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Monday, September 26, 2016 FOOTBALL Dhul-Hijja 24, 1437 AH Ronaldo has to live GULF TIMES with being subbed, says coach Zidane SPORT Page 5 MOTOGP Marquez extends lead with gritty Aragon GP win ‘I said stay calm, don’t wear the front tyre because I had the hard one and then step-by-step I got a good rhythm. With Valentino I pushed for two laps and then when I saw the distance was enough (to pass) I just tried to keep that rhythm’

Collated Results MotoGP 1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 2. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 3.Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 4. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Suzuki) 5. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Honda LCR) 6. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 7. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Suzuki) 8. Pol Espargaro (ESP/Yamaha Tech3) 9. Alvaro Bautista (ESP/Aprilia) 10. Stefan Bradl (GER/Aprilla)

Championship standings (Top 5) 1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 248 pts 2. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 196 3. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 182 4. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 155 5. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Suzuki) 149

Moto2 1. Sam Lowes (GBR/Kalex) 2. Alex Marquez (ESP/Kalex) 3. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Kalex) 4. Thomas Luthi (SWI/Kalex) 5. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Kalex) 6. Alex Rins (ESP/Kalex) 7. Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA/Kalex) 8. Johann Zarco (FRA/Kalex) 9. Simone Corsi (ITA/Speed Up) 10. Jonas Folger (GER/Kalex)

World championship standings 1. Johann Zarco (FRA/Kalex) 202 pts, 2. Alex Rins (ESP/Kalex) 201 3. Sam Lowes (GBR/Kalex) 162 4. Thomas Luthi (SUI/Kalex) 154 5. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Kalex) 141

Repsol Honda Team’s Spanish rider Marc Marquez celebrates after winning the Moto GP race of the Aragon Grand Prix at the Motorland racetrack in Alcaniz yesterday. Moto 3 1. Jorge Navarro (ESP/Honda) AFP points with just four races remaining. reeled in Rossi before overtaking the said. “With the soft one I didn’t feel so “Anyway the podium is ok.” 2. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) Alcañiz, Lorenzo is a further 14 points adrift Italian with 12 laps to go. good, so instinct told me to choose the Earlier, Brad Binder became South 3. Enea Bastianini (ITA/Honda) in third. Victory for the two-time “I said stay calm, don’t wear the hard one and that instinct made me a Africa’s fi rst motorcycle world cham- 4. Fabio di Giannantonio (ITA/Honda) world champion ends a record run of front tyre because I had the hard one good result. pion for 36 years in the Moto3 category. 5. Joan Mir (ESP/KTM) arc Marquez extended his eight diff erent winners in the last eight and then step-by-step I got a good “I am very proud, we did our maxi- Binder fi nished second to Jorge Na- 6. Jorge Martin (ESP/Mahindra) lead in the MotoGP world races and was only Marquez’s second rhythm,” added Marquez. mum in the race and fi nally we fi nished varro, but did enough to extend his ad- 7. Aron Canet (ESP/Honda) championship as he beat win since April. “With Valentino I pushed for two closer than we expected to the winner.” vantage to an unassailable 106 points 8. Gabriel Rodrigo (ARG/KTM) out title rivals Valentino “I’m very happy because step-by- laps and then when I saw the distance Rossi was delighted with his start as with just four races remaining. 9. Juanfran Guevara (ESP/KTM) MRossi and Jorge Lorenzo to claim victo- step Rossi was gaining points and now was enough (to pass) I just tried to keep he shot through the fi eld. “Today we lost the battle but we won 10. Philipp Oettl (GER/KTM) ry at the Aragon Grand Prix yesterday. we’ve stopped (that run),” said Marquez. that rhythm in front.” However, he didn’t have the pace to the war,” said Binder. Spain’s Marquez started on pole, but Nine-time world champion Rossi hold off Marquez and a breaking er- Defending Moto2 champion Johann World championship standings had to overcame a minor error early in has still never won in Aragon, but, de- ‘PODIUM IS OK’ ror two laps from the end ensured he Zarco retains his championship lead by 1. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) 249 pts the race that saw him briefl y slip down spite starting from sixth on the grid, Lorenzo suff ered a crash in the warm-up couldn’t maintain the pressure on just a point over Spaniard Alex Rins af- (champion) to fi fth before claiming his fourth win of led with 15 laps to go after Marquez ran before the race, but believes that misfor- Lorenzo for second. ter fi nishing eighth. 2. Jorge Navarro (ESP/Honda) 143 the season. Defending champion Loren- wide on lap three to slip down the fi eld. tune ultimately aided him as he switched “It is a shame because two laps from Rins was sixth to sit 39 points clear 3. Enea Bastianini (ITA/Honda) 139 zo passed Yamaha teammate Rossi with Marquez had been dominant all to a hard rear tyre at the last moment. the end I did a mistake in breaking and I of Britain’s Sam Lowes, who moved up 4. Joan Mir (ESP/KTM) 117 fi ve laps to go to take second. weekend, though, and again proved he “Probably the crash from this morn- had to go wide. If not we could fi ght for to third in the standings with his sec- 5. Nicolo Bulega (ITA/KTM) 113 Marquez now leads Rossi by 52 had the fastest bike on the circuit as he ing made me fi nish second today,” he the second place,” added Rossi. ond win of the season.

BOTTOMLINE Fossati picks squad, holds fi rst training session By Sports Reporter try and secure a berth for the Rus- sia edition of the . This is the veteran coach’s second stint with , having held the reins ewly-appointed Qatar during the 2010 World Cup qualifi - national team coach Jorge cation. Now to see how he handles Fossati conducted his fi rst the rest of the qualifying campaign. training session yester- day.N Qatar will play an away match SQUAD: against South Korea on October Ahmed Yasser, Akram Afi f, Pedro 6th as part of their 2018 World Cup Miguel, Saood el-Hajri, Saad al- Asian Zone qualifying campaign. Sheeb, Khalifa Ababacar, Amine Fossati also picked a 26-member Lecomte, Ali Afi f, El Mahdi Ali, Ka- squad for that game. The Uruguay- rim Boudiaf, , an recently took over from his com- Mohamed Musa, Abdulaziz Hatem, patriot Daniel Carreno who was , Rodrigo Tabata, removed from the post after a dis- Ali Assad, Hassan al-Haidos, Al- astrous start to the qualifying cam- moez Ali, Yousef Ahmed, Luiz Jun- paign, which saw the team lose the ior, Ahmed Abdel Maqsood, Ismaeel fi rst two matches to and Uz- Mohamed, Kasola Mohamed, Se- Qatar striker Sebastian Soria bekistan. Fossati has eight matches bastian Soria, , Mo- wears a protective face mask left in the qualifying campaign to Qatar coach Jorge Fossati instructs his players during a training session. hamed Joma. during training yesterday. Gulf Times 2 Monday, September 26, 2016 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT ’s Ashwin second fastest to 200 Test wickets Indian off -spinner Ravi- these are some of the wickets chandran Ashwin yesterday I cherish in my career and I became the second fastest hope I can create more in the bowler to claim 200 Test wick- future,” he said. ets, achieving the milestone in Ashwin also talked about New Zealand on his 37th match. Grimmett, who played for Aus- Ashwin is just behind former tralia between 1925-36, being Australian leg-spinner Clarrie a “better man” than him when Grimmett who took 36 Tests asked if he had any regrets to achieve the feat, and ahead about not being the fastest to of greats Waqar Younis of Pa- the feat. kistan and ’s Dennis “It’s fine. There are a lot of Lillee who both took 38 Tests. good things to look at. Lot the ropes, India Ashwin reached 200 by of good memories in my 5-6 dimissing New Zealand years of international cricket. skipper Kane Williamson in Looking back and feeling Kanpur, where India are play- sour is not the right way to go ing their 500th Test. about it,” he said. “Kane Williamson is not a The 30-year-old from Chennai, bad 200th scalp. I had a few who made his debut against good wickets in my career. the West Indies in 2011, is close in on big win AB de Villiers in Nagpur was currently ranked third in the very well set up,” a delighted International Cricket Council Ashwin told reporters. ratings for Test bowlers. ‘If you get a partnership you can score at a decent rate. More importantly, you can The lanky spinner, who Ashwin, who has become bowled Williamson in the first India’s frontline bowler, is the bat for time. That’s our goal, to fight for as long as we can’ innings with a beautiful de- fastest off -spinner in history to livery that spun from outside reach 200 wickets. Scoreboard the off stump, trapped the Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Mura- batsman lbw the second time litharan managed to take 200 India 1st innings 318 (Murali Vijay around. wickets in 42 Tests, followed 65, Cheteshwar Pujara 62; Trent Boult “Kane Williamson’s wicket by Lance Gibbs of the West 3-67, Mitchell Santner 3-94) in the first innings of this Indies, ’s Saqlain match was a very good ball. Mushtaq and India’s Har- New Zealand 1st innings 262 Sangakkara in Sri Lanka... bhajan Singh. (K. Williamson 75, T. Latham 58; R. Jadeja 5-73, R. Ashwin 4-93)

India 2nd innings (overnight 159/1) L. Rahul c Taylor b Sodhi ...... 38 Umar Akmal returns to Pakistan M. Vijay lbw b Santner ...... 76 one-day squad C. Pujara c Taylor b Sodhi ...... 78 V. Kohli c Sodhi b Craig ...... 18 Pakistan yesterday recalled lowed by another at the same A. Rahane c Taylor b Santner ...... 40 dashing batsman Umar Akmal venue on October 2 and one R. Sharma not out ...... 68 to their one-day squad for the in Abu Dhabi on October 5. R. Jadeja not out ...... 50 upcoming series against West They will also play three Tests Extras (b 1, lb 8) ...... 9 Indies after he was sidelined after the limited-over series. Total (5 wickets; 107.2 overs) ...... 377 for 18 months over discipli- There were also ODI recalls Fall of wickets: 1-52 (Rahul), 2-185 nary problems. for batsman Asad Shafiq and (Vijay), 3-214 (Kohli), 4-228 (Pujara), The 26-year-old played the pacemen Sohail Khan and 5-277 (Rahane) last of his 111 one-day inter- Rahat Ali. Bowling: Boult 9-0-34-0, Santner nationals in March during the Shafiq and Khan have not 32.2-11-79-2, Craig 23-3-80-1, Wagner 2015 World Cup in Australia played since last year while 16-5-52-0, Sodhi 20-2-99-2, Guptill 4-0- and New Zealand. Rahat was part of the team on 17-0, Williamson 3-0-7-0 Negative comments about the New Zealand tour in Janu- Did not bat: R. Ashwin, W. Saha, R. Akmal’s behaviour by former ary. Pakistan lost their last Jadeja, M. Shami, U. Yadav head coach Waqar Younis and one-day series in 4-1 ex-manager Intikhab Alam and are currently ninth in the New Zealand 2nd innings almost derailed his career. one-day rankings. T. Latham lbw b Ashwin ...... 2 He was recalled to the Twen- M. Guptill c Vijay b Ashwin ...... 0 ty20 squad earlier this month Squad: Azhar Ali (captain), K. Williamson lbw b Ashwin ...... 25 after being passed over for Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, R. Taylor run out ...... 17 five months. Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, L. Ronchi not out ...... 38 Pakistan lead the current three- Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Akmal, M. Santner not out ...... 8 match Twenty20 series against Mohammad Rizwan, Moham- Extras (lb 2, nb 1) ...... 3 the West Indies 2-0, with the mad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Total (4 wickets; 37 overs) ...... 93 final game on Tuesday. Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Moham- Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Guptill), 2-3 The first one-day international mad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Hasan (Latham), 3-43 (Williamson), 5-56 is in Sharjah on Friday, fol- Ali, Sohail Khan. (Taylor) Bowling: Shami 4-2-6-0, Ashwin 16-1- 68-3, Jadeja 14-10-8-0, Yadav 3-0-9-0 To bat: BJ. Watling, M. Craig, N. Wag- SA VS IRELAND, 1ST ODI ner, T. Boult, I. Sodhi India’s Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of New Zealand’s Kane Williamson yesterday. Bavuma stars on Reuters ner (eight) will return on Monday hoping Former Australia spinner Clarrie Ajinkya Rahane (40) missed his fi fty Kanpur to resist or at least delay India’s victory Grimmett took one test fewer to reach but Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja march in the fi rst match of the three-test the mark. smashed unbeaten half-centuries and debut as South Africa series. “We should have got them fi ve or six featured in an unbroken century stand ndia set New Zealand an improbable Ravichandran Ashwin (3-68), who down today itself. I’m bit disappointed,” to virtually bat New Zealand out of the 434-run victory target and then blew dismissed four frontline Kiwi batsmen in Ashwin added. contest. rout Ireland away the visitors’ top order in yes- the fi rst innings, proved once again why Earlier in the morning, Williamson at- Sharma, who made 35 in the fi rst in- terday’s fi nal session to close in on a he is considered India’s premier spinner. tacked with spin from both ends and his nings, remained unbeaten on 68. AFP Iresounding win in the fi rst test. The off -spinner had Martin Guptill slow bowlers did not let him down. Jadeja, who scored 42 not out in the Benoni, South Africa Resuming day four on 159 for one, In- caught at silly point for a duck with the fi rst fi rst innings and claimed fi ve wickets dia’s positive batting over two sessions ball of his second over and trapped Tom SODHI DELIVERY with his left-arm spin, continued to have yielded 218 runs before home captain Vi- Latham (two) leg before with the fi fth. Left-arm spinner Santner trapped Mu- a good match. emba Bavuma made a rat Kohli declared on 377 for fi ve at Kan- Ashwin claimed his 200th test wicket rali Vijay lbw for 76, ending the right- The left-hander clobbered three sixes century on his one-day pur’s Green Park Stadium. when he dismissed New Zealand skipper hander’s second century-plus stand of en route to his second test fi fty before international debut to Needing to pull off the biggest suc- Kane Williamson (25) leg before. the match with Cheteshwar Pujara (78). breaking into a bat-twirling celebration. set up a comfortable cessful chase in the history of test cricket Ross Taylor (17) then ran himself out to Kohli fell to off -spinner Mark Craig “Still six wickets to go,” New Zealand 206-runT win for South Africa in for an unlikely win, New Zealand wob- compound the tourists’ misery. and Ish Sodhi struck the next blow with bowling coach Shane Jurgensen said. a one-off one-day international bled early and were reeling at 93 for four “The game’s not over yet,” Ashwin told a beauty of a delivery that spun from out- “If you get a partnership you can score against Ireland at Willowmoore at stumps, still trailing the massive target reporters after becoming the second fast- side leg, took the outside edge of Pujara’s at a decent rate. More importantly, you Park yesterday. by 341. est bowler to take 200 wickets, achieving bat and nestled into Taylor’s waiting can bat for time. That’s our goal, to fi ght Bavuma hit 113 in a total of Luke Ronchi (38) and Mitchell Sant- the feat in his 37th test. hands at slip. for as long as we can.” 354 for fi ve after South Africa were sent in to bat. Ireland were bowled out for 148 in reply. BANGLADESH VS AFGHANISTAN, 1ST ODI Ireland captain Will Porter- File picture of Temba Bavuma. fi eld’s gamble did not pay off as Bavuma and Quinton de Kock cluded three new caps. (82) punished the Irish bowling Bavuma, established as a mid- in an opening partnership of 159. dle order batsman in the Test side, Porterfi eld described his was given his chance as an opener team’s performance as “disap- in the absence of Hashim Amla. Bangladesh pull off thrilling win pointing” and bemoaned early All-rounders Andile Pheh- chances which went astray. lukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius AFP blow in the fi rst over when Daw- “Last three months we were JP Duminy and Farhaan Be- were newcomers to international Dhaka lat Zadran dismissed Soumya working hard, but the way we hardien both hit rapid half-cen- cricket. “It was a good outing,” Sarkar for a duck, but the top or- played we were not up to the turies to take South Africa to a said South African captain Faf du der soon regained the initiative. mark. We could have scored total that always looked likely to Plessis, “and all three debutants aceman Taskin Ahmed Tamim struck nine fours in his 280-plus, but the set batsmen got into the game.” made a brilliant come- 80 off 98 balls and in the proc- got out,” said Bangladesh skip- “It was a good outing,” said Bavuma, who was dropped on back to international ess became the fi rst Bangladeshi per Mortaza. South African captain Faf one when he edged Peter Chase cricket as he claimed cricketer to score 9,000 runs in Dawlat claimed four wickets du Plessis, “and all three to Kevin O’Brien at second slip, Pfour wickets to steer Bangladesh international cricket. for 73 while Nabi and spinner took advantage of the let-off debutants got into the to pull off a thrilling seven-run He put on 83 with Imrul Kayes Rashid Khan grabbed two wick- game” with a composed innings, reach- win in the fi rst one-day inter- (37) for the second wicket and ets each for Afghanistan. ing his fi fty off 54 balls and his national against Afghanistan in then another 79 with Mah- Afghanistan skipper Stanikzai be well beyond Ireland’s reach. century off 110 deliveries. Dhaka yesterday. mudullah for the third wicket hailed the performance of Bang- Porterfi eld was out to Kagiso He was out 13 balls later after Replying to Bangladesh’s 265 before being removed by Mir- ladeshi bowlers. Rabada without scoring to the hitting 13 fours and a six. runs, Afghanistan looked to be wais Ashraf. “Congratulations Bangla- second ball of the Ireland innings On a slow pitch, South Africa well in control when Hashmat- Mahmudullah smashed 62 off desh. Their bowlers bowled very and the visitors crumbled de- struggled to increase their scor- ullah (72) and Rahmat Shah (71) 74 balls and looked poised for a well, that’s why they won the spite good innings of 40 by Paul ing rate in the middle overs but put on a solid 144 runs for the big innings after reaching his match,” Stanikzai said. Stirling and 41 by Kevin O’Brien. Duminy (52 not out) and Behar- third wicket partnership. half-century with a boundary The second and third match Off -spinner Duminy complet- dien (50) gave the innings impe- Shakib Al Hasan (2-26) broke Bangladesh cricketer Tamim Iqbal plays a shot yesterday. off Dawlat. will be held at the same venue on ed a good all-round day by taking tus with a fi fth wicket stand of 87 the stand before the hosts Off -spinner Mohammad Nabi September 28 and October 1. a career-best four for 16. off 40 balls before Behardien was clawed their way back to dismiss 28 runs, could mange just fi ve. “We are playing ODIs after al- removed Mahmudullah, who Ireland were without expe- caught on the boundary off the Afghanistan for 258 runs in the Shakib’s exploit enabled him most a year. We were careful and also struck fi ve fours in his in- Brief Scores rienced batsman Niall O’Brien, last ball of the innings. last ball of the fi nal over. overtake Abdur Razzak as Bang- short by 20 runs,” he said. nings, in his next over when who slipped in his hotel bath- Bangladesh now lead the ladesh’s leading wicket taker in Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudul- Ashraf took a fi ne catch diving Bangladesh 265 (Tamim 80, room yesterday morning and Brief Scores three-match series 1-0 lead. one-day internationals (ODIs) lah Riyad earlier struck half- forward at backward square leg. Mahmudullah 62, Shakib 48, suff ered a head injury. Taskin, who was cleared to with 208 scalps. centuries to guide Bangladesh to Afghanistan made something Dawlat 4-73, Rashid 2-37, Nabi They will play Australia at South Africa 354 for 5 (Ba- bowl in international cricket just “We knew this game was go- a respectable total after skipper of a comeback when Mushfi qur 2-40) beat Afghanistan 258 the same venue tomorrow be- vuma 113, de Kock 82, Duminy two days ago, held his nerve in ing to be tricky,” said Shakib, Mortaza won the toss and elect- Rahim (six) and Sabbir Rahman (Hashmatullah 72, Shahidi 71, fore South Africa meet Australia 52*, Behardien 50) beat Ire- the fi nal over, when Afghanistan who won the man-of-the- ed to bat fi rst. (two) fell cheaply. But Shakib Shakib 2-26, Mashrafe 2-42, in fi ve one-day internationals, land 148 (O’Brien 41, Duminy needed 13 runs, but the visitors, match award for his all-round The home side, playing their ensured Bangladesh did not lose Taskin 2-55) by seven runs starting at Centurion on Friday. 4-16) by 206 runs who lost their last six wickets for performance. fi rst ODI in 11 months, suff ered a their way with 48 off 40 balls. The South African team in- Gulf Times Monday, September 26, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

