SPORT FRIDAY 9 DECEMBER 2016 21 Pakistan calls Ashwin revives India after rookie spinner for Australia Tests Jennings' brilliant century Karachi AFP

akistan yesterday called up 17-year-old left- Mumbai arm spinner Mohammad Asghar as cover Reuters Pfor injured Yasir Shah in the upcoming Test series in Australia. ngland opener Maestro leg-spinner Shah hurt his back dur- Keaton Jennings ing practice and will be assessed before the first struck a century of three Tests starting in Brisbane from Decem- on debut before ber 15. off-spinner Ravi- Asghar has been on selector's radar for the Echandran Ashwin led an past year after taking 68 in 17 first-class Indian fightback with late matches. wickets to leave the visitors He became an instant hit on social media in 288 for five on the first day February for his humorous post-match comments of the fourth Test at the during the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL). Wankhede Stadium Asked how he held onto a difficult catch, yesterday. Asghar replied: "I am Pashtun and we have big The touring side, trailing hands. There was no way I was going to drop those 2-0 in the five-match series, catches." had been cruising on 230-2 Asghar was staying in a Karachi hotel that thanks largely to left-handed caught fire on Monday, killing 12 people and injur- opener Jennings who made ing 75. 112 after being dropped on "Asghar is very lucky as he survived the fire nought. by a mere five minutes," his manager and coach But Ashwin, the world's Nadeem Khan, a former Pakistan spinner said. top-ranked Test bowler, picked up four wickets to peg back England who had been eyeing a large first England's Keaton Jennings celebrates after bring in innings total on a track scoring a century on the first day of the already assisting the spinners. fourth Test match between India uncapped Vikum for At stumps honours were and England at the Wankhede Stadium in even with Ben Stokes Mumbai yesterday. RIGHT: Indian skipper unbeaten on 25 and Jos But- Virat Kohli (centre) celebrates with South Africa tour tler on 18. Ravichandran Ashwin (right) after Jennings' Jennings, the son of . Colombo South African former wick- AFP etkeeper and coach Ray, and grew in confidence as during his 60-ball 46 and hit effort and got his fingertips SCOREBOARD only arrived in India on he shared in an opening five boundaries before he to an edge from Moeen, then ri Lanka's cricket selectors yesterday named England (I innings): Monday after being called up stand of 99 with Cook. was out to left-arm spinner on 13, off Umesh but failed A Cook st Patel b Jadeja ...... 46 rookie fast bowler Vikum Sanjaya Bandara from the England Lions Cook looked solid Ravindra Jadeja's third ball to hang on. Kohli then turned K Jennings c Pujara b Ashwin ...... 112 Sin a 15-member squad for their three-Test squad in the United Arab of the morning. to Ashwin to break the stand J Root c Kohli b Ashwin ...... 21 series against South Africa later this month. Emirates. Fourth Test Dancing down the and the off-spinner obliged M Ali c Nair b Ashwin ...... 50 The uncapped 24-year-old Bandara is one of After skipper Alastair he was beaten by the by picking up Moeen and J Bairstow c U Yadav b Ashwin ...... 14 four pacemen in the squad led by Angelo Math- Cook won the toss and opted Ravichandran spin and was by Jennings in three balls in the B Stokes () ...... 25 ews and his deputy Dinseh Chandimal. to bat, the 24-year-old Jen- Ashwin leads an wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel. first over of his new spell. J Buttler(batting) ...... 18 Both Mathews and Chandimal missed Sri Lan- Indian fightback Extras (LB 1, NB 1) 2 nings was dropped by Karun England lost Joe Root for Moeen fell on 50, top- Total (5 wkts) ...... 288 ka's recent tour of Zimbabwe due to injuries, but with 4 for 75 to Nair at gully off paceman 21 after lunch when the edging a sweep, while Fall of wickets: 1-99, 2-136, 3-230, 4-230, they have now been declared fit to play in South Umesh Yadav. India also leave the visitors right-hander edged Ashwin Jennings got an edge to sec- 5-249 Africa. In addition to the three Tests, Sri Lanka wasted a review after Jen- 288 for five on the to India Virat Kohli ond slip to end an innings : Kumar 11-0-38-0, U Yadav 10-2- will also play five ODI matches and three T20 nings was given to first day of the at slip. that contained 13 fours. 36-0, Ashwin 30-3-75-4, J Yadav 22-3-78-0 games against the Proteas. an appeal for leg before off fourth Test. But Jennings and Moeen Ashwin also dismissed (1nb), Jadeja 21-3-60-1 SRI LANKA TEST SQUAD: Angelo Mathews (captain), Dinesh Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who Ali kept England on course for 14 as To bat: C Woakes, A Rashid, J Anderson, J Ball Chandimal (vice captain), , Kaushal Silva, Kusal

Opener Keaton India: V Kohli (capt), M Vijay, K Nair, C Pujara, Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Upul Tharanga, Dushman-

came into the side for the Jennings hits 112 by stitching together a stand England stalled, losing three L, Rahul, P Patel, R Ashwin, J Yadav, R Jadeja, tha Chameera, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep, Vikum injured Mohammed Shami. on his debut. of 94 for the third wicket. wickets for the addition of B Kumar, U Yadav He settled down though Kohli made a valiant 19 runs. Sanjaya Bandara, and Dilruwan Perera.

