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CRICKET Saturday, November 25, 2017 Rabia I 7, 1439 AH Smith stands tall to keep fi rst Ashes GULF TIMES Test in balance SPORT Page 2 QNB STARS LEAGUE Al Duhail beat Sadd to make a

Action from the Qatar-Kazakhstan match in Doha yesterday. Kazakhstan won strong statement 82-70. BASKETBALL/ WORLD CUP QUALIFYING Djamel Belmadi’s boys move four points clear with 4-2 victory

Results Kazakhs, Iraq Al Sadd 2 (Baghdad Bounedjah 12, Hassan Ahmed 80) Al Duhail 4 (Almoez Ali 6, Yousef El Arabi 20, Bassam al-Rawi 72, Nam Tae-hee 89) Al Markhiya 1 (Abdulqadir Ilyas 77) in upset wins Al Arabi 1 (Ahmed Saleh 50) By Sports Reporter 62-53 lead with the fi nal 10 minutes Al Khor 1 (Sourosh Rafiei 84) Al Doha remaining during which the visitors Sailiya 0 further consolidated to clinch a famous win. atar’s bid to qualify for the In another match in Group D, Iraq By Sports Reporter FIBA World Cup in 2019 got upset favourites Iran 74-66. Iran were Doha off to a disappointing start the runners-up at the Asian Cup in Qwhen they fell to an up- Beirut in August. set 82-70 loss to Kazakhstan in their Meanwhile, Jayson Castro hit some l Duhail made a strong state- opening Group D qualifi er in Doha yes- big shots in the endgame as the Philip- ment of intent in the QNB terday. pines thwarted Japan, 77-71, in Group Stars League with an enter- Kazakhstan were the least favoured B.Castro scored 5 points in quick suc- Ataining 4-2 victory over Al team in the group, which also includes cession in the latter stages of the fourth Sadd that established them as fi rm fa- Iran and Iraq, but they surprised the quarter as Gilas Pilipinas dowsed water vourites for their sixth title and the fi rst hosts with a scintillating third quarter on Japan’s last ditch rally. The man under their new name following their performance for a vital win that would called “The Blur” back in Manila fi n- merger with El Jaish. stand them in good stead in the long ished with 20 points, 7 rebounds and The win took Djamel Belmadi’s un- road to China 2019. 6 assists for the Philippines. Andray beaten side to 25 points, four ahead of Anton Ponomarev was the star for Blatche did his part, fi nishing with 13 Al Rayyan who occupy second spot Kazakhstan with 23 points, while Ab- points, 12 boards and 3 blocks. thanks to their superior goal diff erence dulrahman Saad excelled for Qatar Japan stayed within striking distance over Al Sadd. with 20. for the entire game, even leading at one “This was a very crucial win for us, The teams were evenly poised after point in the third period, but the Fili- one which we wanted the most,” Al Du- the fi rst quarter with 20 points each pinos played well enough to stave off hail coach Djamel Belmadi, who was a although Qatar were marginally better the home team’s challenge. Makoto picture of nervous energy during the in the second period, which they edged Hiejima shone for Japan with 20 points match, said. 26-23. and 5 assists. “A coach longs for such wins and the But the match turned on its head in Philippines return home to host boys delivered what the team wanted,” the third quarter when the Kazakhs Chinese Taipei on 27 November at the he added. racked up 19 points while limiting the Smart Araneta Coliseum, while Japan Moez Ali (sixth minute), Youssef El Qataris to just seven. fl y out to Adelaide to face Australia at Arabi (20th), Bassam al-Rawi (72nd) That gave the Kazakhs a crucial the Titanium Arena. and Nam Tae-Hee (89th) scored for the winners, while Baghdad Bounedjah (12th) and substitute Hassan Ahmed SPOTLIGHT (80th) were on target for Al Sadd. El Arabi continued to top the scoring chart with 15 goals. Al Duhail’s Youssef Msakni played the captain’s role to per- Russia deprived of fection only to be unlucky not to have scored despite testing Al Sadd goal- keeper Saad al-Sheeb time and again, two more Sochi especially in the second half. Al Duhail straightaway went into at- Duhail’s Nam Tae-hee (R) and Ismail Mohamed cel- tacking mode and were rewarded when ebrate the former’s goal against Al Sadd yesterday. golds for doping Moez pounced on a miss-pass by Ali Asad and struck past al-Sheeb in the sixth minute. The lead was, however, sported a disappointed look. ing a cross by Salem Al Ali. The Uzbek when his free-kick from just outside AFP (speed skating). All the guilty athletes short-lived as Baghdad Bounedjah Hassan, who replaced Ali Asad in forward amateurishly misjudged the the area swung agonisingly wide. Lausanne have also received a life ban from Ol- tapped home a Hassan al-Haydous the 71st minute, reduced the margin by fl ight of the ball and went underneath Not long after, there was a moment ympics. The next Winter Games will cross from the right and restored parity, slamming home a rebound after Kha- the shot for the defl ection that did not of controversy as Abdulqadir latched be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, the Algerian yet again proving his skills lifa blocked Hamroun’s shot. However, take place. onto a defence-splitting pass. How- he International Olympic in February. as a poacher. Nam sealed the issue by taking advan- Eleven minutes into the second half, ever, his right-footed eff ort into the Committee has annulled the A rush of rulings this week means Al Sadd seemed to have the upper tage of a disorganised Al Sadd defence Helal Mohammed of Al Khor charged far corner was ruled out as he was ad- two titles Russia won in the that, in total, the IOC have punished hand as the equaliser spurred them on. with one minute of regulation play and into the rival box, but his shot from judged to have been off side. Tbobsleigh in the 2014 Sochi 14 Russian Olympians on the recom- However, Al Duhail’s second goal came four minutes’ stoppage time remaining. close was blocked by goalkeeper Ab- The sides had gone level at the break, Winter Olympics yesterday following mendation of a commission headed out of the blue, off a counter-attack. Earlier, Al Khor rode on a late strike darrahman Aziz. but it was Al Arabi, who grabbed the hearings by its commission into state- by Swiss sports offi cial Denis Oswald Msakni, instead of taking the shot after by defender Soroush Hossein to edge Al Khor’s Reza Najafi failed to con- initiative early in the second half. Kha- sponsored doping. set up to investigate evidence of state- being put through in front of the goal, past a resolute Al Sailiya. nect an indirect free-kick from outside lfan Ibrahim found himself clear on the Alexander Zubkov, a hero in Russia sponsored doping. cut the ball to the right for El Arabi, Hossein struck the only goal in the the Al Sailiya box in the 78th minute byline and his pull-back into the area after winning both the two-man and On Wednesday, four skeleton com- who squeezed the ball under the diving 84th minute. It was Al Khor’s third win and the game headed for a draw. was met by Ahmed Khalfan to sweep four-man bob in the Russian Black petitors were punished. They in- al-Sheeb. of the season and their second in a row. It was then that Hossein, following a home from 10 yards. The Dream Team Sea resort, was disqualifi ed and his re- cluded Alexander Tretiakov, the Sochi Nam, Luis Martin and Ismail Mo- For Al Sailiya, it was their fi rst loss in short cross, fi red home as Al Khor cel- did have a chance to double their lead in sults struck off . The IOC also deprived men’s champion, and Elena Nikitina, a hamed played the supporting roles for the last four matches. ebrated the late strike in style. the 66th minute, but Yusef’s shot was speed skater Olga Fatkulina of her sil- bronze medallist, as well as Maria Or- Al Duhail, while Xavi Hernandez and Al Sailiya managed to earn a couple In another match a late equaliser saved by the onrushing keeper. ver medal in the 500 metres. lova and Olga Potylitsyna, who did not Jugurtha Hamroun pulled the strings of corners in the fi rst 10 minutes, but from Abdulqadir secured a deserved While Al Markhiya had always looked The decisions mean the Russians make the podium. for Al Sadd in the midfi eld. hosts Al Khor, despite facing repeated point for Al Markhiya against Al Arabi. like the most threatening side, it took a have lost nine medals, including four Yesterday, the International Bob- A spate of fouls followed as the ac- attacks, held fi rm to keep the visitors in Al Arabi’s goal had come against the moment of magic to unlock the opposi- of their 13 golds, from the Games they sleigh and Skeleton Federation an- tion hotted up and the teams had an check. run of play at the start of the second tion backline. A long ball from midfi eld hosted in February 2014. nounced that it had provisionally almost equal share of ball possession In the fi rst 20 minutes, Al Sailiya im- half, but it was a sublime fi nish from was played over the top to Abdulqadir Russia fi nished top of the medals suspended Tretiakov, Nikitina, Orlova after an hour’s play. pressed with 62 per cent of ball posses- Abdulqadir that rescued the point for who plucked it out of the air with his table but the latest disqualifi cations and Potylitsyna from its World Cup. Even as Al Sadd vigorously pursued a sion as the hosts remained under con- The Oryxes. The fi rst half was a fairly chest before volleying fi rst time into mean they have slipped behind Nor- It has not yet made an announcement second equaliser, the rivals made it 3-1, stant threat from the visitors. tepid aff air, with the play largely being the far corner of the net with incredible way (which won 11 golds) and Canada on Zubkov. In contrast, FIS, the world with Bassam coming up with a long- In the 34th minute, unmarked dominated by Al Markhiya who enjoyed composure. (10 golds). Two other Russian com- governing body of skiing, has not tak- range stunner. The goal put a smile on Temurkhuja Abdukholiqov missed the several half-chances, most notably Both teams pressed forward after petitors at Sochi were disqualifi ed ret- en the same steps against six Russian the face Belmadi even as his opposite easiest of headers from just a few feet from set pieces. The best chance came that, but were unable to fi nd a late win- rospectively yesterday: Olga Stulneva cross country skiers, including Alex- number Jesualdo Ferreira from Portugal away from the Al Khor goal follow- through Alain Traore in the 21st minute ner and the game ended 1-1. (bobsleigh) and Alexander Rumyantsev ander Legkov, a Sochi gold medallist. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, November 25, 2017 CRICKET

