FOOTBALL | Page 2 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 10 Young stars Pakistan To Advertise here Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 arrive in Doha launches high for Al Kass octane T20 International league in UAE

Thursday, February 4, 2016 LADIES TOUR OF QATAR Rabia II 25, 1437 AH Garfoot takes GULF TIMES second stage; Wild crashes SPORT Page 11

FOCUS Federer out for month aft er knee surgery

AFP four-set defeat by eventual winner Novak Basel Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-fi - nals, going down 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, in his eighth loss to the Serb in their last 10 Grand eventeen-time Grand Slam winner Slam meetings. Roger Federer underwent “success- Federer hasn’t beaten the runaway world ful” surgery on his knee yesterday number one at a major since the Wimble- and will be ruled out of action for don semi-fi nals in 2012, when he last won a oneS month, his agent said. Grand Slam title. Federer underwent the surgery to repair Unlike great rival Rafael Nadal, Federer has a torn meniscus sustained the day after his enjoyed a relatively injury-free career, the ex- semi-fi nal match at the Australian Open, ception being bouts of recurring back pain. according to Tony Godsick. The last time that happened was at the As a result of the surgery, Federer will 2014 ATP World Tour Finals in London now miss the ATP tournaments in Rotter- when he withdrew at the last minute from dam and Dubai this month. the fi nal against Djokovic. “I am so disappointed to have to miss The following week, however, he re- Rotterdam and Dubai as they are two of my turned to action and helped Switzerland favourite tournaments on the ATP World win the Davis Cup for the fi rst time, defeat- Tour,” Federer said. ing France in the fi nal. “While this is an unfortunate setback, Federer will now aim at being fi t in time I feel grateful that up until now I have re- for the fi rst two Masters Series tourna- mained mostly healthy throughout my ca- ments of the year at Indian Wells and Mi- reer. My doctors have assured me that the ami in March. surgery was a success and with proper re- After that the season switches to clay and habilitation, I will be able to return to the the build-up for the French Open, the sec- Tour soon.” ond of the year’s Grand Slam tournaments. The 34-year-old Swiss great suff ered a Federer’s only title in Paris came in 2009. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, February 4, 2016 FOOTBALL

QATAR STARS LEAGUE Sadd confi dent against Ahli

By Sports Reporter Today’s Fixtures 17 clash against Al Kharaitiyat today. “Looking at our results on paper Doha “We have forgot about the Khor they look poor, but that doesn’t El Jaish vs Al Kharaitiyat 4:30pm match, it is time to focus on Kharatiyat show how well our performances Al Sadd vs Al Ahli 7:15pm I am expecting a positive performance have been. Despite this we have l Sadd’s Portuguese head and a strong result.” remarked the plenty of positives, the players coach Jesualdo Ferreira is French tactician. deserve better results and this confi dent his side can return U23 players will be slowly eased backed Lamouchi also had news on some will eventually come” to winning ways when they into the squad after a busy three week- key returning players for Jaish. “Lu- faceA Al Ahli in their round 17 Qatar period for them. cas Mendez and Abdurahman Waleed Al Khor and will be looking to avenge Stars League match today. Ferreira concluded the conference should be fi t for this tie. That will make this. However from what I seen from Al Sadd lie fourth in the QSL stand- by saying. “I have full confi dence that a big diff erence to the side in the next their recent matches, there are ways I ings with 28 points from 16 matches things will be fi ne and the results of the few games.” think we can beat El Jaish,” the Bosnian and are aiming to get their campaign team will improve starting from Al Ahli said. back on track after losing the prestig- match.” LAMOUCHI HAS FAITH IN TEAM Osim also revealed that Kharaitiyat ious Sheikh Jassim Cup to Lekhwiya New Al Ahli head coach Youssef “Al Kharaitiyat play good football and will be without talismanic striker Has- last month. Adam said that he is ready to lead the I expect them to be well organised for san Abdel Fattah, but did note that the “Al Ahli will be a challenge for us; I side against Al Sadd, insisting that he this match. I watched them against Le- rest of his squad will be fi t for the chal- think we should do well despite us not is not a stranger to the squad. khwiya, I think they were unlucky not lenge of El Jaish. having the best results recently,” said “Al Sadd are one of the leading sides get a point. However we have prepared Talking of changes in the transfer Ferreira at his side’s pre-match press in the QSL, but the match will be set- well and I have faith my team can get a window for Kharaitiyat, he said “We conference yesterday. tled in the fi eld and the better team will positive result” Lamouchi said. have only made one change in the “Looking at our results on paper win the game. Ahli have been unlucky In contrast, Kharaitiyat coach Amir transfer window. We are satisfi ed with they look poor, but that doesn’t show in recent games.” Adam said. Osim predicted a tough test for his our professional players at this club; I how well our performances have been. The former El Jaish coach Adam side. “Our last two matches have been think that minimal changes in the win- Despite this we have plenty of posi- praised the new signing the Moroccan against Lekhwiya and Al Rayyan, de- ter window are for the best of the club. tives, the players deserve better results striker Mouchine Iajour. “He has set- spite playing well we have zero points We don’t want to make lots of changes and this will eventually come.” tled well with the club and will give us from these matches. We will need to which could aff ect the harmony of the Ferreria also noted that new signing an extra edged in the fi nal third.” work hard if we are to achieve a posi- side. Playing with the same group will Bagdad Bounedjah will be still recover- Meanwhile, El Jaish coach Sabri tive result against a team who is doing stabilize us in the long term; I only see ing from an injury and unavailable for Lamouchi is calling for a big perform- well in the league. that as a good thing for Al Kharaitiyat.” selection whilst the returning Qatar Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira (left) & Al Ahli’s new coach Youssef Adam. ance from his side ahead of their round “Jaish lost in their last match against Over to the pitch now.

Aspire Academy to host final round of Aspire Football League on National Sport Day SPOTLIGHT

Aspire Academy yesterday con- Following the draw, the 2004 Group help develop the boys and create a ducted a draw that determined the A will consist of Al Sadd SC, Al higher-level football culture. groups taking part in the final round Rayyan SC and Al Arabi SC, while Referees from the QFA and coaches of the Aspire Football League, which the 2004 Group B will consist of Al from Aspire Academy will be on- will take place on 9 February 2016, Gharafa SC, Al Wakrah SC and Al Ahli site during the final matches. The Young stars arrive in coinciding with National Sport Day. SC. The 2005 Group A will consist of winning teams will receive a trip to The Aspire Football League is Al Sadd SC, Al Khor SC and Al Wakrah the Sealine resort at the end of the designed to help develop young SC, while the 2005 Group B will con- season for members of the team and footballers who were born in 2004 sist of Al Ahli SC, Lekhwiya SC and Al staff . Matches will kick off at 9:15 at and 2005, including those from the Gharafa SC. pitch 4. Doha ahead of fi ft h Academy and the clubs within the While the final matches will be played Aspire Academy first opened its Qatar Football Association (QFA). It between the participating QFA doors in 2004 and is considered to off ers coaches the chance to help de- clubs only, the ongoing league will be one of the leading sports insti- velop the players’ techniques during still off er the boys from the Aspire tutes in the Middle East. The Acad- smaller matches, creating a learning Academy exposure to a variety of emy off ers an integrated educational Al Kass International environment that enables players to techniques, styles and playing strate- program of sports development, develop and master their dribbling, gies that will enrich their develop- sports science and academic learn- passing, shooting and other skills. ment. The increased exposure will ing to boys aged 12 to 18. Cup kick-off on Friday

By Sports Reporter Doha

ome of the world’s choice young footballers have ar- rived in Qatar this week for the launch of the fi fth annual Al KassS International Cup set to kick off on Friday. At the Al Kass International Cup 2016, 12 elite academy teams including Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, In- ter Milan and SL Benfi ca will compete in the under 17s (U17) tournament to be held at the Aspire Academy outdoor football fi elds. The impressive line-up of players means football fans in Doha will get the chance to watch some of the world’s Paris Saint-Germain were the winners of the 2015 edition. fi nest young talents in action during the 11-day competition that will also Chairman of the Organising Commit- has to grassroots football and to keep feature Qatari teenagers. tee of Al Kass International Cup, said, showing this country has the passion, The acclaimed Aspire Qatar team “Kicking off its fi fth year in 2016, the knowledge and determination to utilize including Aspire Football Dreams will Al Kass International Cup has cement- the power of football. compete against clubs from Spain, ed its place as one of the premier youth “Through the friendships forged Italy, France, Japan, China, Argentina, football tournaments globally. during this tournament, we hope clubs the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. This year we will continue to build on can build a lasting relationship with Mohammad Khalifa al-Suwaidi, this reputation with world-class broad- Qatar from now until the 2022 FIFA Acting CEO of Aspire Zone, expressed casting of the outstanding displays of World Cup. Qatar is investing in the his confi dence in the opportunity the football that we have come to expect future of football to become one of the tournament facilitates for Qatari play- ers to enhance their skills and gain in- ternational experience. “It is a great honour and privilege to be welcoming some of the world’s very best young footballing prospects to Doha for the fi fth edition of the Al Kass Interna- tional Cup following on from the dis- tinguished performance of our national players, some of whom from Aspire Academy, in the Asian Football Federa- tion U23 Championship,” he said. “Previous Al Kass tournaments have contributed greatly to the development of the skills of the buddying players at Aspire Academy due to contact with their peers from some of the sport’s top academies. This tournament has be- come one of the most important inter- national football tournaments for this age category, and one of the most eagerly anticipated activities at Aspire Zone. We are proud to co-organise and spon- sor this championship held on our fi elds, as a contribution to the advancement of football in support of the vision of our nation’s leadership to establish Qatar as Action during the match between Aspire Qatar and AC Milan in 2015. an international sporting destination, and support the youth by nurturing a from the Al Kass International Cup. leading sports capitals of the world. promising generation that can contrib- “Following on from the huge success The hosting of this tournament only ute to the future of our country.” of last year’s competition, Al Kass look confi rms the capabilities of this coun- Participating teams have and will forward to showcasing all the live ac- try when it comes to hosting major in- continue to arrive in Doha over the tion in 2016 to football fans all over the ternational sporting events,” he added. coming days as local fans look forward world,” he added. Mansoor al-Ansari, General Secre- to group stage games between some of Hassan al-Thawadi, Secretary Gen- tary, Qatar Football Association, said, the world’s leading football clubs. eral of the Supreme Committee for De- “Over the past four years, the Al Kass On the fi rst day of the competition, livery& Legacy, said, “Since its launch in International Cup has become one Inter Milan will face Chinese team 2012, the Al Kass International Cup has of the most sought after champion- Shanghai Greenland, while SL Ben- been determined to develop a long-last- ships for international clubs seeking fi ca and FC Redbull Salzburg will play ing legacy that will be passed on to fu- to prepare their junior players. Players against Aspire Football Dreams and ture generations. That legacy is designed in previous Al Kass tournaments have Celtic Glasgow respectively. Offi cial to continue the success this tournament gone on to play with the fi rst teams of tournament sponsor Al Kass TV will be has enjoyed in discovering the stars of their respective clubs, which makes broadcasting all games live. the future, both from Qatar and from this competition the perfect place to Looking forward to another exciting abroad. The success of this tournament scout for young talent among some of tournament, Essa Abdulla al-Hitmi, demonstrates the commitment Qatar the world’s top football academies.” Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Striker Vardy vows to stay after firing stunner for Leicester Jamie Vardy pledged his non-league football just a few future to Leicester after the years ago, is in talks over a best goal of his remarkable new deal worth a reported career inspired a 2-0 win over £80,000 ($115,000) per week Liverpool that kept the shock that would keep him at the Ranieri revels in Premier League leaders on club until at least 2019. course for the title. “It’s nothing people don’t Vardy produced an absolute know, I’d like to be here for belter to break the deadlock a long time,” Vardy told Sky in the 60th minute at the King Sports. Power Stadium on Tuesday Asked where the opener when the England striker against Liverpool ranked lashed home from 30 yards out. home his most memorable Leicester charge The 29-year-old struck again 11 goals, Vardy said it was the minutes later to seal a win that best yet. puts Leicester three points “I don’t (think I’ve scored ‘It was an unbelievable pass from Riyad Mahrez and unbelievable what Vardy did. He clear of second placed Man- better). I had been looking all chester City and a step closer game and he (Simon Migno- watched the ball arriving, watched the opponent and watched the keeper. He looked to completing their incredible let) was quite far off his line,” bid to win the English crown. he added. at the keeper out of the goal and hit it. It was unbelievable, amazing, fantastic’ With 18 goals to his credit this “As soon as Riyad (Mahrez) term, Vardy will inevitably had played it through it’s be in high demand from the bounced quite high and I’ve league’s big guns at the end of got no support so I just took the season. my chance and luckily it’s But Vardy, who was playing gone over the top of him.”