Hong Kong Open mourns for caddie Zechmann Hosszu, Park pile up medals as

Hong Kong moving gingerly on the AFP course and admitted he was "rusty" after taking a seven- US women set world record ong Kong Open golf- week break to rest his back ers were in mourning but said he was hopeful he Hyesterday as they was on the mend. Montreal wore black ribbons in trib- He came agonisingly AFP ute to a caddie who collapsed close to carding an albatross this week during a Dubai on the 13th hole after a near atinka Hosszu and Park tournament. 240-yard approach shot Tae-Hwan piled up more Players were also from the fairway bounced off Kindividual gold at the Short remembering Spanish great the flag before he converted Course Swimming World Cham- Seve Ballesteros' former cad- the putt for an eagle. pionships on Wednesday as US die who passed away last Few of the big names women asserted themselves with week. featured at the top of the lea- a world record relay win. Defending champion Jus- derboard, with US Masters Hungary's Hosszu, a treble tin Rose was among those champion Danny Willett hit- gold medalist at the Rio Olympics, with ribbons pinned to their ting two under at the par 70 captured her second and third clothing in memory of Aus- course and US Ryder Cup star gold medals of the championships trian caddie Max Zechmann Patrick Reed even. in Windsor, Canada, with convinc- -- who collapsed on Wednes- Poulter, who only ing wins in the 200m butterfly and Katinka Hosszu of Hungary competes in the 200m Butterfly final on day two of the 13th FINA day at the Dubai Ladies returned to the game in 100m backstroke. World Swimming Championships at the WFCU Centre in Windsor Ontario, Canada on Wednesday. Masters and later died -- and October after five months out South Korea's Park, who Argentine Pedro Ramseyer, for foot surgery, also ended fought to swim in Rio after serv- who caddied for the late on two under but criticised ing a drugs ban but came away led the women's 4x100m free US relay triumph and China's Lochte in 2010 -- to win the 200m Ballesteros. his own mental focus after a from the Olympics empty-handed, relay to gold on Tuesday. Zhang Yufei earned bronze in free. American Paul Peterson, few bogeys marred a strong added 200m freestyle gold to the Italy were a distant second in 2:05.10. Hosszu, winner of the South African Chad le Clos who finished the first day at start. 400m free title he won on 1:45.38 and Denmark third in 400m medley on Tuesday, topped stormed from last place at the joint third at four under par Also at two under par Tuesday. 1:45.98. King returned to win indi- the podium again in the 100m midway mark to take silver in despite recovering from was Taiwan's Lu Wei-chih, The second night of action at vidual gold in the 50m backstroke. 1:41.65 and 400m free silver sinus surgery, said: "It's sad who underwent brain sur- the WFCU Centre opened with the breaststroke in 28.92sec -- get- Her time of 55.54 didn't medalist Aleksandr Krasnykh of for the caddies and the gery four years ago to United States' scintillating 4x50m ting the better of world approach the world record she set Russia was third in 1:41.95. friendships that they have remove a tumour. medley relay win in a record-shat- record-holder Alia Atkinson of at the 2014 worlds, but put her Mitch Larkin, shut out of the created; to have two guys go Leading the field was tering 1min 43.27sec. Jamaica (29.11) with fellow Amer- seven-tenths of a second in front medals in the 100m backstroke in in two weeks is really sad." Rafa Cabrera Bello, who Alexandra De Loof, Rio Olym- ican Molly Hannis third in 29.58. of Canadian Kylie Masse (56.24), Rio, retained his short course The opening round of the ended a sparkling round with pic gold medalist Lilly King, Kelsi Hosszu nabbed her second with Britain's Georgia Davies third world crown in the event -- to go $2m tournament teed off in an eagle after a stunning shot Worrell and Katrina Konopka set gold of the championships in the in 56.45. with the long course world gold bright sunshine with Rose, from the fairway dropped the first world record of the cham- 200m fly, pulling away for a deci- Davies edged long course he captured in 2015. who pulled out of the Hero straight into the 10th hole. pionships, erasing the previous sive victory over Worrell in world champion Emily Seebohm Larkin, equal sixth at the 50m World Challenge last week The Spaniard, who made record of 1:44.04 set by Denmark 2:02.15. of Australia for bronze. mark, stormed home to win in with a sore back, ending the his Ryder Cup debut this at the 2014 short course worlds in Worrell's American record of Park produced a champion- 49.65sec -- edging Russian Andrei day on par. year, ended the day with a . They nabbed America's sec- 2:02.89 gave her silver less than ship record of 1:41.03 -- breaking Shabasov at the wall by four-hun- The Englishman was six under par round of 64. ond gold of the meet, after Worrell 15 minutes after her swim in the the mark of 1:41.08 set by Ryan dredths of a second. 22 SPORT FRIDAY 9 DECEMBER 2016 Dortmund hold Real as Sevilla make last 16