REPORT SPOTLIGHT Smith stands tall Lanka bowled out for 205 as to keep fi rst Ashes Ashwin and Sharma strike AFP SCORECARD Nagpur, India Test in balance Sri Lanka 1st innings S. Samarawickrama c Pujara b avichandran Ashwin and Is- Sharma ...... 13 Smith’s chief ally was Shaun Marsh, a controversial choice who now hant Sharma led a powerful D. Karunaratne lbw b Sharma ...... 51 bowling display by India to L. Thirimanne b Ashwin ...... 9 seems a good one. It has been an unusually good game for selectors skittle out Sri Lanka for 205 on A. Mathews lbw b Jadeja ...... 10 theR opening day of the second Test. D. Chandimal lbw b Ashwin ...... 57 The hosts were 11 for one at the N. Dickwella c Sharma b Jadeja ...... 24 close, trailing by 194 runs, after opener D. Shanaka b Ashwin ...... 2 Lokesh Rahul fell for seven, bowled by D. Perera lbw b Jadeja ...... 15 Sri Lankan paceman Lahiru Gamage. R. Herath c Rahane b Ashwin ...... 4 Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara, S. Lakmal c Saha b Sharma ...... 17 both on two, were batting at the close L. Gamage not out ...... 0 in Nagpur. The day belonged to India’s Extras (lb2, nb1) ...... 3 bowlers however. Ashwin took four Total (all out, 79.1) ...... 205 wickets and fellow spinner Ravindra Fall of wickets: 1-20 (Samarawick- Jadeja and Sharma three each. rama), 2-44 (Thirimanne), 3-60 (Math- “I think me and Ashwin were trying ews), 4-122 (Karunaratne), 5-160 (Dick- to bowl in good areas. Trying to restrict wella), 6-165 (Shanaka), 7-184 (Perera), them by not giving easy boundaries,” 8-184 (Chandimal), 9-205 (Lakmal), 10- Jadeja, who took 3-56, told reporters. 205 (Herath) “We were just providing a supporting Bowling: Sharma 14-3-37-3, Yadav role to the fast bowlers who bowled well 16-4-43-0, Ashwin 28.1-7-67-4, Jadeja in the fi rst session.” 21-4-56-3 (nb1) Skipper Dinesh Chandimal top- India 1st innings scored for Sri Lanka with 57 while L. Rahul b Gamage ...... 7 opener Dimuth Karunaratne made 51 M. Vijay not out ...... 2 on a green pitch that helped India’s fast C. Pujara not out ...... 2 bowlers. Extras 0 Sharma, who got Karunaratne after Total (1 wicket, 8 overs) ...... 11 lunch, made the most of the favourable Fall of wicket: 1-7 (Rahul) conditions to claim his three wickets for Still to bat: V. Kohli, R. Sharma, A. just 37 runs. Rahane, R. Ashwin, W. Saha, R. Jadeja, The spinners then took centre stage U. Yadav, I. Sharma once the sun came out. Ashwin trapped Bowling: Lakmal 4-1-7-0, Gamage Chandimal lbw to put the visitors in 4-2-4-1 trouble. Toss: Sri Lanka Chandimal, who hit a six in his 122- Umpires: Richard Kettleborough ball knock, was given not out by the (ENG), Joel Wilson (WIS) on-fi eld umpire but skipper Virat Kohli called for a review which went in India’s Australia’s Steve Smith celebrates reaching favour. and 21, passed 1,000 Test runs for the his half century on the second day of the first “Ashwin is an intelligent bowler with year, with South Africa’s Dean Elgar the Ashes Test in Brisbane yesterday. some subtle variations. He is going to only other opener to achieve the feat in be a handful on any wicket he is going to 2017. play,” Sri Lanka coach Nic Pothas said. The batting duo were solid in defence Chandimal and Karunaratne, who reg- before Ashwin bowled Thirimanne af- istered his 14th Test fi fty, put on a crucial ter his 58-ball nine. 62-run stand for the fourth wicket before “I think India bowled very well. I the Indian bowlers struck back. don’t think that there were many free Wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella balls going around that we missed out By Vic Marks few alarms. Then England slumped also tried to resist before falling to Jade- on,” Pothas said. The Guardian from 246 for four to 250 for seven in ja’s left-arm spin. “Certainly a disappointing day, there GABBA SCORECARD the space of 17 deliveries. Sri Lanka lost Sadeera Samaraw- are no demons in the wicket and we During that early period of tran- ickrama early after the opener edged probably haven’t batted as we should n an unusually sluggish quillity any problems stemmed from a seaming delivery from Sharma to have. This wicket has done nothing. Gabba pitch on which the Nathan Lyon, who was still fi nd- Cheteshwar Pujara at fi rst slip for 13. “Ashwin and Jadeja bowled straight spinners have often seemed ing substantial turn that had the ball Left-handers Karunaratne and La- balls and at this stage you can’t be get- the most threatening of the beating the outside edge of both left- hiru Thirimanne then tried to resist a ting out on straight balls,” he said. bowlers,O England’s much maligned handers. The off -spinner, an increas- persistent Indian attack during a 24- The two teams are fi ghting to get tourists – the unnamed ones destined ingly combative and opinionated Test run second wicket stand that lasted 121 ahead in the three-Test series after the to being whitewashed, according to cricketer, now propels the ball at quite balls. opening game ended in a draw at Kolka- some Queenslanders – were still in the a pace, sometimes reaching 60mph. Karunaratne, who got reprieves on 17 ta’s Eden Gardens. match after two days of old-fashioned His control of length in this innings cricket, which has been fascinating, was impeccable partly because he was despite the sluggish progress of the seldom challenged by the England batsmen. batsmen. At the close yesterday Australia His line against the left-handers were 165 for four in response to Eng- could have been better; the modern land’s 302 and their innings had been way against them is to ensure the stitched together by Steve Smith, now ball pitches in line with the stumps, the lord of this manor rather than whereupon the front-foot lbw is a the court jester. Smith, 64 not out at constant threat. Instead Lyon, to his the close, allowed himself no fl ights England first innings (overnight Hazlewood 22.4-6-57-1, Cummins 30- increasing exasperation, kept beating of fancy; Australia were in too much 196-4) 8-85-3, Lyon 36-12-78-2 them outside the off -stump. trouble for that. His chief ally, to the A. Cook c Handscomb b Starc ...... 2 A Mitchell Starc bouncer accounted relief of the home selectors, was Shaun M. Stoneman b Cummins ...... 53 Australia first innings for Malan but not before he had reg- Marsh, a controversial choice who J. Vince run out (Lyon) ...... 83 D. Warner c Malan b Ball ...... 26 istered his third and most important now seems a good one. It has been an J. Root lbw b Cummins ...... 15 C. Bancroft c Bairstow b Broad ...... 5 Test 50. He was caught on the square unusually good game for selectors. D. Malan c Marsh b Starc ...... 56 U. Khawaja lbw b Ali ...... 11 leg boundary from a top-edged hook. England, adopting the template M. Ali lbw b Lyon ...... 38 S. Smith not out ...... 64 His 56 took 130 balls, 11 of which he that was so successful on the 2010-11 J. Bairstow c Paine b Cummins ...... 9 P. Handscomb lbw b Anderson ...... 14 hit for four, a statistic of some signifi - tour, ensured run scoring was almost C. Woakes b Lyon ...... 0 S. Marsh not out ...... 44 cance. This was an admirable, gutsy as arduous for Australia as it was for S. Broad c Handscomb b Hazlewood Extras (nb1) ...... 1 innings – even if the end was ugly the themselves. Only in the last hour ...... 20 Total (4 wickets; 62 overs) ...... 165 – but it is clear Malan would be even did Smith score with freedom. Before J. Ball c Warner b Starc...... 14 Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Bancroft), 2-30 more eff ective if he could fi nd a way that he put his head down and grafted. J. Anderson not out ...... 5 (Khawaja), 3-59 (Warner), 4-76 (Hands- to manipulate some singles along the Australia’s situation demanded noth- Extras (b5, w1, nb1) ...... 7 comb) way. Perhaps that is being greedy at India’s Ravichandran Ashwin (L) and captain Virat Kohli appeal for a wicket ing less. At one point they sunk to 76 Total (all out; 116.4 overs) ...... 302 Bowling: Anderson 15-4-26-1, Broad such an early stage in his Test career. during the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Vidarbha Cricket for four, whereupon Smith was grate- Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Cook), 2-127 10-5-18-1, Ali 19-6-50-1, Woakes 8-1-31-0, The simple, encouraging fact was that Association Stadium in Nagpur yesterday. ful for the appearance of the patient, (Stoneman), 3-145 (Vince), 4-163 Ball 8-1-35-1 (1nb), Root 2-0-5-0 his score meant this was the fi rst time technically sound Marsh of stout West (Root, 5-246 (Malan), 6-249 (Ali), 7-250 Toss: England three Ashes newcomers had passed Australian pedigree. (Woakes), 8-270 (Bairstow), 9-286 Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK), Marais the half-century mark in the same The other West Aussie, Cameron (Ball), 10-302 (Broad) Erasmus (RSA) Test. ‘I thought you were smarter’ — outspoken Lyon taunts media Bancroft, had not lasted long on his Bowling: Starc 28-4-77-3 (1nb 1w), TV umpire: Chris Gaff aney (NZL) Now Lyon struck. First Moeen, debut. In Stuart Broad’s second over sensing the need to consolidate, was Brisbane: Nathan Lyon taunted Lyon told reporters ahead of the first he prodded aimlessly outside the off - lbw pushing forward. Then Woakes, media by saying “I thought you were Test that many in the England squad stump and was caught behind. With driving waywardly, was bowled smarter than that” as he insisted his remain shaken after their 5-0 defeat two left-handers at the crease Joe Root the curious technique and impressive through the gate. Suddenly 300 was controversial comments about ending in Australia four years ago, and that summoned up Moeen Ali for the ninth Test record, was lbw to Jimmy An- a distant dream especially after Jonny English careers during the Ashes were Australia hoped to “end careers” in the over of the innings and that decision derson. His feet planted wide apart Bairstow was caught from a top edge just a smokescreen. current series. was soon justifi ed when Usman Kha- with the right one just a few inches in as he tried to pull a not-so-short de- Lyon found himself in the firing line Lyon, 30, was one of Australia’s stars waja was lbw on the front foot. front of his stumps. He missed a full, livery from Pat Cummins, who has over his remarks before the first Test, as the hosts fought back to dismiss the So Australia’s two batting trump straight delivery. Now the situation impressed in his fi rst home Test. but he said he was being deliberately tourists for 302. They trail by 137 runs cards were together and for 40 min- was serious but Marsh dug in along- From here Australia satisfi ed the provocative to take the heat off Aus- with six wickets in hand after day two utes they looked untroubled. Eng- side his captain. Anderson and Broad call of Thursday’s front-page headline tralia’s left-field selections. in Brisbane. land opted to keep David Warner’s were cagey and frugal, Ball and Chris of “Bodyline” in the local paper. Eng- Australia’s all-time leading off -spinner After a spectacular run-out on day boundary count down by employing Woakes less so. Moeen was given land’s tail was bounced incessantly said he had no regrets about the com- one, Lyon claimed two wickets off 36 sweepers square of the wicket but “the much responsibility but as the ball though there are no reports of Root ments, when asked yesterday if he overs as the Australians captured the Reverend” appeared to recognise the softened it was less inclined to turn. starting any sentences with “there are would say the same thing again. last six English wickets for 56 on Fri- virtue of patience. Then Jake Ball was The wicket was sleeping. Serenity had two teams out there; one is playing “I took a lot of pressure off Tim Paine day. Lyon, dubbed the GOAT (Greatest introduced and Warner played that returned. cricket”, outside Australia’s dressing and Cameron Bancroft, I thought you Of All Time) by team-mates and media, short-arm jab of a pull which caused For there had been some serenity room. guys (media) were a little bit smarter has now taken 271 wickets in 70 Tests, his downfall in England during 2015 for English batsmen at the start of the In fact, given his recent travails than that but it is what it is,” Lyon the most wickets by an Australian on several occasions. The ball went second day before another vivid re- against the short ball, Broad resisted laughed. off -spinner. straight to Dawid Malan at midwicket minder that nothing can be taken for nobly while making 20 though he was “I am not going to stand back from “I feel like I am bowling very well, so and the catch was held, albeit after an granted. In the morning Malan and assisted by a dropped catch by Marsh what I said and I am confident in my I am excited at where it’s going,” he alarming little juggle. Australia’s Nathan Lyon claims Moeen added another 50 runs against on the boundary. By the close the West own bowling.” said. After tea Peter Handscomb, with Moeen Ali’s wicket. the second new ball with remarkably Australian had made amends. Gulf Times Saturday, November 25, 2017 3 FOOTBALL

