SWIMMING | Page 2 CRICKET | Page 6 China’s Sun Pandya’s completes fi ve-for sparks ‘golden slam’ England at Asiad collapse

Monday, August 20, 2018 FOOTBALL Dhul-Hijja 9, 1439 AH Messi, Coutinho GULF TIMES star in Barcelona’s winning start SPORT Page 7 FOCUS Aspetar wins best medical project in Asia award

By Our Correspondent research. tigious award, which is the cul- ternationally recognised referral Jakarta, Indonesia Organised on the sidelines of mination of the hospital’s eff orts centre for establishing clinical this year’s Asian Games 2018, over the past years, and testa- pathways in acute groin pain and the awards ceremony was held ment to the top rank the hospital injuries. It does this by collabo- spetar, Qatar’s ortho- yesterday at the Olympic Coun- has risen to since it was launched rating with prominent specialists paedic and sports med- cil of Asia (OCA) General As- in 2007. This isn’t the fi rst time at the forefront of this specifi c icine hospital, has won sembly in Jakarta, Indonesia. It Aspetar has won this prestigious area of medical expertise, to es- the 6th Sheikh Fahad was attended by Qatar Olympic award; the hospital won it back tablish best practice assessment, Hiroshima-AsiaA Sports Medicine Committee President HE Sheikh in 2014 and 2010, thus showcas- diagnosis and treatment of this and Science Award, a prestig- Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani and ing its dominance in the fi eld of condition, which can have ex- ious award that rolls out every OCA president Sheikh Ahmad sports medicine and science in treme consequences for aff ected four years on the sidelines of the al-Fahad al-Sabah. the Asian continent.” athletes. Asian Games to determine the Hussain Sultan al-Jaber, at- The Olympic Council of Asia Aspetar has a mission to sup- best medical project in Asia. tended the ceremony as Aspe- chose Aspetar’s Sports Groin port athletes to achieve their best Aspetar won the award specif- tar’s representative and received Pain Centre (SGPC) as the win- performances and fulfi l their ically for the eff orts undertaken the award on behalf of Aspetar ner of this award after a rigorous sporting potential. It focuses on by the Aspetar Sports Groin Pain director general and Aspire Zone testing process that looked into achieving these aims through the Centre (SGPC) during the last Foundation CEO Mohamed Kha- the Centre’s past achievements, delivery of excellence in sports four years, which have contribut- lifa al-Suwaidi. scientifi c research and contribu- medicine, physiotherapy, sports Hussain Sultan al-Jaber (left) receives the 6th Sheikh Fahad Hiroshima-Asia Sports Medicine and Science ed positively to the scientifi c fi eld Al-Suwaidi said, “We’re very tions to the scientifi c fi eld. science, orthopaedic surgery and Award on behalf of Aspetar in the presence of Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president Sheikh Ahmad of sports medicine and medical proud to have received this pres- SGPC aims to become an in- rehabilitation. al-Fahad al-Sabah (centre) at the OCA General Assembly in Jakarta, Indonesia, yesterday.

SPOTLIGHT Al-Attiyah aims for individual gold at his 7th Asian Games Olympics bronze medallist has won a skeet team gold, and individual silver and bronze medals at the Asiad

By Anil John Jakarta

t’s diffi cult to be a top sports- man in this fi ercely competi- tive age, more so if one hap- pens to be somebody like INasser Saleh al-Attiyah. It’s even more diffi cult to maintain a pleasing disposition all the time, address everyone as “brother”, and go about one’s business as if it’s the most natural thing that comes to you. But then we are not speaking of a run-of-the-mill champion here – in fact, even a casual glance at his CV would be enough to con- vince anybody that he is one of the most extraordinary sports- men the world has ever seen. In an era where achieving ex- cellence in one sport can turn out to be an all-consuming passion, the Qatari has blazed a rare trail in two – both extremely chal- lenging pursuits, that demand one’s total focus and commit- ment.

It’s all about staying motivated, for your country, for your fl ag. ‘ Putting Qatar ahead of everything plays a big role in what I do.’ — Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah

How many, for example, have won the gruelling Dakar Rally, not once, but twice, and can also boast a shooting medal at the Ol- Gulf Times from Palembang, he made amends at the Asian over and over again can be bor- a point to motivate them when- keep going till I fi nish!” representing your country. I am ympics? where the shooting competitions Championships in 1995 where he ing, but al-Attiyah begs to diff er. ever he gets a chance. Al-Attiyah will be aiming for thankful to HE Sheikh Joaan bin We have not even begun talk- at the 18th Asian Games are be- took the silver. “I like training and keeping “It’s a great honour for me that his fi rst individual gold medal Hamad al-Thani, the president ing about his exploits in Asia ing held. Close to a quarter century after myself fi t – I enjoy the hard work. youngsters look up to me. When- at the Asian Games, after miss- of the Qatar Olympic Committee yet – suffi ce to say that he is Al-Attiyah, who is 47 now, fi rst that, the Qatari shows no signs Age has nothing to do with it. ever I get chance, I try to speak ing the chance twice previously, for all the support he has given a 13-times Middle East Rally got a taste of the Asian Games at of slowing down. In fact, such is It’s all about staying motivated, to them and motivate them. I having had to settle for a silver sportsmen in Qatar.” champion, besides being a skeet Hiroshima in 1994, which was his motivation that the thought for your country, for your fl ag. tell them that representing one’s and bronze. Al-Attiyah will be taking part team gold winner and an individ- incidentally his fi rst internation- of quitting one sport to fully Putting Qatar ahead of every- country is the greatest honour “My preparations have been in the individual skeet competi- ual silver and bronze medallist at al competition in shooting. concentrate on the other doesn’t thing plays a big role in what I one can have. perfect this time. Along with my tion to be held on August 25 and the Asian Games. “I was very young then. I still re- even cross his mind. do.” “In fact, I met the Qatari bowl- brother, Rashid, we had an excel- 26. “I was just looking back in his- member I was in awe of all the great “I enjoy what I do. I not only He is conscious of the fact that ers in Indonesia who had won lent training camp in Italy. We are “It’s going to be tough as some tory a few days ago when I real- sportsmen and women who had enjoy taking part in the big com- he is considered a role model by the World Youth Championships in very good shape and we will try of the best shooters in the world ised this would be my seventh gathered there,” he reminisced. petitions but also the whole young sportsmen and women in boys’ title in the USA recently. to do our best. have assembled here. But I am Asian Games. I just can’t believe Although he didn’t win a med- process it involves.” Qatar and also in the larger Arab They asked me how long will I “As I said before, motivation confi dent and looking forward to it. It’s amazing,” al-Attiyah told al in Hiroshima Asian Games, Doing the same fi tness routine world, saying he always makes it keep going, and I told them I will is not a problem when you are the challenge.” Gulf Times 2 Monday, August 20, 2018 ASIAN GAMES

TOP OF THE LINE QOC showcases the best of Qatar to Olympic family of Asia

By Our Correspondent Asian Games 1990 in Beijing. QOC secretary-general Jassim Jakarta The exhibition also presented al-Buenain said, “It was an hon- the many events and Champi- our to welcome and host every- onships Qatar has hosted since one from the Olympic family to he Qatar Olympic Com- the 1990s, as Qatar has taken our reception in Jakarta. I hope mittee (QOC) hosted a great pride in hosting world that everyone had a taste of Qa- reception for the mem- class events and welcoming tar’s sport culture. We would bers of the Olympic many nations and international also like to thank the Organis- TCouncil of Asia, members of the sporting federations to Doha. ing Committee for hosting us National Olympic Committees The exhibition also had a fo- in Jakarta and wish all athletes of Asia and distinguished guests cus on Qatar’s future, one that from across Asia the best of luck in Jakarta at the offi cial Asian is bright with many possibili- in their competitions and hope Games 2018 hotel. ties especially for Qatari ath- that they give the performance The reception showcased the letes that have emerged from the of their lives.” best of Qatar’s sports with a dis- many innovative programmes At the 18th Asian Games, play of past, present and future and initiatives such as the Ath- Team Qatar is represented by accomplishments and projects. lete development pathway’s more than 200 athletes from 20 The past showcased Qatar’s project ‘Kun Riyadi’ and Schools National Sport Federations and sporting history from the 1970s Olympic Programme. will compete in 30 events and with participation in many of Guests also had the oppor- disciplines. Team Qatar will also the regional and international tunity to taste traditional food, compete in two new sports for events, and the fi rst Olympic try henna and Arabic calligraphy the fi rst time in Qatar’s Asian medal in Barcelona 1992 Olym- art. Games history, including 3x3 pic Games to 6 medals at the Speaking at the reception, basketball and air sports. The exhibition showcased Qatar’s past and present in sport with a focus on Qatar’s future.

SWIMMING Qatar at 2018 Asian Games China’s Sun completes ‘golden slam’ ‘I’ve waited eight years for this title... It’s a perfect result, a dream. It’s unbelievable’

Qatar’s Tala Abu Jubara was ranked sixth in the second heat for women’s Single Sculls rowing competition yesterday and has made it to the repechages.

Qatar’s Mohamed al-Shemari (right) in action during the men’s Epee Individual Pool B fencing competition yesterday. Al-Shemari made it through the preliminaries before Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien won a close Round of 32 match.

China’s Sun Yang (also below) competes in the final of the men’s 200m freestyle swimming event during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta yesterday. (AFP)

