SPORT

Monday 3 April 2017

PAGE | 25 PAGE | 26 PAGE | 27 Lewis stars as Johanna Konta Josoor Institute WI crush Pakistan reigns supreme launches research in third T20 in Miami division QSL: Lekhwiya stay on top as Al Sadd crush Al Rayyan

Chinthana Wasala desperate to claim a vital The Peninsula three points in their aim to close the gap on El Jaish Khaled Sha’aban (left), Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles able toppers Lekhwiya and finish the 2016/17 sea- General Manager is pictured along with a winner during the and their closest rivals son in the top four. Al Sadd retained their However, they were left presentation ceremony of Mercedes Trophy Golf Tournament positions following empty handed thanks to at Doha Golf Club on Saturday. convincing victories in two clever counter attack- Ttheir respective Qatar Stars ing goals from Umm Salal. League (QSL) matches The first half provided Al Naimi shines as yesterday. very little in the way of Lekhwiya beat El Jaish 5-1 clear cut chances, with the on home soil last night. majority of play focusing Mercedes Trophy Golf Mohammed Musa and South in midfield and both teams Korean star Nam Tae Hee net- hesitant to fully commit in ted goals in 22nd and 23rd the search of an opener. minutes respectively, followed Despite Gharafa looking marks huge success by a close-range hit into the net the better side for the first by Ali Hasan Yahya which made 45 minutes and claiming The Peninsula All participants were presented it 3-0 for Lekhwiya in the 46th the greater share of pos- with valuable gifts from NBK minute. session, they were not able asser Bin Khaled Auto- Automobiles and event partners Two minutes later, El Jaish's to really test Umm Salal’s mobiles, the exclusive Blue Salon, Total and Zeibart star striker Romario beat the goalkeeper and bar a poor N dealers of Mercedes- while the winners received their Lekhwiya goalkeeper with a back-pass nearly result- Benz in Qatar, hosted the second trophies and prizes during the clean hit which found the top ing in a chance for the Mercedes Trophy Golf Tourna- gala awards ceremony. right corner of the net to make Cheetahs early on, they ment at Doha Golf Club, with the Khaled Sha’aban, Nasser Bin the score 3-1. created very little. Al Sadd players celebrate participation of Mercedes-Benz Khaled Automobiles General Edgar Da Silva scored The second half was a after scoring against Al car owners and golf enthusiasts Manager said: “We are pleased Lekhwiya's fourth goal in the livelier affair, with both Rayyan in their Qatar Stars in the country. This year to welcome two of the 76th minute. teams stepping up a gear League match yesterday. The event attracted 90 play- emerging stars of Qatar national Almoez Abdulla made it 5-1 in the search for an open- ers in three main categories team. Nasser Bin Khaled Auto- in the 90th minute. ing goal. With 73 minutes which were Men A (0-12 hand- mobiles is always committed to Also yesterday, hosts Al Sadd on the clock, Umm Salal’s icap), Men B (13-24 handicap) our community and will always trounced visiting Al Rayyan 4-1 big number 13 Yannick Sagbo post. er’s head at his near post. and Women. support all the talents in this to stay in the hunt for the Falcon broke the deadlock to bag his Al Gharafa continued to cre- With just two games left to The sessions witnessed country. We thank all players for Shield. twelfth goal of the season and ate chances but were once again play, Gharafa will need El Jaish healthy competition where their participation and would Hamroun Jugurtha opened give the Orange Fortress the lead undone by a clever counter to slip up if they hope to leap- Sager Al Naimi won the first also like to thank our partners up the scoring for Al Sadd with against the run of play. Gharafa attack from the Orange Fortress, frog them into fourth place. place in Men’s Category A scor- at Blue Salon, Total and Zeibart a beauty in the 13th minute. had been pressing deep in Umm Syrian international Mahmoud The three points however ing 43 points, while Richard for all their support to make this Their star striker Bagdad Salal’s half but the men in orange Al Maas, running half the pitch help further cement Umm Salal’s Bartlett and Alan Bassnett got tournament a success.” Bounedjah added the second to countered and Sagbo was able and seeing off a backtracking top six league finish, opening a the second and third places This year also marks the give the home team the 2-0 lead to beat the offside trap and out- Othman Alawi before coolly five point gap over Al respectively. 27th Anniversary of the prestig- in the 45th minute. muscle Al Gharafa’s number 6, chipping it over the goalkeep- Kharaitiyat. In Men’s Category B, Andrew ious Mercedes Trophy Golf Early in the second half (48th Abdulaziz Hatem, before hitting Dunlop scored 45 points to Tournament globally. It is an minute), Morteza Mohammmad it with his right and nutmegging QSL STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 24 reserve the first place followed exclusive series of invitational netted their third goal, followed Al Gharafa’s goalkeeper to make by Christer Olsson in the second golf tournaments conducted by a clean hit by Abdulkarim it 1-0. Pos. Club Matches Win Lose Draw GF GA GD Points place and Johan Rivera in the over the world for Mercedes- Hassan in the 52nd minute Al Gharafa continued to 1 Lekhwiya 24 18 1 5 74 30 44 59 third. In the women’s category, Benz Owners. Each year, over which took the game completely press and create chances and 2 Al Sadd 24 17 1 6 69 19 50 57 Cherehzade Pedder scored 41 60,000 players from more than away from Al Rayyan. Vladimir Weiss caused Umm 3 Al Rayyan 24 14 5 5 47 21 26 47 points and won the trophy, 60 countries tee off at the Mer- However, Al Rayyan's skip- Salal’s defenders plenty of trou- 4 El Jaish 24 13 5 6 42 31 11 45 while Tasnim Kazi was