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Tuesday, January 31, 2017 Jumada I 3, 1438 AH CRICKET Aussies lose GULF TIMES to NZ despite Stoinis heroics SPORT Page 3 FOCUS Sports world heaps praise on Roger, Rafa

Federer drops hints DPA Melbourne

niversal praise has been heaped on Australian Open champion URoger Federer and beaten finalist Rafael Nadal after the two veterans that end may be nigh turned back the clock by contesting Sunday’s Melbourne final. Sprint star Usain Bolt, golf legend Jack ‘I think this one will take more time to sink in. The magnitude of this match is going to feel diff erent. Nicklaus, footballers including Germany’s World Cup-winning captain Philipp Lahm, I can’t compare this one to any other one except for maybe the French Open in 2009. I waited and former and retired tennis players such as Juan Martin del Potro and Andy for the French Open, I tried, I fought. I tried again and failed. Eventually I made it. This feels similar’ Roddick were among those hailing the two stars. Federer, 35, won a record 18th title at the majors when he beat the 30-year-old Nadal in five sets over almost four hours — a stunning comeback for both players who had spent months on the sidelines last year with injury problems. It was the first Grand Slam title between the two since the 2011 French Open and the first major trophy for Switzerland’s Federer since Wimbledon 2012. “Congrats Roger Federer,” eight-time Olympic sprint champ Bolt tweeted while the 77-year-old Nicklaus, himself an 18-time winner of golf majors, tweeted a picture of himself and Federer and pleaded: “As a huge fan of tennis and you, don’t stop there.” Federer seemingly doesn’t plan to hang up his racquet very soon which was also rated good news by Del Potro, who himself had a remarkable comeback after a year of wrist problems when he claimed the 2016 Olympic silver in Rio, beating then number one Novak Djokovic in the first round and Briton Andy Murray in the final. “Thank you both, don’t you ever quit tennis!! GRANDEEE ROGER. So inspiring!!” the Argentine tweeted. Former American great Martina Navratilova spoke of “epic tennis” in the final, Lahm of “an incredible final”, and Ca- nadian world number four Milos Raonic also agreed, tweeting: “What a great and amazing match to wake up for. Thank you Roger, thank you Rafa.” Former US Open champion Rod- dick found kind words for both finalists, saying “can’t believe what I watched” and naming Nadal “one of the classiest champions I’ve ever known”. But he also said their injury-related absence proved that tennis needed a longer off -season. “If Rafa and Roger didn’t prove the benefits of a longer off -season, I don’t know what will. Let’s be smart with our players and promote longevity,” he tweeted. The media also went along for the ride, as the New York Times said that for Federer the final “really did feel like gravy after all the major meals he has enjoyed through the years”. Britain’s The Guardian said: “Both finalists have enriched the game through their personal skills and their rivalry... They have made each other great.” It added that Federer’s “right to be regarded as peerless in the history of his sport was cemented beyond argument” with the latest win. In Federer’s native Switzerland, the Neue Zuercher Zeitung referred to the almost five years between his Wimble- don crown 2012 and the latest coup in Australia. “Roger Federer’s 18th title is the most significant one. It ended a period of four-and-a-half year of criticism and doubts,” the NZZ said. AFP force him off the scene. The Australian course. That’s my hope right now.” Unusually for the Swiss, he took ments of his career, after his Grand Melbourne Open marked his comeback from a six- a medical timeout in the fi nal as well Slam chances had been largely written month injury break, the longest of his “This is all about, you as during his fi ve-set semi with Stan off . It was a redemptive win as Federer career, after he underwent surgery for know, knowing that I have Wawrinka. He also went fi ve sets with has struggled against Nadal, losing oger Federer dropped hints the fi rst time last February. only so much tennis left Kei Nishikori in round four. four straight major fi nals to the fear- that his great career may be “This is all about, you know, know- in me. If I do get injured, He said Sunday’s 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, some left-hander since his Wimble- drawing to a close after his ing that I have only so much tennis left you know, maybe if I miss 6-3 win ranked alongside his 2009 don victory in 2007. age-defying win over his in me,” he told reporters, when asked French Open victory, which completed “Rafa defi nitely has been very par- RGrand Slam nemesis Rafael Nadal at about the comment in his acceptance next year, who knows what a career Grand Slam and ended a run of ticular in my career. I think he made the Australian Open. speech. “If I do get injured, you know, happens... You never know three defeats in the fi nal. me a better player,” Federer said. “Him The 35-year-old Swiss admitted his maybe if I miss next year, who knows when your next Grand “I think this one will take more time and a couple more players have done return to Melbourne wasn’t guaran- what happens... You never know when Slam is going to be, if ever. to sink in. When I go back to Switzer- the most to do that to me because the teed after he ended a fi ve-year wait for your next Grand Slam is going to be, if You never know if you’re land, I’ll think, ‘Wow’. The magnitude way his game stacks up with me, it’s a his 18th major title by beating Nadal in ever. You never know if you’re going to going to have an opportu- of this match is going to feel diff erent,” tricky one. I’ve said that openly. a thrilling fi ve-setter. have an opportunity at this stage.” nity at this stage.” he said. “I can’t compare this one to “It remains for me the ultimate He told the Rod Laver Arena crowd: Federer added: “Look, I’ve had a any other one except for maybe the challenge to play against him. So it’s “I hope to see you next year, but if not, tough year last year. Three fi ve-setters Federer, now four titles clear of Nad- French Open in ‘09. I waited for the defi nitely very special. I said that then it was a wonderful year here and I are not going to help. al and Pete Sampras on the all-time French Open, I tried, I fought. I tried also before the fi nals: if I were to win couldn’t be happier tonight.” “I just meant it the way I meant it. major-winners’ list, was troubled by again and failed. Eventually I made it. against Rafa, it would be super-spe- Federer has been rebutting sugges- There wasn’t something planned be- injury during the tournament and he This feels similar.” cial and very sweet because I haven’t tions of retirement for several years, but hind it, that this is my last Austral- said he had been carrying an upper leg Fittingly it was Nadal who pushed beaten him in a Grand Slam fi nal for a he said he was now aware injuries could ian Open. I hope can I come back, of problem since the second round. Federer to one of the biggest achieve- long, long time now.” Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, January 31, 2017 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Federer is peerless but he and Rafael Nadal have made each other great The Swiss player won a thrilling Australian Open final but would have been happy to ‘accept a draw’ against Nadal

Legends...Rafael Nadal, Rod Laver and Roger Federer in Melbourne on Sunday.

that reached a pitch that hardly seemed possible even a few only partially facilitated by the early shock defeats of the two gest stage here for the fi rst time since 2009, both hit with vi- By Kevin Mitchell months ago and unlikely even earlier in the evening. best players in the world, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. cious intent. Federer’s 73 winners may have been more pleas- The Guardian Almost a year to the day since he wrenched his knee while On Sunday, the two who stood at the top of the mountain, ing on the eye but Nadal – whose wrist injury robbed him of running a bath for one of his four children and playing in his deservedly so, had a combined age of a pensionable 65. two months last season – struck savagely, too. There were fi rst proper tournament since surgery after losing against Mi- At the very instant Nadal – fi ve years younger at 30 – served 184 rallies of fewer than four shots and 34 that went longer oger Federer’s claim to greatness has never been in los Raonic in the semi-fi nals at Wimbledon six months ago, to start the match, just after 7.30pm local time with the sun than nine – 10 of those in an epic fi nal set that lasted just over question, not even in the fi ve years since he won his the 35-year-old somehow made a legend crack. “I can’t be- drifting westward across the city rooftops and the tempera- an hour and during which Nadal saved nine of 11 break points 17th grand slam. However, his right to be regarded lieve it,” Federer said. “It’s just incredible. I couldn’t be hap- ture sliding slowly south, a distant tram bell tolled. We would before succumbing to Federer’s artful torture. as peerless in the history of his sport was cemented pier. I went so much further than I thought I would. I would not for whom for another three hours and 37 minutes. For a quarter of an hour nothing much happened. The Rbeyond argument when he drew four majors clear of the have said a great event would have been quarters. Today I just To echo Hemingway (and Donne, from whom the Ameri- Spaniard held to love twice, as Federer explored his options 14 Rafael Nadal shares with Pete Sampras by defeating the drove myself forward, serve and run: fi ght and see if you get can borrowed the title), the triumph belonged not only to the at the net, and some ill-timed, techno music drifted in from a Spaniard in an Australian Open fi nal to rank alongside the lucky. Tonight I got lucky.” victor here but to all of tennis. Both fi nalists have enriched nearby festival to drown out the squawking of the seagulls. It best of the nine in which they have now contested a Grand Lucky? Only the freakishly powerful Ivo Karlovic hit more the game through their personal skills and their rivalry. No was genteel, in a Melbourne sort of way. That would not last. Slam title. than Federer’s 108 aces for the fortnight. Only Kei Nishikori man is an island, said the poet – and that holds true for The last hour and a half provided the most drama, as is This was the 100th match the Swiss has played in Mel- bettered his 21 winning returns off serve. His total of 402 champion athletes as well as doomed soldiers. They have nearly always the case in these circumstances. The pre- bourne, his fi fth Australian Open triumph and, while it was clean winners placed him fourth among the 128 original en- made each other great. match consensus was that Nadal would be more dangerous only his third victory in 12 slam matches against Nadal, his trants. He went to the net 242 times in seven matches and As recently as October, when Federer went to Majorca to over fi ve sets – despite a much bigger workload during the fi rst in 10 years, the third in a fi nal and his 12th overall in 35 won the point 175 times – daring on a grand scale. give Nadal’s academy a publicity boost, neither was up to fortnight – because Federer’s admission that he had aggra- contests, he elicited rapturous applause from the packed John McEnroe’s verdict was unequivocal and got to the wielding a racket in earnest. Wounded to the point where vated a groin strain in defeating Stan Wawrinka in fi ve sets on stands when he insisted that he would have been happy to core of it: “Roger Federer is the greatest of all time.” That they might fl eetingly have contemplated leaving the battle- Thursday was a reminder of his vulnerability. “accept a draw” with his most enduring rival. sentiment was hard to challenge after watching Federer win fi eld, they fought on. And here they were, generating thrills Before they got into the trenches for the last time, Federer For the rest of us, accepting such magnanimity ought to 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 against an opponent who invariably like they had done since Nadal won their fi rst encounter, in took a medical time out – as he did before getting the bet- be tempered with the realisation that these wonderful play- had a hold on him in big matches. On maybe the night of his the fi rst round in Miami 13 years ago. ter of Wawrinka. Federer admitted then that he did it partly ers are ambassadors as much as champions. They invariably biggest win, given the context and the history, Federer broke While it was slow to ignite, this was a fi nal quick to burn because his compatriot had taken a break earlier in the match say what is expected of them. It was a generosity of spirit that those chains. as fi ercely as any in recent memory. Whether through fear of and therefore felt justifi ed in doing so. It worked again. Federer disguised brilliantly when burying Nadal in a fi fth set Just reaching the fi nal was a victory for both of them and physical collapse or inspired by their return to share the big- What a ride they have given us.

