SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

Disqualified French steeplechaser denies acting arrogantly

ZURICH: Mahiedine Mekhissi- There was no arrogance towards my ceptable”, but criticised the way the Barcelona in 2010 and in in Benabbad, stripped of his European fellow-runners or the crowd.” matter was handled. 2012. He was also given a suspended Championship gold medal in the The two-time World Championship “The action was unacceptable, you sentence by the French federation, 3,000m steeplechase for whipping off bronze medallist initially received a yel- don’t take off your vest during a race, it fined 1,500 euros and ordered to per- his vest before the end of the race, yes- low card warning but a protest lodged isn’t done,” he said. form 50 hours of community service terday denied he acted arrogantly. by the Spanish team was upheld, “At the same time, he took off his after getting into a fist fight with fellow Mekhissi-Benabbad, 29, who was on prompting an unsuccessful counter- vest and it didn’t hurt anyone. He’s Frenchman Mehdi Baala after a course for his third successive protest by the French. impulsive. But it should have stopped 1,500m race in European title before his disqualifica- Yoann Kowal, Mekhissi-Benabbad’s there. Unfortunately, the Spanish in 2011. tion, also dismissed criticism that his French team-mate, was upgraded from lodged a protest. I would never have Mekhissi-Benabbad was back on the action showed disrespect to his fellow- silver to gold, with Krystian Zalewski of lodged a protest, the Spanish acted track in Zurich yesterday, qualifying for competitors. Poland promoted to second and badly.” Sunday’s final of the 1,500m after fin- “There was no arrogance,” the Spain’s Angel Mullera to third. Mekhissi-Benabbad has a reputation ishing third in his heat, and, ironically, Frenchman wrote on his Facebook French athletics federation presi- as the bad boy of track and field, hav- Baala, now an advisor to the French page. “Sorry, I was only thinking of cele- dent Bernard Amsalem, described ing pushed mascots after winning the team, was among the first to congratu- brating my victory like a footballer. Mekhissi-Benabbad’s action as “unac- European steeplechase final in late him at the end of the race. —AFP Australia’s cool captain eyes mission almost impossible : The Wallabies will suffer setbacks against New Zealand in today’s Rugby Championship clash and how they react to those reverses will determine whether they can upset the All Blacks, cap- tain Michael Hooper said yesterday. Hooper and his team mates face what has proved mission impossible for any international rug- by team over the last 14 months when they try to bring a halt to the world champions’ winning streak at 17 matches at the Olympic Stadium. Despite New Zealand coach ’s assertion to the contrary, the Wallabies have not been talking up their chances of preventing the All Blacks from claiming a record 18th win and Hooper’s measured comments reflected that sense of realism. “This game tomorrow night is going to be about adapting to the situations that occur,” he told reporters. “The Kiwis are going to throw some great stuff at us, we’ve got to be able to absorb that, then put what we’re good at out on the field, and counter it. “We know we’re going to turn over the ball, we know these things are going to happen, but being able to get back at them, get back on the horse so to speak, is going to be paramount.” New Zealand are unbeaten in their last seven matches against Australia, have not lost in Sydney since 2008 and have held the Bledisloe Cup the two countries compete for annually since 2003. When Australia point to fullback Israel Folau’s 13 tries in his first PITTSFORD: Lexi Thompson tees-off on the 10th hole during the LPGA Championship at the Monroe Golf 18 tests, New Zealand can counter with winger ’s 23 in Club, Thursday in Pittsford, NY. —AP 22 matches. Hooper has been in brilliant form this year as he led New South Wales Waratahs to the title but his oppo- site number on Saturday will be Richie McCaw, three-times World Player of the Year and long the benchmark for openside flankers. “Superb team, I’ve never beaten them,” said Hooper. “I drew Duo share LPGA once and that was a little taste but you want to be able to know that you can take on these guys and try and match up with them.” If the prospect of battling such monumental odds for the first time as captain was bothering Hooper, the 22-year-old was certainly not showing it. —Reuters first-round lead Lee seeking her first major

PITTSFORD: Lexi Thompson, gunning for her “Overall it was just a really solid round,” You’re going to hit bad shots and miss putts, second major title of the year, shared the first- Thompson said. “I started off with birdieing so I just tried not to let it get to me and just round lead Thursday with Meena Lee on six- two and three, so that got me a little confi- tried to birdie one of the last two. under 66 in the LPGA Championship. dence early in the round, and I just tried to “It was the harder one of the holes, so I was Thompson, 19, won the Kraft Nabisco keep that going, pretty much keep that steady pretty happy about that.” Championship earlier this year for her first pace going.” South Korea’s Lee also nabbed eight major championship title. Thompson, who played alongside defend- birdies with two bogeys. After opening her South Korea’s Lee is a two-time winner on ing champion Park In-Bee (72), said her length round with a birdie at the 10th, Lee answered the LPGA Tour, but is seeking her first major. off the tee was an advantage. her first bogey of the day at 13 with three The duo were one stroke in front of American straight birdies. She picked up four more Brittany Lincicome, the 2009 Kraft Nabisco Three-putt bogeys birdies with one more bogey coming in. “It winner, who was joined in third place on 67 by “Coming into the week I knew this golf was little windy out there this morning, but I Canadian Jennifer Kirby and Colombian Lisa course was going to be set up good for me,” putted really good today,” Lee said. “So I was SYDNEY: New Zealand flyhalf Colin Slade kicks the McCloskey. American Cristie Kerr and China’s she said. “I get to hit driver on every hole, but really happy with my play.” ball during the team’s Captain’s Run yesterday. Feng Shanshan, both former winners of this you just have to hit it straight in majors South Korea’s Ji Eun-Hee and Lee Mi-Rim- World champions New Zealand are chasing a record- event, shared sixth on 68. because usually they grow the rough up pret- winner on Sunday in Michigan-were among a breaking 18th consecutive win while Australia Thompson charged into contention with ty deep, and that’s what majors call for.” group of eight players three shots off the pace three birdies in her first five holes. She had She was philosophical about three-putt on 69. New Zealand teenager Lydia Ko, who wants to end their Bledisloe Cup misery in the seven birdies through 15 holes before she was bogeys at 15 and 16. “I just didn’t have good could seize the world number one ranking Rugby Championship Test match in slowed by back-to-back bogeys at 15 and 16, speed on the two putts and didn’t make the with her first major title this week, headlined a Sydney today. — AFP but capped her round with a birdie at 18. come-backers,” she said. “It happens, it’s golf. group of 13 players on 70. —AFP