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SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER 2016 • 29 DHUL HIJJA 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Coach Cano announces Hosszu and Chad le Clos Qatar U-20 squad

The Peninsula Senegal and South Korea. Qatar are in Group C with Japan, Yemen and Iraq. The first four teams will get an set for action in Doha automatic berth at the FIFA U-20 D O H A : Coach Oscar Cano, yester- World Cup to be held in Korea. day named a strong squad for next Qatar U-20 Squad: Syed Hus- month’s AFC U-20 Asian Cup, an sain, Hazem Ahmed, Mohammed After impressing the event Qatar won two years ago. Saed Abdul Rahman, fahmi Meshaal, The 27-man squad has a number Ibrahim Issa Karbi, Khalid Munir crowds in Rio Games, of exciting players for the October Ahmed, Mohammed Hassan, Walid star swimmers ready 13-30 event to be held in Manama. Hassan Ali, Khalifa Khamis, Khalid The Qatar squad along with the mubarak Al Nuaimi, Tariq Salman, for FINA/airweave coaching staff will leave for Man- Abdul Rashid, Ibrahim Hammam, Swimming World ama on October 10. Qatar beat North Hassan Ahedm, Wazan Naeem, Korea in the final of the same event Bassam Hisham, Abdulah Alhoraq, Cup Doha 2016 in Myanmar in 2014. Mesham Ibrahim, Ilyas Ahmed, Prior to leaving for Bahrain, Nasser Al Saadi, Ahmed Bakhit, Qatar will appear in an international Nasser Abdel Salam and Muwaffaq friendly series against Uruguay, Awad. Coach: Oscar Cano The Peninsula

DOHA: World’s top swimmers will BMC Racing out to return to Doha once again as the Qatari capital hosts the FINA/air- weave Swimming World Cup for the defend Team Time fifth consecutive time on October 8-9 at the Hamad Aquatic Centre. The FINA/airweave Swimming Trial crown in Doha World Cup will see some of the great- est swimmers ever take to the waters of Hamad Aquatic Centre, many of The Peninsula clearly disappointed by the result. whom will be energised by their He had assigned a specific new-found glory in the pools of Rio task: use the team’s strong roster of during the 2016 Olympic Games. rouleurs to earn the World Champi- Spectators can expect lightning DOHA: The historic UCI Road World onships TTT the following year. fast times, more world records, and South African Chad Le Clos in action in this file photo. INSET: Hungarian swimming sensation Katinka Hosszu. Championships Doha 2016 will flag They succeeded immediately: incredible action over two days. off on October 9, with the Women’s in Ponferrada in 2014, the squad Fans will be delighted to know that Le Clos has built upon a great rep- her unstoppable stamina and appe- participation in Doha, Hosszu said: and Men’s Team Time Trial (TTT) defeated Australia’s Orica-Green- two favourites of the Doha leg of ertoire of experience which includes tite for competition, the 27-year-old “I am very excited to continue the events. Edge and outgoing champions the Swimming World Cup, Katinka two Olympic medals in 2012; displayed amazing performances in FINA/airweave Swimming World After being a regular feature in Omega Pharma-Quick Step, duly Hosszu and Chad Le Clos, will return a gold medal in the 200m butterfly the Rio 2016 Olympic Games where Cup series in Doha – competing there the UCI Road World Championships becoming world champions of the this year as well. and a silver in the 100m butterfly. she devastated the competition and is always a great experience. When between 1962 and 1994, the Team discipline. They confirmed their Le Clos, 24, dubbed the “golden Commenting on his return to snagged three gold medals in the you compete against the best swim- Time Trials were reintroduced to the excellence by winning an outstand- boy” will head to Doha after win- Doha for the FINA/airweave Swim- 400m, and 200m individual med- mers from around the world you end programme in 2012. They are the ing four races the next season. ning two Olympic silver medals in ming World Cup 2016, Le Clos said: ley and the 100m backstroke and a up pushing yourself the hardest you only trade team races of the sched- While the team had accom- Rio 2016 in the 200m freestyle and “As athletes we travel the globe to silver medal in the 200m backstroke. possibly can and that’s what I hope to ule, as the remainder of events are plished most of the necessary factors 100m butterfly. The South Afri- compete in many meets and champi- The Iron Lady set a new world do in Doha – to push myself harder contended by national teams. for a successful TTT, such as remain- can swimming star has a fantastic onships but the Doha FINA/airweave record in the 400m individual med- and achieve even more – it’s a great In the men’s version, Belgium’s ing as a compact squad, getting as track record from the 2014 and 2015 Swimming World Cup is very special ley after demolishing the previous environment for that.” Omega Pharma-Quick Step netted much draft as possible and saving editions of the FINA/airweave Swim- to me and I always make sure that I record set by China’s Ye Shiwen at For those who are interested in the first two titles, and USA’s BMC energy, and powerful and well times ming World Cup in Doha. prepare for it accordingly. Doha has the 2012 London Games, almost by live action at the Hamad Aquatic Racing Team got the following two, pulling. Even the lighter rider hadn’t The talented swimmer took always been very warm and wel- an entire 2 seconds. Centre, tickets are available through thus being the reigning champion pulled until the end, “not because home three gold medals in 2014 in coming to us – the water in Hamad Hosszu added this new World Q-tickets.com and prices are set at ahead of Doha 2016. he is not strong enough to keep the the 50m and 100m butterfly and the Aquatic Centre is incredible to com- Record to her ever-growing list of 20 QAR per person per session, given BMC Racing Team has regularly necessary speed,” Pinotti pointed 100m freestyle events and managed pete in so I’m really looking forward accomplishments including world this year’s stellar line up of athletes, proved why they are kings of Team out, “but because he is so small he to carry over his success to the 2015 to heading out there and winning records in the 100m, 200m and be sure to book your ticket well Time Trialling. This season, they have doesn’t shelter the guy behind him edition of the Swimming World Cup more medals and maybe even set- 400m Individual medal events and ahead of time. triumphed at prestigious events such and therefore makes the whole team where he snagged the same number ting new records.” 100m and 200m backstroke. The More details are available at as Tirreno-Adriático and Eneco Tour, weaker.” of gold medals. Hungarian swimming superstar Hungarian has had a stellar his- www.qatarswimming.com, and two stage races that form part of the Pinotti and his team will be The Olympian Le Clos is also the Katinka Hosszu – arguably one of the tory with competing in Doha, one the even can be followed @SWC_ UCI World Tour, road cycling’s top- hoping to defend their World Cham- Commonwealth Games Champion most talented swimmers in history which she surely hopes to replicate Doha on Twitter, and FINA airweave notch circuit. The team’s coach, Marco pionships TTT crown in Doha against where he collected two gold medals, – will also head to Doha once again. this year. Swimming World Cup Doha on Pinotti, one of the best time triallists a field that includes another eight one silver and two bronze medals. Dubbed the “Iron Lady” thanks to Speaking ahead of her Facebook. of the world in the last decade, was UCI World Teams.

