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Friday, August 3, 2018 MOTOGP Dhul-Qa’da 21, 1439 AH Marquez rides into GULF TIMES Brno with fans and rivals in vain pursuit SPORT Page 4 FOOTBALL Expectations rise as Rayyan shift focus to QNB Stars League Rayyan started the season with Sheikh Jassim Cup win but will go up against heavyweights Sadd and Duhail in the league

By Sports Reporter son,” new coach Rodolfo Arrua- nation and fl air as the team did Doha barrena told journalists at a press against Belmadi,” he added. conference yesterday. Al Duhail have been handed an But the Argentinian also has- easy fi rst match against minnows l Rayyan have raised tened to add that, victory in the Shahania on Sunday but it would their fans’ expectations Sheikh Jassim Cup, which is just be interesting to see how they go by winning the season- a one-match event, should be about their business as the tour- opening Sheikh Jassim forgotten as soon as possible. nament picks up pace. CupA but the big question remains “I would say the Sheikh Jas- They will be surely missing the whether they have the calibre to sim Cup is a closed chapter now talismanic Youssef Msakni who outlast favourites Al Duhail and and we have to focus on the QNB suff ered a knee ligament injury Al Sadd when the gruelling nine- Stars League which is much more towards the end of the last season month long QNB Stars League gruelling. Nine months can take and will not be back by at least kicks off tomorrow. their toll on any team and we late November as he recovers af- For a team that boasts a storied need to be at our best to cope ter surgery in the United States. history, not to mention the larg- with that,” Arruabarrena added. But they still have infl uential est following in Qatar, The Lions “It’s going to be a diffi cult players like Moroccan Youssef El have under-achieved in the past game against Al Ahli. They had Arabi, who was the top scorer last fi ve years – their 2015-16 league played some tough games last season, South Korea’s dreaded triumph under Uruguayan coach season, I understand. striker Nam Tae-hee along with Jorge Fossati coming as an accom- “However, I have confi dence in the ever reliable Brazilian Lucas plishment of astonishing propor- my players. I do not want to make Mendez. tions considering the fact that they tall claims at the start of a fresh By winning three trophies last had been demoted to the second league season. We only had 20 season, Al Duhail have raised the tier in the previous season. to 25 days together to prepare for bar in Qatar and in Asia with their Although they have stayed the the tournament. indomitable performances on a course and earned their right to “You have to work and work, football pitch. be bracketed in the “Top Four” correct the mistakes and improve Al Duhail will also feature in that accorded them the privilege the game. At the moment, we the 2018 AFC Champions League of playing the Asian Champions are not worried about victory or quarter-fi nals in August, having League during the past two sea- defeat. We are in the process of reached the knockout phase of sons, the overwhelming superior- building a formidable side. Asia’s biggest club competition ity of Al Duhail under Djamel Bel- unbeaten from February until madi has proved an obstacle they May this year. Al Duhail won the QNB Stars League title last season with considerable ease. have been unable to surmount. Winners of the Qatar league It’s not that they just allowed title six times in the last few Al Duhail and second-placed Al years, Al Duhail will be a massive Sadd to simply ride roughshod force in the new season as well. over them, though. It’s just that But they are expected to have they tend to lose their focus to- fi erce battles with Al Sadd be- wards the middle of the season, sides former champions Al Rayy- losing and drawing games at cru- an and Al Gharafa. cial times—sometimes to lesser No new player has been con- teams — to hand over the advan- tracted for the 2018-19 season tage to their rivals. “The fi rst priority goes to the but there are some who have re- Last season Al Rayyan fi n- players. Coach comes only after turned to the club such as Mo- ished third with 43 points from 22 that. I want our results to speak hamed Muntari, Mohamed al- matches, but in the process they for us,” said former Boca Juniors Bakri, who ended his loan with Al lost fi ve matches and drew four to player Arruabarrena. Markhiya, and Madibo, who re- fi nish 17 points off the pace against Meanwhile, defending cham- turned to Al Duhail after his loan Al Duhail’s 60. Al Sadd ended up pions Al Duhail will be also keen spell with Al Gharafa. with 49, the 13-times champions to put behind them the defeat also stumbling at critical moments in the Sheikh Jassim Cup. New FIXTURES by losing fi ve matches. coach Nabil Maaloul was disap- Saturday, August 4 But that said, having won the pointed having lost the match Al Gharafa vs Qatar SC, Al fi rst tournament of the season on Wednesday in the tie-breaker Sadd Stadium, 5:35pm would have infused them with after Mohamed Muntari’s jink- Al Arabi vs Al Khor, 5:35pm, some much-needed confi dence, ing penalty shot failed to beat Al Khalifa International Stadium and they would like to make a Rayyan goalkeeper Oumar Barry. Al Sailiya vs Umm Salal, good impression when they take “Of course winning the fi rst 7:45pm Khalifa International on Al Ahli in their fi rst QNB Stars trophy of the tournament would Stadium league match on Sunday. have been a huge confi dence- Sunday, August 5 “We could not have sought a boost. But we cannot keep wor- Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Sadd, better start to the new season than rying about that as we get set to 5:35pm, Khalifa International we had with the Sheikh Jassim Cup defend our league title,” the Tu- Stadium triumph. That has tremendously nisian, who took over from Alge- Al Shahania vs Al Duhail, boosted our players’ confi dence. rian Djamel Belmadi, said. 7:45pm, Khalifa International More importantly, beating Al Du- “Now we have to focus on Stadium hail I hope will stand us in good what is ahead and look to defend Al Rayyan vs Al Ahli, 7:45pm, stead for the remainder of the sea- our title with the same determi- Al Sadd Stadium Al Rayyan beat Al Duhail to lift the Sheikh Jassim Cup on Wednesday.

SQUASH Aspire Academy graduate Abdulla al-Tamimi breaches top 30 in world rankings for fi rst time By Sports Reporter “I’m delighted to reach the top-30 this in the World Squash Federation’s junior number of diff erent tournaments. These Doha month. It’s a great way to kick off the new circuit rankings (Under-19). He has also included the Guilfoyle Financial PSA squash season and I am looking forward to won several other prestigious titles, in- Classic, the NASH Cup, the AnyPresence the rest of the year,” al-Tamimi said after cluding the Under-19 Qatar Youth Open Open, the Qatar Classic Squash Champi- spire Academy’s graduate Ab- reaching his career-best ranking so far. Championship, again in 2012, and the onship, amongst others. dulla al-Tamimi has added an- Age seems to be on al-Tamimi’s side, Under-19 Dutch Junior Open in July 2013. In 2017, his progress continued as he other achievement to his record with most top squash players in their 30s. He also fi nished fourth in the World Youth achieved a career-best world ranking of by breaking into the top 30 for This has led players and experts to believe Championship, held in Poland in July 2013. 37 after reaching the second round of the theA fi rst time. The 23-year-old squash that the huge improvements in his per- Throughout 2014 and 2015, al-Tamimi World Squash Championships in Man- player, who recently won the Malaysia formance over the last 12 months will con- continued to shine at international squash chester. Heading into the 2018 season, al- Open, climbed to 28th in the PSA World tinue over the next few years. championships in Qatar and around the Tamimi is now hoping to improve on his Ranking. In 2012, al-Tamimi became world No.1 world, reaching the fi nal rounds of a ranking further. Gulf Times 2 Friday, August 3, 2018 FOOTBALL

PREMIER LEAGUE He’s back: Neymar rejoins PSG on tour

Dozens of screaming fans welcomed Brazil star Neymar yesterday as he flew in to China to rejoin Paris Saint- Germain after his disap- Liverpool upbeat aft er pointing World Cup. The world’s most expensive player, wearing a canary-yellow hoodie, posed for pictures with airport staff before his noisy welcome in the arrivals hall. Neymar’s arrival, ahead of tomor- row’s French Super Cup game against Monaco in Shenzhen, comes more than transfer coups as five months after his last appearance for PSG following a foot injury in late February.

