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Saturday, April 8, 2017 Rajab 11, 1438 AH KKR make GULF TIMES mincemeat of Lions bowling SPORT Page 7

SPOTLIGHT Nam is enough: Belmadi praises Korean star for title ‘Nam is a special player for us. He delivers most of the time for the team and Al Khor survive cut but Shahania relegated yesterday he did it again despite the fact that he was sick’ Sports Reporter Doha

l Khor claimed a hard- fought point against Al Shahania to escape rel- egation from the StarsA League yesterday. The 1-1 result however meant Al Shahania will head into the final round of the season knowing their fate is sealed as they will be relegated along with Muaither SC and Al Wakrah. Both sides headed into the fixture ing as they had achieved what they high on confidence following big wins had set out to do. in round 24, and both were equally Meanwhile, already relegated Al desperate for three points as they Wakrah and Umm Salal played out a looked to avoid relegation. Al Khor 2-2 draw. knew that a point would be enough to Umm Salal opened the scoring in secure their safety while Al Shahania the 16th minute courtesy of Yannick needed three points to entertain any Sagbo. Faouzi Aaish squared the hopes of survival going into the final ball to Sagbo from the right and the round of the season. Ivorian striker showed great instincts Al Khor looked the brighter of the and deflected the ball into the goal two teams and began piling on the from close range to make it 1-0 for the pressure from the whistle, forcing Al Orange Fortress. Shahania to sit deep in their own half. Mohsine Moutouali then equalised Despite dominating, it was actually Al for Al Wakrah in the thirty-first minute. Shahania who found the back of the After bringing down a cross from Nam Tae-hee (R) net first thanks to a counter-attack teammate Maher Yousef at the edge celebrates his winning goal against the run of play. With 17 min- of the box, the Moroccan with Mohamed Musa on utes on the clock, Al Shahania’s Saoud smashed the ball into the right side of Thursday. Picture: Noushad Mohamed found the net after evading the net to make it 1-1. Thekkayil the off side trap, leaving him with an Ten minutes later Al Wakrah de- easy finish from just 12 yards out to fender Mohamed Arafa brought down give his team a 1-0 lead. Umm Salal’s Mahmoud Mawas inside Despite going behind, Al Khor didn’t the box to give away a penalty. Sagbo let their heads drop and continued to stepped up for the penalty and coolly press deep into Al Shahania’s half. In slotted it in the bottom right corner the 34th minute, Al Khor’s Brazilian sending the keeper the wrong way to playmaker Madson split Al Shaha- score his second goal of the game. nia’s defence in two with a perfectly Al Wakrah did not give up the fight weighted through ball that Al Khor’s and were rewarded with a goal in the Mouhssin lajour latched onto, taking second half. In the 64th minute, Maher one touch before skillfully stabbing it Yousef got his name on the score over Al Shahania’s goalkeeper to level sheet with a wonder strike to bring his the scores. side level. The Qatari forward was out- The game began to balance out in side the box on the left side before he terms of possession but neither side sent the ball into the far bottom corner was able to find the back of the net of the net with a powerful shot from By Sports Reporter since December 2011 after leaving a ‘big honour’ for him to win the ti- again but Al Khor were not complain- distance to end the match at 2-2. Doha French Ligue 1 team Nancy who draft- tle for the third time with Lekhwiya. ed him when he was just 18 years old. “This is my third title as a coach in the Belmadi said he was confi dent and that is a big ekhwiya coach Djamel Bel- that the team would nail the title on honour. I am very happy about this SETBACK madi hopes to win more lau- Thursday itself. achievement.” rels with the club after guid- “I said to the players before the Meanwhile, team manager Walid Ling them to their fi fth Qatar match that we could become the Bakhit attributed the team’s success Stars League title, and the third under champions and we did it,” he said. to the hard work they put in since the Al-Mohannadi unable his charge, at the Abdulla bin Khalifa “We were well-poised for the title and tournament began. Stadium on Thursday. Nam was the main reason for the vic- “Since the season started everyone The France-born Algerian was tory. I am proud of this special group was working hard in order to regain to run for FIFA Council beaming at the post-match press of players. the title and thank God we achieved conference as he basked in the lime- “I expected a scenario like this to what we wanted,” said Bakhit. light of his success, after having happen and we were prepared for all “We are waiting for the real corona- Reuters FIFA’s Appeal Committee over- gone through an emotionally drain- possible scenarios, but what we were tion in the upcoming round when we Mumbai turned the ban on Thursday because ing match which saw South Korean most interested in was to achieve vic- will have a real celebration.” there was insuffi cient evidence to es- Nam Tae-hee score the decisive goal tory and we succeeded despite the fact Meanwhile, the Esteghlal Khuz- tablish that he had violated the code of against Al Ahli in second-half stop- that the match was not easy.” estan team arrived in Doha yester- atari soccer offi cial Saoud ethics. It also rescinded a$20,000 fi ne. page time for a 2-1 win. The Lekhwiya boss said he would be day for their AFC Champions League al-Mohannadi has missed The decision, however, came too Had Nam missed the opportunity, now turning his attention to the Asian match against Lekhwiya. the deadline to stand for a late for the Qatari to get back in the mix Lekhwiya would have had to wait un- Champions League, where they play The delegation is headed by Gawad place on the FIFA Council for the rescheduled elections at the til the fi nal day of the tournament as Iran’s Esteghlal Khuzestan next week Habib, chairman of the board of di- Qdespite having his one-year ban over- AFC Congress in Bahrain in May. close rivals Al Sadd were held to a 2-2 in Doha and of course the upcom- rectors of the club. turned, the Asian Football Confedera- “Sauod al-Mohannadi has not sub- draw by Al Sailiya thus maintaining ing and Emir Cup tourna- tion (AFC) said yesterday. mitted his name to contest an AFC seat the slender two-point diff erence be- ments. Al-Mohannadi, a vice-president of on the FIFA Council in the election tween the top two teams. “We have an important match in the AFC and Qatar Football Associa- which will be held on May 8, 2017,” the But as it turned out, the six minutes the AFC champions League against tion (QFA), was one of the favourites AFC said in a statement to Reuters. of added time came as a boon for Le- Lekhwiya coach won’t Esteghlal Khuzestan team after four to win a seat on the Council but was “The deadline for the submission of khwiya with Nam exploiting a defen- be resting on his laurels. days and we will begin to prepare for barred by FIFA two days before the the names of candidates was on Janu- sive error by the Al Ahli Goalkeeper off it from tomorrow,” he said. election at an AFC extraordinary con- ary 31, 2017.” a corner to drill the ball into the back “Nam is a special player for us. He “Winning the league will reduce the gress in Goa in September. The FIFA Council replaced the of the net and spark wild celebrations delivers most of the time for the team pressure on the players and motivate With FIFA President Gianni Infan- largely discredited Executive Com- at the ground. and yesterday he did it again despite them to perform at a special level in tino watching on, delegates infuriated mittee as FIFA’s decision-making body The 95th minute goal ensured Le- the fact that he was sick,” Belmadi told the Asian championship. by the last-minute disqualifi cation under reforms instituted in the wake of khwiya won the title with one match reporters. “However, we focus on all tourna- overwhelmingly voted down the agen- the 2015 corruption scandal in soccer’s to spare, and Belmadi was eff usive in “He showed great passion and com- ments and try to win as many titles as da of the meeting, forcing the elections world governing body. his praise for his star midfi elder played mitment especially after Lekhwiya fell possible. That is always our goal. We to be postponed. Candidates vying for the four avail- a pivotal role for the team throughout behind by an early goal. We owe him a have the Qatar Cup and the Emir Cup Two months later, al-Mohannadi able AFC seats on the Council were the season. great deal for our success,’ said Bel- coming up and the league win will was handed the one-year ban from cleared to stand for election by the Nam had been under the weather madi of Nam, who is fourth in QSL’s give us further motivation to do well football by FIFA’s ethics watchdog for world governing body last month. The but decided to play the match, elicit- leading scorers’ list this season with in these events.” Al Ahli gave Lekhwiya a tough fight in failing to cooperate as a witness in an four spots include one reserved for ing a special mention from Belmadi. 14 goals and has been with Lekhwiya On a personal level he said it was the match. investigation. women. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, April 8, 2017 FOOTBALL