AFP Jakarta Qatar’s Jabir al-Mutawa in action during men’s tennis singles hinese giant Sun Yang Round of 64 at the Asian Games yesterday. swept to Asian Games 200m freestyle gold yesterday to add to his OlympicC and world titles — then had his national anthem played twice after a fl ag-pole malfunc- tion. The triple Olympic champion produced a blistering last two laps to clock one minute, 45.43 seconds and successfully launch his quest to win fi ve gold medals in Jakarta. Victory was twice as sweet for mand a do-over. fore world champ Xu Jiayu cel- Sun, who was stunned by Japan’s But fl ustered Games offi cials ebrated his 23rd birthday by cap- Kosuke Hagino at the last Asian did away with the faulty pole turing gold in the men’s 100m Qatar’s Amna al-Abdullah was ranked 12th on the first day of the Games in 2014 and also took sil- altogether and simply held the backstroke (52.34) to make it Qatar’s Abdulaziz al-Obaidly was ranked 21st in the heats for qualification rounds in the women’s Trap individual event with a ver behind Korean rival Park Tae- fl ags. four out of four on the night for men’s 100m backstroke event yesterday. score of 67. hwan in 2010. Earlier, Sun showed a softer China. From the moment Sun strode side to his gnarly public image by “I burst into tears when the ELSEWHERE: Qatar football team are out of the Asiad after going down fighting 0-1 against Bangladesh in their last Group B tie. out sporting a bright yellow lavishing compliments on rival Chinese fans sang ‘happy birth- tracksuit and huge red head- Hagino. day’ to me,” blushed Xu after phones to roars from fl ag-waving The controversial Chinese dashing Japanese Ryosuke Irie’s Chinese fans, there was only ever sparked a diplomatic row at hopes of an Asian Games treble. ODDBALL likely to be one winner. the 2014 Asian Games when he “It was a nice birthday gift but The 26-year-old favourite ab- branded the Japanese national I wanted the cherry on top — a solutely smashed the fi nal, fi n- anthem “ugly”. world record. It was still great to ishing more than a second clear win.” Dragons, Elvis and singing mayor surprise OCA assembly of Japan’s Katsuhiro Matsumoto, CHARM OFFENSIVE Japan stopped the rot as Sato- celebrating by screaming out But Sun has launched a charm mi Suzuki won the women’s AFP lines of the 18th Asian Games, own version of Elvis’s hit Can’t Asian Beach Games in 2020 and loud and punching the air as he off ensive from day one in Jakarta. 100m breaststroke in a Games Jakarta Nagoya mayor Takashi Kawa- Help Falling in Love. heard progress reports from soaked up the applause of his “I think Hagino is a good guy,” record 1:06.40, before Daiya Seto mura stunned delegates fi rst Only he changed the lyrics in Asia’s next two Olympics hosts, adoring fans. he told reporters. “He is an inspi- retained his 200m butterfl y title with a bizarre request and then front of the smiling, but slightly Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022. “I’ve waited eight years for ration to me. We should be work- in a time of 1:54.53. lympic Council for a passable Elvis Presley imper- embarrassed, Kuwaiti Sheikh Sheikh Ahmad also presented this title,” said an emotional Sun, ing together to raise the level of “I got a bit frantic in the last Asia (OCA) delegates sonation. Ahmed to “I can’t help falling in the OCA Award to Indonesia’s easily China’s biggest sporting Asian swimming.” 25 metres but I got the job done,” could be forgiven for The representatives of 45 love with Asian people and the Vice President, Jusuf Kalla, in personality. China’s Wang Jianjiahe won said Suzuki. “It gives me a lot thinking they had Asian countries probably Komodo dragon.” recognition of his work in lead- “It also gives me a golden the women’s 1,500m freestyle ti- more confi dence going into next wanderedO into a Jakarta karaoke couldn’t quite believe their ears It was such a hard act to fol- ing the organisation of the Ja- grand slam of Olympic, world tle after beating countrywoman year’s world championships and joint after being subjected to a when fi rst Kawamura implored low that Sheikh Ahmed quickly karta-Palembang Asian Games, and Asian titles. It’s a perfect re- Li Bingjie in a battle of 16-year- the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.” surprise serenade yesterday. OCA president Sheikh Ahmad called for a coff ee break in the which began with a spectacular sult, a dream. It’s unbelievable.” old schoolgirls, the national Japan ambushed China in the The Japanese cities of Nagoya al-Fahad al-Sabah to help him day-long meeting of Asia’s top opening ceremony on Saturday. Bizarrely his moment of glory champion touching in 15:53.68, women’s 4x100m freestyle, set- and Aichi will stage the 20th acquire two of Indonesia’s fa- sports administrators at Jakar- Sheikh Ahmad pointed out was soured somewhat when the just over a tenth quicker than her ting a new Games best of 3:36.52 Asian Games in 2026. mous Komodo dragons for his ta’s Mulia Hotel. that Indonesia had organised fl ags fell off the pole during Chi- close friend. after a stirring anchor leg from And during the joint hosts’ city’s zoo. Earlier the OCA general as- the Games in under three years na’s national anthem, prompting Liu Yaxin won the women’s Chihiro Igarashi to fi nish the report to the OCA general as- Kawamura then tried to drive sembly approved Sanya in Chi- following the withdrawal of Sun to growl at offi cials and de- 200m backstroke in 2:07.65, be- night with three gold medals. sembly taking place on the side- home his plea by crooning his na to be the venue of the sixth original host Vietnam. Gulf Times Monday, August 20, 2018 3 ASIAN GAMES

TOP OF THE LINE SWIMMING Rosmaniar wins Indonesia’s fi rst gold, social media Abushammaleh

Reuters Saturday night’s opening cer- Jakarta emony created a similar buzz on proud to keep social media. “Defi a, the people of Indone- efi a Rosmaniar pro- sia are proud of you!” Widodo Palestine fl ag fl ying duced Indonesia’s fi rst tweeted. gold medal in their Rosmaniar’s victory was a Reuters Indonesian people were shout- home Asian Games boost for Indonesia who have Jakarta ing ‘Go Palestine!’. That was so andD instantly became toast of set themselves a target of 16 gold heart-warming.” the social media in her country medals at the Games. Palestine was recognised as a yesterday. “I feel really happy and proud. era Abushammaleh member of the Olympic Council The 23-year-old taekwondo And I would like to thank my was born and lives of Asia (OCA) in 1986, four years fi ghter scored 8.690 to pip Iran’s fellow Indonesians for support- in Jordan but at the after Israel, which had competed Marjan Salahshouri (8.470) to ing me,” Rosmaniar responded Asian Games in Ja- at the Asian Games from 1954 to the gold in women’s individual on her own Twitter feed, add- Mkarta yesterday, the 16-year-old 1974, was fi nally permanently poomsae event, triggering wild ing some encouragement for her was proudly swimming for Pal- excluded. celebration at the Plenary Hall of teammates: “Keep the spirit up, estine. That three of the fi ve-strong the Jakarta Convention Centre. you all can be winners.” The Palestinians have been Palestine swimming team in Ja- Her head covered in a hijab and Beaten semi-fi nalists Jihye represented at the Asiad since karta are from the diaspora was the national fl ag draped around Yun of South Korea and Ma- 1990 winning only a single merely a refl ection of the tough her shoulders, an ecstatic Rosma- laysian Yap Khim Wen won a bronze medal through light conditions for aspiring athletes niar ran around the arena before bronze each. heavyweight boxer Munir Abu- in the territory, she thought. being escorted to the VIP gallery South Korea, who have domi- Keshek in Busan 12 years ago. “I live in Jordan but I visit Pal- where Indonesia President Joko nated the event at the Asian Abushammaleh looks unlikely estine sometimes but it’s diffi - Widodo congratulated her. Games since its 1986 inclusion, to add to that tally after posting cult to train. There are not a lot Rosmaniar’s victory earned which they are hosting for the with local celebrities congratu- meaning ‘Thank You Defi a’. have won two golds, one silver the 21st fastest time in the heats of people competing because Indonesia their fi rst ever taek- second time. lating her while fans ran hash- Leading the praise was Wido- and one bronze in individual and of her fi rst event but the teenager we have such diffi culties,” she wondo gold in the Asian Games, She also trended on Twitter tags such as #terimakasihdefi a, do, whose motorbike stunt in team poomsae events so far. believes her presence has a great- added. er purpose than just the quest for “We don’t have any (50-me- sporting success. tre) pools. We only have one SPOTLIGHT “I get to show people around 25-metre pool. There’s only two the world that Palestine can do coaches. We don’t have champi- something and we’re still here, onships, we don’t have gyms.” we’re not going to go anywhere Abushammaleh, who is regis- because of the war,” she said on tered for three more events in Ja- the deck after swimming in the karta, swam a personal best time fourth heat of the 100 of one minute 20.70 in her 100 metres breaststroke yesterday. breaststroke heat, good enough Kumar fades, Punia “I’m very proud that I can to beat Aishath Hulva Khulail of show people that Palestine is the Maldives and avoid last place here, that I can do something de- in heat four. spite all the obstacles.” While it was a long way short Abushammaleh and her team- of being good enough to progress mates received a rapturous re- to the fi nal, Abushammaleh is rises as new poster boy ception from the crowd when confi dent she will improve with they marched beneath the fl ag experience and one day hopes to of Palestine at Saturday’s open- win Palestine a medal. ing ceremony in Jakarta, capital “This is my fi rst time compet- of the world’s largest Muslim- ing in such a competition, in this majority nation. race,” she said. “I expected bet- “It was very nice,” she said. ter than this but next time I’ll do of Indian wrestling “When we were walking, all the better.”

CWG gold medallist lost in the qualification, Punia takes India’s first gold at 2018 Asiad FOCUS

