WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016 SPORTS

RugbyL - Ex-All Blacks coach Henry switches codes

WELLINGTON: World Cup-winning for- healthy discussions about coaching pre- cocktail reportedly achieves an ampheta- to be hugely beneficial not only for me three Rugby World Cups between them mer All Blacks coach Graham Henry is tak- viously and I’m thrilled to have the mine-like high without breaching doping personally but for the squad as a whole.” as a player and assistant coach respec- ing his talents to rugby league, announc- chance to be able to work with him, to rules. Three of the players, with interna- It was the first of two overtures to All tively, and White said he hoped they ing yesterday he has teamed up with the observe the organisation and to provide tional pedigree, were subsequently left Blacks legends, with New Zealand could help further develop the All Whites’ struggling Warriors in the Australian some feedback.” The Warriors have had a out of the New Zealand team beaten 16-0 Football also calling on Wayne Smith and team culture. “There are some common National Rugby League (NRL). Henry, who chequered history in the NRL and this by Australia last Friday. McFadden said he John Kirwan to help the All Whites pre- traits of what it means to be a Kiwi, like guided the All Blacks to victory in the season lie 10th of 16 teams with four wins had considered a number of options pare for this month’s Oceania Nations the never-say-die attitude, work ethic and 2011 World Cup, will be with the Warriors from nine matches. Six players were before calling on Henry, who has also Cup in Papua New Guinea. pride, and we don’t want to go away from for the next month working with coach recently dropped for breaching team pro- coached Wales and the British and Irish All Whites coach Anthony Hudson said that,” he said. “I’m just trying to gain from Andrew McFadden, the New Zealand- tocols, amid allegations five of them Lions. “In the end we were really fortu- the appearance of Kirwan and Smith at a their experience because it’s two men based club said. “I’ve got a lot of time for drank a mixture of prescription drugs and nate to be able to secure (Henry’s) servic- New Zealand team training camp on who really understand what it means to him as a coach and I also really enjoy his energy drinks on a night out after a 42-0 es,” McFadden said. “It’s a real privilege to Tuesday had a significant impact on his represent New Zealand. That has to be at company,” Henry said. “We’ve had some hiding by the Melbourne Storm. The have him involved and I know it’s going players. Kirwan and Smith have won the heart of what we do.”— AFP Manohar quits as cricket board president

NEW DELHI: Shashank Manohar resigned as the changes that had been designed to give greater president of the Indian cricket board yesterday, power to India, England and Australia. Manohar as the embattled organization comes under had publicly blamed Srinivasan for bringing the growing pressure from the country’s top court to BCCI into disrepute following a Supreme Court introduce wide-ranging reforms. Manohar wrote probe that found Srinivasan’s son-in-law guilty to board secretary to announce of corruption in the . his resignation “with immediate effect”, in a Indian newspapers have been reporting for move expected to trigger his bid for re-election several days that Manohar would resign his post as chairman of the International Cricket Council. at the BCCI in order to stand for re-election as “The BCCI confirms that Shashank Manohar ICC head. Under reforms that Manohar had him- has resigned from the post of President, BCCI,” self supported, it will soon no longer be possible Thakur said in a statement. “He has also resigned to be chairman of the ICC and head up the as the BCCI representative on the International national board of one of its member countries. “I Cricket Council (ICC) and the Asian Cricket think it’s his personal decision to contest the Council. “The BCCI places on record its deep ICC’s independent chairman position. The rea- appreciation of the immense contribution to sons why he stepped down only he can tell you,” Indian cricket made by Manohar.” Manohar had former India captain told NDTV. “I only been in his post since October last year, think it will be terrific to have an Indian as the when he returned for a second stint as president first ever independent chairman of the ICC,” of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Gavaskar added. in the wake of the death of . In the wake of the IPL corruption scandal, The 58-year-old lawyer had been widely regard- India’s Supreme Court commissioned retired MUMBAI: Chief Shashank Manohar leaves ed as a safe pair of hands who could bring some judge Rajendra Mal Lodha to draw up a report after attending a special meeting at BCCI much needed stability to a board whose reputa- on the BCCI’s governance in a bid to avoid future headquarters in Mumbai. Manohar resigned tion has been tarnished by several scandals. conflicts of interest. The Lodha Committee rec- yesterday as president of the Indian cricket Manohar had pledged to clean up the board ommended that the board introduce term and board, reports and a senior source within the after being unanimously elected as head of what age limits for its office bearers and a ban on tele- organization said.— AFP is the most powerful body in world cricket. After vision adverts in between overs during live becoming BCCI president, Manohar swiftly broadcasts. Its mega rights deals with Indian playing nations have been accused of bending MADRID: Romania’s Simona Halep poses with her trophy after the women final of Madrid moved to topple another of his predecessors, broadcasters, including for the IPL, have helped to India’s demands in the ICC, desperate to Open tournament at the Caja Magica (Magic Box) sports complex in Madrid. — AFP Narayanaswami Srinivasan, from the ICC chair- make the BCCI by far the wealthiest board in attract tours by India which can ensure their manship and reverse some of the recent rule world cricket. Many of the game’s smaller Test- financial security.— AFP Halep brings the Madrid confidence to Roman clay