BOTTOMLINE FOCUS Melbourne Serena takes over as world fi nalist Nadal number one, Federer in top 10 skips Davis Cup AFP January, which at 30 years of age AFP his epic 18th Grand Slam title at the Aus- WTA rankings ATP rankings Madrid was harder to recover from than in Paris tralian Open. 1. Serena Williams (USA) 7.780 pts (+1) 1. Andy Murray (GBR) 11.540 pts the past. The 35-year-old Swiss great defi ed old 2. Angelique Kerber (GER) 7.115 (-1) 2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 9.825 Five-time Davis Cup champions rival Rafael Nadal on Sunday in a thrilling 3. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 5.270 (+2) 3. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 5.695 (+1) afael Nadal yesterday Spain are making their return to ustralian Open winner Serena fi ve-setter in Melbourne to move up seven 4. Simona Halep (ROM) 5.073 4. Milos Raonic (CAN) 4.930 (-1) pulled out of Spain’s Dav- the World Group after a two-year Williams replaced Angelique spots to 10th in the latest rankings released 5. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 4.985 (+1) 5. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 4.830 is Cup clash with Croatia absence. Kerber as world number one yesterday. 6. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 4.915 (-3) 6. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 4.385 (+3) this weekend as he recov- Lopez, the world number 33, in the latest WTA rankings re- Nadal, beaten 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 7. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3.560 ersR from his Australian Open exer- joins Roberto Bautista Agut, Pa- 7. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 4.720 leasedA yesterday. moved up three places to sixth in the list 8. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 3.505 tions. blo Carreno Busta and Marc Lopez 8. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 3.915 (+2) The American moved up one place still dominated by early Australian Open 10. Johanna Konta (GBR) 3.705 (-1) 9. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 3.445 (-3) Nadal, beaten in fi ve sets by Roger against Croatia, who lost to Argen- courtesy of her victory in Melbourne victims Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. 11. Venus Williams (USA) 3.530 (+6) 10. Roger Federer (SUI) 3.260 (+7) Federer in Sunday’s Melbourne fi nal, tina in last year’s fi nal. where she got the better of sister Venus Stan Wawrinka, defeated in the semis 12. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 3.415 (-1) 11. David Goff in (BEL) 2.930 will be replaced in the World Group Nadal reached his 21st Grand 6-4, 6-4 in the final on Saturday for a last week by Federer, is up one in third. 13. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 2.955 12. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 2.790 (-2) fi rst-round tie by Feliciano Lopez. Slam fi nal in Melbourne after a run record 23rd Grand Slam title. Germany’s Mischa Zverev, who upset 14. Carla Suarez (ESP) 2.625 (-2) 13. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 2.765 (+2) The Spanish tennis federation of beating Alexander Zverev, Gael Kerber’s defence of her Australian Murray in the fourth round in Melbourne, 15. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 2.347 14. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 2.685 (-2) said its medical staff preferred that Monfi ls, Milos Raonic and then Open crown ended with a last 16 loss to soared 15 places to 35th, his best ever 16. Elena Vesnina (RUS) 2.357 (+2) 15. Nick Kyrgios (AUS) 2.415 (-2) Nadal sat out the trip to Osijek giv- Grigor Dimitrov in a near fi ve-hour Coco Vandeweghe with the German now ranking. 17. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) 2.295 16. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2.350 (-2) en “the little recovery time” avail- semi-fi nal. down to second and her American nemesis Zverev’s teenaged brother Alexander (-1) 17. Lucas Pouille (FRA) 2.131 (-1) able to the world number six. On Sunday, the Spaniard suc- up 15 rungs to 20th. climbed two rungs to 22nd after mak- 18. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 2.295 (+2) 18. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 1.975 The federation noted that Nadal cumbed 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to Meanwhile, Roger Federer has climbed ing it to the third round where he lost to 19. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 2.161 (-5) 19. Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 1.875 (+2) “had played in a lot of matches af- Federer in a classic conclusion to back into the ATP top 10 on the strength of Nadal. 20. Coco Vandeweghe (USA) 2.136 (+15) 20. Jack Sock (USA) 1.855 ter four months out of action” in the tournament. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 31, 2017 3 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT REFORM Anti-corruption troubleshooter to Aussies fall to NZ oversee BCCI despite heroic eff ort from Stoinis New Zealand scrape home in the ODI against Australia, but only after rookie Marcus AFP the federal sports ministry be in- Stoinis’ falls agonisingly short of dragging his team to victory with an unbeaten 146 New Delhi cluded in the line-up. ‘PEOPLE OF INTEGRITY’ ndia’s Supreme Court ap- Former India skipper Bishan pointed a top anti-corrup- Singh Bedi said he hoped the tion troubleshooter yes- new team would improve the terday as head of a team to functioning of the board, which Ioversee the running of the pow- would benefit the game as a erful cricket board after sacking whole. its top offi cials for failing to im- “I have not the slightest doubt plement reforms. in my mind that they are the Former government auditor right people for the job. All four Vinod Rai, who exposed major of them are people of integrity,” corruption scandals under the Bedi, who has been one of the previous government, will head board’s most outspoken critics, the new committee of adminis- told AFP. trators to run the Board of Con- Rai, who was the Comptrol- trol for Cricket in India (BCCI). ler and Auditor General of India He will be joined by the prom- between 2008-2013, is hailed for inent historian Ramachandra bringing accountability in the Guha, banker Vikram Limaye and functioning of government after former Indian women’s cricket exposing scams in the alloca- captain Diana Edulji. tion of coal mines and 2G mobile It was not immediately clear spectrum bidding by the previ- how long the four would be in ous centre-left government. place or their exact titles. Rai’s expose became one of “I think it’s a huge, huge re- the focal points of the election sponsibility put on my shoulders campaign by the right-wing and being the only cricketer — Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in male or female — I think I have 2014, which ended with its lead- to really put my head into it and er Narendra Modi taking power think about its future,” Edulji with a huge majority. told the CNN News18 network. Rai has faced criticism in some The appointments follow a quarters that he was too close to court order to sack BCCI president the BJP and worked for its ben- Anurag Thakur and his deputy efi t during his stint as India’s top from their positions on January auditor. 2 over their failure to implement Cricket’s massive popularity reforms recommended by a panel in India has helped the BCCI be- headed by former judge Rajendra come by far the wealthiest of all Mal Lodha. of the sport’s national boards. New Zealand (L) celebrate the winning runout of Australia’s Josh Hazlewood (R) during the ODI between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park in Auckland yesterday. The court then asked two law- Charges of corruption and yers, known as amicus curiae nepotism have dented the im- AFP wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade Scoreboard (friends of the court), to suggest age of the board in recent years, Auckland to injury. nine names to run the board after leading many activists to urge But the players expected to off er lead- New Zealand: Australia: ruling that government employ- the court to intervene to reform ership in their absence failed to step up M. Guptill b Stoinis 61 A. Finch c Neesham b Boult 4 ees, ministers and anyone aged the privately-run organisation. ew Zealand scraped home in the and the Australians crumbled before T. Latham c Handscomb b Starc 7 T. Head c Munro b Boult 5 over 70 cannot be part of the or- The board has been embroiled fi rst one-dayer against Aus- Stoinis arrived. Their woes were largely K. Williamson c Maxwell b Stoinis 24 S. Marsh st Latham b Santner 16 ganisation. in a series of scandals, including tralia yesterday, but only af- caused by rash or careless shots, not de- R. Taylor b Head 16 P. Handscomb c Latham b Southee 7 The judges however later accusations of corruption in the ter rookie all-rounder Marcus mons in a pitch on which the New Zea- N. Broom c Starc b Faulkner 73 G. Maxwell c Latham b Ferguson 20 trimmed the proposed new team Indian Premier League (IPL) and NStoinis’ fell agonisingly short of dragging landers had batted solidly. from nine to four and rejected a a betting scandal involving an IPL C. Munro c Finch b Stoinis 2 S. Heazlett c Latham b Ferguson 4 his team to victory with an unbeaten 146. Relative newcomers such as Travis J. Neesham c Head b Hazlewood 48 M. Stoinis not out 146 suggestion from a government team linked to its former head In just his second ODI, Stoinis took three Head and Peter Hanscomb could be for- M. Santner c Maxwell b Cummins 7 J. Faulkner b Munro 25 lawyer that a top offi cial from Narayanaswami Srinivasan. wickets then fl ayed the New Zealand attack given for a rush of blood to the head at the T. Southee c Faulkner b Cummins 0 P. Cummins st Latham b Santner 36 as the Australians chased a target of 287 sight of the short Eden Park boundaries. L. Ferguson not out 3 M. Starc c Neesham b Santner 3 runs at Auckland’s Eden Park. However, stand-in captain Aaron Finch, T. Boult not out 16 J. Hazlewood run out (Williamson) 0 ADVICE He came to the crease with Australia Shaun Marsh and Glenn Maxwell — all Extras (b8, lb5, w16) 29 Extras (lb2, w12) 14 reeling at 54 for fi ve and calmly set about with 50-plus ODIs — are likely to face Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 286 Total (all out; 47 overs) 280 rebuilding after his more experienced tough questions over the performance. Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Latham), 2-87 (Wil- Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Finch), 2-10 (Head), teammates had squandered their wickets. Boult dismissed Head and Finch in the liamson), 3-128 (Taylor), 4-130 (Guptill), 3-18 (Handscomb), 4-48 (Marsh), Youngsters should His 146 was a record ODI score for an fourth over, with the acting skipper fall- 5-134 (Munro), 6-210 (Neesham), 7-246 5-54 (Maxwell), 6-67 (Heazlett), 7-148 Australian number seven batsman and ing to an acrobatic Jimmy Neesham catch (Santner), 8-251 (Southee), 9-269 (Faulkner), 8-196 (Cummins), 9-226 included 11 sixes and nine fours. trying to pull past square leg. (Broom) (Starc), 10-280 (Hazlewood) know history of Remarkably, the 27-year-old’s last Marsh went after a lazy dab at Mitchell Bowling: Starc 10-0-59-1, Hazlewood Bowling: Southee 10-0-63-1, Boult 9-0- partnership with Josh Hazlewood was Santner’s spin and Maxwell tried to collar 10-0-48-1, Cummins 9-0-67-2, Faulkner 58-2, Ferguson 10-0-44-2, Santner 10-1- worth 54, but Hazlewood did not face a rookie speedster Lockie Ferguson, only to 6-0-29-1, Stoinis 10-0-49-3, Head 5-0-21-1 44-3, Neesham 5-0-49-0, Munro 3-0-20-1 Indian sport: Sachin single ball as Stoinis stayed on strike try- nick the ball to the wicketkeeper. ing to guide Australia home. IANS His heroics prevented a trouncing STRANDED AT THE CREASE likely victory, needing just seven runs off gled, with nerves appearing to get the Kolkata in the opening match of the Chappell- Stoinis grafted an 81-run seventh wicket three overs, before a mix-up saw Hazle- better of some Black Caps as they sought Hadlee Trophy, sparing Australia’s partnership with James Faulkner (25), wood run out and Stoinis stranded. to avenge a 3-0 whitewash to Australia blushes after they rested their star bats- then added another 52 to Australia’s total Earlier, he took three wickets, includ- last December. atting legend Sachin men for the series. with Pat Cummins. ing the prized scalps of opener Martin But veteran Neil Groom’s 73, combined Tendulkar on Sunday The tourists left David Warner and He smashed three sixes off one Jimmy Guptill and skipper Kane Williamson. with 61 from Guptill and 48 from Nee- said it is extremely im- Usman Khawaja out of the squad to pro- Neesham over, then blasted another off Finch, missing his star scorers, elected sham, proved enough for a narrow win. portant for youngsters tect them for the upcoming Test series in Boult to bring up his century off 96 balls. to bowl after winning the toss. It paid The second ODI will be on Thursday, ofB the country to know history India, then lost captain Steve Smith and Australia looked on the verge of an un- early dividends as New Zealand strug- with the third on Sunday. of Indian sport and also be aware of the country’s sporting icons, both living and dead. BOTTOMLINE Speaking at the opening of a sports museum here, the former India captain said it is nice to have a museum which shelters all disciplines and not just cricket. “I have been to couple of muse- ums to do with cricket. (Sir Don- Pakistan to host T20 league fi nal ald) Bradman museum in Austral- Former Indian cricketer Sachin Reuters match, injuring six players and teams,” Clarke said. ia, and MCC at Lord’s. But both Tendulkar speaks during a Islamabad killing six security personnel “There’s a considerable are cricket museums,” Tendulkar promotional event. and two civilians. amount of perception that needs told a packed audience. The incident forced Pakistan to be changed and information “This has got so many diff er- sheltering memorabilia of sport- akistan will host the to play their home matches in that needs to be shared. But I am ent things. You’ve got tennis, ing icons, has Brazilian football fi nal of its domestic the UAE and the country has most impressed by the eff orts of Usain Bolt is there and Roger Fe- legend Pele’s 1970 World Cup- Twenty20 tournament since remained starved of inter- the authorities to make Lahore a derer and not just cricket. winning shirt, the 2010 World on home soil in March, national cricket at home, apart safe city.” “Experience to be here makes Cup match football, India’s fi rst Pthe country’s cricket board from Zimbabwe’s limited-overs A senior PCB offi cial said the it complete. I would like as many Test cricket captain CK Nayudu’s (PCB) said yesterday, a big lift for tour in 2015. PSL fi nal would be hosted in La- youngsters to go there and un- Allahabad Bank passbook with a nation which has largely been “We will host the fi nal in La- hore “for sure, but only if there is derstand the history of sport. a bank balance of Rs 346, and shunned by international teams hore on March 7,” the PCB’s ex- no big security related incident Mainly Indian sport because I chess ace Viswanathan Anand’s since 2009 due to security risks. ecutive committee chairman from now to Feb. 9,” when the think it is extremely important used board personally signed by Last year, the inaugural Paki- Najam Sethi told Reuters. “We league kicks off in the UAE. to know our Indian sporting he- him among others. stan Super League (PSL), based are going full steam ahead, and Last year, the PCB sold fi ve roes,” he added. Besides Tendulkar, former on the franchise model of the have all the green signals.” franchises for $93 million and “We have had so many world India captain Sourav Ganguly, Indian Premier League and Aus- Last week, Giles Clarke, the attracted players from 11 dif- class sportsmen. Some of them India’s only individual Olympic tralia’s Big Bash League, became head of the International Crick- ferent countries, including big are not alive but have brought gold medallist Abhinav Bind- a success though all the matches et Council’s (ICC) Pakistan Task names like West Indies batsman laurels to our nation in the form ra, 2016 Rio Paralympics sil- were played in the United Arab Force, arrived in the country on Chris Gayle and former captains of medals. We cannot forget ver medal winning shot putter Emirates. a two-day fact-fi nding mission Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka them. They are not alive and in Deepa Malik and and two-time The PCB said at the time that on security. and England’s Kevin Pietersen. front of us. But they should be Paralympics gold medallist jave- the real test would be to bring “We’ve been able to see very National television viewing in our minds. And this will help lin thrower Devendra Jhajharia the game back home. signifi cant work that has been fi gures were higher than for the to keep them in our minds and were also present. In 2009, gunmen attacked invested in, and invested very 2015 World Cup, with 55 percent get motivated and inspired,” said The museum entry fees have a bus carrying the Sri Lankan wisely in how safety and secu- of Pakistan’s TV-watching pub- Tendulkar, who amassed 15,921 been kept at Rs100 with the price team from their hotel to La- File picture of a Pakistani spectator watching the first ODI between rity will be made possible for lic tuning into the tournament at runs in 200 Tests. halved for students. It is free for hore’s Gaddafi stadium for a test Pakistan and Zimbabwe at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore. visiting international cricket peak times. The museum, a 6,700 sq ft area national and state level athletes. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, January 31, 2017 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT PUSH Simmons convinced Law to take up Morgan calls for Windies coach job DRS in T20s aft er Root howler ‘The fact that DRS is not (available) is a concern. There is as much on the line as there File picture of Stuart Law, who is now the West Indies coach. is in a Test or a one-day match so no reason why it shouldn’t be used’ IANS foreign soil in four years. Brisbane Law, who has in the past coached Bangladesh and Sri Lan- ka, said he was also encouraged ewly-appointed West after speaking to WICB President Indies coach Stuart Dave Cameron, and was looking Law has said a conver- forward to the challenge. sation with his pred- “The West Indies job is simi- Necessor Phil Simmons helped lar to when I went to Bangladesh convince him he had made the and I took over from Jamie Sid- right decision to link up with the dons who did a lot of hard yards Caribbean side. to make them competitive and I Australian Law was last week came in and tried to add some- confi rmed by the West Indies thing a little special on top of Cricket Board (WICB) as the new that and we got them to an Asian men’s senior team coach on a Cup fi nal for the fi rst time in two-year contract, and will for- their history, which was a huge mally assume duties next month achievement,” the 48-year-old ahead of England’s one-day tour, former Australia international reports CMC. batsman said. In a recent chance meeting in “The West Indies are a team on the United Arab Emirates, Law the up and after speaking to the said Simmons had nothing but board president about what they praise for the quality attitude of have in place it could be a very players in the Caribbean. good period of time.” “Funny enough I have just He added: “I’m excited. I have been in Dubai with the Australia known about the opportunity for under-16 team and I bumped quite some time. I had one more into Phil Simmons. He was very thing in the pipeline but I have forthcoming with information,” gone for this and it is a great move.” Law told the Courier Mail. Of importance to Law will be “One thing he said was how the West Indies Test status and much the players love cricket and he said he would be working hard wanted to learn for each other. to improve the side’s fortunes in That really caught my attention. the longest format. It’s all you really need to hear.” “One perception people have Law takes over the West Indies about West Indian cricket is that unit which has been on the de- they are only T20 focused but I cline for over a decade now and know that is not the case,” he con- languishes at number eight in the tended. “There are a lot of young Test rankings and number nine in players who I know want to play the One-Day Internationals. Test cricket. That excites me.’’ In fact, the West Indies’ win Law replaces Simmons who over Pakistan in Sharjah last was axed last September, fi ve November was their fi rst Test months after leading the West victory in 19 months, only their Indies to the capture of the second in 17 matches and fi rst on Twenty20 World Cup in India.

England’s Joe Root plays a shot during the Second T20 International between India and England at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur, India.

