THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2013 SPORTS

Commit or miss out on Rio Choi eyes Asian record Levski coach keen to stay

MELBOURNE: The big names of Australian rugby such as Israel Folau or Kurtley YEOJU: South Korea’s KJ Choi is aiming to become the first player to win SOFIA: Levski Sofia coach Ivaylo Petev has denied supporting another club from the Beale will have to commit to the national sevens project well before the 2016 Rio the same Asian Tour event for three straight years when he tees off at this city and said he was determined to stay in the post despite being forced out of his first Games or miss out on their chance at an Olympic medal, Australia coach Michael week’s CJ Invitational. “I’m eyeing a third win in this event but obviously it news conference by hostile fans. “I am a professional and I came to work for the good O’Connor said. won’t be easy. No player has done it on the Asian Tour before and I hope to of Levski,” Petev told local media yesterday. “I’ll continue my work (at Levski). Levski, the 26-times Bulgarian champions, turned to Petev after sacking Serbian Rugby makes its Olympic debut at Rio in the sevens format and places on the be the first,” the 43-year-old, who hosts the $750,000 event in the city of coach Slavisa Jokanovic following a mediocre start to the season but the Sofia-based Games squad are likely to be fiercely contested among Yeoju, said in an Asian Tour statement yesterday. club’s fans believe his allegiance lies with CSKA. “I have no sympathy to another Sofia regular team members and hopefuls in the 15-man “But I’ll also be happy if a younger player wins this event as well.” Choi fired a final round four-under-par 67 at the Haesley Nine Bridges Golf Club club, you can check it out,” said Petev. In an interview with game. local media in June, however, the 38-year-old, who led O’Connor said he would give short shrift to any course last year to win the event by two shots from compatriots Jang Dong-kyu and Bae Sang-moon, matching his margin of victory in the inau- Ludogorets to two consecutive league titles, said he ‘johnny-come-latelys’ trying to cash in on their was a CSKA fan, adding that this had never stopped celebrity to earn a berth. gural event in 2011. An eight-times winner on the US PGA Tour, Choi is yet to claim a title this year but said he was in good form ahead of his own him being uncompromising against his favourite “We have been building a young side and the team on the pitch. bulk of the team we’ll take to Rio in 2016 will be event. “I did not win this year but I made all the cuts in all the major tourna- ments so that’s a positive sign for me,” Choi said. “I finished higher on the On Tuesday, angry Levski fans burst in shortly guys who’ve been in the program and gone to after the start of Petev’s presentation to the media Super 15 or are currently in the program now,” US PGA Tour rankings compared to last year so that’s another success for me.” Swede Rikard Karlberg believes Choi’s reign will end this week with the at the Georgi Asparuhov stadium and made him O’Connor told reporters in the Gold Coast ahead of take off the club shirt before showing him the the series-opening tournament this weekend. Asian Tour field catching up on the world number 119’s home advantage. “KJ has shown us how strong and solid his game is. He has lectured exit. Those ugly scenes were followed by the res- “We’re now starting to get these guys two or us like small boys in this tournament but I think the players now are get- ignations of chief executive Nasko Sirakov — a three years into sevens. They’re really building ting better and better and they are more used to the golf course,” the crowd favorite and the club’s all-time leading valuable experience and that’s just essential for twice Asian Tour winner said. “I think we will see another winner this scorer with 206 goals between 1981 and 1994 — the Olympics.—Reuters year.”—Reuters and Levski’s board chairman Ivo Tonev.—Reuters

