SPORT

Tuesday 19 September 2017

PAGE | 30 PAGE | 31 PAGE | 34 Mbappe makes Rooney handed Indian attack more winning debut two-year thanth just spin, warns at PSG driving ban AussieA skipper Smith Rally star Al Naimi unveils ‘Tamim Al Majd’ portrait on car ahead of European challenge

Qatari rally driver Rashid bin Abdulah Al Naimi’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10, adorned with the hugely popular portrait of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Al Naimi will Rashid bin partner Portuguese Abdulah co-driver Hugo Ismael Al Naimi Magahlaes for races across Europe to prepare for the 2018 season. Young Qatari Saad, Ngombo to lead athletes to make charge at Ashgabat Games their presence felt The Peninsula

Ashgabat ive promising Qatari athletes are likely to have a strong The Peninsula influence on proceedings at the Indoor Athletics Arena Fduring the Ashgabat 2017 5th Asian Indoor and Mar- atar, who have included tial Arts Games. key players Abdulrah- Abdalelah Haroun, Tosin Joseph Ogunode, Abderrah- man Mohamed Saad man Samba, Yaser Salem Bagharab and Mahamat Allamine and Tanguy Alban Ngo- Hamdi have all performed impressively in recent months. Qmbo, will be hoping for Haroun, a 400m specialist, won bronze a month ago at a big confidence-boosting win the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London and a sil- tomorrow when they take on ver medallist at the IAAF Indoor World Championships in Samoa in their opening clash of Oregon in the United States a year earlier. the 3x3 competition of Ogunode, younger brother of four-time Asian Games the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial gold medallist Femi Ogunode, made his international sprint- Arts Games. ing debut in 2014 and set a 60m Asian indoor record during Qatar, along with Turkmeni- an event at the Northern Arizona University in the USA. stan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and The 23-year-old’s time of 6.50 seconds broke a 20-year- Iraq are the favourites for the old mark set by Qatari sprint legend Talal Mansour and is men’s title at the September 17-27 a top contender for 60m gold at Ashgabat. Games which got underway in Samba, 22, has also enjoyed a good season this year. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. He started by winning the 400m hurdles title at the sea- Qatar, who were 2014 FIBA son-opening Doha Diamond League and went on to contest winners, claimed sil- the 400m hurdle final at the 2017 World Championships ver at the Islamic Solidarity in London. In Ashgabat, he will take part in the 400m and Games in May this year after edg- H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, the President of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) speaks 4 x 400m relay and will be a firm medal favourite. ing past Turkmenistan in the Baghrab may be a teenager and the youngest in the with Turkmenistan officials ahead of the opening ceremony of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial semi-final in Baku, Azerbaijan. In Qatari indoor athletics squad, but the 19-year-old, who Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on Sunday. June, the Qataris finished sixth at recently won two silver medals at the 2017 Asian Champi- the FIBA 3x3 World Cup in , onships, will be a strong chance to round off his season with . for glory in the women’s at the U-18 Asia Cup in May and opening ceremony of the prestig- a podium finish in the 3,000m at Ashgabat. Around 50 Qatari athletes are competitions. was named best player of the tour- ious event. The event on Sunday Completing the list is high jumper Hamdi, whose sil- competing in a number of sports Mongolia’s men won the nament in Malaysia. saw a colourful opening ceremony ver-medal-winning performance at the recent Islamic events including athletics, chess, chance to participate in the 2017 Earlier on Sunday night, H E unfolding the country’s high organ- Solidarity Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, marks him as an billiard, swimming, weight lift- FIBA World Tour by qualifying Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, isational abilities in hosting major emerging talent. The 20-year-old also won a bronze at the ing, equestrian, taekwondo, through the challenger in Chinese the President of Qatar Olympic sport events and reflecting its rich 2016 IAAF World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, bowling and basketball. Taipei. Committee (QOC) attended the culture and history. . A crowded arena in Ashgabat Iraq have strong players with will become the stage of a fasci- international experience in 5x5 nating competition when the but they lack 3x3 Basketball tournament raises its experience. curtain today. Aleksandr Paskov of Turkmen- It is the third time 3x3 Basket- istan, Tsenguunbayar Gotov of ball has appeared in the schedule Mongolia and Dulguun Enkhbat of of the Asian Indoor and Martial Mongolia are also among the men Arts Games and a format that will to watch. become an Olympic sport at Turkmenistan, 21st in the FIBA 2020 is rapidly growing in ratings, are the highest-ranked popularity worldwide. team in the women’s Sixteen teams in the men’s competition. tournament and 12 in the wom- At the Islamic Solidarity Games en’s promise to offer spectacular this year, they downed a powerful action for spectators and make Syria team after overtime in the the competition the hottest ticket quarter-final thanks to a free throw in town. scored by Ayna Gokowa of The Qatari contingent Turkmenistan are among the Turkmenistan. takes part in the opening favourites to claim gold in both Gokowa, Alicia Magarian of ceremony of the 5th tournaments but will not find it Syria and Lea Elvensia Wolobubo Asian Indoor and Martial easy. Kahol of Indonesia are among the Arts Games in Ashgabat, Indonesia, Syria and the players to watch. The latter led Turkmenistan on Sunday. Islamic Republic of Iran will vie Indonesia to gold-medal success 30 SPORT TUESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2017

Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe (left) scores a goal past Lyon’s Portuguese goalkeeper Anthony Lopes during the French L1 match against Olympique Lyonnais at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris yesterday. Mbappe makes winning debut at PSG

Paris former champions Lyon Three points clear remaining and Lyon looking for AFP emerged with plenty of honour, a deserved equaliser Neymar if not the three points. Sixth successive win passed to Mbappe with the ylian Mbappe played PSG were restricted to just a pushes Unai Emery’s 18-year-old Monaco recruit’s a decisive role on his handful of shots in the first side three points clear close range shot hitting Lopes Parc des Princes period as Lyon’s defence dog- of defending and bouncing off Morel into the debut for Paris gedly refused to roll over. champions Monaco Lyon goal. Saint-Germain on PSG’s best chances came a who had maintained Lyon, losing for the first time KSunday in a thrilling 2-0 win minute from the break when on this season, left Parc des Princes their title push with a over Lyon with both goals a counter attack Mbappe, in fifth place, eight points adrift win over Strasbourg accreditated to the visitors. appearing before his home sup- of the leaders. Lyon’s youngsters proved porters for the first time after Lyon coach Bruno Genesio more than a match for PSG who outings at Metz and Celtic, fed to use his head to stop Lucas reflected: “I don’t think there’s a had to wait until the last quar- Neymar with the Brazilian’s Tousart’s header, then seconds club in France that can compete ter of an hour before Lyon rasping shot boxed away by later Tanguy Ndombele with PSG for the title, but for one defender Marcelo deflected the Lyon keeper Anthony Lopes. unleashed a superb strike from match, yes.” ball into his own goal. On the restart Mbappe was 30m which had sparks flying off Earlier a sizzling Mario Balo- Then four minutes from time switched to take Neymar’s place the crossbar. telli strike ten minutes from time Mbappe rushed onto Neymar’s on the right. On 72 minutes Emery intro- gave Nice a 1-0 win at Rennes assist with his close range shot The second half was only duced Giovani Lo Celso for Julian and Marseille pulled out of an bounding off Jeremy Morel to minutes old when Lyon striker Draxler, and the move proved early season slump when a Clin- settle the electric encounter. Nabil Fekir troubled PSG keeper decisive when Lo Celso crossed ton Njie brace gave the This sixth successive league Alphonse Aerola with a tight- from the left with Cavani nudg- ambitious southerners a 2-0 win win pushed Unai Emery’s side angled shot. ing the ball towards goal with the at Amiens. three points clear of defending On 55 minutes Neymar, outside of his foot before its On Saturday a revitalised champions Monaco who had brought down outside the box deflection off Lyon defender grabbed a brace maintained their title push with by Fekir, flicked the ensuing Marcelo. in Monaco’s 3-0 win over Stras- a 3-0 win over Strasbourg 24 freekick over the wall only for a Lopes then did brilliantly to bourg and Saint-Etienne moved hours earlier. diving Lopes to parry the ball save a Cavani penalty awarded up to third with a 1-0 win over Lyon’s visit on paper had away from the top far corner. after Ferland Mendy had felled Dijon. Nantes continued their looked to be PSG’s toughest test The PSG crowd then had its Mbappe. good form under Claudio Rani- of the Ligue 1 season so far, and collective heart in its mouth as Cavani struck the spot kick eri, as they beat Caen 1-0 to so it proved. Lyon launched attack after low and left with Lopes’ inter- make it four games unbeaten PSG forward Edinson Cavani (left) and team-mate Neymar react Despite their 466m euro attack on Aerola in the home vention sending it ricocheting off without conceding a goal while during the French Ligue 1 match against Lyon at the Parc des strike force of Neymar, Edinson goal in a thrilling passage of play. the upright and to safety. Bordeaux stayed unbeaten with Princes Stadium in Paris on Sunday. Cavani and Mbappe seven time PSG captain Thiago Silva had With four minutes a 1-0 victory at Toulouse. Napoli hit Benevento for six Wolfsburg fire coach

