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Sunday, August 25, 2019 FOOTBALL Dhul-Hijja 24, 1440 AH Salah scores a GULF TIMES brace as Liverpool sink Arsenal SPORT Page 3

CRICKET Root revives England’s Ashes hopes in third Test Skipper’s unbeaten 75 keeps the hosts in the hunt; England need 203 runs more for a win with seven wickets in hand

AFP Leeds, United Kingdom Scorecard

AUSTRALIA 1st innings 179 all out 8-226 (Cummins), 9-237 (Lan- ngland captain Joe Root ENGLAND 1st innings 67 all out buschagne), 10-246 (Lyon) restored a measure of Bowling: Archer 14-2-40-2 batting pride for his side AUSTRALIA 2nd innings (o/n 171/6) (3nb, 1w); Broad 16-2-52-2 (1w); with an unbeaten 75 in M. Harris b Leach 19 Woakes 10-1-34-1; Leach 11-0-46- theE third Test at Headingley as D. Warner lbw b Broad 0 1; Stokes 24.2-7-56-3 (4nb) Australia were denied an Ashes- clinching win inside three days U. Khawaja c Roy b Woakes 23 yesterday. M. Labuschagne run out 80 ENGLAND 2nd innings At stumps, England were 156- T. Head b Stokes 25 3, still needing a further 203 runs R. Burns c Warner b Hazlewood 7 to reach a target of 359 made all M. Wade c Bairstow b Stokes 33 J. Roy b Cummins 8 the more imposing after they had T. Paine c Denly b Broad 0J. Root not out 75 collapsed to a woeful 67 all out J. Pattinson c Root b Archer 20 in the fi rst innings — their worst J. Denly c Paine b Hazlewood 50 Ashes total for 71 years. P. Cummins c Burns b Stokes 6B. Stokes not out 2 Their second innings threat- N. Lyon b Archer 9 Extras (b4, lb6, nb1, w3) 14 ened to go the same way at 15-2. J. Hazlewood not out 4 But Root, out for ducks in his Total (3 wkts, 72 overs) 156 previous two knocks, was still Extras (b5, lb13, nb7, w2) 27 Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Burns), 2-15 there at the close after a third- Total (all out, 75.2 overs) 246 (Roy), 3-141 (Denly) wicket stand of 126 in 53 overs Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Warner), Bowling: Cummins 15-3-33-1 with Joe Denly (50). (1nb, 1w); Hazlewood 18-6-35-2; Ben Stokes was two not out 2-36 (Harris), 3-52 (Khawaja), 4-97 (Head), 5-163 (Wade), Lyon 21-3-42-0; Pattinson 13-3- from 50 deliveries. 23-0 (2w); Labuschagne 5-0-13-0 An Australia victory would see 6-164 (Paine), 7-215 (Pattinson), the holders retain the Ashes at 2-0 up with two to play in a fi ve- It was his third successive fi fty Labuschagne had moved on match series. since becoming world cricket’s to 70 when, as happened with The odds were still in their inaugural concussion substitute his second ball at Lord’s, he was favour but England now had an in place of star batsman Steve hit on the helmet grille by a Jofra outside shot at a win that would England’s Joe Root (left) in action on the third day of the third Test against Australia at Headingley in Leeds, United Kingdom, yesterday. (Reuters) Smith in the drawn second Test Archer bouncer. rival their celebrated ‘500/1’ suc- at Lord’s. But he was cleared to bat on by cess of 1981 when they beat Aus- when England slumped to 15-2 by Denly, the only England bats- adoring public. getting a bouncer to lift, Denly Australia resumed on 171-6 Australia’s team doctor. tralia at Headingley after follow- losing two wickets for no runs in man to reach double fi gures in Root had a brief scare on 59 was in no position to hook and with Labuschagne 53 not out af- There was now a risk that ing-on. four balls. the fi rst innings with 12, repeat- when given out lbw to Hazle- gloved the ball to Australia cap- ter making 74 — seven more than wickets at the other end might Only three sides, however, Left-hander Rory Burns (sev- edly played and missed either wood but his immediate review tain and wicketkeeper Tim Paine, England managed between them deprive Labuschagne of a hun- have made more than 300 to win en) edged Pat Cummins to David side of being hit on the head by revealed a clear edge which had with England now 141-3. — in the fi rst innings. dred but he ran himself out in- in the fourth innings of a Test at Warner at fi rst slip before Sur- a Cummins bouncer but hung on somehow escaped the attention Labuschagne had made 60 stead. Headingley — Australia (404-3 rey team-mate Jason Roy, yet to in there. of New Zealand umpire Chris LABUSCHAGNE STARS AGAIN when he was dropped for the Ignoring the old rule of ‘never in 1948), England (315-4 against convince as a Test match opener The more-assured Root cover- Gaff aney. Earlier, Marnus Labuschagne third time in his innings by div- run on a misfi eld’ when Den- Australia, 2001) and the West In- for all his World Cup heroics, was drove off -spinner Nathan Lyon, Denly’s single off Lyon saw missed out on a maiden Test ing wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow ly fumbled at third man, La- dies with 322-5 two years ago. bowled playing down the wrong long a thorn in England’s side, for him to fi fty in 134 balls. hundred as he top-scored with when an edge off Stuart Broad buschagne failed to beat a throw No one was consulting that line to Josh Hazlewood, who took four to complete a 120-ball fi fty But when Hazlewood defi ed 80 in Australia’s second-innings appeared to be heading Root’s to Bairstow as his valuable 187- page in the record books, though, 5-30 in the fi rst innings. acclaimed by the Yorkshireman’s the increasingly slow pitch by 246. way at fi rst slip. ball innings came to an end.

ATHLETICS Lyles aiming for gold at Doha 2019 aft er 200m win in Paris AFP Europe, it’s like a hiccup to over- ropean champion Ramil Guliyev Paris come in itself with the travel. came in second in 20.01sec. “When I was coming off the Lyles, who will compete only in turn it felt like such a fast track, the 200m in Doha before attempt- oah Lyles stormed to the fastest I’ve ever felt coming ing a sprint double at the 2020 another impressive off the turn. Tokyo Olympics, has been touted, victory in the 200m “Looking to Doha, it’s not along with Coleman and Michael at yesterday’s Dia- about going after (Usain) Bolt’s Norman, as a possible name to Nmond League meet in Paris, fi r- record or anything like that, but help fi ll the now-retired Usain ing a warning shot a litter over when we get there we’re willing Bolt’s absence from the track. a month before the IAAF World to go after any record.” Should he keep up his form Championships Doha 2019. over 200m, Lyles will be a solid Lyles, who snatched headlines Looking to Doha, it’s not challenger to dominate the event by running a world-leading 19.50 about going aft er (Usain) in coming years. seconds in Lausanne last month Bolt’s record or anything The women’s 100m was won to become the fourth fastest of like that, but when we by Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson, all time over the half-lap race, ‘ the reigning olympic double get there we’re willing to go clocked 19.65sec at a packed Sta- aft er any record. sprint champion, in 10.98sec. de Charlety. There was no Dina Asher- It was perfect timing for the — Noah Lyles, Smith, the in-form Briton in- 22-year-old American, coming after winning 200m in Paris stead in action at her home a day after it was reported that championships. US teammate Christian Coleman Lyles, who ran 19.78sec to win Ivorian Marie-Josee Ta Lou had missed three drugs tests, the 200m at the US champion- claimed second in 11.13, two- leaving the latter staring at a pos- ships, started in lane seven in the hundredths ahead of Dutch sible ban ahead of the September 12th leg of the Diamond League sprinter Dafne Schippers. 28-October 6 world champion- ahead of fi nals in Zurich and “It was a hard race,” said ships in Doha. Brussels on August 29 and Sep- Thompson. “It’s still fi ve weeks “I’m coming off a loaded week tember 6 respectively. to Doha so it’s all preparation at in training so that gives me a lot The American eff ortlessly mo- this stage. I’m feeling great and of confi dence,” Lyles said after tored away from the fi eld down I’m getting in shape step by step, the win. the stadium’s brand-new blue day by day. I’m not at 100 per- “It felt fast. I blinked and all of track laid in preparation for next cent yet because it’s all about the a sudden the race was over. I’ve year’s European championships. world championships. been putting in some great train- In balmy conditions with a “It’s very important to put races ing sessions but it’s always dif- temperature of 30 degrees Celsi- like this in because it was a strong ferent when you’re over here in us (84F), Turkey’s world and Eu- fi eld so to get the victory is great.” Noah Lyles (right) of the US in action during the men’s 200m at the Diamond League event in Paris, France, yesterday. (Reuters) Gulf Times 2 Sunday, August 25, 2019 CRICKET

SECOND TEST COMMENT Boycott slams England for ‘batting Latham ton drives without brains’

