ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021 SPORTS 14

Puerto Rico’s Arroyo wins second-tier world title Alvarez stops Yildirim to retain super-middleweight belts MIAMI GARDENS, Florida, Feb 28, (AP): to score with combinations to the body in Saul “Canelo” Alvarez outclassed Avni the second. Yildirim (21-3) rarely threw Yildirim and retained his world super-middle- punches and the few he did, Alvarez blocked weight titles with a technical knockout after or slipped his shots. Alvarez stayed within Tour de champion Pogacar wins UAE Tour Yildirim failed to answer the bell for the fourth punching range and increased his output but ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Feb Dhabi Breakwater. Yates, who won last round. also was effective from distance and con- 28, (AP): Tour de France champion Tadej year’s race, recovered from a crash that Alvarez, of Mexico, nected with a flush counter right to the Pogacar won the UAE Tour on Saturday, took down a section of the peloton about dropped the Turkish head. finishing the weeklong race 35 seconds 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the finish. His challenger with a left “It doesn’t matter if he is stronger or taller,” ahead of British rider Adam Yates. team, INEOS Grenadiers, said he would be The Slovenian’s success was also a win checked at a hospital as a precaution. right combination to the Alvarez said about Yildirim, who began his head midway through for the United Arab Emirates, as he com- “He sustained cuts and bruises to his career at light-heavyweight before moving petes for UAE Team Emirates. João face but he does not appear to have suf- the third round. Alvarez down to the 168-pound class. “It doesn’t mat- followed with additional Almeida of Portugal was third overall, 62 fered any more significant injuries,” the ter if he has a good trainer. I came to do my combinations, pinning second behind Pogacar. team said on Twitter. job.” Chris Froome, a four-time Tour de Yildirim on the ropes. France winner, finished the race 22 min- Yildirim survived the CYCLING utes back in his debut with the Israel Start- round but absorbed suf- BOXING Alvarez Up Nation team. ficient punishment that Chris Harper of Australia was fourth forced his trainer Joel Saturday’s bout was the first of what Alvarez “Every win, every race has its own story. overall, 1:42 minutes behind Pogacar and Diaz to stop the fight. I want to continue like this,” Pogacar said. thee seconds ahead of American rider hopes will be a busy year seeking unification With the victory, Alvarez (55-1-2, 37 KOs) Caleb Ewan of Australia edged out Neilson Powless in fifth. successfully defended his World Boxing fights. Alvarez said there have been prelimi- Irishman Sam Bennett in a sprint to win the Pogacar won the rescheduled Tour de Council and World Boxing Association belts. nary conversations for a bout with Billy Joe Tadej Pogacar celebrates winning the UAE seventh and final stage - a 147-kilometer France in September, becoming the sec- “I came and did what I had to do,” Alvarez Saunders, the World Boxing Organization title- tour cycling race, after the seventh and last (91-mile) route from Yas Island to Abu ond-youngest winner in race history. said. “I had to win by knockout and I accom- holder, in May. Caleb Plant holds the fourth stage from Yas Mall to Abu Dhabi plished it.” sanctioning body belt. Breakwater, United Arab Emirates, on Feb landed the match against Alvarez after the Earlier, ’s McWilliams Arroyo The fight headlined the first boxing event at “Everybody wants a piece of Canelo but I 27. (AP) WBC designated him mandatory challenger. In won a second-tier world flyweight title with a 34-year-old Hard Rock Stadium, home of the am not going to let them take anything,” the lead-up to the fight, Yildirim said having fifth-round technical knockout over late Miami Dolphins. Alvarez said. Mexico’s history. previously sparred with Alvarez would help replacement Abraham Rodriguez. Arroyo orig- In a methodical first round, Alvarez set the As he continues to solidify his spot among “I respect history but I also want to make my him pull the upset. inally was scheduled to challenge WBC fly- pace early with lead left jabs to the head and the sport’s pound-for-pound elite, Alvarez also history,” Alvarez said. “Those that came before Alvarez and Yildirim both weighed 167 weight champion but and lefts and right to the body. is gaining additional ground for inclusion on me will always have my respect.” pounds, a pound under the super-middleweight Martinez withdrew from the bout Thursday Alvarez landed uppercuts and continued the short list of best fighters in boxing rich Inactive since February 2019, YIildirim limit. because of a hand injury. Reddick finishes 2nd, Jones 3rd Faivre wins ‘GS’ for first Snider gets Xfinity victory after Gragson slams into lapped car HOMESTEAD, Florida, Feb 28, (AP): The biggest challenge for the first- Noah Gragson had close to a 9-second time winner – the second in as many lead, the outside lane wide open and weeks in NASCAR’s second-tier the white flag waiting for him ahead. series – was finding victory lane. The JR Motorsports driver was on Snider missed the turn before having WCup victory in 4 years the verge of an elusive victory at to back up and try again. Homestead-Miami Speedway. And Reddick was second, followed by then the unthinkable happened. A Brandon Jones, Daniel Hemric, Jeb lapped car blew a tire and turned right Burton and pole-sitter Austin Cindric. Gut-Behrami locks up super-G title in race marred by crashes in front of him. A fraction of a second The race provided some proof that earlier or later and Gragson would Cindric might have more competition have cruised by and ended up in vic- than some expected after he finished , Bulgaria, Feb tory lane. first and second in the first two races. 