SPORT Wednesday 12 April 2017 PAGE | 28 PAGE | 29 PAGE | 31 Garcia no favourite US, Mexico and Canadada Bolt inspired me to for US Open, despite in joint bid for break world record, Masters triumph 2026 World Cup says Van Niekerk Qatar Cross-Country Rally 2017 Al Attiyah, Quintanilla to lead star Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) announces the strongest ever entry list for the event. The entry cast at Qatar's Cross Country Rally list includes 33 cars, 14 motorcycles and six quads. The Peninsula lead at last week’s Abu Dhabi Rashid Al Muhannadi, Khalid efforts of staff at the QMMF have Desert Challenge, faces fierce Faraj Al Mohannadi, Abdulla Al been rewarded by such a quality atar's multi-talented competition from a fleet of four Rabban, Jamal Fakhroo and international entry for this year’s racing star, defending X-raid-built Minis, driven by Rus- Mohammed Al Meer. Qatar Cross-Country Rally,” said FIA World Cup cham- sian Vladimir Vasilyev, Saudi Eight of the world’s leading QMMF President Abdulrahman Al pion and two-time Arabia’s Yazeed Al Rajhi, Poland’s off-road riders, who dominated Mannai. QDakar winner Nasser Jakub Przygonski and fellow last week’s Abu Dhabi Desert “We have strength in depth Saleh Al Attiyah will be looking to Qatari driver Mohammed Abu Challenge, will also be present in across all three categories and impress on home soil when the Issa. Qatar. The Red Bull KTM Factory some of the world’s top stars in Qatar Cross Country Rally will be Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, the Team fields Dakar winner and the sport will take part in the rally held from April 17 to 22. comfortable leader of this year’s FIM series leader Sam Sunder- for the first time.” The Qatar Motor and Motor- FIA World Cup - after becoming land, Austria’s Matthias Walkner The QMMF is also running a cycle Federation (QMMF) on the first Emirati since 1992 to win and Frenchman Antoine Meo. National Baja behind the inter- Monday announced the strongest the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Pablo Quintanilla and Pierre national event, in which the ever entry list received for the - will make his first appearance Alexandre Renet ride the two competitors will tackle a new event. at the event. His entry also marks Rockstar Energy Husqvarnas and 5.54km super special stage in The rally is also the fourth the first time a factory-specifica- Paulo Gonçalves and Kevin Bena- the Losail area next on April 18. round of FIA World Cup for Cross tion Peugeot has competed in vides are entered by the Monster The purpose-built track has been Country Rallies and round two of Qatar. Energy Honda team. Emirati designed within the confines of the FIM Cross Country Rallies Adding spice to a truly qual- Mohammed Al Balooshi and local the Losail motocross premises World Championship. ity field of drivers are the likes of rider Ahmed Al Kuwari represent and offers free access to The entry list outlined a qual- the experienced Czech Miroslav the GCC region. spectators. ity field of 33 cars, 14 motorcycles Zapletal, fellow countryman Mar- Poland’s Rafal Sonik endured The action on the first of four Qatar’s Nasser bin Saleh and six quads, with competitors tin Prokop, former FIA World Cup a disappointing ride in Abu Dhabi selective sections (334.08km) Al Attiyah is seen in from a staggering 26 nations and leader Aron Domzala, South Afri- last week, but the Pole head a through the desert gets under- action during the final many of the world’s leading stars ca’s Leeroy Poulter and Dutchman quad entry that includes Peru’s way on April 19 and will be day of Baja Spain Aragon taking part, with 10 of the car Erik van Loon. Alexis Hernandez Ponce, Gua- followed by three further stages entrants being Priority 1 drivers. Qatar will also be represented tamala’s Rodolfo Schippers and on the next three days. They will in Northern Spain in this Al Attiyah, who crashed out by Adel Abdulla, Mohammed Al Argentina’s Lucas Innocente. run for 353.02km, 337.76km and July 2016 file photo. after maintaining a comfortable Mannai, Mohammed Al Harqan, “We are delighted that all the 343.32km, respectively. Delhi Daredevils' batsman Sanju Samson pulls the ball during the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match against Rising Pune Supergiant at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune yesterday. Samson scored 102 off 63 deliveries to lift Delhi's total to 205 for 4 at the end of 20 overs. All-round Delhi thrash Pune Pune their second defeat in their innings with a 69-run second