PREMIER LEAGUE No home comforts for West Ham as Southampton stroll A fourth successive loss left Slaven Bilic’s side languishing in the relegation zone

AFP London

outhampton condemned West Ham to another miserable experience at their new London Stadium as Charlie Austin and Dusan Tadic inspired the visitors’ 3-0S victory yesterday. West Ham’s move from Upton Park to the former Olympic Stadium just across east Lon- don was supposed to herald the start of a suc- cessful new era. But instead they have been be- set by problems on and off the pitch and a fourth successive Premier League loss left Slaven Bilic’s side languishing in the relegation zone. The series of ugly brawls that broke out dur- ing a recent defeat by Watford raised fears about fan safety in the arena and, although there was no repeat of the crowd problems against South- ampton, the lacklustre eff orts of Bilic’s players ensured the supporters would continue to feel uncomfortable in their new surroundings. Austin put Southampton ahead before Tadic and James Ward-Prowse wrapped up South- ampton’s fourth successive win in all compe- titions. West Ham were left to count the cost of a third defeat in six matches in their new abode and, with the worst defensive record in the league, they look destined for a season of struggle. “We deserved to be defeated. It’s hard to change it. The team is down,” Bilic said. “We have good weeks of training but when the game comes it’s simply not good enough. We have to work hard but it’s not happening.” After conceding 11 goals in their last three league games, West Ham were in dire need of a vibrant performance, but it was Southampton who seized the initiative and they threatened when Ryan Bertrand picked out Pierre-Emile Southampton’s midfielder James Ward-Prowse Hojbjerg on the edge of the penalty area. (centre) celebrates with teammates after Hojbjerg had time and space to pick his spot, scoring a goal during the English Premier but Angelo Ogbonna made up the ground with League match against West Ham United at impressive speed and stuck out a leg to block the The London Stadium, yesterday. (AFP) strike. West Ham winger Michail Antonio has scored 10 headed Premier League goals in 2016 and his aerial prowess was acting as a magnet whenever his side attacked. However, seeking out the lanky Antonio with high crosses proved a dubious strategy, with Southampton’s towering centre-back Virgil van Dijk winning virtually every headed duel. West Ham’s injury problems meant Bilic was forced to deploy Havard Nordtveit out of position at tin, who guided a fi ne fi rst-time fi nish low into Soares found the unmarked Tadic 10 yards from munication and organisation in the Hammers hit Ryan Bertrand on the hand. And it was clear right-back and the midfi elder was ex- the far corner. It was the Southampton striker’s goal. This time Adrian came to his side’s rescue rearguard proved fatal in the 62nd minute when the Hammers were certain to end empty-hand- posed when Southampton illuminated a drab fi fth goal in his last four appearances and vindi- as he palmed away a Tadic strike that lacked the Cheikhou Kouyate lost possession in midfi eld ed when Simone Zaza’s shot was cleared off the fi rst half with their 40th minute opener. cated Claude Puel’s decision to start him instead precision required to beat the Hammers goal- and Austin’s deft pass sent Tadic clear to round line by van Dijk. Tadic slipped a perfectly-weighted pass be- of Shane Long. keeper. But West Ham’s creaky defence crum- Adrian and slot into the empty net. Ward-Prowse rubbed salt into West Ham’s hind the hesitant Nordtveit and Bertrand surged Puel’s team had a golden opportunity to dou- bled again moments later and this time Tadic West Ham’s lone spell of pressure saw them wounds as he came off the bench to drill home away down the left fl ank before crossing to Aus- ble their lead soon after half-time when Cedric didn’t let them off the hook. A total lack of com- denied a penalty when Sofi ane Feghouli’s shot from close-range in stoppage-time.

Klopp sidesteps Sakho aft er SPOTLIGHT Liverpool storm to win over Hull Arsenal coach Wenger hungry Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp (right) would not allow controversial comments from defender Mamadou Sakho to take the gloss of a “bril- for more aft er ending Chelsea hex liant” first-half performance from his Liverpool side as they beat Hull City 5-1 at Anfield. AFP Sakho said in a social media posting on London Saturday that suggestions that he was not fit to play were a “lie”. Sakho — who was sent home from Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the rsenal manager Arsene Wenger said United States for disciplinary reasons — is yet he was hungrier than ever for suc- to play for the Reds this season and rejected cess after his side marked the 20th the chance to move on loan before the transfer anniversary of his appointment by stylishlyA defeating Chelsea 3-0. window closed. Liverpool manager Klopp said earlier this First-half goals from Alexis Sanchez, Theo month that the international did not Walcott and Mesut Ozil at the Emirates Sta- need to regain his trust but that Sakho needed dium on Saturday swept Arsenal to a fi rst to build up his fitness after not playing since league victory over their London rivals in April following a suspension for a failed drugs 10 encounters. It was Arsenal’s biggest win tests — subsequently overturned by UEFA — over Chelsea since a 3-0 victory in Wenger’s and an injury sustained in pre-season. fi rst meeting with them in April 1997 and the But Sakho disputed those claims and said he 66-year-old said he was now even more ea- had completed his rehabilitation work. “I accept ger for success than when he arrived. my situation but I can’t accept the lie — the fans “I’m hungrier because I know I have not got deserve to know the truth,” the former Paris 20 more years in front of me,” smiled Wenger, Saint-Germain defender, 29, said on Snapchat. whose team rose to third place in the Premier “Now it’s three weeks since I am fit to play League table. “I also feel a responsibility. You games. I finish all my rehabilitation work.” can’t be 20 years somewhere and not care. Klopp was asked about Sakho’s comments ager Mike Phelan was not prepared to criticise I’m more conscious about what Arsenal is all after Liverpool had won for a third successive his team in the middle of a testing run which about and I feel the weight of keeping people Premier League game but said this was not the continues with a home game against Chelsea happy, and making people happy.” Arsenal’s 66-year-old manager Arsene Wenger says he was now even more eager for success time to make a response. The German added: next weekend. Wenger felt his side’s football had been than when he arrived at the North London club 20 years ago. (AFP) “On a match day I’m in completely the wrong “I am not going to pick holes in the team or “nearly perfect” in the fi rst half and said their mood to think about things like this. It’s not the the players,” said Phelan.”They have come a overall display was “one of our best perform- players they’d always done well against Chel- sive confi guration with Juventus and Italy — right moment to speak about it. It makes sense long way from pre-season and they have got ances of recent years”. sea, because that wasn’t true. I told them to and he said he would urgently address their to think about something and then you give the points on the board already. “We also knew we Chelsea have held something of a hoodoo focus on the quality of football, to have belief, problems at the back. “I have to solve the right answer. It is not positive, I would say. I will had a run of three games — Arsenal, Liverpool, over Arsenal in recent times. Sanchez’s 11th- and today they did that.” situation,” he said. “Two at the back, three at address the situation when I think is the right Chelsea — which are always going to be diff icult minute goal, after a mistake by Gary Cahill, The one black spot for Wenger was a fi rst- the back, four at the back, I don’t care. I just moment. I haven’t decided when that is but it’s but we have to show some kind of discipline was the fi rst league goal Arsenal had scored half knee injury sustained by Francis Coque- have to solve this. I must fi nd the right solu- not Christmas.” and desire. against Chelsea since January 2013. lin. The French midfi elder, who was replaced tion for this team because, in every game, we Klopp had no other problems to contend “Liverpool are flying. You can see their men- Chelsea dealt Wenger a humbling 6-0 by Granit Xhaka, left the stadium with his leg are conceding two goals minimum.” with as he saw his side sweep aside a Hull side tality is good. Their work rate is up there with defeat in his 1,000th game at the Arsenal in a brace and will undergo tests in the com- Both managers were asked to evaluate their reduced to 10 men after half an hour when the best. They are looking a very, very good helm in March 2014 and he said Saturday’s ing days. team’s title prospects. “The title? I think we defender Ahmed Elmohamady was sent off for team that has gelled together.” win could mark an important mental break- Chelsea have gone three league games must work a lot to fi nd some continuity,” said handling the ball on the line and conceding a Phelan, 54, on the day of the game, insisted through. “We had to deal with some incon- without victory and while beaten manager Conte, whose team trail leaders Manches- penalty which gave Liverpool a 2-0 lead. he still wanted to become Hull manager on a venient facts before the game. They were Antonio Conte refused to single out individ- ter City by eight points. “I think that, now, They were 3-0 up at the break and Klopp permanent basis. “I have an off er to become we couldn’t beat Chelsea for years,” said the uals for blame, he had strong words of criti- the most important thing is to work and not said: “The first half was brilliant. That was how manager,” he said.”It is down to the current Frenchman, whose side host Basel in the cism for his team. “Now we are a great team think about other situations.” football should be if you are able to do it. The owners. I am ready and willing. Champions League on Wednesday. only on paper, not on the pitch,” said the Ital- Wenger was more optimistic. “Between second half was not as exciting, still good, but They have stressed they want me for the “To get that out of the system was also at ian. “To be a great team, I prefer to be a great winning a big game and the Premier League, not at 100% of concentration.” challenge. It is just waiting for that moment stake today. I think what was important for team not only on paper but also on the pitch. there’s a long way to go,” he said. “At the mo- The result means Hull have now lost three where they put that piece of paper in front of me was the psychological hurdle standing in The pitch is the truth. The pitch speaks.” ment Man City look a long way in front, but if of their last four league games but acting man- me and I will do what I have to do.” our way. We mustn’t make too much of it, Chelsea switched to a back three early in we maintain the quality of our performances but we can’t ignore it. We couldn’t say to the the second half — Conte’s preferred defen- and stay consistent, we might have a chance.” Gulf Times 4 Monday, September 26, 2016 FOOTBALL

