MONDAY, MAY 29, 2017 SPORTS

Chevrolet Alghanim broadcast Europa Cup Final in Safat Al-Rai showroom Hosting Manchester United supporters club in Kuwait

KUWAIT: As part of its on-going activities to build a long- The undertaking complements Chevrolet Alghanim’s term relationship with the youth of Kuwait, Chevrolet sports initiative and solidifies its dedication to be a vital Alghanim, the exclusive distributor of Chevrolet vehicles in part of the youth’s lifestyles and passion. The event saw the Kuwait, was honored to invite the official Manchester attendance of more than 100 Manchester United support- United Supporters Club to Safat Chevrolet Alghanim show- ers who were treated with refreshments as they supported room in Al-Rai on May 25th and host the exciting televised their beloved football team through a stunningly giant dis- match between their beloved football club and its chal- play screen, cumulatively creating a enjoyable atmosphere lenger, AFC Ajax. bolstered by the club member’s enthusiasm for the game. The event reflects the Chevrolet brand’s commitment to Inspired by the game’s competitive spirit, Chevrolet be an integral part of the Manchester United bran as one of Alghanim also announced a special Instagram contest the biggest General Motors’ divisions and car manufac- where it had invited the participants for a chance to win X- tures; the car brand continues to be one of the club’s proud CITE vouchers, a red iPhone 7, and a Sony PS4. sponsors, supplying the team with jerseys for 7 years Displayed in the showroom were limited editions of throughout their tournaments. The total value of the spon- youth-oriented cars in conjunction with the event such as sorship has been estimated to be over 175 million Pound the Camaro - Manchester United edition with its daring Sterling, which means that the company will be paying a exterior and unique colors. A Silverado was also on display whopping 25 million Pound Sterling each year. with a new accessories packages that included a hood Kuwait’s Manchester United Supporters Club is consid- scoop, front bumper with LED lights, fender flares, off-road ered to be the oldest fan club in the country compared to wheels and tires, rear tailgate scoop, and bed cover. other local clubs. It was founded more than four years Chevrolet Alghanim looks forward to supporting the ago, and has been officially recognized by Manchester interest of the youth of Kuwait in future events as part of its United on November 27th, 2012, after the club members’ ongoing promise to build supportive relationship and trust official visit. for many years to come.

