SPORT Tuesday 5 June 2018 PAGE | 22 PAGE | 23 Curry’s 3-point England motivated dazzlers help by Euro 2016 Warriors rout Cavs failure: Rashford Qatar eye medals in Japan CHINTHANA WASALA QATAR TEAM FOR ASIAN JUNIOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS aged 16, 17, 18 or 19 years as of THE PENINSULA December 31, 2018 competing in 44 event disciplines. Jaber Hilal Al Mamari, Salim Mohamed, Bassem Mohamed Awad Hemeida, DOHA: Qatari athletes will be At the previous edition of the eyeing a rich haul of medals Saoud Abdulaziz Al Humaidi, Nuh Abdulkadir, Rashid Abdulla Al Suwaidi, Moaaz championship which was held in when they compete against the Mohamed Ibrahim, Ahmad Saed Al Haj, Jalil Badawi, Muhannad Khamis and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam two best at the Asian Junior Athletics Awab Osman years ago, Qatar won two gold Championships set to begin on Chef de Mission: Issa Al Fadalah medals and same number of Thursday in Gifu, Japan. silver medals to finish eighth in Qatar will field 11 athletes at the overall medal standings. the premier junior track and field looking to win many medals to have achieved many laurels Qatari athletes still account championship which will take showcase the country’s excel- recently. He also said that the for eight Championship records. place at the Gifu Nagaragawa lence in athletics. Qatari athletes have proved their Junior Championships in ath- Stadium. The head of the mission also excellence in the continental and letics in Asia have been held since Secretary-General of Qatar said that the chances of winning international arena at the youth 1986 and this time, it will be the Athletics Federation (QAF) and medals remained high as the level. 18th occasion that the future of Chef de Mission, Issa Al Fadalah current generation includes a The five-day event will see Asian Athletics will again be vying said that the Qatari team will be group of talented athletes who athletes from 44 Asian countries, for top honours. Serena withdraws as Sharapova moves into quarters

AFP She was also in just her third and Maria Jose Martinez tournament of the year after FRENCH OPEN RESULTS Sanchez with the American PARIS: Serena Williams giving birth to daughter sisters getting a 6-0 bagel in the announced her shock with- Olympia in September. MEN final set. Serena had gone into drawal from the French Open “I gave up so much time FOURTH ROUND that match wearing her striking through injury yesterday just with my daughter and time with Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) bt Maximilian Marterer (GER) 6-3, 6-2, all-black catsuit but admitted minutes before her scheduled my family all for this moment. 7-6 (7/4) she had had to tape her serving fourth-round clash against So it’s really difficult to be in this Diego Schwartzman (ARG x11) bt Kevin Anderson (RSA x6) arm to try and protect the long-time bitter rival and fellow situation.” injury. 1-6, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/0), 6-2 Grand Slam icon Maria Williams, whose absence Serena’s withdrawal com- Sharapova. from the sport has seen her Marin Cilic (CRO x3) bt Fabio Fognini (ITA x18) pletely over-shadowed the The 36-year-old said she ranking tumbling to 451, has not 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 remainder of yesterday’s last-16 had suffered a pectoral muscle lost to the Russian since 2004, Juan Martín Del Potro (ARG x5) bt programme. injury in her third-round win winning their last 18 matches. John Isner (USA x9) 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 World number one Simona over Julia Goerges and “can’t It had been the most Halep, twice a runner-up, serve at all”. eagerly-awaited match of the WOMEN needed less than an hour to The 23-time Grand Slam tournament, coming just two FOURTH ROUND make the last-eight for the third champion added that she would days after Williams had blasted Simona Halep (ROM x1) bt Elise Mertens time with a 6-2, 6-1 rout of Bel- stay in Paris for a Tuesday scan Sharapova’s autobiography for (BEL x16) 6-2, 6-1 gium’s Elise Mertens. on the injury. being “100 percent hearsay” Angelique Kerber (GER x12) bt Caroline Garcia (FRA x7) “I was a little bit stronger in “I unfortunately have been when it came to references the important moments,” said 6-2, 6-3 having some issues with my pec about her. Halep who next faces 12th seed muscle, and (it) has been getting Sharapova, the champion in Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP x3) bt Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 2-0 Angelique Kerber. worse to the point where right Paris in 2012 and 2014, goes on -- retired The German, a former world now I can’t actually serve. It’s to play a first quarter-final at Maria Sharapova (RUS x28) bt Serena Williams (USA) number one and two-time kind of hard to play when I can’t the Slams since losing to Wil- -- walkover major winner, reached the physically serve,” she explained. liams at the same stage at the Daria Kasatkina (RUS x14) bt Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x2) quarter-finals for the second She was unable to say 2016 Australian Open. 