AFP on a perfect length and line that Leeds, United Kingdom just left him a touch and he was caught at slip. “No shame in that,” added eoff rey Boycott has torn Boycott, who scored his 100th Black Caps’ reply into England after they fi rst-class hundred in a 1977 collapsed to 67 all out Ashes Test against Australia at in the third Test against Headingley. GAustralia, saying they “batted Boycott was especially criti- without brains” and “threw away cal of World Cup-winner Jason the Ashes”. Roy, drafted in as a Test opener Australia fast bowler Josh this season and now averaging a Hazlewood took fi ve wickets as meagre 9.80 this series after he against Sri Lanka England slumped to their worst was caught in the slips for nine Ashes total in 71 years, with following a loose drive off Hazle- only Joe Denly (12) among the wood. Tourists were 196 for four at stumps, still trailing Sri Lanka by 48 runs home batsmen getting to double “Jason Roy, with no footwork, AFP fi gures on Friday’s second day went fl ashing at a pitched-up Colombo, Sri Lanka at Headingley — former Eng- ball he did not need to play,” said land opening batsman Boycott’s Boycott. Yorkshire home ground. “I don’t care how many runs sparkling century by Tom With Ashes-holders Australia he makes second innings. If he Latham powered New Zealand’s already 1-0 up in the fi ve-Test se- plays another Test as an opener fi rst innings reply after Sri Lan- ries, victory in this match would then someone wants his brains ka posted 244 on day three of see them retain the urn and they tested. theA rain-hit second Test in Colombo yes- consolidated their strong posi- “Roy is brilliant in one-day terday. tion by getting to 171-6 in their cricket but I must say again, Latham, on 111, put together an un- second innings at stumps — a he does not have the defensive beaten 70-run stand with BJ Watling, on lead of 283 runs. technique to stay in consistently 25, to thwart the Sri Lankan bowling at- “What the hell is going on with against the new ball and he has tack that had made early inroads into the this England team? How do you not got the mental aptitude for Kiwi batting. expect to win the Ashes with that patience and concentration that The tourists were 196 for four at sort of batting?,” Boycott wrote is required to open the batting,” stumps, still trailing Sri Lanka by 48 runs. in his column for Britain’s Daily Boycott explained. Earlier Dhananjaya de Silva made 109 Telegraph newspaper published Boycott said the dismissal of to lift Sri Lanka after they resumed the yesterday. Jos Buttler (out for fi ve) summed day on 144 for six following their decision “If England had batted all day up England’s plight. to bat fi rst. they would have a lead of 100. So, “Jos Buttler, straight after But Latham made the day his own as he what did England do? They bat- lunch. They put a short extra registered his 10th Test hundred — fourth ted without any brains and threw cover into him and second ball he against Sri Lanka — to hold the New Zea- away the Ashes,” he added. spooned it straight to the man. I land innings after they lost key wickets Several England players gave do not know what he was think- including skipper Kane Williamson for their wickets away with a scath- ing. 20. ing Boycott, one of the best “It is as if the batsmen can- Latham combined the right dose defensive batsmen cricket has not think straight, cannot handle of caution and aggression as he hit 10 known, absolving only captain pressure. It is as if they do not boundaries in his 184-ball stay at the Joe Root of blame among the top want to stay in and play a few wicket so far. order. maiden overs. “Tom is getting better and better “Only one batsman out of “England shot themselves in every season. He had a great summer seven could say he was got out the foot, even if we accept that back home,” New Zealand paceman Tim by the bowlers,” Boycott insisted. the Australian fast bowling was Southee, who claimed four wickets in the “Joe Root received a lovely ball excellent.” Sri Lankan innings, told reporters. New Zealand’s cricketer Tom Latham plays a shot during the third day of the final cricket Test match between Sri Lanka and New “Great to see him kick on and continue Zealand at P. Sara Oval stadium in Colombo yesterday. / AFP / LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI that form overseas especially to come here and play the way he has played on Southee returned fi gures of 4-63 while conditions that are tough.” pace partner Trent Boult got three wick- Scorecard Off -spinner Dilruwan Perera opened ets. the bowling for Sri Lanka and claimed two De Silva, who was dropped on nine SRI LANKA 1st innings (overnight 144-6) 9-224 (Embuldeniya), 10-244 (De Silva) wickets, dismissing opener Jeet Raval, for by paceman Boult off his own bowling D. Karunaratne c Watling b Southee 65 Bowling: Boult 22.2-6-75-3, Southee 29- nought, and Henry Nicholls, for 15. on day two, put on crucial partnerships L. Thirimanne c Williamson b Somerville 2 7-63-4, De Grandhomme 17-3-35-1 (nb3), Paceman Suranga Lakmal sent Wil- including a 43-run stand for the eighth Somerville 6-3-20-1, Patel 16-4-48-1 liamson trudging back to the pavilion wicket with Suranga Lakmal. K. Mendis c Watling b de Grandhomme 32 after the batsman edged an away-going The middle-order batsman, who hit 16 A. Mathews c Watling b Boult 2 NEW ZEALAND 1st innings delivery to be caught at second slip. fours and two sixes in his 148-ball stay, K. Perera lbw b Boult 0 J. Raval c de Silva b D. Perera 0 Latham and Ross Taylor, who made reached his century with a boundary to D. de Silva b Boult 109 T. Latham not out 111 23, tried to steady the innings by putting third man off Southee as he raised his bat together 50 runs before left-arm spinner to the applauding dressing room. N. Dickwella c Watling b Southee 0 K. Williamson c Mendis b Kumara 20 Lasith Embuldeniya broke the partner- “We were in a bit of a tough situation D. Perera lbw b Patel 13 R. Taylor c de Silva b Embuldeniya 23 ship. and the idea was to try and get to 230. S. Lakmal c Watling b Southee 10 H. Nicholls c de Silva b D. Perera 15 Embuldeniya drew Taylor out of his Great support from Dilruwan and the crease only for the batsman to edge the lower-order guys to help us to get where L. Embuldeniya lbw b Southee 0 B.J. Watling not out 25 ball to slip. we are,” said de Silva. L. Kumara not out 5 Extras (lb1, w1) 2 Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper Niroshan “Very pleased with the eff ort I put in Extras (b1, lb2, nb3) 6 Total (4 wickets, 62 overs) 196 England’s Jason Roy looks dejected after being caught out on the Dickwella had to leave the fi eld after today. I have not been able to come up second day of the third Ashes Test against Australia at Headingley in damaging the little fi nger of his left hand with a big score for quite some time now.” Total (all out, 90.2 overs) 244 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Raval), 2-34 (William- Leeds, United Kingdom, on Friday. (Reuters) while attempting a catch off a Kumara After the fi rst two days were aff ected Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Thirimanne), 2-79 son), 3-84 (Taylor), 4-126 (Nicholls) delivery. by rain, the third day’s play witnessed (Mendis), 3-93 (Mathews), 4-93 (K. Bowling: D. Perera 25-3-76-2, D. de Silva In the morning session, De Silva moved 90 overs despite a 28 minute delay due to Perera), 5-130 (Karunaratne), 6-130 (Dick- 4-1-8-0, S. Lakmal 4-1-9-0, L. Kumara 11-0- SPOTLIGHT from his overnight 32 to complete his fi fth rain in the fi nal session. wella), 7-171 (D. Perera), 8-214 (Lakmal), 44-1 (w1), L. Embuldeniya 18-1-58-1 Test century. Sri Lanka lead the two-match series 1-0. I was trying to give Sri Lanka drop Mathews, Perera for New Zealand T20 series my best: Jadeja AFP the team’s Twenty20 squad for starting September 1 in Kandy. Mathews last featured in a ando, Kusal Perera, Danushka Colombo the three-match series against Mathews and Perera, both aged Twenty20 match in Colombo Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, IANS New Zealand. 30, have been left out of the against the visiting Proteas Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda Veteran paceman Lasith team that has Niroshan Dick- side last year. Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, ri Lanka yesterday Malinga has been retained wella as vice-captain. Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan dropped former captain captain in the shortest format Perera played his last Twen- SRI LANKA SQUAD: Lasith Sandakan, Isuru Udana, Kasun fter scoring a much SAngelo Mathews and with Sri Lanka Cricket naming ty20 against South Africa Malinga (captain), Niroshan Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara and needed half-century all-rounder Thisara Perera from a 15-man squad for the series in March in Johannesburg. Dickwella, Avishka Fern- Lahiru Madushanka. against West Indies on the second day of theA fi rst Test, India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has said that BOTTOMLINE he was trying to deliver his best. Asked to bat fi rst, India was reeling at 189 for 6, before Jadeja ensured the visitors reach a good total and stayed in the middle with the tailenders to help his India stretch lead as Cummins in side reach 297 runs in the fi rst opponents if the lower order is innings with a knock of 58 runs. constantly scoring runs, so it was Speaking after the match on the gameplan from our side,” he Friday, Jadeja said: “When I was added. record books with 95-minute duck batting out there in the middle, He also expressed happiness I just looked to build a partner- after being included in the fi rst AFP fort in the West Indies’ fi rst turn Miguel Cummins in putting on Ravindra Jadeja to give the left- ship. I was focussing to play with Test and felt he has repaid the North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda at the crease, showed his worth 41 for the ninth wicket. arm spinner his second wicket the tailenders. I was just worried faith shown on him by skipper with his off -spin after lunch on Having slipped from 174 for of the innings. about my game, I was trying to Virat Kohli. day three in removing openers fi ve to 179 for eight late on day In facing 45 deliveries for his give my best out on the park.” “Obviously you feel good ndia stretched their lead in Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul two courtesy of the persistent defi ant duck, and spending 95 After stumper Rishabh Pant fell when the skipper believes in you, the afternoon session de- while Kemar Roach produced Ishant Sharma, Kohli and com- minutes in the middle without down early on the second day, Is- thinks of you as the main player. spite continuing concerns a superb delivery to breach the pany would have been expecting getting off the mark, Cummins hant Sharma and Jadeja stitched Luckily, I have been able to repay about the consistency of defence of Cheteshwar Pujara. to fi nish the job swiftly at the goes into the record books for together a 60-run partnership. the faith by performing well,” Itheir top-order batting in get- Agarwal was ruled leg-be- start of play. the second longest innings in Jadeja said that he was con- Jadeja said. ting to 98 for three in the second fore although television replays However, they did not count Test cricket for someone being stantly talking to Ishant to put Meanwhile, he also praised Is- innings at tea on the third day of showed the decision would have on the defi ance of Cummins, dismissed without scoring. together a strong partnership. hant for his decent bowling. the fi rst Test against the West been overturned has it been who hung around with Holder That dubious record is still “I just looked to build a part- “Ishant bowled well. The two Indies yesterday. challenged by the batsman. Roston Chase of West Indies for an hour-and-a-half without held by New Zealander Geoff Al- nership. I was constantly talking caught and bowled were remark- Having dismissed the home There was no possibility of took two wickets against India getting off the mark. lott, who survived for 101 min- to Ishant, and we talked about able, and I believe those two side for 222 in the morning pe- a reprieve though for Rahul, yesterday. (AFP) When the partnership was utes before falling for nought staying out in the middle for as dismissals as the turning point. riod to take a fi rst innings lead bowled round his legs for 38 fi nally broken — Holder caught against South Africa in Auck- long as possible. We were think- On this wicket, you have to of 75 runs, Indian captain Virat when he missed an attempted and pad to give the fast bowler behind off Mohammed Shami land in 1999. ing about one over at a time,” the bowl in the right areas. Ishant’s Kohli and fi rst innings topscorer sweep. his fi fth wicket of the match. for 39 — Cummins saw last man all-rounder said. rhythm improved by each over Ajinkya Rahane will resume after Pujara started brightly in get- India had spent most of the Shannon Gabriel pick up two BRIEF SCORES (at tea): India “I am just very positive in my he bowled. If he did not hold on the break with the visitors seek- ting to 25 but Roach claimed him morning session labouring to singles immediately. 297 (A. Rahane 81, R. Jadeja 58; mind, my shot selection is posi- to two return catches, the situ- ing to work themselves into an for the second time in the match. claim the fi nal two wickets of Attempting to get his fi rst K. Roach 4-66) and 98-3 (KL tive. When Rishabh got out, I was ation might have been diff erent. increasingly dominant position. Whereas in the fi rst innings he the home side’s fi rst innings as runs though, the fast-medium Rahul 38) lead West Indies 222 talking to Ishant about staying Those two dismissals helped us Roston Chase, whose score edged to the wicketkeeper, this West Indies captain Jason Hold- bowler, who bats left-handed, (R. Chase 48; I. Sharma 5-43) by out in the middle and building in turning the momentum into of 48 on Friday, was the best ef- time he was bowled between bat er found sturdy support from was bowled having a swing at 173 runs a partnership. It is not good for our side,” he concluded. Gulf Times Sunday, August 25, 2019 3 FOOTBALL