AFP dia’s innings. before the next game, there’s always “We have an opportunity to do Bangladesh opener Imrul Kayes in New Delhi Replays indicated that the ball would feedback given through the match referee that before the next game, there’s fitness race for India Test have hit off and middle stumps but Kohli, on our report,” he said. always feedback given through who was on seven at the time, was re- “It’s part and parcel of the job to be the match referee on our report,” Left-handed batsman Imrul this, because we don’t play oin Morgan has called for cricket’s prieved and went on to score another able to cope with the pressure and make said skipper Morgan Kayes is working hard to get fit much there. Everyone wants Decision Review System (DRS) to crucial 14 runs. good decisions more often than not,” in time for Bangladesh’s one-off a golden opportunity like this. be used in Twenty20 internation- England skipper Morgan admitted Morgan added. tried to chase down a relatively modest Test against India next month We are all very excited with als after a fi nal over umpiring error there was “extreme frustration” in the While DRS has been employed in Test target of 145. in Hyderabad. On Sunday, Imrul this series. costE England victory in the second match visitors’ dressing-room after the match, matches since 2009 and was introduced After dismissing Root for 38, he also jogged for some time after “My going to India depends on of their series against India. saying it was time for DRS to be intro- in ODIs in 2011, the International Cricket took the wicket of the big-hitting Jos cycling at the National Cricket me and the physio. If he gives Needing just eight to win off the final duced for the game’s shortest format. Council (ICC) has refused to sanction its Buttler and conceded just two runs in the Academy in Mirpur. good news, then maybe (I’ll over in Nagpur on Sunday night, Eng- “The fact it’s not (available) is a con- use in T20s on the grounds that it would fi nal over as the hosts grabbed an unlikely “The pain has lessened. I cycled go). If I’m not selected, it’s a land were stunned by the dismissal of cern. There is as much on the line as there slow down the game. win. and ran a bit, but felt no pain. diff erent matter. But if physio their star batsman Joe Root off the first is in a Test or a one-day match so no rea- While England have been strong advo- Indian veteran Ashish Nehra said his I also had a chat with the doc- gives the green light, every- ball and ultimately fell five runs short son why it shouldn’t be used,” Morgan cates of DRS, India has been much more 23-year-old bowling partner had dis- tors. The game begins from thing will be fine,” Imrul said. of their target. told the post-match press conference. reluctant to embrace the system. played nerves of steel to keep his line ninth [next month]. I think I will In their first visit to India for TV replays showed that Root had got a “If this was a World Cup game tonight Last year’s Test series against England right at the death. be fit before the match begins,” a bilateral series after getting thick inside edge onto his pads but he had and we were out of the World Cup or lost was the fi rst time that India had agreed to “Hats off to him, this isn’t the first he said after training. Test status in 2000, Bang- no chance of challenging Indian umpire a World Cup fi nal we’d be spewing.” its use in fi ve-day cricket. time he’s done it for India,” Nehra told Imrul will give the fitness test ladesh will play a two-day Chettithody Shamshuddin’s decision as India’s victory in Nagpur enabled them reporters. with his team-mates on Tues- warm-up match against India DRS is only used in Test match and ODI OFFICIAL COMPLAINT to level the three-match series ahead of “Jasprit asked me if he should bowl day. He said his trip to India A from February 5. cricket. Asked whether England would raise the decider tomorrow night in Bangalore. length. All I told him was ‘you have a depends on the report from “Whether I will play in the The same umpire also turned down Shamshuddin’s performance with the While Root’s dismissal was a severe good yorker, look to bowl full, it’s tough the physio. warm-up match also depends a vehement lbw appeal from England match referee Andy Pycroft of Zimba- blow to England’s chances, they were to hit a six even if it is a low full toss.’ It “Obviously, every player on the physio. I he gives the bowler Chris Jordan who was convinced bwe, Morgan said “absolutely”. also undone by outstanding bowling worked.” looks forward to a series like nod, I will play,” he added. he had dismissed Virat Kohli during In- “We have an opportunity to do that from Jasprit Bumrah at the death as they

BOTTOMLINE ‘Taught my kids to never look down on anyone’

The former West Indies for Sundays, which our parents felt riage. My marriage ending was tough “When we bleed, we bleed batsman on the infl uence of was a sacred day. The other kids would for my parents because of the values the same blood. I’ve always church, his cricketing father, pass by and make fun of us, saying our they had. Spending so much time away taught my kids never to look home discipline and bringing up parents were too strict, but when you from home travelling with cricket can down on anyone or to not have his children look at some of those kids who perhaps put a strain on what you’re trying to anyone look down on them. didn’t hold dear the same values, they achieve in your married life. You’re as good as anyone that By Nick McGrath, The Guardian ended up on the wrong side of the law. My eldest daughter, Matara, is 34 walks the planet” London and lives in Canada. She works in the PAPA’S BOY Antigua and Barbuda consulate in To- there for him and whenever there was Seeing my dad play so much inspired ronto. I’ve very proud of her and what an opportunity to see him play sport, I had a wonderful childhood in An- me. He represented Antigua and the she’s achieving. Mali, who is two years was there. I’m Uncle Viv to my broth- tigua growing up in a family with Leeward Islands. I started playing as younger, is a part-owner of an art gal- ers’ children, too, and they’re always three other brothers and no sisters, soon as I started walking. I’d take the lery in Antigua and I’m very happy happy to hear my stories. Kids tend to Iso you can imagine the little fi ghts pads from Dad and put them on and for him as well. He tried to partake in gravitate to their famous relatives and and scraps we had. My parents were very pick up the bat, which was sometimes cricket, but I guess that was always go- the limelight and I’m happy to have religious and they made sure we went much taller than me. ing to be tough for him, following in my played that role. I have two grandchil- to church every Sunday. We’d go to 8am My marriage ending was tough for footsteps. I did have a chat with him dren, which at this twilight point of my mass, then Sunday school in the after- my parents because of the values they about what he was trying to pursue and life is a welcome sight. noon, then we’d go again at 7pm mass had. My dad was assistant governor of how hard it was going to be for him and The most important value I’ve taught and we sang with the choir, which I used the prison, so there were times when how much pressure would be placed my children is respect for every creed, to love big time. As a child I sometimes he would bring some of that discipline on him. I guess he didn’t quite take my colour or race. When we bleed, we bleed found church very boring, but as you home. He was the enforcer, whereas advice. I have a third daughter, Masaba, the same blood. I’ve always taught my grow older you realise that whatever was my mother, who was a stay-at-home from my marriage [to the Indian actor kids never to look down on anyone or said on the pulpit was for the benefi t of mum, was always the pacifi er. Neena Gupta]. I’m very proud of her to not have anyone look down on them. everyone, and it has helped to steer me My parents were married for 50-odd too; she designs clothes for the Bolly- You’re as good as anyone that walks with some of my core values. years. I lost my mum last year and my wood fi lm industry. the planet, so long as you walk and you Sport was a huge part of family life. dad before that and I do feel that maybe I’m Uncle Viv to Ian Botham’s son, breathe and you bleed, and if they don’t Where we lived there was a cricket I let their generation down because I Liam, and I’ve been a sort of mentor take on those values, they are not a club, where we played every day except File picture of Vivian Richards during a Big Bash League match in Brisbane. didn’t last that long in my own mar- to him over the years. I’ve always been member of the Richards family. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 31, 2017 5 SPORT

SETBACK Bindra, Gopichand, Rasquinha in India’s eight-member As LA prepares to bid Olympic task force for Olympics, mayor

Agencies slams Trump travel ban Mumbai ndia’s only individual Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra was named ‘Los Angeles will always be a place of refuge, where the most vulnerable people fleeing war, or religious Ion a panel entrusted with the task of preparing the blueprint for the country’s or political oppression, can find a safe and welcoming home. Congress outlawed the banning of immi- success at the next three Games, the sports ministry said yesterday. grants by nationality more than 50 years ago because we have long known it does not make us safer’ The world’s second-most populous country sent more than 120 athletes to Rio de Janeiro last year with hopes of AFP exceeding the six medals won at London Los Angeles in 2012, but returned with only a silver in “When Trump was elected, I badminton and a wrestling bronze. National badminton coach Pullela Gop- mid unease in the sports only hoped that the President ichand and former India hockey captain world over travel limits Trump would be diff erent than Viren Rasquinha were also named in imposed by US President the campaigner Trump. That the eight-member task force which will Donald Trump, Los Angeles help identify core medal prospects for MayorA Eric Garcetti yesterday called the xenophobic, misogynistic the Tokyo Games in 2020 and nurture the city hoping to host the 2024 Ol- and narcissistic rhetoric would talents for the next two editions of the ympics “a place of refuge” for the be replaced with a more hum- quadrennial event. world’s vulnerable. ble and measured approach The committee, formed in accordance Garcetti, a prominent fi gure in with Indian Prime Minister Narendra the LA 2024 bid, has condemned the to leading our country. I was Modi’s directives, has been tasked to Trump travel restrictions, and reiter- wrong. And the Muslim ban is prepare a comprehensive action plan ated amid demonstrations at Los An- just the latest example of some- including short-term, medium term geles International Airport his belief and long-term measures for eff ective that Trump’s moves are counter to one who couldn’t be more out of participation of Indian athletes in the American and Angeleno ideals. touch with our country and the next three Olympics to be held in 2020, “Los Angeles will always be a place right way to move forward” 2024 and 2028. The committee has of refuge, where the most vulnerable also been tasked to suggest eff ective people fl eeing war, or religious or po- — Michael Bradley, US football captain methods to identify medal prospects for litical oppression, can fi nd a safe and the Olympics, their coaches and support welcoming home,” Garcetti said. staff besides suggesting an eff ective tal- “Congress outlawed the banning ent identification system. of immigrants by nationality more Besides Bindra, Gopichand and than 50 years ago because we have Rasquinha, the other members of the long known it does not make us safer,” committee include hockey coach Baldev Garcetti added. Singh, senior journalist Rajesh Kalra, Om Los Angeles is battling Paris and Pathak from the School Sports Promo- Budapest for the right to host the tion foundation, Professor GL Khanna Summer Games, with the Interna- from Manav Rachna International Uni- tional Olympic Committee due to versity and Sports Authority of Gujarat choose the hosts at a meeting in Lima Director General Sandeep Pradhan. in September of this year. The eight-member committee will also It is not clear how much the global suggest ways to create and upgrade outrage over Trump’s 90-day ban on sports infrastructure necessary to train travelers from seven majority-Mus- top-level athletes while making sug- lim countries and a suspension of gestions regarding foreign training and the arrival of refugees for at least 120 exposure of top-level athletes. days might aff ect the American city’s It will also recommend ways to signifi- hopes. cantly improve the standards of coach- The targeted countries are Iraq, ing and sports science in the country. Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria The task force will also recommend and Yemen. make it clear that while I understand be replaced with a more humble and and are in the process of gathering that is being protested worldwide. ways to improve the coaching standards But the ban, ordered on Friday, the need for safety, the values and measured approach to leading our information to understand how this “I am a British citizen who has and sports infrastructure in the country has been making waves in the sports ideals of our country should never be country. executive order would apply to play- lived in America for the past six years of 1.3 billion people. world. The captain of the US soccer sacrifi ced,” Bradley said. “I believe “I was wrong. And the Muslim ban ers in our league who are from one of — working hard, contributing to so- India have won 28 medals since first team, Michael Bradley, hit out at the what I said, but it was too soft. is just the latest example of someone the impacted countries”. “The NBA ciety, paying my taxes and bringing competing at the Olympics in 1900 but restrictions, saying the move left him “The part I left out is how sad and who couldn’t be more out of touch is a global league, and we are proud up our four children in the place they Bindra remains the only individual gold feeling “sad and embarrassed”. embarrassed I am. When Trump was with our country and the right way to to attract the very best players from now call home,” he wrote. “Now, me medalist with his victory in the men’s Bradley took to Instagram to elabo- elected, I only hoped that the Presi- move forward.” around the world,” Bass said. and many others like me are being 10-metre air rifle in Beijing in 2008. rate on earlier comments he had made dent Trump would be diff erent than NBA spokesperson Mike Bass is- British athletics legend Mo Farah, told that we may not be welcome,” The Indian men’s hockey team won the about the issue to Sports Illustrated the campaigner Trump. sued a statement concerning the who was born in Somalia but lives with he said, adding that Trump had “in- Olympic gold medal eight times, most journalist Grant Wahl. “That the xenophobic, misogy- travel ban saying the league had his family in Oregon, expressed dis- troduced a policy that comes from a recently in 1980. “I gave an answer where I tried to nistic and narcissistic rhetoric would “reached out to the State Department may on Facebook with a Trump policy place of ignorance and prejudice.” FARAH ‘RELIEVED’ HE CAN REJOIN HIS FOCUS FAMILY IN US AMID NEW TRAVEL RULES European athletics Reuters repeating the feat in 2016 in Rio, as chief denies crisis London well as at the World Championships in 2013 and 2015. AFP continued: “The stadium was He is a British citizen, but his London full, there were good perform- ritish Olympic champion Mo birthplace of Somalia is one of the ances and a good atmosphere. Farah said he was relieved seven countries subject to Trump’s “European athletics is moving Bhe would be able to rejoin immigration restrictions. thletics is not in crisis forward and we have put in a lot his family in the United States after The 33-year-old has been based despite the horrendous of things such as good govern- the British government said late on in Portland, Oregon, for the past six publicity following ance. When I travel around Eu- Sunday the new US travel restric- years, where he said he had been the exposure of state- rope it is clear we are not a sport sponsoredA doping by Russia, in crisis, we are not in Europe at tions did not apply to UK nation- working hard in training, paying als born, like Farah, in one of the taxes and bringing up his four European Athletics Association least. We have so many people countries listed. children. president Svein-Arne Hansen working so hard for this and they Farah, who was born in Somalia “It’s deeply troubling that I will said yesterday. feel let down by what happened but moved to Britain as a child, said have to tell my children that daddy The 70-year-old Norwegian especially in Monaco (IAAF earlier on Sunday he was worried might not be able to come home added the Russians would be headquarters) and we are await- he would be unable to return to his — to explain why the president has back at some point competing ing the outcome of the police in- home and family in the United States. introduced a policy that comes under their fl ag instead of the vestigation for real answers.” He is currently training in Ethiopia. from a place of ignorance and neutral one they are obliged to Hansen said the criteria was in “We understand from the state- prejudice,” he said. race under now. place — as stipulated last June in ment released this evening by the Trump announced a four-month Hansen admits the scandal Vienna and then further meas- Foreign and Commonwealth off ice hold on allowing refugees into the — precipitating a blanket ban ures were laid down last Novem- that the executive order will not United States and a temporary ban on Russia’s athletes at last year’s ber — for a gradual return to ath- apply to Mo and we are grateful on travellers from Syria and six Rio Olympics save for those who letic continental competition of to the FCO for urgently clarifying other Muslim-majority countries, met stringent criteria — which Russian athletes this year. the situation,” a representative for which he said would protect Ameri- also implicated offi cials from “They (Russia as a nation) Farah told the BBC. “Mo is relieved cans from violent Islamists. the sport’s governing body the have to come back at one stage,” that he will be able to return to his Farah said was been proud to IAAF had left a lot of people said Hansen, who will learn family once his current training represent Britain and to have feeling let down. more about the progress being camp concludes.” received a knighthood from Queen “We are not proud of the de- made by the Russian authorities The representative added that Elizabeth earlier this year. “My cision (by the IAAF) to ban the at next Monday’s IAAF Council Farah still “fundamentally disa- story is an example of what can Russian team taken in Vienna in meeting when the team report grees with this incredibly divisive happen when you follow policies June last year but we stand with back on their fi ndings from a trip and discriminatory policy”. of compassion and understanding, it because it shows we don’t ac- there last week. “On 1st January this year, Her Maj- not hate and isolation,” he said. cept cheating in our sport,” said “I know now that we are vet- esty the Queen made me a Knight Trump’s executive order trig- Hansen. ting about 10 for Belgrade (the of the Realm,” Farah said in a state- gered a storm of protest in the “I think last year’s European European Indoor Championships ment earlier on Sunday. “On 27th United States and abroad. British Championships in Amsterdam March 3/5) and there are 50-60 in January, President Donald Trump Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was a real game changer,” he pipeline for London (World Ath- seems to have made me an alien.” said on Sunday it was “divisive added before delivering the key- letics Championships in August) Farah is Britain’s most success- and wrong to stigmatise because note speech to the Sport Integri- but at the moment they will com- ful track athlete, winning gold in of nationality”, and Britain would ty Global Alliance (SIGA) Forum. pete under a neutral fl ag. the 5,000 and 10,000 metres at protect the rights and freedoms of Hansen, elected to his post “As a nation they will not be the London Olympics in 2012 and UK nationals home and abroad. in 2015 after years as director of back until we are satisfi ed they the historic Bislett Games meet, have fulfi lled the criteria.” Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, January 31, 2017 SPORT

