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Wednesday, November 7, 2018 CRICKET Safar 29, 1440 AH Mavuta shines GULF TIMES as Zimbabwe shock Bangladesh SPORT Page 2 SPOTLIGHT Sheikh Ali, Bassem lead Qatar’s hopes at GCT fi nal THIS IS SIXTH TIME THE STATE-OF-THE-ART AL SHAQAB ARENA WILL BE HOSTING THE FINALS OF THE GCT SERIES
Qatar rider Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani (right), event director Ali al-Rumaihi, GCT founder and president Jan Tops and Sporting Director of GCT Marco Danese at a press conference at Al Shaqab yesterday. At right, file photo of Bassem Mohamed in action.
By Sports Reporter riders to win prize money worth given a huge boost to equestrian and also in the Asiad. I hope we do away from Alberto on a score of ously with GCT. age,” al-Rumaihi added. Doha €1,700,000. Bassem had made sport in Qatar, and it showed well here in Al Shaqab this week- 234, and fourth is Daniel Deusser “As was had done last year, we Besides top class competition, history last year by becoming when Bassem won here last year,” end. The GCT is the number one (GER) just a further point away have also incorporated Hathab as there are plenty of things to look the fi rst home rider to clinch Sheikh Ali said. league in the world for equestrian on 233 overall. Scott Brash (GBR) part of GCT. Hathab is an initia- forward to for spectators includ- assem Hassan Mohamed GCT Grand Prix title here. While “The level of jumping in the and we are proud that the cham- holds fi fth with a tally of 225, two tive of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Ha- ing pony rides, jumping castles, a will look to repeat his Bassem will be aiming for an en- championship is very high and pionship is being held in Qatar,” time LGCT Grand Prix winner mad al-Thani, president of the variety of kids’ activities, outdoor last year’s heroics, while core, Sheikh Ali would be keen to helps in the performance of the he said. Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) sits in Qatar Olympic Committee. It is cafes and other F&B outlets. In Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al- win for the fi rst time. Qatari riders. Without a doubt, Great Britain’s Ben Maher has sixth with 219 and two time LGCT aimed at improving the stand- addition, the organisers have also BThani will be eyeing his fi rst win On the eve of the champion- bringing the best riders in the already wrapped up this year’s title holder Edwina Tops-Alexan- ard of horse riding among Qatari set up a fl ea market providing lo- as the Global Champions Tour ship, Sheikh Ali said Bassem’s world to participate in the big- GCT title, but there is intense der (AUS) is on 212 overall. youths and to grow awareness of cal entrepreneurs an opportunity (GCT) returns to Al Shaqab from win last year showed how Qatari gest competition will attract and battle for second position with Doha will also provide the last horsemanship as part of Qatar’s to showcase and promote their tomorrow. riders had benefi ted from hosting inspire young people in Qatar to seven riders in contention to fi n- chance for individual riders to history and tradition,” he said. products. beIN Sports will tel- This is sixth time the state- GCT over the years. take up the sport,” he added. ish runner-up. Just 28 points qualify for the GCT Super Grand “Events such as the Global ecast the three-day champion- of-the-art Al Shaqab arena will “I have always been honoured Sheikh Ali himself has ben- separate second place rider Italy’s Prix at the GC Playoff s in Prague Champions Tour go a long way ship. be hosting the fi nals of the GCT to represent my country in this efi ted immensely while compet- Alberto Zorzi (237 points) and this December, with all eyes on towards fulfi lling Al Shaqab’s vi- Jan Tops, the founder and pres- series. Top riders and horses will exciting and strong competition, ing with top riders in Doha and Germany’s Christian Ahlmann who will take the fi nal golden sion of being a global and leading ident of the GCT, said: “Al Shaqab line up for three days of action where the elite riders will par- around the world. He fi nished a (209 points) in eighth – and with ticket to the 16-rider showdown. global centre for equine excel- is a special place and we love to be with spectators sure to be treated ticipate. Ten years ago we dreamt creditable sixth at the 2016 Rio 40 points for a win there is every- Meanwhile, Ali al-Rumaihi, lence and providing an engaging here in Qatar. The facility is just to showjumping of high quality. of hosting one round of GCT and Olympics and earlier this year thing to play for. the event director, revealed that experience for the community. It top class and so is the organisa- All eyes will be on home he- now we have hosted the event won silver at the Asian Games in Third in the rankings is like last year the third leg of the helps to promote horsemanship, tion. The riders too love come to roes Bassem and Sheikh Ali as for six years. The championship, Jakarta. “I have had great past one 2017 overall champion Harrie Hathab National Equestrian se- inculcate passion as well as pro- Qatar as they know they only get they compete with world class horses and riders involved have year. I had a good result in London Smolders (NED), just three points ries will also be held simultane- moting Qatar’s equestrian herit- best of the facilities here.”
BOTTOMLINE Qatar’s Yousuf al-Kazim elected member of Executive Off ice of AIBA City sought to bypass fi nancial fairplay rules: report
AFP the club would get 40mn euros back if they nounced his decision — sponsorship con- “I’m completely honest, I don’t know Berlin stuck to the terms of their settlement. tracts would be adjusted, with the club’s what happen because I’m a manager. I’m Der Spiegel says City were in danger of main sponsor Etihad paying £1.5mn more, focused on what happens on the pitch, in violating the FFP rules after they sacked the Abu Dhabi tourism authority chipping the locker room,” said Guardiola yesterday remier League champions Man- manager Roberto Mancini in 2013 after the in £5.5mn and investment fund Aabar on the eve of City’s Champions League chester City attempted to bypass club failed to successfully defend their ti- £0.5mn. clash with Shakhtar Donetsk. UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) tle. Crucially, all the sponsors were alleg- “The business and how they handle this regulations by allowing their Abu The magazine claims that in an internal edly asked to act as if the deal had been sort of situation, I am completely out. PDhabi-based sponsors to make cash injec- e-mail, City’s chief fi nancial offi cer Jorge agreed at the start of the season. “But I am part of the club, I am sup- tions, Der Spiegel alleged yesterday. Chumillas wrote: “We will have a shortfall When Chumillas asked his colleague portive of absolutely the club and we want QNA bly meeting in Moscow. The German news magazine said it had of 9.9mn pounds in order to comply with Simon Pearce if they could change the to do what we have to do in terms of the Moscow Al-Kazim defeated China’s seen internal documents in which the UEFA FFP this season. The defi cit is due date of payments from the sponsors, rules.” Zhang Jianping 58-42 in the club’s offi cials discussed how to wipe out a to RM (Roberto Mancini) termination. I Pearce allegedly answered: “Of course, we The accusations hinge on City’s insist- election. Al-Kazim’s win is a shortfall of almost £10mn ($13mn). think that the only solution left would be can do what we want.” ence that the Abu Dhabi-based companies atar’s Yousuf al- great boost for the Arab bloc at The allegations are the latest in the so- an additional amount of AD (Abu Dhabi) In a repeated statement they fi rst is- are independent sponsors and not merely Kazim, President the AIBA. Al-Kazim stressed called Football Leaks series. sponsorship revenues that covers this sued last week, City said they would not tools of the Gulf state. of Qatar Boxing and that he would continue his ef- FFP rules were introduced to curb Eu- gap.” comment on what they described as “out If clubs can show that revenues come Wrestling Federation forts to develop boxing in the ropean sides racking up huge debts and to To evade UEFA sanctions, another City of context materials purportedly hacked from sponsors and not just their owners, (QBWF),Q has been elected as a Arab and Asian region. put limits on how much clubs could lose executive allegedly suggested “a backdat- or stolen from City Football Group and they can make larger expenditure on play- member of the Executive Of- During these elections, the over prescribed periods. ed deal for the next two years (...) paid up Manchester City personnel and associ- ers without falling foul of the FFP rules. fi ce of the International Box- AIBA elected Uzbekistan’s City were fi ned 60mn euros by UEFA in front”. ated people.” Some of City’s European rivals, includ- ing Association (AIBA) for the Gafur Rakhimov as president. 2014 for breaching those rules, but the two Der Spiegel claimed that 10 days af- The club’s manager Pep Guardiola in- ing Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid, period 2018-2022 during the He defeated Serik Konakbayev parties reached an agreement under which ter the end of the season, Chumillas an- sisted he wasn’t aware of any wrongdoing. have complained about such practices. AIBA’s recent General Assem- of Kazakhstan. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, November 7, 2018 CRICKET
PREVIEW Pakistan aim to break ODI jinx against Kiwis
AFP Emirates (UAE) in 2014, before los- Cup,” said Sarfraz. tle.” New Zealand will welcome pace Abu Dhabi ing 2-0 in 2015, 2-0 in 2016 and 5-0 The last two matches are in Abu spearhead Trent Boult who missed in January 2018 — all in New Zea- Dhabi (Friday) and in Dubai (Sun- the Twenty20 series due to personal land. day). reasons while also adding batsman akistan captain Sarfraz “If you look at our losses most of Pakistan then play South Africa George Worker and spinner Ajaz Ahmed insists his team can them were in New Zealand where in South Africa, Australia (in UAE) Patel (as a cover for injured Todd end an 11-match losing run conditions were diff erent and we and England in England — fi ve one- Astle) in the squad. to New Zealand when the lost due to top order failure where day internationals each — before Ptwo sides meet in the fi rst one-day we need to improve,” said Sarfraz. the World Cup. Teams (from): international in Abu Dhabi today. Pakistan also failed to qualify for New Zealand skipper Kane Wil- New Zealand: Kane Williamson Pakistan crushed New Zealand the fi nal of the Asia Cup held in UAE liamson played down the winning (captain), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, 3-0 in the preceding Twenty20 two months ago, losing both their streak against Pakistan, saying it Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie series on Sunday — their second matches against arch-rivals India will be a new series. Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, whitewash in a week following a and going down to Bangladesh in a “It’s a new series and a fresh Colin Munro, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz romp over Australia, also in Dubai clash which decided the fi nalist. start,” said Williamson. “I guess Patel, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross and Abu Dhabi. India won the Asia Cup by beat- it’s a nice statistic to have but at the Taylor, BJ Watling, George Worker But Sarfraz, part of the team in ing Bangladesh. end of the day, come tomorrow, its a the last 11 one-day internationals Sarfraz said a tough opponent in new series.” Williamson praised Pa- Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), all of which Pakistan lost, want to New Zealand — ranked third to Pa- kistan as a limited over side. Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, fi nally win against New Zealand. kistan’s fi fth in one-day standings “They are always a strong side Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, “It’s important to break that los- — will help the team build for next and no matter the format,” said Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Haris Sohail, ing streak and we need to bring im- year’s World Cup in England. Williamson. “They have a lot of Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, provement in our performance in “New Zealand is a good team of depth. We simply know they have Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Junaid one-day internationals,” said Sar- this format but we have momentum been here for some time and they Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Khan fraz yesterday. of the Twenty20 series so we must know these conditions and they Shinwari Pakistan lost the last two matches win this series and that will help to- have had lots of success. Umpires: Joe Wilson (WIS) and The Pakistanis have been in great form in the T20 format but face a tougher challenge when in a 3-2 series defeat in United Arab wards building towards the World “We are in here for a tough bat- Shozab Raza (PAK) they clash with the Kiwis in an ODI series.
