TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014 SPORTS Quechua wins Singapore Gold Cup

SINGAPORE: Argentine-bred stayer to give South African trainer Patrick Shaw Quechua won the $1.35 million (US$1.08 his second one-two finish in the race, million) Singapore Gold Cup on Sunday, which dates back to 1924. denying War Affair his chance of com- Cheetah On Fire came third with last pleting the city-state’s elusive Triple winner’s Tropaios fourth. War Affair, Crown. which won this year’s Kranji Mile and Ridden by Australian jockey Corey Raffles Cup, crossed the line fifth, missing Brown, Quechua dashed clear of his rivals a $300,000 bonus for the Triple Crown. in the straight to win the 2,200 metre “This was the big one and this is my Group One event at Kranji Racecourse. second Gold Cup and the second time Emperor’s Banquet finished second, I’ve finished first and second,” said Shaw. one and half lengths behind the winner, “When I do a job, I do it well.” — Reuters Djokovic throws down the gauntlet to his rivals

LONDON: Novak Djokovic laid down the games in his three group matches before challenge to his rivals on Sunday after seeing off Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the completing another year as world num- semis and he will start 2015 having clear- ber one. ly set the benchmark for men’s tennis. “Right now, I’m at the pinnacle in my Djokovic said he was disappointed his career,” the 27-year-old Serb declared year ended with a hollow victory-even if after claiming a third consecutive ATP it meant he was the first to win the year- World Tour Finals title by default when ender three times in succession since Roger Federer withdrew before their Ivan Lendl. showpiece final with a back injury. “This is probably the first time in his- OKLAHOMA CITY: Thunder’s Anthony Morrow (right) goes up for a shot in front of Houston Rockets Francisco Garcia (32) in the fourth quarter “I physically feel very fit. I’m very moti- tory that this happens,” said Djokovic, of an NBA basketball game. — AP vated to keep on playing on a very high who found out shortly before the final level. I’m going to try to use these years that Federer was withdrawing. in front of me to fight for the number “It’s a very awkward situation to talk Rockets silence Thunder one of the world and fight for the about it, to be honest. You never like to biggest titles.” Djokovic ends the season win, especially these big matches against as number one for the third time in four big rivals, with a retirement.” OKLAHOMA CITY: James Harden scored 19 KNICKS 109, NUGGETS 93 lone field goal for Denver in the second. Carmelo years having won a seventh grand slam Djokovic rejected any suggestion that points, helping the Houston Rockets beat the The Knicks held the Nuggets to one basket in Anthony and J.R. Smith each scored 28 points for at Wimbledon and Masters 1000 titles in Federer had pulled out to save himself Oklahoma City Thunder 69-65 on Sunday night the second quarter and ended a seven-game New York. Arron Afflalo had 18 points and Miami, Indian Wells, Rome, Paris and this for next week’s Davis Cup final. “The stats for their third consecutive victory. losing streak. With the game tied at 31 entering Lawson added 17 points and nine assists for the week’s year-ender in London. are saying clearly that he is one of those Dwight Howard had 12 points and nine the period, the Knicks outscored the Nuggets Nuggets, who have dropped seven of their last While arch-rival Rafa Nadal is still players that would compete and always rebounds for Houston, and Patrick Beverley 31-8. Ty Lawson’s layup at the buzzer was the eight games. — AP recovering from a wrist injury followed fight if he can,” Djokovic said. “He has added 12 points and eight boards. The last time a team won with 69 or fewer points was Detroit’s by appendicitis, Andy Murray is strug- had, what, three retirements in his entire 64-62 victory over Utah on March 13, 2005, gling to return to his best form after back career? “I don’t think he was calculating according to STATS. Both teams shot below 30 NBA results/standings surgery a year ago and 33-year-old and trying to save his body for the Davis percent from the field - the last time that hap- Federer cannot hold back time forever, Cup final. I’m sure that wasn’t the case. pened was Oct. 29, 2003, when Denver beat San NY Knicks 109, Denver 93; Milwaukee 91, Miami 84; Houston 69, Oklahoma City 65; Golden State new dad Djokovic appears to be reach- This is probably one of the biggest Antonio 80-72. Houston shot just 28.8 percent. 