SPORT

MondayMon 27 March 2017

PAGE | 25 PAGE | 26 PAGE | 27 Vettel masters Ronaldo takes Federer,F Wawrinka Hamilton Portugal tally to 70 advance in Melbourne in Hungary stroll in Miami Stunning Magnificent Morbidelli win for Kunii The Peninsula

he second round of the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup T saw Yuki Kunii take the win on the drag to the line, starts 2017 season in style after compatriot Ryusei Yamanaka just lost out. Haruki Noguchi completed an all-Jap- Rizwan Rehmat for us so I will take this. I'd say "I want to thank my team for GRAND PRIX OF QATAR anese the podium in P3 after The Peninsula 'well done' to the team." this great result," the Honda star MOTO2: RESULT another tight race for the Nagakami, 25, said he was said. "I kept saying all week this 1: F. Morbidelli 40:18.480 impressive IATC class of 2017. ole winner Franco happy with his first podium of bike is great. The race was tough 2: T. Luthi +2.681 There was drama at the Morbidelli of Italy yes- the new season. but the end was great," he said. 3: T. Nakagami +3.304 start of the Warm Up lap as terday stormed to a "I never look back. I always "I have to say it was an 4: M. Oliveira +3.584 double Buriram winner and commanding win on look ahead. If I look back, then I amazing start to my season," Mir points leader Deniz Oncu 5: A. Marquez +11.226 his Kalex bike, taking can;t focus ahead," Nagakami said. couldn’t get off the line, get- 6: L. Marini +13.747 Pthe opening Grand Prix of the said yesterday. "In truth, I was a McPhee sounded relieved ting started from pitlane and season ahead of veteran rider bit unstable at the start but I fin- with his second-finish. 7: F. Quartararo +13.988 then lining up at the back of Thomas Luthi and Japan's ished strong," he added. "Yes, I can't believe how well 8: L. Baldassarri +17.465 the grid for the start. With Takaaki Nakagami. Earlier, Qatar's Saeed Al we did as a team. In the end, eve- 9: X. Vierge +17.477 Kunii starting from pole, the Morbidelli, 22, raced his Sulaiti crashed out in the 7th lap, rything seemed to go well. I 10: A. Pons +17.767 race was on for Oncu to make maiden Moto2 win in a time of just 11 minutes into the race. He strayed a bit in the race but I have MOTO3: RESULT it up through the field – and 40.18.480 just seconds before a remained unhurt. Remy Gard- to say I ticked all the boxes over- 1: J. Mir 38:27.364 the Turkish rider sliced back light drizzle forced a delayed ner also crashed out in what was all," McPhee said. 2: J. Mcphee +0.135 to the front to know on the start for the MotoGP riders at the the first lap of the race. "This is a great start to the 3: J. Martin +0.218 door to the top five after only Losail International Circuit (LIC). Reigning Moto3 World season. All week we worked 4: A. Canet +0.252 a couple of laps. Luthi, a veteran of 9 Moto2 Champion Brad Binder (Red Bull extremely hard and it paid off," 5: R. Fenati +0.453 After a slightly difficult start wins, was 2.681 seconds behind KTM Ajo), coming off injury, the 22-year-old Briton said. 6: A. Migno +0.579 for Kunii off the line, the Japa- while Nagakami (Idemitsu struggled and finished in 20th Third-placed Martin was 7: N. Antonelli +0.661 nese rider fought back straight Honda Team Asia) grabbed a spot. ecstatic with his result in the new 8: F. Di Giannantonio +0.878 away on the inside of Turn 1 to podium spot just 3.304 seconds Earlier in the evening, Joan season. take it back from Can Öncü and 9: M. Ramirez +1.693 off the pace set by Morbidelli Mir headed a Honda 1-2-3 as the "It was hard at the beginning Gerry Salim. As the grid settled who rides for EG 0,0 Marc VDS. Spaniard produced an 'amazing' but once I got calmer, I did well," 10: A. Norrodin +7.904 into formation, Yamanaka was Miguel Oliveira (KTM, + 3.584 result to grab the honour's in the Martin, 22, said. "I tried to catch out front initially, before the seconds) and Alex Marquez season's first Moto3 Grand Prix the group at the top but I will say Italian Moto2 rider Franco poleman fought back to take (Kalex, + 11.226 seconds) com- by edging John McPhee and Jorge I am happy with this result. Morbidelli celebrates on the over at the front. pleted the top 5 in Moto2. Martin to the top spot. "I am extremely pleased that podium after winning the Chopping and changing Mobidelli, who built a lead of Mir showed little rust by I finished third," Martin said. Grand Prix of Qatar yesterday. positions with only two sec- more than 2 seconds over Luthi clocking a time of 38.27.364 to The season's next race will Morbidelli, 22, raced to his onds covering the top five, by with 11 laps to go, was pleased win the 18-lap race under lights be held in Argentina on April 9 maiden Moto2 win in a time 7 laps to go Deniz Öncü had with his season's first at LIC. It was Mir's second career at the Termas de Río Hondo of 40.18.480 at the Losail hit the front for the first time performance. win. Circuit. International Circuit. as his comeback hit full speed, "It just feels great," Morbidelli McPhee, the British Talent with Yamanaka, Can Öncü, said after edging Luthi to the top Team rider, was just 0.135 sec- Hendriansya and Salim along- spot. "It was a good race. I have onds slower than Mir while side the Buriram winner at the to tell that winning the first race Martin - who was on pole for the head of the field. of the season is a good sensa- race - was 0.218 off the pace set It was a Japanese attack on tions. I am happy to get the win by the day's winner. the last lap, before Kunii found in this fashion," the Italian said. Aron Canet, also of Honda, a way past Yamanaka on the Swiss veteran Luthi (CarX- (+0.252 seconds) and Romano penultimate corner to take the pert Interwetten) chose his Fenati (+0.453) completed the top lead – despite the risk of slip- words carefully when he said: "I five. streaming to the line. As the top tried to fight with him. He took Mir - who started in 6th spot group straightened up on the it easy at the start. Maybe easy is in second row - was thrilled with way to the final flag, Yamanaka not the word but I could push the outcome in the first race of Spanish rider Joan Mir (front) of dived out from behind his him at the start." the season. Leopard Racing leads the way during the compatriot just before the line The 30-year-old added: "I "I can't believe it. It was Moto3 race of the Grand Prix of Qatar – but it was Kunii who held had good pace. I tried hard but amazing race, an amazing result yesterday. Mir grabbed the season's first onto it by a few thousandths. he had that tiny head speed. I for me," Mir said. "It is just amaz- victory yesterday. Noguchi took an impressive could have pushed more but I ing to begin the year like this," third place, completing an all- couldn't. It wasn't easy in testing he added. Japanese podium. Doha blazes trail of glory as spectacular show ends

