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Saturday, October 5, 2019 ATHLETICS Safar 6, 1441 AH Katarina ends GULF TIMES years of pain with victory in SPORT Page 3

ATHLETICS Worlds gold safe in hand, Olympics next for Barshim ‘For me, it was just a dream. At home, it was just amazing. Everybody was there – my family, friends, His Highness the Amir himself’

By Mikhil Bhat Doha

ome advantage is a thing, after all. Just as high jumpers be- gan going through their paces Hahead of the fi nals yesterday, a mere warm-up jump by the man named Mu- taz Essa Barshim sent the packed capac- ity at the Khalifa International Stadium into a rapturous roar. By the looks of it, this was going to be Barshim’s night. By the end of it, it indeed was. Of course there were moments of scare in between; when he failed to clear the 2.33m mark twice, even as neutral athlete Mikhail Akimenko and Belarus- sian Maksim Nedasekau cleared the bar to move up the order. “I could only keep my fi ngers crossed. No technique I could have advised,” Barshim’s coach Stanislaw ‘Stanley’ Szczyrba told Gulf Times after the win. From where Barshim could see, Szc- zyrba was “touching his heart”, before adding, “but sometimes you need to get it the hard way”. Not just Szczyrba, but the entire Kha- lifa International Stadium must have skipped a heartbeat. But soon, Barshim was back in busi- ness as he cleared the bar at 2.33m before sailing clean over 2.35m and 2.37m. The camaraderie among the high jumpers was such that Italian high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi, whose campaign ended at 2.27m, had run to his dear friend hugging him and jumping on to him to celebrate the world leading mark. That’s how you do it: Barshim reacts after jumping 2.37m in the final at the IAAF World Championships yesterday. Nedasekau dropped out of conten- tion, leaving it to Akimenko and compa- won silver, with the latter taking bronze “If I had jumped 2.33 easy, it would major senior championships. The per- “It was no problem for me to jump af- be in his greatest shape ever to manage triot Ilya Ivanyuk, but both were beaten on countback. have been boring.” sonal record is great but I know I could ter Barshim because I felt the spectators to fi ght for the gold. But tonight he really by the bar. “For me, it was just a dream. At home, Talking about Akimenko and Ivanyuk, have jumped the 2.37 in the second at- were also supporting me,” Akimenko surprised me. Having such a huge sup- And Barshim, who was seated calmly, it was just amazing. Everybody was Barshim said, “I am never afraid but tempt. I only touched the bar with my said. Ivanyuk, who had topped 2.33m port of home crowd, he looked amaz- watching the proceedings, stood up rais- there – my family, friends, His Highness Russia, they always had good high jump- elbow. It is a great motivation for the before coming into the Worlds, said he ing,” Ivanyuk said. ing his hand in acknowledgement to the the Amir himself,” Barshim said after ers. So it was good to jump against those Olympic year and I am going to jump as knew Barshim was going to be the man “As for me, I came to Doha to over- capacity crowd much to their delight, the win. I was not a 100 percent ready good jumpers. I give respect to everyone much as I can also indoors,” Akimenko to beat at these Championships. come my personal best and I did it. I also having confi rmed a successful title de- but when I came there and saw all those out there.” said. “We had really fantastic competition was close to clear 2.37. Unfortunately, I fence. people cheering for me, even if I was dy- For Akimenko, who was the only ath- While the spectators cheered every today. Certainly, when we knew years didn’t cope with this height.” With Akimenko only failing at 2.37 ing, if they take me from the wheelchair lete to avoid any fouls till 2.35m, it was a high jumper in their eff orts, towards the ago, that these World Championships When Szczyrba was asked what’s and Ivanyuk needing two more jumps or ambulance, I would do everything I fantastic fi rst senior Worlds. “I must be end, Barshim might have had some par- are going to be in Doha, we understood next, he had no hesitation in saying, earlier in the series at 2.33m, the former can. I needed to give it some action. happy for the medal as this is my fi rst tisan support. that our main rival Mutaz Barshim will “Tokyo Olympics.”