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 time with a 6-2, 6-3 win over whether or not she would be fit It was in Melbourne that France’s Caroline Garcia. for Wimbledon which gets Sharapova tested positive for Australian Open champion underway in four weeks’ time. meldonium after which she World number one Simona Halep of Romania celebrates her win against Elise Mertens of Belgium and second seed Caroline Woz- “I’m beyond disappointed,” served a 15-month doping ban. during their fourth round match of the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris yesterday. niacki was knocked out by Rus- added three-time Roland Garros The Russian will face 2016 sia’s Daria Kasatkina 7-6 (7/5), champion Williams who was champion Garbine Muguruza 6-3. playing in her first Grand Slam who was 2-0 ahead or Lesia my match against Serena and “I hope she returns to the Garros, Williams played doubles Kasatkina will be playing in since winning the 2017 Aus- Tsurenko when the Ukrainian am disappointed that she had tour soon.” in Paris with sister Venus. her first Slam quarter-final tralian Open while two months quit having suffered a leg injury. to withdraw,” said Sharapova Despite playing just four They had been knocked out where she will face US Open pregnant. “I was looking forward to in a statement. matches in 2018 before Roland on Sunday by Andreja Klepac champion Sloane Stephens.

Mission Impassible races to victory in France Qatar 2022 World THE PENINSULA Cup a source of pride CHANTILLY: Very unlucky after getting boxed in the Poule d’Essai for Arabs: Benzema des Pouliches (Groupe 1) in the latter stages, Mohamed bin Fahad Al Atti- QNA yah’s Mission Impassible put the wrongs to right by landing the Prix de Sandringham (Group 2) at Chan- KUWAIT: Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema tilly on Sunday. (pictured) said that Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cristian Demuro managed to Cup will be a source of pride for the Arabs. relax his mount in the slipstream of Benzema made these remarks on the sidelines of the leader Efaadah before the com- his visit to Kuwait, adding that 2022 World Cup will bination took the latter’s measure be a great honour for Arab countries and he is waiting in the straight. Crown Walk, coming for a wonderful organisation. off a win in a maiden, finished The French strikeriker also saidsaid that the strongly to deprive Efaadah of proximity of the stastadiumsdiums in Qatar second. would help the fansans to attend the Mission Impassible is expected largest number of World Cup to race at Deauville in the summer, matches. Jockey Cristian Demuro rides Mission Impassible (centre) towards the Prix de Sandringham (Group 2) but it’s not the cards that she will Benzema expressedessed admiration win at Chantilly, France on Sunday. tackle either the Prix de Diane for Qatar’s potentialial in thethe fieldfield ofof Longines or go to Royal Ascot. sports, pointing out tthathat hhee hhadad “When she worked at Deauville she was all dressed up with nowhere “Today, she was a lot calmer come too soon. Ditto the Prix de visited Doha and partici-partici- at the beginning of the week, we to go in the final 200-metres… She than in her previous two races. We Diane. We are going to train her pated in a friendly mmatchatch didn’t overtax her as she had raced needed to get a race under her belt wanted to be clear in our minds by with a view to going to Deauville between Real Madridrid three weeks earlier”, said Jean- on her return and, what we are giving her another chance. At and why not have a look at the and Pariss Claude Rouget, the winning trainer. doing, is putting the pieces of the present, I’m not thinking of going British programme for fillies?,” he Saint-Germain. “However, in the Poule d’Essai, jigsaw together,” Rouget said. to Royal Ascot with her as it will added. 22 SPORT TUESDAY 5 JUNE 2018 DeChambeau prevails in three-way play-off

AFP

