FRIDAY 9 MARCH 2018 SPORT 21 What Phil’s doing is showing that we can 6:00PM 6:00PM still do it later on in our Tiger Woods FOOTBALL FOOTBALL careers. Davis won at 51, The former world number Al Sailiya vs Umm Salal vs one seems impressed with Live on Phil at 47 Phil Mickelson’s recent form Al Gharafa Al Sadd TUBE Live on Al Kass Live on Al Kass DeRozan Golf: Woods says he is inspired by scores 42 points as Raptors reach Mickelson, eyes Masters challenge play-offs AFP Sunday encouraged him to Augusta is one of those courses Steve Stricker’s golf believe he could still add to his that favors the vets. It’s a hard bag rests in the 17th AFP MIAMI: Tiger Woods is drawing collection of 106 professional test.” fairway during the inspiration from fellow veteran wins. At this stage of the season, final round of the LOS ANGELES: DeMar Phil Mickelson’s win in Mexico “What Phil’s doing is however, Woods is simply happy 2018 Cologuard DeRozan exploded for 42 last weekend as he plots the showing that we can still do it to be back on the circuit. Classic at Omni Tucson points as the Toronto Raptors latest stage of his comeback this later on in our careers,” Woods “I’m just ecstatic to have a National Resort in clinched their place in the week ahead of next month’s told reporters yesterday. chance to play again and to have this March 4, 2018 NBA play-offs with a 121-119 Masters. “Davis won at 51, Phil at 47,” a chance to win golf tournaments file photo taken in overtime victory against the The 42-year-old former he said, referring to Davis Love and compete,” he said. Detroit Pistons on Tucson, Arizona. world number one will tee off in III. “There was a while there Wednesday. the PGA Tour’s Valspar Cham- “There are a few guys who where I didn’t know if I was ever DeRozan added six assists pionship on Thursday hoping to can do it late in their career.” going to be out there again in the and four rebounds in a vir- get more rounds under his belt Woods, who has missed the capacity of a professional player. tuoso performance that heading into Augusta in three last two Masters, is also not But here I am, and it’s a lot of hauled the Raptors back from weeks’ time. ruling out a member of the old fun.” the brink of what would have Woods has endured mixed guard prevailing at Augusta next Woods said he hopes to use been an upset loss against the results since returning to the tour month. Valspar to fine-tune his game Pistons. Toronto improved to this season, finishing tied for “The favourites are the guys while building up his 47-17 with the win, which 23rd at Torrey Pines in January who’ve always done well there,” endurance. tightened their grip on first before missing the cut at Riviera Woods said, insisting that him- “Keep progressing, keep place in the Eastern Confer- in Los Angeles last month. self and former champions such making small changes, small ence standings and made He followed that up with a as Fred Couples, Bernhard tweaks,” he said. “Hopefully I can them the first team to guar- 12th-place finish at the Honda Langer, Bubba Watson and continue to do that this week. antee their spot in the Classic and is playing the Val- Mickelson were all capable of “I’ve only played 10 rounds. postseason. spar at Tampa, Florida this week challenging. I know some people are saying Detroit fell to 29-36 with in an attempt to hone his game “I’m not going to put it out of that I’ve been a little erratic, or the defeat, leaving them just before the Masters. the realm if Freddie feels good, a little inconsistent. But it’s 10 outside the playoff positions Woods missed all of 2016 he’s still in he mix. Bernhard is rounds. It’s not that many. in ninth place, five wins adrift and most of 2017 because of still in the mix. Phil is in the mix. “I looked up some of my stats of the Milwaukee Bucks in the debilitating back trouble that Myself, Bubba. There’s a few who last night as I wanted to see eighth spot. culiminated in spinal fusion sur- know how to play the golf course where I’m ranked -- I’m not even The Raptors had to work gery last April. and it fits us,” Woods said. on the rankings, because I hard for the win, overcoming He said the 47-year-old “There’s definitely going to haven’t played enough rounds. the early ejection of Serge Mickelson’s victory at the WGC be some young guys who’ve been “That’s basically how my Ibaka and holding their nerve Championship in Mexico on playing well up there. But comeback has been so far.” after a late fightback from Detroit took the game into overtime. Point guard Kyle Lowry Sharma was singled out by Els 10 years ago was content to supply the red-hot DeRozan with AFP Sharma has been invited to the players to the PGA Tour and just ammunition, contributing 15 Masters in April, where he will telling the general public about what assists as well as 15 points. GURGAON: Shubhankar Sharma’s become only the fourth Indian to golf in India is all about and we have Norman Powell had 17 stunning rise up the golf rankings play after Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun so many great players playing at the points while Jonas Valan- has taken many by surprise but Atwal and Anirban Lahiri. world stage.” ciunas chipped in with 