SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2017 SPORTS

OLYMPICS No Olympic ultimatum from LA 2024 chiefs LOS ANGELES: The head of Los Angeles’s for the French capital, and that if the city’s time when fewer and fewer cities are willing support from our citizens, no capital proj- 2024/2028 award. “They’ve not reached out bid for the 2024 Olympics ruled out issuing tilt at 2024 was not successful “we will not to take on the financial and logistical respon- ects, no budget overruns. That’s LA. And that to us. Other than the public statements an ultimatum to the International Olympic come back for 2028.” sibilities of staging an Olympic Games. “It’s calms and creates stability,” Wasserman said. they’ve made, we’ve had nothing,” he said. Committee on Friday, taking a veiled swipe “Now or never sounds like an ultima- exactly the kind of idea and strategic initia- Pressed on whether there was any sce- With the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics at rival city Paris as the battle for the tum to me,” Wasserman told AFP at his Los tive the IOC should be thinking about,” nario in which Los Angeles officials may con- mired in corruption allegations, and ques- Games heats up. Angeles office. “I have been in business a Wasserman said. sider staging the games in 2028, Wasserman tions raised about white elephant venues LA 2024 chairman Casey Wasserman long time. I never had a successful rela- “But if you take a step back, if you look at said the city remained focused only on 2024. which have been left to rot, the stakes for told AFP in an interview that IOC moves to tionship or with any entity by the strategic rationale, it points to the impor- “No-one’s a candidate for 2028. I think the IOC could not be higher as it ponders its explore the possibility of awarding both issuing an ultimatum. “We will not issue tance and the necessity of LA going first.” that’s a hypothetical and it’s not worth dis- choice for 2024. Wasserman said the the 2024 and 2028 Summer Games at the an ultimatum.” cussing. The IOC’s got a process. We’ve had Olympic movement was at a “turning point”. same time at a vote in September were Wasserman was speaking amid intense ‘CALM AND STABILITY’ no conversations with the IOC about that “The next host of the Olympics had better “absolutely right.” But while Wasserman speculation concerning the race for 2024, LA’s bid, which would require no major process. We don’t know what their intent is,” get it right. I don’t think the Olympic move- argued forcefully that Los Angeles was the which will be decided at an IOC vote in Lima infrastructure projects or venue construc- he said. “We don’t know what their ment wants to be put in a poistion of having best candidate for 2024, he stopped short on September 13. tion, making use of existing facilities, offered approach is going to be, so for anyone to seven more years of the kind of challenges of issuing an ultimatum. The IOC is looking at the option of award- the prospect of “calm and stability” for the comment on 2028 is premature.” they have had in the past,” Wasserman said. Paris co-chairman Tony Estanguet had ing two Olympics at once in order to capi- Olympic movement, Wasserman said. There had also been no discussions with “The Olympics deserves better, the move- warned last week that it was “now or never” talise on the Paris and Los Angeles bids at a “No political interference, tremendous the IOC about the possibility of a joint ment deserves better.” — AFP

CRICKET wins 3rd ODI to draw series

COLOMBO: Seam bowler Nuwan sharp-turning from off spinner Kulasekara took 4-37 after hit and got by a rapid 52 to propel Sri Lanka to a 70- Chandimal. Three quick followed win in the third one-day and Bangladesh fell to 127-7. Hasan’s half- international yesterday and a 1-1 draw in offered late resistance but couldn’t the three-match series. prevent the inevitable. Put into bat by Bangladesh Earlier, made a cautious 54 , Sri Lanka made 280-9 in to top score for Sri Lanka before Perera’s 40- its 50 overs. In reply, Bangladesh was ball knock helped overcome a mid-innings bowled out for 210 in 44.3 overs. Shakib Al setback to reach a challenging total. Hasan hit 54 off 62 balls and Mehedi