England keen to keep manager Southgate

Man United sweat England’s Football Association wants Gareth Southgate to stay on as man- ager beyond Euro 2020 but knows it ‘We have to be this angry, aggressive, greedy team full of desire that wants to win each game’ cannot compete on wages if a Premier League club makes an approach. South- AFP gate took England to the World Cup London semi-finals in Russia, boosting his stock within the game and ending a run of miserable failures at major tournaments iverpool have spent big in the for the national side. Southgate’s cur- transfer window in an attempt rent salary is understood to be £1.8mn to close the gap on Premier a year, with bonuses taking it closer to League champions Manches- the £2.5mn. Southgate has not hidden Lter City but it has been a summer of the fact he would like to return to club intense frustration for Manchester management one day. United boss Jose Mourinho. Elsewhere, Pep Guardiola fi nally landed Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez for a Burnley must spend to club-record fee in an otherwise quiet keep up with rivals: Dyche window so far for City while Arsenal have signed a clutch of players but no Burnley manager Sean Dyche has marquee names to whet the appetite. warned the club risks falling behind Premier League clubs spent a record their Premier League rivals unless they £1.4bn ($1.8bn, 1.57mn euros) on play- show more financial ambition. The ers in a summer splurge last year, ac- Clarets finished seventh last season, cording to football analysts Deloitte. qualifying for the Europa League, but But there is nothing so far to match Dyche has so far been unable to add the arrival of Paul Pogba at Manches- to his squad in the summer transfer ter United two years ago in a then window. “The challenge is opening the world-record deal or Alexis Sanchez’s club’s mind enough to go some way to move from the Emirates to Old Traf- keep up because the whole of the foot- ford in January. The transfer window ball business is saying ‘all the best with closes at 1600 GMT on August 9, a that, we’re going up here’,” he said. day before the fi rst game of the season, Despite starting their season in July which sees Manchester United take on with a Europa League qualifying clash Leicester City. Liverpool boss Jurgen against Aberdeen, Burnley have a Klopp did his business early, bring- smaller squad than the last campaign. ing in Brazil’s World Cup goalkeeper Alisson just weeks after two shocking errors by Loris Karius in the Champi- Algeria name Belmadi ons League fi nal defeat to Real Madrid. as new coach He also picked up midfi elders Fabinho from Monaco and Naby Keita from Algeria have appointed RB Leipzig and added Stoke City’s former international Xherdan Shaqiri to an already formi- Djamel Belmadi as their dable array of attacking talent that in- new national coach, the cludes Mohamed Salah. country’s football fed- But the German manager is warning eration announced. The Liverpool not to get carried away with former Manchester City celebrating their success in the trans- midfielder will travel fer market after splurging more than to Algiers to sign a contract replacing £170mn. “We need to be ready for the Rabah Madjer, who resigned in June, big challenges, the big goals,” he said. the Algerian Football Federation said. “We have to be this angry, aggressive, French-born Belmadi, 42, played for greedy team full of desire that wants Algeria between 2000 and 2004, to win each game. All the other teams including a quarter-final place at the have quality as well so we need to be 2004 African Nations Cup finals. ready for fi ghts, not celebrating sign- Manager Jurgen Klopp is warning Liverpool not to get carried away with celebrating their success in the transfer market after splurging more than £170mn. (AFP) ings and stuff .” Mourinho, unable to resist an early Portuguese is desperate to close the I understand completely,” he said. on a free transfer unless they sell him ALISSON TO MAKE DEBUT IN Egypt appoint Mexican dig at his rival, said Liverpool’s trans- gap to Guardiola’s side but so far has “They are contenders to win the title, this summer. The only major signing NAPOLI FRIENDLY: KLOPP Aguirre as new head coach fer activity ought to increase expec- just picked up Brazil midfi elder Fred, Liverpool are always a contender be- for the 2016-17 Premier League cham- Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker tations of a fi rst top-fl ight title since who did not play a single minute at the cause of the history they have.” pions is Brazil midfi elder Jorginho will make his debut in tomorrow’s The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) 1990. “With the investments you are World Cup in Russia, young defender Chelsea’s Eden Hazard looked like from Napoli, with new boss Maurizio friendly against Napoli, manager announced the appointment of Mexican making last season and you make now, Diogo Dalot from Porto, and veteran he could be at the centre of one of the Sarri professing himself bored with Klopp has said. Liverpool signed the as head coach of the that will probably be the record of the goalkeeper Lee Grant. biggest transfer stories of the sum- the transfer market. 25-year-old Brazil international from national team on a four-year deal. Premier League this season, a team City, who fi nished 19 points clear mer when he hinted at the World Cup Arsenal, preparing for a season un- AS Roma, smashing the world record Aguirre replaces Argentinian Hector that was a fi nalist in the Champions of United last season, have been rela- he might want a fresh challenge. His der a new manager for the fi rst time for for a goalkeeper in a deal worth up to Cuper after his contract expired follow- League — you have to say you are a big tively quiet this time around but they comments sparked speculation he more than two decades, have signed a 72.5mn euros. Alisson started training ing the 2018 World Cup, where Egypt candidate, you have to win,” Mourinho fi nally snared Mahrez for £60mn, fur- could be off to Real Madrid to replace clutch of players including Switzer- with Liverpool earlier this week fol- lost all three of their matches to crash said during United’s pre-season tour ther enhancing their dazzling forward the departed Cristiano Ronaldo. land defender Stephan Lichtsteiner lowing a break after Brazil’s World Cup out in the group stage. of the United States, during which options. The City boss said he was un- The European champions have also but Unai Emery has not yet landed a campaign. The 59-year-old Aguirre has previously they were thumped 4-1 by Liverpool. fazed by Liverpool’s lavish spending, been linked with Chelsea goalkeeper marquee name. Tottenham, about to Liverpool play their fi nal pre-sea- coached Mexico and Japan. Aguirre’s The United boss himself has cut an remaining happy with the nucleus of Thibaut Courtois and Brazil forward move into a new stadium, are the only son friendly against Italians Torino on most recent job was with the United increasingly frustrated fi gure in the the squad that romped to the Premier Willian. Britain’s newspapers reported one of the top sides not to have signed Aug. 7, fi ve days before hosting West Arab Emirates’s Al Wahda from 2015- build-up to the season, lamenting League title. on Wednesday that Courtois has told a single player. There is still time but Ham United in their Premier League 2017. He will earn $120,000 a month his failure to land his top targets. The “Every club does what they believe, Chelsea he will quit the club next year the clock is ticking. opener. with his two assistants, and was prom- ised a $500,000 bonus if Egypt qualify for the 2022 World Cup. SPOTLIGHT Gomez returns as Germany’s World Cup debacle is ‘huge motivation’: Mueller Ecuador coach Ecuador’s football federation have AFP World Cup, which brought Ozil’s loy- named Hernan Dario Gomez, who led Berlin alty to Germany into question. Panama to their first World Cup finals The Arsenal midfi elder, who was this summer, as the new coach of the born in Gelsenkirchen to Turkish par- national side. It will be the 62-year-old’s homas Mueller says the Ger- ents, walked away from the Germany second spell in charge of Ecuador after mans’ shock early exit from the set-up and accused the German FA of leading them to their maiden World Cup World Cup will provide ‘huge racism, which has sparked an integra- in 2002. “I am very happy to be here in motivation’ when he starts the tion debate in Germany. Mueller was my home, a home that I never forgot Tnew season with both Germany and not asked about the Ozil fi asco in the and where I always thought I would Bayern Munich. Mueller, 28, was one Bayern interview and commented sole- return,” Gomez, who has also coached of several 2014 World Cup winners ly on Germany’s woeful performances Guatemala and his native Colombia, who played poorly in Russia as previ- in Russia. said at his presentation in Guayaquil. “ ous holders Germany crashed out after The fi rst few days at home after re- His first task will be preparing the side the group stages by fi nishing bottom of turning early were “not the nicest in for the 2019 Copa America in Brazil. their pool. my life,” admitted Mueller, who played Humiliating World Cup defeats to at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa South Korea and Mexico will motivate as a raw 20-year-old, then helped Ger- Newcastle sign Mueller and his team-mates in Ger- many win the title four years later in Japan forward Muto many’s fi rst match of the new Nations Brazil. “You can put your fi nger in the League tournament against newly- wound and look at the fact we came last Newcastle United have signed Japan crowned World Cup winners France in in the group — that is already keeping forward from Mainz Munich on September 6. us busy,” he added. on a four-year contract. Newcastle “It’s about how we can do better,” The new Bundesliga season kicks off said last week that they had reached Mueller told the Bayern Munich web- on August 24. Mueller and Bayern will an agreement with the Bundesliga site. “After going out like that, you be chasing a seventh straight German club for the transfer. Muto’s move was handle the failure very badly, because league title under new head coach Niko completed after he was granted a no one expected it.” Kovac. Bayern started a week-long work permit. British media reports said Mueller was a long way from his best training camp in Bavaria yesterday and Muto’s transfer fee was around 9.5mn in Russia, as were fellow Germany stars Mueller is looking forward to working pounds. Muto, 26, is Newcastle’s fourth Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira, Mats Hum- with the new head coach. permanent signing of the close season mels and Mesut Ozil. Ozil announced “The next week is also getting to following goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, his retirement from the national team know each other, exchanging ideas, midfielder Ki Sung-yueng and defender last month amid the furore sparked talking and seeing what he has in mind, Fabian Schar. Newcastle begin their by his meeting with Turkish president how he wants to play football,” Mueller league campaign by hosting Tottenham Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the eve of the added. Hotspur at St James’ Park on Aug. 11. Gulf Times Friday, August 3, 2018 3 FOOTBALL

PREMIER LEAGUE Willian’s late return to Chelsea is ‘strange’: Sarri I’m really worried, says Dublin: Maurizio Sarri expressed his exasperation at Willian’s late return for pre-season training, agreeing that the situation was strange, after he watched his Chelsea team go down on penalties to Arsenal following an en- Newcastle’s Benitez tertaining 1-1 friendly draw in Dublin on Wednesday night. The club’s new manager had set Willian a return date Spanish manager claims ‘everything’ is wrong behind the scenes at St James’ Park of last Friday, after the wing- er’s involvement at the World By Louise Taylor Cup with Brazil – they lost in The Guardian the quarter-finals to Belgium on 6 July – but he did not show up. Willian’s tardiness afael Benitez’s tenure as New- has been blamed on passport castle’s manager looks to be issues and it is understood reaching a pivotal moment af- he did report to Cobham for ter he claimed “everything” is training on Wednesday. Yet wrongR behind the scenes at St James’ Sarri made it perfectly clear Park. “When things are not going well that he was unimpressed at off the pitch you can see a refl ection the situation. on the pitch,” said Benitez following The winger is a transfer tar- Wednesday’s 4-0 friendly defeat at get for Real Madrid, with Man- Braga in northern Portugal. Pressed as chester United also interest- to whether he was referring to recruit- ed. Barcelona had previously ment at a club showing a profi t on sum- tried to sign him before they mer dealing he replied: “Everything – moved for another Brazilian I’m really worried.” forward, Malcom. Willian, who Benitez is concerned about the depth will not feature in Sunday’s of his squad and remains desperate to Community Shield against sign a central striker – ideally West Manchester City, has said he Brom’s Salomón Rondón – as well as a is happy at Chelsea and is not No 10, a centre-half and a left-back, but agitating for a transfer. asked if there was money to spend or “I want to speak to Willian any deals were close he said: “I have no before I answer these ques- idea. The fans have to be concerned, we tions,” Sarri said. “I am not are concerned. I’m really worried.” happy about this situation His anxieties are amplifi ed by an un- but, before I answer, I would resolved debate between the players like to speak to him. Is it a and the board over bonus payments but strange situation? I think so.” there appears to have been an erosion It was an eventful night in of trust between the manager and Lee Dublin with the Arsenal mid- Charnley, the Newcastle managing di- fielder Aaron Ramsey feeling rector who serves as a conduit between discomfort in his calf during Mike Ashley, the club’s owner and Beni- the warm-up and being tez. “We can talk [he and Charnley] and withdrawn from the starting be close [to making signings] but after line-up. Given his injury his- we are not so close,” he said. “I think we tory, it is always a worry when still need three or four players.” he has a problem but Unai Benitez is a practised politician but he Emery, the Arsenal manager, sounds at the end of his tether, with his said it was not serious. Sead latest complaints running much deeper Kolasinac, the left-back, than merely being a case of a manager was forced off in the second putting pressure on his board before the half with a twisted knee. closure of a transfer window. Emery suggested that his He is now entering the fi nal year of injury could be an issue. Sarri his contract on Tyneside and is refus- substituted all 11 starters and ing to sign the new deal Ashley has of- Rafael Benítez admits he his team lost their way and fered him until assurances over trans- is concerned over Newcastle’s the lead in the closing stages fer budget and improvements to the lack of activity in the transfer with the Arsenal replacement under-23 set up, academy and training window. (Reuters) Alexandre Lacazette scoring ground are met. The former Liverpool a stoppage-time equaliser to manager had initially thought he would set up the shootout. have around £45mn to spend but has Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who since been instructed he would have to having made his loan move from Sparta Japan forward Yoshinori Muto was for- by Rondon would have been part ex- captain and centre-half Jamaal Las- had returned one week operate under a sell-to-buy policy. Prague permanent for £4.5mn, while malised yesterday. changed for Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle celles who is interesting Everton. early from his post-World Cup So far this summer Newcastle have Kenedy has also rejoined, on loan from Benitez is particularly frustrated at but Gayle does not want to leave. With Florian Lejeune out for most break, missed the decisive sold Mikel Merino to Real Sociedad for Chelsea, Ki is now a midfi eld option Newcastle’s failure to meet Rondón’s While Benitez is disappointed to have of the season with a ruptured cruciate kick in the first round of sud- £10mn, Aleksandar Mitrovic to Fulham after leaving Swansea on a free trans- £16.5mn release clause but the striker is lost a key ally in his former press offi cer ligament and Mbemba now at Porto, den death – Cech diving the for £22mn, Chancel Mbemba to Porto fer and £3mn was suffi cient to trans- nearly 29 and Ashley does not like sign- Wendy Taylor, who has joined the Foot- retaining Lascelles is a priority. “I don’t right way to save – and that for £8mn and Matz Sels to Strasbourg port Switzerland’s Fabian Schar from ing players over 26 because he feels they ball Association where she will work think we’ll lose any players at the mo- allowed Alex Iwobi to win it for £3.5mn. Deportivo de La Coruna to Tyneside. become depreciating assets. alongside Phil Neville and the England ment,” Benitez said. “But I can’t say too for Arsenal. Incomings feature Martin Dubravka Meanwhile a £9.5mn deal for Mainz’s A compromise was reached where- women’s team, he hopes to keep his much.”

