYMPICS

SPOTLIGHT AGAINST ALL ODDS Far from Rio, a paralympic race in Egypt’s armless besieged Syrian town table tennis ‘legend’ is in a class apart

‘He’s a legend in table tennis... You see people like Ibrahim and you can’t possibly feel Disabled Syrian men, who sustained injuries in bombardment, nervous: he puts things in perspective — the things he can do’ compete in a makeshift wheelchair race in the town of Douma. AFP went by. Douma, Syria The event was the fi rst of its kind in Douma, and comes as hosts the Paralym- housands of miles from pic Games, which includes for the Rio Paralympics, a the fi rst time a team of refugee small group of wheel- competitors, among them Syrian chair-bound Syrians swimmer Ibrahim al-Hussein. Tlined up at the start of a race in The Douma race took place the besieged town of Douma. Thursday during an almost mi- The unusual event was organ- raculous respite in the bombing ised Thursday by the local Wafa — which resumed again Friday Association, an NGO that assists killing at least two people and handicapped people living in the wounding dozens more. rebel-held town, an opposition The goal is “to search for stronghold near the capital Da- meaning in our lives and boost mascus. our morale,” said participant Surrounded by government Mohamed al-Sheikh, in his 20s, troops since 2013, and subject to who suff ers from paralysis in his relentless regime shelling, Dou- lower body. ma is not the likeliest spot for a “We hope there will be more makeshift wheelchair race. activities like these. So long as But that did not stop around a we can use our brains, we can dozen handicapped men, young overcome our physical handi- and old, lining up outside Wafa’s caps,” added Abu Ahmad, in his building in wheelchairs to par- 30s and similarly paralysed. ticipate. The participants sported white Some had feet or legs ampu- T-shirts emblazoned with the tated, while others were para- Wafa Association logo. lysed in parts of their lower body, “We helped rehabilitate those injuries sustained in the shelling who suff ered spinal cord injuries and bombardment that regularly so they were able to use wheel- rocks the rebel stronghold. chairs,” said Abu Ali, a supervisor They waited impatiently for from the NGO. the signal to begin, before pro- The association says it has pelling themselves forward, provided psychological support pushing their wheels furiously to 200 disabled people in Douma. as they raced along a tree-lined “We hope to organise other street, passing shops and food activities for them so that they stalls and some partially-de- could feel useful,” Abu Ali added. Egypt’s Ibrahim Hamadtou competes in table tennis at the Riocentro during the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. stroyed buildings. At the end of the race, par- Alongside the race stood curi- ticipants received medals as a AFP ing: I’m too happy.” forth over a tiny table — is nothing like Games has been viewed on YouTube mil- ous bystanders, including chil- child waved the flag of the Syr- Rio de Janeiro holding a fl ashlight. lions of times. dren, who gawped as the racers ian uprising. AGILE FOOT, STRONG NECK Hamadtou, however, found a way. But the British star said he feels him- Hamadtou, from the port city of Dami- Table tennis players need to throw the self in the Egyptian’s shadow. gypt’s Ibrahim Hamadtou can etta, was 10 when he was injured. ball to hit a serve, so he plays without a “He’s a legend in table tennis,” Weth- INCREDIBLE swing a table tennis racket as “After the accident, he stayed shut up right shoe, using his toes to scoop the ball erill said. “I was feeling the pressure, a bit well as the next Paralympian, at home for three years. He wouldn’t go and toss it up, perfectly positioned. jittery.(Then) you see people like Ibrahim but that’s not what makes him a out,” said his coach of the last 20 years, He then uses his strong neck to trans- and you can’t possibly feel nervous: he sensation:E Hamadtou holds the racket Hossameldin Elshoubry. form his head into the equivalent of an puts things in perspective — the things Blind photographer between his teeth. A family friend tried to put the de- arm and his mouth into a hand. he can do.” The Rio Paralympics are full of stories pressed teen back on track through sport. “It took me three years to learn,” Ha- Hamadtou’s only problem in sporting of men and women who have trained He still had two good legs, so football madtou said. terms is that he is too unique. gets his vision through their impaired bodies to compete at the seemed obvious. “But football didn’t “After that his life changed. You know, A truly fair matchup at Paralympic highest level. work,” Hamadtou said. he went to school again after that,” coach level is almost impossible if the opponent Yet Hamadtou, who lost both arms His coach explained: “It was too dan- Elshoubry said proudly. has at least one arm. his pictures above the elbow in a childhood train ac- gerous. You see, with no arms, if you fall His exploits have made him something “He’s the only one that uses his AFP the scale and distances too hard. cident, stands apart, the only table tennis you have no way to protect yourself.” of an Internet sensation, starring in a mouth,” his coach said. “There’s no one Rio de Janeiro “When I am close enough I player even to try the feat. So Hamadtou tried table tennis, fi rst YouTube hit called “Impossible is Noth- else. If there were fi ve, six, seven play- feel the runners’ heartbeats, their Although he lost in his Paralympic by gripping the small paddle under the ing” that has been viewed more than 2.3 ers using their mouths, we’d make a new steps,” he said, “and then I’m ready debut, falling to the highly rated British stump of his right arm. “That didn’t work million times. class.” oao Maia is one of many to take the picture. But with noise world number four, David Wetherill, and either,” he said, smiling. That eventually might happen. talented photographers and distance I fi nd it diffi cult.” then to Germany’s Thomas Rau, the wiry Finally he attempted to clasp the racket LEGENDARY Back in Egypt, Hamadtou is train- covering the Rio Paralym- Although he started with a 43-year-old said he was elated. handle in his mouth, much like someone Wetherill, who plays table tennis while ing two armless boys, aged 10 and 12, pics, but with a twist: he traditional camera when he fi rst “I’m just happy that I could come from might hold a fl ashlight when their hands holding a crutch to support his left side, Elshoubry said. can’tJ see what he shoots. became serious in 2008, he now Egypt to be here at the Paralympics and are busy. is also famous in the Paralympic world. “He wants to give those two boys the “You don’t need to see to take uses a latest generation smart- to play against a champion,” he told AFP. Except that table tennis — a lightning Video of him diving onto the fl oor to skills that no one could give him when he photographs. My eyes are in my phone, which he says has excel- “I can’t express what my heart is feel- fast contest of whacking a ball back and hit a winning shot in the London 2012 was small.” heart,” he said at the Engenhao lent focusing. athletics stadium. Helping him are the people he Somehow the blind photogra- calls his borrowed “eyes” — Le- BOTTOMLINE pher pulls off what might seem onardo Eroico and Ricardo Ro- like an impossible task. jas, whose Mobgrafi a initiative His pictures have magazine promotes art photography using quality, seemingly taken by a cellphones. Maia and another normally sighted professional. photographer, who is confi ned to For example, there’s his shot a wheelchair, are documenting the of the world recording set- Paralympics with their encour- Silence for Brazil! Crowd at blind ting longjump by French athlete agement. “Without them I could Marie-Amelie Le Fur: it captures do nothing. They help me with her expression as she falls and the the editing, which I could never sand arcs up perfectly around her. do, and they put my pictures up on Maia, 41, lost his sight when social networks,” he said. football struggles with quiet he was 28 after suff ering uveitis, The blind photographer’s In- an infl ation of the eye. stagram account @joaomaiafo- Reuters venues. “That energy (of the crowd) It took a year, but fi nally he tografo now has some 1,800 fol- Rio de Janeiro But this arena is diff erent, as is very important for us on was left unable to see anything lowers. green signs asking for quiet attest. the pitch. Silence is needed, more than shapes and some col- The players are totally or al- but the support that comes ours when he is close enough. INTIMACY he Brazilian crowd was most totally blind and wear eye from them is really impor- Working as a postman in Sao Maia turned away from the track one of the quietest ever masks to make sure no one has tant for us too” Paulo, Maia learned to use a cane shots and found satisfaction in- for their national football an advantage. and took classes in Braille. stead at the longjump pit, where team, but it was still not As the crowd wrestled with a 3-1 win with stunning strikes He also began to become in- the small dimensions and close- quietT enough when the ball came how to show their support, the from Ricardinho and Jefi nho. terested in photography. up dramas are perfect. into the box in the 29th minute. “shhhhs” of fans demanding After the match, a relieved “Photography is about sensitiv- But he is always trying to im- With Brazil trailing Morocco quiet were often louder than the Jefi nho tried not to discourage ity. I think it’s marvellous to be able prove. “This is good. They’re 1-0 on Friday, the noise rose ef- cheers they were hoping to stop. the crowd as he asked them to to show how I perceive the world, raking the sand, right?” he asks, fortlessly from a nervous crowd “It’s so diffi cult. We’re try- quiet down. how I see it, sense it,” he said. listening carefully. “Have I got used to cheering on their own, ing but we really want to shout,” “That energy (of the crowd) the zoom right?... Tell me when and striker Nonato, unable to said Sonia Lima, 54, at half time is very important for us on the BORROWED EYES they start to run so that I am hear the jingling bell inside the when the noise level rose with pitch. Silence is needed, but the With a camera in one hand and ready.” ball, missed. collective relief that silence was, support that comes from them is cane in the other, Joao joined Then as the athletes come fl y- “Silence please,” the referee for a few minutes at least, not really important for us too,” Jefi n- the sports photographers on the ing in, he takes striking picture called to the stands once more. necessary. ho, who is widely considered the tribune at the Paralympic sta- after picture. Brazil’s coach shook his head Watching with four friends all greatest player to grace blind fi ve- dium this week. One gets Le Fur wrapped in a in despair. dressed in Brazil shirts and wav- a-side soccer, told reporters. He’d got practice in sports French fl ag, with just her pros- Blind fi ve-a-side soccer, ing fl ags, Lima said the silence The defending Paralym- photography during the warm- thetic leg emerging. where players follow the ball by Brazil’s Jefinho gestures at the audience after scoring against felt unnatural. “When they get pic champions hope the crowd up events staged over the last Another shows Dutch athlete the rattling it makes as it rolls, Morocco during their Men’s football 5-a-side match. near the goal I just want to learns the right way to show year for the Rio Olympics, where Marlene van Gansewinkel and may be the only sport at the Ol- scream: ‘Take a shot dammit.’” their support before Brazil play the small crowds were perfect for Britain’s Stefanie Reid talking ympic and Paralympic Games in From judo to tennis and golf, sport. Fortunately for the excitable Turkey on Sunday. allowing him to concentrate on while waiting for the end of Rio de Janeiro where the raucous Brazil’s fans ripped up tradition- Opposition athletes were of- crowd, Brazil overcame the noise “Over time the crowd will get using his sense of hearing. the event. “It’s not just action home crowd is a liability rather al crowd etiquette and brought a ten booed and chants from an to fi nd their rhythm in the sec- used to our game and will start His fi rst thought was to photo- I want to capture but the inti- than a boon. loud soccer culture to Olympic army of yellow shirts deafened ond half and clawed their way to being quieter,” Jefi nho said. graph the track races, but he found macy,” he says. Gulf Times Sunday, September 11, 2016 7 PARALYMPICS