Fawad Hussain will like to come back to Doha Hitmi said his team will continue The Peninsula and compete here,” said the the efforts to lift the sport. 29-year-old. He added the QGF was not he Qatar Gymnastics Fed- Pablo Braegger failed to win just making efforts to host major eration (QGF) delivered the gold and had to be content events but it is also taking meas- Tanother spectacle of top- with bronze medal in men’s ring ures to produce world class notch gymnastics action by event on the last day, but the gymnasts from Qatar. hosting the four-day FIG Artis- Swiss also expressed his content “It’s difficult to retain some tic World Cup, leaving Romanian with his sojourn in Doha. youngsters as they leave for giant Catalina Ponor promising “It was an amazing experi- other sports when they grow up, a return for next year's World ence to perform here in front of but we’re working out plans on Championships to be held in the good number of spectators. I am how to keep them,” said QGF Qatari capital. looking forward to return here President. The annual event, which next year.” “We’ve been able to create a concluded on Saturday, saw par- Meanwhile, International platform for gymnasts through ticipation of over 240 gymnasts Gymnastics Federation (FIG) our development programmes and officials from 30 countries. China's Zhou Jingyuan in action during the final day of the 10th FIG Artistic World Cup at coach Takashi Kobayashi hailed and the schools have also shown Chinese gymnasts regaled fans Aspire Dome on Saturday. Picture: Abdul Basit /The Peninsula QGF’s efforts to promote gym- keen interest,” he added. with sublime performances, win- nastics in the region. Al Hitmi said QGF is prepar- ning five gold, a silver and a “QGF has done excellent ing to stage 'a memorable World couple of bronze medals. gymnasts left with valuable “The facilities here at Aspire The Secretary-General of work in promoting the sport at Championships' next year. After four days of absorbing experience praising hospitality are of top quality and the hospi- Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) the grass-roots level,” said the “We hosted the 2006 Asian action, gymnasts from all over and facilities they received in tality has been great. I will Dr Thani Abdulrahman Al Japanese coach. Games gymnastics event in a the globe left Doha with fond Qatar. definitely come back,” added the Kuwari said Qatar would deliver “The Individual Apparatus befitting manner. This year’s FIG memories, expressing their “I loved the atmosphere here Romanian. a 'memorable worlds' and Ponor World Cup shows Qatar’s ability Artistic World Cup saw an desire to return to the country. in Doha and it is one of my Apart from the same event, agreed. to organise top events in the unprecedented number of gym- Though Chinese teenager Liu favourites legs in the World Cup,” the QGF will host the Artistic “Qatar has been hosting this country. The annual competition nasts. We are looking forward Tingting hogged limelight in the Ponor, a triple gold medallist at Gymnastics World Champion- event very successfully and I am is a proof of QGF’s dedication,” to host the World Champion- competition as the 16-year-old the 2004 Athens Olympics, said ships (October 25 to November confident they will host a mem- he added. ships in a best possible way,” he won three gold medals, all the on the last day. 3, 2018) in Doha next year. orable World Championships. I QGF President Ali Ahmed Al said. SPORT 27 MARCH 2017 MONDAY 25 Vettel masters Hamilton in Melbourne