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Juventus top MLS All-Stars on penalties Moriyasu’s dual Japan role AFP Washington carries echoes of Troussier era Reuters erie A champions Juven- tus got the best of Major League Soccer’s All-Stars in a penalty shootout wenty years after was WednesdayS night after an en- tasked with moulding Japan’s footballing tertaining 1-1 draw in the North future, Hajime Moriyasu takes the reins American league’s mid-season of Asian’s most successful national set- exhibition. Before a crowd of Tup aiming to continue the country’s continental 72,317 at Mercedes-Benz Sta- dominance. Like Troussier before him, Moriyasu dium — home of MLS’s Atlanta has been asked to lead both Japan’s Olympic and United — Juventus prevailed senior teams as the country builds towards the 5-3 in the shoot-out after New next World Cup, the fi rst time a coach has been York Red Bulls forward Bradley asked to double-up since the Frenchman’s depar- Wright-Phillips missed his pen- ture at the end of the 2002 fi nals. alty attempt. But while Moriyasu sets out along a path com- After Wright-Phillips’ eff ort parable to the one followed by Troussier two dec- bounced off the post to leave ades ago, the similarities between the pair are few. Newly-appointed Japan national football team Juventus up 4-3 — Mattia De Troussier arrived in Japan with an endorsement head coach Hajime Moriyasu. (AFP) Sciglio fi red into the upper left from Arsene Wenger and a reputation forged in corner past Columbus goalkeep- African football. lead the country at this month’s Asian Games in er Zack Steff en to settle it. And- Known as ‘The White Witch Doctor’ during a before overseeing the senior side’s prepa- rea Favilli had put Juventus ahead successful stint in Ivory Coast, he landed in To- rations for the Asian Cup in January next year. in the 21st minute, heading in a kyo with a reputation for being bombastic and The 49-year-old’s track record as a player and curling cross by Matheus Pereira. possessing little knowledge of the Japanese game, coach suggest that, despite his low-key approach, The MLS All-Stars, selected country or culture. Moriyasu, by contrast, is an he has the credentials to succeed. A former mid- from around the league through understated, uncontroversial character who has fi elder who spent the majority of his club career fan voting, pulled level in the 26th built his entire coaching career on home soil. with , Moriyasu was part of minute through Atlanta United’s The task he has been given, though, is similar the Japan squad that won the country’s fi rst-ever Josef Martinez — the Venezuela to that taken on by Troussier: to oversee a genera- Asian Cup title in 1992. star and former Torino forward tional shift and build towards the next World Cup He took over as Sanfrecce head coach in 2012 who leads MLS with 24 goals in Mattia De Sciglio (right) of Juventus is congratulated by teammates after he scored the winning penalty using the Olympic squad as the foundation for a and back-to-back league title wins in his fi rst two 23 matches. Juventus keeper Wo- against the MLS All-Stars during the 2018 MLS All-Star Game in Atlanta, Georgia. (AFP) new period of success for Japanese football. seasons were followed by a third domestic crown jciech Szczesny saved an initial Japan’s run to the knockout phase of the World in 2015. His Hiroshima stint came to an end mid- eff ort, but after a scramble in the We had never played together matches for Juventus on their derful game, and it was a good Cup fi nals in Russia marked the end of the road way through 2017 when, with the club fl irting area, Martinez bundled the ball before. We only had three days to North American tour, but they preparation for us,” said Juventus for a number of country’s most illustrious play- with relegation, he resigned, only to be appointed in to score in front of his home meet, but I think we looked good haven’t brought off -season ac- manager Massimiliano Allegri, ers, with captain Makoto Hasebe and star Keisuke Japan’s under-23 coach in October before also crowd. “It’s been a moving week despite that.” quisition Cristiano Ronaldo, who said he was “very pleasantly Honda among those calling time on their careers. landing the senior role last month. here,” Martinez said. “I have to It marked the second straight the fi ve-time Ballon d’Or win- surprised” by the atmosphere in That leaves Moriyasu with the task of fi nding The situation he fi nds himself in is similar to thank all the fans in Atlanta for year that the All-Star Game end- ner whose 100 million-euro Atlanta. a new blend for the national side along the road that encountered by Troussier who took Japan the way they support us all the ed in a 1-1 draw to go to a shoot- ($117mn) move from European “You know it’s not easy to put to Qatar 2022. “The passing of the torch will have to the fi nal of the 1999 U-20 World Cup, the time and the wonderful experi- out. Last year, Real Madrid beat champions Real Madrid was an- 70,000 people in a stadium like to happen at some point,” he said recently. “And quarter-fi nals of the 2000 Olympic Games and ence in this game.” the All-Stars 4-2 on penalties nounced in July. today,” he said. The All-Stars while I’m in charge of the full national side and won the Asian Cup before securing a place in the He added, however, that there at Soldier Field in Chicago. The With three wins from three were without Los Angeles Gal- the Olympic team, we need to start bridging the knockout rounds of the World Cup for the fi rst was “a lot of pressure” on the crowd was the largest ever for the matches, Juventus will look to axy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, gap between the Olympic team and the age groups time in the nation’s history in 2002. All-Star team. “Beyond the fact MLS All-Star game, surpassing make it a clean sweep of the tour who was voted into the contest below them. We have to merge one generation The Frenchman’s tenure helped lay the founda- that we had a very good oppo- the 70,728 for the 2010 edition in on tomorrow night against Real against his former club by fans with the next.” tions for sustained success and now Moriyasu is nent, it was an important game, Houston. Madrid at FedEx Field in Wash- but would have been playing in Much of Moriyasu’s initial focus will be on pre- being asked to pull off a similar feat for the next especially a team of this calibre. The game was one of four ington, DC. “It was really a won- his third game in seven days. paring for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and he will generation of Japanese football. Gulf Times 4 Friday, August 3, 2018 SPORT

MOTOGP GOLF Wie forced to quit Women’s British Marquez rides into Open with injury

AFP As a 16-year-old, she fell foul Lytham St Annes, of the rules in a bunker at the United Kingdom Women’s British Open and in- curred a two-shot penalty. Her best fi nish in the only Brno with fans and ichelle Wie said British major is tied third — she was “dev- on her debut as a 15-year-old astated” after at Royal Birkdale in 2005 and a longstanding again at Kingsbarns in Scot- Mhand injury forced her to pull land 12 months ago. out during the fi rst round of Wie has just one major vic- the Women’s British Open at tory, at the 2014 US Women’s Royal Lytham and St Annes Open, but she ended a four- rivals in vain pursuit yesterday. year trophy drought when Playing in frequent rain she claimed the HSBC Wom- ‘It was also good to enjoy a few days of vacation to recharge the batteries and prepare for the showers, the 28-year-old en’s World Championship in American was on seven over March. second half of the season, which will still be very long with 10 races to go, and not easy at all’ par after 12 holes before de- “I have been trying to man- ciding she could not continue. age the pain all year,” she said. AFP “I’ve been doing everything “I think it’s time to take some Brno, Czech Republic humanly possible to get my time off and get healthy.” hand healthy enough to play Last week, Wie missed the this week,” she said on Twit- cut at the Ladies Scottish s the MotoGP season ter. “But it wasn’t enough. Open in Gullane. reaches its halfway I gave it my all today, but I The mid-round withdraw- point on Sunday, Marc couldn’t stand the pain any al by Wie was a major blow Marquez sits regally longer. for another former US Open inA fi rst place seemingly as con- “I felt if I kept pushing champion, Paula Creamer. cerned with his adoring fans as it then I could make it even The American was the fi rst al- with his distant pursuers. worse. But I’m devastated to ternate and was hoping some- The Czech MotoGP in Brno is have to pull out mid-round.” one would pull out before tee- the 10th of the 19 races on this Lytham has not been a hap- ing off to allow her into the season’s calendar. It is also the py hunting ground for Wie. fi eld. 100th for the 25-year-old Span- iard in the sport’s elite class and he has won 40 of them. RUGBY This season, after winning fi ve of the fi rst nine races, including the last two in Assen and on the Sachsenring, the Honda rider’s Ashton recalled closest rivals are two Yamaha riders. Italian veteran Valentino Rossi is 46 points back and an- to England squad other Spaniard, Maverick Vinal- es, trails by 56. After a three- Reuters week break following the German London Grand Prix, Marquez, the reign- ing champion, understandably enters the race feeling good. inger Chris Ash- “We’re coming off of wins ton earned a at two very diff erent races, one recall to Eddie an all-out battle and one more Jones’s England tactical, so we arrive in Brno in a Wsquad yesterday for the fi rst confi dent mood,” said the four- time since 2016. time MotoGP world champion. Ashton, 31, has yet to play Chris Ashton. “It was also good to enjoy a few for England under the Aus- days of vacation to recharge the tralian and last represented sidered but would be closely batteries and prepare for the sec- his country in 2014. He was watched during the club ond half of the season, which will named in Jones’s fi rst squad season. “With just over 12 still be very long with 10 races to but then served lengthy bans months until the Rugby World go, and not easy at all. Our rivals for biting and gouging. Cup, it is an important time,” are riding fast at every circuit.” “Chris is an exceptional he added. “I’ll go to Brno not thinking player. I think we have seen “This camp is all about about the advantage in the Cham- with his form at Saracens, individual preparation, it’s pionship, as if we were all still at Repsol Honda Team’s Spanish rider Marc Marquez gestures during a press conference prior to the Moto GP Czech Grand Prix race in Brno, then at Toulon, he has played about looking to see how we the beginning, on zero points.” Czech Republic, yesterday. (AFP) exceedingly well,” Jones said can help each of the play- The Brno course is long at as he announced a 44-man ers improve, how we can help 5.4km with six left-hand corners those memories as Marquez pit- and give you encouragement, it’s pre-season training squad. with their selection for the and eight right-handers and a ted early to switch from wet tyres diffi cult,” said Marquez. STANDINGS “He’s come back to Eng- national team.” 74m change in elevation on each to slicks and rode away from his “One Saturday, (my friends) land because he wants to play England will play South Af- lap. It has not always been kind rivals on a drying circuit to win told me we were going to the 1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 165 points for England so he has got the rica, New Zealand, Japan and to Marquez. In 2010, while he by 13 seconds. beach. ‘I’m staying here,’ I re- 2. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 119 right desire and the right atti- Australia in November inter- was still racing in the 125cc class During his break, the Spaniard, plied. ‘But why, If you have 3. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 109 tude so it will be good to work nationals. (today Moto3), he came to Brno who is adored in his homeland, nothing to do?’ they asked. ‘Be- 4. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 88 with him.” The hosts head into the on a streak of fi ve straight victo- attended a charity run in Bar- cause I’ll go to the beach and I 5. Johann Zarco (FRA/Yamaha Tech3) 88 Ashton, who scored 19 tries autumn with fi ve defeats in ries and fi nished seventh. celona where local newspaper will not be fi ne, neither will you,’ 6. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Ducati) 85 in 39 tests for England, joined their last six tests, including a Four years later, he arrived Mundo Deportivo asked him: “Is I told them, and this is normal. 7. Danilo Petrucci (ITA/Ducati Pramac) 84 Sale Sharks last month after a 2-1 series loss to South Africa having won the fi rst 10 races of it hard being Marc Marquez?” “But hey, it’s a blessed prob- 8. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/LCR Honda) 79 season with French side Tou- in June and a disappointing the MotoGP season and fi nished “It’s complicated because, al- lem, because if I did not have it, 9. Andrea Iannone (ITA/Suzuki) 75 lon. Jones said a number of fi fth-placed fi nish in the Six fourth. Last year’s race may have though I appreciate it a lot when it would be because something 10. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati Pramac) 57 players rested for the tour to Nations, which they entered gone some way to wiping out people stop you, ask for a picture was going wrong.” South Africa were not con- as defending champions.