Reuters Jakarta Philippines’ wo-time Olympic med- allist Sushil Kumar faded on a day when Bajrang Punia emerged Clarkson calls Tas the new poster boy of Indian wrestling after claiming the country’s fi rst gold at the 18th on NBA to free Asian Games in Jakarta yester- day. Kumar has been the face of Indian wrestling since winning players for global the 66kg freestyle bronze in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which he improved to silver in London four years later. tournaments The 35-year-old won his third Commonwealth Games gold in AFP Gold Coast earlier this year but Jakarta has not been the same force. A further confi rmation came yesterday when he went down leveland Cavaliers guard to Bahrain’s Adam Batirov 5-3 in Jordan Clarkson has the 74kg qualifi cation round at called on the NBA to let the Jakarta Convention Centre. players compete in more Kumar admitted to being Cglobal tournaments to boost the shocked but denied his age or sport’s popularity worldwide, ability had anything to do with ahead of his fi rst appearance the loss. for the Philippines at the Asian “I don’t think I lacked the Games. stamina. I would not have lasted Clarkson, who dashed to Ja- the bout had that been the case,” karta last week after the US he told reporters. “I’m not tired league released him in a last- either. The day I get tired I will minute U-turn, said yesterday he tell you,” he added. Bajrang Punia (right) of India celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men’s Freestyle 65kg wrestling competition yesterday. (Reuters) had wanted to play for the Phil- Kumar’s struggle was in stark ippines for years but had been contrast to Punia’s surge as the won the gold in Incheon four preparing for Tokyo Games.” “I haven’t changed, maybe denebat Bekhbayar beating repeatedly blocked. 24-year-old chalked up 13-4, 12- years ago and he told me I should Punia’s recent form is often people’s perception about me North Korean Kang Kum-song “After being told no so many 4, 10-4, 11-3 victories to bulldoze do it here. I’m happy I could attributed to his new-found se- has changed... I’m the same 8-2 in the 57kg fi nal. times, I refused to give up. I kept Jordan Clarkson played for his way into the 65kg fi nal. fulfi l that target,” the Haryana riousness about the sport but guy, who loves to dance when- Bekhbayar was economical fi ghting,” he said. “I’m here now, LA Lakers before moving to Daichi Takatani, despite con- wrestler said after adding an- the grappler diff ered. ever there’s an opportunity,” he with moves but eff ective with ready to compete.” Cleveland Cavaliers. (TNS) ceding a 6-0 lead early, pre- other gold to his Commonwealth “They said I’m not serious. added with a smile, having just manoeuvres. The 26-year-old “Just playing in the Games vented another lop-sided bout Games victory in Gold Coast. Well, they’ll say whatever they given himself another reason to pushed Kang to the edge of the already means a lot me. It’s a “I know soccer is still a big but Punia eventually prevailed “I consider it an important want. I never really bothered shake a leg. ring and then pulled off a fi ve- great experience for me. Getting sport, but if soccer is up there 11-8 to continue his strong run achievement. It gives me the be- about them. I mind my business, Mongolia too collected their point throw in the fi rst point- a medal would be an amazing I feel basketball is right under- of form this year. lief that I can be a contender for train hard and focus on wres- fi rst gold of the Games from scoring move of the bout and achievement.” neath.” “(Mentor) Yogeshwar Dutt Olympic medals and I’m already tling,” he said. freestyle wrestling with Er- never looked back. Excitement is brewing in the A gold medal at the regional basketball-mad Philippines over Olympics would be his top career Clarkson, who was born in the achievement to date, Clarkson BOTTOMLINE US but has Philippine citizenship added, two months after appear- through his grandmother. ing in the NBA Finals. The Asian Games are the The late decision to let Clark- world’s second-largest multi- son play followed lobbying by Pakistan wrestling stuck in the mud, says coach sport event, but unlike the Olym- offi cials and a social media cam- pics it is not among the competi- paign by thousands of Filipinos AFP “After partition in 1947 we were way tions NBA players are normally anxious to see their star. Jakarta ahead of India in wrestling and our allowed to participate in. He arrived in Indonesia Thurs- domination continued till 1952. But after The multi-billion dollar US day but did not participate in his that wrestling was fought on mats and league has expressed concern team’s thrashing of Kazakhstan akistan needs to ditch its tra- India took to it while Pakistan couldn’t.” that players could pick up inju- in their opening match. He was ditional approach of training Inam Butt became Pakistan’s latest ries or miss pre-season training chosen to carry the Philippines wrestlers on mud fl oors if it is to wrestling sensation after winning the on international duty. fl ag at Saturday’s opening cer- excel at international level, na- country’s only gold medal at the Com- NBA offi cials agreed Wednes- emony. Ptional coach Mohamed Anwar told AFP monwealth Games in April. day to grant a “one-time excep- The Philippines had origi- yesterday. However Butt, who won in the 86kg tion” for the 26-year-old Clark- nally withdrawn from the Asian Anwar was speaking at the Asian category on the Gold Coast, is one of just son and two Chinese players Games men’s basketball tour- Games in Jakarta, where two of Paki- a few Pakistani wrestlers to make their — Houston Rockets centre Zhou nament after 10 players and two stan’s three wrestlers lost in the fi rst mark on the international stage. Qi and Dallas Mavericks forward coaches were hit with suspen- round on the opening day of competi- “Wrestling has not been promoted Ding Yanyuhang — to play in Ja- sions and fi nes after an on-court tion. well in Pakistan and as a result has karta. brawl at a World Cup qualifi er Pakistan has done “zero work” to help lagged behind,” Rahman said, adding Speaking to reporters ahead last month. its wrestlers, Anwar said, leaving it trail- that Pakistan could do with a star like of his fi rst match on Tuesday However the federation hastily ing its competitors — notably arch-rival India’s two-time Olympic medallist Su- against China, Clarkson said assembled a team from scratch India, which switched to training on shil Kumar. star-studded international earlier this month after being mats long ago. “Sushil is a very good player but I per- matches could help the sport to prevailed upon by a senior aide “India has done a lot of work on wres- sonally take inspiration from all the Rus- overtake soccer. to president Rodrigo Duterte to tling. It’s a big country with lot of funds. sian wrestlers who are a name in them- “I think they get the point — in change their decision. While Pakistan has done zero work for selves. They have a knack of producing Asia kids are picking up a basket- The Philippines have won four sports and wrestling,” the former Olym- world champions,” Rehman said with a Makhmudjon Shavkatov (top) of Uzbekistan in action with Pakistan’s Mohamed Bilal ball. I feel like the NBA is allow- Asian Games basketball golds, pic wrestler said. smile. during the men’s Freestyle 57kg qualification round in Jakarta yesterday. (Reuters) ing us to do our thing. but none since 1962. Gulf Times 4 Monday, August 20, 2018 SPORT

TENNIS SPOTLIGHT ‘Sad’ Federer hopes Federer to clash with new Davis Cup lives up to promises AFP stemmed from the bankruptcy Cincinnati of the Swiss ISL promotion fi rm that had promised to pay the Djokovic in fi nal Tour $1.2bn over a decade for the hile unsure of the rights to the elite Masters events. wisdom of this ISL suddenly went bust and the Top seed Halep to meet World number 17 Bertens in the women’s title clash week’s sweeping deal never came to fruition, al- Davis Cup reform, though the ATP recovered nicely WRoger Federer has called on to its current dominating state in AFP Cincinnati Novak Djokovic of Serbia stretches tennis offi cials to make good on the men’s game. for a forehand shot en route to his promises regarding the new-look Federer won the Davis Cup win over Marin Cilic of Croatia in competition. “I feel sad about it, with Switzerland over France in oger Federer and Novak Djokovic Mason, Ohio, on Saturday. (AFP) you know, not to have the Davis 2014 and played almost unin- will be fi ghting for records when Cup as it used to be. It will never terruptedly from his 1999 debut the all-star pair clash in the fi - be the same for the next genera- until age 34 in 2015. “Clearly the nal at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati tion,” the 20-time Grand Slam ITF has never historically in- Masters.R Federer, a seven-time champion winner said on Saturday at the volved the players,” he said of the here, will be bidding to increase his tour- ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters. decision. “(The solution) is defi - nament leading total, while Djokovic is “I just hope that every penny nitely fl awed in some ways. I’m keen to win the only Masters 1000 tour- of that mass of money will be all for innovation, and got to give nament missing from his trophy collec- paid for the next generation,” them a chance to some extent. It tion. Second seed Federer was leading 7-6 Federer said. Kosmos, an invest- will be interesting to see how it’s (7/3), 1-1 when David Goffi n retired with ment group led by Barcelona going to work.” an injury from their semi-fi nal match af- football star Gerard Pique with Fellow former number one ter 62 minutes on Saturday. Japanese and Chinese support, Novak Djokovic, a member of the The Belgian needed treatment for a will spend $3bn over 25 years 2010 winning Serbia side, shared shoulder problem after losing the open- on the new event, which will do many of the same Davis Cup sen- ing set. Djokovic beat 2016 winner Marin away with four rounds at home timents with his Swiss rival but Cilic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to earn his place. “I and away venues around the said something had to be done. realised that he was not serving very big,” world throughout the year, cul- “Change was inevitable for the Federer said. minating with the fi nal between format,” he said, adding that he “But it was only after he was treated the last two teams standing. has supported a format change that I knew something might be wrong. Instead there will be a one- “15 years ago, 10 years ago, fi ve I could see that he was unhappy, but I week shoot-out among 18 na- years ago, and today. So it hasn’t thought he was going to play on.” tions, to be played in November changed.” The Swiss was not distressed to get a at rotating venues. With nearly “I’m really glad that, people quick win. “I’m gonna recover for tomor- two decades in the game, the of ITF are understanding the row. This match was erratic at the start 37-year-old Federer has a long urgency of changing the format with hardly any rallies. But it got better memory back to another mega- and the schedule. It was just not towards the end, I’m glad my serve has deal gone wrong which could right, especially for the top play- worked well all week. I’m happy today have seriously damaged the ATP ers. In the last 10 years you could was fairly easy.” Tour. “We’ve seen a similar situ- see that. Very few top players Djokovic leads a rivalry, which dates to ation way back when with the have played consistently in the 2006, by a thin 23-22 margin with the Serb ATP Tour and it set us back in a Davis Cup competition, which winning three of their last four meetings. big way,” he said. “I don’t want was, till recently, the only team, Federer won their only previous fi nal here that to happen again.” offi cial team competition we in 2015 in straight sets. “That’s not how I That incident in 2000 have in our sport.” wanted to win, but I’ll take it,” the Swiss said. “I’ve now got a diffi cult fi nal against a tough opponent.” Djokovic has lost all fi ve of his Cincin- nati fi nals. “Hopefully I can get it done this time,” he said. Djokovic had to work for more than two and a half hours to overcome Cilic, the 2016 champion in the combined WTA and ATP event. Djokovic only secured his defeat of the third time lucky in Cincinnati after book- chance,” Halep said. “It will be a chal- was a tough match, but I’m so glad to be Croatian late in the fi nal set, breaking ing her fi nals berth with a 6-3, 6-4 victory lenge for me to play another fi nal here and in the fi nal.” for 5-3 and fi nishing off the hard-fought over Aryna Sabalenka. The Romanian lost try to win it.” Sabalenka, the 20-year-old number victory in the next game. “It’s tough, I’m a title bid in Cincinnati in 2015 against World number 17 Bertens, who played 34 who is still seeking a fi rst career title, very pleased to reach the fi nal once more Serena Williams and came up short a year and won two matches on Friday after rain dropped the opening set on back-to-back here,” Djokovic said. “It’s been a diffi cult ago to Garbine Muguruza. interruptions this week, looked fi tter that double-faults. Halep took advantage of week with rain delays and all that was She’ll try again against Dutch outsider two-time Wimbledon winner Kvitova in the momentum with a break for 3-1 in happening. I’ve been down in my last Kiki Bertens, who will be playing her third hot, humid conditions. “I’m feeling great, the second set, only to immediately drop three matches but I’ve come back.” fi nal of the season after wearing down a I’m so happy to win,” she said after ad- her serve. Halep broke in the fi nal game to On the women’s side, world number tiring Petra Kvitova 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. “If I vancing on her fi rst match point as Kvi- move through as Sabalenka volleyed long one Simona Halep is hoping it will be fi ght like I’ve done here, I will have a big tova slammed a forehand into the net.”It on a second match point after 76 minutes.

RUGBY Wallabies star Folau ruled out of second Bledisloe test Sydney: Wallabies star Israel Cheika said the 29-year-old had pair Folau Faingaa name squad Folau was yesterday ruled out a “small tear in a muscle right and Rory Arnold, and Rebels of the second Bledisloe Cup down low” but added that it centre Billy Meakes will also Test with an ankle injury, in a was “just a lot of swelling” and travel to Auckland to help with further blow to Australia after not a long-term injury. “We’re the Wallabies’ preparations. The to travel to Argentina their big loss to New Zealand. hopeful he’ll be back for the All Blacks have also been hit by Fullback Folau limped off game in Brisbane against the injuries ahead of next week’s in the 65th minute in the first Springboks,” Cheika said. clash at Eden Park in Auckland, Test in Sydney on Saturday, “I think it’s logical to bring with and Rieko as the All Blacks thumped the in a winger like Naivalu as we Ioane both sidelined. Wallabies 38-13 in a clash that have (Jack) Maddocks who can The Wallabies have not won doubled as the Rugby Champi- play winger and fullback as well at Eden Park since 1986. They onship opener. as (Tom) Banks who is an out- are due to face South Africa in Wallabies coach Michael and-out fullback.” Brisbane on September 8.