SPOTLIGHT FIGHTBACK Foakes leads England revival in Zimbabwe send fi rst Sri Lanka Test
AFP dary compatriot Muttiah Mu- Galle ralitharan who achieved it at Galle, Kandy and SSC Colombo, and England paceman James ebutant Ben Foakes hit Anderson at Lord’s. hosts Bangladesh a defi ant and unbeaten Herath notched up the mile- 87, guiding England 321 stone when Root came down the for eight, after Sri Lan- wicket and missed after a breezy kaD claimed cheap early wickets 35. on the fi rst day of the fi rst Test Root had also steadied Eng- yesterday. land when they stumbled to The Surrey wicket-keeper 10 for 2 after debutant opener batsman, who knows this could Rory Burns was caught behind spinning to defeat just be a one-off chance as Jonny off Surange Lakmal for nine and Bairstow regains fi tness, came Moeen Ali was bowled next ball. in with England precariously Surrey left-hander Burns had Debutant Mavuta claims 4-21, while Raza bags 3-41 in Sylhet Scorecard placed on 103 for fi ve on a Galle been given the tough task of re- pitch notorious for low scores. placing stalwart Alastair Cook Foakes built crucial partner- following his retirement in Sep- AFP ZIMBABWE first innings 282 (S. Wil- Sylhet ships including an 88-run sev- tember. liams 88, H. Masakadza 52; Taijul Islam enth wicket stand with Sam After Root’s dismissal, Perera 6-108) Curran, who made 48, to defy skittled Keaton Jennings four randon Mavuta and BANGLADESH first innings 143 (Ariful Sri Lanka’s bowlers. short of his 50 before bowling Sikandar Raza shared England elected to bat fi rst in Ben Stokes around his legs for seven wickets be- Haque 41 not out; T. Chatara 3-19; S. what was Sri Lankan spin leg- seven as he attempted to sweep. tween them as Zim- Raza 3-25) end Rangana Herath’s farewell babweB recorded their fi rst match. England ZIMBABWE second innings 181 (H. Ma- Test win in fi ve years with sakadza 48; Taijul Islam 5-62, Mehidy The right-handed Foakes R. Burns c Dickwella b Lakmal 9 a thumping 151-run victory Hasan 3-48) steadied the innings reaching K. Jennings b Perera ...... 46 over Bangladesh yesterday. his half century early in the fi nal M. Ali b Lakmal ...... 0 Debutant leg-spinner Ma- BANGLADESH second innings (over- session as the tourists lost just J. Root b Herath ...... 35 vuta claimed 4-21 and off - night 26-0) three wickets after lunch. B. Stokes b Perera ...... 7 spinner Raza’s 3-41 as hosts Foakes put on 61 for the sixth J. Buttler c Dickwella b Perera38 Liton Das lbw b Raza ...... 23 Bangladesh were left chasing wicket with Jos Buttler, who was B. Foakes not out ...... 87 321 runs on the fourth day in Imrul Kayes b Raza ...... 43 eventually caught behind off S. Curran c Chandimal b De Silva the northeastern city of Syl- Mominul Haque b Jarvis ...... 9 Dilruwan Perera for 38...... 48 het. Mahmudullah c Sub b Raza ...... 16 Left-hander Curran attacked A. Rashid c De Silva b Perera .. 35 Wellington Masakadza, an- Nazmul Hossain c Raza b Mavuta ...... 13 the bowling, hitting one four J. Leach not out ...... 14 other debutant, also shone Mushfiqur c W. Masakadza b Mavuta 13 and three sixes before falling Extras (b1, lb1) ...... 2 with two wickets as Zim- Ariful c Chakabva b W. Masakadza ..38 two short of his fi fty to spinner Total (8 wickets, 91 overs) ...321) babwe made quick work of Akila Dananjaya. To bat: J. Anderson Mehidy Hasan C Chakabva b Mavuta 7 Bangladesh’s lower order, dis- Adil Rashid made a useful 35 Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Burns), missing the hosts for 169. Taijul Islam c Taylor b W. Masakadza 0 in a stand of 54 with Foakes that 2-10 (Ali), 3-72 (Root), 4-98 (Jen- Left-arm spinner Maskad- Zimbabwe cricketer Brandon Mavuta (2nd L) celebrates with his teammate Regis Chakabva (L) Nazmul Islam lbw b Mavuta ...... 0 increased the frustration for Sri nings, 21.1 ov), 5-103 (Stokes), za took the fi nal wicket of the as Sikandar Raza (2nd R), captain Hamilton Masakadza (R) look on after winning the first Test Abu Jayed not out ...... 0 Lanka’s bowlers before he be- 6-164 (Buttler), 7-252 (Curran), innings, sending Ariful Haque cricket in Sylhet yesterday. Extras (lb5, lb2) ...... 7 came Perera’s fourth victim of 8-306 (Rashid) for 38 as Zimbabwe notched Total (all out; 63.1 overs) ...... 169 the day. Bowling: Lakmal 15-4-57-2, their fi rst Test win since beat- joined the act with Raza in the a leg-before appeal against Raza. Raza then took a spec- Fall of wickets: 1-56 (Liton), 2-67 (Mo- Jack Leach, batting on 14, Perera 28-4-70-4, Dananjaya 20- ing Pakistan in Harare in 2013. morning as they chipped in opener Liton Das. tacular catch at cover on the then survived some anxious 2-96-1, Herath 25-4-78-1, De Silva minul), 3-83 (Imrul), 4-102 (Mahmudul- It is also the fi rst time Zim- with a wicket apiece to leave The umpire gave Liton not stroke of lunch to hand debu- moments in the fi nal two overs 3-0-18-0 babwe have clinched an away Bangladesh 111-5 at the break. out but a TV replay indicated tant Mavuta his maiden Test lah), 5-111 (Nazmul), 6-132 (Mushfiqur), to give Foakes a chance to com- Sri Lanka: D. Karunaratne, K. Test victory since beating Bangladesh resumed play the ball would have hit the wicket and send back Nazmul 7-150 (Mehidy), 8-151 (Taijul), 9-155 plete a momentous debut ton on Silva, K. Mendis, D. Chandimal Bangladesh in Chittagong 17 on 26-0 but within half- stump after pitching outside Hossain. (Nazmul), 10-169 (Ariful) day two. (capt), A. Mathews, N. Dickwella, years ago in 2001. an-hour had lost their fi rst off — ending Liton’s innings “I think the wicket was Bowling: Jarvis 14-5-29-1, Chatara Sri Lanka’s veteran spinner Dh. de Silva, D. Perera, A. Danan- “I am ecstatic. I thought the wicket, with others following on 23. good, but we didn’t apply our- 9-2-25-0, Raza 17-1-41-3, Williams 8-2- Rangana Herath, claimed his jaya, S. Lakmal, R. Herath guys went out and worked re- quickly. One down, Mominul Haque selves with the bat. We were 13-0, Mavuta 10-2-21-4, W. Masakadza 100th Test scalp at Galle after Toss: England ally hard to apply themselves,” Play started 30 minutes dragged a Jarvis delivery onto not disciplined enough to re- sending back England skipper Umpires: 5.1-0-33-2 Chris Gaff aney (AUS) Zimbabwe captain Hamilton early to make up for the lost his stumps for nine before strict our strokes,” said Bang- Joe Root in the opening ses- and Marais Erasmus (RSA) Masakadza said in the post time after bad light brought Raza bowled Imrul Kayes for ladesh skipper Mahmudullah. Result: Zimbabwe won by 151 runs. sion. TV umpire: Sundaram Ravi match presentation ceremo- a premature end to day three, 43 to leave Bangladesh at 83- Mavuta dismissed Bang- Zimbabwe lead two-match series 1-0 Only two other bowlers have (IND) ny. with Bangladesh still needing 3. ladesh’s last accomplished Toss: Zimbabwe achieved 100 Test wickets on Match referee: Andy Pycroft Zimbabwe sensed a win 295 runs on a wearing pitch. Skipper Mahmudullah pro- batsman Mushfi qur Rahim Umpires: Rod Tucker (AUS), Richard one ground — Herath’s legen- (ZIM) once Raza claimed three vital The home side — whose moted himself to number four soon after play resume before Kettleborough (ENG) wickets in the opening ses- best run chase was 217-6 but could not rescue his side Zimbabwe wrapped things up. TV umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI) against the West Indies in and perished for 16, giving The second Test will be held sion to reduce Bangladesh’s Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle innings to half. 2009 — started to throw a catch to substitute fi elder in Dhaka from November 11- Kyle Jarvis and Mavuta wickets once Raza reviewed Craig Ervine at short leg off 15. (SRI)
BOTTOMLINE Sharma’s record ton helps India clinch T20 series
AFP Khaleel Ahmed and Jasprit Bumrah, Glad that we won this game and this series home crowd. Lucknow, India along with spinner Kuldeep Yadav, took as well,” said Sharma, who is leading the Lokesh Rahul, unbeaten on 26, had the two wickets each. side in place of the resting Kohli. best view when Sharma reached his cen- But the day belonged to Sharma. He “Shikhar’s natural instinct is to put tury in the last over of the innings with kipper Rohit Sharma smashed put on 123 runs with opening partner pressure on bowlers. We took the time a boundary off his opposite number in his fourth Twenty20 interna- Shikhar Dhawan — who made 43 — to initially and when he gets going it’s not Carlos Brathwaite. tional century — the most by pummel the West Indian bowling after easy. I think 120-plus partnership be- The Caribbean batting faltered in their Sany batsman in the format — to paceman Oshane Thomas started with a tween us was very crucial.” chase after losing their openers in Shai set up India’s convincing 71-run series- maiden over. The right-left combination of Sharma Hope, for six, and Shimron Hetmyer, for clinching win over West Indies yester- Sharma, who now has 2,203 runs in and Dhawan, who surpassed 1,000 T20 15, early. Ahmed bowled Hope in his very day. 86 matches, became India’s highest run- runs during his 41-ball knock, smashed fi rst over and then got the dangerous Sharma hit an unbeaten 111 off 61 de- scorer in T20s after surpassing regular the balls to all parts of the huge ground Hetmyer caught at long on, three overs liveries to power the hosts to 192-2 after captain Virat Kohli (2,102 runs) during before the fi rst wicket fell in the 14th later, with his left-arm pace. being put into bat fi rst in the second T20 his red-hot knock. over.Dhawan, who survived a dropped at Lucknow’s newly built cricket sta- He is now the second highest scorer in catch on 28, fi nally fell to spinner Fabien Brief scores dium. the world behind New Zealand’s Martin Allen as Nicholas Pooran took a diving India 195 for 2 (Rohit Sharma 111 not out, India then restricted the tourists to Guptill, on 2,271 runs. catch at long leg. Shikhar Dhawan 43) 124-9 and take an unassailable 2-0 lead “Whenever you get an opportunity you Sharma then launched an attack as he West Indies 124 for 9 (Darren Bravo 23, England’s Ben Foakes plays a shot during the first day of the opening in the three-match series. do your best. Everyone who came out to hit eight fours and seven sixes during his K. Paul 20. Kumar 2-12, Bumrah 2-20, Test match between Sri Lanka and England at the Galle International Fast bowlers Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, watch the game will go home with a smile. entertaining blitz in front of a raucous Ahmed 2-30. India won by 71 runs Cricket Stadium in Galle yesterday. Gulf Times Wednesday, November 7, 2018 3 SPORT
FOCUS CYCLING Fancy Bear Meet Japan’s ‘Ninja hacking fallout nearly killed my Boy’, one who aims wife: Wiggins to stun Mayweather 20-year-old has never been beaten, boasting a 27-0 record as a professional kickboxer