PREMIER LEAGUE Messi maturing with age as he picks up Chelsea ‘old boy’ fourth Golden Shoe Barcelona: Lionel Messi and added things to my game insisted he was getting better and I enjoy myself more and with age after receiving the Eu- more every day as a player.” ropean Golden Shoe award for Messi won the trophy ahead the fourth time yesterday. The of Bas Dost, who scored 34 Salah concerns Conte 30-year-old Argentine won the goals for Sporting Lisbon last prize for being the top scorer season, and Pierre-Emerick in Europe’s leading leagues last Aubameyang, on target 31 Egyptian has made a big splash since returning to the Premier League from Serie A season after netting 37 times times for Borussia Dortmund. for Barcelona. Previously the winner in 2010, AFP Baku. Conte has complained re- “I have always said that I 2012 and 2013, Messi equals London peatedly about the scheduling of don’t consider myself to be a Cristiano Ronaldo in claim- this weekend’s fi xture given Chel- striker, but I have been lucky ing a fourth Golden Shoe. The sea have had a shorter recovery enough to always score goals Real Madrid superstar was the helsea manager Antonio period than Liverpool, who drew and win individual prizes,” the winner in 2008, 2011, 2014 and Conte is wary of former 3-3 away to Spanish side Sevilla in five-time Ballon d’Or win- 2015. Messi succeeds his Barce- Blues forward Mohamed the Champions League on Tuesday ner said after being handed lona teammate Luis Suarez, the Salah as he insisted a heavy after squandering a 3-0 half-time the trophy at a ceremony in 2016 winner who handed over Ctravel schedule could be no excuse lead. Barcelona. the trophy yesterday. Messi is for a sub-standard performance Chelsea’s journey was further “As I have progressed off the on top of the scorers’ charts in against Liverpool at Anfi eld today. complicated when strong winds at field, I think I have also done so La Liga again this season, with The Egyptian has made a big splash Gatwick Airport, south of London, on the pitch. I have improved 12 goals in 12 games. since returning to the Premier meant the plane needed two at- League from Serie A club Roma in tempts to land, with Conte and his the summer, scoring nine goals to squad not getting to bed until about lead the scoring charts. 6:00am. “To get to your house at “Salah is a good player and is very 6:00am is not simple,” he said. dangerous,” said Conte in yester- “To have only one day to prepare day’s pre-match press conference. a big game, especially to have only “He is a technical player, but at the one day to rest, is not right. But at same time is very fast, very strong, the same time we must be focused very good in one on one.” on the game, a big game against Salah joined Chelsea in January Liverpool. Don’t fi nd excuses.” 2014 but the Egypt international Chelsea will be going in search of was soon loaned out to Fiorentina a fi fth straight league win as they and Roma, moving to the Italian aim to reduce a gap to leaders Man- capital club on a permanent ba- chester City that presently stands sis before signing for Liverpool in at nine points. They will kick-off the pre-season. Victory for Liver- with a familiar-looking Conte on pool would see them draw level on the bench after he shaved off the 25 points with Chelsea, currently beard he sported during the inter- third in the table, and Conte is well national break, deciding he would aware of the threat posed by Salah. rather follow the advice of his “He’s very good to fi nish. We daughter Vittoria than that of his must pay great attention, but wife Elisabetta, who had encour- not only to Salah, also to (Sadio) aged him to grow it. Mane, (Roberto) Firmino, Philippe “I wanted to try a new look, but Coutinho, (Daniel) Sturridge. They yesterday my daughter killed me. have a good coach (Jurgen Klopp), She said to me ‘Daddy, your look is they have a good identity. Great or- older with the beard’,” Conte said. ganisation, especially off ensively. “My daughter is more important They are very dangerous.” than my wife.” The Italian was reluctant to dis- cuss why the Liverpool hot-shot FIXTURES (1500 GMT had left Chelsea given the 25-year- UNLESS STATED): old Salah’s exit pre-dated his ar- Today: Crystal Palace v Stoke, Man- rival at Stamford Bridge but said: chester United v Brighton, Newcastle “He was very young and I think he v Watford, Swansea v Bournemouth, developed a lot.” Tottenham v West Brom, Liverpool v Chelsea beat Azerbaijan’s Qara- chelsea (1730 GMT) bag 4-0 on Wednesday to qualify Tomorrow: Southampton v Everton Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi, his wife Antonella Roccuzzo from Champions League Group C (1330 GMT), Burnley v Arsenal (1400 and son Thiago Messi pose with his Golden Boot trophy during a Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (left), Alberto Moreno (centre) and Adam Lallana are all smiles and returned to London on Thurs- GMT), Huddersfield v Manchester City ceremony in Barcelona yesterday. (Reuters) during a training session. (AFP) day after a 2,500-mile fl ight from (1600 GMT)

BUNDESLIGA FOCUS Struggling Dortmund face Moreno errors fail to dent Klopp’s trust

AFP 16 minutes of the second half as the home pened on Tuesday. “I had a talk...to Alberto London side battled back to draw 3-3. and I am really happy about his shape and must-win Ruhr derby Former Sevilla player Moreno committed his performances,” said Klopp. the fouls that led to Wissam Ben Yedder’s “It (the game) was obviously (diffi cult).... iverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says he brace, giving away both the 51st-minute And that then is really my responsibility, still trusts Alberto Moreno “100 per free-kick that Ben Yedder headed home and that (we) could have done diff erent things. cent” despite the left-back’s costly the penalty that the French forward con- My responsibility would have been think mistakes in Sevilla’s stunning three- verted nine minutes later. about the line-up, or change earlier.” Lgoal comeback against the Reds on Tuesday. “Obviously it was diffi cult in Seville (for The weekend’s most eye-catching “It is not the player to blame,” Klopp said at Moreno),” said Klopp. “Everybody was talk- match-up comes at Anfi eld, where fi fth- a press conference ahead of their big Pre- ing to him, like to a family member. He left placed Liverpool and third-placed Chelsea mier League clash with champions Chelsea there and a lot of people are still there that square off in a bid to hang onto Manches- at Anfi eld today “I am 100 per cent respon- he knows well. It was this one, two, three per ter City’s coat-tails. Defeat for either side sible for that. I told him I still trust him 100 cent of concentration... you come a little bit could be fatal to their title hopes as Chelsea per cent.” Having been 3-0 up at half-time too late, and that is how it started.” trail City by nine points and Liverpool are 12 in Tuesday’s Champions League clash at the Klopp, who took Moreno off shortly after- adrift of Pep Guardiola’s pace-setters, who Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Moreno’s mistakes wards, defended the Spaniard and stressed bid to maintain their blistering form at Hud- led to Liverpool conceding twice in the fi rst his own responsibility for what had hap- dersfi eld tomorrow.

Borussia Dortmund have not won a league game since September, and have lost five of their last nine in SPOTLIGHT all competitions, leaving their hopes of challenging for the title in tatters. (AFP)

AFP the derby is a must-win game and hopes to make his Bundesliga Berlin for Dortmund. “We have to win return in the derby. on Saturday. We simply have to Elsewhere, Bayern look to Mourinho fears losing Fellaini win,” said Bosz after Dortmund’s bounce back from a diffi cult week risis-hit Borussia Dort- defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on when they travel to Moencheng- AFP match. It is easy to play him if the team is mund will look to get Tuesday. Bosz is under immense ladbach. Despite winning a ninth Manchester losing for the last 15 or 20 minutes, or if the their crumbling season pressure to turn things around, game in a row under Jupp Hey- team is winning for the last 15 or 20 minutes. back on the rails when his job security dwindling with nckes, Wednesday’s 2-1 victory His qualities are adapted. You don’t play theyC face arch rivals Schalke 04 every defeat. At the beginning of over Anderlecht was an unhappy ose Mourinho admitted yesterday he him only if the team is losing or winning. in the Bundesliga today, as coach the week, a report said that the occasion for Bayern, with both is growing ever more anxious about “He is a player who’s easy to bring into the Peter Bosz fi ghts to keep his Dutchman had two games to save Arjen Robben and Thiago Al- the prospect of losing Belgian inter- game so normally he is going to have this pe- job. Elsewhere, Bayern Munich himself. Having been knocked cantara picking up injuries. national Marouane Fellaini as the riod of 15, 20. hope to consolidate their grip out of the Champions League, The pair join Manuel Neuer, midfiJ elder’s contract talks with Manchester And one day he will feel he is physically on top spot with a win at Borus- today’s derby may be his last Thomas Muller and Franck Rib- United drag on. The Old Traff ord manager, ready. His impact on the pitch is always pos- sia Moenchengladbach, while RB stand. Captain Marcel Schmelz- ery on Bayern’s star-studded in- speaking ahead of his side’s Premier League itive, he’s a good infl uence, doesn’t change Leipzig host Werder Bremen. er, however, said that the players, jury list, leaving Heynckes with match against Brighton today, has revealed if he’s playing or not playing. He’s one This weekend, though, all not the coach, were responsible limited options against Glad- that he is not involved in the discussions de- more option for us and it’s impossible for eyes will be on the Ruhr derby, as for Dortmund’s calamitous de- bach. Sebastian Rudy and Coren- signed to tie the 30-year-old Belgian inter- (Romelu) Lukaku to play every match, every Dortmund host Schalke. Dort- fending and ineff ective attack. tin Tolisso are both expected to national to a new, extended deal. minute like he’s doing.” mund have not won a league Schalke have quietly found start today. Fellow title contend- Fellaini is understood to want a longer- At the start of an eight-day period in game since September, and have form, surging up the standings ers RB Leipzig, meanwhile, will term contract than the one currently being est and are understood to be prepared to of- which United play Brighton, Watford and lost fi ve of their last nine in on the back of a six-game un- be full of confi dence after their off ered by the United board and rejected fer terms over four years while, previously, Arsenal in Premier League, Mourinho has all competitions, leaving their beaten run. Schalke’s last defeat 4-1 win in Monaco on Tuesday. one off er, believed to be for two years, in Italian clubs Roma and Napoli have also called on his supporters to show patience as hopes of challenging for the ti- in a competitive match came Six points behind Bayern, Leip- September. Since then, talks appear to have been linked with him. they look to eat into Manchester City’s com- tle in tatters. Having held a fi ve- back in September and now lead zig will be looking to narrow the stalled and, in January, Fellaini will be free to Fellaini has prospered as much as any manding lead at the top of the table. point lead at the top of the table the chasing pack behind Bay- gap this weekend, though they talk to foreign clubs as he enters the fi nal six player under the 18 months of Mourinho’s earlier in the season, Dortmund ern. Victory against Dortmund too have injury problems, with months of his current deal. management, having been transformed FELLAINI SUES NEW BALANCE are now nine points behind lead- would see them move six points Marcel Sabitzer having suff ered a “Yes,” said Mourinho when asked if he is from a player who was unpopular with Old OVER ‘DEFECTIVE BOOTS’ ers Bayern, having slipped down clear of their local rivals. “The blow to the shoulder in midweek. worried at the prospect of losing Fellaini. Traff ord supporters into something of a cult Meanwhile, Fellaini is suing sportswear gi- to fi fth place. Among those to derby is always like a cup game, FIXTURES (ALL TIMES GMT) “(I have done) nothing, it is a discussion favourite with fans. ant New Balance for around £2mn ($2.6mn) have overtaken them are local a knockout game. It’s a lot about Today: Borussia Dortmund v Schal- between the player and the board. I’m not Mourinho has admitted that another fans’ over “defective boots” that he says have had rivals Schalke, who have climbed how much heart you have, and ke 04, RB Leipzig v Werder Bremen, involved in contracts... and I respect both. I favourite, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is still some a negative impact on his performances. Ro- up to second, adding even more we have heart,” goalkeeper Ralf SC Freiburg v Mainz, Eintracht respect the player because he has the right, way from being able to start a game after his salina Investments, which represents the spice to today’s derby. Faehrmann said. Frankfurt v Bayer Leverkusen, has the right to decide his future and I re- dramatic return from career-threatening Belgian international, said the boots had to While Dortmund have been Faehrmann and his team will Augsburg v Wolfsburg (all 1430), spect the board because the decisions and knee surgery.The 36-year-old Swedish star be “steamed and stretched” by a United kit the dominant force in the Ruhr in be further heartened by the pro- Borussia Moenchengladbach v the discussions are under control so I just came on as a late sub against Newcastle and man before he could wear them. But New recent years, the German media spective return of midfi eld star Bayern Munich (1730) wait, wishing they will have an understand- Basel this week but is still making his way Balance bosses dispute the claims and say are now cautiously predicting a Leon Goretzka. Sidelined for the Tomorrow: Hamburg v Hoff enheim ing but it’s out of my control.” back to full match fi tness. they provided bespoke replacements after shift in power towards Schalke. last four weeks, Goretzka re- (1430), Cologne v Hertha Berlin Turkish clubs Besiktas, Fenerbahce and Mourinho said: “No he is not ready. Step Fellaini said he was experiencing discomfort In terms of both points and pride, turned to training on Wednesday, (1700) Galatasaray have already declared an inter- by step, minute after minute, match after when wearing certain boots. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, November 25, 2017 FOOTBALL