DUBLIN, UNITED STATES: Bryson DeChambeau birdied the second extra hole to beat South Korea’s An Byeong-hun and capture the biggest title of his Ariya Jutanugarn holds the championship trophy after defeating career on Sunday at the Hyo-Joo Kim in a sudden death play-off in the US Women’s Open Memorial. DeChambeau, 24, thrust his Championship golf tournament at Shoal Creek on Sunday. arms skyward in no less than seven double fist-pumps after rolling in his winning 12-foot putt at the 18th hole at Muirfield Village. Ariya wins US DeChambeau, An and Kyle Stanley had ended regulation play tied on 15-under par, but Women’s Open only after the two Americans AFP each bogeyed the 72nd hole. no expectations,” she said. Stanley, 30 was eliminated “If I have a playoff then I’m with another bogey on the first MIAMI: Ariya Jutanugarn going to make sure I do my best play-off hole -- the 18th. survived a back-nine meltdown every shot because I felt like I An and DeChambeau to win the 73rd US Women’s didn’t commit on the back nine. returned to the 18th tee for the Open on Sunday and claim her I felt like I had a last chance to Bryson DeChambeau (left) and Jack Nicklaus pose with the trophy following the final round of the second play-off hole, with An’s second career major title in a make myself proud.” She fin- Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio on Sunday. second shot coming to rest play-off. ished with a one-over par 73 against a spectator’s umbrella. Ariya frittered away a and a 72-hole total of 11-under After a free drop he found out victorious on Jack’s course. to chip mine in, but then he hit “Overall my game is where seven-shot lead with nine holes 277. the green but DeChambeau “This is most important win a good putt, so I couldn’t do it needs to be heading into the remaining before parring the South Korea’s Kim closed settled things with his birdie of my entire career because it anything.” US Open and that’s something fourth playoff hole to edge with a five-under 67 to force effort, saying his second career happened here at Jack’s course Tiger Woods’ much-antici- that’s very positive,” Woods South Korea’s Kim Hyo-joo and the playoff and had two long US PGA Tour title was even more and also it is also kind of validity pated final round charge never said. become the first player from putts to win in the extra session special coming in the Jack me being out here on tour, as materialized as the 14-time Chilean 19-year-old Joaquin Thailand to lift the trophy. but couldn’t get them to fall. Nicklaus-hosted event. well.” major champion struggled with Niemann who went into the final “I feel great,” Ariya said. “I “I started off quite a few “I can’t even describe it. Just An, who burst onto the world three bogeys coming in. round just one shot off the lead, am really excited. I’m really strokes behind the leader, so I to win his event is an honor,” stage in capturing the 2015 Much of his trouble came carded a closing 73 to share sixth honoured to join the list of didn’t really think that I was said DeChambeau, who carded European Tour’s BMW PGA on the greens, but he also place with Justin Rose (79) on winners before me.” The going to come through,” Kim a final-round 71. Championship, was gracious in went out of bounds at 13 en 12-under par. 22-year-old from Bangkok said. “He’s the greatest to play. I’m defeat. route to an even par 72 for a The finish was enough for parred all four playoff holes at Both parred the third speechless, honestly.”He “I couldn’t do any better with share of 23rd place on nine- Niemann, playing just his fifth the Shoal Creek, Alabama playoff hole and they returned recalled playing the Memorial the third shot at the second extra under par. event since turning pro after the course for her second win of the to the par-four 18th, where two years ago, when his game hole but then Bryson had a good “Well, I had some chances Masters in April, to secure 2018 LPGA Tour season to go Ariya’s superb bunker shot left “wasn’t nearly good enough to birdie look,” said the south to shoot some good rounds this special temporary membership with the Kingsmill her with a tap in for the win. win”. Korean, who posted a final- week,” Woods said after his last status on the US PGA Tour, Championship. “I have a lot of confidence “So it has taken me a couple round 69. tuneup before the US Open which allows him unlimited “After you have a seven- in my bunker shots right now,” of years to get to this calibre and “I knew he would make the begins at Shinnecock Hills on starts for the remainder of the shot lead and end up with you said Ariya, who also won the I was fortunate enough to come birdie putt and that is why I tried June 14. season. having to go to a playoff, I had 2016 British Open. Impey sprints to stage win

