GOLF | Page 5 FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 6 Taylor in Qatar keeps share of lead eye on Eupen To Advertise here with Kelly, in new Europe Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 Loupe season Saturday, August 6, 2016 Dhul-Qa’da 3, 1437 AH OLYMPICS Djokovic, Murray, Serena lead history charge in Rio Page 2 Qatar at the Games BASKETBALL US stars open Rio gold chase against China Swimmers Noah al-Khulaifi and Nada Arakji pose with Qatar Swimming Association president Khalil al-Jaber at the Rio Olympic Village. (Right) Hamad Rashid of Qatar trains for the skeet competition at the Olympic Shooting Centre in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday. (AFP) FOOTBALL Carmelo Anthony of the US is seen during training at the Flamengo Club in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the opening game against China. (Reuters) AFP munity. I’ve learned about the beauty Rio de Janeiro of international play,” Krzyzewski said. “Over the last 11 years I’ve gotten bet- Brazil booed off as ter as a result of being given the honour t would be easy for the US team of coaching, so it has been a beautiful of NBA stars to overlook China in thing for me.” today’s opening game of the Rio Between fatigue after a long NBA Olympics after routing the Asians season and health concerns after talks Itwice in pre-Games exhibitions. with family, many top NBA players Neymar fl ops in draw But the Americans, who have not said no to Rio, including LeBron James, lost in 10 years, look at such games as Stephen Curry and James Harden. a chance to grow and build, fi rst and But former NBA Most Valuable Player 10-man South Africa play out goalless draw against hosts foremost by not taking anyone for Kevin Durant, who left Oklahoma City to granted in their path to a third consec- join Golden State last month, doesn’t see AFP utive Olympic crown. this team as any less formidable because Rio de Janeiro “Every team is a threat,” US guard it lacks a few familiar stars. Kyrie Irving said. “We understand it’s “It would be challenging even if they going to be a fi ght every single day and were here, but we have some great play- razil and superstar Neymar I’m looking forward to it.” ers here,” Durant said. “Just because were booed off as their quest The US squad ripped China 106-57 they haven’t been here before, or might for a maiden Olympic football at Los Angeles and 107-57 in Oakland not be MVPs, we’ve got some damn gold medal began with a 0-0 in warm-up games just after the squad good players on this team. It doesn’t Bdraw against 10-man South Africa on was selected. matter what anybody says, I got noth- Thursday. How well they do in their Group A ing but confi dence in everybody here, Barcelona ace Neymar is by far the match against China will tell how far and I feel as though we have a great biggest name in the competition and they have come. “These games are very chance to do something special.” has been tasked with restoring pride to important,” Irving said. “Every single And Irving, who teamed with James Brazilian football after a catastrophic game is a chance for us to get better. to mount the greatest comeback in NBA 7-1 semi-fi nal defeat to Germany on We have to fi nd out line-ups. We have Finals history and bring the Cleveland home soil at the 2014 World Cup. to fi nd out just what rhythm we want as Cavaliers the title, has ‘King James’ However, he endured a frustrating a team. And, going in, what we want to just a phone call away. “I’m talking to afternoon on a sandy and slow sur- expect from one another. In order to do him almost every single day while he’s face in Brasilia as South Africa held that, we have to play high level games somewhere doing some vacation stuff out despite Mothobi Mvala’s red card and against other great countries.” while I’m over here,” Irving said. half an hour from time prompting the And the Chinese squad has NBA expe- The US women’s streak is even long- crowd to jeer the hosts off on the fi nal rience in Yi Jianlian as well as experience er, with the team winning each of their whistle. on how to play the Americans already. last 41 Olympic games and every gold “For us the draw is a defeat,” said “They are physical. They play hard,” said medal since 1996. Anything other than Neymar. “The team went on the fi eld US center DeAndre Jordan. “We know Yi a gold