FOCUS Crotty head injury sours All Blacks’ win Reuters ever, was circumspect about the Sydney “fi ckle” nature of head injuries. “Everything else has a time- frame but there’s just so much he All Blacks return to unknown with head knocks and New Zealand triumphant it seems like you can be only one after another Rugby away, if it’s the wrong one, from Championship demoli- it being then end of it,” Cane Ttion of the Wallabies but with said. With concerns over the long-term already ruled out with injury, Argentina’s Bautista Delguy (left) is tackled by South Africa’s Aphiwe Dyantyi (bottom) and Handre Pollard health of Ryan Crotty. The in- the All Blacks will have to dig during the Rugby Championship in on Saturday. (AFP) side centre was knocked out in a deep into their midfi eld stocks. clash of heads with new midfi eld Anton Lienert-Brown, who SOUTH AFRICA SQUAD Reuters last week to repair damage suf- partner Jack Goodhue in the fi rst replaced Crotty on Saturday, fered to his injured knee. Forwards: Thomas du Toit half of the 38-13 rout at Sydney’s or are likely to Erasmus said South Africa (), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Olympic stadium and played no start at inside centre, with the showed their real potential for Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitshoff , further part in the match. uncapped Vince Aso a chance to outh Africa have trimmed only 20 minutes in win over Ar- Siya Kolisi (all Stormers), Francois The 29-year-old has suff ered be called up as injury cover. The their squad by six and gentina, but it was on expected Louw (Bath), Wilco Louw, Frans a litany of head knocks over the All Blacks will also be without will take 28 players to lines with several key players Malherbe (both Stormers), Mal- past two seasons, missing games winger , who suf- Argentina, where the returning after layoff s. Play- colm Marx (Lions), Bongi Mbon- for the Canterbury in fered a hamstring strain, which SpringboksS will face the ers like Eben Etzebeth, Malcolm earlier this year, opens the door for a recall to ambi (Stormers), Franco Mostert in Mendoza in the Rugby Cham- Marx and Warren Whiteley were (Gloucester), Tendai Mtawarira and will be sidelined for Satur- Nehe Milner-Skudder. pionship on Saturday. Coach in the side after missing June’s (Sharks), RG Snyman (), day’s return match at Eden Park. Injuries aside, Hansen would sprung no sur- three tests against England while Akker van der Merwe (Sharks), His sister Shea Crotty, who has have been immensely pleased prises when the named the tour England-based and Marco van Staden (Bulls), Warren played basketball for New Zea- with the performance of the Francois Louw were fresh from champions, who notched their party yesterday, one day after Whiteley (Lions) land, aired her concerns. “Know South Africa beat Argentina 34- post-season holidays. how frustrated he will be but for 13th successive win in the tour- Australia’s Kurtley Beale (left) tackles New Zealand’s Ryan Crotty 21 in their opening match of the It made for a disjointed and er- Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Faf selfi sh reasons I want to see my nament after going undefeated during the Rugby Championship Bledisloe Cup match. (AFP) annual four-nations southern ror-ridden showing although in de Klerk (), Aphiwe Dy- brother grow old and able, not in the last two campaigns. Cap- hemisphere competition. the end pure force and aggression antyi (Lions), Andre Esterhuizen battling the brain forever,” she tain made a solid The All Blacks can win the Bl- had to be wary of a wounded Loose forwards Jean-Luc du saw the Springboks to a comfort- (Sharks), Elton Jantjies (Lions), wrote on Twitter. return to the side after a long edisloe Cup, the annual trophy Wallabies side. “Their backs are Preez and Sikhumbuzo Notshe, able bonus-point victory. Eras- Willie le Roux (Wasps), Makazole All Blacks coach Steve lay-off from back surgery while contested between the trans- against the wall and they’re go- lock Marvin Orie, Ross Cronje mus said South Africa had their Mapimpi (Sharks), Lionel Mapoe Hansen lamented Crotty’s “bad lock was bril- Tasman nations, for a 16th suc- ing to improve,” he said. (scrumhalf), Jesse Kriel (centre) momentum stymied by the Pu- (Lions), Embrose Papier, Handré luck” to be hit by friendly fi re liant in his fi rst test for nearly a cessive year with victory at Eden “What we do know is that and winger Lwazi Mvovo were all mas who were eff ective in slow- Pollard, Ivan van Zyl (all Bulls), and said a specialist had already year, scoring a second half try Park, where they have not lost to teams that get beaten learn more dropped while uncapped fl anker ing down the ball but “lucky the Damian Willemse (Stormers). given the midfi elder the “all- and adding huge drive to the All Australia in 32 years. than teams that win. Our chal- Cyle Brink underwent surgery boys fi xed it in the second half”. clear”. Flanker , how- Blacks’ scrum. Hansen, however, said they lenge is to learn better.” Gulf Times Monday, August 20, 2018 5 SPORT

MLB Cahill shuts down Astros, A’s move into fi rst-place tie Reuters The Astros, meanwhile, had RESULTS Keuchel (9-10) didn’t survive St. Louis also improved to 21- Oakland held a solo lead in the division the inning, pulled after giving up 10 since interim manager Mike since June 14. Cahill (5-2) faced Athletics 7-1 Astros fi ve runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 in- Shildt replaced Mike Matheny 22 batters and got 21 outs, in- Cardinals 7-2 Brewers nings. He walked one and struck on July 15 and inched ahead of ight-hander Trevor cluding a double play after he Mariners 5-4 Dodgers out four. Keuchel had been 5-1 Milwaukee for the second wild- Cahill gave up only an issued his only walk of the game with a 1.88 ERA in his previous card spot. Mikolas (13-3) im- infi eld single over seven to Alex Bregman in the seventh Rockies 5-3 Braves eight starts. Phegley completed proved to 5-0 in his last nine innings Saturday after- inning. The lone hit came on a Padres 7-6 D’backs a three-RBI day and the A’s scor- starts since a 5-1 loss to Atlanta noon,R and the Oakland Athlet- grounder up the middle by Yuli ing with a two-run double with on June 29 by allowing one run Red Sox 50-2 Rays ics completed a 10-game climb Gurriel with one out in the sec- two outs in the eighth. Phegley, on fi ve hits. He struck out seven Yankees 11-6 Blue Jays into fi rst place in the American ond. A’s shortstop Marcus Sem- Davis, Olson and Piscotty had without a walk and threw 62 of League West with a 7-1 victory ien ranged far to his left to get to Orioles 4-2 Indians two doubles apiece for the A’s, 91 pitches for strikes. over the Houston Astros in Oak- the ball, but had it kick off his Pirates 3-1 Cubs who rallied late to beat the As- The right-hander allowed two land, Calif. glove. The play was ruled a hit. Marlins 7-5 Nationals tros 4-3 in 10 innings in the se- runs or less for the ninth time With the win, the A’s are now Cahill struck out seven in his ries opener on Friday night. The in his last 11 starts. He also be- tied for fi rst in the division with seven innings. Any controversy Mets 3-1 Phillies Astros lost for the seventh time came the fi rst Cardinals pitcher the defending champions. over the offi cial scoring on Gur- Angels 11-7 Rangers in their last eight games. The A’s to reach 13 wins in the team’s Khris Davis doubled twice riel’s ball was sidestepped when Tigers 7-5 Twins out-hit the Astros 11-2. fi rst 123 games in his fi rst season and drove in two runs as the Tony Kemp hit a one-out solo with the club since Kyle Lohse A’s knocked out Houston left- home run off the A’s third pitch- Royals 3-1 White Sox CARDS MOVE AHEAD FOR in 2008. Mikolas allowed a solo hander Dallas Keuchel in the er, Yusmeiro Petit, in the ninth Reds 7-1 Giants 2ND NL WILD CARD homer to Travis Shaw to lead sixth inning en route to their inning, giving the Astros a sec- Miles Mikolas pitched six ef- off the second but little else. second straight win against the ond hit. open in the sixth with four dou- fective innings and won his fi fth His most signifi cant trouble oc- Astros in the three-game series. The homer was Kemp’s fi fth bles, including three in succes- straight decision as the St. Louis curred in the sixth, when the The A’s, who trailed the Astros of the season. Davis gave Cahill sion by Davis, Matt Olson and Cardinals beat the visiting Mil- Brewers had runners at second by 10 games on July 10, moved an immediate cushion with a Stephen Piscotty. The latter two waukee Brewers 7-2 Saturday and third following a double by into at least a tie for fi rst place in two-run double in the fi rst in- each drove in a run. Josh Pheg- night at Busch Stadium. Lorenzo Cain and a single to Je- the AL West in any month after ning after Semien and Jed Lowrie ley capped the three-run inning The latest solid showing by sus Aguilar, who took second on April for the fi rst time since Aug. singled. with a two-out RBI double that Mikolas helped the Cardinals a throwing error by right fi elder Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Trevor Cahill pitches to the Houston 25, 2014. Oakland busted the game plated Piscotty. win for the 14th time in 17 games. Tyler O’Neill. Astros in the first inning at Oakland Coliseum. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports

GOLF FOCUS American Salas leads by two strokes Snedeker retains major tournament in a playoff . AFP Los Angeles On Saturday, the American fell foul of a preferred lies local rule in Indiana. The LPGA Tour merican Lizette Salas is allowing preferred lies due to had eight birdies in an the wet nature of the Brickyard eight-under par 64 on Crossing course but players are Saturday to take a two- only allowed to do so when their lead as weather strokeA lead heading into the fi nal ball is in the fairway of the hole round of the US LPGA tourna- they are playing. ment in Indianapolis. “During the play of hole 10, Salas, who began the round Thompson’s tee shot came to tied for the lead with Park Sung- rest in the fairway of hole six,” hyun and Ko Jin-young, had a the LPGA said in a statement. 54-hole total of 21-under 195. “As Thompson’s ball lay on She was two shots clear of the fairway of hole six, she was halts Wyndham Park and South Korean Amy not entitled to prefer her lie. Yang, with defending champion “She preferred her lie in ‘So two-under-par through seven holes and still got a lead, that’s all positive’ Lexi Thompson alone in fourth a breach of the local Rule but pri- further three strokes back. or to playing her stroke from a Reuters Park, who has a chance to wrong place (Rule 20-7) she was Greensboro, North Carolina topple Thailand’s Ariya Jutanu- questioned by a rules offi cial re- garn from the number one world garding her actions. ranking with a victory this week, “As she had not played her randt Snedeker held a had racked up eight birdies and stroke from the preferred spot, three-stroke lead at the was 21-under and in the lead she did not receive the general Wyndham Champion- when she double-bogeyed the penalty of two strokes under the ship in North Caro- par-four 16th, hitting her ap- local rule.” Thompson put the linaB on Saturday when the third proach shot into the water. penalty behind her to shoot 64 round was suspended due to bad The two-time major winner, and end the third round in fourth weather. seeking her third win of the sea- place, fi ve strokes behind leader Snedeker had made two bird- son, parred the last two holes to Lizette Salas. ies in seven holes when nearby complete a six-under par 66 that lightning prompted the stop- left her tied on 197 with Yang, LEADING THIRD-ROUND page and the weather prevented who had seven birdies without a SCORES the action from resuming at bogey in her 65. 195 - Lizette Salas 62-69-64 the Sedgefi eld course in Thompson climbed the lead- 197 - Amy Yang (KOR) 68-64-65, Greensboro. erboard with an eight-under 64, Park Sung-hyun (KOR) 68-63-66 The 30 players who did her eight birdies including four 200 - Lexi Thompson 68-68-64 not complete the round will in a row from the fourth through 201 - Mina Harigae 69-67-65, resume at 8am local time (12000 the seventh holes. Nasa Hataoka (JPN) 64-69-68, GMT) on Sunday, and offi cials Rookie of the year contender Ko Jin-young (KOR) 65-66-70 expect to have the tournament Ko, who returned the water- 202 - Angel Yin 64-69-69 completed by the scheduled fi n- logged Brickyard Crossing Golf 203 - Brianna Do 66-70-67, Dan- ish. Course to complete her second ielle Kang 65-68-70 Snedeker, on 16-under-par, round on Saturday morning, had 204 - Marina Alex 68-70-66, leads by three from Brian Gay, fi ve birdies and three bogeys in Hannah Green (AUS) 69-67-68, who had completed 12 holes, her third round 70 and shared Ariya Jutanugarn (THA) 70- with four others on 12-under. fi fth place on 201 with Japan’s 65-69, Jennifer Song 68-67-69, Snedeker knows he will have Nasa Hataoka (68) and Mina Lee Mi-hyang (KOR) 66-69-69, to keep attacking to hold off the Harigae (65). Thidapa Suwannapura (THA) charging pack on a course that Thompson received a one- 67-67-70 invariably yields low scores. stroke penalty for a rules viola- 205 - Bronte Law (ENG) 69-69- “If I get to 22-under-par, I tion at the LPGA’s Indy Cham- 67, Chella Choi (KOR) 68-70-67, think it’s hard for other guys to pionship on Saturday in her fi rst Lydia Ko (NZL) 66-71-68, Cristie get there,” said the eight-times event back after taking a short Kerr 69-67-69 PGA Tour winner. break from the tour. 206 - Ji Eun-hee (KOR) 71-69- “I’m not saying it can’t hap- Thompson made headlines for 66, Ryu So-yeon (KOR) 68-71- pen, but that number seems another rules violation at last 67, Wichanee Meechai (THA) to hold up here pretty well, so year’s ANA Inspiration where 70-68-68, Hsu Wei-Ling (TPE) that’s kind of the number I have she received a penalty for replac- 67-71-68, Emma Talley 70-67-69, in my mind.” ing her ball in the wrong spot on Madeleine Sheils 67-70-69, Caro- Snedeker, who shot a 59 in the the green and went on to lose the line Hedwall (SWE) 65-68-73. opening round before adding a 67 on Friday, made an unlikely birdie at the second hole on Sat- urday when his 60-foot down- hill putt from off the green went in at considerable pace, the cup Brandt Snedeker reacts on the seventh hole during providing a perfect backstop. the third round of the Wyndham Championship “I was just trying to get close at Sedgefi eld Country Club in Greensboro, North and got lucky there, made a Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP) bomb and got some good mo- mentum going,” he said. “Played some solid golf after that, nothing great. Didn’t hit enough fairways really to have a Lizette Salas hits her tee shot on the 4th hole during the third round bunch of birdie opportunities, McIlroy and Fowler skipping fi rst PGA Tour playoff event of the Indy Women In Tech Championship Driven by Group 1001 at but kind of managed it really, re- the Brickyard Crossing Golf Club in Indianapolis, Indiana. (AFP) ally well. Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler are at the PGA Championship last Sunday “So two-under-par through skipping the first event of the PGA that he might not enter the Northern seven holes and still got a lead, Tour’s FedExCup playoff series, the Trust, to be held this year at Ridgewood that’s all positive.” Northern Trust Open in New Jersey, for Country Club. Former Spurs GM Bass dies at 89 He picked up another stroke diff erent reasons. Fowler has a partially torn abdominal at the par-fi ve fi fth, where he The top 125 players on a season-long muscle and has decided to rest as a Former San Antonio gen- 20 seasons with the Spurs in a drained a 10-footer. Michael points list after Sunday’s Wyndham precaution. eral manager Bob Bass died in variety of roles and helped the Thompson was the clubhouse Championship qualify for the first of Fowler hopes to be back in time for the hospice care Friday night in his team reach the playoff s in 17 of leader at 11-under after shooting four playoff events. Ryder Cup in six weeks. He has qualified home after suff ering a series of those seasons. He was also the 63, while Spaniard Sergio Garcia A few players usually skip the Northern for the American team to play Europe in strokes. He was 89. GM when the Spurs made the was also on 11-under after nine Trust after a busy summer stretch, . The only other currently eligible Bass suff ered a stroke on Aug. jump from the ABA to the NBA holes. Snedeker is prepared for a preferring to rest up for the remainder player planning to sit out next week is 6 that initially landed him in in 1976. After his lengthy run long Sunday. of the playoff s and, in even-numbered 96th-ranked American Patrick Rodgers. the hospital. He returned to with the Spurs, Bass became “Somebody’s going to make a years, the Ryder Cup. Former world number one Tiger Woods enter hospice care after a the general manager for the run and go really low and my job Northern Irishman McIlroy suggested has entered after qualifying for the play- second stroke, according to Charlotte Hornets in 1995. is to try to match that as best I after a disappointing equal 50th finish off s for the first time since 2013. his granddaughter. Bass spent He retired in 2004. can,” he said. Gulf Times 6 Monday, August 20, 2018 SPORT

FOCUS It’s over: Australia’s Johnson retires from cricket AFP “If I can’t play at 100 percent ata Knight Riders (KKR), Kings Sydney then I can’t give my best to the XI Punjab. team. And for me it’s always Few players have become as been about the team.” inextricably linked to a single se- ustralian fast bowler Johnson said he would con- ries as Mitchell Johnson to Aus- Mitchell Johnson said sider channelling his “com- tralia’s 5-0 whitewash of Eng- yesterday he was retir- petitive edge” into a coaching or land in the 2013-14 Ashes. ing from all forms of mentoring role in the future. Johnson’s searing pace was cricketA as his body was “starting Renowned for his ferocious as awesome as it was terrify- to shut down”, almost three years pace, Johnson announced ing, made all the more sinister after he stepped down from the his retirement from interna- by a jet-black handlebar mous- international game. tional cricket during the Test tache. The 36-year-old quit Twen- series against New Zealand in During those fi ve Tests, every ty20 Big Bash League (BBL) team Perth in November 2015, saying delivery Johnson bowled was an the Perth Scorchers last month, he had lost the hunger to play the event, full of danger for an Eng- but had not ruled out playing in long form of the game. land batting line-up that was the Indian Premier League or From the coastal Queens- dismantled in front of a baying other domestic Twenty20 com- land city of Townsville, John- home crowd. petitions. son made his fi rst class debut Although Johnson stalked “It’s over. I’ve bowled my fi - with the state in 2001 before get- his way through English night- nal ball. Taken my fi nal wicket. ting his start in the Test team in mares, even England fans can Today I announce my retire- 2007. recognise a wonderful tale of ment from all forms of cricket,” His best haul was 8-61 against sporting redemption after he Johnson wrote for the Perth Now South Africa, at the WACA in was tormented by the Barmy news website yesterday. 2008. Army in 2010-11. “I had hoped to continue Described by long-time men- Then, as England claimed a playing in various Twenty20 tor Dennis Lillee as a “once in a historic win down under, John- competitions around the world generation” bowler, the former son became a fi gure of fun, the until perhaps the middle of next ICC Cricketer of the Year played subject of a song that claimed year. But the fact is my body is 73 Tests for Australia, claiming “he bowls to the left, he bowls to starting to shut down.” 313 wickets. the right” as he struggled with Johnson said he experienced He also claimed 239 wickets his accuracy. back problems during this year’s in 153 one-day internationals, While he may be best remem- IPLCRICKET and “that was probably a and 38 wickets in 30 Twenty20 bered for his Ashes peaks and sign that it was time to move internationals for Australia. troughs, Johnson was supreme- on”. Mitchell Johnson joined the ly talented all-round cricketer “I’m ready to break clear of Scorchers following his retire- – only spinner Shane Warne, playing cricket and move on to ment from international cricket. pacers Glenn McGrath and Den- the next period of my life,” he In the IPL, he had stints with nis Lillee have taken more Test added. the Mumbai Indians (MI), Kolk- wickets for Australia.

CRICKET MOTORSPORT Tanak wins Rally of Germany, Neuville Pandya’s maiden holds title lead