LIGUE 1 PSG coach Emery happy with Mbappe's Monaco reunion Mbappe, who turns 19 next month, moved to PSG on a loan deal that will become permanent next summer for a fee of € 180mn

AFP take on Bayern on December 5, needing only to Paris avoid a four-goal defeat to wrap up top spot in Group B, after their stunning 7-1 victory over Celtic on Wednesday saw them smash the pre- aris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery vious group-stage goals record with 24 in just is satisfi ed with Kylian Mbappe’s per- fi ve games. formances in the French capital as the Monaco have struggled to match the achieve- teenage forward prepares for a “special” ments of last season, when they also reached Pmeeting with his old club Monaco tomorrow. the Champions League semi-fi nals, after seeing Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar (right) “It will be good for him to go back to Monaco. and Kylian Mbappe. (AFP) their title-winning side decimated in the trans- He is happy with the work he did with them and fer market. After the departures of left-back Monaco are happy for him for his performances Benjamin Mendy, midfi elders Tiemoue Bakay- and for the money they earned from his trans- oko and Bernardo Silva, and teenage sensation fer,” said Emery ahead of tomorrow’s top-of- Mbappe, among others, they failed to fi nd a win the-table Ligue 1 clash. “Sunday will be special in fi ve Champions League group-stage outings. for him, but he will be 100% focused on PSG.” But victory at the Stade Louis II tomorrow Mbappe, who turns 19 next month, moved to would drag them back to within three points PSG on a loan deal in August that will become of PSG, as Radamel Falcao’s 13 goals in just 10 permanent next summer for a fee of around Ligue 1 games have helped Leonardo Jardim’s 180mn euros ($215mn). He has so far scored four side keep fi ghting at the summit. “We have to times in the league and has also impressed in the recover from this defeat on Sunday,” Monaco Champions League, fi nding the net in Wednes- vice-president Vadim Vasilyev said after Tues- day’s 7-1 hammering of Celtic. day’s loss to Leipzig. But he has been eclipsed by the prolifi c form “The goal is to be stronger next year in the Eu- of Edinson Cavani, who has 21 goals in all com- ropean Cup, it takes time for a team to work well. petitions, while most of the attention is in- I know that the players will show their quality, evitably on Neymar. “This year he is coming up the season is still long.” against lots of teams who play deeper. He has Elsewhere in the French top fl ight this week- less space. He needs to learn to play in tighter end, relegation-threatened Lille visit Montpel- spaces to create openings. But he is fi ne and is lier today in their fi rst match since suspending progressing well,” added Emery. Argentinian coach Marcelo Bielsa. Captain Na- PSG head to the principality still unbeaten bil Fekir will return from suspension for third- this season and with the chance to go nine points placed Lyon at lowly Nice tomorrow, as Bruno clear of reigning champions Monaco, who are Genesio’s men look to close the gap on the top second. While PSG come into the game in great two and extend a 11-match unbeaten run in all form, Monaco are on the rebound from a 4-1 loss competitions. to RB Leipzig in midweek that eliminated them from Europe. FIXTURES (ALL TIMES GMT) But Emery said: “They have the same number fi cult opponents for PSG. It’s true that they are Motta as he recovers from knee surgery. PSG Few expect anything other than a cruise in the Today: Rennes v Nantes (1600), Caen v Bordeaux, of points as last season. We’re doing better, disappointed to have been eliminated from the saw a run of four consecutive titles ended by league for the capital club, and even coach Em- Dijon v Toulouse, Metz v Amiens, Montpellier v Lille, that’s the diff erence. But they are very strong Champions League after doing so well last year, Monaco last season but, boosted by the signings ery claimed their fi nal Champions League group Troyes v Angers (all 1900) at home and are capable of scoring lots of but they are at the same level in the league.” of Neymar and Mbappe, have been rejuvenated game at Bayern Munich will be more important Tomorrow: Nice v Lyon (1400), Marseille v Guin- goals. Historically they have always been dif- PSG will again be without midfi elder Thiago this season. than this top-of-the-table showdown. PSG gamp (1600), Monaco v Paris Saint-Germain (2000)

SERIE A LA LIGA Inter target top spot at Cagliari Revitalised Valencia face title AFP boosted by a 3-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk which Milan kept their Champions League campaign alive. Juventus were held to a goalless draw by Barce- lona in midweek to stall their advance in Europe and test in Barcelona visit nter Milan travel to Cagliari today looking to will be looking for a boost against lowly Crotone take advantage of a tough week of European ac- before next week’s trip to Napoli. The reigning six- AFP tion for their rivals to move top of Serie A. Lu- time champions lost just their second game of the Madrid ciano Spalletti’s side — who missed out on Eu- season last weekend, going down 3-2 at Sampdoria. Iropean qualifi cation last season — are still unbeaten Roma — fourth with a game in hand — travel 13 games into the season. north to Genoa after their 2-0 Champions League oth unbeaten and off to club record Inter are second, two points adrift of leaders defeat at Atletico Madrid, with Lazio just behind in starts in La Liga, Valencia host Bar- Napoli who travel to Udinese today, with cham- fi fth and hosting mid-table Fiorentina. AC Milan celona in the game of the La Liga pions Juventus four points off the leaders in third face a tough test against Torino at San Siro three season so far tomorrow aiming to before hosting Crotone. That means Inter have the days after qualifying for the Europa League last 32 proveB their title credentials are for real. chance to go top, tonight at least, and Spalletti will with a 5-1 thrashing of Austria Vienna. After two seasons in the doldrums riddled be counting on in-form captain Mauro Icardi, who “This squad deserves more than it has achieved by coaching changes and questions over the coach described as “like a raptor pouncing on so far,” said Milan coach Vincenzo Montella of his Singaporean owner Peter Lim’s running of its prey” after last weekend’s double in a 2-0 win side who are seventh, just ahead of Torino, and the club, Valencia have been revitalised by a against Atalanta. Icardi has scored 13 Serie A goals lost 2-1 at Napoli last time out. “The thing I liked combination of new boss Marcelino Garcia in as many games to attract reported attention from the most was that the team didn’t lose its head af- Toral and sporting director Mateu Alemany leading European clubs including Real Madrid and ter going behind (against Austria Vienna). It didn’t to post a record run of eight straight La Liga Barcelona. But after a diffi cult start to the season get too frenetic in a diffi cult moment for our season wins. They still, though, trail Barca by four Cagliari have been gaining in confi dence and come and that gives me the confi dence the team believes points at the top of the table as the Cata- into the game fresh from consecutive wins. in what it is doing.” Elsewhere, Sampdoria travel to lans have amassed 34 points from a possi- Cagliari’s former Inter Milan defender Marco Bologna and Chievo host SPAL with bottom team ble 36. “The truth is the team has changed Andreolli believes this could be the “perfect team Benevento travelling to Atalanta on Monday still completely. Not just on a playing level but test” to move up from 13th. The 31-year-old de- looking for their fi rst points. also our mentality. That is what the coach fender, who left Inter after four seasons in the sum- FIXTURES has helped us a lot with,” said Valencia’s top After two seasons in the doldrums, Valencia have been revitalised by a combination of new mer, warned they would give Icardi no space in Sar- Today (all times GMT): Bologna v Sampdoria (1400), scorer Simone Zaza, himself reborn after a boss Marcelino Garcia Toral and sporting director Mateu Alemany to post a record run of dinia. “’Maurito’ makes something from nothing, Chievo v SPAL, Sassuolo v Verona (both 1700), Cagliari disastrous loan spell at West Ham United eight straight La Liga wins. (AFP) he seems to be absent but needs only half a ball to v Inter Milan (1945) last season. change the game,” said Andreolli. “We’ll keep him Tomorrow: Genoa v AS Roma, AC Milan v Torino, In contrast to recent years where Lim’s David Villa also had no doubt that Marce- Dybala to ensure a 0-0 draw at Juventus on pinned back to limit his supply.” Udinese v Napoli (all 1400), Lazio v Fiorentina (1700), recruitment has been questioned for his lino would have an instant impact. “I’m not Wednesday. The importance of the Mestalla Napoli travel north to Udinese — playing their Juventus v Crotone (1945) closeness to Portuguese super agent Jorge surprised about Marcelino’s numbers,” said meeting for Barca was underlined as Val- fi rst game under new coach Massimo Oddo — On Monday: Atalanta v Benevento (1945) Mendes, the majority of Valencia’s seven Villa, now plying his trade with New York verde left Lionel Messi on the bench for the new signings after another summer clearout City. “We’ve known each other from his fi rst fi rst hour in Turin to keep him fresh. have shone. stint as a head coach at the Sporting Gijon Messi will return, but Barca will be with- However, the need for Los Che to take ad- B team. As soon as he signed for Valencia, I out the suspended Gerard Pique meaning vantage of poor starts to the season by Real said that I was fully convinced that he would Thomas Vermaelen is likely to be forced into Madrid and Atletico Madrid for a historic change the team and the club’s direction a fi rst La Liga start of the season with Javier achievement like a fi rst La Liga title since with positive results.” Mascherano also sidelined by a hamstring 2003/04 is intensifi ed by the fact that three Marcelino will have to watch from the injury. Both 10 points adrift of Barca, Real of their top performers — Goncalo Guedes, stands tomorrow after being sent-off in last and Atletico can close the gap at the top to- Geoff rey Kondogbia, and Andreas Pereira — weekend’s 2-0 win at Espanyol as he at- day when they face Malaga and Levante re- all arrived on season-long loan deals. tempts to beat Barcelona for the fi rst time spectively. Nevertheless, Lim hit back at his critics as a coach at the 15th attempt. To do so, blaming ‘fake news’ and ‘fake fans’ for Va- his free-scoring Valencia will have to pen- FIXTURES (ALL TIMES GMT) lencia’s struggles in the last two seasons. etrate a Barcelona defence propped up by Today: Alaves v Eibar (1200), Real Madrid v Ma- “Peter Lim invested more than 200mn eu- goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen that has laga (1515), Real Betis v Girona (1730), Levante v ros of his own money to save this club. None recorded 13 clean sheets in 18 games this Atletico Madrid (1945) of the fake fans who pretend to defend this season. “He is in great form, although our Tomorrow: Deportivo la Coruna v Athletic club from Meriton and from Peter Lim put intention is that he doesn’t have to make so Bilbao (1100), Real Sociedad v Las Palmas (1515), any money to save this club,” read a recent many saves,” admitted Barca boss Ernesto Villarreal v Sevilla (1730), Valencia v Barcelona Valencia club statement. Valverde after the German pulled off a stun- (1945) Inter Milan are still unbeaten 13 games into the season. (AFP) Former Valencia and Barcelona striker ning stop in the fi nal seconds from Paulo On Monday: Espanyol v Getafe (2000)