Melbourne ing the race. AFP In the race, I struggled with the tyres. I had to stop very early and I got ebastian Vettel out-manoeu- stuck behind one of the Red Bulls, but vred Lewis Hamilton and the A title challenge is a that's just the way it goes." world champion Mercedes long way ahead. For Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was team with a stunning victory fourth with Verstappen fifth ahead of in the season-opening Austral- now we are just over Brazilian Felipe Massa in the Sian Grand Prix in Melbourne the moon at the start Williams. yesterday. we have made here Australia's big hope Daniel Ric- Vettel won by almost 10 seconds ciardo had a heartbreaking day with from Hamilton and Mercedes team- today: Sebastian gear box problems ending his race on mate Valtteri Bottas in a commanding Vettel the 29th lap after he was forced to start victory of tactics and superior speed from pit lane when his Red Bull car around the Albert Park street broke down on the warm-up lap. circuit. Hamilton, who went into the race Ferrari hadn't won in Melbourne on his fourth successive pole in Mel- since Kimi Raikkonen's 2007 victory German four-time world champion's bourne, got away safely and avoided and it was Vettel's second triumph in fourth for Ferrari and his first since Sin- trouble into the notorious right hander Australia after winning the 2011 race gapore in 2015 and his 43rd career win. out of home straight. with Red Bull. "A title challenge is a long way But Kevin Magnussen in a Haas It was also a major fillip for the ahead. For now we are just over the clipped the kerb and slid into the Sau- fledgling season and the new genera- moon at the start we have made here ber of Marcus Ericsson on the first turn. Ferrari's German driver Sebastian Vettel celebrates with the winner's tion of quicker cars after Ferrari's today," Vettel said. Both cars continued on in the race. trophy on the podium following his victory at the Australian Grand Prix superior pre-season test times as they "I was not entirely happy with my Hamilton grabbed a 1.5sec gap on in Melbourne yesterday. chase their first world constructors' title start, there was a bit of wheel spin, but Vettel after nine laps ahead of Bottas, since 2008. The victory was the I was trying to keep the pressure on to Raikkonen and Verstappen. give the message that we are here to Hamilton made his first pit stop squeezing in ahead of Verstappen and Hamilton to over nine seconds after 41 fight. after lap 17 to change to soft tyres on Hamilton. laps with the triple world champion AUSTRALIAN GP RESULTS "There was a bit of luck that Lewis his Mercedes to hand the lead over to When Verstappen came into the seemingly unable to reel him in. 1. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Ferrari 1:24:11.672 came out in traffic." Vettel and rejoined the race in fifth spot pits Vettel had opened a six-second Bottas was pressuring Hamilton 2. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes +00:09.975 Ferrari got the better of Mercedes behind Verstappen. lead over Hamilton at mid-distance. and was only just over two seconds 3. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Mercedes 00:11.250 in the sole round of tyre changes which "Race critical that you pass Verstap- Ricciardo's traumatic race came to behind in third place with Raikkonen 4. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 00:22.393 ultimately decided the race. Hamilton's pen," Hamilton was told over the team a sorry end on the 29th lap with his Red struggling in fourth place ahead of 5. Max Verstappen Red Bull - TAG Heuer 00:28.827 early stop meant he rejoined behind radio to which he testily responded Bull coming to a stop with lingering Verstappen. 6. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Mercedes 01:23.386 the Red Bull of Max Verstappen which "how do you expect me to do that right gearbox problems. Mercedes had no answer to the 7. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Force 1 lap allowed Vettel to open up a decisive now?" as his pace slowed behind the "Sorry mate - the car's done," the pace of Vettel, who posted a new fast- 8. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) Renault 1 lap gap at the head of the field. Red Bull. Red Bull team told the disconsolate Ric- est lap of 1:26.638 in the final laps of