AFP victory in the prologue, a 6.6km today,” Impey said. “But when time trial on Sunday. the sprint started I was in a great SAINT-JUST-SAINT- Alaphilippe tried to drop the position, really, I wasn’t RAMBERT, FRANCE: Daryl peloton 4.5km from the Loire expecting it.” Impey of the Australian Mitch- finish line at Saint-Just-Saint- Tuesday’s 181km rolling run elton team punched the air in Rambert when he accelerated from Montbrison to Belleville victory after unexpectedly up the final climb, which may includes four category 3 climbs dominating a bunch sprint in have cost him dearly in the and one category 4, but may also yesterday’s stage of the eight- eventual bunch sprint. finish in a bunch sprint. day Criterium du Dauphine. Just a kilometre from home, “It’ll be the last sprint finish A smiling and relaxed Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali also on the race if the sprinters’ Impey, 33, told reporters at the made a break for the line only teams control the race, I hope finish line he had not expected to suffer the same fate as Alap- they do,” said yellow jersey his win, nor to feel so strong as hilippe when he too was reeled Kwiatkowski. he easily outpaced Frenchman in by Sky’s efforts to keep 2014 The race culminates with Julian Alaphilippe into second. world road race champion four consecutive summit fin- Sky’s Polish rider Michal Kwiatkowski, who finished fifth, ishes as the peloton slogs over Kwiatkowski retains the yellow in yellow. some of the most challenging overall leader’s jersey after his “I didn’t think I had the legs Alpine climbs in cycling.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) go for a loose ball during the 2018 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena on Sunday. Pratyush wins Megarme Curry’s 3-point dazzlers Monthly Medal at DGC THE PENINSULA Pratyush Jain (left) with help Warriors rout Cavs Doha Golf Club’s Golf DOHA: Pratyush Jain made it two Operations Manager, wins in a week as 55 golfers braved AFP Jordan Massey. Curry, who already owns NBA 2010. “That’s a pretty cool deal the hot weather to take part in Doha 3-pointer records for a season to accomplish, knowing who has Golf Club’s Megarme Monthly Medal OAKLAND, UNITED STATES: and consecutive games among held the record for eight years,” yesterday. Golden State sharpshooter others, delivered deflating blows Curry said. Jain was victorious in division 1 Stephen Curry delivered a time and again to the Cavaliers. “But at the end of the day, for the second week running, performance for the ages on The 30-year-old maestro scored it’s all about trying to get a win shooting a superb gross 70 for nett Sunday with an NBA Finals 16 points in the fourth quarter, and doing whatever you can to score of 68 to beat Ben Coleman by record nine 3-pointers powering answering a LeBron James make that happen. If we focus one stroke. the defending champion 3-pointer with back-to-back 3s on that, good things happen In division 2, Pavandeep Singh Warriors over LeBron James and for a 96-83 lead. individually all across the board. Soodan was the winner after a the Cleveland Cavaliers. “It was big,” Curry said. “Any “I never woke up and was stunning nett score of 66. He fin- Curry’s 33 points on 11-of-26 of those moments when you can like, ‘All right, let’s go get nine ished 5 strokes ahead of Stephen shooting, including 9-of-17 from come down and answer and threes and get the record.’ It was Playforth in second. beyond the arc, lead Golden keep the momentum on our more so about playing the game Graeme Aitken came out in top State to a 122-103 triumph and side, it’s big.” the right way, having good in division 3, with a joint best of the a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Curry added an epic desper- intentions out there on the court day 66. Greame finished 3 strokes finals that continue Wednesday ation heave as the shot clock and good things happen.” clear of Richard Hallam in second. in Cleveland. expired, a corner 3-pointer The 3-pointer with the most In the Ladies division, Alex Teams that win the first two while being fouled and the acclaim came after he fumbled Lochhead stormed to a 9 stroke games have won the NBA title record-setter with 3:30 the ball, grabbed it, stepped back victory with a superb nett score of 88 percent of the time, a good remaining from the left wing. with the shot clock about to 67. omen for a Warriors club Curry broke the old mark of expire and fired in a miracle Doha Golf Club thanked the seeking a third crown in four eight 3-pointers in a finals game with Cleveland’s Kevin Love sponsor, Megarme, for their con- seasons. set by Boston’s Ray Allen in defending. tinued support for events. TUESDAY 5 JUNE 2018 SPORT 23

WORLD CUP SQUADS England motivated Poland: Injured Glik by Euro 2016 may lose his place REUTERS