HORSE RACING Amyr Du Soleil wins fi rst Group 1 race in style By a correspondent der Vincent Cheminaud. “Since Paris the beginning of the year I have told the owners that he was a very nice horse”, commented winning trainer he three-year-old colt Thomas Fourcy, “I think we have Amyr Du Soleil took done a good job with him, preserv- his fi rst Group 1 race in ing him throughout the year. hugely impressive style “When he has won, he has done Tin the Qatar Arabian Trophy des so easily without having to dig into Poulains (Gr1 PA) in the colours his reserves. He has confi rmed our of His Highness Sheikh Moham- hopes for him today even if it was a ed bin Khalifa al-Thani, demol- harder race. He has won with style. I ishing the fi eld in a show of ex- think he will improve again over the traordinary class at Saint-Cloud winter. He will be a top class horse, yesterday. The grey colt of Amer an Arabian World Cup horse.” has come rapidly up the ladder Amyr Du Soleil began his racing since his racing debut in June Amyr Du Soleil was in a class all his own yesterday at Saint-Cloud. carrier in the colours of Lisa Dey- when he was second. He then put monaz before being transferred to the pendulum to rights winning Yesterday, he confi rmed that leaders in the early stages before the famous blue and white stars of the Group 3 Prix Tidjani in July he is the outstanding leader of the taking the lead in the fi nal turn. He His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin with great style before returning three-year-old Purebred Arabian quickly took lengths off the racing Khalifa al-Thani. He was bred by from his summer break with an colts in France, putting the race to fi eld and was never challenged in a Lisa and Pierre Deymonaz and is out emphatic victory in the French bed early in the straight to win by display of superiority. The Mrs JF Amyr Du Soleil owner His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani (L) receiving the winning trophy of Balladore (Dormane), a full sister Arabian Breeders’ Challenge- six lengths under jockey Julien Augé Bernard-trained and Jean-Bernard from QREC chairman Isa al-Mohannadi. to Dormah De Brugere, a seven- Poulians (Gr2) in September at despite being somewhat keen in the Eyquem-ridden Jarif in fi nished time winner including the Jumeirah Toulouse. early stages. He sat just behind the in second place, with Al Shaqab Racing-owned and Thomas Four- cy-ridden Mounjared Al Cham, a further length behind in third un- International Stakes. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, October 5, 2019

SPOTLIGHT ‘Big dreamer’ Naser rockets into the athletics limelight A silver in 2017 aged 19 — her idol Allyson Felix and Miller-Uibo were behind her — heralded her talent

AFP Doha

alwa Eid Naser says she “dreams big” eyeing the world record but her astonish- ing winning time of 48.14sec atS the World Championships rekindled memories of an era three decades ago dominated by Communist eastern Eu- rope. The engaging 21-year-old — born Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu in Nigeria to a Nigerian mother and Bahraini fa- ther — pulled off a shock defeat of reigning Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo on Thursday, who had not lost a race since August 2017. However, it was the time — the third fastest of all time — that took many people’s breath away. Only those over 40 would recall watching the two women who have run faster than her, world record holder Marita Koch of what was then East Germany, who recorded 47.60sec in 1985, and the former Czechoslova- kia’s Jarmila Kratochvilova (47.99sec in 1983). Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser reacts after winning the women’s 400m final. Theirs was an era when the Cold War was ongoing and the Wall sepa- world championships in 2017 aged 19 — four years earlier this year. She is now rated East and West Berlin. her idol Allyson Felix and Miller-Uibo under the tutelage of Jose Rubio, who is Neither Koch nor Kratochvilova were behind her — heralded her talent head coach for Bahrain’s sprinters and failed a doping test but their countries as she became the youngest ever med- hurdlers. The new one-lap sensation are known to have operated state- allist in the event. has been dogged by a fragile left ankle sponsored programmes as athletic su- Her success last year due to an accident she had aged six. premacy was viewed by their rulers as Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser also showed she has extraordinary re- “My ankle was fi rst weakened after a weapon in the battle between east and waiting for the 400m to silience. Having run two relay fi nals at I was struck by a car,” she told iaaf.org west. Naser, who switched to Bahrain start and (above) routing the end of that competition she fl ew for last year. aged 16, played coy as to whether she the field at the Khalifa 14 hours from to Brussels and “I recall I had bought an ice cream considered her time in Doha the fastest International Stadium the next day won the 400m Diamond but I had forgotten my change and as I clean one in history. League title. That sort of determination ran across the road to retrieve it, that’s “You tell me,” she replied. is a characteristic that US veteran Felix when the car hit me.” Miller-Uibo — who herself ran the — who won a mixed relay gold earlier in This old injury came back to haunt sixth fastest time ever in the fi nal only the week as she returned to global com- her when she twisted her ankle — “it to have to settle for silver — believes the petition following the birth of her baby opened up a fracture” — a week before world record will fall in the event she last November — would admire. the 2016 Rio Olympics. considers “her baby”. Naser believes she and the 33-year- Showing typical obstinacy, she re- But when asked if she believed Nas- old Felix, whose world gold medal tally futed medical advice and competed be- er’s time was the fastest untainted run of 12 now outstrips that of retired Ja- fore bowing out in the semi-fi nals with ever, the Bahamian also refused to be maican legend Usain Bolt, share com- a new personal best time. drawn on the past. mon ground. “I cried all night and I remember my “I would prefer not to comment,” she “Allyson Felix is my role model as I mum had to say some nice and sweet replied.Naser’s victory — which also see similarities,” said Naser. words to make me feel better,” she said. saw three other fi nalists record person- “I was really looking up to her and I “Thankfully, it did not take too long al bests — may have shocked many but still look up to her, she’s an amazing for me to recover from the disappoint- her championship record in the past athlete.” ment. two years suggested she was a genuine Naser was previously coached by “I am a Gemini so I adapt to things title contender. Bulgarian Yanko Bratanov, one of whose quickly and take on an attitude of A second-place fi nish at the last athletes Kemi Adekoya was banned for whatever happens, happens.”

