SPORT Tuesday 5 December 2017

PAGE | 34 PAGE | 36-37 PAGE | 40 Heynckes takes Ashes: Anderson stars Woods fires final- Bayern back to as England strike round 68 but Fowler basics for PSG back in Adelaide wins the trophy Qatar’s Fares bags silver at Worlds

California position at the Rio 2016 Olym- QNA/Reuters pic Games. Al Khayareen informed that the Qatari mis- tar Qatari weightlifter sion to 2017 World Fares Hassouna made Teenager Fares Championships in Anaheim the country proud wins the medal was headed by Sheikh Khalid after clinching the sil- bin Khalifa Al Thani and ver medal at the 2017 after managing to includes Fares and coach Ibra- SWorld Weightlifting Champi- lift 220kg in the him Hassouna. onships in Anaheim, California jerk during the He underlined that the on Sunday. remarkable achievements of Fares, aged 19, won the 94kg category the Qatari sports in general and medal after he managed to lift final at the 2017 weightlifting in particular are 220kg in the jerk during the accomplished with the strong 94kg category final. Apart from World support provided by Qatar winning the silver medal in his Weightlifting Olympic Committee (QOC) category, the Qatari weightlifter under the chairmanship of H E secured fourth overall position Championships in Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al amid strong competition. Anaheim Thani. In a statement to Qatar In addition, Qatar Weight- News Agency (QNA), Executive lifting Federation (QWF), headed Manager of Qatar Weightlifting by Mohammed Yousuf Al Mana;s Federation Mubarak Zayed Al all out support also played key Khayareen said that the victory role in the success, he added. Qatar’s Fares Hassouna (left) poses with other medal winners after the finals of 2017 World achieved is the first for Fares at Championships in Japan, add- Al Khayareen said QWF Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim, California on Sunday. the senior level, which came ing to his 2016 Asian was giving best training to its after he won the World Junior Championship title and seventh athletes by holding local and foreign training camps, and, kgs to clinch third. Mendez was kilograms behind the sending the weightlifters for all only granted citizenship by Lithuanian. regional, continental and inter- Chile this year. The 29-year-old Moradi national championships which He could have also taken jumped from 220kg to 233kg is giving them valuable Rostami’s clean and jerk world on his fifth lift to break the experience. record had he not failed with clean and jerk world record of Meanwhile, Chile’s Arley his final attempt at 221kg. 232kg set in 2000 by Poland’s Mendez returned from more “My finger got stuck on the Szymon Kolecki, and better by than four years of international bar, a technical problem,” said four kilograms his own world competitive exile to defeat Mendez. record for the total, which he Iran’s Olympic champion Kian- “Next year the records will improved to 417kg. oush Rostami in the men’s 85 come. I prepared well and I “I wanted to surprise every- kilogram class at weightlifting’s knew I would win here.” body and I did,” said Moradi. “I World Championships, while Rostami, who injured his am proud to make every Iranian Sohrab Moradi broke two world left knee last week, missed all across the world very happy,” he records in the 94kg class. three clean and jerk attempts said. Mendez, who never and failed to register a total. In the women’s 75 kilogram returned home after compet- Moradi, who won gold in class, Spain’s Lydia Valentin, a ing for his native Cuba in the Rio last year, broke two world medallist at the past three Pan American Junior Champi- records in winning the 94 kil- Olympic Games, was the clear onships in Santiago in 2013, ogram class, to take an easy win winner on 258kg from Ecua- posted a total of 378kg to win over Lithuania’s Aurimas Didz- dor’s Neisi Dajomes on 240kg Qatar’s Fares Hassouna competes during the finals of 94kg category of the 2017 World gold ahead of Poland’s Krzysz- balis by 29 kilograms. with France’s Gaelle Ketchanke Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim, California on Sunday. Fares won the silver medal tof Zwarycz (359kg). Italy’s Iran’s Seyedayoob Mousav- a further three kilograms in the competition. Antonino Pizzolato lifted 358 ijahari was in third place, three behind.

Al Duhail look to maintain top Tickets sale kicks off for Qatar ExxonMobil Open

spot as QSL braces for a break The Peninsula

The Peninsula Algerian spearhead Baghdad ickets sale for one of the QSL ROUND 11 FIXTURES Bounedjah, who is nursing an most awaited events in he Week 11 action of the injury. TDoha - Qatar ExxonMo- QNB Stars League (QSL) December 7 However, Xavi & Co are bil Open - kicked off online and Twill be held with three 4pm: Al Sailiya vs Al Duhail at Al Ahli Stadium capable of delivering against any in various shopping malls, matches each to be played on team, as was evident from their organisers announced Thursday and Friday ahead of 6:10pm: Al Ahli vs Al Rayyan at Al Ahli Stadium hard-fought victory over Al Khor yesterday. the winter break which will con- 6:10pm: Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Sadd at Al Khor Stadium at the renovated Khalifa Inter- Tickets are available in the tinue till next month. national Stadium last week. malls at City Center, Landmark, All the 12 teams are looking Xavi, the FIFA World Cup Lagoona, Villaggio and Mall of to give their best in the last December 8 winner and two-time European Qatar or online at www.qatart- round of the first phase, prom- 4pm: Al Arabi vs Al Khor at Al Arabi Stadium Championship winner with ennis.org ising interesting and electrifying Spain, more than made up for The tournament, which

battles at the weekend. 6:10pm: Al Markhiya vs Umm Salal at Al Arabi Stadium the absence of Baghdad with a brings the best of tennis stars Tournament Director Karim Table toppers Al Duhail, 6:10pm: Qatar SC vs Al Gharafa at Qatar SC Stadium double. Jugurtha Hamroun also to Doha, will be held from Jan- Alami. who are yet to lose a match, came good against Al Khor and uary 1 to 6 at the Khalifa “We are proud to host on a will look for nothing less than that makes the race at the top of International Tennis & Squash yearly basis some of the best a victory when they are hosted shield, lifted by Lekhwiya last out injured. Al Ahli, coached by the table hotter. Complex. players who have always by Al Sailiya, who must be season. Spaniard Joaquin Caparros, will The competition in the bot- Former world No. 1 Novak looked forward to starting their eager to snap a two-match los- Last week, The Red Knights take the field with a winning tom half is also tough. Djokovic (pictured) is leading season in Qatar. We are look- ing streak. widened the gap with Al Rayyan mentality, having beaten Al Tenth-placed Qatar SC run into a star cast which includes ing forward to seeing the fans The Peregrines had lost to Al to three points after the latter Sailiya in the last round. Al Gharafa, who had also won in Dominic Thiem, Jo-Wilfried troop out in large numbers to Khor and Al Ahli in Week 9 and played out a 1-1 draw with Umm Al Sadd too cannot afford to Week 10, while basement side Tsonga, Tomas Berdych, Rich- experience this amazing week 10 respectively. Salal. drop points if they are to be in Al Arabi take on eighth-placed ard Gasquet and Fernando of tennis, he added. ,” Tourna- Al Duhail will also be keen The Lions will be keen to put title contention. The Wolves, on Al Khor. Verdasco as well as Pablo Car- ment Director Karim Alami, to keep their unbeaten record in behind that disappointment 24 points and four behind Al Debutants Al Markhiya, 11th reno Busta, to the event. says of the upcoming event. tact after the first phase. when they face Al Ahli. Duhail, play Al Kharaitiyat at the on six points, also badly need “The Qatar ExxonMobil Information about ticket That will give them a shot However, they will miss the Al Khor Stadium, the latter’s some points to stay off the rele- Open has grown to become one sales and for the tournament in the arm in their pursuit of services of star Moroccan striker home ground. gation zone as they meet Umm of the major cornerstone in the can be obtained from www. retaining the prestigious league Abderrazaq Hamdallah, who is Al Sadd will continue to miss Salal. Qatar sports calendar,” said qatartennis.org. 34 SPORT TUESDAY 5 DECEMBER 2017 The gulf between Europe’s haves and have-nots!