NBA SPOTLIGHT Magic break 3-game losing Hawks soar in OT epic, streak, upset Raptors 114-113

By Josh Robbins Warriors and Cavs win Orlando Sentinel fter the Orlando Magic turned in ‘I’m blessed I’ve played with some great teammates in this uniform the last three years’ one of their most lethargic perform- ances in years in a blowout loss Fri- day, coach Frank Vogel ripped into hisA team during an intense fi lm-review session AFP Los Angeles Saturday. “I haven’t been satisfi ed with our eff ort on a consistent basis,” Vogel explained before the he Atlanta Hawks edged Magic faced the Toronto Raptors on Sunday the New York Knicks in an night. “We don’t have three All-Stars on our unexpected NBA epic on team where we can go out and not play with Sunday, emerging after four maximum eff ort every night. That’s been dis- Tovertimes and almost four hours appointing and something I’ve challenged our with a 142-139 victory. guys to correct. “That was fun. I don’t want to do “There’s a lot of things about eff ort,” Vo- that again ever, but it was fun,” said gel added. “It’s not like guys are not trying. Paul Millsap, whose 37 points in- But making the hustle plays, your alertness, cluded the go-ahead basket in the your focus, your attention to detail – all those fourth extra period as the Hawks things are considered eff ort in my book.” withstood 45 points from Carmelo His players responded Sunday. Anthony to win on their home fl oor. Showing a competitive spirit they have too Millsap added 19 rebounds and often lacked, the Magic shocked the Raptors, seven assists in 60.07 minutes on the 114-113, at the Air Canada Center. Magic centre fl oor, and said he was determined Nikola Vucevic scored 25 points, collected 10 not to come out of the contest. rebounds, dished out fi ve assists and blocked “I’ve never played 60 minutes of four shots. Point guard D.J. Augustin came off basketball,” he said. the bench to add 21 points and three assists. Four-OT games are an NBA rarity. Toronto (29-19) looked likely to rout Orlan- The Hawks won one against Utah in do (19-30) in the early going. 2012, but the Knicks’ only other for- The Raptors took a 49-39 lead when Jonas ay into a fourth overtime came back Valanciunas made a free throw with 6:52 re- in January of 1951 — when they lost maining in the second quarter. But the game’s to the Rochester Royals. tone suddenly shifted. Four Knicks players fouled out, Serge Ibaka made a turnaround fadeaway including Anthony. jumper. Elfrid Payton scored on a layup from a Millsap’s put-back basket gave pass from Vucevic. And then Vucevic scored on Atlanta a 141-139 lead with 27.4 sec- a layup after he collected a no-look pass from onds left. Payton. After the Hawks’ Dennis Schroder The run continued. made one of two free throws with Orlando scored a total of 19 consecutive 10.2 seconds left, New York’s Court- points to take a 58-49 lead. ney Lee missed two three-pointers DeMar DeRozan ended the run by making a in the fi nal eight seconds. pair of foul shots with 30.2 seconds left in the half, but the Raptors went the fi nal 6 minutes, Mavs stun Spurs 51 seconds before halftime without a basket. The Dallas Mavericks ended a Vucevic led the way with eight points, three frustrating run of futility in San An- rebounds and two assists and solid defense tonio, downing the Spurs 105-101 over the fi nal 6 minutes, 20 seconds of the half. for their fi rst win on their Texas ri- In the fi nal seconds before the halftime vals’ home fl oor since November 26, buzzer, the entire Magic bench stood _ a bit of 2010. excitement rarely seen lately. The Mavericks, who had lost 12 The Magic led 60-51 at halftime. straight in San Antonio, were led by With the victory, the Magic snapped a a career-high 24 points from Seth three-game losing streak. They also ended a Curry, with Harrison Barnes chip- seven-game losing streak in Toronto. ping in 19. They had not won at the Air Canada Cen- They also got a boost from rookie tre since March 26, 2012, when then-coach Yogi Ferrell, a surprise starter for his Stan Van Gundy employed a starting lineup new team less than 48 hours after of Jameer Nelson, Jason Richardson, Hedo signing a 10-day contract. Turkoglu, Ryan Anderson and Dwight Howard. Ferrell, undrafted out of college The Raptors cut their defi cit to 100-89 on a and labouring largely in the devel- Terrence Ross 3-pointer with 5:53 remaining, opmental league this season, shook prompting Vogel to call a timeout. off his early nerves to do a solid job New York Knicks guard Justin Holiday (No 8) hits the jump ball away from Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (No 4) during the fourth overtime at Philips On Orlando’s ensuing possession, Augustin of defending veteran Spurs point Arena. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports swished a 3-pointer, extending the lead to 103- guard Tony Parker, and produced 89. But Toronto went on a 12-2 run to cut its two clutch free throws in the waning triple-double of the season, with the James said. The Golden State War- closed the fi rst half on a 20-2 scoring 84-74 edge into the fourth. defi cit to 105-101 with 2:20 to go. seconds to seal the win. Thunder star notching 20 points, 12 riors stretched their league-leading run to trail just 53-50 at the interval. Al-Farouq Aminu’s driving layup After Vogel called a timeout, Payton hurled a “He’s a fi ghter,” Mavs superstar rebounds and 10 assists despite con- record with a 113-111 victory over CJ McCollum scored 28 points for Portland tied it at 93-93 with pass to Jeff Green, who scored on a layup. Dirk Nowitzki said. “He’s strong in necting on just seven of 26 shots. the Trail Blazers in Portland, but and pulled down seven rebounds 6:31 to play, but the Trail Blazers On the Raptors’ ensuing possession, Vucevic there. That was fun to watch.” James, who is eighth on the NBA’s not without a hard challenge from and Damian Lillard added 19 points couldn’t manage to get ahead. blocked a driving layup attempt by Kyle Lowry. all-time scoring list with 27,938 ca- the hosts. Kevin Durant scored 33 and eight assists for the Trail Blaz- Seconds later, Green drilled a 3-pointer to Another milestone for James reer points, has nearly twice as many points with 10 rebounds and six as- ers, who had a chance to win at the RESULTS extend the lead to 110-101. There were no surprises in Cleve- points as anyone else in a Cleveland sists for the Warriors, who won their end only for Evan Turner’s three- Golden State 113 Portland 111 Toronto scored the game’s next six points. land, where LeBron James became uniform. Zydrunas Ilgauskas is sec- third straight game and 10th in their point attempt to fall short. Chicago 121 Philadelphia 108 But C.J. Watson made a pair of free throws the fi rst player to score 20,000 ond on the team’s scoring list with last 11 despite the absence of star Portland had pulled level at 64- Dallas 105 San Antonio 101 with 11.2 seconds to go to put the Magic ahead points in a Cavaliers jersey with 25 in 10,616 points. Stephen Curry — who sat out with a 64 early in the third on a brace of Washington 107 New Orleans 94 112-107. Lowry countered on the ensuing pos- a 107-91 victory over the Oklahoma “I’m blessed I’ve played with stomach bug. three-pointers by Turner. Orlando 114 Toronto 113 session with a 3-pointer. Vucevic made two City Thunder. some great teammates in this uni- Klay Thompson added 27 points But Andre Iguodala capped a 20-8 Indiana 120 Houston 101 foul shots to ice the game with 3.6 seconds left. The reigning champion Cavaliers form the last three years and obvi- for Golden State, who powered to an Golden State run with a two three- Cleveland 107 Oklahoma City 91 No one could complain about the Magic’s withstood Russell Westbrook’s 24th ously my fi rst seven in the league,” early 51-30 lead before the Blazers pointers and the Warriors took an Atlanta 142 NY Knicks 139 (OT) eff ort Sunday.

BASEBALL Off season treats Brewers’ Ryan Braun well

By Todd Rosiak was still making his way back fi nds himself in the unusual role the veteran Braun and holdovers Milwaukee Journal Sentinel from off -season surgery for a as the Brewers’ senior states- Domingo Santana, Keon Brox- herniated disc in his lower back, man. ton and Kirk Nieuwenhuis being a procedure that would force him He pointed out that 26-year- joined by highly touted pros- ingering trade rumours to take a slow-and-steady ap- old Scooter Gennett is now the pects Lewis Brinson, Brett Phil- aside, the off season was proach to spring training. That second-longest-tenured posi- lips and Ryan Cordell. productive as well as a patience eventually paid off , tion player with Milwaukee, “a Michael Reed, who’s had a bit tiring for Milwaukee with Braun turning in his most scary thought for anyone that couple brief tours of duty with LBrewers left fi elder Ryan Braun. productive season since 2012 as spends time around us every day. the Brewers, also will be in the “I’ve lacked sleep. That sec- he hit .305 with 30 home runs There’s been a lot of turnover, a mix. ond kid is a game-changer,” he and 91 runs batted in over 135 lot of change.” “I love that,” Braun said. said during a break at the Brew- games. Wily Peralta, 27, is the second- “I think that competition’s a ers On Deck fan festival Sun- Two years ago he was still most experienced player over- great thing. It’s a healthy thing day afternoon at the Wisconsin dealing with the recurring nerve all, with just over three years of for everybody. There’s not just Centre, referring to the late- issue in his right thumb, a mala- service to his credit. competition for major-league September addition of son Grey- dy that ultimately was helped by “I love it. It’s fun for me,” jobs; there’ll be competition at son Joseph to the Braun fam- a series of cryogenic shots that Braun said of becoming a men- double-A and triple-A. There’s ily. “We’re going on 4-5 hours of essentially froze the area and al- tor to the Brewers’ ever-growing a lot of really good players right sleep most nights, but two hours lowed him to better grip the bat. ranks of younger players. now in our organization and it’s at a time tops so that aspect of it Now when position players “It’s scary how fast that hap- a good problem to have. I think has been fun but challenging. report to Maryvale on February. pens – how fast I went from be- competition should help every- “But other than that it’s been 17, Braun will be able to hit the ing the young guy to the men- body get better. the healthiest off season I’ve had ground running with a full off - tor guy. It’s a little bit scary, but “It should inspire guys to ulti- in a long time – knock on wood. I season of workouts and prepara- it’s something that I do enjoy. I mately become the best versions feel great. I’ve been able to do my tion behind him. That qualifi es think one of the biggest reasons of themselves, and it won’t ever full workouts and running and as good news both for him and I’ve been able to have success is allow complacency. When you everything that I’ve wanted to do a Brewers team that will rely on because of my routine, and that’s know there’s guys behind you and haven’t been able to the last him more than ever as it enters something that I’ve tried to help that are legitimate prospects couple off seasons. So physically, Year 2 of its rebuild. Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun. all the younger guys as they that have the opportunity to be I feel great. “It’s really nice,” Braun said. come up to the major leagues impact-level major-league play- “I’m ready to get going and “It wasn’t something I ever took habbing from an injury, it makes to go through a healthy off season faster, more explosive. I feel re- - just fi gure out a routine that ers, you know you have to per- excited to get to Arizona in a few for granted, but after having me that much more appreciative and be able to do everything I ally good.” works.” form day in and day out, year in weeks.” gone through a couple off seasons of it and gives me greater per- want to do. Now 33, Braun is entering his Competition fi gures to be keen and year out if you want to con- A year ago at this time Braun of doing physical therapy and re- spective on how fortunate I am “I just feel better – stronger, 11th major-league season and in the outfi eld this spring, with tinue to keep your job.” Gulf Times Tuesday, January 31, 2017 7 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Salary cap should compel Steelers Simmonds named to trade Brown

