MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016 SPORTS

Venerable Istanbul football side with opposition streak

ISTANBUL: Besiktas football club of claimed the bombings. “Terrorists... gurated the brand new waterfront stadi- became football but like most Turkish this was due to fears Erdogan could be Istanbul, is one of Turkey’s oldest sports attacked our heroic security forces who um on the Bosphorus and the team has clubs it proudly remains a multi-sports booed by fans at a match. organisations with an impassioned fan ensure that both our fans and played to packed stands ever since. club. The club’s famously leftist and anti- The club won the Super Lig title last base known for their opposition to the Bursaspor’s supporters are safe. We will Besiktas in 2013 played for the last establishment fan club Carsi are seen as season with its star player Mario Gomez authorities. stand firm against the vile attackers who time at their old stadium in the same natural foes of Erdogan and like to chant of Germany who was top scorer in the Twenty nine people, mainly police will never achieve their goal,” the club historic location on the shores of the slogans against his rule. Super Lig. officers, were killed on Saturday in dou- said in a statement. Bosphorus just above the Ottoman-era Carsi members played a key role in But Gomez shattered fans by leaving ble attacks outside its stadium that fol- The club said that among those killed Dolmabahce Palace. 2013 protests against Erdogan over the in the close season, saying he could not lowed the club’s home Super Lig match was Vefa Karakurdu, a senior police offi- That stadium-which was named after development of an Istanbul park that carry on due to the political situation in against Bursaspor in the brand new cer in charge of security at games who the second president of modern Turkey represented one of the biggest chal- the wake of the failed July 15 coup. Vodafone Arena opened earlier this year. was a member of its congress, and Tunc Ismet Inonu-was knocked down and the lenges to the Turkish strongman. Luminaries from the past of Besiktas Besiktas won the match 2-1, boosting Uncu who worked at its official mer- over 40,000 capacity Vodafone Arena Thirty five members of the group including English former manager its title hopes to make the club joint chandise shop. built in its place. were put on trial on widely-ridiculed Gordon Milne, 79, who guided the club leaders with local rivals Basaksehir. But The attacks took place around the charges of trying to stage a coup but all in a stellar period from 1987-1994, and now the night of December 10, 2016 will perimeter of the gleaming new stadium OPPOSITION STREAK were acquitted in late December 2015. taking consecutive titles in 1990, 1991 be remembered not for football but for a that is the pride and joy of the club’s fans The club was founded as a gymnas- To the amusement of fans, the April 4 and 1992. The club’s fans are also known tragedy that will forever leave a mark on who call their beloved side the Kara tics club under the Ottoman Empire in opening of the stadium did not take for their irreverent humour including the club’s history, which goes back to Kartal (Black Eagle). Turkish President 1903 and its full name is still Besiktas place at a game but at a ceremony in slogans like “it’s not about you and me, the Ottoman Empire. So far no-one has Recep Tayyip Erdogan had in April inau- Gymnastics Club (BJK). Its focus rapidly front of almost empty stands. Some said it’s Besiktas!”. — AFP

Emotional Brazel scores win of career at Hong Kong Open

HONG KONG: Unheralded Australian Sam winner, called the victory “life-changing” for Brazel wept yesterday after clinching the Brazel, adding: “You beauty!” Cabrera Bello, Hong Kong Open in thrilling style with a who has not won on the European Tour birdie at the final hole, sealing by far the since the 2012 Dubai Desert Classic, had to biggest victory of his career. The world settle for second place, finishing with a number 480 defeated Spanish Ryder Cup round of 268. Australia’s Andrew Dodt and star Rafa Cabrera Bello-ranked 447 places ’s Tommy Fleetwood were tied above him-on the 18th after Brazel agonis- third on 11 under par at 269. ingly missed a birdie on the 17th. The first prize cheque of $333,330 more Brazel, 37, whose partner died suddenly than trebled Brazel’s earnings for the sea- from bacterial meningitis in 2009, cried