9. Daniil Kvyat (Russia) Renault 1 lap "A big congratulations to Ferrari Vettel came into the pits to change ciardo over the radio. the race to win the season-opening 10. Esteban Ocon Force India - Mercedes 1 lap and Sebastian," Hamilton said follow- tyres and rejoined the race just Vettel extended his lead over Melbourne event. Lyon roars as Aussies De Kock bats through pain to have Test even fight back in 4th Test Hamilton string of low scores behind him AFP to ensure a positive start to Zea- land's reply with Jeetan Raval Dharamsala uinton de Kock batted who was 25 at stumps. AFP Australia's through the pain of a New Zealand bowling Nathan Lyon Qdamaged finger to bolster coach Shane Jurgensen said ustralian off-spinner celebrates after Toughest session with a defiant 90 Latham was buoyed by a stan- Nathan Lyon emerged as dismissing as the deciding Test against dout performance in the field Athe unlikely hero, taking stand-in Indian of career, says New Zealand was evenly poised highlighted by an instinctive four key Indian on an captain Ajinkya at the end of day three in Ham- catch at short leg to remove Faf engrossing second day of the Rahane during India's Rahul ilton yesterday. du Plessis. decisive fourth and final Test the second day In the rain disrupted Test, "I think the game's evenly Dharamsala yesterday. of fourth Test New Zealand were 67 without poised. The two openers have The 29-year-old made the AFP loss at stumps, with a rejuve- set us up with a good start," Jur- in Dharamsala most of a lively track in Dhar- nated Tom Latham on 42, in gensen said. yesterday. amsala which is hosting its first s an opener India's reply to South Africa's 314. Latham "got a lot of confi- ever Test to return a rich haul of Lokesh Rahul (pic- The injured De Kock and dence from his fielding. He took 4-67. Atured above) is used to previously out-of-form Latham that into his batting today. He's Fast bowlers Josh Hazle- facing hostile spells from were the individual stars in the got some confidence". wood (1-40) and Pat Cummins new-ball bowlers. But the deciding Test with South Africa Just as de Kock's 91 in the (1-59) also bowled their hearts Australian attack yesterday, 1-0 up and New Zealand need- first innings in Wellington set out during frugal spells to he admitted, was the tough- ing a win to draw the series. South Africa up for an eight- restrict the top-ranked hosts to est of his career so far. De Kock, playing with dam- victory, he again 248-6 at stumps. With the series in the bal- aged ligaments in his right tormented New Zealand with India still trail by 52 runs ance at 1-1, the game's two index finger, went to the mid- his trouble-free approach. with four wickets in hand after top-ranked sides have been dle with South Africa 148 for His 90 came off only 118 Australia made 300 in their first locked in a battle of attrition five and he held the innings balls, highlighting why captain knock, largely thanks to a fine in the fourth and final Test in together while the bottom half Faf du Plessis was determined 111-run knock by captain Steve Dharamsala. After bowling out of the batting order added a fur- to have him play despite the Smith. At stumps, Wriddhiman the visitors for 300 in their first ther 166. wicketkeeper-batsman's injury. Saha was batting on 10 with innings, the Indians were hop- South African batting coach He hit 11 fours and two huge Ravindra Jadeja on 16. ing to build a big total. But they Neil McKenzie described de sixes, one off New Zealand's The Indian batsmen were were impeded by some lethal Kock as "a unique player" who best performed bowler Matt guilty of squandering good starts fast bowling from Josh Hazle- needed painkillers to get Henry and one off Jeetan Patel, in a match they must win if they but ended up gifting a catch to ripped back in to hit the glove wood and Pat Cummins. through the day. as he dominated the off-spin- are to regain the Border- Smith off Lyon for 46 made off and then lob up to short leg "The way Josh and Cum- "We're threatening to get ner who had claimed his wicket Gavaskar trophy. 104 balls. All-rounder Ravichan- where Peter Handscomb mins bowled in the first bowled out for around 200 and cheaply in the drawn first Test. Lokesh Rahul (60) and dran Ashwin (30) was adjudged pouched an easy catch. session, I can say it has been he comes and gets a really qual- But 10 runs short of his cen- Cheteshwar Pujara (57) batted lbw off Lyon and although the Pujara's 57-run knock took the toughest session that I ity 90," McKenzie said. tury he played across the line to patiently and shared 87 runs for batsman opted for a review, TV his run tally past the 400-run have faced in Test so "There's a few tablets, anti- Neil Wagner and was out lbw. the second wicket, the best part- replays showed the ball would mark in the series, behind only far," said Rahul, 24. antiinflammatories and that South Africa resumed the nership so far for the hosts. have hit the stumps. Smith who has 482 runs from "They put the ball in the sort of stuff but Quinton doesn't day at 123 for four and after Stand-in skipper Ajinkya Ashwin hit four fours in his seven innings. right areas, they swung the mind he just gets on with it. Henry removed Temba Bavuma Rahane looked set to score big brisk 49-ball knock. The final session saw ball, bowled with a lot of pace Latham, who managed 24 for 29, du Plessis progressed to Not many would have another gruelling contest and venom," said the batsman in total in three previous 53 before a smart piece of field- SCOREBOARD placed their bets on Lyon to between the bat and the ball who has scored 1,149 runs in innings in the series, put his ing by Latham at short leg. Australia (I innings): ...... 300 come good in the decider, with with the hosts scoring 95 runs 17 Tests. India (I innings): the spinner having given away while losing four wickets. Rahul had special praise SCOREBOARD L Rahul c Warner b Cummins ...... 60 163 runs while taking just one The Indians would have for the 23-year-old Cummins, M Vijay c Wade b Hazlewood ...... 11 wicket in the previous drawn been in further trouble but for who is making a comeback South Africa (I innings): Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-5, 3-64, 4-97, 5-148, 6-190, C Pujara c Handscomb b Lyon ...... 57 Test at Ranchi. Matthew Renshaw who dropped to after nearly six T de Bruyn c Latham b Henry ...... 0 7-219, 8-249, 9-295, 10-314. D Elgar b de Grandhomme ...... 5 Bowling: Henry 24-2-93-4 (2w); de Grandhomme A Rahane c Smith b Lyon ...... 46 But Lyon, whose work as a two catches, much to the frus- years in the wilderness. K Nair c Wade b Lyon ...... 5 H Amla b de Grandhomme ...... 50 24-4-62-2; Wagner 25.2-2-104-3 (1w); Patel 7-0-30- R Ashwin lbw Lyon ...... 30 curator means he has a sharp tration of Smith. "The first session was J Duminy c Patel b Henry ...... 20 0; Santner 9-3-24-1. W Saha (batting) ...... 10 understanding of the wicket, Words were exchanged with really tough, it was challeng- F du Plessis c Latham b Santner...... 53 New Zealand (I innings): R Jadeja (batting)...... 16 brought Australia back into the long stares on a couple of occa- ing for sure. I had to leave the T Bavuma c Raval b Henry ...... 29 T Latham (batting) ...... 42 Extras (B-4, LB-9) ...... 13 game through some classic old- sions but mostly the players balls outside off stump, leave Q de Kock lbw Wagner ...... 90 J Raval (batting) ...... 25 Total (for 6 wkts) ...... 248 fashioned spin. remained within the bounda- the bouncers. V Philander c Latham b Henry ...... 11 Total (for no loss) ...... 67 Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-108, 3-157, 4-167, Lyon's first victim was ries of good behaviour in what "He (Cummins) was fast, K Maharaj c Watling b Wagner ...... 9 To bat: Kane Williamson, Neil Broom, Henry Nicholls, K Rabada c Watling b Wagner ...... 34 BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, 5-216, 6-221. Pujara, who was coming into the has otherwise been a fractious accurate. You can say that he

Bowling: Hazlewood 18-6-40-1; Cummins M Morkel (not out) ...... 9 Jeetan Patel, Matt Henry, Neil Wagner.