EPL PREVIEW OPINION Sanchez wants to stay, says Wenger Chelsea won’t AFP London

rsene Wenger believes Alexis Sanchez wants to stay at Arsenal, de- spite reports the striker crack under Spurs couldA leave the London club if they fail to qualify for the Cham- pions League. Veteran French manager Wenger, in charge of Arsenal since September 1996, has yet to announce if he will stay with the club when his own contract pressure: Fabregas expires at the end of the season sifi ed this season, with the club and the Gunners boss was giving often looking as though they little away again yesterday. will miss out on a top four spot ‘We have character. We can bounce back at anything that comes in front of us. We But he was rather more that secures Champions League forthcoming about the future qualifi cation. have to worry about ourselves, not what the others are doing’ of 28-year-old Chile forward Wenger’s side are current- Sanchez, whose own Arsenal ly fi fth — four points behind AFP deal expires at the end of next fourth-placed Manchester City London season. “I believe that basically but with a game in hand. he wants to stay at the club and Various attempts yesterday to it’s down to fi nding an agreement get further clarity from Wenger esc Fabregas insists Chelsea with his agent,” said Wenger. about his future proved largely won’t buckle under the strain “I think the players fi rst have fruitless. Asked if an announce- of Tottenham’s relentless pur- to see are they happy to the club ment would come from himself Csuit as the title and after (that) most of the time or the club, Wenger simply said: race ratchets up another notch this week- it’s down to fi nding an agree- “From the club.” end. ment, but the fi nances are in- Meanwhile a question that With just eight games remaining Chel- volved in it, yes.” sought to fi nd out if Wenger had sea are clinging to a precious seven-point Wenger, speaking ahead of any pre-requisites when it came lead over second-placed Tottenham, but Arsenal’s match against London to a new contract deal, saw him the Blues are showing a few glimpses of rivals Crystal Palace on Monday, say: “No, nothing to add to that.” vulnerability. was again tight-lipped about his “I cannot tell you now (if a Antonio Conte’s side ground out a own prospects with the Gunners. decision will be made before barely deserved 2-1 win over Manchester Arsenal last won the Premier the end of the season) because I City on Wednesday just days after crash- League title in 2004 and the don’t know, I am focused on our ing to a shock 2-1 home defeat against pressure on Wenger has inten- next game,” he added. struggling Crystal Palace. Meanwhile Tottenham have reeled off fi ve successive victories, including an in- OUTSIDE HELP credible escape act at Swansea on Wednes- day when they scored three times in the fi nal minutes to clinch a 3-1 success. With Chelsea playing today evening Italian doctor comes at Bournemouth, Tottenham have the chance to turn up the pressure again by temporarily trimming the lead to four to Messi rescue points with a win against Watford at White Hart Lane a few hours earlier. AFP rie A sides Udinese and Palermo Chelsea midfi elder Fabregas admits Milan during a 30-year career. his team have been feeling the heat lately, “We live in a time in which but he is confi dent the way they recov- foods contain too many con- ered from the Palace setback proved title ionel Messi “cried tears taminants and that can be seen nerves won’t trigger a stunning melt- of frustration” in his in energy levels when measuring down in the fi nal weeks of the season. battle to beat vomiting resistance and recovery. “The result on Saturday put a lot of urges and muscle prob- “You don’t become a profes- pressure on us. We know we still have a Llems, says the Italian doctor who sional player, and even less a good advantage, but this is the Premier claims he revamped the Barcelo- phenomenon like Messi, just for League and you don’t want to be giving na striker’s lifestyle to maintain the things you eat. points away, especially at home,” Fabre- File picture of Chelsea’s celebrating scoring their first goal against Manchester City with teammates. his superstar status. “Messi can still be Messi. But gas said. Doctor Giuliano Poser, a sports he has been intelligent because “We have character. We can bounce back their relief at a result that allows them to above fi fth-placed Arsenal, can’t aff ord ed’s chances of making the top four and nutritionist who specialises in he wants to maintain his current at anything that comes in front of us.” continue dreaming of a fi rst English title another slip when they face Stoke after a win at the Stadium of Light is essential. optimising muscle performance level. He’s not happy to be one of The Premier League era is littered with since 1961. allowing Bournemouth a late equaliser in Jose Mourinho’s side can also push through the use of specifi c foods, the 10 best players in the world. epic collapses from teams who thought the Having choked last season when they a midweek 2-2 draw. Sunderland — a hefty 10 points from is credited with helping Messi He wants to be number one. title was theirs and, with Chelsea needing failed to catch champions Leicester in Reds boss Jurgen Klopp urged his team safety — closer to the Championship at control violent urges to be sick “I see myself as simply making 18 points to be certain of top spot, Fabregas the closing weeks, Pochettino’s side are to emulate Chelsea’s steely streak when the end of a week in which Moyes was before games. fi ne adjustments to a powerful isn’t getting carried away yet. back in the hunt and Tottenham defender points are on the line. forced to apologise after threatening to And using the principles of supercar by encouraging the use “We’ve been saying it since the be- Jan Vertonghen said: “Chelsea look very “Probably if it was Chelsea for exam- “slap” a female reporter. kinesiology — muscle monitor- of organic food, raw grains, sea- ginning of the season: it’s one game at a strong but we can’t stop pushing and ple the opponent would not have the ball ing to access information about a sonal fruits and vegetables, extra time,” he said. “We have to worry about dreaming of the league. three times in the last 20 minutes, I think. FIXTURES (1400 GMT unless stated): person’s well being — he has also virgin olive oil, eggs and fresh ourselves, not what the others are doing. “They have a couple of diffi cult games We don’t have this experience,” Klopp Today helped the fi ve-time Ballon d’Or fi sh.” As long as we keep winning then we don’t coming up. We have to keep winning and said. Bournemouth v Chelsea (1630 GMT), winner shake off the niggling Messi began seeing Poser over have to worry.” hopefully they get a bit stressed. Fourth-placed Manchester City, who Manchester City v Hull, Middlesbrough v muscle issues that had increasing- two years ago, although it has “I don’t know what is necessary to win host Hull, are without a win in four Burnley, Stoke v Liverpool, Tottenham v ly plagued him in recent seasons. taken time for him to benefi t. ‘MASSIVE QUALITY’ the league, maybe a bit of luck, but I think games and sit only four points above Ar- Watford (1130 GMT), West Brom v South- Although the 29-year-old Ar- In April last year Messi en- Tottenham’s title hopes looked over un- this group has massive quality and is very senal, who have a game in hand and travel ampton, West Ham v Swansea gentine “struggled to adapt” at dured a noticeable rough patch, til Dele Alli equalised in the 88th minute special.” to Crystal Palace on Monday. fi rst, after regular visits to the going fi ve games without scoring and Son Heung-Min and Christian Erik- Manchester United are sixth and head Tomorrow clinic in Venice he is now reaping — a long stretch by his sky-high sen struck in stoppage time to kill off STEELY STREAK to bottom-of-the-table Sunderland Everton v Leicester (1500 GMT), Sunder- the benefi ts, says Poser. standards. Swansea. The battle for Champions League qualifi - aiming to add to their former manager land v Manchester United (1330 GMT) “I think he even cried tears of What was supposed to be his The wild celebrations from boss Mau- cation via the top four seems certain to go ’ problems. frustration,” Poser told Italian fi nal visit to Poser’s clinic last ricio Pochettino, his coaching staff and down to the wire. Home draws against West Bromwich Monday newspaper Corriere della Sera week comes days before Barce- Tottenham’s players and fans underlined Third-placed Liverpool, six points Albion and Everton have damaged Unit- Crystal Palace v Arsenal (1900 GMT) yesterday. lona face Juventus in for “But he’s now accepted it. the fi rst leg of their Champions There is no unique formula in League quarter-fi nal on Tuesday. BOTTOMLINE kinesiology, but through testing Poser, however, can’t give the we can see how food intake af- Italian champions inside infor- fects each and every muscle in mation on Messi. the body.” “I don’t know what kind of Poser says he introduced major relationship we managed to de- changes to Messi’s diet, bringing velop because neither of us could in organic and seasonal foods. speak the language of the other,” What Chelsea bust-up? We are Those were just the fi nal he said. touches to a “completely new “But he’s a wonderful lad who lifestyle”, he claims. is very humble. If he came to my “It’s not just a case of chang- clinic with a friend and I only had ing diet,” said Poser, who has also one appointment available, he ‘so polite’: City boss Guardiola worked with footballers from Se- would give it to his friend.”

AFP Guardiola’s much-anticipat- “We congratulate Chelsea for Manchester ed fi rst season in the Premier the victory, we are so polite League has been a disappoint- in our defeats. And especial- Atletico’s Koke robbed Qatar drop fi ve places ment given the expectations that ly we are so polite when we of his $70k watch in FIFA’s April ranking anchester City man- were heaped on his shoulders at win, especially that” ager the start of the campaign. Atletico Madrid midfielder Qatar have dropped five shrugged off sug- The defeat at Chelsea means target for the end of the season,” Koke was robbed at gun- places in the FIFA’s April gestions his “so the former Barcelona and Bayern said Guardiola. point in a Madrid car park on ranking that was announced Mpolite” side were involved in a Munich boss has lost six league “I was expecting from the Thursday evening for a watch on Thursday, coming 89th heated row with Chelsea’s stars games in a season for the fi rst beginning of the season to fi ght reportedly valued at 70,000 internationally on 369 points following their 2-1 loss at Stam- time as a manager. for the Premier League until the euros ($77,000), police and 10th at the Asian level. ford Bridge. City will face Hull at the Eti- end. OK, we are a little bit disap- sources confirmed yesterday. The Maroon ranked eighth in Tempers are said to have fl ared had Stadium on Saturday with- pointed, but I am quite happy “Yesterday at seven in the Asia in the previous ranking but in the tunnel after Wednesday’s out a win in four league games with the way we made good evening in a car park in this time was preceded by Iran, defeat that left City 14 points off — having also been knocked out things in this season.” Chamberi (a central district of South Korea, Japan, Australia, top spot with eight games re- of the Champions League by Guardiola warned that Hull, Madrid) he was in his car and Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, UAE, maining when an insult in Italian Monaco during that spell — and rejuvenated under manager an individual on a motorbike Syria and China. was allegedly directed towards now face a challenge to make Marco Silva, will present a tough pointed a gun at him and stole Meanwhile, Brazil moved up the visitors. sure they qualify for the Cham- challenge as they bid to avoid his watch,” the police source the ladder of the ranking to Staff and players from both pions League. relegation. told AFP. reclaim the top spot after a sides were said to have been in- They are fourth in the table, “I know him from the Cham- The Spanish international seven-year hiatus. volved before calm was restored. four points ahead of Arsenal and pions League when he was a reported the robbery with an Since elimination from the 2010 “The tunnel at Chelsea is so Manchester United, who both manager in Greece and I was at investigation now underway. World Cup by the Netherlands, tight — come on, it was noth- have a game in hand, with Guar- Bayern Munich,” he said. “He’s Widespread reports in the Brazil were replaced on top by ing,” Guardiola told a news con- diola’s only chance of silverware making an outstanding job, not Spanish media valued the eventual winners Spain. ference yesterday. this season now the FA Cup. only great results. watch at 70,000 euros. However, recent wins over “We congratulate Chelsea for City face Arsenal in the semi- “I like the way they play. I Koke has still been included Uruguay and Paraguay in the victory, we are so polite in fi nals at Wembley on April 23. liked the way they played when in the Atletico squad for Sat- booking their place at Russia our defeats. And especially we “The situation is clear — eight we were there, now they play urday’s Madrid derby against 2018 secured Brazil’s return to are so polite when we win, espe- File picture of Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola games left and we need to quali- with a lot of talent. Not just long Real Madrid. the top. cially that.” shouting instructions to his players from the touchline. fy for the top four and that is our balls, a lot of quality.” Gulf Times Saturday, April 8, 2017 3 FOOTBALL

LA LIGA PREVIEW MILESTONE North and South Korea face off on Griezmann eyes Pyongyang pitch Atletico assault on Real’s title lead

‘Madrid played great and caused us a lot of damage. Now it is a diff erent story. We North Korea fans wave flags as they support their team against South Korea during their AFC Women’s 2018 Asian Cup match at the know it is going to be diff icult, but I believe in my teammates. We are more complete’ Kim Il-Sung stadium in Pyongyang yesterday.