Paris 2005. PSV won the European of that happening, and it is is AFP Cup in 1988, while Celtic lifted hard to envisage a better out- the trophy in 1967. come than the system currently he Champions League The current Celtic have not in place. group stage, which lost in 67 domestic matches, a Indeed, the changes imple- Treaches its conclusion this British record, with Brendan mented in time for next season, week, has once again largely Rodgers undefeated on home guaranteeing four group-stage served to emphasise the gulf soil since becoming manager 18 spots for clubs from Spain, Ger- between Europe’s haves and months ago. many, England and Italy, are have-nots. But Rodgers has also over- really a step closer to a closed As a reminder, here are just seen the club’s heaviest league for the elite. a few of the scores from the European defeat, 7-0 in Barce- Celtic’s most recent finan- competition this season: Mari- lona last season, and heaviest cial results showed overall bor 0 Liverpool 7; Paris home loss, a 5-0 reverse to PSG revenue of £90.6m, while PSG Saint-Germain 7 Celtic 1; Chel- that preceded the 7-1 hammer- came sixth in Deloitte’s 2017 sea 6 Qarabag 0; APOEL 0 Real ing at the Parc des Princes. Football Money League with Madrid 6. “We’re having to make up a overall revenue of 520.9m Going into this final match- huge gap in terms of quality, but euros. day, 11 games have been won by we’re going to try to progress Too strong at home but not a margin of four goals or more. each year,” Rodgers said after strong enough in Europe, Celtic A further 15 matches have seen the match in Paris. instead make do with what they three-goal victories, meaning Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery gestures during a training session in Saint-Germain-en- “It’s always going to be a can get their hands on. almost exactly a third of the challenge for us, you cannot get “These results...reflect the Laye, western Paris, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League match against Bayern Munich. group games to date have been away from it.” paramount importance to the decisively one-sided. The only solution to throw company of participation in the The Football Observatory at the tournament open again group stages of the UEFA Cham- the International Centre for Jose Mourinho summed it up in leading five leagues -- Spain, of Basel or CSKA Moscow likely would probably be to reintro- pions League,” said a report of Sports Studies in Switzerland September when he called the England, Germany, Italy and to advance in Group A. duce a straight knockout system, their annual financial results, recently found that the group group stage a “warm-up”. France -- and Mourinho’s afore- The only outsiders to make with no seedings, like it was published in September. stage was the most unbalanced “I think for...Real Madrid, mentioned trio will be among it past the group stage last sea- before the Champions League Just reaching the group competition in Europe behind Barcelona and Bayern, the them. son were Portuguese giants era began. stage -- sharing in the prestige the top divisions of Cyprus and Champions League starts in Indeed, it may turn out that Benfica and FC Porto. Real Madrid and Bayern and the revenues -- has almost Austria. February,” he said. only two qualifiers come from Going further forward, the being drawn together in a win- become the be all and end all. What is happening is noth- We already know that nine outwith that elite, with Turkish last time a club from outwith the ner-takes-all tie right away For the rest, the real thing ing new, though, and of the teams who will feature in champions Besiktas already ‘Big Five’ reached the semi- would be fantastic for excite- begins when the draw for the Manchester United manager the last 16 come from Europe’s through in Group G and only one finals was PSV Eindhoven in ment, but there is no prospect last 16 is made next week.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES UEFA Champions League fixtures this week (all 1945 GMT): Heynckes takes Bayern back Playing Today Group A At Lisbon Benfica (POR) vs Basel (SUI) At Manchester, England Manchester United (ENG) vs CSKA Moscow to basics for crunch PSG match (RUS) Group B Berlin teams are already through to the treble of Champions League, At Glasgow, Scotland AFP last 16, but the French have a Bundesliga and German Cup Celtic (SCO) vs Anderlecht (BEL) vastly superior goal difference titles before he was replaced by At Munich, Germany upp Heynckes, the 72-year- after five straight wins. Pep Guardiola. Bayern Munich (GER) vs Paris Saint-Germain old disciplinarian who has It means Bayern need to win Of his 2013 treble-winning (FRA) steadied the ship at Bayern by four clear goals to wrestle top side, Robben, Franck Ribery, Group C Munich, has urged his side spot in the clubs’ head-to-head Thomas Muller, Rafinha, Jer- At London Jto keep it simple for Today’s record -- a result no one in the ome Boateng, Manuel Neuer Chelsea (ENG) vs Atletico Madrid (ESP) crunch Champions League German camp deems realistic. and Javi Martinez are still at At Rome match at home to Paris “It would be an unlikely Bayern. Roma (ITA) vs Qarabag (AZE) Saint-Germain. dream,” said defender Mats Heynckes’ return has been a Group D Bayern need to win by a Hummels while chairman Rum- big plus for Mueller and Boateng At Barcelona, Spain four-goal margin in order to win menigge said beating PSG by who both struggled for game Barcelona (ESP) vs Sporting Lisbon (POR) their group, a situation they find such a margin is “wishful time under Ancelotti. At Piraeus, Greece themselves in because of the 3-0 thinking”. Heynckes also identified that Olympiakos (GRE) vs Juventus (ITA) thrashing by a Neymar-inspired Heynckes sees the game as James Rodriguez, on loan from Playing tomorrow PSG in the French capital that “pure psychology”. Real, was struggling to settle in Group E At Liverpool, England precipitated the sacking of Carlo “We want to beat them and Munich, so started addressing Liverpool (ENG) vs Spartak Moscow (RUS) Ancelotti. show off what we are capable the Colombian in Spanish. At Maribor, Slovenia At the time, defending cham- of. Everything else is far from He has also worked wonders Bayern Munich’s German head coach Jupp Heynckes (left) Maribor (SLO) vs Sevilla (ESP) pions Bayern were also five realistic,” he added. with Arturo Vidal, having already overseas a training session prior the UEFA Champions League Group F points adrift in the Bundesliga. “I am someone who worked with the Chilean at At Kharkiv, Ukraine But Heynckes has stamped demands a lot,’ Heynckes said Group B match against PSG Paris at the training Center in Bayer Leverkusen between 2009 Munich, southern Germany, yesterday. Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) vs Manchester City his authority on his fourth stint on his return. and 2011. (ENG) at the club after Karl-Heinz “The players will have to get The midfielder has made a At Rotterdam, Netherlands Rummenigge and president Uli used to that. Discipline is a part He insists on politeness and involved in the competition. vast improvement since Hey- Feyenoord (NED) vs Napoli (ITA) Hoeness turned to their 2013 tre- of life and work.” punctuality at all times. In 1997-98, he lifted the tro- nckes told him to knuckle down Group G ble-winning coach in their hour Former AC Milan and Chel- Mobile phones are expected phy with Real Madrid in his only in training and Vidal has scored At Leipzig, Germany of need. sea boss Ancelotti had lost his to be neither seen nor heard and season at the Santiago in each of his last three games. RB Leipzig (GER) vs Besiktas (TUR) Bayern won nine of their ten dressing room long before the training sessions start an hour Bernabeu. Heynckes’ future beyond At Porto, Portugal following matches and now hold PSG hammering. earlier than under Ancelotti. With Bayern, he suffered the 2017/18 remains unclear. Porto (POR) vs Monaco (FRA) a six-point lead in the Arjen Robben quipped that The players tidy the dressing heartbreak of a penalty shoot- Bayern want him to stay Group H Bundesliga. training sessions at his son’s jun- room and eat together after out defeat against Chelsea in the on, but Heynckes insists he is At London However in the Champions ior team in Munich were tougher training. 2012 final in Munich. leaving in June, revealing he Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) vs APOEL (CYP)