Milan in four league games. His first Jonker, hire Schmidt AFP was a left-footed volley from the edge of the box to beat Andrea Berlin apoli bounced back from Consigli on 16 minutes, the sec- AFP Champions League dis- ond a close-range effort again Nappointment to keep surprising the Sassuolo goal- ndries Jonker became the first head coach to be their perfect record and keeper just after the break and sacked this season when Wolfsburg replaced him with ex- join Inter Milan at the top of the the third a sublime free-kick on AMainz boss Martin Schmidt yesterday. table on Sunday. 63 minutes. The 50-year-old Schmidt will be thrown straight into action A Paulo Dybala hat-trick Sassuolo managed to get a as Wolfsburg host Werder Bremen on Tuesday, then face lifted Juventus to a 3-1 victory at consolation through Matteo Pol- defending champions Bayern Munich away on Friday in key Sassuolo making it four wins out itano after a Stephan Lichtsteiner Bundesliga matches. of four for the champions, while error on 51 minutes. “I am very much looking forward to this task, even if there is Dries Mertens also scored three “I wanted to score one and not much time left to get used to it, since we have two important goals as Napoli demolished Ben- three came along,” said Dybala games in front of us,” said Schmidt ahead of his first training evento 6-0. Inter Milan beat after his second hat-trick of the session on Monday night. Crotone 2-0 on Saturday for a season and his 52nd goal in his The Swiss coach spent seven years at Mainz, where he was maximum 12 points in the 100th match for Juventus. promoted to head coach in February 2015, but was dismissed in campaign. “The team gives me confi- May after poor results meant the team finished just clear of the Benevento were no match dence and I also compliment the relegation places. for Napoli, looking for a strong coach who gives me the freedom Wolfsburg have opted for a quick change in their coaching response after their 2-1 Cham- to play where I want.” team, sacking Jonker after just 203 days in charge. pions League defeat to Shakhtar But despite Dybala’s hero- The 54-year-old Jonker took charge in February, when he Donetsk. ics, Massimiliano Allegri said quit as boss of Arsenal’s youth academy, and managed to keep “We were unlucky in there was room for Wolfsburg up last season after winning a relegation play-off in ,” said Belgian forward improvement. May. However, Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at VfB Stuttgart proved to Mertens. “He (Dybala) is very young be the last straw. “Against Shakhtar we made Napoli’s Belgian striker Dries Mertens and has much room for Jonker’s entire backroom staff, including assistant coach mistakes and didn’t play our scores a penalty kick during the Italian improvement. When he plays and Arsenal legend Fredrik Ljungberg, have also been fired game, but today we showed we Serie A match against Benevento at San like that he is unstoppable,” said after taking four points from their first four games this season. can do damage.” Paolo Stadium in Naples on Sunday. Allegri. Behind the leaders, Lazio “We have two difficult games ahead of us this week, but we Brazilian Allan opened after are fourth after struggling to get didn’t want to implement a caretaker solution, rather install a new three minutes and Lorenzo first half. Napoli are the new Champions League flop in past Genoa 3-2 in Liguria to head-coach with immediate effect,” explained director of sport Insigne added a second after leaders on goal difference, but Barcelona. bring their tally to ten points. Olaf Rebbe. A statement by Wolfsburg’s supervisory board said quarter of an hour in Naples. Mertens played down title talk. The Argentine left the pitch The Romans could once they felt the team’s development had stagnated under Jonker. Mertens kicked off his hat- “It’s still a long journey, Inter ten minutes from the end to a again count on , “Decisive for us in taking this step was not just the impression trick with a 27th-minute volley, and Juve are doing well but we’ll standing ovation at the Mapei who scored a double, in reply made upon us during the game against Stuttgart, but rather based and then converted two penal- see game after game,” he added. Stadium following a masterclass to a brace from Genoa’s upon the perception of stagnated development amongst the team, ties, with Jose Callejon also Dybala’s heroics helped Juve performance by the 23-year-old, 16-year-old forward Pietro which was to a great extent newly formed during the summer,” getting on the scoresheet in the bounce back after their 3-0 who has now scored eight goals Pellegri. said Wolfsburg’s board. TUESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2017 SPORT 31 Rooney handed two-year driving ban

United Kingdom ordered to perform 100 hours court in a dark blue suit and AFP of unpaid work as part of a black tie and sat in the public 12-month community order. gallery next to his agent Paul ormer England captain His legal team asked the Stretford. Wayne Rooney was yes- judge to consider not imposing When asked how he pleaded Fterday banned from a community order because of to the charge that he drove driving for two years and his ongoing charitable work but under the influence of alcohol ordered to perform 100 hours he said he was “not convinced” while over the prescribed limit, of unpaid community work after that imposing a large fine he replied guilty. pleading guilty to “would have the same effect”. Michael Rainford, defend- drink-driving. Rooney, who rejoined boy- ing, said Rooney accepted the The Everton striker apolo- hood club Everton after 13 facts of the prosecution case in gised for an “unforgivable lack trophy-laden years at Manches- full and highlighted his charity of judgement” following his sen- ter United in July, tweeted an work. tencing by a court in northern apology to his 16.4 million “He is not somebody who England for being nearly three followers. pays lip service to the charities times over the drink-drive limit “Following today’s court as so many often do,” he said. while his pregnant wife and hearing I want publicly to apol- “This is somebody who is actu- their three sons were on ogise for my unforgivable lack ally hands-on with the work he holiday. of judgement in driving while carries out. It is something that He was stopped by police over the legal limit. It was com- is very close to his heart.” when driving a woman’s black pletely wrong,” Rooney said in Following the hearing, the Volkswagen Beetle at around a statement. footballer left court with his 2:00 am (0100 GMT) on Sep- “I have already said sorry to lawyers again followed by a Wayne Rooney, Everton striker and former England captain leaves Stockport Magistrates tember 1 and later arrested and my family, my manager and media scrum of TV cameras, Court, in Stockport, Britain, yesterday. bailed. chairman and everyone at Ever- press photographers and report- Stockport Magistrates’ Court ton FC. Now I want to apologise ers. His entourage fought their was told a breathalyser test to all the fans and everyone else way through the throng to a Rooney has been married to Rooney, England and Man- but he decided to call time on showed Rooney’s alcohol level who has followed and sup- waiting people-carrier with his high-school sweetheart chester United’s record his England career. was 104 microgrammes in 100 ported me throughout my tinted windows and Rooney was Coleen since 2008 and they are goalscorer, made a successful Rooney first burst onto the millilitres of breath. career. driven away. expecting their fourth child. start to his second Everton spell scene aged just 16 at Everton The drink-drive limit in “Of course I accept the sen- Everton manager Ronald He was given a warm wel- following his return, scoring on and went on to score 17 goals in England and Wales is 35 micro- tence of the court and hope that Koeman said earlier this month come at Old Trafford on his his first two Premier League 77 appearances for the “Toffees” grammes per 100 millilitres of I can make some amends the matter would be dealt with return to former club Manches- appearances. before moving to Manchester breath. through my community internally, adding that he was ter United on Sunday but it His form moved England United, where he won multiple Rooney, 31, was banned service.” “disappointed” by the drink- ended in disappointment with manager Gareth Southgate to trophies, including the Cham- from driving for two years and Earlier, Rooney entered driving charge. a 4-0 defeat for Everton. offer him an international recall, pions League.