WARSAW: Poland’s preparations for this month’s World failure: Rashford Cup suffered a blow yesterday after defender seriously injured his shoulder in training on the same day as being named in head coach Adam Nawalka’s 23-man REUTERS squad for the tournament in Russia. Nawalka had already submitted his squad list to FIFA MOSCOW: England have extra motivation at before the incident with Glik which happened when the this year’s World Cup as they look to eradicate AS Monaco man fell awkwardly after attempting an the “nasty feeling” of a dismal exit from the 2016 overhead kick. European Championships in France, striker The Poland coach said that should the 30-year-old Marcus Rashford has said. not recover in time to travel to Russia, he would be England’s underwhelming campaign at their replaced by VfB Stuttgart’s Marcin Kaminski. last major tournament saw them fall 2-1 to sur- World Cup rules allow the final squad to be named prise package Iceland in the Round of 16 and 24 hours before the first game starts. Manchester United forward Rashford says the Poland play Senegal on June 19 before facing other team are eager to redeem themselves in Russia. Group H opponents Colombia and Japan. “The feeling of losing is a nasty feeling,” Prior to the World Cup, Poland play friendly warm-up Rashford told reporters ahead of the June 14-July matches against Chile on Friday and Lithuania next 15 tournament. Tuesday. “When you speak about (it), people don’t POLAND’S 23-MAN SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Bartosz Bialkowski understand. So definitely we’ll take all the things (Ipswich Town), Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea), Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus). that happened at that tournament into the next Defenders: (Southampton), Bartosz Bereszynski (Sampdoria), one because that is one of the important things (SPAL), Kamil Glik (AS Monaco), Artur Jedrzejczyk (Legia to spur us. Warszawa), Michal Pazdan (Legia Warszawa), Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia “The main thing is to go into a tournament Dortmund). : Jakub Blaszczykowski (VfL Wolfsburg), Jacek Goralski with confidence in ourselves. The easiest way (Ludogorets Razgrad), (Hull City), (West to get that is through performances but we know Bromwich Albion), Rafal Kurzawa (Gornik Zabrze), (Sampdoria), each individual is working hard in training so Slawomir Peszko (Lechia Gdansk), Maciej Rybus (Lokomotiv Moscow), Piotr we are going to be confident.” Zielinski (Napoli). Forwards: (Sampdoria), Robert Lewand- Rashford come on as a second-half sub- owski (Bayern Munich), (Napoli), Lukasz Teodorczyk stitute in England’s 2-1 friendly victory over (Anderlecht). Nigeria on Saturday with manager Gareth Southgate’s side set to conclude their World Cup preparations with a friendly against Costa Rica on Thursday. France: No change England kick off their World Cup campaign against Tunisia on June 18. Panama and Belgium are the other teams in Group G. in 23-man squad AFP

PARIS: France formally submitted their 23-man squad When you speak about (the loss for the World Cup yesterday, making no changes from at Euro 20016), people don’t the group named in mid-May. None of the original 23 have been replaced by anyone understand. So definitely we’ll take on Didier Deschamps’ stand by list. England’s Marcus Rashford all the things that happened at Several top stars failed to make the cut at all, with warms up prior to their that tournament into the next one Manchester United’s Anthony Martial, Arsenal’s Alex- international friendly because that is one of the important andre Lacazette and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema all match against Nigeria at things to spur us: Rashford omitted from the 23. the Wembley Stadium in FRANCE’S 23-MAN SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham London on Saturday. Hotspur/ENG), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Alphonse Areola (Paris Saint- Germain) Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Presnel Kim- pembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City/ENG), Ben- jamin Pavard (Stuttgart/GER), Adil Rami (Marseille), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona/ESP), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid/ESP) Midfielders: N’Golo Kante (Chelsea/ENG), Blaise Matuidi (Juventus/ITA), Steven N’Zonzi Germany’s Neuer cleared for World Cupp (Sevilla/ESP), Paul Pogba (Manchester United/ENG), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich/GER) Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona/ESP), Nabil Fekir (Lyon), AFP Bayern Munich goalkeeper Neuer riskk tthanhan ananyy ototherher pplayer,”layer,” Neuer Olivier Giroud (Chelsea/ENG), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Thomas made his first appearance since Sep- said.d. Lemar (Monaco), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Florian Thauvin BERLIN: Germany have included 2014 tember in the 2-1 defeat by Austria in TheThe ‘keeper‘keeper saidsaid hishis carefulcareful (Marseille) World Cup-winning captain and goal- a rain-delayed friendly on Saturday reintroductionntroduction had beenbeen a delib-delib- keeper Manuel Neuer in their final and showed no ill-effects. erateate pployloy -- hhee ddidn’tidn’t pplaylay a singsinglele squad for the 2018 tournament, even The 32-year-old who is considered matchatch fforor Bayern beforebefore joining though he has only just returned