136, LA Lakers 115. ing his prime. matches of the year for him, as well as for The last time an NBA team won with a lower per- Eastern Conference Western Conference In London, he dropped only nine me.” — Reuters centage was on Feb. 19, 2000, when Chicago Atlantic Division Northwest Division shot 28.6 percent and beat the Los Angeles W L PCT GB Clippers 74-72. Reggie Jackson had 15 points Portland 7 3 .700 - Toronto 8 2 .800 - and 11 rebounds for the Thunder. Lance Thomas Utah 4 7 .364 3.5 Brooklyn 4 5 .444 3.5 also had 15 points. Oklahoma City 3 8 .273 4.5 Boston 3 5 .375 4 Minnesota 2 7 .222 4.5 NY Knicks 3 8 .273 5.5 BUCKS 91, HEAT 84 Denver 2 7 .222 4.5 Philadelphia 0 9 0 7.5 Brandon Knight made three 3-pointers down Pacific Division Central Division the stretch and scored 20 points, leading Golden State 8 2 .800 - Chicago 7 3 .700 - Milwaukee to the road win. Jabari Parker added LA Clippers 5 3 .625 2 Cleveland 5 3 .625 1 13 points for the Bucks (5-5), who started 5-21 Sacramento 6 4 .600 2 Milwaukee 5 5 .500 2 last season. Larry Sanders, Giannis Indiana 4 7 .364 3.5 Phoenix 5 5 .500 3 Antetokounmpo and Zaza Pachulia each scored Detroit 3 7 .300 4 LA Lakers 1 9 .100 7 11. Milwaukee beat Miami for the first time in Southeast Division Southwest Division the teams’ last 10 meetings, including playoffs. Washington 7 2 .778 - Memphis 9 1 .900 - Mario Chalmers scored 18 for Miami, which was Atlanta 5 4 .556 2 Houston 9 1 .900 - again without Dwyane Wade and lost its third Miami 5 5 .500 2.5 Dallas 7 3 .700 2 straight. Shawne Williams had 13 points. Wade Charlotte 4 6 .400 3.5 New Orleans 5 3 .625 3 missed his second straight game with a bad Orlando 4 7 .364 4 hamstring. San Antonio 5 4 .556 3.5 F1 title deciding showdowns

LONDON: Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi mate Lorenzo Bandini, finished second to 1994 — Australian Grand Prix, Adelaide Grand Prix will decide the title, become the first man to win titles on two wheels Michael Schumacher won the first of his sev- with Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Nico and four. en championships in hugely controversial style Rosberg fighting for the crown. Since 1950, there after turning into title rival Damon Hill as the have been 27 last race deciders. The following 1976 — Japanese Grand Prix, Fuji Briton tried to pass. Both had to retire, handing looks at 10 of the best in chronological order. One of the most famous showdowns. Ferrari’s Schumacher the title by a single point. Niki Lauda led McLaren’s James Hunt by three 1950 — Italian Grand Prix, Monza points after an astonishingly brave comeback by 1997 — European Grand Prix. Jerez The seventh round of the season was a three- the Austrian from a fiery near-fatal crash at the Another major controversy involving way title battle between Alfa Romeo team mates Nuerburgring. Schumacher, then with Ferrari, who was exclud- Juan Manuel Fangio, of Argentina, and Italians Torrential rain made conditions treacherous, ed from the championship classification after Luigi Fagioli and Nino Farina. Fangio had led the with Lauda saying they were too dangerous and trying to take out Canadian standings but suffered two retirements and withdrawing on the second lap. Hunt finished while fighting for the lead. The German had led failed to score, while Farina won the race and third and took the title by a point. by a point but retired while his rival finished first F1 title. third to clinch the title. 