MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2018
Aussies close in on Test win Wie wins thrilling Singapore title South Africa are still 124 runs short of Michelle Wie drains 40-foot putts on the last ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Australia despite Markram’s ton PAGE 26 hole to claim first trophy since 2014 PAGE 23 CRYSTAL PALACE VS MAN UTD Gharafa boss expects tough match against Saudi’s Al Ahli
The Cheetahs host to Al Jazira to put their first on Sunday. points on the board. Since signing for the four- Al Ahli in the AFC Al Ahli have begun the time QSL champions from CL; Al Sadd face competition strongly, winning French Ligue 1 club Nice, two from two, with goals from Sneijder has scored eight Uzbekistan side Taiseer al Jassam and Mohan- goals in 11 appearances in QSL Nasaf in Qarshi today nad Asseri – his second match- and AFC Champions League winner in as many games – matches. helping the Saudi Arabian side Elsewhere, Al Sadd will IKOLI VICTOR to a 2-1 victory over Al Jazira lock horns against Nasaf of DOHA on Matchday Two. Uzbekistan in their Champi- A third win in a row would ons League Group C match GHARAFA coach Bulent Uy- edge Al Ahli towards knockout on Monday in Qarshi. Coach gun says he expects a difficult stage qualification, while de- Jesualdo Ferreira stressed the match against Al Ahli of Saudi feat would see the sides level importance of the game at the Arabia but will be looking to on points. The last meeting pre-match press conference record back-to-back home between the pair, in the 2013 on Sunday. wins in Group A of the AFC group stage, ended in an en- “We are going to play a cru- Champions League when they tertaining 2-2 draw in Doha. Al Sadd players enjoy a training session before their AFC Champions League match against Uzbekistan cial game and everyone in the welcome table-toppers Al Ahli Speaking at the pre-match Al Gharafa coach Bulent Uygun side Nasaf on Sunday. team knows how important it Saudi FC to Thani Bin Jassim press conference on Sun- is to win because the points Stadium on Monday. day, Bulent Uygun said: “The Bulent said the absence of our fans who will support us Rayyan on Thursday, Bulent contribute to resolution of dis- could get us closer to the next Recent signing Mehdi match will certainly be tough of Mahdi Ali, Thamer Gamal today. There is no doubt that said the win would provide the putes and improves commu- stage of the competition.” Taremi scored his second and difficult against Al Ahli, and Fahid al Shammari, who’s Ahli have distinct qualities but needed boost to the morale of nication between countries. Ferreira alos pointed out and third goals of the current leaders of the Saudi league and serving a five-match ban by despite injuries and absence of the players. Gharafa will rely on the that Nasaf were “a strong campaign in a 3-0 victory over the AFC group. the Asian Football Conedera- some players we will strive to Al Ahli is the first team services of Dutch midfielder side” that was playing at home Tractorsazi Tabriz two weeks “Technically, we have pre- tion, would not deter his play- do our best.” from one of the blockading Wesley Sneijder who retired and that the Wolves had no ago as Al Gharafa recovered pared the players well to record ers from attaining victory. Still basking in their 6-1 countries to visit Qatar and from international foot- doubts about the difficulty of from their opening-day loss another win,” he added. “We will play to the delight QNB Stars League win over Al the coach believes that sports ball after a glittering career the fixture.
IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships Lavillenie seals treble, Pozzi hails Bannister in victory The Frenchman cleared 5.90 for a title to add to his previous wins in 2016 and 2012; Poland set new world indoor 4x400m relay record AFP BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM
FRANCE’S Renaud Lavillenie displayed all his experience to bag a third world indoor pole vault title on Sunday as Briton Andrew Pozzi hailed the late Roger Bannister as the inspi- ration behind his hurdles tri- umph. In a bold show of games- manship, the Frenchman came into the competition at 5.70 metres – which six of the 15-strong field failed to make – passed at 5.80 and went clear at 5.85 and 5.90 after one failure at the latter. With no fewer than nine men owning season’s bests of 5.88m or better, the pressure was on at the business end of a gripping vaulting display. American Sam Hendricks (5.85) eventually took silver from Poland’s Piotr Lisek on countback as a host of rivals fell by the wayside. But world record holder Lavillenie was left punch- ing the air in triumph as he cleared 5.90 for a title to add to his previous wins in 2016 and 2012. Fittingly on the day Ban- nister died aged 88, British team captain Pozzi said his victory in the 60m hurdles had been inspired by the first man France’s Renaud Lavillenie celebrates his victory in the men’s pole to run a mile in under four vault final at the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships at Karol Zalewski, Rafal Omelko, Lukasz Krawczuk and Jakub Krzewina of Poland celebrate winning the men’s 4x400 metres relay and setting a minutes. the Arena in Birmingham on Sunday. (AFP) new world record at the World Indoor Championship on Sunday. (REUTERS) “Roger Bannister was an unbelievable athlete and un- spurt to defend his 3000m There was more Ethio- ahead of Poland and Britain. believable person,” said Pozzi, title with some ease, the pian glory as Samuel Tefera, The time set by the US whose winning 7.46sec edged 20-year-old crossing the line just 18, hared home to win the quartet also including Quan- American Jarret Eaton into in 8:14.41 ahead of teenage men’s 1500m in 3:58.19. era Hayes, Georganne Moline silver. teammate Selemon Barega. A cagey opening saw the and 400m silver medallist “I’m very sorry that he has “During the race I saw first 800m run in an incredi- Shakima Wimbley beat the left us but I read one of his everyone was very confident, bly slow 2:23 before Morocco’s previous record set by Russia quotes before heading down but I was the one controlling Abdelaati Iguider upped the back in 2004 by three-hun- to the track: ‘Every morning in everybody,” said Kejelcha, pace, but Tefera came through dredths of a second. Africa a gazelle wakes up and who said he would now target for gold and Poland’s Marcin The men’s relay went the it knows it must move faster the 5000m world record of Lewandowski snatched silver way of Poland, Jakub Krze- than the lion or it will not sur- 12:37.35 set by his compa- wina anchoring a team com- vive’.” triot Kenenisa Bekele. prising Karol Zalewski, Rafal Two defending track There was no holding Omelko and Lukasz Krawc- champions stepped up to win back in the women’s 800m zuk to a world indoor record successive titles, but there was as Burundi’s Francine Niy- of 3:01.77, smashing the pre- no luck for Brittney