from key to Germany’s hopes of retaining up withwith tthehe nationalnational ssquad.quad. Belgium: Recovering a long-term absence through injury. the title had been sidelined for eight ApartApart fromfrom anan appearanceappearance in But in a surprise omission, coach months after fracturing a metatarsal a sspecially-arrangedpecially-arranged match Joachim Loew left Manchester City in his left foot last September in a againstainst Germany’sGermany’s Under-20 team Kompany included striker Leroy Sane out of his 23-player recurrence of the same injury he suf- lastt week, the match in KlaKlagenfurtgenfurt AFP list despite a strong season with the fered earlier in 2017. in AAustriaustria wwasas hihiss firstfirst ffullull champions. Sane was cut from the squad with appearancepearance since September. “Leroy has a huge amount of talent Timo Werner and the veteran Mario BRUSSELS: Belgium coach Roberto Martinez delivered and he will be back in again because Gomez included as just two out-and- a 24-man World Cup squad yesterday with his iconic but from September we will re-double our out strikers. often injured captain on the roster, Manuel work with him,” Loew said. “But in his Neuer denied his inclusion was a accompanied by a potential replacement. Neuer games with the national team he hasn’t risk, despite his lack of match practice. The Manchester City central defender picked up an quite done the business.” “I’m not worried. I am no more a injury in a friendly with Portugal on Saturday and FIFA rules stipulate injured players can be replaced up to 24 hours before a nation’s first group phase game. Belgium play a Group A game with Panama on June 18 in Sochi. If Kompany is unfit Martinez will drop him Salah optimistic of timely recovery in favour of , who plays for Los Angeles in the MLS. REUTERSREUTERS “We are doing everything to give Vincent his chance but one thing is clear, if he’s not fit in time he’s not going CAIRO:CAIRO: Liverpool andand EgEgyptypt forward Mohamed Salah (pictured) is Salah in to the World Cup,” said Belgium’s Spanish coach Roberto showingshowing positive signs ofof recoveryrec from a shoulder injury ahead of Martinez. the World CupCup later this mmonth.o Martinez proved his ruthless streak by earlier leaving The 25-year-old25-year-old endedended a breakthrough season for Liverpool final squad out of the 27-man provisional squad in disappointingdisappointing ffashionashion whenw he was withdrawn injured in the after a series of run ins with the Roma , firstfirst half of the ChampionsChampion League final defeat by Real Madrid in AFP including missing training. Kiev on May 26.26. The three men trimmed from the Belgium squad were The EgypEgyptiantian walked offof the pitch in tears as the injury cast a CAIRO: Liverpool striker misfiring Crystal Palace striker , Wat- doubtdoubt over hishis WorWorldld Cup pparticipation but the striker who scored Mohamed Salah was included ford’s and of Lazio. 4444 goalsgoals in hhisis debutdebut campaigncampa on Merseyside appears more opti- yesterday in Egypt’s 2018 World The surprise inclusion on the list is , a mistic as he continues his recovery.re Cup squad despite still under- midfielder formerly of Manchester United, who plays for “Good“Good ffeelings...,”eelings...,” SaSalahlah ssaida on his official Twitter account along doing treatment for a shoulder Real Sociedad in Spain. withw a picture of him at the gym.g injury he suffered in the Cham- BELGIUM’S 24-MAN SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels TheThe Egyptian FootballFoo Federation allayed fears of Salah’s pions League final, the Egyptian (Wolfsburg/GER), (Chelsea/ENG), (Liv- WorldWorld Cup aabsence last week, saying in a statement Football Association said. erpool/ENG) Defenders: (Tottenham/ENG), Dedryck thatthat thethe playmaker was expected to be side- On Wednesday, the feder- Boyata (Celtic/SCO), Laurent Ciman (Los Angeles/USA - to replace Kompany linelinedd for a maximum of three weeks. ation had said Salah would be if unfit), Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Vincent Kompany (Manchester Salah missed Egypt’s goalless draw with out for “not more” than three City/ENG), (Barcelona/ESP), (Tottenham/ ColombiaCo last Friday as the North Africans weeks, meaning he could miss ENG) Midfielders: (Dalian Yinfang/CHN), continueco their World Cup preparations. Egypt’s opening World Cup (WBA/ENG), (Manchester City/ENG), Mousa Dembele (Tot- Egypt play Belgium in their final Group A fixture against Uruguay tenham/ENG), (Manchester United/ENG), Adnan Januzaj wwarm-up game tomorrow before on June 15. (Real Sociedad/ESP), Youri Tielemans (Monaco/FRA), (Tianjin openingo their World Cup campaign Egypt then face Russia on Quanjian/CHN), (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA) Forwards: againsta Group A rivals Uruguay on June June 19 and Saudi Arabia on June (Borussia Dortmund/GER), (Chelsea/ENG), 15.1 Hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia also 25. Thorgan Hazard (Borussia M’gladbach/GER), (Manchester compete in the same group. United/ENG), (Naples/ITA). TUESDAY 5 JUNE 2018 SPORT 21

