MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014 SPORTS Aussies aim to boost pace attack

ADELAIDE: Australia, already without injured skipper “We will pick the best team to get 20 wickets. A he can behind the scenes. He’s OK.” teams out on day five)... I’m really pleased for him. It Michael Clarke, may also freshen up their pace attack couple of them are sore but the next day or two will was an emotional day for him.” with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc for this week’s tell. It’s a quick turnaround.”Left-armer Starc has been LYON’S SHARE Lehmann said the Adelaide victory was “probably second Test in Brisbane, coach Darren Lehmann said placed on stand-by for Brisbane, while Hazlewood was Australia will again rely heavily on off-spinner the best one I’ve been involved in” given the roller- yesterday. Clarke is out for the rest of the India Test the 12th man in Adelaide. Nathan Lyon to get through a large workload in coaster nature of the Test and the way the players ral- series with a torn right hamstring suffered while field- Ryan Harris, making his Test return after major knee Brisbane. Lyon captured a career-best 12 wickets in lied following team-mate Phillip Hughes’s funeral. ing in Australia’s 48-run win over India on Saturday, surgery, worked through a total of 40 overs in the match at the Adelaide Oval, triggering a final-ses- Lehmann said that opening batsman Chris Rogers amid fears his Test career could be over after a spate of Adelaide and may need to sit out in Brisbane. “I literal- sion collapse to steer Australia to victory. needed to score runs to hold on his spot in the side. injuries. Shaun Marsh has been named to take Clarke’s ly don’t know. He’s just come back in the side,” In the space of 18 overs, Lyon snared six wickets as Rogers was dismissed for nine and 21 in Adelaide place for Wednesday’s Test at the Gabba, with vice- Lehmann said of Harris. “If they are not 100 percent India slumped from 242 for two to be all out for 315. after a mediocre series against Pakistan in the United captain and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin expected to they won’t play.” Peter Siddle may also be under scruti- Lyon finished with seven for 152 off 34.1 overs. Arab Emirates in October when he failed to pass 50. become Australia’s 45th Test skipper. ny after taking just six wickets in his past four Tests. “He did a really good job (in Brisbane) last year “He is a great foil for (fellow opener) David Warner. But with just three days between Tests, selectors “He bowled tightly which is what we need from him,” against England, got some key wickets,” Lehmann said. That’s what I do like, and we like that as a selection must consider the pace attack for Brisbane, Lehmann Lehmann said. “Obviously getting some more wickets “He enjoys the bounce at the Gabba. panel,” coach Lehmann said. “But like everyone, you’ve said. “We will see how they pull up,” he told reporters. if possible. He knows that, but he is doing everything “He’s dispelled that (notion that Lyon couldn’t bowl got to make some runs.” — AFP Chalmers bags Australian PGA

SYDNEY: Greg Chalmers won the Australian PGA Championship for the sec- ond time yesterday after a dramatic three- way playoff with and . Chalmers clinched the title when he safely parred the seventh extra hole when Scott three-putted for bogey after the trio had finished the fourth round tied at 11- under-par. Scott squandered a handful of chances to clinch the title with his errant putting while Ormsby missed a routine four-footer on the second extra hole that would have given him the championship. All the while, Chalmers kept scrambling away. The left-hander shot a flawless final round of eight-under-par 64 just to get into the playoff then kept his nerve to win the longest ever playoff in an Australasian PGA Tour event. “That was just phenomenal. I’m worn out,” the 41-year-old said.”I hit it off line, THAILAND: Golfer of England poses with the trophy after winning the Thailand Golf but I don’t panic. I did it all week and I did Championship at the Amata Spring Country Club. — AFP it sometimes today, but I have a short game that I hold in pretty decent regard.” Ormsby, who won his first professional Westwood clinches title in India last year, sank a long birdie putt on the 18th to get into the playoff but was eliminated on the third extra hole after Scott and Chalmers both made Thailand title birdies and he didn’t. Scott and Chalmers then proceeded to BANGKOK: England’s Lee Westwood won the Asian (73) and two clear of the former world par the 430 metres (470 yards) hole three Tour’s $1 million Thailand Golf Championship by one number ones as he went in search of his first Tour more times before Scott, who