Reese, the onsaba also successfully de- vious best set by the USA in American bidding for a fourth fended her title in 1:58.31, Sopot in 2014. world indoor long jump title the fastest time run over the Krzewina overhauled who was pushed into silver by distance this season. ahead of the Moroccan who American Vernon Norwood in Serbian Ivana Spanovic. Niyonsaba held off a spir- won the event in 2012. the final 15 metres for a mem- Spanovic went out to ited effort from Ajee Wilson in Courtney Okolo won a orable victory that shattered 6.96m on her fourth jump to a fast-finishing final lap, the second gold of the world in- the US team’s bid for a seventh beat Reese by 7cm. American winning a second doors as she anchored the US successive title, Belgium win- In a slow tactical race, successive world indoor silver, women’s team to victory in the ning bronze. Britain’s Andrew Pozzi celebrates with the Union flag after his victory in the men’s 60m hurdles final at the Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha pro- with Briton Shelayna Oskan- 4x400m relay in a new cham- SEE ALSO PAGE 26 duced a devastating last-lap 2018 IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships on Sunday. (AFP) Clarke taking bronze. pionship record of 3:23.85 Sports Monday, March 5, 2018 27
Asian silver for Qatari wrestler Sakandelidze Al Wakrah edge Al Shamal in Qatar Cup
Giorgi Sakandelidze (Qatar) with the Asian Wrestling Championship silver medal in Bishek, Kyrgyzstan. He lost the Freestyle 125kg final to Davit Modzmanashvili (Uzbekistan). This was Qatar’s only medal in the championships. Al Wakrah, the QBF League runners-up, contrived a thrilling 84-81 victory in the Qatar Cup Basketball Championship Uzbekistan emerged as the Freestyle champions and Greco-Roman title was won by the hosts Kyrgyzstan. China won in Al Gharafa on Sunday. In an up and down match, Marcus Johnson and Earnest Lee Ross scored 21 each for the win- the overall women’s title. ners. Moses Ehambie led all scorers with 24 for Al Shamal and Dominic James chipped in 22. World's top 10 players QFA, ISC sign MoU to promote soccer among confirmed for Qatar Indian expats
TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK sibility strategy, the QFA will cations at the Qatar Football DOHA provide necessary support for Association, said: “The MoU Open table tennis all activities and events organ- demonstrates the QFA’s com- THE Qatar Football Associa- ised by the ISC. mitment to support the differ- tion (QFA) signed a four-year The ISC, which functions ent communities in Qatar by VICTOR BOLORUNDURO Memorandum of Understand- under the aegis of the Embassy organising various activities DOHA ing (MoU) with the Indian of India, will focus on promot- and events in general and the Sports Centre (ISC) and will ing various sports activities Indian community in particu- ALL the world top-ten players collaborate until 2022 to pro- among the expatriate commu- lar.” in both the male and female mote football among the In- nities in Qatar. The ISC will He added: “The MoU also categories, with the excep- dian community in Qatar. have a strong presence in all of underlines the social respon- tion of former World No. 1 Ma The QFA was represented QFA’s future events. sibility strategy of the QFA, Long of China, have confirmed by Khalid al Kuwari, Director The QFA and all segments which has a strong relation- their participation in the 2017 of Marketing and Communica- of the Indian community in ship with the Indian commu- ITTF World Tour Platinum tions, and Ali al Salat, Head of Qatar have been working to- nity. We have previously sup- Qatar Open, the 23rd edition, Media and Communications. gether for many years. The ported various annual football which will be held from March Nilangshu Dey, President of MoU reflects the vision of the tournaments organised for the 8 to 11 at the Ali Bin Hamad Al the ISC and Mohammed S QFA to strengthen its partner- Indian community and backed Attiyah Arena in Doha. Bukhari, Head of Institutional ships with the local communi- cultural and sports activities In all, 219 male and 95 and Commercial Development ties and promote community in the Indian schools in Qa- female players from 43 coun- at ISC, attended the signing participation in football. tar. We hope to develop this tries will participate in the ceremony. Khalid al Kuwari, Director partnership even more in the event, which begins with the As part of its social respon- of Marketing and Communi- future.” qualifying rounds from March 6 to 7. Doha is the first of the six Platinum events, which is one of the top events on the inter- national table tennis calendar. Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) President Khaleel Ahmed al Mohannadi (centre) during a press A total prize money of conference in Doha. $235,000 is up for grabs with the singles winners in both the 6-11, 11-4 in an exciting final. males and females categories A total prize money of $235,000 is up for grabs with But for the first time, Ger- going home with $28,000 and the singles winners in both the males and females cat- many’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov the finalists getting $14,000 egories going home with $28,000 and the finalists get- will lead the men’s pack in and the semi-finalists $6,750 ting $14,000 and the semi-finalists $6,750 each. Ma’s absence, who has been each. ommitted due to China's deci- Qatar Table Tennis As- sion to start promoting junior sociation (QTTA) President has put the country on the Platinum event last year as we players ahead of the 2020 To- Khaleel Ahmed al Mohannadi world map and gave us vis- were adjudged excellent in all kyo Games. said, "Qatar is proud to once ibility." departments. This year we are Zhendong and newly- again host this annual event The QTTA head added taking the competition even crowned World No.1 Timo that has grown to become one that the competition has now higher and we believe all the Boll are seeded second and of the signature tournaments reached a stage that the organ- participants will have a good third, respectively. of the ITTF World Tour. Every isers no longer have to pick the time in Doha," he added. In the women’s category, player loves to be in Doha due tickets and lodging tabs of the China’s Olympic cham- Chen and Zhu Yuling are the to the quality of the organisa- participants as everybody now pion Ma Long won the men’s top two seeds followed by tion and the strength of the pays to come. singles title last year, beating Singapore’s Feng Tianwei, field. The Qatar Open is a blue "The Qatar Open won in compatriot and No.2 seed Fan Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa and QFA Marketing and Communications Director Khalid al Kuwari (centre) and ISC President Nilangshu Dey ribbon competition for us. It all the criteria to become a Zhendong 11-8, 11-8, 11-7, 5-11, Wang. (second right) with other officials after the MoU signing ceremony in Doha on Sunday.