as son on the Asian Tour, and until Sunday the he dedicated the improbable victory to his highlight of his career was fourth place at family, saying: “This is for you guys.” the World Classic Championship in Asked if he had a message for his loved Singapore last year. Brazel had been tied at ones, his voice again cracked as he added: 12 under par with Cabrera Bello going into “I’d just say thanks for the support over the last hole, but a stunning second shot many years. “It’s been a bit of a tough ride.” from the fairway saw the Australian within Brazel had never won a four-round tour- 15 feet of the flag. nament before yesterday, and until he The Spaniard was also on to the green in gained his Asian Tour card in 2013 was two shots but could not make the putt, grinding out results on lower-level circuits while Brazel sunk his to thunderous cheers. such as the Queensland Sunshine Tour in Brazel said he had been a “nervous wreck” Australia. He admitted he was still in shock on the back nine as a host of players jock- from his giant-killing total of 267, which eyed for the leadership. also saw off a challenge from US Masters But his nerves did not appear to affect champion Danny Willett, who had held the his play, with three consecutive birdies on lead at one point but ended in sixth place holes 11, 12 and 13, seeing him move into on 271. “I certainly didn’t expect to be in the lead-and a remarkable tee shot on the : Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan, left, celebrates his gold medal with Shoma Uno of Japan with bronze medal after the Men Skating Program here this afternoon but I’m thoroughly par-three 12th which rolled to within a foot during ISU Grand Prix of Final in Marseille, southern France, Saturday. — AP impressed that I am!” he said as he faced of the hole was possibly the pick of the the media. “I was supposed to be taking a bunch. 9.30 flight back to Australia tonight but I Elsewhere, defending champion Justin Hanyu, Medvedeva retain don’t think I’ll be making that!” Rose, who was struggling with a bad back, He had earlier said winning the $2 mil- was never in contention and ended the lion Hong Kong Open would “mean the week with at two under par 278. world” to him-and his fellow Australian And US Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed, titles despite flaws golfers including Scott Hend mobbed him who came third last year, admitted he had on the final green to douse him in cham- had a “rough” time, ending at just one pagne. Hend, the Asian Tour Order of Merit under par on 279. — AFP MARSEILLE: Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu became the first skater to win four straight men’s Grand Prix Final titles on Saturday as Russian teenager Canada’s ‘Marathon Man’ defended her women’s crown. Olympic champion Hanyu took gold despite a fall which saw the 22-year-old place achieves Afghan ambition just third in the final in Marseille. BAMIYAN: Crossing the finish line of American Nathan Chen landed four quadruple Afghanistan’s Bamiyan marathon, hand in RECORD BREAKER jumps in his free skate to move up from fifth to hand with a young female runner from the Parnell, known in Canada as the ‘Marathon silver medal position with Japan’s Shoma Uno country, Canada’s famed ‘Marathon Man’, Man’, sees the sport as a form of meditation taking a second consecutive bronze. Martin Parnell felt a double victory. and admits he struggles when he’s unable to The three men’s favourites-Hanyu, Spaniard Just a year earlier he had been diagnosed run. “One of the hardest times was after I was Javier Fernandez and Canadian Patrick Chan-all with blood clot on the brain. Doctors put him diagosed with the clot. I had double vision had bad tumbles during the elite six-skater com- in a coma to save his life, and it was unclear if and had to sit on my sofa. It was five months petition. “I don’t know what happened today. I he would ever run again. But while convalesc- before I could start running again,” he was feeling a little tired, every jump was hard,” ing, he stumbled across news of the first explains. It hasn’t always been his passion, the said Hanyu who scored 293.90 points in total, Afghan woman to run a marathon. Inspired, retired mining engineer came to the sport late over ten points ahead of Chen (282.85), who put he made a promise to himself. in life. Parnell says: “When I started in 2002 it the US men back on the podium for the first “I