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Saturday, September 10, 2016 FOOTBALL Dhul-Hijja 8, 1437 AH Barca trio reunited, GULF TIMES star player Ronaldo returns for Real SPORT Page 4

ATHLETICS Belgium receive 2008 relay gold aft er Russia stripped

AFP and IAAF Diamond League’s annual ath- Brussels letics fi nale. “It shows what can be achieved and we will endeavour to ensure these processes he Belgian relay quartet of Kim are generally accelerated in the future.” Gevaert, Elodie Ouedraogo, Nigeria were upgraded to silver and Hanna Marien and Olivia Bor- Brazil bronze in the medal re-shuffl e. Tlee yesterday belatedly received Valerie Adams was trumped by Ameri- gold medals from the 2008 Olympics af- can rival Michelle Carter in the Diamond ter a Russian sprinter tested positive for League fi nal in Brussels on Thursday, but drugs. the Kiwi shot putter fi nished the season Belgium were upgraded to gold after atop the discipline’s standings. the International Olympic Committee Olympic champion Carter threw a best (IOC) stripped Russia of its gold medal of 19.98 metres in the competition which in the women’s 4x100m relay after Yulia was held in Brussels’ central square Chermoshanskaya tested positive for the (Grand Place) on Thursday, with the main steroids stanozolol and turinabol in a re- programme set for the more usual setting analysis of her doping samples. of King Baudouin Stadium yesterday. “Congratulations to Belgium,” said Three-time world champion and Sebastian Coe, president of the Inter- twice Olympic gold medallist Adams national Association of Athletics Fed- fi nished second behind Carter with a erations (IAAF), as the Belgians received best of 19.57m, but ended atop the Dia- their medals from ex-IOC chief Jacques mond Race, meaning she leaves $40,000 Rogge at a packed King Baudouin Sta- (35,460 euros) and a diamond for the dium. better. “The medal reallocation process has “I’d love to see more events like this,” been expedited to ensure that the rightful said Adams. “The crowd were amazing (From L) Belgium’s Kim Gevaerts, Elodie Ouedraogo, Hanna Marien and Olivia Borlee pose with their gold medals during the Memorial Van Damme Diamond Beijing 2008 Olympic relay gold medal- and it was great to win my fi fth Diamond League meeting in Brussels yesterday. The Belgium women’s 4x100m relay team were yesterday declared winners of the event at the Beijing Olympic Games lists were properly honoured at Belgium’s Race.” in 2008 after Russia were stripped of their title following a retroactive positive dope test.

FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT Blatter and two others facing FIFA World’s eyes on probe over salaries

Reuters line with top offi cials from professional Zurich sports leagues around the world. Soccer’s global governing body is at- tempting to recover from the worst graft ormer FIFA president Sepp scandal in its history which has seen Manchester as Blatter and ex-secretary general 42 people, including former FIFA ex- Jerome Valcke, already banned ecutive committee members, indicted Ffrom football for ethics viola- in the United States since May last year. tions, are facing a fresh investigation, Criminal investigations are also under this time over the salaries and bonuses way in Switzerland, where FIFA has its they received in offi ce. headquarters. FIFA’s ethics committee said its in- FIFA said in June that an internal in- vestigators had opened formal pro- vestigation revealed that the three of- United, City clash ceedings against both men, along with fi cials had received 79mn Swiss francs former fi nance director Markus Kattner, ($81mn) in compensation over fi ve Any United, City derby is guaranteed to be an explosive aff air for possible ethics violations which in- years, calling them “massive payouts”. cluded “bribery and corruption”. The FIFA’s lawyers Quinn Emanuel, which suspected violations were “in the con- conducted the investigation, said the AFP celona to replace the exiled Joe Hart, text of salaries and bonuses paid to Mr evidence revealed a co-ordinated ef- London or stick with stand-in Willy Caballero. Blatter, Mr Valcke and Mr Kattner as fort by the three to “enrich themselves “I’ve played in derby games in Ger- well as other provisions included in the through annual salary increases, World many but this should be a great match contracts of these three individuals,” it Cup bonuses and other incentives.” he eyes of the world will be and one I’m really looking forward to, said. They are also suspected of having The sums received by the trio in- on Manchester this weekend especially because Pep Guardiola is breached rules on general conduct, loy- cluded 23mn Swiss francs in “special as Jose Mourinho and Pep taking on Jose Mourinho,” Sane said. alty, confl icts of interest and “off ering bonuses” for the 2010 World Cup in TGuardiola bring their bit- Aguero’s absence will make it even and accepting gifts and other benefi ts.” South Africa, while Blatter and Valcke ter feud to the Premier League for the harder for City to break a defence Blatter, Valcke and Kattner could not got a total of 14mn francs in bonuses for fi rst time. marshalled by Ivory Coast centre- immediately be reached for comment. the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and 15.5mn Any derby between Manchester back Eric Bailly, who has caught the They have previously denied wrongdo- francs for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, United and Manchester City is guar- eye of United goalkeeper David de Gea ing. Blatter has said his earnings were in the fi rm said. anteed to be an explosive aff air, but since his pre-season move from Vil- the presence of sworn enemies Mour- larreal. inho and Guardiola should ensure the “Bailly was a great signing, he’s BASKETBALL animosity levels are higher than usual come in and surprised us all very on Saturday. quickly.” De Gea said. With City top of the table and “I remember when I fi rst came to United just behind them in third af- England and, trust me, it can be hard Iran beat Qatar in ter both won their fi rst three league early on but he’s fl ying. games, there was already more than “He is physical, strong, technically local bragging rights at stake in a confi dent and super-fast.” FIBA Asia Challenge showdown between two sure-fi re title At the Emirates Stadium, Arse- contenders. nal manager Arsene Wenger could FIBA taris just couldn’t get anything going. Even City midfi elder Fernandinho’s give debuts to deadline day signings Tehran Naturalized player Boney Watson was boast that “this game is big, man. It’s Shkodran Mustafi , a £35mn Germany limited to 7 points and no players out- a game that stops the city” doesn’t do Formidable foes: Mourinho and Guardiola defender from Valencia, and Lucas side of Hassan Mohamed and Moham- justice to a fi xture reported to be the Perez, a £17mn Spanish forward from osts Iran took full advantage ed Mohamed scored in double-digits. richest match in football history with their players signals the resumption he goes into the derby at a signifi cant Deportivo La Coruna, as the Gunners of a lacklustre Qatar to open As expected, Iranian giant Hamed over £600mn ($790mn, 708mn eu- of a complicated relationship that has disadvantage following City striker face Southampton. their account at the 2016 Haddadi asserted himself early and often ros) of world-class talent on parade. turned increasingly ugly since they Sergio Aguero’s three-match ban for “He is uncomfortable to play FIBA Asia Challenge with a in this encounter. The former NBA play- Yet, despite the presence of Paul fi rst met at Barcelona two decades elbowing West Ham United’s Win- against. He has everything a striker H80-73 win in Tehran, yesterday. With er scored 11 of his game-high 15 points Pogba, David Silva, Zlatan Ibrahi- ago. ston Reid. needs,” Mustafi said in defence of the this victory, Iran take the early lead in in the fi rst half as the hosts took a 47-22 movic and a host of other stars, it’s the Mourinho’s constant jibes at Bar- Leroy Sane could deputise for unheralded Perez, whose arrival was Group C. lead to the locker rooms at the break. action on the Old Traff ord touchline celona boss Guardiola during his time Aguero, who had already scored six greeted with indiff erence by Arsenal Right off the bat, Iran asserted their Iran played to expectations in their that will be must-see TV for millions at Real Madrid undoubtedly got un- times this season, after the Germany fans hoping for a higher-profi le re- supremacy on both ends of the fl oor. fi rst match of the competition, ex- around the world as United manager der the Spaniard’s skin, but the Por- winger returned from the hamstring cruit. Team Melli outplayed Qatar in the fi rst ploiting their edge in size and famili- Mourinho and City boss Guardiola tuguese coach’s record of just three injury that delayed his debut after his Chelsea, in second place with a quarter to take a big 28-7 lead, and they arity to completely outclass Qatar. Al lock horns for the fi rst time in three wins in their 16 meetings is a signifi - £37mn ($48mn, 43mn euros) move 100% record, travel to Swansea City never looked back since. Annabi, however, have a prime chance years in the 17th instalment of their cant blemish on his otherwise glitter- from Schalke. with David Luiz set to feature after No team can shoot under 30% from to bounce back tomorrow against Iraq, acrimonious rivalry. ing CV. Guardiola must also decide whether rejoining the club in an unexpected the fi eld and get outrebounded by 25 while Iran take a rest in preparation The sight of Mourinho and Guar- Although Guardiola has come out to give a debut to Chile goalkeeper deadline day switch from Paris Saint- and still hope for the win. That’s ex- with their own game against the Iraqis diola gesticulating and exhorting on top seven times against Mourinho, Claudio Bravo, who arrived from Bar- Germain. actly what happened here as the Qa- on Day 3. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, September 10, 2016 CRICKET

REPORT SPOTLIGHT Bangladesh makes new safety pledges Maxwell spoils for England

AFP which are usually reserved for Dhaka visiting heads of state. While requesting that the de- tails not be made public, the offi - Dilshan’s farewell angladesh made fresh cial said “there would be nothing assurances yesterday to worry about” for the tourists. that England’s cricketers Chowdhury recalled how the Bwould be accorded top- board had managed to stage a level security on their controver- trouble-free Under-19 World sial upcoming tour amid growing Cup earlier this year by also beef- doubts over whether ODI skipper ing up security. Eoin Morgan will travel. “As you all know some coun- as Aussies win The tour, which begins on tries had expressed their concern September 30 and will include during that tournament also. The 39-year-old Dilshan, who played 87 Tests, 330 ODIs and 80 T20s, was given a two Tests and three ODIs, had But we successfully managed to been called into question after an convince them to come here and standing ovation by a raucous home crowd as he ended his 17-year-long career attack in July on a cafe in Dhaka hosted the tournament without in which 20 hostages were killed, any incident. including 18 foreigners. “England will be given the But England’s board gave it same security as we had during their go-ahead following a fact- the tournament when additional fi nding visit to Bangladesh by measures were put in place,” he their security expert and most of said without elaborating. the players, including Test skip- Australia pulled out of the Un- per Alistair Cook, are understood der-19 World Cup in January and to be ready to make the trip. their place was taken by Ireland. The main question mark is over Australia’s senior team also Morgan who gave his strongest pulled out of a series in October hint yet on Thursday that he will last year over safety fears and stay home as he recounted how Bangladesh, the newest Test- two previous scares had made playing nation, has been desper- him weary of ever jeopardising ate to ensure that England does his personal safety again. not follow their example. Bangladesh Cricket Board They are determined to avoid chief executive Nizamuddin the fate of Pakistan who – apart Chowdhury said it was “the from a lone series against Zim- prerogative of the England and babwe – have not hosted any in- Wales Cricket Board who they ternational cricket since gunmen will send” but made clear he attacked the Sri Lankan team bus would be disappointed if key during a 2009 Test in Lahore. players stayed away. Although Morgan has yet to “We just hope they will send rule himself out, he has admitted the best available squad, which that memories of a bomb blast we expect to be competitive,” during one of his matches in In- Chowdhury told AFP. dia in 2010 and a bout of deadly Another senior board offi cial, political violence while he was speaking on condition of ano- playing in a Bangladeshi do- nymity, gave an outline of some mestic tournament three years of the measures being put in ago were weighing heavily on his place to ensure the team’s safety mind.