Teen sensation Duplantis eyes new heights

EUGENE: His first taste of elite competi- world junior record. It would also have tion may have ended in defeat, but been good enough to win the bronze schoolboy pole vault sensation Armand medal at last year’s Olympics. Duplantis is adamant that he can chal- Despite the fact that no 17-year-old lenge for a medal at the World has ever jumped higher, Duplantis Championships later this year. believes there is room for improve- Still only 17, Duplantis, known popu- ment. “It didn’t feel at all like a perfect larly as “Mondo”, has jumped higher than jump. Not even close actually. I any other pole vaulter in 2017, leaping a watched some video and it was a pret- world-leading 5.9 metres (19 feet 4.3 ty good jump but I didn’t think it was inches) at the Texas Relays in April. close to perfect,” he said. “I have a bet- On Saturday the teenage high school ter jump in me for sure.” student from Louisiana served further Pole-vaulting is in the Duplantis fam- notice of his rich talent with a fourth ily genes. Father Greg was a competi- place finish at the tive pole vaulter; Mondo was exposed meeting in Eugene, to the sport as a four-year-old, practis- Oregon. ing on a makeshift runway and pit set Duplantis, who has chosen to repre- up in his family’s back yard. “When you sent Sweden in elite competition have a pole vault pit in your back yard, because of his Swedish mother, posted a you’re going to try it,” Duplantis said. creditable jump of 5.71m. The event was “I fell in love with pole vault at a won by Sam Kendricks of the United young age and stuck with it.” Duplantis States in 5.86m with world record holder has already surpassed his father’s per- EUGENE: celebrates as he reaches to the finish line in the men’s 5,000 meters in his last race in the US at the IAAF of France second in sonal best. “He bet me that if I jumped Diamond League Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., Saturday. — AP 5.81. Duplantis however was far from 19 feet he’d get me any kind of car I discouraged following his outing. “It want. And I did it in my sophomore ATHLETICS shows me I can jump high right now,” year,” Duplantis said. “And he didn’t get Duplantis said. me any car I want by the way. It’s funny. “I don’t want to say that I’m better I look up to my dad my whole life. And Farah, Bowie and Baker than Kendricks or Renaud but of course I then to know that I’m better than him have a chance against them (at the at 17 years old.” world championships),” he added. Participating in the world champi- Duplantis’ display was just the latest onships will mean that Duplantis misses win at Prefontaine Classic stop on a remarkable rise that has seen the first week of high school. “But I’m him described as the “Tiger Woods of not stressing,” Duplantis said. “I don’t EUGENE: Mo Farah pounded his chest after to win the men’s 100, while Tori Bowie prevailed you work hard and you believe in yourself you the Pole Vault.” stress about school, even if I have a test crossing the finish line on a US track for perhaps over a strong field that included Allyson Felix and can come up with the results.” His world leading jump in Texas last of something. School is the second the final time. Jamaican Elaine Thompson to win the 200 on a Considered one of the strongest 5,000 fields month is a US high school record and a thought right now.” — AFP Farah won the 5,000 meters at the Prefontaine brilliantly sunny but breezy day. in recent memory, Farah was joined in the race Classic at Oregon’s Hayward Field on Saturday in Farah, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth by , who won silver in the 5K in Rio, 13 minutes, 0.70 seconds. The British distance late last year, was the star of the Diamond and Kenyan Paul Tanui, the silver medalist in the specialist who defended his Olympic titles in League’s lone stop in the United States, holding 10K. The field was crowded with 29 entrants. both the 5,000 and 10,000 at the Rio Games last off Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha and Kenyan Farah started moving up in the pack at the year plans to retire from track races after the Geoffrey Kamworwor. He beamed when he said halfway point and with two laps to go he took world championships in this August. He’s the victory answered those naysayers who scoff the lead among some jostling by his challengers. said that after that he’ll likely focus on the that he is too old at 34. Crossing the finish he pounded his chest in victo- marathon. “If I wasn’t enjoying it, I wouldn’t be winning,” ry. Baker, a two-time NCAA champion in the 60, American bested both country- Farah said, holding his toddler son Hussein. “I’m was happy to spoil the Pre’s anticipated show- man Justin Gatlin and Canadian Andre De Grasse happy, I’m enjoying and I work hard. As long as down between Gatlin and De Grasse. He won in a wind-aided 9.86 seconds. “I felt great,” Baker said. “I felt like I had a really good start for the first time in a long time, so that was amazing and Defiant runners, spectators unite after that I just went through my motions, exe- cuted and came out with a victory.” in force despite terror threat De Grasse finished fourth while Gatlin was fifth. Gatlin, who came in second to Usain Bolt at MANCHESTER: Tens of thousands of runners fortunately for them it all ended well. the Olympics last year, said he’s working toward and spectators from Manchester and further “It is important to support people and the the US national championships next month in afield packed the city yesterday in an impres- grieving families,” he told the BBC. Sacramento, California. He had a strong finish to sive show of defiance days after a suicide “Fortunately our 18-year-old daughter win the Golden Grand Prix last week in Japan, bomb killed 22 people and left dozens Jessica arrived home before it was on the tel- and he said he had a good start in the Pre. wounded. evision. “Physically she was fine but she’s suf- “Now I’ve just got to piece them together,” he American and Ethiopian fered all week in other ways. My heart bleeds said. Americans Devon Allen, Aries Merritt and great Tirunesh Dibaba won the men’s and for other families. “Hopefully this makes peo- David Oliver challenged Olympic champion women’s Great Manchester Run races respec- ple feel a bit better.” Omar McLeod of Jamaica in the 110 hurdles, with tively after all the competitors observed a McLeod coming out on top in 13.01 seconds. minute’s silence and poet Tony Walsh read out ‘MESSAGE OF DEFIANCE’ Ronald Levy was second and Allen - who was a poem including the line ‘Do something the Crolla, who held the WBA lightweight running on his home college track - was third. city will remember’. “There is a spirit and histo- belt from 2015 to 2016, had a 17-year-old Allen, who also played football at Oregon, ry of community here. Choose love,” Walsh female relative at the concert. “She is ok but decided to go pro in track last November after told the BBC prior to reading his poem. she saw things you wouldn’t want anyone to making the US Olympic team. The races-with over 30,000 runners young see, let along a 17-year-old girl, of body Russian Sergey Shubenkov, the 2015 world and old taking part-took place with the British parts and other such horrors,” the 30-year- champion, encountered issues with obtaining a Government having lowered the terror level old told the BBC. visa in time to compete in the event. Prefontaine from critical to severe on Saturday. One of the 22 people killed was 29-year- director Tom Jordan said that for the first time in Some of the star names such as Peter old Martyn Hett, who had been a devotee of nearly a decade, some 10 athletes were denied or Hook-bassist for iconic Manchester band Joy long running British soap opera Coronation faced delays in obtaining visas for the event, the Division evolving into New Order-and former Street and especially one of its iconic charac- lone U.S. stop on the elite Diamond League boxing world champion Anthony Crolla had ters Deirdre Barlow-to the extent he had a series. Morolake Akinosun won the women’s 100 relatives caught up in the bombing at the large tattoo of her on his left leg. in 10.94. The race featured Tianna Bartoletta, who Manchester Arena on Monday. “I met him (Martyn Hett) one night and I won the gold medal in Rio in the and Hook-running in his 11th Great saw his tattooo of Deirdre Barlow and I didnt finished second to Brittney Reese in that same Manchester Run-said his daughter Jessica had know what to say to him,” said one of the cast event at the Pre on Friday night. EUGENE: of Sweden warms up for the pole vault been at the Ariana Grande concert and his members Bruno Langley, running in the race Bowie seemed as surprised as anyone that during the 2017 Prefontaine Classic Diamond League at Hayward wife had become distraught when she took with several of his fellow actors to raise funds she won the 200, describing the race as “prac- Field on Saturday in Eugene, Oregon. — AFP the call to be told there had been an incident- for a children’s hospital. — AP tice” for nationals. She finished in a meet record 21.77 seconds. — AP