BOTTOMLINE Suspicion follows Hassan and Klosterhalfen DPA Doha

ifan Hassan and Konstanze Klosterhalfen contest trackfi - nals at the IAAF World Cham- pionships today but won’t be ableS to run away from the suspicion surrounding them. The Dutch Hassan and Germany’s Klosterhalfen are both members of the Nike Oregon Project (NOP) training group whose head coach Alberto Sala- zar has been banned for four years for doping-rules related off ences. No NOP athlete has ever failed a dop- ing test but the group which in the past also included British six-time Olym- pic and four-time world champion Mo Farah has been surrounded by mystery and suspicion. Hassan, at the NOP since 2016, has already won the 10,000 metres in Doha and now seeks to add the 1,500m title. Klosterhalfen joined the group last year and hopes for 5,000m silverware. Even though they have not been im- plicated in the probe which also pre- Ethiopia’s Tsehay Gemechu, Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen and Kenya’s Lilian dates their NOP entry, they will face Kasait Rengeruk in action during the 5,000m heats on October 2. questions and deep suspicion, just as NOP runner Donovan Brazier after his pionships and said Klosterhalfen has to Coe said. 800m title earlier in the week. make her own decision as a mature ath- But Klosterhalfen, who has made big A fi rst taste of that came after their lete. “It is her path — I have a diff erent progress since joining the NOP and has heats Wednesday as other runners philosophy,” she said in the direction of set six national records this year in- wondered why they had joined a group Klosterhalfen. “I don’t know what Al- doors and outdoors, sees no issues in tainted by the allegations for a decade berto Salazar has training there. in the fi rst place. been doing, I have never trained “I can only talk about what I see. It “I’m not going to be the judge and there. But it was no secret that he is the best team in the world,” she said jury of who is cheating but if you’re worked in borderline areas, to say the of the NOP after reaching the 5,000m closely affi liated with somebody who least.” Sebastian Coe, president of the fi nal, adding that “others are dealing is serving a four year ban and someone ruling body IAAF, has also urged ath- with it (the aff air) far more than us ath- points a fi nger at you and says ‘maybe letes to take mature and wise decisions letes.” you’re cheating’ I don’t feel sorry for concerning their training environment. But she could soon fi nd herself being you,” said former 1,500m world cham- “If you are coached by somebody, probed as International Olympic Com- pion Jessica Simpson who is in Hassan’s you should be absolutely comfortable mittee (IOC) president Thomas Bach event. that you are working in an environment said the IOC will ask the World Klosterhalfen’s German team-mate that’s safe and secure and is not going Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands in Hanna Klein, who went out in the to damage your own reputation. An whether it has looked at all NOP ath- action in the 1500m semis along 5,000m heats, welcomed that the Sala- athlete should ask those questions,” the letes in the aff air he named “worrying” with Shelby Houlihan of the U.S. zar news broke during the Doha cham- two-time Olympic 1,500m champion on Thursday night. Gulf Times Saturday, October 5, 2019 3

FOCUS Today’s fi nals at Doha Worlds

Today’s seven finals at the IAAF World Championships in Doha (in Qatar Time) with world records (WR), 2019 world best results (YB — as of September 22), defending world champions from 2017 (DC), 2016 Olympic champions (OC), and favourites (FA).