AFP Sky medical records. London All this Wiggins says took a huge toll on his family and espe- cially his wife Cath. he fallout and rumours “My kids have suff ered,” Wig- after British cycling gins said in an interview pub- great Bradley Wiggins lished on Monday. medical records were re- “We had to move schools and Tvealed by the Russia-based Fan- then all the stuff broke with cy Bears computer hacking group Lance in 2013 (when Armstrong came close to killing his wife, he fi nally admitted to doping) and told The Guardian. the kids started getting it. Wiggins says he would have “People have free rein to put preferred to be tried for murder their own facts in place. than the trial by media he under- “You watch your family suff er, went when the details hacked by and it’s terrible. Fancy Bears revealed he availed “It nearly killed my wife himself of Therapeutic Use Ex- (Cath). emptions (TUEs). “She ended up in rehab over it. Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa (right) poses during a press conference on Monday in Tokyo to announce his fight with US boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. (AFP) As a result he was allowed to I’m at home having to deal with use triamcinolone, an otherwise it. AFP something of a prodigy in Japa- they dubbed him — had “be- lithe, “gym rat” physique. in traditional Japanese “sento” banned drug, ahead of his major “Because she’s bi-polar she Tokyo nese fi ghting circles and began come one of the most popular “He’s very special, he’s fast, baths. races in 2011, 2012 and 2013, in- has this fear of shame, (of) peo- learning karate at the tender age fi ghters in Japan, and perhaps he’s strong. I’m older now and Despite his tender age, he cluding the 2012 Tour de France ple watching her all the time.” of fi ve. the best combat sports prospect when it comes to experience, I published a biography last year which he won in what was a stel- Wiggins, who also won four apanese kickboxer Ten- Like Mayweather, he has nev- the country has ever seen.” have it on my side. He has youth entitled “Kakusei”, meaning lar year for him as he also won Olympic golds medals in track shin Nasukawa, who aims er been beaten, boasting a 27-0 There are still no details as to on his side and he’s going to “Awakening”. the Olympic time-trial gold in cycling, said he felt he would to make history by de- record as a professional kick- under what rules the fi ght will bring a lot of excitement,” said However, both he and May- London. have enjoyed more rights if he feating boxing superstar boxer with 20 wins by knockout. be held — whether kicks will be the 41-year-old American. weather have reportedly re- TUEs allow athletes to use had committed murder. FloydJ Mayweather Jr, claims He has four wins out of four in allowed, for example — but Nas- Nasukawa now weighs 56.8 ceived some online mockery for otherwise banned drugs to treat “What I should have done is his left-hook is like a “bolt of mixed martial arts. ukawa claimed after the bout kilogrammes and is also giv- the unusual cross-code fi ght. recognised medical conditions. murder someone because then lightning” that will “change the Nasukawa won the world jun- was announced he had “a punch ing four inches away in height According to US sports celeb- The publication of Wiggins’s I’d have had proper rights,” he world”. ior karate championship when that boxers don’t have”. to Mayweather, who won world rity website TMZ Sports, US rap- TUE history was followed by said. The baby-faced southpaw he was a fi fth grader and shifted “I don’t care what the rules titles in fi ve diff erent weight per 50 cent said that Nasukawa a 14-month inquiry by United “There’d have been no arti- with a blond quiff , who is only a to kickboxing a year later, ac- are. I want to be the man who classes. looked like an “Uber driver”. Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) cles, and I’d have had a fair trial. few months out of his teens, was cording to his offi cial website. changes history. I’ll do that with “Our weight class is diff erent, And in a foul-mouthed ti- into whether a package deliv- “I’d have been cleared or found barely known outside his home He made his professional these fi sts, with one punch — but it means nothing to me,” said rade on his Instagram account, ered to Wiggins’s Team Sky at guilty. Not somewhere in the country before the shock an- kickboxing debut at the age of just watch,” said Nasukawa. Nasukawa. Irish mixed martial arts fi ghter the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine middle where you can’t fi nd any nouncement of his New Year’s 16 and became bantamweight According to his offi cial site, Conor McGregor, who lost to — a race he won — contained the evidence of wrongdoing.” Eve fi ght with the unbeaten oriental rules world champion a ‘GYM RAT’ Nasukawa is good with his hands Mayweather in the American’s same drug. Wiggins drew fi re last Friday Mayweather. year later. Even Mayweather acknowl- in other areas than punching, last fi ght in August 2017, said: UKAD, however, closed the from world cycling chief David But the 20-year-old from Promoters RIZIN said that edged that Nasukawa was “an saying he is a fan of knitting and “Who’s this little prick next to case last year without coming to Lappartient for including Arm- Chiba near Tokyo is considered Nasukawa — or “Ninja Boy” as unbelievable talent”, praising his sewing — as well as indulging you.” a conclusion because of missing strong in his latest book “Icons”.
BOXING New York City Marathon beats world record with Wilder hones ‘killer’ instinct for Fury 52,812 runners at fi nish line
AFP the title shot before,” Wilder Los Angeles said. “I’m the type of fi ghter who gives people opportunities and he was the fi ghter I needed eontay Wilder says to face to prove to the world a gruelling training what I’m all about.” camp has honed his Wilder meanwhile said he is “killer” instinct as he confi dent his raw punching power preparesD to put his World Boxing will be able to overwhelm Fury’s Council heavyweight crown on awkward but orthodox style. the line against Britain’s Tyson “Fury has height just like me Fury next month. and he also brings an awkward IANS Desisa (Ethiopia), Mary Keitany Wilder, who is unbeaten in 40 style like myself. He’s rangy, New York (Kenya), Daniel Romanchuk fi ghts with 39 knockouts, faces mobile and he believes he’s the (United States) and Manuela off against the undefeated Fury best in the world,” Wilder said. Schar (Switzerland). at the Staples Center in Los An- “They say that I have the he New York City Mara- The winners of the children’s geles on December 1 in what is power and he has the boxing thon broke the world edition of the race, Nolan set to be an explosive encounter. skills. We’ll see on December 1. Trecord with 52,812 run- Defreitas and Juliette Salazar, The 33-year-old Wilder, who It’s a puncher versus a boxer. I ners reaching the finish line, also participated in the award is eyeing a potential future bout think the puncher is going to box surpassing the previous record ceremony. with IBF, WBA and WBO heav- his lights out, and then I’m going of 51,394 in the 2016 edition. Desisa won the marathon for yweight champion Anthony to knock his lights out.” In a statement issued by the the first time, while Keitany Joshua next year, told reporters Wilder’s trainer Jay Deas re- organising committee on Mon- won for the fourth time. Both in Los Angeles on Monday he vealed that the camp had used day, the organisation thanked of them achieved the second was in prime condition after his smaller but more mobile spar- the New York City Police fastest time in the history of training camp. ring partners to help Wilder pre- Department for their collabora- the open category of men and “I’m feeling wonderful,” pare for the athletic challenge tion, honouring it for “putting women. Wilder said. “My mindset has posed by Fury. into service the world’s largest The report also highlights that, changed, my body has changed, “Fury is a tall fi ghter, but it’s marathon”, with a ceremony at twenty years old, Roman- I feel like a killer. I’m trans- really the athleticism that makes where the professional winners chuk became the first Ameri- formed into a killer.” him what he is,” Deas said. of this year’s race attended, can and youngest athlete to “I feel like I’m at my very best tion. Tyson Fury doesn’t know that contest with a 10th round ride against Ortiz. “We believe we’re better off reports Efe. win in the wheelchair category, right now. Mentally, physically what he’s gotten himself into.” technical knockout after being “Luis Ortiz was the most fi nding more athletic guys who The NYPD received off icial while Schar won the women’s and emotionally I’m ready to go. Wilder’s last outing was a forced to dig deep by the Cu- avoided fi ghter in the heavy- are slightly shorter than Fury, finish line tape from the hands prize in this category for the Everything is perfect. I just want bruising battle with Cuba’s Luis ban. Wilder said Tuesday he had weight division and I under- rather than someone his height of winning athletes Lelisa second year in a row. to get in the ring and show ac- Ortiz in March. Wilder won benefi ted by being given a rough stand why he had never gotten who is a statue.” Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, November 7, 2018 SPORT
MOTORSPORT Asian Communities tournament Impressive entry list for draw held Doha: A total of 10 teams will feature in the 2018 Asian Communities tournament. The hugely popular tourna- ment – organised by Qatar Football Association (QFA) – is now into its seventh year. Manateq Rally of Qatar The details of the 28-match tournament were revealed at a draw ceremony conducted at Al Bidda Tower. Three MERC, MERC 2 and MERC 3 titles were all decided at penultimate round in Kuwait last week The teams were divided into two groups of five. By Sports Reporter The first group includes Doha Japan, the Philippines, de- fending champions Lebanon, Palestine and Bangladesh. he Qatar Motor and Motorcycle The second group includes Federation (QMMF) has an- teams from Jordan, India, nounced that 19 teams (subject Indonesia, Sri Lanka and to FIA approval) have entered Malaysia. Tnext week’s Manateq International Each side will play four Rally of Qatar, the fi nal round of the matches before the top FIA Middle East Rally Championship four sides from each group (MERC). qualify to the quarter-finals. The three MERC, MERC 2 and MERC The tournament will begin 3 titles were all decided at last week- on Thursday, November end’s thrilling penultimate round in 29, and the group stage Kuwait. Many of the teams that took matches will continue until part in that event at the new Kuwait January 18, 2019, which will Motor Town racing facility loaded their be held in five stages. cars and equipment on a ship bound for The quarter-finals will be Doha and they will be joined by a host played on 24-25 January. of other drivers, including several teams There will be a match for the making their MERC debut on the three- third place between the two day Qatar event (November 15-17). losing teams in the semi- While the likes of 14-time regional finals on Friday, with the champion Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah and winners of the same round his Czech rival Vojtech Stajf will clash of the championship in the again in the overall rankings with their final on Friday, February 8. respective Ford Fiesta and Škoda Fa- The matches will be bia R5s, competition in the MERC 2 or played held at the Doha Sta- showroom category will be intense. dium and Al Markhiya Club. Further Qatari entries come from The tournament remains Khaled al-Suwaidi (the former winner hugely popular among the of the Kuwait International Rally), a football loving communities returning Abdullah al-Kuwari and the living in Qatar, thanks to likes of 1993 regional champion Sheikh QFA’s outreach programmes. Hamed bin Eid al-Thani, Mohamed al- The event set to draw huge Meer and Rashid al-Mohannadi. crowds like it did in previous MERC 2 champion Meshari al-Thefi ri years. and Essam al-Nejadi represent Ku- The tournament has been wait. Khaled Juma, Ihab al-Shorafa a major success in all its and Ahmed Shaban are entered under previous versions – the first, the fl ag of the Hashemite Kingdom of second, third, fourth and Jordan and the new MERC 3 champion fifth – where the number of Henry Kahy represents Lebanon with participating teams doubled his Jordanian navigator Musa Djiyerian. after the first edition that The surprise on the list is the impres- saw the participation of 6 sive six-car entry from the Sultanate of teams. Indonesia won the Oman. Abdullah al-Rawahi has been a inaugural edition in 2013. regular in the regional series this year, Qatar's Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (left) and Khaled al-Suwaidi will be in action at next week’s Manateq International Rally of Qatar, the final round of the MERC. The second team saw the but the Top Team Oman Subaru Imp- participation of 12 teams as reza driver will be joined in Qatar by fi ve ther two Subaru Imprezas for Zakariya hard to encourage as many entries as were decided in Kuwait. future strength of the championship.” Jordan emerged champions. other crews. al-Shanfari and Oman-based Shaun we can for the fi nal round of the Mid- “We have a date clash with Rally Aus- The event will start and fi nish at Souq The following years Indone- Three Mitsubishi Lancers are listed McGonigal. dle East Championship and we are very tralia, as we were hoping to encourage Waqif in downtown Doha with the cer- sia, Lebanon and Indian com- for Humaid al-Waili, Jarah al-Tauqi QMMF president Abdulrahman al- pleased with the outcome, especially even more competitors to come to Qatar emonial start planned for 19.00hrs on munities won the event. and Saif Abdullah al-Harthy and a fur- Mannai said: “The team have worked after each of the major three categories from Europe, but it bodes well for the November 15.