DOHA TRIATHLON 2018 ON MARCH 16
The Doha Triathlon 2018 will take place on March 16 and all arrangements are being put in place, accord- ing to Qatar Cycling and Triathlon Federation President Dr Mohammed Jeham al Kuwari. During a press conference in Doha on Sunday, he announced that the event would be organised by Tasama Sports Devel- opment on March 16 in the surrounding area of the Museum of Islamic Art in partnership with the QCTF and Museium of Islamic Art. The Qatar Tourism Authority is the presenting partner of the event. 26 Monday, March 5, 2018 Sports FIRST CRICKET TEST MATCH DURBAN British athletics Aussies close in on win great Bannister dies aged 88 despite Markram’s ton AFP LONDON
RECORD-BREAKING Brit- ish athlete Roger Bannister, the first man to run a mile in under four minutes, has died aged 88, his family announced on Sunday. "Sir Roger Bannister, died peacefully in Oxford on 3rd March 2018, aged 88, sur- rounded by his family who Roger Bannister were as loved by him, as he was loved by them," his fam- in the 1980s. ily said. Coe was speaking at the "He banked his treasure in World Indoor Championships the hearts of his friends," they in Birmingham, where specta- added, in a statement pub- tors saluted Bannister with a lished by the Press Association minute's applause as the lights news agency. were dimmed after footage of Bannister gained glo- his running career was shown bal sporting glory on May 6, on giant screens. 1954, when he ran a mile (1.6 Then, as a mark of respect kilometres) in three minutes, to Bannister, no competition 59.4 seconds at the Iffley Road took place for a further two track in Oxford. minutes. Sebastian Coe, president Half a century later after of the International Associa- Bannister's record, the Royal tion of Athletics Federations, Mint celebrated the occasion said Bannister's death marked by issuing a 50 pence coin "a day of intense sadness both showing an athlete's running for our nation and for all of us legs against a stopwatch. in athletics". British Prime Minister "There is not a single ath- Theresa May described Ban- lete of my generation who was nister as "a great British sport- not inspired by Roger and his ing icon whose achievements achievements both on and off were an inspiration to us all". the track," tweeted Coe, who "He will be greatly missed," won two Olympic gold medals she wrote on Twitter. Justice done as England win after freak run out
AFP sight when Chris Woakes failed South Africa batsman’s Aiden Markram (left) walks with his teammate Quinton de Kock after having been dismissed by Australia’s bowler Mitchell Marsh during the fourth day of WELLINGTON to grasp a drive from William- the first cricket Test match at the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on Sunday. (AFP) son. JUSTICE was done for Eng- But the ball deflected off land with a freakish run out his fingertips into the stumps The visitors need just one wicket to go 1-0 up; South African opener Markram defies with 143 which set up their four-run at the non-striker's end where win over New Zealand in the Santner was out of his crease. AFP SCOREBOARD amid the carnage. The recov- fell cheaply. third one-day international in "You earn a little bit of luck DURBAN (SOUTH AFRICA) ery started with a determined Markram and Elgar put on Wellington, with the tourists' along the way," Morgan said AUSTRALIA (1st innings): 351 3-1-10-1 partnership for the fifth wicket 29 for the first wicket before captain on Sunday acknowl- Sunday as the teams prepared AIDEN Markram led a stirring SOUTH AFRICA (1st innings): 162 SOUTH AFRICA (2nd innings): with De Bruyn, who made a Elgar edged a sharply lifting edging the lucky turn. to move to Dunedin for game AUSTRALIA (2nd innings, overnight 213-9): A. Markram c Paine b M. Marsh 143 South African fightback but C. Bancroft st De Kock b Maharaj 53 D. Elgar c Paine b Starc 9 stylish 36 before he was caught delivery from Starc to wicket- Mitchell Santner was in a four on Wednesday. "Woakesy could not prevent Australia D. Warner c sub (Mulder) b Rabada 28 H. Amla lbw b Hazlewood 8 behind off Josh Hazlewood. It keeper Tim Paine to be out for potentially match-winning part- was trying to catch the ball and from closing in on victory on U. Khawaja c De Kock b Maharaj 6 A. de Villiers run out (Warner) 0 was the only wicket to fall be- nine. nership with Kane Williamson it's a really unlucky way to get the fourth day of the first Test S. Smith lbw b Elgar 38 F. du Plessis b Cummins 4 tween lunch and tea. Amla avoided a pair but when he was run out after the out. Obviously, a significant S. Marsh c De Villiers b Morkel 33 T. de Bruyn c Paine b Hazlewood 36 at Kingsmead on Sunday. M. Marsh c Amla b Rabada 6 Q. de Kock not out 81 Markram was joined by De only made eight before he was ball deflected on to the stumps moment in the game." Opening batsman T. Paine c De Villiers b Maharaj 14 V. Philander c Paine b Starc 6 Kock, whose form leading into leg before wicket to Hazle- from a dropped caught-and- But Morgan was certain Markram made 143 but South P. Cummins b Maharaj 26 K. Maharaj b Starc 0 the Test had been dismal. But wood. bowled chance. Santner had been legitimate- Africa were hanging on at 293 M. Starc c Elgar b Morkel 7 K. Rabada b Starc 0 the left-handed wicketkeeper South Africa then suffered England captain Eoin Mor- ly caught when he clipped a N. Lyon c Amla b Morkel 2 M. Morkel not out 0 for nine, still 124 runs short of J. Hazlewood not out 9 Extras (b2, lb3, nb1) 6 looked in good touch from the a hammer blow when De Vil- gan admitted the wicket was Moeen Ali ball to Roy at mid- a target of 417, when bad light Extras (lb5) 5 Total (9 wkts, 89 overs) 293 start and took the fight to the liers, their top scorer in the a match-turning fluke, but wicket in an incident similar to stopped play. Total (74.4 overs) 227 Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Elgar), 2-39 (Amla), 3-39 (De Australians. first innings, was run out for he was also adamant Santner a denied catch in a Twenty20 South Africa were in des- Fall of wickets: 1-56 (Warner), 2-71 (Khawaja), Villiers), 4-49 (Du Plessis), 5-136 (De Bruyn), 6-283 It was Markram's third nought. should have been given out 87 match against Australia in Ho- 3-108 (Bancroft), 4-146 (Smith), 5-156 (M. Marsh), (Markram), 7-290 (Philander), 8-290 (Maharaj), 9-290 perate trouble at 49 for four 6-175 (Paine), 7-185 (S. Marsh), 8-203 (Starc), (Rabada) Test century but easily his Markram turned a ball runs earlier when Jason Roy bart last month. but Markram shared stands of 9-209 (Lyon) Bowling: Starc 16-1-74-4 (1nb), Hazlewood 14-1-57- important innings. He made from off-spinner Nathan Lyon took a ground-level catch with With England going 2-1 up 87 with Theunis de Bruyn (36) Bowling: Morkel 15-4-47-3, Philander 14-4-35-0, 2, Lyon 32-7-86-0, Cummins 15-3-47-1, M. Marsh hundreds against Bangladesh behind square leg and did New Zealand already in dire in the series, Morgan was not and 147 with Quinton de Kock Maharaj 29.4-4-102-4, Rabada 13-6-28-2, Elgar 7-2-21-1, Smith 5-3-3-0. and Zimbabwe, two of cricket's not respond when De Villiers straits at 112 for six in reply to prepared to complain about (81 not out) which gave South lesser powers, earlier in the called him through for a run. England's 234. the process for ruling on dis- Africa hope that they could to tell Australian captain Ste- scheduled close. season. He showed good com- De Villiers had to turn and Countless replays proved puted catches. "It potentially pull off a miracle victory. ve Smith that play could only That South Africa would posure, a sound technique and tried to go back but could not inconclusive, and Santner was could have (cost us) if we His dismissal, though, continue if he used slow bowl- even entertain faint hopes of some elegant off side drives in beat David Warner's throw to given not out after the televi- didn't get that run out, but opened the door for Australia ers. De Kock and Morne Mor- victory seemed impossible a 218-ball innings which in- Lyon. sion umpire Rod Tucker could there's no other solution to it," to rip through the tail. Mitchell kel survived nine overs in ev- when their four most senior cluded 19 boundaries. Pat Cummins struck with not be certain the ball had not he said. Starc took three wickets in five er-deteriorating light against batsmen were dismissed with- The damage was done be- his third ball of the innings brushed the grass. "If the umpire's unsure he balls to have South Africa nine Smith and Nathan Lyon be- out reaching double figures. fore lunch when Dean Elgar, when he beat Du Plessis for Santner progressed from has every right to go upstairs down. fore the umpires took the play- But Markram, in only his Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers pace and flattened his off two to 41 and New Zealand and on TV it just doesn't look That caused the umpires ers off five minutes before the seventh Test, remained calm and captain Faf du Plessis all stump. were 199 for six with victory in out." New-look India eye T20 success in Lanka tri-series