SPOTLIGHT Thangavelu a shy but disciplined high jumper ‘He always used to say that he should achieve something in life despite his handicap. He braved open wounds on his handicapped leg. When he trained his leg will be hurt and there will be a wound that would take a couple of weeks to heal’

IANS How Thangavelu won the Chennai gold and created history... India’s Mariyappan Thangavelu wenty-two-year-old golden created history on Friday night by boy Mariyappan Thangavelu winning a gold medal in the men’s is a shy and reserved guy, but high jump T-42 event at the Rio when it came to high jump Paralympics. Ttraining he was extremely disciplined His compatriot Varun Singh Bhati and braved wounds in his handicapped clinched the bronze medal the same leg, his coach said. event. Thangavelu created history on Fri- While Thangavelu made a leap day night by winning a gold medal in of 1.89 metres, Bhati jumped his the men’s high jump T-42 event at the personal best of 1.86 metres to fin- Rio Paralympics. ish third. Thangavelu made a leap of 1.89 me- India’s other medal prospect Sharad tres to pluck the gold medal thereby Kumar finished at number six. putting his Periyavadagampatti village US’s Sam Grewe bagged the silver in Salem district in Tamil Nadu on the medal. global map. The event witnessed a fierce His family members and friends contest with six of the 12 athletes were much in demand by the media on clearing the 1.74m mark in their first Saturday. eight attempts. The leap is expected to take But Mariyappan became a part of Thangavelu’s family out of poverty. He the leading group after his 10th has two younger brothers and an elder attempt when he cleared the 1.77m sister. His mother Saroja is a daily wage mark along with Lukasz Mamczarz earner. of Poland, China’s Zhiqiang Zhing The family was watching Thangave- and Kumar. lu’s golden jump live on television and He then went into the lead along they also jumped in joy. with Bhati as both managed to clear Saroja, Thangavelu’s mother, was a the 1.83m mark. proud lady and thanked all the people Kumar however, could not improve who supported her son. his performance and eventually Congratulating Thangavelu on his crashed out of medal contention. achievement, Tamil Nadu Chief Min- Grewe pushed Mariyappan and ister J.Jayalalithaa announced a cash Bhati to the joint second position by award of Rs.2 crore for the golden boy. clearing 1.86m to grab the top spot. “He always used to say that he But both Indians made a strong should achieve something in life de- comeback by equalling the height spite his handicap. He used to partici- to share the pole position. pate in all sports,” Srinivasan, a friend Mariyappan eventually made sure of Thangavelu told IANS. of the gold with an eff ort of 1.89m Mariyappan Thangavelu of India competes on his way to winning the gold medal in the Men’s High Jump event at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. in his final attempt while Grewe and Bhati’s finished with best eff orts of A holder of Bachelor’s in Busi- up along with the pole height,” Elam- 1.86m. ness Administration (BBA) degree, parithi said. Thangavelu is yet to get a proper job. “We were sure of him winning a He lost one of his legs at the age of medal based on the height cleared by there will be open wound that would fi ve while playing outside his house high jumpers in the earlier editions take a couple of weeks to heal,” Elam- when a state owned bus crushed it. of the Paralympics. In the local level parithi said. Thangavelu trained under K. Elam- events he was clearing a height of two According to him, the golden boy parithi, athletics coach at Sports De- metres,” Elamparithi said. has a shy and reserved nature and will velopment Authority of Tamil Nadu Speaking about Thangavelu’s train- not talk much. (SDAT), Salem around 350 km from ing schedule Elamparithi said: “He is Meanwhile, the coaches under here. very punctual and disciplined. Despite contract at the SDAT are hoping that “He was participating and winning his family circumstances he used to be Thangavelu’s achievement would pave in school and inter-collegiate events. there on the training grounds on time.” way for stability in their life with the I changed his high jump technique to “He braved open wounds on his government appointing them on a per- Finsbury Flop from belly roll. After handicapped leg. When he trained India’s Mariyappan Thangavelu (L) and Bhati Varun Singh celebrate their gold and manent basis. Here’s hoping that it ac- that his performance started climbing continuously his leg will be hurt and bronze medals, respectively, after the men’s final high jump. tually does that.

INCREDIBLE HEROES

Athletes compete in the mixed 4x50m relay. Maodang Song of China competes in the men’s 100m Butterfly event yesterday.

Michelle Stilwell of Canada celebrates after winning China’s Zhiqiang Zhong competes in the men’s final high jump. Jonnie Peacock of Britain (C) wins the gold medal in the Men’s 100m event. the gold in the Women’s 400m - T52 Final event. Gulf Times 8 Sunday, September 11, 2016 SPORT

BASEBALL SPOTLIGHT Giants win in 12 Dad’s heroic 9/11 death despite another provides purpose for Casilla blown save Warriors VP ‘I asked them where I should go. They told me to just play straight up.’

John Beaven , VP of Golden State Warriors.

