26 Sports Sunday, December 8, 2019 Icon’ Chen beats Hanyu to claim third Grand Prix Final gold Hanyu thwarted in his bid for a record fifth Grand Prix Final title TURIN: US sensation set new Yevgeny Plushenko skated to 2006 Winter Olympics gold world record scores on his way to a third consecutive at the Turin rink. The only glitch in the Japanese skater’s men’s gold at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Turin yesterday, programme was his under-rotation of a triple flip and sin- leaving vanquished feeling “a little jealous”. gling his final triple . Two-time world champion Chen blew away his great Hundreds of stuffed toys rained down on the ice as Japanese rival with a total overall score of 335.30 points Hanyu collapsed in exhaustion. “I decided to do five after his free skate to Elton John’s ‘Rocket Man’. Double quadruples after the short programme yesterday,” said Olympic champion Hanyu was thwarted in his bid for a Hanyu. “Even though I knew I couldn’t win I wanted to record fifth Grand Prix Final title, taking silver with 291.43. achieve something at this competition. “I’m very happy France’s Kevin Aymoz won bronze with 275.63. with what I accomplished, this helps my confidence to Taking to the ice last, Chen had a long wait for the rink grow.” to be cleared of the hundreds of Winnie The Pooh soft toys and gifts thrown onto the ice by Hanyu’s adoring fans on ‘SKATING GOD’ the Japanese skater’s 25th birthday. Hanyu was returning to the elite six-skater event after a The American nailed five quadruple jumps, earning two-year absence looking to topple Chen and lay the extra points including two in the second half of his pro- groundwork to reclaim the world title in Montreal next gramme, culminating with a triple lutz-triple toeloop com- March. Hanyu, who trains under Canadian coach Brian bination. The 20-year-old bettered his own record scores Orser in Toronto, won four consecutive Grand Prix Final from last year’s world championships in the free skate by titles between 2013 and 2016, and a fifth would see him 8.9 points and the overall record by nearly 12 points. overtake Russians Plushenko and . “It felt amazing, I’m really thrilled with the score,” said On his big rival, Chen added: “It’s an amazing honour to Chen. “I got pretty gassed out at the end so I need to work be able to compete against Yuzuru. I’ve idolised him for on my stamina a little bit.” It left an emotional Hanyu feel- years. “Even now, he’s still truly like a skating god to me. ing old and envious. Of course, now Kevin, I’ve competed with him for a couple “I’m a little jealous of him,” said Hanyu. “But I really of years now and continue to see his improvement.” respect him. “Nathan is making it harder and harder in fig- French champion Aymoz claimed his first podium place, ure skating, and I’m much older than him! “Nathan is push- surviving a fall on his second quadruple jump, in a solid ing the sport, he’s an icon for my practice.” performance to Patrick Watson’s ‘Lighthouse’. “I never Hanyu added: “I can say I have two gold medals for the imagined to be next to these two guys one day so I’m real- TURIN: (From L) Runner-up ’s Yuzuru Hanyu, winner USA’s Nathan Chen and third-placed France’s Kevin Olympics, but that’s the past, I want to live in the now, I ly happy,” said the 23-year-old. Aymoz pose on the podium after the Men program yesterday at the ISU Grand Prix of figure skating want to compete more and more with Nathan.” Chen, from Two-time world champions and Final 2019 in Turin. — AFP Salt Lake City, had taken a 13-point lead on Hanyu into the led a Chinese 1-2 to claim their first pairs gold on Friday free skating final at the Palavela. night ahead of and . In the women’s But Hanyu hit back with five quadruple jumps in a bril- competition, is leading a Russian 1-2-3 champion last in the six-skater field. Four- and are leading going into the free liant performance to Edvin Marton’s ‘Origin’, a composer going into the free skating final later with defending time world ice dancing champions dance final. —AFP

“I’m not someone who comes to the stadium wanting to “It’s about contributing to your team and making the Kohli would rather entertain people hitting the ball in the air. I want to get the team win.” job done,” Kohli told broadcaster Star Sports after India Kohli’s knock was an innings of two halves with the won the series opener in Hyderabad by six wickets. right-hander trying to hit too hard initially before redis- finish than entertain “Within that, if I get an opportunity to hit sixes, I will. covering the sublime timing which makes him the top India’s NBA trailblazer But the aim is not to play slam-bang cricket. ranked batsman both in tests and one-dayers. NEW DELHI: India’s captain Virat Kohli says his priority “I think my role in this team is to bat long. Myself or “I thought I’m not a guy who slogs the ball. I’m more Satnam fails dope test is to help India win matches than just play ‘slam-bang Rohit (Sharma), one of the guys has to play till the end of a timer, so I’m going to rely on my timing. And then cricket’ for the sake of entertaining the crowd in the because our strength is usually striking in the later half the pitch was good enough for me to go through the Twenty20 game. of the innings, and our strike rate goes up.” line of the ball and just play my shots.” NEW DELHI: , the first Indian to be draft- Kohli relies more on his timing than muscle power to Despite his assertions, Kohli’s knock was not totally ed into the NBA, has been provisionally suspended by Kohli produced a batting masterclass in Friday’s Twenty20 match against West Indies, smashing a career- hit those sixes and the 31-year-old sees no reason to try devoid of entertainment, and at one point he