ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019 SPORTS 25

Guido holds nerve to win maiden title NAIROBI, March 17, (RTRS): ’s Guido Migliozzi carded a final-round 69 to clinch his maiden European Tour title with a one-shot victory in the Ke- nya Open on Sunday. The 22-year-old rookie, playing in his 14th European Tour event, took the lead with a birdie on the 12th hole and held his nerve under pressure to par the last six holes and go 16-under for the tournament at Nairobi’s Karen Coun- try Club. Joint overnight leader Migliozzi fin- ished above his playing partner Adri Arnaus of Spain and South Africans Louis de Jager and Justin Harding who were tied for second place. “I like this moment. I like the pres- sure, it’s like a drug,” Migliozzi, who sank four birdies on the day but also had two bogeys on the front nine, said. “I love playing with a lot of people looking at me and a lot of cameras. GOLF

“There was a lot of pressure on the course. After the birdie at the 12th I was leading but it was tough. I just kept patient towards the end, that was it. “I enjoyed the last two days very much. The pressure was a lot and I’m happy about how I’m playing under pressure, also with my putting game that I worked a lot on.” India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, one of several leaders during a tight final day, finished fifth with a final round 69. Triumphant 2018 Ryder Cup Cap- tain Thomas Bjorn, returning to the Kenyan capital for the first time in 24 years, was further back tied in 12th with four others. Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre signed off with a brilliant 63 to set a new course record after three disappointing rounds, finishing tied 17th. Jon Rahm stormed out of the pack Blue Army pose for a photograph with the trophy. with an eight-under-par 64 at the Play- ers Championship on Saturday, taking ICAI Kuwait organizes cricket tournament a one-shot lead over Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood to set up the pros- The Institute of Chartered Account- ing. A perfect setting for the Indian blue Army emerged victorious with nament were two young chartered Kuwait, proposed the vote of thanks pect of a compelling final-round battle ants of India (Kuwait Chapter) or- Chartered Accountants to show- Hussain being declare the man of accountants Umesh and Ajay to all present, the sponsors and to between European heavyweights. ganized the second edition of its case their cricketing skills.Four the match. The captain of the blue which kept the crowd engrossed the management of Tijaria Real Es- The Spaniard used his prodigious annual cricket tournament exclu- teams registered for the tourna- army team Ravi Nagar was de- in the proceedings with their witty tate Company for the excellent fa- power to plunder an eagle and seven sively for its members at Boulevard ment. They were aptly named ‘Yel- clared the man of the series for his commentary. The event was organ- cilities provided at Boulevard Park. birdies at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Park, Salmiya on March 9, 2019. low Tigers’, ‘Blue Army’, ‘Orange consistent all-round performance. ized under the leadership of Aditya The Kuwait Chapter of ICAI has Vedra Beach, matching the best The event was exclusively spon- warriors’ and ‘Team Strikers’. The senior members of the ICAI Dhanuka. He was ably assisted over 400 members and conducts score of the week on a day when the sored by Al Mulla Exchange, Focus The final was played between presented the medals trophies and by Umesh Soni and Shailesh Lad- continuing education and knowl- predicted northerly wind did not ma- Softnet, NBK and Viva. Team strikers and the Blue Army individual prizes to the players. dhad. edge sharing programs for the ben- terialize. It was a pleasant Saturday morn- and after an engrossing contest The commentators for the tour- Noel Cherian, Chairman of ICAI efit of its members. Shiffrin wins to ‘seal’ World Cup crown