By Ron Cook mous Facebook Live video that Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Brown shot in the Steelers locker room after their playoff win Jan. 15 in Kansas City. Mike et’s start with the three Tomlin loves Brown’s talent MVP as Metropolitan primary reasons the and commitment to football, Steelers should keep but that video stunt infuriated Antonio Brown by him to the point he chastised Lsigning him to a long-term Brown publicly and hinted that contract that could guarantee enough distractions could lead him somewhere in the fi lthy him to another team the way rich neighbourhood of $35 mil- they did, say, Terrell Owens lion to $45 million. He is a great and Randy Moss. win NHL All-Star fi nal player, arguably the best on the Of course, Tomlin has to club. He is its hardest worker if take some blame because he James Harrison isn’t. He might helped create the monster ‘This is one of the best days of my life. I had a blast with all these guys’ be the best receiver in football, side of Brown by letting him a guy who should be able to get away with the celebration help you win Super Bowls. penalties and the pouting. It’s AFP Now, the three top reasons like he keeps hoping Brown Los Angeles the Steelers should at least look grows up, but Brown is no kid. into trading Brown before he Brown is not a bad guy or ma- goes into the fi nal year of his licious person. He’s just not all ayne Simmonds contract next season: He will that smart. It’s hard to imagine scored the game- turn 29 in July and easily could him changing now. It’s hard to winning goal half- break down or slow down by imagine Tomlin being strong way through the the time his new long-term enough to force him to change. Wfi nal period as the Metropolitan deal ends. He has caused so But the salary-cap issue Division eased past the Pacifi c many distractions with his with Brown is an even bigger Division 4-3 to win the 2017 silly, look-at-me antics that concern. The Steelers are go- NHL All-Star Game fi nal. more than a few of his team- ing to have to pay big money to The Philadelphia Flyers for- mates are tired of it. keep Le’Veon Bell, presumably ward fi nished off a two-on- It’s silly to give so much by putting their franchise tag none, taking a perfect feed from money to a receiver who on him for next season. Taylor Hall and lifting the puck touches the ball just seven or They also need to invest up over the outstretched arm of eight times a game when that heavily in Stephon Tuitt, Pacifi c Division goaltender Mike money could go to making the whose contract expires after Smith to break a 3-3 tie. team stronger at another posi- next season. I just can’t justify “This is one of the best days tion or two. giving a receiver quarterback- of my life. I had a blast with all Aggressively seek trade of- like money or even running these guys,” said Simmonds, fers for Brown. I’m not sug- back-like money. I don’t care who was named Most Valuable gesting the team give him away how good he is. And how about Player. “I don’t know if I realize for a fi fth-round draft choice this perspective about Brown what is going on right now.” the way it did Super Bowl XLIII and Ben Roethlisberger from After an apparent goal by MVP Santonio Holmes af- former Steelers cornerback Ike Anaheim’s Ryan Kesler was ruled ter the 2009 season. I’m just Taylor via the NFL Network? off side by a coach’s challenge saying there might be a deal “Without 7, there is no A.B. by Metropolitan coach Wayne out there that could make the Take 7 out of the equation, it Gretzky, forward Cam Atkinson Steelers a better club. With might be a little diff erent.” tied the game at 3-3 on a breaka- Brown, the Steelers are 0-for-7 I like Ike in this instance. way goal. Simmonds added his as far as winning Super Bowls. The Steelers have not been goal immediately after a faceoff The distractions are a real afraid to allow talented receiv- win by Hall. problem. Brown’s three ex- ers to leave, although none Asked what it is like to be cessive celebrations penalties was as terrifi c as Brown. In named MVP of Sunday’s con- early in the season were bad addition to Holmes, there was test that featured the best-of- enough. But there was the in- Plaxico Burress, who left when the-best in the sport, he said. “It cident in the fi rst Miami game the team decided to pay Hines sounds weird. But being named when he jogged back to the Ward instead; Mike Wallace, an All-Star was weird too. There line of scrimmage, delaying whom the team wanted to keep are so many great players here.” his teammates from running but couldn’t because Wallace Simmonds picked up a new their 2-minute off ense. In more balked at their contract off er car and will share in the $1mn than one game, when he wasn’t with the money quickly go- prize money with his 10 team- happy with how he was be- ing to Brown instead; and Em- mates. He said one of the best ing used, he frequently ran the manuel Sanders, who left as a moments of the weekend was wrong patterns, either because free agent. getting to play on a team coached Metropolitan Division forward Wayne Simmonds of the Philadelphia Flyers is presented with a Honda truck for being the MVP of the 2017 NHL of a lack of focus or – worse Unlike with cornerbacks, the by the legendary Gretzky. All Star Game at Staples Center in Los Angeles. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports -intentionally. It happened a Steelers have drafted well with “I can’t believe they put me week ago in the AFC champi- receivers with Brown coming on the ice at the beginning. I was exhibition with the others taking semi-fi nal games with the win- pleasure to play with Washing- ed to skip the event because of an onship. That’s inexcusable. in the sixth round of the 2010 dumbfounded,” he said. “Wayne place in 1981 and 2002. ning teams advancing to the ton Capitals star Ovechkin this ill family pet. Then, there was the infa- draft the best example. Gretzky in my opinion is the In Saturday’s skills contest, 40-minute, two-period cham- weekend. “I kind of got picked by de- greatest player to play this game. Montreal Canadiens defence- pionship contest. “This was a great experience fault. It is tough to get guys To get a chance to play for him man Shea Weber successfully In the fi rst semi-fi nal, Calgary from Friday until today. We from the east coast to the west was an honour.” defended his hardest shot title Flames forward Johnny Gaud- (both) love the game,” Crosby coast,” said Gretzky, who was in The festivities on Sunday at with a 165 kilometre per hour reau scored two goals to lead a said. “We enjoyed ourselves Los Angeles this week as part of Staples Center arena started (102mph) blast. balanced attack in which every- didn’t have to try to do that. the festivities surrounding the with about half of the NHL’s Edmonton Oiler’s rising star one of the Pacifi c Division play- Playing on the same team going naming of the top 100 players recently chosen top 100 players Connor McDavid won the fast- ers scored a goal in a 10-3 win through the skills it was easy for of all-time. Gretzky echoed the coming out onto the ice to greet est skater event while Pittsburgh over the Central Division. that to happen.” feelings of most of the players the current star players one-by- Penguins superstar Sidney Alex Ovechkin and Crosby Oilers franchise player Mc- when he said the three-on-three one. Carly Rae Jepsen sang the Crosby claimed the title of most proved to be a dynamic duo for David scored the prettiest goal of games made it more exciting. Canadian anthem and Los An- accurate shooter. The Atlantic the Metropolitan Division as the fi nal, a falling backhand deke “This three-on-three format geles Kings cheerleader Court- Division defeated the Pacifi c Di- they combined for four points in around the pokecheck of Metro- been something of a positive for ney Daniels sang the American vision 9-7 in points as the skills a 10-6 win over the Atlantic Di- politan goalie Sergei Bobrovsky the league. You usually don’t see anthem after the band Fifth competition determined the vision, allowing them to punch to tie the game 2-2. this much intensity in an all-star Harmony pulled out at the last matchups for Sunday’s game. their ticket to the fi nal. Gretzky was a late addition game.” minute. This year’s format saw the Crosby said despite their nu- as coach of the Pacifi c Division The NHL takes Monday off , This is the third time Los An- league go to a three-on-three merous battles in NHL and in- team after Columbus Blue Jack- but is back in action today with geles has hosted the mid-season tournament that featured two ternational competition it was a ets coach John Tortorella decid- 14 games.

NFL Pro Bowl exhibition whets Super Bowl appetites

AFP to play before the Detroit Lions’ on the quarter’s fi rst play, with Los Angeles Matt Prater hit from 42 and 46 Kansas City signal caller Alex to pull the NFC within a touch- Smith fi nding Tennessee tight down at the 4:29 mark. end Delanie Walker on a 26- ith a week to go be- The NFC got the ball back at yard touchdown pass, Walker fore the Atlanta Fal- their 31-yard line with 2:39 re- juggling the ball for a moment cons and New Eng- maining and crossed midfi eld before securing possession with land Patriots clash at the two-minute warning on a both feet in bounds. Win Super Bowl 51, NFL fans could pass from Washington Redskins’ New Orleans quarterback whet their appetites on Sunday quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Drew Brees tied the score at 7-7 with the Pro Bowl exhibition in New York Giants’ Odell Beckham. when he connected with Seat- Orlando, Florida. tle’s Doug Baldwin on a 47-yard As the Falcons arrived in Hou- Aft er playing the fi rst scoring strike with 6:26 left in ston, Texas, on Sunday — with scoreless quarter in a Pro the half. The NFC failed to con- the Pats due in on Monday to Bowl in 10 years, the teams vert on two chances inside the begin their fi nal build-up to the fi nally broke through in the AFC fi ve-yard line, as Dallas title showdown — league stars second period rookie running back Ezekiel Elli- whose teams did not make it to ott was stuff ed on a fourth-and- the title showdown put on a de- But the drive fi zzled when goal in the fi rst quarter and Brees fensive show. Sunday’s all-star Cousins’ pass to Seattle’s Jimmy was intercepted in the end zone exhibition was the lowest-scor- Graham eluded the Seahawks by Buff alo’s Stephon Gilmore in ing Pro Bowl since 1988 as the tight end and was intercepted by the second. American Football Conference Buff alo’s Lorenzo Alexander. The AFC took a 14-7 lead to made two fi rst-half goal-line Cousins threw for 158 yards on halftime after Cincinnati’s Andy stands then held off the favoured 14-of-20 accuracy in the fourth Dalton fl ipped a 23-yard touch- National Football Conference’s quarter. Beckham caught six down pass to Kansas City tight fi nal drive to win 20-13. passes for 93 yards as the NFC end Travis Kelce, who got behind Field goals provided all of the outgained the AFC 353-241. Minnesota’s Harrison Smith on scoring in the second half. After playing the fi rst score- a crossing pattern. After three The Baltimore Ravens’ Justin less quarter in a Pro Bowl in 10 years in which the Pro Bowl teams Tucker converted on 38- and 31- years, the teams fi nally broke were picked by retired stars, the yard attempts to give the AFC a through in the second period. game returned to a more tradi- NFC quarterback Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints (No 9) passes against the AFC during the first half of the 2017 Pro Bowl at Camping 20-7 advantage with 14:12 left The AFC found the end zone tional clash of conferences. World Stadium. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, January 31, 2017 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Ski star Vonn battles back with titles, aims for records Another injury, another comeback but Lindsey Vonn keeps on winning and the 32-year-old ski great still has ‘big goals’ to aim for ahead of the St Moritz world championships next week

DPA Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

merican star Lindsey Vonn has already written herself into the record books but Aahead of the forthcoming Al- pine skiing world championships in St Moritz, she is targeting further success as she continues her latest comeback. “I just work hard and when I come back I trust what I’m doing, I trust in myself. I know how to win races, I know how to ski fast so as long as my body is cooperating and strong I know what to do,” Vonn told dpa in an inter- view at the Cortina d’Ampezzo World Cup weekend. The 32-year-old Vonn has proved time and time again that winning is in her blood with an Olympic gold from 2010, two world golds from 2009 and the women’s record of 76 World Cup victo- ries helping her to four overall titles. The last of those World Cup wins came just over a week ago in Garmisch- Partenkirchen, the fi rst of a season ef- fectively halved due to a severe knee injury and a broken arm. “Lindsey Vonn is a fl ipping BEAST. Welcome back,” was the reaction of compatriot and standings leader Mi- kaela Shiff rin on social media to that win, one which Vonn agrees is a high- light in her career. “It’s one of my best, I think. I thought it was pretty good but my dad said it was great and it kind of got me thinking about it,” she said. “Everything, all together. Because of my hand, because of the injury, be- cause of conditions, because no train- ing, you put everything together and I think it was a really great performance. I’m really proud of what I was able to do there.” Vonn’s schedule at the February 6-19 championships in Switzerland includes the downhill, super-g and su- per combined, with the chance of the giant slalom being thrown in as well. She believes two gold medals is a File picture of Lindsey Vonn realistic target and though her fi nal performing at the FIS Alpine Skiing tune-up in Cortina did not go exactly World Cup in Zauchensee, Austria. to plan, crashes in the downhill train- ing and race are unlikely to dent her confi dence. “It doesn’t really bother me. It’s just and making slow, gradual comebacks “You can overcome a lot if Winter Olympics in 2014 but though big blow for me personally, it was some- “When I’m in the starting gate, pain, it’s all in your mind. I had a train- should not be underestimated. you don’t think it’s a big deal looking forward to Pyeongchang 2018, thing I was really looking forward to. I trust myself, I think a lot of people er once, he’s from Poland and I spent “It’s really hard. I was in Vail (Colo- – if you don’t let your mind it is Ingemar Stenmark’s all-time “But I think after I retire and I look who come back from injuries don’t,” the summer long training with him in rado) for the fi rst two weeks after [the think that it hurts” record of 86 World Cup victories which back, what would be the most impor- she said. “[They] don’t trust them- Monaco. He would make me run un- latest arm] surgery and I had to leave,” is now her primary goal. tant thing to me, would be that, if I selves or get scared about crash- til I puked and he said it’s only in your she said. “I had to get away from the portant for me to have goals, to have “It would be incredible. Never in a could do it, would be the record.” ing again, I’m don’t get scared about mind,” she explained. snow, it was really depressing me. Eve- something to look forward to but not million years did I ever think I would And would another serious injury crashing again. I know it’s a risk and I “It really taught me how to push my- ryone’s out there training and skiing dwell on the fact I can’t do something even be close to breaking it so to get make retirement an option? just accept it.” self to the limit. You can overcome a lot and I’m not. ... I know myself and how to try to keep this far is more than I could ever ask “Oh no, I’d come back. I have Vonn is also adept at accepting the if you don’t think it’s a big deal – if you “I had to go and just kind of block myself positive, that’s looking forward for,” she said. “But I still have nine to things that I want to accomplish, the pain which comes with being an elite don’t let your mind think that it hurts.” skiing out completely and just focus on to something and that’s skiing or just tie or 10 to break so still have a little record and Olympics. Those are some athlete in a sport so physically de- Pain is not only physical though my hand, I went to LA, spent time with trying to distract myself hanging out way to go but it’s getting closer. pretty big goals of mine and it would manding – and at times downright and the mental aspect of trying to stay my sister, and just cleared my mind. with my sister.” “I want another chance to get an Ol- take a lot to stop me.” dangerous – as skiing. positive while sitting out for months “When I’m doing rehab it’s im- Injury ruled Vonn out of the last ympic medal, missing Sochi was a really May the force be with you.

PGA TOUR LPGA Lincicome wins Eagles land for Spaniard Rahm playoff in Bahamas Reuters Scores St.Augustine, Florida AFP (USA unless noted) Miami panish rookie Jon Rahm 275 - Jon Rahm (ESP) 72-69- eagled two of the last six 69-65 rittany Lincicome bird- holes to clinch his fi rst 278 - Charles Howell 67-74-69- ied the fi rst playoff hole PGA Tour title by three 68, Pan Cheng Tsung (TPE) Sunday to defeat fellow shotsS in sensational fashion at American Lexi Thomp- 70-69-69-70 B the $6.7 million Farmers Insur- 279 - Keegan Bradley 69-69- son and win the LPGA Tour’s ance Open outside San Diego on 74-67, Justin Rose (ENG) 65-71- season-opening Pure Silk Baha- Sunday. 73-70, Pat Perez 68-74-67-70, mas Classic. His fi nal eagle was stunning, a Patrick Rodgers 68-72-67-72, Lincicome birdied the par- multiple-breaking 60-foot putt Tony Finau 73-68-67-71 518th and Thompson missed left from the fringe at the back of the 280 - Brian Harman 68-71-73- on a long eff ort to match her, giv- green at the par-fi ve 18th where 68, J.J. Spaun 72-69-69-70, ing Lincicome the victory, her his ball took a fi nal turn to the Ollie Schniederjans 69-69-71- second in extra holes after losing USA’s Brittany Lincicome. left before disappearing into the 71, Robert Streb 68-71-70-71, her fi rst four LPGA playoff s. cup to spark jubilant celebration Brandt Snedeker 68-69-70-73 “It was pretty incredible,” Lin- Annika Sorenstam at the 2001 by Rahm and the watching fans. 281 - Michael Thompson 71-71- cicome said. “Just the leaderboard Standard Register Ping event. The 22-year-old, who turned 71-68, Rory Sabbatini 70-72-72- all week has been amazing, obvi- The fi nal round became a title professional just seven months 67, Phil Mickelson 71-72-68-70, ously a lot of Americans up at the shootout between four Ameri- ago, covered his fi nal nine holes Kyle Stanley 70-73-68-70, top, obviously friends of mine, so cans — Lincicome, Thompson, in 30 strokes to card a seven- Francesco Molinari 71-70-69- to come down to the fi nal stretch, Lewis and Gerina Piller. under 65 at Torrey Pines South 71, Harris English 71-69-69-72 I played with Lexi yesterday, and Deadlocked for the lead with Course and break clear of a 282 - Brendan Steele 69-74-70- it was an awesome day. We had so Thompson at 26-under, Linci- crowded leaderboard. 69, Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 74-68- much fun, and to obviously have come made bogey at the par-3 Rahm fi nished at 13-under 275. Jon Rahm poses for photographs with the winners trophy following during the final round of the 72-68, Tyrone Van Aswegen the playoff today is a bummer, but 17th, falling level with Piller a “It’s amazing,” a beaming Rahm Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course. (RSA) 72-68-72-70, Gary it’s just incredible.” shot back. told CBS Sports after becoming Woodland 67-75-69-71, Richy It was Lincicome’s seventh ca- Lincicome answered with a the youngest ever champion at Taiwan’s Pan Cheng-tsung He moved into a tie at the top it went in.” Werenski 73-70-73-66, Stewart reer LPGA triumph and the fi rst birdie at the par-5 18th to fi nish Torrey Pines and emulating fellow (70) and American Charles when he drained an 18-foot ea- Rahm edged a stroke in front Cink 68-72-69-73, Jonas Blixt since she captured her fi rst major on 68 and reach the clubhouse Spaniards Seve Ballesteros, Jose Howell III (68) tied for second gle putt at the par-fi ve 13th af- when he sank a fi ve-footer to (SWE) 68-72-69-73, Marc Leish- title at the 2015 ANA Inspiration level with Thompson as rain Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia on a see-sawing day when eight ter hitting a superb second shot birdie the par-four 17th and ef- man (AUS) 69-72-68-73 at Rancho Mirage, California, by struck. as a PGA Tour winner. players held at least a share of from a fairway bunker. fectively secured the title with 283 Roberto Castro 70-70-73- beating Stacy Lewis in a playoff . Thompson’s approach on 18 “Just to get into that position the lead during the fi nal round. “That putt was a little bit his spectacular eagle at the last. 70, Kelly Kraft 72-70-72-69, Thompson and Lincicome landed in a greenside bunker but (to win) is so hard and I am so Rahm, who will jump into the of just lagging it up there and “I was just focused on mak- Martin Flores 71-72-72-68, fi nished 72 holes over the Ocean she recovered for a closing par to blessed to be able to say that I top 50 in the world rankings after hoping that it kept the line,” ing putts and hitting the right Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) 73- Course at Paradise Island on shoot 70 and force the playoff . did it on my third time having a starting the week ranked 137th, the Spaniard said. “I just aimed shots,” he said. “After that sec- 70-68-72, Paul Casey (ENG) 26-under 266, one off the all- Lewis was third on 267, one chance to win, having just start- was three shots behind heading between the two spots that we ond shot on 13, I was able to ex- 69-73-68-73 time 72-hole LPGA record of stroke ahead of Piller, after both ed my PGA Tour career.” into the fi nal round. were thinking of and thank god ecute it so good.” 27-under par set by Swedish star closed with 71. Gulf Times Tuesday, January 31, 2017 9 SPORT