MOTRAG, SAMAA, victorious at Saint-Cloud

MOTRAG (centre), on his way to victory of the Qatar Total Arabian Trophy Des Poulains during the Saint-Cloud meet in Saint-Cloud, France yesterday. CENTRE: Yousuf Al Nisf presenting the winner’s trophy to team MOTRAG. RIGHT: QREC Board member Khalid Al Ali presenting the trophy to jockey of SAMAA, O. Peslier, the winner of Qatar Arabian Trophy Des Pouliches. SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER 2016 21

All Blacks three wins away from world record

AFP

BUENOS AIRES: New Zealand tackle in today, seeking a Rugby Champi- onship round 5 win that will move them closer to a world-record 18 consecutive Test victories. Should they succeed at the Estadio Jose Amal- New Zealand skipper Kane fitani, the All Blacks will then need to beat South Williamson. Africa away on October 8 and Australia at home on October 22 to rewrite the record books. New Zealand twice and once have won 17 internationals in a row with Aus- Williamson tralia playing party-poopers through a win and a draw each time the All Blacks sought to win 18 out of Tests on the trot. The rugby giants in the black strip, winners of the World Cup a record three times, started second Test the latest winning streak with a 41-13 hammer- ing of the Wallabies in August last year. Since that triumph, they have beaten Australia with virus a further three times, three times, South Africa and Argentina twice each and Namibia, Georgia, Tonga and France once each. AFP Many of the All Blacks’ victories have been by wide margins with a 62-13 thrashing of the India’s Shikhar Dhawan is bowled by New Zealand’s Matt Henry on the first day of theirSecond Test cricket match at Eden French in a 2015 World Cup quarter-final the Gardens in Kolkata, India yesterday. most one-sided. KOLKATA: Skipper Kane Argentina proved stubborn group opponents Williamson has been quar- to New Zealand during the same tournament in antined from his team-mates , leading for much of a game they even- after going down with a virus tually lost 26-16 in London. which ruled him out of the Pujara, Henry star on tense When the teams met this month in Hamilton, second Test against India, the matched the All Blacks for 50 min- New Zealand Cricket said utes before collapsing and finishing 57-22 losers. yesterday. While New Zealand currently appear invin- In a blow to the tourists’ cible, star fly-half Beauden Barrett stressed that hopes of levelling the series, Argentina are a rising world rugby force. Williamson was omitted from day one at Eden Gardens “The Pumas challenged us for 50 minutes and the Black Caps team after if they can play like that for an entire match, it he also missed training on will be very difficult for us to beat them,” he told Thursday. 14 and Ravindra Jadeja was yet Coming in at number SCOREBOARD a Buenos Aires media conference. “Kane Williamson has to score when bad light stopped three, Pujara built his innings “They rank among the top rugby teams -- we been ruled out of the Black New Zealand fight play at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. patiently and hit 17 bound- India (I innings) saw that at the World Cup last year when they Caps 2nd Test in Kolkata to keep their Pujara (87) and Rahane aries during 219-ball stay at S Dhawan b Henry 1 reached the semi-finals. with illness. Ross Taylor will (77) put together 141 runs for the crease. M Vijay c Watling b Henry 9 “Argentina have always been big and strong, captain side,” the Black Caps series hopes alive the fourth wicket after India, Pace bowler Neil Wagner now they are skilful as well and play a nice brand tweeted yesterdau, just a few as 141-run stand who elected to bat first in their plotted Pujara’s wicket with a C Pujara c Guptill b Wagner 87 of rugby,” said the 25-year-old successor to leg- hours before play began. 250th home Test, were in trou- consistent line outside the off V Kohli c Latham b Boult 9 end Dan Carter, who retired last year. Williamson has a viral pulls India out ble early at 46 for three. stump, which finally got the A Rahane lbw b Patel 77 With the Rugby Championship title secure illness and is also suffering of trouble New Zealand need to win batsman to drive uppishly and R Sharma c Latham b Patel 2 two rounds from the finish after four bonus-point