14. former world number one Ernie Els And he is setting his sights high. Sharma’s father Mohan Sharma New Pistons arrival Blake predicted the Indian’s ascent a “There still is a lot to be done if also believes that his son’s success Griffin had tied it at 119-119 decade ago. you see golf at an international level. will inspire Indian children to play with 37.3 seconds left in over- The 21-year-old Sharma rock- Obviously if you see from Indian golf, drawing parallels with time, but Detroit were unable eted from 462nd to 66th place in standards some people feel I have great . to find the go-ahead score. three months following two Euro- done well and have to keep playing “In early nineties I watched pean Tour wins and a strong the way I have and get to the PGA Sachin and his documentaries and NBA Results showing at the WGC-Mexico Cham- Tour,” said Sharma, who was intro- how his name changed the business pionships last weekend. duced to the game by his father at of cricket. Similarly his story is going Denver 108 Cleveland 113 He ended tied ninth at the PGA the age of seven. to be an inspiration and it will be a Detroit 119 Toronto 121 Tour event in Mexico after leading He highlighted Jordan Spieth’s Sachin moment for golf,” Mohan Lal Lakers 108 Orlando 107 going into the final round, when he feat of winning the Masters at 21. said. Sacramento 101 N Orleans 114 was overtaken by American great “You just have to look at the “His honesty, his character is Chicago 119 Memphis 110 Phil Mickelson. greats of the game and then you what he stands for. Milwaukee 99 Houston 110 Speaking to reporters ahead of know how much work you have to “He believes more in listening Indiana 84 Utah 104 the Indian Open in Gurgaon, Sharma put in to get there. than in talking. Same in golf, he revealed that it was Els who spotted “Just the kind of game golf is, speaks with his clubs rather than his his talent at a coaching clinic in anything is possible at any time if mouth,” he added. Flames end 2008. you play well. Just like what hap- Sharma’s peers at the Indian “He put the ball on the tee for me pened to me after November, I was Open praised his achievements, with skid with at Delhi Golf Course range and I hit 571 in the world and now I am 66. I Lahiri calling his rise “massive and two great shots right near the 100- knew I had the game in me.” huge” for Indian golf. romp over yard board and he was really Sharma, after trying soccer, bas- Sharma will be hoping for a happy,” said Sharma. ketball and cricket, stuck to golf fol- better finish in Augusta than in Sabres “He said you are going to be a lowing encouragement from his Mexico, where he closed with a AFP great player one day and just keep father, who served as an officer in three-over-par 74 to share ninth. practising. And for a kid like me who the Indian army. “I am working on every aspect NEW YORK: Mark Giordano, was only 10 at that time it just made He turned pro at 16 and now of my game and (will) be totally pre- Sam Bennett and Mark my day, I was so happy that I hopes his success will inspire India’s pared before I get there. I have to Jankowski all collected one couldn’t sleep that night.” cricket-crazy youth to take up golf. work a lot on my short game, hitting goal and one assist as the “I met Ernie after that in Abu “I am really happy that finally and everything,” he said. Calgary Flames thumped the Indian golf player Shubhankar Sharma poses for a Dhabi recently and I told him about golf is getting a lot of attention in “I know I have the game to go Buffalo Sabres 5-1 in NHL picture a practice session ahead of the European Tour the story and he was really happy India and I think we need that,” he and contend there and play well. But action Wednesday night in Indian Open in Gurgaon on the outskirts of New Delhi. that I have progressed so well,” said. it’s about playing well at the right Buffalo. Sharma added. “Just to get more and more time.” The Flames snapped a four-game losing skid with the win at KeyBank Center, dominating the lowly Sabres Men, women to compete together in European Team from the drop of the puck. The only disappointment REUTERS earned from events in the last 12 months Ladies European Tour chairman Mark A timely wake-up call from a Euro- for the Flames was that goalie up to July. Lichtenhein said that there was a “tre- pean Tour official and a mad car dash got David Rittich, who made 25 LONDON: Men and women will compete “There is a need for golf to embrace mendous public appetite” to see men and Larrazabal to the DLF Golf and Country saves, lost his bid for the first together in this year’s inaugural European new formats and engage a wider audi- women compete together. Club in Gurgaon just before his 7:00 am shutout of his NHL career Golf Team Championships after their ence,” European Tour chief executive “The format is terrific and the fact that start time. Larrazabal said his new phone with 17.1 seconds left in the respective tours announced yesterday that Keith Pelley said in a statement. the event will be shown throughout went back on to Spanish time “and I woke affair. they had agreed on a format and qualifi- “Following our recent announcement Europe via free-to-air television