the first cedes Trophy in local, regional 5 Al Gharafa 24 11 8 4 40 38 2 37 per Rodrigo Tabata scored the ble down the right wing. With runner up and Lorraine Boydell and national events, competing 6 Umm Salal 24 7 7 9 26 32 -6 30 only goal for the visitors in the 86 minutes gone, Al Gharafa’s was the second Runner up. to qualify for the Mercedes Tro- 7 Al Kharaitiyat 24 8 12 4 23 32 -9 28 87th minute to make it 4-1. best chance of an equalizer fell Besides, four players received phy World Final at the ‘home of 8 Al Ahli 24 7 11 6 32 39 -7 27 Earlier, Al Gharafa were to Mohamed Razaq, who should 9 Al Sailiya 24 7 11 6 27 42 -15 27 special prizes for their excep- the automobile’, , Ger- beaten by Umm Salal 2-0 in their have scored with his head from 10 Al Arabi 24 8 13 3 37 53 -16 27 tional performance, including many. This venue underlines the own backyard. a mere four yards out, and then 11 Al Khor 24 6 12 6 25 35 -10 24 Rick Bartlett for the longest close relations between the Al Gharafa, who recently South Korean number 8, Kooky 12 Al Shahania 24 3 10 11 27 50 -23 20 drive, Ben San Jose for longest brand Mercedes-Benz and golf, parted ways with their head Han should have poked home 13 Muaither SC 24 4 15 5 21 46 -25 17 putt holed, PK. Mathew for the and reflects the values of luxury coach Pedro Caixinha after he the rebound from just two yards 14 Al Wakrah 24 2 14 8 26 45 -19 14 nearest to the rope, and Teresa and elegance that they headed for Rangers FC, were out but instead put it wide of the Gow for the nearest to the pin. represent. Al Attiyah and Sunderland extend leads in Abu Dhabi

Qasr Al Sarab, UAE the first 70km and pass everybody Mohammed Jaffar and Abu Dhabi’s start to his Abu Dhabi Desert Chal- Overdrive Racing's Qatari The Peninsula just to make the gap big. We don’t Mohammed Al Balooshi reached lenge campaign and was the driver Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah have any problems. Everything is the finish in eighth and ninth over- front-running T2 driver at the early in action during yesterday's atar’s motor sports celebrity working very well. Our Toyota is all on their respective KTMs. passage control checks. opening stage of the Abu Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and good. It was very hot. Inside the Kuwaiti Fahad Al Musallam’s Local driver Mansoor Al Helai’s Dhabi Desert Challenge. QDubai-based Sam Sunder- cabin it was 52 (Centigrade). We try advantage in the quad section was plan to push hard in the T2 cate- land extended their leads in the car and drink water and some energy short-lived and the Kuwaiti slipped gory suffered a severe setback and motorcycle categories by liquid. Now we see for the next out of the top five in the quad cat- when he ground to a halt before claiming victories through the day.” egory behind Poland’s stage PC1. opening 276.59km selective sec- Russian Vladimir Vasilyev fin- winning Kamil Wisniewski and tion of the Abu Dhabi Desert ished third in his X-raid Mini All4 Guatemala’s Rodolfo Schippers. Ita- ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE – STANDINGS Challenge powered by Nissan Racing, Czech Miroslav Zapletal ly’s Camelia Liparoti produced a CARS yesterday. was fourth and fellow countryman good performance to finish third. 1. Nasser Al Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA): 3hr 16min 03.7sec The stage started east of Arjan, Martin Prokop produced an “The first stage has never been 2. Khalid Al Qassimi (ARE)/Khaled Al-Kendi (ARE): 3hr 27min 38.8sec south of Abu Dhabi, UAE and fin- impressive performance in his Ford easy as today has proved. But it’s a 3. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS)/Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS): 3hr 31min ished north of the remote desert to claim the fifth fastest time. Ital- way for the competitors to accli- 49.6sec resort of Qasr Al Sarab. ian Eugenio Amos was a surprise matise to the heat and the BIKES Al Attiyah cruised to the stage sixth in the unofficial standings. conditions before they enter much win in the cars and his Overdrive Dakar Rally winner Sunderland longer sections of dunes over the 1. Sam Sunderland (GBR): 3hr 31min 09.5sec Racing Toyota Hilux now leads the started last on the road, claimed the coming days,” said event founder 2. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI): 3hr 31min 15.2sec event by 11in 35.1sec from Abu win by just three seconds and holds and ATCUAE President Mohammed 3. Matthias Walkner (AUT): 3hr 32min 16.6sec Dhabi Racing’s Sheikh Khalid Al an overnight advantage of just 5.7 Ben Sulayem. QUADS Qassimi. seconds over the Chilean defend- Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Saeidan 1. Kamil Wisniewski (POL): 4hr 45min 51.4sec Al Attiyah said: “Today was not ing FIM Cross-Country Rallies has unfinished business in the T2 2. Rodolfo Schippers (GUA): 4hr 46min 45.9sec easy, but we had a good start posi- World Champion Pablo Quintanilla, category after missing out on last 3. Khalifa Al-Raeesi (ARE) Honda TRX 700: 4hr 54min 31.8sec tion – sixth. We push very hard in riding his Husqvarna. Kuwait’s year’s title and he made a strong SPORT MONDAY 3 APRIL 2017 25