MAKING A MARK Guangzhou smash Asian transfer record by signing Jackson Martinez

This file photo shows Atletico Madrid forward Jackson Martnez (L) fighting for the ball with Celta Vigo’s defender Sergi Gomez. Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy (L) and Riyad Mahrez (R) in action with Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho during their English Premier League match. DPA Suning recently for a then record AFP “He looked at the keeper out of the Results Liverpool were well beaten, with boss Beijing 28 million euros, Shanghai Shen- Liverpool goal and hit it. Jurgen Klopp blaming a congested fi xture hua have signed Senegal’s Demba “It was unbelievable, amazing, fantas- Arsenal 0 Southampton 0 schedule for a lack of intensity from his Ba from Besiktas and Colombian tic. Leicester City 2 Liverpool 0 players. hinese champions Fredy Guarin from Inter Milan, laudio Ranieri believes Jamie “Now it is one month more or less Norwich City 0 Tott Hotspur 3 “It’s nice to be in the stadium when Guangzhou Evergrande and Ivory Coast’s Gervinho has Vardy and his Leicester team- since he restarted training. Sunderland 0 Man City 1 Jamie Vardy makes the Goal of the Month smashed the Asian left Roma for Hebei China For- mates have been revitalised just “Before that he didn’t train. He played West Ham Utd 2 Aston Villa 0 - but in an ideal world you are not the transfer record when tune. in time for their crunch Premier matches without training and that’s not Crystal Palace 1 Bournemouth 2 manager of the other team!” he said. Cthey signed Colombian striker The 2016 season starts on LeagueC clashes with Manchester City easy. Man United 3 Stoke City 0 “We saw that this goal made the dif- Jackson Martinez from Atletico March 3, and the transfer win- and Arsenal. “He continued to score but slowly he West Brom 1 Swansea City 1 ference. Madrid for 42 million euros (45.8 dow remains open until February Ranieri’s shock table-toppers travel slowed down. “I don’t feel too good in this moment. million dollars). 26. to City on Saturday before facing Arse- “Now he is refreshed, he is a new Var- I know we lost and we have to accept it, Guangzhou said in a state- Super League teams have nal with their confi dence sky-high after dy, he presses a lot and he scores goals.” “After Christmas we were a little tired absolutely no problem. ment that Martinez has signed a splashed out an estimated 200 underlining their title credentials with an Leicester rested at the weekend fol- but now they’re getting better. “But with a few things done diff erently four-year contract and will join million euros, with only Eng- impressive 2-0 win over Liverpool at the lowing their exit from the FA Cup and “Now I’m curious because on Saturday we could have won this game. And if you his new team on February 9 at a land’s Premier League spending King Power Stadium on Tuesday. produced an energetic display to beat we have to run, run, run a lot. can win a game you should do it in my training camp in Dubai after the more with an estimated 250 mil- Vardy added to his growing reputa- Liverpool and move three points clear of “Against City it will be another tough opinion. But we didn’t. mandatory medical. lion euros in the window which tion with two goals, including a 30-yard second placed Manchester City ahead of match but it was important to start this “I need a few minutes to cool down! Martinez, 29, had only been ended there on Monday. wonder-strike, that took his tally for the their summit meeting. month well. “Our problem today was not (the need) at Atletico for six months after a But China is not only shop- season to 18 and emphasised his own re- After a slump over Christmas, Leices- “For me it’s important to see my play- to run more - or to run more intensively. summer move from Porto. ping abroad, the nation has also turn to form following groin surgery at ter once again look capable of maintain- ers fi ght and try to win. “Our problem was when we had the It was the latest big-name launched a major football devel- the start of January. ing their incredible bid to win the English “Sooner or later we’ll lose a match but ball in the right position we did not make signing for the fi ve-times reign- opment programme in the coun- “It was an unbelievable pass from Riy- title and Ranieri sees no reason why they that’s not important. the right decisions. That is all. ing Chinese Super League and try’s schools and clubs to boost ad Mahrez and unbelievable what Vardy can’t keep it up. “What’s important is how we lose. If “They (Leicester) had 10 days off and twice Asian Champions League the game after years of corrup- did,” Leicester boss Ranieri said of the there is a great goal from (an) opponent, we had three games. winners Guangzhou, following tion and little success. opening goal. REFRESHED well done - but we have to fi ght. If Man “If we could have played with the same 2015 moves of Brazilians Paulin- The league is to be boosted “He watched the ball arriving, watched “In training sessions I saw my players re- City fi ght more than us, well done to intensity as them, they would have done ho and Robinho. In addition, and even more the national team the opponent and watched the keeper. freshed,” said Ranieri. them.” something wrong.” former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe which has only made the World Scolari is in charge of the team. Cup once, in 2002, and faces an Martinez is the biggest trans- uphill battle to remain in the race BOTTOMLINE fer to date by the ambitious for the 2018 edition in Russia. Chinese clubs. Spending has Chinese President Xi Jinping increased after last year’s sign- leads the way as an ardent foot- ing of a lucrative television deal ball fan, with the ultimate aim of worth 1.25 billion dollars with hosting a World Cup and win- broadcasters Ti’ao Dongli. ning the showcase tournament. Wenger on attack aft er misfi re Chelsea’s Ramirez joined JS Now to see what happens.

AFP was high for a Premier League to the supposedly prominent London game but the quality of fi nishing Premier League clubs. Prince Ali slams FIFA cash move was poor. “Not one team in my one- “Finishing is a bit cyclical, up and-a-half years managing against Americas confederations rsene Wenger shrugged and down at the moment. It’s Southampton created what Ar- off criticism that he very down for us now. senal created against us,” he said. FIFA presidential candidate announced that funding to should have signed a “We have a diffi cult pro- “So you need to be lucky fi rst Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL world-class goalscorer gramme, especially away from and you need to have a goal- Jordan has criticised the has been suspended with im- inA the January transfer window home, but we need to respond.” keeper who is saving everything global body’s decision to cut mediate eff ect,” wrote Ali in a despite acknowledging that Ar- Southampton manager Ron- and that’s maybe what explained off funding to corruption hit statement issued to media. senal’s fi nishing has been rather ald Koeman paid tribute to For- what happened. Americas confederations, call- “Who is the spokesman; which poor in recent weeks. ster, who kept his fourth succes- “Normally it’s more diffi cult ing it “collective punishment”. FIFA committee does he rep- The Arsenal manager cut a sive clean sheet since returning for opponents to create that In a statement yesterday, resent; who decided that 45 frustrated fi gure at the Emirates from a knee injury last month. many chances against us. Prince Ali questioned Mon- Member Associations should Stadium on Tuesday as the Gun- “Our goalkeeper is magic and “We didn’t play well but we day’s announcement by FIFA suff er collective punishment ners created plenty of chances he was magic tonight,” Koeman had unbelievable spirit. In the that they had put on hold as a result of individuals’ bad in a 0-0 draw with Southamp- said. counter-attacking, we didn’t payments to CONCACAF and actions; who decided to hold ton, but ultimately were denied “It’s always diffi cult when have the quality. CONMEBOL, the two confed- these votes to ransom less on numerous occasions by the you are out for more than nine “But to get one point away to erations that have been most than three weeks before the sheer brilliance of Saints goal- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reacts during his team’s match months. Knowing you need Arsenal, three points at Man- aff ected by the corruption election and who exactly will keeper Fraser Forster. against Southampton at the Emirates Stadium. rhythm and games. chester United, to beat Chelsea scandal engulfing football decide when the funding will It has often been said that, in “But since coming back he was away, one point against Liv- governance. be reinstated?” concluded the pursuit of winning a fi rst Pre- “Believe me, they do not walk of those nights. We are all disap- the same. Credit to the medical erpool at Anfi eld is amazing, a CONMEBOL is responsible for statement. mier League title since 2004, in (off ) the street and say: ‘I am a pointed because we had enough staff and credit to Fraser. dream for a club like Southamp- the sport in South America A spokesman for FIFA’s Audit the north London club should world-class striker’. chances to win the game. “He is one of the best goal- ton.” while CONCACAF covers and Compliance Committee have invested heavily in a proven “They are already at a big “The most disappointing keepers in the Premier League Koeman revealed that his new North and Central America told Reuters that they had striker. club and under contract and not thing is that some players missed and maybe one of the best in Eu- striker Charlie Austin suff ered a and the Caribbean. Off icials made the decision to stop Wenger, though, batted away available. We have Walcott, Gir- chances that they usually take. rope.” “knock” on the eve of the match. from the Americas make up the payments to the two such claims after his side fell to oud, Ozil, Sanchez and Welbeck, “Our fi nishing is very poor Koeman was quick to admit But the recent signing from the overwhelming majority of confederations but declined to fourth place, fi ve points behind who is coming back. at the moment. We have played that his team had enjoyed their QPR should be available for the the 41 individuals and entities comment on Ali’s statement. leaders Leicester. “Tonight, I don’t think that a three Premier League games fair share luck given the sheer home match with West Ham on that have been indicted by the FIFA’s media department “If you had found a world- miracle man would have come in now without scoring a goal. amount of chances created by Saturday. US Department of Justice. declined to comment beyond class striker, who could have and scored for us. As a team, we “Forster had a brilliant game. Arsenal. “It was risky in my opinion to “I have read reports that reissuing the statement they strengthened the team, then you can score goals. But you’d expect that. The rate But he emphasised how well put him on the pitch. It’s not a a FIFA spokesperson has had released on Monday. should have told me,” he said. “I don’t like to say it was one and quality of chances created Southampton have played away serious injury,” he said. Gulf Times 4 Thursday, February 4, 2016 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT LIGUE 1 Monaco tighten grip on second, Marseille Early goal removed extend run Man Utd shackles, says Van Gaal ‘I think the players have made a great performance, not only defensively, but now also ‘attackingly’ because we created a lot of chances’ Monaco’s Bernardo Silva reacts after scoring against Bastia. AFP Fletcher was not registered in Paris time following his surprise ar- rival from Sunderland. However, Georges-Kevin Nk- onaco reasserted their oudou has enjoyed a fi ne debut grip on second place season at OM after his sum- in Ligue 1 with a 2-0 mer switch from Nantes and the victory over Bastia on 20-year-old delivered the game’s MTuesday, while 10-man Marseille only goal on 68 minutes with a beat Montpellier 1-0 to stretch tidy fi nish past Laurent Pionnier. their unbeaten run to 11 matches. Nkoudou’s fi fth goal of the Former Monaco defender season was enough to give Francois Modesto gifted the Michel’s side a sixth away win hosts the opening goal as he in- in eight outings, although the advertently turned a corner into visitors were forced to see out the his own net 10 minutes before fi nal 20 minutes a man down as half-time at the Stade Louis II. Florian Thauvin was sent off for Bernando Silva’s defl ected a needless lunging tackle on Vi- strike on 73 minutes wrong- torino Hilton. footed Bastia goalkeeper Jean- Michel sprung to the defence Louis Leca as Monaco registered of Thauvin, who only rejoined a third win in four attempts to Marseille on loan from Newcas- move fi ve points clear of third- tle on Sunday, saying the deci- place Angers. sion to brandish a red card was Brazilian striker Vagner Love somewhat harsh. made his fi rst start for Monaco “He wanted to do well so badly. following his January move from He apologised to his teammates, Corinthians, completing 75 min- but a yellow card would perhaps utes before he was replaced by have been a more fair punish- Argentine Guido Carrillo. ment for the incident,” said the “The team played well, we Spaniard. controlled our opponents, creat- On Wednesday, runaway ed a handful of good chances and leaders Paris Saint-Germain scored twice. We did lots of good can break Nantes’ 20-year-old things,” said Monaco coach Le- record unbeaten run in Ligue 1. onardo Jardim, who was pleased Laurent Blanc’s side stretched with his side’s response after a their streak without a loss to 32 chastening 3-0 defeat at Angers matches with Sunday’s 2-0 vic- on Saturday. tory at Saint-Etienne and can Marseille have relied on their claim the top-fl ight record out- superb away form in their bid right if they avoid defeat at home to challenge for a Champions to Lorient. League place, and it was no dif- ferent at the Stade de la Mosson. Results Manchester United’s English striker Wayne Rooney applauds at the end of the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Stoke City at Old Traff ord. The visitors were without leading scorer Michy Batsh- Monaco 2 Bastia 0 AFP like that in the fi rst half, everything is go- said the United manager. lowing the announcement on Monday of uayi through suspension, while Montpellier 0 Marseille 1 Manchester ing more easily. “When he is playing how he is playing Pep Guardiola’s appointment as Man- Scotland international Steven “We have played games for 90 minutes now, the chance is big, but every player chester City’s next manager. with a lot of pressure and also against an has to prove it every week. City hope the arrival of the Bayern anchester United manager opponent who had a higher level than “Even my captain has to do that be- Munich coach will drive them to fur- SERIE A Louis van Gaal said an early Stoke City tonight (Tuesday). cause everybody has forgotten he was a ther success domestically and in Europe, goal had made all the diff er- “I think the players have made a great substitute against Stoke City away. placing further pressure on United, who ence after his side beat Stoke performance, not only defensively, but “It is for everybody always the same are still fi ve points away from a Champi- MCity 3-0 in a vastly improved perform- now also ‘attackingly’ because we cre- with me. You have to prove it every game, ons League spot in fi fth place in the Pre- Spalletti hails Salah ance. ated a lot of chances. every training session and then you play. mier League. United had not scored a fi rst-half goal “We had fantastic fi nishing of team When he plays like this, I cannot say to But Van Gaal said that he was looking in 11 games at Old Traff ord and were goals, building up from the back, which is him, ‘Go to the bench’.” forward to welcoming Guardiola, who as ‘Pharaohs’ help booed off after losing 1-0 to Southamp- what I like to see.” Rooney was dropped for United’s 2-0 played under him at Barcelona, to the ton in their previous home match. Although he did not get on the Boxing Day defeat at Stoke as United lost Premier League. But Jesse Lingard’s 14th-minute scoresheet, Juan Mata was a pivotal per- for the fourth game running—a run that He said: “He is my former captain so I Roma beat Sassuolo header eased the tension on Tuesday former for United in a central position prompted serious scrutiny of Van Gaal’s am very pleased to see him and I can speak and United went on to score a superb behind Rooney, creating several chances position—but has since scored seven Spanish, so it is convenient for him.” AFP second through Anthony Martial before and having opportunities to score him- goals in as many games. Defeat for Stoke completed a dis- Rome the break and a third courtesy of captain self. Van Gaal expects the striker, 30, to heartening sequence of results that had Wayne Rooney in the second half. The Spaniard had been left out of quickly break Bobby Charlton’s club previously seen them dumped out of the Playing down suggestions that it had United’s starting line-up for their previ- record of 249 goals, which he now trails League Cup and FA Cup in successive oma coach Luciano been United’s best display of the season, ous three Premier League games, but Van by fi ve. matches. Spalletti hailed the en- Van Gaal said: “No, I don’t think so. The Gaal said that he cannot drop him again if “I hope for him and it is also good for “The worst thing that can happen at thusiasm and clinical diff erence is the fi rst half we score and he continues this form. me then because when he scores, we Old Traff ord is to concede early,” said fi nishing of Mohamed then it is much more easy. “He was participating in all the three win,” said Van Gaal. Stoke manager Mark Hughes, the former SalahR after a precious 2-0 league “Michael Carrick said when you score goals so that is also what I like to see,” United’s win was a welcome tonic fol- United striker. win over Sassuolo on Tuesday that had a particularly Egyptian fl avour. BOTTOMLINE Egyptian international Salah put the visitors ahead with a “cracking” left-footed strike from the edge of the area after just 11 minutes at the Mapei Stadium. When Domenico Berardi missed an 88th-minute penalty Roma’s midfielder from Egypt ‘Guardiola won’t distract City’ for the hosts—after Roma mid- Mohamed Salah. fi elder Radja Nainggolan was AFP petitions and all I was focused win this game and show we can booked for a second time for a day’s performance has injected Manchester on was getting the three points. defend very well if we need to. foul in the area—Roma twisted fresh life into his embattled We are all thinking about this “We are known as an attack- the knife. side’s campaign only three weeks season rather than the next. ing team, but we showed we can Four minutes later on-loan after the sacking of French coach anchester City man- “I think that we are living in a defend, too. Sergio Aguero and AC Milan striker Stephan El Rudi Garcia. ager Manuel Pel- very good season and if we can Joe Hart had good games for us, Shaarawy, an Italy international “If we show the same spirit legrini does not fi nish it very strongly, then it but the whole team worked hard. whose father is Egyptian, es- as we did tonight (Tuesday) we believe that the im- will be special. “I thought against Sunderland caped his marker to meet Diego can recreate that buzz which, Mpending arrival of Pep Guardiola “It will be diffi cult with each we showed we can play in a diff er- Perotti’s cutback in the area to if transferred to the dressing to succeed him will overshadow game as it goes along, but that is ent way and in a way that is need- fi re past Andrea Consigli. room and around the club, could the club’s four-pronged quest what I am focused on. I am not ed to win such diffi cult games.” It secured Roma’s second make for a great dynamic,” added for silverware this season. thinking about myself right now. City’s performance answered consecutive win under Spal- Spalletti, who steered Roma to Tuesday’s 2-1 win at Sunder- I want to talk about the team and the question of how they would letti and the former Zenit St successive Cup triumphs in his land gave Pellegrini a 65th Pre- the club, not me.” react to the Guardiola an- Petersburg handler had special previous spell in charge of the mier League victory in 100 games, A 16th-minute goal from Ser- nouncement, and the battling praise for Salah: “He’s a great kid club (2005-2009). a ratio bettered only by former gio Aguero and a superb display nature of their win bodes well who feeds on enthusiasm and Salah may already be an inte- Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, in City’s goal by Hart proved to for the run-in. through these results he will get gral part of Roma, who decided who won 73 of his fi rst 100 English be the diff erence between the When Guardiola was an- even more. to buy the 23-year-old outright top-fl ight matches. two sides. nounced as Bayern Munich “He scored a cracking goal and from Chelsea earlier this season, The Chilean’s record eclipses Manchester City’s manager Manuel Pellegrini. But Pellegrini, whose name manager in January 2013, Jupp deserves all the credit.” but El Shaarawy’s arrival at the that of Alex Ferguson over his was sung by the travelling fans, Heynckes’s side went on to win “I’m happy with the goal, but club has helped revive Roma’s fi rst 100 games in the English City three points behind Premier Guardiola’s appointment might was at pains to point out that it the treble. Pellegrini may yet mostly because it helped us to the faint ‘scudetto’ hopes. top tier and is better than both League leaders Leicester City, be a distraction for City, who had been a collective eff ort and leave this summer as City’s most win,” said Salah, who has now hit ‘Il Faraone’ (The Pharaoh), as predecessor Roberto Mancini who they host on Saturday. remain in contention for league, that City’s players had shown successful ever manager. six league goals this season. El Shaarawy is known in foot- and Liverpool’s Rafael Benitez. Pellegrini’s defence under Champions League, League Cup they have steel to their game, as For Sunderland manager Sam Roma remain in fi fth place ball circles, hit his maiden Roma But it will not prevent him pressure from the press was as and FA Cup honours, he said: well as silk. “This game against Allardyce, survival itself is the and sit nine points behind lead- goal in a 3-1 league win at home being replaced at the end of the impressive as England goal- “The announcement was not on Sunderland was a very diffi cult only benchmark of success and ers Napoli ahead of their trip to to Frosinone last weekend and season by Guardiola, and that keeper Joe Hart’s had been in my mind—only having a good game and I’m very happy about it was no consolation to him that Lazio later Wednesday, when the the striker’s second has boosted announcement made Monday preserving City’s lead at the Sta- season ahead of the next game the result,” he said. his side had outplayed a team remaining league fi xtures will be his bid to be recalled to Antonio dominated his post-match press dium of Light. against Leicester. “The most important thing for who could end up as Premier played. Conte’s national side ahead of conference after a win that kept Refuting the suggestion that “I want to do well in all com- the team was to come here and League champions. But Spalletti believes Tues- this summer’s Euro 2016 fi nals. Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 5 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT DeChambeau’s irons earn mixed bag of results