IANS three matches so far. wicket stand. Earlier, the 22-year-old Samson raised another half elhi Daredevils rode on Samson took the Pune bowl- century stand, this time with an all-round effort to ers to the cleaners from the Rishabh Pant (31) adding 53 Dthrash Rising Pune word go, before converting his runs for the third wicket. Supergiant by 97 runs in an first T20 half century to a Pune leaked as many as 45 Indian Premier League (IPL) match-winning hundred. runs in the final two overs as 2017 match at the Maharash- Samson, who got to his Morris went on with his natu- tra Cricket Association Stadium century with a straight six off ral game from the very first yesterday. Australian leg-spinner Adam ball. While Kerala youngster Zampa, clobbered five sixes He slammed Zampa for Sanju Samson's maiden T20 and eight fours in his 63-ball two fours and a six in the 19th hundred set things on fire in 103. over before clobbering Stokes the first innings as Delhi posted South African all-rounder for two more boundaries and a mammoth 204/5, captain Chris Morris then added the as many maximums in the final Zaheer Khan led from the front late order fireworks in the final over to take Delhi to the mas- with three wickets to bundle two overs, with a 9-ball sive total. the hosts out for a paltry 108 unbeaten 38, that included Brief Scores: in 16.1 overs. three sixes and four bounda- Delhi Daredevils: 205 for Zaheer (3/20) was compli- ries, to raise Delhi's 200. 4 (Sanju Samson 102, Chris mented well by leg-spinner Put in to bat, Delhi were Morris 38, Sam billings 24) Amit Mishra, who returned once again off to a poor start Rising Pune Supergiant: with figures of 3/11 and Aus- losing opener Aditya Tare for 108 (Mayank Agarwal 20; Amit tralian pacer Pat Cummins nought but Sam Billings (24) Mishra 3 for 11, Zaheer Khan 3 (2/24) as Pune succumbed to andSamson resurrected the for 20) SPORT WEDNESDAY 12 APRIL 2017 27 Kings dump Heat down Cavs to stay alive; Sutter and Lombardi in Jazz halt streaking Warriors shake-up New York Reuters Miami and Jimmy Butler and Jerian AFP Grant had 17 apiece to pace the he Los Angeles Kings Bulls. Nikola Mirotic added 16 made huge changes to he Miami Heat kept points and veteran Dwyane T their front office on their NBA play-off Wade chipped in 13 as Chicago Monday as they fired coach hopes alive on Mon- won by their biggest margin of Darryl Sutter and general day with a 124-121 the season. manager Dean Lombardi, overtime victory over Heat coach Erik Spoelstra who helped guide the team TCleveland that dropped the said he didn't try to keep track to its two NHL Stanley Cup reigning NBA champion Cava- of what the Bulls and Pacers titles. liers to second in the Eastern were doing on Monday. Luc Robitaille was named Conference. "Our game was enough," he club president, and fellow The Cavs, locked in a duel said. "I don't need the ancillary former Kings standout and with the Boston Celtics for the stress." Hockey Hall of Famer Rob top seed in the East, neverthe- In Oakland, Golden State Blake was selected as vice less rested stars LeBron James starts Stephen Curry and Kevin president and general and Kyrie Irving in Miami. Durant were watching from the manager. "The most important thing is bench in the fourth quarter as The Kings won the for us to give those guys a rest," the injury depleted Utah Jazz Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014 Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. completed a 105-99 victory that but missed the play-offs for "They have carried the load all ended the Warriors' 14-game the second time in three years season." winning streak. this season. Cleveland suffered their sec- Warriors coach Steve Kerr Dan Beckerman, presi- ond overtime defeat in as many opted to play safe with his key dent and CEO of AEG, the days, having squandered a players, resting Curry, Durant Kings' parent company, said 26-point fourth-quarter lead in and Draymond Green late while in a statement the moves a stunning loss to the Atlanta Klay Thompson sat out were made with a view to the Hawks on Sunday. altogether. team's future. Against the Heat, they took The Warriors are already "This was an extremely a 91-80 lead into the fourth, but Miami Heat guard Tyler Johnson (right) shoots the ball over Cleveland Cavaliers guard Iman assured of top seed in the West difficult decision and was Miami stormed back to force Shumpert during the first half of their NBA game at American Airlines Arena in Miami on and home court advantage made with an enormous overtime and claim the win.