SPOTLIGHT RUGBY CRICKET Hundreds register Curry to miss rest of England’s Taimoor excels as for seventh edition November internationals Qatar beat Singapore AFP By Sports Reporter Rezza Gaznavi was the highest of Aspire Torch London Doha scorer for Singapore. He made 41 runs off 75 balls 91x4). The oth- ers to contribute to the total were Staircase Run lanker Tom Curry will miss the re- aimoor's all-round show Siddhant 33 (36b; 1x4, 1x6) and S mainder of England’s autumn series guided Qatar a comfort- Karthik 25 (42 balls; 2x4). By Sports Reporter Aspire Torch Staircase Run 2018. due to an ankle injury sustained in the able fi ve-wicket win over Qatar began their reply in fi ne Doha The event gets bigger and bet- victory against South Africa, coach Ste- Singapore in the fi rst fashion as opener Kamran made ter every year and we’re all very veF Borthwick said yesterday. The Sale Sharks 50-oversT match of their bilateral a fl uent 38 off 27 balls with seven excited to see what this year’s back-rower limped off in the second half of a series at the Asian Town Stadium hits to the boundary. Captain In- egistration places are winning time and what the fi nal tense 12-11 win at Twickenham and after hav- yesterday. Taimoor picked up amul Haq contributed a sedately fi lling up fast for the number of participants will be.” ing the joint scanned, it was confi rmed he will 3-28 off 10 overs and later scored made 37 (57b; 3x4) before Thai- seventh annual As- Almesnad added: “The Aspire miss the Tests against New Zealand, Japan and an unbeaten 49 off 75 balls, stud- moor stepped up things with his pire Torch Staircase Torch Staircase Run off ers some- Australia this month. ded with four fours and a six. whirlwind knock. Taimoor was RunR (ATSR 2018) scheduled to thing for everyone, whether par- “Tom is not available against New Zealand Chasing a target of 178 for a named the man-of-the-match. take place on November 10 from ticipating in the event itself or and has been ruled out of the rest of the series win, Qatar romped home with Lady umpire Shivani Mishra of 1:00pm-6:00pm, at The Torch just coming to cheer on a friend as well,” Borthwick said. “He’s a fantastic young have faced the world champions in four years. fi ve wickets and 11 overs to spare. Doha offi ciated in the match. hotel in Doha’s Aspire Zone. member or family who’s taken up player and we saw that in the game-time he had Centre Manu Tuilagi will take a full part in Singapore, who won the toss and BRIEF SCORES Sponsored by Saleh Al Hamad the 1,300-stair challenge. against South Africa at the weekend. He’s got a training this week after recovering from the mi- opted to bat, were bowled out for Singapore: 177 all out in 39.3 Al Mana Co. Nissan and De Boer, “Aspire Zone Foundation hosts fantastic future ahead of him. I know that with nor groin strain that ruled him out against the 177 in 39.3 overs. Besides Tai- overs (R Gaznavi 41, Siddhant 33, hundreds of sporting events for the 2018 edition of the ATSR his attitude he’ll come back in even better shape Springboks. Forward Courtney Lawes is also moor, Awais Malik and Gayaan Karthik 25; Taimoor 3-28, Malik the local communities in Qatar available having overcome a back problem that will off er sports enthusiasts a than he is now.” claimed two wickets each Malik 2-31, Gayaan 2-38) lost to Qatar fantastic and unique endurance each year but the Torch Staircase England have otherwise been given a clean forced him to miss the same match, while there conceding 31 and 38 runs respec- 180-5 in 39 overs (Thaimoor 49 challenge, with runners having Run is defi nitely one of our most bill of health ahead of Saturday’s visit of New is no concern about the bang to the hip Owen tively. Nadeem and Inamul Haq not out, Inamul Haq 37, Kamran to climb more than 1,300 steps unique and one of the most fun. Zealand to Twickenham — the fi rst time they Farrell took on Saturday. chipped in with a wicket each. 38) by five wickets. to make it to the 51st fl oor of the Good luck to all the participants.” famous 300m tower. This year AZF will allocate Top three who fi nish the race a dedicated area for all family FOCUS in the shortest time will receive members to enjoy the 2018 edi- some great prizes as well as be tion of the event. The ATSR 2018 able to take in the spectacular Fun Zone will comprise of food views of Aspire Zone and Doha. and beverage outlets, taekwondo Team India win QGL Ryder Cup golf tournament Registration for this year’s race and kickboxing shows, fi tness is open for participants eight demonstrations, and toy horse eam India survived some anxious years of age and older and will rides for children. moments before they beat Team feature four categories in diff er- Previous editions of the run World to win the 7th edition of ent age groups. generated unprecedented suc- QGL Ryder Cup golf tournament The fi rst category to compete cess on par with international Torganised by Qatar Golf Lovers at the will be the Junior (8-11 years), tower-running competitions, Doha Golf Club. Team World were lead- followed by the U-15 (12-14 including Empire State Building ing 5-4, but team India pulled it back to years), followed by the U-18 (15- Run-Up in New York, USA, and win next three matches and seal the con- 17 years), and fi nally by the Sen- Berlin Sky Tower in Germany. test 7-5. The event was sponsored by Sal ior (18+ years). Over the past editions, ATSR at- Contracting & Trading Company. In addition, 10 employees from tracted more than 900 partici- Indian ambassador P Kumaran was the Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) pants from both local and expat captain of Team India, while Clark White have teamed up to take part in communities alongside other led the World Team which consisted of ATSR 2018 competition and will tower runners from all over the golfers from Canada, United States, Unit- compete together with corporate world. ed Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, teams from General Directorate In 2015, ATSR was awarded an France and Denmark. 48 golfers played 12 of Civil Defence, Qatargas, Qatar offi cial Grand Prix status as one matches on a two-man scramble format Petroleum, and Qatar Civil Avia- of the top international tower for the 12 points up for grabs. tion Authority. running competitions. Kumaran teaming up with Arnab Jain Alanoud Almesnad, a member Interested community mem- led from the front scoring the ‘best nett Prize winners pose after the 7th edition of QGL Ryder Cup golf tournament organised by Qatar Golf Lovers at the Doha Golf Club. of the tournament’s organising bers can visit www.lifeinaspire. score’ and were declared ‘best Indian committee, said: “I’m thrilled to qa to register and fi nd out more team’ while David Brazeau and Steve Mir for ‘longest drive’ (ladies), Kumaran (longest putt men), Keera Buchanan the Clark White (‘closest to pole in bunker’), say that over 200 participants information about taking part in Harris won the ‘best World team’ prize. (‘longest drive’ men), Andrea Smilsky (‘closest to pin’) and Ann MacKay the Naeem Nanji (‘closest to pin on second have already registered for the the run. The prizes were also awarded to Uzma (‘longest putt’ ladies), Tony Sibley the (’closest to rope’). Other winners were: shot’) and Andreas Bork (‘closest to pole’). Gulf Times Wednesday, November 7, 2018 5 SPORT
NBA RECOGNITION Ohtani among Warriors down rookie fi nalists for MLB awards Reuters are Colorado Rockies third base- New York man Nolan Arenado and Chicago Grizzlies, register Cubs infi elder Javier Baez. The MVP winners will be an- os Angeles Angels two- nounced on Nov. 15. way player Shohei Washington Nationals ace Ohtani is one of three Max Scherzer (300 strikeouts) is fi nalists for American among three right-handed fi nal- LLeague Rookie of the Year hon- ists for the NL Cy Young Award. ours, the Baseball Writers’ As- Scherzer is looking to win for the eighth straight win sociation of America announced third straight season and fourth on Monday. time overall, his fi rst coming in Ohtani batted .285 with 22 the AL with the Detroit Tigers in Toronto maintain grip on Eastern Conference standings with win over Utah homers and 61 RBIs as a hitter 2013. and went 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA in Jacob deGrom (MLB-leading 10 starts. The other two fi nalists 1.70 ERA) of the New York Mets) are both infi elders for the New and Aaron Nola of the Philadel- York Yankees — Miguel Andu- phia Phillies are the other fi nal- jar (.297 average, 27 homers, 92 ists. RBIs) and Gleyber Torres (.271- Tampa Bay Rays left-hander 24-77). Blake Snell led the majors with The National League fi nalists 21 wins and is one of the fi nalists for Rookie of the Year are out- for AL Cy Young honours. Corey fi elder Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Kluber of the Cleveland Indians Atlanta Braves, right-hander — who won for the second time Walker Buehler of the Los Ange- last year — and Houston Astros’ les Dodgers and outfi elder Juan ace Justin Verlander (who won in Soto of the Washington Nation- 2011) are the other fi nalists. als. The Cy Young winner will be The winners for the award unveiled on Nov. 14. named after Jackie Robinson will Alex Cora of the Boston Red be announced on Nov. 12. Sox is one of three fi nalists for Outfi elder Mookie Betts of the the AL Manager of the Year Boston Red Sox is one of the three award. Kevin Cash of the Tampa fi nalists for AL MVP honors. Bay Rays and Bob Melvin of the Betts led the American League Oakland Athletics are the other with a .346 average and had 32 fi nalists. homers and 30 stolen bases. The NL fi nalists are Bud Black Third baseman Jose Ramirez of of the Colorado Rockies, Craig the Cleveland Indians and center Counsell of the Milwaukee fi elder Mike Trout of the Los An- Brewers and Brian Snitker of the geles Angels are the other fi nalists. Atlanta Braves. Batting champion Christian The winning managers will be Yelich (.326) of the Milwaukee announced Tuesday. Brewers is one of three fi nalists All of the award winners will for NL MVP honors. The others be revealed on the MLB Network.
Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson (right) shoots the basketball against Memphis Grizzlies’ Mike Conley during the game in Oakland on Monday. (USA TODAY Sports)
AFP after a move like that,” Irving said. “So I der’s 122-116 victory. Los Angeles RESULTS threw it in the crowd.” The 2017 NBA MVP grimaced in pain after rolling over on his ankle as he landed Miami 120-115 Detroit ‘NO DISRESPECT’ on Pelicans player Anthony Davis’s foot lay Thompson scored 27 points Houston 98-94 Indiana Nuggets head coach Michael Malone de- after going up for a rebound in the third as the Golden State Warriors Orlando 102-100 Cleveland nied Murray had been showing disrespect quarter. stretched their winning streak to the Celtics. Westbrook attempted to get up and Chicago 116-115 New York to eight games with a 117-101 “He’s young, he’s still learning,” hobble off on his own but eventually Kvictory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Oklahoma City 122-116 New Orleans Malone said. needed assistance as he limped straight Monday. Denver 115-107 Boston “You never want to disrespect anyone. to the locker room. The Thunder later Thompson was one of fi ve Warriors I think it wasn’t disrespect; he was trying said Westbrook appeared to have suff ered Toronto 124-111 Utah players in double-digits as the NBA cham- to get to 50 points, which you understand. a sprained left ankle. pions overcame a sluggish start to wrap up a Golden State 117-101 Memphis But our veterans talked to him, and it’s Westbrook has only recently returned comfortable victory at Oracle Arena. LA Clippers 120-109 Minnesota something he’ll learn from.” to action after missing the fi rst two games After an evenly contested fi rst half fi n- The Toronto Raptors maintained their of the season following knee surgery. ished at 58-58, the Warriors produced a grip on the Eastern Conference standings The 29-year-old, who has averaged a breathless burst of scoring in the third on four assists and hauling down fi ve re- with a 115-107 win over the Utah Jazz in triple-double for the past two seasons, had quarter to pull clear. bounds. Salt Lake City. scored 17 points when he left the game, They outscored the Grizzlies by 34 The victory saw Denver improve to Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry was with seven rebounds and nine assists. points to 15 in the third, eff ectively killing 9-1 to keep pace with the Warriors in the the standout performer for the visitors Oklahoma City recovered from the off the game going into the fourth. West. with 17 points, seven rebounds and 11 as- loss of their talisman to secure their fi fth MLB The victory leaves the Warriors on top of Boston’s scoring was led by Kyrie Irving sists. Toronto star Kawhi Leonard did not straight victory and improve to 5-4 for the Western Conference with a 10-1 record. with 31 points while Jaylen Brown and Jay- play after failing to recover fully from a the season. Kevin Durant had 22 points for the son Tatum chipped in with 15 points apiece. foot injury. Paul George scored 23 points and Den- Warriors while Stephen Curry had 19. Irving meanwhile was incensed by The Oklahoma City Thunder mean- nis Schroder weighed in with 22 off the A’s Beane named In Denver, the Nuggets maintained Murray’s late attempt at a three-pointer while notched their fi fth consecutive win bench as the Thunder hung on for the their hot streak with Jamal Murray scor- as the clock ran out in the fourth quar- at home with a victory over the New Or- victory. New Zealander Steven Adams ing 48 points in a 115-107 win over the ter, grabbing the ball and hurling it into leans Pelicans but suff ered an injury scare had 18 points. Executive of the Year Boston Celtics. the stands in disgust at the 21-year-old’s to star Russell Westbrook. The Pelicans fell to 4-6 after the loss, Point guard Murray drained fi ve three- perceived lack of respect. Westbrook needed to be helped off with Julius Randle leading the scorers Reuters pointers in his points haul while laying “The ball deserves to go in the crowd court after spraining ankle in the Thun- with 26 points. New York
NFL ollowing an unexpect- edly strong season for the Oakland Athletics, Billy Beane captured theF inaugural Executive of the Year award handed out by Major Mariota, Titans take down Cowboys League Baseball. The honour was announced at Reuters 9-yard score with 4:38 remain- the general managers meetings New York ing in the fourth quarter. Monday in Carlsbad, California. Dallas turned the ball over Milwaukee Brewers GM David on downs with 1:31 left, and the Stearns and Tampa Bay Rays arcus Mari- Titans ran out the clock, sealing GM Erik Neander tied for second ota passed for two the game with Mariota’s 3-yard in the balloting among the 30 touchdowns and keeper on third-and-1 from the teams, which each received one rushed for another Tennessee 22-yard line. vote. Mto lead the Tennessee Titans to Prescott threw two touch- Beane, the Athletics’ executive a 28-14 victory over the Dallas down passes in the fi rst half, and vice president of baseball opera- Cowboys on Monday night at the score was tied at 14 at the tions, built a team that posted a Arlington, Texas. break. 97-65 record, the fourth-best Brad Pitt in the movie version Mariota completed 21 of 29 The Cowboys struck fi rst mark in the major leagues, de- of Moneyball. Prior to the new passes for 240 yards and tossed four plays after Lawrence strip- spite having the lowest Opening MLB-issued award, Beane was scoring passes to running back sacked Mariota, with linebacker Day payroll of the 30 teams. selected Major League Executive Dion Lewis and tight end Jonnu Sean Lee recovering at the Ten- After coming in last place in of the Year by Baseball America Smith. Lewis had 122 total yards nessee 15. The touchdown came the American League West in in 2002 and 2013, and he was (62 rushing, 60 receiving) and when Prescott tossed a 4-yard 2015, 2016 and 2017, Oakland chosen Executive of the Year by safety Kevin Byard recorded an scoring pass to Cooper — re- earned a playoff berth this year The Sporting News in 1999 and interception as the Titans (4-4) cently acquired from the Oak- but lost 7-2 to the New York Yan- 2012. snapped a three-game losing land Raiders — with 6:12 left in kees in the AL wild-card game. Stearns led the Brewers to streak. the fi rst quarter. Beane’s farm system pro- the best record in the National Dallas quarterback Dak Pres- Tennessee tied the score with duced two Gold Glove-winning League, 96-67, and their fi rst NL cott was 21 of 31 for 243 yards, a 15-play, 80-yard drive that was infi elders, Matt Chapman and Central title in seven years. They two touchdowns and the inter- culminated by Derrick Henry’s Matt Olson. Preseason newcom- reached the playoff s for only the ception. Amari Cooper caught second-eff ort 1-yard run with ers included outfi elders Ramon third time since their lone World fi ve passes for 58 yards and a 9:35 left in the half. The Ti- Laureano and Stephen Piscotty, Series appearance in 1982, losing touchdown in his team debut, tans moved ahead when Lewis and the A’s bolstered their pitch- in the NL Championship Series and fellow receiver Allen Hurns fi elded a screen pass from Mari- ing staff with the in-season ac- to the Los Angeles Dodgers. also caught a scoring pass for the Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (second from right) runs for a fourth quarter touchdown ota and navigated for an 18-yard quisitions of starters Mike Fiers Neander’s Rays went 90-72 Cowboys (3-5). against Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday. (USA TODAY Sports) score to make it 14-7 with 4:11 and Edwin Jackson and relievers and helped popularise the new The Dallas defense repeat- remaining. Jeurys Familia, Fernando Rodney pitching trends of “openers” and edly had issues stopping Ten- to its third defeat in four games. ota put the ball deep into the to Smith, who darted through The Cowboys countered with and Shawn Kelley. “bullpenning,” beginning games nessee, which converted 11 of 14 The Titans took a 21-14 lead grasp of Lewis and pulled it the middle of the field for the a 10-play, 78-yard drive. Pres- Beane is best known as the with a relief pitcher instead of third-down opportunities. The when Mariota hit Smith for a out as Dallas defensive end De- touchdown. cott connected with Hurns for a subject of the book Moneyball utilising the traditional rotation Titans outgained the Cowboys 7-yard scoring pass with 5:44 Marcus Lawrence approached, Tennessee extended the lead 23-yard touchdown to knot the that examined his front-offi ce of starting pitchers expected to 340 yards to 297, sending Dallas left in the third quarter. Mari- and instead shovelled it ahead to 14 when Mariota rushed for a score with 39 seconds left. strategy, and he was played by work deep into games. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, November 7, 2018 SPORT
GYMNASTICS US Olympic moves to disband USA Gymnastics body
To say Simone Biles AFP Los Angeles