Reuters check for imperfections and also some- Dubai thing called “vector green reading”. “I’m able to read greens at a faster, better level than most,” he said. “From a strategic rom outscoring Jordan Spi- standpoint I can’t give you all my se- eth and Rory McIlroy in Abu crets, but it’s based on shot dispersion.” Dhabi to barely making the cut DeChambeau, who halted his studies in Qatar, amateur Bryson De- at Southern Methodist University after ChambeauF (pic) has discovered that its golf team was suspended due to rules his unique “scientifi c” approach cannot violations involving a former coach, has always prevent the vexing dips in form temporarily forsaken the game’s riches that dog every golfer. to remain an amateur. Last year, the Californian became He cannot receive money from tour- only the fi fth player to win the top two naments, equipment manufacturers or amateur titles in the United States in the agents and was coy as to whether his same season, his victories especially re- club maker would try to market his irons. markable because he uses a set of irons “I can’t say too much about that yet,” he fi tted with shafts of identical length. said. “There is some work we’re doing to Those clubs, which McIlroy admitted try and fi gure out a fi tting system.” to sneakily trying out in Abu Dhabi, are regular European Tour. with the best players.” ent and if people say that I’m that, then I DeChambeau, who likened his pio- There will be no shortage of sponsors heathen to traditionalists and doubts DeChambeau’s second-round 72 Dressed on that third day in beige guess it’s cool,” DeChambeau added. neering traits to those of George Wash- seeking his endorsement when he does remains as to whether DeChambeau earned him a spot in the leading trio slacks, matching fl at-cap and suede As well as their length, his irons ington and Albert Einstein, seems con- join the paid ranks after his US Masters can join the game’s professional elite that included McIlroy. shoes, and shorn of the usual sponsor have identical shaft and lie angles, and tent to deepen his golfi ng education. debut in April. with such a bag selection. Such exalted company proved too logos that adorn professional golfers’ were developed after studying Homer “Every day it’s a learning process. In January, he signed with The Leg- The physics student’s mixed perform- much and a third-round 78 created a attire, DeChambeau’s upright, aristo- Kelley’s cult 1969 manual “The Golf- I’m a golfi ng scientist, so I don’t take it acy Agency, which represents several ance on the European Tour’s so-called puzzle for his scientifi c mind, although cratic walk added to the impression of ing Machine”. The only variation is in with any emotion,” said DeChambeau, US golfers including Patrick Reed and ‘Desert Swing’, the fi nal leg of which equipment choice did not seem to be a player from a bygone age, even if his the loft, enabling him to hit diff erent whose struggles continued in Qatar, Jim Furyk. starts in Dubai today, may have bolstered part of his post-tournament analysis. approach is cutting-edge. distances. “It helps me keep my same where he made the cut by one stroke “I have been in a major champion- the argument for his detractors. “It’s great to look back and go ‘why “I’m an analyst, I like analyzing posture, same setup, same everything,” and limped home 17 adrift of winner ship but I haven’t played with the likes Two weeks ago in Abu Dhabi, the did something change’?” DeCham- things, I love understanding numbers DeChambeau admitted. Branden Grace. of Rory McIlroy or Jordan Spieth in the 22-year-old shot a fi rst-round eight- beau said. “It was too much adrenaline, and fi guring things out,” DeChambeau Equipment makers remain dubious. “Regarding the past two weeks, it’s heat of battle and that’s where this is under 64, two shots clear of four-time too much going for me. I was 10 under said in a video that garnered more than “If manufacturers thought this been fun. Learned a lot. Messed up a great preparation for the Masters,” he major winner Rory McIlroy and four through 20 holes. I know I can do it. 290,000 views within hours of being would be benefi cial it’s highly likely couple times but that’s how it goes as added. “This time last year, I was kind better than world number one Spieth “The issue is how do you control the posted on Facebook. they would have done it by now because an intern,” he added. of a nobody and to be honest I still think in just his seventh appearance at a pro- diff erent situations that amount when He has been labeled the most interest- production would be easier,” golf club His iconoclastic approach includes of myself as that. I try to be as humble fessional tournament and fi rst on the the pressure is on, when you’re playing ing man in golf. “I just like being diff er- fi tter Mark Woodward said. dunking golf balls in salted water to as possible.” ATHLETICS McIlroy has Augusta Suhr to miss World Masters on his mind Indoor Ch’ships ory McIlroy loves being any pressure off going into part of the conversa- Augusta. Of course I want to ‘I am not sure that is something I want to do in an Olympic year. That is just asking a lot’ Rtion, especially when it win there one day, but I’ve comes to the Masters. got hopefully 20-plus years of The world number two, giving it a go and hopefully by who is defending his Dubai that 20th year, I’m not going Desert Classic title this week, for my first green jacket will head to Augusta National “Hopefully, I will be going in early April trying to win the for my third or fourth.” one major championship that McIlroy was delighted to be has eluded him and complete back on a golf course where a career Grand Slam. he hasn’t finished outside the Golf legend Lee Trevino, in top-10 in his last six starts. a recent interview, said he was He is also a two-time cham- sure McIlroy would achieve pion of the Dubai Desert Clas- more than one Grand Slam in sic. and completed a Dubai his career, but the 26-year-old double last year, winning the said such talk does not allevi- DP World Tour Championship ate any pressure on him. in November. “Of course, you always want “It’s always nice to be back to be part of the discussion, in Dubai, and I guess the last even if sometimes it gets to couple of times I’ve played you or fills your head with here, I’ve done pretty well, so thoughts that you don’t maybe I’m sort of going for three in want in your head at certain a row in Dubai with winning points,” said McIlroy. here last year, and then with “But it’s always better to the DP World,” added McIlroy. be a part of the conversation “It seems to bring out my than not. It’s just words. It’s just best golf. And I’ve got great someone giving their opinion. memories here at Emirates But the diff erence between Golf Club, winning my first someone saying that and me tournament, making my first actually going out and doing it cut as a pro. So it’s always great are two entirely diff erent things. to be back. Yeah, if I was leav- “Yeah, I’d like to think by the ing here on Sunday night and end of my career, I’ll hopefully didn’t win, I’d be disappointed.” have won each major more The $2.5 million tournament than once, but I don’t know if starts today with McIlroy the I’m going to do it. I hope I do. highest ranked player in the “Trevino seems to think that field. Also in fray are world No. Reuters I will, so maybe I need to go 6 Henrik Stenson of Sweden, New York talk to him! and the 18th ranked Louis LA Olympic bid a chance to go back “I don’t think it takes Oosthuizen of South Africa. lympic pole vault champion Jenn Suhr (pic) does not plan to com- pete in next month’s IAAF World to the future, says nostalgic Lewis Indoor Championships even Kerber ready for Fed Cup duty thoughO she has just broken her world indoor arl Lewis recalls the 1984 stands—I knew exactly where attempts to save energy. old, who was on hand at the record, the American said on Tuesday. Los Angeles Olympics, they were,” Lewis recalls. He won the 200m in an University of California at Los reshly crowned Austral- will be deciding,” Rittner said. A desire for more gold at the Rio Games Cwhere he claimed athlet- “It was some of the greatest Olympic record of 19.80sec, Angeles on Monday to help ian Open champion An- Germany are aiming for a and the stress of having to go through the ics gold medals in the 100m, time of my entire life. then the third-fastest ever. He show off Los Angeles to Inter- Fgelique Kerber will lead third Fed Cup title following US trials and the World Indoor Champi- 200m, 4x100m and long jump, “On top of that, I competed,” anchored the 4x100m relay to national Olympic Committee Germany in the weekend’s earlier success in 1987 and onships with just four days in between led as the “greatest time” of his life. added Lewis, although his rec- victory in 37.83, a world record president Thomas Bach. Fed Cup first round tie against 1992. They reached the final in Suhr and her coach to rule out the March Now the US legend is cam- ollections of that whirlwind are that stood until 1990. “I just hope we can bring it Switzerland as she never 2014 but lost to Czech Republic. 17-20 Worlds in Portland, Oregon. paigning to bring the Games less clear. “I remember the run- Although he came into the back so the that the commu- considered withdrawing in the Plans did not change after Suhr boosted back to the city in 2024—40 ning the least. It sounds weird. 1984 Olympics with a realistic nity sees what we saw, what wake of the Melbourne title. her world record to 5.03 metres (16 feet, 6 years after he etched his name I competed seven out of eight chance of winning four golds, LA showed to the world back “It was always clear that I inches) in Brockport, New York, last Satur- alongside that of Jesse Owens continuous days, every day I Lewis said achieving the feat—es- then,” he said. would come here. It is always day. “Right now, it is still off the table,” she with his golden quadruple. had to compete tomorrow, that pecially on home soil was “some- The Southern California enter- a big honour for me (to play said of the World Indoors. “What I remember the most, part—it’s a blur. thing I could never imagine”. tainment capital, which hosted Fed Cup),” Kerber told report- “I am not sure that is something I want my family and I rented a house “When you go for that long “A lot of people don’t realize the Olympics in 1932 as well as ers in Leipzig yesterday. to do in an Olympic year,” she said of having just behind the Chinese Theatre,” period of time, you have to be I tried four times,” added Lewis, 1984, is competing with Buda- Kerber had her biggest to fi nish in the top two in the US Champi- Lewis said, referring to the Hol- mentally sharp—it’s kind of a who won 100m and long jump pest, Paris and Rome for the career success last Saturday onships on March 12 and then competing lywood landmark famous for the blur ... I just remember crossing golds in Seoul in 1988, long right to stage the 2024 Games. when she beat world number against the world’s best on March 17. foot- and hand-prints of the stars the line of the 100m and the jump and 4x100 relay golds Lewis said all four candidates one Serena Williams in the “That is just asking a lot,” said Suhr, who adorning its entrance plaza. relay. Just to do it and to win in Barcelona in 1992 and long had their merits, but “LA” had Australian Open final and rose will celebrate her 34th birthday tomorrow. “We all stayed in the same four gold medals.” jump gold in Atlanta in 1996 something special. “The thing to number two in the rankings. Healthy and having fun after two years house. My sister was in the Lewis, then 23, began his Ol- to finish his career with nine about LA, it’s a unique place to She came to Leipzig on Tues- of up-and-down results, the Olympic Olympic team, my brothers and ympic quest with a clear victory Olympic gold medals. launch the future. Just like LA day after spending a day at her gold medallist added a centimetre to her parents were there. Mother was in the 100m in 9.99sec. He domi- “It takes a lot of time, a lot of 1984 did for the Olympic move- Polish residence. 2013 world indoor record with her third- cooking dinner every day, it nated the next day in the long luck, a lot of everything, but it ment—it brought it back. German captain Barbara attempt clearance at Saturday’s college was an amazing time. jump with a jump of 8.54 on his all came in Los Angeles, a place “I think LA could do the same Rittner did not want to reveal meeting. “They were sitting in the first attempt, eschewing further I loved,” said the now 54-year- exact thing for the future.” whether she will field Kerber in “When I am ready to jump it doesn’t singles but said it was time to matter where I jump,” Suhr said. And the look ahead at the weekend tie. record was not a surprise. “I knew from Yelena Isinbayeva’s 2009 outdoor world offi cials said. “The second attempt didn’t virus an international health emergency, The other team members are what was happening in practice, things record of 5.06 metres later this year. feel all that high,” Suhr said of a mark she Suhr said she was not overly concerned Andrea Petkovic, Annika Beck were working out well,” Suhr said. Suhr attempted to go even higher than hopes to try again at the New Balance In- about the Rio Games, believing US and and Anna-Lena Groenefeld. “We One of only three women to win Olympic that on Saturday, three times unsuccess- door Grand Prix in Boston on Feb 14. international Olympic offi cials would pro- must tick off this great event pole vault gold, the American hopes to chal- fully vaulting at 5.07 metres, the highest Although the World Health Organiza- tect athletes in Brazil, where the virus has and focus on the weekend. That lenge two-time Russian Olympic champion height ever tried by a woman, athletics tion has declared the mosquito-borne Zika spread rapidly. Gulf Times 6 Thursday, February 4, 2016 AMERICAN FOOTBALL