presents up at the hotel 38 minutes before my Bennett started the cation process. about the inclusion of female players in an unprecedented opportunity to bring tee-time”. onslaught at the 5:35 mark of The Aug. 8-12 event at Gleneagles, the revolutionary GolfSixes tournament, new fans,” he added. “I woke up, had a 10-second shower the opening frame, finishing Scotland, will involve an equal gender split the European Championships presents The event will also be a part of the and I ran... I arrived at the course 25 min- a goal-mouth scramble. among participants and offer equal prize another innovative opportunity to break multi-sport European Championships this utes before my tee-time. My heart was Sabres goalie Chad Johnson money for men and women in the match- new ground on a number of fronts,” he year. pumping big-time, I was very nervous. swatted the puck away from play championship as well as the 18-hole added. Meanwhile in Gurgaon, Spain’s Pablo “I think the courtesy car made a world Garnet Hathaway before he foursomes team play championship. A total of 16 teams with two players Larrazabal took a “wild” ride to get to the record from the hotel to the golf course could get a stick on it in the Players will represent their countries each will compete in the matchplay cham- start of the Indian Open when his alarm in a couple of minutes, a ride that can take crease, but Bennett was on and can qualify through the European Golf pionship. In the foursomes, they will com- failed, but the near-disaster inspired him 10 or 15 minutes, it was really wild,” added the spot amidst the chaos and Team Championships points tables, which bine to form teams of four with two men to a five-under 67 in yesterday’s opening the 34-year-old whose score put him buried his 10th goal of the are based on official world ranking points and two women. round. among the early leaders. season. 22 SPORT FRIDAY 9 MARCH 2018

Afghan wicketkeeper Shahzad banned for two matches

AFP

HARARE: Big-hitting Afghan- istan wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad has been suspended for two matches, just three months after returning from a one- year doping ban, the ICC announced yesterday. Cricket fans watch the play during the fourth ODI cricket Test match between New Zealand and England at University Oval in Dunedin on March 7, 2018. New Zealand win The 30-year-old the match by five . The deciding match of the series will be played tomorrow. slammed his bat against the pitch next to the main after being dismissed for 24 in Afghanistan’s two-run Taylor desperate to play decider defeat by Zimbabwe in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday. Shahzad reached four AFP injuries that can get worse, or demerit points over the last New Zealand’s whether you can grin and bear two years after being found Ross Taylor (left) is WELLINGTON: Injured Black it, we’re just not sure yet,” Hes- guilty of “abuse of cricket Cap Ross Taylor said yesterday son told reporters. congratulated by equipment or clothing, he was desperate to play in the Taylor said he was keen to head coach Mike ground equipment or fixtures one-day series decider against play and would be icing his Hesson after their and fittings” by cricket’s gov- England, as pundits declared his injured thigh and resting with the win during the erning body. unbeaten 181 the greatest ever intention of taking the field even fourth ODI match The opening batsman will limited-overs innings by a Kiwi if not fully fit. against England now miss Afghanistan’s next batsman. “I’m hoping to,” he told Radio at University Oval two Group B matches against Taylor overcame cramps and Sport. “Obviously I won’t be 100 in Dunedin on Hong Kong and Nepal. a severe thigh strain to bludgeon (percent) but we’ll just see how Wednesday. It is a big blow for the New Zealand to victory with a it pulls up in the next couple of Rashid Khan-led side, who career-best performance in the days and give it the best chance were expected to qualify for fourth ODI in Hamilton on possible.” next year’s tournament in Wednesday. Taylor hurt his thigh earlier England and Wales, but now Grimacing with pain after in the series then aggravated it look set to miss out after con- every shot and limping between diving to avoid a run out as New secutive losses to Scotland the wickets, he levelled the series Zealand chased England’s chal- and hosts Zimbabwe. 2-2 to set up a winner-takes-all lenging target of 336. Shahzad only returned to clash in Christchurch The 34-year-old’s 181 action last December after tomorrow. was his 19th ODI and the serving a ban for taking a Coach was third highest score by a New weight-loss product. reluctant to risk Taylor in the Zealander in the 50-over format. Teenage leg-spinner crunch match if there was risk But Dominion Post cricket writer he pointed out that New Zealand review system required,” he “It was the most definitive was fined of long-term injury, and has Mark Geenty said the context and were chasing a huge total against wrote. statement by Taylor that he is 50 percent of his match fee called in rookie Mark Chapman manner of Taylor’s knock made quality opposition to keep the Radio New Zealand’s Jamie very much in