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos Paris Champions League second goal with a left-footed (third left) vies for the ball with AFP volley from a cross by Yacine Borussia Dortmund's Sokratis Dortmund scored 21 Brahimi after being left (fourth left) during their UEFA orussia Dortmund set goals, the most for unmarked in the area. Brahimi Champions League match a new Champions any team in a group made it 3-0 with a cheeky back- at the Santiago Bernabeu League scoring record stage in the history of heel before the interval. in a 2-2 draw against Silva added a fourth from the Stadium in Madrid, Spain on the tournament. Real Madrid on penalty spot on 64 minutes after Wednesday. BWednesday while FC Porto and Leicester hold Danny Drinkwater had hauled Sevilla claimed the two remain- unwanted record of down the striker in the penalty ing last-16 spots. the biggest Champions area with Diogo Jota making it Dortmund made sure of top 5-0, the biggest Champions League defeat for an spot in Group F after fighting League defeat for an English English club after back from 2-0 down against club. defending champions Madrid, Porto 5-0 riot. FC Copenhagen had har- leaving the Spanish giants with boured hopes of pipping Porto for theoretically a tougher draw to Seville in September and trailed second place but despite a 2-0 win make the quarter-finals. the Spaniards by three points -- at pointless Club Brugge, they had Marco Reus was the star of the needed to win by two clear goals to settle for a Europa League place. late show at the Santiago Berna- to go through. In Group E, Bayer beu, hitting the equaliser two Table-topping Juventus Leverkusen, already assured of minutes from time. A double from defeated Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 second spot, downed Monaco Karim Benzema looked to have with Gonzalo Higuain and Dan- 3-0 but the win wasn't enough Real well set to leapfrog the Ger- iele Rugani on target. The to overhaul the table-topping mans and secure a home game in Croatians finished their cam- French side. the second leg of their last-16 tie. paign having failed to score a Tottenham Hotspur, mean- However, Pierre-Emerick single goal. while, came back from a goal Aubameyang reduced the arrears Leicester City, who had down to defeat CSKA Moscow 3-1 before substitute Reus slid in to already made sure of top spot in and claim a Europa League place. turn Aubameyang's dangerous Group G in their debut season in Alan Dzagoev put the Russians low cross high into the net. the competition, suffered their ahead after 33 minutes, but the Dortmund scored 21 goals in first loss of the campaign, 5-0 at lead lasted just five minutes until their group campaign, the most Porto who went through as Dele Alli levelled to ensure that for any team in a group stage in runners-up. CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev's the history of the tournament. Porto, the 1987 and 2004 miserable Champions League Sevilla made the last 16 for European champions, opened record of failing to keep a clean the first time in seven years after the scoring after just six minutes sheet stretched to 39 games. soaking up the pressure to draw when Andre Silva headed in a Harry Kane and an Akinfeev 0-0 away to Lyon. corner from Jesus Corona. own-goal gave Spurs the three Lyon -- who lost 1-0 in Corona hit a spectacular points.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS Kane ready to score against Mourinho's United Wednesday Group E Bayer Leverkusen (GER) 3-0 Monaco (FRA) Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) 3-1 CSKA Moscow London (RUS) Reuters Group F Legia Warsaw (POL) 1-0 Sporting Lisbon (POR) arry Kane has yet to score against Real Madrid (ESP) 2-2 Borussia Dortmund Manchester United in the Premier (GER) League but that could end at the Group G H Club Brugge (BEL) 0-2 FC Copenhagen (DEN) sixth attempt on Sunday. FC Porto (POR) 5-0 Leicester City (ENG) Tottenham Hotspur's England striker Group H is not short of confidence ahead of the trip

Juventus (ITA) 2-0 Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) to Old Trafford, having scored twice against Lyon (FRA) 0-0 Sevilla (ESP) Swansea City in a 5-0 thrashing at White Hart Lane last weekend after agreeing a new six-year deal. Victory for fifth-placed Tottenham would send them nine points clear of Jose Video referees Mourinho's side, who are sixth, and leave United with a yawning gap between them make 'history' and a place in the Champions League next season. CSKA Moscow's Igor Akinfeev (left) blocks the shot of Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane during their at Club World Tottenham beat United 3-0 at White UEFA Champions League match at Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom on Wednesday. Hart Lane last April, before Mourinho took Cup in Japan over in May, but Kane did little to stand out - to the amusement of Reds' fans on dangerous form having gone five league hosts having drawn their last three should have an easy afternoon at the social media and his own frustration. games without a goal at the end of last games 1-1 after