ROME: Madrid champion Simona Halep appointment at the ensuing edition. She is hopes to trade further on her Spanish suc- hoping to change that scenario in a few cess this week in Rome, with the sixth seed weeks in Paris through continued hard confirming yesterday her confidence is high work. “It’s tough to stay at the top, but now for the WTA Italian Open. Halep owns two I’m used to being there, I’ve been almost semi-finals at the Foro Italico, with losses to three years to be in the top 10. “But I have Carla Suarez Navarro a year ago and to to keep working every day the same. It’s Serena Williams in 2013. But Romania’s top different tennis. I have to get used to it. I player is currently bursting with confidence just need few days. “I have to play and to after beating Dominika Cibulkova for the get better on these conditions, because Madrid title on clay at the weekend. Halep they are similar to the French Open.” has turned her season prospects around In the women’s first round, ninth seed after a poor start to 2016. “I didn’t play the Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russian beat same at the beginning of the year, it was a France’s Caroline Garcia 7-5, 6-4 while tough period for me as I started the year a unseeded former Wimbledon finalist bit sick. I couldn’t train like I do now. “But I Eugenie Bouchard advanced over Serbia’s came back very strong, in my opinion, and former number one Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 2- played good tennis in Madrid. I have more 6, 6-3. Briton Johanna Konta put out confidence - I believe in my game. Sweden’s Johanna Larsson 6-1, 6-2. On the “I’ve started to work much more than men’s side, Czech eighth seed Tomas before, so I’m all good. I feel good. The Berdych booked the first of the third-round most important thing: I don’t have injuries. spots through his defeat of Spaniard Albert I’m able to practise, I’m able to play match- Ramos-Vinolas 6-3, 6-4. In the first round, es. “That makes me feel more confident on there were wins for Nicolas Mahut of court.” Halep played the 2014 Roland France and German Philipp Garros final but lost in a second-round dis- Kohlschreiber.— AFP

VI Markets Company sponsors MELBOURNE: This file photo shows Britain’s Andy Murray (left) talking to his coach Amelie Mauresmo during a training session in Melbourne. —AFP Manchester United Fans Club