AFP President Donald Trump and his Pyongyang Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping after Pyongyang’s latest missile launch this week in violation of outh Korea’s fl ag fl ew UN resolutions and condemned and its anthem sounded by the Security Council. in Pyongyang yesterday The two Koreas are technically as its women’s football at war because the 1950-53 Ko- teamS played out a 1-1 draw with rean confl ict ended with an ar- their neighbours, in the fi rst ever mistice rather than a peace trea- competitive soccer match be- ty, and relations have plunged in tween the two countries hosted recent months. by the North. Seoul demanded security A packed crowd at the guarantees for the players before 40,000-plus capacity Kim Il- authorities approved the trip. Sung stadium stood to hear the The South’s coach Yoon Duk- South Korean national song in Yeo — who was on the losing side respectful silence, before belting in the 1990 unifi cation game — out the North’s hymn. reportedly installed loudspeak- Every touch by the home team ers at a training ground to repli- in attack or defence was cheered cate the expected aural barrage. to the rafters, with supporters But the Group B qualifi er for waving golden cardboard mega- the AFC Women’s Asian Cup of- phones. The only previous en- fered a rare chance for a moment counter in Pyongyang between of detente between the two. footballers from the two sides Sporting links “have eased was a pro-unifi cation match be- anxieties during times of esca- tween the men’s teams in 1990, lating tensions” said Michael when both used a fl ag showing Spavor, director of Paektu Cul- the whole Korean peninsula and ture Exchange, which facilitates their respective anthems were exchanges in multiple fi elds with not played. the North. Koreans on either side The North won 2-1. of the border tend to back each Since then, games nomi- other’s teams when they play nally hosted in the Democratic other countries. People’s Republic of Korea, as Two gymnasts from the North the North is offi cially known, and South posed for a selfi e at have had to be played on neutral the Rio Olympics last year and ground due to authorities’ reluc- the image instantly went viral, tance to see the South’s fl ag fl ut- symbolising hopes for closer ties. tering in their capital. When Koreans from both sides Atletico Madrid’s French forward Antoine Griezmann (C) and teammates stretch during a training session at Atletico de Madrid’s sport city in Majadahonda, near Madrid. A few hours south of of the divide meet, said Spavor, Pyongyang the North Korean there is “genuine curiosity... and AFP sealed a 3-0 win. fi nals between the sides. with Fernando Torres partnering Griez- military faces off against US-led even a little bit of anxiety, which Madrid ’s men lead Barcelona But he has called on Real to not rest mann up front due to Kevin Gameiro’s United Nations forces across the creates a kind of tension”.But at at the top of the table by two points and on their laurels and go for more history continued absence through injury. Demilitarized Zone, considered sports events participants “get have a game in hand on their title rivals by becoming the fi rst side to retain the Any slip up from Real would allow Bar- one of the most heavily fortifi ed lost in the moment”, he told AFP. ntoine Griezmann believes with Atletico 10 points back in third. Champions League in 27 years and end celona to move top when they travel to locations on Earth. “Many athletes realise after- Atletico Madrid can infl ict the “We have to win more for the fans than Barca’s stranglehold on La Liga. Malaga later on Saturday. The match came as the North’s wards how special an experience worst possible start to a season for the points,” added Griezmann. “You can’t constantly live with what Barca boss is expected to nuclear ambitions top the agen- it was and they can naturally get defi ning two-weeks for Real “Madrid played great and caused us a you have won in the past. You have to rest some of his star names ahead of their da at a meeting between US a bit emotional.” MadridA as Atletico go for a record fourth lot of damage. Now it is a diff erent story. have ambition and belief to win titles,” he Champions League quarter-fi nal, fi rst straight La Liga win at the Santiago Bern- We know it is going to be diffi cult, but I told Madrid’s website. leg at Juventus on Tuesday, whilst Gerard abeu. believe in my teammates. We are more “As of today we can win both the Pique and Ivan Rakitic are suspended. DEFICIT Griezmann scored the winner last sea- complete now.” Champions League and La Liga.” son as Atletico became the fi rst side to Infl icting a damaging blow on Real’s Both sides are in great form having FIXTURES (GMT) ever win away to Real in the league for bid for the fi rst league title in fi ve years each won their last fi ve La Liga outings. Today three consecutive seasons. would be some measure of sweet revenge However, Zidane and Atletico boss Diego Espanyol v Alaves (1200), Real Madrid v FIFA announces “I see us as favourites. I believe in my for Atletico. Simeone’s plans could be aff ected by their Atletico Madrid (1515), Sevilla v Deportivo teammates and the coach,” said a bullish However, Real have yet to taste de- upcoming Champions League ties with la Coruna (1730), Malaga v Barcelona Griezmann on Thursday. feat at home in La Liga this season. That Bayern and Leicester City respectively. (1945) $369 million loss Despite their triple assault on the record will be put fully to the test when Zidane is expected to welcome back Bernabeu, Atletico have still had to play Barcelona visit on March 23. a host of fi rst team regulars rested for Tomorrow second fi ddle to Real after losing to their In between times Madrid also face old Wednesday’s 4-2 win over Leganes, in- Granada v Valencia (1100), Celta Vigo v with worse to come city rivals in the Champions League for foes Bayern Munich for a place in the cluding Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Eibar (1515), Osasuna v Leganes (1730), each of the past three seasons - twice in Champions League semi-fi nals. Benzema. Las Palmas v Real Betis (1945) AFP Since a police raid on a FIFA the fi nal. Real were also the dominant Real captain Sergio Ramos has been By contrast, Simeone is expected to Zurich congress hotel in May 2015 when force when the sides last met in No- Atletico’s bete noire in recent times, name an unchanged side from the one Monday seven football offi cials were ar- vember as Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick scoring in both the Champions League that beat Real Sociedad 1-0 on Tuesday Real Sociedad v Sporting Gijon (1945) rested, Blatter and his two top IFA yesterday announced deputies, secretary general Jer- a $369 million loss for ome Valcke and fi nance offi cer LIGUE 1 2016, a second straight Markus Kattner, have been sus- annual defi cit, as it re- pended or fi red. coversF from bribery scandals The three awarded themselves and acknowledged it had spent a huge bonuses and pay rises dur- huge chunk of its reserves in the ing their fi nal years in power and past year. all face criminal investigation. The game’s world governing New FIFA president Gianni In- Monaco braced for title battle body blamed the cost of investi- fantino took over promising re- AFP prised a lot of people but not French Cup semi-fi nalists and gating the scandals, bad invest- form but also higher payments to Paris me,” Jardim added. the last team to beat PSG do- ments and accounting changes. the 200-plus national federations “Their players are very ag- mestically when they won 2-1 in But there is worse to come for that are now costing FIFA dearly. gressive and they play a very in- Brittany in December. the organisation, which is re- Hailing his moves toward great- ollowing a bruising tense kind of football. The south-coast side are un- building after its near collapse at er transparency, Infantino said: League Cup fi nal defeat It is not by chance that Angers beaten in eight games despite the end of the tainted Sepp Blat- “The gravity of the crisis that as- to Paris Saint-Germain, are having a good season for the a lengthy injury list and were ter era. sailed FIFA in recent years called Monaco resume their bat- second year in a row and are in boosted this week when coach It expects to lose $489 million, for equally radical measures. Our tleF against the capital club for the the French Cup semi-fi nals.” Lucien Favre shot down rumours before tax, in 2017 before a World response was to express our un- Ligue 1 title with a trip to face the suggesting he could leave the Cup revenue bonanza in 2018 shakeable commitment to draw- physical might of Angers today. FALCAO DOUBT club in the summer. rescues the accounts. ing a line under the events that The principality club’s 4-1 With the nature of the opposi- “Everywhere I have been I FIFA’s losses for 2015-2017 are had so tarnished the image and loss to PSG in Lyon ended their tion in mind, Jardim may choose have stayed for several seasons. set to hit $910 million (855 mil- reputation of the organisation.” prospects of a domestic treble to preserve fragile leading scorer The fi gures are there,” said the lion euros) even though it revised FIFA said the main cause of the but they maintain a three-point Radamel Falcao. Swiss, who was in charge at his its 2015 defi cit down from $122 2016 loss was new accounting lead over the reigning cham- “He is progressing. I don’t last club Borussia Moencheng- million to $52 million. rules. Before they booked profi ts pions in the league with seven know if he will be completely ladbach for almost fi ve years. Revenues fell to $502 million in when contracts were signed, now games left. ready. We will look at his condi- Lyon in fourth host Lorient 2016 from $544 million in 2015. they can only be counted when The clubs will also meet in File picture of Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim. tion. The problem is his physical while bottom club Bastia visit FIFA said its reserves had the contract, such as the World the last four of the French Cup condition but also the pain that Dijon in a huge game at the foot fallen from $1.4 billion in 2015 to Cup, is completed. later this month after both came ries in eight matches should be French Cup semi-fi nals and they he sometimes has in his hip,” of the table. $1.04 billion in 2016 and they are Accounting experts said, how- through quarter-fi nal ties in enough,” he added. are now unbeaten in their eight said Jardim, who should keep expected to crash to $605 million ever, this change would only ac- midweek, but it is the league Monaco could be forgiven for home matches in 2017, form that faith in Valere Germain, scorer FIXTURES (GMT) this year. count for about $35 million of the that matters the most and that is having one eye on their Champi- has all but secured their top- of a brace in the French Cup win Today FIFA is banking on making $1.1 2016 loss. FIFA also spent $50 where Monaco maintain the up- ons League quarter-fi nal against fl ight survival. over Lille. Angers v Monaco (1500), Bor- billion in profi ts in 2018 when million on investigating the lin- per hand. Borussia Dortmund, with the And with home fi xtures PSG no longer have any Eu- deaux v Metz, Caen v Montpelli- the World Cup is held in Russia, gering scandals. “Right now we are three fi rst leg in Germany set for next against Monaco and Paris Saint- ropean commitments to worry er, Dijon v Bastia, Lyon v Lorient, which would give a surplus of But the organisation also ad- points clear but they remain the Tuesday. Germain to come in the next 10 about after their crushing loss Nancy v Rennes (all 1800) about $100 million for the or- mitted that it lost $50 million on favourites, as they already were But they cannot aff ord to let days at their newly rechristened to Barcelona last month but they ganisation’s four-year account- the FIFA museum that was a pet at the start of the season,” said their guard down against Angers, Stade Raymond Kopa, they are still on course to sweep the Tomorrow ing cycle. The organisation said Blatter project. FIFA spent 140 Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim, an unfancied outfi t but a powerful could have a big say in where the domestic honours for the third Toulouse v Marseille (1300), the bumper profi ts, mainly from million Swiss francs (130 million whose side also boast a far supe- team on a fi ne run of form. Ligue 1 trophy goes. year running. Saint-Etienne v Nantes (1500), television deals, would help euros/$138 million) on the three- rior goal diff erence. They beat Bordeaux 2-1 on “Angers are very strong and On Sunday Unai Emery’s Paris Saint-Germain v Guingamp bring its reserves back to $1.7 bil- fl oor museum in Zurich which has “We know that seven victo- Wednesday to qualify for the very physical. They have sur- side host Guingamp, the other (1900) lion in 2018. become a huge white elephant. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, April 8, 2017 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Rapper Snoop Dogg on a mission in Augusta to make golf cool Rapper Snoop Dogg this week to spot at Augusta National, said that while the US Masters even though most of the may be the most prestigious thousands of spectators are tournament in golf, it suf- unlikely to have any of his fers from a coolness deficit, songs on their playlists. Garcia takes share something he plans to change He said he respects golf, but when he brings his brand of said the game would be much “hip hop flavour” to the staid improved if it reached out to tournament. minorities in US cities that While the Super Bowl, World have little access to the game. Series and NBA Finals draw “If golf was pushed and pro- throngs of movie stars and moted in the inner cities, there musicians, the only celebrities would be more Tiger Woods,” of Masters lead as at golf tournaments are the he said. ones on the greens, he said “This sport can be mastered during a press conference. by anyone. And if it was So the L.A. musician, who has taught and presented to them, sold over 35 million records there would be a lot of guys in worldwide, is taking it upon this Masters that look like me,” himself to change the game. he said. “Now is the time for golf to get He cited Venus and Serena Hoff man falters hip,” he said. “That’s why I’m Williams, two cham- here.” pions, as an example of the The idea of a rapper adding transformational impact out- The Spaniard, a four-time major runner-up, was on four-under for the tournament as his provocative voice to the ef- reach to minorities can have fort might seem as odd as the on a sport. “No one was push- 18-hole leader Hoff man withered over the wind-swept 7,435-yard layout hip-hop legend singing inside ing tennis in the hood until Milan’s La Scala opera house, the Williams family made it,” but he said it was necessary he said. “And now look at how for the sport to reach its full many young, black woman potential. It may be a tall task. tennis players around the He is trying to do something world are inspired by them.” Tiger Woods also tried to do After eventually sinking a - without a great deal of suc- short putt after many tries - cess if you look at the crowd Snoop is not a gifted golfer of middle-aged white men - he danced in triumph and Latest leaderboard who make up the vast major- demanded a worthy chal- ity of Masters patrons. lenger. “Tell Tiger to come see Latest leaderboard in the second At 6-foot-5 Snoop Dog is easy me!” he said to laughs. round from the Masters at the par-72 course yesterday in Augusta, Georgia - (holes played) rounds (Selected scores) MOTOGP: ARGENTINA -4 Charley Hoff man (U.S.) (18) 65 75; Sergio Garcia (Spain) (17) 71 -2 Rickie Fowler (U.S.) (6) 73; Phil Mickelson (U.S.) (4) 71; William Vinales top as Rossi, McGirt (U.S.) (18) 69 73 -1 Justin Rose (Britain) (3) 71; Ryan Moore (U.S.) (18) 74 69; Jon Rahm Lorenzo struggle (Spain) (14) 73 0 Jason Day (Australia) (3) 74; Matthew Fitzpatrick (Britain) (5) 71; Adam Scott (Australia) (7) 75 Thomas Pieters (Belgium) (7) 72; Fred Couples (U.S.) (6) 73 1 Paul Casey (Britain) (6) 72; Andy Sullivan (Britain) (7) 71; Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark) (10) 72; Matt Kuchar (U.S.) (18) 72 73; Rory McIlroy (Britain) (15) 72 2 Lee Westwood (Britain) (16) 70; Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) (18) 74 72; Brooks Koepka (U.S.) (5) 74; Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) (6) 76; Adam Hadwin (Canada) (9) 75; Marc Leishman (Australia) (14) Spain’s biker Maverick Vinales, during the MotoGP free practice. 73; Russell Henley (U.S.) (13) 71; Stewart Hagestad (U.S.) 74 AFP 2016 world champion, recovered Termas de Río Hondo, Argentina well after managing a mediocre 11th best in the morning run. However, it was a miserable Sergio Garcia of Spain reacts during the second round of the 2017 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club yesterday in Augusta, Georgia. pain’s Maverick Vinales, two sessions for nine-time world who won the season- champion Valentino Rossi, the AFP major runner-up whose best Masters Justin Rose, Andy Sullivan and Matthew MCGIRT MAKING A MOVE opener in Qatar, contin- teammate of Vinales, who was Augusta, United States showing was a share of fourth in 2004, Fitzpatrick. William McGirt erased an early bo- ued his blistering form down in 16th in both sessions and was on four-under for the tournament gey with two birdies to get within three yesterdayS by setting the fastest ended the day 1.054sec behind his as 18-hole leader Hoff man withered over MASTERS CHAMPION WILLETT LIKELY strokes of overnight leader Charley Hoff - time in practice for Sunday’s Spanish Yamaha partner. pain’s Sergio Garcia charged into a the wind-swept 7,435-yard layout. TO MISS CUT man while top players looked to make a Grand Prix of Argentina as his ri- Former champion Jorge Loren- share of the lead in yesterday’s sec- Hoff man, who fi red a seven-under par Danny Willett is likely to become the fi rst move on a chilly day at the US Masters vals struggled. zo, whose decision to join Ducati ond round of the Masters thanks in 65 in Thursday’s opening round, birdied defending US Masters champion to miss yesterday. The 22-year-old clocked a best created the Yamaha vacancy for part to a major collapse by US fi rst- the par-5 second but stumbled with three the cut since 2004 after struggling to a McGirt, who started the second round time of 1min 39.377sec after two 22-year-old Vinales, fared even Sround leader Charley Hoff man. consecutive bogeys starting at the par-3 six-over-par 78 in the second round yes- four shots back of the American journey- sessions on the hot and dusty worse ending the day in 18th Garcia, seeking his fi rst major golf title, sixth, then opened the back nine with terday. man, dropped a shot at the par-four fi rst Termas de Rio Hondo circuit place, 1.122sec off the pace. opened with three consecutive birdies another to slide to four-under alongside The Englishman, who carded 73 on but quickly settled down with birdies on with defending world champion Rossi was third in the Qatar and closed the front nine with another in Garcia. Thursday, made a quadruple-bogey eight two of the next three holes before reach- Marc Marquez second fastest on Grand Prix two weeks ago but blustery conditions at Augusta National. American William McGirt, who teed on the fi rst hole before a solitary birdie ing the turn in one-under 35. a Honda, 0.301sec behind. Lorenzo, the 2010, 2012 and 2015 Garcia, making his 74th major start and off in the opening group, owned the club- and three bogeys, including one at the World number 52 Hoff man, who man- Unheralded Czech rider Karel world champion, was a disap- 19th Masters appearance, suff ered a bogey house lead at two-under par 142 for 36 last, left him seven over par for the tour- aged nine birdies during tough condi- Abraham, on a Ducati, was third pointing 11th in a race where his at the par-3 fourth after missing the green holes after a second-round 73. nament. tions in the opening round to storm to fastest at 0.403sec off the lead. Ducati factory teammate Andrea off the tee but followed with four pars be- And a mouth-watering fi eld of con- The projected cut score is six over, the top of the leaderboard, was even par Marquez, the 2013, 2014 and Dovizioso was runner-up. fore another birdie before the turn. tenders lurked on one-under, including although that could change with high through his fi rst hole to remain seven un- The Spaniard was the only player in the world number two Rory McIlroy, a four- winds continuing to make low scoring der for the tournament. fi rst 22 groups Friday to birdie the open- time major winner trying to complete a diffi cult at Augusta National. Defending champion Danny Willett FORMULA 1 ing hole, sinking a tricky 10-footer, then career by winning a Masters Willett, 29, shot a fl awless 67 in the fi nal got his round off to a miserable start by reached the second green in two shots to green jacket. round at Augusta last year to win his fi rst fi ring a quadruple-bogey eight opening set up a two-putt bogey and dropped an- Also in the one-under crowd were major title. Canadian Mike Weir was the hole to drop to fi ve over par for the tour- other long birdie putt at the third. Spaniard Jon Rahm, fi ve-time major last Masters champion to miss the cut 12 nament and now risks missing the cut at Malaysia to host The 37-year-old Spaniard, a four-time winner Phil Mickelson and England’s months after donning the Green Jacket. the year’s fi rst major. fi nal race this year F1: CHINA GP Reuters end the contract for hosting the Kuala Lumpur Formula One race... after con- sidering lowering returns to the country compared to the cost of alaysia will stage its hosting the championships,” he fi nal Formula One said in a statement. Shanghai mist wipes out fi rst day Grand Prix in Octo- State oil and gas fi rm Petronas Reuters Only 14 drivers completed benefi t of the curtailed session. ber after the govern- is the title sponsor of the F1 race. timed laps, with neither cham- Hamilton and Vettel are ex- Mment and the sport’s commercial The company has been hit Shanghai pionship favourite Lewis Ham- pected to battle for victory on rights holders announced on Fri- hard in recent times by tumbling ilton of Mercedes nor Ferrari’s Sunday but will only have a fi - day that their hosting agreement oil prices. he Shanghai weather all Sebastian Vettel, winner of last nal hour-long practice session would end a year early. Petronas, however, would con- but wiped out the fi rst month’s season-opening race in ahead of qualifying today to pre- The Southeast Asian country tinue to sponsor the Mercedes two practice sessions Australia, setting times. pare for what is predicted to be a has hosted a round of the world Formula One team as part of its for the Chinese Formula “It’s not good for the fans wet race. championships at the Sepang marketing strategy, Najib said. TOne Grand Prix yesterday with watching on TV and even worse Hamilton, who has yet to drive International Circuit (SIC) since Mercedes team boss Toto poor visibility in the city forc- for all those people in the stands, on the new rain tyres introduced 1999 but the government said Wolff said he hoped the last race ing the grounding of the medical who have paid money to come this year, expressed apprehen- last November that the deal at the circuit would provide a fi t- support helicopter. out here from the city or even sion about racing in the rain, would not be renewed when it ting fi nale. Drivers were only able to from other countries,” triple while Vettel goes into the week- expired at the end of 2018. “It’s been a very successful run for 22 of the scheduled 90 world champion Hamilton told end feeling more relaxed. Yesterday, however, both par- race over 18 years but they have minute opening session while reporters. “Pretty comfortable for this ties announced that the Oct 1 decided to call it a day and we second practice was wiped out “We need to work together grand prix, I hope still, despite race this year would be the last. have to respect that decision,” altogether. with the FIA and (commercial the weather,” the German said. “It’s always sad to say goodbye Wolff told reporters in Shang- Visibility at the track, on the rights holder) FOM to fi nd a so- “I think the forecast for tomor- to a member of the Formula 1 fam- hai, where Mercedes are prepar- outskirts of Shanghai, was good lution or an alternative plan of row is quite good so we get a lot ily,” Formula One commercial op- ing for this weekend’s Chinese enough for helicopters to fl y, with some kind when we have cir- more running.” erations managing director Sean Grand Prix. television choppers hovering cumstances like this in the fu- With action curtailed, fans Bratches said in a statement. “I hope we can mark 2017 with overhead throughout the day. ture.” who braved the cool tempera- “Over nearly two decades, the a special result in Sepang — it Foggier conditions in the city Teenager Max Verstappen’s tures and inclement weather Malaysian Formula 1 fans have will be the last grand prix on a meant the medical helicopter opening session-topping eff ort found other ways to amuse proven themselves to be some of really challenging circuit and it would have been unable to land of one minute, 50.491 seconds in themselves. the sport’s most passionate sup- would mean a lot to win there for at the designated hospital, 38km damp and drizzly conditions re- A fan dressed as the main vil- porters.” all our fans in Malaysia. from the circuit, a spokesperson mained the fastest time of the day. lain from the “Star Wars” movie Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib “Although we will miss the from the sport’s governing In- The Dutchman’s lap was more series was given a fair amount of Razak said yesterday that declin- event from the calendar, our long ternational Automobile Federa- Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton found good use for the spare time. than 15 seconds slower than re- television exposure, with pro- ing ticket sales, viewership and and successful partnership with tion (FIA) said. tired world champion Nico Ros- ducers even running the caption tourism were behind the decision Petronas means Malaysia will Track action has to be halted if or if an ambulance cannot reach 20 minutes, according to FIA berg’s pole position eff ort last “Darth Vader, Sith Lord” to ac- to pull out of hosting the race. continue to have a world-class the medical helicopter cannot fl y the designated hospital within safety procedures. year, an indication of the limited company the images. “The Cabinet has agreed to presence in F1 in the years ahead.” Gulf Times Saturday, April 8, 2017 5 SPORT