Men’s at 8.05pm Katarina ends WR: 23.12 Randy Barnes, United States, May 25, 1990, Los Angeles YB: 22.74 Ryan Crouser, United States DC: Tomas Walsh, New Zealand OC: Ryan Crouser, United States FA: Ryan Crouser, United States; Tomas Walsh, New Zealand; Darlan Romani, Brazil

Women’s triple jump at 8.35pm years of pain with WR: 15.50 Inessa Kravetz, Ukraine, August 10, 1995, YB: 15.41 Yulimar Rojas, Venezuela DC: Yulimar Rojas, Venezuela OC: Caterine Ibarguen, Colombia FA: Yulimar Rojas, Venezuela; Caterine Ibarguen, Colombia; Shanieka Ricketts, Jamaica victory in Doha Women’s 1,500m at 8.55pm WR: 3:50.07 Genzebe Dibaba, Ethiopia, July 17, 2015, Monaco YB: 3:55.30 Sifan Hassan, Netherlands ‘I’m just speechless. I can’t believe it. It’s been such a long time coming for me’ DC: Faith Kipyegon, Kenya OC: Faith Kipyegon, Kenya FA: Sifan Hassan, Netherlands; Faith Kipyegon, Kenya; Laura Muir, Britain

Women’s 5,000m at 9.25pm WR: 14:11.15 Tirunesh Dibaba, Ethiopia, June 6, 2008, Oslo YB: 14:20.36 Hellen Obiri, Kenya DC: Hellen Obiri, Kenya OC: Vivian Cheriuyot, Kenya FA: Hellen Obiri, Kenya; Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi, Kenya; Konstanze Klosterhalfen, Germany

Women’s 4x100m relay at 10.05pm WR: 40.82 United States, August 10, 2012, YB: 41.67 Britain DC: United States OC: United States FA: Jamaica; Britain; Germany

Men’s 4x100m relay at 10.15pm WR: 36.84 Jamaica, August 11, 2012, London YB: 37.60 Britain DC: Britain OC: Jamaica FA: United States; Britain; Japan

Men’s marathon at 11.59pm WR: 2:01:39 Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya, September 16, 2018, Berlin YB: 2:02:37 Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya DC: Geoff rey Kirui, Kenya OC: Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya FA: Stephen Kiprotich, Uganda; Zersenay Tadese, Eritrea; Mosinet Geremew, Ethiopia

SPOTLIGHT Husband and wife win silver for Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson in action diff erent countries during the on Thursday. At bottom, she poses with her gold medal yesterday.