By Marcus Thompson II thing to do.” The Mercury News Beaven was 21 years old when his father died. He had last seen him two months earlier. ohn Beaven tried his best His dad came to visit him in to not be defi ned by Sept. San Diego, where Beaven -- a 11, 2001. starting at UC San Diego He lost his father that and a reliever for his one year in Jday, forever linking him to this the Tampa Bay Rays farm system infamous piece of American his- -- was playing summer . tory. But he refused to let grief His father was leaving for India be the axis on which his world soon for a yearlong sabbatical. revolved. He was determined to After years as a defense lawyer, live in a manner that deemed his he switched to the environmen- tragedy a hurdle and not a hin- tal sector and found a passion in drance. the fi ght for clean water. India Now, as he is upon the 15th an- was going to get his help, but fi rst niversary, now that he has risen he spent time with his son. to the ranks of vice-president in Beaven and his dad devel- the Warriors organization, it is oped a bond even though he’d clear how 9/11 ended up defi ning grown up without seeing his fa- him after all. ther every day. Born in England, Beaven wound up exemplify- Beaven and his family moved to ing the very spirit that propelled New York when he was 5. At age America past that horrifi c day. It 7, his parents split and at age 12, takes relentlessness to push on. he moved to Sacramento with his It takes hope to see better days mother. ahead, hope convincing enough To be closer to his children, to subdue the pain. Alan had his law fi rm establish That’s how Beaven is thriving an offi ce in San Francisco. 15 years after his life was rocked “That’s what I remember,” by terrorists. That’s how, in sev- Beaven said, “his commitment, eral ways, America is thriving. especially in my elder years, to “It’s interesting to see how us. My sister, who was 5 in 2001, things have played out,” Beaven he was totally devoted to her. said Wednesday, beneath the Kids loved him. He was one of relief pitcher Cory Gearrin (62) is congratulated by catcher (28) after closing out the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field glare of the prenoon Bay Area sun those adults that had that gravi- on Friday. The San Francisco Giants won 7-6 in extra innings. Picture: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports at Oakland’s City Center. “What tational pull.” I’ve learned over the last 15 years In the months after his father’s since Armando Benitez in 2006. Nathan needed to strike out pinch- is the importance of how you re- death, Beaven was desperate for By Henry Schulman RESULTS San Francisco Chronicle Bochy letting Casilla face Lamb seemed hitter Phil Gosselin, and he did, on an act. ... It’s not the cards you’re information. Family members Cincinnati ...... 4 PITTSBURGH ...... 3 like the wrong move. Kelby Tomlinson outside fastball. Jean Segura then drove dealt, it’s the hand you play. I were allowed to visit the site WASHINGTON ....5 Philadelphia ...... 4 bailed out his manager with a pinch sin- a long third out that Hunter Pence raced think that’s important because, of the plane crash, in Somerset ith two outs to go in Friday NY YANKEES ...... 7 Tampa Bay...... 5 gle in the 12th off Dominic Leone, the 12th into the gap to catch, a fi ne play, but not right or wrong, I get a platform County, Pennsylvania, and they night’s 7-6, 12-inning vic- Boston ...... 13 TORONTO ...... 3 Arizona pitcher, to drive in the go-ahead his best of the night. to grieve and have what hap- were among the fi rst to hear the tory against the Diamond- DETROIT ...... 4 Baltimore ...... 3 run. The Giants are 3-5 on the trip. Tom- It was a big inning and night for Nath- pened be acknowledged in a way cockpit recordings when they backs, reliever Cory Gear- MIAMI...... 4 LA Dodgers ...... 1 linson has two of the game-winning hits. an, who has not pitched consistently in that a lot of other people who are were discovered. Wrin stood in left fi eld facing incredulous Bochy explained that he chose Casilla leveraged situations since 2014 and al- equally as deserving don’t. So At some point, though, Beaven NY Mets ...... 6 ATLANTA ...... 4 stares from Denard Span and Hunter Chicago Cubs...... 2 HOUSTON ...... 0 against the Diamondbacks’ right-heavy lowed a walkoff double Wednesday night keeping my chin up and trying knew he must advance past grief. Pence. Cleveland ...... 5 MINNESOTA ...... 4 lineup because he already had used his in Colorado. to take a positive perspective and He knew to honor his father’s “They were asking me, ‘What are you CHICAGO W SOX 7 Kansas City ...... 2 other late guys, Sergio Romo and Hunter “I’ll tell you, that was the fi rst time in move on from it, I think it’s very death he had to make the most of doing out here?’” Gearrin said with a ST. LOUIS ...... 4 Milwaukee ...... 3 Strickland. Bochy could have gone to a while getting into a spot where a pun- important.” his own life. huge grin. “I asked them where I should San Francisco ...... 7 ARIZONA ...... 6 Joe Nathan, but Friday night’s sequence chout is what you need,” Nathan said. It Beaven’s father, Alan -- then That’s one of the things he said go. They told me to just play straight up. I Seattle ...... 3 OAKLAND ...... 2 shows that Bochy still is not ready to trust felt good. I even caught myself thinking, an Oakland resident and top- he’s most proud of, that his fa- said, ‘What’s straight up? Where do I line Texas ...... 2 LA ANGELS ...... 1 the 41-year-old to close. ‘You know what? It’s been a while since notch environmental attorney ther and the other heroes on that up for that?’ It was fun. It was defi nitely a Colorado ...... 4 SAN DIEGO ...... 1 “He’s been here,” Bochy said of Casilla. I’ve been in this situation.’ I’m glad it -- was one of the people who plane _ including Pleasanton’s fi rst for me. It’s something I’ll never for- “He has 31 saves. Joe had two outings. We worked out.” fought hijackers and reclaimed Thomas Burnett and Los Gatos get.” had our guy out there. He got a nice out Which brings us to the 12th inning and control of United Flight 93, High grads Todd Beamer and The entire 5-hour, 23-minute game what became a 7-6 loss to the Rockies, there (a Chris Owings groundball). He Gearrin, who was summoned to save a bound for San Francisco. He died Mark Bingham _ helped America was hard to forget, not just Gearrin be- Bochy declared he would use diff erent re- made some nice pitches to the fi rst hitter. 7-6 win after the Giants already blew a a hero the day after his wedding heal. coming the fi rst Giants pitcher since lievers to preserve games, ending Casilla’s He’s just got to stay away from the long 5-4 lead in the seventh and Casilla’s 6-5 anniversary and a month shy of The attention at fi rst was on Noah Lowry in 2007 to play another de- reign as the singular closer. ball.” lead in the 10th. his 49th birthday. In the days af- the collapse of the twin towers fensive position, and the fi rst since Keith With 11 other relievers his disposal, Bo- As for why Bochy let Casilla face Lamb, The fi rst hitter was Owings, a right- ter the crash, a handwritten note and the destruction of the Penta- Comstock in 1987 to start an inning on chy let Casilla start the 10th. Even more Bochy said, “There was nobody on. I was hander, with the left-handed Lamb on was found hanging in Alan’s New gon. The enormity of the largest the mound, move to a diff erent position, incredible, with one out, Bochy let Casilla hoping he’d make good pitches and ex- deck. Bochy had warned Gearrin through York offi ce. The message on the attack on U.S. soil left the coun- then return to the mound. face his personal Torquemada, Jake Lamb, ecute them. If I take him out there (the bullpen coach Mark Gardner that the note made perfect sense in light try shocked and devastated. Gearrin earned the save after Santiago whom Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale Diamondbacks) have their big right- manager might send him to left fi eld of what happened: And then resolve surfaced, the Casilla blew another one in the 10th in- sent to pinch-hit. handed hitters coming up.” while Javier Lopez came in to face Lamb. “Fear, who cares?” focus centering on the fi ght to ning, a remarkable occurrence in so many Lamb was 2-for-2 with two homers Instead of a save, Nathan got his fi rst Bochy said Gearrin was a pretty good The actions of Alan Beaven cling to the core principles of the ways, starting with manager Bruce Bo- against Casilla this season and had three win for the Giants since 2003 with a har- athlete who could handle a ball hit his and his cohorts limited the fa- country. And the passengers on chy’s surprising decision to let him try to homers against Casilla overall. rowing, but scoreless, 11th inning. He al- way. So out to left Gearrin went, replac- talities to the plane’s 44 passen- Flight 93 exemplifi ed that mind- save a 6-5 game. Sure enough, Lamb homered again to lowed a leadoff single by Brandon Drury, ing Angel Pagan, the fi rst time the pitcher gers, which included seven crew set. They became the story. On Friday afternoon, two days after tie the game 6-6 and pinned Casilla with who got to second on a wild pitch and to had played another position since he was members and four al-Qaeda op- “I defi nitely take pride in the Casilla allowed a ninth-inning homer in his eighth blown save, the most by a Giant third on a fl yball. at second base as a college freshman. eratives who used knives and box fact he was part of that,” Beaven cutters to take over the plane. said. The Warriors held a benefi t They had intentions of crashing for the local families involved in BOTTOMLINE into another U.S. landmark, pos- the attack. Beaven met Travis sibly the White House. Stanley, a Warriors executive at John Beaven, son of New Zea- the time. His relationship with land immigrants, was in Australia Stanley led to him getting a job NFL’s Sept. 11 plans may collide with anthem protests at the time. Footage of the World selling season tickets for the Trade Center towers ablaze and Warriors. the blackened west side of the In 2004, he had his fi rst child, Reuters San Francisco 49ers backup quar- past two years, and has prompted the rise also be on the fi eld for pregame activities Pentagon interrupted the broad- Sara. In 2009, he married his New York terback Colin Kaepernick began pro- of the Black Lives Matter movement. and the playing of the national anthem, cast and broke his heart. He had wife Tarah. In 2011, he survived tests when he refused to stand for “The Seattle’s receiver Doug Baldwin said the league said in a statement. lived in New York for seven years. the Warriors’ ownership change. Star-Spangled Banner” and others have this week he is considering sitting dur- A 9/11 decal will be placed on players’ Then at about 2 a.m. down un- In 2014 his wife gave birth to a he NFL said on Friday it will com- followed suit, most recently Denver ing the anthem ahead of today’s home helmets while all team coaching staff s der, his mother called. son, Foster. memorate the 15th anniversary of linebacker Brandon Marshall ahead of game while team mate Bobby Wagner said will be supplied with 9/11 lapel pins. “Everything was chaotic that Beaven is now entering his 14th the Sept. 11 attacks on the United Thursday’s season opener. the Seahawks have been talking about a One of Kaepernick’s preseason anthem day,” said Beaven’s mom, Liz, season with the franchise. He is States during games today, the The protests look set to continue, even group action. protests coincided with “Salute the Mili- who was busy at work running Vice President of Ticket Sales & Tsame day when some players plan to pro- on a day when the NFL recognizes the an- According to the National Football tary Night,” which saw 240 sailors, Ma- Sacramento Waldorf School that Services for a franchise that has test during the US national anthem. niversary of the worst attack on American League, fans across the country will see rines and soldiers present a US fl ag and a morning when she got the call maxed out its season tickets and Four players have so far opted to kneel soil since Japanese forces bombed Pearl video messages from President Barack pre-game parachute jump by retired Navy about her ex-husband. has 32,000 on its wait list. during the anthem in a protest against so- Harbor in 1941. The use of force by po- Obama and President George W. Bush SEALS ahead of a game in San Diego. “I didn’t wait that long to call That’s not just surviving, but cial injustice, a controversial gesture that lice against African-Americans in cities prior to each of today’s 13 games on the Kaepernick, who has said his protest is him,” she said. “But knowing thriving. And some of his dad’s started during the preseason and one that such as Baltimore, New York, and Fergu- fi rst full day of action in the 2016 season. not aimed at the military, applauded from you are about to deliver the news attributes helped him along the many consider to be a sign of disrespect son, Missouri, has sparked periodic and First responders, community volun- the sidelines during a second-quarter sa- that is going to blow your child’s way: calm, levelheadedness, a to the American fl ag. sometimes destructive protests in the teers and members of the military will lute to military members. world apart. ... That’s a hard dry wit, consistency, likability. Gulf Times Sunday, September 11, 2016 9 SPORTSPORT