League, PSG arrive in Munich than what had become the norm Heynckes is a Champions A year later, Heynckes lifted “still doesn’t have a contract” At Madrid with a three-point lead over Bay- at Bayern, but Heynckes tight- League expert, winning it twice the trophy when Bayern became while at a fan-club visit on Real Madrid (ESP) vs Borussia Dortmund (GER) ern at the top of Group B. Both ened discipline immediately. in the three seasons he has been the first German club to win the Sunday. Atletico bank on Griezmann to keep hopes alive

Madrid moved into the new 310m euro couldn’t replace him since it is million, which is my release derby two weeks ago. At the time Having won just two and AFP Wanda Metropolitano Stadium they who propelled him into the clause. Griezmann was on a barren run scored seven goals in their pre- earlier this season, could precip- European football elite after “I was not going to waste of eight games without a goal vious 10 matches, Atletico have s a red-hot Antoine Griez- itate Griezmann’s departure from signing him from Real Sociedad time denying it. No matter how and, with no one else offering won four in a row, netting an mann hopes to keep the Spanish capital. But for his in 2014. much I repeat that I am delighted reliable back-up, Atletico’s average of three goals a game. AAtletico Madrid’s faint loyalty to Atletico and in partic- That loyalty hasn’t been at Atletico, that I have a great Champions League campaign After Griezmann’s fourth in Champions League hopes alive ular coach Diego Simeone, wholly rewarded however, with coach and great teammates, they stalled with defeat to Chelsea and three games with a late winner at Stamford Bridge, the stage is Griezmann could have already many Atletico fans unhappy at ask me regularly about my back-to-back draws with against his former side Sociedad also set for the Frenchman to been out of the door last sum- Griezmann’s frequent flirting future. Azerbaijanis Qarabag. on Saturday, he was grappled in showcase his talents to a host of mer. A number of sides, led by with other sides, including La “At Real Sociedad I realised “I am with him to the death,” a bear hug by Simeone that Premier League suitors. Manchester United, seemed will- Liga rivals Real Madrid and Bar- I had reached a moment where insisted Simeone back then showed his was fully back in the Atletico need to beat Chelsea ing to meet his 100m euro celona, often via the French I had to move to keep progress- before adding “as long as he is in fold. One of the best nights in in London today and hope Roma buyout clause, but when Atleti- press. “For months now my ing, that has not happened at my family”. Simeone’s glorious six years at don’t beat Champions League deb- co’s appeal against a transfer ban name has come out linked with Atletico Madrid. Although, again, All has been forgiven, if not the helm in Madrid came at utants Qarabag in the Italian was rejected in June Griezmann Manchester United,” Griezmann I rule nothing out.” forgotten, in the past 10 days as Stamford Bridge in 2014, when capital if they are to make the last agreed to stay on. wrote in his newly-released The backlash to Griezmann’s a stunning acrobatic opener in a he outwitted Jose Mourinho in a 16 for a fifth consecutive season. Griezmann admitted at the autobiography ‘Behind the public comments peaked when 2-0 win over Roma got Griez- 3-1 win that took his side to the The financial blow an early time it would have been “dirty” Smile’. “The English press said he was jeered off as he was sub- mann back among the goals and first of their two recent Champi- exit would bring to Atletico, who to walk out on Atletico when they they were willing to pay EUR100 stituted during a goalless Madrid Atletico winning again. ons League finals. TUESDAY 5 DECEMBER 2017 SPORT 35

IOC to rule on Russia’s 2018 What would banning Russia Games fate Lausanne AFP mean for the Winter Games? he International Olym- pic Committee meets Tfrom today to decide Moscow Russian athletes,” saying that whether to bar Russia from AP punishing Russia too harshly the 2018 Winter Olympics for would put “the health of ice doping violations, in one of hen the Inter- hockey at risk.” the weightiest decisions ever national BACKLASH faced by the Olympic Olympic Com- A Russia ban could also movement. mittee board cause a backlash against athletes The build-up to the high- prepares to perceived to benefit. stakes summit in Lausanne W vote today on whether to ban Gabriela Koukalova of the 66 days before the start of the Russia from February’s Winter Czech Republic, one of the big- 2018 Games has been domi- Olympics, its members will gest names in biathlon, called for nated by an almost daily drip decide the fate of numerous a ban on Russia on her Facebook of negative news for Vladimir medals yet to be won. page last week, only to be del- Putin’s winter sports If there’s a blanket ban on uged with hundreds of insults in heavyweights. Russia for its doping offenses at English and Russian. On November 26, athlet- the 2014 Olympics — or restric- Alongside sexist putdowns, ics’ ruling body the IAAF tions that prompt Russia to some suggested Koukalova — maintained its two-year long boycott the 2018 Games — it who is in line to pick up a relay suspension of Russia imposed could mean the end of compel- bronze from 2014 due to a Rus- over claims of state-spon- ling storylines and a slide into sian disqualification — wouldn’t sored doping. irrelevance for the men’s hockey be safe if she competes in Rus- That ban prevented its tournament. sia again. athletes from competing at Gracenote Sports, which The issue of Russian doping the 2016 Rio Olympics and forecasts a “virtual medal table” has caused rifts between ath- this year’s World Champion- based on recent results, predicts letes, too. ships in London. Russia will win 21 medals, six of During February’s world bia- The IAAF ruling followed them gold, if it competes in thlon championships, French the World Anti-Doping Pyeongchang. athlete Martin Fourcade walked This file photo taken on February 24, 2014 shows Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (front) Agency announcement on That puts Russia eighth on off the podium when the Rus- November 16 that Russia was posing for a photo with Russian athletes, winners of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, in Sochi. predicted gold medals, or joint sian mixed relay team — which still not compliant with inter- Putin has staked Russia’s prestige -- and his own reputation -- on sporting achievements but fifth on total medals. included an athlete newly national rules on doping. If Russia is banned, oppor- returned from a doping ban — a possible ban from the Winter Olympics after claims of state-run doping threatens to wipe WADA’s refusal to lift the tunities open up for many other was awarded its medals. out any successes. suspension of Moscow’s countries. AHN’S RETURN national anti-doping body Here is a look at more pos- One of Pyeongchang’s most Norwegians, plus countries like The only figure skater so far to compete as neutrals, without raised the stakes in Russia’s sible consequences. compelling storylines depends Finland, Italy and Canada. to have faced an IOC discipli- their flag or anthem. possible exclusion from South HOCKEY IN JEOPARDY on Russia taking part. The United States is hunting nary panel, 2014 gold medalist Neutral status has been used Korea. The men’s hockey tourna- Viktor Ahn was a star speed- its first ever women’s cross- Adelina Sotnikova, was cleared. before when a country is under Russia’s chances of going ment at the next Winter skater for South Korea under the country medal, an easier task if OTHER OPTIONS United Nations sanctions — like to Pyeongchang were further Olympics is already the first name Ahn Hyun-soo, winning Russia isn’t there. The IOC has never before Yugoslavia in 1992 during the damaged by a raft of bans without the NHL’s participation three Olympic gold medals, but The absence of Russia’s top imposed a blanket ban for dop- conflict there — or last year handed out to its medallists since 1994, but banning Russia his career seemed finished when biathlete, Anton Shipulin, would ing and refused to do so for last when Kuwait was suspended by at the Sochi 2014 Games in could diminish it even further. he failed to make the team for help Germany and France’s year’s Summer Olympics in Rio the IOC due to government the past week. The Moscow-based Konti- Vancouver in 2010. medal chances. de Janeiro. Instead, the IOC interference in sports. The In total Russia was nental Hockey League is widely Ahn then stunned skating YOUNG STARS BARRED passed the decision to the var- Kuwaitis were officially known stripped of 11 of its 33 medals considered the world’s second- fans by switching to Russia and A blanket ban for offenses ious sports federations, resulting as “Independent Olympic for cheating, meaning it has strongest league, and it’s winning three more gold med- from 2014 inevitably hits athletes in Russia being kicked out of Athletes.” lost its position at the top of threatening to withdraw all its als in Sochi. who weren’t part of any doping track and field — except for one A similar approach was used the Sochi medals table to players from the Olympics if His return home to South system. athlete — and weightlifting, but for Russia at this year’s world Norway. Russia is banned. Korea in a Russian uniform for There’s been no suggestion allowing Russia to field full track championships, but it The explosive, WADA- Russia would otherwise be the Pyeongchang Olympics is of any wrongdoing by reigning teams in many sports. often seemed to draw extra commissioned 2016 McLaren the gold medal favorite thanks hotly anticipated. two-time world figure skating The Winter Olympics are attention to the Russians who report alleged state-spon- to ex-NHL players like Pavel NORDIC OPPORTUNITIES champion Evgenia Medvedeva different, not least because the competed. As “neutral” high sored doping in Russia and Datsyuk and Ilya Kovalchuk, With no Russian athletes, the — not least because she was just most serious allegations against jumper Ilya Ivanyuk said, “eve- saw the country shut out of who now play in the KHL. Nordic events would be shaken 14 years old in February 2014. Russian officials relate to its ryone knows where we’re the agency. The U.S., Canada and other up. Medvedeva’s teammate hosting of the last Winter Games from.” The investigation said the countries also plan to use KHL Cross-country skier Sergei Alina Zagitova, also a medal in Sochi in 2014. Russian authorities fiercely cheating peaked at the 2014 players, so losing them could Ustyugov won two gold and contender for Pyeongchang, The IOC has already banned oppose neutral status as a sym- Winter Olympics in the Black deal a heavy blow to the audi- three silver medals at February’s was just 11 during Sochi. 25 individual Russians for dop- bolic humiliation but have Sea resort of Sochi, where ence figures of a tournament world championships in a com- Sports like figure skating ing in Sochi. Even if the Russian stopped short of saying they Russian secret agents engi- that’s already struggling to pelling rivalry with Norwegian and curling have seen some team competes, those 25 won’t would boycott the Olympics if it neered an elaborate system attract attention. Martin Johnsrud Sundby. accusations of wrongdoing by be there unless they can over- came to pass. For many of Rus- of state-backed doping. The International Ice Hockey If he’s absent from athletes around the time of the turn those bans on appeal. sia’s critics, taking away the flag Exclusion from Federation called Tuesday for Pyeongchang, that opens up Sochi Olympics, but no cases Besides a blanket ban, the does nothing to remove ques- Pyeongchang is causing con- “full participation of all clean opportunities for the have resulted in bans. IOC could also force Russians tionable Russian competitors. sternation in Moscow. Moses remarkably recovers from head injuries