PREVIEW REACTION Super Bowl 50 a Panthers’ Newton clash of QBs past downplays and present race debate Peyton Manning’s best days on the gridiron are surely behind him after 18 years in the National Football League, while Cam Newton is vying for a championship after a breakout season. Both quarterbacks have something to prove Sunday in Super Bowl 50, the annual championship game of American football.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton addresses the media at a press conference prior to Super Bowl 50 at the San Jose McNery Convention Center.

AFP for people from all backgrounds. San Francisco “When you ask me a question about African-American or being black and mobile, it’s bigger than arolina Panthers star that, because when I go places and Cam Newton on Tuesday I talk to kids and I talk to parents downplayed the signifi - and I talk to athletes all over, they cance of being only the look at my story and they see a sixthC black quarterback in his- person, African-American or not, tory to start a Super Bowl, insist- that they can relate to,” Newton ing he wanted to be judged on his said. achievements as an athlete and “They see a guy who went a dif- role model. ferent route than just going to a The 26-year-old favorite for Major Division I school and fl our- this season’s National Football ishing there. League MVP title ignited a fi re- “I just wanted to become relat- storm of debate last week by a able. It’s bigger than race. It’s more comment which implied his crit- so opening up the door for guys ics were unnerved by his race as that don’t want to be labeled, that much as his skillset. have bigger views than say, ‘Well, “I’m an African-American I’m in this situation. I’m limited in quarterback that scares people this environment right now, but A view of the Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) being interviewed during Super Bowl 50 Opening Night media day on Monday. because they haven’t seen noth- I also want to be an artist, I want ing that they can compare me to,” to be a poet, but I don’t have the DPA Denver was 12-4 during a regular said Newton, whose exuberant means to necessarily do the right San Francisco season before squeaking past the Pitts- touchdown celebration displays things at that particular point.’ burgh Steelers and defending champion have divided opinion this season. “I just want to give all of those New England Patriots in the playoff s. An However the Panthers star said people hope.” uper Bowl 50 on Sunday could be unprecedented 11 of their 14 victories his comments had been miscon- Newton has drawn criticism a passing of the torch between were by seven points or less. strued, emphasizing he was reluc- from opposing coaches and play- legendary quarterback Peyton With Manning limping literally and tant to portray himself as a “black ers over his carefully choreo- Manning of the Denver Broncos fi guratively, the Broncos scored a mid- quarterback.” graphed touchdown celebrations, Sand burgeoning superstar Cam Newton, dling 22.2 points per game. “I don’t even want to touch on with Tennessee Titans interim who helms the Carolina Panthers’ of- Instead, Denver has gotten by with a the topic of black quarterback, coach Mike Mularkey accusing fence. suff ocating defence that allowed just 3.3 because I think this game is bigger him of breaching a “code of eth- Manning, 39, is on the short list of the yards per carry on the ground and 283 than black, white or even green,” ics” earlier this season with one greatest quarterbacks ever. But after his total yards per game, both best in the Newton told reporters on Tuesday. hip-hop inspired routine. How- statistically weakest regular season, in league. “I think we limit ourselves ever Newton’s supporters have which he missed six games with a foot Meanwhile, Carolina’s aggressive de- when we just label ourselves just pointed out that white players injury, Manning has refused to say if he fence - with a league-leading 24 inter- black, this, that and the third. I who celebrate just as extravagant- will attempt to continue his career after ceptions - will be looking to put pres- wanted to bring awareness be- ly have not faced the same level of the championship game at Levi’s Sta- sure on Manning throughout the game. cause of that, but yet I don’t think criticism. dium in Santa Clara, California, outside But the team relies on Newton’s mobility I should be labeled just a black Newton meanwhile said he was San Francisco. and thrilling play-making skill to pile up quarterback, because it’s bigger unsure why his dancing and end- Meanwhile, Newton has become the points. things in this sport that need to be zone celebrations had been criti- face of the National Football League af- Manning, who holds the NFL’s career accomplished.” cized. ter leading Carolina to the Super Bowl passing records with 539 touchdowns Pressed further about persist- “I don’t know, but I’ll guess with a 15-1 record and two playoff vic- and 71,940 yards in his 18-year career, ent stereotypes surrounding black you’ll have to get used to it be- tories. has seen injuries pile up. A 2011 surgery quarterbacks, Newton grew vis- cause I don’t plan on changing,” Built like a superhero at 1.96 metres to fuse vertebrae in his neck ended his ibly irritated, replying: “It’s not an he said. and 112 kilograms, he displays a level of long tenure with the Indianapolis Colts, issue. It’s an issue for you...I think Newton has drawn support athleticism rarely seen among quarter- whom he led to the 2007 championship we shattered that a long time ago.” from former Redskins star Wil- backs, who rely more on wits than brute and another 2010 Super Bowl appear- Only fi ve other black quar- liams, who led Washington to the strength at a position that directs the A general view of Super Bowl signage reflected in a puddle in San Francisco. ance. terbacks have graced the Super Super Bowl in 1988. “Let’s be real,” complex off ensive schemes of American In a remarkable comeback, Manning Bowl—Doug Williams (Wash- Williams told USA Today. pro football. Newton was the engine of a Carolina when the award is announced Saturday. signed with Denver and won the 2013 ington Redskins), Russell Wilson “This kid has had an unbeliev- Five years after being the fi rst player offence that was the NFL’s most pro- “He’s been a great passer,” Manning league MVP award - the fi fth of his ca- (Seattle Seahawks), Colin Kaeper- able year. He has his own person- chosen in the 2011 college draft, Newton, lific, averaging more than 31 points per said. “He’s been a great runner. reer - en route to the upcoming Super nick (San Francisco 49ers), Dono- ality. I don’t see anything arrogant 26, has already tied the career record for game. He’s been a great leader.” Bowl appearance with the Broncos. van McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles) about Cam Newton. And I think rushing touchdowns by a quarterback Manning himself told reporters a press The Super Bowl has become a secular Brushing aside questions about re- and Steve McNair of the Tennes- a lot of people would agree with with 43, including 10 in the 2015 regular conference this week that there was “no festival in recent decades in the United tirement, Manning said this week that see Titans. that. season. He tossed another 35 touchdowns doubt in my mind” that Newton would States, usually drawing the largest US he has “tried to stay in the moment, Newton said he prefers to see “The kid is having fun. Ain’t through the air with 3,837 yards passing. be named league’s most-valuable player television audience of the year. tried not to look back.” himself as an inspirational fi gure nothing wrong with having fun.”

BOTTOMLINE Panthers coach sees echoes of ’85 Bears

AFP in the climax to the National Football pressed upon his free-scoring team, San Francisco League season at Levi’s Stadium. which marched through the regular sea- Rivera, a linebacker in the Bears’ 46-10 son with only one defeat, the need to stay demolition job of New England in Super focused for a game in which they will on Rivera sees echoes of the Bowl XX, told reporters Tuesday he saw start as favourites. legendary 1985 Chicago Bears similarities between the team he played He has used the cautionary tale of the team in his Carolina Panthers in and the Panthers side he now coaches. 1985 Bears’ failure to build a dynasty as a as he aims to join the elite band “I’ve always shied away from com- warning to his team. ofR men who have won the Super Bowl as paring guys from diff erent eras, but the “I’ve tried to tell them this is an oppor- both a player and a coach. similarities are there,” Rivera said. “I tunity and you only get so many of them,” Rivera blazed a trail three decades ago think there are guys that play fast and Rivera said. when he became the fi rst player of Mexi- play physical. Back in the day, Mike Sin- “When I played, we were the young- can and Puerto Rican descent to win a gletary, Wilber Marshall, Otis Wilson, est team to win a Super Bowl and a lot of Super Bowl in a famed Chicago team those guys played fast and played physi- people thought ‘They’ll get a chance to featuring the likes of Walter Payton and cal as well. come back’. William “The Refrigerator” Perry. “Our guys are a great combination to “Well, we never made it back. I’m try- The 54-year-old would become only have. Tremendous skill set very similar to ing to make sure our guys understand the second Latino coach to guide a team those guys. They’re aggressive guys, they that this could be a once in a lifetime to the Super Bowl crown on Sunday if play downhill, they play physical.” chance and we have the advantage of that the Panthers defeat the Denver Broncos Rivera said meanwhile he has im- now.” Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 7 SPORT