Hasan Bangladesh captain Mortaza chose to scored 51 off 71. Kulasekara struck in the field after winning the toss at Sinhalese first over of Bangladesh’s chase and two Sports Club and Sri Lanka openers more early wickets put the tourists under and Tharanga got too much pressure to fully recover. off to a good start, scoring 76 off 65 deliver- Kulasekara opened his account by hav- ies for the first . ing (4) and bowled. Gunathilaka made 34 off 38 balls before Iqbal had survived earlier in the over when being caught by Riyad off both wicketkeeper and spinner Hasan. Tharanga departed, having captain fielding at first slip scored a run-a-ball 35, after being bowled failed to react to a sharp chance. by seamer to make it 87-2. was caught behind Both Chandimal (21) and Milinda without scoring, leaving Bangladesh on 10- Siriwardana (12) were . Mendis 2. Fast bowler trapped needed 76 deliveries for his 54 - his ninth lbw for a as the one-day international half-century. He tourists sank to 11-3. was caught behind off fast bowler Shakib and quickly . Perera hit a six and added 77 runs for the fourth wicket and four boundaries. Mortaza took 3-65 for KEY BISCAYNE: Nick Kyrgios of Australia stretches for a shot against Roger Federer of Switzerland in the semi finals at CrandonPark Tennis threatened a fightback. Sarkar hit a six and Bangladesh. Bangladesh won the first Center on Friday in Key Biscayne, Florida. — AFP three boundaries for his 44-ball 38. It end- match by 90 runs and the second was ed when he was deceived by a flighted, abandoned due to rain. — AP TENNIS SCOREBOARD Federer beats Kyrgios , Sri Lanka: Scoreboard yesterday after Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 70 runs in the third one-day international at Sinhalese Sports Club to draw the three- match series 1-1: Sri Lanka Innings Bangladesh Innings to reach Miami final DGunathilaka c Riyad b M Hasan 34 Tamim Iqbal c and b Kulasekara 4 Upul Tharanga b Ahmed 35 S Sarkar st Chandimal b D Perera 38 S Rahman c Chandimal b Kulasekara 0 Kusal Mendis c Rahim b Mustafizur 54 KEY BISCAYNE: Roger Federer’s season of resur- 2006, including titles at the Australian Open in final two sets. Kyrgios’ final risky shot backfired - a Dinesh Chandimal run out 21 Mushfiqur Rahim lbw b Lakmal 0 S Al Hasan c Gunathilaka b D Perera 54 gence took another thrilling turn Friday night January and at Indian Wells two weeks ago, and 128-mph second serve sailed long for a double run out 12 when he won a three-tiebreaker semifinal has won 10 matches in a row. fault. That gave Federer his third match point - c Riyad b Mortaza 34 b Prasanna 9 M Riyad c Chandimal b Lakmal 7 against Nick Kyrgios at the Miami Open. None was more harrowing than the latest vic- the last one he needed. The victory was payback Thisara Perera c Ahmed b Mortaza 52 Federer failed to convert two match points in tory. A sellout crowd was firmly in Federer’s cor- for Federer after Kyrgios overcame two match S Prasanna c Riyad b Mustafizur 1 Mehedi Hasan c Tharanga b Kulasekara 51 Mashrafe Mortaza c and b Prasanna 16 the second-set tiebreaker but finished off the ner, and the big-hitter Kyrgios played the role of points to win their only other meeting, at Madrid Dilruwan Perera c Iqbal b Mortaza 15 Taskin Ahmed c Gunaratne b Kulasekara 14 flashy, unpredictable Kyrgios an hour later, 7-6 unpopular spoiler brilliantly. He drew jeers every in 2015. That match also was a three-setter with 1 Mustafizur Rahman not out 1 (9), 6-7 (9), 7-6 (5). “It’s great winning this way,” time he took his frustration out on his racket, three tiebreakers. “You don’t often play three Suranga Lakmal not out 2 Extras: (2lb, 14w) 16 Federer said. “It could have gone either way. It received code violations for swearing and slow breakers in a match,” Federer said. “It’s nice to win Extras: (2lb, 17w) 19 Total: (all out) 210. was a nail biter.” When Federer hit a service win- play, and complained about the fans when they those. Winning breakers is always such a thrill.” Total: (for 9 wickets) 280. Overs: 44.3. ner on the final point, Kyrgios angrily whacked shouted during a rally in the final tiebreaker. Nadal was so eager to reach the Key Biscayne Overs: 50. Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-10, 3-11, 4-88, 5-111, his racket three times against the hard court. And then there was Kyrgios’ high-wire game, final that he ran out of his shoe. Chasing a shot in Fall of wickets: 1-76, 2-87, 3-136, 4-161, 5- 6-118, 7-127, 8-155, 9-209,10-210. Federer patiently waited until the Aussie was including huge groundstrokes that forced his the second set of his semifinal, Nadal lost his 194, 6-216, 7-230, 8-275, 9-277. : Nuwan Kulasekara 7.3-0-37-4, done before triumphantly swatting a ball into opponent to play some dazzling defense. right sneaker - and the point. But he quickly Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 10-0-65-3 (5w), Suranga Lakmal 8-0-38-2 (4w), Dilruwan the stands. Kyrgios then gave his racket a fling as “I showed a lot of fight,” said Kyrgios, who was regained his footing and beat unseeded Fabio Mustafizur Rahman 10-0-55-2 (1w), Mehedi Perera 10-1-47-2 (6w), Thisara Perera 2-0- the crowd booed before sharing a warm, weary seeded 12th and sought a berth in his first ATP Fognini 6-1, 7-5. Nadal is 0-4 in finals at Key Hasan 10-1-49-1 (1w), Taskin Ahmed 8-1- 14-0, Asela Gunaratne 2-0-16-0, Seekkuge exchange with Federer at the net. Masters 1000 final. “Obviously I’m an emotional Biscayne, losing in 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2014. 50-1 (10w), Mahmudullah Riyad 1-0-5-0, Prasanna 10-1-33-2 (4w), Milinda Federer saved two match points in his quar- guy. I had some ups and downs, a bit of a roller He’s playing in the tournament for the 13th time, 8-0-41-0, Mosaddek Siriwardana 5-1-23-0. terfinal win over Tomas Berdych. Now he’s in the coaster. Ultimately I thought I put in a good per- making it his longest title drought at any event. : Sri Lanka won by 70 runs. Hossain 3-0-13-0. final today against Rafael Nadal, 13 years after formance. I thought the crowd would have “Winning here would be something great, and an their first career encounter, also at Key Biscayne. enjoyed it.” important title I haven’t won,” Nadal said. “My biggest rival,” Federer said. “It feels like The crowd chanted Fognini’s first name in an old times.” Said Nadal: “I’m just excited to play PAYBACK attempt to get the Italian going after a slow against Roger always. He’s a big challenge for Federer had no complaint about Kyrgios’ fiery start, and flying footwear did the job. Fognini hit me, and I think for everybody.” There will be a behavior. “Crowds jump on it pretty quickly, but a drop shot to cause the sneaker malfunction, first-time Miami Open women’s champion when it makes for a good atmosphere at the end of laughed at length while Nadal retied his shoe Caroline Wozniacki plays Johanna Konta later. the day, so it’s not all that bad,” Federer said. “I and played better after that. Nadal said he also Federer won Key Biscayne in 2005 and 2006 think he’s good for the game.” lost a shoe while practicing recently, the only and hasn’t been to the final since. But the 18- Federer rallied from a break down in the first other time he can remember it happening to time Grand Slam champion is on the rise again set, and overcame two set points in the first him. “Strange,” he said. “Maybe I need to tie it at age 35. He’s 18-1 this year, his best start since tiebreaker. He didn’t face a break point in the stronger.” — AP

GOLF Tiger Woods won’t play the Masters

WASHINGTON: Tiger Woods announced Friday back winner since ’s Nick Faldo in 1989 he had lost his battle to be fit for the Masters, and 1990. Woods last won the Masters in 2005, saying he was “not tournament ready” for the and his announcement on Friday marks the COLOMBO: Sri Lankan team members celebrate their team’s victory over Bangladesh in first major of the year and did not have a third time in four years that he will miss the the third one-day international cricket match in Colombo, Sri Lanka, yesterday. — AP timetable for his return. Woods, whose 14 major tournament. He sat out the 2014 Masters with a titles include four Masters green jackets, has not back injury, finished 17th in 2015, then missed played since withdrawing from the Dubai Desert last year as part of his 15-month post-surgery Ashwin and Vijay to Classic on February 3 with ongoing back