WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2017 SPORTS

Martin Fourcade slams Costa praises Conte Napoli sign striker Russian ‘masquerade’ for Chelsea turnaround Pavoletti from Genoa

LONDON: Chelsea striker Diego Costa has credited manag- NAPOLI: Napoli have completed the signing of PARIS: ’s double Olympic champion has dubbed as a er Antonio Conte for the side’s record-equalling run of 13 striker Leonardo Pavoletti from Genoa, the “masquerade” the response by and the International federation consecutive victories that has propelled them to the top of Serie A club has said. No financial details of (IBU)to the McLaren report revelations on doping involving the Premier League table. Chelsea, who finished 10th in the the transfer were released but local media Russian biathletes. Russia has withdrawn from holding league last season, are five points clear at the top and Costa reports said Napoli paid 18 million euros a biathlon event in Tyumen in March, believes the change in the fortunes of the club is down to ($18.75 million) to sign Pavoletti from while the IBU has suspended two of the 31 Russian the Italian manager’s close relationship with the squad. “The Genoa. The 28-year-old Italian, who joined biathletes detailed in the report and launched an manager has come, he’s applied his ideas, and things are Genoa in 2015, initially on loan from investigation to shed further light on the 29 others going well,” the 28-year-old striker told the British media. Sassuolo before making his transfer perma- listed. “Cancelling the World Cup in Tyumen is a mas- “The truth is the manager is good with the players, every nent, has scored three goals in nine appear- querade of the fight against doping,” Fourcade said. time making more jokes with the players. “That’s good for us, ances in Serie A this season. Napoli will hope Before the IBU and Russian decisions, Fourcade had to have a manager who is not just a boss, but like a person Pavoletti will help fill the void left by the raised the possibility of a boycott of World Cup races we can talk with, someone whose support we can count on absence of striker Arkadiusz Milik, who sus- in the event of any clemency shown to Russia. The in difficult moments.” Costa, who is the league’s top scorer tained a cruciate ligament injury after just Frenchman warned yesterday, however, that he with 14 goals this season, said he was close to leaving the seven games this campaign. Napoli, third would not become a martyr for the cause, saying a London club for Atletico Madrid before the start of the sea- in the standings, are seven points meeting with other biathletes was scheduled for the son. “I had the possibility to go to Atletico because of a few behind league leaders and reigning sidelines of the World Cup event in Oberhof, things - the family, the life I have there - but not because of champions Juventus, host 13th-placed , from Thursday.—AFP Chelsea,” he said. — Reuters Sampdoria on Saturday. — Reuters

NAZARE: Brazilian big wave surfer Marcelo Luna rides a wave off Prada do Norte in Nazare on December 17, 2016. Saved by surfing when he was a drug addicted teenager from the suburbs of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Marcelo Luna crossed the Atlantic in his thirties to meet another major challenge: To tame the giant waves of Nazare. — AFP

NAZARE: Brazilian big wave surfer Marcelo Luna (R) holds onto the slege NAZARE: Marcelo Luna signs a surf board about to be hung on a wall of the NAZARE: Big wave surfers Brazilian Marcelo Luna (L) and Chilean Rafael towed by a jetski during a surf session off Prada do Norte in Nazare. — AFP Sao Miguel Arcanjo Fort in Nazare. The wall honors the big wave surfers Tapia get ready for a surf session off Prada do Norte in Nazare. — AFP daring to challenge the waves off Praia do Norte. — AFP Marcelo Luna - from troubled youth to giant waves