conceding late Emirates tomorrow when Stoke City Zurich United, who won 1-0 at home in season and the start of the current equalisers. come to town. AFP August 2015, are the only club other than campaign. Chelsea, three points clear of closest Stoke have not won at Arsenal since Watford and now-relegated Cardiff City, He has scored seven in his last six Pre- rivals Arsenal and four ahead of Liver- 1981, long before the Premier League ssistant referees in among the 24 opponents Kane has played mier League outings and will be keen to pool, are at home to West Bromwich came into existence, and have yet to take video rooms with against in the top flight, that have yet to get Spurs moving back into contention Albion on Sunday in a match that could a point at the Emirates. Aaccess to all match see the Tottenham striker on the with Chelsea breaking away at the top. bring them a ninth win in a row. Champions Leicester City, teetering on images will be used for the scoresheet. The North Londoners, who played Liverpool host West Ham United the the brink of the relegation zone with just 13 first time in FIFA competition The 23-year-old, last season's top CSKA Moscow in the Champions league same day at Anfield while unbeaten points from 14 games, are at home to Man- at this month's Club World scorer who has been linked regularly to at Wembley on Wednesday, are visit- Arsenal, who racked up a record 14 chester City, who have striker Sergio Aguero Cup, FIFA said. United in transfer speculation, is back in ing United at a good time with their league wins in a row up to August 2002, starting a four-match ban, tomorrow. The system will be trialed through out the tournament in Japan which features Real Madrid and kicked off yester- day, with FIFA appearing to be moving towards bringing Revitalised Barca look to get back on title track in video referees for major competitions, including the Lionel Messi Barcelona FIFA Club World Cup after playing though Osasuna are currently World Cup. Reuters Deportivo, meaning Barca will play bottom. The video assistant refe- one more game than their rivals The Navarrans held Barca to a rees -- dubbed "an important hampions Barcelona are aim- before the winter break. If Barca goalless draw the last time they piece of history" by FIFA -- ing for a first win in four beat Osasuna they will have the played at their El Sadar stadium will correct referees in crucial C league games, at strugglers chance to cut the gap to three and beat them 3-2 in 2012 when match-changing decisions Osasuna tomorrow, after thrash- points next week. the Catalans were coached by Pep such as red card offences or ing Borussia Moenchengladbach Tuesday's resounding win over Guardiola. penalty calls. 4-0 in the Champions League in Moenchengladbach had no real Osasuna striker Oriol Riera, "This represents a big step midweek. significance as Barca had already formerly of Barca's reserve team, forward in terms of testing Consecutive draws with qualified for the last 16 as group promised his struggling side would the technology," said Marco Malaga, Real Sociedad and Real winners, but it allowed them to ensure the champions did not get van Basten, FIFA's chief Madrid leave Barca six points brush aside stinging criticism about an easy ride. officer of technical behind Zinedine Zidane's La Liga their faltering displays. "We need to make it as diffi- development. table toppers but tomorrow's early With Andres Iniesta making his cult for them as possible and even The match referee will game gives them a chance to put first start since injuring his knee in if they leave here with three points continue to take the first as pressure on their rivals, who host October, Barca looked a different we want to ensure they were made well as the final decision and Deportivo La Coruna later side from that which stuttered with- to struggle, that they had problems will be able to review footage tomorrow. out him over the past six weeks, and that they saw that at home we on a pitch-side monitor for Against Deportivo, Real can set dominating midfield and pulling the turn it up a notch, we are aggres- certain decisions. But the a club record of 35 games unbeaten Germans apart with ease. sive and intense," Riera told a news VARs (video assistant refe- but, after throwing away a two- Iniesta is set to make his first conference. rees) will have access to all goal lead to draw 2-2 with Borussia league start since October 22 and "Barca are favourites at every broadcast feeds, enabling Dortmund on Wednesday, they Barca will be grateful to call upon ground but if they think it's going to them to alert the referee if he need to address a recurring theme their captain's ability to control be easy because of the position we're makes a call that images of losing focus. games in one of the most notoriously in they are wrong. We're going to clearly suggest is incorrect. Real will fly out to Japan for the difficult away trips in Spain even play with our fists clenched." FRIDAY 9 DECEMBER 2016 SPORT 23 Mercedes runs job ad for driver Bolt shocked by Jamaica's abstention with 'proven track record' in IAAF reform vote