from fever and dehydration, the Test to keep their series be caught at short cover. R Ashwin lbw b Henry 26 victories, New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has

according to New Zealand’s hopes alive after India secured Rahane, who hit his ninth rested some regular starters. W Saha (batting) 14 Fairfax media. a comprehensive 197-run vic- Test fifty, tackled the New Zea- He changed four of the Kieran Read-skip- R Jadeja (batting) 0 New Zealand Cricket told AFP tory in Kanpur in the first of land bowlers with aplomb, pered team that began a 41-13 demolition of South it was “standard practice” to the three matches. until he was done in by Patel’s Extras (B 8, LB 6) 14 Africa in two weekends ago. separate somebody who was Henry claimed the scalps wily off spin in the final Total (7 wkts) 239 In come centre Anton Lienart-Brown, scrum- sick from his team-mates. of openers Shikhar Dha- session. Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-28, 3-46, 4-187, half TJ Perenara, lock Patrick Tuipulotu and Williamson not only pro- KOLKATA: New Zealand bowl- wan, who disappointed on his Ravichandran Ashwin, 5-193, 6-200, 7-231 flanker Liam Squire for Malakai Fekitoa, Aaron vides leadership for New ers put India on the backfoot return, scoring just one run, whose 26-run cameo was laced Bowling: Boult 16-8-33-1, Henry 15-6- Smith, Sam Whitelock and the injured Jerome Zealand but he is also their despite fighting fifties from and Murali Vijay. with 4 boundaries, also tried 35-3, Wagner 15-5-37-1, Santner 19-5- Kaino. most consistent batsman, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Trent Boult piled on the to counter attack with some 54-0, Patel 21-3-66-2 Argentina, beaten 36-20 in Australia in scoring 75 in a 124-run sec- Rahane, to leave the hosts on pressure to claim the big wicket aggressive strokeplay, but round 4, will look to a hoped-for 50,000 crowd To bat: B Kumar, M Shami ond-wicket partnership with 239 for seven yesterday in the of Indian skipper Virat Kohli became Henry’s third victim to inspire captain Agustin Creevy and a team Tom Latham in the first Test second Test. (nine), who was guilty of chas- of the day, trapped lbw. boasting star half-backs Nicolas Sanchez and in Kanpur. New Zealand’s recalled ing a wide delivery, as Tom India, who denied the visi- Martin Landajo.. New Zealand need a win pace bowler Matt Henry and Latham took a splendid catch tors a wicket in the post-lunch installed at the iconic Eden “New Zealand are the best team in the world at Eden Gardens to square off-spinner Jeetan Patel shared at gully. play, lost four of their batsmen Gardens, following a similar and we have prepared to the best of our ability,” the three-match series at 1-1 five wickets between them The in-form Pujara, who in the final session that was tradition at Lord’s. said Daniel Hourcade, the coach credited with after losing the Kanpur Test on the first day of a must- played a key role in India’s dominated by the bowlers. Ross Taylor is captaining making the Pumas a stronger all-round team. by 197 runs. win match for the visitors in win in Kanpur, then struck his At the start of the match, New Zealand in the absence “Good though the All Blacks are, playing them Kolkata. third consecutive half-century World Cup winning captain of Kane Williamson, who was does not intimidate us -- it motivates us.” Wriddhiman Saha was on of the series. Kapil Dev rang a bell newly ruled out with a virus. Canada rally late to win World Cup of Ice Hockey