NBA NHL Panthers Raptors eclipse impressive in win over Caps

Agencies Boston Bruins 4-3. New York Boston center David Krejci, Suns, ruin Watson who set up one goal and scored another 26 seconds apart early in lorida winger Jonathan the third period, was off for hold- Huberdeau scored twice ing when Parenteau beat Tuukka and back up goaltender Rask with a rebound backhander Al Montoya registered to end Toronto’s four-game los- F36 saves as the Panthers opened ing streak. up the second half of the season Blues 1, Predators 0 coaching debut with an impressive 5-2 victory Troy Brouwer’s defl ection gave over the Washington Capitals. the St. Louis Blues their fi rst 1-0 Huberdeau’s second goal of win of the season. Scoring his ‘We knew they would come out and play extremely hard and try to get a win’ the night, a ringing shot off the 10th goal, Brouwer got his stick near post, was his 10th of the on a one-timer from defenseman season and it sent some in the Alex Pietrangelo, beating Preda- Verizon Center crowd heading tors goalie Pekka Rinne at 18:55 Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry for the exits with the Capitals of the third period and giving St. (7) celebrates with guard Cory down 4-0. The 22-year-old, who Louis its fourth win of the season Joseph (6) in the closing seconds added a fi rst-period assist, has over Nashville. of the game against the Phoenix 16 points in his past 15 games. The Blues (29-16-8) outshot Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Flyers 4, Canadiens 2 the Predators 12-5 in the fi nal The Raptors defeated the Suns Wayne Simmonds scored a period. 104-97. pair of goals and the Philadelphia Blackhawks 2, Avalanche 1 Flyers got back to winning ways Artemi Panarin and Richard on home ice with a 4-2 victory Panik scored fi rst-period goals as over the Montreal Canadiens at the shorthanded Chicago Black- Wells Fargo Center. hawks beat the Colorado Ava- Simmonds netted his sec- lanche 2-1. ond goal with 8:04 remaining in Goaltender Corey Crawford regulation to break a 2-2 tie and had 23 saves for Chicago, who help the Flyers (22-18-8) snap a played without center Jonathan three-game home losing skid. Toews. The Blackhawks captain Philadelphia are 10-1-1 when had to sit out Tuesday’s game Simmonds scores. because he skipped Sunday’s Devils 3, Rangers 2 All-Star Game in Nashville due Defenseman David Schlemko to illness. scored a power-play goal with Oilers 5, Blue Jackets 1 8:46 remaining in the third pe- In his return from a three- riod to give the New Jersey Devils month absence because of in- a come-from-behind 3-2 victory jury, rookie Connor McDavid against the New York Rangers at delivered a goal-of-the-year Prudential Center. candidate and added two assists Schlemko’s goal came less than in leading the Edmonton Oilers two minutes after a turnover that to a 5-1 victory over the Colum- led to a shorthanded breakaway bus Blue Jackets. for Rangers defenseman Ryan Leon Draisaitl, Eric Gryba, Be- McDonagh, who missed the net noit Pouliot and Jordan Eberle on the golden opportunity. added goals as the Oilers pre- Islanders 5, Wild 3 vailed in a battle between the Brock Nelson scored the tie- last-place teams in the Eastern breaking goal in the fi nal minute and Western Conferences. of the second period and Frans Kings 6, Coyotes 2 Nielsen and John Tavares scored It’s hard to imagine Dustin a little more than two minutes Brown’s popularity in Arizona apart early in the third as the falling any lower. The Los Ange- New York Islanders beat the les Kings captain is already the Minnesota Wild 5-3. most reviled hockey player in the Mikhail Grabovski and Anders Valley due to a colorful history Lee also scored for the Island- with the Arizona Coyotes. ers (26-16-6), who won for the Brown somehow added to the DPA the basis of development, structure and The Raptors got a huge break when Knicks 89: Isaiah Thomas led a bal- fourth time in six games. venom when he scored a pair of Los Angeles discipline, just what the players asked DeRozan ran down an errant Lowry pass anced scoring attack with 20 points, Penguins 6, Senators 5 goals in the Kings’ 6-2 win over for.” before burying a dagger 3-pointer from Jae Crowder and Tyler Zeller added 16 Sidney Crosby scored three the Coyotes on Tuesday at Gila Rising Suns’ star Devin Booker agreed, the right wing to beat the shot clock for apiece, and the visiting Celtics (28-22) consecutive goals to extend his River Arena. Neither goal was he Phoenix Suns made a coach- saying: “You can’t blame everything on a 102-94 cushion with 51.9 seconds left. knocked off the struggling Knicks for recent scoring surge and rally impressive but both helped L.A. ing change but it didn’t change the coach, he was great for us. After Mirza Teletovic countered with their fi fth win in six games. the Pittsburgh Penguins to their erase a second-period defi cit and their downward-spiralling di- “We weren’t coming out there, we 3-pointer of his own to pull the Suns to Arron Affl alo scored 18 points, Robin fourth consecutive victory, 6-5 post its fi rst regulation win over rection. weren’t playing with energy, and we within fi ve, Lowry iced it with two free Lopez had 17 with 13 rebounds while over the slumping Senators. the Coyotes this season. TAll-Stars Kyle Lowry scored 26 points, weren’t playing with passion.” throws and the Raptors won for the 12th Carmelo Anthony fi nished with 16 and 14 Crosby’s natural hat-trick was Ducks 3, Sharks 2 DeMar DeRozan added 22, and the To- Though the Suns lost their fi fth in a time in 13 games. boards for the Knicks (23-28), who suf- the ninth three-goal game of his Rickard Rakell, Hampus Lind- ronto Raptors shaded the Suns 104-97 row and 20th in the last 22 games, they “They played as well as they’ve played fered their sixth loss in seven decisions. career, gave him at least one goal holm and Ryan Garbutt scored on Tuesday, spoiling the debut of interim played with more fi re and fi ght than in in a while,” Toronto coach Dwane Casey •Houston Rockets 115, Miami Heat in eight consecutive games at to give the Anaheim Ducks a 3-2 head coach Earl Watson. recent weeks. said. “But we kept at it and grinded it 102: James Harden had 26 points with Consol Energy Center and as- win over the San Jose Sharks at The visiting Raptors rebounded “The energy was positive,” Watson out.” a career-high-tying 14 assists, and the sured him of his ninth 20-goal the Honda Center. from Monday’s road loss to Denver that said. “I think we have another step to go. Elsewhere: LA Lakers 119, Minne- short-handed Rockets snapped a three- season in his 11 NHL seasons. Goalie Frederik Andersen snapped their franchise-record 11-game “It’s not really physical with our team, sota Timberwolves 115: Kobe Bryant game skid after topping the visiting Heat. Maple Leafs 4, Bruins 3 stopped 30 shots for the Ducks winning streak. it’s more mental and mental toughness fi red in a season-high 38 points, includ- The Rockets (26-25) also received 19 (overtime) (23-18-7), who earned their “We knew they would come out and is a fragile, unique path that we have to ing his seventh triple of the game with points from recently re-acquired Josh The Toronto Maple Leafs, fourth successive victory and play extremely hard and try to get a win,” build slowly.” 26.4 seconds left, and the Lakers (10-41) Smith in place of centre Dwight Howard, down by two goals in the third moved into a tie with the Arizona Lowry said. “This is a good bounce-back Markieff Morris topped the Suns snapped their franchise-record-tying who served a one-game league suspen- period, forced overtime and got Coyotes for third place, the Pa- win for us against a hungry club.” with career highs of 30 points and 11 re- 10-game losing streak after escaping the sion for making contact with a referee’s a power play goal from Pierre- cifi c Division’s fi nal automatic Watson was promoted from assistant bounds. Booker hit six triples en route to stubborn T-Wolves. arm over the weekend. Alexandre Parenteau to shock the playoff spot. coach to replace Jeff Hornacek, who was 27 points, while Archie Goodwin had 18 Lou Williams scored 20 points and Ju- Luol Deng had 17 points for Miami fi red Monday after guiding the Suns to a with a personal-best 12 assists in defeat. lius Randle had 15 with 12 rebounds for (27-22), which had its season-high four- dismal 14-35 record. Toronto led the entire second half and the Lakers (10-41), who regrouped after game success stopped. “It felt like the team had stopped re- 95-81 midway through the period before blowing a 16-point second-half cushion •Portland Trail Blazers 107, Mil- Former Japan star Kiyohara sponding to Jeff ,” Suns general manager Phoenix made it interesting. for their fi rst win since January 12. waukee Bucks 95: CJ McCollum scored Ryan McDonough said. “We were disap- Morris nailed a triple, Booker followed Andrew Wiggins had 30 points to pace 30 points, Damian Lillard had 14 with arrested on drugs charge pointed with the eff ort and wouldn’t tol- with two more before capping off the Minnesota (14-35) which has dropped 12 assists, and the Trail Blazers (24-26) erate it going forward. 13-4 run, with a layup to bring the Suns fi ve straight and 16 of 18. bounced the visiting Bucks for their sea- AFP, Tokyo: Former Japa- media. “Baseball is a beacon “We’ll measure the rest of the year on within 99-94 with two minutes left. •Boston Celtics 97, New York son-best fi fth straight victory. nese baseball star Kazuhiro for young children and ex- Kiyohara has been arrested players too must continue to on suspicion of possessing be role models. BOTTOMLINE stimulant drugs, Tokyo police “We must double our eff orts said yesterday, in a humiliating to reject and stamp out this fall from grace for the one-time kind of harmful behaviour and sporting idol. (the use of) illegal substances,” Superman and Sheriff battle for marketing crown The 48-year-old former added the Nippon Professional Yomiuri Giants slugger, once Baseball boss. one of the biggest names in A top draft pick out of high Reuters “What you have here is something very antics grate on some but are more than off - in his camp. Peyton is going to sell a lot of Japanese baseball, was taken school, the Osaka-born Kiyo- San Francisco interesting, the Super Bowl is now the oldest set by a cutting edge ‘cool’ factor that con- diff erent products and brands than Cam is. into custody and accused of hara smashed 31 home runs story in sport, the passing of the fl ame from nects with a coveted younger demographic. Cam has got fl ash, he’s got style, he’s an as- possession of approximately in his rookie year in Japanese one to the other,” Dom Curran, CEO of Syn- “Cam has a cool factor about him, he puts pirational athlete. 0.1 gram of an undisclosed baseball with the Seibu Lions uper Bowl 50 is primed for a sym- ergy USA, who has more than two decades his name and reputation behind diff erent “None of us are going to be 6’ 5”, 260 substance after police raided in 1986 and went on to win bolic passing of the torch from one of experience developing and implementing things in diff erent categories again because pounds of solid muscle who can throw a 60 his home in the plush Azabu six Japan Series titles with the generation to the next with Denver sports sponsorships. of the nature of who he is,” said Matt Delzell, yard laser of my back foot. district of Tokyo on Tuesday team. Broncos quarterback Peyton Man- “If you are over 30 years old, you are prob- managing director of The Marketing Arm “Peyton is a little bit more relatable, a sort night. After joining former Major Sning ready to hand off the mantle of great- ably associating football with Manning, but that uses the Davie-Brown Index to track of ‘ho hum’ guy who plays in a humble way. Kiyohara admitted the drugs League star Hideki Matsui at ness to the Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton. if you are under 30 years old you are going to and analyze the marketability of thousands Cam is sort of the opposite. The Superman belonged to him and did not the Giants in 1997, Kiyohara For most of his 18-year-career, Manning be associating football with Cam Newton, of celebrities. thing is pretty apropos.” resist arrest, the Tokyo Met- won two more Japan Series has been the National Football League’s certainly now and potentially for the next “Peyton does pizza and insurance and For all his marketing potential, Newton is ropolitan Police Department crowns, although he was often most bankable player, on and off the field. 10 years.” those are pretty safe categories, safe compa- in the same league as sports greats LeBron told AFP. criticised for spending long A Hall of Fame resume that includes fi ve Both quarterbacks were number one nies. Beats (headphones) is edgy, they play James, Michael Jordan and Roger Federer, He is set to undergo medical periods on the bench with a most valuable player awards and a slew of overall picks in the NFL Draft, Manning hip hop in their spots and they are all about who occupy a diff erent orbit while pulling examinations to determine variety of injuries throughout signifi cant quarterbacking records provide taken fi rst by the Indianapolis Colts in 1998 music and being cool and Under Armour is in close to $50 million in endorsements. For whether he was using the his 22-year career. the statistical evidence that mark Manning and Newton by the Carolina Panthers in certainly a cool brand as well. the moment, the NFL is still very much a stimulants himself, it added. He retired in 2008 ranked out as one of gridiron’s all-time greats. 2011, but that is where the similarities end in “They (Manning and Newton) play in niche market limited to North America but Japanese television yesterday fifth on the list of career home Those numbers also form the foundation playing style and personality. With his dis- diff erent categories but it works for both of it is looking beyond U.S. borders with plans showed Kiyohara with head runs with 525. However, for a portfolio of endorsements that have arming southern drawl, Manning projects a them.” to become a major global brand. bowed being taken away for Kiyohara has been no stranger made Manning the NFL’s top product pitch- ‘good ‘ol boy’, folksy charm that helps mask Manning, who can be seen on television “It’s going to take a pretty sustained ef- questioning in the back of an to controversy and a weekly man and the “Sheriff ” has also become one an off -the-charts football IQ and a fiery pitching everything from Papa John’s Pizza fort,” explained Delzell. “When you think unmarked police car, reporting magazine reported in 2014 that of the United States’ most popular athletes. competitiveness. It is a combination of his to Nationwide Insurance, ranked number 32 about LeBron, Jordan, even Roger Federer that a pipe, syringe and four the former player had been But come Sunday there could be a new skill and charm that has made him a mar- on the Forbes 2015 list of highest paid ath- - the top endorsers in their sports - they’ve mobile phones were among hospitalised because of a drug ‘Sheriff ’ in town. keting dream. letes, making nearly as much in endorse- been doing it for a long time and at a very items seized. problem, but his management Newton may not just leave San Francisco At the other end of the spectrum stands ments ($12 million) as salary ($15 million). high level in sports that are very global. “I’m lost for words,” Japan’s denied the rumour, insisting with a Super Bowl and an NFL most valu- Newton, an imposing 6-foot, 5-inch quar- Newton did not crack the Forbes Top 100 “Take basketball in China, the numbers baseball commissioner he had been undergoing treat- able player award but he could also have one terbacking machine. An African-American list. “He (Newton) is not quite there,” said are simply staggering what you can do if you Katsuhiko Kumazaki told local ment for diabetes. hand on Manning’s endorsement crown. with a Superman alter ego, his showboating Delzell. “His trajectory looks great if you’re are LeBron James or Kobe Bryant in China.” Gulf Times 8 Thursday, February 4, 2016 SPORT

FORMULA 1 FOCUS Qatar International Rally starts at Magnussen returns Corniche today

By Sports Reporter in new-look Doha atar International Ral- ly 2016 and the Middle East Rally Champion- ship (MERC) will rev- offQ at Doha Corniche today with a special stage. Renault F1 team The stage, with a length of 2.27 km, will witness the participa- ‘We are here to compete at the highest level and eventually win’ tion of 15 competitors as an- nounced by Clerk of the Course Marwan Musabah. The offi cial start of the rally is scheduled for tomorrow. The rally, which will conclude on Saturday, has some really tough competitors vying for valuable Defending champion Nasser points and bragging rights, even as Saleh al-Attiyah. 11-time MERC champion Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah is considered a These marshals will work to favourite to win the 34th edition of secure the event either techni- the Qatar International Rally. cally or administratively along The event will also see some with a few government agen- close action in Group N with cies. many drivers from Qatar and With Qatar Motor and Mo- across the world. torcycle Federation president The cars will have to go through Nasser Khalifa al-Attiyah leading the technical check-up today. the eff orts and many European Meanwhile, the event will teams participating in the rally, see more than 125 marshals the event has also caught the at- working toward making the tention of the media from across event a success. the region and Europe.