I am not satisfied with Sarfraz Ahmed expresses FOOTBALL Tennis my batting in the series. I dissatisfaction on his batting International Friendlies: French Open, Last 8: D. committed mistakes and performance in England Test Russia vs Turkey; Romania LIVE ON Thiem vs A. Zverev; M. played a few bad shots. series. vs Finland TUBE Cecchinato vs N. Djokovic

Christian Osaguona India match sells out displaying his Umm Salal after emotional plea jersey along with top Umm Salal by captain Chhetri officials. AFP

NEW DELHI: India’s football international against Kenya today sold out in hours following captain Sunil Chhetri’s emotional plea for fans to support the team after barely 2,500 people turned up to watch them play last week. Chhetri’s heartfelt appeal -- backed by India’s cricket heroes Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar -- went viral on social media, prompting fans to shell out for tickets. Every seat in the 15,000-capacity Mumbai Football Arena was quickly sold with one fan buying more than 1,000 tickets for the Intercontinental Cup game. Umm Salal rope in Chhetri’s plea came after India thrashed Taiwan 5-0 in front of just 2,569 people in the Mumbai stadium on Friday. The disheartened Chhetri, who scored a hat-trick in the match, said in a Twitter Nigeria’s Osaguona video: “To everyone who has lost hope in Indian football I request you to come and watch us in the stadiums. FAWAD HUSSAIN the deal with him, in consultation “It is not fun to criticise and abuse on THE PENINSULA with the technical staff and we are the Internet, come to the stadium and do A Sunil Chhetri’s file photo. looking forward to a strong it on our face. DOHA: Eyeing an improvement in performance.” “Scream at us, shout at us, abuse us, the next season, QNB Stars League The new signing Osaguona expressed his hap- who knows one day we might change you stantine was appointed. (QSL) side Umm Salal have signed completed the list of piness to have joined Umm Salal guys,” he added in the message that he But cricket dominates Indian sport and Nigerian striker Ighodaro Christian Umm Salal’s overseas and said he came to know about said was directed particularly at fans of they are number one in the Test rankings. Osaguona for one season to replace the strong level of competition in the big European clubs. Cricket superstars Kohli and Tendulkar Tunisian attacking midfielder recruits as Ivorian the QSL from his compatriot “Agreed, the level is not the same, not both took to Twitter to back the football Oussama Darragi, who joined them Yannick Sagbo, Syrian Michael Babatunde, who played in even close but with our desire and deter- player after previous games opened to halfway through last season. Mahmoud Mawas and Qatar. mination, we will try our best to make your near-empty stadiums. The new signing completed the Moroccan Adel Rhaili “I am targeting a strong per- time worth it.” Only a few hundred turned up to see list of Umm Salal’s overseas recruits formance for my new side in the The national football team are 97th in Kenya’s match against New Zealand on as Ivorian Yannick Sagbo, Syrian stayed from the last forthcoming season,” said the the FIFA rankings, having risen from 166th Saturday. Mahmoud Mawas and Moroccan season. striker. in 2015 when English coach Stephen Con- But on Monday, the website selling Adel Rhaili stayed from the last In the last QSL season, Umm tickets for the four-nation tournament season. Thani welcoming the striker. Salal finished on 5th spot behind showed ‘Sold Out’ for the match against The 27-year-old Osaguona “We’re happy with the signing Al Gharafa with Al Duhail, Al Sadd Kenya. played his first international game of Osaguona and we hope he’ll be and Al Rayyan respectively A popular Mumbai social media com- with Nigerian team in September a strong addition to us as we bid to claiming the first three mentator, Nikunj Lotia, said he had booked 2014 against South Africa. put up a strong performance in the positions. It is not fun to criticise and an entire stand for the game which will be Before joining Umm Salal, the coming season as well,” said Sheikh The new season will kick off abuse on the Internet, come Chhetri’s 100th international. striker was a part of Belgian club Hamad while exuding confidence on August 1 with the Super Cup Lotia, whose YouTube channel Be KVC Westerlo. that the squad was now strong between QSL and HH the Amir to the stadium and do it on YouNick has more than 1.7 million sub- Osaguona was unveiled at a enough to achieve outstanding Cup winners Al Duhail, and HH our face. Scream at us, shout scribers, invited fans to use the tickets for press conference on Sunday with results. the Amir Cup runners-up Al at us, abuse us, who knows free. Umm Salal Sports Club President “We negotiated with many pro- Rayyan, while the new QSL season one day we might change “Have booked entire STAND NUMBER Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser Al fessional players before finalising will start on August 3. 