NBA BASEBALL Schwarber gives Cubs Celtics slump as lift with 3-run homer in Millsap lift s Hawks victory over Cardinals Wizards claim a 106-103 win over Knicks to tie for third spot in East

Chicago Cubs catcher Kyle Schwarber (centre) is congratulated by Jon Jay (left) after hitting a three-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, on Thursday. (USA TODAY Sports)

By Mark Gonzales reached fi rst on Cecil’s wild pitch, Chicago Tribune (TNS) Jon Jay drew a walk before Schwarber transformed a 4-2 defi cit into a 5-4 lead with his home run that travelled he rarity of second baseman an estimated 404 feet down the right- Ben Zobrist committing an fi eld line. error on a routine play and “Some of the guys batting at the pitcher John Lackey collecting bottom of the lineup could be batting Ttwo hits was upstaged Thursday as two in the middle of the order somewhere stranger developments gave the Cubs a else,” Schwarber said. festive sendoff from what seemed like For his part, Lackey helped his cause an eternity at Busch Stadium. after Zobrist mishandled a throw from The fi rst oddity — a third strike that shortstop Addison Russell on a poten- bounced and stuck in the middle of the tial inning-ending double play that led chest protector of Gold Glove catcher to three runs in the fi rst. Yadier Molina — enabled pinch-hitter In the fi fth, Lackey singled off Lance Matt Szczur to reach fi rst base to start Lynn, who missed all of 2016 after right the seventh inning. elbow surgery. The he wasn’t afraid to The second — the sight of 6-foot, test the arm of former teammate Dex- 240-pound slugger Kyle Schwarber as ter Fowler as he beat a throw to third on the leadoff hitter — is developing into a Jay’s single that scored Jason Heyward perfect blend for manager Joe Maddon. with the Cubs’ fi rst run. Schwarber punctuated his new role “(Fowler) kind of came in slow on when he smacked a three-run homer the ball, and I saw that and kept going,” off left-hander Brett Cecil shortly af- Lackey said. Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (left) attempts a shot against Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (right) in the third quarter of their game at Philips Arena in ter Molina’s mishap to lift the Cubs to Lackey’s hitting and hustle illus- Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday. (USA TODAY Sports) a 6-4 victory over the rival Cardinals. trated Maddon’s pleasure with how his The fact Schwarber has a .500 on- players didn’t become lackadaisical af- AFP Millsap’s points and rebounds total BULLS ON THE CHARGE have to do on this upcoming road trip,” base percentage in three games leading ter arriving last Friday in St. Louis and New York marked a 19th doube-double of the Meanwhile, Nikola Mirotic scored 22 McMillan said. off isn’t lost on him or his teammates. having to stay an extra day because of season, and confi rmed his successful points and Jimmy Butler had 19 points “We were solid on defense tonight, And that he hasn’t sacrifi ced his power Wednesday’s rainout. return from a left knee problem. as the Chicago Bulls beat the Philadel- and we did a lot better job attacking. is a dangerous weapon for the Cubs. “We’re concluding our second spring oston’s hopes of pipping Millsap also got backing from Tim phia 76ers 102-90 to boost their play- Those are things we have to do. We Schwarber’s game-winning homer training,” Maddon quipped. “We’ve Cleveland for top spot in the Hardaway Jr with 23 points as well as off prospects. also did a better job with our spacing occurred one day short of the one-year had one in Arizona and we’ve had one Eastern Conference suff ered a career-high 20 points from Taurean Butler also produced 10 rebounds tonight.” anniversary of his tearing two liga- in Missouri. After spending a month in a blow on Thursday as the Prince and 18 from Dennis Schroder. and 10 assists for only the fourth tri- Bucks coach Jason Kidd bemoaned ments in his left knee in his third game St. Louis (winning two of three games) CelticsB slumped to defeat against the Boston star Isaiah Thomas led the ple-double of his career in what was a his team’s carelessness in possession. last year that sidelined him for the re- is pretty neat.” Atlanta Hawks. game scoring with 35 points while Jae fi fth win in six games for the Bulls. “We had way too many turnovers,” mainder of the regular season. The Celtics, comprehensively beat- Crowder had 24. The Bulls are locked in a neck-and- Kidd said. During the Cubs’ raucous post- RESULTS en by the Cavaliers on Wednesday, slid Elsewhere Thursday, the Washing- neck race with Indiana for seventh “We talked about it before the game, game celebration, Schwarber recalled Arizona 9 San Francisco 3 to another costly defeat as Paul Mill- ton Wizards claimed a 106-103 win place in the Eastern Conference, with that we’ve got to take care of the ball. If a teammate yelling that he made it Seattle 4 Houston 2 sap inspired Atlanta to a 123-116 win at over the New York Knicks to tie for identical records of 39-40 following you turn the ball over against Indiana, healthy past game three. NY Mets 6 Atlanta 2 Philips Arena in Georgia. third spot in the East. the Pacers’ win on Thursday. it puts you in a bad situation defen- “And we all went crazy,” Schwarber Toronto 5 Tampa Bay 2 Millsap scored 26 points and 12 re- Washington point guard John Wall The Miami Heat (38-40) are also in sively, because they are going to take said with a smile. Miami 4 Washington 3 (10 inn) bounds as Atlanta improved to 40-38, warned however that the Wizards the hunt, just behind Indiana and Chi- advantage of it, and they did. Once we Schwarber has reached base in seven Oakland 5 LA Angels 1 a half-game ahead of the Milwaukee would need to improve their defense cago. started turning it over, we were a little of his fi rst 14 plate appearances and LA Dodgers 10 San Diego 2 Bucks in the battle for fi fth place. if they were to prosper in the playoff s. The Pacers moved to 39-40 af- hesitant to pass it.” manager Joe Maddon’s decision to bat Chicago White Sox 11 Detroit 2 But the defeat put a serious dent in “Our defense is terrible right now,” ter a 104-89 win over the Milwaukee the starting pitcher eighth should cre- Chicago Cubs 6 St. Louis 4 Boston’s chances of overhauling the Wall said. “If we think we’re going to Bucks. Paul George had 23 points and RESULTS ate more run producing opportunities Colorado 2 Milwaukee 1 Cavaliers at the top of the table. go to the playoff s with this defense, 10 rebounds to subdue the Bucks, who Portland 105 Minnesota 98 for Schwarber from that top spot. Minnesota 5 Kansas City 3 The Celtics are now 50-29, lying we’ll have an early exit. fell to 40-39. Atlanta 123 Boston 116 After Szczur, hitting for Lackey, Cincinnati 7 Philadelphia 4 in second spot behind reigning NBA “We have to fi gure that out,” he Indiana coach Nate McMillan said Washington 106 NY Knicks 103 Finals champions Cleveland who are added after a win which lifted Wash- he was encouraged by the grit shown Chicago 102 Philadelphia 90 51-27 and now primed to lock up fi rst ington to 48-31, level with Toronto, by his team on their road trip. Orlando 115 Brooklyn 107 SPOTLIGHT place. who had a rest day on Thursday. “We now know exactly what we Indiana 104 Milwaukee 89

NHL Ex-QB Tebow homers Ducks blank shorthanded Blackhawks in minor league debut

By Eric Stephens plinary hearing, to which Murray sim- The Orange County Register (TNS) ply said, “If that’s the standard, that’s the standard. I have no use.” Instead, Murray took aim at the Flames’ cap- losing in on another Pacifi c tain, likely referring to a 2011 knee- Division title does not ease on-knee hit on then-Ducks forward the pain of losing Cam Fowler, Bobby Ryan. but the Anaheim Ducks could “The big thing in hockey today is seeC securing home-ice advantage as a concussions,” Murray continued. “But soothing tonic. I still, as an old player, have no use The Ducks know they’re going to be for knee-on-knee hits. Especially if I without Fowler for most, if not all, of think they’re somewhat intentional. their best-of-7 fi rst-round series and “I hear how Gio’s a good guy and perhaps longer if they advance. That he’s this and he’s that. The media in gut-punch of news didn’t lead them Toronto saying ‘Well, he’s a good guy.’ astray Thursday night against a famil- He’s done this before. I have no respect iar foe and the Western Conference’s for people who go after knees. I’m sor- top seed. ry but knees, they wreck your careers Goaltender John Gibson put the real quick. I don’t like it. I know I’ve Reuters ball player while at the University of clamps down on a potential Game 1 said too much but I don’t care.” New York Florida, Tebow signed a $100,000 mi- start next week with a 37-save shutout Anaheim Ducks defenseman Josh Manson (second from right) helps goalie John The losses are allowing young de- nor league contract with the New York and the Ducks beat the Chicago Black- Gibson (right) defend the goal against the Chicago Blackhawks at Honda Center fenders like Brandon Montour and Mets last September in what some re- hawks, 4-0, at Honda Center to secure in Anaheim, California, on Thursday. (USA TODAY Sports) Shea Theodore to get extra play- ormer NFL quarterback Tim garded as a publicity stunt. the right to open their initial playoff ing time and experience ahead of the Tebow answered some scep- Tebow, who had not played organized series at home. til Game 1. Fourth-line center Nate and it could not come around quickly,” postseason. Jaycob Megna made his tics about his foray into pro- baseball since high school, reported to The division could be theirs for Thompson was also scratched because Murray said. “We’ll know much more NHL debut and Sami Vatanen came fessional baseball by hitting a the team’s Instructional League team in a fi fth consecutive season with one of an upper-body ailment. by the time the playoff s start. I’m not back from a two-game absence to as- two-runF homer in his fi rst at-bat of the Florida and followed that warmup with more Edmonton loss. The Oilers beat But it is the loss of Fowler that is be- avoiding anything. It’s just the way sist on Perry’s power-play goal in the season on Thursday for the Class A Co- a stint in the Arizona Fall League. San Jose, 4-2, Thursday. ing felt the most. Ducks general man- this injury is.” fi rst period. lumbia Firefl ies. The former quarterback played Corey Perry, Chris Wagner, Ryan ager Bob Murray announced that their Fowler has had knee injuries in the With a runner on third and two outs briefl y with the Mets team during Kesler and Rickard Rakell supported ice time leader and top point producer past, missing chunks of time during RESULTS in the second inning, Tebow sent a long Spring Training this year at Port St. their goalie with scores as the Ducks on defense will be out from two to six the 2013-14 and 2015-16 seasons be- Calgary 4 Los Angeles 1 fl y to left-center that appeared to hit the Lucie, Florida, before settling into the took advantage of the Blackhawks weeks, with him suff ering a right knee cause of ligament sprains. Murray said Edmonton 4 San Jose 2 wall for a double. But the ball actually hit minor league camp. resting Jonathan Toews, Duncan injury. his worst fears immediately surfaced. Arizona 4 Vancouver 3 the railing above the yellow line, allowing Tebow, considered a massive long- Keith, Marian Hossa and Brent Sea- Fowler was hurt Tuesday when Cal- “When I saw the hit, your heart Anaheim 4 Chicago 0 Tebow to break into a home run trot. shot to make a major league roster, brook after clinching the best record gary defenseman Mark Giordano con- goes in your mouth,” Murray said. Minnesota 4 Colorado 3 The left-handed hitting Tebow, 29, batted.148 during spring training with in the West and home ice through the nected on a knee-to-knee hit that put “You’re thinking that’s it for the year. Nashville 7 Dallas 3 in his minor league debut, knocked the eight strikeouts in 27 at-bats. conference fi nals. a critical player for the Ducks in im- I think he may have gotten a little bit Tampa Bay 4 Toronto 1 home run off Augusta GreenJackets Tebow was a fi rst-round NFL draft The Ducks played shorthanded as mediate pain and resulted in him being of a break but again, I’ll know more in St. Louis 6 Florida 3 lefty Domenic Mazza at Spirit Com- pick in 2010, but his pro career never well, though not by choice. Missing assisted off the ice. He underwent an a week or week and a half. And he’ll Ottawa 2 Boston 1 (SO) munications Park in Columbia, South quite got out of fi rst gear, and he found from their blue line is Hampus Lind- MRI exam Wednesday, which Murray know where he’s at.” Pittsburgh 7 New Jersey 4 Carolina. himself out of the league after making holm, who sat out for a third straight said did not reveal any signifi cant tear. No penalty was assessed on the play NY Islanders 3 Carolina 0 A former Heisman Trophy-winning just 16 starts — 14 for the Denver Bron- game and might not be back un- “It could come around really quickly and Giordano did not receive a disci- Winnipeg 5 Columbus 4 quarterback as the top college foot- cos and two for the New York Jets. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, April 8, 2017 SPORT