Bale must wait until he is 100 % fi t: Real Madrid coach Zidane Barcelona: Real Madrid coach Zinedine 19th injury since joining Real in 2013 for ries, but he is important to us. He knows regrets rushing back to action after competitions in Bale’s absence, drawing Zidane said he would ease Gareth Bale a club record fee of 100mn euros. “We that, I know that and everyone does.” ankle surgery. two and losing two. They face Malaga into action after the injury-prone Wales need to make sure he is 100% but I don’t Bale has had a nightmarish 12 months “I don’t know when he will play,” Zi- today hoping to eat into their 10-point international returned to full training think he will need a lot of time to recover with injuries since rupturing ankle liga- dane added. “We’ll see, but he feels good deficit with Liga leaders Barcelona, who yesterday, boosting his chances of a re- his fitness, he is feeling good” Zidane ments in a Champions League game and today he trained without any pain. meet second placed Valencia tomorrow turn from a lengthy lay off . Bale has not told a news conference ahead of Real’s at Sporting Lisbon a year ago, which We know what he can bring to us. He is in a top-of-the-table clash. Real have played a minute of football since injuring Liga game with Malaga. required surgery and kept him out for strong, powerful, very good technically faced heavy criticism for falling so far his calf against Borussia Dortmund on “The important thing is that he is with three months. and he works hard. When he has played behind their arch rivals after sweep- Sept 26. Just after returning to full train- us, that he trains, plays, because that will he winger has had persistent prob- he has always done well.” ing to the Liga and Champions League ing in November he was dealt another stop all the negative things happening lems with muscle injuries since then, Real, who are third in the Liga stand- double last term, but they did enjoy a setback by straining a thigh muscle, his around him. A lot is said about his inju- and has admitted in interviews that he ings, have won six out of 10 games in all cathartic 6-0 win over APOEL Nicosia. Gulf Times Saturday, November 25, 2017 5 SPORT

NFL BADMINTON / HONG KONG OPEN Chargers sprint India’s Sindhu in semi-fi nals IANS At one point, in the second game, Hong Kong Sindhu was trailing but soon the In- dian shuttler bounced back in style and matched the pace of her opponent. past Cowboys in ndian shuttler PV Sindhu de- The last few points saw a see-saw feated Akane Yamaguchi of Japan battle between the duo but it was Sind- to enter the semi-fi nal of the Hong hu who proved superior and bagged the Kong Open Superseries yesterday. match to advance. ISecond seed Sindhu outplayed the Sindhu will now take on sixth seed fi fth seed Japanese shuttler 21-12, 21-19 Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand, who in a match which lasted 37 minutes. defeated Michelle Li of Canada in the In the fi rst game, Sindhu displayed quarters. playoff quest a substantially improved performance Earlier, Sindhu defeated Aya Ohori of and played aggressively throughout Japan 21-14, 21-17 in 39 minutes to en- Chargers move to just a half-game behind Baltimore for final wild-card playoff which helped her to seal the issue. ter the third round on Thursday.

AFP Los Angeles

he Los Angeles Chargers, who spun their wheels off ensively for most of the year, kept their playoff hopes alive by roar- ingT past the Dallas Cowboys 28-6 on Thursday. Quarterback Philip Rivers threw for a total of 434 yards and three sec- ond half touchdowns as the Chargers moved to just a half-game behind Bal- timore for the fi nal wild-card playoff spot in the American Football Confer- ence. Former running back turned wide receiver Keenan Allen sliced through the Dallas secondary en route to a 42- yard catch-and-run touchdown in one of three NFL contests played on the US Thanksgiving holiday. For Allen it was a career best day, NBA with the most yards he has gained in a single regular season game. “It was a lot of fun,” Rivers said. “Any time as a quarterback, you want Wounded Clippers to play well and throw it to your guys and we did that a heck of a lot today.” Rivers hit tight end Hunter Henry wilting without Paul and wide receivers Tyrell Williams and Nov 23, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) throws a pass in the first quarter Allen for touchdowns as the Chargers against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports DPA The Clippers are hurting elsewhere, ran away from the Cowboys. Washington too. Serbian rookie guard Milos Teo- Dallas snapped a 10-quarter Allen burned the Dallas defense as Jason Garrett said. 282 yards in Thursday’s game. dosic (left foot) is out indefi nitely, drought without a touchdown early he caught 11 passes for 172 yards and Keenum has completed at least leaving the team without a true point in the fourth quarter when running the touchdown to lead the Chargers VIKINGS ON A ROLL 70 percent of his passes over the last ven as they ended their nine- guard. Italian forward Danilo Gallinari back Rod Smith bulled his way into the who improved to 5-6 on the season. Elsewhere, the Minnesota Vikings ex- three games while delivering eight game losing streak, the news (glute) is out at least another week. endzone from two yards out to make “We had a great play call,” Allen tended their winning streak to seven touchdowns. still wasn’t good for the Los Since a 4-0 start, the Clippers (6-11) it 16-6. Dallas went for a two-point said. “Phil threw a great ball and af- games with a 30-23 victory over the “Today, he seemed like he was more Angeles Clippers. have beaten only Dallas and Atlanta, the conversion but failed to score. ter that I just had to make them miss. Detroit Lions at Ford Field. settled,” Zimmer said. “There are times EHours before defeating the lowly last-place teams in each conference. The Cowboys’ off ensive woes con- I used to be a running back. I just knew Minnesota, who improved to 9-2, when he gets a little excited and goes off Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, Clip- Despite the presence of frontcourt stars tinued midway through the fourth the safety was coming. Once I caught opened up a three-game lead in the the (chain) a little bit. Today, he seemed pers defensive dynamo Patrick Bever- Blake Griffi n and DeAndre Jordan, they quarter when Los Angeles cornerback the ball, I knew I had to get up the fi eld NFC North with fi ve games remaining. to be in a pretty good mindset.” ley — one of several players acquired in miss Paul, who gave them fl oor general- Desmond King returned an intercep- real fast.” “I like this football team,” coach In the late game, Kirk Cousins threw the off season trade that sent star point ship and a competitive streak they have tion 90 yards for a touchdown. Dallas fell to 5-6, dropping their Mike Zimmer said. “They’re a bunch for two touchdowns as Washington guard Chris Paul to Houston — had mi- lacked this season, allowing several win- “We’re in a funk, or whatever you second home game of the week after of fi ghters. They compete. When remained in the playoff picture with a crofracture surgery on his right knee nable games to slip away. want to call it,” said quarterback Dak Philadelphia handed the Cowboys a things go bad, they don’t panic.” 20-10 victory over the last-place New and is out for the season. Meanwhile, Houston (14-4) leads Prescott, who completed 20 of 27 37-9 defeat on Sunday. The Cowboys Case Keenum continues to impress York Giants. “He’s a guy that you just want the Western Conference. Since Paul re- passes for 179 yards with no touch- are 2-4 at home this season. with his production at quarterback. around your team as much as possible, turned from a bruised knee, it has won downs and two interceptions. “Off ensively, the performance Keenum, who started the season as a RESULTS and the fact that he won’t be hurts our three games by an average of 26 points. “It’s not fun to be in. We just have to wasn’t up to par and certainly wasn’t backup, threw two touchdown passes Minnesota 30 Detroit 23 team for sure,” said coach Doc Rivers, “You start feeling sorry for yourself fi gure ways to get out of it. Me, indi- enough to match what they were doing to Kyle Rudolph and ran for another LA Chargers 28 Dallas Cowboys 6 whose has guided the Clippers to fi ve when things don’t go right and you vidually, and this off ence collectively.” on their side of the ball,” Dallas coach while completing 21 of 30 passes for Washington 20 New York Giants 10 straight playoff berths. can’t do that,” Rivers said.