contention for the and given three demerit as cover. it a standout contender for New series alive, and had lost their Wall hailed “Ross the Boss” as title of New Zealand’s greatest points for throwing the ball “We need to know the extent Zealand’s greatest ODI innings. two openers for ducks. one of the Black Caps’ all-time batsman ever,” he wrote in his “in a dangerous manner” of it and whether it’s one of those Aside from Taylor’s injury, “Taylor wins. No decision greats. article. towards Zimbabwe batsman Brendan Taylorn in Tuesday’s game. The 16-year-old con- Captains hold talks as Dhawan shines as tested the charge, but was found guilty on Wednesday morning. India post big win Wicketkeeper Taylor, teams prepare for Test who made a crucial 89 in Zimbabwe’s total of 196, was AFP also fined 15 percent of his AFP match fee for dissent after COLOMBO: Opener Shikhar Dhawan hit his second successive complaining about an lbw PORT ELIZABETH: Captains Faf Twenty20 half-century to help India thrash Bangladesh by six wick- appeal that wasn’t given late du Plessis and Steve Smith met ets and register their first win in the tri-nation tournament on in the tense encounter. yesterday ahead of the second yesterday. Meanwhile, Hong Kong Test between South Africa and Chasing 140 for victory, India rode on Dhawan’s 43-ball 55 to batsman Nizakat Khan was Australia in an effort to put the achieve their target with eight balls to spare at Colombo’s R Pre- fined and handed three focus back on cricket following madasa Stadium. demerit points for barging controversial incidents in the India, who won the toss and opted to bowl, gained the upper into Scotland bowler Alasdair first Test in Durban. hand after pacemen Jaydev Unadkat and Vijay Shankar shared five Evans during his side’s four- They agreed that they and wickets between them to restrict Bangladesh to 139-8. wicket defeat. the umpires had a responsibil- Dhawan, whose 90 went in vain in India’s opening loss against ity to avoid the conflict that led hosts Sri Lanka on Tuesday, then made sure that his side cruise to three players being fined after home, despite initially slumping to 40-2. Zimbabwe’s the first Test in Durban. Skipper Rohit Sharma faltered in his second successive outing “It was nice to have a chat after chopping a onto his stumps from left-arm paceman Vitori gets and ensure that we’re playing Mustafizur Rahman. He made 17. within the spirit of the game and Dhawan, hitting 5 fours and 2 sixes en route to his sixth T20 suspended for that cricket is what is written Australia’s and Steve Smith leave the pitch after fifty, and Suresh Raina, who made 28, put on a crucial 68-run third- about and talked about after this beating South Africa at Kingsmead Stadium, Durban. wicket stand. illegal action game,” said Smith. “It’s been all Dhawan finally fell to Taskin Ahmed’s right-arm medium pace about the indiscretions in the Du Plessis, though, said De character you know he is a very, in the 17th over but Manish Pandey, 27 not out, carried the team AFP last fixture and that’s not what Kock had been provoked by very quiet guy. I struggle to get home. we want for the game. Cricket personal comments made by a word out of him on the field,” Saarma said: “It was a great performance - something DUBAI: Zimbabwe’s Brian has got to be the winner.” Warner. said Du Plessis. that was expected from us. Till the last ball of the game was bowled, Vitori was suspended yester- Speaking before the meet- “I don’t think we did a great “So I know he’s a very it was clinical. We looked into what went wrong against Sri Lanka day after the ICC adjudged ing, which happened between deal wrong,” said Smith. relaxed, laid back guy. So the and we thought hitting back of a length was a good option. We that the fast bowler uses an the pre-match press confer- “In our meeting we talked point leading up to that (con- wanted them to go after the long boundaries. I thought the bowl- illegal action, just months ences by both captains, Du about swearing. We don’t want frontation) would have been a ers executed their plans really well. Came out and did what was after resuming his career. Plessis said the captains needed that happening on the field and lot of stuff said to Quinton, a lot asked.” Vitori, a 28-year-old left- to “make sure that things don’t being seen or heard by people of personal stuff. Earlier Bangladesh faltered with only Liton Das, who arm fast bowler, was reported get to the stage that they got to watching the cricket. I don’t “I thought he actually han- top-scored with 34 and Sabbir Rahman, who hit 30 off 26 balls, by the match officials follow- in the previous game”. think there was any real issue dled himself well in terms of all giving some respectability to the total. ing his side’s match against Smith said the role of the about what was happening on the stuff that was said to him. Unadkat claimed three wickets with his left-arm pace while Nepal on Sunday. umpires had been discussed. “If the field prior to the incident.” Eventually he reached a point Shankar, who took his first international wicket in Mushfiqur Rahim, An ICC panel then stud- they hear something going on With Warner being one where he said enough is enough. returned figures of 2-32. ied video of his action in they (should) go to either Faf or demerit point away from a ban, Any guy in the world would Tuesday’s match against myself and make sure we have Smith said he would have to be eventually say something back.” SCOREBOARD Afghanistan which Zimbabwe our troops in line and playing aware of his situation. Smith confirmed that Aus- Bangladesh 4-0-32-2 (w3, nb2) won by two runs with Vitori within the guidelines.” “Davey plays really well tralia would field an unchanged T Iqbal c Unadkat b Thakur ...... 