SPORTS Monday, September 25, 2017 23 Batirov last hope Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Aidan Payne/DTNN [email protected] Bahrain

Manama ahraini wrestler Adam Batirov is the last hope Bfor the kingdom to win a medal today when he takes on American Samoan wrestler Daniel Heleta Misaalefua in the Men’s Freestyle 70kg and under category Round of 16 from 9am (Bahrain time) in the ongoing Fifth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Coached by Mahmud Magomedov, the former 32-year old European wrestling champion, will be hoping to land a third medal for Bahrain at the games. Batirov will look to improve on his last major appearance Adam Batirov wraps up his training before today’s event Shaikh Faisal (C) with Adam Batirov (R) and coach Mahmud Magomedov at the Rio 2016 Olympics in de mission Shaikh Faisal bin Batirov, made a name in 2016 when he took the respectively on September 18. on medals. the Freestyle 65kg and under Rashid Al Khalifa, Bahrain for himself in the world of 70kg weight category gold While Abu Idris (69kg) and More than 6,000 athletes category, where he lost in Olympic Committee general martial arts, then progressed medal at the Asian Wrestling Ali Ibrahimi (85kg) missed from 45 Asian nations, 19 the Round of 16 to Ikhtiyor secretary and chef de mission into the Rio Olympics last Championships in Bangkok, out on medal glory. from Oceania and a Refugee Navruzov of Uzbekistan. deputy Abdulrahman Askar year after dominating the Thailand. Bahrain was also Olympic Team have been In his final training session and other delegation officials. World Olympic Games Bahrain’s Ali Monfaradi represented in taekwondo competing in 21 events at 15 yesterday, Batirov met Shaikh Faisal greeted qualifying tournament held and Ahmed Shebeeb gave by Wala’a Al Doseri (57kg), venues at the Olympic Village Bahrain Royal Equestrian Batirov and had discussions in Mongolia. Bahrain some glory after Juwana Mohammed (62kg) Sports Complex and the first and Endurance Federation on the latter’s programme and His first major winning the jiu jitsu men’s and Jumana Mohammed time a Central Asian nation president and Bahrain chef wished him the best of luck. achievement for Bahrain was under-77kg gold and bronze, (73kg) who also missed out has hosted this event. Parker edges Fury to keep heavyweight belt Manchester : Axelsen wins oseph Parker beat Hughie Fury by a majority points first title Jdecision to retain his World Tokyo 23-21, 21-12. Boxing Organisation (WBO) orld champion Viktor Japan’s Rio Olympics gold heavyweight title at the Axelsen of Denmark medallists Manchester Arena on Saturday. beatW Malaysia’s Lee Chong and The New Zealander endured Wei yesterday to clinch his beat South Korea’s Kim a frustrating night and did not first Japan Open title. Ha-Na and Kong Hee-Yong look confident ahead of the Axelsen, who defeated 21-18, 21-16 in the women’s scores being announced, but two-time Olympic champion doubles final, to the delight the judges scored it to Parker Lin Dan of China to bag the of local fans at the Tokyo by 118-110, 118-110 with the world title in Glasgow last Metropolitan Gymnasium. other seeing it a 114-114 draw. month, edged out Lee 21-14, But Japanese male duo Mandatory challenger Fury, 19-21, 21-14 in the men’s Takuto Inoue and Yuki 23 last Monday, suffered his singles final. Kaneko suffered a 21-12, professional first defeat in Lee, who has won the 21-15 defeat at the hands of 21 fights while a second title Japan Open six times Indonesians Marcus Fernaldi defence for Parker improved including last year, narrowly Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya his undefeated record to 24 Joseph Parker lands a punch on Hughie Fury (Picture courtesy: theguardian) took the second game but Sukamuljo in the men’s wins, 18 by KO. the Dane put in a brilliant doubles final. After a scrappy fight, two up a great fight,” said Parker. his first world title fight and Parker kept chasing and had performance to triumph in In the mixed doubles, judges scoring it 10 rounds “I felt the aggression was his jab, along with his nifty more success in the second half the third. Chinese pair to two for Parker seemed good on my side. He was really footwork, frustrated Parker of the fight to secure the win In the women’s singles and generous as the Kiwi had awkward and his movement who was unable to land cleanly. that keeps him in contention Carolina Marin of Spain, last overpowered not seriously troubled the was good. But I caught him “I don’t know what for bigger fights next year, year’s Olympic gold medallist, and of Japan challenger. with the harder punches, I felt.” happened there with the possibly against Fury’s fellow overwhelmed of 21-13, 21-8. (AFP) “I feel I won the fight, he put Fury boxed smartly in judges,” said Fury. Briton Anthony Joshua. (AFP)