said... if I get better and I can run again, certainly filled a gap that was left after the time since 2009, with Uno scoring 282.51. and I can run marathons again, I will come to death of my wife, Wendy, due to cancer. If I Reigning two-time world champion Afghanistan and run that marathon to sup- hadn’t found running maybe I would have Fernandez (268.77) and former three-time world port those women that are free to run and are turned to something less healthy like alcohol champion Chan (266.75) saw their challenges helping to change things,” he told AFP. or drugs.” Instead he channelled his energy collapse to fourth and fifth respectively. He was one of a handful of foreigners tak- into sporting challenges, running renowned American Adam Rippon finished sixth. Chen, 17, HONG KONG: Hong Kong Open golf tournament winner Sam Brazel of Australia, left, ing part in the second edition of the ancient marathons around the world before taking on gave a remarkable performance with the top and Asian Tour’s Order of Merit winner Scott Hend of Australia pose with their tro- city’s marathon in the country’s central high- more gruelling endeavours such as the score of 197.55 points for his free skate to phies in Hong Kong, yesterday. Brazel birdied the 18th hole to narrowly edge Rafa lands: a loop that starts and ends at the base Canadian Death Race (125 kilometres) and the Polovtsian Dances-ten points better than Hanyu Cabrera Bello of Spain to capture the Hong Kong Open yesterday, his first title on the of the world famous Buddha caves. Lost Souls (160 kilometres). achieved for his skate to Hope and Legacy by European Tour. —AP The route, at an altitude of almost 3,000 He is also in the Guinness World Record Joe Hisaishi. But Hanyu nevertheless held his metres, passes dusty villages and is set against books after taking part in the longest games top place from the short programme to become a backdrop of dusky-pink cliffs; sheep and of netball (61 hours), lacrosse (24 hours) and the second man to win four titles after Russian donkeys amble freely across the landscape. five-a-side soccer (42 hours). Yevgeny Plushenko, but first to win four in a row. Bamiyan is a rare oasis of tranquility, which His antics are all in aid of charity. After a Saracens run riot “The programme is on the theme of hope and has largely been spared the wrenching con- trip through Africa, he began working with legacy and this is like my life, or my skating life,” flict that afflicts the rest of the country. NGO Right to Play, which aims to improve the explained former world champion Hanyu. “Some The marathon, where both sexes compete lives of children through sport. in European Cup people hate me, lots of people love me, so some- together in public, has become a symbol of “A football match in Sudan, a ping-pong times I am sad and sometimes I am happy. These freedom for Afghan women. For Kubra and game in Ethiopia, in five minutes you’re sur- PARIS: Defending champions Saracens There was more French heartbreak two halves are what the programme shows.” romped to a six-try, 50-3 win over English when last season’s losing finalists others like her — 15 women took part in total rounded by 100 smiling kids. I realised sport including six from Afghanistan-just the act of could be important for them,” he explains. rivals Sale on Saturday to take a huge step went down to a 23-14 defeat by Glasgow. ‘REALLY HUGE’ running in public is controversial, widely seen In 2010, he ran 250 marathons-covering closer to the European Cup quarter-finals. Earlier Medvedeva narrowly missed out on an as a subversive act. some 10,000 kilometres (2,600 miles) — in a Boosted by the return from international DEMOLITION historic all-time score to win her second Parnell says he advised her to set aside her year, and raising $185,000 for charity. duty of England stars , Owen Racing, featuring a glut of internationals women’s title as Canadians Tessa Virtue and nerves about taking part and focus on the Parnell sees it as everyone’s responsibility Farrell, , George Kruis and including ex-All Black playmaker Dan Scott Moir made a winning return by claiming road ahead, ten minutes at a time. And while to do what they can to help those less fortu- powerful lock , Saracens claimed Carter, currently sit last in Pool 1 with no the ice dancing crown. The 17-year-old it was not his first race after recovering-he nate. “I believe that in life you don’t