rusingha told espncricinfo.com. Sri Lanka at home and Bangladesh likely to "What we can aspire to... is to try and get better every time we train, be tough nuts to crack every time we play, and try to do our best," the 49-year-old former all- AFP And 26-year-old left-arm seamer rounder said. COLOMBO Jaydev Unadkat, who has already Dinesh Chandimal will lead taken seven wickets in six T20 inter- Sri Lanka in the absence of Angelo INDIA'S rising talent will be put national appearances, made head- to the test in this week's tri-nation lines when he was bought for $1.8 India enjoyed one-day interna- Twenty20 series in Sri Lanka in the million by the Rajasthan Royals in tional and T20 series wins over absence of some established stars. January - the highest price paid for Rohit Sharma-led India enter the an Indian player. South Africa earlier this month, tournament against Sri Lanka and India enjoyed one-day inter- but face a resurgent Sri Lanka Bangladesh as favourites, but must national and T20 series wins over in their opener on Tuesday. cope without big-hitters Virat Kohli South Africa earlier this month, but and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. face a resurgent Sri Lanka in their Mathews who is recovering from a Selectors opted to rest the star opener on Tuesday. hamstring injury sustained in Bang- pair for the short-format series and "India has decided to rest their ladesh. instead experiment with fresh faces. star players after the arduous South The Tigers will be looking to in- Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Africa tour and this gives an oppor- terim coach and former West Indies Pant, who has just two T20 interna- tunity to some young players to show bowling great Courtney Walsh for tional appearances, and rookie pace- their mettle... and that they are ready some inspiration after dropping to man Mohammed Siraj, 23, are being for international cricket," former In- 10th in the T20 rankings. given the opportunity to gain inter- dia captain Sunil Gavaskar wrote in "If we can get consistent, we will national experience. the Times of India. be happy. It is going to be the biggest Pant, 20, recently smashed the Sri Lanka will face a home crowd challenge and it is something that second-fastest T20 century off 32 buoyed by their recent tour of Bang- India’s captain Rohit Sharma before a training session: Exciting opportunity to lead a young India side. (AFP) I will be stressing on a lot," said balls for Delhi against Himachal ladesh where they thrashed the hosts 55-year-old Walsh. Pradesh -- just two balls short of in all three formats. The upswing has been credited to desh through their most successful against his old charges. The T20 tri-series, timed to com- Chris Gayle's all-time quickest 100 The sweep ended a Sri Lanka new coach Chandika Hathurusingha, period in his three years in charge "We can definitely go and com- memorate Sri Lanka's 70 years since off 30 balls in the 2013 Indian Pre- slump which saw them win just 14 of who was appointed in December. before returning home to lead a pete with bigger teams, but in cricket independence, begins on Tuesday mier League (IPL). 57 matches in 2017. Hathurusingha coached Bangla- beleaguered Sri Lanka to victory you can't guarantee results," Hathu- and runs until March 18 in Colombo. Sports Monday, March 5, 2018 25 In race to recuperate before World Cup Fiorentina Neymar leaves hospital captain Astori dies ahead of after successful surgery league game French newspaper L’Equipe claimed that the national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmer may have All Serie A football matches exaggerated the damage to the foot of the world’s most expensive player postponed after Astori’s death DPA his contract until 2022. AFP prised from Barcelona for a ROME He played 14 times for BELO HORIZONTE world record 222 million eu- the Italian national team, ros ($264 million) to help the FIORENTINA captain Da- making his last appearance BRAZILIAN superstar Ney- Qatari-owned Parisians win a vide Astori died in the night against Israel in September. mar left hospital by helicop- first Champions League title. ahead of his side’s Sunday The Lega Serie A was ter on Sunday, a day after And while Brazil scored game at Udinese, the Flor- called off and is to set a new a successful foot operation, a self-interest victory in en- ence club said. date for the seven games of to begin his recovery ahead suring Neymar underwent Cardiac arrest appeared the Sunday programme. of a possible World Cup re- an immediate operation that to be the possible cause of the “There are some hypoth- turn. PSG initially seemed reluc- death of the 31-year-old de- esis about a new date for the The 26-year-old Paris tant to sanction, the French fender, who was playing his [postponed] games,” said Saint-Germain forward club are keen to regain some third season with La Viola. Giovanni Malago, the presi- went to the airport in Belo control over their player’s re- “The dent of Horizonte by helicopter, covery. idea is that the Italian from where he was expect- Brazilian surgeon Rod- the foot- Olympic ed to head on a private jet rigo Lasmar performed the baller died commit- to his luxury villa at the operation, accompanied by of a cardiac tee, who Mangaratiba beach resort Saillant, who previously op- arrest due holds the around 100km from Rio de to natural interim Janeiro. causes,” the presiden- According to Brazilian Close Udine pub- cy of the website Uol, Neymar’s en- lic prosecu- Lega. tourage have already pre- monitoring tor Antonio “I will pared his recovery “head- De Nicolo discuss it quarters” at his villa, which O His recovery will be moni- was quoted with the includes a gymnasium and a tored by Brazil and PSG as saying. clubs. It machine capable of produc- physiotherapist Rafael “It is could be ing 300kg of ice a day, simi- Martini, who has been strange that possible to lar to those used by modern working alongside Neymar this hap- play them football clubs. since he started his career pened to after the His recovery will be at Santos in Sao Paulo. a profes- [sched- monitored by Brazil and PSG sional who uled] end physiotherapist Rafael Mar- was closely of the sea- tini, who has been working Return by monitored, Italy’s defender Davide Astori son [on alongside Neymar since he and without May 20] started his career at Santos May 1 or 2 ? warning signals.” as Italy are not playing the in Sao Paulo. Astori’s teammates re- World Cup [beginning in The whole of Brazil is O If PSG beat Real and portedly found the captain Russia on June 14].” holding its breath while wait- then make it through the in the room of the hotel La Three Serie B games were ing to see if their star player, quarter-finals too, he might di Moret in Udine after he also called off and a minute who captained the country to even be able to play in the did not show up for break- of silence will be observed Olympic gold on home turf in Champions League fast. Fiorentina had arrived before games in the other 2016, would be fit to play in semi-final second leg on Saturday in Italy’s north-east lower divisions. Russia. May 1 or 2. town. “There are not many But while Brazil frets Astori, who was born in words to say, but I feel close over his potential World Cup San Giovanni Bianco, a vil- to the family, the team-mates availability, PSG are keen to lage near Bergamo, is sur- and all those who met Dav- get Neymar back playing be- erated on ex-Brazil star Ro- vived by his