Australia's Sally Pearson Pearson back in World Championship frame celebrates after winning Melbourne revival with a wind-assisted (+2.3) run after enduring two seasons wrecked and bid for a third successive Com- the women's Reuters of 12.53 seconds in the final at Olym- by injury. monwealth Games gold medal at next 100 metres pic Park Athletic Centre. "I was really, really nervous," year's event near her home on hurdles final ormer Olympic champion Sally The year's best without wind Pearson told reporters. Queensland's Gold Coast. in Sydney Pearson shrugged off two years assistance is American Kori Carter's "I know I don't have anything to Her encouraging run yesterday yesterday. F of injury trauma to post a World 12.78 in Arizona two weeks ago. Pear- prove as an athlete, but to be able to will also boost her hopes of contend- Championship qualifying time in son trounced a modest field under a come back here and do this today, it ing for a second world title at London winning her eighth 100 metres hur- cloudy sky, her main rival Michelle really means a lot to me." in August, six years after her Daegu dles title at Australia's national Jenneke disappointing with a run of She shattered her wrist in a sick- triumph. athletics championships in Sydney 13.12 to be third behind runner-up ening fall at the Golden Gala meeting One of Australia's most success- yesterday. Brianna Beahan (12.96). in Rome in 2015 and strained her ful track athletes, Pearson took silver The 30-year-old Queenslander The 2011 world champion and hamstring in June last year as she bat- in the 100m hurdles at the 2008 Bei- missed out on defending her 2012 IAAF female athlete of the year, Pear- tled to be fit for Rio. jing Olympics and was also runner-up London gold at last year's Rio Games son wept freely after crossing the line, The defiant Australian has in the 2013 world championships in but raised hopes of a late-career relieved to come through unscathed remained determined to come back Moscow.

Mortaza gets England's one-match Lewis stars as WI crush Hameed faces suspension for anxious wait slow over rate after injury Colombo AFP Pakistan in third T20 London AFP angladesh captain Port of Spain suffer the most to the flailing Mashrafe Mortaza (pic- AFP blade of the left-hander. ngland batsman Haseeb Btured) has been Summoned by captain Sar- Hameed faces a nerv- suspended for one match for vin Lewis thrashed his fraz Ahmed in a desperate Eous wait to discover the a slow over rate during the way to 91 off 51 balls attempt to stem the flood of runs, extent of the hand injury that third one-day international as the West Indies Tanvir was plastered for 24 runs forced him to retire hurt dur- against Sri Lanka, the Inter- swept aside Pakistan in the 14th over of the innings, ing his opening first-class national Cricket Council (ICC) by seven wickets in an assault that ended the match game of the season for said yesterday. Ethe third T20 International at the as a contest. Lancashire. This means he will be Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad Marlon Samuels helped him Hameed, who made a barred from playing in the on Saturday. add 56 runs for the second solid start to his England first ODI against Ireland at a Responding to the visitors' wicket and debutant Jason career during their tour of tri-nations tournament in total of 137 for eight, Lewis Mohammed looked composed India, withdrew after facing May. hoisted nine sixes and belted five in a third-wicket stand of 76, his 23 balls in Lancashire's game The fours in a hurricane innings that contribution being an unbeaten with Cambridge MCCU right-arm kept the series alive going into 17. But everything else in the yesterday. paceman the final match at the same match paled in comparison to The 20-year-old has been was also venue with Pakistan holding a Lewis' relentless assault which taken for a scan on his hand fined 40 2-1 advantage. ended with victory in sight as and will hope the damage percent of His assault was in stark con- Wahab Riaz held the catch at isn't severe enough to stop his match trast to the struggles of most of long-off to give Shadab Khan the him making a strong start to fee, with the Pakistani batsmen, with the wicket. the English county season. the other notable exception of Kamran Khan, man of the match with Hameed scored 219 runs players Akmal and Babar Azam, as a his potent leg-spinners and in three Tests against India losing 20 strong position was frittered googlies in the first two outings, before a finger injury forced percent of their fees. away by the combination of struggled to recapture the same him out of the final match of His team was two overs careless strokeplay and disci- control under the pressure the five-game series, which short of the target during Sat- plined West Indies bowling imposed by Lewis, and to a England lost 4-0. urday's match at the through the final eight overs of lesser extent, the other top-order He hit an unbeaten 59 Sinhalese Sports Club ground their innings. batsmen. from 156 deliveries while bat- in Colombo, which Sri Lanka Lewis lost opening partner Veteran Akmal (48) and ting with a broken finger won. Chadwick Walton early on in the Azam (43) had the visitors well during the third Test in The offence was Morta- chase to an excellent diving poised for a total in excess of 160 Mohali. za's second within 12 months catch by Fakhar Zaman running after Ahmed chose to bat first as Hameed also played three regarding the over rate, trig- in from the square-leg bound- they put on 88 runs for the sec- matches for England Lions in gering the suspension. ary off Sohail Tanvir. ond wicket. Sri Lanka in February, but The previous one was in Yet it was Tanvir who would Samuel Badree had removed managed just 78 runs in six an ODI against New Zealand West Indies' Evin Lewis hits a boundary during the third T20I innings. in Christchurch. SCOREBOARD against Pakistan at the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on Saturday. According to the ICC Code PAKISTAN Williams 4-0-21-1 (1w); C Brathwaite 3-0-15-1; S Nar- of Conduct, players are fined A Shehzad b Badree ...... 4 ine 3-0-34-1 (1w); M Samuels 2-0-11-1. 10 percent of their match fees K Akmal c Simmons b Samuels ...... 48 WEST INDIES Ahmed Shehzad and Imad Wasim midwicket boundary. New man for every over their side fails I Wasim st Walton b Badree ...... 0 E Lewis c Riaz b Khan ...... 91 in the first over of the match. Shoaib Malikdidn't last long as to bowl in the allotted time. B Azam b Narine ...... 43 C Walton c Zaman b Tanvir ...... 