SPOTLIGHT Oscar: The ‘broke and broken’ Olympian

AFP and vomited in the dock as details Johannesburg restaurant. “It was never made an issue. My Johannesburg of his lover’s brutal death were ex- “Oscar is certainly not what peo- mother would say to my brother, amined in excruciating detail during ple think he is,” ex-lover and trial ‘You put on your shoes, and Oscar, his trial while the eyes of the world witness Samantha Taylor has said. you put on your legs, then meet me t the 2012 London Olym- were transfi xed. Pistorius has long been open at the car,’” Pistorius said in a 2011 pics, before 80,000 roar- Yesterday, the Supreme Court of about his love for guns. The sprinter interview. ing fans and a constella- Appeal in Bloemfontein more than slept with a pistol under his bed at A middle child whose parents tion of camera fl ashes, it doubled that jail term to 13 years and his home in a high-security estate divorced when he was six, he has a tookA Oscar Pistorius 45.44 seconds fi ve months after the state appealed for fear of burglars. problematic relationship with his to become a global icon. that it was unduly lenient. Once held in Amsterdam after father Henke, but is close to his sib- The South African’s sprint Prosecutors had argued earlier gunpowder residue was detected on lings who were at his side in court. around the 400m track was the this month that Pistorius failed to his prosthetics, he also took a New His mother died when he was 15 first time in history that a double- show genuine remorse over the kill- York Times journalist interviewing and the date of her death is tattooed amputee had raced at the Olympic ing. him to a shooting range. on his arm. Games. The ‘Blade Runner’ — an epithet The writer described him driving In 2004, just eight months after The race capped an Olympian tri- earned for his trademark prosthetic at 250 kilometres (155 miles) an hour, taking to the track, he smashed the umph over adversity for Pistorius. legs that powered him to fame as double the speed limit, and referred 200m world record at the Athens His journey from disabled child to a Paralympic gold medallist — be- to Pistorius as having “a fi erce, even Paralympics. world-class athlete seemed to em- came the ‘Blade Gunner’. frenzied need to take on the world at Next up was the 2008 Beijing Par- body the very best of sporting en- “He’s not only broke, but he is maximum speed and with minimum alympic Games where he took the deavour and the human spirit. broken, there is nothing left,” law- caution”. 100m, 200m and 400m sprint titles Then on Valentine’s Day in 2013 yer Barry Roux told his sentencing His passion for motorbikes, and launched a battle to take part in his achievements were just as hearing last year. adrenaline and speed is well docu- able-bodied athletics, overcoming quickly demolished. mented. “He likes fast cars. He is arguments that his custom-built In the early hours of the morn- ‘TWO OSCARS’ just built for speed,” his trainer Jan- carbon-fi bre running blades gave ing at his upmarket Pretoria home, Time and again during his trial, the nie Brooks told AFP. him an unfair advantage. he shot and killed his 29-year-old court was told about “two Oscars” He also crashed his boat on a river, In 2011 he made history by be- model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, — one a hero, the other a victim. breaking two ribs, an eye socket and coming the fi rst amputee to run at later saying he believed her to be an But the high-profi le proceed- his jaw. Empty alcohol bottles were the World Championships, where intruder. ings also exposed the 29-year-old’s found in the boat. he took silver with South Africa’s At his trial in 2014, he sat for darker side: off ering glimpses of He once owned two white tigers 4x400m sprint team. months in a windowless court- a dangerously volatile man with a but sold them to a zoo in Canada “You’re not disabled by your dis- room, and watched as his world was penchant for guns, beautiful women when they became too big. abilities but abled by your abilities,” washed away. and fast cars. he told Athlete magazine in an inter- His sparkling career was cut In 2009, he spent a night in jail ‘PUT YOUR LEGS ON’ view that year. short, sponsors dumped him and he after allegedly assaulting a 19-year- Born in 1986 in Johannesburg with- In 2012 he again made history by was forced to sell his homes in the old woman at a party in a case that out fi bulas (calf bones), his parents becoming the fi rst double-amputee face of mounting legal bills. was settled out of court. decided when he was 11 months old to compete at both the Olympics His conviction for manslaugh- Two years later, he was accused to have his legs amputated below the and Paralympics. ter put him in jail for a year but his of fi ring a gun through the sunroof knee so he could be fi tted with pros- “He is the defi nition of global crime was upgraded to murder on of an ex-girlfriend’s moving car, al- thetic legs. inspiration,” Time magazine pro- appeal and in July, 2016 he was sen- though a court found there was not This allowed him to play sports claimed in its 2012 list of the world’s tenced to six years, less than half the enough evidence to convict him on while growing up. He excelled in most infl uential people. minimum term of 15 years for the that charge. many, concentrating on running Less than a year later, Pistorius charge. Weeks before he shot Steenkamp, only after fracturing a knee playing featured on the cover with the words The athlete had sobbed, shaken he discharged a gun by accident at a rugby. “Man, Superman, Gunman”. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, November 25, 2017 SPORT

RUGBY RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP All Blacks unfazed Six-try Holmes steers Australia by loss of Read into fi nal Luke Whitelock replaces Read, with brother Samuel skippering the side

AFP Cardiff , United Kingdom

he All Blacks remain unfazed by the loss of talismanic skip- per Kieran Read for the side’s season-ending Test against TWales today, according to playmaker Beauden Barrett. Read, the epitome of the free-rang- ing modern-day No 8, was ruled out Thursday with a back injury. His place will be taken by Luke Whitelock, with his brother Samuel skippering the side from lock ahead of normal vice-captain Barrett. “Kieran is like everyone else. If you are not available, it is an opportunity for someone else,” insisted New Zea- land coach Steve Hansen. “While it is disappointing to lose your leader and a guy who has played Australia’s Valentine Holmes scores a try during the semi-final match against Fiji in 100-odd Test matches, you can’t do the Rugby League World Cup in Brisbane, Australia, yesterday. (Reuters) anything about it so there is no point getting all emotional about it. Reuters Smith. “We’ve just got to throw the ball “Sam is a successful captain. He has Brisbane to Valentine Holmes, he’s just scor- been a leader in our group for quite ing left, right and centre — 11 in two some time now.” matches — we’ve just got to get it to Barrett had no problem with Sam ustralia winger Valentine him again next week.” Whitelock being elevated to skip- Holmes kept up his record- Australia fullback Billy Slater per, the All Blacks’ most capped lock breaking exploits with six grabbed his 15th and 16th World Cup having led the Crusaders to the Super tries as the Kangaroos blew tries to better the career record for the Rugby crown this season. awayA Fiji 54-6 yesterday to set up a tournament he previously shared with “Obviously Sam’s had a bit more Rugby League World Cup fi nal against Jarryd Hayne, the 12-cap Kangaroo experience than me in that role,” Bar- England or Tonga. who turned out at stand off for Fiji last rett conceded. Winger Holmes set a World Cup night. “I’m really happy being a tour vice- record with fi ve tries in last week’s Winger Dane Gagai also grabbed a captain, therefore I can focus on run- quarter-fi nal victory over Samoa in double as the ruthless co-hosts ran in ning the game like I do most games.” Darwin but went one better at Lang 10 tries to overpower Fiji, who stunned Barrett added: “It’s certainly diff er- Park as the defending champions former champions New Zealand in the ent (without Read), but we’re confi - cruised into the title decider. quarter-fi nals last weekend. dent with the leaders in the group and The Kangaroos have been winners or “It was a tough assignment against the way we’ve prepared this week. runners-up in all but the fi rst of the 15 Australia,” said Fiji captain Kevin “He’s obviously a huge loss, but World Cups and on this showing will be Naiqama. “We’ve fi nished in the top Luke Whitelock is a quality player overwhelming favourites to lift the tro- four in the world, which is a great who’s played well all year.” phy for the 11th time at the same sta- achievement for us.” New Zealand’s Kieran Read (top) in action during a lineout during the match against Scotland at Murrayfield Stadium in dium next Saturday. England will meet tournament sur- GREAT BUZZ IN CAMP Edinburgh earlier this month. (Reuters) “Really pleased with the eff ort to- prise package Tonga in the other semi- With Wales aiming to break a night,” said Australia skipper Cameron fi nal in Auckland today. 29-match losing streak against New And Barrett hailed the apparent at the moment is quite expansive, us- opponent on Saturday night, a qual- Zealand dating back to 1953, Barrett change in style shown by Wales, who ing the ball a bit more, using the fuller ity player, in the mix with Lions but he had a word of warning ahead of today’s have opted to go for a ball-playing in- fi eld and backing their passing game. didn’t get too many opportunities.” CHANGE showdown at Cardiff ’s Principality side centre, or second fi ve-eights as “Typically it’s diff erent to what Barrett also insisted that the 64- Stadium. they might say in New Zealand, rather we’re used to but it’s good for the year hold the All Blacks enjoy over “It’s been a great buzz in camp this than a crash-ball fi gure such as Jamie game.” Wales was not a motivating factor. week. We’re all really excited, it’s awe- Roberts, long-time a key piece in War- Barrett, who played in the drawn 1-1 “We’re aware of it,” he said. “But World Rugby council some to play in the stadium down the ren Gatland’s gameplan. series against the British and Irish Li- that doesn’t motivate us. What moti- road, it’s been a positive one,” said Bar- “We’ve seen that shift since the ons in the summer, added: “They have vates us remains the same every week rett, a key member of New Zealand’s World Cup,” Barrett said. strengths all over the park. and we stick to that no matter who we set for female infl ux 2015 World Cup-winning squad. “The game they seem to be playing “Dan Biggar is an obvious one, my play against.” AFP Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Dublin Wales — will have the right to an extra councillor provided that representative is female. Meanwhile, the 2019 men’s Dunbar fails concussion test and misses Wallabies clash orld Rugby’s council will Rugby World Cup hosts Japan and the be at least one-third fe- six leading regional rugby associations, Reuters yesterday. Grant Gilchrist replaces Australian- SQUAD male from next year, the who currently have two votes but only Edinburgh Uncapped Edinburgh centre Phil born Ben Toolis at lock and Sean Team: 15-Stuart Hogg, 14-Tommy Sey- global governing body said one representative, now have the right Was it announced a “transformational” to send an extra representative but Burleigh comes in to the match-day Maitland is back on the wing after mour, 13-Huw Jones, 12-Peter Horne, 23 for the first time to take Horne’s belatedly joining the squad. 11-Sean Maitland, 10-Finn Russell, change on Thursday. again that person must be a woman. lex Dunbar has failed concus- place on the bench as Scotland Scotland are seeking another vic- 9-Ali Price, 8-Ryan Wilson, 7-Hamish The move will see the 32-strong “The reform is historic, refl ective of sion tests and will be replaced make five changes to the team that tory over Australia after their 24-19 Watson, 6-John Barclay (captain), council increased to 49 members, with our ambitions and long overdue,” said Aby Peter Horne at centre in suffered an an agonisingly nar- victory in Sydney in June, which was 5-Jonny Gray, 4-Grant Gilchrist, all the 17 new representatives women. World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont. Scotland’s team to face Australia at row 22-17 loss to New Zealand on revenge for a controversial exit at the 3-Simon Berghan, 2-Stuart McInally, However, a World Rugby statement “If we are to promote and nurture the Murrayfield today. Saturday. hands of the Wallabies in the 2015 1-Darryl Marfo said this “will not result in any changes growth of women in rugby then change “He failed to meet the requirements Ryan Wilson returns from injury at Rugby World Cup. Replacements: 16-Fraser Brown, to the existing voting rights of unions must be led from the top,” the former of the graduated return to play pro- No.8 while New Zealand-born prop Today’s match is the last of three No- 17-Jamie Bhati, 18-Zander Fagerson, or regional associations on Council”. England captain added, following a re- tocol for the concussion he sustained Simon Berghan, making his first start vember internationals for Scotland, 19-Ben Toolis, 20-Cornell du Preez, As a result, the 10 leading unions who cent council meeting in London where against New Zealand last weekend,” for Scotland, is preferred to Zander who beat Samoa before their loss to 21-Henry Pyrgos, 22-Phil Burleigh, currently have three votes but only two the ‘2015-25 Women’s Plan’, a global a Scottish Rugby statement said Fagerson in the front row. the All Blacks. 23-Byron McGuigan. representatives — Argentina, Australia, strategy to grow women’s rugby union, England, France, Ireland, Italy, New was also agreed.