By Sahan Bidappa for Tokyo Olympics. I just need heat in 13.09s. Doha to be at my best like I was here,” “The hurdles was the biggest she added. surprise. I never dreamt I could After the disappointment of run that fast, 13-zero, when I’ve atarina Johnson- 2015 Worlds and 2016 Rio Ol- been stuck at 13.3 for as long as Thompson’s twitter ympics, Johnson-Thompson I can remember. That set me up bio, says: ‘Chroni- had to make some tough life de- for the heptathlon as soon as I Kcally indecisive so I’ve cisions. She changed her coach saw the clock stop at that time. adopted two surnames & the and moved her base from Liver- The most challenging event was heptathlon.’ But at the Kha- pool to France. But she suff ered the 200 because of the tight lifa International Stadium on another ignominy, this time at schedule and we didn’t get a Thursday night, there was no home, when she fi nished fi fth at chance to warm up properly,” sign of any indecisiveness from the 2017 London Worlds. she said. the British athlete, as she fi nally “Everyone’s got their jour- Johnson-Thompson was Bahamas’ Shaunae Miller-Uibo poses on the podium during the put an end to the heartaches ney,” she said. “It’s not been in touching distance of going medal ceremony for the women’s 400m at the Khalifa International she suff ered at multiple World very straightforward for me. past 7000 mark as she began Stadium in Doha yesterday. At bottom, her husband Maicel Uibo in Championships and at the Rio It’s not been easy for me. I had the fi nal event of the heptath- action during the . Olympics. to move coach. I had to move lon – the 800m. A time of 2:06 The 26-year-old set per- country, I had to learn a new seconds would have enabled the Reuters sonal bests in four of the seven language and settle in. I tore world indoor pentathlon cham- Doha events in a mentally and physi- everything up and started again pion to achieve the 7k landmark, cally draining heptathlon over and it’s worked. but she crossed the fi nish line the course of two days, to fi nally “The last two World Cham- in 2:07.27, which was enough to stonian decathlete Mai- land a world title in Doha. pionships have been heart- erase Ennis Hill’s seven-year- cel Uibo and his wife, Johnson-Thompson not breaking for my mum and I. old British record. Bahamian runner Shau- just had to overcome her own Mid-heptathlon, I’ve gone back “I love the 800m, funnily nae Miller-Uibo, had two demons but also had to beat to my hotel and cried and cried enough. It is one of my strongest reasonsE to celebrate after they Nafi ssatou Thiam, the Belgian for hours when things have gone events,” as Johnson-Thompson each won a silver medal at the defending world and Olympic to settle for silver with 6,677pts Hill) set that record so to say it is badly. It was after the high jump explained her approach towards IAAF World Championships on champion, who was undefeated with Austria’s Verena Preiner now mine is unbelievable. This in London in 2017 and after the her fi nal event. Thursday. since the 2016 European Cham- taking bronze with 6,560pts. is my fourth World Champion- in 2015 in . “I have been training very “Both medals at the same time, pionships. “I’m just speechless. I can’t ships and at the fi rst one, I was Those were the low points of my hard for it this year. The light on the same night,” Uibo told re- In the end, the gap between believe it. It’s been such a long just 20 years old, then, at the career. Rio Olympics, as well. show before it got me psyched porters after his fi nal event. “It’s Johnson-Thompson and Thiam time coming for me. I’ve been other two, I was not doing well. I’ve had a lot of bad years. I’m to go. I train very hard week in, double the joy.” was a huge 304 points, the big- chasing this since 2016, slowly, “So I was so happy to compete just so happy that I came out in week out for it so all that has to Miller-Uibo, the 2016 Olym- gest winning margin of victory slowly trying to make improve- here and I have to thank all the front for a change,” she added. be for something. It’s a good way pic gold medallist who had been at a World Championships for ments, and now I’ve fi nally team standing behind me and In Doha, Johnson-Thompson to fi nish off a heptathlon for me, favourite to win the 400 me- 32 years. Such was her domi- done it,” a delighted Johnson- believing in me. It all goes to my started her quest for gold with to just go out and put it all on tres world title in Doha, fi nished nance that she also climbed to Thompson said. family, friends and the people an impressive performance in the line. Seven thousand points second after Salwa Eid Naser sixth in the all-time lists and set “And I broke the British who were helping me in the past. the 110m hurdles, where she wasn’t meant to be but hope- of Bahrain stunned her by run- a new British record with a total record. I was there on the side- My mum - I think we are going shaved off 0.20 seconds from fully I am on a roll now for the ning the third fastest time in the tally of 6,981 points. Thiam had lines when Jess (Jessica Ennis- to cry in the mixed zone. Now her previous best to win her future.” event’s history. As Miller-Uibo crossed the fi nish line, her husband was pre- the 25-year-old told report- SETBACK paring to run the 1,500 metres, ers separately after her event. “I the tenth and fi nal event in the knew he wasn’t quite that well decathlon. He came in third, giv- in shape for his 1,500 metres, but ing him the overall silver medal. he gave it his all. I’m so proud of Ingebrigtsen’s luck runs out in 1,500 metres Uibo said his race preparations him.” had prevented him from watch- The couple, who had dominat- ing his wife’s race, but he was still ed their disciplines in the lead up Reuters ing to punch another runner in a fi rst heat when he appeared to Cheruiyot, the fi rm favourite for ishing third in the second heat keeping a close eye on the results. to the Doha championships, took Doha heat. The Norwegian, who won punch Ethiopian Teddese Lemi the title, comfortably won the which was won by Polish record “I was only able to refresh a joint walk along the track in the a world championship bronze in the back as the runners jos- heat and was followed in second holder Marcin Lewandowski the results page as I was getting Khalifa International Stadium in the event in London two years tled for position at the bell. Lemi place by Algeria’s 2012 Olympic with Kenya’s Ronald Kwemoi ready for my 1,500 metres,” the with their respective fl ags draped uropean champion Filip ago, fi nished seventh in the went crashing to the ground, champion Taoufi k Makhloufi . qualifying in second. 26-year-old said. around their shoulders. Ingebrigtsen’s luck ran semi-fi nal fi rst heat, too slow was trampled upon and fi nished Britain’s Neil Gourley was also Olympic champion Matt “I’ve got to watch the real race “As athletes we’re very com- out yesterday when he to make Sunday’s fi nal as one of 11th in the heat. among the automatic qualifi ers, Centrowitz of the United States in the replay later on.” petitive,” Uibo said. “We train missed out on the 1,500 the fastest losers. No action was taken against fi nishing third. scraped through as one of the Miller-Uibo then hung around together, we practice at the same metresE fi nal, one day after es- Ingebrigtsen was involved in Ingebrigtsen, surprising many Ingebrigtsen’s younger broth- two fastest losers after fi nishing the track by the fi nish line to time sometimes. It’s always a lit- caping sanction despite appear- controversy during Thursday’s observers. Kenyan Timothy er Jakob also made the fi nal, fi n- seventh in the second heat. watch her husband race. tle bit competitive on the track “He was hoping for the gold,” and off the track.” Gulf Times 4 Saturday, October 5, 2019