PREMIER LEAGUE Bury given extra time to fi nd buyer amid expulsion threat Salah scores a brace as Manchester: English League One side Bury have been giv- en extra time by the Football League (EFL) to see if they can complete the sale of the club and secure the finances to complete the season. Liverpool sink Arsenal The third-tier club had faced a deadline of midnight on Friday to satisfy the league of their financial situation Klopp’s title challengers sit at the top of the Premier League with the last 100% record but they asked for more time after receiving a late takeover AFP near post. It was Palace’s fi rst league bid. London win over United since May 1991 and Steve Dale, owner of the their fi rst league victory at Old Traff ord north-west team, said he had since December 1989. accepted a bid from London iverpool extended their perfect Tammy Abraham fi red Chelsea to company C&N Sporting Risk, start to the Premier League sea- their fi rst win of the Frank Lampard era who confirmed they were son as Mohamed Salah inspired as the young striker’s double clinched a in talks to buy the 134-year- an impressive 3-1 win over Ar- 3-2 victory against Norwich. Lampard old club. The EFL board met Lsenal, while Manchester United suf- had gone three games without a victory yesterday and decided to fered fresh penalty woe through Marcus in all competitions since he took over give the parties until 5pm Rashford in their shock home defeat as Chelsea manager, but the Blues leg- local time (1600 GMT) on against Crystal Palace yesterday. end fi nally got off the mark thanks to his Tuesday to complete the deal Jurgen Klopp’s title challengers made faith in Abraham. and satisfy them of the club’s it three successive victories thanks to Abraham had failed to score in his viability. Joel Matip’s opener and a brace from three previous appearances this term, “Whilst no formal sale has Salah, one a stunning solo eff ort. Liver- but the 21-year-old striker bagged his been completed, despite pool sit at the top of the Premier League fi rst goal for the club to put Chelsea reports to the contrary, with the last 100% record, three points ahead at Carrow Road. A pulsating en- enough credible informa- clear of Arsenal, who saw their two- counter saw Todd Cantwell equalise for tion was presented to allow match winning streak ruined by a fatal Norwich before Mason Mount restored the Board to agree to work combination of sloppy defending and Chelsea’s advantage. exclusively with the Club and poor fi nishing at Anfi eld. Teemu Pukki’s fi fth goal in three C&N Sporting Risk over this Arsenal boss Unai Emery will be furi- games this season brought Norwich Bank Holiday weekend in an ous that Reds defender Matip was able back on level terms before half-time, attempt to finalise the change to head home from Trent Alexander- only for Abraham to give Chelsea the of control and achieve a posi- Arnold’s 41st-minute corner. And Ar- points with his predatory second-half tive outcome for Bury FC,” the senal were guilty of another needless fi nish. “I am very happy with the result. EFL said in a statement. error four minutes after half-time when We want to win games, I want to stay in All of Bury’s scheduled former Chelsea defender David Luiz contention. It gives me more determi- games this season have been tugged at Salah, conceding a penalty nation to work,” Lampard said. suspended and the EFL said that the Egypt forward drove home for Leicester got their fi rst victory of the they were not willing to con- his second goal of the season. campaign as they beat Sheffi eld United tinue down that path in order Salah put talk of Arsenal’s revival in 2-1 at Bramall Lane. Sebastien Haller’s to protect the “integrity of perspective when he accelerated away fi rst goals for West Ham ensured his the competition”. The league from Luiz and Nacho Monreal before side cruised to a 3-1 victory at Watford, said that should the deal not fi nishing off a superb solo strike in the while Southampton won 2-0 at 10-man be completed successfully 59th minute. Lucas Torreira got one Brighton. Bury would end their 125-year back in the 85th minute, but it was too membership of the Football late for an Arsenal escape act. ENGLISH PREMIER League. “We were full of power, energy and LEAGUE RESULTS EFL Executive Chair Debbie greed, passion, all what you need to Jevans said the decision was Brighton 0 Southampton 2 (Djenepo 55, have against a good team like Arsenal,” a “final eff ort to allow the Club Redmond 90+1); Liverpool 3 (Matip 41, Klopp said. “We were a bit too greedy the opportunity to survive, to Salah 49-pen, 59) Arsenal 1 (Torreira 85); and didn’t split the runs a bit, which we grant an extension and work talked about, but overall we were really Manchester United 1 (James 89) Crystal exclusively with the Club and in charge of the game.” Palace 2 (Ayew 32, Van Aanholt 90+3); C&N Sporting Risk to see if a On Monday, Manchester United were Norwich 2 (Cantwell 6, Pukki 31) Chelsea takeover is possible. forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Wolves Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (left) scores against Arsenal during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Reuters) 3 (Abraham 3, 68, Mount 17); Sheff ield “No one wants to see a after Paul Pogba’s penalty was saved by United 1 (McBurnie 62) Leicester 2 (Vardy Club lose its place in the Rui Patricio when the France star insist- Patrick van Aanholt grabbed the visi- David de Gea for Palace’s fi rst goal of Daniel James looked to have spared 38, Barnes 70); Watford 1 (Gray 17) West League and we will now work ed on taking over spot-kick duties from tors a 2-1 win in stoppage-time. the season. When Scott McTominay Rashford’s blushes when he bagged his Ham 3 (Noble 3-pen, Haller 64, 73) with the potential purchasers Rashford. Palace took the lead in the 32nd was fouled, Rashford, who had scored second goal for United with a fi ne fi nish Played Friday: Aston Villa 2 (Wesley 22, over the weekend and ahead But Rashford fared no better when minute as keeper Vicente Guaita a penalty against Chelsea in the fi rst in the 89th minute. But a terrible blun- El Ghazi 90+5) Everton 0 of the Tuesday deadline in an he hit a post from the spot in the sec- thumped the ball upfi eld and Jeff rey game of the campaign, took the ball as der by United ‘keeper De Gea proved attempt to find the solutions Playing today ond half against Palace at Old Traff ord, Schlupp fl icked on to Jordan Ayew, who Pogba looked on, but the England strik- decisive in the third minute of added : Bournemouth v Man- required for a sale to take putting United on course for their fi rst was played onside by the slow-to-react er’s spot-kick cannoned back off the time as the Spaniard allowed van Aan- chester City (1300 GMT), Tottenham v place.” defeat of the Premier League season as Harry Maguire and side-footed past woodwork. Former Swansea midfi elder holt’s shot to squeeze under him at the Newcastle, Wolves v Burnley (1530 GMT)

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Solskjaer condemns racist abuse of Chelsea’s fi rst win is child’s play Rashford as Palace stun Man United for manager Lampard AFP AFP Norwich, United Kingdom Manchester rank Lampard planned anchester United manager Ole to celebrate his fi rst win Gunnar Solskjaer condemned as Chelsea manager by racist tweets sent to Marcus playing the doting dad Rashford after the England for- afterF his young side earned a Mward missed a penalty in yesterday’s shock 3-2 victory at Norwich yester- 2-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace. The abuse day. Tammy Abraham’s brace of Rashford came after United midfi elder and Mason Mount’s second goal Paul Pogba was also subjected to racist of the season gave Chelsea their taunts on social media following his failure maiden win of the Lampard era to score a penalty in Monday’s 1-1 draw at at the fourth attempt. Wolves. Pogba had taken penalties duties Abraham opened the scoring from Rashford, who resumed the job against early on with his fi rst senior goal Palace, only to miss from the spot for the for Chelsea before Todd Cantwell fi rst time in his career. “My response is the levelled from close range. Mount same as before the weekend,” said Solska- put Chelsea back in front but jer, when informed of what had happened to Norwich striker Teemu Pukki Rashford. grabbed a second equaliser with “I am lost for words if it keeps going. We his fi fth goal of the campaign be- keep having all these campaigns, saying no fore half-time. to racism, but these people keep hiding be- Abraham clinched the points hind fake identities. It is crazy that we keep in the second half but Chelsea talking about this in 2019.” legend Lampard, whose third The racist incidents provided a nasty child was born last year, had conclusion to a bad afternoon for United no grand plans to celebrate his as they lost their unbeaten start to the sea- maiden victory. “If celebration son thanks to a stoppage-time winner from means a couple of glasses of wine Patrick van Aanholt, which delivered a fi rst while watching the baby monitor league success over United for 28 years for this evening and watching Match the Eagles. of the Day, then that will be it. For Solskjaer, there was only frustration That’s the way life is these days!” as United now have just one win from their he said. fi rst three games, a record that falls short of “For me, I am happy, very the Norwegian’s expectations. “We have to Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford reacts after missing a penalty against Crystal Palace happy with the result. We want learn and we have to learn quickly. The last during the Premier League match at the Old Traff ord in Manchester yesterday. (Reuters) to win games, I want to stay in two games we should have taken six points contention. I didn’t want a slow Chelsea’s striker Tammy Abraham (left) runs over to celebrate with from them if you had been watching as a United looked to have run out of time until “I shall certainly remind myself about start. We had a tough start and I head coach Frank Lampard after scoring against Norwich. (AFP) neutral,” he said. young Welsh winger Daniel James, who had this one for a few days, until I start think- have got to say I am happy with “Of course, we are two penalty misses earlier been booked for diving, produced an ing about Colchester in the League Cup and a lot of the performances. But by Leicester, Chelsea’s travelling sters on the scoresheet. away from sitting here smiling. After half 89th minute equaliser when he produced a then Aston Villa,” Palace boss Roy Hodgson you can’t shout that too loudly support revelled in the fact their “I think it’s the age-old story, an hour of no danger, one long kick and we lovely curling fi nish into the top corner after said. if you aren’t winning games. So goals came from two players who fans like to see players that really didn’t narrow down. Then for the last goal, some sharp interplay had fi nally prised an There was also VAR frustration for Sol- it changes it for me, today. So I have come up through the ranks feel the club,” he added. “They after having all that pressure in the second opening in the Palace rearguard. skjaer as he believed his team were denied am very happy. It gives me more at Stamford Bridge. are not necessarily local boys, half and David (de Gea) had not touched the Yet with the home crowd urging their two further penalties, while Palace defender determination to work. I saw a lot Abraham has spent plenty of not in the modern way of football ball, they scored again.” team on to grab a winner during fi ve minutes Gary Cahill was only given a yellow card of good things, things we can im- time out on loan and excelled at because players are from all over After United had dominated the early of stoppage-time, they were left stunned when he brought down Anthony Martial prove but a real good belief in the Aston Villa in the Champion- the world. But I think they enjoy stages, Palace scored with their fi rst at- as Palace delivered the killer blow. Pogba when he appeared to be the last man just players, the way they played to- ship last season before returning seeing something because if you tack. Jeff rey Schlupp beat Victor Lindelof was guilty of losing possession and the ball outside the area. day. I am happy, but determined, to Chelsea and becoming Lamp- come through the academy here to a long clearance from goalkeeper Vicente was worked towards van Aanholt who had “We know these fi ve days have been dis- I suppose.” ard’s fi rst-choice striker. Mount you should feel the club, if you Guaita, leaving Jordan Ayew to race through charged forward from left-back and al- appointing, one point instead of six, so Thrashed 4-0 by Manchester spent last year with Lampard work daily and come through at a and slot it past De Gea to equal his tally of though his shot was well struck, it squirmed we need to stick together and prepare for United in their Premier League at Derby and the manager was young age your absolute desire is Premier League goals from last season. under De Gea’s body into the net. Southampton next Saturday,” he said. opener and then held at home pleased to see both his young- to do that.” Gulf Times 4 Sunday, August 25, 2019 FOOTBALL

LA LIGA BUNDESLIGA Lewandowski hits hat-trick as Coutinho Bale and James makes Bayern bow