NHL results/standings Sharks win, Penguins roll Colorado 2, Toronto 1; NY Islanders 6, Phoenix 1; Philadelphia 2, Florida 1; Pittsburgh 5, Carolina 2; Tampa SAN JOSE: Tomas Hertl scored four goals, . Jaromir Jagr and Patrik Elias terday. Josh Harding replaced Backstrom and ISLANDERS 6, COYOTES 1 Bay 3, Buffalo 2 (OT); Nashville 3, Minnesota 2; Vancouver Matthew Nieto had his first NHL and added each had a goal and an assist for New Jersey (0- gave up the goal to Nystrom. John Tavares scored his first two goals of the 3, New Jersey 2 (OT); San Jose 9, NY Rangers 2. two assists and the San Jose Sharks beat the 1-3), which was playing its second game in as season and defenseman Matt Donovan added 9-2 Tuesday night. many nights. AVALANCHE 2, MAPLE LEAFS 1 the first of his NHL career to lift New York over Western Conference Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Dan Boyle, Logan PA Parenteau scored early in the third period Phoenix. Peter Regin and Tavares scored in the Pacific Division Couture and Justin Braun also scored for the PREDATORS 3, WILD 2 to help Colorado edge Toronto. Tied 1-1 going first period, and Donovan, Tavares and Colin W L OTL GF GA PTS Sharks, who won their third straight of the Filip Forsberg and Colin Wilson scored pow- into the third, Colorado went ahead at 2:30 on a McDonald connected in the second against er-play goals 39 seconds apart in the first period two-on-one with Jamie McGinn setting up beleaguered goalie Mike Smith to turn it into a San Jose 3 0 0 17 4 6 young season. They have outscored their oppo- nents 17-4. to lead Nashville to victory over Minnesota in its Parenteau. The goal stood up to video review. rout. Frans Nielsen earned the second of his Vancouver 3 1 0 15 12 6 Jason Demers and Joe Pavelski each had home opener. Eric Nystrom added his first career “According to Rule 78.4 ‘if an attacking player three assists on the night when McDonald made Anaheim 2 1 0 8 11 4 three assists. Brad Richards and Derek Dorsett shot goal all in the first period for has the puck deflect into the net, off his skate or it 5-1 with 2:36 left in the second. Evgeni Calgary 1 0 2 12 13 4 scored for the Rangers, who were coming off a Nashville, matching the goals the Predators had body, in any manner, the goal shall be allowed.’ Nabokov was the beneficiary of all the offense Phoenix 1 2 0 6 11 2 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on totaled in losing their first two games. Pekka Good goal Colorado,” the NHL said in explaining and made 33 saves for the win. The 38-year-old Los Angeles 1 2 0 7 10 2 Monday night. San Jose goalkeeper Antti Niemi Rinne made 32 saves. the call. Avs rookie Nathan MacKinnon, the 18- goalie has started all three games for the Edmonton 1 2 0 11 15 2 needed to stop 18 shots for the win while Zach Parise scored a power-play goal, and year-old first overall pick in the draft, got an Islanders. Martin Hanzal scored in the second Central Division Rangers goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist stopped Jared Spurgeon also scored for the Wild. assist - his fourth - on Parenteau’s third goal of period for the Coyotes. Colorado 3 0 0 11 3 6 22 of 26 shots during his nearly 30 minutes on Minnesota lost goalie Niklas Backstrom to a low- the season. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado, St. Louis 2 0 0 11 2 4 the ice. Martn Biron took over in the net after the er body injury in the first when Nystrom crashed which got another terrific start from Semyon FLYERS 2, PANTHERS 1 Winnipeg 2 1 0 12 10 4 Sharks built a 4-1 advantage and saved 16 of 21. into him after being tripped on a breakaway. The Varlamov in net. Joffrey Lupul scored for Brayden Schenn and Braydon Coburn scored Chicago 1 0 1 8 7 3 The nine goals were one off the franchise record. Wild said Backstrom will be evaluated late yes- Toronto. to lead Philadelphia past Florida make Craig Dallas 1 1 0 4 5 2 Berube a winner in his coaching debut. Berube Nashville 1 2 0 6 9 2 PENGUINS 5, HURRICANES 2 was on the bench a day after Peter Laviolette Minnesota 0 1 2 7 10 2 Jussi Jokinen scored his first hat trick in near- was fired after a 0-3 start. With Berube calling Eastern Conference ly six years to help Pittsburgh pull away from the shots, the Flyers scored their season high for Atlantic Division Carolina for the victory. Jokinen helped the goals. Steve Mason had 33 saves for the Flyers. Toronto 3 1 0 13 10 6 Penguins improve to 3-0, opening the scoring in Brad Boyes scored for the Panthers. Boston 2 0 0 7 2 4 the first period and adding two goals in the third Detroit 2 1 0 6 7 4 after Carolina drew even at 2-2. Paul Martin and LIGHTNING 3, SABRES 2 Tampa Bay 2 1 0 7 7 4 Tanner Glass also scored for Pittsburgh, while Alex Killorn scored 1:50 into overtime to lift Ottawa 1 0 1 5 5 3 Sidney Crosby picked up his first two assists of Tampa Bay to a come-from-behind victory over Montreal 1 1 0 7 5 2 the season. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 32 shots winless Buffalo. Teddy Purcell had the tying goal Florida 1 2 0 5 11 2 for the Penguins, who have not trailed through 5:43 into the third period and Tyler Johnson also Buffalo 0 3 1 4 10 1 three games. scored for the Lightning (2-1), who have two Pittsburgh has outscored opponents 12-3 wins after regulation. Metropolitan Division while getting off to the franchise’s best start Tampa Bay has yet to hold a lead in regula- Pittsburgh 3 0 0 12 3 6 since 1994-95. Eric Staal and Nathan Gerbe tion after coming off a 3-2 shootout victory at NY Islanders 2 0 1 12 7 5 scored for the Hurricanes and Cam Ward made Chicago in which the Lightning overcame a 2-0 Carolina 1 1 1 6 9 3 32 saves. third-period deficit. New Jersey 0 1 3 9 15 3 Jamie McBain and Cody Hodgson had a Columbus 1 1 0 6 6 2 CANUCKS 3, DEVILS 2 goal and assist each for Buffalo (0-3-1). Despite NY Rangers 1 2 0 6 14 2 Jason Garrison scored at 2:18 of overtime as the loss, Buffalo finally generated some Washington 1 2 0 10 12 2 the Vancouver defeated New Jersey. Garrison’s offense by doubling its season goal total. And Philadelphia 1 3 0 5 10 2 shot from the point through traffic beat Cory the Sabres also earned a point to avoid Schneider in the goaltender’s first game against extending their franchise-worst season-open- Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the his former team. Daniel Sedin, with a goal and ing losing streak to four games. Buffalo had standings and are not included in the loss column (L) . an assist, and Alexander Edler scored for SAN JOSE: Derek Dorsett No. 15 of the New York Rangers scores a goal, getting past goalkeep- previously never lost more than two straight in Vancouver (3-1-0), which got 21 saves from er Antti Niemi No. 31 of the San Jose Sharks during the third period at SAP Center. — AFP regulation. — AP