have to do their third win in three games. points Munster are atop the pool after Medvedeva earned 227.66 points, just a point off competed in Calgary in May-it is one he won’t a lot but you must do something,” he explains. The bonus point triumph allowed them handing Leicester a record European loss, the record total of 228.6 set by South Korean star forget. “My best memory is holding hands “You must make a difference in the lives of to open a 10-point lead in Pool 3 although running out 38-0 victors at their near- Kim Yu-na six years ago. Japan’s Satoko with Kubra as we ran across the line at 6 hours the children or in the lives of other people. Do three-time champions Toulon can close the impregnable Thomond Park ground. Miyahara scored 218.33 for second place with 52 minutes,” the 60-year-old recalls. something to make a difference.”—AFP gap when they face Scarlets on Sunday. Racing took the lead against Glasgow of taking third place with George, Marcelo Bosch, through Juan Imhoff, but the Scottish side 216.47. Medvedeva was far from perfect with an (two), Chris Wyles and Richard Barrington then took over through two tries from Alex error on a triple flip at the start of her routine to all scored tries for while Farrell added 13 Dunbar and Ali Price, with Finn Russell kick- the music of Alexandre Desplat depriving her of points with the boot before ing 13 points before Carter pulled back a the record score. “I expected more from myself. I took over kicking duties. converted try near the death. wanted to do more and I could have done more,” A sole Alan MacGinty penalty accounted Munster’s demolition of Leicester was said Medvedeva. for all of Sale’s points. Saracens director of thanks to tries from Simon Zebo, Jaco Taute But the world champion nevertheless fin- rugby Mark McCall later backed Farrell to (2) and a penalty try, New Zealander Tyler ished nearly 10 points ahead of 18-year-old skipper England in the Six Nations should Bleyendaal hitting four penalties and three Miyahara thanks to her incredible performance Northampton’s Dylan Hartley be banned conversions. in Friday’s short programme where her 79.21 following his red card in Friday’s defeat to A see-saw first-half in Ulster’s home of points eclipsed ’s record 78.66 two Leinster. Belfast was witness to two ambitious teams years ago. There were four Russians in the six- “Owen is ready. He’s one of those players willing to run everything saw the lead skater field with Maria Sotskova finishing fifth who leads in every way because he leads change hands seven times. and sixth. Canada’s Kaetlyn from the front,” McCall said. “Some of his Clermont’s Fijian No 8 Peceli Yato Osmond was fourth. Virtue and Moir, the 2010 defending in the second quarter was out of opened the scoring, Ulster’s Luke Marshall Olympic champions, have come back strong this world. He leads through his actions, splitting the defence for a straight run-in after two seasons off, winning the only title to but also through his messages and com- and then Ian Henderson crossing after a have eluded them in their long career. munication with the team.” Ruan Pienaar cross-kick as Ulster roared The Canadians scored 197.22 points to take BAMIYA: This file photograph taken on November 4, 2016 shows Afghan and internation- Ulster edged Clermont 39-32 in a nine- back. But slick hands saw South African- gold ahead of two-time world champion ice al marathon runners taking part in a marathon on a course that took participants past try thriller as Munster and Glasgow also born France full-back Scott Spedding go dancers Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume the destroyed Buddha statues in Bamiyan province. Crossing the finish line of sent out markers. The result saw Ulster go over before Paddy Jackson gathered his Cizeron of France (192.81) alongside whom they Afghanistan’s Bamiyan marathon, hand in hand with a young female runner from the second in Pool 5 on nine points, three own grubber to hand the advantage back train in Montreal. “For us this title is really huge,” country, Canada’s famed ‘Marathon Man’, Martin Parnell felt a double victory. Just a year behind leaders Clermont, who picked up to the Irish province at the end of an said Moir of a championship where they took sil- earlier he had been diagnosed with blood clot on the brain. — AFP two bonus points despite the defeat. enthralling first 40 minutes, 22-18.—AFP ver four times. — AFP