Barcelona’s Bale strikes in vital Madrid win Dembele to undergo Madrid Madrid have now matched a AFP world record of scoring in 73 consecutive games set by Pele’s surgery today areth Bale responded Santos in the 1960s. in style to his critics However, the visitors’ joy Barcelona with a fine finish as lasted just nine minutes as Rod- AFP Real Madrid got back rigues levelled thanks to a to winning ways with blunder from Keylor Navas. arcelona’s record $125m Ga 3-1 win at on Rodrigues fired Alvaro Odri- signing Ousmane Dem- Sunday. ozola’s cross towards goal on the Bbele will undergo Borja Mayoral rewarded a volley, but the Real ‘keeper surgery on the torn hamstring bright start by Real with his first should have made a comforta- that has ruled him out of Madrid goal before Sociedad’s ble stop rather than letting the action for up to four months Kevin Rodrigues scored at both ball slip under his grasp. in Helsinki today. ends to give the visitors a 2-1 The match was then held up “Dembele travelled on half-time lead. as a cameraman had to be Monday morning to Helsinki, And Bale secured the three stretchered off with his leg heav- Finland, where he will points as he sped past Rodrigues ily strapped as he was injured undergo surgery to repair a and dinked the ball over from fans surging forward from rupture of the biceps femoris Geronimo Rulli for just his sec- a temporary stand behind the tendon in his left thigh,” Bar- ond goal of the season on the goal Sociedad were defending. celona said in a statement hour mark. Once the game got back yesterday. Victory moves the European underway, a crazy 60 seconds “Dembele was accompa- champions up to fourth and for Rodrigues swung the match nied by team physician, Dr. within four points of leaders back in Madrid’s favour. Ricard Pruna. Dembele will Barcelona. The left-back was inches be operated on Tuesday by Bale had received stinging away from bagging a second Dr. Sakari Orava.” criticism from the Spanish press when his looping effort came In pictures published by and Madrid fans for his under- back off the bar. Spanish sports daily Marca, whelming displays in Ronaldo’s However, Real broke Dembele needed the aid of a absence in recent weeks as Real Real Madrid’s forward Gareth Bale (centre) celebrates his team’s third goal with team-mates straight up the other end and wheelchair as he left Barce- dropped points at home to Casemiro (right) and Borja Mayoral during the Spanish league match against Real Sociedad the unfortunate Rodrigues lona airport for the Finnish Valencia and Levante. at the Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian on Sunday. turned Mayoral’s cross into his capital. “It’s great to always score, own net. The French international but the most important thing was Bale sealed the points after has made just three appear- to get the three points for the hard and that’s all I can do. you bounce back.” Without the start up front. And the French- the break by scoring for the fifth ances for Barca since sealing team, get back on track and get “I can’t control what goes on, suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, as man’s faith was rewarded inside straight match at Anoeta as his his move from Borussia Dort- back to winning ways,” Bale told I can only control how hard I he completed a five-game ban, 20 minutes when Mayoral swept pace took him beyond the Socie- mund last month for a fee that Spanish TV station Movistar. work on the pitch. and injured , home a loose ball with a classy dad defence before coolly could rise to as much as 145m “I just have to try to keep my “You go through ups and handed finish from close range. chipping over the advancing euros based on performance- head down and keep working downs in your career -- it is how 20-year-old Mayoral a shock Mayoral’s strike meant Rulli. related bonuses. Al Sadd and Al Rayyan drawn Under-23 League in same group for QSL Cup

Doha QSL CUP DRAW when the competition will take QNA Group A: Al Duhail, Al Gharafa,, Al Kharaitiyat, Al a two-week break for interna- Sailiya, Al Khor, Qatar SC. tional football.

mir Cup and Qatar Cup win- Group B: Al Sadd, Al Rayyan, Umm Salal, Al Arabi, The schedule will be ners Al Sadd were drawn in Al Ahli, Al Markhiya. announced in the coming days and Ethe same group along with Al the matches will be played on a Rayyan for the upcoming QSL Cup. league cum knockout format. At yesterday’s draw ceremony Sailiya, Al Khor and Qatar SC. The match venues will be held in the presence of represent- The club ranking were decided decided in coordination with the atives from all the 12 QNB clubs, according to the QSL standings of Ministry of Culture and Sports. Al Sadd, which started the season last season. The tournament is independ- by winning the Sheikh Jassim Cup, Al Duhail, the champions of the ent of the QNB Stars League. were placed in the same group 2016-17 league, were top seeds of The yellow and red cards are along with Al Rayyan, Umm Salal, Group A, and Al Sadd, the runners- separate from the league, and the Al Arabi, Al Ahli and Al Markhiya up, top seeds of Group B. player who receives the fourth Players of Al Duhail celebrate after scoring a goal against Markhiya in the Under-23 in Group B. The tournament is set to yellow card or red card will be QNB Stars League in Doha yesterday. Al Duhail won 6-0. In the other match, Al Rayyan Group A consists of Al Duhail, take place after the third week suspended in the competition beat Al Kharaitiyat 5-2. Al Gharafa, Al Kharaitiyat, Al of QNB Stars League action itself. 32 SPORT TUESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2017 TUESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2017 SPORT 33 Vettel loses Ricciardo aims high as Red huge ground in title race after Bull rekindle past memories