TENNIS / Three suspicious matches at cleared by TIU

Three matches at this year’s Australian Open were investigated by the Tennis Integrity Unit who cleared them any suspicion, the TIU said yesterday. Since the start of the year 30 professional matches from the 24,300 played have aroused suspicion — a drop from 48 Djoko helps Serbia during the same period in 2016. “Having fully assessed each of these (three) cases, no evidence of corrupt activity was identified by the TIU,” a statement said. An alert, according to the TIU, is merely an indicator of something suspicious such as an abnormal betting pattern. Seventeen of the alerts so far this year have come on the lowest level ITF tournaments. Anti-corruption procedures came into the spotlight at the 2016 Australian Open after a Buz- zFeed News investigation claimed there was widespread match- take 2-0 lead over fixing at the top of the men’s game. The claims were denied by the TIU and tennis authorities and no high-level players have been charged with wrongdoing. The TIU has beefed up its anti-corrup- tion measures since then and in March introduced a new online training portal designed to educate players against match-fixing, grooming, betting on matches and illegal approaches. So far Spain in quarters 3,500 players have completed the new programme. ‘It’s very encouraging... know I am on the right path to rediscovering my best form’ SUPER RUGBY

Reuters Belgrade Hurricanes hold off

erbia’s Novak Djokovic showed gutsy Waratahs glimpses of his best form with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 win over Albert Ra- AFP Beauden Barrett’s run around mos-Vinolas as they took a 2-0 Wellington three defenders. leadS over Spain in the Davis Cup quarter- Laumape returned the fa- fi nals yesterday. vour fi ve minutes later when he Viktor Troicki brushed aside Pablo he Wellington Hurri- plucked a stray Waratahs pass to Carenno Busta 6-3 6-4 6-3 in the second canes weathered a sec- set up Barrett to get one of his rubber as the 2010 champions dominated ond-half comeback from own. the tie ahead of Saturday’s doubles and the NSW Waratahs for Barrett’s brother Jordie then Sunday’s reverse singles. Ta 38-28 win yesterday that ex- added a third to leave the Wara- Five-time champions Spain, having tended Australia’s Super Rugby tahs down 21-0 after just 12 min- arrived with a second-string outfi t miss- misery against New Zealand utes. ing world number fi ve Rafael Nadal, were teams. Ned Hanigan put NSW on the always going to struggle against a full- The Hurricanes scored six board with the visitors’ fi rst at- strength home team. tries to four, including a brace for tack of the match, making the Serbia’s world number two Djokovic, Ngani Laumape, racing to a 33-7 most of a one-man advantage having suff ered from poor form and in- half-time lead that provided after Beauden Barrett was sin- juries after claiming his maiden French enough buff er to see off the re- binned for an off side infringe- Open title last June as he relinquished the surgent Waratahs. ment. number one spot to Britain’s Andy Mur- The defending champions’ But it was a temporary reprieve ray, looked solid against Ramos-Vinolas. win means Australian Super as Wes Goosen went through un- He held serve throughout the contest Rugby teams’ record against New marked on the wing, then Mark and faced only one break point against Zealand opposition this season is Abbott swooped on a bungled the subdued Spaniard, who crumbled in 12-0. Waratahs line-out to make it the cauldron of Belgrade’s acoustic Ale- The losing sequence extends 33-7 at half-time. ksandar Nikolic arena. to 17 when matches from last The Waratahs looked like a “Overall, I’m very happy with my per- season are included, with the diff erent team immediately af- formance and it’s very encouraging be- Waratahs’ round 14 win over the ter the restart, rocking the Hur- cause I now know I am on the right path Chiefs in May 2016 the last Aus- ricanes with two quick tries to to rediscovering my best form,” Djokovic Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas during the Davis Cup World Group quarter-finals singles tralian success. Bryce Hegarty and Jake Gordon. told a news conference. match in Belgrade yesterday. (AFP) But Tahs captain Michael The hosts again responded “It is no secret that I haven’t been at Hooper insisted there were plenty through Beauden Barrett, who my best in the last few months. I have lost of positives to take from a game in sliced through the Waratahs to my momentum but today’s display has which they outscored the Hurri- set up Laumape’s second try. convinced me that I can get back to win- Kyrgios fells Isner to put Australia 2-0 up canes 21-5 after the break. NSW refused to give in, with ning ways. I served really well against an “Our fi ght can’t be ques- Andrew Kellaway’s 71st-minute opponent who can be awkward if given Reuters point at 6-5 to take the third set into a tioned, we throw it in the last 40 try providing some hope of an time to tee himself up for his shots. So I Melbourne tiebreak, then charging into a 5-2 lead. (minutes) but the fi rst 20 is an is- unlikely comeback. tried not to give him any.” But Kyrgios wrapped up the match in sue for us and it’s really frustrat- They maintained pressure, Troicki also produced a fi ne perform- style, mowing through five straight ing,” he said. prompting Beauden Barrett to ance against Carenno Busta, having saved ick Kyrgios eased past John points and sealing victory with a thun- The Hurricanes stunned the commit another off side foul that three break points in the fi fth game of the Isner 7-5 7-6 (5) 7-6 (5) in a duel dering ace. Waratahs with a try after 90 sec- earned him a red card, but ran second set. The Spaniard was on the back Nof big servers to fire Australia Hammering a ball into the roaring onds as Ngani Laumape fi nished out of time as the Hurricanes’ foot throughout the match and Troicki to a 2-0 lead over the United States in crowd, Kyrgios hugged captain Lleyton off a sweeping move inspired by defence rallied. won comfortably in one hour 48 minutes. their Davis Cup quarter-final in Brisbane Hewitt and his thrilled team mates. yesterday. “That was unbelievable today,” 21-year- FRANCE SWEEP BRITAIN ASIDE The Australian number one carried on old Kyrgios said of the crowd support. Lucas Pouille and Jeremy Chardy moved from the early work of underdog com- “Obviously I have to take care of my France to the verge of the Davis Cup patriot Jordan Thompson who stunned serve (against Isner). semi-fi nals yesterday with straight sets Jack Sock in four sets to give the hosts a “I’ve been playing great tennis.. And I wins against a British team missing in- flying start at a packed Pat Rafter Arena. returned really well today so I’m really jured world number one Andy Murray. In ominous form during last month’s happy to get the win.” Pouille gave hosts France a winning US hardcourt swing, Kyrgios blasted 20 a slow-burning match in two hours and Kyrgios gave up only two break points, start in the quarter-fi nal with a 7-5, 7-6 aces to Isner’s 15, largely defusing the 24 minutes. dropping serve once early in the first set (8/6), 6-3 victory over Kyle Edmund. towering American’s serve to close out Isner battled to the end, saving a match to hand Isner a 3-0 lead. Chardy then eased past Dan Evans, playing on clay for the fi rst time in three years, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3. slip a 5/2 lead in the second-set tiebreak. swept the breaker before dominating the teau face Jamie Murray and Dominic In- Edmund, drafted into the singles line- Pouille, the world number 17 and his deciding set. glot in the doubles. up after the withdrawal of Murray with an team’s top singles player in the absence France can wrap up the tie on Saturday The winners of the tie will face either elbow injury, was made to pay for letting of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfi ls, when Nicolas Mahut and Julien Benne- Serbia or Spain in the semi-fi nals. (Twitter/NSWWaratahs)

India take 2-0 RUGBY / HONG KONG SEVENS lead against Uzbekistan in Davis Cup Norton clinches record-breaking try

AFP AFP will miss the tournament with fl u, to Bangalore, India Hong Kong overcome a resilient Wales. Stand-in New Zealand captain DJ Forbes scored as the All Blacks won ndia took a 2-0 lead against ngland’s Dan Norton hailed 19-7 — but he insisted he was just Uzbekistan on the opening day the “amazing feeling” of “fi lling in” for Curry. Iof the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania scoring a record-breaking “It’s a huge (loss), he’s obviously Group I tie yesterday. try on the opening night of our captain and plays a massive role. theE Hong Kong Sevens Friday as the Hopefully he’ll be back for the last India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan and Prajnesh Gunneswaran clinched world’s top teams returned to the few (tournaments),” Forbes said. back-to-back victories for their home of the sport in spectacular style. Fiji — the reigning sevens cham- country against the Uzbeks in the The 28-year-old winger touched pions who are yet to win a tourna- singles rubbers played in Bangalore. down his 245th try as England steam- ment this term — eased past Japan Ramanathan, ranked 267, beat rollered past South Korea 52-0 to be- 36-0 as they made a strong start with Temur Ismailov 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 come the all-time leading try scorer new coach Gareth Baber, who was re- in the first rubber that lasted two in world sevens — one ahead of Ken- turning to Hong Kong after narrowly hours, 24 minutes. ya’s Collins Injera who did not score missing out on guiding the home The Uzbek suff ered cramps in his as Kenya went down to Canada 17-14. team to the World Series last year. right leg in the third set, helping Ra- Norton paid tribute to his team- Baber said it “felt special” return- manathan score easy points against mates following his historic try ing to Hong Kong, adding: “If we’re in the visitor, who took a medical underneath the posts after he was the last game on day three, it will be timeout before losing the set with brought on as a substitute. even more special, so that’s the aim.” two unforced errors. “It was an amazing feeling, it was South Africa overpowered France In the second rubber, debutant hard with the record in sight to try and 17-10 with one of the Blitzboks’ three Gunneswaran, ranked 187, defeated control my brain coming into it,” said tries scored by the returning Cecil Af- Sanjar Fayziev 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. the winger, who made his England de- rika, the team’s greatest-ever points Fayziev was playing in the place of but in 2009 and also starred in Great scorer. Denis Istomin, who pulled out of Britain’s Olympic campaign last year, Hong Kong is the the seventh of 10 the second round tie due to a foot when they lost in the fi nal to a rampant Dan Norton (left) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a try against South Korea at the Rugby Sevens tournament tournaments in the global series, with injury. Fiji. in Hong Kong yesterday. (AFP) Singapore hosting the next tourna- India’s Rohan Bopanna and Sriram “I’ve got some fond memories of ment later this month before it con- Balaji will play Uzbeks Sanjar playing here, we’ve hit a few fi nals England, who lie second in the ing” in the coming tournaments to “FELT SPECIAL” cludes in May in Paris and London. Fayziev and Farrukh Dustov in the here, I scored my 200th (try) here last standings behind South Africa, are see the battle play out between Nor- Australia edged past a powerful Sa- Friday evening’s games were first doubles rubber on Saturday. year.” chasing their fi rst win in Hong Kong ton and Injera for the record. moa side in a narrow 22-19 win, with played in front of virtually a ca- The winner of the tie will qualify He added: “It’s an amazing stadium since 2006 when coach Simon Amor He added: “The exciting thing for the Pacifi c islanders under former pacity crowd of almost 39,000 for the World Group play-off s, to be — it’s the home of rugby sevens isn’t was still in his playing days. Dan is he’s still got a few years left in New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens. with spectators treated to a Donald played in September. it — so really nice to do it here in this Amor hailed the winger as “world him so he can get even better.” New Zealand shrugged off the loss Trump impersonator singing a ver- amazing atmosphere.” class”, adding it would be “fascinat- of their captain Scott Curry, who sion of “Delilah”. Gulf Times Saturday, April 8, 2017 7 SPORT