he United States Olympic Committee said Monday it had begun moves to disband the Tcountry’s governing body for gymnastics, ac- cusing the sport’s rulers of failing to grapple with the is America’s greatest aftermath of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. USOC chief executive Sarah Hirshland said in a state- ment Olympic chiefs had started formal proceedings to revoke USA Gymnastics’ status as the governing body for the sport in the United States. In an open letter addressed to US gymnasts, Hirshland said USA Gymnastics had failed to “change its culture, to rebuild its leadership, and to eff ectively serve its athlete is an undersell membership”. “You deserve better,” Hirshland told gymnasts in the Olympic star overcame a kidney stone and rare blunders at the Doha 2018 Worlds letter. USA Gymnastics has lurched from one self-inflicted and still won a medal in every event. Her only competition is herself debacle to the next as it has struggled to rebuild in the wake of the Nassar abuse case, the worst scandal in By Bryan Armen Graham US Olympic history. The Guardian Former US team doctor Nassar was jailed for life earlier this year after abusing more than 250 athletes, including several stars of the United States’ gold e observers have long medal-winning teams at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. since exhausted the The beleaguered governing body, which had been well of superlatives accused of covering up Nassar’s crimes, has been when it comes to in a state of perpetual crisis ever since the scandal WSimone Biles. The 4ft 8in, 105lb erupted. sprite from suburban Houston had Last month, newly installed chief executive Mary Bono emerged as a once-in-a-lifetime resigned after just four days following an outcry by talent even before her star-making Olympic stars Simone Biles and Alexandra Raisman. coronation at the Rio Olympics, Bono had taken over from chief executive Kerry Perry, where she fulfi lled her long-held who had resigned after just nine months after criti- promise with four gold medals in cism of her performance by USOC. seven unforgettable days. Turns of Perry’s departure came after the appointment and phrase, margins of victory, records swift resignation of elite coach Mary Lee Tracy — who broken: these languages are had made comments supportive of Nassar in 2016 entirely ill-suited for translating when allegations of abuse against him had begun to her unique physical genius, which, emerge. truly, must be seen to be believed. That Biles is the best athlete in ‘UNFAIR TO GYMNASTS’ America today, which she is, feels USOC had warned it was prepared to take the ultimate like an undersell. sanction of revoking USA Gymnastics’ status as a Take her showing at last week’s governing body unless it put its house in order. world championships, where In January, USA Gymnastics board of directors re- the 21-year-old became the fi rst signed en masse at the behest of USOC. woman to win a fourth all-around In her letter to US gymnasts on Monday, Hirshland world title and the most decorated said Olympic chiefs had given up hoping that USA female gymnast ever. The outcome Gymnastics was capable of reforming itself in the itself was unremarkable: Biles has post-Nassar era. won every major team and individ- Hirshland said USOC had concluded that “the chal- ual all-around competition she’s lenges facing the organization are simply more than it entered since her senior career is capable of overcoming in its current form.” began in 2013, a dumbfounding “We have worked closely with the new USAG board run of consistency that prompted Simone Biles of the US became the first woman to win a over recent months to support them, but despite dili- the sport’s cognoscenti to declare fourth all-around world title in Doha last week. (AFP) gent eff ort, the NGB continues to struggle,” Hirshland her the most talented gymnast in said. history before she’d competed in nation that not even her outstand- and still win, but after a half- Faster, Higher, Stronger. loming through half the England “And that’s not fair to gymnasts around the country. an Olympics. ing performances on the uneven decade of metronomic consistency Biles’ uneven routines in Qatar team at Azteca Stadium. After Even weeks ago, I hoped there was a diff erent way for- What stood out was that Biles, bars and fl oor exercise could fully the theory was fi nally put to the weren’t limited to the all-around, the most trying competitive week ward. But we now believe that is no longer possible.” one could reasonably argue, was erase. test on Thursday – and it passed but there were far more peaks of her life, it off ered the clearest USOC’s complaint seeking to dissolve USA Gymnastics having the worst big competition Yet Biles not only won but won comfortably. She could have fallen than troughs during the week. She callback to her Rio breakout and, in its present form will now go before a review panel of her career – and she still won a by a record margin, outpacing a third time and still taken gold. managed a silver medal in the bars perhaps, a glimmer of what’s to which will convene a hearing on the case. medal in every single event. Japan’s Mai Murakami by 1.693 “Instead of thinking I could win,” after a 14th-place fi nish on the ap- come. The review panel will issue a report and give a recom- What can you say about that? points. Even not at her best, she said Murakami, whose score would paratus in Rio, showing off a dra- The records will only continue mendation which will then go before the USOC board Last week’s championships in was the best. And it wasn’t par- have earned the gold in Biles’ matic improvement in her weakest to topple in the run-up to the 2020 of directors, who will determine whether or not to Doha marked Biles’ first interna- ticularly close. absence last year, “I was thinking: discipline. The overall haul of four Olympics. Biles is now level with formally strip USAG of its governing body status. tional meet since winning the Ol- “It doesn’t show who I am,” a ‘Oh, Biles can fall.’” golds, a silver and a bronze makes Russia’s Svetlana Khorkina as the The move to decertify USA Gymnastics was welcomed ympic all-around championship, disappointed Biles said afterward, Thursday’s result might have her the fi rst American to medal in most decorated female gymnast by Rachael Denhollander, the first gymnast to come the sport’s most coveted title. the gold medal dangling from her been controversial if Biles’ su- every event at a major competi- in world championships history forward with allegations of abuse against Nassar. Maybe it was the rust of a two- neck. “And that’s kind of disap- premacy, her ability to perform tion – team, all-around, vault, with 20 career medals and will “After overseeing the abuse of 100’s of children by year layoff, which included more pointing.” skills no other woman in the bars, beam and fl oor – and the fi rst almost certainly eclipse Vitaly Larry, national coaches and club coaches, it is high than 14 months away from the The American’s two falls might world could even credibly attempt woman of any nationality to do it Scherbo’s all-time mark for either time for this organisation to end and a new one, truly gym and those famous six-hour- have proven fatal under the per- in competition, wasn’t plainly since Romania’s Daniela Silivas at gender (23) at next year’s worlds in dedicated to athlete safety, to begin,” Denhollander a-day, six-day-a-week training fect-10 judging system that gov- evident. The fact is, Biles is so far the 1988 Olympics. Stuttgart. And then Tokyo, where wrote on Twitter. sessions. Or that she’d spent erned the sport until 2006, where ahead of everyone else it’s almost She capped her record-breaking she can become the oldest woman “A COMPLETE regimen change should start now. This the night before the competi- maximum scores were capped and embarrassing. She’s perform- week with a gold in Saturday’s in more than fi ve decades to win is for every survivor.” tion began in an emergency room falls were a mandatory half-point ing elements an entire genera- fl oor exercise fi nal. It’s long the Olympic all-around title and Hirshland meanwhile stressed that US gymnasts with a kidney stone that was too deduction. But the current open- tion of successors will struggle been Biles’ favorite discipline, the fi rst repeat champion since would continue to compete in events as normal, with big to pass, and was left with no ended system includes a diffi culty to approach and it’s hard to recall not simply because it off ers the Vera Caslavska did it for the former the full support and backing of the Olympic commit- alternative but to soldier through score that accounts for more than having seen anything like it before broadest canvas to showcase her Czechoslovakia in 1968. tee. the pain since doping regulations one-third of the fi nal tally – and in any sport. uniquely brilliant physical skills, The greatest champions are de- “In the short-term, we have to work to ensure that precluded her from prescription Biles’ “d-score” for the all-around Where the old system rewarded but because it scarcely feels like fi ned not by winning when they’re USAG gymnasts have the support necessary to excel medication that could have al- was 2.7 points greater than any of competitors for downgrading a discipline at all. (As her former peaking and all the tumblers are on and off the field of play. leviated the discomfort. her competitors (compared to 0.6 their routines, the current rules coach Aimee Boorman told me in aligned in their favor, yet by how “We are building plans to do just that. In the long- Whatever it was, Biles was not higher in Rio). incentivise the sort of boundary- Rio, that’s where “she just plays”.) they persist and problem-solve term, it will be the critically important responsibility of herself in Thursday’s all-around. Falls under the present rules are pushing athleticism that, it must There are few analogues in and pull it from the bag when the recognised Gymnastics NGB, whether the existing She sat down on her vault in the an automatic full-point deduc- be said, elevates gymnastics as a sports for the slack-jawed wonder they’re not at their best. But for organisation or a new one, to lead gymnastics in the opening rotation, marking her fi rst tion, but the start values for Biles’ spectator sport. There’s no room that Biles elicits on the fl oor. To Biles, who remains so far ahead United States and build on the supportive community fall in more than 60 career routines routines give her a cushion that’s for playing it safe. Say what you behold her spacetime-cheating of everyone it’s going to take the of athletes and clubs that can carry the sport forward at worlds or the Olympics. The practically insurmountable. For want about it, but open-ended routine to clinch her fourth gold on sport years to catch up, the stakes for decades to come. shock only redoubled when Biles years the most common refrain scoring encourages competitors to Saturday was like watching Vince of those gut-check moments are “We are prepared to identify and help build such an fell off the beam in the third rota- underpinning Biles’ greatness was push their craft forward, the purest Carter fl outing gravity in the NBA notably subdued. Her only compe- organisation.” tion, prompting a look of conster- that she could fall multiple times distillation of the Olympic spirit: dunk contest or Maradona sla- tition is herself.