NAZARE: Marcelo Luna has travelled a long house tattooed on his forearm. around lying on a surfboard. Luna couldn’t (American Garrett McNamara at Praia do Norte “It’s very important for these youngsters to way from his drug-riddled teenage years in “I’ve chosen to launch my career in Nazare even swim. in November 2011 at a staggering 23.77m). hear his story,” said maths teacher Nelia Brazil, unable to swim, to carve out a career because a surfer capable of facing up to the “I thought I was going to die, but on that But Luna also wants to “become a surfer Mendes. “Meeting someone who has never surfing some of the biggest waves in the sea here can do it no matter where in the day I decided that surfing would be part of my renowned for being able to influence peoples’ given up on his dreams despite all his prob- world. The call of the ocean helped save Luna world,” said the 32-year-old, who sold his real- life. It’s surfing which freed me from drugs, lives in a positive way”. lems opens up new horizons for them.” from drugs in the tough working-class Sao estate business and car to finance himself in which changed my way of seeing things and Marked by his troubled childhood, Luna Several Nazare locals have reacted to the Paulo neighbourhood where he grew up and the absence of a sponsor. interacting with others.” has launched a drugs and delinquency pre- Brazilian’s atypical background by taking him he now rides the monstrous waves at Praia do Luna’s childhood was a tough one and he vention project for children and teenagers to in during the season and guiding him by radio Norte in the Portuguese coastal town of grew up without his father, a violent alcoholic EXTREME whom he tells his story, presented as an exam- from the clifftops when the huge waves hit. Nazare. “When I saw pictures of these waves for who abandoned the family. “I struggled to Taking on waves 15 metres high in Nazare ple of “tenacity in the face of adversity”. Nazare mayor Walter Chicharro typified the the first time I discovered my reason for being, manage all that,” Luna said. “Then I rebelled from his second season, “Marcelinho” found Standing in front of three classes of a high way that people in the area have embraced as if I’d just met the love of my life,” Luna said. and I started drinking and smoking at the age his place at the heart of a community of school in Nazare, Luna lists the different jobs Luna: “Marcelo is a great little man because he Three years after that awakening, the of nine. By the time I was 11 I’d started taking extreme surfers who come together in he’s done to “make up for lost time” and ulti- has not only the courage to attack these enor- slightly built Luna has embraced Nazare-and it drugs.” His descent into troubled times took a Portugal in autumn and winter every year. mately be able to devote his time entirely to mous waves, but also to tell his story to bring him-going as far as having a picture of a huge significant upswing when he was 16 and a Like the others, he dreams of beating the surfing, which demands hardcore training and something to the community that welcomes wave breaking at the foot of the local light- friend took him to the beach, pushing him world record for the highest wave ever surfed costly equipment. him.” —AFP Wiggins signs Pertamina drops sponsorship up for ski jump for F1 driver Rio Haryanto JAKARTA: Indonesian driver Rio Haryanto ing uncertainty about that team’s future TV show has suffered a major setback in his bid to ownership. Swiss-based Sauber, who like return to Formula One this season after Manor expect their drivers to bring finan- LONDON: Newly retired Olympic cycling champion state-owned energy company Pertamina cial backing, are expected to sign German Bradley Wiggins will swap the velodrome for the ski announced it was ending its sponsorship. driver Pascal Wehrlein, who is backed by jump ramp in British television show The Jump, the “This year there will not be a continua- Mercedes, alongside ’s Marcus programme makers announced yesterday. Wiggins, tion of participation by Pertamina in F1,” Ericsson. “Obviously, we were hoping to 36, follows in the footsteps of fellow British sporting spokeswoman Wianda Pusponegoro said in move into a team like Sauber - that was the greats Steve Redgrave (rowing), Beth Tweddle (gym- a statement yesterday, noting that plan but things are going to slow down a nastics) and Rebecca Adlington (swimming), all of Pertamina could not meet a sponsorship little bit,” said Hunnisett. whom pulled out of the show through injury. But the deadline. “Of course we regret this very Haryanto started 12 races for Manor in five-time Olympic champion, who became Britain’s much, but we have already made maximal 2016, alongside Wehrlein, before being first Tour de France champion in 2012, is a seasoned efforts for Rio and Indonesia,” she said. replaced by French rookie Esteban Ocon skier and says he is looking forward to the challenge of Haryanto, the first Indonesian to race in after the German Grand Prix in July. learning how to ski jump. Formula One and only Asian driver on the Ocon has since moved on to Force India. “Skiing is a big passion of mine. It was a mix of that grid last season, said in a text message that Pertamina have been Haryanto’s con- and the other committed names this year that made he had “not yet confirmed” his position and stant backers in the costly sport, and me want to sign up,” Wiggins said in a press release. hoped to reach a decision as soon as possi- Hunnisett said last month that while he “Major retiring Olympians such as Sir Steve ble. “We are still working on a plan to keep was looking for other non-government Redgrave have also trod this path. I see this as a sport- Rio in Formula One,” Haryanto’s manager, backers he was confident that Pertamina ing challenge and want to go out there and win it. Piers Hunnisett, told Reuters. “People in the would continue to sponsor Haryanto. Just don’t call me a celebrity.” Formula One world felt he did a good job The oil and gas company’s chief execu- Other participants in the programme include for- and he deserves to be there,” Hunnisett tive Dwi Soetjipto told a news confer- mer England footballer Robbie Fowler, ex-England rug- said, adding that it would be a “great ence last February that they were con- by captain Jason Robinson and Olympic gymnast shame” if Haryanto missed out on a seat in tributing five million euros ($5.6 million) Louis Smith. — AFP 2017. The only likely vacancies still open to help secure Haryanto’s 2016 seat at Rio Haryanto are the two Manor seats and there is linger- Manor. —Reuters