AFP points from their opening two Berlin games after they lost a fi ve-goal thriller to Hoff enheim. The home side looked comfortable after obert Lewandowski second-half goals from Ermin start but Madrid scored a hat-trick to fi re Bicakcic and Ihlas Bebou had Bayern Munich to a 3-0 cancelled out Niclas Fuellkrug’s victory over Schalke opener and Bremen had a player yesterdayR as Brazilian midfi eld- sent off . er Philippe Coutinho made his Yet Yuya Osako drew the visi- Bundesliga debut for the German tors level with a slaloming run giants. Coutinho, on loan from and fi ne fi nish before Pavel Kad- Barcelona, replaced Thomas erabek’s header three minutes held by Valladolid Mueller in the 57th minute, com- from time sealed a 3-2 win for ing on alongside fellow debutant Hoff enheim. Ivan Perisic with Bayern already New Borussia Moenchenglad- Sergi Guardiola levels in the 88th minute as Valladolid snatch a point two goals up. bach boss Marco Rose celebrated Bayern, who have not lost to his fi rst three points as goals from AFP Schalke in the league since 2010, Stefan Lainer, Alassane Plea and Madrid took the lead from a penalty on Breel Embolo saw his side come 20 minutes. from behind to beat Mainz 3-1. English right-back Jon- Freiburg, who thrashed Mainz areth Bale and James Rodriguez joe Kenny, on loan to Schalke 3-0 last weekend, picked up a started together for the fi rst from Everton, clattered into the second win in two as they beat time in over two years yesterday back of Kingsley Coman, and promoted side Paderborn 3-1. but Real Madrid were denied Lewandowski slotted home from Goals from Luca Waldschmidt, Gvictory after a late equaliser by Real Val- 12 yards to score against Schalke Nils Petersen and South Korea’s ladolid grabbed a 1-1 draw. Bale and James for the ninth game in a row. Chang-Hoon Kwon secured both looked certain to leave Madrid this The Polish striker then curled the win after Streli Mamba had summer but each were included by Zine- in a spectacular free-kick to given Paderborn an early lead. dine Zidane in a line-up that was without double the lead just after half- Sebastian Andersson scored Un- a single new signing for the second game time. A resurgent Schalke had ion Berlin’s fi rst ever Bundesliga in a row. several handball penalty appeals goal, cancelling out Ruben Var- Instead, Karim Benzema looked to have turned down as Bayern struggled gas’ opener to secure a 1-1 draw won it when he found the corner in the to maintain control in the sec- with his late equaliser at Augs- 82nd minute at the Santiago Bernabeu ond half. Yet Lewandowski killed burg. but Sergi Guardiola levelled in the 88th the game 15 minutes from time, and Valladolid snatched a point. slipping away from marker Salif BUNDESLIGA RESULTS Sane to slot home his third. With Eden Hazard and Ferland Mendy Schalke 0 Bayern Munich 3 both injured, Luka Jovic and Eder Militao Everton loanee Kenny was not (Lewandowski 20-pen, 50, 75); on the bench and Rodrygo gaining expe- the only unfortunate English- Fortuna Duesseldorf 1 (Morales rience in the B team, there was little to man yesterday, as an own-goal show for Madrid’s 300mn euros spent. from Lewis Baker sent Bayer 82) Bayer Leverkusen 3 (Baker Jovic came on, and hit the crossbar, Leverkusen on their way to a 3-1 6-og, Aranguiz 33, Bellarabi 39); yet this was a team looking back not for- win over Fortuna Duesseldorf Mainz 1 (Quaison 18) Borussia wards, James starting his fi rst Madrid earlier in the day. Moenchengladbach 3 (Lainer 31, match since April 2017, alongside Bale, Chelsea loanee Baker turned Plea 78, Embolo 79); Augsburg whose reintegration continues after his Real Valladolid’s Sergi Guardiola is delighted after scoring the equaliser against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. (Reuters) a Kevin Volland cross into his 1 (Vargas 59) Union Berlin 1 (An- impressive display last weekend against own net after just six minutes. dersson 80); Paderborn 1 (Mamba Celta Vigo. But while Madrid scored three Bale and James were at the heart of area but Sergio Ramos intervened. way into the corner and seemed certain Charles Aranguiz and Karim 3) Freiburg 3 (Waldschmidt in Vigo, they were toothless here, their things, their energy and enthusiasm ap- They might have had an even better to win it for Madrid. But Valladolid had a Bellarabi added two more in a 21-pen, Petersen 40, Kwon 90+1); lack of cutting edge in the fi nal third, so preciated by the crowd, who were in a far chance early in the second period but late trick up their sleeve as Guardiola ran stylish fi rst-half performance Hoff enheim 3 (Bicakcic 54, Bebou often their undoing last season, once more sympathetic mood than during the Guardiola’s ball was blocked when Unal free of Raphael Varane at the back post from Champions League quali- 59, Kaderabek 87) Werder Bremen again meant chances were not converted miserable fi nal weeks of last season. A looked set to go through one-on-one. and poked through the legs of home goal- fi ers Leverkusen. Yet Volland 2 (Fuellkrug 42, Osako 81) into points. Their pursuit of Paris Saint- fresh start meant a clean slate perhaps, James departed just before the hour for keeper Thibaut Courtois. bemoaned his side’s lapse in Playing today (all times GMT): Germain striker Neymar may assume for Bale too, as he sent the kind of shot Vinicius Junior and soon after, Isco was concentration after Alfredo Mo- RB Leipzig v Eintracht Frankfurt added urgency before the transfer win- over the bar that would have brought replaced by Jovic, whose fi rst touch was a rales grabbed a consolation goal SPANISH LA LIGA RESULTS (1330), Hertha Berlin v Wolfsburg dow closes on September 2. whistles from the fans in May but instead fl icked header that grazed the top of the for Duesseldorf. “We deserved Osasuna 0 Eibar 0; Real Madrid 1 (Ben- (1600) Valladolid, who won away at Real Betis now drew applause. crossbar. to win but we are not at 100%. zema 82) Real Valladolid 1 (Guardiola 88) on the opening weekend, rode their luck Bale looked more likely to score than Bale’s run and cross had created it. Val- Otherwise we would have kept a Played Friday: Cologne 1 (Drexler too but defended with determination and anyone else, falling just short of Isco’s ladolid had survived and sensed the ten- Playing today: Alaves v Espanyol (1500), clean sheet,” he said. 29) Borussia Dortmund 3 (Sancho Guardiola’s fi nish was certainly not their cross and then stabbing James’ cutback sion growing. They might have nicked Mallorca v Real Sociedad (1500), Leganes Werder Bremen still have no 70, Hakimi 86, Alcacer 90+4) only chance. Madrid had 14 attempts at wide. James and Benzema both saw a it when Waldo’s cross evaded everyone, v Atletico Madrid (1700), Barcelona v Real goal in the fi rst half and while none of handful of half-chances go begging. Val- including Guardiola who was free at the Betis (1900) them could go down as glaring misses, ladolid broke through once before half- back post. Played Friday: Granada 0 Sevilla 1 (Jordan Valladolid were breathing heavily by the time after Casemiro’s mistake allowed Instead, Benzema scored with a bril- 52); Levante 2 (Roger 68-pen, 73-pen) Vil- break. Enes Unal to storm the Madrid penalty liant strike on the turn, that found its larreal 1 (Moreno 3)

Barca coach wants more from Griezmann as Messi doubtful to face Betis Madrid: Barcelona coach Ernesto know if we can count on him, or not, or “He is settling in more and more every same for Antoine.” Valverde has said he will not risk Lionel to what extent.” day,” Valverde said. “What we want is for Dembele and Suarez are not expected Messi’s fitness against Real Betis today Valverde will be particularly eager to him to be involved a lot in the game. We back until after the international break and insists it is up to everyone to inte- have Messi back after Barcelona’s 1-0 know if he is involved, if he is busy and after they picked up hamstring and grate Antoine Griezmann into the team. opening defeat to Athletic Bilbao in La gets on the ball, he can be decisive. calf injuries respectively. Valverde also Messi has returned to training this week Liga last weekend, during which both “The other day against Athletic at San refused to comment on reports that after the Argentinian sustained a calf Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele were Mames, he was not as involved as we Dembele skipped club medical tests last injury on August 5 and missed the whole injured. would have liked but it is also up to us to weekend to spend time in France. of Barca’s pre-season. It leaves Griezmann as the only fully- help him, to allow our strikers to partici- “I don’t want to talk too much about “If he is not 100 per cent, I think he fit striker for the game at home to Betis pate more. We have to make our posses- the Dembele thing,” Valverde said. won’t play,” said Valverde in a press con- but the Frenchman was quiet against sion more productive, we have to work “People always make a lot out of ference yesterday. “We have to wait for Bilbao, struggling to make an impact on hard to bring them into play because we things to do with him so I am not going Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates after training, I can’t predict anything. I don’t his first competitive start for the club. know they can be dangerous. It is the to comment.” scoring his third goal during the Bundesliga match against Schalke in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany, yesterday. (AFP)

FOCUS SERIE A Tuchel and Valverde Chiellini gets Juve off mark as Ronaldo frustrated AFP tight-lipped over Milan

Neymar future uventus captain Giorgio Chiellini scored the fi rst goal of the Serie A AFP for the fi rst time since injuring season yesterday as the champi- Paris his ankle at the end of May. “He ons kicked off their bid for a ninth can play (against Toulouse) if consecutiveJ title with a run of the mill 1-0 the situation between him and win at Parma. New Juventus coach Mau- aris Saint-Germain the club is clear.....today it’s not rizio Sarri was missing from the sidelines coach Thomas Tuchel clear, perhaps tomorrow it will as he recovers from pneumonia which said Neymar is “ready” be,” he said. will also see him miss next weekend’s for today’s Ligue 1 game Pressed, the German added game against Napoli in Turin. Pbut whether he plays depends on that Neymar was “ready to play” But defender Chiellini made the dif- developments in the Brazilian’s but that the fi nal decision rested ference early, connecting with an Alex bid to leave the club. Barcelona with the club’s sporting director. Sandro cross off a corner to fi re in after 21 coach Ernesto Valverde, mean- “Perhaps you have to speak to minutes at the Ennio Tardini stadium in while, claimed yesterday that he Leonardo,” he suggested. “Ney- Emilia Romagna. It was just the 27th goal is in the dark over any fresh bid mar’s had a good week (training) in Chiellini’s 14-year Juventus career. for the 27-year-old. with all the squad, a week with a Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ron- Neymar is angling for a return lot of work and intensity.” aldo drew a blank as he begins his second to Spain but reports this week The transfer window closes in season in Italy with a goal ruled off side suggest PSG have rejected an of- France, Spain and Italy on Sep- and several missed eff orts. Sarri’s arrival Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini (left) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Italian Serie A match against Parma. (AFP) fer from Real Madrid of 100mn tember 2, meaning time is fast has been hailed as the dawn of a new era euros ($111mn) plus players. running out for a deal to be done. for Juventus with a diff erent exciting style of Sami Khedira. “What will Sarri say to Ronaldo squandered a golden chance fi ve minutes later with Parma goalkeeper Neymar arrived amid deafen- Valverde remained tight-lipped of football. us? He will congratulate us,” said Brazil- after half an hour controlling a Higuain Luigi Sepe denying the Portuguese at full ing fanfare from Barcelona two when asked again about Neymar But the Turin giants new-look side ian winger Costa cross with his chest but sending wide stretch. years ago as the world’s most in a Barcelona press conference resembled Massimiliano Allegri’s last “We took three important points, play- across the face of goal. The Portuguese Brazilian Hernani missed a chance to expensive player in a 222mn eu- yesterday. season. Apart from returning Argentine ing in Parma is always very diffi cult for looked to have made up for his earlier er- snatch a point for Parma rifl ing a freekick ros deal. Barca’s own attempt to “There are certain players like forward Gonzalo Higuain, back from a Juventus. It was a diffi cult game, physical. ror on 34 minutes, fi nishing off a Douglas just wide allowing the champions off the bring him back to the Camp Nou Neymar that create a lot of inter- loan to Chelsea, preferred up front along- We need to improve at the level of fi tness, Costa eff ort into the back of goal. hook to fi nish with all three points. Carlo on loan with an obligation to buy est,” Valverde said. side Ronaldo in place of Paulo Dybala, the but we are on the right track.” The goal was ruled off side after con- Ancelotti’s Serie A runners-up Napoli for 160mn euros at the end of the “I don’t know anything about time was the same as last season. Parma fi nished 14th on their return to sultation with VAR with Ronaldo deemed were in action later last night in Fioren- season has also been reportedly it, we’ll see what happens. First Juventus’s new Dutch defender Mat- Serie A last season having been demoted to be marginally off side. tina. rejected in Paris. of all, he is a PSG player and we thijs De Ligt remained on the bench with following bankruptcy. But they pushed The fi ve-time Ballon d’Or winner again The southerners have not won the title Tuchel toyed with report- have to worry more about to- Welsh international Aaron Ramsey not in the champions hard with Robert Inglese proved wasteful after an hour latching on since 1990 and open in Tuscany with new ers yesterday when asked if his morrow’s game than anything the group, while French midfi elder Adr- denied twice in the fi rst half by Juventus to a Costa cross but sending the ball over French signing Franck Ribery set to make wantaway forward would fi gure else.” ien Rabiot came on after an hour in place goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. the top of goal. His frustration continued his debut for the hosts. Gulf Times Sunday, August 25, 2019 5 SPORT