CYCLING Thomas prepares for ‘insane’ life post Tour heroics

AFP Being described as Wales’s top earth and who you want to be like.” London sports star is some accolade for Further accolades may be in the Thomas, the one-time shy school- offi ng for Thomas and he is already boy from Cardiff ’s Whitchurch second favourite behind Harry eraint Thomas thinks High School, which also produced Kane to be named the prestigious life has been “insane” the three years younger duo of BBC Sports Personality of the Year since he stood in the yel- former Wales and British and Irish in December – a sizeable popular low jersey and proudly Lions rugby captain Sam Warbur- vote from Wales alone could swing Gheld aloft the Welsh fl ag on the ton and Real Madrid football su- it his way – whilst an honour from podium in Paris as Tour de France perstar Gareth Bale. Queen Elizabeth II cannot be dis- champion – but the madness may “It is insane all of us close to each counted either. just be beginning. other and incredible for a school in However, whilst getting used to The likeable softly-spoken Cardiff ,” Thomas told Channel 4 the increased media and public at- 32-year-old, who lives in Monaco, News earlier this week. tention will be hard enough there is will have to get used to trans- His return to Cardiff – pencil- serious business too that awaits af- forming from kingmaker for Chris led in according to the Daily Tel- ter the din has died down from the Froome to the king himself, and egraph for Thursday – promises to receptions and parades – sorting that won’t come easy, according to outdo even the ticker tape parade out where his future lies. 2012 Tour de France champion and accorded to Bale and his Welsh At his age one last lucrative con- former Team Sky teammate Brad- teammates after reaching the Euro tract awaits him and even though ley Wiggins. 2016 semi-fi nals. he feels great affi nity with Team “He’ll feel the same inside Already Wales began celebrating Sky and their boss Dave Brailsford, but people’s perception of him its latest sporting hero on the eve of sentiment will not dictate his deci- will change,” Wiggins said on his win – illuminating its ancient sion about a new one as his present Eurosport. castles spread out across the land deal terminates at the end of the “Everything will be diff erent in luminous yellow, the colour of year. from now on. He won’t be able to the tour de France winner’s jersey. “That is the biggest thing going walk down the street in Wales now on,” said Thomas, who the Daily without people coming up to him. ‘LIKE FAMILY TO ME’ Telegraph claim will be off ered a I think he may now be Wales’s big- However a humbled Thomas – who deal worth over £3 million ($3.9 gest sports star.” said seeing the reaction on Twitter million, 3.76 million euros) a year Thomas got an inkling of how after he had stepped off the podium by Sky. far the madness was heading when was “bonkers” – hopes he will be “It is hopefully going to be sort- he opened the newspapers on the able to manage fame in the same ed out in the next few weeks. morning after his triumph. way as Chris Hoy, the British track “I will listen to other teams of “One thing stands out is putting cycling legend he regards as a men- course but I have been with people on Instagram (a picture of) myself tor. like Fran Millar (director of busi- and my wife Sara eating Welsh cake “I have no idea what it will be like ness operations) and Dave Brails- in bed after the party on Sunday and but I saw Chris Hoy after I had won ford since I was 17 and they are like the next thing it is on the front page and he was super nice,” he said. family to me. of a paper, that is a bit crazy already,” “He is a massive role model as he “But they have to come up with he said. hasn’t changed and is still down to a good deal, it is an exciting time.” Gulf Times Friday, August 3, 2018 5 SPORT

MLB NFL Browns moving Bitonio to left tackle, Grandal’s walk-off Coleman demoted

Reuters veteran was reluctant about the Cleveland change but receptive to help the team win. “I gave him a chance to say earching for the heir to how he felt,” Jackson said. “Was homer in Dodgers Joe Thomas, the Cleve- he reluctant? Yeah, I would be land Browns gave the too. He plays a position and he’s fi rst crack at left tackle real good at it. toS third-year pro Shon Coleman, “... But I have great confi dence while veteran left guard Joel Bi- in Joel. He’s one of the best play- tonio was deemed by off ensive ers on the football team. He can line coach Bob Wylie as a failsafe. do it.” But by the sixth day of training Bitonio told reporters he was win over Brewers camp, head coach Hue Jackson “a little shocked” by the news, saw enough to bump Coleman to but also willing to do what Jack- ‘We haven’t swung the bats well the last three games, but I just feel the fight’s still there’ second string and install Bitonio son thinks is best. as the starter at left tackle. Bito- “I’m going to try to be the best Reuters nio took over for Coleman mid- left tackle I can be,” Bitonio said. Los Angeles way through Wednesday’s prac- “... It’s just whatever’s going tice, with rookie Austin Corbett to help our team win the most stepping in as the starter at left games.” asmani Grandal hit two home guard. Bitonio, 26, played left tackle runs, including the game-win- Jackson confi rmed to report- during his senior year at Nevada ner in the 10th inning, on a night ers after practice that the deci- but has started all 47 of his NFL when Brian Dozier had a home sion was made based on evalu- games at left guard since the runY among his three hits in his Dodgers ations from the fi rst week of Browns took him 35th overall in debut, and Los Angeles pulled off a 6-4 camp. 2014. He played well enough to victory Wednesday over the visiting Mil- “When we didn’t have prac- earn a fi ve-year, $51.2 million waukee Brewers. tice, we took some time, looked extension in March of 2017. Grandal’s game-winning shot came at the tape and made a decision Bitonio noted his biggest ad- after Matt Kemp broke an 0-for-26 slide maybe our best fi ve right now justment will be dealing with with a leadoff single in the 10th. Grandal is putting Joel out at left tackle, extra space and being “on an crushed a 1-1 pitch from Matt Albers (3- putting Corbett at left guard and island” against smaller, faster 3) into the seats in the right fi eld corner. going from there,” Jackson said. rushers, but he’s also look- Dylan Floro (4-2) pitched a perfect top “... I think it would be unfair to ing forward to having fewer of the 10th to earn the victory. The Dodg- put out there later on and say, 340-pound linemen to move. ers ended their three-game losing streak. ‘OK, you gotta do it’ without “It’s just a diff erent animal and Grandal hit his fi rst home run of the having him practice and get real it’s something I’ve got to learn,” night leading off the fi fth inning. The preseason reps in a game to see if he said, adding that he’s spoken next batter was Dozier, who made his he can do it.” with Thomas about getting some fi rst Dodgers hit a home run. Grandal has On Sunday, Wylie indicated advice. “Playing guard, I knew 19 homers on the season, while Dozier hit that the team would try Bito- the kind of nuances of the posi- his 17th. nio — who played left tackle for tion ... at tackle, I’m still trying “We haven’t swung the bats well the a season and a half in college at to develop that as we go through last three games, but I just feel the fi ght’s Nevada — on the blindside only camp.” still there,” Dodgers manager Dave Rob- if all other options failed. Without watching the tape, erts said. “That’s the last,” he said when Jackson thought Bitonio held Dozier also had a bloop single and asked about the proposition. up well on the blind side during scored a run in the seventh inning, and “Like, if you’re going from A Wednesday’s practice, despite he doubled in the eighth. The former down, that would be Z.” regularly facing 2017 fi rst overall All-Star was acquired by the Dodgers in a Asked Wednesday about pick Myles Garrett. Asked about deal with the Minnesota Twins at Tues- Wylie’s comments, Jackson re- the battles against Garrett, Bito- day’s non-waiver trade deadline. plied, “I think you (the media) nio said with a sarcastic smile, Yasiel Puig gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead ask the coaches way too many “Yeah, that’s always fun.” in the seventh with an RBI single to right questions, just being honest. I “He’s a great test,” Bitonio fi eld off Brewers reliever Corbin Burnes make those decisions. Those are continued. “I’ve said it about our to score Dozier. none of our coaches’ decisions. tackles before: If you can block The Dodgers made it 4-2 later in the Those are mine. I never said that guy, you’re going to be able inning when Enrique Hernandez’s safety ‘Plan Z.’” to block a lot of guys on Sunday. squeeze toward fi rst base scored Chris Jackson said he spoke with Bi- For me, I’m ready to battle him Taylor from third. Mike Moustakas tonio during the team’s off -day and try to help me improve the pulled the Brewers to within 4-3 on an Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal rounds the bases after hitting a walk-off two-run home run during the tenth inning on Tuesday, saying the fi fth-year most I can at tackle.” eighth-inning RBI double off Scott Al- against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports exander. Manny Pina tied it 4-4 when he followed with an RBI single. HAMELS WINS CUBS DEBUT on Kingham’s throwing error to make it JOEL BITONIO Moustakas kept the score level in the Left-hander Cole Hamels, making his RESULTS 3-0. Happ scored on Kyle Schwarber’s bottom of the eighth when he robbed Cubs debut, struck out nine and gave up infi eld hit. Pittsburgh scored in the bot- Taylor of a bases-loaded hit with a dive one unearned run in fi ve innings Wednes- Cubs 9-2 Pirates tom of the fi rst on Francisco Cervelli’s down the third base line. Christian Yelich day as Chicago clobbered the host Pitts- Dodgers 6-4 Brewers two-out RBI single after Jordan Luplow went 0-for-5 for the Brewers to end his burgh Pirates 9-2 to split a two-game A’s 8-3 Blue Jays reached on shortstop Addison Russell’s 15-game hitting streak. series. Willson Contreras hit his ninth error and Starling Marte singled. Nationals 5-3 Mets Dodgers starter Rich Hill gave up two homer for the Cubs, who pounded out 15 The Cubs added two more in the sec- runs (one earned) on six hits over six in- hits. Contreras, Jason Heyward and Ben Orioles 7-5 Yankees ond. Steven Brault walked both Happ and nings with four strikeouts and a walk. Zobrist each had three hits. Rays 7-2 Angeles Contreras with the bases loaded to make Brewers starter Chase Anderson re- Hamels (6-9) gave up three hits and Cardinals 6-3 Rockies it 6-1. tired the fi rst 12 batters he faced before walked two. Reliever Brandon Kintzler, In the third, plate umpire Chris Guc- giving up back-to-back homers. The also making his Cubs debut, gave up one Tigers 7-4 Reds cione left two batters after he got clocked right-hander gave up two runs on three hit in 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Indians 2-0 Twins in the mask by a Heyward foul tip. hits with six strikeouts and two walks Pittsburgh starter Nick Kingham (5- Astros 8-3 Mariners Pirates reliever Alex McCrae took over over six innings. Lorenzo Cain tormented 6) lasted one inning, giving up four runs in the fi fth in his major league debut. He the Dodgers early to give the Brewers a (two earned) and three hits with a walk Royals 10-5 White Sox gave up one run in three innings, on Riz- 2-0 lead. He hit a fi rst-inning triple and and a strikeout. He made 51 pitches. zo’s bases-loaded grounder in the sixth. scored when Dozier’s relay throw to third Chicago put together its four-run fi rst groundout. Javy Baez reached on second Contreras added a two-run homer to went out of play. He then scored from with the ball leaving the infi eld just once. baseman Sean Rodriguez’s error, bring- left in the eighth off Richard Rodriguez second base in the third inning on a wild Anthony Rizzo led off with a walk, ing home Zobrist. After Ian Happ was hit for a 9-1 lead. Pittsburgh’s Jose Osuna pitch, when Grandal couldn’t locate the went to third on Zobrist’s double to the by a pitch, Baez got hung up on an ill-ad- drove in a run on a fi elder’s choice in the ball quickly behind the plate. wall in right and scored on Heyward’s vised attempt to steal third, but he scored bottom of the eighth.