FOCUS Pakistan recall

Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan acknowledges the crowd at the end of the last match of his career at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo yesterday. Umar Akmal for

AFP lbw with his wily off -spin and got the Colombo SCOREBOARD wicket of Matthew Wade, who scored 14, in West Indies T20s his very next over as Australia slipped from Sri Lanka Australia 93 for no loss to 120 for six. ustralian bowlers set up a four- K. Perera c Warner b Faulkner ...... 22 D. Warner c T. Perera b Pathirana ...... 25 Travis Head, who remained unbeaten on AFP al Twenty20 event in Faisalabad. wicket victory over Sri Lanka to T. Dilshan c Warner b Hastings ...... 1 G. Maxwell b Prasanna ...... 66 nine, hit the winning runs to help Australia Karachi But there were no recalls for spoil veteran batsman Tillakara- D. de Silva c Faulkner b Starc ...... 62 M. Henriques st K. Perera b Pathirana ...... 1 fi nish the two-month long tour on a high opener Ahmed Shahzad, also tne Dilshan’s farewell and sweep D. Chandimal c&b Faulkner ...... 4 J. Faulkner run out ...... 1 after the visitors suff ered their fi rst series dropped on disciplinary grounds theA two-match Twenty20 series in Co- whitewash in the three Tests. akistan yesterday re- who suff ered a back problem in K. Mendis lbw b Zampa ...... 5 M. Wade c Chandimal b Dilshan ...... 14 lombo yesterday. C. Kapugedara c Warner b Zampa ...... 7 U. Khawaja lbw b Dilshan ...... 6 It was the bowlers who swung it for the called explosive middle- the tournament. Another opener The visitors, who won the fi rst match T. Perera c Head b Zampa ...... 0 T. Head not out ...... 9 visitors after Sri Lanka won the toss and order batsman Umar Ak- Mohamed Hafeez was also left after scoring a world record 263, rode on S. Pathirana c&b Hastings ...... 6 P. Nevill not out ...... 3 elected to bat fi rst at the R Premadasa Sta- mal for its forthcoming out after he returned home mid- opener Glenn Maxwell’s 29-ball 66 to Extras dium.Medium-pacer John Hastings struck Twenty20P series against the West way through the one-day series S. Prasanna c Khawaja b Faulkner ...... 7 (lb 1, w 4) ...... 5 chase down their 129-run target with 13 S. Senanayake not out ...... 7 Total (6 wickets; 17.5 overs) ...... 130 fi rst with the wicket of Dilshan who edged a Indies, fi ve months after axing in England with calf and knee balls to spare. Earlier Aussie bowlers James S. Lakmal not out ...... 0 Fall of wickets: 1-93 (Maxwell), 2-97 (Hen- wide delivery to give away a catch to Warn- him on disciplinary grounds. injuries. Also recalled are all- Faulkner and Adam Zampa claimed three Extras (lb 1, w 5, nb 1) ...... 7 riques), 3-98 (Warner), 4-99 (Faulkner), 5-113 er at slip. The 26-year-old has taken on rounder Saad Nasim and pace- wickets each to restrict the hosts to 128 for Total: (9 wickets; 20 overs) ...... 128 (Khawaja), 6-120 (Wade) Kusal Perera and de Silva, who scored the mantle of Pakistan’s enfant man Rumman Raees. Left-arm nine despite Dhananjaya de Silva’s fi ghting Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Dilshan), 2-44 (K. Perera), Bowling: Lakmal 2-0-15-0, Senanayake 4-0- 62 off 50 balls, tried to counter the Aussie terrible and has been involved paceman Raees has been included half-century. 3-51 (Chandimal), 4-58 (Mendis), 5-76 (Kapug- 36-0, Pathirana 2.5-0-23-2, T. Perera 1-0-19-0, bowlers by hitting a few boundaries in the in a number of on and off -fi eld in Pakistan’s Twenty20 squads Dilshan, who quit the one-day format in edara), 6-76 (T. Perera), 7-86 (Pathirana), 8-114 Prasanna 4-1-16-1, de Silva 2-0-12-0, Dilshan fi rst six overs of powerplay with only two disciplinary breaches, the latest twice year but had to withdraw the middle of the fi ve-match series which (Prasanna), 9-125 (de Silva) 2-0-8-2 fi elders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. being a scuffl e with a traffi c po- with injuries each time. Wicket- Sri Lanka lost 1-4, scored just one off three Bowling: Starc 4-0-32-1, Hastings 4-0-23-2, Did not bat: M. Starc, A. Zampa, J. Hastings The left-handed Perera, who scored an liceman in Lahore last year. He keeper batsman Sarfraz Ahmed balls in his fi nal international game but Maxwell 1-0-16-0, Faulkner 4-0-19-3, Zampa Toss: Sri Lanka 18-ball 22, fell to Faulkner as Warner took a was dropped after being heavily will lead the side, having made his took two wickets to add drama to Austral- 4-0-16-3, Henriques 3-0-21-0 Result: Australia won by 4 wickets superb diving catch at mid-on to check the criticised in a post-mortem re- captaincy debut for Pakistan in a ia’s chase. Lankan surge. port written by head coach Waqar nine-wicket win over England in The 39-year-old Dilshan, who played 87 Faulkner took another wicket in his sec- Younis in the aftermath of the Manchester on Wednesday. Tests, 330 ODIs and 80 T20s, was given a 65 deliveries on Tuesday, once again turned Left-arm spinner Sachith Pathirana ond over to get Sri Lankan captain Dinesh World Twenty20 held in India in standing ovation by a raucous home crowd the spotlight on himself after equalling an struck twice in the 10th over of the innings Chandimal caught and bowled for four. April this year, where Pakistan Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), as he ended his 17-year-long glittering ca- Australian record for the fastest T20 50 in to get Moises Henriques and Warner, who Zampa and Hastings soon took over to crashed out in the fi rst round. Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Babar reer. just 18 balls. scored 25, trudging back to the pavilion. rattle the Sri Lankan middle-order as wick- He was recalled after assur- Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Imad However the inventor of the “dilscoop”, The 27-year-old batsman, who put Faulkner’s run out in the very next over ets fell at regular intervals. ing the Pakistan Cricket Board he Wasim, Hasan Ali, Mohammad the cheeky paddle shot played over the on a 93-run opening stand with skipper gave Sri Lanka a whiff of a turnaround as De Silva, whose defi ant knock was laced would mend his ways, and after Amir, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, wicketkeeper’s head, did not have a chance David Warner, was bowled by leg-spinner Australia suddenly found it diffi cult to get with fi ve boundaries, kept up the fi ght until a string of whirlwind knocks in- Mohammad Nawaz, Shoaib to execute the audacious stroke. Seekkuge Prasanna after hitting seven fours the remaining runs. the fi nal over when he got out to Mitchell cluding a 48-ball 115 not out, an Malik, Umar Akmal, Saad Nasim, Maxwell, fresh from his unbeaten 145 off and four sixes. Dilshan then trapped Usman Khawaja Starc. 81 and a 75 in the ongoing Nation- Rumman Raees

BOTTOMLINE Pakistan’s dilemma — tops in Tests, fl ops in ‘pyjamas’

AFP “inevitable” given the way other teams The strong sense is that If he can be credited with Pakistan’s Shah, who has been key to series wins The dearth of batting talent is appar- Karachi have transformed their batting. Pakistan are still playing one- success in Tests, then the responsibil- over Australia and England at ‘home’ in ent on the domestic scene, which pro- England, who exited last year’s 50- day cricket of the 1990s and ity for the slump in ODIs must also lie the UAE and away in Sri Lanka. duces small totals out-of-step with the over World Cup at the pool stage, are they need more hitters such as partly on his shoulders. His 10 wickets in the victory at Lord’s modern game. op of the charts in Tests, but now a force in ODIs, smashing a world- newcomer Sharjeel Khan and His tenure got off to a bright start, and fi ve at The Oval helped pave Paki- The 11 Pakistan Cup one-day tour- fl oundering at number nine record 444 in the third match against wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed to with the pairing of off -spinner Saeed stan’s path to Test number one. nament matches held this year pro- in one-dayers, Pakistan’s di- Pakistan. drag them into the 21st century Ajmal and left-arm quick Junaid Khan Akram also blamed continuous duced only six scores of more than 300. lemma emphasises the growing “We did not keep pace with changes responsible for anchoring Pakistan’s changes to the one-day team, with 21 “We have to produce new players,” Tdiff erences in skills needed to succeed in limited-overs cricket,” Akram told seven one-day series wins in 2013, in- new players in four years. said chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq. across cricket’s various formats. AFP. “While other teams progressed reaching the World Twenty20 fi nal ear- cluding victories in India and South “You need to persist with players “One-day cricket now requires bats- Unpredictable Pakistan are consist- in leaps and bounds — look at England lier this year. Africa. for 10-12 matches and be patient with men who can clear the boundary more ently good in the white kit of the fi ve- how they have transformed since the Former captain Imran Khan, who led But Ajmal lost his wicket-taking them, we didn’t do that recently,” said often and bowlers who can disguise day game, but miserable in the short 2015 World Cup — we have slumped. Pakistan to their only 50-over World mojo when he was forced to remodel Akram, pointing towards 34 diff erent with variation.” forms’ coloured clothing, sometimes “We have had a settled squad in Tests Cup victory in 1992, said a solution his action after it was deemed illegal in opening pairs in the last four years. Pakistan are in a race against time. If known as “pyjamas”. They have also so we have produced good results but may be for 42-year-old Misbah to make 2014. Junaid was sidelined with injury The growing sense is that Pakistan’s they do not rise to the top eight in the dropped to seventh in the Twenty20 we didn’t have back-ups for Misbah- a comeback. and his form dropped away. batting is just not up to the explosive ODI rankings by the end of September rankings. ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal “Why can a player who is so success- Pakistan’s fortunes went into free- standards set by the likes of Australia’s next year, they will have to play quali- Last month, they climbed to number in limited-overs cricket.” ful in Tests not continue in one-days?” fall and they didn’t win a single series David Warner, South Africa’s AB de fying rounds for the 2019 World Cup in one Test side for the fi rst time after Afridi and Misbah retired from one- he asked. “If he has made Pakistan in 2014. Villiers and India’s Virat Kohli. England. their 2-2 series draw in England — be- day cricket after last year’s World Cup, number one in Tests he can lift the team The trend continued as Pakistan Pakistan’s middle order is anchored The strong sense is that Pakistan fore crashing to earth with a 4-1 defeat where Pakistan were hammered by in ODIs as well.” were whitewashed by Bangladesh 3-0 around players such as the steady are still playing one-day cricket of the in the subsequent one-day interna- Australia in the quarter-fi nals. Whether’s Khan’s solution holds in April 2015 after Azhar Ali replaced captain Ali and Asad Shafi q who have 1990s and they need more hitters such tional (ODI) series. England fared worse, but they have merit is debatable. Misbah became Pa- Misbah as captain. stepped up in Test cricket but lack the as newcomer Sharjeel Khan and wick- Pakistan’s legendary pace bowler become a formidable limited-overs kistan’s Test captain in 2010 and one- In Tests, they unearthed a new power-hitting needed in the limited- etkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed to drag them Wasim Akram described the contrast as outfi t under coach Trevor Bayliss, day captain a year later. match-winner in leg-spinner Yasir over format. into the 21st century. Gulf Times Saturday, September 10, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