BASKETBALL WORLD CUP Mills shoots Australia to fi rst-ever win over USA AFP Popovich’s squad lacks a host of Los Angeles Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma was Melbourne top NBA stars with the likes of LeBron ruled out with a sore ankle. In contrast, Australia’s Patty Mills James, James Harden, Anthony Davis Australia stuck with the same experi- scored 30 points against and Kawhi Leonard all opting out of the enced fi ve, led by Mills, Bogut, Ingles, the United States. an Antonio Spurs’ guard Pat- World Cup. But it still boasts plenty of Aron Baynes and Jock Landale. The ty Mills sank a game-high 30 young talent and they comfortably beat fi ve-time world champion Americans points as Australia beat the Australia 102-86 in a warm-up game on hit their fi rst points within 20 seconds United States for the fi rst time Thursday, on the back of a 90-81 vic- and with good off ence and fi nishing everS yesterday, stunning the basketball tory over second-ranked Spain in Cali- hung on to the lead, ending the fi rst world champions 98-94 in a huge up- fornia this month. quarter with a 26-23 advantage. set. Andrew Bogut added 16 points with “We need to congratulate the Boom- But quick points at the re-start from nine rebounds and four assists while ers, they were really great tonight,” said veteran Bogut drew Australia level and Joe Ingles scored 15 and seven assists in Popovich, who referred to Mills, who in a seesawing second quarter they front of 52,079 fans in Melbourne — the he coaches at the Spurs, as “a pain in traded buckets before a late two-point- biggest ever crowd to watch a game of the arse”. “We looked discombobulated er from San Antonio Spurs’ Derrick hoops in Australia. at times, made some poor decisions,” White gave the visitors a 49-48 fi rst- Boston’s Kemba Walker led USA with he added of his team, who gave up a half lead. 22 points off the bench, but it wasn’t 10-point third-quarter lead. As they did in their match on Thurs- enough to prevent a rare defeat for “Some of it is expected with a new day, the USA lifted in the third quarter Gregg Popovich’s world number one group, trying to learn new systems so and raced 10 points clear. But back-to- team in a massive wake-up call ahead it’s not surprising. But the Aussies gave back threes from Mills closed the gap of the World Cup in China, which tips us a great lesson in far as where you and two late free throws from Chris off on August 31. want to be and how you want to play in Goulding remarkably sent the Boomers “The support has been amazing. this type of competition. We’re getting into the fi nal quarter with a 78-76 lead. We’re very proud to represent these used to that and hopefully learning.” With the record crowd roaring them fans and in the right way. We’re doing Skipper Walker explained the loss on, Australia took control as the clock it as a team, as a group,” said veteran by saying: “They wanted it more than ticked down to close an epic victory Mills, who was electric in the fourth us tonight. Lesson learned.” The USA in their fi nal game before heading to quarter. This is a building block for us, tinkered with their line-up, with only China. Team USA have one more we are just taking it step-by-step. It’s two starters from the fi rst game — Do- warm-up left, against Canada in Syd- just nice to see our progress.” novan Mitchell and Myles Turner. ney tomorrow.

MLB Lakers to sign Howard to a non-guaranteed contract

By Tania Ganguli Lakers, against his wishes. Los Angeles Times He spent one season with the Lakers, sometimes clashing Gregorius helps with Kobe Bryant and battling a Looking to rewrite his LA story, severe shoulder injury during it Dwight Howard is on the verge but still playing in 76 games. of becoming a Laker again, ac- The following summer, the cording to sources familiar with Lakers tried desperately to the deal. Howard, an eight-time keep Howard, even erecting All-Star who won three defen- a billboard asking him to stay. Yankees beat Dodgers sive player of the year awards, Howard left and signed with has agreed to a buyout with the the Houston Rockets instead. Memphis Grizzlies. The Rockets got as far as the Yankees won after getting swept in a three-game series at the Athletics last week He will sign a one-year non- Western Conference finals with guaranteed deal with the Lakers Howard on their team. Reuters once he clears waivers. The Howard left Houston after Los Angeles move brings back a contro- three seasons and signed with versial center who spent the his hometown Atlanta Hawks. 2012-13 season with the Lakers The Hawks traded Howard to idi Gregorius hit two home runs, before shunning the team in the Charlotte Hornets in the including a grand slam, while free agency. Howard worked summer of 2017. He averaged Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez out for the Lakers this week. 16.6 points and 12.5 rebounds and Gleyber Torres also went According to a person famil- with the Hornets during the deepD on Friday as the New York Yankees iar with his condition, Howard is 2017-18 season and played in 81 took the opener of a showdown series by fully healthy, having taken last games. crushing the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-2. season to recover from surgery A year later, the Hornets In an interleague battle between the on a disc in his lower back. The traded Howard to the Brooklyn teams with the best records in the majors, Lakers had only one center on Nets, who waived him. Howard Gregorius followed an intentional walk to their roster after losing DeMar- then signed with the Washing- Sanchez in the fi fth inning with his 12th cus Cousins to a torn anterior ton Wizards, but injuries once home run of the season and fi fth career cruciate ligament last week. again hampered his ability to slam. He hit a solo shot in the ninth in- They also worked out Joakim contribute. He had surgery to ning. Three of the home runs, including Noah and Mareesse Speights repair a disc on his lower back one by Gregorius, came against Dodg- this week. Howard has become in November and only played in ers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, who en- a journeyman late in his career nine games last season. tered with a National League-leading but has started all but one game The Grizzlies, to whom the 1.64 ERA that increased to 1.95. Yankees in which he’s played throughout Washington Wizards traded starter James Paxton (10-6) gave up two his career. Drafted out of high Howard this summer, never runs on fi ve hits over 6 2/3 innings, with school in 2004 by the Orlando intended to keep Howard. 11 strikeouts, including three against NL Magic, he spent eight seasons They gave Howard’s agent MVP candidate Cody Bellinger. there, taking Orlando to the permission to speak with other The Yankees won after getting swept in 2009 NBA Finals, in which they teams to find a landing spot for a three-game series at the Oakland Ath- lost to the Lakers. Howard. Cousins’ injury gave letics earlier this week. In the summer of 2012, the Howard a chance at redemp- Ryu (12-4) matched a season high with Magic traded Howard to the tion. seven earned runs, the same number he gave up June 28 at Colorado. That outing was the only other time he went less than fi ve innings in a start, FOCUS not counting his 1 2/3 innings at the St. Louis Cardinals on April 8, when he left early with a groin injury. The Dodgers, who were coming off a home sweep of Subban and Vonn the Toronto Blue Jays, lost in their ball- park for just the second time in their last announce engagement 12 games. They are now 51-17 at Dodger Stadium. The Yankees, one of two major league teams with more home runs than the Dodgers, fi rst showed off their power in the third inning, when Judge and Sanchez went deep. Judge’s low line drive into the seats in left fi eld was his 14th of the sea- son, while Sanchez hit his 29th and the 100th of his career. With the bases full against Ryu in the fi fth, Gregorius hit the fi rst pitch he saw over the wall in right-centre fi eld for a 6-1 lead. When Gio Urshela followed two pitches later with a double, Ryu’s day was done. Torres hit his 32nd home run of the season in the sixth inning off Yimi Garcia, giving him nine in his past 12 games. He P K Subban (left) and Lindsey Vonn. (AFP) has hit safely in 14 of 17 interleague games this season. Enrique Hernandez had two Reuters all time highest 82 World Cup, hits for the Dodgers, while rookie Will Los Angeles 20 World Cup titles, three Ol- Smith struck out four times. The Yankees ympic medals and eight World New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius hits a grand slam home run in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Championship medals. Vonn an MLB match at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday. (USA TODAY Sports) lympic gold-medal previously was married to fellow MLB RESULTS skier Lindsey Vonn is Olympic skier Thomas Vonn and have won 10 consecutive games against Rays from Miami in a July 31 deal, and he Tate, called up earlier in the day from engaged to be married later dated Tiger Woods after her St. Louis Cardinals 8 bt Colorado left-handed starters. threw six shutout innings, giving up only Triple-A Norfolk, threw three scoreless for the second time. divorce. She met Subban, 30, at Rockies 3; Boston Red Sox 11 bt San two hits while striking out fi ve and walk- innings of relief after Blach left. It was NewO Jersey Devils defenseman P the Nickelodeon sports show in Diego Padres 0; Washington Nationals MEADOWS’ GRAND SLAM KEYS ing one. Tate’s fourth major league game. K Subban and Vonn announced 2017 before going public with the 9 bt Chicago Cubs 3; New York Yankees RAYS’ WIN OVER ORIOLES Richards had a no-decision in his fi rst Kevin Kiermaier started things in the their engagement on Friday in relationship in June 2018. Like 10 bt Dodgers 2; Atlanta Braves 2 bt Austin Meadows belted a grand slam, the start but shut down the Orioles in this second with an RBI double that gave the an article in Vogue. “Right off Vonn, Subban also has an Olym- New York Mets 1 (14 innings); Milwau- key hit in a seven-run second inning that one. This victory also ended a personal Rays a 1-0 lead. After that, Tampa Bay the bat, I knew he was diff erent,” pic gold medal in his possession. kee Brewers 6 bt Arizona Diamond- helped the visiting Tampa Bay Rays de- seven-game losing streak for Richards. scored six times with two outs. Mike Vonn, a four-time Olympian, The three-time NHL All-Star backs 1; Houston Astros 5 bt Los feat the Baltimore Orioles 7-1 on Friday He had not won since June 2 while start- Zunino lined a two-run single to right said in the article. “But I’d been and former Norris Trophy re- Angeles Angels 4; Detroit Tigers 9 bt night. Meadows also homered in Thurs- ing for the Marlins at San Diego. that made it 3-0. Meadows later got his married before, so I was pretty cipient won gold while playing day’s come-from-behind 5-2 win, but Aaron Slegers threw the fi nal three in- grand slam, a blast to right-centre that hesitant to let myself think that I for Canada in the 2014 Sochi Minneapolis Twins 6; Tampa Bay Rays that was a solo shot. nings and earned his fi rst career save. gave the Rays a 7-0 lead. could fi nd someone that I would Games while Vonn has three Ol- 7 bt Baltimore Orioles 1; Miami Marlins This game was a diff erent story, as Baltimore starter Ty Blach (0-2) gave up The Orioles now have given up 261 want to be married to again. After ympic medals, including a gold 19 bt Philadelphia Phillies 11; Cleveland Meadows’ fi rst career grand slam broke seven runs and nine hits in his four in- home runs this year; they set a new sin- a few months of dating, I knew he in downhill skiing. Indians 4 bt Kansas City Royals 1; Pitts- things open pretty quickly and gave the nings of work. Blach struck out two and gle-season record in that category when was the one I wanted to be with, “Lindsey’s the best thing burgh Pirates 3 bt Cincinnati Reds 2; Rays command. Tampa Bay also received walked two, and threw 47 pitches in the allowing two home runs in Thursday’s though. He makes me happy, and that’s ever happened to me,” Chicago White Sox 8 bt Texas Rangers a strong eff ort from starter Trevor Ri- second inning alone. loss. Baltimore scored its only run of the he’s so positive and energetic.” Subban said in the article. Sub- 3; Seattle Mariners 7 bt Toronto chards (4-12).This was just his second The Orioles did get some help from night on a home run, from Jonathan Vil- Vonn, 34, is the champion fe- ban proposed last month at the game — and start — since coming to the their bullpen after that. Rookie Dillon lar, in the eighth. male Alpine racer having won couple’s home in Los Angeles. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, August 25, 2019 SPORT