15 India taking their last wicket. But both camps continued when he’s aggressive and he side after winning the first Test S Sarkar c Chahal b Unadkat ...... 14 R. Sharma b Mustafizur Rahman ...... 17 He must now undergo an to disagree on what sparked the gets into the contest (but) he’s by 118 runs. Du Plessis said that L Das c Raina b Chahal ...... 34 S. Dhawan c Liton Das b Taskin Ahmed ...... 55 assessment of his conflict in Durban. going to have to be careful to not there was a discussion about M Rahim c Karthik b Shankar ...... 18 R. Pant b Rubel Hossain ...... 7 action at an ICC-approved Australian vice-captain cross the line.” whether Theunis de Bruyn or Mahmudullah c Thakur b Shankar ...... 1 S. Raina c Mehidy Hasan b Rubel Hossain ...... 28 testing centre. Vitori has been David Warner, who was fined Du Plessis strongly defended Temba Bavuma would fill the S Rahman c Karthik b Unadkat ...... 30 M. Pandey not out ...... 27 suspended before over his M Hasan c Pandey b Unadkat ...... 3 D. Karthik not out ...... 2 75 percent of his match fee and De Kock. Asked why De Kock seventh batting position but said T Ahmed not out ...... 8 Extras (b1, lb1, w2) ...... 4 action, in January 2016, but given three demerit points fol- had challenged a level one Bavuma was only 80 percent R Hossain run out (Raina/Thakur) ...... 0 Total (4 wickets, 18.4 overs) ...... 140 was allowed to resume inter- lowing a clash with South charge, which resulted in a 25 recovered from a finger injury. M Rahman not out ...... 1 Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-40, 3-108, 4-123 national cricket in June of that Africa’s Quinton de Kock as the percent fine and one demerit The pitch had a fair cover- Extras (lb2, w11, nb2) ...... 15 Did not bat: W. Sundar, V. Shankar, S. Thakur, J. Unadkat, year after assessors passed players went to the dressing point, while Warner had not ing of grass a day out from the Total (8 wickets, 20 overs) ...... 139 Y. Chahal his action as legal. But in rooms at the tea interval, told contested his punishment, Du match but both captains Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-35, 3-66, 4-72, 5-107, 6-117, Bowling: Mustafizur 4-0-31-1, Taskin 3-0-28-1, Rubel December 2016 he was Australian journalists that De Plessis said it was about getting expected it to be slow. 7-134, 8-135 3.4-0-24-2 (w1), Mehidy 4-0-21-0, Soumya 1-0-8-0 banned again, this time for 12 Bowling: Unadkat 4-0-38-3 (w4), Sundar 4-0-23-0 (w1), Mahmudullah 1-0-11-0, Nazmul 2-0-15-0 Kock had made “disgusting” a point across to the officials. “A typical Port Elizabeth (w2), Thakur 4-0-25-1 (w2), Chahal 4-0-19-1, Shankar Toss: India Result: India won by six wickets months, and was only rein- comments about Warner’s wife. “If you know Quinton’s pitch,” said Du Plessis. stated in January this year. FRIDAY 9 MARCH 2018 SPORT 23

Arnold named as Australia coach

AP

MELBOURNE: In less than two months, Australia’s World Cup-bound soccer team has gone from having no coach to having two. Graham Arnold is set to take over after Bert van Mar- wijk leads the Socceroos to Russia in June. Yesterday, Football Fed- eration Australia said at a media conference in Sydney that Arnold, current coach of A-League champions Sydney FC, will become head coach on a four-year contract after Action from yesterday’s matches at 4-Star Katara Beach Volleyball Cup. the World Cup ends. At the start of the year, Australia was without a coach. Ange Postecoglou quit in November shortly after Australia qualified for the Qatar’s Cherif, Ahmed World Cup with an intercon- tinental playoff win over Honduras. After a near two-month wait, van Marwijk was named as Postecoglou’s replacement storm into Katara semis in late January, with the Dutchman’s tenure only for THE PENINSULA and while he will be nearer his the World Cup. 40s than his 20s by the time the Now Arnold, who played DOHA: Qatar’s leading duo of action starts at Tokyo 2020, he 56 internationals for Australia Cherif Younousse and Tajin admits to taking inspiration from over 12 years and was head Ahmed continued their pursuit other players on the Tour who coach of the national team in of a home FIVB Beach Volleyball are over 40. 2006-07, is back in the top World Tour medal when they “We feel good in and out of job. reached the semi-finals of the the court and this year is our 10th “It feels like I have never 4-Star Katara Beach Volleyball year together and it still feels like left,” Arnold said yesterday. Cup yesterday. the first one,” Herrera said. “I have been heavily Cherif and Tajin won three “We’re happy together. We involved in the Socceroos for matches in one day, and it cul- have a good relationship on and a long time. I know what the minated in them fighting back to off the court. We are friends, job is about, I know it’s not an beat Poland’s Michal Bryl and almost brothers and I think that easy job, but I feel I’m defi- Grzegorz Fijalek 2-1 (15-21, 21-15, is the key. nitely ready.” 