NBA Bucks sign Connaughton, reportedly waive Jennings Reuters ed wing player with a tremendous work averaged 14.1 points and 5.7 assists per PAT CONNAUGHTON Milwaukee ethic and great character,” Bucks general game. manager Jon Horst said in a statement. “We believe he will continue to grow and NOWITZKI RELISHES he Milwaukee Bucks have add- develop his skills working with Coach ‘UNBELIEVABLE’ 21ST SEASON ed another 3-point shooter by Bud and his staff . We are excited to wel- WITH DALLAS MAVERICKS signing free agent guard Pat come him to the Bucks organisation and Veteran basketball star Dirk Nowitzki Connaughton, the team an- we know he will be a positive addition to has admitted surprise at playing a 21st Tnounced Wednesday. our roster both on and off the court.” season with the Dallas Mavericks, an Connaughton’s deal is expected to be Connaughton was originally picked in NBA record spell with the same club. for two years with just the fi rst guaran- the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft “That is something special,” he told teed, according to the Milwaukee Journal by Brooklyn and traded in a draft night the Sport Bild magazine on Wednesday. Sentinel. deal to the Blazers along with Mason “I have always wondered at Kobe Bryant, In an additional move not offi cially an- Plumlee for Steve Blake and the draft who played 20 years with the LA Lakers. nounced by the team, Milwaukee placed rights to Rondae Hollis-Jeff erson. “Now I will have the 21st. That is un- point guard Brandon Jennings on waiv- Jennings, 28, shunned college out of believable.” ers, multiple outlets reported. Per the high school to play a season abroad in Italy The 40-year-old Nowitzki does not Journal Sentinel, Jennings’ contract faced before declaring for the 2009 NBA Draft, regret spending two decades in Texas, an Aug. 1 deadline to become guaranteed where the Bucks picked him in the fi rst nor the fact he is there for another sea- after he returned to the NBA for his ninth round (No. 10 overall). He averaged over son. “I do not care. I still enjoy the com- season following an abbreviated stint in 15 points in each of his fi rst fi ve seasons petition, the challenges and the team China that lasted just fi ve months. in the NBA despite surpassing 40 percent spirit,” said the German, NBA cham- The 25-year-old Connaughton ap- shooting only once in that span (2011-12). pion in 2011. “I want to help rebuild the peared in all 82 games for the Portland After four seasons with the Bucks, Mavs.” Trail Blazers last season, averaging ca- Jennings was traded to Detroit in July Dallas missed the play-off s in each reer-highs with 5.4 points and 2.0 re- 2013 and spent his next two-plus sea- of the last two years and Nowitzki ad- bounds per game while playing in 18.1 sons with the Pistons, who dealt him to mitted it would be “diffi cult” again this minutes per contest — the fi rst time in the Orlando Magic in Feb. 2016. After time. But “to reach them is our goal for his three-year career he surpassed 10 being a starting point guard for his fi rst the next season.” minutes per game in a season. six seasons, Jennings primarily came off After an ankle operation in April, His 3-point shooting percentage the bench the ensuing two seasons from Nowitzki is recovering well. “Every- dropped from 51.5 percent in 2016-17 to 2015-17 for the Pistons, Magic, New thing is going according to plan,” he said. 35.2 last season, albeit with much more York Knicks and Washington Wizards. “I expect to be top fi t again in the middle volume. For his career, Connaughton Late last season, Jennings returned to of September when the Mavs’ training has knocked down 36.4 percent of his the Bucks on a pair of 10-day deals be- camp begins.” 3-point attempts while averaging 3.7 fore inking a multi-year deal on April 1. The new NBA season begins at the end points and 1.6 rebounds. “Pat is a talent- For his nine-year career, Jennings has of October. Gulf Times 6 Friday, August 3, 2018 SPORT

BADMINTON SPOTLIGHT Eugene again to host US Olympic Trials ‘Proud’ Dan vows around the sport in the United Reuters Raleigh, North Carolina States, from marketing and promotions to operational effi- ciencies.” Eugene was selected he US track and fi eld tri- over Sacramento, California, als for the 2020 Tokyo and Austin, Texas for the com- Olympics will be held petition which are considered in the Eugene, Oregon the world’s top track and field to plough on aft er Tstadium being built for the 2021 meeting outside the Olympic world championships, offi cials and world championships. announced yesterday. Dates are The trials were originally June 19-28, 2020. awarded to Mt. San Antonio Col- The selection marks the fourth lege in southern California but consecutive time and seventh the USATF board in May reo- overall that the trials will be in pened the bidding, citing con- Eugene. However, it will be the cerns over litigation surrounding crushing defeat fi rst time that it will be staged at the construction of a new sta- the $200mn Hayward Field sta- dium there and possible delays. dium that will replace a nearly The college chose not to bid Champion Axelsen pulls through against 10th seed Angus Ng Ka-long of Hong Kong 100-year-old facility by the same again. name that has been the centre of Eight days of competition are AFP US athletics for decades. scheduled over 10 days with the , China More than 1,000 athletes are fi rst three fi nishers outside the expected to participate in the fi rst marathons selected for the July major competition in the stadium, 24-August 9 Tokyo Olympics in Dan said that he has no plans to which is scheduled for completion provided they have met qualify- retire after the Chinese badmin- in the spring of 2020. ing standards. ton legend’s bid for a sixth world “No domestic event is more im- The US marathon trials are set title met a sorry end yesterday in portant to athletes and fans than for February 29, 2020 in Atlanta. Lthe last 16. the Olympic Trials,” USA Track The driving force in bringing The 34-year-old ‘Super Dan’ was the and Field (USATF) Chairman of previous major meetings to Eu- most high-profi le casualty on a day when the Board Steve Miller said in a gene, Vin Lananna, last month men’s number one and reigning champi- statement. stepped down as president of on of Denmark and wom- “Having continuity in loca- TrackTown USA, the trials’ local en’s number one Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan tion as we move from the Ol- organisers, to devote more time both progressed into the quarter-fi nals of ympic Trials into 2021 will en- on the future of the sport in the the World Championships in Nanjing. hance and amplify everything United States. Lin, a two-time Olympic and fi ve-time world champion, may be reaching the end of his career but he remains the biggest draw in badminton. The crowd willed him on against his Tanzania pulls out of African higher-ranked compatriot Shi Yuqi, 22, athletics champs in Nigeria but Lin bowed out with a whimper, 21-15, 21-9. Tanzania have pulled out of which was due to have gotten Asked if he might now call it a day, Lin, the African Athletics Champi- under way on Wednesday, has the bad boy of badminton in his younger onships in Nigeria due to what seen more than 300 athletes days, said: “It’s been the same old ques- it called poor organisation and from 20 countries stranded tion ever since I played in the security concerns in the west for two days in Lagos, without World Championships in 2013 (when Lin African nation. flight connections to Asaba. won it). Tanzania was expected to Kenya, represented by 60 “This actually makes me feel proud. send five athletes to the athletes, also saw their travel Although I lost the match today, I’ll dis- biennial championships in the plans aff ected with pictures cuss with my team to see what I could China’s Lin Dan hits a shot against compatriot Shi Yuqi during their badminton World Championships men’s singles match in southern city of Asaba, but shown of athletes and off icials learn from it and hopefully improve my Nanjing, China, yesterday. (AFP) off icials said they were dissat- sleeping rough at Lagos world rankings in the following tourna- isfied with the poor travelling airport. ments this year. Having a good grasp of Mandarin helps Axelsen won the fi rst game 21-19, then recovered from a slow start to book her plans to the event, as well as Kenyan off icials said the “This is my 11th World Championships in a sport where many players are Chinese he and Ng went toe-to-toe in the second, place in the last eight and a clash with the threat of insecurity from team were to travel to Asaba and I will continue to fi ght as long as I still or of Chinese descent. before the Dane prevailed 21-18. China’s sixth seed . extremist groups in the region. yesterday for the rescheduled have the capability and time.” Axelsen has been learning for about He celebrated with a swing of his fi st. Tai was behind in the opening ex- The lead-up to the event, championships. The 24-year-old Axelsen pulled four years and can give interviews in the “It meant a lot. Sometimes when changes against Zhang Beiwen, the Chi- through against 10th seed Angus Ng Ka- language. you feel like you are not at your highest nese-born American who needed inter- long of Hong Kong and will play Chi- He has even taken to translating for his level, you also have to be able to win,” net crowd funding to make it to Nanjing. na’s Olympic champion Chen Long in a rivals and he can also listen in on the tac- he said. But the 24-year-old Tai’s quality shone FOCUS mouthwatering showdown today. tics of his Chinese opponents. “I struggled a little bit to win it and through, winning 21-19, 21-14 in 34 min- Axelsen admitted that he was not at “It really helps me communicate with that’s why I showed some emotions out utes. his best — so it helped that he was able to my Chinese fans and I really appreciate all there today,” he added, before passing a In the pick of the other women’s quar- draw on the crowd, who have taken to the the support out here,” he told AFP. couple of Chinese players and exchang- ter-fi nals, India’s , a former Lauda undergoes Dane partly because of his eff orts to learn “Having the Chinese fans yelling your ing pleasantries — in Chinese. number one, faces current Olympic Mandarin. name, I really appreciate that.” In the women’s draw, hot favourite Tai champion Carolina Marin of Spain. lung transplant India’s Saina, Sindhu, Praneeth in quarters AFP Crowned world champion Vienna for the fi rst time in 1975, Lauda cheated death the following year IANS eighth consecutive time. second game 18-21. of Denmark 21-13, 21-11 in 39 minutes. in a horror crash at the German Nanjing, China Third seeded Sindhu followed Nehwal’s In the quarter-finals today, Nehwal and In the quarter-finals, Praneeth will take hree-time Formula One Grand Prix at the Nurburgring path to the last eight round after moving Sindhu will meet Spanish seventh seed on Japanese rising star , world champion Niki which left him with severe burns. past South Korean ninth seed Sung ji Carolina Marin and defending cham- who defeated Denmark’s 16th seed Lauda has undergone a Despite that, he would still ndia’s Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, B Sai Hyun 21-10, 21-18 in 42 minutes. pion respectively. 13-21, 21-17, 21-8. lung transplant follow- capture further world titles in Ting an infection picked up on 1977 and 1984. Praneeth and the mixed doubles pair Sindhu caught a brilliant start, going While two-time world champion Marin In the mixed doubles, unseeded mixed Iof and Ash- 9-1 up in no time. Even though Sung defeated 15th seed of Japan doubles pair of Satwik and Ashwini up- vacation, Vienna’s general hos- Lauda, who also required kid- wini Ponnappa advanced to the quarter- improved her game after the mid-game 21-7, 21-13 in the third round, Okhuhara set Malaysian seventh seeds Goh Soon pital announced yesterday. “The ney transplants in 1997 and 2005, finals, while Kidambi Srikanth suff ered interval, Sindhu held an 18-8 lead before got past 21-18, 22-20. Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai 20-22, 21-14, transplant was successfully car- is the father of four children from an upset in the pre-quarter-finals of the pocketing the game 21-10. In the men’s singles, world No.39 Daren 21-6 in 59 minutes. ried out,” said a brief statement two marriages — Lukas (39), Badminton World Championships here In the second game, Sung looked deter- Liew of Malaysian upset fifth-seeded In the quarter-finals, Satwik-Ashwini will from the hospital. Mathias (37) and eight-year-old yesterday. Nehwal defeated Thai fourth- mined, opening up a 9-2 lead. But Sindhu Srikanth 18-21, 18-21 in 41 minutes. run into Chinese top seeds Lauda, 69, had cut short his twins Max and Mia. Lauda, who seed 21-16, 21-19 in slowly picked momentum and equalised However, world No.26 B. Sai Praneeth and , who overcame vacation in Ibiza last week and is still heavily involved in Formula 47 minutes to enter the women’s singles at the 13-point mark before leading 18-15. brought cheers to the Indian camp by Indonesian 12th seeds and returned to Vienna after devel- One as non-executive president of quarter-finals for a championship record Sung continued to slide as she lost the defeating No.23 Hans-Kristian Vittinghus 21-15, 21-13. oping a lung infection, the Os- world champions Mercedes, also terreich newspaper reported. once founded his own airline.