AFP honor. A lot of pressure that goes with expectations, but it was one he was that, but it’s been an incredible expe- happy to shoulder. rience every day.” “Everyone wants to be playing for Team Europe goaltender Jaroslav Team Canada,” he said. “It’s an unbe- TORONTO: Brad Marchand scored a Halak made 32 saves and Europe led lievable atmosphere, to play here at short-handed goal with 43 seconds most of the night after a first-period home, to be a hockey player playing left as Canada rallied in the clos- goal from another Bruins stalwart, for Team Canada and be with this ing minutes to win the World Cup of Zdeno Chara. group of guys has been a lot of fun.” Hockey 2-1 over Team Europe. It wasn’t enough, however, as Europe made them work to close Canada won the best-of-three Canada captain Sidney Crosby was it out. Chara gave Europe a 1-0 lead at title series 2-0, after taking game named Most Valuable Player of the 6:26 of the first period, taking a feed one on Tuesday 3-1. tournament, becoming the third from Andrej Sekera and firing a shot Marchand’s goal was his fourth in player to win NHL MVP, the Conn off Canada goalie Carey Price’s arm the tournament, an eight-team glo- Smyth as playoff MVP, and World Cup into the net. Although Price made 32 bal showcase that was revived this MVP. He joins all-time greats Wayne saves, it looked like Europe would year after editions in 1996 and 2004. Gretzky and Bobby Orr. make the one-goal lead stand up. Marchand’s Boston Bruins team- Crosby had three goals and seven Crosby said he and his Canada mate Patrice Bergeron scored on a assists in the tournament, in which teammates were conscious of try- power play to knot the score at 1-1 Canada went 6-0 en route to the title. ing to avoid a game three. with less than three minutes to play, “It’s special,” Crosby said. “I don’t Anze Kopitar, the best penalty thwarting upstart Europe’s bid to have to look too far to think about killer on a Europe team featuring take the series to a decisive game how tough it was a year ago, starting players from eight different coun- three. out the season, I appreciate this a lot.” tries, was called for holding Corey “The whole thing has been a bit of Canada have now won 16 straight Perry with 3:35 left in the third. a whirlwind,” Marchand said. “When games in so-called best-on-best Canada took advantage, when you come into a tournament like this, competition. Their last defeat in a Bergeron deflected Brent Burns’s you’re just trying to take everything top-flight tournament was to the shot past Halak to tie the game. in. It’s the biggest stage in the world United States in pool play at the 2010 But with Europe on a power play right now, and to be a part of it is an Vancouver Olympics -- where Can- after Drew Doughty high-sticked incredible honor. ada went on to win gold. Tobias Rieder, Marchand managed “Then to be put on the line with Crosby admitted that play- to grab a crisp pass from Jonathan Team Canada players pose for a team photo after defeating Team Europe in game two of the World Cup of Sid (Crosby) and Bergy is another big ing for Canada brought a weight of Toews and fire it past Halak. Hockey final against Team Europe at Air Canada Centre on Thursday. 22 SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER 2016 SPORT Pressure on US to end Ryder Cup drought