Colarado Springs of one of the world’s best athletes, com- bed.” court. When Moses himself was given AP bined with a therapy he says put him on After a few the option of using a walker to relearn the fast track to recovery. weeks, he was feel- how to move, he chose to check out of dwin Moses turned the corner, saw “The first thing I said was, ‘Nobody’s ing better, and when the hospital and called his friend, who the blue police lights in the dis- going to believe this story,’” Moses said. he hit his head on the has travelled with him and put him E tance and, immediately, started “It was the worst possible scenario and car door, he thought through two-a-day workouts that spinning. I was able to walk again. It really didn’t nothing of it, mainly involve, among other things, pool work, His senses overwhelmed by the look like it would go that way when they because there was no stimulation using electromagnetic cur- strength of the strobing lights, Moses fell were lifting my legs into the bed and I bruise or outward rents, weights and more weights. to the ground and crawled to the side- couldn’t control my upper body.” sign of swelling. “I started working with him on Sep- walk, then used every ounce of energy The 62-year-old Moses began mak- Turns out, that acci- tember 26, and on October 26, he was to stand up and stagger back to his car. ing the impossible seem possible starting dent started a slow able to fly over to Switzerland by him- Somehow, he made it home safely that in the 1970s, when he set a world record leak of blood under- self” for an anti-doping conference, night. Within a week, he was lying in a and won the gold medal in the 400- neath the surface, Felton Bessozi said. “I know how fast hospital bed, losing feeling in his legs, meter hurdles at the Montreal Olympics. and not until a visit to the body can recover. The human body wondering if he would ever walk again. He took another Olympic gold in 1984, the hospital shortly is the most phenomenal machine on the The incident on the streets of Atlanta and to this day, holds four of the 10 top after that night on the planet.” came shortly after Moses suffered his times in the event, including a mark of A file photo of Edwin street did Moses real- And Moses’ is one of the best second traumatic brain injury in the 47.02 that remains the second-best of Moses during the ise the severity of the machines ever made. span of two months — one from a tum- all time. His streak of 122 straight races early 80s. impact. Not many are aware that he ran the ble down the stairs, the second when he without a loss still stands as one of the “They did a CT latter part of his career, from 1986 banged his head hard on the doorjamb most remarkable feats in sports. scan and said, ‘Some through 1988, with a ruptured disc. He of his car. He fought for athletes’ rights during of this blood is brand won an Olympic bronze and world gold After the second accident, Moses his career, helping develop an out-of- new,’” Moses said. medal during that span. Because MRIs suffered bleeding beneath his skull, and competition drug-testing program, and But this summer, it was more mun- “The doctor said were few and far between at the time, stayed in the hospital for about a week. has doubled down on his fight for clean dane pursuits — carrying a full load of something had to happen for something he wasn’t diagnosed until 1993. Moses rejected “traditional” physical sports since retirement. household items down the stairs on July like this to be there.” But the real accident in the car — therapy for concussions that would have He currently serves as chairman of 2 — that sent him tumbling and triggered He turned down the option of a slow when he banged his head against the involved relearning how to walk and the US Anti-Doping Agency, a job that a spiral that landed him in the hospital, rehab process and instead turned to Fel- door jamb — occurred decades later, and instead chose a more aggressive puts him on the front lines of a fight that unable to walk and wondering if he ton Bessozi, an old friend who now lives when it happened, Moses didn’t recog- approach offered by his friend, physi- currently is centered on allegations that might be paralysed for life. in Italy, where she coaches track and nise it for what it was. cal therapist and former track star Rene Russia’s government ran a programme “I needed someone to take me does therapy. Now that he’s on the mend, Moses Felton Bessozi. to help its Olympic athletes evade pos- upstairs at night, bring me back down, Moses’ son, Julian, is a volleyball views Felton Bessozi’s therapy as a Three months after that scary night itive tests. Moses has been a featured bring in food and all that,” Moses said. player. He worked with Felton Bessozi potential answer for the thousands of on the street, Moses is nearing 100 per- speaker for years at meetings to discuss “Some days, it might take me 20 min- to overcome a knee injury, and with her concussions diagnoses that have made cent — a credit to the talent and tenacity the Russia case and others. utes to get up off the couch or out of the help, he returned quickly back to the so many headlines other sports. 36 SPORT TUESDAY 5 DECEMBER 2017 TUESDAY 5 DECEMBER 2017 SPORT 37 Chandimal, Mathews tons help Sri Lanka Australian top-order fails bounce back at Kotla