1 However the introduction of he flicked a full-length delivery It was the second time S Malik c Lewis b Brathwaite ...... 2 M Samuels c Wasim b Riaz ...... 18 Samuels for his first bowl in from West Indies captain Carlos F Zaman (run out) ...... 21 J Mohammed (not out) ...... 17 Mortaza has been banned for S Ahmed (run out) ...... 3 L Simmons (not out)...... 4 international cricket for 18 Brathwaite unerringly to Lewis a slow over rate since taking W Riaz c Pollard b Williams ...... 1 Extras (LB-3, W-3, NB-1) ...... 7 months following the remodel- at long-leg. over as the ODI skipper in S Tanvir (not out) ...... 2 Total (for 3 wkts in 14.5 overs) ...... 138 ling of his action earned the Pakistan struggled for runs November 2014. S Khan (not out) ...... 3 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-58, 3-134. home side a vital breakthrough the rest of the way with a des- He was suspended for one Extras (B-1, LB-7, W-2) ...... 10 Did not bat: K Pollard, C Brathwaite, J Holder, S Narine, and turned the tide of play. perate West Indies team battling match after Bangladesh's Total (for 8 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 137 S Badree, K Williams. Samuels' first delivery was to limit the total to manageable World Cup 2015 quarter-final Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-4, 3-92, 4-94, 5-115, 6-124, Bowling: I Wasim 3-0-20-0 (1w); S Tanvir 3-0-40-1 an inviting waist-high full toss proportions. Just 45 runs came 7-130, 8-132. (1nb; 1w); H Ali 2-0-20-0; S Khan 3.5-0-38-1; W Riaz

against India in Melbourne. Did not bat: Hasan Ali. 2-0-6-1 (1w); S Malik 1-0-11-0. which Akmal attempted to heave off the last eight overs with As a result he missed an out of the ground but could only Badree the pick of the bowlers Bowling: S Badree 4-0-22-2; J Holder 4-0-26-0; K Result: West Indies won by 7 wickets. Haseeb Hameed ODI against Pakistan. find Lendl Simmons on the in claiming two for 22. NBA: Butler's brilliance sparks Bulls, Clippers down Lakers

Los Angeles the play-offs, nobody picked us NBA RESULTS career win as the Clippers AFP to win," Butler said. Sacramento 123 Minnesota 117 improved to 47-31. Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg Brooklyn 121 Orlando 111 Rivers side are now within

immy Butler scored 33 points could not hide his admiration for Chicago 106 Atlanta 104 one game of the Utah Jazz in the to maintain Chicago's push for Butler. LA Clippers 115 LA Lakers 104 race for the fourth seed slot in Jthe play-offs on Saturday as "He was phenomenal," Hoi- the Western Conference. the Los Angeles Clippers over- berg said. But Griffin – who topped came a late wobble to subdue the "Jimmy did everything again. from a big deficit like that," Hoi- 10,000 career points in the first Lakers. He just found a way to get to the berg said. quarter – was unhappy with an Butler scored the final nine basket ... obviously, he was a "It's a couple of times in a inconsistent display which saw points for the Bulls in their 106- huge part of that win." row when we've fought back. We the Lakers (21-55) reduce a 104 win over the Atlanta Hawks Butler was backed by Rajon haven't put our heads down and 21-point lead to eight during the at the United Center as Chicago Rondo, who had 25 points and 11 we continue to compete -- that's closing stages. overcame a nine-point deficit to rebounds, while Denzel Valen- what it's all about." Griffin later admitted that the seal the win. tine weighed in with 13 and Paul In the Western Conference Clippers' failure to kill off oppo- The victory saw Chicago Zipser added 10. meanwhile, the fifth ranked Clip- nents was a concern. improve to 37-39, lifting them Hoiberg, meanwhile, praised pers were too strong for their city "It's still something that into a virtual three-way tie with his team's never-say-die attitude rivals the Lakers, who are lan- needs to be worked out," said the Miami Heat and Indiana Pac- as they prepare to embark on a guishing at the foot of the table Griffin. ers for the seventh play-off spot demanding four-game road trip. at 21-55. "I thought at times we came Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (left) in action against on offer from the Eastern "It's an important step when Blake Griffin scored 36 points out to start the game the right Atlanta Hawks forward Mike Muscala (right) during the first Conference. you can fight through adversity in a 115-104 victory that gave way and then we took our foot quarter of their NBA game in Chicago on Saturday. "Nobody picked us to be in and find a way to come back coach Doc Rivers his 800th off the gas." 26 SPORT MONDAY 3 APRIL 2017 Shocked Conte says title race back on

London easy games. AFP "You could see that today against Crystal Palace. Every Konta reigns ntonio Conte admitted game will be very tough from Chelsea's shock 2-1 now until the end. Adefeat against Crystal "Also, if the team is Man- Palace has blown the Premier chester City or a side fighting in League title race wide open. the relegation zone." supreme Conte's side went into Sat- Cesc Fabregas had put Chel- urday's clash with sea ahead after five minutes, but relegation-threatened Palace Zaha equalised four minutes Johanna Konta of Great sitting 10 points clear at the top later and Benteke gave Palace a Britain holds the winner's of the table and having won lead they would hold onto in the trophy after defeating their previous 13 fixtures at 11th minute. in Miami Caroline Wozniacki of Stamford Bridge. Ivory Coast winger Zaha Denmark in the WTA Miami But after goals from Wilfried was the game's outstanding Open final on Saturday. Zaha and Christian Benteke fired player and Palace manager Sam Palace's stunning upset and sec- Allardyce believes the player is ond-placed Tottenham won at now delivering on his Miami her loss to Agnieszka Radwan- Burnley, Chelsea found their undoubted potential. AFP