was brilliant shot yesterday after US Open champion Martin title in over four years. off the tee but erratic on the green, three Kaymer and third-round leader both Five birdies in his opening 11 holes stretched that putted from inside 30 feet and Chalmers faltered at the finish. lead to three as Lahiri fell away but Westwood and two-putted from twice as far to claim his Westwood bogeyed his opening two holes but Kaymer closed the gap with birdies after the 10th professional title. then reeled off seven birdies in a blistering 10 hole Australian tossed in a bogey at the 12th. “The story of the week - I didn’t make spell from the sixth to complete a superb five-under- Westwood made his seventh birdie of the day at any putts,” Scott said. “I had so many looks. par round of 67 for an eight-under total of 280 and 15 to leave the trio tied at eight under and then When you have putts to win the tourna- the clubhouse lead. parred the closing holes as his rivals faltered. ment you have to make them.” He then watched as Australian Fraser, playing on Lahiri endured a mixed round of seven birdies, Scott and Ormsby had started the final a sponsors invite after missing most of the year four bogeys and two double bogeys as he finished day in a three-way tie for the lead with because of a wrist problem, blew the opportunity to the tournament in a share of sixth to end his bid to and both shot final rounds force a playoff by making a bogey at the par four last become ’s Order of Merit winner. of 71 to join Chalmers at the top of the to drop back to seven-under. That prize went to American , who leaderboard. Westwood’s Ryder Cup-winning team mate has an unassailable lead in the standings over the Chalmers made eight birdies in a flaw- Kaymer also came unstuck on the tricky closing Indian with only the season ending Dubai Open to less round that featured two monster putts holes at the Amata Spring Country Club, the German come next week. Lahiri and Fraser were comforted in excess of 50 feet. The 2011 Australian making his only bogey of the day on the penulti- by booking spots in next year’s British Open with PGA champion hit 16 greens in regulation GOLD COAST: Australia’s Greg Chalmers kisses the trophy after winning the mate, island green 17th to finish tied with Fraser. their strong finishes in Thailand. “That would put and took only 26 putts. Australian PGA Championship golf tournament. — AFP “This is my last event of the year and it’s nice to some balm on my wounds. I’ve had a great year and Scott, defending the title he won last finish with a win and go into Christmas and start the I have a lot to look forward to,” the Indian said. year at the Royal Pines Resort on par-5s in 15-under for the tournament but New Zealand’s closed New Year with confidence,” the 41-year-old Australian Scott Hend, who finished four back of Queensland’s Gold Coast near where he struggled with the flat stick, unable to with a 71 to finish fourth at nine-under, Westwood told reporters after his 41st career victory Westwood in fifth, and American Jonathan Moore, was raised, birdied the par-5 15th to get birdie the last three holes in regulation one stroke ahead of American Scott and second Thai Golf Championship. who was tied sixth alongside Lahiri, took the other back to 11-under. and making just one birdie in the seven Stallings (71) and two clear of Boo Weekly Fraser had started the day one ahead of India’s two places on offer for St Andrews. — Reuters The 2013 Masters champion played the playoff trips down 18. (74) of the United States. — Reuters David targets Shooting tournament concludes world title By A. Sharaa KUWAIT: President of Kuwait National Security CAIRO: Nicol David will have achieved three records within one year if Bureau Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, she regains the World Championship title from Laura Massaro at the Wadi President of Kuwait and Arab Shooting Federations Degla club from today. Eng Duaij Khalaf Al-Otaibi, Secretary General of Not only would it extend her all-time record of world titles to eight, it Kuwait and Arab Shooting Federations Obaid Al- would make David the first player ever to lose and win a world title in the Osaimi, and KSSC board members Engr Mohammad same calendar year. It would also follow her achievement last month of Al-Ghurba and Adnan Al-Ibrahim attended the clos- remaining 100 consecutive months as world number one, which is unlike- ing ceremony of late Sheikh Ali Sabah Al-Salem ly ever to be bettered. If the Malaysian does prevail as seems increasingly shooting tournament on Saturday. probable, it would repair much of the damage of her upsetting World Engr Duaij Al-Otaibi welcomed guests and shoot- Championship defeat in her home state of