SPOTLIGHT Kaul in for the long haul aft er ‘Decathlon is really diff icult, so it is always a pleasure when you can finish it. I cannot really describe this decathlon glory feeling. I still can’t comprehend it’

IAAF ing 5.00m to climb to sixth place Doha overall. But then came the event all of Kaul’s opponents feared: the javelin. he fi rst seven events of Kaul had already set two the decathlon may have PBs in the event this year and been dominated by the had said he felt ready to throw story of ’s even farther. He lived up to that Tfi tness struggles, but it eventu- promise, unleashing a throw of ally boiled down to an enthral- 79.05m – the best ever throw ling four-way battle for the within an 8000+ decathlon. For medals, resulting in Niklas Kaul the fi rst time in the competition, becoming the youngest world Kaul had entered the top three in decathlon champion in history. the standings and still had the Mayer’s withdrawal from 1500m to come, another of his the competition after failing to stronger events. clear a height in the Uibo threw a season’s best of meant that a new world decath- 63.83m to move into the over- lon champion would be crowned all lead while Warner went back in Doha. The only questions into second place after throwing remaining were: which three 62.87m. Shkurenyov (59.56m) of the four leading contenders and LePage (57.42m) dropped to will leave Khalifa International fourth and fi fth respectively. Es- Stadium with a medal? And in tonia’s Janek Oiglane produced which order? the second-best throw of the Kaul ultimately came out on javelin contest, his 72.46m pro- top, having progressed steadily pelling him into the top six. through the fi eld after each of Going into the 1500m, Kaul the 10 events, starting off in 20th was aware of the task he faced. He place after the 100m, ending the had to fi nish seven seconds ahead fi rst day in 11th place and then of Uibo and nine seconds ahead breaking into the top three fol- of Warner in the 1500m to claim lowing a monster 79.05m throw the gold medal. The trio’s per- in the javelin. sonal bests suggested Kaul was A dominant 4:15.70 run in the capable of doing it, but front- 1500m sealed his fate as Kaul running to a fast time with big won with a score of 8691, his margins over your key opponents third personal best of the season. is not an easy ask – especially for As painful as it was to watch someone competing in their fi rst an injured Mayer try to force senior global championships. his body through a second day Kaul, however, showed matu- of competition, it would have Germany’s Niklas Kaul celebrates winning rity beyond his years in the fi nal paled in comparison to what the Decathlon gold at the Khalifa International event. Refusing to go with the defending champion was expe- Stadium in Doha. (Reuters) early pace, he gradually made his riencing. There had been hints way through the pack – much at some discomfort throughout jumped 7.67m. Mayer’s season’s he pulled up in the 110m hurdles ing 42.19m and LePage throwing like he’d done throughout the the two days of competition: a best of 7.56m moved him up one after hitting a couple of barriers. 41.19m, dealing a serious blow to decathlon as a whole – but Uibo clutch of the knee after one of place in the standings to third. A Kaul safely completed the race, their hopes of a podium fi nish. was still in close contact with his failed high jump attempts, lifetime best of 7.51m maintained though, clocking 14.64. The pole vault – as it often does 600 metres remaining. a carefully judged 400m run, a Victor’s medal ambitions. Kaul’s In an earlier heat, Uibo ran in a decathlon – brought about Kaul started to stride out and grimace and ‘X’ hand gesture af- fi rst-round jump was mis-meas- a PB of 14.43 and Shkurenyov more changes in the overall stand- opened up a four-second gap ter the 110m hurdles. ured but later corrected to 7.19m, clocked 14.28, boosting their ings. Mayer stepped up to the run- on the Estonian