ska in Beijing in 2016. lead cut to seven points with "Wilf must feel really good "Going into any match but Miami win puts nine games remaining. about himself. It's about consist- ohanna Konta defeated especially against someone like And Blues boss Conte con- ent performances at the Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, Caroline who is such an athlete ceded the battle is back on, with moment," he said. 6-3 to win the Miami Open and can really stay out there as his players needing to bounce "It was there before he left on Saturday evening- the long as she needs, I think it was Konta in spotlight back when Manchester City visit for the Ivory Coast. He's contin- Jbiggest title won by a Brit- important for me to assert Stamford Bridge in midweek. ued to show that with them, and ish woman in 40 years. myself right away in the man- "For others this is a good he showed it today with his per- Konta, who had never won ner that I wanted to play ... to Miami different' but you know what, result. It makes it more interest- formance and quality of football an elite WTA premier manda- give myself the best chance of AFP I think she will handle it. I ing, the championship," Conte in possession. tory event, will move to number executing what I wanted tacti- think she will probably speak said. "There's a man on the other seven in the world rankings cally," Konta said. ohanna Konta's days of fly- to Andy as well, because it is "But I always said that the side, an outstanding individual with the victory. Konta conceded that there ing under the radar are going to be really big if she league finishes when it is math- like Wilf in Eden Hazard. His The Sydney-born 25-year- was little to choose between Jnumbered now that the continues this upward pro- ematically sure you have won. ability is something Wilf could old, who beat Venus Williams herself and her Danish oppo- Briton has bagged her biggest gression," Smith said. Otherwise you must play every look at to try and match. in the semis, began superbly, nent, who she also beat in the title yet at the Miami Open. Murray's advice, if game to try to win because, I "Him and Christian were our breaking to love in the opening Australian Open in January. The 25-year-old will rise requested, will no doubt be repeat, in England easy games match winners, and protecting game before Wozniacki swiftly "Until the end there wasn't to a career-high seventh in forthcoming and, given the do not exist. our lead was our goalkeeper and broke back to level at 2-2. too much in it. I tried to not the world rankings next week Scotsman has come through "We have to play on the defence. After another break each, wish time away and to really after a start to the year in years of hype around Wim- Wednesday against Manches- "Wilf is already realising his the Briton took advantage of stay out there as long as possi- which she won in Sydney, bledon, sage. ter City and we all know the potential with the way he's play- two double-faults from the ble and really enjoy competing. reached the quarter-finals of Smith's confidence in strength of this team. ing. Potential is becoming a Dane to break to 5-4 and serve I think even when it was fin- the Australian Open and then Konta's ability to cope with "But, now, the most impor- reality." Palace remain just four out for the set. ished I was expecting more claimed her first premier the attention is largely based tant thing is to recover very well points clear of the bottom three, There was a similar pattern points to come," she said. mandatory tournament on on the Sydney-born player's and rest. but Allardyce believes his play- to the start of the second set, It was Wozniacki's third the hard courts of Key evident intelligence, profes- "It's important to prepare in ers are growing in confidence. with the pair exchanging breaks final of the year and third defeat Biscayne. sionalism and calmness. the right way for this game, but And he singled out France in the first two game. The key following her loses in Dubai and Konta recently noted that But those qualities, essen- I think, in England, there are no centre-back Mamadou Sakho moment came when Konta Doha. the success of world number tial though they are, do not forfor praise,praise, althoughalthough any talktalk ofof broke to go 4-3 up, with a little "I was hoping it was going one Andy Murray in the men's weaken in any way Konta's securingsecuring a permanent move for help from the net cord. to be third time lucky in my game has kept the attention drive and ambition to get to thethe on-loan LiverpoolLiverpool defender Clearly full of confidence, third final but we will go for the and pressure of the media and the very top in the sport. willwill hhaveave to wait untiuntill tthehe cclub'slub's Konta then broke again, with a fourth one," said Wozniacki, fans in Britain away from her, "I think I've always had relegationrelegation battle has been lob on match-point, to secure who nonetheless said she was but she can be sure that the the belief of wanting to concluded.concluded. the biggest win of her career pleased with the consistency level of expectation will rise become a Grand Slam cham- "Securing"Securing our Premier and the best by a British woman she has shown in the first quar- sharply ahead of this year's pion, wanting to become the LeagueLeague status is our priority,priority, since Virginia Wade won Wim- ter of the season. Wimbledon. best in the world," Konta said andand then we'll see what bledon in 1977. "I think I can take a lot out Former leading British after downing former world Mamadou Sakho's aspira-aspira- No British woman had ever of this first part of year in gen- women's player Sam Smith, number one Caroline Wozni- tions are, to be with us won a premier mandatory eral. I think I can take a lot of now a television analyst, said acki in straight sets in the oror