AFP lies of Argentina and Finland. Trier, Germany The 30-year-old Estonian, in third overall 36 points be- hind, started strongly, tak- stonian driver Ott ing the lead on the fi rst stage fi ve-for sparks Tanak won the Rally of on Thursday. Ogier briefl y Germany yesterday as grabbed fi rst after the second championship leader stage on Friday morning but ThierryE Neuville and closest Tanak was imperious the rest challenger Sebastien Ogier of the way and maintained remained locked in the race a lead of between 12 and 14 for the title. seconds ahead of his nearest Neuville, who started the challengers. England collapse rally with a 21-point lead, fi n- Frenchman Ogier almost ished second in his Hyundai to lost everything on Saturday Pandya takes five wickets for 28 runs off six overs in England’s 161 all out pick up 19 points while reign- when he suff ered a punc- ing world champion Ogier was ture on the rough concrete AFP the crowd. fourth in his Ford Fiesta and of the famous Panzerplatte Nottingham, United Kingdom He could only manage 10 be- collected 17 points, including tank range at the Baumholder fore an edge off paceman Moha- fi ve as a bonus for winning the military camp. He fell to ninth mad Shami fl ew waist-high to fi nal Power Stage. while the more cautious Neu- ardik Pandya took fi ve Rahul. Chris Woakes had bailed “It was a challenging week- ville was in fourth. wickets and debutant out the top-order with a maiden end so to fi nish second shows But on a tumultuous fi nal wicket-keeper Rishabh Test century in England’s innings we did our job,” said Belgian morning the two men who Pant claimed fi ve and 159-run win at Lord’s last Neuville, now 23 points clear. started Sunday battling for catchesH before India’s batsmen week. But trying to hook Pandya “I managed to slightly in- second – Dani Sordo (Hy- piled on the agony for England on eight, he got a top edge and crease my lead in the drivers’ undai) and Jari-Matti Latvala in the third Test at Trent Bridge. Pant, going down the legside, championship, which was the (Toyota) – both dropped out. India were 124 for two in their changed direction and lept back aim. The battle for the title is go- The Spaniard crashed off the second innings at stumps yester- to his right before holding a bril- ing to be tight until the very end.” road and the Finn suff ered a day, the second day, an already liant one-handed catch. It was Tanak’s third victory transmission failure and Neu- commanding lead of 292 runs in England were now 118 for sev- of the season after the ral- ville and Ogier took advantage. a game where victory would see en. The fi rst ball of Pandya’s next them keep the series alive at 2-1 over saw Adil Rashid well caught FINAL RESULTS down in a fi ve-match contest. by Pant, two-handed this time. Cheteshwar Pujara was 33 not Stuart Broad survived the hat- 1. Ott Tanak-Martin Jarveoja (EST/Toyota Yaris) in 3hr 03min out and India captain Virat Koh- trick ball but was still out for a 36.9sec, 2. Thierry Neuville-Nicolas Gilsoul (BEL/Hyundai i20) li, whose 97 was key to his side’s duck, the left-hander plumb lbw at 39.2sec, 3. Esapekka Lappi-Janne Ferm (FIN/Toyota Yaris) fi rst-innings 329, eight not out to a Pandya inswinger. 1:00.9, 4. Sebastien Ogier-Julien Ingrassia (FRA/Ford Fiesta) with three days left in the game. At 128 for nine, England still 1:34.5, 5. Teemu Suninen-Mikko Markkula (FIN/Ford Fiesta) Earlier, England collapsed to needed two more runs to avoid 2:02.9, 6. Andreas Mikkelsen-Anders Jaeger(NOR/Hyundai i20) 161 all out in a fi rst innings that the follow-on. They got them 2:13.8, 7. Craig Breen-Scott Martin (IRL-GBR/Citroen C3) 2:39.1, 8. lasted a mere 38.2 overs. All- when Buttler’s leading edge off Marijan Griebel- Alexander Rath (GER/Citroën DS3) 10:41.2, 9. rounder Pandya took maiden Shami just cleared Ajinkya Ra- Jan Kopecky-Pavel Dresler (CZE/Skoda Fabia) 13.12.8, 10. Kalle fi ve-wicket haul for 28 runs in hane at cover-point. Rovanpera-Jonne Halttunen (FIN/Skoda Fabia) 13:16.6 six overs, including four for eight Buttler, with just last man Power Stage (SS18, 14 kilometres) 1. Sebastien Ogier (FRA/ in 11 balls, as he revelled in the James Anderson for company, Ford Fiesta) 5 pts, 2. Ott Tanak (EST/Toyota Yaris) 4, 3. Esapekka swing-friendly conditions. hooked and drove sixes off Sha- Lappi (FIN/Toyota Yaris) 3, 4. Craig Breen (IRL-GBR/Citroen C3) This was the second time this India’s Hardik Pandya walks off with the ball after taking five wickets on the second day of the third Test mi and Sharma respectively be- 2, 5. Thierry Neuville (BEL/Hyundai i20) 1 year that England had lost all 10 against England at Trent Bridge in Nottingham yesterday. (AFP) fore he holed out off Bumrah. Special stages winners: Tanak 6 (SS1, SS3, SS4, SS5, SS6, SS7), wickets inside a session of Test India’s openers put on a brisk Ogier 4 (SS2, SS14, SS17, SS18), Sordo 3 (SS9, SS12, SS13), Latvala cricket following an embarrass- dia at bay and denied Kohli the meagre average of 19.38 this year. only managed 16 before he edged 60 before Rahul (36) defl ected a 2 (SS8, SS15), Lappi 1 (SS10), Breen 1 (SS11), Neuville (SS16) ing 58 all out against New Zea- chance of enforcing the follow- Next ball, Jennings, one of 12 all-rounder Pandya’s fi rst ball drive off Stokes onto his stumps World championship standings: 1. Thierry Neuville (BEL/Hy- land in Auckland in March. on. Admittedly, the overcast batsmen to have opened in Tests low to KL Rahul at second slip. and Shikhar Dhawan (44) was undai) 172 pts, 2. Sebastien Ogier (FRA/Ford) 149, 3. Ott Tanak The irony was that England conditions made batting dif- with Cook since Andrew Strauss The umpires called for a re- stumped by Bairstow off leg- (EST/Toyota) 136, 4. Esapekka Lappi (FIN/Toyota) 88, 5. Andreas enjoyed a solid opening partner- fi cult, but England’s top-order retired six years ago, was squared view but made a ‘soft signal’ spinner Rashid. But when play Mikkelsen (NOR/Hyundai) 65, 6. Dani Sordo (ESP/Hyundai) 60, ship to be 54 without loss. problems run deeper than bad up by the recalled Jasprit Bumrah of out and the on-fi eld call was ended in bright sunshine, Eng- 7. Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN/Toyota) 55, 8. Elfyn Evans (GBR/Ford) But the exit of left-handers luck with the weather. When and nicked to Pant. upheld. Ben Stokes, recalled just land needed to surpass the 52, 9. Mads Ostberg (NOR/Citroen) 48, 10. Craig Breen (IRL/ Alastair Cook (29) and Kea- Cook edged Ishant Sharma to New batsman Ollie Pope fell days after being acquitted of an record fourth innings score to Citroën) 45, 11. Kris Meeke (GBR/Citroën) 43, 12. Teemu Suninen ton Jennings (20) on that total give Pant an easy fi rst Test catch for 10 when a genuine glance off aff ray charge on Tuesday follow- win a Test at Trent Bridge, their (FIN/Ford) 42, 13. Hayden Paddon (NZL/Hyundai) 34, 14. Sébast- sparked a collapse that saw eight it meant England’s all-time Sharma was well caught down ing an incident outside a Bristol own 284 for six against New ien Loeb (FRA/Citroen) 15 wickets lost for 74 runs. leading Test run-scorer had the legside by the 20-year-old nightclub in September last year, Zealand in 2004, to achieve an Constructors: 1. Hyundai Motorsport 254 pts, 2. Toyota Gazoo Only Jos Buttler’s 39 kept In- made 252 runs in the format at a keeper. England captain Joe Root walked out to a few boos from improbable success. Racing 241, 3. M-Sport Ford 224, 4. Citroen Racing 159. Scorecard INDIA 1st innings (overnight: 307-6) Total (all out, 94.5 overs, 432 mins) 329 B. Stokes c Rahul b Shami 10 37-2 (2nb); Ashwin 1-0-3-0; Sharma 9-2-32- Mohoric holds on to win BinckBank Tour S. Dhawan c Buttler b Woakes 35 Fall of wickets: 1-60 (Dhawan), 2-65 (Ra- J. Buttler c sub (Thakur) b Bumrah 39 2; Pandya 6-1-28-5 (1w) KL Rahul lbw b Woakes 23 hul), 3-82 (Pujara), 4-241 (Rahane), 5-279 C. Woakes c Pant b Pandya 8INDIA 2nd Innings Slovenia’s Matej Mohoric won the BinckBank Tour in the (Kohli), 6-307 (Pandya), 7-323 (Pant), 8-326 S. Dhawan st Bairstow b Rashid 44 biggest win of his career yesterday after Australia’s Michael C. Pujara c Rashid b Woakes 14 (Ashwin), 9-329 (Shami), 10-329 (Bumrah) A. Rashid c Pant b Pandya 5 Matthews claimed the sixth and final stage. KL Rahul b Stokes 36 V. Kohli c Stokes b Rashid 97 Bowling: Anderson 25.5-8-64-3; Broad S. Broad lbw b Pandya 0 Mohoric’s landmark World Tour stage triumph came at the A. Rahane c Cook b Broad 81 25-8-72-3; Stokes 15-1-54-0 (1w); Woakes J. Anderson not out 1C. Pujara not out 33 main expense of Matthews who took second in the overall standings. H. Pandya c Buttler b Anderson 18 20-2-75-3; Rashid 9-0-46-1 Extras (b4, lb1, nb2, w1) 8 V. Kohli not out 8 The Sunweb rider fended off Belgian’s Greg Van Avermaet Extras (lb3) 3 R. Pant b Broad 24 ENGLAND 1st Innings Total (all out, 38.2 overs, 204 mins) 161 (BMC) and Zdanek Stybar of the Czech Republic to land the R. Ashwin b Broad 14 A. Cook c Pant b Sharma 29 Fall of wickets: 1-54 (Cook), 2-54 (Jen- Total (2 wkts, 31 overs, 136 mins) 124 closing day’s honours in a bunch finish to the 209.5 kilometre ride. Mohoric began yesterday’s stage from Lacs de l’Eau I. Sharma not out 1K. Jennings c Pant b Bumrah 20 nings), 3-75 (Pope), 4-86 (Root), 5-108 Fall of wickets: 1-60 (Rahul), 2-111 (Dha- d’Heure to Grammont half a minute clear of Matthews. He had J. Root c Rahul b Pandya 16 (Stokes), 6-110 (Bairstow), 7-118 (Woakes), wan) M. Shami c Broad b Anderson 3 led approaching the final climb but his challenge faded, cross- 8-128 (Rashid), 9-128 (Broad), 10-161 (But- Bowling: Anderson 7-2-24-0; Broad 4-0-25- O. Pope c Pant b Sharma 10 ing 14sec behind Matthews who picked up bonus points to cut J. Bumrah b Anderson 0 tler) 0; Woakes 8-1-19-0; Stokes 7-1-30-1; Rashid the gap in the general classification to five seconds. Extras (b12, lb6, w1) 19 J. Bairstow c Rahul b Pandya 15 Bowling: Shami 10-2-56-1; Bumrah 12.2-2- 5-0-23-1. Gulf Times Monday, August 20, 2018 7 FOOTBALL

LA LIGA Boateng joining PSG ‘50-50’, says Bayern boss

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness says the chances of Jerome Boateng joining Paris Saint-Germain are “50-50” with the Germany defender also linked to Manchester United. “It’s 50-50. We’ll Messi, Coutinho star in be happy if he stays, he is a fantastic player,” Hoeness said. “A decision will be reached in the next few weeks,” Hoeness added with the transfer window in Germany and France closing on August 31. Boateng joined Bayern in 2011 and has won the 2013 Barca’s winning start Champions League and six Bundes- liga titles with the German giants. The 29-year-old centre-back has a market value of around 45mn euros and three Cazorla plays his first competitive game in two years following a nightmare time with injuries years left on his Bayern contract.