RUGBY SPOTLIGHT Scots redeem England run Irish themselves ragged to deliver with victory over France AFP Edinburgh, United Kingdom

World Cup warning hris Harris’ converted second-half try gave ‘It was definitely fun... exciting thing is that we have our best rugby ahead of us’ Scotland their fi rst win in six Tests as they beat CFrance 17-14 in a Rugby World AFP Twickenham, United Kingdom Cup warm-up Test at Murray- fi eld yesterday. Harris’s eff ort and one from oe Cokanasiga scored Sean Maitland at the end of the twice as England laid fi rst-half — also converted by down a warning to their Greig Laidlaw — helped the hosts Rugby World Cup ri- win from behind and bounce valsJ with an astonishing 57-15 back from the humiliating 32-3 trouncing of Ireland at Twick- thrashing by Les Bleus last week- enham on Saturday. end. England ran in eight tries in Pleasing for head coach Gre- all — man of the match Manu gor Townsend — who made 14 Tuilagi getting one of them — as changes to the starting XV from they recorded both their highest the fi rst match — was they held score and largest winning mar- the French scoreless in the sec- gin over their opponents. ond-half. Worryingly he lost For Ireland, who won the Six three players to injuries in Tom- Nations Grand Slam and beat my Seymour, Sam Skinner and New Zealand last year, it was Blade Thomson on his debut. a bitter reality check in a game France, like last weekend, they had hopes of becoming scored early on with Clermont world number one. winger Damian Penaud dotting “That is not up to the stand- down after 110 seconds, repeat- ard that we set ourselves. It is ing club team-mate, Alivereti hard to describe it without using Raka’s feat in Nice. a lot of profanity,” Ireland cap- “It was a great opportunity for tain Rory Best told broadcasters us after last weekend and win- Sky Sports. ning makes it all the sweeter,” Scotland’s Chris Harris (right) “We are nowhere near where Scotland captain Laidlaw said. is tackled by France’s Damian we need to be, the only upside “We never started well but we Penaud during the match in is that it is the middle of August dug in deep and had trust in the Edinburgh yesterday. (AFP) and not the middle of Septem- group. Our defence went a long ber.” way to winning the game — and An error by Finn Russell cost England skipper Owen Farrell international rugby is all about the Scots dearly a few minutes laid down a marker for his side winning,” he added. later. to improve even further after the The visitors’ captain Guilhem The fl y-half failed to gather a record victory. Guirado praised his side’s impres- high ball giving the French pos- “It was defi nitely fun. I love it sive start but complained about session. When it came to Gael every time I put this jersey on. their failure to cross the Scottish Fickou he burst through mid- We are building,” Farrell said. line during the fi nal 40 minutes. fi eld, leaving Maitland and Ryan “The most exciting thing is England’s Manu Tuilagi (centre) celebrates scoring a try with teammates Tom Curry (right) and Joe Cokanasiga (left) during the international “We started very well, we put a Wilson trailing, then passed to that we have our best rugby Test rugby union match against Ireland at Twickenham yesterday. (AFP) lot of pressure on them with our Penaud who ran it in. ahead of us.” defence. It’s a pity we lacked ac- Ramos converted for 14-3. Both sides came roaring out heel is his defence and he was TREMENDOUS TUILAGI half also without Conor Murray The hosts crossed the curacy,” Guirado told France TV. Russell tried to redeem him- of the blocks in the baking heat left grasping at air as he tried Tuilagi once again caused panic who had taken a knock to the 50-point mark with a quarter of “What we lacked was keep- self with a beautiful chip over with Farrell landing the fi rst to tackle Cokanasiga, who in the Irish defence and Stock- head in the fi rst-half from Jonny an hour to play. ing the ball well, as to be more the French backline but Maitland blow with a penalty in the sev- brushed him aside to touch dale repeated an error from the May’s shoulder and had briefl y Flanker Curry crossed before dangerous. We also scored zero could only fl ick it back inside on enth minute. down in the 13th minute — Tu- fi rst try in coming on off his returned after passing a Head Cokanasiga added his second points in the second-half which the touchline and Stuart Hogg The visitors struck back as ilagi’s decoy run having sucked wing and Tom Curry fed Elliot Injury Assessment. after 66 minutes with Farrell is a shame,” he added. was unable to gather the ball. Rob Kearney’s superb long pass in the Irish defence. Daly who ran in to touch down. Five minutes after the break adding the two points. Maitland had more joy at the found Jacob Stockdale as the Farrell failed to convert but Tuilagi did not bother setting Ireland lost a line-out and Bundee Aki had a rough day OMINOUS START end of the fi rst-half as he went Ulster winger touched down for England had their noses in front anyone up for the third try going ended with Maro Itoje bursting defending Tuilagi but once the Things looked ominous for the over for his 12th Test try after his fi fth Test try. at 8-7. on his own paying little notice to through the middle, to score un- latter had gone off he gained a Scots early on as Penaud inter- Russell found him out wide. Ross Byrne, making his maid- Byrne, who is vying to be on Stockdale’s eff ort at a tackle as der the posts. little consolation in breaking cepted and ran half the length Laidlaw knocked over an ex- en start at fl y-half, showed no the plane to Japan to back up Farrell added the extras. Tuilagi caused more havoc through from outside the 22, of the pitch to touch down in the cellent touchline conversion to nerves as he converted from the injured Joey Carbery and Ireland’s problems deepened in the Irish defence setting up fending off Daly to touch down. second minute. Thomas Ramos send the hosts in at half-time wide out on the left for 7-3. number one Johnny Sexton, shortly before half-time as vet- George Kruis to go over for a try Luke Cowan-Dickie rounded converted. trailing by just four points, 14-10. For all Jordan Larmour’s slotted over an excellent penalty eran prop Cian Healy limped off . which Farrell converted for 36- off Irish misery with another try Laidlaw reduced the defi cit The Scots went ahead for the style in attack, his Achilles to give the Irish a 10-8 lead. The Irish began the second- 10. — George Ford converting. shortly afterwards with a penalty. fi rst time in the match on the The Scots showed much more hour mark as Laidlaw fed Harris, enterprise than in the previous who crashed over. Laidlaw added BOTTOMLINE clash, Sean Maitland making a the extras to lead 17-14. great solo break deep into French After that, the Scots closed territory but his good work was the French down, extinguishing spoiled as the home side conced- any hopes the visitors had of just Kosovo, an unexpected world judo stronghold ed a penalty allowing the visitors their fourth away win since the to relieve the pressure. last World Cup. AFP trainees. “Kosovo was in ruins Pristina, Kosovo and children traumatised,” he recalled. FOCUS Kelmendi, who lived “100 he young and tiny na- metres from the hall”, was tion of Kosovo has among those who joined the emerged as a world judo club, the coach recalled. Boks wing Dyantyi power, its unexpected “I didn’t know anything about Tsuccess spearheaded by diminu- this sport, but I was happy,” Kel- tive Olympic champion Majlin- mendi said. “We children had tests positive for da Kelmendi. nothing else to do.” Eleven years after it gained Kelmendi’s exploits in win- independence from Serbia and ning world and Olympic titles banned substance in her fi rst summer Olympics, brought her compatriots into Kelmendi’s success in Rio in the streets to celebrate. Reuters basis. I have been tested before 2016 enabled Kosovo and its “We have transformed chil- Cape Town, South Africa and again, since this test. 2mn people to beat its big broth- dren who have suff ered from “Taking any prohibited sub- er Albania that has never won an the war into world champions, stance would not only be irrespon- Olympic medal in any sport. measuring ourselves against outh Africa wing Aphiwe sible and something that I would Kelmendi goes in search of countries like France, Japan or Dyantyi has tested posi- never intentionally do, it would more gold when she competes in Brazil that have thousands of tive for an unspecifi ed also be senseless and stupid.” the world championships in To- judokas available to build their banned substance but Dyantyi revealed he had tested kyo that start today. teams,” Kuka said. deniesS wrongdoing and has re- positive on July 2 but had also Kosovo’s judo success story For Kosovo-based sports jour- quested his B sample to analysed. undergone a test on June 15 which was created by coach Driton nalist Arsim Maxhera, Kelmendi The 2018 World Rugby Break- did not return a positive fi nding. “Toni” Kuka in the small town “is the biggest success story in the through Player of the Year test- “I want to apologise in ad- of Pec where he founded a judo In this June 22, 2019, picture, Majlinda Kelmendi of Kosovo (left) in action with Russia’s Natalia Kuziutina country, not just in sport”. ed positive during a Springbok vance to my team mates and club with his brothers. in the women’s judo under 52kg gold medal bout at the 2019 European Games in Minsk, Belarus. (AFP) “There is no title that has es- training camp last month and management at the Lions and A training room with a leaky caped” these judokas “who all said he was determined to clear Springboks, my friends and my roof and worn carpets did not ($281,000) annually, Kuka said, said 48-year-old Kuka. by the “father of the nation” Ib- come from a single neighbour- his name. family for the negative impact prevent the club from produc- from the government’s entire Most come from the same rahim Rugova, ethnic Albanian hood”, he said. “I want to deny ever taking any this news may have. ing champions — the authorities sports budget of 17mn euros. neighbourhood. athletes quit Yugoslav squads. Their success is contagious — prohibited substance, intention- “Personally, this game has given decided only recently to fi nance By creating such a powerful “My Olympic dream was bro- because Pec, or Peja in Albanian, ally or negligently to enhance my me an opportunity to inspire not its renovation. REVENGE ON HISTORY team Kuka is taking revenge on ken,” recalled Kuka, adding that now has fi ve judo clubs, with up performance on the fi eld. I believe only the young rugby hopefuls but “I’m sure that if there was no Kelmendi, who also holds Eu- Kosovo’s turbulent history that he had beaten all the Barcelona to 500 people in training. in hard work and fair play,” Dyantyi South Africans across all walks of Toni, Kosovo would not have all ropean titles and dominated took a heavy toll on his own ca- medallists in the runup to the The prodigies from Asllan said in a statement yesterday. life and that is something I do not these medals today, especially the European Games in Minsk reer. Games. Ceshme now want to conquer “I have never cheated and take for granted and something I the Olympic gold,” Kelmendi, this year, is the brightest star on In 1992, as the Barcelona Ol- Tokyo, where the world champi- never will. The presence of this would defi nitely not risk by doing 28, told AFP. Kuka’s team. But she is no longer ympics approached, Kuka was TRAINING IN RUINS onships will serve as a warm-up prohibited substance in my body a stupid act like this.” She became a national hero alone. She now leads a group the best Yugoslav judoka in the At the end of the 1998-1999 event for the 2020 Olympics. has come as a massive shock to Bok coach Rassie Erasmus will thanks to her exploits in Rio, whose members aspire for their men’s under 71kg division and war, when Nato air strikes forced Gjakova said he planned to go me and together with my man- announce his Rugby World Cup which followed world titles in share of world titles. one of the favourites for a medal. Belgrade to withdraw its troops to Japan “to crown all this work agement team and experts ap- squad tomorrow but had already 2013 and 2014. Distria Krasniqi, 25, is world But since 1989, the situation from Kosovo, Kuka founded his with a medal”. pointed by them, we are doing ruled Dyantyi out of contention In the poor Balkan country, junior champion and Nora Gja- had been tense in Kosovo whose club at Asllan Ceshme, a poor Kuka feels his group’s success everything we can to get to the for selection due to a hamstring where football is the main sport, kova, 28, won bronze at the Eu- ethnic Albanian majority was un- neighbourhood in the foothills has helped him to fulfi l his own source of this and to prove my injury. the judokas can hardly expect ropean championships. der the yoke of the then Belgrade of the mountains, which the in- Olympic ambitions that were innocence. The wing made his interna- to be top of the list for fi nan- “In diff erent age categories, strongman Slobodan Milosevic. habitants found had been largely thwarted by war. “My dream that “As a professional sportsman tional debut against England in cial aid from the authorities. we now have 14 judokas who Within a wider civic resist- destroyed when they returned. was half-broken one day is now on national and international June last year and played 13 tests They receive only 250,000 euros have reached the highest level,” ance movement, orchestrated Their children were his fi rst 100 percent achieved,” he said. level, we get tested on a regular for the Boks, scoring six tries. Gulf Times Sunday, August 25, 2019 7 SPORT