SERIE A ROUND-UP Asamoah, Hart spoils Totti party, Rugani add to Juve woes

Lazio join scudetto chase AFP Milan

Balde and Lulic score to secure a 2-0 win over Empoli that moved Lazio up to fifth hana midfi elder Kwad- wo Asamoah and Ital- AFP ian defender Daniele Milan Rugani were added to Gthe Juventus casualty list yester- day after suff ering knee injuries ngland goalkeeper Joe Hart upset the up- in a 1-0 win at Palermo. coming birthday celebrations of Francesco Asamoah and Rugani are ex- Totti in a 3-1 win for Torino over Roma as pected to be ruled out “for 45 rivals Lazio brazenly joined the scudetto days”, according to a short state- raceE yesterday. ment by the Italian champi- Ousted from Manchester City by Pep Guardiola ons and league leaders follow- last month, Hart joined unfashionable Serie A side ing tests at the J Medical centre Torino in a bid to maintain his status as England’s yesterday. Their absences could number one shot-stopper. Having kept ‘Granata’ prove a problem for Juventus fans guessing during a few nervous displays in re- coach Massimiliano Allegri, who cent weeks, the on-loan City ‘keeper was rock solid is already without defender Me- throughout at Torino’s Stadio Olimpico where the dhi Benatia and midfi elder Clau- only blot on his report card was Totti’s 55th minute dio Marchisio. penalty for the visitors. Juve’s win in Sicily on Satur- It marked Totti’s 250th goal in Serie A, but plans day left them with a one-point to count a Roma win among his 40th birthday lead on Napoli. Juventus face Di- presents this Tuesday were dashed by a defeat that namo Zagreb tomorrow looking moved Torino up to midtable, and left Luciano for their fi rst win of the Cham- Spalletti’s Roma fi ve points behind leaders Juven- pions League group stages after tus. Roma were looking to reply to Juve’s cagey 1-0 a scoreless draw with Sevilla in win at Palermo on Saturday. Turin two weeks ago. But Andrea Belotti headed an eighth-minute opener past Wojciech Szczesny, and at the other DE BOER BLASTS HEEDLESS end Hart was on fi re. He was out smartly early on to KONDOGBIA steal the ball from Edin Dzeko, then got down low Inter Milan’s Geoff rey Kondog- to save with one hand from the Bosnian striker’s bia paid the price for blanking snap shot from close range. coach Frank De Boer’s instruc- An alert Hart then tipped over Dzeko’s header tions with an early exit as Bo- from Mohamed Salah’s delivery. “Before I took logna held the misfi ring Neraz- Hart I spoke to him to try and understand what zurri to a 1-1 draw yesterday. kind of state of mind he would have here,” Torino French midfi elder Kondogbia coach Sinisa Mihajlovic said minutes after they se- was kept out of Inter’s starting cured only their second win of the campaign. “But line-up on several occasions last I can say he’s a true gem of a guy, as well as being season by former coach Roberto an international goalkeeper who has given a lot of Mancini as he struggled to adapt confi dence to the team. I’m very happy with him.” to the game in Italy. And the The Giallorossi heads dropped further when Iago 23-year-old, signed from Mo- Falque beat Szczesny from the spot on 53 minutes. naco on a fi ve-year deal worth Although Totti came off the bench to send Hart 31mn euros in June 2015, has al- the wrong way from the penalty spot two minutes ready felt the wrath of De Boer. later, hopes of a late fi ghtback were quashed when Kondogbia lost possession in Falque’s defl ected shot fl ew over Szczesny halfway midfi eld to spark the counter- through the second period. attack that led to Mattia Destro’s Spalletti — who said days ago he expects Dzeko 14th minute opener. Kondogbia to hit 20 goals this season — did not point the fi n- was hauled off and replaced by ger directly at the misfi ring Bosnian striker. But he Assane Gnoukouri on 28 min- said: “It’s always the same thing with Roma, when utes. Less than 10 minutes later, they’re in a good period they achieve the things Ivan Perisic equalised with a su- that they should. When the chips are down, con- Torino players celebrate after their win over AS Roma in the Italian Serie A Roma at the ‘Grande Torino’ stadium in Turin yesterday. (AFP) perb volley but Inter, who saw fusion reigns. “Unfortunately, we are unable to Andrea Ranocchia head a late maintain consistency in our duels, in our game and points from fi ve games.” closed the gap on Juve to two points when Andrea RESULTS chance wide, dropped two pre- in our attempts to help each other. There are far too Inter Milan also capitalised on Roma’s slip de- Ranocchia sent a late, free header wide. Inter, nev- Torino 3 (Belotti 8, Falque 53-pen, 65) Roma 1 (Totti cious points to sit four behind many ups and downs.” spite being held 1-1 at the San Siro by Bologna. In- erthless, moved up to third at four points off the 55-pen) leaders Juventus. Roma’s second reverese will prove costlier after ter’s bid for a fourth consecutive win was hit when lead, three behind Napoli and one ahead of Roma, Genoa 1 (Simeone 47) Pescara 1 (Manaj 86) “When a player doesn’t want Keita Balde and Senad Lulic scored once in each Mattia Destro broke the deadlock on 14 minutes. Lazio and surprise packages Chievo and Bologna. Inter Milan 1 (Perisic 37) Bologna 1 (Destro 14) to understand...,” said De Boer half to secure a 2-0 win over Empoli that moved Ivan Perisic fi red a superb volley from Antonio “We didn’t settle for at least 20 minutes but we Lazio 2 (Keita 29, Lulic 90) Empoli 0 to explain Kondogbia’s substitu- Lazio up to fi fth, behind Roma only on goals dif- Candreva’s delivery to level before the interval. got steadily better,” De Boer said. “We created a lot Sassuolo 1 (Defrel 34) Udinese 0 tion. “This morning we spoke, ference. “I’m very happy, we’re laying some good But despite the late introduction of former San- of chances to win this game, and the team worked Played Saturday: but it seems he doesn’t want to foundations,” said Lazio coach Simeone Inzaghi. tos forward Gabriel Barbosa, Frank De Boer’s men hard throughout the whole 90 minutes. Overall, Palermo 0 Juventus 1 (Goldaniga 49-og) listen. It’s not the fi rst time that “With our fi xtures list, it was diffi cult to take 10 spurned the chance for a win that would have I’m satisfi ed.” Napoli 2 (Gabbiadini 24, Hamsik 39) Chievo 0 we speak to him about this.” ABERDEEN GO SECOND LIGUE 1 AFTER BEATING RANGERS No Balotelli, but Nice win again

Glasgow: James Maddison (right) scored a AFP sensational last-minute winner for Aberdeen Paris as they defeated Rangers 2-1 yesterday in an ill-tempered match that saw nine players booked at Pittodrie. ice may have been without Mario Jonny Hayes fired Aberdeen into the lead just 22 Balotelli but they ground out a 1-0 seconds after the restart following a first half that win at Nancy yesterday to go back had been dominated by the visitors. Andy Halliday to the top of the Ligue 1 table. NWith Balotelli, scorer of four goals in his looked to have sealed a point for Rangers in the 77th minute when he hauled them level from the fi rst two appearances in French football, left penalty spot after Lee Wallace had been pulled behind on the Cote d’Azur due to an adduc- back by Hayes. tor problem, his fellow striker Alassane Plea However, Maddison, on-loan from Norwich City, scored the only goal of the game at the Stade grabbed a wonderful 90th-minute winner direct Marcel-Picot. from a controversial free-kick to move the Dons The result maintained Nice’s unbeaten up to second in the league and leave Rangers, who start to the French season under new coach trail Old Firm rivals and league leaders Celtic by Lucien Favre and allowed them to end the seven points, languishing in seventh place. weekend at the summit after Monaco briefl y Rangers manager Mark Warburton was left usurped them on Saturday evening. seething at the decision to award a late free-kick. Monaco had been taken apart in a 4-0 “We would have been disappointed at 1-1 but we took the lead as the Rangers defence switched off . derby defeat in Nice in midweek but bounced are bitterly disappointed at a decision of that A long ball was flicked on by and back to beat Angers 2-1 in the absence of nature,” Warburton said. “We were convinced, and Hayes raced past the static Rangers defence into Radamel Falcao, who was recovering from the fourth off icial even said it, that it wasn’t a foul.” the box where he slotted an angled shot under Fo- concussion. Nice’s victory means they are a Meanwhile, Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes deringham and into the net. Rangers looked for an point clear of Monaco and three points clear praised the finish from teenage English midfielder immediate response and came close when Martyn of Toulouse, who stunned stumbling Paris Nancy’s Michael Chretien (left) fouls Nice’s Wylan Cyprien during the French Ligue 1 match Maddison. “It was a spectacular finish. It was a real Waghorn flicked a Halliday free-kick just wide. Saint-Germain 2-0 on Friday to leave the at the Marcel Picot stadium in Nancy, France, yesterday. (Reuters) bit of quality from young James that separated Lee Wallace then sent a dipping shot just over champions in fourth spot. the two sides,” McInnes said. “I think that should the bar before Waghorn missed a golden chance In a far from memorable contest, a weak- bottom. This was their fourth straight de- answer a charge of elbowing a police offi cer. be applauded and deservedly won us all three to equalise when he blazed the ball over from ened Nice were lucky not to be behind with feat and it is the fi rst time they have propped The 23-year-old Ivory Coast internation- points.” close range. Kenny Miller came on for Garner in Nancy having the best chances before the up the table since the 1995/96 season. al is accused of assaulting a police offi cer Both managers made four changes for the the 76th minute and made an instant impact. visitors went in front just after the hour RESULTS after he was stopped in May when leaving a first meeting between the bitter rivals in nearly The striker played a wonderful through ball for mark. Valentin Eysseric’s delightful ball into Saint-Etienne 3 (Beric 63, Nordin 72, Roux 90+3) Parisian nightclub in the early hours of the five years. Rangers started at a high tempo as Wallace, and as the Gers captain raced into the the box found Plea and he produced a fi rst- Lille 1 (Civelli 80) morning. The incident turned violent after they dominated possession and had the first real box he was pulled back by Hayes to earn his side time fi nish for his third goal of the campaign. Nancy 0 Nice 1 (Plea 61) Aurier was asked to take a breath test and chance when James Tavernier’s excellent cross a penalty. Halliday stepped up to send the ‘keeper The win came on the day former Nice Played Saturday: Lorient 1 (Cabot 51) Lyon 0 step out of his Porsche Cayenne. was headed just wide by Joe Garner via a deflec- the wrong way as he expertly dispatched the spot- coach Rene Marsiglia, who was in charge of Bastia 1 (Crivelli 79) Guingamp 0 He is accused of elbowing an offi cer in the tion. The Gers were appealing for a penalty when kick into the bottom-left corner. the side in the 2011/12 season, died after a Bordeaux 0 Caen 0 chest resulting in the policeman needing a Tavernier’s free-kick appeared to strike the arm But with time running out Aberdeen were long battle with cancer at the age of 57. Dijon 3 (Diony 6, 77, Marie 18) Rennes 0 day off work. Aurier denies the charge and of an Aberdeen defender in the wall but referee awarded a free-kick after Hayes went down follow- Earlier yesterday, Saint-Etienne came Monaco 2 (Glik 66, Nwakaeme 75-og) Angers 1 has fi led a complaint against the police for John Beaton waved away their protests. Garner ing a challenge from Tavernier, who appeared to good in the second half to beat Lille 3-1 and (Diedhiou 56) assaulting him, saying he was left with split then found room in the box for a shot which took win the ball. Maddison then swerved a spectacular leave their opponents rooted to the foot of Montpellier 0 Metz 1 (Erding 45-pen) lip and a mark on his eyebrow. a wicked deflection that had scrambling free-kick in off the post from wide out on the left to the table. Slovenian international Robert Friday: Toulouse 2 (Bodiger 48-pen, Durmaz 79) Aurier also got in trouble last season af- to tip the ball round the post. send the home fans wild. Beric put Les Verts in front after the hour Paris Saint-Germain 0 ter making derogatory comments about his At the other end, Rangers stopper Wes Foder- RESULTS mark before teenage debutant Arnaud Nor- then-PSG coach and other ingham made a superb save to tip a swerving Aberdeen 2 (Hayes 46, Maddison 90) Rangers 1 (Hal- din increased the home side’s advantage. AURIER IN COURT ON POLICE team-mates, including current Manchester strike from Kenny McLean over the bar. The sec- liday 79-pen; Hamilton 1 (Docherty 37) St Johnstone 1 Renato Civelli pulled one back but Nolan ASSAULT CHARGE United star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, on a social ond half was just 22 seconds old when Aberdeen (Craig 82) Roux secured the points in stoppage time Controversial Paris Saint-Germain full- media video post. He was suspended by his and Lille are a point adrift of Nancy at the back Serge Aurier is due in court today to club for fi ve weeks. Gulf Times Monday, September 26, 2016 5 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Griezmann Ronaldo has to live rescues Atletico to down 10-man with being subbed, Deportivo

AFP with waiting to turn the ball home. Yannick Carrasco and Correa says coach Zidane then saw great chances saved by ntoine Griezmann was German Lux, while Filipe Luis Atletico Madrid’s hero fi red just wide as the chances be- once more with the gan to fl ow for Atletico. ‘I have to take him off sometimes and tonight we did it’ winner as last season’s However, it took until 20 min- ChampionsA League fi nalists utes from time for the goal to moved third in La Liga with a 1-0 come as substitute Kevin Ga- win over 10-man Deportivo la meiro latched onto Juanfran’s Coruna. pass and his low cross was turned Moroccan winger Faycal Fajr home by his French international undid a fi ne opening 45 minutes teammate Griezmann. for the visitors yesterday when Earlier, Valencia’s upturn un- he picked up two quickfi re yel- der caretaker coach Voro con- low cards just before the break. tinued as they came from behind Atletico passed up a host of to beat Leganes 2-1, but were chances in the second half, but grateful once more to Brazilian fi nally made the breakthrough 20 goalkeeper Diego Alves’s fan- minutes from time when Griez- tastic record of saving penalties. mann tapped home his fi fth goal Alexander Szymanowski headed of the season. the hosts into the lead, but Nani Diego Simeone’s men now levelled with his fi rst Valencia trail leaders Real Madrid by just goal 10 minutes before half-time. two points and move to within a Nani’s cross was turned home point of Barcelona. by Mario Suarez to put Valencia However, the hosts’ victory in front. However, Szymanowski Cristiano Ronaldo endured a poor night was overshadowed by an anterior had the chance to give Leganes in front of goal as he fluff ed two great cruciate ligament injury suff ered a deserved share of the points chances in Real Madrid’s 2-2 draw at Las by midfi elder Augusto Fernandez when Alves upended Alberto Palmas on Saturday night. (Reuters) before half-time that will keep Martin half an hour from time. him out for much of the remain- Yet Alves produced his 20th der of the season. save from 43 penalties he’s faced Jose Maria Gimenez also had to in Spanish football to ensure Va- be replaced in the fi rst-half with lencia’s second win in four days. a groin injury and is set to miss Voro has now won eight of the 10 Wendesday’s huge Champions games he has taken charge of in League clash with Bayern Mu- four caretaker spells. nich. Deportivo have now lost on their last 11 visits to the Vicente RESULTS Calderon, but frustrated Atletico Leganes 1 (Szymanowski 21) Valen- until Fajr’s moments of madness cia 2 (Nani 33, Mario Suarez 51) left the Galicians with an almost Atletico Madrid 1 (Griezmann 70) impossible task. Griezmann had Deportivo la Coruna 0 the hosts’ best chance of a fi rst Played Saturday: Eibar 2 (Illar- half disrupted by the injuries to ramendi 57-og, Bebe 65) Real Fernandez and Gimenez when he Sociedad 0 slotted wide from Angel Correa’s Sporting Gijon 0 Barcelona 5 AFP Real’s huge Champions League clash Real’s lead over Barcelona at the top of close to the form which saw him shine to- cross. Fajr eased Atletico’s route (Suarez 29, Rafinha 32, Neymar 81, Madrid away to Borussia Dortmund tomorrow. the table now stands at a solitary point wards the end of last season and at Euro to victory when he dived in late 88, Turan 85) However, Ronaldo endured a poor night having failed to bounce back from a 1-1 2016 and believes Ronaldo will also need on Nicolas Gaitan in fi rst-half Athletic Bilbao 3 (San Jose 26, in front of goal as he fl uff ed a great chance draw with Villarreal on Wednesday that time to get back to 100 % fi tness follow- stoppage time to leave Deportivo Balenziaga 66, Aduriz 90-pen) eal Madrid coach Zinedine Zi- from Alvaro Morata’s cut-back before snapped a 16-game winning streak in La ing his two-month injury layoff after the with 10 men. Sevilla 1 (Nasri 55) dane insisted Cristiano Ronaldo half-time and fi red straight at Javi Varas Liga. Of most concern for Madrid is their Euros. “He’s been working hard on his The visitors still had a great Las Palmas 2 (Tana 38, Araujo has to learn to live with being in the build-up to Madrid’s second goal. leaky defence as they have now kept just injuries since he came back,” said Bale. chance to take a shock lead at the 85) Real Madrid 2 (Asensio 33, substituted after sulking off “We have a game on Tuesday and I one clean sheet in their last six games. “He hasn’t had a pre-season like me and start of the second period when Benzema 67) Rthe fi eld visibly frustrated in the Euro- thought it was the time to take him off , “Sometimes there are games like this it takes a little bit of time.” Lucas Hernandez headed clear On Friday: 1 (Joaquin 25) pean champions’ 2-2 draw at Las Palmas 20 minutes from the end, thinking about where you have the chances to win and Bale is yet to score since the opening from under his own crossbar Malaga 0 on Saturday night. Zidane replaced the Tuesday,” added Zidane. “I know he al- you don’t take them,” continued Zidane. day of the La Liga season, but insists the three-time World Player of the Year with ways wants to play and always wants to “I think there is a lack of concentration goals will arrive if Real continue to cre- Madrid leading 2-1 18 minutes from time, stay on the fi eld, but I also have to think in the second goal. I have to analyse it, but ate the number of chances they did in but an unhappy Ronaldo watched from about the players and for me it was best to I am not going to complain. Playing like the Canary Islands. “We’re not happy the bench as Sergio Araujo equalised to rest and think about Tuesday.” this for 90 minutes we will be at the top to lose four points, but if you look at the ensure Real dropped points for the sec- Ronaldo has completed 90 minutes of the league I have no doubt.” league overall we are in a good position,” ond time in four days. “I have to take him just twice this season, though, as he was Gareth Bale had been the star member he added. “You have to look at the posi- off sometimes and tonight we did it,” said also replaced early on his return from a of Madrid’s front line most often sac- tives. Of course we are disappointed, but Zidane. “That isn’t going to change what knee ligament injury against Osasuna rifi ced by Zidane in recent weeks as the we are still unbeaten. We are still creating we are going to do continue to do.” earlier this month and missed last week- Welshman was replaced in each of his last chances and if we keep doing that we’ll At the forefront of Zidane’s mind was end’s win at Espanyol due to illness. three outings. However, Bale looked back score plenty of goals.”