AFP Bailey extends contract Madrid with Leverkusen

wo goals from Lionel Mes- Jamaica wunderkind Leon Bailey has si either side of a Philippe extended his Bayer Leverkusen contract Coutinho strike allowed Bar- until 2023, it was announced, as the celona to start their defence of German club fought off reported inter- Tthe Spanish title with a 3-0 win over est from Chelea, Manchester United, Alaves at the Camp Nou on Saturday Liverpool and Roma. night. Wearing the captain’s armband Roma had reportedly made a bid of following the departure of Andres Ini- 40mn euros for Bailey, who counts ath- esta to Japan, Messi stepped up to send letics legend and compatriot Usain Bolt a cheeky second-half free-kick under as one of his friends. The fleet-footed the jumping wall and into the net for left winger, who has just turned 21, the opener, and Barca’s 6,000th La enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2017- Liga goal. 2018, netting some incredible shots in Coutinho, who had come off the his tally of nine goals and providing six bench, lashed in the second goal be- assists after some outrageous passes. fore Messi added gloss to the scoreline in stoppage time, with the clock hav- ing ticked past midnight in Catalonia. Hazard ‘won’t leave’ While they took their time to get go- Chelsea this month ing, it was an ideal opening result for Ernesto Valverde’s side, who are hop- Eden Hazard reassured Chelsea fans he ing to once again see off the challenges won’t leave the club this month, despite of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in continued interest from European the battle for the title. champions Real Madrid. The transfer While Cristiano Ronaldo has left window for Premier League clubs has Real for Juventus, Messi remains as the already closed, but remains open in a fi gurehead at Barcelona and he won his host of other European leagues until 33rd trophy with the club in the Span- August 31. Hazard’s Belgian team mate ish Super Cup victory over Sevilla last Thibaut Courtois forced a move from weekend. The 31-year-old will be aim- Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (left) Chelsea to Madrid earlier this month by ing to put behind him the desperate challenges Alaves’ Guillermo Maripan refusing to return for pre-season train- disappointment that was Argentina’s for the ball during the Spanish La Liga ing after helping his country finish third World Cup campaign, and he was un- on Saturday night. (AFP) at the World Cup. lucky not to get a hat-trick here. Hazard’s contract runs until 2020 with Messi saw a free-kick crash back off Chelsea hopeful he will renew to end the bar late in the fi rst half after going speculation over his future. “Leaving over the wall, so when he was handed this year? I will not leave,” he said. another chance from a similar position in the 64th minute, he changed tack. This time, 22 yards out, he surprised Filipe Luis is a player we the jumping Alaves defenders by going want to keep: Simeone underneath and giving Fernando Pa- checo in goal no chance. He then sent ensuring victory on the opening week- beating Real 4-2 after extra time in the tacking midfi elder suff ered a serious other winners so far on the opening Brazilian left back Filipe Luis, reportedly another curling eff ort off the post soon end for Barca for the 10th consecutive UEFA Super Cup in Tallinn in mid- infection in the tendon that almost weekend are Levante, who triumphed coveted by Paris Saint-Germain, is an after. Coutinho started the match on season. Messi, the top scorer in La Liga week, start at Valencia today. led to an amputation. But he fought 3-0 at Betis on Friday. “extremely important player” for Atleti- the bench alongside summer signings last season, then controlled a ball into Elsewhere on Saturday, former Ar- back and recently returned to Villar- SPANISH LA LIGA RESULTS co Madrid and “one we want to keep Arthur, Malcom, Clement Lenglet and the box on his chest before slotting senal midfi elder Santi Cazorla played real, seven years after his departure for a lot,” coach Diego Simeone said. “I al- Celta Vigo 1 (David Lopez 52-og) Espan- Arturo Vidal. However, he was sent on in his second and his team’s third in his fi rst competitive game in almost Malaga. Cazorla started in Villarreal’s ways want the best for the players who at the start of the second half and his stoppage time. two years following a nightmare time season-opener at home to Real Socie- yol 1 (Hermoso 45); Villarreal 1 (Gerard have given us everything, but now we goal seven minutes from the end eff ec- After the departures of Ronaldo with injuries. The 77-times capped dad, as his side took a fi rst-half lead 16) Real Sociedad 2 (Willian Jose 40, are focused only on the game against tively killed the game. and Zinedine Zidane, Real were play- Spanish international, who is now through Gerard Moreno. However, the Juanmi 71); Barcelona 3 (Messi 64, Valencia,” added Simeone ahead of The Brazilian had just squandered ing their fi rst league game under new 33, suff ered a serious Achilles injury visitors fought back to win 2-1 with 90+3, Coutinho 83) Alaves 0 Atletico’s opening league game. one chance after being played in by coach Julen Lopetegui late last night playing for Arsenal in the Champions goals from Willian Jose and Juanmi, Played Friday: Girona 0 Valladolid 0; Filipe Luis, 33, has received an off er Messi when he picked up a pass from against neighbours Getafe. Last sea- League in October 2016. giving the Basque club’s new coach Real Betis 0 Levante 3 (Roger 38, Mo- from PSG. He has one season left on his compatriot Arthur before lashing in, son’s runners-up Atletico, fresh from After eight operations, the little at- Asier Garitano the perfect start. The rales 54, 90+5) contract with Atletico. The Brazilian has been at Atletico since 2010, with a one- season spell at Chelsea in 2014-2015. FOCUS LIGUE 1 Bulgarian coach attacks KAS Eupen signs Poyet-less Bordeaux suff er derby loss referee, faces punishment Bulgarian coach Atanas Dzhambazki AFP Blanc. Poyet provoked his employers’ ire is facing a severe punishment after Iran’s Pouraliaganji Paris when lashing out at Laborde’s exit. attacking two of the match referees “This is my worst day at the club. at the end of his team Kariana Edren’s What the club have done with Gaetan 2-1 home loss to Strumska Slava in the on a two-year deal ordeaux were beaten 2-1 by Tou- Laborde is a disgrace,” an angry Poyet Balkan country’s second division. louse yesterday with the loss said on Thursday. “I told the club not to The Bulgarian Football Union will spire Zone Founda- failing to lift spirits at the club let him go as long as we haven’t signed discuss the incident early next week tion (AZF)-owned KAS after the suspension of coach someone else.” after watching video footage. Incensed Eupen, which plays in GustavoB Poyet. The Uruguayan’s future Poyet was only appointed by the Dzhambazki appeared to lose his the top fl ight Belgian at Bordeaux is in serious doubt after he south-western side in January and he temper and invaded the pitch after ALeague, has signed Iranian centre was served with a one week ban for an roused them to European qualifi cation the visitors scored the winning goal in back Morteza Pouraliaganji angry tirade at club bosses over the sale with six wins in their fi nal seven games the 90th minute after referee Ivaylo for two years. The 26-year-old of striker Gaetan Laborde to Ligue 1 ri- last season. However, the ex-Sunder- Nenkov awarded a free kick. Assistant was a starting member of Iran’s vals Montpellier. land, AEK Athens, Betis and Shanghai referee Georgi Velikov tried to defend national team at the 2018 FIFA Eric Bedouet, one of Poyet’s assist- Shenhua coach has regularly criticised Nenkov, standing in front of him only to World Cup Russia, and has a ants, took charge for yesterday’s derby the club for a lack of transfer activity be punched in the face twice. total of 30 caps playing for his but hopes of a pick-me-up on the pitch over the summer. country. His career to date has were dashed by Leya Iseka and Mathieu Toulouse’s Aaron Leya Iseka celebrates On Saturday, striker Radamel Falcao spanned 124 competitive games Dossevi, who scored for Toulouse in ei- after scoring during the French Ligue missed a penalty as a wasteful AS Mo- German FA boss admits playing in the fi rst division in ther half. Bedouet sprang to the defence match against Bordeaux. (AFP) naco were held to a goalless draw with Ozil needed more support Iran, China and, most recently of Poyet at the post-match press confer- LOSC Lille in their fi rst home league for Al Sadd in Qatar. ence, describing the former Chelsea and in the stands was the identity of any po- match of the season. PSG top the stand- The under-fire president of the German Pouraliaganji has also made Tottenham player as “a charming, com- tential successor to Poyet, should he be ings, followed by Dijon and Stade Reims, Football Association (DFB), admitted nine appearances at the Asian petent man...who loves the club”. sacked. Among the names being bandied who climbed to third after Friday’s 1-0 that he should have given Mesut Ozil Champions League 2017. Com- “It’s never ideal when a manager about were Thierry Henry, most recently win over Olympique Lyonnais. more support when the was menting on joining his new club, leaves like that,” he added in explana- assistant coach to Roberto Martinez and Lille are fourth and fi fth while a sec- the target of “racist attacks”. “I should Pouraliganji said: “In the course tion of the team’s showing in the derby with World Cup semi-fi nalists Belgium, ond consecutive defeat left Guingamp in have positioned myself more clearly of my career to date, I have been defeat. The main topic of conversation and former Bordeaux boss Laurent 17th position. given the racist attacks from some able to prove that I’m capable of corners and should have put myself in playing in diff erent countries and front of Mesut Ozil,” Reinhard Grindel at diff erent levels. Competing in said. “Such attacks are unacceptable. I Europe has always been a dream Chievo goalkeeper suff ers broken nose in collision with Ronaldo should have found clear words.” of mine. This is an important Arsenal midfielder Ozil, 29, announced step in my career and I would like Milan: Chievo’s veteran goalkeeper Ste- his shock retirement from international to thank Eupen for their belief in fano Sorrentino suff ered a broken nose, duty last month in the wake of Ger- me. I’m very much looking for- portant role in supporting the bruised shoulder and whiplash when many’s World Cup debacle. ward to joining my new club and development goals and aims of he collided with Cristiano Ronaldo to training and playing with the Aspire Academy. The club pro- during Saturday’s match against Eupen team.” vides valuable opportunities for Juventus, the Verona-based club said Milan’s Strinic diagnosed Executive Director of KAS Aspire Academy’s players to de- yesterday. The pair collided during a with heart condition Eupen, Christoph Henkel, re- velop their talent and gain solid Juventus attack late in the game which marked: “As a key player in the experience competing in Europe. ended with Mario Mandzukic heading Croatian international defender Ivan Iranian national team and for Shortly after Aspire Zone the ball into the net. The goal was ini- Strinic has been forced to take a break several clubs in the top division Foundation became the new tially awarded but then disallowed after from football after being diagnosed in Asia, Morteza Pouraliganji has owner of Eupen in June 2012, a VAR review showed that Ronaldo, with a heart condition, his new Serie proven his skills and has already it was quickly acknowledged making his Serie A debut following his A club AC Milan revealed on Saturday. gained considerable experience as a highly professional part- move from Real Madrid, had handled The 31-year-old — a key member of the at the young age of 26. We’re ner. Early on the organisation the ball as he and Sorrentino smashed Croatian team that reached the World very glad that he will be joining helped lay solid foundations for into each other. Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo (centre) collides with Chievo’s goalkeeper Stefano Cup final this summer — signed a three- us and confi dent that he’ll play a future success by modernising Sorrentino, 39, was briefly knocked Sorrentino during the Italian Serie A football match on Saturday. (AFP) year deal with Milan in July but has not key role shoring up our defence. the structure and organisation of out and there were chaotic scenes as he yet played for the club. In a statement We’re delighted to welcome our the club and bolstering the team was treated on the pitch while Juventus he was released from hospital yesterday greatness, while CR7 got me with a the club said that during a routine new player to K.A.S. Eupen.” by recruiting a raft of new play- players celebrated the initial awarding “Thank you for all your messages of bulls-eye.” check-up it was discovered that the Eupen is a Belgian professional ers, including a number who had of the goal. Sorrentino, who had defied aff ection and respect,” Sorrentino said The score was 2-2 when the incident player was suff ering from a heart prob- football club that currently plays previously been part of the foot- Ronaldo a goal with several good saves, on Twitter. “We are a fantastic squad happened but Juventus scored in their lem and would need to take a break. in the ‘Jupiler Pro League’ (1st ball programme at Aspire Acad- was still able to see the funny side after and yesterday we had a brush with next attack to win 3-2. Strinic, who has 41 caps, played six of Division). It also plays an im- emy in Doha. Croatia’s seven World Cup games.