CRICKET / ATHLETICS Olympic marathon Lynn, Gambhir champ Sumgong star in Kolkata’s fails dope test: IAAF 10-wicket win 184-run partnership against Lions is highest in IPL history for first wicket

IANS Rajkot

olkata Knight Riders (KKR) toyed with the toothless Gu- jarat Lions bowling attack to script a facile 10-wicket Kvictory, riding on batting heroics of Australian Chris Lynn and skipper Gautam Gambhir in their opening In- dian Premier League (IPL) match here yesterday. Lynn (93 off 41) and Gambhir (76 off 48) did not let the cheerleaders rest from the word go, chasing the 184-run AFP Sambodromo. target. Lions had posted 183 for 4 after Nairobi “I was never worried that I’d lose,” being asked to bat fi rst. said Sumgong, who added that victory The unbroken opening stand of 184 made up for a disappointing showing between the KKR pair became the high- emima Sumgong, the fi rst at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “At the est in IPL history for the fi rst wicket, Kenyan woman to win an Olym- 40 kilometre mark I knew the gold was overcoming the 167-run partnership pic gold in the marathon when mine.” between Chris Gayle and Tillakaratne she triumphed in Rio last year, The athlete has not spoken out since Dilshan for Royal Challengers Bangalore hasJ failed an out-of-competition dope the news of her failed doping test, against Warriors. test, athletics offi cials said yesterday. however she posted a Bible verse on her Without Dwayne Bravo and Ravin- The 32-year-old, who is also the Facebook page which said “do not be dra Jadeja, the home side’s inexperi- reigning London Marathon champion, anxious about anything...” ence in the bowling department was tested positive for the banned blood laid bare as the opening pair recorded booster EPO in a test by the Interna- ‘SHOCKING AND DISAPPOINTING’ their fastest 100-run opening part- tional Association of Athletics Federa- Athletics Kenya said that if it was true nership, coming off just 46 balls. tions (IAAF) in her native Kenya. that Sumgong had failed the dope test This was also KKR’s highest open- “The IAAF can confi rm that an anti- it was “extremely shocking and disap- ing-wicket association, surpassing doping rule violation case concerning pointing” to the whole nation. the previous best of 121 runs involving Chris Lynn of the Kolkata Knight Riders plays a shot during the Indian Premier League match against at the the athlete Jemima Jelagat Sumgong In a statement the body said that it Gambhir and Robin Uthappa. Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, India, yesterday. (BCCI) (Kenya) has commenced this week,” the had worked “tirelessly to put in place KKR got off to a fl ying start at the IAAF said. measures to fi ght and eradicate the use Saurashtra Cricket Association Sta- Dhawal Kulkarni was the worst while Dinesh Karthik added the fi re- paced 47 off 25 balls where the Tamil “The athlete tested positive for EPO and abuse of prohibited substances.” dium with both Lynn and Gambhir among the bowlers, conceding 42 runs works later on as the Lions posted 183 Nadu batsman spanked medium pacer following a no-notice test conducted Earlier this year, Sumgong was one taking the opposition bowlers to the off his 2.5 overs. for 4 in 20 overs. Chris Woakes in the penultimate over by the IAAF in Kenya,” the sport’s rul- of a number of top Kenyan athletes who cleaners. The way both the batsmen paced Raina (68 not out off 51) was dropped as the Englishman had a forgettable ing body added. welcomed a new initiative to eradicate Lynn’s pyrotechnics saw the Aus- their innings was a study in contrast. twice during his stay, with the veteran debut. The partnership between the “This was part of an enhanced IAAF doping, which has tarnished their im- tralian bring up his half century in just Gambhir did not hit a six in his whole of the shortest format of cricket mak- pair for the fourth wicket was 87 runs. out-of-competition testing pro- age, agreeing to be monitored by doc- 19 balls laced with four boundaries innings, preferring groundstrokes (12 ing the most of his lives to notch up his Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Ya- gramme dedicated to elite marathon tors appointed by the IAAF and Athlet- and fi ve sixes. fours) and the leg side more. Lynn, 29th fi fty in the IPL. dav returned best fi gures of 2 for 25 in runners which is supported by the Ab- ics Kenya. The Australian used his raw power however, smoked eight sixes and six Raina also surpassed India and Roy- his four overs for the visitors. bott World Marathon Majors group. “It will be easy for us now to com- to clobber the likes of Dwayne Smith. fours, mostly taking the aerial route al Challengers Bangalore captain Virat The IAAF will make no further state- municate with these doctors before we Smith was sent for 23 runs in one over. and using his power to send the ball to Kohli as the highest run-getter in the BRIEF SCORES: Gujarat Lions 183 for ment about this case until its conclu- take any medicine when the need aris- At the other end, Gambhir milked all parts of the park. T20 league. 4 (Raina 68, Karthik 47; Kuldeep 2-25) sion.” es,” said Sumgong. rookie chinaman Shivil Kaushik for 23 Earlier, skipper led Karthik (47 off 25) continued his lose to Kolkata Knight Riders 184 for 0 Erythropoietin (EPO) is a natural The move came after an investiga- runs in 13 deliveries. from the front with a half century purple patch with the bat with a well- (Lynn 93*, Gambhir 76*) by 10 wickets hormone that stimulates red cell pro- tion by German television channel ARD duction. For a runner, injecting an ar- and Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper tifi cially produced version increases last July alleging that doping was rife at oxygen absorption which allows them the elite training centre in Iten. Australia cricketer one-day domestic competition this actions, not just words.” Left-armer am thrilled that we will be welcoming to run harder and faster without tiring. Kenyan athletics boss chief Jackson year. It is the second time the 32-year- O’Keefe has played eight Tests since Afghanistan to Lord’s this summer,” Sumgong, who also tested positive Tuwei has warned that any athlete who O’Keefe fi ned for old has been in alcohol-fuelled making his debut in 2014, taking 33 MCC president Matthew Fleming said. for a banned substance in 2012, starred failed to comply would not be selected drunken remarks trouble, after being fined last year for wickets at an average of 27.30. “I have seen first-hand the talent and at the London Marathon last year, de- to represent the country in interna- off ensive conduct at a Sydney hotel. passion for cricket the nation has, and fying the odds to win despite suff ering tional competitions. Australian Test star Stephen O’Keefe said he accepted the fine and Afghanistan to play this fixture can only be a good thing for a bruising fall. “Forty-nine athletes have been O’Keefe has been fined Aus$20,000 would undergo “specialist counsel- the ongoing development of Afghan Steeled by her success in London, found to have violated the WADA (US$15,000) for making “highly inap- ling” as demanded. “At an off icial MCC at Lord’s cricket.” New Zealander Brendon she then became the fi rst Kenyan (World Anti-Doping Agency) code in propriate” comments while drunk Cricket NSW function I became intoxi- McCullum will captain the MCC for the woman to win Olympic marathon gold, the past fi ve years but were cautioned during a cricket function and ordered cated and made highly inappropriate Afghanistan’s cricketers will play at match on July 11 — the day after the defeating Ethiopia’s world champion according to the laws of the land and to undergo counselling, authorities comments. There is no excuse for Lord’s for the first time in July after be- conclusion of England’s test match Mare Dibaba in Rio to confi rm her sta- WADA code,” said Tuwei. said yesterday. The spinner, one of this and I take full responsibility and ing granted a fixture against the MCC. against South Africa. Afghanistan tus as the world’s top marathon runner Sumgong’s former training partner, the best bowlers during Australia’s re- off er an unconditional apology,” he The 50-over match at the fabled home made their debut at the ICC Cricket of 2016. the 2014 Chicago and Boston Mara- cent four-Test series in India, was also said. “I have a big challenge ahead of world cricket was confirmed by the World Cup in 2015, famously beating Before news of her positive drugs test thon champion Rita Jeptoo, is serving a banned from playing in the Australian and I am determined to meet it with Marylebone Cricket Club yesterday. “I Scotland and pushing Sri Lanka hard. emerged, Sumgong had vowed to de- four-year ban after also testing positive fend her London title on April 23. for EPO. London Marathon organisers said News of Sumgong’s test was wel- they were “extremely disappointed” at comed by other athletes. US distance BOTTOMLINE Sumgong’s failed test. runner Emma Coburn, a bronze med- “She is currently suspended from allist in the 3,000m steeplechase at last competition pending the B test and the year’s Olympics, applauded the IAAF’s outcome of the investigation. Sumgong out-of-competition testing. will therefore not run in London on 23 “Out of competition testing is so im- April to defend the title she won last portant!! Well done, IAAF. I hope to see year,” announced the race’s chief ex- more productive results from no-no- Tip-top Tahir hammers home ecutive Nick Bitel. tice out of competition tests,” Coburn He said that “athletes who are tweeted. banned for a doping off ence are banned In 2012 Sumgong tested positive for life from the event.” for steroid Prednisolone following the At the Rio Olympics, Sumgong de- Boston marathon. She only served half fatuity of IPL auction snub fi ed temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius of a two year ban after a successful ap- (82F) to claim an historic gold medal in peal blamed the failed control on treat- Reuters “I was quite low when I went unsold a race that fi nished at the city’s famed ment for a hip injury. Mumbai in the auction but life goes on. I came here to prove myself again and my job is to perform whenever given an op- SPOTLIGHT mran Tahir needed less than 12 portunity.” deliveries to highlight the folly of Mumbai lost momentum after Ta- his rejection at the Indian Premier hir’s triple strike but rebuilt their in- League auction in February when nings to reach 184 for eight thanks Former Russian coach Ithe leg-spinner set up Pune’s thrill- to some incredible hitting by Hardik ing victory in their IPL opener against Pandya against paceman Ashok Dinda Mumbai on Thursday. in the fi nal over, which went for an Melnikov given life ban The 38-year-old South African is eye-popping 30 runs. the top-ranked bowler in both forms The team still fell short, however, of international white-ball cricket yet as the brilliant Smith blasted Kieron AFP runner Ekaterina Poistogova — who he was surprisingly overlooked by all Pollard for consecutive sixes in the fi - Lausanne came third in the 800m at the London eight franchises for the 2017 edition of nal over to guide his team to a seven- 2012 Olympics — escaped the life ban the cash-rich tournament. wicket victory with one ball to spare. demanded by the World Anti-Doping It was only after Australian all- “The way the Mumbai Indians bats- he former senior coach of Agency (WADA). rounder Mitchell Marsh was ruled out men were batting, it looked like they the Russian national athlet- CAS instead slapped her with a two- through injury that the Rising Pune would end up scoring 200-odd runs, ics team, Alexei Melnikov, has year ban back-dated to August 2015 Supergiant signed Tahir, who has pre- but I always love such kind of chal- been handed a lifetime ban for and ordered her to be disqualifi ed from viously played for the Delhi Daredev- Tahir and he struck with his second Tahir thanked the Pune franchise lenges,” Tahir, who posted fi gures of Tbreaching rules on doping, the Court of all events in which she competed in the ils, as a replacement. delivery to dismiss the Indian inter- for given him an opportunity to com- 3-28 from his four overs, added. Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced preceding 10 months. Despite his late reprieve, the leg- national. pete in the tournament, even if it came “I respect good batsmen but at the yesterday. Stanislav Emelyanov, the race walk- spinner was pressed into action early in In his next over, Tahir removed op- later than he expected. same time I always look to get wickets Melnikov was cited in last year’s er, was given a ban of eight years after his side’s home match after the Mumbai position captain Rohit Sharma for “I was initially very sad not to be a and try to break the momentum of the McLaren report into state-sponsored being found guilty of a second anti- Indians had made a fl ying start. three and then the dangerous Buttler part of this league, but really pleased opposition. doping in Russian athletics, with the doping off ence. Five Russian race walk- Making light of being asked to bat for 38, who was unlucky to be given with myself to have performed well “The three batsmen who I got out authors calling for him to be suspended ers had already been suspended for four fi rst, Jos Buttler and Parthiv Patel took out lbw, to reduce Mumbai to 62-3 and on getting an opportunity and making today are good against spin bowling for life. Fellow coach Vladimir Kazarin years last October, including Mikhail Mumbai to 41-0 in four overs when underline his value as a wicket-taking the most of it,” he told the IPL website and that’s what makes these wickets was also banned for life. Ryzhov, a silver medallist over 50km at skipper Steve Smith tossed the ball to bowler. (www.iplt20.com). more special for me.” However, Russian middle distance the 2013 world championships.