Cologne fans delay Leipzig team bus with sit-down protest Berlin: Cologne fans organised a sit-down protest to They won promotion again last season to reach the nounced yesterday they fired him in the wake of his block the team bus of opponents RB Leipzig yesterday, Bundesliga for the first time. Rival fans say Leipzig are team’s fourth straight defeat. Labbadia returned for his forcing the Bundesliga match to start 15 minutes late. an example of a “plastic club” — which has no genuine second stint with Hamburg in April 2015, but was shown Photographs showed around 100 Cologne support- fanbase and owes its existence to financial support the door for the second time after his team’s 1-0 loss ers sitting down on the road to the stadium in a protest from wealthy backers. at home to defending Bundesliga champions Bayern against Leipzig which is bank-rolled by energy drinks Under German football rules they cannot be called Munich. His team had held Carlo Ancelotti’s Bavarian manufacturer Red Bull. The bus eventually reached the Red Bull Leipzig and are off icially known as RasenBall- giants until Joshua Kimmich’s 88th-minute goal decided stadium via an alternative route although it could not sport Leipzig (grassball sport Leipzig) or RB Leipzig. Saturday’s match. With one point in five league games, enter the underground car park, causing further prob- Leipzig have been greeted by protests at other grounds Saturday’s defeat left them third from bottom. lems for the visitors, German media said. over the last two years and fans of local rivals Dynamo Hamburg’s board has lost patience after the latest set “We had a bit of trouble getting to the stadium and Dresden dumped a severed bull’s head on the pitchside back following league defeats to Bayer Leverkusen, plus we needed more time to prepare professionally for the during cup match last month. newly-promoted teams Freiburg and RB Leipzig. match,” Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuettl told reporters. “This step is necessary in view of recent results,” said Founded in 2009, Leipzig quickly moved up from the HAMBURG SACK COACH LABBADIA managing director Dietmar Beiersdorfer, who has been fifth tier to the second by 2014 after winning promotion Bruno Labbadia became the second German league heavily criticised recently for his managing of the club, three times in five seasons. coach to be sacked this season after Hamburg an- which has had 14 coaches in 12 years. Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann (left) vies for the ball with Deportivo La Coruna’s Guilherme in Madrid yesterday. (AFP)

BUNDESLIGA Schalke lose to Hoff enheim, suff er worst ever start

AFP burg at the start of the season, while ros Schalke paid Basel for him — fi red ons League side Borussia Moencheng- Berlin sports director Christian Heidel was in a cross which Cameroon striker Eric ladbach next Sunday at home in the poached from Mainz, Weinzierl has Choupo-Moting headed home at the Bundesliga. endured a disastrous start. far post. But Hoff enheim drew level RESULTS chalke 04 have made the worst “It’s not down to him and I very when striker Andrej Kramaric, Hoff enheim 2 (Kramaric 17, Rupp 41) start to a Bundesliga season in much hope that all the people involved signed from Leicester City, headed Schalke 1 (Choupo-Moting 4) the club’s history with yester- here support him”, said Schalke’s cap- them level on 17 minutes. Cologne 1 (Osako 25) Leipzig 1 (Burke 5) day’s 2-1 loss at Hoff enheim tain, defender Benedikt And midfi elder Lukas Rupp slotted Played Saturday: Borussia Moenchenglad- Stheir fi fth straight league defeat. The Hoewedes. “We need to stand together, home what proved to be the winning bach 2 (Stindl 42, Wendt 76) Ingolstadt 0 latest set-back piles the pressure on as men, and improve.” goal when his shot beat Schalke goal- Mainz 2 (Malli 31, Bell 36) Bayer Schalke’s new coach Markus Weinzierl. Werder Bremen’s dramatic 2-1 win keeper Ralf Faehermann on 41 minutes Leverkusen 3 (Hernandez 32, 67, 90+2) His side are the only club to still have over Wolfsburg on Saturday, with after his defence had given the ball Hamburg 0 Bayern Munich 1 (Kimmich Schalke under head coach no points in Germany’s top fl ight. “I both of their goals coming in the last away in their own half. 88) Markus Weinzierl are the only don’t know where the problem lies,” fi ve minutes, had seen Schalke take Hamburg sacked coach Bruno Lab- Augsburg 1 (Finnbogason 46) Darmstadt club to still have no points in said Schalke’s goalkeeper Ralf Faehr- Bremen’s place at the bottom of the badia yesterday after their 1-0 defeat to 0 Germany’s top flight. (AFP) mann, while his defence did him no table. With Germany coach Joachim leaders Bayern Munich, their fourth- Eintracht Frankfurt 3 (Fabian 39, Meier favours in Hoff enheim. Loew watching, Schalke looked to be straight loss which left them 16th, and 45, Hector 90+2) Hertha Berlin 3 (Ibisevic “We’re in a situation where words on course for their fi rst league points of Weinzierl is now the next boss sweat- 19-pen, 58, Esswein 65) fail me. Nothing is working up front the season after taking a fourth minute ing about his future with Schalke two Werder Bremen 2 (Thy 86, Gebre Selassie and at the back, we are making simple lead at Hoff enheim’s Rhein Neckar places below in rock bottom. 90+1) Wolfsburg 1 (Bauer 69) mistakes. It’s getting worse from week Arena. They play their next Europa League Played Friday: Borussia Dortmund 3 to week.” Swiss striker Breel Embolo — who group stage match at home to RB Salz- (Aubameyang 45, Piszczek 53, Guerreiro Having been recruited from Augs- has so far failed to justify the 22mn eu- burg on Thursday, then face Champi- 90+1) Freiburg 1 (Philipp 60) Gulf Times 6 Monday, September 26, 2016 SPORT ICE HOCKEY Tyson Fury at ‘all time low’, seeking professional help Canada roll over aft er ‘witch hunt’

The Guardian witch hunt against him and London recent allegations, it’s put him over the edge. “He said: ‘If this is what box- yson Fury is receiving ing’s doing, I don’t want it.’” professional help for The allegations in question to reach Tissues that have arisen involve a provisional suspen- as a result of a “witch hunt” sion—since then lifted—from against the boxer, according to action by UK Anti-Doping his uncle. for allegedly producing a The WBA and WBO heavy- urine sample that contained weight champion was due nandrolone. to defend his belts against Peter Fury says a combina- Wladimir Klitschko next month tion of that situation and the World Cup fi nal but was declared medically negative attention he receives unfit to fight last week, mean- have conspired to damage ing the rematch has been his health. The win helps Team Canada extend its winning streak in best-on-best events to 14 postponed for a second time “There’s a lot to be an- after an ankle injury put paid swered for,” he said. straight, dating back to a 5-3 loss to USA in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games to the original date in July. “It’s very disappointing for Peter Fury, who is also his me because we’ve got a super trainer, explained that his con- talent here and he’s been dition has arisen from what driven underground with it, he perceives to be a flood of almost to the point that he’s at negativity that is driving him breaking point. away from the sport. “He’s at an all time low. I “He is seeking help and think he’s always been a little there will be a statement up and down in the past, a bit issued, probably on Tuesday volatile, always has been, but (tomorrow),” Peter Fury said in never like this. He just sees it an interview with iFL TV. as a complete witch hunt, and “When he won the world why bother? title he said to me ‘I came “Everyone needs to look at back, I picked up the paper, I what they’re doing, they’re do- expected to be celebrated’. ing a lot of damage to him. “Straightaway, he said, the “He’s a nice human being, hate campaign started. He Tyson, no matter what people was complaining about it a lot say. He’s a gentleman to eve- but said ‘OK, we’ve got to ac- ryone and this is how he gets cepted, I’ve won the world title treated.” and this is how I’m treated. Fury’s longer-term career “On many occasions he’s is not thought to be in doubt. asked ‘What’s it for? Because if Peter expects him to return to I’m not being credited for the the ring when his treatment work I’ve done and what I’ve has finished. achieved, why am I bothering? “100% (he will be back),” “When we were abroad in he said. “I don’t think it is Holland we had various issues anything severe in terms with him—he was snapping a of long-term eff ects but he lot, and although he was com- needs a bit of time out to take ing to the gym his mind was the pressure off , needs some elsewhere some days. medical assistance, and I think “I think that, because of the he’ll be OK.”

Team Canada celebrate their semi-final victory over Team Russia in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday. (John E Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports)

AFP ways comes up big in big games. That just scored and goaltender Carey Price made goalie Price. “There’s a reason he drives so Toronto shows how special of a player he is.” 31 saves for Canada, who won gold in Van- many guys crazy.” Canada advances to the best-of-three couver and followed it up with another Crosby drew fi rst blood for Canada in fi nal series where they will play the win- Olympic gold medal four years later in So- the opening period when he stripped de- rad Marchand scored twice off a ner of the other semi between and chi, Russia. fenceman Dmitry Kulikov of the puck at pair of setup passes from Sidney Team Europe. The championship series Marchand broke a 2-2 tie with a goal the side of the Russian goal then shimmied Crosby as Canada rallied to beat kicks off on Tuesday in Toronto. just 76 seconds into the third period on an his way across the top of the crease before Russia 5-3 to reach the fi nal of the This was the latest chapter in the dy- assist from Crosby and just 20 seconds af- beating Bobrovsky with a backhand. 2016B World Cup of Hockey. namic rivalry between the two most suc- ter Bobrovsky had robbed him with a glove Nikita Kucherov tied it 1-1 at 8:47 of the Crosby opened the scoring 7:40 into cessful nations in hockey history which save. Bobrovsky fi nished with 42 stops. second by scoring on Russia’s fi rst shot of the fi rst period as he had a goal and lately has been dominated by the Ca- Marchand also scored the tieing goal the period. two assists while Marchand fi nished with nucks. Team Canada extended its win- late in second on another assist from Cros- The Russians took their only lead of the two goals for the mighty Canadians who ning streak in best-on-best events to 14 by — Canada’s top player and the leading game about eight minutes later when Evg- have won all four of their games in the straight, dating back to a 5-3 loss to USA tournament scorer with seven points. eny Kuznetsov batted a puck out of mid- tournament. in the early rounds of the 2010 Vancouver Marchand, who plays for the Boston air past Price from in close. The line of Crosby, Marchand and Olympic men’s hockey tournament. Bruins of the National Hockey League, Marchand then scored back-to-back Patrice Bergeron proved to be unstoppable Sergei Bobrovsky was brilliant in goal had a crack at a hat trick in the fi nal sec- and Perry and Tavares padded Canada’s Saturday as they fi nished the game with for Russia who led 2-1 at one point late in onds of the game but his shot at an empty lead to 5-2. The line of Perry, Jonathan a combined seven points in front of the the second period but couldn’t stop the net just missed to the left. Toews and Logan Couture shut down pro-Canadian crowd at the Air Canada Canadian juggernaut from battling back Marchand specializes in getting under Russia star Alex Ovechkin, who fi nished Centre arena. with three unanswered goals in the fi rst the skin of his opponents but his skill with with no points and just one shot on goal. “It was a lot of fun playing with Crosby half of the third to take command. the puck is undeniable. Team Europe squares off against Swe- that is for sure,” said Marchand. “He al- Corey Perry and John Tavares also “We all knew he was a good player,” said den in the other semi-fi nal. Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez dies in boating accident at the age of 24

AFP "He was one of our game's great young Fernandez was enjoying his best major Miami stars who made a dramatic impact on and off league season, posting a 16-8 record with a the field since his debut in 2013. Our thoughts 2.86 earned run average. and prayers are with his family, the Miami The hard-throwing right-hander set a club iami Marlins ace pitcher Jose Marlins organization and all of the people he record with 253 strikeouts this season, and Fernandez died early yesterday in a touched in his life." his 12.49 strikeouts per nine innings rank Mboating accident in Miami Beach, the Fernandez was one of three people killed in led the majors. After unsuccessful attempts, Major League Baseball team confirmed. the accident, in which the 32-foot vessel had Fernandez managed to leave Cuba for Florida "The Miami Marlins organization is devas- a "severe impact" with a jetty, authorities said. at the age of 15. tated by the tragic loss of Jose Fernandez," The Coast Guard discovered the overturned At 20 he broke into the major leagues and the club said in a statement. "Our thoughts boat around 3:30 am. was National League Rookie of the Year in 2013. and prayers are with his family at this very The Marlins' game against the Atlanta In May of 2014, however, he underwent Tommy diff icult time." Braves scheduled for yesterday afternoon in John ligament replacement elbow surgery. He MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred also Miami was cancelled. returned to the major leagues on July 2, 2015, commented on the death of the 24-year-old, a Fernandez was originally scheduled to start and the same year became a US citizen. rising star in the major leagues. in yesterday's game, but on Saturday the team Fernandez's last start, on Tuesday, was one "All of baseball is shocked and saddened by announced he would skip that start and pitch of the best of the two-time All-Star's career. He the sudden passing of Miami Marlins pitcher Monday's opening game of a series against tossed a season-high eight innings and struck Jose Fernandez," Manfred said. the New York Mets. out 12 in a 1-0 shutout win over the Nationals. Gulf Times Monday, September 26, 2016 7 SPORT