ananywhereywhere event since the elite tier was positives from that and just hat while Konta may not yet Miami final on Saturday. else,"else," he introduced in 2009 and this build on it. be aware of how her status in "I think that stays said.said. was only the second time that "That's what I'm going to do. British sport is about to throughout, with every player Konta had even qualified for the I'm going to learn from the change, she is confident Konta I imagine, their career. With- Miami tournament. things that I can do better, but can handle what is coming out that, I don't think it makes The Briton said her quick at the same time not beat her way. the victories as sweet or, I start had really helped her in myself up too much and just "Someone needs to tell think, the defeats as motivat- what was just her second pre- keep working and doing what her 'Jo it is going to be ing. I think that stays. Antonio Conte mier mandatory final, following I'm doing."

Thompson leads at ANA Inspiration Kang three in front at Houston Los Angeles It was a further stroke back to South AFP Korea's Hur Mi-Jung, Ryu So-Yeon and Park In-Bee and Australian Minjee Lee Open after Fowler's four-putt ormer champion Lexi Thompson on 206. fired six birdies in a five-under- Hur rocketed up the leaderboard Fpar 67 to emerge from a marathon with a seven-under-par 65 that included Houston Kang needed to win missed a five-footer, a on Saturday with a two-shot lead in the eight birdies. Reuters yesterday to qualify for minor hiccup compared LPGA ANA Inspiration. Rio Olympic gold medalist Park, next week's Masters, the to the final green, where Thompson's 13-under total of 203 whose seven major titles include the ickie Fowler four- first major of the year, his first putt from 55 feet put her two in front of Norway's Suzann 2013 ANA Inspiration, had five birdies putted the final and if he does he might stopped more than four Pettersen going into Sunday's final round in a four-under 68. Lee also signed for Rgreen to hand like to thank Fowler's feet short of the hole. of the year's first major championship a 68 while Ryu, playing in the last group, Kang Sung-hoon a three- putter. Fowler had a look of at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho carded a 69. stroke lead after the third "I'll just stick to my disbelief when he missed Mirage, California. Ariya Jutanugarn, the Thai talent round at the Houston game plan," Kang told the second putt, and his Thompson was among some 50 who has Lydia Ko's world number one Open in Texas on PGATour.com, aware of expression turned ashen players who had to return Saturday ranking in her sights, was in a group Saturday. the Sunday forecast for after his next miss from morning to complete the second round, sharing seventh place on 208. Fowler overcame a strong storms that could inside four feet. the knock-on effect of the delays for high Ariya's four-under 68 was high- seven-stroke deficit to make for a long day. "Can't really dwell on winds on Thursday. lighted by an eagle at the par-five 11th, reel in South Korean "It was very hard the last two holes," The disruption did Thompson no with five birdies also offsetting three Kang, only to stumble at work (today). Greens got Fowler said. "I was try- harm as she produced back-to-back early bogeys. the end with a bogey at firmer, faster. I tried to ing to avoid a spike mark birdies at the seventh and eighth -- her Ariya, who suffered a final round the 17th and a double- really grind it out today on 17 and my second putt South 16th and 17th holes of the second round collapse in the tournament last year to bogey at the par-four and I did pretty good." for par on 18 was sup- Korea's en route to a 67 and the 36-hole lead. with the title begging, said she plans to 18th. Kang heard the posed to go right and it Thompson, the 2014 winner, kept take a relaxed approached. Those mistakes cheering and clapping moved left on me. Kang the momentum going through a long Ariya was joined on eight-under by allowed Kang to use a 71 from the preceding group "It's unfortunate but Sung-hoon afternoon. Birdies at the second and France's Karine Icher (68) and Ameri- in a testing breeze at the following the popular we've put ourself in posi- in action third were followed by a bogey at the cans Cristie Kerr (70) and Michelle Wie Golf Club of Houston to Fowler, who delighted tion to win so ... can't during fourth, but she put together three bird- (71). finish the day on his overflowing gallery really dwell on the last the Shell ies in a row at the ninth, 10th and 11th Wie had back-to-back birdies at the 17-under-par 199 with by picking up eight bird- two holes." Houston before picking up one more stroke at 16. second and third but couldn't build on one round left as he tar- ies in the first 14 holes, Kang had no such Open at the "I struggled a little bit off the tee and that. She bogeyed the ninth and battled gets a last-minute berth including a monster problems on the final Golf Club of had a few more rushed shots than I a sore back as she parred her way in. at the U.S. Masters. 50-footer putt at the sev- green, sinking a testing Houston on wanted, but overall a lot of positives," Defending champion Ko didn't make Fowler (67) was on enth hole. four-footer to put him- Saturday. Thompson said. much headway with a one-under 71. 14-under, with fellow His first dropped shot self in prime position to Pettersen nabbed her sixth birdie of Ko had two birdies and a bogey for American Russell Henley did not come until the earn his first PGA Tour the round at the 18th, capping a 68 for a share of 11th place on five-under par (69) another shot back. par-four 17th, where he victory at the age of 29. sole possession of second place on 205. 