Monday, August 20, 2018 GULF TIMES FOOTBALL

QNB STARS LEAGUE Al-Haydous’ penalty helps Sadd draw against Gharafa

By Sports Reporter Doha

l Sadd secured a last-gasp draw with Al Gharafa, but dropped points for the fi rst time in this season’s QNB Stars League yesterday. Vladimir Weiss scored for Al Gharafa in the 50thA minute, while Hassan al-Haydous helped Al Sadd draw parity by scoring from the penalty spot in almost the last second of fi ve-minute stoppage time. In another marquee clash, Al Duhail and Al Rayyan played out a goalless draw. Defending champions Du- hail were eager to dominate Al Rayyan, particularly after their loss in the Sheikh Jassim Cup, but failed to fi nd the net. Duhail are gearing up for their AFC Champions League home quarter-fi nal against Iran’s Persepolis on 28th August. It was Rayyan’s second successive draw, after The Lions were held by Umm Salal in Week 2. Al Sadd were more on the off ensive right through- out the opening half of their Week 3 match at the Al Sadd Stadium. Tournament top-scorer and spearhead Baghdad Bounedjah got a few chances, but failed to convert them, including a penalty in the 29th minute. Defending champions The penalty was awarded when defender Pedro Al Duhail and Al Rayyan was fouled while chasing the ball that was a rebound played out a goalless draw. off Al Gharafa goalkeeper Yusuf Hassan who blocked Bounedjah’s volley. Boualem Khoukhi had a header blocked by Yusuf off a Xavi Hernandez corner, while Akram Afi f was also off -target. to be making up for his long injury layoff last season. Al Sadd fi nally got lucky at the stroke of fi nal whis- Al Gharafa mostly resorted to counter-attacks, Soon, Abdelkarim Hassan skied the ball and tle as al-Haydous converted from the spot after a pen- with , Weiss and Mehdi Taremi on the Bounedjah was again off target. The Algerian striker alty was awarded for a foul on Akram by Al Gharafa’s move. The Cheetahs’ best chance came towards the came close to scoring at least half-a-dozen times. Othman al-Yahri. Defender Ibrahim Majed pulled out end of the session even though Amado’s scorching When it was not the Al Gharafa goalkeeper, bad luck injured to add to The Wolves’ disappointment. Sadd shot went wide by inches. Even as Al Sadd continued stood in his way. dominated with 57 per cent possession and forced 11 to launch off ensives, it was Al Gharafa who surged Amid Al Sadd’s intense raids came another chance corner kicks as against Gharafa’s two. Sadd, who had Al Sadd’s Hassan al-Haydous (right) celebrates with captain Xavi after scoring a ahead against the run of play, with Weiss on target fi ve for Al Gharafa to score, but Amro Seraj’s pass was too registered big-margin wins in their fi rst two games, penalty against Al Gharafa in QNB Stars League yesterday. minutes after restart. The Slovakian midfi elder seems fast for Taremi to connect in front of an open goal. took their points to seven and Al Gharafa four.

PREMIER LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT We did not disrespect United beaten as Mourinho, insists Guardiola AFP was not our intention, just to fi lm out a doubt. What can you say?” Manchester what happened last season. Aguero opened the scoring “But I think we are a club that is after 25 minutes, with a brilliant trying to grow, trying to win titles lob over goalkeeper Ben Hamer ep Guardiola saw his and we did it for ourselves, for the following a long pass from City’s Brighton add to rampant Manchester fans, to see what happened in our own keeper Ederson, and added City beat Huddersfi eld locker room. It’s his opinion, it’s the third when Hamer failed to 6-1 before denying ac- Jose’s opinion. Another guy is go- hold a Benjamin Mendy cross. cusationsP that his club had dis- ing to say ‘we like it’ another guy Gabriel Jesus claimed the sec- respected Jose Mourinho in a re- will say ‘no’. But I agree with him, ond after neat inter-play with cent documentary. class you cannot buy.” Mendy, although Jon Gorenc The eight-part series, entitled On the fi eld, there was noth- Stankovic pulled a goal back for Mourinho’s woes All or Nothing, was released by ing to trouble the City manager, the visitors from a long throw- streaming service Amazon last whose team enjoyed a three-goal in just before half-time. In the week and has angered Manches- performance from 30-year-old second half, Aguero claimed his Aguero scores hat-trick as free-scoring Man City rout Huddersfield ter United manager Mourinho. striker Sergio Aguero, who has hat-trick on 75 minutes from an- Accusing City of disrespect, now scored nine Premier League other Mendy cross and Terence Mourinho took a swipe at the hat-tricks for the club. Aguero, Kongolo’s own goal completed Premier League champions, who underwent knee surgery in the scoring. claiming “you cannot buy class”, March, might have scored even But the highlight of the game for the way it features him and more, missing two clear chances was David Silva’s superb 48th United in the programme. But, and striking a post in the sec- minute free-kick, scored in front after City swept aside Hudders- ond half. “Three goals a game is of his son Mateo who was born fi eld at Eastlands, Guardiola ad- okay!” said Guardiola. “I am not prematurely eight months ago, dressed the claims and insisted going to demand he’s more clini- requiring the Spanish star to re- his club had not intended to cal. Since he came back I saw him turn frequently to Valencia last insult their neighbours. “That from the fi rst second, from the season to be with his family. is true, you cannot buy class. I fi rst minute, wow. He came back “Of course, he was so moti- agree with Jose,” Guardiola said. perfect. I think, the surgery from vated because his family, parents, “I think we lived an amazing the doctor helped a lot. He feels wife, and especially Mateo were season last season, there were free now, he suff ered the last here,” said Guardiola. “He scored cameras. We did it for ourselves. years with some problems. When an amazing goal for him. His son I don’t agree with Jose in terms of this happens he is one of the best, will never forget the fi rst time he being disrespectful to them. This best, strikers in the world with- saw his father play football.”

Brighton’s Shane Duff y (left) celebrates after scoring against Manchester United. (Reuters)

Reuters of those mistakes, and the fact that they such were the array of City attacking op- Brighton were punished by goals, gave confi dence to tions that Huddersfi eld were simply pulled Brighton and took it away from us.” apart. After the visitors rode their luck for 25 Brighton’s Murray said their 3-1 home minutes, City keeper Ederson found Aguero anchester United’s troubled win over United last season gave them con- with a perfect through ball and the Argen- start to the season took another fi dence that could spring another surprise. tine kept his cool to fi nish cleverly. Jesus unexpected twist as they lost “It was all about the balls being played in to was next on the scoresheet after exchanging limply 3-2 at Brighton & Hove me, I got quality support,” said the striker. passes with Benjamin Mendy and fi ring past Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero (right) scores against Huddersfield Town yesterday. (Reuters) MAlbion yesterday with manager Jose Mour- Mourinho had started with Anthony Mar- Ben Hamer, who then fumbled a cross to gift inho admitting they were punished for mak- tial but the winger, who is reported to be un- Aguero his second and City’s third in a blis- ing too many mistakes. settled at the club, made little impact even tering 10-minute spell before halftime. SERIE A Woeful defending led to two Brighton when Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford Although Jon Stankovic pulled a goal back goals in two fi rst-half minutes as 34-year- were brought on at halftime in an attempt to before the interval, there was no respite as old Glenn Murray and Shane Duff y out- give United more of a threat up front. Silva produced a perfect free kick to cap an smarted United’s $149.21mn back four to Earlier, Sergio Aguero netted his 13th hat- impressive display in front of his watch- Dzeko’s stunner gives Roma win demonstrate why manager Jose Mourinho trick for Manchester City as the champions ing wife and child. Aguero fl icked home had sought to upgrade it. Eric Bailly was made light of the absence of the injured his third on 75 minutes and Kongolo put Reuters The game appeared to be half and the Bosnian again struck particularly exposed and, having conceded Kevin De Bruyne to thrash Huddersfi eld through his own net late on — the ninth goal Milan heading for a draw until substi- the woodwork from a free kick in a needless corner that led to Duff y’s fi rst Town 6-1 and move joint top of the Premier Huddersfi eld have conceded in two games. tute Kluivert, the son of former the second half. Torino midfi eld- Premier League goal, he blundered in to foul League. The prolifi c Argentine scored on 25, Watford made it two wins out of two and Barcelona and Netherlands for- er Tomas Rincon also struck the Pascal Gross, who put away the penalty via 35 and 75 minutes, also hitting the post in ended their run of poor away form in im- S Roma striker Edin ward , collected woodwork in the fi rst half with a David de Gea’s leg on the stroke of halftime. a devastating display to which the visitors, pressive fashion as early second half strikes Dzeko scored with a the ball in midfi eld, slipped past dipping shot and Iago Falque had Although Romelu Lukaku had earlier re- who last season were the only side to stop from captain Troy Deeney and Will Hughes memorable volleyed two Torino defenders and forced a goal disallowed for off side fol- duced the defi cit with a trademark header, City scoring in the league at home, had no gave them a 3-1 win at Burnley. goal following a mazy his way to the byline. lowing a VAR review three min- United looked ill-equipped to mount a answer. Gabriel Jesus also netted, along with runA by debutant Justin Kluivert The 19-year-old crossed deep utes after the break. comeback and were often second best to the David Silva on his 250th league appearance ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS: to give his side a 1-0 win at Tori- into the area where Dzeko met Midfi elder Javier Pastore and ball. Paul Pogba’s injury-time penalty, after for City, with the rout completed by a Ter- no in their opening Serie A game the ball with the inside of his left goalkeeper Robin Olsen also Marouane Fellaini was brought down, made ence Kongolo own goal late on after excel- Brighton 3 (Murray 25, Duff y 27, Gross 44- yesterday. Dzeko’s remarkable foot and sent a deft volley into made their debuts for Roma, the scoreline closer than the match itself lent work from substitute Leroy Sane. pen) Manchester United 2 (Lukaku 34, Pogba goal in the 89th minute rewarded the far corner of the net from who were Champions League with Mourinho admitting that his side de- “I am happy,” said Aguero, who was about 90-pen); Burnley 1 (Tarkowski 6) Watford 3 Roma for their persistence af- a seemingly impossible angle. semi-fi nalists last year. Torino served to lose. to be replaced when he scored his third. “I (Gray 3, Deeney 48, Hughes 51); Manchester ter they hit the woodwork three Kluivert was signed from Ajax coach Walter Mazzarri was sent “We made big mistakes and were pun- was a little bit tired. I try two or three times City 6 (Aguero 25, 35, 75, Jesus 31, D.Silva 48, times although the battling hosts during the close season. off for protesting about what he ished,” said Mourinho, although he refused to get the third goal.” For once, Pep Guardiola Kongolo 84-og) Huddersfield 1 (Stankovic 43) also struck the post and had a Aleksandar Kolarov and Dzeko thought should have been a pen- to criticise individuals. “The accumulation chose to pair Aguero with Jesus up front and Playing Monday: Crystal Palace v Liverpool goal disallowed. both hit the post during the fi rst alty for his side.