NHL Bruins overpower visiting Stars 2-1 in OT
Reuters are 3-1-1 so far on their six-game ington defeated visiting Edmon- two assists, Travis Zajac scored, New York road trip. ton. and Jean-Sebastien Dea had two Washington, which still is assists for the Devils. Keith Kin- FLYERS 5, COYOTES 2 looking for consecutive victories caid stopped 35 of 36 Pittsburgh rad Marchand scored Claude Giroux scored two goals this season, snapped a two-game shots. Jamie Oleksiak scored for a fi ve-on-three power and Sean Couturier had a goal and losing streak. the Penguins. play goal with 31 seconds an assist as Philadelphia fi nished Goalie Pheonix Copley earned remaining in overtime to a four-game road trip without a his second win of the season and CANADIENS 4, ISLANDERS 3 liftB the Boston Bruins to a 2-1 win regulation loss after a victory over the second of his NHL career. Joel Armia scored in the fi fth over the visiting Dallas Stars on Arizona in Glendale, Ariz. The rookie fi nished with 31 saves, round of a shootout as Montreal Monday. Shayne Gostisbehere had a including 11 as he blanked Ed- rallied to beat host New York, The Stars were whistled for goal and an assist and Oskar monton in the third period. which saw its fi ve-game winning two penalties in an 11-second Lindblom scored into an empty streak end. span during overtime, fi rst for net late as the Flyers went 3-0-1 DEVILS 5, PENGUINS 1 Armia scored the lone goal of too many men on the ice and then on a Western trip that began with Brian Boyle had a natural hat the shootout when he ripped a on a crosscheck by Esa Lindell victories in Anaheim and Los trick as New Jersey broke a three- wrist shot over Thomas Greiss to against Marchand, and Boston Angeles and included an over- game losing streak by defeating complete Montreal’s comeback eventually made the play to win. time loss to San Jose on Saturday. host Pittsburgh, which lost its from a 3-1 defi cit. Marchand took a pass from Alex Galchenyuk and Michael fourth straight. Canadiens backup goaltender David Krejci after an assist from Grabner scored for the Coyotes, Boyle, who recently an- Antti Niemi capped a 21-save Torey Klug and beat Dallas goal- who had a fi ve-game winning nounced he was in remission af- performance by making fi ve tender Anton Khudobin low streak broken. ter being treated for leukaemia, shootout saves. Jonathan Drouin, on the glove side for the game- got his fi rst career hat trick on Max Domi and Artturi Lehkonen winner. The victory was the fi rst CAPITALS 4, OILERS 2 Pittsburgh’s Hockey Fights Can- scored in regulation for Mon- in three overtime games for the Devante Smith-Pelly fi nished cer night. He scored the fi nal goal treal, which rallied from a 3-1 Bruins this year. with one goal and one assist, and of the fi rst period and the only defi cit. Casey Cizikas had two Dallas Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin (left) blocks a shot by Boston Bruins’ Brad Marchand (centre) The loss snapped a three-game Jakub Vrana, T.J. Oshie and Alex two of the second. goals for the Islanders, who also during the NHL game in Boston, Massachusetts, on Monday. (USA TODAY Sports) winning streak for the Stars, who Ovechkin added goals as Wash- Will Butcher had a goal and got a goal from Valtteri Filppula. Gulf Times Wednesday, November 7, 2018 7 FOOTBALL
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Pulisic back for US friendlies v England, Italy Los Angeles: Borussia Dort- mund star Christian Pulisic Midfi elder Fernandinho was named in the United States squad to face England and Italy in friendly interna- tionals later this month but there was no place for veteran midfielder Michael Bradley. Pulisic, 20, missed last the glue binding surging month’s friendlies against Colombia and Peru but has been recalled to the squad along with fellow Bundes- liga-based player Weston McKennie for the games on November 15 and 20. Pulisic Man City together has only played 89 minutes of international football in the last 13 months but has enjoyed a good run of form 'Ferna would make any manager the happiest or luckiest in the world' with Dortmund. US interim manager Dave AFP Sarachan has been in charge Manchester of the side for just over a year following the team’s shock failure to qualify for the World mong a dazzling array of mid- Cup finals in Russia. With fi eld options, it is the often Major League Soccer into its unheralded Fernandinho who postseason, Sarachan has Manchester City manager Pep named an expanded training GuardiolaA has relied on most in another squad of 28 players for the stunning start to the season for the Pre- international break. mier League champions. The squad will be whittled The Brazilian will face old club Sha- down to 24 on November khtar Donetsk today as City seek to 11. As well as Pulisic’s recall, make amends from the only blip of their Sarachan’s squad also sees campaign so far, a shock 2-1 defeat to call-ups for Fulham midfielder Lyon in their last Champions League Luca de la Torre and Malmo’s home game. If any reminder was need- Romain Gall. Gall, 23, has ed over Guardiola’s infl uence, he was scored 14 goals in 30 games banned from the touchline that night. during his career in Sweden. Since his return, City have won nine Sarachan said he wanted to and drawn one, a 0-0 stalemate away to use the games to give young- Liverpool, of their last 10 games, scoring er US players the opportunity 29 goals and conceding just two in the of playing in “big games.” process. Although fulsome in his praise “With the availability of of the maturing centre-back pair- some players that we didn’t ing Aymeric Laporte and John Stones, get to see in the last fixture Guardiola’s defensive philosophy is de- window due to injury, the pendent on a team eff ort to keep the ball thinking is this roster gives us as far away from City’s goal as possible. depth with young players that “Always we try to convince our play- still need the experience of ers as far away the ball is from our goal, big games, especially games we are safe. It’s much, much better. The abroad,” Sarachan said. moment the ball is around our box, any- Former captain Bradley had thing can happen,” said Guardiola. “In 10 been omitted in order to give years I was always concerned, always fo- the 31-year-old a break. “After cused, maybe more than any other thing, having earned 142 caps, his in defending well. The only diff erence is need for these games is far we do it far away from our goal.” less important than it would Central to that philosophy is Fern- be for players with less expe- andinho’s ability to not just read the Manchester City’s Danilo (left), Fernandinho (centre) and Bernardo Silva joke around during a training session in Manchester yesterday. (AFP) rience,” Sarachan said. game and quickly regain possession, but “At this stage, it made also use the ball soundly as a spring- more creative talents of David Silva, is very special. He will always be a spe- couldn’t force his way into the current 100-point Premier League campaign sense to give him some extra board to City’s attack. “There is always Leroy Sane, Bernardo Silva and Raheem cial player for me to work alongside.” City juggernaut given his form. last season, as evidenced by a 6-1 an- time off and also allow these a relation. When you attack good, you Sterling have had to live with Guardio- Guardiola knows very well the dual So far City’s failure to land Jorginho, nihilation of Southampton on Sunday. games to be a platform for defend well. When you defend well la’s rotation policy. demands of Fernandinho’s role having who instead choose to follow Maurizio It is the Champions League that re- players that lack that kind of and are solid, you attack better,” added “Ferna would make any manager the won the European Cup in his days as a Sarri in the move from Napoli to Chel- mains the holy grail for City’s owners, experience.” The USA face Guardiola. Despite turning 33 earlier happiest or luckiest in the world,” said player in the same position for Barce- sea in July, to share the burden as the though, and despite the Lyon stumble, England on November 15 this year, Fernandinho has started all Guardiola ahead of City’s 3-0 win in lona. Fernandinho received arguably the midfi eld anchor hasn’t proved costly. another win against Shakhtar will put before playing Italy in Genk, of City’s 14 Premier and Champions the Ukraine against Shakhtar two weeks highest praise from his manager when Instead, Guardiola’s men show no sign them well on course to make the last 16 Belgium five days later. League matches this season, while the ago. “He is a joy to have as a player — he he claimed even Guardiola the player of a slip in standards from their record for a sixth straight season.
PREMIER LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT Huddersfi eld beat Fulham for fi rst victory Hoff enheim hope to AFP keep Lyon guessing Huddersfield Huddersfield Town’s coach David Wagner (second left) celebrates with players after in make-or-break tie imothy Fosu-Mensah’s fi rst- win over Fulham. (AFP) half own goal gave Huddersfi eld AFP Joelinton rescued a point in add- a 1-0 home win against Fulham Berlin ed time with the equaliser. and their fi rst Premier League The 22-year-old Brazilian, Tvictory of the season on Monday night. who has scored four goals in as Fosu-Mensah headed into his own net, off enheim expect “a many games, also scored twice under pressure from Town’s Christo- cauldron” atmosphere in the romp at Leverkusen and pher Schindler as Huddersfi eld halted at Lyon today in their Nagelsmann insists their away an eight-game home run without a top- make-or-break Cham- performance on Saturday would fl ight goal and moved above Fulham and pionsH League tie with head coach have kept Lyon guessing. Cardiff at the foot of the table. Julian Nagelsmann hoping to “They will certainly have The Terriers’ winless league run keep the French side guessing. looked at the game at Leverkusen stretched back to April — 14 league games Hoff enheim must win in — and still do not know exactly in total — but manager David Wagner was France to draw level on fi ve points how we play,” said Nagelsmann. able to celebrate on the night of his third with Lyon, who can qualify for “That was very important for anniversary in charge with a morale- the last 16 with a victory, and en- the self-confi dence — the guys boosting victory. joyed a confi dence-boosting 4-1 realised that we can be success- Fulham’s fi fth successive league de- thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen ful in diff erent ways. We are able feat did little to ease the pressure on boss away in the Bundesliga on Sat- to defend high up — but we can Slavisa Jokanovic, whose side’s own run urday. “ also counter and defend more without a league win was extended to In Lyon, we have to bring the deeply,” he added. eight matches. “I don’t care who scored same passion to the pitch as in it or how we performed,” said Wagner. Philip Billing’s 30-yard thunderbolt It was the 29th goal conceded this sea- Donald had been forced out of the action Leverkusen — then we can get a “People know we can perform better. The struck the crossbar in the 15th minute. son by Fulham, who did not manage a sin- due to a knock but Fulham began to make victory. It’s going to be a caul- pressure was on for both teams but how Steve Mounie headed Aaron Mooy’s cross gle eff ort on target before the break, such a fi st of it. dron, so we have to fi ght as a we fought — we left everything on the tamely over soon after and Alex Pritch- was Huddersfi eld’s whirlwind fi rst-half Schindler blocked Aleksandar Mitro- unit,” said Hoff enheim goalkeep- grass. It was deserved. First half we were ard’s brilliant eff ort from outside the performance. Fulham boss Jokanovic sent vic’s shot and Andre Schuerrle’s eff ort was er Oliver Baumann. clear and second half we were able to keep area was expertly clawed away by Fulham on Kevin McDonald and Cyrus Christie ruled out for an off side decision against Hoff enheim’s England Un- them away from our goal. goalkeeper Sergio Rico. for Luciano Vietto and Fosu-Mensah at the former in the 74th minute. Schuerrle der-21 winger Reiss Nelson, 18, “This is huge for us. We have the win- But Huddersfi eld’s agonising wait for a the interval and the Londoners began the shot off target again, while Town substi- was just as adamant before the ning feeling back. For sure it is one of the goal at home was fi nally over in the 29th second half with more intent. tute Isaac Mbenza also spurned two half team’s short fl ight to France yes- most important wins we’ve had in the last minute, making it 659 minutes in total. Christie’s cut-back was cleared behind chances when sent through on goal in the terday. “If we play like we did at three years. Everybody needed this belief Chris Lowe crossed deep from the left by Hogg and Mooy headed away the cor- closing stages. Town were not to be de- Leverkusen, we can win,” insist- back. It’s massive for us.” and German centre-half Schindler saw ner. The Terriers continued to harry and nied however — and the fi rst top-fl ight ed Nelson, who has scored fi ve Huddersfi eld almost