London Kingston Reuters Reuters

ercedes posted a sain Bolt has said he was shocked by the deci- tongue-in-cheek sion of Jamaica's Athletics Federation to abstain job advertisement U from an IAAF vote on a sweeping reform pack- yesterday as they age at the governing body of world athletics. seek a replacement The reforms, aimed at changing how the IAAF oper- Mfor newly-retired Formula One ates, were overwhelmingly passed at a special Congress world champion Nico Rosberg. in Monaco on Saturday, after members voted 182 to 10 The notice, similar in format to in favour. the usual automotive vacancies, was "I was very shocked I actually learned about that published in Britain's Autosport today," Bolt told Reporters at the Caribbean premiere magazine under 'drive available' for of the film "I Am Bolt" in Kingston. the amusement of readers rather I find it ridiculous and funny at the same time to than any serious intent. know that the IAAF is trying to take big steps like this "As part of the travelling team, to make the sport better and we (Jamaica) are doing so you will be responsible for the very well in the sports, why would we not support it in operation of an F1 car at track going in the right direction? events including demos, tests and "So it was kind of a let down to know that the JAAA grands prix," it said. (Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association) did not "Ideally, you will have a support it," added the nine-times Olympic gold med- proven track record in skills allist and double sprint world record holder. including steering, braking and in The "Time for Change" proposals, the centrepiece particular, accelerating. Posses- of IAAF President Sebastian Coe's agenda for moving sion of an FIA Super Licence will the sport forward from its tainted past, established new be an advantage." independent anti-doping, integrity and disciplinary The perks included subsidised functions along with a greater voice for athletes in the restaurant facilities, life assurance, organisation and more gender balance. private medical cover, on-site gym Formula One World Champion Nico Rosberg (left) raises the trophy next to former German The reforms also placed more governance power and a company car lease scheme. player Lukas Podolski with the football World Cup trophy in Cologne, Germany on Wednesday. in the hands of the IAAF Executive Board. Other required skills, apart "I think people should respect the right of every fed- from being "self-motivated with eration to look at the package and do what they think is a strong desire for success", identify clearly the strengths and Bottas the 5/2 second favourite. ment team. best," JAAA President Warren Blake told Reuters when included showing 'extreme weaknesses of competitors. "While it would be a big step "Besides the personal relation- asked whether he regretted not casting a ballot. patience in the face of media Rosberg announced his retire- up for him (Wehrlein), he seems ship (with Bottas) ... he's also attention' and being able to ment last Friday and dominant to be the man the punters are pre- somebody who is very, very fast," Mercedes have no need to adver- dicting to replace the world said Wolff. Mercedes Vacancy tise the hottest vacancy in Formula champion," said Hill's spokesman "But he's with Williams now, One, with anyone remotely qual- Joe Crilly. the lead driver, and is very impor- The notice was published ified banging on their door. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff told tant for the combination with in Britain's Autosport The team's 22-year-old Ger- reporters he was ready to make a (newly-signed Canadian rookie) Beijing, London Games magazine under 'drive man reserve Pascal Wehrlein, who 'brave choice' - echoing the words Lance Stroll. Claire (Williams) and available'. raced for Manor this year, is the he used about Rosberg when the her team very much rely on him." positive re-tests rise, bookmakers' favourite to partner German announced his decision. Mercedes have also expressed Mercedes are interested triple world champion Lewis "We need the quickest guy an interest in double world cham- in Fernando Alonso who Hamilton next season. who makes the least mistakes and pion Fernando Alonso but the more expected is under contract to William Hill cut his odds from understands that this is a team Spaniard is under contract to McLaren. 9/4 to 4/7 on Wednesday with Wil- game," said the Austrian, who is McLaren, who do not want to let liams' Finnish driver Valtteri involved with Bottas's manage- him go. Lausanne Reuters