New Delhi at second slip on Sunday and Reuters paceman Ishant Sharma endured more anguish when Rohit inesh Chandimal made Sharma grassed a catch in the as England finally fire 147 not out and Angelo same position with the batsman DMathews ended his cen- on 98. tury drought to help Sri Lanka Mathews went on to com- rediscover their competitive plete his eighth Test century, edge against India on day three more than two years after his last of the third and final Test against the same opponents, and yesterday. the relief was evident as he New Zealand’s Neil Sri Lanka’s current and pumped air in celebration. Wagner (left) with former Test skippers combined “It was very pleasing and bit team-mate Tom England’s paceman James Anderson in a 181-run fourth-wicket part- of a relief as well,” Mathews said. Blundell walk from celebrates dismissing Australia’s batsman nership to help them reach 356 “I had the confidence within the field after New Cameron Bancroft on the third day of for nine when bad light stopped myself. I was hitting the ball in Zealand’s win during the second Ashes Test match in Adelaide play, the first time they had the nets. Once I got the start day four of the first yesterday. passed 300 in the series. today, I thought let’s try and cap- Test match against Chandimal played a captain’s italise, with the luck as well.” the West Indies at knock and his 10th Test century Mathews was lucky again on the Basin Reserve in included 18 fours and one six. 104 when he lofted Ravindra Wellington, yesterday. Lakshan Sandakan was yet Jadeja to mid-off and the ball to open his account at the other burst through substitute fielder end with Sri Lanka still 180 runs Vijay Shankar’s hands. behind. He finally ran out of fortune Beginning the day 405 adrift when Ashwin ended his defiant of India’s total of 536 for seven knock which included 14 fours declared, the onus was on over- and two sixes. night batsmen Mathews and Sadeera Samarawickrama, West Indies collapse hands Chandimal to lead Sri Lanka’s who suffered concussion on Sat- battle for survival at the Feroz urday and missed play on Shah Kotla Stadium. Sunday, scored 33 but Sri Lanka The right-handed duo did lost four wickets for 39 runs in a not let their team down, deny- late collapse. New Zealand innings victory ing India in the morning session Ashwin (3-90) spoiled as Mathews rode his luck to Roshen Silva’s Test debut by dis- move on to 111 after being missing him for a duck, while Wellington SCOREBOARD lbw to spinner Mitchell Santer, dropped twice. Niroshan Dickwella also fell to AFP New Zealand took the new ball After the second day was the off-spinner for nought. West Indies (I innings): ...... 134 K Roach lbw de Grandhomme ...... 7 New Zealand (I innings): ...... 520-9 dec. M Cummins b Boult ...... 14 and removed Shai Hope (37)and blighted by complaints of air pol- Stumper Wriddhiman Saha ortune favoured New Zea- West Indies (II innings): S Gabriel (not out) ...... 4 Ronson Chase (18) before lunch. lution by the visitors, Sri Lanka took four catches in the innings land, according to captain K Brathwaite lbw Santner ...... 91 Extras (B4, LB4, W6) ...... 14 Sunil Ambris went on the first resumed on a slightly hazy but it was otherwise a slipshod FKane Williamson after they K Powell c and b Henry ...... 40 Total (for 10 wkts) ...... 319 ball after the resumption of play morning on 131 for three. performance by the Indian cleaned up the first Test against S Hetmyer c Raval b Henry ...... 66 Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-166, 3-231, 4-257, 5-273, 6-286, and the tail followed quickly. Their occasional discomforts fielders. the West Indies by an innings and S Hope c Williamson b Boult ...... 37 7-288, 8-301, 9-301, 10-319 Matt Henry took three for 57 notwithstanding, Chandimal and “Players are not machines. 67 runs on day four in Wellington R Chase b Henry ...... 18 Bowling: Boult 23-5-87-2, Henry 24-6-57-3 (1w), de and Neil Wanger two for 102 to Mathews displayed the kind of You feel angry as a bowler but it’s S Ambris c Taylor b de Grandhomme ...... 18 Grandhomme 19-3-40-2, Wagner 22-3-102-2 (1w), Sant-

yesterday. S Dowrich c Santner b Wagner ...... 3 ner 17-7-25-1, Williamson 1-1-0-0 finish with nine for the match. application that has been lack- part and parcel of the game,” The West Indies collapsed J Holder c Boult b Wagner ...... 7 Result: New Zealand won by an innings and 67 runs Wagner, who was near ing among the tourists who trail paceman Mohammad Shami said. spectacularly in their second unplayable in the first innings as Adelaide, Australia England under pressure in the first two sessions 1-0 after their heaviest defeat in “After a long time, we dropped innings to be all out for 319. he took a career best seven for 39 AFP yesterday. Off-spinner Lyon pulled off a blind- the second Test in Nagpur. so many catches. We have enough After a strong start, when they Williamson said. “So we knew in If was the first of three wick- with his short-pitched deliveries, ing one-handed catch to dismiss Moeen Ali off Mathews was on six when time to work hard on it and reached 231 for two, they lost their the second innings, when the ets before lunch and the last five was named man-of-the-match. ustralia wrestled with a seaming pink his own bowling in the second over after the Virat Kohli dropped him improve our catching.” last eight wickets for 88 runs as wicket became a little flatter, it fell for just 33 runs in nine overs “His ability to bowl that short- ball under floodlights to build a 268- first break. they chased a monumental 386 was going to be a tough job to after the interval. But captain pitched bowling as accurately as run lead with six wickets in hand over Moeen chipped to the left of Lyon, who flung SCOREBOARD to make New Zealand bat again. bowl them out. Jason Holder rejected suggestions he does, is not an easy thing to do. England in an engrossing second himself across the pitch in a split-second reac- But the real damage was done “I thought the bowlers were they had caved in, saying the plan We don’t see many bowlers able Ashes Test in Adelaide yesterday. tion to take the catch. India (I innings): ...... 536-7 dec. S Lakmal c Saha b Shami ...... 5 A Sri Lanka (I innings): L Gamage lbw b Jadeja...... 1 when Williamson won the toss exceptional to change their type was to play positively. to do that, that accurately, and for In testing batting conditions the Australians It was another sublime display of skill from D Karunaratne c Saha b Shami ...... 0 and made the West Indies bat first of thought to play the long game, “We said there’s two days left that long a period of time,” Wil- struggled against the moving ball in the final Lyon, nicknamed GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), L Sandakan (batting) ...... 0 D Perera lbw b Jadeja ...... 42 Extras (B4, LB5, NB2, PENALTY 5) ...... 16 on a green surface. be patient with the way they oper- in the game and we had to knock liamson said. Holder put it down twilight session as England roared back after following his laser-like throw to run out James D de Silva lbw b I Sharma ...... 1 Total (9wkts) ...... 356 They were rolled for 134 and ated and we saw the rewards in off the deficit and the only way to to “indecisive” batting which he trailing by 215 runs on the first innings. Vince in the first Test. A Mathews c Saha b Ashwin ...... 111 as the pitch flattened out New the second session today.” do that was staying positive. I believed would be rectified before In a fast-moving third day, England were Moeen had scored 25 off 57 balls in a 30-run D Chandimal not out ...... 147 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-14, 3-75, 4-256, 5-317, 6-318,

Zealand took charge with a mon- After resuming Monday at 214 don’t think anyone was reckless the second and final Test starts in dismissed for 227 but the Australians found it stand with Jonny Bairstow. S Samarawickrama c Saha b I Sharma ...... 33 7-322, 8-331, 9-343