EPL PREVIEW SPOTLIGHT Ibrahimovich born for Manchester Coach Klopp seeks derby, says Henry

Reuters London

f ever a fi xture was made for display fi t for striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic it is today’s Manchester derby at Old Traff ord, according to Ihis former Barcelona team mate Thierry Henry. A global television audience of 900 million is estimated for the Premier League match that expanded Anfi eld pitches United new manager Jose Mourinho into renewed battle with City’s Pep Guardiola. ‘Now we start the season with a home game. We have to start the season and I think “Zlatan was born for these types of games, he demands these types File picture of Manchester it’s a wonderful opportunity for us’ of games, and he usually per- United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic. forms,” Henry, who played with AFP him in the 2009-10 season at the “Then it’s up to the players to Liverpool Nou Camp, told Sky Sports. execute it. He will have an an- “Zlatan obviously has a bit of swer for any problem the other an edge on him now, he’s not the team pose.” urgen Klopp wants his Liverpool young player he used to be, but Former Manchester United players to use the unveiling of An- there is something, he usually defender Gary Neville, a veteran fi eld’s giant new Main Stand as the backs it up when he talks. of umpteen derbies and now a platform for a sustained assault on “He maybe hasn’t controlled Sky colleague of Henry’s, said the theJ Premier League. games yet, but it doesn’t mat- excitement levels had returned Today’s visit of champions Leicester ter for Zlatan, he has scored, and to the fi xture after United’s two- City will see Liverpool offi cially open the that’s the impact you want. That season slump took some of the redeveloped stand, which increases the is something I like about him, he sting out of it. “The introduction capacity of their ground by 8,500 to over brings a winning mentality,” the of the two managers and I think 54,000. Frenchman added. “He doesn’t for United with Pogba coming The 115 million pounds ($153 million, like second best, wherever he and Ibrahimovic coming it’s a 135.9 million euros) project obliged Liv- went he won the league.” huge thing,” Neville said. “The erpool to play their fi rst three fi xtures Henry also off ered his insight expectancy is back. away from home and they picked up only into how City’s manager Guardi- “Guardiola’s record is incred- four points on their travels. ola will be preparing for a match ible and Mourinho’s is incredible “Four points does not feel too good, that will surpass even his many and it does feel like Manchester is but it’s not really bad. We are the only Barcelona v Real Madrid ‘clasi- the most talked about city in the team in the Premier League with three cos’ in terms of sheer hyperbole. world at the moment for a foot- away games,” Klopp said. “He will be very relaxed and ball point of view, and I would “Now we start the season with a home sure about what he wants from say that’s how it should be. game. We have to start the season and I his players, he usually gives you “Both teams now feel like they think it’s a wonderful opportunity for us. the perfect plan,” Henry said. are competing for the league.” “The day before yesterday was the fi rst time I had been inside Anfi eld since the Chelsea game (on the penultimate week- DEEP END end of last season). “It’s really, really impressive, what they have done there. It’s an outstanding job. “I have no idea how somebody could Far from Manchester, do something like this, but when you stand in front of it, it’s really amazing.” Liverpool were one of only two teams Pellegrini enters to beat Leicester in the league last season, Arsenal being the other, and Klopp thinks they will provide fi tting adversaries for China’s dragons’ den the occasion. “This is a good place and a good op- ponent. The champions coming, we cel- ebrate them all,” said the German. “It was really well deserved, what they Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp (L) talks with owner John W Henry during the opening of the newly built stand at Anfield. did last year. They are still good — all that stuff . But I would say it now: it’s another ankle problem. Fixtures “For me, it is good; for him, no,” said season. It’s our fi rst home game with Leicester will return to the scene of Ranieri of Vardy’s England omission. 8,000 more in the stadium. one of last season’s few disappointments, Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated) “Maybe he is more hungry. Show me. “That’s more power and we should use with defeat at Anfi eld in December one of You have to fi ght and say, ‘Hey Sam, I am this and start now with our fi rst home only three during their 5,000-1 Premier TODAY ready to play!’ He’s refreshed, he trained game. It’s a wonderful opportunity.” League title triumph. Arsenal v Southampton, Bourne- very well. But for Jamie Vardy, the last meeting be- mouth v West Brom, Burnley v Hull, “It (the Liverpool goal) was a special VARDY FRUSTRATION tween the clubs delivered one of the abid- Liverpool v Leicester (1630 GMT), moment. But I forgot it. Believe me, al- Goalkeeper Loris Karius, a 4.7 million ing memories of the campaign as he netted Manchester United v Manchester City ways I forget what happened yesterday.” pounds signing from German side Mainz, a memorable long-range goal in February’s (1130 GMT), Middlesbrough v Crystal Ranieri could hand a debut to new record has returned to training after suff ering a 2-0 win at the King Power Stadium. Palace, Stoke v Tottenham, West Ham signing Islam Slimani, who joined from broken hand in pre-season. Vardy approaches the game follow- v Watford Sporting Lisbon on transfer deadline day File picture of Manuel Pellegrini. But he is likely to have to wait to make ing a frustrating week with England, for a fee of around 30 million pounds. his Liverpool debut, with Simon Mignolet for whom he was an unused substitute TOMORROW “He is a goal-scorer,” said Ranieri. AFP based Christopher Atkins, a expected to keep his starting place in goal. against Slovakia. Swansea v Chelsea (1500 GMT) “He holds the ball very well. He is good Shanghai football agent for RWMG Sports. Defender Ragnar Klavan is unavailable Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri has in the air and now we have the chance to “Clubs demand immediate due to a knee injury aggravated on inter- urged his star striker to make a point to MONDAY go straight away on the counter-attack.” success and when it doesn’t ar- national duty with Estonia, while mid- England manager Sam Allardyce by again Sunderland v Everton (1900 GMT) Now to see what madness ensues over x-Manchester City boss rive, good managers are easily dis- fi elder Emre Can remains absent with an being a thorn in Liverpool’s side. this EPL weekend. Manuel Pellegrini is one carded and written off as failures,” man who will not be he said, adding that managers also watching today’s Man- fi nd living in China a challenge. chesterE derby as he takes his bow “Not everybody fi nds life in BOTTOMLINE with Hebei China Fortune in the the country straightforward... Chinese Super League. Therefore it is often seen as a At the same time as his suc- short-term money-earner but cessor, Pep Guardiola, is locking little more,” Atkins said. horns with Manchester United’s Paul Gascoigne tried his luck Jose Mourinho at Old Traff ord, during a short-lived spell as Gan- Wenger hopes Arsenal play Pellegrini will be pitchside 8,000 su Tianma’s player-coach in 2003, kilometres away as Hebei host and the annals of Chinese foot- Guangzhou Evergrande in north- ball are littered with brief tenures ern China. which came to an abrupt end. The Chilean will quickly learn France’s Jean Tigana became catch-up in title race that expectations and pressure one of Shanghai Shenhua’s in- AFP world-class recruits, as well as the “I hope he feels happy here are sky-high in China, where credible 27 managerial casual- London Frenchman’s long-term future at from the very beginning so he well-heeled clubs are luring a ties in the last 22 years when he the club, just days after Bourne- can do for us what he does best.” rising number of star managers was sacked only a month into the mouth boss Eddie Howe was Alex Iwobi is set to return — but whose owners are notori- 2012 season. rsenal’s meeting with linked as his successor. after recovering from the hip ously trigger-happy. Evergrande are similarly ruth- Southampton to- Mustafi , the Germany de- injury he suffered against Liv- Since the start of the current, less, booting out South Korea’s day marks the start fender signed from Valencia, is erpool, but Aaron Ramsey is 16-team Chinese Super League Lee Jang-Soo and replacing him of important run of likely to come straight into the expected to again miss out with season in March, no fewer than with Lippi after he had won two sixA games in 18 days as Arsene team, but Perez, a Spanish for- a hamstring problem. eight managers have been shown consecutive league titles and Wenger’s side play catch-up in ward from Valencia, may start Claude Puel is still looking for the door, meaning a coach’s steered them into the 2012 Cham- the Premier League. on the bench. his fi rst league win since taking chances of long-term survival pions League knock-out rounds. The new league campaign is Nacho Monreal, the Arsenal charge at Southampton and is are slim. After Lippi quit Guangzhou last only three games old but Arse- left-back, believes Mustafi will hoping it comes against Wenger It hasn’t deterred a group of year, former world player of the nal already lie five points be- have no problem settling in. — his former manager at Monaco. well-known managers who have year Fabio Cannavaro lasted just hind Manchester City, Chelsea “It’s the fi rst time that we can set up camp in China, including six months before he was dumped and Manchester United, who TOUGH TO BEAT play one against one as I haven’t Sven-Goran Eriksson at Shang- in favour of Scolari, with the club have all made perfect starts to “He will fi nd it easy to adapt to met him in an international hai SIPG and Felix Magath at at the top of the table. the campaign. the club,” Monreal said. “He has game or Champions League Shandong Luneng. Expectations will be similarly And while Gunners boss already lived abroad, he speaks game so far,” Puel said. Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Ever- high for Pellegrini at Hebei, one Wenger is far too experienced the language and he knows “It’s the fi rst time we can grande are top of the table but he of China’s big spenders who to be overly concerned by the Mesut Ozil. compete against each other and appears under threat with Mar- have splashed out on Argentina’s early league table, he knows the “All those elements will lessen it’s a pleasure of course because cello Lippi, who masterminded Ezequiel Lavezzi and Ivorian for- value of developing momentum File picture of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. the impact of changing environ- he was a very important person the club’s 2013 AFC Champions ward Gervinho this year. in the title race before turning ments. Luckily for him, he will feel for me and he’s a great manager. League victory, tipped to return. Radomir Antic, who coached his attention to the club’s open- more comfortable afternoon if Messi and Ronaldo. I have the at home from the very fi rst day. “Arsene is an example for all Among this season’s depar- both Real Madrid and Barcelona ing Champions League game at Chile forward Alexis Sanchez can same abilities as them.” “Mustafi is a player I like. He the coaches because for so many tures was former Juventus and before a truncated spell at He- Paris Saint Germain next week. live up to his claim he is now ready Wenger is able to call on Shk- is experienced and really tough to years he’s done really well in the Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni, bei last year, warned Pellegrini The visit of Southampton of- to be compared with Lionel Messi odran Mustafi and Lucas Perez, beat, which makes him very suita- Premier League, with Champions who lasted barely two months at would be walking a tight-rope at fers Arsenal the chance to get off and, Cristiano Ronaldo. who both arrived shortly before ble for the Premier League’s style. League secured every season. Beijing Guoan before fan protests the club. the mark on home turf after they “I have reached a level where I the end of last month’s transfer “We really needed to bring a “People don’t sometimes re- cut short his reign. “The leaders will not hesi- lost their opening league game can compete with great players,” window. centre back to the club consider- alise how good his work with Ar- It perpetuates an attitude of tate when it comes to decid- at the Emirates Stadium against Sanchez said. But anything less than victory ing Per Mertesacker and Gabriel’s senal has been, and I really think “short-termism” in Chinese ing changes if they see that the Liverpool. “I do not feel inferior to any- will turn the focus on Wenger’s injuries, as well as Calum Cham- he’s a good example for all the football, both among clubs and team’s needs are diff erent,” he And Wenger will have a much body. I liken my qualities to failure to once again bring in more bers’ departure on loan. other trainers.” foreign managers, said China- told Chilean daily El Mercurio. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, September 10, 2016 FOOTBALL