SPOTLIGHT Morris set for tilt at Isinbayeva’s world record

AFP tained of competing against Isin- ambitious attempts at 5.07m, 1cm series of small rectifi cations for the US Sandi Morris reacts after Brussels bayeva have moved to the backburner higher than Isinbayeva’s best. 2017 season when the world champi- clearing the 5m barrier in the as the Russian, prevented from taking “After I made 5 metres, my coach onships will be held in London in Au- pole vault during the IAAF part in the Rio Olympics where the looked at me and said ‘do you want gust. “My next step next season is to Diamond League in Brussels merican Sandi Morris im- American won silver behind Greece’s to stop or take three attempts at the get on the next link of poles. Current- on Friday. (AFP) mediately set her heights Katerina Stefanidi, has since retired. world record?’ And I said are you kid- ly they’re 4.45m-linked poles and I high after vaulting her way Isinbayeva, whose world record ding, I’m going to take these three at- want to get on 4.60s and inch my grip into the history books in stands at 5.06m, couldn’t resist leav- tempts because if I put it together and up a bit,” she said. “Tiny changes at a BrusselsA when she became just the ing the sport with a parting shot at I make the bar I’ll be really happy that time and next season I think I have it third woman ever to pass the mythi- fellow competitors, saying the 2016 I attempted it,” she said. (world record attempt) in me.” cal fi ve-metre bar. gold medallist wouldn’t be a fully- “It wasn’t there tonight and I also More impressive for Morris was Morris nailed a 5.00m attempt fl edged champion because they had landed on the crossbar on my last that she hit form despite suff ering a to win the season-ending Diamond not competed against her. attempt so my back is going to be hairline fracture of her wrist while League meet late Friday and match “I was hoping to get a chance bruised but it’s good to have those competing in Ostrava in May. She the feats of Russian world record to jump against her because she is battle injuries.” followed her medical team’s advice to holder and two-time Olympic cham- someone I grew up watching, idolis- Morris admitted that after a com- the letter and six weeks after sustain- pion Yelena Isinbayeva and fellow ing and it would have been really cool petition during which she made 15 ing the operation was back in com- American Jennifer Suhr, who has to be in competition with her, Jenn vaults, at least fi ve or six more than petition at the US Olympic trials and achieved 5.03m vaulting indoors. Suhr and me,” Morris said of Isin- normal, she knew it was ambitious. then pain-free at the Rio Games. “I’m only the third woman in his- bayeva. “I didn’t think I had the perfect jump “In life you’re going to have mo- tory to do it if you include indoors “That would have been really awe- in me after that,” she acknowledged. ments when you’re so close to some- and outdoors,” said Morris, with just some. But I have mixed emotions “It is a good thing that I didn’t thing you really really want, like in her and Russian vaulting icon Isin- about it after seeing some of her break the world record tonight since Rio when I barely missed gold,” said bayeva having cleared 5m outdoors. comments. But I wanted to think that I have next year to go for. If you auto- Morris. “It’s really an honour because it’s a there was something lost in transla- matically achieve all your goals right “But I think life has a way of bal- mental number. I’ve jumped into the tion. Just diff erent cultures honestly. off the bat, what will you have to go ancing itself and I couldn’t have 5m club, it’s just a number to be re- I still respect her. No hard feelings, for. It gives me a lot of motivation for asked for more tonight. You win some spected and it’s really cool to be in and yeah, I wish I could have jumped next season.” and lose some. You just have to ap- that club.” against her.” Morris said that she and her coach preciate what you win and everything Hopes Morris might have enter- On Friday, Morris enjoyed three Bryan Compton would instigate a good that happens. It was amazing.”

BRUSSELS’ DIAMOND LEAGUE MEETING BOXING US fi ghters Easter, Thompson celebrates Jacobs capture perfect dozen, Barshim world titles AFP Easter improved to 18-0 with Washington 14 knockouts while Commey fell to 24-1 with 22 knockouts, having won his fi ve prior fi ghts ndefeated Robert East- inside the distance. “I feel like I fi nishes second er and once-beaten won this fi ght,” Commey said. US compatriot Daniel “I did everything that I could. I Jacobs captured world landed the more accurate shots. 'I keep on smiling because this season was really great' boxingU titles in fi ghts Friday at I deserve a rematch. I want to Reading, Pennsylvania. be a world champion. Even if he Easter claimed the vacant doesn’t want to fi ght me, I want International Boxing Federa- another opportunity. I can fi ght tion lightweight crown with a at the highest level in the world.” 12-round split-decision triumph In the eighth round, Commey over previously unbeaten Rich- connected with a hammering ard Commey of Ghana. right hand that forced Easter to Easter and Commey each won touch a glove to the canvas. Each 114-113 in the eyes of one judge, reached the 12th round for the while the deciding judge scored fi rst time in his career, Easter the bout 115-112 for Easter. “In wobbling Commey early in the the last round, when I needed round but unable to prevent him the round, I went out and got from going the distance. it,” Easter said.”I took every- “In the last round I caught him thing that I had, all 16 years in right on the chin. That wobbled the sport, and I used it to go get him. He held on for dear life,” that belt.” Easter said. “I knew it was go- Jacobs kept the World Box- ing to come down to a split deci- ing Association middleweight sion. I felt in my heart that I did title by stopping fellow Ameri- enough.” can Sergio Mora in the seventh The other title fi ght saw round, his fi fth knockdown of Jacobs knock down Mora fi ve the bout. “I didn’t expect to times on the way to victory af- knock him down as much, but ter referee Gary Rosato stopped I did see the fi ght ending in a the bout at 2:08 of the seventh knockout,” Jacobs said.”It took round. Jacobs improved to 32-1 a while because he’s so tricky. with 29 knockouts by winning I wasn’t able to jab the way I the rematch of last year’s fi ght wanted.” that saw Jacobs win despite be- Jacobs’ claim to the throne in ing knocked down in the opening the weight class is below that of round. the WBA’s “super” champion, “I was trying to catch him Kazakstan’s Gennady Golovkin, like I did in the fi rst fi ght but I who was fi ghting Britain’s Kell couldn’t do it,” Mora said. Mora, Brook in London yesterday. “I who was a super welterweight want to prove to the world that world champion in 2008, fell to I’m the best middleweight,” 28-5 with two drawn in his fi rst Jacobs said. “If (Golovkin) gets fi ght since losing to Jacobs last the victory, that’s who we want.” year.

Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson (centre) sprints to victory ahead of Netherlands’ Dafne Schippers (left) and South Africa’s Carina Horn in the women’s 100m race during the IAAF Diamond League athletics meeting in Brussels. Belgium, on Friday night. (AFP) DILSHAN HEADS INTO AFP ning time meant she became the fi rst set in 2004 in Brussels by Kenyan-born Brussels woman in history to record four con- Qatari Saif Saaeed Shaheen. THE SUNSET CONTENT secutive sub-10.8sec 100m times. “I keep Olympic champion Kipruto made it on smiling because this season was re- six wins on the Diamond League circuit Colombo: Moving up to open for the side as an opener. From amaica’s double Olympic sprint ally great. If I had to summarise it in one this season, however, seeing off American the innings for Sri Lanka 2009 to 2016 I scored 21 hun- champion Elaine Thompson word: Wonderful!” Evan Jager in a winning time of 8:03.74. changed his career but it was a dreds in one-dayers. That was brought the curtain down on a European champion Schippers, who South African Caster Semenya, Ol- decision he should have taken a position I really enjoyed. That spectacular season with her 12th came fi fth in the Rio 100m and took silver ympic 800m gold medallist, pulled off two years earlier, Tillakaratne change in position changed my straightJ 100m victory at Brussels’ Dia- in the 200m, clocked 10.97sec for second an extraordinary victory in the women’s Dilshan said after retiring from career and I think I helped the mond League meeting on Friday. In a ahead of another Jamaican in the shape of 400m, setting a personal best of 50.40sec international cricket following side there a lot as well.” thrilling night of track and fi eld which Christania Williams. for the win that looked completely out of Friday’s Twenty20 loss against Dilshan, who made his one- featured a couple of botched world record “I had a decent start in my race but question after the fi rst half of the race. Australia. day debut against Zimbabwe attempts, the stand-out performance when it came to accelerating at the mid- “It’s fantastic!” said Semenya. “This is Inventor of the famous in 1999, was also a wily off - unexpectedly came from American pole way stage, my hamstrings caused me suicide! The 800m is much better, the ‘Dilscoop’ ramp shot, Dilshan spinner and one of the most vaulter Sandi Morris, who became only some trouble,” Schippers said. 400m I do for speed.” played the last of his 87 Tests agile Sri Lankan fielders even at the second female in history to go over the Ethiopian Almaz Ayana fell short in The South African judged her fi nish in 2013 before quitting the the age of 39. He took over 100 5m barrier outdoors after Russian Yelena Qatar’s Olympic silver medallist Mutaz her bid to break compatriot Tirunesh to perfection to see off Courtney Okolo longer format with 5,492 runs wickets in ODIs and made life Isinbayeva. Essa Barshim came second in the men’s Dibaba’s world 5,000m record of 14min and a threatening pack of Rio fi nalists led and 39 wickets to his name. diff icult with the ball for his op- Although Morris’s compatriot Jennifer high jump in Brussels. 11.15sec set in Oslo in 2008. Ayana, the by Jamaica’s Olympic bronze medallist The 39-year-old signed off from ponents even in his last match. Suhr has vaulted 5.03m, that was indoors, reigning 5,000m world champion who Shericka Jackson. the shorter formats with over He gave away eight runs and the current Olympic silver medal- champion Robbie Grabarz, but the Amer- obliterated the world record when win- Three-time world 1500m champion 10,000 runs and 22 centuries in and claimed two wickets in list set a packed King Baudouin stadium ican won on countback. ning gold in the 10,000m in Rio, clocked Asbel Kiprop’s plans to put his sixth- 330 one-day internationals and two overs in his last spell in alight when she cleared 5.00m. But she Ukraine’s 2013 world champion Boh- a meeting record of 14:18.89, the eighth- place fi nish in Rio behind him faltered as 80 T20 matches. international cricket. “I’m really failed at three attempts at 5.07m, 1cm dan Bondarenko, who led the standings fastest time ever run over the distance. he was trumped by Kenyan team-mate He is one of only six men to happy with what I’ve done for further than Isinbayeva’s world record. coming into Brussels, could only manage She paid the price for a slow opening Timothy Cheruiyot in a fast fi nish. have scored a hundred in all 17 years for my country and my Qatar’s Olympic silver medallist Mutaz 2.20m for eighth place. couple of laps and despite breaking out on Cheruiyot just missed out on a sub- three formats of the game. “I team,” he said. Essa Barshim came second in the men’s On the track, Thompson scorched to her own with 2km to run, the Ethiopian 3:30 time, clocking a personal best of think I should have taken the “I didn’t look to break high jump, which was the most open of victory in a new meeting record of 10.72 left herself too much to do on the fi nal lap, 3:31.34 with Morocco’s Abdelaati Iguider decision to move up to open records. A few days back, I the 16 remaining Diamond League events. seconds ahead of Dutch rival Dafne missing out on the record by 7sec. Seven taking second ahead of Kiprop. Olympic earlier,” Dilshan said before went back and looked at what I The result was a surprise one as Erik Ky- Schippers. The victory was Thompson’s of the 17-strong fi eld set personal bests heptathlon champion Nafi Thiam de- Friday’s match. “I made that had done for 17 years. nard of the US, the Olympic silver medal- 12th consecutive in the blue-riband event while the USA’s Shannon Rowbury set an lighted her home crowd by winning the decision in 2009 but I should I have broken a lot of list at London 2012, who could only fi nish in 2016, coming just weeks after she American continental record. women’s high jump on countback from have made that a couple of records, I’m really happy. I sixth at Rio 2016, took the overall prize wrapped up golds in the 100 and 200m at There was also expected to be a tilt at three others who also managed 1.93m, years (before) to (break) more never played for the record, I with victory on the night. the Rio Olympics. a world record in the men’s 3000m stee- while Colombia’s imperious Olympic records,” he added. always played for the team and Kynard’s best of 2.32m was matched “Now I can fi nally go back home,” said plechase, but in-form Kenyan Conseslus gold medallist Caterine Ibarguen won the “I realised that I can do more country,” he added. by Barshim and Britain’s 2014 European the 24-year-old Jamaican, whose win- Kipruto fell well short of the 7:53.63 mark triple jump (14.66m). Gulf Times 10 Sunday, September 11, 2016 SPORT

CYCLING GOLF Lee moves closer to 2nd Korea Open win Quintana staves off AFP from the fi fth. Cheonan, South Korea However, the 25-year-old Lee nosed two shots clear again with a birdie at the par-fi ve eighth efending champion Lee hole as his liking for the layout Kyoung-Hoon moved shone through. closer to a second Ko- Lee, a strong front runner lon Korea Open victory with two titles on the Japan Golf Froome to virtually yesterdayD after a third-round Tour to his credit, played par golf 68 saw the South Korean main- throughout the back nine and tain a lead over compatriot Kang that proved good enough to keep Kyung-Nam. his challengers at bay. The 25-year-old Lee scored a Kang, bidding to kickstart his third-round total of 200 with a career after serving his manda- steady, bogey-free, three-birdie tory military service between performance at Woo Jeong Hills 2013 and 2105, started the day seal Vuelta title Country Club in Cheonan. two behind Lee and reduced the Kang, seeking to kickstart his defi cit to one despite a roller- career after serving two year’s coaster round. ‘He is a great rival, yesterday he had a great time trial and he made me suff er’ of mandatory military service, The 33 year old, a multiple win- closely chased after Lee with a ner on the Korean Tour who has third round 67 and a total of 201. also claimed numerous top-fi ve AFP Kang, 33, started day two be- fi nishes on OneAsia, reached the Alto de Aitana, Spain hind Lee and reduced the gap to turn in 35 after three birdies and one despite a rollercoaster round two bogeys. He was more con- with three bogeys and seven sistent on the back nine with four olombian Nairo Quin- birdies. Choi Jin-Ho, who won birdies, including two from the tana kept Tour de the SK Telecom Open last year, 16th, and a sole bogey to ensure he France champion Chris carded a 68 with fi ve birdies and was in the fi nal group today. Froome at bay to vir- two bogeys to share third place tuallyC seal the Vuelta a Espana with Lee Chang-Woo, who fi n- Leading scores after the third yesterday with just today’s pro- ished with a 69 and a total of 202. round (Par 71, South Korean cession around the streets of Lee has played on the Web. unless stated): Madrid to come. com Tour in the United States 200-Lee Kyoung-Hoon (65-67- Froome, aiming to become this season and is looking for a 68) the fi rst man in 38 years to do second straight victory in his 201-Kang Kyung-Nam (68-66- the Tour-Vuelta double, ap- home Open to ease the pain of 67) plauded as Quintana crossed missing out on the Finals and a 202-Choi Jin-Ho (65-69-68), Lee the line on the 193.2km stage shot at a US PGA Tour card. Chang-Woo (70-63-69), from to Alto de Ai- One stroke ahead overnight, 204-Byun Jin-Jae (67-68-69), tana two seconds ahead of him he made a fast start with a birdie Hwang Jung-Gon (65-68-71), Kim to extend his lead to 1min 23sec. at the fi rst hole to extend his lead Yeong-Su (65-68-71) Quintana’s compatriot Es- to two shots. He increased his 205-Kim Do-Hoon (73-64-68) teban Chaves made the most advantage to three strokes with 207-Park Sang-Hyun (69-69-69), signifi cant move on the penul- another birdie at the par-three Wannasrichan Rattanon (Thai- timate stage by leapfrogging fourth before Hwang, playing in land, 67-70-70), Song Young- Alberto Contador onto the po- the group ahead, cut the margin Han (71-66-70), Kim Gi-whan dium after an attack 50km from to one with back-to-back birdies (70-67-70). the fi nish saw him gain 1min 24sec on the three-time Vuelta champion. Frenchman Pierre Latour won the stage from Colombia’s Dar- win Atapuma and Italian Fabio Felline in a time of 5hrs 19mins 41secs. Today’s 104.8km fl at stage takes the riders from Las Rozas on the outskirts of the Spanish capital into a series of laps around the city centre. Froome cut his gap to Quin- tana by over two minutes by storming to a time trial win on Friday, but his bid ultimately never recovered from los- ing 2min 37secs when he was caught out by an early attack by Quintana on stage 15. It is the fi rst time in fi ve Kang Kyungnam of South Korea hitting a shot during round three of Grand Tours that Quintana has the Korea Open golf championship in Cheonan yesterday. (AFP) beaten Froome when both have fi nished the race having fi nished on the podium for all of the Movistar’s Colombian cyclist celebrates on the podium retaining the red jersey after 20th stage of the 71st edition of ‘La Hend hits the front at Dutch Open Brit’s three Tour de France wins Vuelta’ Tour of Spain, a 184km route Benidorm to Alto de Aitana, yesterday. (AFP) in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Scott Hend will take the lead into the final round of a European Tour “He (Froome) started to at- ably sat on his tail and followed mates and unable to respond to Results from the 20th stage SKY) 4:05 event for the second week in a row after an excellent 64 at the KLM tack very early on in the de- all the way to the top before Chaves’s well-constructed at- 1. Pierre Latour (FRA/ALM) Overall Open. scents, but I didn’t have any jumping in front just before the tack to miss out on third by 13 5hr 19min 41sec, 2. Darwin 1. Nairo Quintana (COL/MOV) The Australian began the third round three shots off the summit problem in defending all the line. Froome also had to settle seconds. “In the end the podium Atapuma (COL/BMC) at 0:02, 3. 80hr 42min 36sec, 2. Christo- and when he started the day with a bogey on the second, he was way to the fi nal climb,” Quin- for second in the Vuelta after hs eluded us by a few seconds,” Fabio Felline (ITA/TRE) 0:17, 4. pher Froome (GBR/SKY) at 1:23, moving away from the leading pack. tana told Spanish TV station losing out to Juan Jose Cobo in said Contador, who will leave the Mathias Frank (SUI/IAM) 0:40, 5. 3. Esteban Chaves (COL/ORI) He responded with six birdies and an eagle to get to 14 under and Teledeporte. his breakout tour in 2012 and disbanding Saxo-Tinkoff to join Robert Gesink (NED/LNL) 1:03, 4:08, 4. Alberto Contador (ESP/ open up a one-shot lead over Nino Bertasio, who had been in front Froome’s early attempts to Contador in 2014. Trek-Segafredo next season. 6. Bart De Clercq (BEL/LOT) 1:28, TIN) 4:21, 5. Andrew Talansky throughout the closing stages. escape Quintana’s attentions on “I want to congratulate him,” “The team gave their all, but 7. Rudy Molard (FRA/COF) 2:02, (USA/CAN) 7:43, 6. Simon Yates The Italian had held a two-shot lead as he stood on the 18th tee the descents from four category added Quintana. “He is a great perhaps they haven’t been strong 8. Lilian Calmejane (FRA/DEN) (GBR/ORI) 8:33, 7. David De la but a closing birdie from Hend coupled with his own double-bogey two climbs proved fruitless. rival, yesterday he had a great enough in the mountains. That’s 3:01, 9. Esteban Chaves (COL/ Cruz (ESP/ETI) 11:18, 8. Daniel meant the 28 year old will be playing catch up at The Dutch today. The Sky rider then tried with time trial and he made me suff er.” the way things are, I congratu- ORI) 3:17, 10. Nairo Quintana Moreno (ESP/MOV) 13:04, 9. Hend entered the final round of last week’s Omega European Mas- a series of attacks on the fi nal Contador was the big loser on late Nairo for his win, Froome for (COL/MOV) 4:03 Davide Formolo (ITA/CAN) 13:17, ters with a one-shot lead but lost in a play-off to Alex Noren and will special category climb to Alto the day as he was again isolated a great race and Chaves, who had Selected others: 10. George Bennett (NZL/LNL) hope to go one better as he searches for a second win of the season. Aitana, but Quintana comfort- without Saxo-Tinkoff team- very good tactics.” 11. Christopher Froome (GBR/ 14:07.