BOXING SPOTLIGHT Golden Warriors coach Kerr slams India’s Sarita Devi Trump travel limits

AFP outrage around the world, Los Angeles might aff ect Los Angeles’ bid for the 2024 Olympic games. Los Angeles Mayor Eric olden State Warri- Garcetti on Sunday called the outpunches Bedo in ors coach Steve Kerr city “a place of refuge” for the spoke out strongly world’s vulnerable. Sunday against the Garcetti, a prominent fi gure Gtravel limits imposed by US in the LA 2024 bid, reiterated President Donald Trump. amid demonstrations at Los “If we’re trying to combat Angeles International Airport terrorism by banishing people his belief that Trump’s moves from coming to this country, are counter to American and professional debut (we’re) really going against the Angeleno ideals. principles of what our coun- “Los Angeles will always be a try is about, and creating fear,” place of refuge, where the most ‘The Asian Games incident was very painful, but I had to erase those sad memories’ said Kerr, whose father, Mal- vulnerable people fl eeing war, colm Kerr, was shot in 1984 or religious or political oppres- while serving as president of sion, can fi nd a safe and wel- AFP the American University of coming home,” Garcetti said. New Delhi Beirut in a killing claimed by “Congress outlawed the Islamic Jihadists. banning of immigrants by na- “It’s the wrong way to go tionality more than 50 years ndia’s Laishram Sarita Devi about it,” Kerr said. “If any- ago because we have long made a winning start to her thing we could be breeding an- known it does not make us professional boxing career, ger and terror. safer.” silencing the taunts of her “I feel for all the people who Los Angeles is battling Paris IHungarian opponent who had have been aff ected,” Kerr add- and Budapest for the right to vowed to leave her in tears. ed. “Families are being torn host the 2024 Olympics, with Devi, who became famous af- apart, and I worry in the big the International Olympic ter she tearfully refused to accept picture what this means to the Committee due to choose the a medal at the Asian Games, won security of the world.” hosts at a meeting in Lima in the fi ve-round contest against NBA spokesperson Mike September of this year. Zsofi a Bedo by a unanimous de- Bass had issued a statement British Olympic athlet- cision in front of her home fans Saturday saying the league had ics legend Mo Farah, who was in the state of Manipur. Bedo, a “reached out to the State De- born in Somalia but lives with veteran of 59 professional bouts, partment” to gather informa- his family in Oregon, expressed had vowed to reduce Devi to tears tion on how the 90-day ban on dismay at a policy “that comes once again ahead of their contest travellers from seven majority- from a place of ignorance and in the northeastern Indian city Muslim countries, and a sus- prejudice.” of Imphal. But the 29-year-old pension of the arrival of refu- The captain of the US soccer Hungarian was totally outfought gees for at least 120 days, might team Michael Bradley said the by her Indian opponent, who was aff ect players in the league policy left him “sad and em- cheered ringside by her family from the countries involved. barrassed.” and fans. “The NBA is a global league, “The Muslim ban is just the “The victory was sweet as I and we are proud to attract the latest example of someone who outplayed an experienced box- very best players from around couldn’t be more out of touch er. The sacrifi ce made over the the world,” Bass said. with our country and the right past decade has paid off ,” the Also unknown is how the re- way to move forward,” Bradley 31-year-old was quoted as say- strictions, which have sparked said on Instagram. ing by the Hindustan Times. Devi’s quest to become India’s top female boxer hit a roadblock in 2014 when she refused to ac- Watanabe sets breaststroke world record cept a bronze medal at the Asian Games, earning her a one-year ban by the sport’s world fed- eration. Devi accused judges of pandering to locals by declar- ing South Korea’s Park Ji-Na the winner on points in their semi- fi nal, denying her a shot at gold. But the Commonwealth Games silver medallist has moved on as she seeks a spot on the national stage alongside Vi- jender Singh, her Indian male counterpart who has won all four Ippei Watanabe celebrates after breaking the world record fi ghts since turning professional. with a time of 2:6.67s in the 200m breaststroke during the “The Asian Games incident Kosuke Kitajima Cup in Tokyo. (Reuters) was very painful, but I had to erase those sad memories. That Japan’s Ippei Watanabe Tatsumi pool. was a big reason I decided to broke the men’s 200m “It still hasn’t sunk in. I’m un- turn pro,” said Devi. Devi had breaststroke world record on believably happy. I just tried been working with Joe Clough, Sunday by becoming the first to go for it but I didn’t think I’d a veteran American coach with swimmer to go under two get (the record).” experience training the likes minutes, seven seconds. The Watanabe threatened a sen- of former heavyweight world 19-year-old clocked a time of sational shock at last year’s champion Evander Holyfi eld. 2:06.67 at the Kosuke Kitajima Rio Olympics with a Games Earlier, Pinki Jangra justi- Cup in Tokyo, eclipsing the record going into the final, fi ed the giant-killer tag in her previous best set by country- only to finish sixth. fi rst ever professional bout. The man Akihiro Yamaguchi in “This is a marker,” said 26-year-old Haryana girl beat India’s Laishram Sarita Devi (L) fights against Hungary’s Zsofia Bedo during their IBC Pro Boxing match at the Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium 2012 by 0.34 seconds. Watanabe, looking ahead to Claudia Ferenczi of Slovakia in in Imphal. (AFP) “I’m stunned,” Watanabe told this year’s Budapest world the IBC Fight Night. reporters after lowering a championships in July. Pinki won the bout 40-36, 40 knocked out his light heavy- professional career. In the Su- cessfully defended his crown with nathan ruptured his thigh muscle. record once regularly broken “I’ll be looking to win the 36, 40- 36 by unanimous verdict weight opponent Manop Sith- per Welter Weight IBC National a technical knock out against fel- He wanted to continue despite by Japanese swim great Kita- world title and to keep im- on the score sheets of all judges. thiem of Thailand in mere four- Champion title bout, four-time low countryman Jaganathan. The injury, but he was not allowed to jima, who was watching on at proving the world record.” Veteran Som Bahadur Poon and-half minutes to start his champion Siddharth Verma suc- contest was stopped after Janga- continue after doctor’s advice.

RUGBY Scotland’s Telfer slams Trump-style Jones

AFP British and Irish Lions assistant coach. England coach since taking over after the England’s Marler available London “The way he speaks, it’s a bit like Donald Red Rose brigade’s fi rst-round exit at the Trump. He wants to be the big man, you 2015 World Cup on home soil, is unlikely for France clash know? to take off ence at the Trump comparison. England prop Joe Marler will be available cotland rugby union great Jim Tel- “His (Jones’s) goal is to win the World Indeed he had already likened his own for the Six Nations opener against France fer has blasted England coach Ed- Cup in 2019 and so far it’s gone well, but methods to those Trump deployed in the on Saturday after making a speedy die Jones for acting the “big man” I think he could be a little more circum- US presidential election, saying they both recovery from a fractured leg. in a manner similar to that of US spect, show a bit more respect for the op- relied on hammering home a clear mes- The 26-year-old Harlequins forward has PresidentS Donald Trump. position. sage. returned to full training, a welcome boost Ahead of this weekend’s start of the Six “He doesn’t seem to show much respect “My vision was that they should be for coach Eddie Jones with first choice Nations Championship, former interna- and it could come back to bite him.” more ‘English’, so I kept repeating the Mako Vunipola definitely ruled out. tional back-row Telfer was also wither- message in diff erent ways,” Jones told Sat- “Joe trained last week in Portugal, again ingly critical of England fans. ‘Superior’ England fans urday’s Daily Mail. this morning and is expected to train Telfer also dismissed England’s head- As for Twickenham, Telfer added: Asked if his methods mirrored those of fully this afternoon,” forwards coach quarters ground in the southwest London “Twickenham I fi nd intimidating. The Trump, Jones added: “Yes, like Trump. Steve Borthwick told the RFU website suburb of Twickenham — where Scotland whole atmosphere is intimidating, there’s Trump’s clever, there’s no denying that. yesterday. have not won since 1983 — as a “con- so many of them, three tiers of them. “The mantra ‘Make America great “He is a fast healer and has done really crete jungle”, saying an afternoon there “If you ever think about wanting sepa- again’ — he repeats and repeats it. Ameri- well. He has been incredibly diligent in strengthened the case for Scottish inde- ration (for Scotland) from England just sit cans were pounded with that message. terms of doing everything he has to get pendence. 10 minutes in Twickenham and listen to “People on the television say, ‘I think he himself fit, and that is a great credit to “Eddie Jones doesn’t want to beat them. can make America great again’. There’s no him.” teams, he wants to demolish them, which “They (the England fans) think they’re evidence he can; but he’s convinced them. Flanker James Haskell has also recov- I fi nd a bit disappointing,” Telfer told BBC superior and a lot of them will come from He’s changed mindsets. That’s how you ered from the foot injury which ruled him Sport as he gave his view on the Austral- the south-east, bags of money and bags of win. And having super-talented players.” out of the autumn internationals. ian’s approach yesterday. this and bags of that. They don’t really ap- Grand Slam champions England begin “We are going to assess and see how he “To me he’s building his whole team on preciate the other team. the defence of their Six Nations title at goes, we have a big day of training to- set-piece and the building of the attack “In France they just boo the other team, home to France on Saturday, when Scot- morrow as well, so we will be monitoring comes secondary,” Telfer, Scotland’s coach in Argentina they boo the other team, in land face Ireland. him closely and see how he progresses,” when they last won the Championship in England it’s just disdain — ‘Why are we England and Scotland meet in the lat- Borthwick said. England are the reigning 1999, added. playing these plebs?’. est edition of international rugby union’s Six Nations champions having achieved “Having coached Australia and Japan “I don’t like Twickenham; a concrete oldest fi xture, with a history dating back to the grand slam last season and they have you would have thought the opposite jungle, nothing attractive about it at all.” 1871, in the fourth round of the Six Nations won their last 14 matches. would be the case,” insisted the former Jones, who has won all 13 of his Tests as at Twickenham on March 11. England coach Eddie Jones. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, January 31, 2017 FOOTBALL

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE FOCUS Mourinho cries Klopp seeks end of foul over fi xture Liverpool slump, pile-up — again