LA LIGA PREVIEW OPINION Transfer ban absurd, claims Zidane as Barca trio reunited, coach and father star player Ronaldo returns for Real

‘It’s important to try to win La Liga because it’s been a few years since we have and Real Madrid’s French coach Zinedine Zidane (L) listens to assistant it’s normal that it’s our focus. I’m looking forward to next weekend’s game...’ coach David Bettoni during a training session. AFP However, Zidane’s sons appear AFP Madrid to meet that criteria as the former Madrid World Player of the Year’s fam- ily has largely been based in the oach Zinedine Zidane has Spanish capital since he signed arcelona’s fearsome front three slammed as “absurd” a for Real as a player in 2001. of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and one-year transfer ban im- On the fi eld, Zidane can con- Neymar could join forces for the posed on Real Madrid by tinue his incredible fi rst year as fi rst time in four months against CFIFA for irregularities in the sign- a senior coach as having lifted Alaves,B while Cristiano Ronaldo will ing of foreign players under 18. the Champions League in May, make his Real Madrid return today. The Frenchman’s own children Real can match a club record of 15 Neymar has missed Barca’s 100 per- are among those part of the case consecutive La Liga wins at the cent start to the season due to his eff orts against the European champions. Santiago Bernabeu today. in leading Brazil to Olympic gold on home FIFA dismissed Real and local Madrid will be massively soil, but returned to Spain for the fi rst rivals Atletico Madrid’s appeals boosted by the return of Cris- time since May after more international against a two transfer window ban tiano Ronaldo for the fi rst time duty in World Cup qualifying this week on Thursday, meaning they won’t since the Portuguese suff ered and is expected to start at the Camp Nou. be able to register any new players knee ligament damage in the fi - Messi is a much bigger doubt after until January 2018 unless further nal of Euro 2016. missing Argentina’s clash with Venezuela appeals to the Court of Arbitration However, Zidane denied re- in midweek due to a groin problem. for Sport are successful. ports he had agreed to bed Ron- The fi ve-time World Player of the Year Two of Zidane’s four sons who aldo back into action gently in an has played a limited part in training in re- play in the Madrid academy were attempt to prevent the 31-year- cent days and coach Luis Enrique is likely among 39 players investigated old suff ering from knee problems to be cautious for the fi rst of seven games by FIFA with the club eventually towards the end of the season as in 22 days for Barca. sanctioned for breaking the rules he has in recent years. Paco Alcacer is in line to make his de- regarding the signing of foreign “He is happy, he is with us but after sealing a 30 million-euro ($33 nationals under 18 in eight cases. and there is no pact. It is his fi rst million) move from Valencia and the “I don’t understand it at all game after 60 days so we need to Spanish international striker is aware and it bothers me,” Zidane said. give him time, but I am happy he he will have to make the most of limited “I can talk about my (sons) is here and he will play tomor- opportunities as fourth choice behind that have been born and lived row,” added Zidane. Messi, Suarez and Neymar. their whole lives here. It is absurd “Cristiano is an important “I will do everything I can to take ad- that they can’t play football. player for the team and I always vantage of the chances I have to the full,” “What we are going to do now want him with me.” Alcacer said as he was presented on is wait and hope that this subject Zidane confi rmed he will leave Thursday. is fi xed as quickly as possible.” out Marcelo, Casemiro and James Andres Iniesta has also returned to Under international football Rodriguez after their exertions training following a knee injury and will rules, players under 18 cannot be in South American World Cup battle Arda Turan and Denis Suarez for a transferred to another country, qualifying this week, but Karim place in midfi eld as both have impressed except in limited circumstances, Benzema is also set to make his early in the campaign. and all transfers need the approval return from injury up front. Over Ronaldo makes his long-awaited re- of a special FIFA committee. to the pitch now. turn at the Santiago Bernabeu against Osasuna earlier on Saturday in what will Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) shares a laugh with midfielder Luka Modric during a training session. be his fi rst appearance since suff ering SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE ligament damage in his left knee dur- said Bale. Fixtures they visit Celta Vigo in the fi rst match in a ing Portugal’s Euro 2016 fi nal win over “I’m looking forward to next week- new early Saturday kick-off time of 1300 France. end’s game against Osasuna and I’m sure (all times GMT) (1100GMT) designed to compete with the Real haven’t suff ered in Ronaldo’s ab- that they will make it diffi cult for us, but English Premier League in Asian televi- Scottish giants sence with two wins from their opening it’ll be great to be able to call upon almost TODAY sion markets. two La Liga games and victory over Se- the whole squad.” Celta Vigo v Atletico Madrid (1100), Celta fi nished sixth last season, but villa in the European Super Cup. Karim Benzema and Pepe have also Real Madrid v Osasuna (1400), Sevilla have also endured a poor start with de- primed to renew And after winning two Champions returned from injury to leave Zinedine v Las Palmas, Malaga v Villarreal feats in both their opening matches and League titles in his fi rst three seasons at Zidane with a fully-fi t squad bar the ab- (1615), Barcelona v Alaves (1830) the Galicians will be without infl uential Madrid, Gareth Bale insists the European sence of goalkeeper Keylor Navas. playmaker Fabian Orellana for a month their hostilities champions have to put more emphasis on TOMORROW due to a muscle tear. ending a four-year run without winning HEAT RISK Sporting Gijon v Leganes (1000), Early season leaders Las Palmas have AFP La Liga. Champions League fi nalists Atletico Ma- Valencia v Real Betis (1400), Granada been on fi re in scoring nine goals in their Glasgow “It’s important to try to win La Liga drid desperately need to kickstart their v Eibar (1615), Deportivo la Coruna v opening two games to shoot ahead of because it’s been a few years since we season after back-to-back disappoint- Athletic Bilbao (1830) Barca and Madrid to the top of the table have and it’s normal that it’s our focus,” ing draws with Alaves and Leganes when for the fi rst time in 38 years. o one is more excited than Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers when SERIE A PREVIEW after a four-year hiatus Nthe Old Firm derby returns today with his side hosting fi erce foes Rangers. It will be the fi rst time since 2012, when Celtic ran out 3-0 winners at Parkhead, that the Juve play Sassuolo with eye on two Glasgow giants have met in the league following Rangers’ File picture of Celtic manager fi nancial meltdown and subse- Brendan Rodgers. quent liquidation. It took the Ibrox club a year miership has allowed Celtic to C’League tie against Sevilla longer than anticipated to regain dominate with the Parkhead club AFP day’s visit to Palermo. Fixtures their top-fl ight status — after winning fi ve league titles in a row. Milan Yet Maurizio Sarri’s men they were forced to start life again Two cup clashes in the past should have no complaints. (all times GMT) in Scotland’s bottom tier — with two seasons have whetted the Following the international three promotions in four years. appetite for the regular return of ngland’s Joe Hart is ex- break, their casualty room is TODAY Although not all will admit it, this fi xture and it’s expected the pected to make his Torino virtually empty and Italy inter- Juventus v Sassuolo (1600), Scottish football has missed this derbies this term will go some debut at Atalanta tomor- national winger Emanuele Giac- Palermo v Napoli (1845) fi xture, which involves one of the way to determining who will be row as city rivals Juven- cherini is set to make his debut most intense and bitter rivalries crowned champions. tusE warm up for their Champions having missed their opening two in the world. The top of the table already TOMORROW League opener against Sevilla by games due to injury. Bologna v Cagliari (1030), While there are some unsa- has a familiar look to it with hosting Sassuolo. Giaccherini, signed in the Atalanta v Torino, Chievo v voury elements that go with it, Celtic and Rangers occupying Hart, deemed surplus to re- close season, is one of the small- Lazio, Genoa v Fiorentina, few fi xtures in football can match the top spots. quirements by Manchester City est players in Italy’s top fl ight. AC Milan v Udinese, Roma v the atmosphere off the pitch and Former Liverpool boss Rodg- boss Pep Guardiola, completed But the former Sunderland Sampdoria (all 1300), Pescara the pressure on it than the Old ers can take heart from his side’s his move to unfashionable Tori- midfi elder was one of Italy’s v Inter (1845) Firm match. fl ying start to the season, which no on a season-long loan deal top players at Euro 2016, where The clash at Parkhead will be has seen Celtic qualify for the last week. he opened the scoring in a 2-0 MONDAY the 402nd competitive fi xture Champions League group stages Amid reports Torino could opening win over Belgium, and Empoli v Crotone (1845) between the sides but the fi rst in for the fi rst time in three years. be given the chance to snap File picture of Juventus’ coach Massimiliano Allegri. his agent believes Napoli have charge for Rodgers and a number Rangers too are unbeaten in the 28-year-old ‘keeper up on hit the jackpot. of his new recruits. the league, but draws against a permanent basis, Hart was against Argentina with a right ing soon,” Pjanic told Mediaset “There’s been little said about where Frank De Boer’s visitors will “It’s games that I have Hamilton at home and Kilmar- put through his paces during a thigh injury. Premium. “I had some physical him in the media these last few be under huge pressure to clinch a watched, games that I have lis- nock mean they trail Celtic by a maiden training session with the Juventus welcome Sassuolo problems during our fi rst two weeks but once he steps onto the fi rst win of the campaign. tened to all my life, so to actually point at the top having played a “Granata” on Thursday. days before they host Sevilla and games, but now I’m fi ne. pitch, he becomes a giant,” Fulvio Inter were among the league’s be involved in pole position in game more. Yet hopes of a fi rst Serie A win for Miralem Pjanic it could be “We face Sassuolo, then we Valcareggi told Radio Kiss Kiss. biggest spenders in the close the game is going to be exciting, for the England shot-stopper the fi rst step towards fi lling the host Sevilla in the Champions The hopes of Palermo fans season and star Croatian for- especially the fi rst game being at Fixtures have been dealt a signifi cant blow. shoes of former Juve and Italy League, ahead of an intense pe- willing for an upset at their Ren- ward Ivan Perisic admits it’s home,” said Rodgers. After hitting a hat-trick in great Andrea Pirlo. riod of games. We’ll be playing zo Barbera stadium will be tem- time to repay the club and the “And having supported and (1400 GMT unless otherwise a 5-1 win over Bologna, striker Juventus have been looking every three days, but I’m ready.” pered by coach Davide Ballar- fans. “It’s been a very disap- felt the emotion of them, they stated) Andrea Belotti is sidelined for for a suitable replacement for dini’s resignation after just two pointing start to the season, one are always tense, sometimes they three weeks after suff ering a Pirlo since the veteran’s move to GIACCHERINI ‘A GIANT’ games into the season — a 1-0 we didn’t expect,” Perisic told are not the best of games. Celtic v Rangers (1100), thigh injury with Italy on what New York City FC last year, and Napoli are taking their return to loss to Sassuolo and a creditable Sky Sport Italia. “No matter what you say to Aberdeen v Inverness CT, was his maiden call-up. Pjanic is ready to make his debut the group stages of the Cham- 1-1 draw at Inter Milan. “We have some new players players, sometimes the whole in- Dundee v Kilmarnock, Hearts And Torino suff ered another playing in front of Juve’s three- pions League so seriously the He was replaced by Foggia and a new coach, who hasn’t had tensity and occasion can make it v Hamilton, Partick Thistle v blow when Venezuelan striker man defence following his move club’s offi cial radio station, Kiss coach Roberto De Zerbi. a lot of time to prepare for the diffi cult for football,” added the St Johnstone, Ross County v Josef Martinez returned from a from Roma in the close season. Kiss, announced a media black- Inter Milan face a potentially season,” he added. Now to see Northern Irishman. Motherwell 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw “I hope I will start play- out for the players following to- tricky trip to Pescara tomorrow, what the season brings for them. Rangers’ absence from the Pre- Gulf Times Saturday, September 10, 2016 5 SPORT