FOCUS Celtics’ training facility could be a gamechanger By Steve Bulpett “How can it not? When they come Boston Herald (TNS) and they see the professionalism,” he said, “and just hang on that word for a moment. When they see the profes- he Celtics will gather tomor- sionalism that is required nowadays, row at their practice facility in from sports science to rehab and pre- Waltham for Media Day. It is hab and weightlifting and nutrition, it Ta perfectly fi ne home for the has to have an eff ect. club, a private section of a larger build- “We all talk the talk, but to put them ing that includes a health club and in an environment where here it is has medical facilities. to have an eff ect. But in the ever growing and mod- “If it’s any responsibility we all have, ernising NBA sphere, the footprint no it’s to keep our players healthy. It might longer measures up to the Celts’ needs. be the Holy Grail among all the things So, as announced earlier this year, the that we talk about. So from perspective club is expecting to move into a new alone, you can better achieve that un- building at Boston Landing in 2018. der your own roof.” Groundbreaking for the development, Though it’s two years away, Ainge between the Bruins’ new practice rink will be showing artist renderings of the and the New Balance Building hard by Celtics’ new joint when next he pitches the Mass Pike, will come later this fall. free agents. In addition to more court space, the “It is a factor sometimes,” he said. Celts will gain greater room for corpo- “Some players care a great deal about rate and community functions, and be that stuff and some don’t, but it can be closer to the team’s downtown offi ces. a factor, absolutely. The facility and the But what will it mean to the product, to amenities are a factor, for sure. And I the people in sneakers? think the location will give the players According to Danny Ainge, quite more options on where to live. We’ve a bit. “It is a big deal,” said the Celts’ had a lot of players that have loved liv- president of basketball operations. ing in Lincoln and Wellesley and Wes- “It’s a big deal for our players, and it’ll ton for the great public school systems, be a big deal for our team to have two and they can still do that. But now it’ll regulation courts. I mean, that’s prob- be easier for the guys who want to live ably the biggest thing. Our facility’s closer to the city or in the city.” good now, but one court’s not enough. The Bulls are seeing the benefi t of I mean, with 15 players, we need two moving from the far north suburbs of courts. We don’t have enough space. into their current digs in 1999, skip- There is evidence to support that and I asked Pop (Gregg Popovich), the morning. It was theirs. They could Chicago to a built-to-spec site adja- We’re trying to build a better facility to ping across town from Brandeis. theory. Brett Brown and the 76ers are ‘What does that mean?’ He said, ‘I take ownership in it. It was close. It cent to the United Center. become a better team.” “This will be better for training,” about to move into a new facility in don’t know. You fi gure it out.’ was comfortable. You could eat with a “You just want to have a fi rst class “But,” he added, “we won 17 banners Ainge said. “We have more bang for Camden, NJ, and the coach is hoping “But you had this two-court, six- teammate. You could play video games facility with all the amenities and with one court, so it’s not, like, the buck with our players. And some to get some of the same benefi ts he saw basket, perfectly-spaced facility with with a teammate. You could practice all the equipment from a health care mandatory.” players really do care about it. They’re in his fi rst NBA job. a food area and a pool and weight hard with teammates. I just think it’s standpoint and training standpoint,” Actually, the Celtics won some of coming from some college programs “My fi rst year in the league was with room that was an environment where another extension of how you build said Bulls general manager Gar For- those banners with barely one practice with spectacular training facilities. I the Spurs, who had just built their own the players could come at any time culture. It was everything to the Spurs.” man. “We did have a great facility, but court, having to share space at various think it’ll be a great thing for our play- practice facility,” said Brown. “They they wanted. It became like a Field of No one would argue that a practice we had outgrown it in some ways, and locales. In fact, the C’s have won ex- ers, and maybe they’ll spend more time were amongst a small handful of teams Dreams thing: if you build it, they will palace is “everything” when it comes we wanted to get downtown with the actly one championship when they had at our facility. I don’t know. That’s that had their own facility. I was called come. All day, people would be com- to attracting free agents, but Brown convenience for our players. It’s been a court to call their own. They moved what we’re hoping.” the director of player development, ing in and out — late at night, early in believes it can help with recruiting. terrifi c for us.”

BASEBALL Nationals beat Pirates to nail down division title ‘It never gets old. It’s such a hard thing to accomplish. You spent six months trying to do it. It’s why you go to spring training early, so you can do everything possible to put yourself in position to do this. It’s really special’

AFP been shut out as their chances for a win of completing a four-game series Los Angeles wild-card spot are all but gone. sweep. The Astros wasted another strong start from right-hander Brad Peacock by squandering a three-run lead. They also ryce Harper and Wilson Ramos Orioles 6, D’backs 1 fell 2 1/2 games behind Baltimore for the drove in two runs as the Wash- Trey Mancini and Mark Trumbo fi nal wild-card spot in the AL. ington Nationals defeated the homered and starter Wade Miley shut Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 on Sat- down his former team for 8 2/3 in- urdayB and clinched the National League nings as Baltimore rolled past Arizona. Rangers 5, Athletics 0 East title. The Nationals earned their The victory moved the Orioles (84-71) Shortstop Elvis Andrus hit a pair of third division title in fi ve years but they back into second place in the AL wild- two-run homers, Yu Darvish pitched needed some help to do it as the second card battle by one-half game as Kansas seven shutout innings and Texas rolled place New York Mets lost 10-8 to the City’s fi ve-run ninth inning handed the to victory. One day after clinching the Philadelphia Phillies. Detroit Tigers a 7-4 loss earlier on Sat- American League West crown, Rang- “It never gets old,” said Nationals out- urday. It was Mancini’s third homer this ers manager Jeff Banister gave all of his fi elder Jayson Worth, who now has won week after his recent call-up. regulars except Andrus and right fi eld- eight division titles in his career. “It’s er Nomar Mazara the day off . Adrian such a hard thing to accomplish. You Beltre, Carlos Beltran, Ian Desmond, spent six months trying to do it. It’s why White Sox 8, Indians 1 Jonathan Lucroy, Rougned Odor, Mitch you go to spring training early, so you can Jose Abreu and Carlos Sanchez had Moreland and Carlos Gomez were do everything possible to put yourself in three hits apiece and Todd Frazier homer- spectators as Andrus had the fi rst mul- position to do this. It’s really special.” ed as Chicago beat Cleveland. The Indi- ti-homer game of his career and drove The celebration didn’t end with the ans’ four-game winning streak and the in a career-high tying four runs. players. “This is what I came back into White Sox’s six-game slide were snapped. baseball for,” said Nationals manager The win stalled Cleveland’s quest to Dusty Baker, who is 67 years old. “Man, clinch the American League’s Central Di- Marlins 6, Braves 4 I was called back into it. This is where vision title. The Indians’ magic number Dee Gordon had two hits, three steals I am supposed to be and what I’m sup- for clinching was reduced to two, though, and scored twice as Miami defeated At- posed to be doing.” with Detroit’s loss to Kansas City. lanta. The Marlins snapped the Braves’ Relief pitcher Reynaldo Lopez threw seven-game winning streak, which was 5 1/3 scoreless innings for Washington. the longest run by Atlanta since 2014. The loss hurt the host Pirates’ dwin- Royals 7, Tigers 4 The Braves’ Freddie Freeman had an RBI dling chance to get into the Major League Eric Hosmer belted a three-run home single and a solo home run. He has 32 Baseball playoff s. Pittsburgh has won run to help Kansas City overcome a two- homers this season, and also extended seven of its past 10 games but can’t aff ord The Washington Nationals celebrate in the clubhouse after clinching the National League Eastern Division Championship by run defi cit with two outs in the ninth. his career-high hit streak to 28 games. any more losses in its fi nal eight games. defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in Los Angeles on Saturday. The Nationals won 6-1. (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports) Paulo Orlando blasted a two-run dou- Washington’s Joe Ross was making ble in the ninth for the Royals. Hosmer’s his second start since missing 66 games the majors’ fi rst 22-game winner and trails the Mets and Giants by a half-game. runs and Randal Grichuk drove in three 24th home run of the season, which gave Reds 6, Brewers 1 because of a sore shoulder. Boston’s fi rst since Pedro Martinez won for the Cardinals, who are one-half him 100 RBIs, came on a low 1-1 change- Dan Straily struck out fi ve batters in 6 He pitched three innings but got 23 in 1999. Tampa Bay’s Logan Forsythe game behind the Mets and the Giants in up by Francisco Rodriguez (3-4). Detroit 2/3 innings of one-run ball and Joey Vot- pulled with two outs in the third after hit his 20th home run of the season, a Phillies 10, Mets 8 the NL wild-card race. St. Louis has won fell one-half game behind Baltimore for to hit his 26th home run of the season as giving up a run. He also left the bases solo shot, with two outs in the ninth off Maikel Franco hit a three-run homer fi ve of its last seven games. The NL Cen- the second wild-card spot in the AL. Cincinnati beat Milwaukee. Straily (14- loaded for reliever Sean Burnett. closer Craig Kimbrel, who picked up his in the fi rst inning and Darin Ruf laced tral champion Cubs saw their four-game 8) cruised through his outing, scattering Ross was charged with one run and 30th save of the season. Kimbrel had a three-run homer in the fourth as winning streak end. They remain stuck fi ve hits and two walks to post his third fi ve hits in 2 2/3 innings. held opponents hitless (0-for-20) in his Philadelphia raced out to a 10-run lead on 98 victories and tied for a franchise- Twins 3, Mariners 2 consecutive victory. The only earned run Pirates starter Ivan Nova dropped to previous eight appearances. and hung on. New York and San Fran- record 56 home wins. Chicago last won Early homers by Jorge Polanco and he gave up came on a solo home run from 12-8 on the season. Since starting his cisco are tied for the NL wild-card 99 games in 1935, when it reached 100. Miguel Sano helped Minnesota snap a Domingo Santana in the second inning. Pittsburgh career with fi ve wins and no lead, one-half game ahead of St. Louis. seven-game losing streak. The Twins, Votto also drew three walks. losses after being acquired August 1 from Giants 9, Padres 6 The Mets nearly pulled off the biggest who have 99 losses, got seven solid the New York Yankees, he lost for the sec- Angel Pagan raced home with the tie- comeback in team history after man- Blue Jays 3, Yankees 0 innings from starter Tyler Duff ey (9- ond start in a row. Nova gave up six runs breaking run on a 10th-inning error by ager Terry Collins pulled his three best Jose Bautista hit a three-run homer 11). Nelson Cruz homered for Seattle, Dodgers 14, Rockies 1 and eight hits in four innings of work. He rookie right fi elder Hunter Renfroe and players—Jose Reyes, Asdrubal Cabrera with two out in the eighth inning to which fell two games behind Baltimore Clayton Kershaw tossed seven score- also hit two batters and threw a wild pitch. Denard Span followed with a two-run and Yoenis Cespedes—with the Phillies send Toronto past New York. The Blue for the second wild-card spot in the AL. less innings and Josh Reddick hit a grand homer off reliever Kevin Quackenbush ahead 10-0 after four innings. Jays beat the Yankees for the second slam as Los Angeles crushed Colorado. to give San Francisco a victory over San straight time with two games left in the Reddick went 3-for-4 with fi ve RBIs and Red Sox 6, Rays 4 Diego. The Padres had rallied from a 6-0 four-game series between the Ameri- Angels 10, Astros 4 three runs. It was Reddick’s fourth career Dustin Pedroia hit a two-out grand defi cit to tie the score in the seventh. San Cardinals 10, Cubs 4 can League East rivals. Toronto leads Albert Pujols stroked a game-tying slam and the seventh this season for the slam in the seventh inning as Boston Francisco prevented Los Angeles from St. Louis scored six runs in the fi rst the AL wild-card race by 1 1/2 games single in the eighth and C.J. Cron fol- Dodgers. Justin Turner, Adrian Gonzal- clinched a postseason berth with its clinching the National League West title three innings en route to routing Chi- over Baltimore and is two games clear lowed with a sacrifi ce fl y that capped Los ez and Joc Pederson drove in two runs 10th straight victory. The Red Sox’s and moved the Giants into a fi rst-place cago and staying afl oat in the National of third-place Detroit. It was the third Angeles’ four-run inning in its victory apiece as the Dodgers reduced their mag- winning streak is its longest since 2009. tie with the New York Mets in the Na- League wild-card race. Stephen Piscotty loss in a row for the Yankees and the over Houston. The Angels piled on with ic number to one to capture their fourth Boston’s Rick Porcello (22-4) became tional League wild-card race. St. Louis homered, Yadier Molina drove in four third straight game in which they have fi ve runs in the ninth to move within one straight National League West title. Gulf Times 8 Monday, September 26, 2016 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT RUGBY Solomona treble routs Vikings Mayor on song as AFP when Brough struck the de- London cisive drop-goal, but Terry Campese still had time to hit the post with a late attempt enny Solomona’s of his own - Rovers knowing a hat-trick helped draw would have been enough Castleford round off to secure their own top-fl ight the survival. Warrington had al- to host ‘fun’ regularD season in style with ready avenged their Wembley a comprehensive 40-26 win heartache on Friday, courtesy over Widnes on Sunday. of a 23-6 win at Hull FC, and Despite no semi-fi nal spot secured the League Leader’s on off er, this still proved an shield for the fi rst time since enthralling contest as Connor 2011 in the process. Farrell got visitors Widnes off Warrington surrendered a to the perfect start. two-score lead in the Chal- 2026 But Australian Luke Dorn lenge Cup fi nal clash between responded before Kiwi Solo- these sides, but at 16-6 there mona ran in two more tries would be no repeat in the ‘The roadmap of our main event and sports calendar is very stable’ before the interval, and things league. Declan Patton im- only got harder for the Vikings pressed with fi ve goals but it after the break. was the return to Hull of Tom AFP Solomona’s third try and Lineham that proved decisive, Danang, Vietnam further scores from Ben as his brace gave the Wolves a Crooks, Matt Cook and Paul fi rm advantage. McShane put the Tigers out of Kevin Penny also scored for apan’s central Aichi prefec- sight, although two late Corey the Wire, meaning Kiwi Car- ture and its capital city Thompson and Patrick Ah Van los Tuimavave’s eff ort was no were confi rmed as co-hosts of tries made the score more re- more than a consolation, and the 2026 Asian Games yester- spectable for Widnes. Warrington will now enjoy a day,J adding another major event to Saturday’s action saw Hud- home semi-fi nal against St the country’s bulging international dersfi eld needing to beat Hull Helens next week. sports calendar. KR to avoid the Million Pound Saints themselves eased The Game promotion/relegation past Wakefi eld to warm up (OCA) formally endorsed the bid af- game, and Danny Brough’s for their semi-fi nal clash, as ter governor Hideaki late drop-goal helped them do former Wests Tigers and New- Ohumra and Nagoya city mayor Ta- just that – albeit by the skin of castle Knights fullback Shan- kashi Kawamura presented their joint their teeth as they won 23-22. non McDonnell ruled the roost off ering to the OCA general assembly It came after an astonish- with a second-half hat-trick in Danang. ing comeback from 22-4 down in a 32-12 win. Wigan com- Kawamura promised that the Games at the break from the Rob- plete the semi-fi nals lineup would be fun, and even serenaded the ins, who now will lock horns after a 48-24 win over Catalan assembly with a verse from the Elvis with either Salford or London Dragons on home soil, and will Presley song “Can’t help falling in Broncos next weekend to pre- now face Hull FC in a repeat of love” to prove the point. Both men serve their ten-season stay in the semi-fi nal. emphasised the strength of Japan’s the top fl ight. Matty Smith scored 24 economy and advanced technology as After former NRL man points – including two tries well as the country’s successful record Maurice Blair’s 16th-minute – while George Williams also of staging major sports events. score, crossed bagged a double as eight-try As the lone bidder for the Games, twice with and Wigan ran riot. Japan’s proposal was rubber stamped also scoring to Leeds fi nished the season by the assembly and the host con- put Giants in the ascendancy. on a positive note with a 37- tract signed by the OCA and the bid But Rovers’ Australian con- 12 win over promoted Leigh to delegates. tingent came to the fore as Ken top of the Qualifers on points The OCA had originally planned to Sio and Mitch Allgood brought diff erence – with Brian Mc- choose the 2026 Asian Games host in them roaring back before an Dermott’s side and Leigh both 2018 but brought the vote forward to Iain Thornley try levelled the winning six of their seven provide some certainty to the region’s scores. Six minutes remained games. crammed sporting calendar which includes three Olympic events over the next eight years. Nadolo stars as Montpellier climb to second “The roadmap of our main event and sports calendar is very stable,” OCA Burly Fiji wing Nemani Nadolo scored a hat-trick of tries as president Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al- Montpellier thumped Brive 42-13 to earn a bonus point that took Sabah told the assembly in the Viet- Japan will host the 2026 Asian Games, adding to its already bulging international sports calendar as it also gears up to host the 2020 them up to second in the French Top 14. Former Crusaders back namese city. Summer Olympics. This file photo shows Japanese athletes taking a ‘selfie’ as they parade during the closing ceremony of the 2014 Asiad in Nadolo made the most of clever kicking by his team-mates to dot “Asia will host a lot of interna- . (AFP) down three times in a comprehensive Montpellier performance. tional events for a lot of internation- “It’s been a long time coming,” Nadolo, who is in his second spell al federations... so we want to try in France following an unsuccessful six months at Bourgoin in and make a very stable programme Asia postpones next Asian Beach and 2010, told Canal+. for our diff erent events.” “To get some tries on the back of a really good back line, I’m South Korea is already hosting the Danang, Vietnam: The Olympic Council and . are giving a chance to other NOCs to win pleased. That’s what we’re training hard for, we’ve got the players Winter Olympics at Pyeonchang in of Asia (OCA) has rescheduled two of its Indonesian off icials told the OCA General medals.” here so we need to keep preparing well each week and take each 2018, while Tokyo hosts the 2020 biggest regional events and introduced Assembly yesterday they would stage a The Indonesian organising committee for week as it comes — we have a big game next week against Stade Summer Olympics before the winter limits on the number of athletes allowed smaller test event in 2017 and then the the 2018 Asian Games said preparations Francais. I fell in love with France so I’ve come back. I had a tough games go to in 2022. to compete in the region’s top multi-sports Youth Games at Surabaya four years were on schedule. But one of the planned time with Bourgoin but here there’s a world class team, world Held every four years, the 2018 competition. later. sports, surfing, had been dropped because class facilities — it’s such a beautiful place, I love this team.” Asian Games are in the Indonesian With Asia already set to stage the next three OCA president Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al- the waves were not big enough at either Unbeaten Clermont can move back above Montpellier later on cities of Jakarta and Palembang Olympics and a host of world champion- Sabah also announced limits on the number Jakarta or near Palembang. Sunday if they avoid defeat against struggling Toulon, while a while the 2022 edition will take place ships over the next decade, OCA off icials of competitors at the Asian Games. Meanwhile, the general assembly agreed victory would put them top. in the Chinese city of . have decided to streamline some of their This is second only in size to the Olympics to set up five regional off ices while it tries Brive full-back Gaetan Germain gave the visitors the lead with Japan will also host the 2019 major regional events, which have grown with more than 10,000 competitors and to resolve its long-running dispute with the the boot on nine minutes but Nadolo caught a high crossfield Rugby World Cup, the Asian Winter spectacularly from humble beginnings. 5,000 off icials from 45 countries and re- government in Kuwait which houses the kick from fly-half Demetri Catrakilis on 13min to touch down. Games in 2017 and the world swim- The , currently taking gions as well as 4,000 technical staff , 8,000 OCA headquarters. Germain restored Brive’s lead with his second successful ming championships in 2021. place in Vietnam, will now be held every media and 30,000 volunteers. Kuwait will remain the sub-centre for penalty but Catrikilis dissected the posts himself before Nadolo The joint bid for the 2026 Asian four years instead of every two. Founded Until now, countries have been allowed to West Asia while additional off ices will be grabbed his second score following a kick ahead from opposite Games almost came unstuck follow- in 2008, the next edition was supposed to enter as many athletes as they liked but the established in , , Delhi, wing Benjamin Fall in a length-of-the-field break. ing a dispute over the cost of fund- take place in 2018 but has been postponed OCA said each nation would be restricted Nansha in and Lausanne, where the Fijian flanker Sisa Koyamaibole was sin-binned for Brive for col- ing the Games that was only resolved until 2020. to a maximum of two competitors in each International Olympic Committee is based. lapsing on a ruck and Catrakilis kicked a second penalty to send this month. The 2017 Asian Youth Games, due to be held individual event. Kuwait was banned from competing in the Montpellier into the half-time break leading 18-6. Kawamura originally threat- in Jakarta, will now take place in 2021. The “Otherwise we will have nine from one Rio Olympics after the government was The game seemed all but over as a contest three minutes into ened to withdraw Nagoya’s joint bid Games, which were first held in 2009, were country and none from other countries,” accused of interference in its national Olym- the second period as South African centre Francois Steyn sold because of fears costs could spi- originally due to take place in Sri Lanka but Sheikh Ahmad told the assembly. pic Committee, and the contract for the a dummy and then cut inside William Whetton, finding a free ral before reaching an agreement were to switched to , mainly as “We are getting the best two from each OCA to remain at its headquarters in Kuwait channel to dive over next to the posts. with the prefectural government of a test event for the 2018 Asian Games in NOC (National Olympic Committee) and we remains in limbo. His compatriot Catrakilis converted for a 25-6 lead. Aichi.