21-5-59-1; Lyon 28-5-67-4; O'Keefe 24-4-69- match on the back of an epic series. Australia, who triumphed has been the guy who, as a Extras (LB-1, W-3) ...... 4 Bowling: Philander 8-2-15-0; Morkel 7-2-13-0; Raba-

0. 202-run knock at Ranchi. Pujara at home in 2014-15, need just a fast bowler, who has chal- Total (all out) ...... 314 da 5-1-25-0; Maharaj 5.3-0-14-0. tried to defend but the ball draw to retain the trophy. lenged us in this series." 26 SPORT MONDAY 27 MARCH 2017

Future Riders Showjumping Championship Johnson to face Tanihara in WGC Match Play semis

Miami AFP

op-ranked Dustin John- son won twice in Timpressive fashion on Saturday to advance into the World Golf Championships Match-Play Championship semi-finals, where he will face 60th-ranked Japan Tour star Hideto Tanihara. Action from the third round of Future Riders Showjumping Championship, organised by Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) at the QEF Arena. Khalfa Reigning US Open cham- Abdulla Al Khaldi won Class (2) Optimum Time - Height 100cm event while Jassim Mohamed Al Kawari was placed second. Ahmed Mubarak Al Khayareen pion Johnson defeated fellow won the Class (1) Optimum Time - Height 70/90cm event ahead of Fahad Abdulkarim Abed and Khalid Ahmed Al Khayareen who were placed second American Zach Johnson 5 and 4, then birdied to win three and third respectively. of the last four holes and hold off Swedish eighth seed Alex Noren 3 and 2 in the quarter- finals at Austin (Texas) Country Club. South Africa Johnson seeks his third title in a row after wins last achieve Ronaldo takes Portugal month at Riviera and three weeks ago at the WGC Mex- record ico Championship. He could become the first player to win unbeaten run every WGC event and match tally to 70 in Hungary stroll Tiger Woods as the only play- ers to win consecutive WGC events. AFP "It's a long way to go. I've got to make it to the finals outh Africa stretched Lisbon bacbackheelkheel to RRonaldoonaldo first," Johnson said of his an unbeaten run to Reuters World Cup who squeezed a low, chance at history. "Anything Sa record 16 matches qualifying results left-footleft-foot bbetweenetween Peter can happen. I like the way I'm on Saturday with a 3-1 ristiano RRon-on- Gulasci and thethe playing. I like my chances." friendly international vic- aldoaldo scoscoredred GROUP A near ppostost frfromom He will face a determined tory over Guinea-Bissau two stunning Sweden 4 (Forsberg 19-pen, 2525 metresmetres withwith longshot in 38-year-old Tani- in Durban. goalsgoals and 49, Berg 57, Thelin 77) Bela- stunningstunning hara, who dispatched Kermit Erasmus and took his inter-inter- rus 0 precision.precision. 's Ross Fisher 4 and Andile Jali converted Cnational ttallyally to 70 as he Luxembourg 1 (Joachim 34- Brimming with 2 in the quarter-finals after penalties and Percy Tau led Portugalrtugal to an pen) France 3 (Giroud 28, 77, confidence, Portugal'sPortugal's defeating England's Paul scored on debut for emphaticc 3-0 win over Griezmann 37-pen) recordrecord scorerscorer thenthen triedtried Casey 2 and 1 in the round of Bafana Bafana ("The Hungary in a World Cup Bulgaria 2 (Delev 5, 20) toto meet JJoaooao Mario's 16. Boys") at a wet and windy qualifier on SaturdaSaturday.y. Netherlands 0 dinked ppassedassed with a "There's a lot more strat- Moses Mabhida The PPortugalortugal captain GROUP B bicycle kick but did not egy and thinking in playing Stadium. scored fromrom 2255 mmetresetres Andorra 0 Faroe Islands 0 getget enouenoughgh power this kind of format," said Djalo "Aldair" Balde after he wwasas set up by an Switzerland 1 (Drmic 66) bebehindhind tthehe sshothot whichwhich Tanihara, a 14-time Japan scored for Guinea-Bissau, outrageousous backheelbackheel Latvia 0 GuGulascilasci sasavedved Tour winner in his WGC whose qualification for from Andrendre Silva and Portugal 3 (Silva 32, Ronaldo comfortably.comfortably. Match Play debut who hopes the 2017 Africa Cup of smashed in a long-range 36, 65) Hungary 0 But he was not to be to crack the world top 50 and Nations ranks among the free kickk in tthehe secosecondnd GROUP H denieddenied another goalgoal and, qualify for the Masters in two greatest shocks in the half. Silvava had oopenedpened Bosnia and Herzegovina 5 (Ibi- inevitably,inevitably, when Ricardo weeks. 60-year competition. the scoringng from a move sevic 4, 43, Vrsajevic 52, Visca QuaresmaQuaresma won a free US 42nd seed Bill Haas The South African in whichh RRonaldoonaldo aalsolso 56 Bicakcic 90+4) Gibraltar 0 kick outsideoutside thethe areaarea in held off a late charge by unbeaten streak began in played a part. Cyprus 0 Estonia 0 the 65th minute, it was countryman Phil Mickelson October 2015 with a vic- The win kekeptpt the  Belgium 1 (Lukaku 89) Greece 1 RonaldoRonaldo whowho tooktook it.it. to defeat the five-time major tory in Angola and Europeanan champions (Mitroglou 46) RepeatedlyRepeatedly criticised winner 2 and 1 and reach a includes nine victories three ppointsoints bbehindehind duringduring Euro 2016 fforor hhisis Sunday semi-final against and seven draws and a Group B leaderseaders Switzer-Switzer- record from free kicks, 22-year-old Spaniard Jon 31-14 goal tally. land whoho earlier beat a free kick and headed he made no mistake this Rahm, the 21st seed who Between 1994 and Latvia 1-0-0 to maintainmaintain widewide aafterfter RRicardoicardo timetime as he scoredscored withwith a routed Denmark's Soren 1996, South Africa went their 100 percent record Quaresma's cross found viciousvicious eeffortffort whichwhich Kjeldsen 7 and 5. unbeaten in 15 matches with 15 