Singapore blip Singapore targeting a dominant weekend DRIVER Reuters for Red Bull. STANDINGS “(I’m) A little bit disappointed Singapore ed Bull rekindled memo- to miss out on a win, but I’ve still AP ries of their pomp at the got to be pretty grateful and 1. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes 263 RSingapore Grand Prix, but happy with another podium,” the 2. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Fer- n the space of three races, Sebastian Vettel team driver Daniel Ricciardo ever-smiling Australian, who has rari 235 has dropped twice as far behind Lewis Ham- doesn’t expect a three-way tus- finished in the top three on seven 3. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Mercedes 212 Iilton as he was ahead of him. sle at the top in Formula One just occasions this year, added. 4. Daniel Ricciardo () Red After winning the Hungarian Grand Prix in yet. Formula One next heads to Bull 162 late July, Vettel led by 14 points, with both driv- The Milton Keynes-based Malaysia, where Ricciardo led 5. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 138 ers on four wins heading into the summer outfit went into the weekend with Verstappen in a one-two last break. their sights set squarely on vic- year, after Lewis Hamilton retired 6. Max Verstappen () Red But after crashing out on the first lap in Sun- tory, as the tight twists of the his Mercedes from a comforta- Bull 68 day’s Singapore GP, the Ferrari driver trails 23-turn Marina Bay street circuit ble lead with a blown engine. 7. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Force India 68 Hamilton by 28. played to their strengths. But while Red Bull — who 8. Esteban Ocon (France) Force India 56 “That was very disappointing and it was Ricciardo couldn’t quite pull had been expected to be Mer- 9. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) Toro Rosso 48 definitely not the result we were expecting,” off the triumph he had been cov- cedes’ closest challengers this 10. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene eting, instead finishing second for season — have made progress said. “But it doesn’t mean that the battle is all the third year in a row, while after a slow start to the year, Ric- Renault 34 over, just that it has become more difficult.” team mate Max Verstappen was Red Bull’s Australian driver ciardo feels the form they showed 11. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Williams 31 Yet it might seem to Mercedes that, for all wiped out in a first-corner crash Daniel Ricciardo in Singapore is a one-off for now. 12. Lance Stroll (Canada) Williams 28 of his experience, Vettel is throwing away the within seconds of the start. The 28-year-old, who scored 13. Romain Grosjean (France) Haas 26 Formula One title. But Red Bull, who won four the team’s most recent triumph 14. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) Haas 11 “Clearly we would not feel comfortable in straight drivers’ and constructors’ The Dutch 19-year-old also at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 15. Fernando Alonso (Spain) McLaren 10 Ferrari’s shoes,” Mercedes head of titles at the turn of the decade, topped the opening two phases June, remains confident however Toto Wolff said. “But this is not the time for did find a purple patch of form of qualifying and would have of scoring at least one more vic- 16. Jolyon Palmer (Britain) Renault 8 cheering.” around the Singapore track rem- been Formula One’s youngest tory before the season ends in 17. Stoffel Vandoorne () Hamilton has won all three races relatively iniscent of their glory years. ever pole-sitter but for a sensa- Abu Dhabi in six races’ time. McLaren 7 comfortably since the championship resumed Ricciardo topped both ses- tional lap by Ferrari’s Sebastian “I think we can be podium 18. Pascal Wehrlein (Germany) Sau- in August, and with only six GPs remaining Vet- sions on the opening day of Vettel. cars, probably Malaysia, , ber 5 tel faces a huge task to stop Hamilton. track action before Verstappen “Coming here, I really felt the Austin,” said Ricciardo. 19. Daniil Kvyat () Toro Rosso 4 “We guarantee that we will be fighting right Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton dislodged the Australian during package we were coming with (a “But yeah, we might need to the final corner of the very last Grand Prix celebrates after winning the Formula One Saturday’s final hour of prac- win) was a realistic goal of ours some alternate conditions to 20. Marcus Ericsson (Sweden) Sauber 0 of the year,” Arrivabene said. Singapore Grand Prix in Singapore on Sunday. tice in the build up to that we thought we could really give us raw pace to fight 21. Antonio Giovinazzi () Sauber 0 Mercedes is still expecting a challenge. qualifying. achieve,” said Ricciardo, who was for a win.” But it will be abundantly harder now for Vettel because, unlike last season, Hamilton has so far not retired from any races. Although he has failed to finish on the podium four times for Mercedes this season, that is the same number as Vettel’s finishes outside the top three. Luck rains on Hamilton After winning three of the first six races, Hamilton warns of Vettel’s grip has loosened with only one win in the past eight. Singapore Points have been thrown away, too. Reuters At the British GP in July, Vettel looked at least assured of a podium finish until an unex- ormula One leader Lewis pected tire problem at the end of the race Hamilton needed a miracle Ferrari F1 fightback bumped him down to seventh. going into Sunday’s Singa- On Sunday, he had a great chance to win pore Grand Prix and the starting from pole position on a hard-braking Briton certainly got it on his track much more suited to Ferrari than Fway to an against-all-odds win at the Singapore finish the first wet race on the floodlit contrasted with his joy after qualifying, Mercedes. Marina Bay street circuit. AFP streets of Singapore, which started with a when he pulled out a mesmerising lap to A few seconds later, he was out of the race. The triple champion, starting fifth game-changing smash and saw three grab pole. Vettel made a hasty error of judgment try- with three cars between him and ewis Hamilton warned the Formula safety cars. With his 60th win, Hamilton is slowly ing to cut off Max Verstappen heading into the pole-sitting title-rival Sebastian Vet- One championship was far from over Pole-sitter Vettel and third-placed closing on Michael Schumacher’s record first turn and ultimately caused a crash that tel, had expected a tough evening of after Ferrari’s first-lap disaster in Sin- Raikkonen sandwiched Red Bull’s Max Ver- of 91 -- but he said the great German’s also took out Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikko- damage limitation. gapore put him in the driving seat stappen going into the first corner, resulting haul of seven world titles was far from his nen — who had made a blistering start Instead, the 32-year-old was Lfor his fourth world title. in a crash which took out all three and also mind. — Verstappen and Fernando Alonso. granted rain that levelled the playing The Mercedes driver said he was ended the race of McLaren’s Fernando “It’s hard enough to get these cham- Vettel apologized to his Ferrari team field, carnage at the start that took expecting a strong response from Ferrari Alonso. pionships won one at a time, it’s hard afterward. out Ferrari’s Vettel and a big break in after both Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raik- Asked whether it was karmic retribu- enough just to get this fourth one,” he said. With both Ferraris out, Mercedes had a clear the championship fight. konen went out after a crash at the first tion for Azerbaijan, when Vettel finished “I’m loving driving more than ever. I path as Hamilton won his 60th career race and “God blessed me today, for sure,” corner. ahead of Hamilton despite driving into him, feel like I’m driving better than ever. I feel teammate Valtteri Bottas took third. Hamilton, who went into the race Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton drives during the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix in Singapore on Sunday. Hamilton had laboured in qualifying, the Briton told Sky Sports: “I don’t know if the most whole as a driver that I’ve ever Within Mercedes, Hamilton’s title charge three points ahead of Vettel but came starting from fifth, but he drove brilliantly it’s karma but whatever it is I will definitely been, which is a great feeling.” is now the priority. away with a 28-point cushion, said in the wet and under lights to open up a take it.” He added that his priority this year, Although team orders are very unlikely to on the podium. season’s first back-to-back winner, He was even told at one point not Raikkonen spearing into the side of potentially decisive 28-point lead over Vet- Verstappen said Vettel’s move to cut after team-mate Nico Rosberg narrowly be imposed, it is clear — unofficially at least — “As soon as it rained I knew where the Briton had been forced to put his to open too big a gap over Daniel Ric- Vettel’s car and all three drivers were tel in the standings. him off at the start was an unnecessary risk beat him to last season’s title, was simple: that Bottas will be racing to help Hamilton equal I was going to finish.” hopes of a third consecutive triumph ciardo’s pursuing Red Bull for forced to retire. The 32-year-old Briton has now won by the German, who held a 20-point lead keep errors to a minimum. Vettel on four world titles. Hamilton’s Mercedes had suffered on ice. strategic reasons. The gap between Hamilton and the last three races, but he said there was in July but may now have seen his season “For me (Singapore) was just about Bottas has had a fine first season since join- from a distinct lack of pace around But in the damp conditions, with Vettel’s failure to finish turned Vettel is now bigger than it has ever still a long way to go with six grands prix go up in smoke. staying focused and not making any mis- ing as an emergency late replacement for the twists of the 23-corner Singapore Sunday’s race the first to be hit by rain what Hamilton already expected to been this season with six of the 20 left in the season, starting with Malaysia “If you are fighting for the world cham- takes. Something I’m very set on this year,” Rosberg, who retired days after winning the circuit in qualifying. in the decade that Singapore has be a good day into a perfect one. races still to run. next week. pionship you shouldn’t take those risks he said. 2016 title. Bottas has even exceeded expecta- The layout played to Ferrari’s and hosted it, Hamilton’s Mercedes came The German made a clean start The Briton will hold on to the “Honestly, I think it’s going to be very squeezing someone that much. You can “Coming from last year, where there tions with 10 podiums in 14 races, including Red Bull’s strengths and as the two into its own. but, veering left, squeezed Red Bull’s overall lead even if he fails to finish close in the next races,” he said, warning see what happens,” Verstappen told Sky were lots of mistakes, this is a year I try two wins, and sits in third place overall. teams fought for pole position, Ham- “It seemed to work in those trick- front-row contender Max Verstap- the next race in Malaysia on Oct. 1 and that Ferrari would be particularly strong in Sports. to make sure that, if I’m going to grow With Hamilton ahead and Bottas closing ilton never realistically looked like ier, cooler, slippier conditions,” pen into Ferrari team mate Kimi Vettel wins. Japan and Brazil. “It’s hard to predict.” For Vettel, a four-time winner in Sin- anywhere, in any space, that’s going to behind, Vettel is under pressure to deliver at being in contention. Hamilton, who now has seven wins Raikkonen. “It couldn’t be a more perfect sce- Hamilton was one of only 12 drivers to gapore, it was a miserable night and be it.” the Malaysian GP in two weeks’ time. Heading into the weekend as the to Vettel’s four, told journalists. Contact between the pair sent nario, really, for us,” Hamilton said.