CYCLING Terpstra wins Eneco Tour as Dennis crashes

AFP ship time-trial in Doha. Finishing Brussels third in the fi nal stage was ’s Oliver Naesen, who came second overall. Dutch rider Tom Dumou- utch rider Niki Terpstra lin was fourth on the day, followed won the Eneco Tour after by Olympic champion Greg Van taking second to Edvald Avermaet and world champion Boasson Hagen in yester- Peter Sagan. day’sD seventh and fi nal stage. Norway’s Boasson Hagen RESULTS claimed the closing day’s honours 1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway/ in a sprint at the end of a challeng- Dimension Data) 4:33:36” ing 197.8km ride from Bornem to 2. Niki Terpstra (/ Grammont. Etixx-Quick-Step) +1” Terpstra (Etixx) was placed fi fth 3. Oliver Naesen (Belgium/ IAM going into today’s stage, almost Cycling) half a minute behind Austral- 4. Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands / ian BMC rider Rohan Dennis, the Giant) +42” overall leader. But Dennis’s hopes 5. Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium / of victory were compromised BMC Racing) when he crashed after 48km. 6. Peter Sagan (Slovakia / Tinkoff ) Terpstra, a former Paris-Roubaix +46” winner, said: “The plan was to at- 7. Wilco Kelderman (Netherlands/ tack to put BMC and Rohan Dennis LottoNL) in diffi culty, and it worked per- 8. Jos van Emden (Netherlands/ fectly.” LottoNL) +48” For Terpstra this was the perfect 9. Jon Izagirre (Spain / Movistar) preparation for his main end-of- 10. Dmitriy Gruzdev (Kazakhstan / (L-R) Second-placed Belgium’s Oliver Naesen, overall winner Netherlands’ Niki Terpstra and third-placed Slovakia’s Peter Sagan celebrate on the general ranking podium after the season target, the world champion- Astana). seventh and last stage of the Eneco Tour cycling race, 197,8km from Bornem to Geraardsbergen, in Geraardsbergen yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times Monday, September 26, 2016 9 SPORT

MARATHON IOC boss Bach wants greater clarity on doping roles International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Bekele claims Berlin Thomas Bach said yesterday he wants governments to do more to combat drugs in sport following the Russian doping scandal that rocked the buildup to the Rio Olym- pics. Reinforcing his belief that the World Anti-Doping win in near record time Agency (WADA) should be completely overhauled, Bach said it was time that ‘We will have to come back and try again for the world record next year’ governments played a more active role to help create a better and more transparent AFP system of tackling cheats. Berlin “This has had to happen to- gether with WADA because WADA, in the fight against enenisa Bekele ad- doping, is the platform,” mitted he was disap- Bach told the Olympic Coun- pointed to have missed cil of Asia General Assembly. the world record by six “We (also) need the com- Kseconds yesterday as the Ethio- mitment of government. pian won the Berlin marathon Together with governments, ahead of former winner Wilson we want to make WADA Kipsang. more eff icient.” The ex-Olympic 5,000m and The IOC and WADA have 10,000m champion crossed the been at odds over their roles fi nish line in an offi cial time of in dealing with anti-doping two hours 03min 03sec — just cases after WADA led calls short of Dennis Kimetto’s world for Russia to be banned from record of 2:02:57 set here in 2014. Rio following allegations of Bekele’s time was an Ethiopian state-backed doping. national record and he took two The IOC opted not to ban minutes off his personal best. Russia, instead leaving “It went according to plan,” the decision to individual said Bekele, who fi nished third sports. But it believes a at this year’s London marathon. clearer system should be “I wanted to beat my personal established, taking the key best. I ran a fantastic time, but decisions away from sports I’m just a little disappointed to and national federations. “We miss the world record by a few think the whole anti-doping seconds.” system should be independ- Bekele pocketed 70,000 eu- ent from sports organisa- ros ($78,585) for winning the tions with regard to testing race, but those six seconds cost and sanctioning,” Bach said. him the 50,000 bonus he would “The system has to be more have landed had the world record transparent... we have to be fallen. very clear who is responsi- Kipsang, who won the 2013 ble for what: testing, compli- Berlin Marathon in a then-world ance, sanctioning. We owe record time, fi nished ten sec- this to the athletes so they onds back in 2:03:13 and fellow know what is happening, Kenyan Evans Chebet took third and we owe it to the public in 2:05:31. to be fully transparent.” “I am happy to have run a per- While the IOC and WADA sonal best and he (Bekele) ran have been at loggerheads a fantastic race,” said Kipsang, over the handling of Russia’s who ran ten seconds faster than eligibility to compete in the 2:03:23 then-world record he Rio, the IOC has convened ran here three years ago. a summit in “I am also a bit disappointed next month to look at the to have missed the world record, issue before a global doping but I have to congratulate him. (From L) Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang (2nd placed), Ethyopia’s Kenenisa Bekele (winner) and Kenya’s Evans Chebet (third placed) pose on the podium with their medals after the 43rd conference in 2017. “We will have to come back Berlin Marathon in Berlin yesterday. (AFP) “You’re all aware of the chal- and try again for the world lenges we had with regard record next year.” fi nish just past Berlin’s iconic to the protection of clean Bekele ran the second fast- Brandenburg Gate. athletes before the Summer est time ever, just six seconds In the women’s race, Aberu Games in Rio de Janeiro,” away from Kimetto’s record, and Kebede, claimed her third Berlin Bach said. “The IOC, on very Kipsang’s time was the fourth win, in 2:20:45 ahead of Birhane short notice, had to take fastest. Dibaba, who fi nished 3:13 min- some preliminary decisions The men’s world record has utes back, and Ruti Aga at 3:57 in and actions in order to pro- fallen seven times in Berlin, six an Ethiopian sweep. tect clean athletes. In these times since 2003. discussions, it has become This was another fast race Results more obvious that we have over 42km, the relatively fl at 1. Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) to look at the WADA system. course lacking the cobblestones 2:03:03 “We decided that the IOC of London and the bridges of the 2. Wilson Kipsang (Kenya) will ask for a full review New York courses. 2:03:13 of the WADA anti-doping Bekele and Kipsang led an elite 3. Evans Kiplagat Chebet system in order to make it group of seven runners, which (Kenya) 2:05:31 more robust, more eff icient, was ahead of the world record 4. Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia) more transparent and more pace at the halfway stage and 2:06:56 harmonious.” Kipsang made his move at the 5. Eliud Kiptanui (Kenya) 2:07:47 30km stage. 6. Geoff rey Rono (Kenya) He reached the 35km mark in 2:09:29 1:41:56 — exactly on the world 7. Alfers Lagat (Kenya) 2:09:46 record pace — with Bekele trail- 8. Yohanes Gebregergish (Erit- ing just behind him, but the rea) 2:09:48 Ethiopian caught the Kenyan 9. Jacob Kibet Chulyo Kendagor with three kilometres to go. (Kenya) 2:10:01 Bekele pulled clear of Kipsang 10. Suleiman Simotwo (Kenya) (From L) Ethyopia’s Birhane Dibaba (2nd placed), Aberu Kebede (winner) and Ruti Aga (third placed) pose on the podium after the 43rd as the pair headed towards the 2:10:22 Berlin Marathon in Berlin yesterday. (AFP)

BADMINTON ’s Lee bags sixth title

AFP Tokyo

alaysia’s Lee Chong Wei yesterday won his sixth Yonex Open Japan title, defeating third seed Jan O Jorgensen of . Lee, a silver medallist in the last three MOlympics, triumphed 21-18, 15-21, 21-16 against the Dane. The 33-year-old world number one had sailed through the men’s singles at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium without losing a single game. But he had more of a contest in the fi nal, with Jor- gensen taking the second game. Lee also won the Japan Open in 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010 and 2007. He has recently hinted at extending his career to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics for another shot at an elu- sive gold, despite earlier indicating the Rio games would be his last. In women’s doubles, Danish pair Christinna Peder- sen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl — silver medallists in Rio — had their revenge on Rio gold-winning Japanese rivals Misaki Matsumoto and Ayaka Takahashi 19-21, 21-18, 21-12. In women’s singles, He Bingjiao of China won the title after defeating compatriot Sun Yu 21-14, 7-21, 21- 18. Sun had silenced Japanese fans in the semi-fi nals after crushing the 12th ranked Akane Yamaguchi. In men’s doubles, Chinese pair Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen overwhelmed Koreans Kim Gi Jung and Ko Sung Hyun Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia celebrates during the awards ceremony after his victory in the men’s singles He Bingjiao of China celebrates during the awards ceremony after her victory against 21-12, 21-12. final against Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark at the Japan Open in Tokyo yesterday. (AFP) compatriot Sun Yu in the women’s singles final at the Japan Open in Tokyo yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times 10 Monday, September 26, 2016 GOLF

FOCUS US experience, European dominance mark out Ryder Cup ‘...it’s 12 guys against 12 guys in match play, and anything can happen’ Love hit for saying US Ryder side ‘best golf team maybe ever’