Bowling: Shami 24-6-74-2 (nb1), Sharma 27-6-93-2, umental 520 for nine declared. for two, needing a further 172 runs at any stage,” he said. Hamilton on Saturday. difficult to score against the hooping ball under Five overs later Bairstow was on his way for R Silva c Dhawan b Ashwin ...... 0 “I thought in the first innings to make New Zealand bat again, “Unfortunately we lost Kraigg “We lost the first Test match the lights, in the first-ever Ashes day/night 21 after Starc juggled the return catch and finally N Dickwella b Ashwin ...... 0 Jadeja 44-13-85-2 (nb1), Ashwin 30-8-90-3 we were fairly fortunate as well the West Indies innings unrav- and we never gathered momen- obviously but there’s a chance to match. accepted it behind his back. as bowling very well in exploit- elled when Kraigg Brathwaite tum afterwards.” put things right in the second At the close, Australia were 53 for four with Woakes and Craig Overton dug in to put on ing the bounce in the surface,” went for 91. After Brathwaite’s dismissal, Test,” he said. Peter Handscomb on three and nightwatchman 66 for the eighth wicket before Woakes fell to Nathan Lyon not out three. a short-pitched Starc delivery, spooning a catch “We know the night sessions are the tough- back to the bowler for 36. Overton remained est but to be four down we still have a 268-run unbeaten on 41. INDIA SQUADS lead and day sessions to come. We’re still very Stuart Broad and Anderson were dismissed much in the driving seat,” said fast bowler Mitch- shortly after the dinner break, both off Lyon, to India name Bumrah, Patel in India’s Test squad for South Africa: ell Starc. end the England innings. Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, K. L. Rahul, The Australians lost the wickets of Cameron Lyon finished with four for 60 and took over Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Bancroft (4) and Usman Khawaja (20) to James from South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada (54) as the Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Rav- Anderson and that of a restrained David Warner world’s leading wicket-taker this year with 55, squad for South Africa Test ichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Parthiv Pa- (14) to Chris Woakes in the final session. while paceman Starc claimed three for 49. tel, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mo- Skipper Steve Smith survived a desperately Australia had grabbed four wickets in the New Delhi India’s pace quartet of Bhuv- matches.Wicketkeeper Parthiv hammad Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, close leg before wicket review off Anderson first session, including key batsmen Joe Root AFP neshwar Kumar, Mohammed Patel also earned a recall, having Jasprit Bumrah. before he had scored. But he missed out in and Alastair Cook. Shami, Ishant Sharma and Umesh last played against England in another tight lbw review, dismissed by Woakes Root shaped to drive Pat Cummins, only to ndia’s national selectors yes- Yadav on seamer friendly tracks December last year. India’s squad for T20 series against Sri Lan- for six. send a thick edge to Cameron Bancroft at third terday handed a maiden Test in South Africa. India will play three Tests, six ka: Holders England were fighting to stay in slip for just nine. Ispot to promising fast bowler Dashing all-rounder Hardik one-dayers and three T20 Rohit Sharma (captain), K. L. Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, the Test as Australia chased a potentially deci- Root, third in the Test batting rankings, only Jasprit Bumrah in a 17-member Pandya returned to the squad matches during the tour of South Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, sive 2-0 lead in the five-Test series after faced 10 balls while Cook, England’s other big squad for the upcoming tour of after opting out of the ongoing Africa which will kick off with a Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra winning last week’s Brisbane opener by 10 hope, was deceived by Lyon’s flight and edged South Africa. three-Test series against Sri warm-up game in Paarl on Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Jasprit wickets. to Steve Smith at slip for 37 off 90 balls. Bumrah, 23, was rewarded Lanka over workload worries. December 30. Selectors mean- “We’ve fought back well, we’ve pushed Aus- The former captain, who plundered 766 runs Bumrah, M. Siraj, Basil Thampi, Jaydev Unadkat. with a place in the Indian Test Pandya, 24, has become a key while rested star batsman Kohli tralia back tonight and we can take some when England won in Australia seven years ago, squad, ranked number one in the member of the Virat Kohli-led for the three-match Twenty20 positive stuff from that,” Woakes said. has scores of two, seven and 37 in his three world, after taking 52 wickets side since making his limited- series against Sri Lanka starting “Obviously, we’re behind in the game, but innings in the current series. from 28 one-day internationals. overs debut last year. He has on December 20, keeping in mind at the same time it’s really good that we’ve Vince went in the day’s second over to a The bowler would boost played in 30 of India’s last 33 the gruelling tour of South Africa. fought back and showed some good character poor shot, edging Josh Hazlewood outside off- SCOREBOARD to get ourselves back and put some pressure stump to wicketkeeper Tim Paine for two. India’s Parthiv Patel on Australia.” Dawid Malan was the other wicket to fall in Australia (I innings): ...... 442-8 decl. 7-142, 8-208, 9-227, 10-227 plays a cut shot during Lyon and Starc brought off spectacular the first session off an inside edge caught behind England (I innings): Bowling: Starc 20-4-49-3, Hazlewood 16-3-56-1, A Cook c Smith b Lyon ...... 37 Cummins 16-3-47-2 (1w), Lyon 24.1-5-60-4 the fifth and final catches as Australia put off Cummins for 19. M Stoneman lbw b Starc ...... 18 Australia (II innings): Test against England J Vince c Paine b Hazlewood ...... 2 C Bancroft c Bairstow b Anderson ...... 4 in Chennai in this J Root c Bancroft b Cummins ...... 9 D Warner c Root b Woakes ...... 14 December 2016 file D Malan c Paine b Cummins ...... 19 U Khawaja lbw b Anderson ...... 20 M Ali c and b Lyon ...... 25 picture. S Smith lbw b Woakes ...... 6 J Bairstow c and b Starc ...... 21 C Woakes c and b Starc ...... 36 P Handscomb (batting) ...... 3 C Overton not out ...... 41 N Lyon (batting) ...... 3 S Broad c Paine b Lyon ...... 3 Extras (LB2, W1) ...... 3 J Anderson lbw b Lyon ...... 0 Total (4 wkts) ...... 53 Sri Lanka team captain and batsman Dinesh Chandimal (right) Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-39, 3-41, 4-50

Extras (LB15, W1) ...... 16 raises his bat after completing his century as team-mate