Robinson gets first career podium

SOLDEU, , March holding the baby.” 17, (AP): Another race “I’m thinking about this every day,” Hirscher said of possibly Spence defends IBF title won, another crystal tro- retiring, acknowledging he has a phy earned, another World “very hard decision” in the next Cup record written by Mi- two weeks. with victory over Garcia Noel barely retained his first- kaela Shiffrin. run lead on fast-softening snow, ARLINGTON, Texas, March a full circle around the ring while Shiffrin won a giant slalom Sun- posting the 20th-fastest second-leg 17, (AP): Errol Spence Jr suc- continually delivering blows. day to seal the season-long stand- time to be 0.18 ahead of Manuel cessfully defended his IBF world Garcia threw 406 total punches, ings title and, shedding a few tears welterweight title for the third and landed only 75 of them (18.5 Feller. time, unanimously outpointing percent). After landing 43 percent while sitting in the finish area, Daniel Yule was third, trailing previously undefeated challenger of his power punches his previous lifted a record-tying fourth World Noel by 0.83, to earn $5,000 for Mikey Garcia on Saturday night. fi ve punches, he was only 25 per- Cup crystal globe in the same sea- a non-profit agency campaigning Garcia moved up two weight cent (54 of 218) on those against son. against climate change. classes to take on Spence and took Spence. “I wanted to come out here today Yule pledged half his prize a pounding though he never went and really earn it. Really earn it and money from the final two slalom down. Garcia, obviously worn out, deserve it,” said Shiffrin, whose 17th races of the season as a riposte to spent the later rounds blocking BOXING World Cup win this season extended comments last month questioning punches instead of throwing them. her own record. climate change by the Internation- Spence improved to 25-0 after Garcia was fi ghting for the fi rst al Ski Federation president, Gian all three judges awarded him every time since unifying the IBF and Franco Kasper. round. One card was 120-107, and WBC world lightweight titles with SKIING Yule was also fifth the previous the other two were 120-108. a unanimous decision last July Sunday, earning an initial $2,500 for It was the fi rst time Spence had over Robert Easter in Los Ange- A fourth discipline title in one the Swiss branch of Colorado-based to go the distance in his last 12 les. He was trying to become a season matched the women’s World Protect Our Winters. fi ghts. fi ve-division champion. Al-Kuwait Sports Club’s handball team during their training in Qatar Cup record jointly held by Lindsey The final day of the World Cup Garcia, who moved up from 135 Both fi ghters entered the arena Vonn (2010, 2012) and Tina Maze season typically celebrates retiring to 147 pounds in his attempt to be- to loud cheers and different kinds veterans. come a fi ve-division champion, lost of music, with Spence following a (2013). for the fi rst time in 40 pro fi ghts. local high school marching band. ‘Al-Kuwait Sports Club’ Shiffrin needed only a top-15 fin- Olympic slalom champion Frida Hansdotter wore Swedish traditional The hard-punching Spence Garcia got plenty of support from ish on a sun-soaked day in Andorra landed 345 of the 1,082 punches the large number of Mexican fans to ensure closest challenger Pe- dress for a ceremonial last run in the (32 percent) he threw - both of at the fi ght. handball team returns tra Vlhova could not overhaul the giant slalom, and Felix Neureuther those career highs. That included Chants of “Mikey!, Mikey!” American star’s points total. raced more competitively to place 237 of 464 (51 percent) of his broke out in the second and third KUWAIT CITY, March 17: Al- In a related context, another Instead, the Olympic giant slalom seventh in slalom. power punches in his second title rounds, but those faded away as Kuwait Sports Club’s handball Kuwaiti handball club, Kazma, champion retained her first-run lead Neureuther, who has 13 career defense at home in North Texas in Spence kept punching and the team is due to return today (Mon- continues on their preparation lo- in style to finish 0.30 seconds ahead World Cup race wins, was doused nine months. crowd instead responded to hard day) after completing their training cally through their daily training of 17-year-old Alice Robinson. Vl- with champagne and snow in the During one portion of the ninth shots – many more for the cham- camp in Qatar in preparation for sessions led by Algerian coach Ra- hova was third, 0.41 back. finish area by his team- round, Spence walked Garcia in pion than the challenger. the 21st Asian Men’s Club League beh Gharbi. The club managed to While Shiffrin is the undisputed mates. Handball Championship, which strengthen its line with three pro- current star of women’s Alpine ski- is due to kick off in Kuwait on fessionals from Serbia. Bahraini ing, a bright future was seen Sunday Wednesday, March 20 until April Barbar club is the first participat- for Robinson. She earned her World Cup finals entry by winning the giant 2, 2019. ing team to arrive in the country slalom at the junior world champion- The matches will be played in so far, and they will embark on a ships last month. Al-Kuwait Handball Hall with the three-day training camp in prepa- The prospect got participation of 13 teams, and win- ration for the tournament. her first career podium when just ner of the event will have the op- Meanwhile, head of the champi- six months older than Shiffrin was portunity to represent Asia in the onship’s Media Committee Abdul- getting her first top-3 finish, in a De- 2019 IHF World Men’s Handball Rahman Al-Ansari affirmed the cember 2011 slalom. Championship (Super Globe). media center is ready to welcome “It’s an amazing feeling,” Rob- During its training camp, Ku- media delegations accompanying inson told Swiss broadcaster RTS. wait Sports Club’s handball team the participating teams, and neces- “It’s crazy, so cool to share the first played a trial match, which was sary facilities are in place for the podium with Petra and Mikaela. hosted by the Qatari team Gharafa, event’s coverage. They’re such great skiers.” which ended with the latter win- Al-Ansari indicated the commit- Shiffrin’s four crystal globes tops ning by 23-19. tee has launched accounts on Twit- the three earned by the men’s stand- According to the Algerian coach ter and Instagram with the name @ out Marcel Hirscher. of Al-Kuwait Sports Club’s hand- asianchampion21, which will pub- Hirscher already clinched the ball team Saeed Al-Hijazi, he en- lish details of the matches, in ad- slalom title, and a record-extending gaged in a single match in order to dition to #asian_handball_clubs21. eighth straight overall title, before look for more angles of focus in The 21st edition of the Asian the final race Sunday. Seeming fatigued by a long sea- terms of technique and physique of Men’s Handball Club League is son, Hirscher finished 14th, trailing the players. meant for the top league Clubs in 1.62 behind the winner Clement Joining Kuwait club’s team Asian countries. Defending cham- Noel in what could be his last World are four professionals: Egyptian pions, Al-Najma will be absent Cup race. national Ahmad Al-Ahmad, and from this year’s edition after losing The 30-year-old Hirscher said Sat- Bahraini nationals Hussein Al- out to fellow rival, Barbar Hand- urday after placing sixth in giant sla- Sayyad, Muhammad Mirza and ball Club of Bahrain, in the Bah- lom that he could spend next season United States’ competes during the first run of a women’s World Cup giant slalom at the alpine ski Muhammad Abdul-Muhsin. raini league. with his young family “cooking and finals in , Andorra on March 17. (AP)