15-10) to reach the semi-finals. “Look at John Hyden, he is The 54-year-old Arnold The 4-Star Katara Beach Vol- 45 I think and he is still like a will leave Sydney FC after the leyball Cup runs from March young player, it is crazy. My knee A-League season ends in May. 6-10, and is taking place at the is fine and it doesn’t give me any With five rounds to go in the Katara Cultural Village. It is the problems any more. regular schedule ahead of the fourth time that Doha has hosted “It will be difficult to qualify, playoffs, Arnold has Sydney an FIVB Beach Volleyball World we will need to be in top condi- in first place with an eight- Tour tournament, following tion next year and then we’ll point lead over second-place competitions in 2014, 2015 and see.” Newcastle. 2016. Herrera and Gavira are cur- “To be blunt, we didn’t “I’m so tired, but I gave my rently competing in the 4-Star want Graham to leave and we best until we go there,” Tijan Katara Beach Volleyball Cup in offered him a substantially said. Cherif Younousse (left) and Tajin Ahmed are aiming to win Qatar’s first World Tour gold medal on Doha and showed that they are bigger and longer contract to “It will be the same tomor- home sand. nearing their best with a 2-0 (21- stay,” Sydney FC chairman row and we will give our best to 15, 21-17) win over Italy’s Paolo Scott Barlow said. be in the final because it is a their serve to win 2-1 (19-21, season was fully focused. celebrate their 10th anniversary Nicolai and Daniele Lupo, who “But the lure of coaching beautiful venue and I want to 21-19, 22-20). Brouwer and “We want to win tourna- as a team and hope to use it as a last week won silver at the 5-Star his country has ultimately carry on playing here. Meeuwsen are chasing their sec- ments this year, so hopefully we springboard to further success Fort Lauderdale Major. proven too much.” “In the first set the guys were ond World Tour medal of 2018 can start here.” on the FIVB Beach Volleyball Their most recent podium FFA chairman Steven serving so well and that made having won bronze at The Hague Number one seeds Phil Dal- World Tour. finish came at the 2017 3-Star Lowy said Arnold was always receiving hard. But we started to 4-Star tournament at the start of hausser and Nick Lucena At the back of the Spaniards’ Hague tournament where they the No. 1 candidate. play better in the second set and the year. survived a marathon first set to minds is the Tokyo 2020 Olym- won silver. “We developed a set of used our service to pressure “We had to play with our eventually beat Polish pair Piotr pic Games. Qualifying through They are among the most criteria for the role,” Lowy them. It gave us opportunities guts and put our heart on the Kantor and Bartosz Losiak 2-1 the World Tour begins in 2019 consistent teams on the Tour and said. “The long-term and they started to make bad court,” Brouwer said. (37-35, 13-21, 15-6) after Kantor and runs till midway through last week reached the Fort appointee did not have to be passes and bad receptions and “To be in the semis is a big and Losiak were forced to pull 2020. Lauderdale quarter-finals. the best Australian; it had to that gave us the chance to get up reward, but it is just the start. out through injury. Should they qualify it will be “We have to improve our be the best person when all and block them.” “We just had to keep push- They will now meet Russia’s the 35-year-old Herrera’s fifth block-defence,” Gavira said. factors were considered. That Their win sets up a clash ing and we played with guts and Oleg Stoyanovskiy and Igor Veli- Olympic Games, and his third in “We aren’t so tall, so it some- person was Graham Arnold.” against Alex Brouwer and Rob- took a few risks and I’m really chko, who beat Latvia’s tandem with Gavira. In doing so times makes blocking hard. Then Arnold’s first major ert Meeuwsen. The Dutch duo happy with the win. It was Aleksandrs Samoilovs and Janis he would be the first male to play if we don’t side-out well we get assignment will be Austral- were pushed all the way by Bra- important we regained focus on Smedins 2-0 (21-15, 21-13). in five Olympic Games. nothing, so we really need to ia’s Asian Cup defense in the zil’s Saymon Santos and Alvaro the things we want to improve, Meanwhile, Pablo Herrera He won silver alongside work on our side-out,” he United Arab Emirates next Filho, but eventually they held and each training session in pre- and Adrian Gavira are set to Javier Bosma at Athens 2004, added. January. His contract carries him through to the end of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In the meantime, Arnold said he will not be interfering with any of van Marwijk’s preparations for Russia. Aus- tralia, currently ranked 36th, opens play in a tough and daunting Group C against ninth-ranked France on June 16 in Kazan, with later matches against No. 11-ranked Peru and No. 12 Denmark.