SPOTLIGHT Johnson shares PGA lead aft er course record

AFP third on 133, one stroke ahead rolling it and Itsy Bitsy Spider adrift, as one of the players who world number one Jason Day of Chicago of Americans J.B. Holmes and — it’s a smaller Spider, the same had to fi nish his fi rst round Fri- Australia. Chris Kirk, with another three one Jason Day uses. day morning before playing his McIlroy, Day and Reed were in strokes back to sixth-placed ri- “I played with him the last two full second round as well af- a pack on 140. eigning US Open cham- vals Sergio Garcia of Spain and weeks and saw him make enough ter storm delays disrupted play pion Dustin Johnson Americans Matt Kuchar, Kevin putts and I was like, well, I got to Thursday. Leading second round scores fi red a nine-under- Na and Ryan Palmer. try one at least. So I put it in play “It has been a long day. I’m not (Par 72, USA unless noted) par 63 Friday to match Johnson started his historic and been rolling it pretty good.” as young as I used to be,” Casey 130—Roberto Castro 65-65, USR compatriot Roberto Cas- round with an eight-foot birdie The son-in-law of ice hockey said. “Trying to conserve energy. Dustin Johnson 67-63 tro for the lead after the second at the fi rst hole and dropped a icon Wayne Gretzky, Johnson Really happy with the way I did 133—Paul Casey (ENG) 67-66 round of the US PGA Tour BMW 10-foot birdie putt at the third, won the BMW in 2010 when it that.” 134—J.B. Holmes 69-65, Chris Championship. then added a 45-yard eagle chip- was played at Cog Hill near Chi- As for how to challenge on the Kirk 68-66 Johnson set a course record in from a greenside bunker at the cago. weekend, Casey said, “I’ve got 137—Ryan Palmer 73-64, Matt at the 7,516-yard Crooked Stick par-5 ninth to signal a charge. Castro, who lost to compatriot no idea. Get some sleep fi rst. No Kuchar 68-69, Kevin Na 69-68, layout in Indianapolis, Indiana A tap-in birdie at the par-5 James Hahn in a playoff at Quail problem with what I’ve done so Sergio Garcia (ESP) 69-68 to stand on 14-under 130 after 36 11th was followed by a nine-foot Hollow last May and placed sec- far.” 138—Brian Harman 66-72, Daniel holes in the penultimate event birdie putt at the par-3 13th, a ond to American Bill Haas at the today’s third round will be- Berger 70-68, Bubba Watson 71- of the season-ending US PGA 31-foot birdie putt at the 14th 2013 National, opened with a gin in the morning with three- 67, Adam Scott (AUS) 69-69 playoff s. and he rolled in a 25-footer to six-foot birdie and ran off three somes off the fi rst and 10th tees 139— Fabian Gomez (ARG) 68-71, “I putted well,” Johnson said. eagle the par-5 15th. birdies in a row starting with a in hopes of completing play be- Jason Kokrak 69-70, Hideki Mat- “Any time you shoot that good 30-footer at the par-4 third and fore more storms in the weekend suyama (JPN) 68-71, Kim Si-Woo a score, you putt really well and New putter sparks Johnson ending with a 30-footer at the forecast. (KOR) 71-68, Jason Dufner 67-72 did I. Drove it good, hit a lot Johnson, who has found suc- par-3 sixth. The top 30 fi nishers in the 140—Jim Herman 69-71, Charl of good iron shots, but I really cess after making a putter switch “I was glad to have those early season points race after this Schwartzel (RSA) 70-70, James rolled the utter nicely.” on the eve of the event, seeks his in the round,” Castro said. event will qualify for the Tour Hahn 69-71, Louis Oosthuizen Castro, of Peruvian and Costa 12th PGA crown. In a bogey-free round, Castro Championship at Atlanta, where (RSA) 71-69, Harris English 71-69, Rican heritage, fi red his second “I really didn’t make the de- made three-foot birdie putts at the points winner will capture a Graeme McDowell (NIR) 73-67, consecutive 65 to share the lead cision until right before the fi rst the ninth and 13th and a tap-in $10mn bonus prize. Brooks Koepka 68-72, Charley as he bids for his fi rst tour tri- round,” Johnson said. “I prac- birdie at 15 to claim his share of The top fi ve in points can sim- Hoff man 69-71, William McGirt umph. tised with it a little bit. I just felt the lead. ply win the 30-man event for 67-73, Russell Knox (SCO) 71-69, “It was a good start,” Castro like I have been putting it pretty the bonus payoff . Entering the Rory McIlroy (NIR) 68-72, Jordan said. “There are still a lot of holes well, but I was just struggling to Storms ahead weekend, those fi ve were John- Spieth 68-72, Patrick Reed 70-70, but it’s a good way to get into the get my putter on the line that I Casey had six birdies in a bo- son, Australia’s Adam Scott, Jason Day (AUS) 73-67, David Dustin Johnson lines up a putt on the 18th green during the second weekend.” was seeing and so I just grabbed gey-free round but still ended Northern Ireland’s Rory McIl- Hearn (CAN) 67-73, Jon Curran round of the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club in England’s Paul Casey was one of these putters and started up a distant third, three strokes roy, American Patrick Reed and 69-71. Carmel, Indiana. (Getty Images/AFP) Gulf Times Sunday, September 11, 2016 11 SPORT

MOTOGP TENNIS Tattooed and very tall, Pliskova stands Lorenzo beats Rossi out at US Open