BOTTOMLINE Olympic champs to light up European Championships

Reuters Glasgow New multi-sport event launched in Glasgow

n impressive cast headed by tri- Reuters ple Olympic champion Katinka Glasgow Hosszu and four other Rio de Janeiro gold medallists will give theA swimming programme, which starts he inaugural multi-sport today, a quality feel at the inaugural European Championships multi-sport European Championships in Twere launched in Glasgow Glasgow. yesterday when the preliminaries of Hosszu, Hungary’s ‘Iron Lady’ who the rowing and gymnastics events won three golds and a silver in Rio, is out kicked off 11 days of action in Scot- to underline her place as one of the great- land and Germany. est all-round swimmers in history after For the first time, the continental a turbulent year in which she separated championships for six diff erent from her husband and coach, Shane Tu- sports — aquatics, gymnastics, sup. Berlin in 2014. 100m butterfl y victor Sarah Sjoestrom, cycling, rowing, triathlon and a The 29-year-old will compete in the The 23-year-old’s breaststroke invin- and Denmark’s Pernille Blume, who new team golf event — are all being 100 and 200 metres backstroke and the cibility was ended by his fi rst defeat in landed the unoffi cial title of world’s fast- clustered together in and around 200m individual medley as she seeks to four years at the Commonwealth Games est woman with her 50m freestyle victory the same host city, Glasgow. take her remarkable tally of European in April, beaten by South African Cam- in Rio. The only exception will be the golds to 30 in both long course and short eron van der Burgh over 50 metres, but It is a decade since the all-conquering athletics championships which course championships. Peaty, who will compete in four events, Sjoestrom made a sensational European start next week in Berlin, but which The Hungarian, who has won the 200m feels he has only grown stronger from the Championship debut at 14, taking the will still come under the same new individual medley at the last four Euro- experience. 100m butterfl y title in Eindhoven, but European Championships umbrella. pean championships, prompted surprise “It’s almost like a new lease on swim- the memory of the win that launched her The first of the 4,500 athletes by opting not to defend her 400m medley ming for me, a new lease on my career, a stellar career still warms her. competing at the event, which is in- The qualification for the women’s drome, named after Scotland’s most title in Glasgow. new lease on me in myself,” said Peaty. “I can’t believe 10 years have gone so tended to instil the sort of one-city, gymnastics team event was also be- successful Olympian. The home crowd will be counting on “Ever since then I’ve trained and been so quick. It’s amazing that I am still here and multi-sport vibe felt at an Olympic ing staged at the SSE Hydro arena The first of 188 gold medals on off er British Olympic champion Adam Peaty, much happier, so much better.” I have improved my swimming so much Games, were Europe’s top rowers at while the track cycling champion- will be awarded today in swimming, who goes in the 100 metres breaststroke The other reigning Olympic champi- more than I could ever imagine,” said the Strathclyde Country Park 15 miles ships were due to begin yesterday synchronised swimming, track heats today, to add to the eight European ons in action will be Italy’s 1,500 metres woman who has gone on to annex 18 Olym- outside the city. evening at the Sir Chris Hoy Velo- cycling and rowing. golds he won in London two years ago and winner Gregorio Paltrinieri, Sweden’s pic, world and European long course titles. Gulf Times Friday, August 3, 2018 7 SPORT

HORSE RACING Qatar win gold at World Youth Championship Qatar national team player Ghanem Abu Jassum won gold at the 2018 World Youth Bowling Championship in the United States. Jassum collected 1428 points in singles and 1360 points in team event, which enabled him to take first place in the overall ranking of participants in the tournament, which includes the best 132 youth players in the world representing 36 countries. Qatar Bowling Federation president Abdulla Hassan praised the results achieved by the Qatari team in this Moore picks up tournament. He thanked the technical and administrative bodies of the team and the committee of the national teams under the chair- manship of Abdullah Sultan al-Qattan for their eff orts in preparing the team for the World Youth Championship. He also wished them success in teams competition after qualifying for the golden box where Qatar play today. third win at Qatar Qatar team book place in Arab table tennis fi nal