Total (all out) ...... 227 Bowling: Anderson 11-7-16-2, Broad 7-2-14-0 (1w), Jasprit Bumrah (left) trains along with team-mates at Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-31, 3-50, 4-80, 5-102, 6-132, Overton 1-0-8-0, Woakes 7-0-13-2 Angelo Mathews looks on during the third day of the third Test the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in this file picture. match against India at the Feroz Shah Kotla Cricket Stadium in New Delhi, yesterday. 38 SPORT TUESDAY 5 DECEMBER 2017 TUESDAY 5 DECEMBER 2017 SPORT 39 Jets thrash Senators 5-0 to stay on top in Western Conference Toronto Agencies NHL RESULTS Las Vegas 3 Arizona 2 he Winnipeg Jets made sure their stay atop the Dallas 7 Colorado 2 Tstandings in the Western Los Angeles 3 Chicago 1 Conference was more than a Winnipeg 5 Ottawa 0 48-hour thing with an utterly dominant 5-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night at Bell MTS Place. Stars 7, Avalanche 2 The Jets improved to 17-6- Tyler Seguin and Brent 4, good for 38 points, one ahead Ritchie scored two goals each, of the Los Angeles Kings. Devin Shore had a goal and an Connor Hellebuyck stopped assist, and streaking Dallas beat 21 shots for his first shutout of Colorado. the season, while Ottawa’s Mike Jason Spezza and Greg Condon was pulled after giving Pateryn also scored, Alexander up five goals on 22 shots. Craig Radulov and John Klingberg Anderson weathered the storm had two assists each, and Kari the rest of the way, stopping all Lehtonen made 25 saves for 27 shots he faced. Dallas. The Stars won their fifth Blake Wheeler had a goal in a row and their seven in the and three assists for the Sena- past eight. Golden State Warriors forward Jordan Bell (left), guard Stephen Curry (right), guard Patrick McCaw (behind) and tors, who got a goal and two Mikko Rantanen and Blake assists from Mathieu Perreault Comeau had goals for the Ava- Orlando Magic forward Jonathon Simmons (second left) go after the rebound during the second half of their NBA plus a goal and one assist from lanche. Colorado starting goalie game at Amway Center on Sunday. Mark Scheifele. Tyler Myers and Jonathan Bernier was replaced Patrik Laine added goals. after allowing five goals on nine Knights 3, Coyotes 2 shots. Reilly Smith scored at 3:51 Kings 3, Blackhawks 1 of overtime to give Vegas a vic- Christian Folin snapped a Warriors thump Heat; tory over Arizona. scoreless tie midway through Smith took a pass from the third period, and goaltender Jonathan Marchessault on the Jonathan Quick shined, help- edge of the left circle and rifled ing Los Angeles to a victory a shot past Arizona goalie Scott against Chicago. Wedgewood. The win snapped The Kings earned their fifth Rockets rule the road a three-game losing streak for consecutive victory. the Golden Knights, who Folin guided a wrist shot improved to 5-0 in overtime. through traffic and past Black- Los Angeles take a 99-77 lead into the final NBA RESULTS Timberwolves outdueled the Marchessault and Alex Tuch hawks backup goaltender AFP frame. Houston 118 LA Lakers 95 Los Angeles Clippers also scored goals for Vegas Anton Forsberg at 9:29 of the Curry finished with 30 112-106. while Malcolm Subban had 31 third period. he NBA champion points as the Warriors G’ State 123 Miami 95 Karl-Anthony Towns saves in net to pick up the win. Dustin Brown and Anze Golden State War- improved to 3-0 on their cur- Minnesota 112 LA Clippers 106 notched his league-leading Wedgewood stopped 42 shots Kopitar assisted on Folin’s sec- riors rode a rent road trip. O’ City 90 San Antonio 87 19th double-double with 15 for the Coyotes, who got goals ond goal of the season, which

dominant third Durant added 24 and Klay Orlando 105 NY Knicks 100 points and 12 rebounds and from Jakob Chychrun and set off a flurry of goals down quarter to a decisive Thompson scored 19. Taj Gibson added 20 points Derek Stepan. the stretch. T123-95 victory over the Heat The Warriors seemed fired and 11 rebounds for the Tim- in Miami on Sunday. up by the ejection of Living- Thunder, whose 20 turnovers berwolves, who surrendered Miami took a 36-33 first- ston, who thought he was made it closer than was com- a fourth-quarter lead before quarter lead despite 16 points fouled on a shot attempt and fortable against a Spurs team Butler pulled them through. in the period from Stephen leaned in to argue with the missing Kawhi Leonard, Austin Rivers scored 30 Curry. referee. He bumped heads LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Gay, points for the Clippers, equal- “When they smell blood, with the official, who also Tony Parker and Manu Gino- ling his career-best with seven they go for it,” said Miami appeared to be moving for- bili. Spurs forward Kyle three pointers. coach Erik Spoelstra. “So ward, and was instantly sent Anderson suffered a sprained The Orlando Magic many of their guys just come to the locker room. knee when he went down encountered little resistance alive when they start to get it The Oklahoma City Thun- hard under the basket in the in a 105-101 victory over the rolling -- each one of them der held off the depleted San third quarter. He hit the court short-handed New York becomes ignitable. Antonio Spurs 90-87, aided by in obvious pain and had to be Knicks. “They start foaming at the Russell Westbrook’s seventh helped to the locker room. Nikola Vucevic scored 34 mouth when the game starts triple-double of the season. In Los Angeles, James points, Evan Fournier added to turn.” Westbrook scored 22 Harden scored 36 points and 20 and Jonathan Simmons The Warriors saw forward points with 10 rebounds and handed out nine assists, and chipped in 16 as all five Magic Shaun Livingston ejected in 10 assists for the Thunder, who the Houston Rockets won their starters scored in double the second quarter after mak- led 90-82 before failing to sixth consecutive road game figures. ing contact with a game score in the final 3:34. with a 118-95 victory against The Knicks, already with- official while arguing a A turnover in the closing the Los Angeles Lakers. out leading scorer Kristaps non-call. seconds gave San Antonio a Houston has won all six Porzingis who missed his But they roared ahead in chance to tie the game, but road games in the streak by at third straight game with an the third quarter, opening the Brandon Paul missed a three- least 15 points, setting a league ankle injury and a apparent second half with a dunk from pointer and Oklahoma City’s record. flu, announced shortly before Kevin Durant en route to a Raymond Felton grabbed the In Minneapolis, Jimmy tip-off that second-leading 12-2 scoring run. rebound to seal it. Butler scored a season-high scorer and star Tim Harda- Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele (foreground) skates The Warriors outscored Steven Adams added 19 33 points, including 20 in the way would be sidelined by a the Heat 37-17 in the third to points and 10 rebounds for the fourth quarter, as the leg injury. away from Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan during the second period of their NHL game at Bell MTS Place on Monday. NFL: Wilson’s Seahawks down high-flying Eagles

Seattle Seahawks Los Angeles playoff contention with the help of the career victory over the Bills. He broke quarterback Russell AFP Atlanta Falcons’ 14-9 loss to the Minne- Brett Favre’s league record for most Wilson (left) scrambles sota Vikings earlier on Sunday. quarterback wins against a single against Philadelphia ussell Wilson tossed three touch- The Eagles (10-2) dropped into a tie opponent. Eagles defensive end down passes and Seattle’s defence for top seed in the NFC with the Vikings, Brady also joined Favre, Peyton Chris Long during Rheld the NFL’s No. 1 offence to a who also have 10 wins. Manning and Drew Brees as the only the second quarter season low in points as the Seahawks In the NFC West race, the Seahawks NFL quarterbacks with at least 65,000 upset the Philadelphia Eagles 24-10 on remained a game behind the Los Ange- career passing yards. of their NFL game at Sunday. les Rams (9-3), who beat the Arizona The Patriots improved to 10-2 -- CenturyLink Field in Wilson outgunned Eagles high-fly- Cardinals earlier Sunday. their 15th straight seasons with at least Seattle on Sunday. ing quarterback Carson Wentz and the Wentz completed 29 of 45 throws 10 wins -- but it wasn’t always pretty. Seahawks snapped Philadelphia’s win- for 348 yards, with one touchdown and New England didn’t score a touch- ning streak at 10 games. one interception. down in the first half for the first time “We had to play great football,” said Wilson hit 20 of 31 for 227 yards and this season and Brady’s frustration Wilson. “They are a great football team, threw scoring passes to tight end Jimmy boiled over with some choice words for well coached and great players. Graham, Tyler Lockett and running back offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels “We had to come out strong and stay JD McKissic. after the Pats’ first field goal. the course and then finish really strong. Elsewhere, a fired-up Tom Brady Rex Burkhead rushed for two touch- We responded really well. They would notched another milestone NFL win as the downs. Tight end Rob Gronkowski caught score and then we would come back and Super Bowl champion New England Patri- nine passes for 147 yards but delivered an score. The guys played great all night.” ots powered past the Buffalo Bills 23-3. ugly late hit on Bills cornerback Seattle improved to 8-4 on the sea- Brady connected on 21 of 30 passes Tre’Davious White with the game well in son and propelled themselves back into for 258 yards as he notched his 27th hand in the fourth quarter. 40 SPORT TUESDAY 5 DECEMBER 2017