Reuters “I can’t imagine how this one is Cary, North Carolina going to work out,” Golf Channel commentator Chamblee said. “This looks like a colossal mistake. ictorious 2014 European There have been so many mistakes Ryder Cup captain Paul over the years of American arro- VMcGinley wonders whether gance that have backfired and this is Davis Love’s comment that the cur- another one of them.” rent United States side “is the best Chamblee pointed out that the golf team maybe ever assembled” 2016 US team paled beside the 1981 might come back to haunt the US side that won a combined 49 major captain. championships. Love, speaking ahead of next week’s That team, a veritable who’s who of event against Europe at Hazeltine golf, included Jack Nicklaus, Tom in Minnesota, made the comments Watson, Lee Trevino, Raymond during an interview on the Fairways- Floyd, Hale Irwin, Larry Nelson and OfLife radio show on Friday. Johnny Miller. “We’re a great golf team,” Love said. The current team has won a com- “This is the best golf team maybe bined 11 majors, headed by Phil ever assembled. If we just go play Mickelson with five. our game ignore the noise, work “Statistically, it doesn’t add up,” hard, do your job, everything else McGinley said of Love’s comment. will take care of itself.” “And also, the form of the players Never mind that Love’s comments is not particularly good, outside of are not supported by facts, McGinley Dustin (Johnson). Form or world thinks they hardly help the American ranking doesn’t suggest this is the cause as the hosts seek to avoid best team ever assembled. losing for the ninth time in the past “I know what Davis is trying to do. 11 meetings. He’s trying to show confidence in his “It’s going to have a big galvanising team, and there’s no doubt that’s an aff ect on the European team,” Irish- important facet... but there’s ways man McGinley said on Golf Channel. of saying it, and respecting your op- “I find it strange positioning. There’s ponent is very important.” always a jockeying going on as Love’s “best ever” comment came to who’s favourite and who’s the after he spoke of how past US teams underdog. Davis has taken that off had tensed up after falling behind. the table now. “We want to win so badly that when “It puts a lot of pressure and does we have a bad session, or we lose corner his team to a large extent the momentum, we panic a little bit In this September 28, 2014, picture, Europe captain Paul McGinley (back) celebrates with players after his team’s Ryder Cup triumph at Gleneagles in . Holders but maybe that’s his plan... But if it and start playing not to lose rather Europe have won three consecutive Ryder Cups, and eight of the last 10. doesn’t work out, there’ll be a lot of than playing to win,” he said. questions about that comment.” “You need to stand up there, smash Reuters US captain Davis Love III). be favourites... if you’re going to look decisive factor. American Brandel Chamblee, a it down the middle and take off walk- Chaska, Minnesota Either way, this is a ratio of experi- off world rankings, etc. But it’s 12 guys The Americans last won the Ryder former PGA Tour winner, had an ing, and letting the other team know ence that US fans can only hope will against 12 guys in match play, and any- Cup at Valhalla in 2008 when their even stronger reaction. we are going to dominate you.” help pave the way for a much-needed thing can happen. captain Paul Azinger shrewdly inspired ome advantage for an experi- home victory. “There are six (rookies for Europe) but team cohesion with a four-man ‘pod’ enced United States line-up “We didn’t really look at rookies ver- the talent that they all possess, I’ve got no system and prepared the venue with Ryder Cup playing format versus European dominance sus experience,” Love told reporters worries at all about the strength of that very little rough and fast greens to suit — just one of many compel- when asked if his more seasoned team team. I’m proud of that team. We’re going his power hitters. Each team has 12 players and a total of 28 matches will take place, culmi- Hling matchups to savour in next week’s held any advantage over Europe. “We to do everything we possibly can to bring Ultra-long Hazeltine National meas- nating with 12 singles on the final day. Ryder Cup between two star-studded looked at adding to our team to build that trophy back home again.” ures a daunting 7,628 yards off the back teams at Hazeltine National. the best that we could. tees and while Love has certainly taken The first two days will feature a mix of eight foursomes and eight fourball The Americans have been meticu- “Experience is good. We know what to MAKING THE BIG PUTTS a leaf or two out of Azinger’s play book, matches, with the order of play determined through agreement by United lous in their preparations for the 41st expect. We know how to handle it, how to Asked to explain Europe’s recent domi- he is looking well beyond driving dis- States captain Davis Love III and his European counterpart Darren Clarke. edition of the biennial competition and deal with it. We’re going to learn from our nant run at the Ryder Cup, Clarke re- tance with his Ryder Cup strategy. appear to have several factors in their mistakes in the past and build on it. plied: “The Europeans have had the run “It (Hazeltine) is big and long and it’s Foursomes matches involve two-man teams, with each team playing one favour as they strive to end a remark- “We have a plan we’ve been working of the greens. They have made a lot of a bomber’s course but we’ve broken it ball. The players take alternate shots until the hole is completed. The lower of able run by the Europeans over the past on for a year and a half... we know what big putts at the right time. down a little bit,” said Love. “Just hit- the two scores wins the hole. two decades. happened in the past but we’re looking to “The gap in the quality of the players ting long drives isn’t the whole key to If the same number of shots on both sides is recorded, the hole is halved. Holders Europe have won three con- the future now and building. I think our is so small, that if somebody knocks in this. secutive Ryder Cups, and eight of the experience is really going to help us.” a 20-footer at the right time or some- “It’s strokes gained, ball-striking, One player will hit the tee shot on odd-numbered holes with his team- last 10, through a mixture of shrewd While Europe are happy to embrace thing, that can make a huge diff erence. who can hit it closer to the hole with all mate teeing off first on the even-numbered holes. captaincy, consistently good team the underdog tag on US soil, their cap- “Davis is doing everything he pos- their clubs, and who can make the most chemistry, often stellar play and an tain Darren Clarke has complete faith sibly can to get that 20-footer going in putts.” Fourball matches involve two-man teams with each player playing his uncanny knack of sinking key putts at in the ability of his six rookies to thrive on his side. I’m obviously trying to do Europe have triumphed 10 times in own ball and completing the hole. The best score of the four wins the hole. crucial moments. in the pressure cooker atmosphere of a the same... it’s going to be a closely- the last 15 editions but they face a chal- In singles matches, the result is decided when one player leads by more This week, however, they will fi eld Ryder Cup. contested contest, as it has been.” lenging task on American soil where the holes than there are holes left to play. six rookies in their 12-man team while “It’s unquestionable that it’s going to Since 1981, there has been generally US have lost only four times since the the Americans have just one Cup debu- be a very, very big task ahead of us,” said very little to choose between the two matches began in 1927. Team captains submit their order of play before each round to a tourna- tant in Brooks Koepka (or perhaps two the 48-year-old Northern Irishman, a teams in terms of matchplay grit and The 41st Ryder Cup starts on Friday ment off icial. The lists from each captain are then matched, resulting in the pending the fi nal wildcard pick sched- veteran of fi ve Ryder Cups as a player. ability. Holing putts at the right time morning with the opening foursomes pairings. uled to be announced later yesterday by “You’d have to say America would under intense pressure has been the matches.

SPOTLIGHT Levy edges Fisher in European play-off

France’s Alexander Levy edged Ross Fisher in a tense play-off to secure the Eu- ropean Open title at Bad Griesbach in Ger- many yesterday. Levy led the field by four Johnson opens door to rivals shots at 17 under going into the third and final round of an event dogged by disrup- tion due to fog and curtailed to 54 holes. Sweden’s Michael Jonzon led the chasing pack but it was Fisher, one shot further off at Tour Championship the pace in third, who emerged as Levy’s greatest danger.Fisher picked up four Reuters Matsuyama (68) three back despite a birdies on the front nine as Levy, for the Cary, North Carolina triple-bogey at the 14th. first time this week, dropped shots at the Johnson, top seed in the FedExCup first five holes. Levy led his playing partner standings, will clinch the season-long by one shot standing on the final tee, but houghts of a Dustin Johnson points race and its $10 mn bonus if he a closing bogey forced a play-off . The pair runaway at the Tour Cham- wins the tournament on Sunday. went back to the 18th tee and after both pionship were dispelled when But Chappell, 15th in the standings, parred the hole Levy produced an 18-foot he faltered late to fall back into is unlikely to claim the FedExCup top birdie putt at the second attempt to seal his third European Tour event. Levy Ta tie for the third-round lead with fel- prize even if he wins the tournament. had previously won at the China Open and Masters in 2014. He had low American Kevin Chappell in At- He is a three-time runner-up on the missed his first three cuts of the season and then had two spells on the side- lanta on Saturday. PGA Tour this year. lines due to injury but has been in fine form since his return at the start of Johnson, the hottest player in the “I was so proud of myself the way I the month, finishing in a tie for seventh at last week’s Italian Open. Jonzon game coming off a victory, squandered hung in there (and) I was able to turn and his fellow Swede Robert Karlsson shared third, three shots behind, with a chance to take a stranglehold on the it around (with a chip-in birdie at the Austrian Bernd Wiesberger next and in sixth Martin Kaymer, the German tournament when he double-bogeyed 12th),” said Chappell, who has just one who next week stars for Europe in the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National. the par-four 17th, compounding a bogey in 54 holes. poor drive by clipping a pine tree with McIlroy, sixth in the points list, gave Chan’s stunning 62 seals Japan triumph his second shot. himself a crack at the $10 mn with He was on the wrong end of a three- three birdies in the last six holes. Taiwan’s Chan Shih-chang shot a stunning final-round 62 to win the Asia- shot swing as Chappell birdied the “I knew DJ (Johnson) was a few Pacific Diamond Cup by two strokes yesterday at Osaka’s Ibaraki Country same hole from 10 feet. shots ahead of me and if there’s any- Club. The 30-year-old’s flawless eight-under-par round saw him finish on US Open champion Johnson stead- one I’m looking at this week, he’s the 10-under 270 and take the winner’s cheque for $294,204, almost double his ied the ship to birdie the par-fi ve 18th guy,” said the former world number entire 2016 Asian Tour earnings of $149,453 heading into the tournament. for a one-under-par 69, his eighth one. He was off to a blistering start with birdies at three of the first four holes to consecutive round in the 60s but one Dustin Johnson hits a shot on the 17th hole during the third round of the Tour “I’m going to need something simi- turn in 32, before five more on the back nine of his bogey-free round saw that left him ruing what might have Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday. (AFP) lar if not better tomorrow. I shot a him climb from 13th place at the start of the day into the winner’s circle. been. good one and that’s all I could do to- Chan had started the day six shots behind the overnight leader Phachara “This course is very diffi cult off the “I’m happy with my position. I felt eight-under 202. day.” Khongwatmai. But the Thai teenager, who had led since Friday, fell away tee and I missed a couple of drives on like I played well today. A couple of Johnson’s stumble let a bunch South African Charl Schwartzel with four bogeys on his card of two-over 72 to finish in a three-way tie for the back nine and made a couple of loose drives and it’s easy to make bo- of players back into the hunt, with posted consecutive eagles, the sec- fourth on six-under. In second place on eight-under 272 was Japan’s Ippei bogeys and a bad double bogey there geys around here... so if I make a mis- Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (66) ond from 140 yards out at the par-four Koike who carded a one-under 69 to finish a stroke ahead of countryman on 17,” he said before accentuating the take I don’t let it bother me.” and American Ryan Moore (66) two seventh, in carding 66 to vault within Kazuhiro Yamashita (68). positives. Chappell fi red 68 to join Johnson at shots behind, and Japanese Hideki fi ve shots of the lead. Gulf Times Monday, September 26, 2016 11 SPORT

TENNIS / FOCUS Women’s game Wozniacki ends needed ‘new title wait with face’ at top: Muguruza AFP top if we believe. And we started to be- Wuhan, China lieve more, I think,” she added. Tokyo victory ‘DOOR OPEN’ rench Open winner Garbine World number eight Carla Suarez Na- Muguruza said yesterday that varro of Spain said Williams’ slip had ‘It was tough at the end but I was just happy to close it out’ it was about time women’s ten- left the “door open” to other players. nis had a “new face” at the top, “A new change for tennis... because afterF Angelique Kerber broke Serena we know that we can have (the) door AFP Tokyo Williams’ 186-week dominance atop open to be there also. It’s good,” she the rankings. said. “I’m happy that we have a new face “Serena is good, I think she’s in an- ormer world number one in the world number one, not because other level. But from the last year and Caroline Wozniacki overpow- I have a preference, but just because I also this year, Serena is not the same,” ered Japan’s Naomi Osaka 7-5, think it’s good sometimes,” the current she added. 6-3 to capture the Pan Pacifi c world number three told reporters in Muguruza said that the key for Ker- FOpen yesterday, her fi rst tournament Wuhan, China. ber this year has been her consistency, victory since February 2015. Kerber became number one when which many players on tour, including The Dane, who has battled back Karolina Pliskova dispatched Williams the Spaniard herself, struggle to match. from a wretched run of injuries this in the semi-fi nal of the US Open earlier “I think in the woman’s tennis, it’s year, weathered an early storm from this month. hard to fi nd people that (are) always her teenage opponent before running The German beat Pliskova in the fi - constant... most of the girls are very out a comfortable winner, claiming a nal to claim her second slam of the year aggressive. Some days they play good, second Tokyo title and the 24th of her after victory at the Australian Open in some days they play bad,” said Mugu- career. January, where she beat Williams in the ruza. “I’m very proud to win the tourna- fi nal. “But I think Kerber is an example ment,” Wozniacki told reporters. Muguruza also defeated Williams to this year that she was very all the time “Somebody just told me I’ve won win her fi rst Grand Slam title, at Roland there. Every tournament, she’s in the a tournament every year since 2008. Garros in June. last rounds. That’s why she became That’s a nice little streak and hope- World number fi ve Simona Halep number one.” fully I can keep it going and keep mov- said that seeing Williams slip from the Muguruza lost in third round at the ing forward.” number one pedestal — where she had Olympics to gold medallist Monica Wozniacki, the Pan Pacifi c cham- sat since February 2013 — had given Puig. She also had an early exit — in the pion six years ago, survived a health players a confi dence boost. second round — at the US Open. scare after dropping serve to go down “It’s much easier to believe in your- But the Spaniard enjoys a strong 4-3 in the fi rst set. self when you see that Serena is not record in China, winning in Beijing last After feeling a twinge in her left there any more, like, winning every year and reaching the fi nal at Wuhan thigh, she left the court for treatment tournament, being number one in the only to hand Venus Williams the crown and returned with her leg heavily world for years,” said the 24-year-old. when an ankle injury forced her to re- bandaged. Halep ended 2015 as world number tire mid-match. But it appeared to have little adverse two and now has renewed hope she can “I don’t really know the secret. I just eff ect as Wozniacki took complete win her fi rst Grand Slam title. go out there and try to concentrate control, ripping a fi erce backhand “I feel that everything, it’s open now. and (stay) calm because sometimes its down the line to take the set. Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark celebrates her win over Naomi Osaka of Japan in the Pan Pacific Open final in Tokyo’s I feel that everyone has a chance to win hard,” she added. Wozniacki, who reached the US Open Ariake Coliseum yesterday. (Reuters) a big tournament, to reach the number Muguruza, Halep and Navarro all semi-fi nals earlier this month to signal one,” said the Romanian. have fi rst round byes at Wuhan and are her return to form, roared into a 5-0 lead produced some spirited resistance to 74th after suff ering wrist and ankle “Everything is a bit new to me,” she “Everyone has a chance to reach the not scheduled to play until tomorrow. in the second set as Osaka’s game unrav- avoid the dreaded ‘bagel’, but it was injuries. said. “I was thinking too much about elled in the Tokyo sunshine. too little too late. “To be honest I was just trying to fi ght the whole situation. When she took a Playing with the roof open after a Wozniacki completed victory with for every point. It was tough at the end medical break I should’ve been more week of typhoon rains, Osaka paid for a crisp backhand which forced Osaka but I was just happy to close it out.” focused on my game. her youthful exuberance, her strategy into yet another wild shot, giving the The Dane is set to climb to 22 or 23 “I’m sort of taking everything as it of attempting to hit the fur off the ball 26-year-old her fi rst title since Kuala in the new rankings when they are re- comes,” added Osaka, who had lost all on every shot backfi ring badly against Lumpur last year. leased on Monday. her previous fi ve fi nals on the WTA a vastly more experienced opponent. “I hurt my groin a little bit in the Osaka, born of a Japanese mother satellite circuit. The 18-year-old, who called a fi rst set, but I tried to stay aggressive and Haitian father, will break into the “I will try to fi x things I did wrong medical timeout of her own for a sore and stay calm,” said Wozniacki, who top 50 after her fairytale run but con- today but honestly I’m happy how I’ve right shoulder after losing the fi rst set, had seen her world ranking plunge to fessed her inexperience had cost her. played this year.”