FORMULA 1 Champ Hamilton fastest in Friday practice

Reuters Daniel Ricciardo in the second. Abu Dhabi Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and Mercedes’ Formula 1 to Valtteri Bottas were fourth and fi fth. Brazilian veteran Felipe Massa, preparing unveil new logo our times world champion Lewis for his last Formula One race with Williams, Hamilton kept Mercedes on top in was 11th fastest. Formula One will unveil a new logo the last Friday practice of the For- The tight battle for sixth place in the con- after tomorrow’s season-ending mula One season with Ferrari’s Se- structors’ championship between Toro Ros- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as the sport bastianF Vettel close behind. so, Renault and Haas — with just six points moves on under new US-based Hamilton, chasing a 10th win of the year separating the three teams — is another fo- owners Liberty Media. Without after wrapping up the championship in cus for the weekend. giving details of the replacement Mexico last month, lapped the fl oodlit Yas Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz were design, chairman Chase Carey Marina circuit in one minute 37.877 seconds ninth and 13th respectively for Renault with told Britain’s Sky Sports television in the evening session. Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly 15th and the two yesterday that the revamp would Vettel, who had set the pace in the af- Haas drivers Kevin Magnussen and Romain “provide a fresh energy” to a sport ternoon with a lap of 1:39.006 and looked Grosjean 16th and 20th. whose championship dates back quick on long run pace, ended the day 0.149 British youngster George Russell, taking to 1950. The current logo was slower. part in fi rst practice only, was 11th fastest introduced in 1987 when former “It’s close and I think it will be close also in Esteban Ocon’s Force India and less than commercial supremo Bernie Ec- tomorrow,” said Vettel. a second off the pace of the team’s Mexican clestone, now 87, was in charge. The German is set to become the fi rst non- driver Sergio Perez. “Any time you change you are Mercedes driver of the last four years to fi n- Russell also took part in fi rst practice in always going to have a mixed set ish in the top two of the championship, lead- Brazil, and looks set for a reserve role in fu- of views,” said Carey, when asked ing Valtteri Bottas by 22 points into the fi nal ture. about the likely fan reaction. “We round. Both Hamilton and Vettel, a quadru- With both championships wrapped up, have a lot of plans for the future ple world champion with Red Bull, are three Mercedes having clinched their fourth suc- and a lot of things we want to do times winners in Abu Dhabi although Ferrari cessive constructors’ title in Texas last and we thought the logo was a have yet to triumph there. month, most teams used the opening session good way to emphasise the excite- Red Bull were third in both sessions, with as an early test for 2018. ment, a fresh energy and a new 20-year-old Dutch driver Max Verstappen Some also tried out the ‘halo’ head protec- Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton prepares to drive his car during the first practice session ahead of the Abu day,” he added. taking that place in the fi rst and Australian tion device that will be introduced next year. Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times Saturday, November 25, 2017 7 SPORT

WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIPS TENNIS / DAVIS CUP Guerrieri to drive, Monteiro in paddock for fi nale iago Monteiro will make a where the Castrol Honda World Tour- despite having led the championship for Tsonga downs return to the FIA World Tour- ing Car Team could celebrate a double much of the year, I knew my title hopes ing Car Championship pad- title triumph. were over when I was unable to race in dock in Qatar next week with “While I’m obviously disappointed Macau, so this one feels like less of a TEsteban Guerrieri continuing as the not to be driving in Qatar, I’m incred- blow. With a full winter ahead of me to factory Honda driver’s stand-in. ibly excited at the prospect of Norbi continue my recovery, I’m not going to Darcis to level Monteiro was leading the WTCC (Norbert Michelisz) and Honda becom- take any unnecessary risks and instead standings following the trip to Argen- ing WTCC Champions, and simply aim to return to the cockpit of a racing tina in mid-July but hasn’t raced in wouldn’t dream of not being there with car next year.” the series since after being injured in the team and my incredible mechan- Guerrieri has impressed since tak- for France a high-speed testing crash in Spain in ics to witness what could be an historic ing over Monteiro’s Civic WTCC in September. moment,” said Monteiro. “I’ve been part Japan last month, claiming four top six Although he’s made huge strides of Honda’s line-up since the inception fi nishes and scoring potentially vital in his recovery, the Portuguese will of the project in 2012 and feel like I’ve points for Honda in its bid to win the be on-hand in a supporting capacity made a large contribution; all of which FIA World Touring Car Championship only at the Losail International Circuit leads up to this moment. Realistically, for Manufacturers for a second time.

GOLF Chawrasia extends lead in Hong Kong Olympic champion Justin Rose shoots 69, six shots off unheralded Indian

Agencies Hong Kong

ndia’s SSP Chawrasia forged a two-shot lead at the Hong Kong Open yesterday, overcoming buf- feting winds to card a four-under- Ipar 66 in the second round at Fanling. The 39-year-old, searching for his fi rst European Tour victory away from home soil, extended his one-shot overnight lead at Hong Kong Golf Club with fi ve birdies in the fi rst 13 holes. He dropped a shot at the 14th but completed the round without further mishaps to remain top of the leader France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reacts after winning against Belgium’s Steve Darcis board on nine under par. during their Davis Cup World Group final match in Lille, France, yesterday. (AFP) Chawrasia had led by fi ve at one stage, but South African Thomas AFP 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 in front of a crowd of close Aiken shot a 64 to cut the gap to two Lille, France to 26,000 fans, many making the short strokes. trip from across the border with Belgium. “It was a great round today,” Goffi n, who last week lost to Grigor Chawrasia said. “I was fi ve under at o-Wilfried Tsonga pulled Dimitrov in the title decider at the ATP one time and then three-putted 14. France level at 1-1 in the Davis Finals in London, needed just under Still, it’s a good score, four under. I’m Cup fi nal with a three-set win two hours to give the Belgians the upper happy.” over Belgium’s Steve Darcis in hand as they look to win the Davis Cup Swedish duo Alexander Bjork and LilleJ yesterday. for the fi rst time. This was the 26-year- Joakim Lagergren, American Julian David Goffi n had mercilessly swept old’s fi rst win over 18th-ranked Pouille Suri and Thailand’s Poom Saksansin aside close friend Lucas Pouille to give in their fourth meeting. fi nished at fi ve under on 135. Belgium the fi rst point at the Stade Goffi n got the better of his French Briton Tommy Fleetwood, who was Pierre-Mauroy. foe’s strong baseline play, making the crowned 2017 Race to Dubai champion But world number 15 Tsonga stead- telling break in the 11th game to serve last week, hit a second consecutive 68 ied home nerves in the opening day’s out to love to take the opening set. to remain fi ve off the lead alongside second rubber with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 suc- He broke Pouille’s serve at the start Thomas Detry, Jamie Donaldson, Dy- cess over 76th-ranked Darcis to boost of the second, going on to break again lan Frittelli, Keith Horne, Marcus Kin- France’s hopes of claiming the trophy to take the set 6-3, and race to a 3-0 hult, Wade Ormsby and Micah Lauren for the fi rst time since 2001. lead in the third. Shin. France’s top player took 1 hour A deft backhand winner lifted the 46 minutes to despatch the Belgian Belgian to 5-1 and he sealed the fi rst ROSE TARGETS ‘HOT RUN’ number two in the pair’s fi rst ever en- point of the 2017 fi nal with a crosscourt Justin Rose targeted one “hot” run this India’s SSP Chawrasia tees off during round two of the Hong Kong Open yesterday. (AFP) counter. forehand winner. weekend to claw his way back into the That left the 2017 fi nal fi nely poised “I’ve pushed the salad bowl a little Hong Kong Open. on the weekend is going to stand me in In the last month, Rose has won iard, who hit 17 pars and a bogey to fi n- ahead of Saturday’s doubles, with un- towards the border, only a little be- The Englishman, who won at Hong good stead.” tournaments in China and Turkey, ish even-par after day two. tested French duo Richard Gasquet and cause it’s heavy,” said Goffi n, referring Kong in 2015, shot 69 in a turbulent Rose, who arrived in Hong Kong this and narrowly missed out on the Race “It’s been a tough couple of days, Pierre-Hugues Herbert up against Ru- to the trophy. round including six birdies on day two week off the back of a successful but to Dubai crown in the Middle Eastern but (will) hopefully get better on the ben Bemelmans and Joris de Loore. “I’m thrilled to have set the team off to leave him three under-par for the draining schedule, said he was skip- emirate on Sunday. weekend,” he added. Goffi n, the world number seven, won like that.” tournament, six shots off the unher- ping training between rounds in order Meanwhile Rose’s playing partner “I had the idea that the course was alded Indian player. to conserve his energy. Sergio Garcia, the Masters cham- going to play fairly diffi cult, even if “I am disappointed to drop fi ve “I’m sticking with the recovery. pion, found the Hong Kong course’s the weather would have been with no shots but at least I made six birdies. It Sort of like no practice this week. fi rm greens, narrow fairways and un- wind. Mainly because the greens are Tomic off ered spot in Australian Open wasn’t easy out there,” said Rose, the Lots of time to myself. Lots of time predictable winds on day two even fi rm. They are not that easy to hit it Olympic champion and world number in the gym just kind of really getting tougher. close to the pin.” wild card playoff six. my body feeling great and come out “I played terrible the last two days. Despite being the shortest course “I’ve just got to wait for my run, I think mentally as fresh as possible At least we managed to hold it togeth- on the European Tour circuit at 6,713 really, where I can get hot for a round each day. er to make the cut, but I didn’t feel yards, the Hong Kong Golf Club was and not make some mistakes. Basically “I think that I still feel good. I feel comfortable at all with my swing, and playing as the fi fth-hardest non-Ma- I’m in a position where one low round like I’m in a good position.” didn’t putt that great,” said the Span- jor of 2017 after the opening round.