MLB NFL Missed fi eld goal leaves Panthers Austin’s eff ort lift s with loss in opener Yankees past Rays ‘I don’t want to look ahead to tomorrow let alone next spring. I think he understands who he is a lot better than maybe he did a year or a year-and-a-half ago’

MCT New York Denver Broncos outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (94) celebrates.

yler Austin launched one out to MCT Trevor Siemian began playing right fi eld, and was soon launch- Denver with poise. ing his helmet into the air – right Coming off a Denver touch- before he jumped into a giddy down to tighten the game to a Tpile of Yankees teammates. n a Thursday night season 3-point margin, the Panthers only The rookie’s two-out, ninth-inning opener that had the intensity had two plays before giving the ball solo homer off Erasmo Ramirez gave the and physicality of a postsea- back to the home team. Newton Yankees a sudden 5-4 win against the son game, the Panthers and threw a pass to Kelvin Benjamin, last-place Tampa Bay Rays before 27,631 IBroncos met the same fate as last who ran a somewhat lazy slant fans at Yankee Stadium. February. Graham Gano’s 50- route, and it was tipped and inter- With their fi fth straight win, the Yan- yard fi eld-goal attempt with 9 cepted by Chris Harris Jr. kees moved to within two games of the seconds left faded wide left, and Denver coach Gary Kubiak idle Orioles for the fi nal AL wild-card the Panthers’ hopes of a strong made a gutsy call on that drive spot and within four games of the AL start to the season were dashed. when he decided to go for it on East-leading Red Sox. Denver topped Carolina, 21- fourth down at the 1 – rather than “I’ve told you we expected to win from 20, on the night when the Bron- kick a fi eld goal and tie the game. Day One, so there’s going to be disap- cos unveiled their Super Bowl The move paid off . The Broncos pointment if we don’t get to where we 50 banner in the same end zone got the fi rst down, and three plays want to get,” Yankees manager Joe Girar- where Gano’s boot waned left. later they were in the end zone di said before the game of his new-look, Carolina enjoyed a great fi rst with their fi rst lead of the game. young team. half that seemed to leave all the Teamed again with Yankees starter CC Super Bowl 50 ghosts in the past. THREE WHO MATTERED Sabathia, catcher Brian McCann clubbed After a Super Bowl where the Cam Newton: The reigning NFL two solo home runs. But Kevin Kiermaier Panthers were 3-for-15 on third MVP threw and ran for a touch- and Steven Souza Jr. each hit two homers downs, they were 6-of-7 in the down in the loss. It’s the 32nd apiece for Tampa Bay. fi rst half on the crucial down. game of his career where he’s run Sabathia gave up solo home runs in Cam Newton beat two Bron- for a touchdown, and that’s an each of the fi rst three innings, and rookie cos around the edge for a 2-yard NFL record. Jonathan Holder bailed him out of trou- score in the second quarter and Trevor Siemian: For someone ble in the fi fth. he returned to his dancing ways, who had never thrown a pass in After the fi rst two batters reached on though the dab remained buried an NFL regular-season game, singles, Holder got Evan Longoria to rap as promised. Siemian played it cool through- into a double play. And the Yanks were Meanwhile, Carolina turned out the game despite mistakes. further spared when umpires reversed a the Broncos over three times at Von Miller: The Super Bowl 50 balk call with a runner at third – keeping or inside the Carolina 30 through MVP got a key third-down sack the Yankees’ 4-3 lead briefl y intact. the fi rst 35 minutes of the game. late that put Carolina in big trou- In his shortest start of the season, Then Denver quarterback ble with the game on the line. Sabathia yielded three runs on seven hits in four innings. New York Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin (26) rounds the bases after hitting a walk off home run against the Tampa Bay Rays. In his second MLB start since rehab RIO GAMES from Tommy John surgery, Rays right- Girardi emerged from his dugout and Results home runs in a game. hander Alex Cobb gave up four runs – asked Everitt to convene with the other Before Sabathia threw his fi rst pitch on three earned – on nine hits in six innings. three umpires, a request that was grant- Astros 7 Indians 10 Thursday, Girardi defended the veteran Neither starter walked a batter. ed. After a quick conference, Everitt or- Reds 1 Pirates 4 lefty, calling him “probably” the most Brazilian Paralympic McCann’s homers came in his fi rst dered Forsythe back to third base. Phillies 4 Nationals 1 “victimised” member of his rotation two at-bats off Cobb.Souza Jr.’s second Rays players raised their arms in disbe- Rays 4 Yankees 5 when it comes to “bad luck,” whether it homer of the night was a two-out, sixth- lief in their dugout, and Tampa Bay man- Brewers 12 Cardinals 5 be a lack of run production, an untimely star the new Phelps? inning solo shot off Holder that tied it at ager Kevin Cash had a lengthy but calm Rockies 1 Padres 14 misplay or a poorly-located pitch at a 4. But the Rays couldn’t be faulted for be- chat. When play resumed, Holder got Rangers 3 Mariners 6 pivotal moment. lieving that Souza’ Jr.’s shot should have shortstop Alexei Ramirez to ground out. “He’s given us an opportunity to win No, he’s Dias... been the go-ahead run. Ramirez entered in the second inning, a lot of those [close] games,” Girardi said An inning earlier, Holder appeared to replacing Brad Miller, who was drilled in Cleanup hitter Didi Gregorius slashed of Sabathia, who would fi gure to be in the have balked home the tying run – only to the right elbow by a Sabathia fi rst-inning an RBI single to right, scoring Gardner. Yankees’ 2017 rotation. have the call reversed by plate umpire and fastball. Kiermaier’s homer in the fi rst And Ellsbury scored from third base mo- “I don’t want to look ahead to tomor- crew chief Mike Everitt. inning and Souza Jr.’s homer in the sec- ments later, when Cobb’s low pickoff row let alone next spring,” Girardi said, With Logan Forsythe at third base and ond tied it at 2. The Yanks had briefl y throw struck a sliding Gregorius and not making any promises. But as a power two out, Holder appeared to come set taken a fi rst-inning lead as Brett Gardner bounded away. pitcher who had struggled to transition twice, making a second motion with his and Jacoby Ellsbury opened with singles Kiermaier’s leadoff homer in the third into more of a fi nesse lefty, “I think he un- glove hand. Everitt called a balk and For- and moved into scoring position on Gary tied it at 3. It marked the fi rst time all sea- derstands who he is a lot better than maybe sythe crossed the plate. Sanchez’s weak groundout. son that Sabathia had surrendered three he did a year or a year-and-a-half ago.”

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Daniel Dias of Brasil reacts after his 200-metres freestyle event.

AFP chance to overtake Phelps. Rio de Janeiro “I never think about this,” he Pacquiao reveals retirement says. “That’s true. I just try to do my best and to swim well. razil’s star Paralympic The medal is the consequence swimmer Daniel Dias of that work.” tore off to a gold winning anguish as comeback looms start in Rio, but don’t ‘HE’S THE CHAMPION’ and then rest a little bit, and then callB him another Michael Phelps Dias became Brazil’s most suc- AFP “I want to give back to the Beverly Hills, United States start work in the offi ce,” he said. fans who’ve supported me. — Dias is busy writing his own cessful Paralympic athlete dur- “By 10 o’clock I go to the Sen- I’m selling 7,000 tickets name in history. ing the London 2012 Games. ate building and attend com- for $50. I want to thank the With a gold late Thursday in And the emotion in the swim- anny Pacquiao says mittee meetings. And after the fans who’ve supported the 200 metre freestyle S5, Dias, ming arena on Thursday was he knew almost as committee meetings, attend the me. It’s going to be more who was born with congenital intense. “He is the champion!” soon as his retire- full session. action than we have before malformation of his arms and chanted the delirious crowd — ment began that he “And after the session I go because Vargas is a cham- right leg, now has 16 medals and including his two sons, wife and Mhad made a mistake, revealing straight to the gym, which is is closing in on becoming one of parents — before breaking into pion who loves to fi ght. And that loneliness and love for the only 500 metres away from the that’s the kind of fi ght I like. the most decorated Paralympi- the national anthem. sport had drawn him back into Senate, and then train. After So the fans won’t be bored” ans of all time. “It was more emotional than the ring. training, back home and rest.” At stunning speed, the I could have imagined,” he said The legendary Filipino icon, Pacquiao smiled when asked 28-year-old delighted the rau- afterwards. who hung up his gloves after HARD WORKER for his reaction to Vargas’s com- cous Brazilian home crowd by Coming up next are the 50m what was supposed to be a fare- Roach said he had been im- ments. “This is not a movie. This beating US swimmer Roy Perkins and 100m freestyle, 50m but- well victory over Timothy Bra- pressed by Pacquiao’s condi- is not a revenge movie. This is by 10 seconds. terfl y, 100m breaststroke, 50m dley in April, ended his short- tioning after seeing him this sport. Do your job and I’ll do my What’s scary for opponents is Backstroke and three relay lived retirement in early August. week. job,” he said. he has eight more events to go. events. “This is unique. We’ll The 37-year-old fi ghter is now “He works out every day. He’s As part of his determination That’s where the Phelps com- never have something like this targeting a slice of the world in pretty good shape,” he told to return with a bang, Pacquiao parisons come in. again,” said the national hero of welterweight title when he fac- AFP. “He’s the hardest worker also ensured that 7,000 tickets The US swimmer — the most the home event. es World Boxing Organization I’ve ever seen.” for the fi ght were made avail- decorated Olympian in any sport After an evening’s work, it was champion Jessie Vargas in Las Manny Pacquiao (L) and Jessie Vargas during the press conference. Many commentators have able for the rock-bottom price — retired at the close of the Rio back to the Athletes’ Village and Vegas on November 5. speculated that Pacquiao views of $50. Summer Games in August with a bed for Dias — and the medal Pacquiao had initially planned decided to continue my journey after he became a Senator he his election to the Senate as a As of Thursday, 2,000 of the haul of 28 medals, 23 of them gold. went with him. “You don’t want to focus on his political career as a boxer.” would fi ght again. I just thought stepping stone for a presiden- tickets had already been sold. Dias is catching up, but says he to let go of it,” he said. after being elected to the Philip- it would be next year.” tial run. “It’s a big challenge for me to has his own story to tell. Daniel de Faria Dias was born pines Senate in May. ‘NO SURPRISE’ Pacquiao insists that while his Pacquiao dismissed the sug- get that belt again and prove that “I’m Daniel Dias and I want in Sao Paulo state on 28 May, But politics proved to be no Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s long- boxing career is now fi rmly back gestion however. “That’s not I can still manage serving the to build my own legacy. But I’m 1988, and right away his mother substitute for pugilism in the serving cornerman revealed the under way, he remains commit- in my mind right now,” he said. people and being a boxer,” Pac- happy to be compared to a great Raquel Dias knew something was eyes of the Filipino great, who fi ghter had made up his mind to ted to politics, maintaining that “My focus is to serve honestly, quiao told a press conference on athlete,” he told AFP. wrong. “Later they told us that showed he had plenty left in the scrap his retirement before he he has had a “perfect” attend- and to pass laws that will help Thursday. It’s possible that Dias will go our son had been born with no tank with his stylish win over had even fl own back to the Phil- ance record in the Senate since less fortunate families.” “I want to give back to the fans all the way in Rio, reaching 24 hands or feet,” she remembered, Bradley fi ve months ago. ippines from Las Vegas follow- his election. In the near-term though, Pac- who’ve supported me. I’m sell- medals. That would take him although he does have one leg. “First when I hung up my ing the Bradley bout. “I’ve learned a lot and not quiao’s gaze is fi rmly fi xed on his ing 7,000 tickets for $50. I want past the current record holder for Dias had much suff ering to gloves I realised,” Pacquiao told “Before he left for the airport only talking about the problems. date with Vargas (27-1 with 10 to thank the fans who’ve sup- Paralympic male swimming med- overcome and prejudice, includ- AFP on Thursday. after the last fi ght, he told me The most important thing is knockouts) at the 19,000-capac- ported me. It’s going to be more als, Australian Matthew Cowdrey, ing the teasing by fellow students “I felt lonely. And thinking very clearly ‘We will fi ght again’,” common sense,” Pacquiao said. ity Thomas and Mack Center. action than we have before be- who has 23 — although way off the who he remembers “touching me about it over and over, I thought Roach told AFP. “It was no sur- The only challenge has been Mexican-American Vargas says cause Vargas is a champion who astonishing 55 medals for the now to see if I was real.” ‘Boxing still likes me. Boxing prise.” fi tting his fi tness regime around he is aiming to avenge Pacquiao’s loves to fi ght. And that’s the kind retired US swimmer Trischa Zorn. But he did fi nd his place, fi rst still loves me.’ So why stop my The only surprise, Roach said, his duties in the Senate. numerous victories over Mexican of fi ght I like. So the fans won’t If Dias competes again in in the swimming pool and now in boxing career? So that’s why I was the timing. “I knew that “In the morning I’ll go for a jog fi ghters during his career. be bored.” Tokyo 2020, he’d even have a Brazilians’ hearts. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, September 10, 2016 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT UCI RWC Doha 2016 will be perfect showcase for Qatar: Merckx