GOLF MOTORCYCLING Late birdie lift s Marquez on pole at Koepka to lead Silverstone AFP Marquez leads the MotoGP Silverstone, United Kingdom championship standings by 58 ‘I mean, the lead’s always nice, so I’ll take that. I played good today. I putted really good. ’ points from Andrea Dovizioso, who sets off from the third row orld champion Marc after placing seventh in qualify- Marquez secured ing. pole for the Brit- But the 26-year-old is by no ish MotoGP with a means taking a seventh win of Wtrack record time at Silverstone the season for granted after his yesterday as French rookie Fabio 60th pole in the top division. Quartararo’s fortune ran out. “With this surface and perfect Quartararo shone in the fi rst conditions the race will be very three practice sessions, with the physical and demanding,” said 20-year-old on Yamaha’s SRT Marquez. satellite bike clocking a track “Yamaha are riding a good record time on the freshly laid wave and they’ll be the main op- surface and lowering his own position.” mark again in third free practice. One man who may beg to diff er But in fourth free practice and on that analysis is Yamaha’s leg- then fi nal qualifying, Marquez end Rossi, who had his maiden for Honda stole the show with a qualifying lap cancelled for ex- new fastest time of one minute ceeding track limits. and 58.168 seconds. “I’m very, very happy,” said the The Spaniard, starting from father of the MotoGP pack, the pole for the fourth consecutive 40-year-old starting from the race, is joined on the front row on front row for the fi rst time since Sunday by Italian veteran Valen- Austin in April. tino Rossi. “My pace is quite good, I had The seven-time MotoGP some traffi c and had to wait and world champion pushed his fac- had to do everything in one go, it tory Yamaha to within 0.428sec was a great lap.” of Marquez with the pair joined “I’m hoping now for good at the head of British grid by weather,” he said of a race that Australian Jack Miller on Duca- was cancelled 12 months ago due ti’s Pramac. to standing water on the circuit. Free-practice trailblazer The British crowd’s hopes of Quartararo had to settle for local favourite Cal Crutchlow fourth, and the second row, after taking pole evaporated when he his eff ort of 1min 58.612sec. slid off his Honda.

Brooks Koepka of the United States and caddie Ricky Elliott walk to the 17th tee during the second round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

AFP position in the playoff standings, the tournament as the top seed, Koepka had three straight I did today, I feel like I can really Atlanta that put him on 13-under par — awarded a two-stroke edge after birdies at the sixth, seventh and do some damage this weekend,” one stroke in front of American his win in the BMW Champion- eighth, but like most he strug- Thomas said. “I just have to real- Thomas and Northern Ireland ship — was alone atop the lea- gled on a tough back nine after a ise that I played really well today.” orld number one star McIlroy. McIlroy capped his derboard at 13- under through weather delay. American Xander Schauff ele was Brooks Koepka 67 with back-to-back birdies, 16 holes but slipped back with a “The rain delay kind of killed alone in fourth, his eagle at 18 birdied the 18th including a bravura fi nish at 18 bogey at 17 and fi nished with a any momentum I had,” he said. giving him a 69 that put him two hole Friday, capping where he was in the trees off the two-under 68. “I didn’t feel like I had any good shots off the lead. aW three-under-par 67 to take a tee. Koepka who started the week golf shots after the rain delay, but Thomas said the day “felt one-shot lead over Justin Tho- He used a fi ve-wood to fi re out three shots off the lead, couldn’t that’s part of golf. Everybody’s more normal” after the oddity mas and Rory McIlroy in the US and ended up with a good lie in get his eight-foot eagle putt to got to deal with the same thing. I of arriving at the fi rst tee of the PGA Tour Championship. the rough between two bunkers drop at the last, but he tapped in just didn’t execute.” tournament on Thursday already Koepka posted his second near the green. for his fourth birdie of the day. Thomas also had three front- credited with a two-shot lead. straight 67 at East Lake in At- “I felt comfortable doing it,” “I mean, the lead’s always nice, nine birdies, but he was one- The new format is designed to lanta, Georgia. Mcilroy said. “I made a four off so I’ll take that,” Koepka said. “I over on the back. He, too, said he ensure that whoever wins the Under the “staggered start” a bad tee shot, so I’m not com- played good today. I putted re- “kind of had a hard time getting season fi nale will also claim the format by which players were plaining.” ally good. Short game was pretty back into it” after the delay. cumulative FedEx Cup playoff ti- Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez in action yesterday. spotted strokes based on their Thomas — who went into solid.” “But if I continue to drive it like tle and its $15mn top prize.

BOTTOMLINELPGA BOTTOMLINE Same-again Larsen edges clear in Toronto Chair umpire Ramos has

AFP Toronto lasting impact on US Open enmark’s Nicole Broch Reuters but not one whose abilities could in- Larsen delivered a sec- New York dulge his interests. “I realised that as a ond consecutive six-un- player it would be very difficult to get der-par 66 to open up a where I wanted to go,” Ramos said in a one-shotD lead at the halfway stage ntil last year’s US Open, 2015 interview with Portuguese news- of the LPGA Tour’s Canadian Pa- few tennis fans could iden- paper Observador. cifi c Women’s Open on Friday. tify a tournament official “I was very interested in languages, Larsen, chasing her fi rst LPGA U by name. That changed dur- travel, interacting with people from Tour victory, carded eight bird- “I didn’t make the team either ing the 2018 women’s final when chair other countries and cultures. And as ies in another low-scoring day at this year, and when that’s an- umpire Carlos Ramos shot to promi- a tennis player, I could not have that. Magna Golf Club near Toronto. nounced I seem to play a lot bet- nence after a seismic clash with Ser- In officiating, I saw that door open Two bogeys on the 4th and 15th ter,” Larsen said. ena Williams. quickly.” The multilingual 48-year- holes prevented the 26-year-old “It’s been a big goal of mine to A year on from the tense decider old now lives in France with his wife from opening up a bigger lead make it. I defi nitely put a lot of won 6-2, 6-4 by Naomi Osaka, opin- and family and has continued umpir- heading into the weekend. pressure on myself. I really want to ion remains deeply divided over how ing, including at the Grand Slams as Larsen, who is at 12 under, is make that team.” Ramos handled the match and the well as Davis Cup and Fed Cup match- one stroke clear of South Korea’s Larsen meanwhile is hoping to heated exchanges with Williams, one es. While he has stayed away from the Ko Jin-young, who posted a fi ve- build on her experience from 2017, of the game’s greatest players. spotlight the past year, he continues under-par 67 to fi nish the day at when she led in Canada after three This much is undisputed: Ramos to be front of mind for tournament of- 11 under. rounds but could only shoot even issued three code-of-conduct viola- ficials. Rather than risk another con- China’s Liu Yu is tied for third par on the fi nal day to miss out on tions against the American, starting In this file photo taken on September 8, 2018, Serena Williams of the US argues with frontation, the United States Tennis place alongside Canadian defend- victory. with a warning for receiving coaching umpire Carlos Ramos during her US Open final against Naomi Osaka of Japan. Association has said Ramos will not ing champion Brooke Henderson, “I can defi nitely learn from two from her mentor Patrick Mouratoglou officiate any of Williams’s matches or and Thailand’s Pajaree Anannaru- years ago when I was in this posi- in the stands. The second resulted in a Chair umpires barely rate a mention nor infraction and turned it into one those of her sister Venus. karn, all on nine under. tion,” she said. “I’m just going to point penalty after Williams smashed in normal media coverage of tennis, of the nastiest and most emotional Officials said the decision was not Amy Olson of the United States see if I can play as free as possible.” and broke her racket in frustration. but Ramos’s intervention generated controversies in the history of tennis, prompted by requests from either of is in sole possession of sixth place Elsewhere on Friday, 12-year- The third, a game penalty, was the global headlines and condemnation all because he couldn’t take a woman the Williams sisters. Officials also said on the leaderboard after a four- old schoolgirl Michelle Liu’s tour- culmination of an extended and in- from some former players. Former US speaking sharply to him,” she wrote. that, for the first time, code violations under-par 68 left her at eight un- nament ended with a 10-over-par tense argument in which Williams Open champion Andy Roddick tweet- Portugese Ramos, among the most will be posted on the tournament’s der, a shot clear of four players tied 82, which left her at 19 over fol- called Ramos a “liar” and a “thief”. She ed: “Worst refereeing I’ve ever seen... experienced officials in the sport, also scoreboards as they occur for clarity. on seven under. lowing her nine-over-par fi rst was later fined $17,000. the worst!!!” had vocal support from colleagues. Ramos has not been stopped from Larsen meanwhile said she had round. While Osaka became the first ten- In her Washington Post column, The International Tennis Federa- officiating Osaka’s matches despite been liberated from the pressure “It was defi nitely a great expe- nis player born in Japan to win a Grand sports columnist Sally Jenkins articu- tion issued a statement shortly after the furore over last year’s final. of trying to force her way onto rience,” the Canadian youngster Slam title, denying Williams a record- lated what many fans saw as a sexist the final that said he had stuck to the When asked if she would mind see- Europe’s team for next month’s said. “I think it’ll really help me equalling 24th in the process, her tri- motivation behind Ramos’s strict ad- rules and “acted at all times with pro- ing him on court with her again, Osaka Solheim Cup showdown with the moving forward and in other tour- umph was soured as disgruntled fans herence to the rule book. fessionalism and integrity.” Before be- said: “I never really say that I don’t like United States. naments.” booed during the trophy ceremony. “Ramos took what began as a mi- coming an umpire, Ramos was a player an umpire... if it happens, it happens.”