partner and a ide in these years,” Damiano fore the end of the season, al- naldo’s injured knee. two-year-old daughter. Tommasi, the president of though he will miss Tuesday’s “The recovery time will He made his debut in the the Italian footballers asso- crunch Champions League depend on the player’s evo- Serie A with Cagliari in Sep- ciation, told Radio 1. last 16 second leg at home to lution. In six weeks we will tember 2008. After six sea- “Today there were not Real Madrid. make a new evaluation,” Las- sons with the Sardinia side the conditions to play. There Both Brazil and PSG Brazil and PSG star Neymar prepares to board a plane at Pampulha airport in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on mar said on Saturday. he played one year at Roma maybe be organizational hailed a successful operation Sunday. (REUTERS) Saillant, meanwhile, de- and moved to Florence in problems (but) that will be on Saturday on the fractured nied there was any conflict 2014. He recently renewed easy to overcome.” fifth metatarsal in Neymar’s between the Brazilian foot- right foot. ball federation and PSG over The world’s most ex- their separate interests. pensive player will not start That was a reference to training for at least another an article in French newspa- six weeks, the French doctor per l’Equipe, which claimed representing PSG at the Belo that Lasmar had lied over the Horizonte hospital, Gerard nature of the fracture to force Saillant, told journalists on Neymar to undergo surgery. Saturday. PSG had been hoping the Should his recovery go forward would regain full fit- well, Neymar could even be ness much sooner from what back in club action in May. they considered a hairline If PSG beat Real and then fracture, whereas Brazil were make it through the quarter- keen to have him operated finals too, he might even be on to ensure he could recover able to play in the Champions and be fully fit by June. League semi-final second leg Lasmar said he would on May 1 or 2, or if not then need two to three months perhaps the May 26 final in of recovery while PSG had Kiev, Ukraine -- should the hoped he be out for only six French outfit get that far. to eight weeks. With PSG boasting a Cocooned away in his 14-point lead at the top of homeland, Neymar appears Ligue 1, they can afford to to be ensuring Brazil contin- Italy’s Olympic Committee chief Giovanni Malago and FIGC commis- do without Neymar for do- Soccer star Neymar boards a plane at Pampulha airport in Belo Horizonte in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on ue to hold the upper hand in sioner Roberto Fabbricini observe a minute of silence, during a news mestic duties, but he was Sunday. (REUTERS) their arm-wrestle with PSG. conference in Rome, on Sunday. (REUTERS) Cologne face relegation Roma smash Napoli to end 10-win streak after loss to Stuttgart tenham. Dzeko is the first player to score at Dybala, left out of the Argen- DPA the match. tine squad this week, shrugged BERLIN Andreas Beck extended least 50 goals in three of Europe’s off his rustiness by pouncing in Stuttgart’s lead on 57 min- major leagues -- Serie A, Bundesliga the third minute of injury time. STUTTGART came from a utes before Milos Jojic gave Lazio, now down in fourth goal down in Cologne to win Cologne a lifeline with a well- and the Premier League spot in the table, a point back 3-2 and leave the hosts rooted taken free-kick three min- from Roma, had already defeat- to the bottom of the Bundes- utes from time. But the hosts AFP “We had 27 shots so we are ed Juventus twice this season in liga table with just nine games couldn’t find another and it ROME just trying to figure out how the Italian Super Cup and Serie left to play. finished 3-2. Roma scored so easily. We are A. The evergreen Claudio The result means that NAPOLI’S 10-match winning sorry for our great crowd but They looked to be hanging Pizarro put Cologne 1-0 up Stuttgart coach Tayfun Ko- streak in Serie A came to an the tifosi know that we always on for a point until Dybala, out after just seven minutes as rkut remains unbeaten since end on Saturday when they give our maximum.” for a month with a thigh injury, they swarmed all over the taking over at the end of Janu- slumped to a shock 4-2 home When Lorenzo Insigne gave scored a memorable goal when visitors. Yuya Osako thought ary, with 13 points from five defeat to AS Roma as the lead- Napoli the lead from close range he held off a Marco Parolo chal- he’d made it 2-0 but the goal games. ers suffered just their second after six minutes it seemed the lenge before driving the ball was chalked off by the video Cologne, meanwhile, look league loss this season. evening would be straightfor- past Thomas Strakosha in the assistant referee for a foul on hopelessly adrift at the foot of The result kept Napoli on ward. (From left) Roma’s Kevin Strootman, Aleksandar Kolarov and Edin Lazio goal. Stuttgart keeper Ron-Robert the table, eight points behind top of the table but their lead is But Turkey’s Cengiz Under Dzeko celebrate during a Serie A match in Naples on Sunday. Juventus will now travel to Zieler. Mainz with time running out. now just one point after Juven- levelled just a minute later with (REUTERS) London for the second leg of But a double in first- A win away at struggling Wer- tus earlier defeated Lazio cour- a deflected shot. their Champions League last-16 half injury time from Mario der Bremen next week is now tesy of an injury-time strike That set the stage for Edin player to score at least 50 goals on but the three points allowed clash after a 2-2 draw in Turin Gomez - the second courtesy a must. from Paulo Dybala. Dzeko to carve out a little bit of in three of Europe’s major Roma to move into third place in February. of a howler from Cologne goal- “We won’t give up,” coach Juventus, crucially, also personal history. leagues -- Italy’s Serie A, the in the table, albeit 16 points be- “I didn’t know if I was keeper Timo Horn - somehow Stefan Ruthenbeck said. have a game in hand -- at home He made it 2-1 in the 26th German Bundesliga and the hind the pacesetters. meant to play 90 minutes, as it sent a lacklustre Stuttgart in “Against Bremen, we’ll once against Atalanta in 10 days’ minute with a header from an Premier League in England. Argentina striker Dybala was my first start and we have at the break a goal to the good. again show that we’re a team time. “There were a lot of posi- Alessandro Florenzi cross be- Diego Perotti made it 4-1 ten marked his comeback after a a big game on Wednesday,” Dy- Gomez struck a tame effort that plays on the front foot.” tives in this game,” insisted fore he curled in a terrific left- minutes from time after pounc- month on the sidelines by scor- bala told Sky Sports Italia. from the right-hand corner of In Sunday’s late game, Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri foot strike from the edge of the ing on a lazy clearance from on- ing a last-gasp winner in Juve’s “I felt good and got the goal. the penalty area that trickled champions-elect Bayern Mu- whose only other league loss area in the 79th minute for 3-1. loan Roma left-back Mario Rui. 1-0 victory at Lazio in a per- But we must improve our tech- over Horn and into the net. nich attempt to extend their this season had been at home to That goal allowed the Bos- Dries Mertens pulled one fect boost ahead of next week’s nique in London and come out “It’s a ball the keeper has lead at the top to 20 points Juventus in December. nian striker to become the first back for Napoli in time added- Champions League clash at Tot- stronger in the first half.” to save,” Horn told Sky after with victory at Freiburg. 24 Monday, March 5 , 2018 Sports Curling free kick Sneijder retires from Holland and could join Koeman’s staff The Gharafa captain had 133 caps for his country in 14 years