Bonallack, Patsy Hankins Trophies begin Scenes from the opening day of Bonallack, Patsy Hankins Trophies yesterday. The matches on the opening day kicked off at 7am at Doha Golf Club. Graham Arnold SPORT Friday 9 March 2018

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Al Duhail take on Al Kharaitiyat with eye on QSL ‘Falcon Shield’

FAWAD HUSSAIN Al Sailiya vs Al Gharafa THE PENINSULA Meanwhile, Al Sailiya will look to put behind their disappointment of los- DOHA: Al Duhail are having a dream ing to Al Khor when they take on Al season not just in Qatar but in Asia as If Al Duhail win and Gharafa, with both teams have the com- well. They are on the verge of sealing second-placed Al Sadd mon aim of top-four finish in the the QNB Stars League (QSL) title weeks tournament. before the culmination of the lucrative lose to or even draw Al Gharafa are fourth with 29 points, competition. with Umm Salal in the while Al Sailiya are sixth on 25 points. Two results in favour of the QSL They both are sure to go all out to debutants today will seal the coveted day’s earlier kick-off, achieve their goal as only two more ‘Falcon Trophy’ for them. The leaders The Red Knights will rounds will remain afterwards. in points standings will have to beat Al Al Gharafa beat Al Rayyan 6-1, while Kharaitiyat today and hope for Al Sadd’s then have an Al Sailiya lost to Al Khor 1-2 last week. defeat against Umm Salal in day’s ear- unassailable lead. The Cheetahs are doing pretty well lier clash. in the second phase, whereas The Per- Al Duhail (51 points) had taken a competition between them as far as egrines have been on a decline after giant leap in their title march by beat- goals were concerned. occupying the fourth position for many ing closest challengers and Al Duhail had won 8-2 in the first weeks. Al Sailiya (sixth, 25 points) will second-placed Al Sadd last week. phase against Al Kharaitiyat. have the services of Nadir Belhadj. Al Duhail, who continued their per- But Al Kharaitiyat who are strug- Al Sailiya had won 3-2 in the first fect run at the AFC Champions League gling to avoid relegation are hoping to phase. with a 3-2 win over PFC Lokomotiv ear- give Al Duhail a tough clash. Umm Salal vs Al Sadd lier this week, have the top two scorers “We know the importance of this Al Sadd are second in the table with in Moroccan striker Youssef El Arabi (23 game. Al Duhail are in the best situa- 46 points, five behind Al Duhail. The goals) and Tunisian attacking midfielder tion, not just in Qatar, but in Asia as well Wolves hope their Spanish midfield star Youssef Msakni (21). with their performance in the AFC Xavi Hernandez and Iranian defender Djamel Belmadi’s men have also Champions League. We must throw eve- Morteza Mohammed recover from their been benefiting from a healthy rything into this game and we are injuries sooner rather than later. How- prepared for it,” said Al Kharaitiyat ever, they are doubtful for this match. QSL FIXTURES coach Yasser Sebaei. Xavi injured his back muscle during “We have been suffering from indi- their key QNB Stars League Week 19 Today vidual mistakes in the last few games. clash against Al Duhail, which they lost 6pm: Al Sailiya vs Al Gharafa at We start matches in a positive way, but 3-4, and had come out of the field in the then fade out as they progress. Some first half. Al Ahli Stadium players have not been performing to Morteza sustained the injury during 6pm: Umm Salal vs Al Sadd at their potential. There is no room for self- their 5-0 win over Al Ahli in Week 18. ishness in football. Umm Salal will have the services of Al Duhail’s Youssef El Arabi celebrates with team-mates during their AFC Champions Al Gharafa Stadium “We are not bothered about the Adil Rhaili and Ismail Ibrahim, who sat League match against Lokomotiv of Uzbekistan Tuesday in Doha. 8:10pm: Al Rayyan vs Al Arabi at ranking. We take one match at a time out of their drawn game against Qatar Al Sadd Stadium and focus on it. These last three games SC that ended in a 2-2 draw. are like finals. I know my players are Umm Salal are only one point Arabi registered their second succes- have the likes of Khalfan Ibrahim, Diego 8:10pm: Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Duhail under pressure. I always try to make behind Al Gharafa and