GOLF / AUSTRALIAN OPEN Not much glamour in the pro’s life for Sydney leader Herbert

Reuters and I actually need to go and do that as Herbert was in no danger of missing Bernard Tomic has been off ered the to that level and he also needs to Sydney well.” the cut on Friday after mixing six bird- chance to win a wild card for Janu- commit to the sport as well and we Herbert won A$40,400 ies with a single bogey to lead major ary’s Australian Open in a 16-man won’t be making any more wild card ($30,772.68) by fi nishing second at winner and former world number one playoff in Melbourne next month but decisions until we see what happens ucas Herbert outshone major the New South Wales Open last week Day by a stroke at the halfway point of has not said whether he will take up in the playoff s.” winners Jordan Spieth and Ja- but he is also fi nding that playing for the tournament. the place, organisers said yesterday. Tomic’s management said earlier son Day with a sparkling 66 to money adds an extra level of pressure. The big-hitting Victorian said he The 25-year-old Australian, ranked a this month that the former Wimble- take the lead at the Australian “As an amateur you stand there and would not be lacking for friends after career high 17 last year, has slumped don quarter-finalist would be enter- LOpen yesterday before refl ecting on you could hit it in a fi ve-yard slot and a such a good day. to 143 in the world after a miserable ing qualifying for the year-opening the less glamorous aspects of life as a then you stand up there as a pro and “I’ll go and look at my phone in 10 season in which he won only 10 of 19 Brisbane International and Austral- golf professional. now it’s for your living, and you’re like minutes’ time and there’ll be 50 mes- matches at the elite level. ian Open. The Australian took the plunge into ‘please hit the ball, please make con- sages on there, and 45 of them are His refusal to represent his country Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis, 211th the pro ranks in 2015, a year after driv- tact and don’t be a YouTube hit’,” he from people that you don’t hear from has further strained his already in the world after a plague of injuries ing 11 hours from Melbourne to Sydney said. until you start playing well and they rocky relationship with Tennis over the last few years, received a and sleeping in his car to fi nish as the “I was really struggling on the Fri- see you on TV,” he said. Australia and yesterday Davis Cup wild card to the year’s first grand leading amateur at his national Open. day of the tournaments because I For all the pressures, though, Her- captain Lleyton Hewitt said he slam last week. Two years on and the 21-year-old knew that was cut day. It was like, be bert said the rewards, however mod- needed to show more commitment Tennis Australia has four discretion- is fi nding the realities of being a pro- three inside a cut line and be worried est, were immensely gratifying. to the game. ary wild cards for the men’s singles fessional are not as he imagined they about that, not worried about trying “I made money from the end of last “He’s had a tough year and he needs draw. would be. to make three more birdies and get up year and I went and bought a TV and matches and he’s got to put himself Two more go to the winners of “You see guys getting invites on near the lead. I went and bought a couch and I was out there on the line to have a crack playoff s in Melbourne and Zhuhai, tour, fl ying in private jets everywhere, horribly mistaken. It’s such a sudden “I obviously made some last week like, man, I earned that,” he said. at making the Open,” Hewitt told while another couple are distributed staying in fi ve-star hotels and you realisation. so the pressure’s off a bit this week, “Even the little things, go out for reporters. under a reciprocal arrangement with think that’s what you’re going to get,” “I was laughing at these guys for but when the bank balance is getting breakfast, I earned this. It’s defi nitely “We all know the kind of tennis he the organisers of the French and US he said. going and playing a Pro-Am and now down, Fridays started getting pretty massively gratifying to know that you can play but he has to get back Opens. “Then you turn pro and you’re so I can see, okay, that’s pretty important nervous then.” earned everything along the way.”

Saturday, November 25, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

SHOW JUMPING Edwina breaks victory drought at Al Rayyan Championship There was joy for Qatar too, as home riders Rashid Towaim al-Marri and Obaid Ali al-Sanari emerged triumphant

By Sports Reporter Doha Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander astride Veronese Teamjoy en route to their win in the QNB Al Rayyan dwina Tops-Alexander has had to en- Show Jumping Championship at dure frustrating spells in recent times the QEF’s outdoor arena yesterday. after having come second best multi- PICTURES: Lotfi Garsi ple times. But yesterday, the two-time formerE Gobal Champions Tour winner fi nally embraced victory as the Australian clinched the feature class on the penultimate day of the QNB Al Rayyan International Show Jumping Cham- pionship. There was joy for Qatar too, as home riders Rashid Towaim al-Marri and Obaid Ali al-Sanari emerged triumphant in 135 and 120cm class respectively. It was Edwina though, who stole the limelight at the Qatar Federation Federation’s outdoor arena. The 43-year-old Monaco resident not only won the Qualifying competition for the FEI World Cup 145cm class, but she fi nished third too. The riders are allowed to participate with two horses. Edwina topped the timesheets with her eight-year-old bay Veronese Teamjoy as the pair fl ew around the course under the lights. Their fastest time of 72.51 fetched the Aussie €15,450 in prize money. She was back again in Inca Boy Van T Viana- hof, another eight-year-old bay. Edwina did not have the same success with Inca Boy Van T Vianahof as she did with Veronese Team- Winner Edwina Tops-Alexander (top right) and runner-up Vladimir Tuganov (left) pose with joy but their time of 75.32 was enough for third QEF president Hamad Abdulrahman al-Attiyah (front centre). place fi nish. Vladimir Tuganov continued his fi ne form in Qatar, as the Russian veteran took the second spot. The 56-year-old Tuganov mounting his trusted stallion Suspens Floreval impressed in a time of 74.13 secs. Tuganov had fi nished third on Thursday and will be a strong contender, along with Edwina, for today’s Grand Prix title, the feature event of the Al Rayyan championship. Qatar’s Mubarak Yousuf al-Rumaihi fi nished fourth, while Olympic rider and last week’s winner at Qatar International Show jumping championship Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani was sixth with his ally First Devision. It was a disappointing day for another ace Qatari rid- er Bassem Mohamed, who fi nished 12th with Gunder, having incurred four penalty points. In the 135cm class, Rashid Towaim al-Marri took a narrow win. The Qatari rider combined with seven-year-old gelding Chupa Chups 12 to fastest time of 35.96 secs. Kuwait’s Ali al-Khorafi , riding under the FEI fl ag, posed a major threat to al-Marri with his 11-year-old Loki Doki. But the pair had to set- tle for second place having taken 36.17 secs to fi nish their round. The third place went to Mubarak Yousuf al-Rumaihi on Siec Cosmos Wijngaardhoeve Z. Qatari rider Obaid Ali al-Sanari in action with Quentin during his win in the 120cm class. Meanwhile, home rider Obaid Ali al-Sanari won the 120cm class with Quentin. Uzbekistan’s Saidamirkhon Turgunboev (Casanova S.C.H) was second, followed by Qatar’s Ahmed Mo- hammed al-Badi (Latino) in third.

RESULTS Qualifying competition for the FEI World Cup Max. 145cm | Prize Money: €61,800 1. Edwina Tops-Alexander (Australia) Veronese Team- joy. Time: 72.51 secs. Prize money: €15,450 2. Vladimir Tuganov (Russia) Suspens Floreval. 74.13 Winner of the 135 cm class, Qatar’s Rashid Towaim al-Marri (left) and his compatriot Mubarak secs. €12,360 Yousuf al-Rumaihi, who finished third. 3. Edwina Tops-Alexander (Australia) Inca Boy Van T Vianahof. 75.32 secs. €9,270 Wijngaardhoeve Z. 36.41 secs. €1,500 3 Ahmed Mohammed al-Badi (Qatar) Latino. 33.64 Table A, Against the clock with Jump Off FEI Art. (Class. 4) Table A, Against the clock with Jump Off secs. €900 238.2.2 | Max. 135cm | Prize Money: €10,000 FEI Art. 238.2.2 | Max. 120cm | Prize Money: €6,000 TODAY’S SCHEDULE 1. Rashid Towaim al-Marri (Qatar) Chupa Chups 1. Obaid Ali al-Sanari (Qatar) Quentin. Time: 31.62 secs. 3pm: Table A, Against the clock 130/135cm 12.Time: 35.96 secs. Prize money: €2,500 Prize money: €1,500 5pm: Table A, One Round + Winning Round 145cm 2. Ali al-Khorafi (FEI) Loki Doki. 36.17 secs. €2,000 2 Saidamirkhon Turgunboev (Uzbekistan) Casanova 7pm: Grand Prix - World Cup Competition | Two 3. Mubarak Yousuf al-Rumaihi (Qatar) Siec Cosmos S.C.H. 33.59 secs. €1,200 Rounds 160cm Kids get the feel of a horse during the QNB Al Rayyan International Show Jumping Championship.

QNB STARS LEAGUE Al Rayyan aim to go second with win over Al Gharafa By Sports Reporter Doha

hird-placed Al Rayyan will take on an inconsistent Al Gharafa in the ninth round of the QNB Stars League at the Khalifa International Stadium today. TRayyan, who have 21 points, can move into sec- ond place after Al Sadd lost to Duhail yesterday. Rayyan have shown consistency in their per- formance even though they slipped by one place in the standings on goal diff erence last week. On the other hand, Al Gharafa are consistently in- consistent to be on seven points. “I’m happy and satisfi ed with Al Rayyan’s su- periority in the Week 8 match against Al Arabi. We’re in third spot, but that’s no problem for Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup (left) and Al Gharafa counterpart Jean Fernandez address a press conference on the eve of their QNB Stars League match. us. I say that because Al Rayyan are playing at- tacking football which is good,” Al Rayyan coach to change the scenario. There are 22 games and but lost big-time to Al Kharaitiyat and had to In another match, Al Kharaitiyat will look to ers come good. Meanwhile, Umm Salal, fi fth Michael Laudrup said. I don’t believe one game’s result will have much play out a draw with promoted team Al Markhi- restore their pride, dented after crashing to a with 13 points, are coming off two successive Al Rayyan will miss young midfi elder Ahmed of an impact when you look at the larger pic- ya. They are the team with the most number of huge defeat against leaders Al Duhail in Week defeats and will be keen to get their campaign al-Saadi, who is out for the rest of this season ture,” he added. draws (four) in the tournament. 8, when they host Al Ahli at the Al Khor Sta- back on track, having been out of the top-four after undergoing an operation for cruciate liga- Laudrup praised Rodrigo Tabata, saying the Al Gharafa coach Jean Fernandez said: “We dium. In the process, they slipped from seventh bracket. The Orange Fortress should have it easy ment repair at Qatar’s orthopaedic and sports attacking midfi elder sets an example for young- haven’t been having a good run of late and it’s to ninth in the standings as they stayed on six against bottom side Qatar SC (three points) at medicine hospital Aspetar. He suff ered the in- sters. “I would like to highlight (Rodrigo) Taba- time we put behind the disappointments and points. Moroccan striker Rachid Tiberkanine, the Al Gharafa Stadium. Umm Salal will miss the jury during their 2-0 victory against Qatar SC ta’s role in our outstanding run. He’s the fi rst to start winning matches. Seven points from eight who has so far scored six goals, leads their chal- services of suspended midfi elder Adel Alawi. in Week 7. “Al Gharafa are a team with a lot of reach the training site and the last to leave. He games do not augur well for us. Defi nitely, we’ll lenge as they seek their second victory, with Tu- Meanwhile, Qatar SC’s Nigerian striker Michael good players. They may not have collected many isn’t young anymore, yet he’s an example for be motivated against Al Rayyan for many rea- nisian coach Ahmad al-Ajlani desperate to make Babatunde will return to action after serving a points, but they’ve the potential to do much youngsters. I’m sure the Khalifa International sons. “We had put up a good show against Al a turnaround. one-match suspension. more. We’re not underestimating them. They Stadium will provide a good setting for the Sailiya, but lost. Our performance hasn’t been Al Ahli, on the other hand, are on a high, also have some players who were with us last game. It’s a big venue where we played last sea- stable and we need to show consistency. We having achieved their second win in Tunisian TODAY’S FIXTURES season,” Laudrup said. son’s Emir’s Cup fi nal. A lot of fans may be com- played well in some matches. But in some other coach Nassif al-Bayawi’s fi rst match in charge At 4pm: Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Ahli; Umm Salal “Al Gharafa beat us in both phases last season ing for this match as well,” said Laudrup. games, we created a lot of opportunities, but to be on eight points. Spanish coach Joaquin vs Qatar SC and we’ve a point to prove. This time, we want Al Gharafa even held a marauding Al Duhail, didn’t score and paid the price for that. Capaross will just hope his professional play- At 6:10pm: Al Rayyan vs Al Gharafa