Golf Rankings 1. (1) Dustin Johnson (US) 11.01 2. (2) Jordan Spieth (US) 9.68 3. (3) Justin Thomas (US) 8.82 4. (4) Jon Rahm (Spain) 8.45 5. (5) Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 8.34 6. (6) Justin Rose (Britain) 7.63 7. (9) Rickie Fowler (US) 7.08 8. (7) Brooks Koepka (US) 6.57 9. (8) Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 6.27 10. (10) Rory McIlroy (Britain) 6.19 11. (11) Sergio Garcia (Spain) 5.82 12. (12) Jason Day (Australia) 5.57 13. (13) Marc Leishman (Australia) 5.37 14. (14) Paul Casey (Britain) 5.12 15. (15) Matt Kuchar (US) 5.07 16. (16) Tyrrell Hatton (Britain) 4.87 17. (17) Alexander Noren (Sweden) 4.83 18. (18) Tommy Fleetwood (Britain) 4.79 19. (19) Pat Perez (US) 4.44 20. (20) Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spain) 4.19 21. (21) Francesco Molinari (Italy) 4.10 22. (27) Charley Hoffman (US) 4.01 23. (22) Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) 3.97 24. (23) Patrick Reed (US) 3.94 25. (24) Xander Schauffele (US) 3.57 26. (25) Kevin Kisner (US) 3.55 27. (26) Brian Harman (US) 3.50 28. (28) Daniel Berger (US) 3.43 29. (29) Matthew Fitzpatrick (Britain) 3.35 30. (30) Branden Grace (South Africa) 3.33

LEFT: Rickie Fowler lines up a putt on the 11th hole during the final round of the Hero World Challenge. BELOW: Fowler is seen with tournament host Tiger Woods.

Japan’s Hataoka earns medalist Woods fires final-round 68 honors at LPGA qualifying

Miami but Fowler wins the trophy AFP apan’s Nasa Hataoka earned medallist honors Sunday as 20 players from 12 countries earned their 2018 LPGA tour cards in Miami Jthe final round of qualifying school. AFP “I’m really happy to be at the top of the leaderboard and win- ning the tournament,” Hataoka said after playing five rounds of iger Woods capped his Q-school in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 12-under par. return to competition “It’s really hard to be a professional golfer. LPGA is one of the with a fine four-under best leagues, so I’m going to try to prepare as soon as possible,” par 68 on Sunday as added 18-year-old Hataoka, who won the 2016 Japan Women’s red-hot Rickie Fowler Open as an amateur. Twon the Hero World Challenge Just behind Hataoka was Tiffany Chan at 11-under. Chan is the in the Bahamas. first player from Hong Kong to qualify for the LPGA Tour. Former world number one “I’m feeling really excited,” said Chan, who played three months Woods, who once wondered if on the developmental Symetra tour this year. nagging back trouble would spell “I’m pretty good friends with Nasa, we’ve played together before the end of his career, had an on Team Asia two years ago ... so I think I just tried to have fun eagle and six birdies to finish 72 today, but tried to win also,” she added. holes on eight-under par 280. South African Paula Reto (nine-under) and Australian Rebecca That never put him within Artis (eight-under) also secured their playing privileges for 2018, striking distance of Fowler, who Artis on her fifth Q-school attempt. produced a remarkable course- The last card came down to a three-hole aggregate stroke- record 61 on the par-72 Albany play playoff among Daniela Darquea of Ecuador, Mind Golf Club layout. Muangkhumsakul of Thailand and amateur Maria Torres. Fowler birdied the first Torres birdied the 10th, the second playoff hole, to become seven holes, and eight in total on the first Puerto Rican to earn an LPGA card. the front nine. After birdies at 11, Twenty-nine players earned conditional status for the com- 13 and 15, he was eyeing golf’s ing season. magic number of 59. want to get too greedy, just tried toward “a bright future”. finished the week with rounds No more birdies were forth- to make it with good speed, but Woods’s impressive display off of 69, 68, 75 and 68. Quotable Quotes coming, however, and Fowler ultimately left it short.” the tee included a monster drive “I was still scratchy with my settled for a course-record 61 Jordan Spieth, tied for sec- at the par-four seventh that led irons. I drove it pretty good all and an 18-under total of 270. ond to start the round, fired a to his eagle. week, made some good putts.” “I think he (Tiger Woods) sharpened me up a lit- Fowler finished four shots in final-round 69 to share third That was just one of the With one encouraging tour- tle bit. I’ve gotten a little scared of how good he was front of fellow American Char- with England’s Tommy Fleet- shots that delighted an enthusi- nament under his belt, Woods playing at home, thought I needed to start playing a ley Hoffman, the overnight wood, who signed for a 67. astic gallery following the remained non-committal as to little bit better or something.” leader by five strokes who Woods finished tied for ninth 14-time major champion that his precise plans for 2018. Says Rickie Fowler carded a final-round 72. with Matt Kuchar in the unoffi- included Spanish tennis star “I don’t know what my “I knew I needed to get off cial 18-man event that benefits Rafael Nadal. schedule’s going to be, but my to a quick start today to at least his charitable foundation. “I knew I was going to be expectations are we’ll be play- “I’m excited. This is the way I’ve been playing at show Charley I was there,” said A back-nine double-bogey able to play all four rounds, that ing next year. How many? home. I don’t know what my schedule is going to be, Fowler, who started the day and two bogeys to finish took wasn’t going to be an issue,” said Where? I don’t know yet, but but my expectations are we’ll be playing next year. seven shots adrift. “”We took some wind out of Woods’s sails, Woods, who also missed all of we’ll figure it out.” How many? Where? I don’t know yet, but we’ll care of that and kept it rolling but the 41-year-old superstar, the 2015-16 season with back Fowler, too, was thinking figure it out.” from there.” playing for the first time since trouble. about next year after following Says Tiger Woods Fowler was disappointed February after yet another back “The issue was how my scor- up his runner-up finish in the with his par at the eighth, where surgery in April, found plenty to ing was going to be, how was my OHL Classic at Mayakoba a few he had hoped to improve on his be encouraged about. feel? How am I going to get used weeks ago with his storming “He’s (Tiger Woods) obviously a lot more upbeat, career-best birdie streak. Most importantly, he said, he to the adrenaline in my system, win. a lot more positive, a lot healthier than he was last “Seven (birdies) was the played all week without pain. because it’s the first time in a “It’s nice to see the game year at this time. He’s got a lot of energy. It’s just so most I had made (in a row) “Overall, I’m very pleased. I while. hang around,” Fowler said. “We weird to say that you’re excited for somebody else’s before, so I was really trying to showed some good signs,” he “That took a little bit of can build on some things and year, but it will be a fun year. And I hope we dual it get that eighth,” he said. “Didn’t said, adding that they pointed time,” added Woods, who make next year a special one.” out a lot this upcoming year.” Says Justin Thomas USPGA Hero World Challenge Scores

Miami: Scores from the final round of the USPGA Tour Hero 278 - Francesco Molinari (ITA) 69-68-71-70 World Challenge at Albany Golf Club, Bahamas on Sunday (par- 280 - Tiger Woods 69-68-75-68, Matt Kuchar 67-70-72-71 72, USA unless stated): 281 - Justin Thomas 69-70-74-68 287-Kevin Kisner 70-72-75-70, Alex Noren (SWE) 270 - Rickie Fowler 67-70-72-61 73-69-74-71 274 - Charley Hoffman 69-63-70-72 288 - Daniel Berger 75-73-70-70, Dustin Johnson 68-72-76-72, 276 - Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 66-69-74-67, Jordan Spieth Kevin Chappell 68-70-74-76 68-67-72-69 289 - Henrik Stenson (SWE) 70-71-77-71 277 - Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 71-66-72-68, Patrick Reed 72-66- 291 - Brooks Koepka 71-78-72-70 71-68, Justin Rose (ENG) 68-68-71-70