Verstappen blames Vettel for reckless driving Ferrari’s Kimi Singapore GP attendance Raikkonen and Red Bull’s Max Singapore whose miscalculated move ultimately He became the youngest to win a about Verstappen over race radio. On AP forced his Ferrari teammate Kimi Raik- race in Spain and to start from the Sunday, Verstappen was the one Verstappen walk away after crashing rises 19 percent in 2017 konen and McLaren’s Fernando Alonso front row of the grid in Monaco — at complaining. fter being on the receiving end out of the race. just 18 years old. After trudging back to his garage, out of the Singapore of reckless driving at the Singa- “You shouldn’t take those risks to Then, at the Brazilian GP near the he lamented his bad luck. Grand Prix at the Singapore spectators. Singapore GP Apore Grand Prix, Max squeeze someone that much,” contin- end of last season, he produced one “I was in the middle without doing Marina Bay Street Reuters The sport’s first night Verstappen was quick to blame Sebas- ued Verstappen, who clearly felt Vettel of the finest performances in years. It anything wrong,” he said of Sunday’s Circuit in Singapore race marked its 10th anni- tian Vettel. had transgressed. “I don’t think it was was a sheer masterclass in overtak- chaotic Turn 1 incident. “If I make a on Sunday. ttendance at the Sin- versary this year and has 260,400 Verstappen was forced to retire a racing incident.” ing as he carved his way through the mistake myself and go off, that’s a dif- Verstappen ran into gapore Grand Prix established itself as one of Sunday’s event from Sunday’s race after the first lap, Although he had good cause to field in driving rain, and had F1 ferent story.” Raikkonen in the Arose 19 percent in the most popular and glam- attracted an overall the seventh time in 14 races that the question Vettel, it was somewhat ironic observers in awe at the sheer bril- Yet just two months ago, even his first lap of the race 2017, underscoring the pop- orous of Formula One’s attendance of 260,400. Red Bull driver has failed to finish. coming from Verstappen. liance of his driving. own Red Bull teammate Daniel Ric- and the contact ularity of the race, whose events. Last week, the sport This time it wasn’t engine failure, The Dutch teen turns 20 at the end But he also strongly upset drivers ciardo publicly criticised Verstappen between the pair contract was extended last and race organisers con- like on several occasions this season, of September, but he already has a rep- along the way in 2016 — none more at the Hungarian GP. sent Raikkonen week for four years. firmed that the Singapore but Vettel causing a first-lap crash that utation of his own in Formula One. His so than Vettel and Raikkonen. Ricciardo’s race was over after Overall attendance hit Grand Prix would stay on the spearing into the 10 years was easily avoidable. aggressive, unapologetic, fearless — and Raikkonen criticized him sternly Turn 2 with Verstappen the perpetra- 260,400, higher than the Formula One calendar until side of Vettel’s car Formula One’s first “When you’re fighting for a world even borderline dangerous — approach at the Hungarian GP and even more tor, recklessly swerving into him and event’s 10-year average, 2021. and all three drivers night race marked its championship you shouldn’t do that,” thrust Verstappen into the spotlight last heavily at the Belgian GP. unable to contain his urge to event organiser Singapore Sunday’s race, which 10th anniversary this an upset Verstappen said of Vettel. “It season, almost as much as his superb At the Mexican GP in October, Vet- overtake. were forced to retire. GP said in a statement on was won by Lewis Hamilton, year. was not very clever.” driving highlighted his potential as a tel completely lost his cool, delivering Verstappen subsequently apolo- Sunday. The 2016 edition would otherwise have been Race stewards cleared Vettel, future world champion. a barrage of expletives gized to Ricciardo. attracted about 219,000 the last in the city-state. 34 SPORT TUESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2017

PGA golfer Marc Leishman kisses the Wadley Trophy and holds the Leishman pips Rose BMW Championship Trophy after winning the BMW Championship golf tournament at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest on Sunday. to win BMW trophy

Chicago GOLF: WORLD RANKINGS (TOP 15) Only the top 30 players in the AFP standings advance to the season 1. (1) Dustin Johnson (US) 12.03 finale, where a $10m play-off bonus arc Leishman fired a 2. (2) Jordan Spieth (US) 10.41 will be up for grabs. final-round 67 on Sun- 3. (3) Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 9.00 The four players who moved into day to complete a 4. (4) Justin Thomas (US) 7.94 the top 30 this week included Mas- wire-to-wire victory in ters champion Sergio Garcia, who the BMW Champion- 5. (5) Jon Rahm (Spain) 7.70 jumped from 34th to 25th in the Mship, beating Justin Rose and Rickie 6. (9) Jason Day (Australia) 6.60 standings with a tie for 12th. Fowler by five strokes. 7. (10) Rickie Fowler (US) 6.58 Five-time major winner Phil Australia’s Leishman had seized 8. (6) Rory McIlroy (Britain) 6.57 Mickelson came up just short in his control of the penultimate event in bid to book a Tour Championship the US PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup play- 9. (7) Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 6.46 berth. offs with a scintillating 62 on 10. (8) Sergio Garcia (Spain) 6.30 Garcia was embroiled in a lengthy Thursday. 11. (11) Brooks Koepka (US) 5.88 rules discussion at the 18th, where He started the fourth round at 12. (12) Alexander Noren (Sweden) 5.62 his second shot landed on the rocks Conway Farms with a five stroke lead aside a creek. that twice dwindled to two shots over 13. (13) Matt Kuchar (US) 5.57 Eventually the Spaniard took a Rose before Leishman finished con- 14. (15) Justin Rose (Britain) 5.47 drop and made a par that was enough

fidently, with birdies in three of the 15. (22) Marc Leishman (Australia) 5.18 to punch his Tour Championship last four holes. ticket. He rolled in a 19-footer from the “I had the possibility of playing it fringe at the 72nd hole to celebrate against the rock because it was flat,” his third US PGA Tour title with a for the tournament and his 23-under Garcia said. 23-under par total of 261. tied the tournament low in relation “The grandstand on the right side The victory was a vindication to par, set by Dustin Johnson last year. of the green was in my way, so I was after Leishman was unable to close England’s Rose had seven bird- able to get relief from that. So, (I) out a win two weeks ago at TPC Bos- ies -- and an ill-timed bogey at 17 dropped inside the hazard.” ton, where his challenge was doomed -- in a 65 for 266. Garcia played alongside Mickel- by five bogeys on the back nine. Fowler had five birdies in his son, whose bid to book his trip to East “There’s probably a few little four-under 67 to join Rose on Lake included an eagle at the 15th. scars from two weeks ago,” Leish- 18-under. Former world number one The American played the final three man said. Jason Day of Australia was alone in holes in one-under par, but finished “I was really determined to not fourth after a 69 for 268. 34th in the FedEx Cup standings. let that happen again, to try and give Leishman, who won the Arnold Asked if the delay as Garcia con- myself a big enough buffer that I Palmer Invitational in March, moved sidered his options bothered him could get it done. to fourth in the FedEx Cup standings before his own birdie attempt, Mick- “And I got it done.” going into the season-ending Tour elson quipped: “No. I needed that Leishman’s 261 was a record total Championship in Atlanta. extra 38 minutes to read that putt.” Cup organisers told to hasten preparations