halted their bar- his header defl ect into the net off Fosu- chase and Pritchard fi red narrowly off meeting between the two sides since 1952 goals in six league games since ren spell in spectacular fashion when Mensah. target in the 68th minute. Substitute Mc- ended in their favour. joining on loan from Arsenal and has been outstanding in recent weeks. FOCUS Nagelsmann’s Hoff enheim know they will be unable to fi n- ish in the top two if they lose at the Groupama Stadium and Leicester rename foundation in honour of late owner Manchester City win at home to Shakhtar Donetsk in the other AFP nounced yesterday. On top of the millions copter crashed in the car park of Leices- dren’s Intensive Care Unit,” Leicester said Group F tie. London he poured into funding the club’s rise ter’s King Power Stadium on October 27, in a statement. While the French are unbeaten from English football’s second tier to sur- shortly after attending a 1-1 draw with “Under its new name, The Vichai Sri- in Group F, Nagelsmann’s team prise Premier League winners in 2015/16, West Ham. vaddhanaprabha Foundation will con- are still chasing their fi rst win, eicester City’s Foxes Foundation Vichai also donated generously to the lo- “Since its formation in 2011/12, the tinue to build on that life-changing work but the Germans outplayed Bru- will be renamed The Vichai Sri- cal community of Leicester since buying Foundation has raised almost £2mn for in a way that refl ects the generosity, care no Genesio’s side for long peri- vaddhanaprabha Foundation in the club in 2010. local charities, helping fund a renovation and love of a man who made over £4mn ods when the teams drew 3-3 in honour of the club’s Thai chair- The Thai businessman, who started of Leicester Royal Infi rmary’s Children’s in personal donations to the city’s uni- Sinsheim a fortnight ago. Hoff enheim coach Julian Lman, who tragically died in a helicop- duty free King Power stores, was killed Outpatient Ward and life-saving equip- versities, hospitals and charities in recent Despite the Ligue 1 club lead- Nagelsmann during training ter crash, the Premier League side an- along with four others when his heli- ment desperately needed by the Chil- years.” ing twice, Hoff enheim substitute yesterday. (Reuters)
Wednesday, November 7, 2018 GULF TIMES FOOTBALL
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Bale under scrutiny as Madrid feel the love for Vinicius In his last nine matches, Bale has been substituted seven times, five of those when his team were chasing a goal
AFP and trailing Barcelona and Alaves — the Madrid reasoning was less obvious. Those calling for Vinicius to take Bale’s spot perhaps overlook the Bale es fantastico”, Real Welshman’s 24 goals in 41 appearanc- Madrid´s interim coach Santia- es last season. Two of them won Real go Solari said, but still took him Madrid the Champions League fi nal in “off in the 71st minute against May. Vinicius, signed from Flamengo Real Valladolid on Saturday. Madrid for 45mn euros in the summer, is a pre- were drifting towards a 0-0 draw at cocious talent but he has fewer appear- their Santiago Bernabeu home and, ances for Real in his career than Bale searching for inspiration, it was Bale’s has goals since August. number 11 that came up. “Footballers cannot fi ght against He departed to whistles from the what goes on around them,” Solari said. fans even if Solari, perhaps deliberately, “The media, the fans, they are excited spared him being being replaced di- about Vinicius and that is fantastic, but rectly by Vinicius Junior. Nevertheless, his virtues are as evident as his weak- the 18-year-old came on two minutes nesses and his age. He has had almost later and made the diff erence, his shot no time to mature.” defl ecting in to give Madrid the lead. If Solari believes the excitement “Another day, Gareth will score,” Solari around the teenager is worth harness- said. “And everyone will celebrate.” ing, perhaps the Brazilian could slot into But those quickest to criticise Bale a front three alongside Bale, rather than are circling again ahead of the trip instead of him. Benzema’s early form to Viktoria Plzen in the Champions has also dipped but he plays the role of League today. Support for Vinicius has an attacking pivot as well as anyone. been intense and Bale is seen as the one Marco Asensio, who started against standing in the way. “Vinicius puts Bale Valladolid, has been quiet while Isco in trouble,” read the frontpage of AS is still regaining fi tness after appendix on Monday. One week into his still- surgery. Finding the right combination, temporary tenure at Real, Solari is con- and extracting more from Bale, is likely fronting the familiar problem of how to to be top of Solari’s priorities. get the best out of Bale, now the team’s Discounting the Copa del Rey win most potent threat. over Melilla, who play in Spain’s third This season, free of both injury and tier, four of Madrid’s last fi ve goals have Cristiano Ronaldo, he started well, come from their left-back, central de- posting four goals and two assists from fender and an own-goal. “It’s a very bad his fi rst six games. But an adductor patch we’ve gone through,” said Sergio problem last month, combined with Ramos on Saturday. the team’s crash under Julen Lopetegui, Club president Florentino Perez disrupted his rhythm. He has returned could yet be tempted into the transfer but is still not fully fi t. His perform- market in January, particularly after ances have lacked edge. UEFA abolished their rule on players Still, the number of times Bale has being cup-tied in European competi- been substituted has been a surprise, tions. Harry Kane, Robert Lewand- not least because his withdrawals have owski or Eden Hazard are no longer re- often come in the moments when Ma- stricted like before. drid should need him most. In his last But for Solari, the time is now. Beat nine matches, Bale has been taken off Plzen today and even a draw away to seven times, fi ve of those when his team Celta Vigo this weekend might earn were chasing a goal. him the job until the end of the sea- Once, with the game at 0-0 against son. A lack of alternatives means Perez Atletico Madrid, he was replaced due would do well to look again in the sum- he will need goals, and Bale. All Times in GMT v Hoff enheim (2000); Manchester City v Manchester United (2000); Bayern to injury. The other four — while level mer, as long as Solari can keep them CSKA Moskva vs Roma (1755); Valencia v v Shakhtar Donetsk (2000) Viktoria München v AEK Athens (2000); Benfica with Athletic Bilbao and Valladolid, ticking over in the meantime. To do it, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES Young Boys (1755); Olympique Lyonnais Plzeň v Real Madrid (2000); Juventus v Ajax (/2000)
SPOTLIGHT FOOTBALL Sanchez gives Manchester Bayern boss Kovac focused on AEK amidst off -fi eld pressure
AFP Saturday saw his misfi ring side draw 1-1 at home United options at Juventus Munich to Freiburg to sit third in the Bundesliga table — four points behind leaders Dortmund. AFP His attack are simply not fi nishing their chanc- London nder-fi re Niko Kovac insists he is shut- es while the defence is leaking goals. On Monday, ting out this weekend’s crunch Bundes- German magazine Kicker claimed Kovac has lost liga showdown to focus on steering Bay- the support of stars Mats Hummels, Thomas Mu- lexis Sanchez has en- ern Munich to the verge of a Champions eller, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, but mid- dured a torrid start to League’sU last 16 spot by beating AEK today. fi elder Joshua Kimmich insisted the players are his Manchester United Bayern’s head coach kept cool when bluntly still behind Kovac. career but hinted at asked if this could be his last week in charge as “Absolutely! The coach can not help it, if we betterA things to come with an im- defeat at Dortmund on Saturday could leave de- got into a spot of bother against Freiburg,” said pressive display in a central role fending champions Bayern seven points behind the Germany defender. “The statistic that the ahead of the Champions League in the Bundesliga. “That is a hard question. Dort- last eight shots (on Bayern’s goal) went in shows match against Juventus. mund is on Saturday and perhaps we should talk we haven’t had much luck. That is not anything The injured Romelu Lukaku about the games against (AEK) Athens,” said Ko- against (Bayern goalkeeper) Manuel Neuer. It’s missed the 2-1 win at Bourne- vac in yesterday’s press conference in Munich. about how we defend and how we use our goal mouth on Saturday and Marcus “If we win, we have 10 points and we could be chances, we have to be more aware. At the end of Rashford started on the bench as through. Sure, the game on Saturday is impor- the day, it’s us on the pitch — not the coach.” Jose Mourinho opted for a three- tant, but for me only tomorrow’s match (against Despite winning 2-0 at AEK two weeks ago, man forward line, with Anthony AEK) is important. I hope the way we play will when Javi Martinez and Robert Lewandowski Martial and Juan Mata deployed also be good and that we will win convincingly.” scored the goals, Kovac expects a hard test against either side of Sanchez. Bayern can reach the knockout stages with two the Greek champions. “It was a hotly contested The former Arsenal man was games to spare if they beat Greek champions AEK game in Athens, we could have scored one or two instrumental in United’s fi rst- at Munich’s Allianz Arena and Benfi ca lose at Ajax in the fi rst half and it was decided late on, so I am half equaliser, setting up Martial, in the other Group E match. Bayern will be with- expecting a tough game tomorrow,” said Kovac. and will be disappointed to have out winger Arjen Robben, who has a knee injury, He desperately needs a big win to boost confi - been substituted towards the end and playmaker Thiago Alcantara, who has torn dence in Bayern’s ranks. “You can not always jus- of the game. The match, won by ankle ligaments, while they are waiting on the fi t- tify everything, the fun and the joy are there, but substitute Rashford in injury ness of attacking midfi elder James Rodriguez. we need another game, which we win by three or time, was a rare high point for However, off the fi eld Kovac is under pressure four goals, and the tension will release,” said Ko- the Chile international, who has on all sides. Another lacklustre performance on vac. struggled to fi nd his feet since arriving at Old Traff ord in Janu- ary — it was his fi rst league start since September 22. Following the much-needed win against Bournemouth, Mourinho praised Sanchez and spelt out his pre- ferred system, saying he did not Manchester United’s David de Gea and Alexis Sanchez during a training session yesterday. (Reuters) need a traditional centre-for- ward to lead his attack. a good assist, he had some mo- kaku out of the starting line-up starting line-up, even though he “The way I like to play is with bility, he created some problems will be tricky, with the manager said it is not clear what his best three attacking players where but then in the second half I knew proving loyal to his muscular position is yet. “You look at Lu- there is not a clear defi nition of that by having the two broth- front man. The Belgium interna- kaku. His goalscoring record is the winger as a winger,” he said, ers on the bench, Rashford and tional, who has not found the net up there, it’s fantastic, he scores adding that he likes wide men (Jesse) Lingard, I knew that the for the club since mid-Septem- goals,” added the TV pundit. with a striker’s appetite. brothers could come in and also ber, is not the only United for- “But in the best teams you “And I always had that in my make an impact.” ward who has gone off the boil, need more than that. You need to team, with the wingers scoring United now travel to Juventus with Rashford also struggling be able to bring other people into a lot of goals, sometimes even for another date with former fa- despite his goal at the weekend. play, you need to be able to com- more goals than the striker,” he vourite son Cristiano Ronaldo, Martial’s goals have been pa- plement other players in your said. “So it’s not impossible at two weeks after they were out- pering over the cracks during team, things have to be set up off all to have in the same team at played during a 1-0 defeat at Old United’s recent mini-recovery, you. At the moment, I see in a the same time Rashford, Lukaku, Traff ord that left them fi ve points with the Frenchman earning the Man Utd shirt that some things Alexis for example. But today adrift of the Italian champions manager’s trust at last. break down in Lukaku. And that Romelu was not available and in Group H. Despite Mourinho’s Former United defender Rio aff ects other players in the team, we thought that Alexis could do stated preference for a multi- Ferdinand believes Rashford like (Paul) Pogba and Lingard, what he did. What he did, he had dimensional attack, keeping Lu- should be given a run in the who want to play off people.” Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac (third right) watches as players train. (Reuters)