28, (AP): Instead, Gragson was as much the story as won a World Cup race for Gragson had Snider. He was cruising toward his nowhere to go first win since last June when Starr the first time in more than and no time to blew a right-front tire and turned into four years on Sunday, stop. He earning a pat on his back slammed into David Starr and CAR RACING from French team-mate ended his day in . disappointing Faivre’s win came nine days fashion. the outside wall – and right in front of after he took a surprise gold medal Myatt Snider Gragson. in at the world cham- was the benefi- Gragson Gragson climbed out of his crum- ciary. Snider pled car, shook his head and fists in pionships. Pinturault was favorite won the Xfinity Series race Saturday, disgust. He took off his helmet and in that race but skied out early in taking the checkered flag in overtime gloves and waved to the crowd before his final run, handing the victory to after Gragson’s untimely wreck with stepping into a waiting ambulance for Faivre. two laps to go in regulation. a mandatory ride to the infield care In Sunday’s GS, Faivre was simply “What are you going to do?” center. faster than Pinturault in two runs on Gragson said. “You’ve got (idiots) in It was his third straight disappointing the Banderiza course. the way every single week.” finish at Homestead. Gragson had the Building on a big first-run lead, The 26-year-old Snider celebrated dominant car in both races at Homestead Faivre finished 0.75 seconds ahead of his first victory in 36 starts with a last year, but failed to win either. Marco Odermatt of , who reverse lap around the 1 1/2-mile “Definitely a bummer,” Gragson improved from sixth position. track. said. “They know who won this race The Richard Childress Racing driv- based on speed the last three times er spun his tires on the first of two we’ve been here. ... There’s only one SKIING restarts in overtime, but got a second thing we know how to do and that’s chance thanks to a late caution after AJ rebound.” Allmendinger spun. Snider didn’t Snider, the son of NASCAR broad- Pinturault came 0.06 further back in Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup super G, in make the same mistake twice, driving caster Marty Snider, took advantage third. Thibaut Favrot was 1.08 behind Val di Fassa, Italy, on Feb 28. (AP) by RCR team-mate Tyler Reddick and and put Richard Childress Racing in and was the third French skier in the turning the final two laps without victory lane for the first time in 2021. top four. Pinturault and Odermatt are also 1-2 long interruptions of the penultimate overall champion from Italy. much of a test. He had no friends and family members Faivre also won gold in the parallel in the overall standings. super-G of the season, which was won Gut-Behrami, who won gold in the “It’s just amazing to finally be in around to celebrate, which might not event at the worlds but had not tri- this position,” Snider said. have been a bad thing. umphed in a World Cup race since his The men’s World Cup moves to by Federica Brignone, the defending discipline at the world championships only previous win in Val d’Isère, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, for this month, finished 0.59 seconds France, in December 2016. three speed races from Friday through behind Brignone. The result gave the He came close in Saturday’s GS, Sunday. Swiss skier an insurmountable lead in when he also posted the fastest time in The events were rescheduled from the World Cup super-G standings of the opening leg before losing his Kvitfjell in response to anti-coronavi- 202 points over her only remaining advantage to Filip Zubcic of Croatia in rus measures from the Norwegian gov- challenger, teammate Corinne Suter. the final run. ernment. Suter, who won the title last year, Faivre avoided a similar scenario on In Moena, Italy, Swiss skier Lara finished 0.72 behind and third in Sunday and added three-tenths of a Gut-Behrami locked up the World Cup Sunday’s race. second to his lead. super-G title in Val di Fassa on Despite clinching the season-long This time Zubcic couldn’t threaten Sunday, finishing runner-up in a race title and winning two downhills the his victory. The Croatian skier slid marred by two nasty crashes. past two days, Gut-Behrami had her away on his inside ski in a left turn and Kajsa Vickhoff Lie of Norway and mood dampened by the crashes. finished more than three second off the Rosina Schneeberger of Austria had to “It’s difficult. We are all a bit tired. lead after the opening run, though he be taken off the hill by helicopter with It’s near the end of the season and still finished 14th following an out- unknown injuries. we’ve had three races in a row here. standing final run. Lie was thrown off the course after It’s physically demanding, but also The result reduced Zubcic’s chances catching an edge and landed awkward- mentally,” the Swiss skier said. in the battle for the season-long giant ly in the safety nets, and Schneeberger Second placed Mathieu Faivre of “I also felt very tired today, battled slalom title. lost her balance just before hooking a France celebrates on the podium of with my timing the whole run,” she With two races remaining, Pinturault gate with her right ski and spinning off an alpine ski, men’s World Cup added. “Each time those crashes make leads Odermatt by 25 points, with the course. giant slalom, in Bansko, on Feb 27. you aware that it all can happen so Myatt Snider celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Zubcic 64 behind in third. The incidents led to two half-hour- (AP) quickly.” Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida on Feb 27. (AP) Ex-champ Martínez has coronavirus Ireland crush Italy 48-10 to finally get first win Agut, Goffin reach Open Sud final MONTPELLIER, France, Feb 28, clay when they last met three years Wales rout England, on course for Grand Slam (AP): Top-seeded Roberto Bautista ago. CARDIFF, Wales, Feb 28, (AP): Wales stayed on England recovered through Anthony Watson’s try The Welsh Grand Slam bid has come as a big Agut beat Peter Gojowczyk 7-5, 6-1 Meanwhile, former Wimbledon course for a Grand Slam in the Six Nations after and a penalty by Farrell but Wales hit back for 24-14 surprise, considering they won only three of 10 and set up an Open Sud de France champion Conchita Martínez has benefitting from two contentiously awarded first-half when scrumhalf Kieran Hardy took a quick tap and games in 2020 under Wayne Pivac - and those victo- final against second-seeded David tested positive for the coronavirus. tries against England before finishing powerfully in a scooted over as England fullback Elliot Daly ries were against Italy, twice, and Georgia. Goffin of Belgium on Saturday. Martínez said on social media on 40-24 win. switched off. Their wins over Ireland and Scotland in the Six The Spaniard Saturday she is in quarantine at a Replacement flyhalf Callum Sheedy broke a 24-24 Another penalty from Farrell, followed by Ben Nations were narrow, and only came after their oppo- Bautista Agut hospital in Doha after the positive tie with three penalties from the 67th minute inside Youngs’ brilliantly taken try via a dummy at the nents each had a man sent off. is chasing a test on arrival in Qatar. an empty Principality Stadium before Cory Hill ruck, brought England back into the game again but England’s title defense is in ruins, having also 10th career title scored a last-minute fourth try - earning a bonus Wales capitalized on English indiscipline in the final been humiliated by Scotland at Twickenham in and first since point - for Wales, which followed up victories over quarter. Round 1. winning Doha TENNIS Ireland and Scotland in the opening two rounds. In Rome, Ireland finally won a Six Nations match in 2019. The Welsh secured the Triple Crown, but have by defeating Italy 48-10 in the Rome sunshine. Goffin, who their eyes on a much bigger prize with games to lost his previ- Martínez is the coach of former come at home to Italy then away to France. ous two semifi- world No. 1 Garbiñe Muguruza, who The Welsh powered to a 17-6 lead after 30 min- RUGBY nals in is set to play at the Qatar Open from utes, somewhat controversially. Firstly, winger Josh Montpellier, Monday. Adams scored in the left corner after receiving a seeks a first Bautista Agut The 48-year-old Martínez said she cross-field kick from flyhalf Dan Biggar while Following two losses to start the championship for ATP title since was experiencing “mild symptoms” England’s players were gathered around captain the first time since 1998, Ireland ticked all of its 2017 and fifth overall. of COVID-19. Owen Farrell and taking in water in front of the checklist for the match: It won, it played well, and it Bautista Agut was solid through- “I hope that I can soon be back on posts. French referee Pascal Gauzere had told Farrell scored a lot. The six tries were all converted by cap- out, saving the three break points he this swing of the Middle East tourna- to speak to his team after repeated infringements, and tain Jonathan Sexton, who finished the match in a faced, breaking the German qualifi- ments,” Martínez wrote in Spanish. England’s captain remonstrated with the match offi- comeback from another head knock. er’s serve four times, and winning “For now, I will be working via vid- cial about the awarding of the try. Ireland also had two tries disallowed while Italy 84% of his first-serve points. eocalls and connected online con- Then, fullback Liam Williams collected a ball that had men in the sin-bin in a scrappy second half. Goffin beat unseeded Belarusian stantly with Garbiñe.” had been dropped by winger Louis Rees-Zammit and While Irish morale was boosted, a better gauge of Egor Gerasimov 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in a Martínez won Wimbledon in 1994 managed to ground it under pressure over the line. Wales’ Liam Williams (front), scores his teams their progress will come at Scotland in two weeks. semifinal in which both players and helped Spain win five Fed Cups The TMO took a look at the try because Rees- second try during the Six Nations rugby union Italy’s record run of losses in the championship dropped serve three times. during the 1990s. She was elected to Zammit appeared to knock on - the ball initially went match between Wales and England at the reached 30 in a poor display of frustration at being Goffin leads Bautista Agut 3-2 in the International Tennis Hall of Fame forward off his hand only to then go backward off his Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on Feb squeezed by the Irish - 18 penalties conceded - and head-to-head matches, winning on last year. leg. 27. (AP) dominated up front.