AFP

CHASKA, United States: A veteran US team is seek- ing to finally end its misery and reclaim the Ryder Cup while a talented but largely untested European out- fit hopes to wreak havoc in the American heartland. The anticipation is building for the 41st Ryder Cup which tees off Friday morning with alternate shot four- somes followed by afternoon four-ball matches. “Any time I can wear red, white and blue, it means everything,” American Patrick Reed said on Thursday. Renault Sport F1 Team’s Danish driver Kevin Magnussen car is engulfed in flames at the pit lane during the first free practice session of “It brings out even more competitiveness in me and the Formula One Malaysia Grand Prix in Sepang yesterday. even more fire. Hopefully I can have that feed onto the team.” No doubt the Americans are feeling heightened pressure to deliver a victory at Hazeltine. The last time the Ryder Cup was on US soil in 2012 the USA suffered a heartbreaking loss in Chi- cago, falling victim to the greatest last-day comeback Hamilton fights back in Malaysia in tournament history, Europe’s 14 1/2-13 1/2 win in the “Miracle at Medinah.” American Jordan Spieth had a message for the par- tisan crowds urging them on Friday to make plenty of Rosberg, who led his team mate The Dane was forced to hot noise and cheer for the home team. The Briton tops the by a comfortable margin in the foot it out of his Renault after it “Show up early, get on the first tee 30 minutes morning, ended the day with a time was engulfed in flames while being before we tee off to make sure by the time we get there timesheets with the 0.233 seconds slower than the Briton wheeled into the garage after just those Euros know that they are playing an away game. fastest lap of the day with the Ferrari pair of Sebastian seven minutes of action. We want to feel at home,” Spieth said. Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen finish- Renault mechanics initially Europe seeks an unprecedented fourth victory in as Mercedes duo lead ing third and fourth respectively. brought the fire under control, a row over the host United States at Hazeltine. The way at Sepang Circuit The duo were closer to the dom- squirting extinguisher all over the Europeans have won six of the past seven and eight of inant Mercedes in the afternoon but car, but fuel gushing out of the top the last 10 meetings in the biennial team golf rivalry. still more than half a second adrift of the airbox continued to reignite, From the moment Europe’s Justin Rose was to hit as they swapped positions from leaving the vehicle stranded in the the first shot off the first tee yesterday, the atmosphere Reuters first practice when the 2007 world pit-lane and prompting a 15-minute on the course was expected to be electric. champion edged out last year’s race stoppage. “It is a moment to try and enjoy the best you can,” winner. Renault, who were running the England’s Rose said. “It is clearly nerve-wracking and it Max Verstappen celebrated his car in an experimental configuration is not a moment you can really prepare for. Just expect SEPANG: Lewis Hamilton out- 19th birthday by improving from in preparation for next month’s high- to be nervous, get it airborne and then Henrik (Sten- paced his championship-leading seventh to fifth for Red Bull, as altitude Mexican Grand Prix, put the son) and I will build a great round from there.” Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg Sergio Perez came sixth ahead of cause of the fire down to a fuel leak Rose and Stenson faced Spieth and Reed in yester- in practice for the Malaysian Grand McLaren’s Fernando Alonso, who from the breather. day’s opening foursomes match, a showdown of two Prix yesterday, the Briton topping ended a promising day of running There was little drama otherwise unbeaten duos from the 2014 event. the timesheets with the fastest lap with Honda’s upgraded power unit on a straightforward day of practice, Rose, who won the first Olympic title in 112 years of the day. in seventh. with a few minor spins and lock-ups last month, and Sweden’s Stenson, the reigning Brit- The defending Formula One The Spaniard is set to start the as drivers got to grips with changes ish Open champion, went 3-0 together in Europe’s win champion finished behind Rosberg race at the back of the grid after to the track, including tweaks to the two years ago at Gleneagles. in the morning but found his groove being hit with a 30-place engine- camber and gradients of some of its “I am expecting it to be loud,” said Rose. “I am around a resurfaced Sepang circuit related penalty for running a new 15 corners. expecting it to be fun. I am expecting it to be nerve- in the afternoon to set a benchmark power unit but the modifications Mercedes head into Sunday’s wracking. I am expecting it to be the Ryder Cup which time of one minute, 34.944 seconds. appeared to help as he had been fifth race on the brink of claiming a is why it is so special. I can’t wait for tomorrow.” Hamilton trails Rosberg by in the morning. third constructors’ title but the bat- Masters champion Danny Willett found that out eight points after the German won Kevin Magnussen, whose burn- tle for individual honours between early yesterday just how loud the heckling can get. Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team’s British the last race in Singapore but his ing car provided an early moment the team’s drivers is a lot closer, with He is prepared for a rough reception when his first prospects of striking back with a of drama that brought out the red Rosberg holding a points advantage Ryder Cup opened after his brother’s insults to Ameri- driver Lewis Hamilton drives his car during the 50th career win were lifted by an flags in the opening session, went and the momentum over Hamilton. can golf fans on a European golf website. first free practice session of the Formula One improved performance in practice 19th fastest in the afternoon. The German regained the over- The kerfuffle began when Pete Willett described Malaysia Grand Prix in Sepang yesterday. following a disappointing Friday a He completed 19 laps after man- all lead after scoring his third win in US golf fans as “fat, stupid, greedy, classless bastards” fortnight ago. aging just two in the morning. a row in Singapore. as well as a “baying mob of imbeciles”. Japan approves new $1.5bn In form Kvitova reaches Wuhan final AFP stadium for Tokyo 2020 WUHAN: Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova dropped AFP just three games to dismiss Simona Halep in two sets in the semi-finals at the Wuhan Open yesterday. The Czech displayed the tennis TOKYO: The Japanese government that once saw her two match wins yesterday approved plans for the from ascending to world number one building of the main stadium for as she beat Halep 6-1, 6-2 to reach the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at a cost her second final at the $2.6m hard of almost $1.5bn. court event in China. Construction of Tokyo’s new The Romanian fourth seed national stadium is scheduled to denied Kvitova her first match point begin in December, more than a year with an unusual backhand volley, after the original blueprints were taking the second set to 5-2, but was torn up on the orders of Prime Min- unable to swing the momentum of Petra Kvitova of the Czech ister Shinzo Abe amid public anger the game in her favour. Republic serves during her over skyrocketing costs, according “I tried, but (it) was too late to semi-final match against to officials. change something at 6-1, 5-1. It’s a bit Simona Halep of Romania The showcase Olympic stadium too late with someone that is play- at the WTA Wuhan Open is set to be completed by the end of ing this way,” Halep told reporters tennis tournament in November 2019, said the Japan Sport after the match. Wuhan, China yesterday. Council - five months behind sched- Despite the loss, by reaching Kvitova beat Halep 6-1, 6-2 This December 22, 2015 file photo shows Japan Sports Council (JSC) ule, the delays already having forced the Wuhan semi-finals Halep has to reach the final. the 2019 Rugby World Cup to switch president Kazumi Ohigashi (left) shaking hands with architect Kengo booked her spot in the year-ending venues for the final match. Kuma during a press conference announcing the new design of the eight-player WTA Finals for the third The $1.47bn price tag for archi- national stadium in Tokyo. The Japanese government yesterday consecutive year. Cibulkova has spent more than six away from qualifying for the year tect Kengo Kuma’s design comes in approved plans for the building of the main stadium for the Tokyo Kvitova’s return to form in China hours on court in the last two days, finale in Singapore for the first time. just under the $1.55 cap for the con- 2020 Olympics at a cost of almost $1.5b. comes after a choppy year that began playing both a fourth round and “I’m a good player, I can beat top tractors, led by construction giant with her splitting from coach of quarter final match on Thursday -- players. But I was missing consist- Taisei Corp. New Tokyo governor embarrassing gaffes since beating officials have strenuously denied any seven years David Kotyza and has and claiming the scalp of US Open ency in my game. This is the first Yuriko Koike, who has been eager out Madrid and Istanbul in the bid- wrongdoing. But Koike’s Tokyo gov- seen her slip to 16 in the world rank- finalist Karolina Pliskova en route. year that I’m really consistent play- to further slash costs for Tokyo’s sec- ding race three years ago. ernment recently appointed a group ings -- her lowest spot since 2011. Her strong run at Wuhan marks ing the whole year,” the Slovak said. ond Olympics, promised to keep a Prime Minster Abe tore up ini- of academics and business lead- She made a series of early an impressive return for the 27-year- Meanwhile, 31-year-old Kuznet- close eye on progress with the city’s tial plans for the Olympic stadium, ers to study ways to cut escalating round exits this season, failing to old who missed four months of the sova -- who reached world number preparations already dogged by designed by the late Iraqi-British costs and reduce the burden on the get beyond the fourth round at any season in 2015 after having surgery two in 2007 -- is enjoying a late- controversy. architect Zaha Hadid, as costs soared city’s taxpayers. The panel warned of the Grand Slams, until a bronze on her left foot. career resurgence and reaching the “Given we are sharing the (finan- beyond $2bn. Tokyo organisers then in a report published on Thursday medal at the Rio Olympics appeared A left calf injury also forced her semi-finals at Wuhan will likely see cial) burden, I will raise my voice had to scrap the original Games logo that the Games could end up costing to turn the tide for the 26-year-old. to withdraw from the Rio Olympics. her reach her highest ranking in six when necessary to ensure the sta- after accusations of plagiarism from more than $30bn, urging Olympic Kvitova will meet Dominika “It’s never easy to come back years when next week’s leaderboard dium is utilised by the citizens of a theatre in Belgium. leaders to ditch plans to build new Cibulkova in the finals on Satur- after injury, especially when your is released. Tokyo,” she told reporters after a Most alarmingly, French pros- venues and use existing ones. day, after the Slovak rallied from ranking drops,” said Cibulkova after “I lost little bit my way when I meeting at the prime minister’s ecutors launched an investigation Koike agreed to examine pro- one set down to beat double Grand the match. got broken in second set because office. into $2m in payments they suspect posals to overhaul the swimming, Slam champion Svetlana Kuznets- But she has reached five finals I felt like I was on top of the game Japanese Olympic officials have were made to help Tokyo secure volleyball and kayak facilities, cur- ova 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. this year and the quarter finals at after I won first set,” Kuznetsova told come under fire after a series of the Olympics. Japanese Olympic rently estimated at some $1.5bn. Rain delays meant that Wimbledon, and is now just points reporters after the match. SPORT SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER 2016 23 Ibra gets United moving as woes continues for Inter