KUWAIT: VI Markets Company has Manchester United Fan Club President Failure to win major title led announced its patronage of Manchester Abdelaziz Al-Hardan said “we realize the United Fans Club in Kuwait (MUSK) - spon- extent of the Kuwaiti youth love for football. soring its activities for the next season That is why we are keen on creating a part- to Murray-Mauresmo split 2016/2017 as it signs a strategic partner- nership with Man U fans. He said that the ship with the Fan Club. The announcement weekly meetings will be continually devel- ROME: Andy Murray confirmed yesterday that a Madrid final as defending champion against end of Wimbledon, but longer term and medi- was made during a press conference held oped, and the company will present several failure to win a third Grand Slam title was among Novak Djokovic. The Scot was quick to add that um term the same thing was going to continue to announce the partnership that shows activities to serve the club members. the factors which finally caused him and coach Mauresmo’s sex had nothing to do with the happening. It just made more sense to stop the company’s efforts in supporting the “Signing the treaty is a pride for us. We are Amelie Mauresmo to end their relationship on parting of ways. “It’s nothing to do with AmÈlie now. “I haven’t really thought too much about a youths in all fields. Head of the Fan Club the first trading company in Kuwait that the eve of the French Open. The Scot world being a woman. It just takes a lot of time to do new coach. But it’s something that I will speak Abdelaziz Al-Hardan and CEO of VI Markets presents such sponsorship. The company number three is now playing a final Roland the job (as an ex-player) well and properly. It’s to my team about over the next few weeks and Talal Al-Ajmi signed the contract during the had given youth special care since its estab- Garros tune-up at the Rome Masters this week not easy to do that for four, five years in a row. try and, you know, find something that press conference. lishment,” VI Markets CEO Talal Al-Ajmi said. without two-time Grand Slam winner Mauresmo “We certainly could have tried through to the works.”— AFP in his corner. Murray, the first major men’s player to choose a female as coach when he and Frenchwoman Mauresmo got together in spring, 2014, said the pair made it work through the Owen Farrell seeks to end of last season. The Scot, who turns 29 at the weekend, said emulate Carter’s calm he was at a low ebb in his game when Mauresmo began helping him in 2014. The rela- ST ALBANS: Owen Farrell said Dan Carter’s about the right things. That’s definitely some- tionship produced seven ATP titles and a pair of “calm and control” are the qualities he most thing I’ve taken into account.” Farrell has a Australian Open finals. “When she first came into admires in his rival fly-half as he prepares to fiery side and he had to serve a two-week ban the team, I was really struggling. I was not doing face the All Blacks great in Saturday’s for a dangerous tackle on Dan Robson during well, my confidence was low and I was going the Champions Cup final. Farrell will try to steer Saracens’ European semi-final win over wrong direction,” Murray said. “For two years, I London side Saracens to victory as Carter, bid- domestic rivals Wasps. think the results that we had were good. But ding for a clean sweep of rugby union’s major But he insisted this was not a sign of a lack unless I win a Grand Slam, then ultimately that’s prizes, tries to do the same for Paris-based of calm, but demonstrated an aggressive how people judge whether it worked or not. Racing 92. “He’s been there and done it so approach to defense that he was keen to “When she came on board, my results really many times,” said Farrell, speaking at Saracens’ maintain. “Rugby is a physical game and you picked up. The time we spent together was posi- training ground, of Carter. have to play in a physical way. You can’t be tive. It’s just a shame I wasn’t able to win one of “People talked about whether he could do hesitant in what you do or you... end up in the major events, because that’s what both of us it or not going into the World Cup. That’s not trouble yourself,” said Farrell. “The collision wanted. “Obviously in Australia (January final) it for me to take notice of, but a player of his that you’re talking about was unfortunate but started well, but between the Australian Open class was always going to play like he did,” said going forward you have to be decisive in what and Rome, we only spent 10 days together, in Farrell, deployed as a centre during England’s you do.” Two years ago, Saracens’ first major Miami. “It became difficult with the amount of recent Six Nations grand slam. “It’s just how European final ended in a 23-6 defeat by a time required to do the job and the amount of calm he is, how much he is in control of what Jonny Wilkinson-inspired Toulon. The follow- time we were able to work together.” “It (the he does that stands out,” added Farrell when ing week saw Saracens also lose the English post-Australian period) was just such a long peri- asked what he most admired about World Premiership final after an extra-time defeat by od of the year, an important period where I was Cup-winner Carter. “Trying to be calmer on the Northampton. struggling, as well, where we weren’t getting to pitch, it’s definitely something I’m always try- For the 24-year-old Farrell, now a veteran of work through that together. “It’s unfortunate but KUWAIT: VI Markets Company officials and Manchester United Fans Club members ing to do. “The more you’re calm, the more 40 England Tests, those losses were a lesson in pose for a photograph after signing a strategic partnership deal. those things happen.” you’re in control and the more you’re thinking staying composed. —AFP —Photo by Joseph Shagra Murray arrived in Rome after losing the