mimicked India’s anti-doping agency after failing a drugs test last and overhaul his technique. Kesrick Williams’ box-ticking celebration after hitting month. best 94 not out to help India chase a 200-plus target with eight balls to spare. “The basic funda is that I don’t want to change my the bowler for a six. Singh, who joined the in 2015, game too much because I play all three formats and I “It happened to me in Jamaica when he got me out, failed an out-of-competition test last month and was The elegant right-hander, who clobbered six sixes, went run-a-ball in his first 20 deliveries before exploding want to contribute in all three formats. I don’t want to so I thought I’ll tick a few in the notebook as well,” handed a temporary ban on November 19, according to be a format specialist. Kohli said. —Reuters the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) newsletter. to plunder 74 off the last 30. The banned substance that was been detected in Singh’s sample was not confirmed. The 23-year-old Singh, standing 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 meters) tall, has denied the charge through a statement Davis, James power yesterday, asserting he is “clean”. “Mr. (Satnam Singh) Bhamara is disputing the said Lakers in rout charge and has requested a hearing before the NADA Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) in order to put forth his case,” the statement said. of host Blazers “Mr. Bhamara would like to state that he was and remains a clean competitor and has always played bas- PORTLAND: Anthony Davis delivered 39 points, nine ketball fairly.” rebounds and three blocked shots as the Los Angeles Singh, who did not play an NBA game, went on to Lakers rolled to a 136-113 victory over the host Portland play in the National League of Canada after Trail Blazers on Friday night. LeBron James made four 3- signing a deal with St John’s Edge in September 2018. pointers while recording 31 points, eight assists and seven He has represented India at the Asian rebounds as the Lakers improved their record to 20-3, tied Championships, 2018 Commonwealth Games and the with the Milwaukee Bucks for best in the NBA. Kyle 2019 World Cup Qualifiers. Kuzma scored 15 off the bench, and JaVale McGee added There is also a Netflix documentary ‘One in a Billion’ 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting as Los Angeles completed a which charts Singh’s remarkable journey from a remote 3-0 road trip that began with games against the Denver Punjab village to the Mavericks. — AFP Nuggets and Utah Jazz. Damian Lillard registered 29 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the Trail Blazers. Hassan Whiteside added 17 points, 10 rebounds and three steals, and Carmelo Anthony, CJ McCollum and added 15 points apiece. Portland’s Ex-skipper Smith Rodney Hood sustained a torn left Achilles tendon during the first quarter. Hood collected a rebound and fell to the set to become SA floor after landing, then immediately grabbed for the lower portion of his left leg with 3:27 left in the period. He was scoreless in the contest. PORTLAND: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Portland Trail Blazers is knocked to the floor as Anthony Davis #3 and director of cricket LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers go after the ball during the first half of the game at Moda Center in MILWAUKEE BUCKS 119 - Portland, Oregon. — AFP LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 91 JOHANNESBURG: Former Test captain Graeme Smith is Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 points and grabbed assists for the Timberwolves. Karl-Anthony Towns added bing 14 rebounds for the Kings, who lost their third set to become Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) director of 11 rebounds on his 25th birthday as Milwaukee extended 30 points and eight assists. straight game. cricket, the governing body’s president Chris Nenzani its NBA-best winning streak to 14 games with a rout of announced yesterday. Nenzani added at a press conference DETROIT PISTONS 108 - INDIANA PACERS 101 ORLANDO MAGIC 93 - he had spoken to 38-year-old Smith earlier in the day. visiting Los Angeles. Khris Middleton scored 17 points Andre Drummond had 25 points and 22 rebounds and CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 87 “I am happy to announce that we have engaged while and Ersan Ilyasova added 13 each Blake Griffin added 25 points as host Detroit downed Terrence Ross made four 3-pointers to highlight his 21- Graeme Smith and I am confirming that by next week as the Bucks improved to 10-1 at home. Kawhi Leonard Indiana. Luke Kennard added 15 points and Rose scored point performance as visiting Orlando recorded a victory Wednesday all of the negotiations around the contract scored 17 points for the Clippers in his first game at terms that need to take place would have been conclud- Milwaukee since the Toronto Raptors earned a victory 10 of his 14 points in the third quarter for the Pistons. T.J. over Cleveland. Evan Fournier scored 18 points and Aaron ed,” said Nenzani, speaking after a special board meeting there in Game 5 of last season’s Eastern Conference finals Warren scored 26 points and Malcolm Brogdon added 21 Gordon added 14 for the Magic, who extended their win- of CSA, following a week of crisis for the organisation. to take a 3-2 series lead. Leonard’s Raptors went on to win points in a losing cause for the Pacers. The Pistons ning streak to a season-high four games by defeating the If Smith agrees to take the job he will have just over the series in six games on the way to the NBA title. wrapped the game up with a defensive stop and subse- Cavaliers for the third time this season. Collin Sexton fin- two weeks to put a selection