By Sports Reporter rapidly over the past decade. Each year of the impressive desert landscape and Doha I got back and each year there were new the beauty of the city of Doha.” roads, new buildings.” The Belgian legend believes that Qa- The UCI Road World Champion- tar will continue to play a critical role in ith only one month to go ship Doha 2016 will be the fi rst World the competition and training schedules for the historic UCI Road Championships held in the Middle of the world’s best cyclists each season. World Championships East, a historic event that will see 12 “Doha is beautiful and it’s an excel- Doha 2016, cycling legend titles of UCI World Champion awarded lent place for professional riders to get Wand Doha 2016 ambassador Eddy Mer- across Elite, Under-23 and Junior cat- in shape for the Spring Classics. The ckx believes the event will be an unfor- egories. Each of the 12 races will fi nish climate is nice in January, when it’s of- gettable experience. at Qatar’s fl agship development, The ten too cold to train or race in the rain “Doha deserves to host the UCI Road Pearl. and snow in Europe.” World Championships,” said the Bel- Merckx, who has a total of 525 vic- Merckx is the only rider to have won gian cycling legend, who fi rst came tories as a professional cyclist (1978- all fi ve monuments (Milan–San Remo, to Qatar 15 years ago and has watched 1965), says the UCI Road World Cham- Tour of Flanders, Paris–Roubaix, cycling develop at a rapid pace in the pionships are a perfect showcase for Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and the Giro di Middle East ever since. Qatar. Lombardia), all three Grand Tours (Giro “Qatar was the fi rst country in the “Cycling is the best sport to show the d’Italia, Tour de France, Vuelta a Es- Middle East to organise a professional features of this country, because the paña) and the UCI Road World Cham- cycling race. The country developed television spectators will get to see a lot pionships. Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx (left) on the podium for the 2015 Ladies Tour of Qatar.

CYCLING / VUELTA A ESPANA GOLF Castro ahead Froome storms at penultimate PGA playoff event to time trial, cuts AFP clubhouse on 68 with Japan’s Hideki Chicago Matsuyama at four-under with six holes to play and England’s Paul Casey and Australian Adam Scott on four- oberto Castro fi red a sev- under with eight holes remaining. en-under par 65 to grab a Top-ranked Aussie Justin Day one-stroke lead over fellow opened on 73 with six bogeys and fi ve American Brian Harman after birdies. Quintana’s lead darknessR halted Thursday’s opening Third-ranked Rory McIlroy of round of the US PGA BMW Champion- Northern Ireland was three-under af- ship. ter 10 holes. He opened with a birdie ‘I have to just cover Chris and I have the team to do it’ Castro, seeking his fi rst PGA title, and had tap-in birdies at the par-5 fi fth birdied the second and fourth holes and and ninth. He made a fi ve-footer for AFP added another at the par-5 ninth for a birdie at the par-3 sixth but missed a Calpe, Spain solid start, then birdied six of the fi nal six-footer for par at eight. nine holes only to take a bogey at 18 to Castro has a pair of runner-up PGA halve his edge. fi nishes for his top showings, at Con- our de France winner Chris “I started off pretty well,” Castro gressional in 2013 and this year at Quail Froome maintained his out- said. “Got going coming back and was Hollow. side hopes of winning the thinking about birdies.” Castro sank a 17-foot birdie putt Vuelta a Espana by romping to Lightning and heavy rain in the In- at the second and drained a stunner Tvictory in yesterday’s 19th stage time dianapolis area stopped play for three from 54 feet to birdie the fourth, but trial and cutting race leader Nairo hours and 31 minutes, leaving the late the highlight shot of his round was a Quintana’s advantage to 1min 21sec. threesomes in the fi eld of 70 no hope of 41-foot chip-in birdie at the 14th. He Froome fi nished the 37km route fi nishing before sunset. missed an eagle chip-in at the par-5 from Javea to Calpe in 46min 33sec to “There have been a lot of delays this 15th by inches then sank a 15-foot bird- claim his second stage win of the race, year so we are used to it,” Castro said. ie putt at the par-3 17th only to miss the 2min 16sec ahead of Colombia’s Quin- “I’m glad we got to get the round in.” green with his approach at 18 and suff er tana, who fi nished 11th. In all, 36 players were forced to con- his lone bogey. Two stages of the three-week tour clude their fi rst rounds yesterday be- “Those greens were fi rm and really remain, but with tomorrow’s fi nale a fore an early start to the second round gettable after the delay,” Castro said. mere procession around the streets of in hopes of completing play before “To make a lot of birdies was a great central Madrid, today’s 193.2km ride storms return to the 7,516-yard Crook- way to start.” from Benidorm to Alto de Aitana will ed Stick layout. Harman made a 34-foot birdie chip at determine whether Froome can be- All players completed the front nine the seventh and birdied three of the last come the fi rst man in 38 years to do the except Australia’s Aaron Baddeley, who fi ve holes on the front side. He followed Tour de France-Vuelta double. has a 13-foot eagle putt at the ninth with a 15-foot eagle putt at the 15th and a “Of course I’m really happy with when play resumes. clutch 21-foot par putt at 16th. the result today, especially at this US major champions Dustin Johnson World number two Johnson could point of the season. This is the last and Jason Dufner shared third on 67 have shared second but closed with a race of my season, so I am really with compatriot Chris Kirk, who had bogey after fi nding water off the tee happy to still be in good condition,” the back nine yet to play. while Dufner birdied three of the last Froome told Spanish TV station Tel- Argentina’s Fabian Gomez was in the four holes to stand on 67. edeporte. “There is still one really tough day of racing tomorrow. Quintana still has more than one minute of advantage, but we will keep fi ghting all the way. “Quintana, with Movistar, he has a really good team around him, so it is going to be diffi cult to beat him.” Three-time Vuelta winner Alberto Contador moved up to third overall by fi nishing eighth on the day to leapfrog Sky’s Chris Froome crosses the finish line to win the 19th stage of the Vuelta a Espana in Calpe, Spain, yesterday. (AFP) Esteban Chaves. Spain’s Jonathan Castroviejo fi n- lead in a very important day tomor- favour and now we need to defend it to 4. Yves Lampaert (E-Quick-Step) +1:26” ished second, 44 seconds behind row.” Madrid,” added Quintana. 5. Victor Campenaerts (LottoNL) +1:47” Froome, with Sweden’s Tobias Lud- Froome was already 46 seconds up “It is going to be a very important 6. Leopold Koenig (Team Sky) +1:51” vigsson third a further 40 seconds on Quintana at the fi rst check point stage, the demands of today will cause 7. Andrew Talansky (Cannondale) +1:54” back. after 12.5km and passed Chaves, who some to suff er and we hope it doesn’t 8. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff ) +1:57” had started two minutes ahead of him, aff ect me. 9. Fabio Felline (Trek) +1:58” ‘FLYING’ FROOME before the end of the second sector. “There will be battles in the general 10. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) +2:10” Quintana’s early race prediction that His lead on Quintana continued classifi cation which will interest a lot he needed at least a three-minute lead to rise from 1min 13sec at the second of people to push the pace. I have to just OVERALL CLASSIFICATION over Froome to see off the Briton’s su- check to over two minutes by the end, cover Chris and I have the team to do it.” 1. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) 75:18:52” perior time-trialling ability proved but it is still unlikely to be enough after Chaves lost over a minute on Con- 2. Chris Froome (Team Sky) +1:21” correct as the Sky rider was in a class Quintana built up a huge 3min 37sec tador to slide to fourth, whilst Ameri- 3. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff ) +3:43” of his own in the race against the clock. advantage with a surprise early attack can Andrew Talansky moved ahead of 4. Esteban Chaves (Orica) +4:54” “Froome was fl ying, he posted a on stage 15 which caught Sky cold and Britain’s Simon Yates into fi fth. 5. Andrew Talansky (Cannondale) +7:12” much better time than we expected,” left Froome isolated. 6. Simon Yates (Orica) +7:32” said Quintana. “Initially we thought we needed STAGE 19 RESULTS (TOP 10) 7. Michele Scarponi (Astana) +10:01” “My stats weren’t bad and the im- more than three minutes to be able to 1. Chris Froome (Team Sky) 46:33” 8. Daniel Moreno (Movistar) +10:07” portant thing is I continue to have defend the leader’s jersey and we have 2. Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar) +44” 9. David De La Cruz (EQuick-Step) +10:11” strong legs to be able to defend the done it. We have an advantage in our 3. Tobias Ludvigsson (Giant) +1:24” 10. Davide Formolo (Cannondale) +11:14”