e-tests of doping samples from the 2008 Beijing All top stars Yannick Noah Davis Cup captain and 2012 London Olympics have found another R three positive tests to take the tally to 101 and more are expected, the International Olympic Com- confirmed for Yannick Noah to mittee (IOC) said on Wednesday. IOC medical director Richard Budgett said re-tests skipper Fed Cup side for Beijing were now finished due to a statute of limi- Aussie Open tation but he said he expected more positive tests from the London Games to emerge in the coming weeks and Melbourne Paris months. AFP AFP "It is an ongoing programme," Budgett told report- ers. "The total number is now 101. There will be many very player in the world's annick Noah was named captain of more to come (from London) in the coming weeks and top 99 bar pregnant Victo- France's Fed Cup team for the second months. Eria Azarenka has Ytime on Wednesday, just five days "It is really extrapolation. We might get five more, confirmed for the Australian after having his contract as Davis Cup skip- 10 more, I do not know," Budgett said. "We are still get- Open, including Roger Federer per extended by a year. ting positives from....samples from London and I expect and Serena Williams as they The 56-year-old former French Open they will continue." return from injury, organisers champion takes over the national women's Of the 101 positive tests during the re-examination said yesterday. team from Amelie Mauresmo who held the of samples from those two Games since August 2015, The all-star field for the open- job from 2013 to 2016. some 74 athletes have been named and notified. Rus- ing Grand Slam of 2017 at Mauresmo stepped down last month sia is leading the count with 16 cases in Beijing and Melbourne Park will see Andy after revealing she was pregnant, a day after another 11 in London. Murray and Angelique Kerber the team lost in the final to the Czech Repub- Kazakhstan had the second highest number of pos- start as top seeds in a sign of the lic. Noah led the Fed Cup team to the 1997 itive re-tests in Beijing with six. Ukraine was next on changing of the guard in world title with victory over the Netherlands. the list behind Russia in London with six. tennis. It will also be notable for The 1983 Roland Garros champion will The sports with the most cases in those Games were six-time tournament champion take charge for the first time in his second weightlifting with 38 positive re-tests and athletics with Williams, who is attempting to spell when France face Switzerland in 31. The other three sports affected by the re-tests - claim her 23rd major singles title Geneva on February 11 and 12. cycling, swimming and wrestling - had single digit to surpass Steffi Graf and set a Noah took over the Davis Cup team for positives. new record for the Open Era. a third time in September 2015 after cap- A total of 27 athletes have been stripped of their On the men's side, world taining France to victory in 1991 and 1996. medals, of which one was gold, from the Beijing Games number two Novak Djokovic will France lost in the semi-finals of the 2016 while 16 athletes lost their medals following the Lon- be aiming to hoist the trophy for Davis Cup to Croatia and travel to Japan for the don re-tests, with five of them being gold. a record seventh time. first round of the 2017 edition in February 3. Bowling: World Singles Championships heat up

The Peninsula Hellstrom who has played consist- Rocio Restrepo. Guerrero had a ently since day one of the remarkable turnaround in her per- he World Singles Champion- competition. formance during yesterday’s games ship began yesterday morning Finishing not far behind Hell- to bring her up to second place just Tin Doha, with step two in strom, in third place going into step in front of fellow team mate, the competition commencing. two, is USA competitor John Janaw- Restrepo, in third. The top 32 men and the top 32 icz, followed by Thailand’s Annop In fourth and fifth are Singapore’s women from the qualifying rounds Arromsaranon in fourth and Swe- New Hui Fen and Malaysian Li Jane will be battling it out for a chance den’s Martin Paulsson in fifth. Sin. to advance to tomorrow’s step Current number one ranked Players have started step two on three. player leading the women’s group is a score of zero and will bowl in Christopher Via from the USA will Birgit Poppler from Germany. groups of eight with the top two of lead the men’s group going into step Poppler comes into step two after each group advancing to step three. 2 after a brilliant surge in play after holding the lead since day one of the Step three will decipher the four Colombian the last qualifying game. qualifying. best men and four best women mov- Clara Guerrero His improved form saw him nar- Next on the board are Colom- ing on to the semi-finals which will rowly overtake Sweden’s Peter bian superstars Clara Guerrero and take place today. SPORT Friday 9 December 2016 PAGE | 21 PAGE | 23 Ashwin revives Yannick Noah to India after debutant skipper Fed Cup Jennings' ton side