pointspoints from five him uunmarkednmarked at tthehe ffarar dippeddipped over the wall and Haas and Johnson each before losing a Cup of games. post.post. bouncedbounced in ffrontront ooff led 3-up after nine holes but Nations group game to Defeatat leftleft HungaryHungary JustJust as coaccoachh Fern- Gulasci.Gulasci. saw their matches tighten Egypt in Soweto. a distant tthirdhird wiwithth sesevenven andoando SaSantos'sntos's decdecisionision to It was his 70th goalgoal quickly before they Erasmus scored on 36 points andnd ononlyly tthehe slim-slim- leaveleave out BBernardoernardo SSilvailva forfor PortugaPortugall in 138 advanced. minutes and Tau on 69 mest of chanceschances of theirtheir appearedappeared to bbee bback-fir-ack-fir- appearances. Johnson won the first minutes before "Aldair" first Worldrld Cup appear-appear- ing,ing, PortugaPortugall went aahead.head. TheThe group llooksooks three holes against Noren set up a tense finish by ance sincece 19861986.. RonaldoRonaldo releasedreleased increasinglyincreasingly likelylikely to boilboil and was 3-up at the turn, but halving the deficit 12 min- Portugalugal were nearlynearly RaphaelRaphael Guerreiro on tthehe downdown to PortuPortugal'sgal's the world number one missed utes from time. knockedd ououtt of EEurouro leftleft andand hhisis llow,ow, ffirst-irst- matchmatch at hhomeome to Swit-Swit- a short par putt to lose 10 and Substitute Jali netted 2016 at thehe ggrouproup stastagege time cross was turnedturned in zerlandzerland in October.October. found the water to drop 11, a minute from time to put by Hungary,gary, havinghaving to atat the far post by an OnlyOnly the winners of then watched as Noren rolled beyond doubt the out- come backck threethree timestimes to uunmarkednmarked SSilvailva in tthehe thethe nine European in a stunning 40-foot birdie come of the first meeting force a 3-3-3 ddraw.raw. 32nd32nd minute.minute. ggroupsroups ggoo straistraightght to Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after putt at the par-5 12th to between South Africa and But theyhey hadhad no suchsuch FourFour minutes later,later, Russia next yyearear whilewhile scoring a goal against Hungary during the World square the match -- the first Guinea-Bissau. trouble thishis time despitedespite PPepe'sepe's longlong ballball out ooff thethe eieightght bbestest runners-up Cup 2018 European Zone Qualifier played at time all week any foe had The west African a slow stastartrt in wwhichhich defencedefence was met byby SilvaSilva go into a playoffplayoff rounroundd Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday. been level with Johnson after "Wild Dogs", who held Ronaldo shotshot ooverver frfromom withwith a firfirst-timest-time for four more places. Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal won 3-0. any hole. hosts Gabon and lost nar- Johnson, who lost to rowly to eventual Noren in the first round of the champions Cameroon in 2013 WGC Match Play, their Cup of Nations answered with birdies at 13, debut, rarely play friend- 15 and 16 to seal the win. lies due to scarce Tanihara closed the front financial resources. Giroud proves his worth to France again nine with four hole-winning Brazilian Roberto birdies in a row, the longest "Beto" Bianchi made a Luxembourg "Even if he's got second from Benjamin putt from five feet, to jump disappointing debut as Reuters difficulties at his club, Mendy's cross in his 4-up on Fisher at the turn. A Angola coach with an Olivier often scores for 60th international. six-foot birdie at 13 put Tani- own-goal sealing a 2-0 rare starter for his us," said France coach "It's a real pleasure hara 5-up and he halved defeat by Mozambique in club Arsenal this Didier Deschamps. because strikers need Fisher three holes later to end Maputo. Aseason, Olivier Giroud has started goals and statistics are matters. Clesio Bauque put the Giroud once again only seven Premier important for us," Gir- Three-time Masters win- Mambas ("Snakes") ahead proved his worth to League games for oud said. ner Mickelson had not trailed on 57 minutes and Here- France when he bagged Arsenal, but he "Whatever people this week until Haas opened nilson conceded the a double in their 3-1 win showed no sign of say about me, I stay their match with a birdie. own-goal 17 minutes in Luxembourg in a rustiness against Lux- true to myself and give Haas birdied to win the third, from time. World Cup qualifier on embourg as his my answers on the fifth and sixth to seize Angola, who com- Saturday. muscular presence pitch." command. peted at the 2006 World France's forward Olivier The powerful strik- proved invaluable His performance Mickelson birdied to win Cup in Germany but are Giroud heads the ball er's 22nd and 23rd against a team playing helped France stay the 10th and claimed 12 with now ranked 45th of 54 during the FIFA World international goals lifted very defensively. top of qualifying a par, then barely missed a African football nations, Cup 2018 qualifier him to 10th on the list of He scored the first Group A with 13 12-foot birdie putt at 13 to play South Africa on against Luxembourg at France's all-time top goal from close range points from five square the match. Haas bird- Tuesday in East Josy Bartel Stadium in scorers after being Les after a fine pass from games, three ahead of ied to win 15, Mickelson . Luxembourg on Saturday. Bleus' leading marks- Djibril Sidibe and Sweden who they missed a 10-foot eagle putt at man in 2016. headed home the visit on June 9. 16 and could only halve 17. MONDAY 27 MARCH 2017 SPORT 27 Federer, Wawrinka advance in Miami