Qatar U-21 team confidently reached the final stage of the Arab Table Tennis Championship 2018 after defeating Bahrain in the semi-finals in Cairo on Wednesday. Qatar team will face their Egyptian counter- parts in the title clash. The prestigious event brought together 17 Arab nations including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, Palestine, Sudan, Iraq, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Lebanon and hosts Egypt. Around Goodwood Festival 386 players are competing across five diff erent categories — Under-21, After victories on Al Shaqab’s Watan and Medahim, Moore wins with Land Force Under-18 and Under-15 years. Outstanding results for Qatar chess in Biel By Our Correspondent London QREC chairman hails Qatar Racing, Al Shaqab wins Qatar Chess team achieved impressive results during their participation in Biel International Chess Festival in Switzerland. Salih al-Hor finished yan Moore recorded his third By Our Correspondent second in the Under-18 rapid chess category. Al-Hor won six and a half victory of the 2018 Qatar Good- London points, and finished ninth place from among 150 players, which led him wood Festival, even as Wild Il- to get 300 points in the international classification. For his part, Ghanem lusion landed her second top- al-Shamari got five and a half points in the Masters category, while gradeR victory when winning the Qatar atar Racing and Mohamed Nasser al-Sayed got five points, and Husain Aziz succeeded Nassau Stakes (Gr1) on day three of the Equestrian Club to collect four points. Qatar Chess Association chairman Mohamed al- Qatar Goodwood Festival yesterday. Q(QREC) chairman Medaihki expressed great satisfaction with the results, pointing out that Moore, who tasted victory earlier this Issa bin Mohamed al- the participation was part of preparations for the World Olympiad. week aboard Al Shaqab Racing-owned Mohannadi hailed the Qatar duo Watan (Nginious! Swiss Gin EBF Racing-owned Lightning Maiden) and Medahim (Goodwood Race- Spear victory in the Qatar Al Sailiya to take on Erem in AFC club futsal horse Owners Group Handicap), won Sussex Stakes (Gr1) at the with Land Force in the Qatar Richmond Qatar Goodwood Festival on Qatar’s Al Sailiya will take on FC Erem of Kyrgyzstan in their 2018 AFC Stakes (Gr2) over six furlongs. Wednesday. Club Futsal Championship opener in Jakarta, Indonesia. Al Sailiya will Land Force was always prominent and He stated that winning such play in group C alongside Bluewave Chonburi of Thailand, Vic Vipers of took the lead at the two-furlong pole. a Group 1 title enhances the Australia and Erem of Kyrgyzstan. The line-up of Al Sailiya includes Abdul- The two-year-old son of No Nay Never standing of Qatar’s horserac- lah Salim al-Yafai, Abdulrahman al-Hamadi, Hazem Sami, Saad Bilal, Saad knuckled down well under Moore in the ing worldwide. al-Mohannadi, Maoro Silva, Mohamed Safari, Saoud al-Motawa, Ibrahim closing stages to fend off all challengers “Qatar Racing’s win is a al-Yafai, Hadi al-Beraidi, Abdulrahman Qahtan and Hamad Muftah. and score a shade cosily by a length from victory for Qatar in general Mark Johnston’s Marie’s Diamond in sec- and it serves as a motiva- ond. tion for other studs, such SPOTLIGHT “Land Force is a very fast horse and got as Al Shaqab, Al Shahania away well. To be honest, I was in the lead and Umm Qarn, to maintain long enough. I was left there at the two, their presence in this race which is a bit too soon for him, but when I in future, especially as it is Sheikh Joaan got stuck into him, he was very game and one of the most coveted kept responding,” Moore said. races worldwide and the “He ran a very good race in the Norfolk. most prestigious of the supports Qatar’s We felt six furlongs would suit him. He is Qatar Goodwood Festival,” a very fast horse with a marvellous atti- al-Mohannadi said. tude. He does not need to go any further Despite a huge Thorough- Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club chairman Issa al-Mohannadi (left) with Duke of Richmond. equestrian sport, than six.” bred victory in the bag, Wild Illusion, dropping back to a mile al-Mohannadi said QREC bian races were organised guaranteed if we had such landed the Qatar Sussex and a quarter, was taking on older rivals is committed to Purebred during the Arc weekend, but races in Doha. Stakes. Al Shaqab’s return says QEF president for the fi rst time. Charlie Appleby’s ward Arabians. Qatar, in agreement with “In addition, if we assist the has also been impressive made all the running under William Buick “Our attention to Purebred France Galop, has intro- horse connections to bring with two wins so far — Watan before beating Urban Fox by two lengths, Arabians in Qatar-sponsored duced this race. We have a their top horses to run in and Medahim. By Our Correspondent with Veracious a short-head back in events means a high quality clear commitment towards Doha, the cost will be higher “Watan’s win is very special London third. race for Purebred Arabians Purebred Arabian racing and than having the races run in as he was bred by Al Shaqab In the day’s fi rst race, Mark Johnston- has been organised since horses as they represent a England or France. Organis- and this reflects HE Sheikh trained Communique won the £75,000 the very first year of our main part of Qatar’s heritage ing a race for Arabians at Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani’s atar Equestrian Fed- Matchbook Best Value Exchange Handicap. partnership with Goodwood. in the equestrian world. events of high calibre such support to the breeding eration president Ha- Ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, Com- This year’s renewal of the “Some people ask why do as the Qatar Goodwood operation. mad bin Abdulrah- munique beat Zaman and Global Giant by Qatar International Stakes we not organise world-class Festival or the Qatar Prix de “I would like also to take man al-Attiyah said one and a half lengths and a short head. theQ presence of HE Sheikh Joaan had a top quality field, who Arabian races in Doha in- l’Arc de Triomphe ensures this opportunity to thank Johnston, who has been leading trainer between them had won 11 stead of having them run at a huge turnout of viewers, HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Hamad al-Thani at the Qatar at the Qatar Goodwood Festival on 11 occa- Group ones and 23 Pattern festivals overseas,” said al- which cannot happen not al-Thani for his presence Goodwood Festival is symbolic sions, said: “After he won at Newbury ear- races. Such top quality run- Mohannadi. “My reply is that only in Qatar, but also in any during the first two days of of his support for Qatar’s eques- lier this season we might have thought he ners confirm that QREC’s participation in Purebred other Arab country where the Festival and to HE Yousef trian sport and to the organisers would be moving on to even bigger things, strategy of supporting Ara- Arabian races sponsored international Arabian races bin Ali al-Khater, Qatar’s of the prestigious event. but he had a couple of slightly disappoint- bian racing all over the world by Qatar, at Goodwood and are held.” ambassador to the United “One edition after another, ing runs when things didn’t go his way, and has been successful. Arc, is of top-level in terms Speaking about the results Kingdom. I think the large it only gets more confi rmed they went very much his way today. “Then we have the Qatar of quantity, quality and glo- recorded by Qatar’s horses scale Qatari presence is a that the vision of the offi cials in Pilaster survived a stewards’ enquiry Arabian World Cup during bal standing of the runners. so far at Goodwood, al- huge gain, which should be sponsoring this prestigious Fes- to triumph in the 14-furlong Qatar Lillie the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Such number of high-quality Mohannadi said, “We have maintained, especially in tival has been far-sighted,” said Langtry Stakes (Gr2). Triomphe weekend. Before runners and world-class seen excellence of Qatar such a high-profile event.” al-Attiyah. Trained by Roger Varian and ridden by Qatar’s sponsorship, no Ara- champions would not be Racing when Lightning Spear “In fact, the Festival has be- David Egan, the three-year-old engaged come one of the best horseracing “In addition, Qatar Racing’s in a thrilling battle in the closing stages festivals in the United Kingdom. win of Qatar Sussex Stakes adds with Maid Up, partnered by Rob Hornby. Handicap. ing the Markel Insurance British EBF captured the concluding race on day The rates of participation and value to Qatar’s equestrian sport Pilaster responded willingly to Egan’s Ridden by Paul Hanagan, the two- Fillies’ Maiden on Johnston-trained Ac- three, the Tatler Handicap over fi ve fur- turnout increases by the day, and horse racing worldwide, par- urgings to regain the lead close home and year-old son of Dutch Art ran on strongly cordance. longs, his third successive victory. which is in turn in favour of the ticularly as that race is one of the score by a short-head. on the far-side rail to score by a length Accordance beat Rux Power by three- The three-year-old son of Zebedee ran Festival. And Qatar has chosen toughest for Thoroughbreds in Richard Fahey-trained More Than This and a half in the seven-furlong contest. quarters of a length, with Lady Cosette a on gamely to deny the sustained chal- to sponsor the event in order to the world. maintained his unbeaten record with a Jockey PJ McDonald rode his second further neck behind in third. lenge of Marnie James to score by a neck. attain more success for Qatar’s “I would like also to thank all game success in the Telegraph Nursery winner at this year’s edition when land- John Quinn-trained Lord Riddiford equestrian sport. the sponsors who have partnered “I would like to congratulate us and the offi cials of Goodwood HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al- Racecourse for their co-opera- Thani for victories of Medahim tion and commitment to attain BOTTOMLINE and Watan. In fact, Al Shaqab is the highest levels of organisa- very distinguished in these type tion,” said al-Attiyah. of races. Aspetar experts provide tips for cyclists to achieve optimum performance in extreme conditions GOLF Woods-Mickelson By Sports Reporter the risk of heat illness is to train elite-level cycling, Aspetar ex- rate are developed for each It is advisable to minimise Doha in conditions that are similar to perts say races of shorter dura- athlete to prevent body mass unnecessary heat exposure the upcoming competition. tion (under 20 min) are less af- losses exceeding 2-3 percent. and heat gain. Cyclists should showdown set for Dr Sebastien Racinais, Re- fected by conditions of high heat Sodium (salt) supplementa- therefore warm-up in the his summer, profes- search Scientist and Head of and/or humidity. However, a tion during exercise is recom- shade prior to racing if possi- sional male and female Athlete Health and Perform- very long and intense warm-up mended for heavy and ‘salty’ ble. They might also consider November: report cyclists will participate ance at Aspetar, said, “Even can infl uence performance dur- sweaters who may deliberately external (ice-vests, cold tow- in almost 30 interna- when the time trial lasted for ing a subsequent event. increase sodium intake prior els, or fanning) and internal AFP the exact purse was still being Ttional cycling events happen- less than 50 minutes and the If it’s not possible to train in to and following hot-weather (cold fl uid or ice slurry inges- worked out. Los Angeles ing across the globe. road race for more than three the same environment as the training and racing. tion) precooling methods. “Phil and I are friends and we Aspetar, the orthopaedic hours, the body temperature upcoming competition, most During exercise lasting Cyclists should protect their are always trying to make each and sports medicine hospi- in the time trial was higher be- adaptations can be acquired longer than an hour, athletes eyes by wearing UV-ray block- he big-money one-on- other uncomfortable and needle tal in Qatar, helps athletes cause of higher power output.” by artifi cially simulating heat should add electrolyte tablets ing sun-glasses with a dark one showdown between each other,” Woods said. achieve optimum performance Speaking of the 2016 UCI or minimising heat dissipation or the equivalent of a pinch tint and their skin by using Tiger Woods and Phil Between them, the two Amer- by studying such races and Road World Championship in (e.g. no cooling fan) during in- of salt to water, especially for non-greasy sun-screen. Light- Mickelson is on for No- icans have won 19 major cham- distributing ground-breaking Doha, for which Aspetar pro- door training. athletes experiencing muscle ly coloured clothing can also Tvember, ESPN reported yesterday. pionships — Woods with 14 to statistics and research. vided medical cover as the of- Suffi cient hydration prior to cramping. It is also advisable minimise the eff ect of the sun’s The US sports broadcaster, cit- Mickelson’s fi ve. Based on its latest research fi cial medical partner, Dr Raci- and during exercise and during to consume 30-60 grams/hour radiation, but clothing should ing unnamed sources, said the Mickelson said at the Play- fi ndings, Aspetar has revealed nais said, “Aspetar was the fi rst recovery is important for ath- of carbohydrates for exercise not impair sweat evaporation. made-for-TV exhibition that’s ers Championship in July that a that cyclists reach higher tem- to monitor body temperature letes of all levels to ensure their lasting longer than one hour It is recommended that young been in the works for some months $10mn prize would be enough peratures during individual during a World Championship safety in the heat. and up to 90 grams/hour for and female athletes pay particu- will be held at Shadow Creek Golf to put both players “out of our time trials as compared to road in Doha, and we used cutting- Simple techniques such as events lasting over 2.5 hours. lar attention to their hydration Course in Las Vegas over the US comfort zone”. races. The best way to prepare edge technology. Riders swal- measuring body weight before Recovery drinks should in- status and heat acclimatisa- Thanksgiving holiday weekend — At Carnoustie, Masters cham- for this eventuality is to accli- lowed a miniature ingestible and after exercise or evaluating clude sodium, carbohydrates tion strategy. This is because either November 23 or 24. pion Patrick Reed said it would matise to heat. pill that weighs only 1.7 grams. urine colour can help athletes and protein to optimise recov- females have lower sweat rates Woods said at the British Open be even more interesting if the Some degrees of heat ac- After the race, we go to the rid- assess fl uid loss through swea- ery. The preferred method of than males during high inten- in Carnoustie in July that he and prize money on off er was being climatisation are obtained by er with a receiver the same size ting to estimate their hydration rehydration is through con- sity exercise in the heat and may Mickelson were “still working” put up by the contestants them- regular training, even in cooler as a smartphone to download needs. sumption of fl uids with foods, reach greater core temperatures on the details of the contest, selves. “Of course, that is what conditions. However, the most all of the body temperature During exercise, it is recom- including salty food. in a shorter time period, putting originally reported to be an 18- Patrick would like to see and it eff ective method for increasing data and analyse it.” mended that personalised hy- Countermeasures before them at greater risk of develop- hole “winner-takes-all” show- would be good of him to put up performance and minimising Based on its research into dration regimes based on sweat racing or cycling in the heat ing heat illness. down worth $10mn. that money,” a laughing Woods ESPN reported yesterday that said of that suggestion.