this time would be seen as a na- to win, we know our responsibility, we Jianlian, who was playing in the league tional disappointment. know it isn’t going to be easy. It is not for a while. And I really like Zhou Qi, In the men’s competition, NBA expe- just a case of turning up and winning the young kid the (Houston) Rockets are rience is not be limited to the US team. the gold medal.” drafting. Both of the point guards are re- A record 47 active NBA players, spread Group A is now in a four-way tie on ally aggressive. They will defi nitely be across many countries, will compete. one point after Iraq and Denmark also Brazil’s Neymar vies for the ball with South Africa’s Lebo Mothiba during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games first round Group A a tough opponent. We can’t take those Spain, who won silver in 2008 and played out a scoreless draw. match at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia on Thursday. (AFP) guys lightly. We have got to come out and 2012, have fi ve NBA stars including In contrast to the swaths of empty play USA basketball.” Paul Gasol of the Chicago Bulls, a six- stands across the six cities being used stunning saves. Portugal’s stunning summer af- Peralta and Rodolfo Pizarro struck ei- Other Group A men’s games include time league All-Star. Argentina, who to host the men’s and women’s foot- And Khune said he would tell his ter winning Euro 2016 could get even ther side of Arsenal’s Serge Gnabry’s Serbia against Venezuela and Australia, upset the US to win the gold in 2004, ball tournaments on the opening two grandchildren of the day he stopped more golden as they saw off Argen- reply for Germany. with six NBA players, against hosts boast three NBA players including days, the hosts commanded a near- the Barcelona star. tina 2-0 to the delight of the Brazilian However, the only World Cup win- Brazil. two-time NBA All-Star Manu Ginobili, capacity 70,000 crowd. “I am so happy to make my appear- crowd in Rio. ner on show at the Olympics Mat- The US NBA squad has an 80-1 a member of that gold-medal team. However, the Brazilian side boast- ance, make my mark,” said Khune. Both sides are looking to the future thias Ginter, who fl ew 20,000km from record under coach Mike Krzyzewski, Australia, Brazil and France also have ing Neymar, Manchester City’s new “Defi nitely my grandchildren will with Lionel Messi having announced Borussia Dortmund’s pre-season tour the 69-year-old veteran from Duke large NBA contingents. £27mn ($35.4mn) signing Gabriel Je- watch the DVD of this match.” his international retirement with Ar- in China to Brazil, earned Germany a University who fi nishes as coach after On the women’s side, Australia have sus and Marquinhos of Paris Saint- South Africa dominated the early gentina after three fi nal losses and point. the Rio Games. proved the United States’ most con- Germain did not provide the expected stages of the second half with Moth- Portuguese hero Cristiano Ronaldo South Korea smashed Fiji 8-0 in “I’ve learned from my players. I’ve sistent rivals, with a podium spot in victory procession. iba and captain Keagan Dolly coming now 31. the other match in Group C with Ryu learned from the international com- every Olympics since 1996. South Africa’s Lebo Mothiba had a close. Gonzalo Paciencia’s low drive put Seung-Woo scoring a hat-trick. host of chances to cause an almighty But their chances appeared to have Portugal ahead before a horrible error Nigeria arrived in the Amazonian upset, but failed to make a rag- gone when defender Mvala was sent from Argentina goalkeeper Geronimo city of Manaus just hours before a ged Brazilian defence pay for early off for two quickfi re yellow cards. Rulli allowed Pite’s long-range eff ort thrilling 5-4 win over Japan as the Qatar in action today nerves. Brazil ramped up the pressure. Jesus to sneak between his legs to secure the original plane intended to take them “The fi rst game is always the most somehow turned the ball onto the post three points six minutes from time. from their training base in Atlanta on SWIMMING: Women’s 100m butterfly (Heats) diffi cult due to the anxiety of the com- with the goal gaping, whilst a dipping Honduras beat Algeria 3-2 in the Wednesday was deemed “too small” Athlete: Nada Arakji petition starting,” added Neymar. drive from Neymar landed on the roof other Group D game.