panel and coaching staff in quent breakaway layup by Langston Galloway with 9.3 ished with 19 points and added 14 for the place before the first of four Tests against England, start- MIAMI HEAT 112 - WASHINGTON WIZARDS 103 seconds remaining. reeling Cavaliers, who have lost five in a row and 11 of their ing in Centurion on December 26. Jimmy Butler had his second triple-double in the past past 12 games. Despite calls for the resignation of Nenzani and the three games and the sixth of his career, posting 28 points, BROOKLYN NETS 111 - CHARLOTTE HORNETS 104 entire board, Nenzani said the board had been mandated 11 rebounds and 11 assists and leading host Miami over Joe Harris pumped in 22 points, and Brooklyn produced BOSTON CELTICS 108 - DENVER NUGGETS 95 by the organisation’s members’ council - made up of presi- Washington as the Heat set a franchise record by starting a couple of significant second-half scoring surges to win Jayson Tatum scored 26 points, Jaylen Brown added 21, dents of the 14 provincial affiliates - “to continue to guide the season 9-0 at home. Miami also got impressive per- at Charlotte. Taurean Prince tacked on 16 points, while and Boston blew out visiting Denver. Kemba Walker had us through this period and turn it around.” formances from center Bam Adebayo and rookie guard centers Deandre Jordan and Jarrett Allen posted 16 and 14 19 points, and Marcus Smart chipped in nine in his return The press conference came after a tumultuous week Tyler Herro. Adebayo had a career-high 24 points and points, respectively, for the Nets. David Nwaba and from an abdomen injury as the Celtics won for the fifth during which five leading journalists had their accredita- grabbed 14 rebounds while Herro finished with 22 points. Spencer Dinwiddie provided 13 points apiece for time in their last six games. Boston improved to 9-0 at tion withdrawn, a major sponsor announced it would not Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal, who entered the Brooklyn, which has won five of its past six road games. home. Nikola Jokic had a season-high 30 points and 10 renew its agreement with CSA and chief executive game fifth in the league in scoring, had 23 points, eight Hornets guard Devonte’ Graham scored 29 points, hitting rebounds for the Nuggets, who lost for the third time in Thabang Moroe was suspended on charges of misconduct. assists and four rebounds. Davis Bertans added 19 points six 3-pointers one game after he tied a franchise record their last four games. Denver was playing the second night Nenzani said a lack of trust in Moroe by Smith was a fac- and 10 rebounds off the Washington bench, making 5 of 13 with 10 treys. of a back-to-back, having beaten the New York Knicks by tor in negotiations which have been conducted sporadical- attempts from 3-point range. Wizards center Moritz a 37-point margin Thursday. ly over a period of three months. Wagner had 19 points and nine rebounds. SAN ANTONIO SPURS 105 - Several prominent individuals, as well as the Gauteng SACRAMENTO KINGS 104 (OT) GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 100 - cricket board and the SA Cricketers’ Association, called OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 139 - Dejounte Murray’s jumper with 29.6 seconds to play CHICAGO BULLS 98 for the board to stand down but Nenzani said the issue MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 127 (OT) proved to be the difference as host San Antonio outlasted Glenn Robinson III scored a team-high 20 points, had not been raised at a meeting of the members’ council Dennis Schroder forced overtime with a last-second Sacramento, winning back-to-back games for the first time including a go-ahead basket with 1:03 left in the fourth which started late on Friday and continued until the early basket, and Chris Paul scored 30 points to lead Oklahoma since the opening week of the season. The Spurs were quarter, and Golden State held on for a win at Chicago. Alec yesterday. City win over visiting Minnesota. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander down by nine points with 1:50 to play in regulation but Burks scored 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting off the bench He brushed off the resignations of three of the board’s scored a career-high 29, including 11 of the Thunder’s 17 made a final push. Aldridge scored 19 points and grabbed for Golden State, which won only its fifth game of the sea- five independent directors. “We thank them for their serv- points in the extra period. Oklahoma City had five players 13 rebounds for the Spurs. DeMar DeRozan, who had son but improved to 2-0 against Chicago. Eric Paschall fin- ice and will engage in a process to fill the vacancies,” he finish with 20-plus points for the first time in franchise his- three 3-pointers in the game after having only four all sea- ished with 13 points and Willie Cauley-Stein added 10. Zach said. Nenzani said the respected Jacques Faul, the chief tory. Schroder scored 25 off the bench while Steven son, added 15 points for San Antonio. Buddy Hield led LaVine scored 22 points to lead the Bulls, who had won executive of the Northerns cricket union and a former act- Adams (22 points, 11 rebounds) and Danilo Gallinari (21) Sacramento with 23 points, and Harrison Barnes scored 21 their previous two games in a row. Lauri Markkanen tallied ing chief executive of SA, had agreed to again become the also contributed. Jeff Teague put up 32 points, his best points and secured 10 rebounds. Yogi Ferrell added 17 20 points, and rookie Coby White finished with 14 points in acting chief executive with immediate effect. — AFP scoring performance in nearly four years, and had nine points and scored 13 points while grab- 19 minutes off the bench. — Reuters