4 for all you football fanatics! All you have you guys: Sunil Chhetri to do is just be there and cheer!” Lotia, an ardent football fan, wrote on Twitter. SL name new selectors after Sarfraz proud of England Doha to host govt take-over contract signing of 2019 Worlds AFP draw despite Leeds rout THE PENINSULA AFP COLOMBO: Sri Lanka named a new plenty of plus-points for selectors panel for the national Pakistan, not least the DOHA: Reposing confidence in cricket team yesterday after gambling LEEDS: Pakistan captain bowling of seamer Qatar, International Table Tennis allegations against the sport’s Sarfraz Ahmed insisted he Mohammad Abbas who took Federation (ITTF) has chosen national board president prompted was proud of his youthful a match-winning eight for Doha as venue to host the government intervention. side even after an innings 64 at Lord’s. contract signing ceremony of the The sports ministry stepped in to and 55-run defeat at Head- “I am proud of my young prestigious 2019 World Table manage the Sri Lanka Cricket board ingley denied them a Test- team, the way Abbas is Tennis Championships, which last week, after an appeals court sus- series victory in England. bowling, Shadab is doing will take place in Hungary. pended elections for the presidency That overwhelming loss, well, Faheem Ashraf did In a press conference which to consider whether incumbent Thi- completed inside three days well, so I’m really disap- took place in Doha, Khaleel Al langa Sumathipala should be allowed on Sunday, meant the two- pointed that we didn’t win Mohannadi, the President of to contest the ballot. match campaign ended all (at Headingley) but 1-1 is Qatar and Arab Table Tennis Sumathipala has been accused of square at 1-1 following what good for us,” said wicket- Associations and the first Vice- alleged links to gambling in breach Sarfraz said was Pakistan’s keeper Sarfraz. President of both Asian Table of International Cricket Council reg- “perfect” nine-wicket victory Experienced opening Tennis Federation and ITTF has ulations. He denies any in the first Test at Lord’s. batsman Azhar Ali averaged confirmed that the contract wrongdoing. Defeat left Pakistan still just 16.75 during the series signing ceremony will take place Sports Minister Faiszer Mus- looking for their first Test while Sarfraz averaged 10.33 on July 5 in Doha between Hun- thapha announced the new selection series success in England -- well below his career Test garian Table Tennis Federation panel after Sumathipala’s mandate mark of 37.78. and ITTF. ended on May 31. The court has sus- PAKISTAN T20 SQUAD England’s Joe Root (right) and Pakistan’s Sarfraz Ahmed “Azhar is our main Al Mohannadi gave a letter pended elections till June 14 at the ear- pose with the trophy after the series was drawn on Sunday. batsman, it’s correct he is not of thanks to ITTF for granting liest, with no fresh date confirmed for Pakistan squad for two T20 matches in good nick but he scored a Doha the honour to host the con- the vote. Former Test bowler Graeme against Scotland to be played on June 12 since 1996, when fast- bowling was perfect, our good fifty at Lord’s,” said tract signing ceremony and Labrooy remains chief selector, while and 13: bowling greats Wasim batting and fielding were Sarfraz. appreciated ITTF’s confidence former Test player Eric Upashantha Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Akram and Waqar Younis perfect,” Sarfraz told As for his own batting, in Qatar. made his debut on the panel. Ahmed Shehzad, Haris Sohail, Shoaib were in the side. reporters. Sarfraz added: “I am not sat- He also informed that Doha The new selection panel: Malik, Asif Ali, Hussain Tallat, Faheem “When we came here “It’s disappointing that isfied with my batting in the will host senior ITTF officials Graeme Labrooy, Gamini Wickre- Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, people thought we will not we had a chance to win the series. meeting in July who will meet to

masinghe, Eric Upashantha, Mohammad Amir, Hassan Ali, Rahat Ali, win one game but the way series but unfortunately we “I committed mistakes set up strategies of ITTF for next Chandika Hathurusingha and Jeryl Usman Shinwari, Shaheen Shah Afridi. we played at Lord’s every- didn’t play well here.” and played a few bad shots,” year. Woutersz. thing was perfect, our fast Overall there were still he said.