AFP after training with his Al DOHA Gharafa side as they prepared for an AFC Champions League DUTCH midfielder Wesley game on Tuesday. Sneijder on Sunday called Holland surprisingly failed time on his glittering interna- to qualify for this year’s World tional football career and said Cup in Russia and Koeman, he is likely to join Ronald Koe- sacked by English Premier man’s national team coaching League side Everton earlier staff. this season, has been tasked Sneijder made his deci- with dragging the team back sion to retire -- after 14 years to top level of international and a record 133 caps for his football. country -- following a visit to Qatar, where the midfielder now plays, by Koeman this weekend. Alongside Arjen Robben, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi scores his goal from a free kick during a Spanish league match at Camp Nou Satdium in Barcelona on Sunday. (REUTERS) Robin van Persie and Mark van Bommel, Sneijder pro- pelled the Netherlands to the Time up 2010 World Cup final where “There’s always a time that an extra-time goal from An- you have to leave and the time Messi’s 600th career goal dres Iniesta saw Spain win the has come to give the chance title. to the new generation to new But although he is bring- ing down the curtain on his talents to show their qualities. playing career, it is unlikely to Enough is enough. I am 33. be his last involvement with This summer I will be 34. The helps Barca edge Atletico international football, he told next World Cup I will be 38, AFP. it’s nonsense, you know?” “I had 15 amazing years in The Argentine’s brilliance ensure Barcelona go eight points clear at the top of La Liga the national team of Holland,” he said. “I understand that Koe- “There’s always a time that man wants a fresh start with AFP The rest of the half was a you have to leave and the time younger players. We spoke BARCELONA picture of Barca dominance, has come to give the chance to openly about it and I respect interrupted only by the in- the new generation to new tal- his decision,” said Sneijder. BARCELONA have one hand jured Iniesta being replaced ents to show their qualities.” He played at three Euro- on the La Liga title after Lionel by Andre Gomes and a hand- He added: “Enough is pean championships and three Messi’s sensational free-kick ful of minor skirmishes, the enough. I am 33. This summer World Cups in the orange shirt. earned them a deserved 1-0 most noteworthy of which saw I will be 34. The next World In club football he starred victory over Atletico Madrid Messi hack down Filipe Luis Cup I will be 38, it’s nonsense, for Ajax, Real Madrid and on Sunday. and earn a yellow card. you know?” above all Inter Milan, with Atletico arrived at the Atletico’s demise was He then revealed he had whom he won a Serie A, Italian Camp Nou on the back of eight summed up by Luis tripping spoken to Koeman, only ap- Cup and Champions League consecutive wins but Barca over his own feet during a rare pointed national manager last treble in 2010. He also won halted the surge and instead attack down the left but half- month, about a coaching role league titles in his homeland restored their own lead at the time helped the visitors, who with the team. and in Spain and Turkey. top to eight points, with 11 were more competitive after “Maybe, I will be close to Sneijder also revealed that games left to play. the break. the team. But we are going to he wants to win a 134th cap to Messi proved the differ- Luis Suarez thought he talk about this in the next few say goodbye to the Dutch fans, ence again, his bending first- had scored a second after half- weeks. “We have a very good but wants to do that in Amster- half strike worthy of winning volleying through Oblak’s legs relationship and we talk about dam. any contest and taking his own but was flagged offside, before all the things. “I want to play the game career tally to an astonishing Jose Gimenez applied a crucial “The feeling was very good, in the Amsterdam Arena, of 600 goals, 539 for Barca and block to deflect a Messi shot so probably I will stay close to course, and the next game 61 for Argentina. over. the team.” planned is in the PSV (Eind- The only blot on a domi- There was one nervy mo- He was speaking in Doha hoven) stadium.” nant Barcelona performance ment for the hosts five min- was an injury to Andres Inies- utes from time as Diego Costa ta, who had to be substituted headed down for Kevin Ga- after 34 minutes with what the meiro to slam home. Costa, club confirmed was a strain in however, had strayed offside the back of his thigh. and Barca held on for what Iniesta now has 10 days will surely prove a crucial to recover before next week’s three points. Champions League second leg against Chelsea. The build-up to this con- Results test, labelled ‘the Grand Fi- nal’ by sections of the Spanish Levante 1 Espanyol 1 press, was driven by talk of a Barcelona 1 Atletico Madrid 0 Barcelona dip following three Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his goal against Atletico Madrid in Barcelona on Sunday. (REUTERS) draws in five league games, Played Saturday with the in-form Atletico Griezmann, meanwhile, who Even Messi hit the wall Oblak. Villarreal 0 Girona 2 primed to move within two came in with seven goals in with a poor free-kick and For all Atletico’s discipline points of their rivals. two games, was largely anony- then sent a cross-field switch and defensive rigour, one mis- Sevilla 2 Athletic Bilbao 0 But Diego Simeone’s strat- mous. straight into the advertising take in the 26th minute was Deportivo 1) Eibar 1 egy of absorb and counter Ernesto Valverde made a boards. all it needed. Thomas Partey Leganes 2 Malaga 0 failed to pay off here and, in statement of attacking intent The Argentinian shook his clipped the back of Messi’s Real Madrid 3 Getafe 1 the end, the visitors might eas- by plumping for the more cre- head but soon recovered, mo- foot 25 yards out and the for- ily have been beaten by a more ative Philippe Countinho over ments later escaping a cage of ward whipped the free-kick Monday emphatic scoreline. Paulinho but his team took a four Atletico defenders before beyond the scrambling Oblak Al Gharafa captain Wesley Sneijder attends a training session on the Atletico striker Antoine while to find their rhythm. driving a shot straight at Jan and into the top corner. Celta Vigo v Las Palmas eve of their AFC Champions League match in Doha on Sunday. (AFP) Man City beat Chelsea to go 18 points clear Conte fires back at ‘anti- football’ criticism of tactics equalizing when his shot was Woeful Arsenal lose at Brighton well saved by Mat Ryan but REUTERS ing little ambition or attempt Arsenal could not force their MANCHESTER to press or counter-attack in DPA team like Chelsea, who are still way through as Brighton hung numbers. LONDON the champions, and beat them on to go 10th. CHELSEA manager Antonio Sky television pundit Jamie in the way we did today, that is Beaten 3-0 by Manchester Conte defended his negative Redknapp, the former Liver- MANCHESTER City marched why it is so good.” City in the League Cup final approach to Sunday’s 1-0 Pre- pool and England midfielder, closer to securing the Eng- Chelsea tried to stifle the last Sunday and again by the mier League defeat by Man- was scathing in his assessment lish Premier League title with City attack and did so in the same scoreline in the league chester City, saying to play open of Conte’s tactics. weeks to spare as they beat first half but a mistake by when the two sides met four football against Pep Guardiola’s “Today that was such a fifth-placed visitors Chelsea Andreas Christensen allowed days later, Arsenal look short side was to risk heavy defeat. hard watch, that was anti-foot- 1-0 on Sunday to extend their David Silva to cross for Ber- on belief. The former Juventus and ball. That was a crime against lead to 18 points. nardo Silva to score at the far “We were passive, strug- Italy manager said Arsenal’s football what they did today. I Bernardo Silva scored the post. gling for confidence and two 3-0 defeats by City last really felt that so strongly.” only goal one minute into the Earlier on Sunday, Arse- heavy-legged but respond- week, in the League Cup final Conte fired back at Red- second half as Pep Guardiola’s nal manager Arsene Wenger ed well in the second-half,” and a Premier League game at knapp’s comments. side dented Chelsea’s hopes of admitted his side have almost Wenger said. the Emirates, showed what can “The pundit has to use the a top-four finish. no chance of finishing in the “It is difficult to recover happen if teams play too openly head to understand when you With nine games to go, City top four of the Premier League from what happened to us last against City. speak about tactics because I lead Liverpool by 18 points after they were beaten 2-1 at week - we are going through a “I am not so stupid to play think you must have knowl- and need just 12 points to be Brighton & Hove Albion. Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva celebrates scoring a goal with team tough time.” against Manchester City open edge to speak about tactics and sure of the title, while Chelsea The defeat - with Lewis mates during a Premier League match in Manchester on Sunday. For Brighton, the win was and to lose 3-0 or 4-0,” Conte not only to speak in a stupid stay fifth, five points behind Dunk and Glenn Murray scor- (REUTERS) another vital three points in told reporters. way,” he said. fourth-placed Tottenham. ing the goals for the home side their battle for survival and “If I remember well, two The Italian suggested that “It was so important, a win - was Arsenal’s fourth straight behind,” Wenger admitted. utes as Dunk and then Murray they now sit seven points days ago, Arsenal played twice any other approach could have today is another step closer,” loss, their worst run since “We need two teams to col- put them in control. above the relegation zone. against them and then you crit- led to a damaging loss. Guardiola said. 2002. lapse, not one. But at the mo- Pierre-Emerick Aubam- “The fact we got the two icise a lot Wenger because they “We tried to have patience. “We need four victories The result left Arsenal ment we have different wor- eyang pulled one back for Ar- goals early gave us that buffer concede three goals in only 30 When you are 1-0 down you to be champions. It is in our sixth, 13 points behind the top ries in how to come back to senal just before half-time and that we could hang onto but minutes.” can always have the possibility hands and, if our behaviour is four with just nine games to winning a game.” the visitors did respond in the over the 90 minutes I felt we Chelsea played winger to score. When you concede the like today, we will be champi- go. Toothless in attack and second half, dominating pos- were very worthy winners,” Eden Hazard as a lone striker space to Manchester City there ons. “It is very difficult, nearly clueless in midfield, Arsenal session. Brighton manager Chris and operated a deep midfield is the risk for the game to finish “[To play] against a strong impossible now, we are too far were 2-0 down within 26 min- Mesut Oezil went closest to Hughton said. in front of their backline, show- 3 or 4-0,” he said. Sports Monday, March 5, 2018 23
Wilder improves to 40-0 with 10th round TKO of Wie to go! unbeaten Ortiz AFP LOS ANGELES Last hole birdie gives AMERICAN Deontay Wilder recovered from a seventh- round scare to retain his World Boxing Council heavyweight ti- Michelle Wie of the US gives a fist bump to her caddy after tle on Saturday and keep intact winning the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore his record of knocking out every on Sunday. (AFP) American Singapore title opponent he has faced. Wilder knocked down Cu- ba’s Luis Ortiz three times in AFP/REUTERS win was the US Open in 2014. “It’s been makes you practise. It’s that winning the fight, finishing off the previ- SINGAPORE a tough journey but I’m just really proud putt that makes you practise for hours ously unbeaten challenger with that I pulled myself out of it.” and hours and hours, and even the hard a right uppercut as the referee AMERICAN Michelle Wie deliv- “Winning is everything. I mean, there times, it gets you going back. stopped the fight with 55 sec- ered when it mattered most Sun- is no better feeling than when you sink “You know that good feeling is on the onds left in the 10th round. day, draining a 40-foot putt for a that winning putt. It’s a high, for sure,” other side. It’s just everything. Winning’s “I figured out a way to come birdie on the last hole to claim a Wie, dressed in bright pink and with everything.” back. A true champion always dramatic one-stroke victory at the dyed-blonde locks, told reporters after There had been chances on the last finds way. That’s what I did to- HSBC Women’s World Champi- signing for a seven-under 65 to complete for both Nelly Korda, 19, and Danielle night,” Wilder said. onship. a one-stroke victory on 17-under for the Kang, 25, to force a play-off with Wie. The 32-year-old Wilder im- All day long it had seemed as tournament. Kang went wide to end the day with a proved to 40-0 with 39 knock- though a moment of magic was “You go out there, and it’s this feeling two-under 70. outs as he made the seventh needed to lift the trophy, with so that gets you going. It’s this feeling that Korda’s gettable knock took a bend to defence of his heavyweight title. many players within sight of the the right and into misery and a one-un- Wilder knocked Ortiz down lead at the Sentosa Golf Club. der 71 for the rising star, who had looked in the fifth and twice in the final But Wie’s 11th-hour birdie so unflappable all week long. round but Ortiz made him work helped her break free from a pack Canadian Brooke Henderson then for the victory at Barclays Cent- of four players that included a birdied the last for a 67 and a share of er arena in New York. Wilder heartbroken Jenny Shin of South second on 16 under 272 with the pair. barely survived the seventh af- Korea, who had led coming into Korda was consoled by sister and ter Ortiz surprised him with a the last before bogeying. fellow LPGA star Jessica as she left the right hook and left hand combi- The 25-year-old Shin had course. “It definitely hurts, but that’s nation and followed it up with a one shot to spare from Amer- golf,” said Korda. barrage of his own. icans Wie, Nelly Korda and Wie had been pecking away at the “He hit me with flurry of Danielle Kang until fluffing two players who had led the event for punches but it wasn’t hard,” her lines. most of the day, and neither Korda nor Wilder said of Ortiz. “He She found the sand, and Kang were ever able to break free from knocked me off balance. I just then a bogey five for a seven- each other or from the field. had to get my fundamentals under 65 that left the door open The two Americans were then over- back and I did.” for Wie. taken by the surging Shin, who claimed This was the first career ti- With the victory, Wie the lead outright with a birdie four on tle fight and first loss for the claimed her fifth career LPGA the 16th after never really attracting stout Ortiz who weighed in at title with a final-round seven- notice until the business end of the 241 pounds, almost 30 pounds under 65, for a closing score of tournament. heavier than the taller and lean- 17-under par 271. The trophy looked to be her’s for er 6-foot-7 Wilder. “That has to be the best the taking until that final hole. Wilder has been trying un- putt of my career,” said an “The nerves that I got on 18, successfully to get a unification elated Wie, whose last I think any human being would fight with two-belt titleholder experience it,” she said. Anthony Joshua and now hopes Benign conditions, apart this win is a stepping stone to from the heat, had helped en- more heavyweight hardware. sure a series of low scores. But with no date set to fight The tournament and course England’s Joshua, Wilder had record was broken by South to face the dangerous counter- Korean Kim Sei Young, punching Ortiz (28-1). whose 10 under 62 topped Wilder hopes to next fight the mark of 64 set by South the winner of a Joshua-Joseph That has to be the best putt of my Korean Park Inbee last year. Parker unification title fight on career. It’s been a tough journey but I’m Former world number one March 31 in Cardiff, Wales. just really proud that I pulled myself out Lydia Ko of New Zealand was Together they are all part of another to charge up the lea- a crop of new fighters who are of it. Winning is everything. I mean, there is no derboard early, opening with trying to bring the heavyweight better feeling than when you sink that winning putt. four straight birdies. But she division back into the boxing It’s a high, for sure. found she had left her run too spotlight. late as her five-under 67 left her “I am ready right now. I Michelle Wie at 12-under and tied for 10th. want to unify. I am ready when- ever those guys are,” Wilder said.