AFP his tenure at United but righted the Manchester, United Kingdom ship in the past two months, had a go at title contenders Liverpool and Chelsea saying they had less games anchester United manager to worry about because they didn’t re-boot of title race Jose Mourinho complained qualify for Europe. about the lack of help be- Chelsea’s failure was largely down to ing aff orded his team by the him as a disastrous start to the defence ‘Somebody asked me if this is the lowest point of my Liverpool time — I don’t Mfootball authorities as he attempts to of their title last season led to his dis- win silverware on four fronts over the missal but he left club with too much know. But if it is, it’s the perfect point to turn... not possible to go lower’ fi nal four months of the season. ground to make up to even qualify for The irascible Portuguese coach has the Europa League. AFP described a mounting schedule as a “Compared with other clubs — Liv- London ‘nonsense’ and ‘a laugh’ in an extraor- erpool will play 16 matches the rest of dinary outburst that followed his side’s the season, Chelsea will play 16, plus comfortable passage into the fi fth some in the FA Cup, and we are in this or the fi rst time since he ar- round of the FA Cup with a 4-0 home really crazy situation,” said Mourinho. rived at Liverpool Jurgen win over Championship side Wigan. “Southampton will have 15 days Klopp is in the midst of a crisis That leaves United as the only Eng- without football before the fi nal. We to the extent that a win today lish team battling for four trophies — are going to play two matches against atF home to Premier League leaders the League Cup fi nal with Southamp- St Etienne and the next round of the FA Chelsea is obligatory. ton, the FA Cup, Europa and Premier Cup, so the calendar in the best coun- The 49-year-old charismatic Ger- Leagues — and facing as many as 67 try in world football is nonsense.” man — who replaced Brendan Rodgers games should they go all the way in the Mourinho also claimed he had no in November 2015 — has seen his side other two cup competitions. knowledge of reports linking Wayne knocked out of two Cup competitions “I think the Premier League is almost Rooney with a possible move to China inside a week and a further loss to an impossible mission but I only think before the end of the current season Chelsea would be the fi rst time since about winning the next match,” said with that country’s transfer deadline 1923 they have lost four successive Mourinho, who has complained about running until the end of February. games at Anfi eld and only the second the fi xture list in England before. One player defi nitely staying at Old time in their 125-year history. “In the League Cup, we have 50 per- Traff ord, however, is German Bastian However victory over Antonio Con- cent chance of winning it. In the FA Schweinsteiger who started his fi rst te’s side would reduce the gap between Cup, we are in the last 16. In the Europa game in over a year, scoring his fi rst them to seven points whilst should League, we are in the last 32, so lots of goal in 14 months to complete the rout. Arsenal beat out of form Watford and matches to play. “He is staying,” said Mourinho of a their north London rivals Spurs beat “I can imagine we are going to have player whom he had banished to train bottom side Sunderland they would be some nice gifts. Like Watford today, away from the fi rst team earlier in the just fi ve and six points off the leaders they had an amazing gift. They played season. respectively. today in the FA Cup and they are to play “He is going on our Europa League Klopp, though, accepts some con- on Tuesday in the Premier League. list because we have opened spaces fi dence has seeped away from his Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Richard Stearman after the FA Cup fourth round match “It’s a laugh. There were so many with (Memphis) Depay and (Morgan) side with just one win in eight games at Anfield on Saturday. (Reuters) matches played yesterday, how is it pos- Schneiderlin (leaving) and we don’t in January and the free-fl owing, eye- sible a team plays today and plays again have many players. catching football they were playing a role against Watford, who despite Tuesday? It is absolute nonsense. This “We don’t have many options in seems a distant memory. Mane delay disappoints Klopp a horrible loss of form are still eight is not just for Watford. I know many of midfi eld. Ninety minutes today was “We spoke about confi dence a few points above the drop zone. those surprises will be waiting for us.” probably too hard for him but now I months ago and I said it’s a little fl ow- Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp ing Liverpool will kick-off 10 points “It was great to see he hasn’t lost his think he is happy. With so many com- er,” said Klopp after his side had been admitted yesterday that Sadio Mane behind the league leaders. runs or his fi nishing; it shows as well ‘THIS REALLY CRAZY SITUATION’ petitions and games, he will be an op- knocked out by second tier Wolves might miss their crunch clash with “I don’t know exactly (when he will when you are able to transform that Mourinho, who had a shaky start to tion.” from the FA Cup on Saturday. Premier League leaders Chelsea be available),” said Klopp of Mane. frustration in not playing into effi - “If something bounces on it, then at Anfield today, despite their best “The club did an outstanding job to ciency that he’s a special guy,” Wenger it’s away. Obviously, that happened eff orts to rush the Senegal star back bring him back as soon as possible said of Welbeck, who has fought back kind of, but it’s not that we play with- from the Africa Cup of Nations. and he is now on his way. from two serious knee injuries. out confi dence. The Merseysiders sent a private jet “He will be in tomorrow morning Spurs had a scare against fourth tier “I can see a lot of moments when we to Gabon on Sunday following Sen- and we have to make a decision.” Wycombe in the Cup and while the really still believe in our skills and all egal’s exit from the competition, with Mane’s absence on international largely second string line-up made it that stuff . So we don’t have to make it Mane heartbroken after missing the duty has coincided with a dra- into the next round, it left boss Mauri- too big, but it’s not that diffi cult. decisive penalty in a 5-4 shoot-out matic slump in Liverpool’s form cio Pochettino praying he doesn’t suff er “It’s not that I say there’s no chance quarter-final loss to Cameroon. that has produced just one win in injuries to key players in their title chal- until Tuesday to make a real turn. But problems with the flight delayed seven matches (against fourth-tier lenge. “If you cannot play in this type “Somebody asked me a second ago his arrival back in Britain and now Plymouth in the FA Cup) and a mere of game then we will have a problem,” if this is the lowest point of my Liver- Klopp will have to decide whether seven goals since he last appeared stormed the 44-year-old Argentinian of pool time until now — I don’t know. Mane can be on the bench against for the Reds in a 2-2 draw against their displays against Wycombe. But if it is, it’s the perfect point to turn Chelsea in a match where a falter- Sunderland on January 2. because it’s not possible to go lower. FIXTURES That’s all we have to think about now. Today “It is a home game against the lead- 19 games in all competitions since but rivals Southampton in the FA Cup — Arsenal v Watford er of the league and we need everyone perhaps face a pivotal week as regards Watford by contrast were sent packing Liverpool v Chelsea for the game.” the title race with today’s game fol- by third tier Millwall. Sunderland v Tottenham Conte’s side arrive bursting with lowed by a home match with Arsenal. Particularly encouraging for Gun- Bournemouth v Crystal Palace confi dence and having safely navi- “It’s important to think against Liv- ners boss Arsene Wenger is the return Burnley v Leicester gated their way into the next round of erpool, to have a good performance and to fi tness and form of Theo Walcott Middlesbrough v West Brom the FA Cup despite like Klopp making to try to have a good result,” said Conte. and Danny Welbeck who scored halt- Swansea v Southampton several changes to personnel. “Then we’ll think about Arsenal.” trick and a double respectively against Tomorrow Since they lost consecutive Premier Arsenal will enter their home game a limpid Saints outfi t. Manchester United v Hull League games to Liverpool and Arse- with Watford bursting with confi - It off ers Wenger more fi repower up West Ham v Manchester City nal in September, they have won 17 of dence on the back of a 5-0 whipping of front and may see one or both play Stoke v Everton

SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP No stopping now, Rodgers

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho watches his players from the touchline during the English FA Cup fourth round match against Wigan Athletic at warns record-breaking players Old Traff ord in Manchester on Sunday. (AFP)

AFP to dwell on their achievements with Mourinho rejected ‘big off er’ to go to China Glasgow third-place Aberdeen the visitors to- morrow. AFP Fellow high-profile managers Luiz Rodgers, who is re-establishing his London Felipe Scolari and Sven-Goran Eriks- eltic manager Brendan managerial credentials after taking a son are already in the Chinese Super Rodgers has challenged his slight battering in the latter part of his League, while this month saw Argen- players to continue their im- spell at Liverpool, said the bar would ose Mourinho turned down a tina striker Carlos Tevez join Shang- pressive run after they ex- keep being raised higher for his play- “big off er” to go to China, the hai Shenhua from Boca Juniors. tendedC their unbeaten domestic start ers as they look to end the season un- JManchester United manager His arrival came a fortnight after that to the season to 27 games to set a new beaten. disclosed in an interview published of Brazilian star Oscar, who joined club record. “The idea is to keep going. You yesterday. cross-town Shanghai rivals SIPG for The Scottish champions thrashed have to focus on what you can control The 54-year-old Portuguese boss £50mn ($63mn, 60mn euros) from Hearts 4-0 on Sunday to eclipse the which is your training and how you ar- did not disclose which club made Chelsea that smashed the Asian record set in Celtic’s greatest ever sea- rive into the game,” he said. the proposal but said he would not transfer-fee record. son — the legendary ‘Lisbon Lions’ “If you think too much about it then criticise anyone who made a highly Former Chelsea manager Mourinho 1966-67 campaign, which ended with there is too much pressure put on it. lucrative move to the developing said he was “worried” about the a clean sweep of trophies including the “The players will tell you that I’ve Chinese Super League. prospect of losing players to China European Cup. virtually not spoken about it at all be- Last week saw Mourinho cast doubt and urged them to think about more The win moves the Glasgow giants cause there is already enough pressure over rhe Old Traff ord future of than money. — who have already won the League to win football matches. England captain Wayne Rooney, who “If you are negotiating a new con- Cup — 22 points clear of bitter rivals “The consequence for us to play- recently became United’s all-time tract with one of your players, and Rangers at the top of the table as they ing well and training well is winning leading goalscorer, by saying “the you off er him £5mn per year and remain fi rmly on course for a domestic games. They are out there on their own money is huge” in China, amid re- they off er £25mn, then you have a treble. now, which is an incredible achieve- ports of Asian interest in the striker. big problem,” Mourinho admitted. But after watching his side rack ment. But we now have got to look to “I have already refused a big off er to “Maybe the player takes £5mn be- up their 17th league win in a row, the get they deserve because of their fo- day-to-day basis, our concentration Wednesday and keep it running, keep go to China, but I don’t criticise any- cause he prefers football. Or £25mn Celtic manager ordered his players not cus, the spirit that they have fostered and just making sure we take care of winning games and keep setting the one who decides to do it,” Mourinho because he prefers money. to rest on their laurels and allow com- within the team and the quality of all the background noise that goes on bar higher. told the monthly GQ men’s magazine. “I am worried, because they can placency to creep into their play. football that they are producing. around it and just focus on our football “That’s what we’ll continue to do. “It’s their choice, their life. Only they off er contracts that are impossible “It’s a huge honour if you think “We are very proud but I said to and our job in the team. It’s a great group to work with and I can decide what they need for their to off er in Europe. But in the end the about the 129-year history of this them again we are setting a challenge “The players I thought were mag- think it’s going to be an exciting period future. Other managers in the Pre- player who wants to go is a player club,” said Rodgers. now going forward, we just have to nifi cent today in doing that,” added for us going forward. But we’ll take it mier League have been critical, but I that maybe you don’t want to keep,” “It’s an incredible run that the play- keep winning. the 44-year-old Northern Irishman. just one game at a time — that’s our am no critic.” he added. ers are on. Every accolade that they “That comes from our work on a The Celtic players won’t have long approach.” Gulf Times Tuesday, January 31, 2017 11 FOOTBALL

LA LIGA AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS Ronaldo fi res Egypt beat Morocco to end Madrid four points Renard dream, make semis clear at the top Renard opted to play with three AFP Port-Gentil, Gabon centre-backs, Romain Saiss joining ‘After a few diff icult days we were back to being ourselves tonight’ Manuel Da Costa and skipper Mehdi Benatia in the middle of the defence as AFP ahmoud Kahraba scram- they looked to suff ocate the Egyptian Madrid bled in the winner in the attack. 88th minute as Egypt beat It was a largely successful tactic but Herve Renard’s Morocco the fi rst half was almost totally devoid eal Madrid extended their M1-0 on Sunday to reach the semi-fi nals of real incident. La Liga lead to four points of the Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt did threaten once when Nabil and still have a game in A tense last-eight tie in Port-Gentil Dirar failed to clear at the back post and hand over their title rivals seemed destined for extra time until Trezeguet’s eff ort was saved by Munir asR Cristiano Ronaldo was on target in Kahraba, on as a substitute, stabbed Mohamedi. a 3-0 win over Real Sociedad at the the ball over the line after the Moroc- At the other end, Saiss was unable to Santiago Bernabeu. can defence had failed to cut out a cor- connect with Da Costa’s ball across the Earlier on Sunday, Barcelona were ner. face of goal but then headed against the left to rue La Liga’s lack of goal line The Pharaohs, record seven-time top of the bar as the Egyptians strug- technology as they weren’t awarded winners of the trophy, now advance to gled to clear. a clear goal in a controversial 1-1 a semi-fi nal against Burkina Faso in Li- Cuper had lost Arsenal’s Mohamed draw at Real Betis. breville on Wednesday after claiming a Elneny to injury earlier in the day and However, Barca still moved up to rare victory against their north African he then saw Marwan Mohsen limp off second on goal diff erence as Sevilla rivals. late in the fi rst half, the striker the lat- were reduced to 10 men after just two The 1-0 scoreline also means Hector est of many victims of the pitch over minutes in a 3-1 defeat at Espanyol. Cuper’s side have still not conceded a the last two weeks. Madrid had won only one of goal in four games in Gabon. A livelier start to the second period their previous fi ve games and were “It was a very complicated match for saw the Moroccan ‘keeper produce a dumped out of the Copa del Rey by both teams for 94 minutes. We both strong arm to block a Mohamed Salah Celta Vigo in midweek. had chances but we were lucky to get eff ort before the pocket-sized mid- However, even without six fi rst- the goal from a dead ball,” said Argen- fi elder M’bark Boussoufa struck the bar team regulars through injury, Real tine Cuper. at the other end. took a huge step towards a fi rst La Defeat for Morocco means Renard, The bulk of the support in the sta- Liga title for fi ve years against an in- following previous triumphs with dium was for Morocco and the bulk of form Sociedad, who remain just one Zambia and the Ivory Coast, will not the chances were going their way too in point off the top four in fifth. become the fi rst man to win a third Cup their fi rst knockout round appearance “After a few diffi cult days we were of Nations title here with a third diff er- since 2004. back to being ourselves tonight. It ent country. But striker Aziz Bouhaddouz, who was a complete performance against “Congratulations to Egypt and their scored in the group-stage win against a strong opponent,” said Real boss coach,” said Renard. Togo, somehow could not connect with Zinedine Zidane. “They are a very, very strong team Faycal Fajr’s driven ball inside the six- “We can say it has been a good who on a diffi cult pitch managed to yard box and then headed narrowly night for us because our rivals have play football, so when they fi nd them- wide. drawn or lost.” selves on a better pitch it will be diffi - Salah was the danger man for the Mateo Kovacic opened the scor- cult to beat them.” Egyptians and when Abdallah El Said ing with the only real chance of the Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (centre) celebrates after scoring a goal with teammates during their La Liga match against Given the identities of the two chipped a free-kick over the wall and fi rst-half as he timed his late run Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on Sunday. (AFP) coaches, this tie always looked likely into his path, the Roma star’s eff ort was from midfi eld perfectly for Ronaldo’s to be a close-fought tactical battle and spectacularly saved by Munir. through ball and slotted low beyond so it proved on a dreadful pitch in Port- Extra time loomed but then Kahraba Geronimo Rulli. No rush for Bale return, insists Zidane Gentil that the tournament can be glad struck to spark wild Egyptian celebra- The roles were reversed six min- to see the back of. tions and break Moroccan hearts. utes into the second-half as this time AFP “Our idea to is to have Luka back “It is what it is. We can’t think about Kovacic’s pass split the Sociedad Madrid next week. We will see (how he is) the Cup any more because we are defence and Ronaldo coolly chipped on Tuesday and the same goes for out,” he added. the onrushing Rulli for his 20th goal James,” said Zidane. “We would have preferred to still be of the season. eal Madrid coach Zinedine “Gareth will take a while longer. He in it, but we have to think positively Sociedad’s uphill task was made Zidane believes he has no is now on the training pitch in boots and we are going to have a full week impossible 15 minutes from time Rneed to rush Gareth Bale back which is a good sign, but we have to to prepare first for La Liga and then when Inigo Martinez was sent-off from a long-term ankle injury as the take it slowly.” the Champions League.” for a second bookable off ence. European champions extended their Bale is expected to miss Real’s Madrid enjoyed a dream weekend as And Alvaro Morata made the 10 lead at the top of La Liga on Sunday. Champions League last 16, first leg all of their title rivals slipped up. men pay as he bulleted home Lucas Madrid saw off Real Sociedad 3-0 clash with Napoli on February 15 Barca were held 1-1 at Real Betis, Vazquez’s cross for the third eight thanks to goals from Mateo Ko- with the Welshman possibly making whilst Sevilla were reduced to 10 minutes from time. vacic, Cristiano Ronaldo and Alvaro a return in time for the return leg on men after just two minutes in losing There was far more drama at the Morata to open up a four-point lead March 7. 3-1 at Espanyol on Sunday. Benito Villamarin as Barca were on Barcelona and Sevilla and with a Madrid had begun to miss the “It gives you more motivation when largely outplayed by Betis, but still game in hand over their title rivals Welshman’s presence as they won you see your rivals slip up,” added felt hard done by after referee Ale- to come. just one of their five previous games Zidane. jandro Jose Hernandez failed to Bale has been out since suff ering before Sociedad’s visit. “It gives you even more desire to do award them an equaliser when the ankle ligament damage in Novem- That run included elimination at well. We were watching the games ball crossed the Betis line shortly af- ber and is not expected to return the hands of Celta Vigo in the Copa all day. ter Alex Alegria’s opener 15 minutes before March. del Rey quarter-finals, but Zidane “The most important thing, though, from time. However, Zidane is hopeful of having admitted missing out on two more is what we do and we can be happy La Liga’s refusal to implement Luka Modric and James Rodriguez matches in the semi-finals over the with our performance. goal line technology due to pricing back for Real’s next outing at Celta next fortnight could ultimately prove “We got three goals and three more fears cost Barca dearly as no goal was Vigo at the weekend. a blessing for his injury hit squad. points.” given.