Englishman Evans sets pace at Dutch Open Defending champion Lee grabs advantage at Korea Open AFP the only blemish of his day in the eight players who shot 66, Spijk, Netherlands Netherlands and he finished with including South Korea’s An AFP on 133 with Hwang Jung-Gon and five successive pars to ensure he Byeong-Hun and Sweden’s Peter Cheonan, South Korea Kim Yeong-Su, both in with matching will be the man to catch in the Hanson. 68s. The top 10 scorers after two nglishman Ben Evans holds second round. The duo were playing partners rounds were all South Koreans. the lead at the Dutch Open “I holed a lot of putts early on and they put on a masterclass efending champion Lee Eafter a six-under-par open- in the round to get me to two on the sixth as both men put Kyoung-Hoon carded a LEADING SCORES ing round of 65 put him a shot under and then hit a few nice their approaches on the par five Dfour-under-par 67 to grab 132 - Lee Kyoung-Hoon (65-67) clear of the chasing pack at Spijk wedges in close to get off to a inside 10 feet to record eagles. a one-stroke lead in the second 133 - Lee Chang-Woo (70-63), on Thursday. pretty fast start. The putting was They both also recorded six bird- round of the Korea Open yesterday. Hwang Jung-Gon (65-68), Kim The 29-year-old, ranked 524th in the diff erence today — I holed ies and three bogeys. The 25-year-old scored a two-round Yeong-Su (65-68) the world, started his round on a lot of mid-range putts, which Australia’s Scott Hend, who lost total of 10-under 132 to top the 134 - Choi Jin-Ho (65-69), Kang the back nine of the inland links I haven’t been doing a lot of the European Masters in a play- leaderboard after sharing the first Kyung-Nam (68-66) course and sank seven birdies in lately,” said Evans, who admits off to Sweden’s Alex Noren at round lead with five other players 135 - Byun Jin-Jae (67-68), Suk Jong- all, including four in a row from he needs a good performance to Crans-sur-Sierre last weekend, is at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club. Yul (65-70), Park Il-Hwan (66-69) the 12th. help him keep his Tour card. in a group two shots behind the Lee Chang-Woo shot a superb, 136 - Lee Sang-Hee (68-68), Hong A bogey at the 17th proved to be Evans leads from a group of leader after an opening 67. bogey-free 63 to share second place Soon-Sang (65-71) Gulf Times Saturday, September 10, 2016 7 SPORT

MOTOGP RUGBY Home race Rossi Boks plan to gate-crash pressures Marquez ‘Pooper’ party ‘Misano is my race, it’s my home. Usually we are quite good there’ AFP Brisbane, Australia

kipper Adriaan Strauss said yesterday the Springboks had plans to make sure Australia’s Michael Hooper and David PocockS don’t dominate the breakdown in Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test. Strauss said South Africa would have to negate Australia’s renowned “Poop- er” back-row combination, with the breakdown likely to be one of the key areas of the game. “We’re going to need to front up there (in the breakdown),” Strauss told reporters. “There’s a lot of tactics to get those guys out of the game. “We just need to be sharp and we need to be aware of where they are on the pitch and what positions they’re placing themselves on the fi eld to make those steals and to slow the ball down.” Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has Australia’s Michael Hooper resisted calls for a back-row makeo- ver by keeping both natural open-side pected another close tussle this week- fl ankers in his starting team and call- end. ing up lineout jumper Dean Mumm at “I think it’s always a massive game blindside fl anker. against Australia, rivals in rugby and Strauss said there wasn’t a single we haven’t got a great record here in way of stopping Hooper and Pocock’s Brisbane,” he said. “But fortunately on ball-pilfering, which made its fi rst ap- the day history won’t make any diff er- pearance in last year’s corresponding ence on the scoreline. Test in Brisbane. “We are fully aware that they are a “There’s a lot of ways to try and keep good side, especially in Brisbane, so them out of the game but they’re also we’re looking forward to having to play very clever players and they fi nd ways another tough game tomorrow.” to sneak into the rucks,” he said. South Africa have retained their back “We’ve prepared quite well for row of Warren Whiteley, Francois Louw that and on the day we just need to be and Oupa Mohoje, who played together Movistar Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi rides his bike during the second practice session for the San Marino MotoGP race in Misano yesterday. (AFP) sharp.” in the fi rst two rounds of the Rugby The Springboks traditionally strug- Championship against Argentina. AFP finished just once on the podium in during the weekend,” said Marquez, ESPARGARO FASTEST AT MISANO, gle to win in Australia with just two “We are an evolving team,” Strauss Misano Adriatico, Italy the last six races. who came fourth at the British Grand IANNONE HURT victories in their last 12 Tests in the said. “We’re defi nitely not playing the Lorenzo, a winner in Qatar, France Prix. Spaniard Pol Espargaro was fastest country. They have only won once in type of rugby we want to play yet, but and Italy this term, has plummeted “All in all we got an okay result in during yesterday’s opening two prac- Brisbane (2013) since 1993. we know where we’re heading. ocal hero Valentino Rossi can from fi rst to third in the championship England, as even though we didn’t tice sessions for this weekend’s San But last year’s Brisbane Test was de- “We know we’ve got a lot of short- count on partisan support at since his triumph at Mugello and trails make the ideal choice with the front Marino MotoGP but Andrea Iannone cided by a Tevita Kuridrani try after the comings still. It’s a growing process but tomorrow’s San Marino Mo- Marquez by 64 points. tyre, in the end we lost just three crashed out to leave the Italian a doubt full-time siren and Strauss said he ex- we’ve been trying to speed that up.” toGP as the Yamaha star looks “Silverstone was another disap- points.” for the race. Lto keep chipping away at Marc Mar- pointing race where we could have Spanish youngster Maverick Vinal- Yamaha Tech3 rider Espargaro quez’s championship lead. gotten a good result. However now it’s es claimed his maiden MotoGP win topped compatriot Dani Pedrosa by Rossi, born in Urbino less than an time to forget about what happened in last time out, Suzuki’s fi rst victory in 0.065sec with Andrea Dovizioso third hour’s drive from the Misano circuit, the past and focus on the next Grand the category since 2007, and will aim fastest at the Misano circuit. trails Marquez by 50 points with six Prix in Misano,” said Lorenzo. to push on this weekend following his However Iannone, who crashed out races remaining and is relishing his “This is one of my favourite tracks, breakthrough performance. of last week’s British Grand Prix, again homecoming after claiming a hard- so let’s see if we can turn the tide,” he He is fourth overall, 85 points adrift hit the deck during the fi rst practice fought third place at Silverstone. added, conceding his bid to retain his of Marquez but just ahead of three- session with tests revealing a small “Misano will be the most special crown had been heavily compromised time runner-up Dani Pedrosa on the fracture to his upper back. weekend of the season, because Mis- by recent results. second Repsol Honda. The Italian, winner of last month’s ano is ‘my race’, it’s my home. Usually Cal Crutchlow, who became Brit- Austrian Grand Prix, was initially we are quite good there, so we hope ‘TWISTY AND SLOW’ ain’s fi rst MotoGP winner since Bar- ruled out of Sunday’s race but his con- to be competitive,” said the Italian, a However, Lorenzo has traditionally ry Sheene 35 years ago at Brno last dition is reportedly set to be reviewed three-time winner at this weekend’s excelled at this venue, recording three month, will try to maintain his im- on Saturday. track. successive wins from 2011 to 2013 and pressive form of late which has seen Defending world champion Jorge “There will be a great atmosphere: earning a top-three spot on every oc- also him fi nish second at both the Lorenzo was fourth, ahead of overall a lot of fans, a lot of people around casion prior to crashing out of last Sachsenring and Silverstone. leader Marc Marquez and Italian leg- and also a lot of pressure, so we have year’s race. In Moto2, Frenchman Johann Zarco end Valentino Rossi, who trails Mar- to try to give 20 percent more than the Marquez, world champion in 2013 is bidding to put back-to-back poor quez by 50 points with six races re- maximum.” and 2014, won at Misano last season, performances behind him with Alex maining. Rossi’s teammate and defending and the 23-year-old is fully confi dent Rins now just 10 points adirft. Britain’s Cal Crutchlow, second world champion Jorge Lorenzo hopes of competing for another victory on South African Brad Binder can move at his home race last time out, was a return to the Misano Marco Si- a track he describes as “twisty and a step closer to the Moto3 title as he seventh fastest while Suzuki’s Mav- moncelli circuit, renamed in honour slow”. holds a seemingly insurmountable erick Vinales came 10th, a week on of the late Italian rider, can revitalise “In San Marino I expect to fi ght 86-point lead over nearest rival Jorge from his maiden MotoGP victory at his season, with the Spaniard having again for the podium if we work well Navarro. Silverstone. Australia’s David Pocock BOTTOMLINE Resilient Pumas ready for All Blacks Liberty takeover off ers a longer-term vision for F1 challenge, says Creevy