Five we learned from the Qatar Clasico Easy for Ma Long in Doha as AL RAYYAN NEED CACERES BACK AND FAST Paraguayan Victor Caceres was an underrated member of the Lions squad that swept to the (QSL) title last season. The no nonsense defensive midfielder was sorely missed in the Qatar Clasico as Al Rayyan conceded Samsonov gets knocked out four goals in the second half to a rampant Al Sadd side. Caceres would have been ideal in the centre of midfield breaking up the Al Sadd play and distributing to the attack- The Peninsula ers. However the former Flamengo man has yet to start a SEAMASTER ITTF WORLD TOUR FINALS game this season after picking up an ankle injury during orld LAST 16 RESULTS preseason training. number AL RAYYAN COULD STRUGGLE TO RETAIN THE TITLE one Ma MEN'S SINGLES Ma Long (China) bt LI Ping (Qatar) 4-2, What a difference a year makes. This time last season Al Long of Wong Chun Ting (Hong Kong) bt Kenta Matsudaira (Japan) 4-3 China Rayyan were on their eleven game winning run that lead Jung Young-Sik (South Korea) bt Jun Mizutani (Japan) 4-3 them to the QSL falcon come the end of the season. Flash Weased past Qatar's Li Ping Yuto Muramatsu (Japan) bt Vladimir Samsonov (Belarus) 4-3 forward 12 months and The Lions are seemingly stuttering in on day one of the Seamas- WOMEN'S SINGLES ter ITTF World Tour Finals (China) bt Lee Ho-Ching (Hong Kong) 4-0 fifth place and nine points behind current league leaders El where European table ten- Tie Ya Na (Hong Kong) bt Yuka Ishigaki 4-3 Jaish. nis giant Vladimir Samsonov (China) bt Hitomi Sato (Japan) 4-0 Al Rayyan's decline this term has been a shift in focus from was shocked by Japan's Kasumi Ishikawa (Japan) bt Suh Hyowon (South Korea) 4-3 attack to defense under new coach Michael Laudup. This re- Yuto Muramatsu MEN'S DOUBLES QUARTERFINALS sult aside Al Rayyan have tightened up defensively, sacrific- yesterday. Ho Kwan Kit and (Hong Kong) bt Chuang Chih-Yuan and ing attacking flair in the process. In a quality men's sin- Huang Sheng-Sheng (Chinese Taipei) 4-3 gles clash, Ma Long Koki Niwa and Maharu Yoshimura (Japan) lost to Youngsik Jeoung and Lee Sangsu (Korea) 3-4 ATTACK ON FIRE FOR AL SADD produced an attacking game WOMEN'S DOUBLES QUARTERFINALS Al Sadd’s Jugurtha Hamroun, Baghdad Bounedjah and Xavi to beat Li Ping, winning the Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun (Korea) bt Madarasz Dora and Pergel stepped up for the Wolves during the Qatar Clasico, having round of 16 match 4-11, 11-9, Szandra (Hungary) 4-0 a say in all five goals. Each player contributed man of the 7-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-8. Shan Xiaona and Solja Petrissa (Germany) lost to Honoka Hashimoto match performances against Al Rayyan and has all enjoyed Muramatsu, meanwhile, and Hitomi Sato (Japan) 0-4 solid starts to the season. won the first two games Bounedjah lead the line perfectly in the game and a fine before suffering a mid- match crisis but the hat-trick which meant that he returned to the top of the goal Japanese giants was quick scoring charts. Hamroun and captain Xavi chipped in with a to recover fast and reach the goal and an assist each to confirm their dominance quarter-finals The 20-year-old Japa- AL SADD WON THE MIDFIELD BATTLE nese won 11-5, 11-7, 5-11, Qatar Clasicos are often won on who can control the middle 6-11, 1-11, 11-9, 11-6. of the park. Thankfully for Al Sadd, it was the two players at In other games, Chun Japan's Yuto Muramatsu returns the ball to Vladimir Samsonov the base of midfield who won out against Al Rayyan. Both Ting Wong beat Kenta Mat- of Belarus, during their Men's singles pre-quarter-final game Salem Al Hajri and Qatar international Mohammed Kasola sudaira 6-11, 12-14, 11-8, of the Seamaster ITTF World Tour Finals at the Ali Bin Hamad put in a real shift in their defensive midfield positions to 13-11, 11-9, 14-16, 11-8. Al Attiyah Arena in Doha yesterday. Muramatsu shocked the deny Al Rayyan time and space to mount attacks, particu- Wong will now play Ma European giant to advance into the quarter-finals. larly in the second half. This duo could hold the key to Al Long in the quarter-finals. Picture by Baher Amin / The Peninsula Sadd’s potential title success. In the women's singles, Japan's Kasumi Ishikawa, PASSIONATE FANS PUSHED AL SADD TO VICTORY the no.2 seed, yesterday In a one-side clash, Chi- In the Men’s Doubles Korea’s Jeoung Young- today at Ali Bin Hamad Al Al Sadd’s fans came out in force to support their side in the beat Korea's Hyowon Suh na's Yuling Zhu crushed competition, there was one sik and Lee Sangsu, the no.2 Attiyah Arena where games Qatar Clasico last night, and played a decisive role in swing- 8-11, 2-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-8, Hitomi Sato in four games. upset and almost a second seeds, struggled to beat commence at 1:00pm with ing the match in favour of the Wolves. The side was boister- 6-11, 11-5. Zhu won 11-3, 11-6, 11-5, as Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Japan’s Koki Niwa and the last fixture of the day ous throughout, shouting their support and willing their side “I was nervous receiving 11-3. Kit and Tang Pang, the no.6 Maharu Yoshimura, the no.7 kicking off at 8.30pm. on against their biggest rivals in the QSL. her service, I made mistakes; Former Asian Games seeds, beat Chinese Taipei’s seeds, winning 11-6, 4-11, The women's single Their passionate cheering was rewarded with a 5-0 win, se- in the third game when she star Yana Tie of Hong Kong Chuang Chih-Yuan and 10-12, 16-14, 14-12, 9-11, quarter-finals start at curing them important bragging rights over Al Rayyan. No took the injury break, it ena- beat Yuka Ishigaki 9-11, Huang Sheng-Sheng, the 16-14. 