AFP New York

t the US Open semi-fi nals on a humid Thurs- for San Marino pole day night in New York, newly-crowned world number one Angelique Kerber was described as being “a little predictable”. ‘That was the best lap of my career. When I saw the time I couldn’t believe it!’ AThat’s not an accusation easily levelled at her opponent in women’s singles fi nal, Karolina Pliskova. Tattooed and very tall - the 24-year-old stands at 6ft AFP 1in (1.86m) - Pliskova lists Brazilian author Pablo Coelho Misano Adriatico, Italy as her favourite writer and fi shing as her hobby. The Czech is getting used to standing out, even if physi- cally it remains a challenge for a woman who has a twin orld MotoGP cham- sister on the tennis tour, Kristyna. In just a few days, she’s pion Jorge Lorenzo certainly made a name for herself, reaching her fi rst Grand will start from pole Slam fi nal, downing both Serena and Venus Williams on for Sunday’s San the way. WMarino Grand Prix after post- “Maybe America hates me,” said the world number 11 ing the quickest time in a record who had never previously progressed beyond the third qualifying lap at the Misano cir- round at a major in 17 attempts. Pliskova started playing cuit yesterday. tennis at the age of four in Prague and admits that sport The Yamaha star is joined on always pushed academic studies into the background. the front row by his teammate “I’m not studious at all. I’m really far from that. I have and local hero Valentino Rossi, been better at everything else, I fi nd school terribly tire- and Suzuki’s British GP winner some and boring,” she once told Czech media. Maverick Vinales. Lorenzo is She left school before completing her fi nal exams. Plisk- placed third in the riders’ cham- ova won the fi rst of her six titles in Kuala Lumpur in 2013 pionship, 64 points behind his before adding Seoul and Linz in 2014 and her hometown fellow Spaniard Marc Marquez, trophy in Prague in 2015. This year, she triumphed on the who was fourth quickest in qual- grass of Nottingham and hardcourts in Cincinnati with ifying to start on the second row. victory in the Midwest city secured by beating Kerber in The world champion in 2013 the fi nal. Her success on the tour has comfortably com- and 2014 has for company on the pensated for her dislike of school with career earnings of second row Italian duo Michele $4,499,235 which will be boosted by $3.5m if she wins the Pirro and Andrea Dovizioso. US Open. Such riches have allowed her to set-up home in Pirro was standing in for An- Monte Carlo. drea Ioannone after the Ducati Pliskova says she’s not one to pile too much signifi cance man suff ered a fractured verte- onto her career. “I’m an introvert and phlegmatic so I don’t brae in practice on Friday. show my joy. I know the world is mean, that there is so Lorenzo’s record-setting lap much suff ering on the planet that none of us can imagine,” time of 1min 31.868 has given she told an interviewer. him a major chance of register- “I often think of those who have nothing, who have to ing his fourth win at the circuit suff er every day, so a winner, a game, set, match will never renamed in honour of the late give me immense joy, only satisfaction. The world won’t Italian rider Marco Simoncelli. change.” Lorenzo, notching up the 64th Her fame, however, has brought downsides. pole of his career but his fi rst In 2012, her father Radek was convicted for being part of since May, was victorious from a ring producing counterfeit cigarettes. She has been dat- 2011 to 2013 and earned a top- ing Michal Hrdlicka, a former sports presenter at Czech TV three spot on every occasion pri- station, Nova. or to crashing out of last year’s He was sacked after video footage emerged of him drunk race. “That was the best lap of and urinating in the street at a fi lm festival this summer. my career,” beamed Mallorca- Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Spanish Pictures of the incident were splashed by Czech tabloid born Lorenzo. rider Jorge Lorenzo celebrates his pole Blesk and Pliskova immediately deleted romantic pictures “When I saw the time I position aft er the qualifying session of the couple from her Instagram account. couldn’t believe it!” at the Marco Simoncelli Circuit of the However, they are believed to still be in a relationship But Rossi, born less than one San Marino Moto GP Grand Prix race in with Hrdlicka in New York for the tournament. hour’s drive away in Urbino, will Misano yesterday. (AFP) Twin sister Kristyna isn’t in New York. Ranked at 122 be hot on his heels in his bid to in the world, she’s thousands of miles away playing at the delight the local partisan crowd Dalian Open in China where she’s made the semi-fi nals. and reduce his 50 point defi cit on If she were, would fans be able to tell the sisters apart? Marquez in the standings. Simple, says Karolina. She has two Polynesian-style Rossi had produced a great lap tattoos, one on her left thigh and on her left arm. on his second attempt to go sec- Grid for Sunday’s San Marino MotoGP Kristyna, meanwhile, has just one piece of ink on the in- ond in the times, only for race side of her left arm. Kristyna plays left-hand; Karolina is a organisers to cancel it as he had 1st row 8. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 0.991 right-hander. And, according to the WTA, Karolina is one gone off the circuit. But he re- 1. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 1:31.868 9. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Suzuki) 1.050 inch taller. turned with one shot left to en- (new track record) 4th row sure second on the grid on the 2. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) at 0.348s 10. Pol Espargaro (ESP/Yamaha Tech3) 1.134 Rivieri di Rimini. 3. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Suuki) 0.513 11. Hector Barbera (ESP/Ducati Avintia) “It was important to make the 2nd row 1.433 front row,” said the crowd favour- 4. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 0.575 12. Alvaro Bautista (ESP/Aprilia) 2.061 ite, “because the track’s narrow 5. Michele Pirro (ITA/Ducati) 0.599 5th row and diffi cult to overtake”. South 6. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 0.809 13. Stefan Bradl (ESP/Aprilia) Africa’s Brad Binder topped the 3rd row 14. Alex Lowes (GBR/Yamaha Tech3) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Italian rider Valentino Rossi times in Moto3 with France’s Jo- 7. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Honda LCR) 0.875 15. Danilo Petrucci (ITA/Ducati Pramac) rides his bikes during the third practise session at the hann Zarco leading the Moto2 grid. Marco Simoncelli Circuit in Misano. (AFP)

FOCUS With its American takeover, F1 looks to US market

AFP F1, employs a French driver, Ro- There, however, drivers ride in Washington Esteban Gutierrez of HAAS Formula One Team main Grosjean, and a Mexican, virtually identical cars, which drives at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo on the Esteban Gutierrez, for lack of a helps level the playing fi eld while outskirts of Barcelona, on the test day of the F1 Grand top-notch US driver willing to at the same time making races ormula One’s takeover Prix season, on March 1, 2016. (AFP) try their hand at Formula One. more spectacular. this week by the Lib- The last F1 victory for an This again is a considerable erty Media opens a new American driver dates back to diff erence with Formula One, frontier for auto racing’s 1978, the year of Andretti’s coro- where teams are always attempt- topF fl ight in the United States, nation. Last year an American ing to eke out a technological ad- where it has struggled to gain a driver, Alexander Rossi, entered vantage over their competitors. foothold. several F1 Grand Prix races only Chase Carey, the new Formula But Gene Haas, the machine to slink away with little fanfare. One chairman, will bring his tool magnate and founder of the Yet he then rose to glory in broadcast and marketing know- only US Formula One team, said American open-wheel racing in how to Liberty Media. the motorsport’s reputation pre- May, winning the Indianapolis He helped develop Fox Sports ceded it. 500. As for constructors, while inside the Rupert Murdoch me- “When you hear ‘F1’ you know Ford’s famed Cosworth V8 may dia empire, which happens to air exactly what it is, a global racing have had a big F1 presence from Nascar races in the US. series that showcases the latest the 1960s to the 1980s, only Malone also has a position in technology and attracts the best Haas is now in the game. the electric racing class Formula talent in engineering and de- Well versed in the technology E. While this “clean” motorsport sign,” said Haas. himself having made his fortune still has a ways to go to gain pop- “It has a tremendous amount in machine tools, Haas quickly ularity, some imagine Formula of appeal and it was obviously understood that producing his E races as curtain raisers for the very appealing to Liberty Media. own open-wheel car would Formula One Grand Prix events. We look forward to working with come at a prohibitive cost. In his As for Andretti, he does not them.” fi rst season this year, he opted see Formula One moving toward Mario Andretti, one of only for a chassis built by Italy’s Dal- IndyCar’s use of identical vehi- two American drivers ever to win lara housing a Ferrari engine. cles in order to please crowds. the Formula One World Cham- “They must maintain the pionship since its creation in Nascar rules the US roost technical aspect that they’re 1950, said the takeover by Lib- Americans love motorsport known for,” he said in an inter- erty, owned by US media mogul — the success of home-grown view. John Malone, marks a new chap- Nascar proves it. But their cars But, should the costs for rac- ter in its history. resemble commercial sedans, ing teams to enter Formula One “Overall, being here in Amer- racing in tight huddles with fre- drop — as the case has been with ica, to see that America is play- quent crashes — the antithesis Ferrari’s work with Haas — An- ing a huge role in Formula One, I of the F1 single-seaters, which dretti says he could imagine think that for us it’s a great sto- whip past in single fi le. his own son Michael, himself a ry,” he told AFP. the Americas in Austin, Texas on more to be staged in the United rently has limited appeal among US drivers needed The Indianapolis 500, part of former F1 driver as well as Indy- But of the 21 Grand Prix races October 23. States. Americans — even though glo- Today, it falls to Haas to cul- the American single-seat series Car and Formula E team owner, this year, just one will be held in Bernie Ecclestone, the head But fi nding sponsors willing to bally its broadcasts draw 400mn tivate interest among American IndyCar, draws several hundred come knocking on Formula the United States: the Circuit of of Formula One, would love for take a chance on sport that cur- viewers — has been diffi cult. racing fans. Yet his team, Haas thousand spectators every year. One’s door.

Sunday, September 11, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

TENNIS/ US OPEN Djokovic deciphers Monfi ls, faces Wawrinka in fi nal ‘If I would get to the net he would go for the passing shot and hit some impossible gets and balls. But that’s Gael’