in a 4-5-1 formation, and United Spain drops Mourinho’s men struggled to play through them. Ibra- himovic had a shot deflected wide keep their positive by Dmytro Grechyshkin, but as in in-form Mata momentum as last Saturday’s 4-1 win over league champions City, the hosts Reuters De Boer seems unable looked most threatening from cor- to cure Inter Milan’s ners in the first half. Just as he had in the first half, European curse Ljubenovic set United’s hearts flut- MADRID: Spain coach Julen tering early in the second when he Lopetegui has left Manchester narrowly failed to make contact with United’s in-form midfielder Juan a cross from Olexandr Karavaev. Mata (pictured) out of his squad Agencies Mourinho turned to Rooney, who for World Cup qualifiers away to had started on the bench for the sec- Italy and Albania. ond game running, and within two Mata has scored two goals in minutes the United captain had four Premier League starts for M A N C H E S T E R : Zlatan Ibrahimovic played a part -- albeit an uninten- United, including an excellent one headed in a 69th-minute winner as tional one -- in the decisive goal. in the 4-1 home victory over Pre- Manchester United got their Europa Released by Mata, Timothy-Fosu mier League champions Leicester League campaign off the ground with Mensah cut the ball back from the last Saturday. a laboured 1-0 home win over Zorya byline on the right towards Rooney. “There are many players that Luhansk on Thursday. Inter Milan’s The United number 10 miscued we like but not all of them can aversion to Europa League foot- his volley, directing the ball into the come,” Lopetegui told a news con- ball continued with a 3-1 defeat at ground and away from goal, but Ibra- ference on Friday. Sparta Prague, while AS Roma ended himovic rose at the back post to nod Mata, who missed out on Euro a continental hoodoo stretching back a close-range header over the lines, 2016, was named in Lopetegui’s seven games with a 4-0 home win scorring his sixth goal in 10 appear- first squad but did not play in over Romanian side FC Astra. ances for United. Spain’s 2-0 win in Belgium and Beaten 1-0 at Feyenoord in their After the game Mourinho rued the 8-0 rout of Liechtenstein this Group A opener, Jose Mourinho’s side the “poisoned gift” of his side’s fixture month. struggled to break down their unad- schedule in October. United will host Lopetegui recalled Isco, venturous Ukrainian opponents until Group A leaders Fenerbahce in their despite the midfielder’s limited the introduction from the bench of next game on October 20. Prior to playing time at Real Madrid. Wayne Rooney. that, they face a Monday night match “It’s not the same being a sub The England captain’s mishit at arch rivals Liverpool, with a trip to at Real Madrid than at any other shot was headed in by Ibrahimovic Chelsea, in the Premier League, and a club,” Lopetegui said. to leave United a point behind group crunch game against Manchester City “I can’t deny that I like Isco. leaders Fenerbahce, who will visit in the League Cup to follow. He has played 58 minutes in the Old Trafford this month. The second round of group stage league and that’s very little. But “It was difficult,” said Mourinho. matches featured a string of high- he is a player that I like and that “We had our chances in the first half. scoring encounters as Fiorentina, I trust.” We could have scored and it would Zenit St Petersburg and Krasnodar all Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after scoring their first goal against FC Zorya Luhansk West Ham goalkeeper Adrian have been a different match. But we hit five in comprehensive victories. during their UEFA Europa League game on Thursday. and Chelsea defender Cesar didn’t. It is six years since Inter last won Azpilicueta were dropped while “One week, three defeats. One the Champions League but they have minutes, however, as they fell two Strootman for the opener, rattling the with the visiting French side’s Ital- Borussia Dortmund defender Marc week, three victories. But I was not not played in Europe’s top club com- goals behind after a double strike crossbar with a free kick for Federico ian striker Mario Balotelli scoring Bartra was ruled out with a mus- depressed by the defeats and I am petition since 2012 and have now by Vaclav Kadlec. Rodrigo Pala- Fazio to net the rebound and play- his fifth goal in four games, while cular injury. not over the moon with three wins.” got a losing habit in its second-tier cio pulled one back in the 71st but ing a clever flick to release Mohamed Schalke won 3-1 at home to Salz- There was no place for Chel- It was a far from fluent United cousin. They are already facing a dif- any hopes of a recovery ended Salah for Roma’s fourth. burg and Shakhtar defeated visitors sea midfielder Cesc Fabregas but performance, but it maintained ficult task to escape from their group when Andrea Ranocchia was sent The only one he did not play a Braga 2-0. Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta their upturn in form following the after suffering a second straight off four minutes later and Mario part in was a 47th-minute own goal Zenit’s Aleksandr Kokorin scored returned to the squad after miss- recent run of three straight defeats defeat this season, which was their Holek restored the Czechs’ two-goal by Astra’s Fabicio as Roma ended a twice in a 5-0 thrashing of AZ Alk- ing the last two games with a knee that had destroyed their early-sea- fourth in a row in the competition. advantage. run of seven matches without a win maar, while APOEL sneaked a 1-0 injury. Napoli forward Jose Calle- son momentum. The three times European cham- Inter’s Serie A rivals Roma had no in European fixtures. win at Olympiakos Piraeus thanks jon, who has scored five goals in Zorya, UEFA group-phase deb- pions have made a good start to such problems with talismanic for- Ajax Amsterdam ended a run of to an early goal from Pieros Sotiriou. six Serie A appearances, returns to utants, became United’s 100th Serie A under new manager Frank ward Francesco Totti continuing to five successive home draws in Europe Italian side Fiorentina brushed the national fold after an absence continental opponents and they de Boer but came into Thursday’s defy the ageing process as he played as they beat Standard Liege 1-0 to aside Qarabag 5-1 in Stadio Artemio of almost two years. threatened to create a sensation encounter looking to rebound from a pivotal role in their comprehensive join Schalke 04, Shakhtar Donetsk, Franchi, in with Khouma Spain travel to Turin to face when Zeljko Ljubenovic ballooned a shock defeat in their opening Group demolition of Astra two days after his Zenit St Petersburg and APOEL Nico- Babacar and Mauro Zarate both scor- Italy, the team who eliminated over from Ivan Petriak’s cut-back. K game at home to Israel’s Hapoel 40th birthday. sia on maximum points from their ing twice against the Azerbaijani side them from Euro 2016 in the round In the main, though, they sat Beer-Sheva. Totti had a hand in three of opening two group games. who played an hour with 10 men after of 16, on October 6 before playing back, packing men behind the ball Their hopes were hit within 25 Roma’s goals, teeing up Kevin Krasnodar won 5-2 against Nice, Elvin Yunuszada was sent off. Albania four days later.