spasms. absence from competition. His last major title He made his comeback in December after came at the 2008 US Open, and the 2015 missing all of the 2015-16 season in the wake of Masters marks the last time Woods made the miss IPL, Kohli out back surgery. cut at a major. But his return has run aground, with the 41- Promoting his book about his 1997 Masters MUMBAI: ’s bumper 13-test home sea- likely to undergo surgery on his left shoulder. year-old withdrawing from the Genesis Open in victory, Woods said on television’s Good son has taken a big toll on its players with a Rahul’s India opening partner Murali Vijay, Los Angeles in February, the Honda Classic and Morning America program in March that he was host of them set to miss at least part of the who plays for Kings XI Punjab, will undergo the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. unable to train enough to prepare for the rigors with injuries. wrist surgery and is expected to miss the He even cancelled a planned press confer- of playing four rounds at a major event. But he Royal Challengers Bangalore will be with- April 5-May 21 tournament. ence at the Los Angeles tournament, saying doc- DUBAI: In this Feb. 2, 2017, file photo, Tiger indicated on Friday he continues to work toward out captain for at least the initial India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will tors had advised him to “limit all activities” as he Woods reacts on the 11th hole during the a return to competition. phase of the tournament as the sit out the entire campaign for Rising Pune tried to get his balky back on track. first round of the Dubai Desert Classic golf “I have no timetable for my return, but I will India skipper recovers from a shoulder injury Supergiant as he recovers from groin pain, “Unfortunately, I won’t be competing in this tournament in Dubai, . continue my diligent effort to recover, and want that forced him to miss the series-sealing the BCCI said. Left-arm spinner Ravindra year’s Masters,” Woods said on his website. “I did Woods won’t play in the Masters for the third to get back out there as soon as possible,” said final test win over Australia in Dharamsala. Jadeja and paceman Umesh Yadav will both about everything I could to play, but my back time in the last four years, announcing Friday Woods, whose 14 major titles are second on the “His recovery will be assessed in the second miss the start of the tournament for Gujarat rehabilitation didn’t allow me the time to get night, on his website. — AP all-time list to the 18 of Jack Nicklaus. week of April to determine an exact return to Lions and respectively. tournament ready. “I’m especially upset because Masters and he shattered records in winning by His 79 career PGA titles are three shy of Sam play date for IPL 2017,” the Indian cricket Jadeja has problems with his spinning finger, it’s a special anniversary for me that’s filled with Snead’s all-time record. Woods said that he board (BCCI) said in a statement. South while fast bowler Yadav has right hip and 12 strokes with an 18-under par total. Woods a lot of great memories. I can’t believe it’s been won his second Masters in 2001, completing the would be in Augusta, Georgia, to attend the pre- African AB de Villiers will lead the side in lower back soreness. A number of India’s test 20 years since I won my first green jacket.” tournament Champions Dinner. “Augusta Kohli’s absence. Bangalore, who have already cricketers played through pain during the “Tiger Slam” of four major championship victo- Woods’s historic 1997 victory at Augusta ries in a row. National has been a very important place to me lost Australia paceman Mitchell Starc to home season which included a 3-0 white- National, when he was 21 years old, was a water- and my family for over 20 years, and while I’m injury, will also be without Lokesh Rahul for wash of New Zealand and a 4-0 defeat of shed for golf. He became the first black golfer to disappointed, it will be good to be back there the entire tournament, with the India opener England in a five-match series. — Reuters NO TIMETABLE FOR RETURN win a major, the youngest to capture the His 2002 victory made him the first back-to- Tuesday,” Woods said. — AFP