MOTOGP Lorenzo tops Sepang testing ahead of Rossi and Marquez

AFP Sepang, Malaysia

eigning world cham- pion Jorge Lorenzo (pictured) on a Yamaha yesterday topped a rain affR ected fi nal day of the 2016 offi cial MotoGP test at Sepang (Foreground) Renault president Carlos Ghosn (left), F1 team drivers Jolyon Palmer (second from left) and Kevin Magnussen (right), and test driver French Esteban Ocon are circuit in Malaysia ahead of his pictured next to the Renault’s RS16 during its off icial presentation at Renault’s technocentre in Guyancourt, near Paris yesterday. (AFP) teammate Valentino Rossi and rival Marc Marquez. Reuters seur will run day-to-day operations as set a target of podium appearances in the Renault will still have one of the sport’s Spanish Lorenzo logged 1min Paris racing director. next three years. least experienced line-ups when the sea- 59.580sec — 0.976 seconds Renault bought back the team, which He said Renault’s strategic aim was to son starts in Australia on March 20. ahead of Rossi who signifi cantly they had sold at the end of 2009 after integrate Formula One into a new compre- French youngster Esteban Ocon, win- improved his lap time and pace enault announced the Formula winning championships with Spaniard hensive motorsport programme to boost ner of last year’s GP3 junior series, will be during the three-day testing. One comeback of Danish driver Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006, last the image of the brand and establish clear the test and reserve driver. Marquez, also from Spain and Kevin Magnussen at the launch December. synergies between sport and road cars. The British-based team, who fi nished Honda’s double MotoGP world yesterday of a new-look team They will now compete under the Re- Magnussen, 23, made an impressive sixth overall in 2015 after struggling fi - champion, who has been strug- thatR will put the French carmaker back on nault Sport Formula One name, with debut with McLaren in 2014 when he nancially, also announced a change of gling with the machine over the the starting grid as a constructor. Renault branding prominent, along with took second place in his fi rst race in Aus- livery with the car presented in black and past two days, was third — 1.303 Petrucci topped the Magnussen, whose F1 career appeared that of the Infi niti luxury marque, which tralia. But he had to drop back to a reserve yellow colours. seconds behind his fellow coun- timesheets on day two while to have stalled after he spent last year is part of the Renault-Nissan alliance. role in 2015 when double champion Fern- Vasseur, who nurtured the budding tryman Lorenzo. Frenchman Loris Baz’s dramatic on the sidelines and then got cast aside “We are not here (just) to participate ando Alonso arrived. talents of drivers like triple champion A rain shower momentarily accident Tuesday saw manufac- by McLaren, has replaced Pastor Mal- ... we are here to compete at the highest He was let go by McLaren in October, Lewis Hamilton when he ran the success- stopped testing in the afternoon. turer Michelin withdrawing its donado after the Venezuelan’s funding level and eventually win,” Renault Chief at a time when most teams had set their ful ART outfi t in GP2, will run the team British rider Cal Crutchlow on soft tyre for the duration of the dried up. Executive Carlos Ghosn told reporters at line-ups. The news came in an email that day to day. a Honda was fourth, with a time Sepang test. He will partner British rookie Jolyon the company’s Technocentre at Guyan- Magnussen got on his birthday. Cyril Abiteboul, who was once princi- of 2mins 00.992 seconds while Baz escaped serious injury Palmer, whose signing was announced court outside Paris. Palmer was the 2014 champion in the pal of the now-defunct Caterham team, retired Australian double world when his rear tyre exploded and last year by the team when they were rac- “It’s not going to happen in 2016 ... it’s GP2 feeder series and a regular in Friday retains his previous job of managing di- champion Casey Stoner, back on hurled him off his Ducati bike in ing as Lotus F1. Frenchman Frederic Vas- going to take more time,” Ghosn said. He practice as reserve driver last season, but rector Renault Sport. track testing for Ducati, was fi fth a spectacular high-speed crash. fastest, 1.490 seconds behind the The Frenchman was travel- pacesetter. ling at around 290 kilometres per QATAR BASKETBALL LEAGUE Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, who hour (180 mph) along the Sepang had complained about problems circuit’s main straightaway at the with his Honda machine, man- time. aged to secure sixth with a time From Malaysia, MotoGP riders of 2min 01.161sec while Italian will head to Australia for three Arabi win big against Ahli; Gharafa down Sadd Danilo Petrucci on a Ducati was days at Phillip Island from Feb- seventh, 1.637 seconds down on ruary 17 to 19. By Sports Reporter Lorenzo. After the fi rst two tests, the Doha On Monday Lorenzo was the premier class will head to Qa- fastest, clocking 2min 0.684sec, tar from the second to fourth of just over one second faster than March for their fi nal offi cial test. fter a slow start, Al Arabi marched forward to Rossi who has made clear his The MotoGP world champi- a commanding 113-78 win over Al Ahli dur- intentions to win his 10th World onship begins in Losail, Qatar, on ing the Qatar Men’s Basketball League match Championship title. March 17. at Al Gharafa Sports Club here yesterday. ATemi Narcellius Soyebo and Todd Edward O’Brien scored 63 points between them as Arabi won by a massive 35-point margin. beIN partners with Discovery to Within the fi rst fi ve minutes of the game, an eight- point scoring run saw Ahli take a 12-5 lead over their launch six new channels opponent but the complexion changed by the time the quarter ended as Soyebo, O’Brien annd Co. went BeIN yesterday announced the signing of six channels from Dis- up by 31-17. covery Communications, five of which are exclusive to beIN in the Thereafter Arabi never let go off their grip on the region. These channels will further strengthen beIN’s portfolio, game leading for a total of over 35 minutes in the off ering a wide choice of world-class content to its subscribers. match. BeIN will be the exclusive platform for these five premium chan- Soyebo topped the scoresheets with 34 points. nels in Middle East & North Africa. The eff ort included 11 two-pointers, three three- beIN launched its entertainment bouquet in November in Mena pointers and three free-throws. O’Brien dunked 12 region. Since the initial launch, the network has strengthened its two-pointers and fi ve free-throws besides notching content off ering by partnering with multiple global TV brands, up 17 rebounds for his 29-point haul. The others to channels and studios. get into double fi gures for Al Arabi were Khalid Ma- Highlighting the significance of this strategic partnership, beIN soud al-Nasr with 14 points and Osama Adel Mo- Media Group deputy CEO Yousef al-Obaidly said, “Partnering with hamed Matalqah with 13 points. Discovery Communications further strengthens our position as the For Ahli Terrence Lavalle Joyner Jr. scored 25 number one family entertainment platform in the region. Discov- points, while Ndoye Elhadj Seydou and Mustafa El- ery’s channels off er unique content, packaged exceptionally well for sadiq added 20 and 15 points respectively. the most discerning global audiences. We look forward to working Unlike the fi rst match of the day, the tie between closely with Discovery to bring great new content to Mena.” Al Sadd and Al Gharafa was a slow moving aff air that Commenting on this new relationship, Discovery Networks Inter- was eventually won by the hosts 57-41 without ever national president JB Perrette said, “For over 30 years, Discovery losing the lead. has been satisfying viewers’ curiosity through engaging and Kevin Dwayne Galloway led the scoring for the entertaining content through a list of powerful and loved media eventual winners with 14 points while Abdulrahman brands. In partnership with beIN, we are providing a stronger of- Mohamed Saad added 12 and Hassino Ndoye scored 10. fer to our viewers and commercial partners, and we look forward There were only two Sadd players in double fi g- to working alongside beIN to increase the reach of our content in ures — Mohamed Deba Kone with 12 points and Al Arabi’s Todd Edward O’Brien (left) in action against Al Ahli during their Qatar Basketball League match at Al Gharafa the Middle East and Africa.” Khalid Suliman Abdi with 10. Sports Club yesterday. O’Brien scored 29 points in his team’s 113-78 win. PICTURE: Nasar TK Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 9 CRICKET

FIRST ODI U-19ROUND-UP WC Pakistan New Zealand quicks Boult, top group aft er win Henry destroy Australia over Lanka ICC In reply to New Zealand’s 307-8, Australia were all out for 148 in the 25th over Mirpur akistan rode on a fi ne all-round performance by Hasan Mohsin to de- feat Sri Lanka by 23 runs Pin the last league match and top Group B in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh yes- terday. Mohsin top-scored with 86 and then rattled Sri Lanka with two early wickets as Pakistan fought back after being dis- missed for 212 to bowl its rival out for 189 in Mirpur. Pakistan will take on the West Indies in the fourth quarter-fi nal in Fatullah on 8 February. Sri Lanka, which fi nished second in the group, meets England on 7 February in Mirpur. Pakistan’s total was built around Mohsin’s attractive run- a-ball innings which was stud- ded with eight hits to the fence and a six. Pakistan was struggling at 96-4 after being sent in to bat on a hazy morning when Mohsin stepped in to stem the rot with a 61-run stand for the fi fth wicket with Salman Fayyaz (33). Mohsin, who was on 61 at the fall of the seventh wicket, smashed 23 runs in the 47th over bowled by seamer Asitha Fern- ando which included fi ve runs for an overthrow. Moshin was bowled in the next over, trying to reverse sweep left-arm spinner Damitha Silva, who fi nished with two wickets for 41 runs. Thilan Nimesh and Wanidu Hasaranga also claimed two wickets each, but ambidextrous 17-year-old Kamindu Mendis New Zealand seamer Trent Boult (centre) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of David Warner of Australia during the first one-day international at Eden Park in Auckland yesterday. (AFP) caught the eye with his rare tal- ent to bowl both right-arm off - AFP tain McCullum said, while Australian apart the innings was eff ectively done. fours and fi ve sixes but there was no Santner’s unbeaten 35 at the tail the breaks and left-arm spin. Auckland skipper Steve Smith felt 300 was a get- Spinner Mitchell Santner came on for one following who could maintain the only other innings of note. The second Mendis gave away 21 runs in table target until Bould and Henry fi red his one over of the game and took the momentum. With his dismissal, four game in the series is in Wellington on four wicketless overs. up. “Losing six wickets in the fi rst 10 last two wickets of Kane Richardson wickets fell for 53 runs in 12 overs, with Saturday. Mohsin, who was later named ew Zealand strike bowlers overs you’re not going to win too many and John Hastings with his fi rst two de- man of the match, stung early in Trent Boult and Matt Henry games when you do that,” he said. liveries to fi nish the match sitting on a Sri Lanka’s reply, grabbing the destroyed world champions Henry, a surprise omission from the hat-trick. SCORECARD fi rst two wickets by the sixth Australia and set up a compre- New Zealand team for next month’s But the main bowling damage was over with his medium-pace Nhensive 159-run victory in their open- World Twenty20 championships, con- done by Boult with three for 38 and bowling. NEW ZEALAND AUSTRALIA ing one-day international in Auckland tinued the form that made him New Henry with three for 41. Guptill and Ni- M. Guptill run out (Maxwell) 90 S. Marsh c Guptill b Henry 5 Sri Lanka was reduced to 63-4 yesterday. Zealand’s leading bowler in their recent cholls provided the backbone for New B. McCullum b Faulkner 44 D. Warner lbw Boult 12 before Mendis, who bats left- In reply to New Zealand’s 307-8, series wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Zealand after McCullum, in his fi nal K. Williamson c Marsh b Hazlewood 0 S. Smith b Henry 18 handed, scored 68 and Vishad Australia were all out for 148 in the 25th In his fi rst over he had Shaun Marsh appearance at Eden Park, ignited the in- H. Nicholls c Wade b Marsh 61 G. Bailey c Anderson b Henry 2 Randika made 46 while adding over. It was also the fi rst time in his- caught in the slips for fi ve with a ball nings in typical swashbuckling fashion. G. Elliott c Hastings b Marsh 21 G. Maxwell c Williamson b Boult 0 84 for the fi fth wicket. tory that Australia were all out inside 25 that moved across the left-hander. He After swinging wildly at the fi rst C. Anderson c Richardson b Hastings 10 M. Marsh c McCullum b Boult 0 Pakistan kept the pressure on overs. New Zealand, sent in to bat, made followed up with the dismissal of Steve eight balls he faced, McCullum found L. Ronchi b Hazlewood 16 M. Wade c Nicholls b Anderson 37 the batsmen to clinch victory an aggressive start with Martin Guptill Smith, bowled for 18, and George Bai- his target and whacked two sixes and M. Santner not out 35 J. Faulkner b Milne 36 in the 47th over as leg-spinner (90), Henry Nicholls (61) and Brendon ley for two. Boult meanwhile removed two fours off four consecutive Josh A. Milne c & b Faulkner 14 J. Hastings c Guptill b Santner 8 Shadab Khan fi nished with three McCullum (44) getting them past the David Warner for 12 and claimed Glenn Hazlewood deliveries. Guptill joined M. Henry not out 5 K. Richardson c Williamson b Santner 19 for 31 runs. Sameen Gul, Mohsin 200 mark in 30 overs. Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh without the action, hoisting Kane Richardson on Extras (b1, lb3, w7) 11 J. Hazlewood not out 0 and Ahmad Shafi q shared six The run rate slowed with the tailend- either scoring. to the roof of the stadium, as New Zea- Total (8 wickets; 50 overs) 307 Extras (lb2, w9) 11 wickets between them. ers but a total in excess of 300 at Eden Warner was dismissed lbw after being land—having one run on the board after Fall of wickets: 1-79 (McCullum), 2-81 Total (10 wickets; 24.2 overs) 148 Pakistan captain Zeeshan Ma- Park, even with its short boundaries, hit on the front pad and after discussion 14 deliveries—raced to 27-0 after 19. (Williamson), 3-181 (Guptill), 4-205 (El- Fall of wickets: 1-10 (S. Marsh), 2-33 lik said defeating Sri Lanka had was competitive. Australia were never with Bailey at the other end he decided Captain McCullum left the ground liott), 5-231 (Nicholls), 6-234 (Anderson), (Smith), 3-39 (Warner), 4-40 (Bailey), 5-40 lifted the team’s morale for the seriously in contention with their reply. to walk. However, replays showed that to a standing ovation when his innings 7-263 (Ronchi), 8-290 (Milne) (Maxwell), 6-41 (M. Marsh), 7-120 (Wade), quarter-fi nal against the West Their innings began to unravel at the had he appealed the dismissal, it would ended on 44 off 29 balls with vefi fours Did not bat: T. Boult 8-121 (Faulkner), 9-148 (Richardson) Indies. very start as Henry and Boult ripped out probably have been overturned. and three sixes. Kane Williamson fell Bowling: Hazlewood 10-1-68-2 (w1), Bowling: Boult 7-0-38-3, Henry 6-0-41-3 “I think we played very good the top order to have the tourists reeling Matthew Wade and James Faulkner for a duck but Guptill and Nicholls put Richardson 10-1-64-0, Hastings 10-0-39-1, (w3), Milne 6-0-46-1 (w3), Anderson 4-1- cricket today, both with the bat on 41-6 after nine overs. attempted a rescue mission for Aus- on 100 for the third wicket before Gup- Faulkner 10-0-67-2, Maxwell 3-0-30-0 14-1 (w3), Elliott 1-0-7-0, Santner 0.2-0-0-2 and ball,” he said. “Mohsin was “Our bowling eff ort was one of the tralia with a 79-run stand for the sev- till was run out. (w2), Marsh 7-0-35-2 Result: New Zealand won by 159 runs very good but all the bowlers did best we have put out for a while,” cap- enth wicket, but when they fell six balls He faced 76 balls and clouted eight well.”