I don’t have a magical solution, Ronaldo and Sanches back for says Conte Portugal World Cup qualifier

AFP Reuters

LONDON: Antonio Conte admits he LISBON:,Cristiano Ronaldo and doesn’t have an instant answer for Renato Sanches were recalled to the problems that have plagued his the Portugal squad after injury on spluttering Chelsea team in recent England job is a possibility Thursday as coach Fernando San- weeks. tos urged the European champions Conte’s side slumped to lack- to switch out of party mode. lustre defeats against Liverpool in the future, says Wenger Santos, naming his players for and Arsenal in their last two Pre- next month’s World Cup qualifiers mier League matches. at home to Andorra and away to the Chelsea have only one clean AFP until the end of the season if there Faroe Islands, believes his players sheet in 15 matches in all compe- was a chance to hire a top-class were not fully switched on when titions ahead of today’s Premier boss like Wenger. they began their campaign with a League trip to Hull, when they will The Frenchman’s contract 2-0 defeat in Switzerland. again be without injured captain LONDON: Arsenal boss Arsene with Arsenal expires at the end of “We have to get out of European and key defender John Terry. Wenger (pictured) has admit- the current campaign and there champion mode, that party mode, “We haven’t got a magic wand to ted for the first time he would be has been no confirmation yet of that state of relaxation,” Santos told change the situation in two months, willing to manage England in the whether the 67-year-old will sign reporters. “That cannot happen three months, four months,” Conte future if he had no club commit- a new deal with the north London- again. We have to remember that the said on Friday. ments. ers. Quizzed about the England qualifying competition is very dif- “We don’t forget the past. The Wenger has been linked with job at a press conference on Fri- ferent from a tournament. We don’t RRealeal MMadrid’sadrid’s CCristianoristiano RRonaldoonaldo rreacteact aafterfter t htheireir g agameme a gagainstainst B oBorussiarussia past is there, it’s very clear. We fin- the England job following the Foot- day, Wenger said: “My priority is to have 50 days together and the sense DDortmundortmund iinn CChampionshampions LLeagueeague aatt ssignalignal IIdunaduna PParkark sstadium,tadium, iinn ished in 10th place last season. ball Association’s decision to part do well here. If I am free one day, of togetherness that goes with it. We “When you finish 10th, it means company with Sam Allardyce on why not?” play once a month and then the play- DDortmund,ortmund, GGermanyermany eearlierarlier tthishis wweek.eek. you have problems. We must change Tuesday. Tottenham manager Mauricio ers go back to their clubs,” he added. the situation and we must work Allardyce’s self-inflicted exit Pochettino also said he wouldn’t Portugal captain and record but because the other players have Faroes would play in a similar man- hard together and we are doing this. after his controversial comments rule out taking charge of England, scorer Ronaldo and midfielder played more, have worked more and ner to Iceland, who held Portugal to “But to understand that only to undercover reporters has left but not for the foreseeable future. Sanches missed the Switzerland have trained more. That was one of a 1-1 draw in their opening match at through great work, hard work, can the FA searching for a new boss Asked yesterday if he would con- match because they had not fully the problems of the match against Euro 2016. we fill the gap that now we have.” and they have appointed England sider the England job, given that recovered from injuries sustained Switzerland.” “They are a very well-organ- Chelsea’s only victory in their Under-21 coach Gareth South- his impressive work in the Pre- during Euro 2016. Sporting forward Gelson Mar- ised team. They will cause trouble last four games in all competitions gate as interim manager to buy mier League with Tottenham and But Santos said it was not just tins is the only uncapped player in and we have to be on our guard. If came in the League Cup at Leicester them time. Southgate will pick Southampton made him a good their presence that would make Por- the squad. we respect them as we did with our and their 3-0 defeat at Arsenal last the team for England’s remaining candidate, the Argentine said: tugal stronger. Portugal host Andorra in Aveiro opponents during the Euros, we will weekend exposed numerous flaws four matches this year and could “Now, it’s impossible. I signed a new “I wouldn’t say the team is on Oct. 7 and visit the Faroes three win; if we are not careful, we will be in Conte’s team. be persuaded to remain in charge contract here. It’s not my moment.” stronger just because Ronaldo is here days later. Santos warned that the left with a bad taste.”