Penang in March. ers, especially those from Bahrain and UAE, saying Small wonder the 31-year-old says she will “put everything out there” then said that Kuwait shooting is happy to organize in order to finish the most notable year of her career on another massive the tournament. He said the tournament included high. The portents for that are good. David has beaten Massaro in all Olympic skeet, trap, double trap, air pistol and rifle, three of their meetings since the last World Championship, most recently and was held over three days during which competi- in the final of the world team championship in Ontario a week ago. tion was fierce yet friendly. Al-Otaibi said Sheikh Ali Against that, there may be new Egyptians capable of affecting the out- Al-Sabah played a major role in launching Kuwait come on home territory, with David mindful of this year’s losses to Nour El Shooting, and headed the first shooting delegation Group photo of female shooters with officials. Sherbini in Penang and Raneem El Weleily in Kuala Lumpur in August. that represented Kuwait in the military sports (CISM). Skeet - Shooting School: Hamad Al-Rashidi, Mohammad Abdelrahman. Her first round draw against a qualifier on Monday could therefore He added that the late Sheikh also played an integral pitch her against one of several talented home youngsters whose games Salman Al-Rashidi, Ahmad Al-Azmi. Air Pistol - Women: Dana Al-Ruwaie, Israa Dashti, role when he had the responsibility of rebuilding Trap - Shooting School: Shihab Al-Jarallah, Yousuf Lubna Yousuf. she will have had little chance to analyse. Kuwait Army and Police Force, and that is why KSSC David is thus particularly concerned to capitalise on her fine form and Al-Daihani, Saud Nassar. Air Rifle - Women: Mariam Irzouqi, Ayat Al- is keen on organizing this annual tournament. He Air Pistol - Men: Hamad Al-Namshan, Saad Mane, Duwaikhi, Duaa Al-Duwaikhi. unusually eye-catching strokeplay during six wins out of six in the world said this tournament is held following several suc- team championships to generate further momentum. Abdullah Al-Mulla. Air Rifle - Junior-Women: Ayat Al-Duwaikhi, Duaa cessful participations by Kuwait shooting including Air Rifle - Men: Hussein Ahmad, Ali Al-Mutairi, Al-Duwaikhi, Zahraa Al-Saffar. “You gain a bit more experience from that and want to bring that for- Asian Games in Korea, Asian Clay Target Shooting in ward as a boost, and kick start a good first round,” she said. UAE, and Arab Shooting Tournament in Doha. The “Being in Cairo will be very different-there will be some great matches”, tournament is also part of preparations for the partic- David added, striking a cautionary note. “It’s been a long time since I ipation of Kuwait teams in HH the Amir International played here. The last time was at Heliopolis 12 years ago, and it will bring Grand Prix to be held in January at Sheikh Sabah Al- back memories.” The overflowing pool of local talent will bring the fourth- Ahmad Olympic Shooting Complex. Al-Otaibi seeded El Sherbini up against Nouran Gohar, a 17-year-old from Cairo thanked the family of late Sheikh Ali Sabah Al-Salem, widely tipped as a future top three player, and the third-seeded Weleily and congratulated the winning shooters. against Habiba Mohamed Ahmed, the 15-year-old so-called child prodigy from Alexandria. David could progress towards a revenge opportunity Results of the tournament are as follows: against El Sherbini in the semi-finals, via a second round with Jenny Skeet men: Saif bin Futais, Mohammad N. Al- Duncalf, the former world finalist from England, and after a quarter-final Daihani, Nasser M. Al-Daihani. with Camille Serme, the still improving world number six from France. Double Trap - Men: Jarrah Shuwaier, Khalid Al- If David does reach a final against Massaro, as the seedings predict, she Kaabi, Saad Lafi Al-Mutairi. will seek a parallel with the British Open final at Hull in March, when the Trap - Women: Fatima Abdelmalek, Hajar Englishwoman was also the title holder and David won it back. “It’s going Abdlmalek, Asmaa Al-Qattan. to be the same scenario going into this tournament,” David reckoned. Skeet - Women: Iman Al-Shamma, Latifa Al-Hadi, “Laura is there to defend the title. I am there to go for it. Afrah Abdelrahman. “It’s been great to have a 2014 like this,” was her evaluation of a year in Skeet - Juniors: Abdelaziz Al-Saad, Nasser Al- which she has also won the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games Mutairi, Mutlaq Al-Rashidi. titles. “This is last tournament of the year and I need just to go for it and Trap - Juniors: Khalid Al-Murad, Mohammad Al- put everything out there.” — AFP Hamly, Nasser Al-Khaldi. KUWAIT: Joint photo of male shooters with officials.