Sunday, August 25, 2019 GULF TIMES SPORT

TENNIS BADMINTON Sindhu reaches third successive Big Three ‘almost World C’ships fi nal

IANS but as we regularly compete Basel with each other in various tour- naments, we know each other well.” or the third year in a Meanwhile, India’s Sai Pra- impossible’ to row, ace India shut- neeth’s dream run came to an tler P V Sindhu stormed end with a 13-21, 8-21 loss to into the fi nals of BWF Japanese World No1 Kento Mo- WorldF Championships, defeating mota in the semis. Praneeth kept China’s Chen Yu Fei in straight pace with the defending cham- games. pion for much of the fi rst game, The Rio Olympic silver med- but Momota switched gears in allist took 40 minutes to outclass the second and left the 27-year- beat at US Open World No 3 Yu Fei 21-7, 21-14. old Indian reeling. Sindhu looked sharp and fo- There was little to separate The trio have combined to win each of the last 11 Grand Slams cused from the very fi rst game the two before the interval of the itself while Yu Fei lacked pace as fi rst game. Praneeth fl uctuated Reuters ‘This is probably the Indian shuttler took just 15 between defence and attack and New York minutes to take the fi rst game. hardly made an unforced error the best I’ve felt Sindhu continued to domi- which meant that Momota was in years coming nate the Chinese shuttler in the holding a slender lead of 11-10 in oger Federer, Rafa Nad- second game. However, Yu Fei the fi rst game. al and Novak Djokovic into the US Open showed some fi ght in the second Momota started to assert have enjoyed a years- again, which is game as compared to the one- himself after that and Praneeth long stranglehold on sided fi rst game. But it wasn’t started making a succession of GrandR Slam titles and that dom- encouraging’ enough to stop the Indian as she unforced errors. Praneeth could inance is unlikely to end at the took the second game to enter only take two more points after US Open where a cast of hope- that when I play my best tennis I the fi nals. resumption as Momota took the fuls will try to end their reign. can beat basically everybody, and Sindhu will now take on Ja- fi rst game 21-13. The ‘Big Three’ have combined that’s what I need to keep doing pan’s Nozomi Okuhara in the fi - Praneeth was completely out to win each of the last 11 Grand here.” nal after she defeated Thailand’s of his depth in the second game Slams, with Serb Djokovic having Federer, owner of a record 20 Ratchanok Itanon. with Momota relentlessly tick- triumphed in four of the last fi ve Grand Slam titles, considers him- Sindhu said: “Yes, I am hap- ing away the points. The Indian blue riband events and a popular self in fi ne form despite a forget- py but the fi nal is still left. This started making a number of er- pick to successfully defend his table US Open tune-up that con- game was good and I took lead rors and by the time the interval New York title despite being dealt sisted of a swift third-round upset from the very beginning and came, Praneeth’s body language a tough draw. in Cincinnati. The 38-year-old maintained it till the end. I know showed that he had resigned to ESPN tennis analyst and former Swiss third seed has played just it is not going to be easy and so, his fate. Momota led 11-3 at the world number one John McEnroe two matches since last month’s I have to go back and prepare for interval. Praneeth took just fi ve fully expects one member of the Wimbledon fi nal, where he failed it.” In the past, Chinese shuttlers more points and lost the second threesome to triumph in New York to convert two championship had dominated the sport, but game 8-12. and suggested that the task of top- points on his own serve in the fi fth Sindhu has broken their hold, Praneeth said that it was the pling them in a best-of-fi ve sets is set against Djokovic, but is raring outsmarting them several times. unforced errors after the inter- currently too tall an order. to go. When asked about it, Sindhu val in the fi rst game that brought “You have to beat potentially at “This is probably the best I’ve said: “I am happy to beat them. his downfall. “I lost my rhythm least two of them, in some cases felt in years coming into the US But as I said, every player has after making four-fi ve mistakes three of them. That’s seemingly Open again, which is encourag- their own style of play and when continuously after the break. He almost impossible to do,” McEn- ing,” said Federer. it comes to Chinese shuttlers, was also able to pick up all my roe said on a conference call. “It’s going to be a tough tourna- one needs to be very much pre- attacks so I just blanked out,” he “Perhaps with a little bit of ment to win, no doubt about it. I pared. Yu Fei is also one of them told IANS. luck something happens where a feel like I’m part of that group who draw opens up. They’re human. At can do it.” some stage they’re going to start Three-times champion Nadal, losing more.” Top seed Djokovic whose title defence at last year’s India’s Pusarla Venkata Sindhu will begin his title defence against US Open ended with him retiring celebrates her victory over Roberto Carballes Baena, and be- from the semi-fi nals with a knee China’s Chen Yu Fei in their fore a projected semi-fi nal clash injury, has also declared himself women’s singles semi-final with fi ve-times winner Federer ready for battle. match at the 2019 BWF could meet former champion Stan The Spanish second seed has Badminton World Wawrinka or 2017 fi nalist Kevin been drawn in the opposite half of Championships in Basel Anderson in the fourth round. rivals Djokovic and Federer and his yesterday. One player who is widely con- biggest hurdle to the fi nal could sidered a possible threat is Russian be fourth seed Austrian Dominic fi fth seed Daniil Medvedev, who Thiem, who is his projected semi- has proven to be the most in-form fi nal opponent. player in the lead-up to the US Nadal, who will strive for ef- Open and is Djokovic’s projected fi ciency in a bid to limit the pun- quarter-fi nal opponent. ishment the hardcourts can infl ict Medvedev has never made it on his troublesome knees, may past the third round in New York appear to have the easier path of but is more confi dent than ever ‘Big Three’ to the fi nal but was not after reaching the fi nal in tune-up about to acknowledge as much. events in Washington and Mon- “I have to win my matches to treal before securing the biggest have an advantage because I only title of his career in Cincinnati. can meet them in the semi-fi nals,” “The three weeks really said Nadal. “I have plenty of work pushed my confi dence a lot,” said before that to know if I have an ad- Medvedev, who has beaten Djoko- vantage or not. So let’s see if I am Roger Federer of Switzerland signs autographs after a press conference prior to the US Open at USTA vic twice this season. “Now I know able to do my work for my side.” Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City. Nadal fi t and ready for US OPEN FACTS AND FIGURES hardcourt challenge Reuters Following are facts and Louis Armstrong Stadium 4-Dominic Thiem (Austria) Before 1968 Women’s singles — Tracy New York records ahead of the 139th Capacity: 14,053 5-Daniil Medvedev (Russia) 7 — Bill Tilden (US), William Austin (US) (1979): Aged 16 edition of the US Open, It was opened during the 6-Alexander Zverev (Ger- Larned (US), Richard Sears years, 8 months, 28 days which begins on Monday. 2018 US Open to replace the many) (US) 1978 stadium of the same 7-Kei Nishikori (Japan) OLDEST CHAMPION afa Nadal was forced PRIZE MONEY name. It has a retractable 8-Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece) Open Era Men’s singles — William out of the US Open Men’s/women’s singles win- roof, the largest of its kind 5 — Roger Federer (Switzer- Larned (US) (1911): Aged 38 last year in the semi- ner: $3.85mn among number two stadiums Women’s singles land), Pete Sampras (US), years, 8 months, 3 days finals with a knee inju- Women’s singles — Molla R Men’s/women’s singles at Grand Slam venues. 1-Naomi Osaka (Japan) Jimmy Connors (US) ry but the in-form Spaniard on runner-up: $1.9mn 2-Ash Barty (Australia) Mallory (US) (1926): Aged 42 Friday declared himself fit and Total prize pot: $57mn Grandstand 3-Karolina Pliskova (Czech Women’s singles years, 5 months, 27 days ready for the punishing hard- Capacity: 8,125 Republic) Before 1968 courts at Flushing Meadows. SHOWCOURTS The court made its debut on 4-Simona Halep (Romania) 8 — Molla Mallory (US) SERVING RECORDS Nadal’s hopes of defending Arthur Ashe Stadium Aug 29, 2016, the first day of 5-Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) Most aces in a tournament his 2017 US Open title last Capacity: 23,771 the 2016 US Open. 6-Petra Kvitova (Czech Open Era (since 1991) year were crushed when his year showed signs of distress The stadium is named after Republic) 6 — Serena Williams (US), chronic knee issues forced almost from the start of his Arthur Ashe who won the TOP SEEDS 7-Kiki Bertens (Netherlands) Chris Evert (US) Men’s singles him to retire while trailing semi-final as he limped notice- men’s singles title at the Men’s singles 8-Serena Williams (US) 144 — Pete Sampras (US) in Juan Martin del Potro 7-6(3) ably, grimaced with every sud- inaugural US Open in 1968, 1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) YOUNGEST CHAMPION 2002 6-2 after a number of long and den move and called for the the Australian Open in 1970, 2-Rafa Nadal (Spain) MOST CHAMPIONSHIP Men’s singles — Pete Sam- Women’s singles gruelling matches. trainer during a changeover in and Wimbledon in 1975. 3-Roger Federer (Switzer- TITLES pras (US) (1990): Aged 19 70 — Serena Williams (US) Yet Nadal, whose US Open the second set. land) Men’s singles years, 28 days in 1999 tune-up this year featured a The 33-year-old Spaniard, who victory in Montreal, where he cited fatigue as his reason for earned a record-extending skipping a US Open warm-up 35th ATP Masters 1000 title, in Cincinnati after winning in BOTTOMLINE arrives at the year’s final Montreal, said he has been Grand Slam feeling much bet- focused on arriving in New ter about his health. York and adapting to the “My feeling on the knees are conditions. Serena-Sharapova and Federer play Monday night better this year than last year. Nadal, who would move to Last year the problem was I within one Grand Slam of Rog- AFP trying to capture her 24th Grand Slam Stadium includes Czech third seed Karo- ian John Millman, who upset Federer in played three or four very, very er Federer’s all-time record 20 New York singles title to match the all-time record lina Pliskova, chasing her fi rst major title, last year’s fi rst round, with 2017 US Open long matches. That’s tough,” with a triumph in New York, held by Margaret Court, has a 19-2 record against compatriot Tereza Martincova, winner Sloane Stephens, the US 11th seed, Nadal said during a US Open said he has practised well all against the Russian, a fi ve-time Grand India’s Prajnesh Gunneswaran against facing Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya. Media Day inside Louis Arm- week and is brimming with erena Williams and Maria Shara- Slam winner. Following the dramatic Russian fi fth seed Daniil Medvedev and US 15-year-old Coco Gauff , in the event strong Stadium. confidence. pova will meet in Monday night’s night opener will be third-seeded Federer China’s Zheng Saisai against seven-time on a wildcard after a run to the fourth “I hope to be ready for it. “My last events have been win fi rst feature match at the US Open against India’s Sumit Nagal. Grand Slam winner Venus Williams. round at Wimbledon in her Slam singles I think I am playing well. I Rome, win in Roland Garros, with 20-time Grand Slam cham- Monday’s day session begins with Tuesday’s schedule was also revealed debut, opens against Russia’s Anastasia am practising the right way semi-finals in Wimbledon, and pionS Roger Federer following them on reigning French Open champion Ashleigh with top-seeded defending women’s Potapova on Louis Armstrong Stadium. winning Montreal,” said Nadal. during these days. Of course, Arthur Ashe Stadium. Barty, the second seed from Australia, champion Naomi Osaka of Japan in the Other Tuesday matches there fi nd winning in Montreal helps. I “That’s a positive feeling, Schedules for the fi rst two days of the facing Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan. opener on Arthur Ashe Stadium against Greek eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas am ready for the action.” positive memory on my mind. year’s fi nal Grand Slam were released Top-ranked defending champion No- Russia’s Anna Blinkova. against Russia’s Andrey Rublev and Ro- Those are encouraging words That helps for the confidence, yesterday by the US Tennis Association vak Djokovic launches his bid for his fi fth Austrian fourth seed Dominic Thiem manian fourth seed Simona Halep, who for Nadal, who last helps for the positive feelings.” following the completion of qualifying title in six Grand Slam events after that meets Italy’s Thomas Fabbiano in the next beat Serena Williams in last month’s matches. against Spaniard Roberto Carbella Baena. match. Spanish second seed Rafael Nadal Wimbledon fi nal, facing American Nicole Eighth-seeded American Williams, Monday’s schedule at Louis Armstrong opens the night session against Austral- Gibbs.