Harden helps Rockets beat Streaking rookie Boston for 15th straight win Sharma hangs onto WGC Mexico lead AFP Houston’s Gordon made LOS ANGELES one of two free throws to make AFP it 123-120 with 2.3 seconds re- MEXICO CITY JAMES Harden scored 26 maining. I don’t really want to think points and Eric Gordon scored Boston tried to answer but INDIA’S Shubhankar Shar- 29 off the bench as the Houston Marcus Smart’s three-point ma survived some shaky mo- about it (making history). Rockets stretched their win- heave bounced off the rim at ments to maintain his two- History may be? That would put too much ning streak to a season-high 15 the buzzer to give Houston the shot lead at the WGC Mexico pressure on me. I just want games with a 123-120 win over victory. Championship after the third With a win in the final round, Sharma would become the to go ahead and enjoy the Boston Celtics. “He almost made a lucky round on Saturday. myself. Tomorrow will be a Houston’s winning streak shot,” Harden said of Smart’s Sharma, the 21-year-old youngest player to win a WGC ties the second-longest in desperate attempt. “That’s a Asian Tour Order of Merit event, eclipsing the mark of lot of fun with a lot of good franchise history which was very good team over there. We leader whose European Tour Patrick Reed who won the players in the mix. achieved two times during the just wanted to compete at a high wins this season at Johan- 2014 WGC Mexico Shubhankar Sharma Hakeem Olajuwon-era in the level. nesburg and the Maybank Championship at 23 years 1990s. “Early on in the game they Championship have pro- old. “We’re on a wave right now. were hot, they made so many pelled him to number 75 in We’ve got 20 games left we’ve threes. We just had to compete, the world, is making his first got to take it one at a time and keep fighting for four quarters start in an elite World Golf back from a bogey at the Results try to have fun with it,” said and we got a win.” Championships event. eighth with a birdie at 11, but 200 - Shubhankar Sharma Harden after Saturday’s victory. Harden said the their atten- He’s vying to break into surrendered a shot at 13. (IND) 65-66-69 The Rockets best run of suc- tion to defence was the differ- the top 50 in time to earn a He rolled in a 16-foot 202 - Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) cess all-time was a 22-game win ence maker. Masters berth. With a win birdie putt at 14 to reclaim streak during the 2007-08 NBA “In the first half they were on Sunday he would become sole possession of the lead, 70-68-64, Phil Mickelson season. getting a lot of easy looks, they the youngest player to win and he was two clear even af- 69-68-65, Sergio Garcia (ESP) It’s their second long win- made us scramble defensively. a WGC event, eclipsing the ter his bogey at 16. 68-65-69, Rafa Cabrera Bello ning streak of this season after The second half we picked it up mark of Patrick Reed who He closed with a tremen- (ESP) 66-67-69 Houston won 14 in a row begin- a little more,” he said. won the 2014 WGC Mexico dous par save at the last, 203 - Pat Perez 68-67-68, ning in November and stretch- Elsewhere, Gary Harris Championship at 23 years calmly rolling in a 15-foot ing into December. scored 32 points, Will Barton old. putt to maintain his cushion Dustin Johnson 69-66-68, Marcus Morris had 21 added 23 and the Denver Nug- “I don’t really want to as he tries to become the first Brian Harman 68-67-68, points off the bench for the vis- gets did most of their damage think about it,” Sharma said. player since Jim Benepe at Xander Schauffele 65-68-70 iting Celtics, who had won four behind the three-point line in a “That would put too much the 1988 Western Open to 204 - Justin Thomas 72-70-62 consecutive games since the all- 126-117 win over LeBron James pressure on me. I just want win a first US PGA Tour title 206 - Tony Finau 68-70-68, star break. and the Cleveland Cavaliers. to go ahead and enjoy myself. in his tour debut. “Tomorrow will be a lot of “I got off to a great start,” Marc Leishman (AUS) 69-68- fun with a lot of good players Sharma said. “Made a few 69, Charley Hoffman 70-66- in the mix.” mistakes coming in, but I’ve 70, Jordan Spieth 70-67-69, Sharma hit 11 of 14 fair- done a fairly good job of the Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) ways - his highest total of the distances and the yardages.” 66-69-71, Brendan Steele week - and 10 of 18 greens in Sharma will tee off on regulation during his third Sunday alongside Hatton and 69-66-71 round. Mickelson. Hatton carded a 207 - Kevin Kisner 70-71-66, He had five birdies and 64 to join the group sharing Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) 70-68- three bogeys in his two-un- second while the 43-year-old 69, Bubba Watson 69-66-72, der par 69 at Club de Golf Mickelson posted a bogey- Kyle Stanley 71-65-71 Chapultepec near Mexico free 65. City, where his 13-under par Mickelson, chasing his 208 - Adam Hadwin (CAN) total of 200 put him two first title wince the 2013 Brit- clear of five-time major win- Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma, plays his shot at green one, during ish Open, arrived in Mexico Mickelson said he ner Phil Mickelson, reigning the third round of the World Golf Championship in Mexico City on buoyed by three straight top- wouldn’t get too concerned Masters champion Sergio Saturday. (AFP) 10 finishes. about whether that translates Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton and “It’s been a long time to a victory on Sunday. Rafa Cabrera Bello. 203 that also included 2017 Sharma, leading by two to since my game’s been back to “If it doesn’t, it’s going Houston Rockets guard James Harden (right) drives to the basket while World number one and US PGA Tour rookie of the start the day, made a quick this point,” he said. “I’m back to happen soon because I’m Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart defends during the third quarter of an defending champion Dustin year Xander Schauffele, Pat start with three birdies in his playing some of my best golf playing too well for it not to,” NBA game at Toyota Center in Hosuton on Saturday. (USA TODAY SPORTS) Johnson headed a group on Perez and Brian Harman. first six holes. He bounced again.” he said.