London accelerate the selection of Reuters training venues,” he said, stressing that the next two rganisers of the 2019 months would be critical to the in All stakeholders, including government success of the important event. OJapan have not made suf- and host cities, will need to continue to Wednesday marks the two- ficient progress in key areas and year countdown for the event must pick up the pace of prepa- play their part to ensure a successful and Japan will mark the mile- rations, Tournament Director event, says Tournament Director Gilpin stone by parading the Webb Ellis Alan Gilpin has said. Cup in 12 host cities and the With Asia’s first Rugby World country’s Top League clubs over Cup just two years away, Gilpin 46 days. Australian cricket captain Steve Smith (right) and his wife expressed his concerns after a “All stakeholders, including leave the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport third round of tournament government and host cities, will in Kolkata yesterday. review meetings this year in need to continue to play their Tokyo on Sunday. tournament. “There are areas “We have reminded our part to ensure a successful event Gilpin and his team evalu- where the organising commit- friends at the organising com- that advances rugby on the ated operational areas, team tee has not progressed as much mittee that there is no time to domestic and global stage and Indian attack more services, venues, ticketing, as we would expect by this lose with two years to go. shows the best of Japan as a host tournament budgets and host stage,” Gilpin said in comments “The Japan Rugby 2019 to the world,” added the Tour- city operations for the Septem- published by Kyodo news Organising Committee recog- nament Director for the 2019 than just spin, warns ber 20 to November 2 2019 agency. nise that they need to Cup. Aussie skipper Smith Kaino in line for recall against Pumas Chennai some quality seamers as AFP well,” he added. Wellington to New Zealand shortly before It was fast bowlers Jas- Reuters the Rugby Championship ustralia were undone prit Bumrah and Hardik opener against the Wallabies by spin in the first one- Pandya who rattled the Aus- eteran loose forward Jer- in Sydney. Aday international but tralian top order before the ome Kaino is in line for an New Zealand Rugby said at skipper Steve Smith has spinners moved in. VAll Blacks recall after the time that an Australian warned his side need to be Leg-spinner Chahal and missing the opening four rounds media report about his private ready for India’s other bowl- Yadav also slipped in a few of the Rugby Championship due life had necessitated his return ing weapons. knuckle balls -- bowled with to a “personal issue”. to Auckland. The tourists were frus- fingertips and released in a The 34-year-old dual Kaino has been included in trated by wrist spinners way to reduce any kind of World Cup winner played all a 28-man tour squad for the Yuzvendra Chahal and Kul- rotation on the ball -- for three tests against the British September 30 clash against deep Yadav, who took five shock value. and Irish Lions but flew home in Buenos Aires along wickets between them, to go Smith insisted there were with flanker and lock down by 26 runs as they no surprises in the game, as . chased a rain-shortened tar- Australia had prepared for all ALL BLACKS SQUAD Following the All Blacks’ get of 164 in 21 overs. challenges. Forwards - Wyatt Crockett, Kane record 57-0 humiliation of South Australia had brought in “The guys knew what Africa on Saturday, Hansen has local bowler KK Jiyas ahead they were going to come with Hames, Nepo Laulala, Jeffery rested locks and of Sunday’s game to practise before this game. Everyone Toomaga Allen, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Dane , loose forwards facing a left-arm wrist spin- had seen the footage and Coles, Codie Taylor, Nathan Harris, and Sam Cane, and ner and Smith said the watched a bit of the series in backs Beauden Barrett and Ryan Scott Barrett, , Patrick (left) is thinking outside the box to keep his performance in Chennai was Sri Lanka where they bowled Crotty for the Pumas match. disappointing but that his quite a few (knuckle balls),” Tuipulotu, Vaea Fifita, , Another group will return players fresh. side have got to be ready for said Smith. (captain), , home after game against Pumas, more. “It wasn’t any surprise to Matt Todd ahead of the final away match media release yesterday. “This Kaino returned to training “We certainly haven’t just us. Batting for 20 overs is dif- Backs - Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Pere- against the Springboks as the All also gives us a chance to build last week but missed the match been focusing on wrist spin. ficult when you’re losing Blacks staff look to manage play- player depth and experience,” at North Harbour Stadium We’ve been facing our fast wickets and trying to go quite nara, Aaron Smith, Lima Sopoaga, ers’ workloads at the back end he added. where the All Blacks subjected bowlers in the nets and other hard. Anton Lienert-Brown, Ngani Lau- of the season. “It puts a lot of pressure on South Africa to their worst test net bowlers as well,” Smith “It didn’t work out as we mape, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Io- “We struggled at times last us going to Argentina because defeat. said. would have liked but we’ve ane, David Havili, Damian McKenzie, year, this is the hardest time of they are a good side and we’ll The All Blacks are undefeated “There hasn’t just been got to turn things around in the year for us, so we are just need to play well to perform after four rounds of the Rugby

that focus on spin bowling, a couple of days’ time in Nehe Milner-Skudder, Waisake Naho- trying to think outside the box there, but we’re confident that Championship and can success- that’s for sure. India have Kolkata,” he added. lo and think of ways to keep the the group we are taking there fully defend their title with victory players fresh,” Hansen said in a will be able to do the job.” over the winless Pumas. TUESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2017 SPORT 35 NFL: Brady and Pats bounce back; Chiefs and Falcons win

Los Angeles last season’s NFC championship AFP game. The Arizona Cardinals erased a 10-point fourth quar- he New England Patri- ter deficit to post a 16-13 ots’ early-season overtime victory over the Colts struggles didn’t last in Indianapolis. long. Phil Dawson, who missed a Quarterback Tom potential game-winning field Unsung hero TBrady threw for 302 of his 447 goal from 42 yards on the final passing yards in a 30-point first- play of regulation, booted a Kokoskov still half burst and the Super Bowl 30-yard field goal with 8:02 left champion Patriots bounced back in the extra period to win it. humble after from a season-opening defeat He got the chance after Tyr- with a 36-20 rout of the Saints ann Mathieu intercepted Colts in New Orleans on Sunday. quarterback Jacoby Brissett at feat Brady, who had completed the Indianapolis 22 yard line on just 16 passes in a 42-27 loss to the first play of overtime. Ljubljana Kansas City last week, connected In Los Angeles, Kirk Cousins Reuters on 19 of 25 with three touch- connected on an 11-yard touch- downs in the first half alone. down pass to receiver Ryan lovenia’s historic tri- It was the first time in the Grant with 1:49 to play to lift the umph at the European 40-year-old superstar’s career Washington Redskins to a 27-20 Sbasketball championship that he completed three TD victory over the Rams. left their coach Igor Kokoskov passes in the first quarter. There was disappointment (pictured above) as the “We were 0-1, and with the for Los Angeles’ other team, too, unsung hero after the Alpine 10-day break, it felt like a year,” as the Chargers, newly relocated country’s impressive 93-85 Brady said. from San Diego, dropped their win over in a rip-roar- “It was a good four quarters New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) is tackled by New Orleans Saints safety first home game at the StubHub ing final in Istanbul. of great competition. We got off Center 19-17 to the Miami Miami heat guard Goran Kenny Vaccaro (32) during the first quarter of their game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to a good start with some situa- Dolphins. Dragic, who poured in 35 in New Orleans on Sunday. tional things, but we still left Cody Parker kicked four field points on Sunday, grabbed all some things out there.” The Patriots led 30-13 at New England. Gronkowski, lim- field goal from rookie Jake Elli- goals, including a 54-yarder with the headlines after what he Brady hit Rex Burkhead for halftime and handed a Saints ited to eight games last season ott. But the Chiefs took the lead 65 seconds left, for Miami. said was his final interna- a 19-yard TD, connected with team led by prolific quarterback because of injury, appeared to for good with a 15-yard TD pass San Diego’s South Korean- tional game but the Rob Gronkowski on a 53-yard Drew Brees their second defeat have shaken off the rust as he from Alex Smith to tight end born rookie Younghoe Koo Slovenians have as much to score and threw a 13-yard touch- in as many games this season. caught six passes for 116 yards, Travis Kelce before Hunt missed a 44-yard field goal thank Serb exile Kokoskov. down pass to Chris Hogan. It wasn’t all good news for but he departed the game in the plunged over for another touch- attempt with nine seconds left. The 45-year-old spent a fourth quarter with an apparent down from two yards out. solitary year in the 1990s as groin injury. The Atlanta Falcons, who a senior head coach in his Hogan was limping in the collapsed spectacularly in the NFL RESULTS country at nondescript sec- second half and receiver Phillip Super Bowl against New England Atlanta 34 Green Bay 23 ond-tier side OKK Belgrade Dorsett left late with a knee in February, improved to 2-0 Seattle 12 San Francisco 9 before building a career as an injury. with a 34-23 victory over the assistant at six different NBA The Patriots’ final three scor- Green Bay Packers. Washington 27 LA Rams 20 outfits, most recently the Utah ing drives ended in field goals by In their first game at their Denver 42 Dallas 17 Jazz. Stephen Gostkowski. $1.5bn Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Oakland 45 NY Jets 20 Overlooked by Serbia’s Coming off their big season- the Falcons built a big lead and ruling basketball echelons, opening win over the Patriots, made it stand up. Miami 19 LA Chargers 17 Kokoskov learnt his trade the Chiefs got off to a slow start Matt Ryan threw for 252 Baltimore 24 Cleveland 10 across the Atlantic and but came alive in the second half yards and a touchdown and Dev- Tampa Bay 29 Chicago 7 applied it with such devastat- for a 27-20 win over the Phila- onta Freeman rushed for 84 Pittsburgh 26 Minnesota 9 ing effect against his delphia Eagles. yards and two short TDs for compatriots, as the Sloveni- Kareem Hunt got loose for a Atlanta. New England 36 New Orleans 20 ans capped a magnificent 53-yard touchdown run with Falcons safety Desmond Kansas City 27 Philadelphia 20 tournament with a 9-0 1:20 left in the third quarter to Trufant, who missed the second Tennessee 37 Jacksonville 16 record. put the Chiefs up 13-10. half of last season, had a 15-yard They blew away 2015 New Orleans Saints linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha (left) sacks New Arizona 16 Indianapolis 13