Reuters represents many of Formula One’s helping distinguish his Charter in the Reuters London leading sponsors. US,” Nichols said, adding that Charter Wellington might seek to oust NBC as the rights GEARING UP FOR EXPANSION holder with the contract coming up iberty Media’s takeover of Brown saw Liberty’s arrival as bring- for renewal. elinquishing a 10-point lead with 10 minutes remaining in their first Formula One promises a long- ing longer-term vision that could Other broadcasters enjoy the security Super Rugby Championship clash against South Africa has helped term strategy for the cash-rich see the sport embark on signifi cant of longer-term deals, with Sky in Britain RArgentina in their preparations for their match against New Zealand, sport with a sharper focus on growth in areas such as the United having the British rights until 2024. according to captain Agustin Creevy. Lnew media markets and another at- States, and said sponsors were excited Another way to expand revenues The Pumas were leading 23-13 in Nelspruit in their opening match of this year’s tempt to expand in North America. by the prospects of attracting a new would be to develop additional competition only for the Springboks to storm back and score 17-unanswered The deal, valued at $8bn including and younger audience. streams for fans in individual coun- points and clinch a remarkable victory. debt, gives an American media and “They’ve sold it to strategic buyer tries that focus, for instance, on the Instead of retreating into a never-ending questioning of ‘what if’, the Pumas telecoms business eff ective control as opposed to another fi nancial buyer,” race from the point of view of a driver bounced back the following week with Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias slotting a of a sport rather than the more cus- he said. who is a hometown favourite. late penalty to give his side a 26-24 victory. tomary situation of such companies “So they will be making decisions Adding more races to an already “We were not very happy as we didn’t close out that (first) test,” Creevy told paying up to buy rights to screen live that are strategic-led, what’s best for crowded calendar — this year’s 21- the New Zealand Herald in Hamilton yesterday. events. the growth of the sport and the fans race programme is a record — would “But when we beat them in Salta, it showed to the team that we can get a good The deal was seen as positive for and the sponsors.” be another obvious way to enhance result after having a disappointing result the week before.” a sport featuring famous car brands Liberty Media has acquired an ini- revenues if the schedule could accom- That confidence has no doubt been built up following the Jaguares’ entry into such as Ferrari and Mercedes, as well tial 18.7% stake from private equity modate it. this year’s expanded Super Rugby competition. as for buyer Liberty Media, owned by fi rm CVC Capital Partners and plans Montreal, the Texan city of Austin, The Buenos Aires-based side were essentially made up of the Pumas and US cable TV mogul John Malone. Liberty Media owner John Malone to compete a cash and shares deal by and Mexico City are the three current while they disappointed at times, were competitive in most of their matches However, changes will take time to the fi rst quarter of 2017. venues in North America but an east and will only benefit from the regularity of the competition going forward. feed through given that Formula One sors have long chafed at the lack of a Malone has built his empire over and west coast city in the United States Creevy, however, was also aware how well the All Blacks had been playing this Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone has marketing and digital strategy for the more than 40 years of dealmaking in would be commercially attractive. year, despite the retirement of six stalwarts following last year’s Rugby World negotiated lengthy TV contracts that sport, with Ecclestone focusing on the cable and pay-TV industry, earn- Formula One teams will be given the Cup. will help to generate estimated reve- generating piles of cash for sharehold- ing him the nickname the “Cable chance to invest in the sport after Lib- Steve Hansen’s side beat Wales 3-0 in their June series and were nearly flaw- nues of $1.8bn from 21 grand prix races ers through television rights and race Cowboy”. erty Media’s takeover and the smaller less in their opening Rugby Championship clash against the Wallabies. this season. hosting fees. His Liberty Global is the world’s ones are hoping the new owners will The All Blacks raced out to a 32-3 halftime lead before winning 42-8 and then Ecclestone, who transformed the “I can’t really think of a better buy- largest international TV and broad- also help them become more competi- retained the Bledisloe Cup with a 29-9 victory over the Wallabies in Wellington sport’s fortunes over the past four er,” said motorsport marketing execu- band company, operating in more than tive on the track. two weeks ago. decades and turns 86 next month, will tive Zak Brown, the chief executive of 30 countries in Europe, Latin America Bob Fernley, deputy principal of the Creevy said his side would need to be as close to perfect as they could if they have a new chairman to work with in CSM Sport&Entertainment. and the Caribbean. Force India team, hoped that would be were to win their first game against the All Blacks in their 23rd test match, with the shape of Chase Carey. Carey is ex- “If you had to write down a list of Analyst Allan Nichols of Morning the case: “We have a unique product their best result a 21-21 draw in 1985. ecutive vice-chairman of Rupert Mur- who you would want to buy Formula Star said the Formula One deal could in Formula One...now we can overlay “That’s why it’s such a huge challenge for us,” Creevy said. “But we believe doch’s 21st Century Fox and a director One, Liberty would be top of that list,” help to strengthen Malone’s American on that an incredible sports marketing that if we do things really well, if we have the perfect game, we can beat them of Formula One rights holder Sky. added the American, whose company Charter cable business. operation,” he said. “It’s a very, very even knowing they are one of the best teams in the world.” Formula One teams and spon- is part of Chime Communications and “He’s looking at this as a way to exciting possibility.”

Saturday, September 10, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

TENNIS / US OPEN FUTURE Serena crashes as Wozniacki looks to Asia Pliskova, Kerber aft er strong US Open run

AFP can be proud of.” set up fi nal duel New York The 26-year-old is projected to improve to 28th in the world by reaching the semi-fi nals. Kerber becomes first German woman since Steff i Graf to top world rankings ormer world number one Her run at Flushing Mead- Caroline Wozniacki ows followed injury withdrawals couldn’t make it back to from Montreal and Washington a third US Open fi nal, and a fi rst-round exit at New Ha- butF the Dane was pleased to have ven, so she was pleased to emerge proved naysayers wrong with her from the US Open feeling fi t. run to the fi nal four. “I feel very good body-wise,” “I came into this tournament she said. “I think it’s the best it’s ranked 74 in the world and prob- felt in a while. ably people ruled me out, but it’s “I have gotten a lot of matches nice to prove people wrong once here, which is great. Hopefully I again,” said Wozniacki, who was can just bring this momentum sidelined nearly three months into the Asian swing.” with an ankle injury this year. During the tournament Woz- Wozniacki’s run to the semis niacki declined to dampen spec- included victories over ninth- ulation that she was in the verge seeded former champion Svet- of retiring from tennis. lana Kuznetsova of Russia and Her father Piotr was quoted in eighth-seeded American Madi- Danish media as suggesting his son Keys. daughter was unlikely to play be- But her bid to become just the yond next year. fourth unseeded woman to reach Asked again about her long- the US Open fi nal ran aground term plans, Wozniacki said she when she was beaten 6-4, 6-3 by was only focusing on the imme- newly minted world number one diate future. “To be honest right Angelique Kerber. now, my head isn’t anywhere,” “Obviously right now I’m a lit- she said. “I have the Asian swing tle disappointed not to win today, to look forward to, so that’s really but at the end of the day it’s been what I’m thinking about next. I’m a good tournament, something I playing Tokyo in a week’s time.”

Karolina Pliskova (left) of the Czech Republic will take on Germany’s Angelique Kerber (right) in the US Open women’s singles final today. (AFP)

AFP since Steffi Graf in 1996. Graf is also the New York only other German woman to achieve the top ranking. “It’s incredible to be in the fi nal and to arolina Pliskova shattered Ser- be the world number one, it’s a great day,” ena Williams’s bid for a record- said Kerber, who has made the fi nal with- breaking 23rd Grand Slam title out dropping a set. Thursday, her 6-2, 7-6 (5) win Ksetting-up a US Open fi nal against new NUMBER ONE DREAM world number one Angelique Kerber. “To be the number one in the world, that The win for Czech 10th seed Pliskova was always a dream for me. I was trying meant the 34-year-old American was not to think about it too much the last few deposed as the world’s top player, losing weeks.” her chance to stay at the peak for a record The German leads Pliskova 4-3 in their 187 weeks. head to heads, but the Czech won their Tougher to beat Venus than In today’s championship match, Plisk- most recent meeting in the Cincinnati fi - ova will tackle second seed Kerber who nal last month. Serena, says Pliskova marked her coronation as the new world Wozniacki, down at 74 in the world af- number one with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over ter missing almost three months of the Karolina Pliskova claimed it was harder to beat Venus Williams two-time runner-up Caroline Wozni- season with an ankle injury, had refused than it was to stun Serena Williams to make the US Open final on acki. on the eve of her fi fth semi-fi nal in New Thursday. The 10th seeded Czech clinched a famous 6-2, 7-6 (5) It will be Pliskova’s fi rst appearance in York to dampen speculation that she was semi-final win to reach her first Grand Slam final, ending Serena’s a Grand Slam fi nal while Australian Open on the brink of announcing her retire- hopes of winning a record 23rd major and knocking the American champion Kerber will be in her third of Serena Williams of the US leaves the court after being defeated by Pliskova in their US ment. off the top of the world rankings as a result. the year having fi nished runner-up to Open semi-final on Thursday. (AFP) But she certainly appeared to have her The 24-year-old Pliskova also became just the fourth player to Williams at Wimbledon. mind elsewhere throughout the match. beat both Williams sisters at the same Slam after Justine Henin, Williams, who also lost in the semi- on just mentally thinking about my leg such a great champion,” said the 6ft 1in “I’m a little disappointed not to win Kim Clijsters and Martina Hingis. fi nals last year which ended her bid to and just not thinking about the shot.” (1.86m) Czech who had also beaten Venus today, but at the end of the day it’s been But she believes she laid the foundations for her shock semi-final claim a rare calendar Slam, said she had Pliskova, the fi rst Czech woman in the Williams in the fourth round. a good tournament, something I can be victory by saving a match point in her gruelling three-set win been suff ering from a knee injury in the US Open fi nal since Helena Sukova in “Even when she was down a set and proud of,” said the Danish player. over Venus in the fourth round. run-up to the semifi nal. 1993, said she had not noticed that her break she was still fi ghting. I had to fi ght “I came into this tournament ranked “To beat Serena, she’s world No. 1, so it’s always tough to beat “When you’re hampered you’re think- opponent was carrying an injury. hard to win.” 74 in the world and probably people someone like this. She’s never giving up. Even if she’s losing, not ing of other things,” said the American, a The 24-year-old preferred to focus Despite the injury, Williams admitted ruled me out, but it’s nice to prove people playing her best, it’s always tough to beat girls like this,” said six-time US Open champion. on fi nally making a Slam championship Pliskova earned her victory. wrong once again.” Pliskova. “But I would say it was a little bit tougher to play Venus “Like I was making errors that I never match after never making it past the third “Karolina played great today. I think At least she has the consolation of because obviously I was match point down and she was serving make, and defi nitely I didn’t make in this round of a major in 17 prior attempts. if she had played any less then maybe I knowing her surprise run to a fi fth semi- much better than Serena was tonight. Even my game I think was a tournament in particular. “I knew I had the chance to beat any- would have had a chance,” said Williams. fi nal in the city where she keeps a second little bit better against Venus. Everyone is gonna say it’s amazing “So many simple, simple shots that I one if I played my game. I am excited to Kerber, the 28-year-old left-hander, is home will translate to a place back in the win tonight. But both matches were very good.” easily could have made. I just blame that be in the fi nal and to beat Serena as she is the fi rst German woman to reach the fi nal world top 30. Group 2 double for Qatar Racing as Simple Verse, Rich Legacy win

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atar Racing’s Simple Verse obviously likes Doncaster racecourse. She was the winner Qof the St Leger Stakes there last year and, on Thursday, she returned to land the Park Hill Stakes (Gr2) recording her first Group victory this season. Simple Verse beat Pretty Perfect by a neck in a very strong finish by the two fillies. California was third. “We had a few problems with her post-Ascot and it wasn’t easy getting her back from her break,” said Simple Verse’s trainer Ralph Beckett. “She wants this trip. She wants to go further, but I’m delighted. I imagine that we’ll probably go to the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day. It’s a shame it’s not a Group 1 but it’s probably the race for her.” The silks of Qatar Racing were back in the winners’ enclosure thanks to the two-year-old Rich Legacy, who won the May Hill Stakes (Gr2), and is also trained by Beckett. She showed plenty of deter- mination to wear down Grecian Light, who came second ahead of Urban Fox. “She’s a lovely straight-forward filly who has rather crept up on us,” Beckett said. “She surprised us by winning first time as I hadn’t seen anything like that from her at home. I’m thrilled to bits. She’s in the Jockey Oisin Murphy (left) rides Simple Verse to victory in the Park Hill Stakes (Group 2) Prix Marcel Boussac. I thought that was the race for at Doncaster on Thursday. PICTURES: Racingfotos.com her after her debut win and maybe it still is.” Jockey Oisin Murphy (left) rides Rich Legacy to victory in the May Hill Stakes (Group 2) at Doncaster.