SPOTLIGHT Centurion Buttler leads England run spree

AFP an over, Buttler was promoted up the order and Bloemfontein he was quickly into his stride, pounding a half- century off 34 balls with six fours and three sixes. He reached his century off 73 deliveries which, re- os Buttler led a powerful England batting markably, was the slowest of his four one-day in- performance in the fi rst one-day interna- ternational hundreds. tional against South Africa at the Mangaung Oval yesterday. JButtler made 105, his fourth one-day interna- SCORECARD tional century, as England piled up 399 for nine, their highest one-day total against South Africa ENGLAND and their second highest of all time. Buttler hit 11 J. Roy c Behardien b Morkel 48 fours and fi ve sixes in a 76-ball innings which in- A. Hales c De Villiers b De Lange 57 cluded a breathtaking variety of strokes. J. Root b Morris 52 Alex Hales, Joe Root and Ben Stokes all hit half- J. Buttler c De Villiers b Behardien 105 centuries in an innings which included fi ve part- E. Morgan c Morkel b Imran Tahir 23 nerships worth 50 or more. No fewer than eight B. Stokes b Morris 57 batsmen hit sixes, with a total of 15 hits clearing M. Ali c Morris b Imran Tahir 19 some of the biggest boundaries in South Africa. C. Jordan c Duminy b De Lange 14 All the South African bowlers took heavy pun- A. Rashid b Morris 2 ishment, with four going for 70 runs or more, while D. Willey not out 5 Farhaan Behardien and JP Duminy, sharing fi fth R . Topley not out 0 bowler duties, conceded a total of 93 runs. Extras (lb4, nb9, w4) 17 England’s assault started in the fi rst over when Total (9 wkts; 50 overs) 399 Roy hit two boundaries off Chris Morris. Fellow Fall of wickets: 1-68 (Roy), 2-130 (Hales), 3-227 new ball bowler Marchant de Lange was punished (Root), 4-256 (Morgan), 5-317 (Buttler), 6-371 for 31 in three overs as Roy and Hales raced to 62 off (Stokes), 7-376 (Ali), 8-379 (Rashid), 9-391 (Jordan) the fi rst seven overs. Bowling: Morris 10-0-74-3 (2nb, 1w), De Lange 10- The introduction of Morne Morkel into the at- 0-87-2 (1nb, 1w), Morkel 10-0-70-1 (1nb, 2w), Duminy tack brought the wicket of Roy, caught at cover, af- 5-0-48-0, Imran Tahir 10-0-71-2, Behardien 5-0-45-1 ter he had made 48 off 30 balls in an opening stand (1nb) of 68. Hales took over as the aggressor as he and South Africa playing XI: A. de Villiers, H. Amla, Root put on 62 for the second wicket, with Hales Q. de Kock, F. du Plessis, R. Rossouw, J. Duminy, making 57 off 47 balls before he sliced De Lange to F. Behardien, C. Morris, M. Morkel, M de Lange, wide mid-off . Imran Tahir With England scoring at better than seven runs England’s Jos Buttler plays a shot as South Africa’s wicket keeper Quinton de Kock looks on during the first ODI in Bloemfontein. (Reuters) Gulf Times 10 Thursday, February 4, 2016 CRICKET

PSL Pakistan launches high octane T20 league in UAE Featuring 69 local and 29 foreign stars, the five-team, 24-match league will be held from today till February 23

Agencies Dubai

akistan is set to launch its fi rst franchise-based Twenty20 league in the UAE today as its cash- Pstrapped cricket board seeks to boost revenues and reverse the national team’s slide in the game’s shortest format. The long-awaited fi rst edition of the Pakistan Super League follows two previous attempts that fell through over a lack of sponsorship and the suspension of international cricket at home in the wake of a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team almost seven years ago. With Pakistan’s once-dom- inant Twenty20 side sliding to a lowly seventh place in world rankings following a their recent series loss against New Zealand, organisers are keen for local tal- ent to hone their skills alongside the world’s best players includ- ing Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen and Shane Watson. Peshawar Zalmi, Karachi Kings, Islamabad United, Quetta Gladiators and Lahore Qalandars are the fi ve teams in the com- petition. Featuring 69 local and 29 foreign stars, the fi ve-team, 24-match league will be held From February 4 -23 across two stadiums in Sharjah and Dubai— Pakistan’s “home away from home” since the 2009 terror at- tack. The teams were sold to pri- vate consortiums for a sum of $93 million across 10 years, with $200,000 salaries for top-tier Islamabad United's Shane Watson (left) in conversation with Quetta Gladiators mentor Viv Richards in Dubai ahead of the launch of Pakistan Super League. players and relatively handsome paydays for middle-tier and emerging talent. THE TEAMS The winning side, meanwhile, will bring home $1 million. LAHORE QALANDARS: Chris Gayle, Yasir hamed Nawaz, Saad Nasim, Mohamed Nabi, Former captain and legendary Shah, Sohaib Maqsood, Mustafizur Rahman, Akbar-ur-Rehman, Bismillah Khan. fast bowler Wasim Akram said Kevon Cooper, Cameron Delport, Zafar Gohar, Supplementary: Kumar Sangakkara, Rameez the league was vital for Pakistan Azhar Ali, Mohamed Rizwan, Zia ul Haq, Naved Raja jnr, Aizaz Cheema, to match the fast-rising stand- Yasin, Adnan Rasool, Hammad Azam, Dwayne Coach: Moin Khan. ards of other Twenty20 teams. Bravo, Umar Akmal, Zohaib Khan,. KARACHI KINGS:Shoaib Malik, Shakib Al Has- “Look at where Indian cricket is Supplementary: Ehsan Adil, Abdul Razzaq, an, Sohail Tanvir, Imad Wasim, Ravi Bopara, now because of the Indian Pre- Mukhtar Ahmed, Imran Butt. Lendl Simmons, , Nauman Anwar, Sohail Khan, mier League,” he said, referring Coach: Paddy Upton. Mir Hamza, Saifullah Bangash Mushfiqur to the brash, glitzy tournament PESHAWAR ZALMI: Shahid Afridi, Wahab Rahim, Mohamed Amir, Bilawal Bhatti, James fi rst launched in 2008 whose Riaz, Darren Sammy, Kamran Akmal, Mo- Vince, Iftikhar Ahmed Usama Mir model has been emulated by hamed Hafeez, Chris Jordan, Tamim Iqbal, Ju- Supplementary:Tillakaratne Dilshan, Shah- other leading teams including naid Khan, James Allenby, Shaun Tait, Aamer zaib Hasan, Fawad Alam. Australia and the West Indies. Yamin, Dawid Malan, Imran Khan (jnr), Shahid Coach: Mickey Arthur. “By rubbing shoulders, by Yousuf, Abdur Rehman, Musadiq Ahmed Ali, ISLAMABAD UNITED: Shane Watson, Mo- competing against and by shar- Hasan Ali. hamed Irfan, Brad Haddin, Sharjeel Khan, Im- ing the dressing rooms with Supplementary: Mohamed Asghar, Brad ran Khalid, Kamran Ghulam, Umar Amin, Sam high profi le players all the In- Hodge, Israrullah, Taj Wali. Billings, Mohamed Sami, Khalid Latif, Babar dian players have benefi tted and Coach: Mohamed Akram. Azam, Andre Russell, Misbah-ul-Haq, Samuel I envisage the same in the PSL,” QUETTA GLADIATORS: Kevin Pietersen, Badree, , Rumman Raees, Amad Butt. added Akram, who is the bowl- Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Luke Wright, Supplementary: Saeed Ajmal, Hussain Talat ing coach for Kolkata’s team. Elton Chigumbura, Sarfraz Ahmed Zulfiqar Ashar Zaidi, Umar Siddiq. “We have been struggling Babar, Umar Gul, , Bilal Asif, Asad Shafiq, , Mo- Coach: Dean Jones. to match other teams,” agreed Shoaib Malik, a former captain SCHEDULE LEAGUE STAGES February 13 – Quetta vs Karachi (11am GMT) who was part of Pakistan team First phase (All matches in Dubai) Lahore vs Peshawar (4pm GMT) which lost a Twenty20 series February 4 – Islamabad vs Quetta (4pm GMT) February 14 – Islamabad vs Karachi (11am GMT) in New Zealand 2-1 last month. February 5 – Karachi vs Lahore (11am GMT) Quetta vs Peshawar (4pm GMT) “The PSL provides a launching Peshawar vs Islamabad (4pm GMT) Third phase (Dubai) pad for the future generation of February 6 – Quetta vs Karachi (11am GMT) February 16 – Lahore vs Quetta (11am GMT) players as four emerging play- Lahore vs Peshawar (4pm GMT) February 17 – Karachi vs Peshawar (11am GMT) ers in each team will learn a lot February 7 – Islamabad vs Karachi (11am GMT) Islamabad vs Lahore (4pm GMT) which is good for the future of Quetta vs Peshawar in Dubai (4pm GMT) Pakistan cricket,” he added. February 8 – Lahore vs Quetta in Dubai (4pm PLAYOFF STAGES Not everyone is as optimistic, GMT) February 19 – Playoff 1 [1st place vs 2nd place] with organisers privately admit- Second phase (All matches in Sharjah) in Dubai (4pm GMT) ting that in order to be viable the February 10 – Islamabad vs Lahore (11am February 20 – Playoff 2 [3rd place vs 4th tournament will need to return GMT) place] in Dubai (4pm GMT) to Pakistan for greater gate and February 11 – Karachi vs Peshawar (11am GMT) February 21 – Playoff 3 [winner of playoff 2 vs TV revenues, while rampant pi- Islamabad vs Quetta (4pm GMT) loser of playoff 1] – Dubai (4pm GMT) racy puts a question mark over February 12 – Karachi vs Lahore (11am GMT) February 23 – Final [winner of playoff 1 vs win- the profi tability of kit merchan- Peshawar vs Islamabad (4pm GMT) ner of playoff 3] (4pm GMT) dising. Lahore Qalandars captain Azhar Ali (right), with batting coach Ijaz Ahmed.

SPOTLIGHT Qatar Airways signs long-term partnership with PSL

By Sports Reporter launch this month, the tournament, which fol- Qatar Airways’ other partnerships Qatar Airways currently operates fl ights to – Multan, Sialkot and Faisalabad – helped us Doha lows the popular T20 format, brings excitement include FC Barcelona, Al Ahli Football seven destinations across Pakistan, non-stop expand our reach in Pakistan and we are proud to a sport which is followed by millions of fans Club, Qatar Open nen’s and women’s from its Doha hub, Hamad International Air- to be fl ying-in some of the most popular crick- around the world. tennis championships, and IPTL among port – double daily fl ights to Karachi, Lahore eters from Pakistan to the UAE for this season’s atar Airways yesterday announced Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Ak- others. The partnership with PSL also and Islamabad, three fl ights a week to Multan matches.” a long-term partnership with HBL bar al-Baker said that the association with PSL aligns with the vision of the State of and Faisalabad, four fl ights a week to Sialkot and Chairman Pakistan Super League, Najam Pakistan Super League (PSL) as the was a great opportunity to align the passion for Qatar in its commitment to promote daily fl ights to Peshawar. Sethi welcomed Qatar Airways and highlighted Offi cial Exclusive Airline of the tour- travel with the passion for sport. Al-Baker said: sports globally and in the region Karachi was fi rst launched by the airline in this as a historic moment. “The Pakistan Super Qnament, which is emerging as one of the most “We are excited about our association with the 1995, Peshawar in 1998, Lahore in 1999, Islama- League is a global event and to have one of the exciting cricket events in the region. The inau- Pakistan Super League. Qatar Airways has al- of key sponsorships for Qatar Airways, build- bad in 2004, and Multan, Faisalabad and Sialkot world’s leading airlines partner with us is great gural season of the league featuring key Paki- ways championed the connectivity of sport and ing on its mission to reach new fans through the in 2015. news. I am sure that PSL fans will be equally de- stani and international cricketers will take place sporting achievement. In sport, we learn to play power and passion of sport. Other partnerships Al-Baker continued: “Qatar Airways prides lighted with this arrangement. Hopefully, many in Dubai and Sharjah from today till February 23. and win together, and travel can also teach us include FC Barcelona, Al Ahli Football Club, Qa- itself on being an important presence in the Pa- of our fans will make use of the excellent serv- PSL, featuring fi ve teams comprising of cur- and inspire us to achieve together. This partner- tar Open Men’s and Women’s Tennis Champi- kistani market where we have grown our opera- ices that Qatar Airways has to off er as they make rent and former Pakistani cricketing stars, as ship aligns Qatar Airways’ vision to go places onships, and IPTL among others. The partner- tions rapidly over the past few years, connecting their travel plans to watch the fi rst ever PSL.” well as highly skilled and popular international together with our passengers, and to be a part of ship with PSL also aligns with the vision of the Pakistan to the rest of the world with our direct The opening game of PSL will be preceded by players, is one of the sport’s most awaited glo- their journey.” State of Qatar in its commitment to promote services to Doha and onwards. The launch of an exciting opening ceremony with perform- bal tournaments. After years of planning its This sports partnership is the latest in a series sports globally and in the region. fl ights to three Pakistani destinations last year ances by Ali Zafar and Sean Paul. Gulf Times Thursday, February 4, 2016 11 SPORT

CYCLING/LADIES TOUR OF QATAR SPOTLIGHT Kittel wins Dubai Garfoot takes second opener