211. MONDAY 3 APRIL 2017 SPORT 27 Josoor Institute launches research division The Peninsula development of two pioneering and is currently working with social media. Football was Lebanon and Algeria that can researches titled “Research of organisations in Qatar and the found to be the main sport in all be shared and implemented osoor Institute has announced Sports and Events industries” region to address the knowledge 17 countries in the MENA region across the region,” Long said. the launch of its research and “Middle East Football Fan gaps they are facing. in terms of both following and Josoor Institute’s second Jservices, a new division that Engagement”. Josoor Institute’s first participation. The research also research project on “Middle East is leading the organisation’s Speaking about Josoor Insti- research project titled “Sports showed that while both indus- Football Fan Engagement” was research initiatives on the Mid- tute’s new service offering, and Event Industries in MENA” tries contribute to the region’s conducted in collaboration with dle East and North Africa’s Afraa Al Noami, Acting Execu- was developed in collaboration overall GDP and are major Deloitte. The study examines (MENA) nascent sports and tive Director of Josoor Institute, with Repucom (now Nielsen employers in the MENA region, the motivations, behaviours and events industries. said: “Today marks a great mile- Sports). the sports and events industries loyalties of football fans across The two projects carried to stone in our journey to develop The research was under- share the same top three devel- Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, date by Josoor Institute revealed and grow the sports and events taken in 17 countries including opment barriers that include Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi proprietary knowledge and industries across the MENA Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, lack of skilled human capital, Arabia, Turkey and UAE. insights gathered for the first region. Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, lack of understanding of oppor- The study found that the time about the region. "After setting up our educa- Morocco, Oman, Palestine, tunities and lack of funding. love for football transcends After successfully launching tional offerings, Josoor Institute Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, “This is the largest ever eval- national boundaries with 73% its educational offerings in 2013, sought to expand its services to Turkey, UAE and Yemen. The uation of the sports and events of participants stating that the Josoor Institute has kept in line bridge the knowledge gap in the research was able to draw the industries in the region,” said Jon sport is very important to them with its mandate of bridging the industry that stretches beyond value of the MENA sports and Long, Managing Director of and 89% of respondents watch knowledge gap in the MENA human capital. When looking at events industries that stand at Nielsen Sports and Entertainment football whenever they can. The region by identifying the chal- the landscape of our industries, Afraa Al Noami, Acting QR 57.6bn and QR 29.5 bn for the MENA region. research also explored fans loy- lenges and the opportunities we realised that the biggest gap Executive Director of Josoor respectively. “For the first time we gath- alty to local vs international that affect the growth of the exists due to the lack of sports Institute. The report uncovered some ered together insights from clubs and found that in spite of industries. and events industries insights common rising trends among industry experts across 17 MENA a strong following of interna- As a centre of excellence about the MENA region. The the 17 studied markets that countries to build a picture of the tional clubs, fans across the inspired and developed by the knowledge we’ve gathered to team of experts who are pas- showed the rapid growth of present status of these industries, Middle East are more likely to Supreme Committee for Deliv- date has helped us better under- sionate about bringing forward health and fitness cultures, the prospects for growth and the be lifelong fans of local teams ery & Legacy (SC), Josoor stand our industry and its the opportunities of the indus- breakthroughs in women’s barriers that need to be overcome than international teams. Institute serves as a catalyst for potential, and we will continue tries and addressing the sports, increased major event to accelerate progress. The study also showed that a building the sports and events to dig deeper to draw on the roadblocks that stand against capabilities, a shift towards pri- "The research uncovered significant proportion of Middle industries across the region. insights we need to move allowing the region to reach its vate ownership, rising demand inspiring success stories, under- East fans are commercially pas- Working in collaboration forward.” full potential. Josoor Institute for developed human capital exploited sources of value and sive, not spending on team related with leading research analysts, The Josoor Institute has already developed two and a media landscape increas- examples of best practice from products including game Josoor Institute led the research division is led by a proprietary research projects ingly shaped by digital and countries as diverse as Oman, tickets. Di Maria sparkles as PSG retain League Cup