5:30pm while the men's sin- wonder the Al Sadd squad heading straight over to the fans bled to calm myself and 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7, no.4 seeds 10-12, 11-5, 11-9, Action in the four-day gles last-eight clashes begin to celebrate following the full-time whistle. focus," Ishikawa said. 11-4. 11-7, 3-11, 7-11, 11-6. table tennis gala continues at 7.30pm today. Aspire Academy welcomes senior Soccerex delegation visits Aspire Zone The Peninsula including leading experts and professionals in the field of sports coaches from FIG spire Zone Foundation wel- to exchange ideas, expertise and comed a high-level discuss potential cooperation.” The Peninsula become a leading sports A delegation of representa- This visit follows a partner- institution that inspires tives from international sporting ship agreement signed between spire Academy wel- others to follow in its foot- organisations to Aspire Zone for a Soccerex and Aspire Zone Foun- comed two steps. Young athletes in visit and tour of the facilities. Led dation and its member A acclaimed coaches Qatar are very fortunate to by Soccerex Chairman, Tony Mar- organisations – Aspire Academy, from the Federation of have access to such world- tin, delegates were in Doha to Aspetar and Aspire Logistics – International Gymnastics class facilities.” participate in the Soccerex Asian ahead of the Asian Forum that (FIG) who visited its facil- Takashi Kobayashi Forum 2016. finished on Tuesday. ities yesterday. added: “Aspire Academy’s They were welcomed to Aspire As part of the partnership, Takashi Kobayashi, state-of-the-art facilities Zone by a senior officials, includ- Professor Valter Di Salvo and Director of the Japanese are perfect for hosting ing Mohammad Al Kuwari, Stephen Bourke from Aspire Olympic Committee and international tournaments. Director of Venues and Events at Mohammad Al Kuwari, Director of Venues and Events at Aspire Academy, and Physiotherapist Peggy Liddick, Head Coach Aspire Academy’s mission Aspire Logistics, Ateeq Sultan, Logistics, Ateeq Sultan, Director of Supply Chain, and Nasser Nicol van Dyk and Dr. Celeste of the Australian women’s to develop talented young Director of Supply Chain, and Abdullah Al Hajri, Director of PR and Communications with other Geertsema from Aspetar partic- gymnastics team were athletes is crucial and the Nasser Abdullah Al Hajri, Director ipated in panel discussions at the senior officials pose for a photograph with the delegates from accompanied on their tour commitment and focus on of PR and Communications. Soccerex Asian Forum 2016, shar- international sporting organisations, led by Soccerex Chairman by Ferras Ahmed from the achieving this aim is As part of their visit, delegates ing their insight and expertise on Qatar Gymnastics Feder- remarkable.” were given a tour of Aspire Zone’s Tony Martin, during the later's recent visit to the Aspire Zone. topics such as innovations in ation (QGF). Since opening its doors venues, including Aspire Academy, sports performance and Aspetar’s The coaches are in in 2004, Aspire Academy and were briefed about the serv- international sports arena and continents and more than 60 approach to protecting players’ Doha to participate in a has become one of the ices and programmes available to should be proud of all that it has countries.” health. number of workshops foremost national sports athletes and community members. achieved. Young athletes in Qatar Highlighting the importance Barcelona legend Xavi Hern- organised by the QGF. academies in the world. Following the tour, officials from are very fortunate to be trained of the visit, Al Hajri said: “We’re andez, who is a current advisor Together they were Incorporated within Aspire Zone Foundation joined in these world-class facilities, happy to welcome the Soccerex at Aspire Academy, speaking at given a tour of the Acad- the Aspire Zone Founda- members of the delegation in a which you don’t often see in other delegation to the Aspire Zone in the Soccerx Forum, said: “I’m emy and briefed about the tion, which offers a unique meeting to discuss bilateral rela- parts of the world. We’re line with our goal of developing honoured to support Aspire Acad- services and programmes destination for the inter- tions in athletics. delighted to have played a part the sporting sector in Qatar. Sup- emy’s mission to develop talented provided to local national sports industry, Praising Aspire Zone’s facili- in supporting the Aspire Zone porting the country’s progress as young athletes and the stars of athletes. Aspire Academy is sup- ties, Tony Martin, Soccerex Foundation’s success during the a regional sports hub, Aspire Zone tomorrow. The set up here is Commenting on the porting the country’s Chairman, said: “Aspire Zone has past fifteen years, working in Foundation aims to attract a wide unique with incredible facilities visit, Coach Liddick said: progress as a regional become a leading player on the close partnership together in five range of visitors unlike any other in the world.” “Aspire Academy has sports hub.