AFP Dubai

erman sprinter Mar- stage; Wild crashes cel Kittel won the fi rst stage of the Tour of Dubai yesterday when ‘I am disappointed. I have just bruises on elbow, knee and face, but my teeth are intact and I can smile’ Ghe edged out last year’s winner, Britain’s Mark Cavendish, in a bunch sprint. By Yash Mudgal After the 173km run from the Doha Dubai Marine Club to Fujairah, Italy’s Giacomo Nizzolo came in third with the top three picking atrin Garfoot of Team Orica- up time bonuses of 10, six and GreenEdge put up a dominat- four seconds, giving the three the ing performance to win the lead in the overall standings. dramatic 120km stage two “We were the strongest in the Kof the Ladies Tour of Qatar at Al Khor lead out,” the giant German ex- even as overnight leader Kirsten Wild plained after the race. sustained some bruises in a crash yes- “And the timing was perfect. terday. We made a plan and we execut- On a day of crosswinds, crashes and ed it,” said Kittel, who won four mechanical issues, Garfoot, the Aus- stages on the 2014 Tour de France tralian time trial champion, held her before a virus ruined his fi tness own and picked up a spectacular victo- in 2015. ry after more than three hours of racing Kittel has since left the Giant that began at Sheikh Faisal Museum. Team and taken up with Belgian With 30 kilometres to go, Garfoot outfi t Quick Step, who have a was in the leading 10-rider group. Af- history of banking on sprinters. ter moving ahead in the company of “I restart at zero. I feel very Trixi Worrack of Canyon Sram Rac- good about today’s outcome. ing, Amy Pieters of Wiggle-High5 and We’ll stay focused and hopefully Romy Kasper of Boels-Dolmans in the there’s more to come for us at the last three kilometres, she thereon pro- Dubai Tour,” he said. ceeded alone to the fi nish line. This fi rst of four stages fea- “I’m pretty stoked to take the win tured a long escape led by Loic today,” Garfoot said after claiming the Vliegen and Martin Mortensen, golden jersey. which was reeled in comfortably, “With 25km to go, I made it into a however, with 10 kilometres to group of about eleven riders with Elvin race. Gracie and we managed to work well Katrin Garfoot of Orica-GreenEdge celebrates after winning the second stage of the Ladies Tour of Qatar at Al Khor Corniche yesterday. PICTURES Jayaram Thursday’s second stage also together taking turns. It broke up with embarks from the Marine Club about six kilometres to go and I man- for a 183km ride out around the aged to stay at the front as it dropped outskirts of the city, beside a to about four riders. I kept going and camel track and bike route. maybe with two kilometres left, when I It comes back through the turned around, I couldn’t believe I was port and out onto the fi nish line alone,” the 34-year-old Orica-Green- through an underwater tunnel Edge rider said. at Palm Jumeirah, a man-made Worrack pipped Pieters in the sprint palm-shaped island. for second place, while Chloe Hosking of Wiggle-High5 led a group, compris- ing Ellen van Dijk of Boels Dolmans, Clarke repeats prologue Longo Borghini and Tiff any Cromwell win, Froome happy of Canyon-Sram, home a shade under to ‘stay upright’ a minute down. Garfoot has come into 2016 swing- William Clarke won the pro- ing, fi rst winning the Australian time logue to the Herald Sun Tour trial championships, and then contin- in Melbourne yesterday with uing her run of good form to claim the Briton Chris Froome satisfied overall title at the Santos Women’s Tour with his down the pack finish. in Australia a fortnight ago. Drapac Pro Cycling rider Wild crashed 35km from the fi n- Clarke was repeating his pro- ish in the main peloton, but the Dutch Katrin Garfoot gestures during the podium ceremony. (R) Kirsten Wild in silver jersey of general points classification. logue victory from last year star was quick to get back on her bike in the five-stage race which and, with a bid for her fi fth Tour title were prepared for that. Most of us did Al Zubarah Fort to Madinat Al Shamal. 4 Romy Kasper (Ger) Boels Dolmans p/b Cannondale 9 Froome has targeted as a in mind, rode to the fi nish in 77th posi- not make it to the fi rst sprint. But our RESULTS Cyclingteam 0:00:23 8 Amy Pieters (Ned) Wiggle High5 springboard to a busy year. tion. Left by the bunch, she eventually group worked really well. And for some STAGE TWO 5 Chloe Hosking (Aus) Wiggle High5 9 The double Tour de France crossed the line as part of a group that reason, I ended up in the front and that 1 Katrin Garfoot (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 0:01:02 9 Lizzie Williams (Aus) Orica-Green- champion is eyeing a third tri- fi nished 3:51s down on the winner. was my luck.” 3:07:13 6 Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge Edge 9 umph in cycling’s blue riband Fortunately for Wild, the little trip to With two more stages to go, Wild 2 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Canyon SRAM 0:01:07 10 Romy Kasper (Ger) Boels Dolmans ahead of the Rio Olympics in the tarmac didn’t do too much damage. lost almost four minutes. Orica now Racing 0:00:13 7 Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Canyon SRAM Cyclingteam August. “I am disappointed. I have just bruis- have two riders in the general classifi - 3 Amy Pieters (Ned) Wiggle High5 Racing 0:01:08 Young Rider Classification Froome completed the 2.1km es on elbow, knee and face, but my teeth cation top ten with the Commonwealth 4 Romy Kasper (Ger) Boels Dolmans 8 Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dol- 1 Anouska Koster (Ned) Raboliv dash in two minutes 42.1 sec- are intact and I can smile. My team Games time trial bronze medallist Gar- Cyclingteam mans Cyclingteam Women Cycling Team 5:28:01 onds to place him 26th, eight tried their best to put me on the front foot leading the race by 17seconds and 5 Chloe Hosking (Aus) Wiggle High5 9 Tiff any Cromwell (Aus) Canyon SRAM 2 Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team Liv- seconds behind Clarke who but we couldn’t manage that, but I am Gracie in sixth position. 0:00:58 Racing Plantur will wear yellow for today’s proud of my team for their eff orts,” the Sports director of ORICA Martin 6 Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dol- 10 Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle 3 Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Australia first stage at Healesville. four-time champion Wild said. Barras reaffi rmed the positivity. mans Cyclingteam High5 0:00:04 The 29-year-old prologue spe- Wild was surprisingly caught out by “It was a stunning ride from Katrin 7 Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Canyon SRAM Points Classification 4 Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) Raboliv cialist from Tasmania clocked the fi rst split after 48 kilometres, and today, being able to back up the good Racing 1 Kirsten Wild (Ned) Hitec Products Women Cycling Team 0:00:06 2:34.27 to beat Caleb Evans by her eff orts to chase back on were dealt work from the team and doing it from 8 Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle 18 pts 5 Arianna Fidanza (Ita) Italy 0:02:07 one second while Neil Van Der an irreparable blow when she suff ered the front is excellent,” Barras said. High5 2 Katrin Garfoot (Aus) Orica-Green- Team Classification Ploeg took third place. a mechanical problem which forced a “Taking the win and the lead in the 9 Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge Edge 17 1 Wiggle High5 9:23:48 He bettered his winning time bike change. general classifi cation is a great reward 10 Tiff any Cromwell (Aus) Canyon 3 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Canyon SRAM 2Canyon Sram Racing of 12 months ago by a second. Talking about her victory, Garfoot for the hard work we put in today. SRAM Racing Racing 12 3 Orica – GreenEdge 0:00:33 “I’m just a little bit faster than said: “I didn’t expect to wear the gold- “We still have some good cards to General Classification 4 Chloe Hosking (Aus) Wiggle High5 4 Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam 0:01:49 last year,” he said. Evans said: en jersey. I came here to get a good hard play here, like Gracie who was excellent 1 Katrin Garfoot (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 12 5 Raboliv Womencyclingteam 0:03:15 “Will was super-strong today, training session so it just happened. today and with aggression being the 5:26:07 5 Annalisa Cucinotta (Ita) Ale’ Cipollini 6 Team Liv – Plantur 0:04:12 as he was last year and he That’s good. I love it. It was pretty quiet best form of defense we hope to con- 2 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Canyon SRAM 12 7 Ale Cipollini 0:05:16 does really well in these short at the beginning until the fi rst sprint. tinue riding well to maintain our lead,” Racing 0:00:17 6 Chantal Blaak (Ned) Boels Dolmans 8 Lares - Waowdeals time trials. It was always going And then the splitting happened and he said. 3 Amy Pieters (Ned) Wiggle High5 Cyclingteam 10 9 Cylance Pro Cycling 0:07:17 to be hard to beat him.” then the crosswind happened. We Today’s 112km long third stage is from 0:00:19 7 Shelley Olds (USA) Cylance-Incycle 10 Unitedhealthcare 0:08:20

NATIONAL SPORT DAY QOC encourages everyone to ‘Be Olympic’

By Sports Reporter Olympic by taking part in our tions will be organising activities activities on off er for all interests, Doha activities across Qatar. Whether across Qatar, with the main hubs ages and abilities, it provides an Children play tennis on National Sport Day last year. you are an aspiring Olympian or at Katara, the Corniche, Aspire excellent opportunity for every- simply want to participate for Park and Al Gharrafa. With tast- one to fi nd a sport that they enjoy ith less than six fun, there is something available er sessions and demonstrations and a club to join so that they can months to go until for everyone. There is no better taking place throughout the day carry on participating long after the Rio 2016 Olym- occasion to be inspired by the in over 30 diff erent sports, Na- National Sport Day is over. It also pic Games, the Qa- Olympic spirit and unite our na- tional Sport Day provides an op- provides an opportunity for our Wtar Olympic Committee (QOC) tion through our shared passion portunity to try new sports and National Federations to identify is encouraging the nation to get for sport, whilst having fun with pick up old ones. Sports and ac- young sporting talent who can together and celebrate Olym- family and friends.’ tivities range from football, ath- go on to become Qatar’s future pic sports on National Sport The QOC will be organising ac- letics and handball to bowling, Olympic heroes. We encourage Day 2016. The QOC has today tivities in the Qanat Quartier of golf, hockey and para-sport. A everyone to bring their families released information about the The Pearl in conjunction with the full list of the activities and loca- and friends and try as much sport Olympic sporting activities that United Development Company. tions can be found on the QOC’s as possible on February 9.” will be on off er for all ages and From 8am-4pm, the beachfront website http://bit.ly/1RYGdxV National Sport Day is an annu- abilities across Qatar. will come alive with sporting ac- Speaking about National Sport al event celebrated across Qatar Speaking ahead of National tivities, competitions and enter- Day, Meshaal al-Khalifa, Presi- on the second Tuesday of Febru- Sport Day, Secretary General of tainment. To mark Doha’s host- dent of the National Sport Day ary. Qatar is one of the only coun- the Qatar Olympic Committee, ing of the 2016 UCI Road World Organising Committee and As- tries in the world to have a public HE Dr. Thani Abdulrahman al- Championships, there will be an sistant Secretary General of Ad- holiday dedicated to sport and it Kuwari, said: ‘It is a very exciting opportunity for visitors to the ministrative Aff airs at the QOC, aims to bring the nation together year for sport with the greatest activity area to win a brand new said: ‘We hope that this year’s in a shared celebration of sport sporting event in the world just bike. Cycling fans will also be able National Sport Day will inspire and inspire people to lead active six months away. We are encour- to watch the Tour of Qatar travel the nation to take part in sport and healthy lifestyles. aging everyone to come together through The Pearl between 1-3pm. regularly and lead active and This year’s National Sport Day on National Sport Day and #Be- The QOC’s National Federa- healthy lifestyles. With so many will take place on February 9.

Thursday, February 4, 2016 GULF TIMES ATHLETICS

ASIAN INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS/ 15 DAYS TO GO Balla eyes glory, record ‘Competing on Aspire’s beautiful track with my closest people by my side means a lot to me and makes me want to push myself harder to live up to their expectations and succeed in front of home crowd. I want to make them all proud, especially our federation (Qatar Athletics Federation) which is taking care of all our needs and off ers us unlimited support’

By Sports Reporter BALLA'S 2016 TARGETS Doha The Qatari middle-distance run- ner has some targets to overhaul he year just gone by had been out- in the coming season, starting standing for Musaeb Abdulrah- with the Feb 19-21 Asian Indoors man Balla, but it seems the best is yet to come for the 26-year-old Area record: 1:45.26 by Yusuf Saad Kamel QatariT middle-distance runner. (Bahrain), set on March 9, 2008 in Valencia The 800m reigning Asian indoor and Asian Indoor record: 1:47.37 by Mohd al- outdoor champion has high hopes for 2016, Azemi (Kuwait) on Feb 19, 2012 in Hangzhou starting with the Asian Indoor Champion- National record: Balla's own mark of ships, scheduled in Doha from February 19 1:45.48 set on Feb 19, 2015 in Stockholm to 21 at the state-of-the-art Aspire Dome. BALLA’S ASIAN INDOOR SHOWING “It is true that 2015 was exceptional for me, nevertheless I am not only hoping to 2008: 3rd, 3:17.93 (4x400m) keep up the same pace in 2016, but achieve 2010: 2nd, 1:54.25 (800m) even better results. The fi rst challenge lying 2014: 1st, 1:50.27 (800m) ahead is the Asian Indoor Championships, a very special competition for all members Winning in Doha is not Balla’s ultimate of the Qatari team, since it is being held target for the indoor season. After narrow- on home turf,” says Balla, a 2015 two-lap ly missing the Asian indoor record last year World Outdoor Championships fi nalist. when he clocked 1:45.48 in Stockholm, the Balla is one of the most recognisable world’s top mark indoors, he has now set fi gures in Qatar athletics and as a distinct his sights on eclipsing Yusuf Saad Kamel’s member of the nation’s Asian Champion- 1:45.26, the fastest 800m run by an Asian. ships squad, he will certainly be backed not “I want to break that record desperately. only by his family and friends, but by all lo- I came so close to beating it last season and cal fans in the Aspire Dome arena, a support I feel my time has come to become Asia’s that will surely provide him with extra mo- number one at last. I just need the right tivation to claim the gold in the 800m fi nal. race and an ideal pace,” he says. “Competing on Aspire’s beautiful track To make that happen, Balla has worked with my closest people by my side means a on new race tactics and training regimes lot to me and makes me want to push my- which he aims will assist him show an even self harder to live up to their expectations more competitive spirit ahead of a quite and succeed in front of home crowd. I want challenging year which will culminate with to make them all proud, especially our fed- the XXXI Summer Olympic Games in Rio. eration (Qatar Athletics Federation) which “As I said before, I hope 2016 will prove is taking care of all our needs and off ers us to be a great year for me. This season is ex- unlimited support. tremely important mostly because of the “This year we may boast of having a fan- Olympics. The progress I made in 2015 was tastic team which can push Qatar become outstanding, but I needed to make more Asia’s best nation once more and repeat changes in my training and fi nd the race the 2014 feat. I truly believe that this team tactic that suits me the most in order to go has more potential to top the medals ta- one step beyond,” deems Balla, whose per- ble and can count on the experience we all sonal best (and national record) outdoors have gained by competing at international is 1:43.82, set last July in Barcelona, in one events in recent years.” of his career’s only two sub-1:44 runs.