Four-in-a-row PSG with a clinical second-half -- Monaco's last major trophy brace. came when they won the 2003 The Parisians thrash "We've had some difficult final -- and the holders stormed Monaco 4-1 to lift the times, but we haven't given up. into an early lead albeit in con- trophy for the fourth We've proved we're a great side. troversial circumstances. year in a row and gain I think it's a deserved win and Verratti slipped Di Maria in a psychological edge we can celebrate a bit," mid- behind the defence, with the over their rivals in the fielder told Argentine electing to unselfishly Canal+. title race. slide the ball across for Draxler "In four years here we've to tap home. won everything. We have a great Replays showed the Ger- Lyon team and this is a victory for eve- many international was AFP ryone involved. The league title marginally offside, although is our goal now and we'll give it unlike in Tuesday's international ngel Di Maria scored one our all until the finish." between France and Spain where goal and set up two more After the shock of their a video assistant referee was Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender (centre) holds the trophy as he celebrates as Paris Saint-Germain Champions League last 16 col- used in the country for the first A with team-mates after winning the French League Cup final, at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais thrashed Monaco 4-1 on Satur- lapse against Barcelona in the time there was no such help Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon on Saturday. day to lift the French League Cup second leg, a third meeting with available at Parc OL. for the fourth successive Ligue 1 leaders Monaco this sea- Monaco shrugged off that season. son presented an opportunity for setback as Lemar replied with a towering back-post header, but unmarked Argentine. Joao have netted his second and Julian Draxler fired PSG redemption for PSG. fine equaliser on 27 minutes. the Uruguayan's goal-bound flick Moutinho fizzed a shot just over sealed the outcome when he ahead with just four minutes Monaco's Radamel Falcao Bernardo Silva's chipped was superbly kept out by Dani- the crossbar following the inter- steered wide from Di Maria's played in the final in Lyon, but failed to shake off a nagging hip pass found Djibril Sidibe inside jel Subasic before the Croat val, but PSG landed the fatal blow delivery from the left. Thomas Lemar levelled for injury that has sidelined the the area and the France full-back smothered the rebound. on 54 minutes as Cavani ham- Substitute Irvin Cardona Monaco before the half hour. Colombian since March 11, but laid the ball back for Lemar to However there was nothing mered past Subasic after a flashed a header just wide of Argentine international Di Thiago Motta returned to the PSG expertly sweep home from the the Monaco keeper could do as sublime floated cross from 's left-hand post, Maria restored the lead for Unai line-up for his first start in six edge of the box. Di Maria stabbed low into the Verratti. while Subasic dived at full- Emery's side a minute before weeks. Cavani thought he had put corner with half-time approach- Benjamin Mendy went close stretch to palm away a Di Maria half-time and Edinson Cavani PSG have dominated the PSG back in front as he reacted ing after Draxler displayed to halving the deficit with a sting- effort with the outside of the sealed a record seventh title for competition in recent seasons quickest to Thiago Silva's remarkable balance to feed the ing effort, but Cavani should boot.

Rodrigo Tabata of Al Rayyan Tabata is named QSL celebrates on scoring a goal in Respite for Wenger the Qatar Stars League in this file picture. Tabata has been named player of the month the QSL Player of the Month. as Arsenal hold City The Peninsula notching 2.2 shots from outside the penalty box per game. London points below City, who occupy l Rayyan’s talismanic On the other hand, Jaber AFP the fourth and final Champions captain Rodrigo Tabata has enjoyed a undefeated run League berth, in sixth place, but Aand Umm Salal head during the two months at The rsenal earned belea- they retain a game in hand on coach Mahmoud Jaber have Orange fortress, picking up a guered manager Arsene them. been awarded the QSL player total of nine points from five AWenger a measure of City were prevented from of the month and QSL coach of games in the league. Umm Salal respite by twice hitting back to reclaiming third place from Liv- the month for February-March enjoyed two wins in the run hold Manchester City to a 2-2 erpool and eating into Chelsea's respectively. including a fine performance draw at the Emirates Stadium advantage following the lead- The Lions striker has been to end Lekhwiya’s undefeated yesterday. ers' shock 2-1 defeat at home in fine goal scoring from in Feb- streak in the league with a 3-1 Pep Guardiola twice saw his to Crystal Palace. ruary and March notching six victory. Whilst Umm Salal also City side go ahead, through But City, who have now goals and four assists over the picked up three draws, which Leroy Sane and then Sergio drawn their last three league five games. This included a well included a notable 0-0 draw Aguero, but Arsenal twice games, will have an opportu- taken hat-trick as Al Rayyan with title chasing Al Sadd to responded via goals from Theo nity to close to within eight humbled Al Wakrah 4-0. round off the month of March. Walcott and Shkodran points of the summit when they Tabata has been a constant Jaber’s side have created on Mustafi. travel to Chelsea on threat for Al Rayyan rivals over average 10 chances per game Victory would have been a Wednesday. the two months and this is high- and found the back of the net welcome tonic for Wenger, who Wenger again faced pro- lighted with 11.6 penalty area on five occasions in five QSL has come in for heavy criticism tests from some Arsenal fans, entries over the period, consid- games. Central to Umm Salal’s from Arsenal's fans, but after this time in the form of an erably more than the average success has been their miserly four defeats in five Premier advertising van parked outside player in the league. Whilst the defense which has conceded League games, the point was the ground and leaflets about Al Rayyan captain is not afraid only two times in five welcome. the launch of a #NoNewCon- to shoot in front of goal, occasions. His side remain seven tract social media campaign.