will be eager to sive victory by prevailing 3-1 over Al Jardel and Kwame Karikari to deliver at Al Khor Stadium them relax in training. It is our duty to be back among the elite quartet and play Markhiya. They had beaten Al Kharaiti- the goods. Tomorrow get them in a relaxed state of mind both in the Qatar Cup. yat in Week 18. Al Arabi have been doing well of late while training and playing. Only then Al Sadd had won 4-1 in the first The Lions had recently lost out in and they will be keen to build on that as 6pm: Al Khor vs Qatar SC at will they bring out their best. phase. the title race and now trail leaders Al they seek a hat-trick of wins. Al Khor Stadium “We will miss the services of Al Rayyan vs Al Arabi Duhail by 12 points and second-placed The match between Al Rayyan and

8:10pm: Al Ahli vs Al Markhiya at defender Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Rayyan stand third in the stand- Al Sadd by seven. Al Arabi will grab the most attention

with four yellow cards. Goalkeeper ings with 39 points, while Al Arabi have Al Rayyan have Abderrazaq Ham- mainly because of their loyal fan base. Al Ahli Stadium Ahmed Sufyan is injured and is a doubt- 18. Al Rayyan suffered a demoralising dallah, Rodrigo Tabata and Sebastian Al Rayyan had won 4-2 in the first ful starter,” said Yasser. 1-6 defeat to Al Gharafa, whereas Al Soria to lead their charge, while Al Arabi phase. Shiwen and Cheng exact revenge in Doha

THE PENINSULA play, my placement of the ball was bet- were upsets as the opening round of the Chinese star in ter. In the past we have played so many Women’s Singles event advanced. action at Qatar Open in Doha DOHA: The final in Markham, Toronto games, I was prepared for that again,” Miyu Nagasaki beat Japanese col- yesterday. at the Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s she added. league, Sakura Mori, the no.15 seed World Cup presented by Polar Naturals Liu Shiwen Revenge for Liu Shiwen, (11-13, 11-6, 12-10, 11-9, 11-9); also from some six months ago; that contest was it was the same for Chinese Taipei’s Japan, Hitomi Sato used her defensive center stage yesterday in the opening Cheng I-Ching, the no.8 seed. skills to good effect to defeat Chen Szu- round of the Women’s Singles event at At the recent 2018 ITTF Team World Yu, the no.10 seed and like Cheng the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Cup in London, she had been beaten by I-Ching from Chinese Taipei (11-3, 11-7, Platinum Qatar Open in Doha. Romania’s Bernadette Szocs in three 8-11, 11-2, 11-7). In the Canadian city the all Chinese straight games; in Doha she reversed Upsets, in the remaining contests in final had been won by ; she the verdict to record a five games suc- the lower half of the first round of the beat Liu Shiwen by the very narrowest cess (11-6, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-5). Women’s Singles draw, matters pro- of margins in a gripping seven games “Today I was more patient than gressed as expected with Japan to the duel (11-13, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9, when I lost in London; also my head was fore. 12-10). In the Gulf State the verdict was clear today, I was one hundred per cent , the no.4 seed, beat reversed. focused. I cannot really highlight spe- Portugal’s Fu Yu (11-5, 11-8, 11-7, 11-4). Liu Shiwen gained revenge in a high cific points, maybe the fact that I Hina Hayata, the no.13 seed, overcame class contest but never quite reached received service well was important but Singapore’s Zeng Jian (11-9, 11-6, 11-8, the heights of Markham; a six games ver- qualify so I was used to the atmosphere, “I think she found it hard to adapt really it was being strong mentally,” she 11-4), whilst , the no.7 seed, dict was the order of proceedings (12-14, accustomed to the arena, for Zhu Yul- to the rhythm of the match. Both of kept said. defeated China’s Chen Ke (13-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-4, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5). ing, it was much different, it was her first making changes; after the fourth game Cheng I-Ching Success for Cheng 11-8, 11-9). The second round matches “I had to play two matches to match,” she said. when we were level, the direction of my I-Ching as status predicted but there will be played today.