France’s Pouille claims Arruabarrena wins Vinci downs Puig in Wawrinka beaten by fi rst ATP title in Metz Korea Open Wuhan fi rst round ‘future of tennis’ Zverev

Frenchman Lucas Pouille claimed Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena beat Ro- Roberta Vinci downed Olympic gold US Open champion Stan Wawrinka his first ATP title by beating Austrian manian fifth seed Monica Niculescu medallist Monica Puig in the first came up short against rising German top seed Dominic Thiem 7-6(5) 6-2 yesterday to win the Korea Open, round of the Wuhan Open yesterday. star Alexander Zverev in the Saint in the Moselle Open final in Metz her first WTA Tour singles title for Italy’s Vinci took just one hour and 20 Petersburg Open final yesterday, yesterday. World number 18 Pouille, more than four years. The 24-year-old minutes to defeat the Puerto Rican in the teenager claiming his debut ATP seeded third, overcame a 4-0 deficit triumphed over Niculescu 6-0, 2-6, two sets, 6-3, 6-3. Vinci served eight title 6-2, 3-6, 7-5. Zverev, 19, broke in the opening set’s tiebreak to down 6-0 to take home $43,000 in prize aces en route to the second round the Swiss top seed’s serve twice for Thiem, who made too many unforced money. Arruabarrena, ranked 90th, of the $2.6 mn hard-court event. a one-set lead in 39 minutes. In the errors. Pouille rode his momentum earlier defeated Romania’s Patricia American qualifier Louisa Chirico was second set, Wawrinka also broke SPOTLIGHT by breaking in the first game of the Tig in the semifinals. Arruabarrena handed a pass to the second round twice to level at one-set all. Wawrin- second set. He broke again in the last won in Bogota in February 2012. after US Open quarter finalist Timea ka broke early in the deciding set but seventh game to lead 5-2 before She won doubles’ titles at the Korea Bacsinszky became ill and retired in Zverev broke back twice to close out wrapping it up with his 10th ace. Open in 2014 and 2015. the second set. his win in two hours 23 minutes. Serena will be back, warns new number one Kerber CYCLING AFP Wuhan, China Wiggins denies seeking ‘unfair ewly minted world number one Angelique Kerber warned yesterday that Serena Wil- liams will come back strong Nafter the German stripped her of her advantage’ from prescribed drugs long-held position atop the rankings. “I am sure that she (Williams) will (be) coming back strong,” Kerber told Reuters pic champion said he had been strug- AFP in Wuhan, China. London gling with his breathing before the Williams was gunning for her 23rd 2012 Tour de France and decided to Grand Slam title at the US Open — that take triamcinolone on medical advice. would have taken her past the record ritish cyclist Bradley Wig- “It was prescribed for allergies and she shares with — when she gins has defended his use respiratory problems,” Wiggins added. was cut down by 11th-ranked Karolina But the 28-year-old — the oldest of banned substances under “I’ve been a lifelong suff erer of Pliskova in the semis. ever women’s player to debut at the top medical exemption rules, asthma and I went to my team doctor The Czech’s victory ensured that of the rankings — isn’t letting the pres- sayingB he was not looking for “unfair at the time and we went in turn to a Kerber, who had been snapping at Wil- sure of her new position get to her. advantage” but merely trying to miti- specialist to see if there’s anything else liams’ heels for weeks, would rise to “The ranking... it’s just a number,” gate the impact of asthma and aller- we could do to cure these problems. number one. she said. gies. “And he in turn said: ‘Yeah, there’s The German then went on to beat “I was always telling myself if that The fi rst Briton to win the Tour de something you can do but you’re going Pliskova in the fi nal to claim her second day will come... then that would hap- France, Wiggins has been the subject to need authorisation from cycling’s Grand Slam title of the year. pen, but (I was) not putting too much of allegations of hypocrisy over the governing body.’” Williams’ slip from the number one pressure on myself.” timing of the medical interventions Wiggins had earlier denied that Team spot in September also denied her a That was also a tip she was given by since his anti-doping records were Sky’s former doctor Geert Leinders, a second record: the American veteran mentor Graf, who Kerber met for a few among those leaked by cyber hackers convicted drug cheat, was involved in had topped the rankings for 186 weeks days in Las Vegas, where the tennis idol on the fancybear.net website. the decision to seek approval for his use — a run Graf also matched. lives with her husband Andre Agassi, The data leaked relates to Thera- of the banned substances. And that double slight is sure to mo- after her Australian Open triumph. peutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), which Tour de France as well as the 2011 ver- back on a level playing-fi eld in order A fi fth batch of documents relating tivate Williams’ to come back strong, “Actually she was just telling me to allow athletes to take banned sub- sion of the endurance classic and the to compete at the highest level.” to more than 40 athletes was pub- said Kerber. enjoy everything, to work hard and be- stances for verifi ed medical needs and 2013 Tour of Italy. Wiggins’s former doctor at the lished by cyber hackers on Friday. “She will try to win some more lieve in yourself. So actually nothing are signed off by sports federations. “This was to cure a medical condi- Garmin Slipstream team, Prentice The World Anti-Doping Agency Grand Slams and write history for new but it’s of course a little bit diff er- There is no suggestion Wiggins has tion. This wasn’t about trying to fi nd a Steff en, told the BBC on Friday he was (WADA) has said it believes the hack- sure,” she said. ent to hear it from her,” said Kerber. broken any rules. way to gain an unfair advantage,” Wig- “surprised” the cyclist had needed ers are Russian and gained access to Williams pulled out of the Wuhan For now, for the left-hander, the plan The data revealed Wiggins was gins told BBC TV in a pre-recorded triamcinolone, which convicted dop- its anti-doping administration and Open and next week’s China Open in is more of the same. given permission to take the powerful interview, which was scheduled to be ers David Millar and Michael Rasmus- management system (ADAMS) via an Beijing on Friday, almost guaranteeing “This is my game... this is also what corticosteroid triamcinolone before broadcast later yesterday. sen said was a highly potent drug. IOC-created account for last month’s that Kerber will end the year as world brings me (to) where I am right now. I his breakthrough triumph at the 2012 “This was about putting myself The 36-year-old fi ve-times Olym- Rio Games. number one. will not change it.”

Monday, September 26, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

FOCUS Al Emadi to continue as Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere sponsor

By Sports Reporter One of Qatar’s biggest hopes during Doha the weekend is Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Mourtajez, who will look to defend his title in the Qatar Arabian World Cup, atar horses have done well part of the Doha Triple Crown for Pure- in the recent editions of Qa- bred Arabians. tar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, Al Mourtajez is in smashing form hav- with Al Shaqab Racing’s Ol- ing recently won the Qatar Cup – Prix ympicQ Glory winning the Group 1 race Dragon (Gr1 PA) over the same course. in 2012, and last year Galileo Gold fi n- “On paper, Al Mourtajez is the best ishing third in the race, kickstarting a among the contenders. Anybody who successful season. has seen this horse race, knows his ca- Al Emadi Enterprises have been as- pabilities. But it is racing and anything sociated with the Group 1 race, part can happen. Declarations haven’t come of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe out. We have heard from the media that weekend, for some time now and CEO some of the trainers are pulling out Mohamed al-Emadi expressed his hap- (From left) Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) head of Media Section their horses because Al Mourtajez is piness and pride at a press conference Saad Mubarak al-Hajri, general manager Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi and Al Emadi the favourite. As an owner, that should on Saturday evening at the Qatar Rac- Enterprises CEO Mohamed al-Emadi address a press conference. PICTURE: Juhaim make anyone happy but as an organiser ing and Equestrian Club (QREC). we would defi nitely want the best hors- “I am proud to be a part of such a periods for Qatar and the racing in the Kaabi said he was hopeful of securing es in the world to compete. big event. I understand that the times country,” al-Emadi said. the extension. The two-day weekend, set for Octo- are tough but we are very keen to be a He added: “This association has “Mr Mohamed al-Emadi has said that Al Emadi Enterprises CEO Mohamed al-Emadi presents the trophy to Sheikh ber 1-2, 2016, will see some of the best part of this event. The event is a great been a success for both organisations. he is convinced about continuing the re- Hamad bin Joaan al-Thani after Olympic Glory won 2012 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. horses competing for some of the big- ambassador of the State of Qatar. Even QREC has given us immense support, lationship with QREC beyond 2017. We gest prize money and glory in the world when I was told that the event is be- helping us to be associated with such a haven’t had the full agreement with him for a long time,” al-Kaabi said. we do have some in the other races. The with Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, ing held at Chantilly instead of Long- big event.” yet but he is convinced about sticking Talking about the competition on way we look at it is to keep the Qatari sponsored by Al Hazm, Qatar Prix de champ, I was more than happy to go The contract to sponsor the mile- with QREC and we are more than happy the turf, al-Kaabi said, “We wish all fl ag fl ying high. For us, sponsoring this l’Arc de Triomphe and the Qatar Ara- anywhere Qatar goes to support rac- long race runs till 2017, however, QREC to have him continue with us. He has the best to all the contenders. We don’t event helps our great image and shows bian World Cup scheduled for Sunday, ing. This is one of the most important general manager Nasser Sherida al- been one of the major players with QREC have Qatari contenders in the Arc but our confi dence.” October 2.

CYCLING SPOTLIGHT On target with Mancebo upbeat preparations for World C’ships: about cycling in QCF’s al-Hemaidi Middle East ‘Region has improved one step at a time... level of both riders, races is a bit higher’

By Sports Reporter Doha

he UCI Road World Champion- ships Doha 2016 is just three weeks away. The event, pinnacle of the cycling season, is also set Tto become a milestone for cycling in the Middle East, a region that has been creat- ing its own sport culture this century. It’s been three years since the UAE’s Al Alhi Sports Club created the SkyDive Du- bai cycling team. Executive Director Ahmed Abdulla al-Hemaidi Enrolled in the team as captain is Paco Mancebo (1976, Navaluenga – Avila). In By Sports Reporter in The Netherlands. Ever since the past decade, the Spanish rider has Doha then, we have been preparing stood on the podium of the biggest cy- and counting down days to this cling events in the world, such as the Tour event. Now that it is near, we are de France and Vuelta a Espana. ith the UCI Road very excited. We cannot wait for After fulfi lling his sporting goals, Man- World Champion- the action to begin. This compe- cebo has worked to help the growth of cy- ships Doha 2016 just tition will raise Qatar’s profi le to cling in countries where it is in the early a few weeks away, new heights in the world of cy- stages of development. Wpreparations for it are in full cling. Over these years, Mancebo has per- swing. ceived that cycling in the region has im- All major competitions are Has the UCI Road World proved “one step at a time. Every season made up of numerous little de- Championships Doha 2016 the level of both riders and races is a bit tails, the moving parts that make been a knowledge building higher. The fact that this year we are the event machinery work. exercise for local organisers? holding the fi rst UCI Road World Cham- Under such circumstances, it We pride ourselves on the pionships in Doha, and in 2017 the fi rst is imperative to have a veteran wealth of local expertise we have ever UCI WorldTour events will take place troubleshooter on board to get created by organising major cy- in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, is quite telling.” things back on track. For the Lo- cling events. Races like the Tour The Spanish rider points to the geog- cal Organising Committee of the of Qatar, Ladies Tour of Qatar raphy and the climate of the Middle East UCI Road World Championships and the Tour of Zubarah helped as key factors for the development of cy- Doha 2016, that person is execu- us build a strong organisational cling in the region. “Pedalling in the Mid- tive director Ahmed Abdulla al- base, in terms of staff and vol- dle East is quite pleasant during autumn Hemaidi. unteers. It’ll stand us in good and winter.” Al-Hemaidi, one of the long- stead during the UCI Road World Notwithstanding, he acknowledges Eastern riders are already capable of per- expensive than in the current situation Eastern cycling. “It is going to be awe- est serving offi cials at the Qatar Championships Doha 2016. that any Middle-Eastern rider willing forming in the world’s best races.” where it has to travel abroad to race. This some, very different to any previous Cycling Federation, has been an Moreover, by regularly putting to make it to the top level of the sport Mancebo has noticed a gradual yet will favour the creation of more teams UCI RWC, with pan-flat courses where integral part of every decision cycling in the spotlight, we have needs “to jump over the cultural barrier meaningful improvement in the cycling and the professionalization of more rid- the crosswinds are going to be a decid- related to the Road World Cham- managed to further popularise and settle himself in any of the sport’s scene in the region. “Every year there ers as a consequence.” ing factor. It will not only portray the pionships in Doha. it as a healthy exercise option heartlands,” as the Qatari national team is more racing. We are getting to a point Mancebo considers the upcoming growth of cycling in the Middle East, In a candid chat, he spoke for the public. Over the years, has done these last few months. “Luckily, where a team will be able to do its full rac- UCI Road World Championships Doha but showcase the beauties of Qatar be- about the competition, its or- we have also started seeing more they are already doing it. Several Middle- ing schedule in the region, thus being less 2016 as a landmark event for Middle- fore the whole world.” ganisation and race favourites. youngsters come into the sport. Excerpts: Our future looks really bright.

The UCI Road World Cham- How diff erent will this race pionships are coming to the be from the Tour of Qatar and Losail preps for WSBK fi nal round for third straight year Middle East for the fi rst time. other events in the past? How much value do you see It will be a totally diff erent ex- By Sports Reporter rider Saeed al-Sulaiti is taking the event bringing to Qatar? perience. Each year, the Tours Doha part in the WorldSBK class and This is the competition’s fi rst bring together a limited number will be hoping for all the sup- visit to the Middle East and it’s of teams, over fi ve or six race days. port from the fans at the Losail a big honour for us to be chosen But the UCI Road World Cham- ince the Losail Interna- circuit. to host it. It brings with it a lot pionships is much wider in scope, tional Circuit’s return On Friday, WorldSBK and of added value for our country. with a far greater number of na- Sto the World Superbike WorldSSP Free Practices are We’ll yet again prove we’re up to tional teams and cyclists. We are Championship (WSBK) calen- scheduled from 16:30 until the challenge of hosting any kind expecting around 1,000 riders dar, the Qatari track has been 22:00 and on Saturday, both of sporting event. from 75 countries to take part. hosting the final round of the Superpoles will be from 17:30 Once the event begins, the WSBK. This year, the final round to 19:10. world’s collective focus will be Do you think Asian cyclists is scheduled for October 27-30, In line with the new format, on Qatar and we’ll do everything will fi nally make a mark in 2016. Race 1 of the WSBK will run on possible to showcase our coun- the tournament, now that it As in previous years, the event Saturday at 20:00. This will al- try. We are on target with prepa- is being hosted in an Asian will be held at night under the low fans to enjoy racing action rations. We are working hard to country? floodlight system of the circuit on both the days. ensure the competition is unlike Yes, I think so. If you look at and the MOTUL FIM Superbike Sunday will be dedicated to anything seen before. the past few UCI Road World World Championship is sure to Warm Up sessions before the It is arguably the biggest sin- Championships, Asian riders be an exciting and unpredict- WorldSSP Race starts at 19:15 gle-discipline competition Qatar have been improving consistent- able finale. and the WSBK Race 2 is at has ever held. We won our bid to ly. I expect the Japanese, South Also, this time round, Qatari 21:00. host the event during the 2012 Korean and Chinese riders to UCI Road World Championships shine in Doha. I wish them well.