Friday, August 3, 2018 GULF TIMES SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Root laughs off Kohli’s run out send-off AFP by blowing kisses in the direction which is exactly what you want in Birmingham, United Kingdom of Root and putting his fi nger to Test cricket.” his lips. He also did the ‘mic drop’ As for the run-out itself, the gesture in imitation of Root’s cel- England skipper refused to blame ngland captain Joe Root ebration of his one-day series- Bairstow. “It was one of those said the controversial clinching hundred against India things in the heat of the mo- send-off he received at Headingley. ment,” he said. “You want to try from India skipper Virat Meanwhile the words Kohli and pinch as many runs as possi- KohliE after being run out on the appeared to utter in Root’s direc- ble. You hear a call and you trust opening day of the fi rst Test at tion after the run out could yet your mate. It’s human error, it Edgbaston was ‘quite funny’ and lead to action by match referee happens unfortunately, but Jon- added to the ‘theatre of the game’. Jeff Crowe, the former New Zea- ny was kind enough to give me a England had been well-placed land captain. “I didn’t see it at lift into the ground this morn- at 216 for three, with Root seem- the time but I saw it last night,” ing. I could have said no, there’s ingly on course to score a fi rst Root told BBC Radio’s Test Match no hard feelings, we’ve just got to Test century since his 136 against Special in an interview broadcast move on with it. the West Indies during last year’s yesterday. “It was a disappointing last day/night clash at Edgbaston. “It actually adds to the thea- session, but for the majority of But his 11th Test fi fty without a tre of the game. It’s good to have the day, we played some really hundred since that innings end- those little moments within good cricket. And that’s what ed in frustrating fashion when, things. I thought it was quite we’ve got to take into today. It with Yorkshire teammate Jonny funny. I’m sure within the fi ve- was a surface that actually did Bairstow calling him for a tight match series there will be plenty a bit all day, There was seam second run, he was run out for 80 of that stuff going on. It adds to movement at the back end of the by Kohli’s direct hit from mid- the whole drama of this series.” day, and that fi lls our bowlers wicket. Asked if Kohli’s celebration with confi dence.” It was also the fi nish of a stand would fi re England up, Root re- England’s fi rst innings lasted worth 104 and the start of a col- plied: “We’ll have to wait and see. just 10 balls into yesterday’s sec- lapse that saw England lose six I can’t see it becoming an issue ond day, with the hosts adding a wickets for 67 runs on the way throughout this game or moving mere two runs before they were to a stumps score of 285 for nine. forward. But it makes entertain- dismissed for 287 in what is their Kohli rubbed salt into the wound ing cricket for everyone to watch, 1,000th Test.

FIRST TEST TENNIS Stephens Brilliant Kohli hundred stunned by Petkovic

Reuters leads India recovery Los Angeles loane Stephens’ prepa- rations for her US Open ‘It was a eye-opener watching the way Kohli bats and how precise you’ve got to be with your lengths to him’ title defence suff ered a setback on Wednesday whenS she was shocked 2-6, 6-4, AFP Birmingham, United Kingdom Scorecard 6-2 by German Andrea Petkovic in the second round of the Citi ENGLAND I INNINGS (OVERNIGHT: 285-9) Open. The second seed’s exit left ndia captain Virat Kohli made S. Curran c Karthik b Shami 24 the tournament without its two Dawid Malan pay for dropping him J. Anderson not out 2 main drawcards after Caroline twice with a maiden Test century Wozniacki pulled out on Tues- in England as the tourists bounced Extras (b9, lb4) 13 day with a leg injury. Iback in the series opener at Edgbaston Total (all out, 89.4 overs, 393 mins) 287 Petkovic will next play either yesterday. India were in danger of con- Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Cook), 2-98 Swiss sixth seed Belinda Bencic ceding a fi rst-innings lead of more than (Jennings), 3-112 (Malan), 4-216 (Root), or Japan’s Nao Hibino. Ameri- a hundred runs at 182 for eight. But 5-223 (Bairstow), 6-224 (Buttler), 7-243 can Jennifer Brady cruised to a Kohli’s superb 149 took India to 274 all (Stokes), 8-278 (Rashid), 9-283 (Broad), 6-1 6-4 win over Russian Nata- out, just 13 runs adrift of England’s 287. 10-287 (Curran) lia Vikhlyantseva and will face Then with what became the last ball eighth-seeded Kazakh Yulia of the second day’s play, off -spinner Bowling: Yadav 17-2-56-1; Sharma 17-1- Putintseva in the second round. Ravichandran Ashwin bowled Alastair 46-1; Ashwin 26-7-62-4; Shami 19.4-2-64- China’s Zheng Saisai defeated Cook for a duck with a brilliant deliv- 3; Pandya 10-1-46-0 19-year-old Brit Katie Swan ery that drew the batsman forward, 6-2 6-4 and Magda Linette of pitched on middle stump and turned to INDIA I Innings Poland dispatched Australian hit the left-hander’s off pole. Olivia Rogowska 6-4 6-1 to set M. Vijay lbw b Curran 20 It was the second time in the match up second-round showdown that Ashwin had dismissed Cook, Eng- S. Dhawan c Malan b Curran 26 with third-seeded Indian Wells land’s all-time leading Test run-scorer, KL Rahul b Curran 4 champion Naomi Osaka. this way. England were nine for one at V. Kohli c Broad b Rashid 149 the close, a lead of 22 runs. But it might KONTA CRUISES PAST have been a diff erent story had not Ma- A. Rahane c Jennings b Stokes 15 KENIN IN SAN JOSE lan dropped Kohli in the slips off James D. Karthik b Stokes 0 A day after handing Serena Wil- Anderson and Ben Stokes when the star H. Pandya lbw b Curran 22 liams the worst loss of her career, batsman was on 21 and 51. Britain’s Johanna Konta contin- India batting coach Sanjay Bangar R. Ashwin b Anderson 10 ued her dominance over Ameri- praised Kohli’s innings. “At one stage M. Shami c Malan b Anderson 2 can competition with a 6-1, we were staring down the barrel, and I. Sharma lbw b Rashid 5 6-4 dismantling of Sofi a Kenin the gap was huge, but because of his at the Silicon Valley Classic on brilliance, and the commitment shown U. Yadav not out 1 Wednesday. by the batsmen around him, it’s still Extras (b4, lb11, nb4, w1) 20 Konta, a champion at the even stevens for both sides. He showed Total (all out, 76 overs, 360 mins) 274 tournament two years ago, will terrifi c discipline, I felt. At no instance face fourth seed Elise Mertens Fall of wickets: 1-50 (Vijay), 2-54 did he reach out for the ball,” said Ban- in the quarter-fi nals after the (Rahul), 3-59 (Dhawan), 4-100 (Rahane), gar, a former India batsman. 22-year-old Belgian cruised to 5-100 (Karthik), 6-148 (Pandya), 7-169 It looked as if the day might belong a 6-2 6-0 win over American (Ashwin), 8-182 (Shami), 9-217 (Sharma), to Surrey left-arm swing bowler Sam Ashley Kratzer. Earlier in the 10-274 (Kohli) Curran. In just his second match at this day top seed Garbine Muguruza level, the 20-year-old removed India’s Bowling: Anderson 22-7-41-2; Broad withdrew prior to her hotly-an- top order with a spell of three for eight 10-2-40-0 (3nb); Curran 17-1-74-4 (1w); ticipated second-round match in eight balls en route to Test-best fi g- Rashid 8-0-31-2; Stokes 19-4-73-2 (1nb) against former world number ures of four for 74 in 17 overs. “Person- one Belarusian Victoria Aza- ally, it was obviously a pretty special ENGLAND II Innings renka due to injury. Azarenka day for me with the ball,” said Curran. instead faced tournament lucky A son of the late Zimbabwe all- A. Cook b Ashwin 0 loser Anna Blinkova and need- rounder Kevin Curran and brother of K. Jennings not out 5 ed less than an hour to com- England paceman Tom, he added it Extras (b4) 4 plete a 6-1 6-0 thrashing of the had been an education to bowl to Kohli. 19-year-old Russian. “Credit to a great innings there,” said Total (1 wkt, 3.4 overs, 12 mins) 9 Curran. “I’m only in my second game, Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Cook) NO. 3 ZVEREV FACES but I think it was a little eye-opener Bowling: Shami 2-2-0-0; Ashwin BROTHER MISCHA watching the way he (Kohli) bats and 1.4-0-5-1; World number three Alexander how precise you’ve got to be with your Zverev spent years playing his lengths (to him).” Match position: England lead by 22 older brother Mischa in back- Kohli was on 97 when No 11 Umesh runs with nine second-innings wickets yard childhood tennis matches Yadav came in but the tailender kept standing and lost most of the time. Now his wicket intact. A late cut four off the Zverev brothers are both ATP Stokes, his 14th boundary in 172 balls, players and after fi ve years to- saw Kohli to his 22nd Test hundred. gether on the tour will meet for The 29-year-old then struck several the fi rst time in an ATP singles stylish attacking shots, including a match at the Washington Open. classic cover-drive for four off Stokes Defending champion Alexan- and a lofted six off leg-spinner Adil der, 21, ousted Tunisia’s Malek Rashid. India’s captain Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring a century on the second day of the first Test against England at Jaziri 6-2, 6-1 while Mischa, who And when a two off Rashid toook him Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, yesterday. (AFP) turns 31 later this month, beat to 135, it meant Kohli had made more American Tim Smyczek 6-2, 7-6 runs than he did in the whole of his Broad at backward point. on review. Two balls later Curran dis- own, with Malan reprieving Kohli off (9/7) to book the third-round af- maiden Test series in England in 2014, He batted for nearly fi ve hours and missed KL Rahul via a fl at-bat drag- Anderson. The next ball, the fi rst of a fair. Former world number one when he managed a meagre 134 runs in faced 225 balls, including 22 fours and on. Left-hander Shikhar Dhawan new over, saw Hardik Pandya dropped Andy Murray took another big 10 innings. a six. Kohli also farmed the strike bril- (26) nicked a well-directed Curran on nought when Cook fl oored a rou- step in his comeback from hip Kohli, whose run out of opposing liantly during a tenth-wicket stand of outswinger to Malan at second slip. tine fi rst-slip chance off all-rounder surgery by beating fellow Brit captain Joe Root sparked a dramatic 57 with Yadav, who faced 16 balls for his India have long been criticised for Stokes. Soon after Kohli completed his Kyle Edmund 7-6(4) 1-6 6-4 in fi rst-innings collapse by England, unbeaten one. their poor close catching but Eng- fi fty he was dropped again by Malan, England’s Sam Curran picked up the second round. Nick Kyrgios playing their 1,000th Test, was even- Earlier, Curran’s wicket-taking burst land, with the tourists still on 100 for with Stokes once more the unlucky four wickets. (AFP) withdrew from the tournament tually out when he cut Rashid to Stuart began when Murali Vijay (20) was lbw fi ve, dropped two slip chances of their bowler. with a hip injury.