1984 — Portuguese Grand Prix 1959 — US Grand Prix, Sebring (Florida) The smallest winning margin in Formula One 2008 — Brazilian Grand Prix, Sao Paulo Jack Brabham ran out of fuel and pushed his history, with Lauda beating McLaren team mate Hamilton clinched a dramatic first title by a car across the line to finish fourth and become Alain Prost by half a point (the result of the single point after the then-McLaren driver Australian’s first world champion. Three drivers Monaco Grand Prix being stopped early). The secured fifth place in the race with an overtake started with a chance of taking the title: Frenchman won the race but Lauda, like at the last corner of the last lap just when all Brabham and Britons Stirling Moss and Tony Hamilton now, needed only to finish second, seemed lost. Brazilian , race winner LONDON: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic kisses the trophy after winning the ATP World Brooks. The race was won by New Zealander which he did. It was his third title. for Ferrari, missed out by a single point. Tour Finals tennis tournament in London on November 16, 2014, following the with- Bruce McLaren, his first. drawal of Switzerland’s Rodger Federer from the final match due to an injury. — AFP 2010 — Abu Dhabi 1986 — Australian Grand Prix, Adelaide The first four-way finale, with Ferrari’s 1964 — Mexican Grand Prix Britain’s Nigel Mansell was the favourite to Fernando Alonso leading Australian Mark Another three-way battle, this time all-British win a three-way battle with McLaren’s Prost and Webber by eight points while ’s ‘Abu Double’ is the and between motorcycle champion John Williams team mate Nelson Piquet. Mansell was and McLaren’s Hamilton were Surtees, Jim Clark and Graham Hill. on course for the title until a blown tyre ended also in the reckoning. last roll of the dice Hill had led the championship but his hopes his hopes spectacularly 19 laps from the end. A strategy error cost Alonso the race while disappeared in a collision, Clark retired with a Williams pitted Piquet as a precaution and Prost Vettel won to become the youngest champion seized engine and Surtees, let through by team took his second title. at 23 years old. — Reuters LONDON: Mercedes have won both “By racing in Abu Dhabi the team will be Formula One titles already, and Red Bull are showcasing itself as a live and functioning sure of second place, but Sunday’s season- team that deserves to continue into 2015 ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be a last and beyond.” Swiss-based Sauber, one of roll of the dice for some of those behind the sport’s oldest teams after multiple them. With an unprecedented double champions Ferrari, McLaren and Williams, points on offer, ‘Abu Double’ has the power need a 10th place to stave off their first to bring joy and despair in equal measure campaign without a scoring finish. and not just for Mercedes rivals Lewis The team that came second in the Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. championship as recently as 2007 when For tail-enders Caterham, in administra- owned by BMW has fallen on hard times tion and facing closure unless they can find but can still salvage some pride in a season a buyer, the day-to-night race at Yas Marina of struggle on and off the track. could literally be a last blast before dark- “It’s going to be extremely tough,” said ness engulfs their hopes. principal Monisha Kaltenborn after They are hoping, even if any sort of Mexican Esteban Gutierrez and Germany’s points looks out of reach, to show they are Adrian Sutil, both without seats for next a team that deserves being saved from the season, drew yet another blank in Brazil. scrapheap after the failure last month of Ahead of them, Lotus would need their rivals Marussia. best result of the season to overhaul Toro Neither team raced in the last two Rosso for eighth place while Force India grands prix, with Caterham returning only would require something pretty spectacu- after a crowd-funding exercise to raise suf- lar to make up 34 points and get back in ficient funds to get them back on the start- front of fifth placed McLaren. Williams are ing grid. “We knew that the best way to looking good for third place, their highest keep this team alive and attract possible overall placing since 2003, but Ferrari still buyers was to show that it’s still a racing have a chance of overtaking them if they team and be in Abu Dhabi for the finale,” can repeat their Hungary haul of 26 regular said administrator Finbarr O’Connell. points. — Reuters Lewis Hamilton in action in this file photo.