Saturday, April 8, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

LOCAL MOTORSPORT FOOTBALL Yemen dream big in ‘second Al-Naimi grabs home’ Qatar thrilling win with last corner heroics Al-Naimi was a constant threat to al-Sulaiti throughout the race and then pulled off a great overtake in the last corner of the last lap to grab a sensational win.

Yemen coach Abraham Mebratu (C) with his players during a visit to the Supreme Committee’s off ices.

he Yemeni national team 2022 plans,” he said. “The visit coach and captain have to the SC was truly inspirational. thanked the Supreme It is the fi rst ever World Cup in Committee for Deliv- the Arab and Islamic world, and eryT & Legacy (SC) and the Qatar we feel the tournament will rep- Football Association (QFA) for resent us to the world. helping them to dream big, dur- The 32-year-old goalkeeper ing troubled times in their coun- continued: “Doha has been our try. home in every sense of the word. Saeed al-Sulaiti (right) and Meshal al-Naimi had a close The war-torn nation are seek- Qataris always encourage us and battle during the second race of the third round of the ing qualifi cation for the 2019 the hospitality makes us feel Qatar SuperStock 600 at the Losail International Circuit AFC Asian Cup in the United good during times of extreme yesterday. Arab Emirates and are playing stress back home. We are con- their home matches in the host fi dent we can win all our home nation of the 2022 FIFA World matches here.” By Sports Reporter which will be held today. Al-Naimi will Cup thanks to the QFA’s support. The two remaining home Doha try to extend the gap that now is only 10 Yemen opened their third matches for Mebratu’s side are points ahead of al-Sulaiti. round campaign in Group F with against the Philippines and Al-Sulaiti, who is not 100% fi t due to a 2-1 win against Tajikistan last Nepal in October this year and he second race of the third round an injured hand, will start from the sec- week at the Qatar Sports Club March 2018 respectively, and of the Qatar SuperStock 600 saw ond place on the grid. Stadium, and ‘Al Ahmar’ cel- the coach will be counting on his a nail-biting battle between Qa- The young rider Abdullah al-Qubaisi ebrated the perfect start with a exciting Brazil-bound 18-year- tar riders Mishal al-Naimi and did a great time in Superpole and will visit to the offi ces of the SC with old striker Ahmed Al Sarori to TSaed al-Sulaiti. This race was scheduled start in third position. captain Mohamed Ayash and extend his good form in Doha on to be held during the MotoGP weekend coach Abraham Mebratu talking both those occasions. but was cancelled because of the bad Al Khelaifi continues about their experiences. Al Sarori, who was instru- weather conditions. to dominate in QTCC “Learning about the advanc- mental for Yemen’s opening In the fi rst corner of the fi rst lap, there Meanwhile in the third round of the ing preparations for the 2022 goal against Tajikistan, will soon was contact between Ali al-Naimi and Qatar Touring Car Championship, cham- FIFA World Cup was a great ex- depart to the homeland of ‘Jogo Soud al-Thani and both riders crashed pionship leader Abdulla al-Khelaifi con- perience for the team as it helped Bonito’ to ply his trade for Es- without major injuries but the race was tinued to dominate the timings and was them to dream beyond 2019,” porte Clube Tigres Do Brasil in stopped to clean the track. the fastest driver in Free Practice yester- said Ethiopian-born Mebratu. Carioca Two, the second tier of As soon as the race was re-started, al- day. “From now on, they will also the Rio state championship. Sulaiti, who was on pole position for this Al-Khelaifi was glad to be back into the dream about competing hard in The die-hard Neymar fan be- race, took the lead and was riding a strong Abdulla al-Khelaifi in action during the free practice of Qatar Touring Car action. “Great to be back racing! Qualify- the 2022 FIFA World Cup quali- lieves the exposure in the home- race upfront. Al-Naimi was a constant Championship at the Losail International Circuit yesterday. ing went well for me as I was able to do fi ers. I am sure this visit will land of the fi ve-time FIFA World threat to al-Sulaiti throughout the race one clean lap from the beginning. I decid- make them work harder towards Cup™ winners will make him a and then pulled off a great overtake in the race yesterday. Mishal and Nasser for the podium,” said ed to pit early as I thought pushing the car trying to realise their dreams.” better player. “Outwitting Bra- last corner of the last lap to grab a sensa- Al-Sulaiti was a bit disappointed not to al-Sulaiti. in this hot weather is a bad idea. Judging However, the 45-year-old is zilian defenders will be tough, tional win. win after leading the whole race until the Finishing third on the podium was from the results today, I think tomorrow’s aware they need to take things they are so good even in lower Al-Naimi was very happy and enjoyed last corner. “I had a very good start, and Nasser al-Malki and Abdullah al-Qubaisi race will be interesting as four drivers will one step at a time. “The imme- leagues. But I have self-belief his outing yesterday. “I am very happy. I was able to lead the race from the begin- fi nished in fourth position. “I feel better battle for fi rst,” said al-Khelaifi yesterday. diate focus is to qualify for the and will prove there that Yemen have been fast during all the sessions and ning until the last corner of the last lap. but still I need some improvement with The second fastest driver was Mah- Asian Cup for the fi rst time ever and the Arab world have football I feel good physically but the bike still While I was entering the corner, I saw the bike as I am stuck with the same lap moud al-Khalaf. “It was a nice surprise in our history as one Yemen. If talent coming up.” needs a good set up. I tried to push from Mishal’s tyre and at that moment there timing. I have a few problems with the to fi nish second as my car’s setup is not we manage to do it, Qatar would The youngster concluded: “I the beginning but Saeed was very fast. I was a risk that both of us could crash so suspension and I don’t feel comfortable. perfect yet. I kept pushing till the end and have played the biggest role in am confi dent of qualifying for didn’t have a good start and I stayed back I let him pass and tried to pass him from At the beginning, I was close to Saeed and my lap times kept improving. Hope I can our achievement,” he said. the Asian Cup in 2019. I also have to maintain the tyre and in the last corner inside again but unfortunately it was not Mishal but they were faster in the second maintain my pace in the race tomorrow to Meanwhile, his captain Ayash dreams to play in Qatar in 2022. of the last lap I felt good in the entry, so a good idea and fi nished second by only part of the track and they increased the fi nish fi rst,” said al-Khalaf. said the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ I know it is tough because of the I overtook him and won the race. Con- 0.1seconds. I am happy with the rhythm gap. I hope tomorrow I can fi ght for the Omran Karama did the third best time held special signifi cance to the political situation at home but gratulations to Saeed and Nasser for their we had today with all the sessions. I was win,” said al-Malki and Mansour al-Hajri fi nished in fourth players. “We are thankful to the my dreams have no boundaries. podiums and many thanks to QMMF, Lo- not in the best shape; my hand is hurt- Al-Naimi also grabbed the Superpole place as he had suspension issues but QFA for extending their full sup- I will make my homeland Yemen sail Circuit Sports Club and to Ooredoo ing me a lot but I managed the pain and honours when he claimed the top spot on hopefully he can fi x them and today’s port here and to the SC for shar- and second home Qatar proud of for their support,” said al-Naimi after the pushed to 100%. Congratulations to the grid for the fourth round of the QSTK race will be more challenging. ing with us in great detail the me one day.”

VOLLEYBALL Rayyan, Al Arabi set for exciting Qatar Cup fi nal

By Yash Mudgal Schwanke is delighted with the way “We are happy to be in the fi nal. It is Doha his team fought back and found so- an important game and will be a diffi - lutions for their on-court problems cult one. There will be some emotions during the three-game semifi nal play- on both the sides. We must be ready efending champions Al Rayy- off s. “I’m very happy with the team’s in our head to control the emotions to an are aiming to win their comeback and victory to move into win it. I hope tomorrow will be a good fi rst title of the season by re- the fi nal. I liked the spirit that my team day for us,” said Dufl os, who was put in taining the Qatar Cup when showed. We had some problems and charge of the team midway through the theyD take on arch-rivals Al Arabi in made some adjustments. league, in which they fi nished third. the fi nal at the Qatar Women’s Sports “The team has regained their touch Arabi started off their season well by Committee Indoor Hall in the Aspire during the play-off s against Police. We winning the by defeating Zone today. played like play. Police are Rayyan and QVA Cup with a win over Rayyan coach Carlos Schwanke is the league champions and were not an El Jaish.Arabi’s pro players, Gyorgy very much aware of the tough task they easy side. It was quite tough and now Grozer of Germany and Taylor Sander have on their hands as emotions are we’ll focus on another diffi cult match of the United States, are also hoping to sure to run high. against Al Arabi,” said Schwanke. fi nish on top. “We know it will be a tough fi nal Talking about the service prob- “It is very interesting to be in the against Arabi. The emotions will be lem they had during the semifi nals, fi nal as fi nals are always something high as two powerhouse clubs are tak- Schwanke said, “The service has only special. We have a very good team and ing part, but I am confi dent that we are one point and sometimes you have hope to win tomorrow. I was here two ready for the title fi ght,” Schwanke said to take risk to win bigger points. I am years ago also… this is my second time while talking to the media yesterday. confi dent that we will have no such is- in Qatar. The level of the game is very Rayyan, who fi nished fourth in the sues in the fi nal.” high in Qatar and I think it’s growing,” Qatar Volleyball League, played three Al Rayyan and AL Arabi players and off icials pose during their press conference yesterday. Rayyan came third in the recently Grozer said. tough games in the last six days to concluded GCC Championship, while “I am excited to be in the fi nal. It will qualify for the fi nal and are raring to go. that you have to give something ex- to be mentally ready and give our 100 Rayyan overcame Police 2-1 in Arabi fi nished poor fi fth. be a high-level game and I hope we are “It’s a fi nal and it’s always a special tra. We have played some really tough percent for the fi nal,” the Brazilian the semifi nal play-off s, while Arabi Al Arabi coach Patrick Dufl os is also able to put up a good show tomorrow,” game. We all play for the title and for games in the recent past, but we have said. blanked El Jaish 2-0. keen to win his fi rst title for the club. Sander said.