Miami ATP AND WTA MIAMI OPEN AFP Results from ATP and WTA Miami Open on Saturday (x denotes seed): Men oger Federer survived a brave chal- Second Round lenge from American qualifier Frances Pliskova ahead as Stan Wawrinka (SUI x1) bt Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 6-3, 6-4 Tiafoe before emerging with a 7-6 (7/2) Malek Jaziri (TUN) bt Feliciano Lopez (ESP x31) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 6-3 victory as he got his Miami Open John Isner (USA x18) bt Thomaz Belluci (BRA) 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) title bid underway on Saturday. Alexander Zverev (GER x16) bt Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE) 6-0, 6-3 RTiafoe, ranked 101st in the world, struggled Diego Schwartzman (ARG) bt David Ferrer (ESP x27) 6-2, 6-3 David Goffin (BEL x8) bt Darian King (BAR) 7-5, 6-1 Radwanska ousted against Federer's serve but was strong on his own Roger Federer (SUI x4) bt Francis Tiafoe (USA) 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 and forced a first set tie-break in which the Swiss Sam Querrey (USA x22) bt Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6-2, 6-3 came out on top. Tomas Berdych (CZE x10) bt Andrey Rublev (RUS) 6-3, 6-2 Miami Friday, the Caracas born Muguruza had to pull The 19-year-old son of immigrants from Sierra Gilles Muller (LUX x24) bt Andreas Seppi (ITA) 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/1) AFP out the stops again to deal with China's Zhang Leone then broke Federer's serve in the first game Adrian Mannarino (FRA) bt Paolo Lorenzi (ITA x32) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 Shuai 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in just over two hours. of the second set only for the 18-times Grand Slam Roberto Bautista (ESP x14) bt Mikhail Kukushkin (RUS) 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) ifth-seed Agnieszka Radwanska had her "It's very tough, especially the first round winner to break back twice and run out a com- Ivo Karlovic (CRO x17) bt Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 bid to repeat her 2012 success at the witplayers that you don't maybe play a lot. Borna Coric (CRO) bt Dominic Thiem (AUT x6) 6-1, 7-5 fortable winner in the end. Miami Open ended by Croatian veteran They are very good players as well. The dif- Juan Martín Del Potro (ARG x29) bt Robin Haase (NED) 6-2, 6-4 F Federer was full of praise for his opponent Nick Kyrgios (AUS x12) bt Damir Dzumhur (BIH) 6-4, 6-3 Mirjana Lucic-Baroni at Crandon Park on ference is not that big. They play very well and and said he would have gained valuable experi- Women Saturday. you are in danger all the time," said ence from the contest. Third Round But second-seed Karolina Pliskova fought Muguruza. "I hope he's going to learn a lot from a match Garbine Muguruza (ESP x6) bt Zhang Shuai (CHN x30) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 past Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 7-5 6-3 "I'm just going through these situations like this just because playing on a centre court Lucie Safarova (CZE) bt Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO) 6-1, 6-3 to move into the last 16 and Slovak Dominika with the best attitude possible, being humble, with a lot of people, under pressure, saving break Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x4) bt Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6-2, 6-3 Cibulkova also progressed with a comforta- trying to accept it, and find my way," he said. Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO x26) bt Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x5) 6-0, 6-3 points, making break points, playing breakers. Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS x17) 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 ble two sets win over Belgium's Kirsten The Spaniard will face the winner of the That's what it's about, and it should feed a player Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE x15) bt Jana Cepelova (SVK) 6-2, 6-4 Flipkens. game between Romanian Sorana Cirstea and like him with a lot of energy moving forward," he Karolina Pliskova (CZE x2) bt Yulia Putintseva (KAZ x27) 7-5, 6-3 Lucic-Baroni is enjoying an unexpected Caroline Wozniacki.

said. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x12) bt Sorana Cirstea (ROM) 6-4, 6-2 upturn in her fortunes at the age of 35 and in Federer is in fine form having clinched the January reached the semi-final of the Austral- Australian Open and Indian Wells so far this year ian Open - 18 years after her previous and extended his record to 14-1. appearance in the last four of a slam, in 1999 The 35-year-old is looking for his third Miami his rivalry with the South American "We've had at Wimbledon. title following wins in 2005 and 2006. some epic matches against each other: Semis at The Croat was a teenage prodigy who Federer should have met Del Potro in Miami the French, Olympic semis, finals at the US Open. appto have disappeared from the top tier of last year but the Swiss had to pull out with an ill- You name it, we've had some really good ones," the sport but has fought her way back impres- ness and he says he is looking forward to renewing he said. sively in recent years and is now ranked 29th Reigning US Open champion Stan Wawrinka in the world. got off to a solid start, beating Argentina's Hora- The 6-0 6-3 scoreline emphasised her cio Zeballos 6-3, 6-4 at Crandon Park on dominance over her Polish opponent on Sat- Saturday. urday, as Radwanska acknowledged. In the absence of Andy Murray and Novak "She was playing unbelievable tennis Djokovic, the top two ranked players in the today. She was very solid from the beginning, world, Wawrinka is the number one seed and very aggressive, hitting everything with unbe- is fired up after reaching the final at Indian lievable speed. I couldn't do much," she said. Karolina Wells last week, where he was beaten by "The first set went so quickly, and in the Pliskova of the Federer. second set I had chances, but I didn't come Czech Republic "I'm playing better tennis. I feel that I'm play- back and unfortunately I missed the chance celebrates her ing good here. I took the confidence from Indian to stay in the match. She was just too good win at the Miami Wells. So let's see... When I'm playing well, when today." Open at Crandon I am confident with my game, I know I can beat Spain's sixth seeded Garbine Muguruza is anybody," said Wawrinka, who turns 32 on doing it the hard way in Florida this week. Park Tennis Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a shot Tuesday. After battling back to beat American Chris- Center in Key against Frances Tiafoe during day 6 of the "It has been quite tough conditions these last tina McHale in three, rain interrupted, sets on Biscayne, Florida Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center few days here. Raining, really windy today. It's on Saturday. in Key Biscayne, Florida on Saturday. really windy on the court, so it's never easy.

Doha Rugby Football Club finishes English FA officials meet QSL CEO second in West Asia Premiership League

The Peninsula game, they can go through 15, 20 phases very effectively.” “Last oha Rugby Football Club year, we came third in the 1st XV finished second in league. This year, we had a new Dthe West Asia Premier- league structure, new coach, a ship, an amateur cross-border lot of new players, even a new rugby competition that brings captain. So, to come second in together seven teams from the competition and to make it around the Gulf region to battle through to the semi-final of the it out on the pitch. West Asia Cup is great. Overall, Alex Natera, Doha’s Head as a season, it’s been a great Coach said: “It’s been an success.” extremely successful season; we Natera added: “There are finished second in the league. many facets to a rugby game, We had a rough start; the previ- and you can’t do everything at ous head coach left – I stepped once. So, moving forward, we in about three matches into the want to hit the ground running; competition – and throughout everyone back for pre-season the year we lost players and sus- in August and working to put all tained a couple of serious of the elements together. We are injuries, including our captain. really looking forward to next It really has been non-stop, so a season.” real credit to Doha for placing Doha Rugby Football Club in action in the West Asia Doha finished behind the second.” Premiership League. Abu Dhabi Harlequins – the win- The 2016-2017 rugby season ners of this year’s West Asian finally came to a close for Doha Club Championship, the Dubai Hani Taleb Ballan (left), Qatar Stars League CEO met on Friday when the team nar- Doha was able to regroup and the final whistle blew. Dave Sevens, and the West Asia Mike Spinks, the Chairman of the English Schools rowly lost to Bahrain 22-23 in at half time was leading 17-10. Ford, Captain of Doha, also com- Premiership. Football Association and Richard Gardiner, FA Council the semi-final game of the West After giving away a few penal- mented on the game, saying: The final of the West Asia Representative for Wiltshire. The meeting was called Asia Cup, which took place at ties to their Bahraini “Ultimately we lost three times Cup will take place on Friday, to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest, home at ‘The Fortress’. counterparts, the visiting team to Bahrain. The failure – or suc- March 31, and will see Abu including ways of future collaboration between the ]While Bahrain took an early unfortunately managed to pull cess of the year – is on that. Dhabi Harlequins face off two parties. lead after scoring the first try, ahead and hold Doha off until Bahrain plays a very physical against Bahrain. Aspire Academy U-13 team victorious in latest Tri-Series

The Peninsula The Academy’s youngsters another thrilling encounter. Commenting on his team’s games that require mental as still emerged victorious”. were dominant in their opening Rashid Al Abdulla again struck victory, Aspire Academy U-13 well as physical strength. The The series also featured spire Academy’s U-13 foot- match with Eintracht Frankfurt with precision in the 17th minute Head Coach, Filipe Sanchez team has made us proud of the U-15 and U-14 age group tour- ball team emerged at the Aspire Zone’s outdoor to give Aspire Academy’s team Mateos, said: enormous amount of work naments. Atletico ran out Avictorious last week pitches, with Rashid Al Abdulla the lead. “Atletico are a top side and that so many people put into victorious in both of these, against Atletico Madrid of Spain and Abdullah Feroun scoring two The Academy’s side then you saw how our boys had to these preparations. I am most meaning Aspire’s U-13 side was and Eintracht Frankfurt of Ger- brilliant goals to end the game went on to defend their advan- focus and work hard to delighted for the boys, how- therefore the only thing pre- many in the latest edition of the 2-0. tage as Atletico searched for an achieve this win. This is what ever, as they took on two venting Atletico from returning Academy’s Tri-Series The following day, Aspire equalizer in vain until the final we look for in this competi- really good teams in Eintra- home with a clean sweep of the tournament. battled Atletico Madrid in whistle ended proceedings 1-0. tion: tough and challenging cht Frankfurt and Atletico and entire series.