Tortured artist Monfi ls searches for grand slam masterpiece

Gael Monfils returns a shot to Novak Djokovic during their US Open semi-final. (AFP) Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates defeating Gael Monfils of France 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 in their US Open semi-final at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Flushing neighbourhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP) Gael Monfils to some is a quitter his work often as abstract as a was barely trying, only to come but to others the enigmatic Picasso painting and equally up with a brilliant winner the AFP Djokovic admitted he was attempt “to get inside his head”. match retirements of two others. Frenchman is a bold, uncon- diff icult to find meaning in, as next. “I think the crowd disliked New York “completely caught off guard” A more orthodox approach Wawrinka’s arduous path to ventional thinker willing to try on Friday as tried to find a way his eff orts,” said Djokovic. “I when Monfi ls, down 0-5 in the saw Monfi ls break back for 2-2 the title match included saving anything to get to his first grand to outsmart Djokovic, who had thought at times that he was fi rst in 15 minutes, stood lacka- and again for 4-2 in a third set a match point in the third round. slam final. beaten him in all 12 previous maybe behaving a little bit in ovak Djokovic’s strange daisically in the court and be- that saw Djokovic receive treat- He’s spent 17 hours and 54 Either way there is no getting meetings. some judgment unacceptable US Open path took gan chipping the ball back. The ment on his left shoulder. minutes on court. around the fact that Monfils is “I think everything I do in my life but, again, I guess that was part another odd turn Fri- strategy paid off as Monfi ls Although Djokovic saved one Nishikori, coming off his own a showman, a polarising figure I try to have fun and I try to be of his tactics. day as the defending reeled off three games in a row. set point, and gave himself three fi ve-set quarter-fi nal triumph who can trigger applause one creative on the tennis court, out- “It seemed like it was a bit of Nchampion defi ed stultifying hu- “If I would get to the net he break chances in the ninth game, over world number two Andy moment and anger the next, as side the tennis court,” explained a lack of eff ort, but then he midity and the controversial tac- would go for the passing shot Monfi ls was able to extend the Murray, seized the initiative with he did on Friday in a confound- Monfils. “I create music; I create started playing great. tics of Gael Monfi ls to book a title and hit some impossible gets and match, marking the moment a near fl awless fi rst set. ing 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-2 loss to Novak painting; I create whatever I “He took chances.” showdown with Stan Wawrinka. balls. But that’s Gael,” Djokovic with a mighty roar to which He broke Wawrinka again to Djokovic that sent the world want to create. Certainly the 30-year-old Paris- World number one and de- said. Djokovic responded by ripping open the second, but the Swiss number one through to his “I create clothes. I create, I don’t ian’s approach grates on tennis fending champion Djokovic It was Djokovic who emerged off his shirt. was gradually beginning to fi nd seventh US Open final. know, dance move. I create traditionalists including grand prevailed 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 in with the set, however, and as the “I think I should not have al- his range and regained the break. Djokovic at one stage ripped off anything.” slam winner and commentator a bizarre semi-fi nal that saw Serbian star raced through the lowed him to come back to the After saving a bevy of break his shirt in frustration at Monfils, The Frenchman can also create John McEnroe, who labelled 10th-seeded Monfi ls roundly second Monfi ls’s interest again match after two sets to love up points, he broke in the 12th game while praising the Frenchman controversy. Quickly down 5-0 Monfils’ performance as unpro- booed and accused of not trying. appeared to wane. and 2-love in the third,” Djoko- to level the match at two sets the next. “He’s one of the most in the first set, Monfils decided fessional. Third-seeded Wawrinka By the sixth game the 30-year- vic said. “He started believing apiece. After taking the third and charismatic guys on the Tour,” it was time for a drastic change But Monfils was quick to defend withstood an early onslaught old had won just nine points, in himself. I think the crowd dis- breaking Nishkori at love for a explained Djokovic, who once of plans. What some saw as his tactics and his philosophy. from sixth-seeded Kei Nishikori which he managed to nudge into liked his eff orts towards the end 2-0 lead in the fourth, Wawrinka said Monfils was the only player tanking, Monfils described as “When the guy is too good, of Japan, asserting himself in the double fi gures by the end of it. of the second set. I think he felt appeared to be on his way. he would pay to watch. “At tactics, a well thought out Plan playing clean and you’re play- later stages to claim a 4-6, 7-5, Monfi ls, playing in only his like he needs to step it up and Nishikori’s last gasp was a the end of the day, he enjoys B employed when it became ing not that good you need to 6-4, 6-2 victory. second Grand Slam semi-fi nal start to play better, which he did.” break in the fi fth game, but a playing on the big stage. Enjoys clear a more traditional Plan A change,” explained Monfils with Although Djokovic holds a after making the last-four at the After giving back an early quick break back and a hold at playing tennis. approach was not working. clear logic. “You just don’t want 19-4 record over Wawrinka, 2008 French Open, theatrically break in the fourth Djokovic had love and Wawrinka was back in “Sometimes, as his opponent it’s Monfils tested the patience to see it. including two victories since hobbled off the court and was treatment on his right shoulder, charge. “He dictated play early not easy to handle his up and of both Djokovic and the fans “We can change a little bit. It’s the Swiss player shocked him jeered. but he broke twice more to close tonight, put pressure on me and downs but he’s very important with a display of tennis that not only one way to play tennis. the French Open fi nal last year, He was booed again by sec- out the win. Djokovic arrived at gave me no time,” Wawrinka said. asset to our sport.” swung wildly from dynamic to “I know it is not natural because Wawrinka welcomed the chance tions of the 20,000-strong the semi-fi nals having played “I had to wait and fi ght and Blessed with a creative soul, indiff erent as he tried to “get first question is you’re not com- to take him on again. crowd as he dropped the fi rst just two complete matches in make him uncomfortable. He got Monfils is the tortured artist of inside” the Serb’s head. On some peting. I’m competing. “To play Novak again it will be game of the third set. Monfi ls fi ve prior rounds after a walkover tired and I started to be more ag- tennis. The court is his canvas, points Monfils looked like he “The change takes guts.” very special,” he said. said his tactics were a deliberate from one opponent and the mid- gressive.” Qatar Arc Trials: A big day at Chantilly FOCUS Chantilly will today play host to To do this, he needs to win the ‘Tired’ Nishikori takes positives the Qatar Arc Trials. This race Qatar Arabian World Cup plus meeting holds three Group races the HH The Emir’s Sword. that are preps for Qatar Prix de Facing him, His Highness Sheikh out of US Open despite loss l’Arc de Triomphe (the 2nd Octo- Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani has ber) as well as two Group 3 races two runners: TM Thunder Struck, Reuters not easy after playing Andy fi ve achieving a grand slam crown. and the Qatar Cup – Prix Dragon, a smart second in the Dubai New York sets.” “It’s not easy when you have Gr1 for purebred Arabians leading Kahayla Classic (Gr1 PA), and “He was playing much better to play number two, number to the Qatar Arabian World Cup. Majeed, a recent second in the the last couple sets. I stopped three and (number one) Novak Six fillies line up in the Qatar Prix Doha Cup (Gr1 PA) at Deauville. apan’s Kei Nishikori moving a little bit. He was was waiting in the fi nals.” Vermeille (Gr1), and the favourite Samima, winner of this race last notched one of the big- playing powerful tennis.” “It wasn’t easy job, but if I will be the three-year-old Left year, will be attempting to hold gest wins of the year’s Wawrinka advanced to fi nal could win a little easier the last Hand, second in the Prix de Di- on to her title. grand slam with his fi ve- against top-seeded defending few matches I could have little setJ upset of world number two champion Novak Djokovic. more chance today and maybe ane Longines to La Cressonnière. The Qatar Prix du Moulin de The four-year-old Candarliya, sec- Longchamp (Gr1) will be a Andy Murray in the quarter- Two years ago Nishikori in the fi nal.” ond in this race last year behind chance to see Al Shaqab Racing’s fi nals of the US Open but that charged all the way to the US Nishikori still took positives Trêve, will try to improve on last Zelzal, winner of the Prix Jean four-hour victory took its toll Open title match to become from the Open and his high year’s finishing position. Prat (Gr1) back over the same on him on Friday. the fi rst player from an Asian calibre tennis the last couple of The Qatar Prix Niel (Gr2), for course and distance, and his rival The 26-year-old sixth seed country to reach a grand slam months. three-year-olds, will be the first Vadamos, second in the Prix du ran out of energy against third fi nal before losing to Marin “Beating Andy in this big opportunity to see the Japanese Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buff ard – seed Stan Wawrinka, falling Cilic. tournament gives me confi - horse a Makahiki, who arrived a LEFT HAND Jacques Le Marois this summer 4-6 7-5 6-4 6-2 on a hot, hu- “There was only two more dence,” he said. few weeks ago in Chantilly in the at Deauville. Second in the Prix mid day at Flushing Meadows. matches to go, so I felt re- “Reaching the fi nal in To- hope of providing his country du Jockey Club (Gr1), Zarak is “I was defi nitely a little bit ally close and playing at a good ronto and bronze in the Olym- with a first victory in the biggest coming back to a mile here. tired, especially in the end,” level I think these two weeks,” pics and semis here was a good race in the world. The prep race for the Qatar Prix Nishikori told reporters. “It’s Nishikori said about his goal of summer.” Doha Dream defends the inter- de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (Gr1), ests of Al Shaqab Racing. He has AL MOURTAJEZ the Qatar Prix du Petit Couvert already won two Listed races and (Gr3) presents Goldream, winner this is his first attempt at Group of the Gr1 last year at Long- level. champ. The Prix Foy (Gr2), for four-year- Largent du Bonheur, who carries olds and older, has only four the colours of Qatar Racing, will runners. be trying to win his first Group, Silverwave, winner of the Grand but he is up against battle hard- Prix de Saint Cloud (Gr1), is the ened horses at this level. one to beat. The Qatar Prix Gladiateur (Gr3) The champion of Shaqab Racing, could provide the winner of Al Mourtajez, is the hot favourite the Qatar Prix du Cadran (Gr1). in the Qatar Cup – Prix Dragon Vazirabad, one of the best French (Gr1 PA). stayers, will attempt to add He is coming off a win in the another Group to his already Qatar International Stakes (Gr1 impressive record, whilst Mille PA) at Goodwood and will be at- et Mille, last year’s Qatar Prix du tempting to win the Doha Triple Cadran winner, has a legitimate Crown. chance. Stan Wawrinka (R) shakes hands with Kei Nishikori after their US Open semifinal in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)