Philadelphia tied the game fumble return for a touchdown champions Spain 92-72 in the

England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) in the second Carolina 9 Buffalo 3 with 11:57 seconds left in the and set up another TD with an semis before overpowering quarter of their game on Sunday. fourth quarters with a 40-yard interception in the rematch of Serbia and Slovenia’s popu- lar Ekipa sports website (www.ekipa24.si) paid trib- Houston Astros ute to Kokoskov. MLB: Heyward steers Cubs starting pitcher “Graceful and humble in Justin Verlander victory as he’s always been, pitches against Kokoskov is a man of few the Seattle words who came through to 4-3 victory over Cardinals Mariners in the with sheer hard work and first inning of their deserves all the accolades as the greatest hero and creator game in Houston New York double to right-center in the of Slovenia’s basketball suc- BASEBALL RESULTS on Sunday. Agencies ninth by Tim Anderson. cess,” it said. Washington 7 LA Dodgers 1 He also got home run sup- Having started as an ason Heyward hit a go-ahead San Francisco 7 Arizona 2 port from Nicholas Castellanos, assistant at the Los Angeles RBI single with two outs in the Texas 4 LA Angels 2 Mikie Mahtook and rookie Clippers 2000-2003, Koko- San Diego 4 Colorado 3 Jseventh to help Chicago com- Jeimer Candelario. skov spent the next five years Chicago Cubs 4 St. Louis 3 plete a sweep of St. Louis. Elsewhere, Corey Kluber at the Detroit Pistons before Milwaukee 10 Miami 3 Heyward finished with three pitched seven scoreless innings spells at the Phoenix Suns, Houston 7 Seattle 1 hits for the Cubs, who have won and Edwin Encarnacion belted Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota 13 Toronto 7 six straight and climbed 17 NY Mets 5 Atlanta 1 his 36th home run as Cleveland Orladno Magic. games above .500. They also Oakland 6 Philadelphia 3 defeated Kansas City. Verlander stars as Astros Kokoskov took on a dual moved to six games ahead of Cincinnati 5 Pittsburgh 2 Kluber (17-4), who struck role as he transformed also- third-place St. Louis in the Tampa Bay 3 Boston 2 out nine and did not walk a bat- rans Georgia into a National League Central. Detroit 12 Chicago White Sox 0 ter, has pitched 22 consecutive win AL West division title respectable side during his

Pedro Stop (5-4) earned the Cleveland 3 Kansas City 2 scoreless innings over his last 2008-2015 spell at the former

Los Angeles victory after throwing a score- Baltimore 6 NY Yankees 4 three starts. Cody Allen pitched September 1, Verlander is 3-0 Soviet republic before he took less inning, and Wade Davis 1 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up AFP with an 0.86 ERA and 26 over as Slovenia’s head coach secured his 31st save in as many his 28th save. strikeouts over 21 innings. last year. chances. Detroit’s first no-hitter since Ryan Zimmerman hit a go- ustin Verlander pitched Derek Fisher and Marwin Having arrived to the Meanwhile, Matthew Boyd 2011. ahead in 7-1 win for Nationals seven strong innings and the Gonzalez belted two-run home 24-nation Eurobasket 2017 fell one out short of pitching Boyd yielded a two-out over Dodgers. JAstros belted four home runs runs in the fifth inning to help as no more than one of many in a 7-1 win over the Seattle Houston erase a 1-0 deficit. dark horses, the Slovenians Mariners on Sunday that lifted Fisher socked his fifth romped to their first basket- Houston to the American homer off Mariners right- ball podium finish as an League West division title. hander Andrew Moore and independent nation and a It’s the Astros seventh divi- Gonzalez greeted Mariners first gold medal in any team sion title -- but their first AL reliever James Pazos with his sport. West pennant. They won 22nd homer this season. Kokoskov heaped praise National League Central crown In the seventh inning, on his staff, the officials and in 2001 for their most recent George Springer bashed his players, who won the hearts previous division champion- team-leading 32nd home run of neutral fans with entertain- ship, prior to moving to the of the season into the box seats ing and free-flowing American League in 2013. in left field. Two batters later, basketball instilled into the Verlander allowed one run Carlos Correa hit his 21st home side by their American-styled on three hits and one walk with run to straightaway center field. coach. 10 strikeouts over seven The Astros moved into first “We had an incredible Chicago Cubs Jason Heyward (right) scores past St innings. place in the AL West on April 14 tournament and a memora- Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina during their In three starts with the with a 7-2 win over the Athlet- ble final which we will savour Astros since he was acquired ics and had remained atop the for the rest of our lives,” he MLB game on Sunday. from the Detroit Tigers on division ever since. told Ekipa. 36 SPORT TUESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2017 Darcis, Goffin take Belgium into final Paris : France to host Electronic calls AFP Belgians in clash for title ustralia’s hopes of reaching a “When David Goffin plays like that, to replace line first Davis Cup final in 14 years he’s one of the best in the world,” said were shattered on Sunday Kyrgios, whose own record in the tour- judges at Next when Belgium fought back nament now stands at seven wins and two from an overnight deficit to losses. Gen Finals winA their semi-final 3-2 and set-up a title Goffin admitted he was in peak form, showdown with neighbours France. firing 20 aces and 39 winners past Steve Darcis, the 33-year-old world Kyrgios. London number 77, held his nerve in the decid- “This was probably my best ever Davis Reuters ing rubber in Brussels, coasting to a 6-4, Cup match,” said the world number 12. 7-5, 6-2 victory over Jordan Thompson, “It was also the best match I have served ine judges face an a last-minute call-up by Australia skip- in my career.” uncertain future after per Lleyton Hewitt to replace John Jo-Wilfried Tsonga fought back from Lthe ATP announced that Millman. a set down against Dusan Lajovic to lead they will be replaced by David Goffin had levelled the semi- France into the final. “electronic line calls” at this final earlier Sunday by coming back to Yannick Noah’s hosts went into the year’s inaugural Next Gen defeat Nick Kyrgios 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4, day needing just one victory from the final Finals in Milan. 6-4, claiming his 15th win in 16 Davis Cup two singles rubbers to take an unassail- For the first time at an singles rubbers. able 3-1 lead against an understrength ATP event, the chair umpire Nine-time champions France made Serbia, who were missing Novak Djoko- will be the only official on the final by seeing off Serbia 3-1 in Lille vic, Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki. court, with ‘Hawk-Eye Live’ and will host the Belgians in the Novem- Lajovic had stunned Lucas Pouille in technology used to judge ber 24-26 championship match. the opening match on Friday and he eased whether shots are in or out. France won their most recent Davis to the opening set, only for Tsonga to find Decisions will be final Cup in 2001 before losing the 2002, 2010 his rhythm and eventually cruise to a 2-6, with players unable to chal- and 2014 finals. Belgium made the final 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 win. lenge calls as they do at most in 2015, losing to Britain. In the play-offs, where the winners tournaments via Hawk-Eye Darcis won his 22nd Davis Cup tie but will feature in the World Group next sea- playback. Goffin laid the foundation by winning both son, 2016 champions Argentina suffered Marginal calls will, how- of his singles matches against Australia the embarrassment of being relegated to ever, still be accompanied by who claimed the last title in 2003. the zonal groups after a 3-2 defeat to a visualisation on video Kazakhstan in Astana. screens around the stadium. Switzerland, the 2014 winners, edged Foot-faults, usually called Belarus 3-2 in Biel despite the absence of by judges positioned in line Roger Federer and injured Stan with the baseline, will be This was probably my Wawrinka. determined by a ‘review offi- Boris Becker’s first outing as head cial’ who will monitor the feet best ever Davis Cup of tennis with Germany ended with a of servers via cameras. match. It was also the 3-2 win over Portugal in Lisbon while The Next Gen ATP Finals the Netherlands overturned an over- in November, which will be Belgium’s Steve Darcis (left) and captain Johan Van Herck celebrate after best match I have served night 1-2 deficit to beat 2012 and 2013 contested by the top eight in my career, says Goffin champions to win 3-2 Darcis defeated Australia’s Jordan Thomson during their Davis Cup semifinal players aged 21 and under, in The Hague. in Brussels on Sunday. Inset: Belgium’s David Goffin celebrates after beating will feature a range of new It is the first time in 11 years that the Australia’s Nick Kyrgios. innovations including a shot Czechs have lost their World Group sta- clock and short sets. tus. stunned Russia 3-1 in in the World Group with a 4-1 win against Canada to victory over India in Edmonton Electronic line calling, Budapest while 2005 champions Croatia, Colombia in Bogota. thanks to a 6-3, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 win over Ram- however, raises the possibil- who were runners-up last year, also stay Rising star Denis Shapovalov, 18, led kumar Ramanathan. ity of judges being phased out for good -- ending the ritual of players scowling at officials when decision go against ATP RANKINGS (TOP 10) them. “This could be a landmark 1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9.465 Kerber gets Osaka revenge in Tokyo moment for officiating in our 2. Roger Federer (SUI) 7.505 sport,” Gayle David Brad- 3. Andy Murray (GBR) 6.790 Tokyo focus on every single point and shaw, executive vice 4. Alexander Zverev (GER) 4.470 AFP make it better than last time,” president of the ATP’s Rules 5. Marin Cilic (CRO) 4.155 said Kerber. and Competition department, 6. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 4.125 ormer world number one “Naomi is a tough opponent said. Angelique Kerber thrashed and a great talent. For sure she “Our athletes work 7. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 4.030 FJapan’s Naomi Osaka 6-3, will have great success in the incredibly hard and they 8. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 3.690 6-4 at the Pan Pacific Open future.” deserve the very best and

9. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 3.575 women’s tennis tournament in The 19-year-old Osaka, born most accurate officiating we 10. Pablo Carreno (ESP) 2.855 Tokyo yesterday to avenge a of a Haitian father and a Japa- can offer. The technology is humiliating loss at the US Open. nese mother, went on to reach now in a place where we feel Angelique Frenchwoman Kristina the third round of the US Open comfortable trialling this new Mladenovic suffered an epic Kerber of after stunning Kerber. system in a real tournament WTA RANKINGS (TOP 10) Tokyo meltdown, meanwhile, Germany But the world number 44 environment. in action 1. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 6030 as she was pulverised by Chi- almost appeared to be tanking “The Next Gen ATP Finals na’s Wang Qiang, who inflicted against at times at the venue for the in Milan is the perfect place 2. Simona Halep (ROU) 5965 the dreaded “double bagel” on Naomi Osaka 2020 Tokyo Olympics, such was to do this, and we look for- 3. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 5640 the eighth seed to win 6-0, 6-0 of Japan. her lack of gusto. She commit- ward to monitoring the 4. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 5520 and reach the second round. ted 38 unforced errors results and assessing the mer- 5. Venus Williams (USA) 4756 Kerber, seeded seventh, -- including a wild forehand on its of this new system.” 6. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 4640 crashed to a shock 6-3, 6-1 first- back to 14th in the world since completely in the second, giv- match point -- in a performance Hawk-Eye Live technology 7. Johanna Konta (GBR) 4520 round defeat by Osaka in New winning last year’s Australian ing Kerber a welcome she will want to forget in a has been tested for 18 months York last month as defending and US Open titles, ripped opportunity to work her way hurry. and Sam Green, Director of 8. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 4410 champion. But a repeat never forehands past her teenage back to form after a poor run of Elsewhere, Japanese wild- Tennis at Hawk-Eye, believes

9. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 3770 seemed likely on Monday as the opponent seemingly at will in results and to seal victory in an card Kurumi Nara beat it will become “the future of 10. Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 3502 German quickly took control. the first set. hour and 23 minutes. Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva tennis officiating”. Kerber, who has slipped Osaka’s game unravelled “I was trying to come out, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Omar and Pia claim top honours Swim for a Cause

The Peninsula drinking water to those in need. the hotel’s private beach for dis- increasing access to clean Sharq Village & Spa, a Ritz-Carl- tances ranging from 500 meters water in developing countries mar Mohamed and Pia ton Hotel, has embarked on a to 1Km, and over 65 participants through the Qatar Charity Hampel topped in the year-round of a series of activ- took part in the initiative, Foundation. Partners of the Omen’s and women’s cat- ities to contribute, engage and including members of the community program include egory of the 1km open water inspire the community, through region’s largest spa, and com- Six Senses Spa, H20 Swim Club, swimming challenge - Swim for Community Footprints with munity supporters. MAD Triathlon and TriClub a Cause - organised by Sharq Swim for a Cause, part of the In the 500 metres category, Doha. Village & Spa at Sharq Village & program. Michael Berndt topped in the Asela Jayaweera, Recreation Spa Beach. The Ritz-Carlton pro- men’s section while Manager of the hotel, thanked Michael Berndt finished gramme focuses on child Maisie Gilford reached the all the partners and first runner-up in the men’s sec- well-being; hunger and poverty finish line first in the women’s participants. tion while Mohd Syafei Bin relief; and environmental section. “At Sharq Village & Spa, we Ahmad and Ebrahim Yusuf responsibility. Paul Crooks and Francis are committed to actively sup- Alromaihi finished second The Community Footprints Hasek, clinched the first run- port our community and leave runners-up. programme, well known ner-up and second runner-up an imprint on them. The com- In the women’s section, throughout the community, places in the men’s section mitment from the community, Georgia Twigg took the first aims to raise awareness about while Jenisha Barretto finished our loyal guests and our Ladies runner-up spot followed by environmental issues and behind the winner in the wom- and Gentlemen, ensured the Sarah Neeson in the second encourages individuals to en’s section while Melanie event was a success and allows runner-up spot. actively initiate change in soci- Wolicki completed the podium us to come together to initiate The winners of 1km open water swimming challenge - Swim The popular swimming ini- eties around the globe. line-up. a difference,” Jayaweera said. for a Cause - pose for a photograph on the podium at Sharq tiative, aims to contribute to As part of the programme, The proceeds of the event The next event will be held Village & Spa Beach. provide safe and clean guests were invited to swim at were donated towards on October 21.