LIGUE 1

Egypt’s Mahmoud Kahraba celebrates after scoring a goal against Morocco Last-gasp Silva rescues Monaco at PSG during Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals on Sunday. (Reuters)

AFP to give the hosts the lead. Paris But Monaco, who arrived in the capital averaging over three goals a Rummenigge slams 48-team game and unbeaten in their last seven ernardo Silva struck an inju- trips to the Paris in the league, kept World Cup as nonsense ry-time equaliser as Monaco pressing and were rewarded when Reuters more teams into the World Cup salvaged a deserved point in Silva’s low drive from outside the area Berlin finals, starting from 2026, but Rum- a 1-1 draw at reigning cham- skipped past Areola. menigge said his members, who un- pionsB Paris Saint-Germain to keep the der FIFA rules are obliged to release visitors top of Ligue 1. PSG’S JESE CLOSES IN ON LAS IFA’s decision to increase the their players for the tournament, had Edinson Cavani scored his 21st PALMAS MOVE World Cup from 32 to 48 teams not been consulted. league goal of the season with an 81st- Paris Saint-Germain striker Jese Rod- Fwas described yesterday “FIFA must get together with the minute penalty at the Parc des Princ- riguez is set to join his home club Las as nonsense by Karl-Heinz Rum- ECA and questions will be asked,” es, but Portugal international Silva Palmas on loan until the end of the menigge, the head of the association he said. fi red home in stoppage time to thwart season, the Spanish club’s president representing Europe’s powerful “FIFA’s motto is ‘we care about fans’,” the hosts. said yesterday. football clubs. he added. “But they need to step Monaco moved back above Nice, Miguel Angel Ramirez told the Rummenigge, chairman of the away from politics and from finance who were 3-1 winners over Guingamp Spanish club’s radio station that a deal European Club Association (ECA) and pay more attention to football. earlier on Sunday, on goal diff erence Monaco’s Bernardo Silva (centre) celebrates after scoring a goal against Paris to send the 23-year-old back to La Liga which has 220 members and also Rummenigge said he did not want to with Unai Emery’s PSG remaining Saint-Germain in Paris on Sunday. (AFP) was close to being fi nalised. chief executive of German champions get to the stage where clubs refused three points behind in their quest for “The operation with Jese is prac- Bayern Munich, added that power was to release players for the World Cup. a fi fth straight title. half, albeit one with limited chances as However, Trapp hobbled off short- tically fi nished, the agreement with moving slowly from soccer’s govern- “If the big clubs were to refuse to Julian Draxler returned from a calf Pep Guardiola scouted his side’s up- ly after with an apparent hamstring the player and his parent club is com- ing body FIFA towards the clubs. allow their players to take part, that problem in place of Angel Di Maria, coming opponents – Manchester City problem sustained making a save from plete,” Ramirez told UD Radio. “The increase from 32 to 48 teams is would not be in the interest of the who scored twice in Tuesday’s 4-1 win are set to face Monaco in the Champi- a swerving Lemar strike and was re- “We’re on the contract. By the end actually nonsense, we had a format fans,” he said. at Bordeaux in the League Cup semi- ons League last 16. placed by Alphonse Areola. of the day we will be able to say Jese which everyone was happy with” But he warned that the clubs were fi nals, while Adrien Rabiot came in for Monaco keeper Danijel Subasic was will join Las Palmas,” he added. he told an audience at the Spobis becoming more powerful. the injured Marco Verratti in Paris. called into action just before the break, LATE FIREWORKS Ramirez said the club was planning to conference in Duesseldorf. “At the end of the day, there are the Monaco will meet PSG in the fi nal fi rst parrying a low drive from Lucas A devilish low ball across the face of unveil the former Real Madrid forward “The World Cup is a most extraor- top clubs such as Borussia Dort- in Lyon on April 1, and coach Leon- before scrambling to his feet to block a goal from Lemar then fl ashed between on Tuesday, having fought off interest dinary event, it’s the biggest sports mund and Bayern Munich, the big ardo Jardim recalled Valere Germain to follow-up eff ort from Cavani. the legs of Jemerson and away to safety from Premier League side Middles- event in the world and FIFA must deal Spanish and English clubs, Paris St partner Radamel Falcao in attack with The visitors nearly caught PSG out as Monaco looked the likelier to break brough to secure his signature. with this matter in a more responsible Germain, Juventus,” he said Fabinho shaking off illness to start af- within 30 seconds of the restart as Fal- the deadlock. Jese signed a fi ve-year deal with matter and more democratic,” he said, “That is a shift of power that neither ter coming off the bench in Wednes- cao spun inside the area before draw- But PSG were awarded a penalty French champions PSG in August but adding that the ECA had not been UEFA or FIFA can stop and things day’s 1-0 defeat of Nancy. ing a save from Trapp before Thomas when Djibril Sidibe tugged Draxler has scored just once in nine league ap- consulted over the change. have changed dramatically in the Fabinho forced PSG goalkeeper Lemar drilled the rebound against Ra- back as he sought to get on the end of pearances for Unai Emery’s side this FIFA voted on Jan. 10 to allow 16 last few years.” Kevin Trapp to tip over in a lively fi rst biot. a cross, with Cavani calmly converting season.

Tuesday, January 31, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

AL KASS U-17 INTERNATIONAL CUP Kashiwa come from behind once more to punish PSG Japanese side finish fifth after beating the French team 2-1 in the fifth place playoff PSV Eindhoven prevail in By Sports Reporter Doha penalty shootout

By Sports Reporter Ihattaren was waiting. The pass ashiwa Reysol once again Doha connected with the midfielder’s demonstrated their un- instep and curled into the far matched powers of recovery corner, well out of Jbali’s reach. to come from behind and beat SV Eindhoven saw off The second half followed a KParis Saint-Germain 2-1 in an enter- Esperance De Tunis fol- similar pattern. Esperance’s ef- taining fi fth place play-off at the Al Plowing an entertaining ficiency on the ball and superior Kass U-17 International Cup. penalty shootout after playing communication saw them create With both Reysol and PSG providing out a 1-1 draw in regulation time. chance after chance and, had it some of the tournament’s most memo- Both PSV and Tunis had fallen not been for keeper Kyan Van rable moments, all eyes were on for- short in their first play-off games, Dorp, Gurbouj could have earned wards Kaito Mori and Timothy Weah losing to Kashiwa Reysol and himself a hat-trick with ease. going into the game. The two had man- PSG respectively on Saturday. But despite PSV enduring aged three goals each in the competi- Now competing for 7th and 8th relentless Esperance attacks, the tion so far, and were seeking to increase place, the sides were hoping to Tunisian side couldn’t score. The their tallies in their fi nal match at Al end their campaign on a high second half was rather unevent- Kass 2017. and secure a win before the ful, and at 90 minutes the sides In the opening minutes, it looked as journey home. were still level, necessitating though a goal frenzy was on the cards, Tunis began in impressive fash- Al Kass 2017’s second penalty with both sides fi ring shots on target in ion and were soon ahead. shootout. the fi rst 60 seconds. However, it turned Having picked up the ball in Top scorers Sidibe and Gurbouj out to be defenders that would steal the the midfield, Moataz Ouertani took their team’s first shots, both limelight in this play-off match. side-stepped his man and put scoring in convincing fashion PSG’s physical advantage worked star striker Oussama Gurbouj by tucking the ball low into the in their favour for the opener. Weah through on goal. Although bottom corner. PSV goalscorer earned his side a corner for Lucas Ber- the resultant shot was clearly Ihattaren approached the spot in nadou to cross to the far post, and cap- miskicked when it scuff ed off confident fashion, and proceed- tain Emmanuel Attah rose to meet the the striker’s boot, it played to ed to execute the world famous ball, high above an overcrowded Tomo his advantage. The keeper was Panenka penalty with aplomb, Chiwata in goal. The midfi elder had sent the wrong way, and the chipping the ball gently down little diffi culty guiding the ball into an shot rolled towards the bottom the centre of goal, as an onlook- empty net to give Paris the lead. corner and finally nestled in the ing Jbali watched in despair. The fi rst 45 ended with PSG ahead. Kashiwa Reysol’s Kenta Tsutsumi (right) vies for the ball with a Paris Saint-Germain player during the Al Kass U-17 International Cup side netting. However, when Alaa Latrech However, Reysol’s tenacity has seen fifth place playoff at Aspire Zone yesterday. PICTURES: Jayaram and Fadi al-Assaad The Dutch side’s ability to coun- attempted the same audacious them come from behind before, mean- ter has been a feature of their trick for Tunis, he didn’t achieve ing the match was far from over. performances at Al Kass, and the desired result, as Van Dorp Sure enough, Kashiwa were back on in the 35th minute it was Tunis’ got low to his left to keep the ball level terms early in the second half. Of- turn to suff er. Sekou Sidibe’s out. The two sides then traded fensive full-back Arata Yoshida drove close control and delicate drib- goals until Andrew Mendonca the ball down the line and delivered an bling freed up enough space for fired the winning penalty into inviting cross into the box. Kaito Mori’s him to cut the ball to the edge the top corner to ensure PSV determination saw him latch onto of the box, where Mohamed emerged victorious. the pass ahead of Moussa Sissako and stroke the ball past an unsuspecting Pierre Ouvry. Reysol were working their way back into contention, looking as though they may snatch themselves a winner as the game wound down. However, few would have predicted the manner in which it came about, with an unexpect- ed goalkeeping error from the normally dependable Ouvry gifting the Japanese a second. The PSG number one received the ball at his feet in open play and, with few options ahead of him, struggled to decide who to pass to. With Kenta Tsutsumi fast approaching, the de- cision was made too late, as the ball bounced off the advancing forward and into the net. A startled French side were unable to regroup after the error, and from the Action from the match between PSV Eindhoven (in blue) and 66th minute failed to create any further Action from the under-17 friendly match between Associação Chapecoense (in green) and Syrian Dreams (in white) yesterday. Esperance De Tunis (in red and yellow) yesterday. opportunities. Chapecoense won 3-0.

BOTTOMLINE MOTOGP Al Kass Cup star Abdulsalam Stoner fastest at Sepang on day dreams of Qatar cap at 2022 WCup one of testing spire Academy Under-17 captain mind is evident both on and off the pitch: Nasser Abdulsalam has been a vital “The football legacy of the World Cup will be part of his team’s excellent run dur- the development of young homegrown play- AFP an elusive 10th world title, was ing this year’s Al Kass International ers through an effi cient system and state-of- Sepang, Malaysia eighth fastest with a timing of Cup.A The ambitious attacking midfi elder is the-art stadiums, training and medical facili- 2mins 00.694 seconds. looking to extend his form beyond the tour- ties,” said Abdulsalam. “This morning I woke up nament and is harbouring dreams of an ‘Al “I want to make use of the opportunities ucati test rider Casey with a very bad headache and Annabi’ cap and representing his country in that have opened up because of the historic Stoner came up tops as until 12 o’clock I wasn’t in good the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. event and help my country become a lead- Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo shape. After that we were able Abdulsalam, whose side earned the dis- ing footballing nation in the Middle East and fi nished 17th on the to do some laps and the feeling tinction of becoming the fi rst to qualify for Asia.” timesheetsD on day one of the was good,” the Yamaha rider the semi-fi nals when they defeated Tunisian In addition to the facilities at Aspire 2017 test season on Malaysia’s said. side Esperance de Tunis in the last eight stage Academy, Abdulsalam says watching top Sepang circuit yesterday. Sepang circuit’s midday heat on Thursday, said he is motivated by Aspire quality professional footballers plying their Stoner, a former Austral- was replaced by signature tropi- graduates Abdulkarim Hassan and Akram trade in the Qatar Stars League has also ian double world champion, cal downpours which doused the Afi f, both now integral members of Jorge Fos- helped his evolution as a footballer. “The clocked 1min 59.680 seconds — track in the late afternoon, eff ec- sati’s Qatar national team. two best midfielders in the QSL in my opin- 0.117 seconds faster than Ital- tively ending the pursuit of faster The side has since made it to today’s fi nal ion are Al Sadd’s Xavi and Lekhwiya’s Nam ian Andrea Divizioso, also on a timings. against Real Madrid, having beaten Red Bull Tae-hee,” he continued. “I have been lucky Ducati. Honda’s Marc Marquez was Salzburg in the semi-fi nals on Sunday. to interact with Xavi. He is a legend of the Three-time world champion ninth quickest at 2min 00.738 “Abdulkarim and Akram inspire me, as well game and his vision of the game and ball Lorenzo who after nine years at seconds. as my teammates,” said Abdulsalam. distribution skills are unsurpassed. Nam, Yamaha moved to Ducati recent- Alvaro Bautista from the “Their growth as international footballers on the other hand, is very fast and has fan- ly, clocked his best time at 2mins Pull and Bear Aspar Team was has been phenomenal. Both of them are hard tastic movement.” 01.349 seconds. fourth fastest at 2mins 00.134 workers and this is the secret behind their However, Abdulsalam’s favourite player “On this track there’s a lot seconds while Suzuki’s And- success. I relate more to Akram as I am an at- is Xavi’s former Barcelona teammate Andres of diff erence between this bike rea Iannone was fi fth on the tacking player. One day I hope to play along- Iniesta, and he said he would like to model his and the one I was riding for nine timesheets, logging 2mins side both of them in the senior national team.” game along the lines of the man who scored years,” Lorenzo said. 00.489 seconds. The dream, of course, does not end there. “I the winning goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup “The important thing is that The test session in Sepang will want to play for my country in the 2022 FIFA fi nal. the other Ducati bikes were very continue until tomorrow. World Cup,” said Abdulsalam. “Iniesta is the best player in the world and I quick, and this means that the The second round of testing “My country is hosting a World Cup and run out of words when I talk about him. I hope bike has a lot of potential.” will be held on Phillip Island in it is the ultimate dream of every footballer to I can be half as good as him one day,” he con- Spaniard Maverick Vinales Australia from February 15-17 play in this tournament on home soil. I have cluded. (SC.qa) on a Yamaha logged 2mins and a third round in Qatar from a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity coming 00.129 seconds to be the third March 10-12. my way in 2022, and I want to make full use Aspire Academy Under-17 captain Nasser quickest. The 18-race MotoGP sea- of this.” Abdulsalam (foreground) in action during the Motorcycling superstar Val- son gets under way in Qatar on That the youngster has a great football Al Kass U-17 International Cup at Aspire Zone. entino Rossi, who is looking for March 26.