at the bell. The But it was the unfortunate enough to move him up one place respective chances. The quicker way in bid to attempt 4.60m, but gap grew and grew as Kaul fl ew sight of the world record-hold- on the leader board. men went in the third and fi - on his second try he was reduced around the fi nal circuit with er attempting – and ultimately Mayer jumped to the top of the nal heat with Warner coming to a hobble and collapsed on the Uibo beginning to tire. Warner, failing, twice – to sprint down standings after throwing 16.82m from Kaul. LePage and Victor Mayer fi nished last in his through to win in 13.56. Mayer pole vault bed, the realisation the other big medal contender, the pole vault runway that will in the shot – his best ever per- sailed over 2.05m and Warner heat, but then again he did have was second in 13.87, some way sinking in that he would have to was even further back. become one of the lasting mem- formance within a decathlon cleared 2.02m. Mayer got over the slowest PB of the eight men off the PB he set earlier this year, surrender his world title. Kaul crossed the line in ories of these championships for and just 26 centimetres shy 1.99m and then had three miss- in the race so it wasn’t entirely and looked in some distress after “This is sport,” said the Olym- 4:15.70, just 0.18 off his PB, decathlon fans. It doesn’t, how- of his lifetime best. It also put es at 2.02m, but clutched at his unexpected. His 48.99 clock- the race. pic silver medallist. “Yesterday I while Uibo had barely entered ever, take anything away from him three points ahead of world knee, seemingly in pain, after the ing meant he ended the fi rst After receiving some quick had an injury on my right knee, the home straight and it soon the eventual winner, Kaul, who record schedule. third missed attempt. day in third place overall with treatment, he was back out on but today I was still able to do the became clear the German had now becomes just the second Victor was the only other man Uibo, meanwhile, was the last 4483, fi ve points up on his day- the infi eld for the discus and hurdles and discus. It was very done more than enough to take man in history to win world U18, to throw beyond the 16-metre man standing and jumped a sea- one score from the 2017 World produced a second-round ef- diffi cult. But then my left ham- the gold medal. His 1500m time U20 and senior combined events line, landing his shot at 16.24m son’s best of 2.17m to take an- Championships. fort of 48.34m to stay on pace string hurt and I had to stop.” brought his overall tally to 8691. titles – after Mayer. to move up to third overall. other big leap up the standings Victor, running in a diff erent for a good score. At this point, Warner, who had been in sec- Uibo held on for the silver Mayer dashed to a PB in the Warner’s 15.17m was enough to into fi fth. Shkurenyov cleared heat, recorded a solid 48.55 but however, it was clear he wasn’t ond place behind Mayer going medal with a PB of 8604 while fi rst event, clocking 10.50 in hold on to second place, while 2.11m to move into sixth, while dropped to fourth with 4474 thinking about records; his main into the pole vault, managed to Warner earned his third World his 100m heat to fi nish behind LePage dropped to fourth af- Kaul got into the top 12 after points. Shkurenyov and Uibo ran aim was to complete the com- get over 4.70m, but in a com- Championships medal, taking Canadian duo ter managing just 13.21m. USA’s leaping 2.02m. 49.36 and 50.44 respectively to petition. Victor’s competition petition in which seven mean bronze with 8529. Shkurenyov (10.35) and Pierce LePage (10.36). Solomon Simmons, who had The standings had another switch positions, ending the day ended in the discus as the Gren- cleared 5.00m or higher, the Ca- just missed the podium with a Grenada’s Lindon Victor was been in fi fth place since the fi rst shake-up after the 400m. LeP- in fi fth (4340) and sixth (4317). adian recorded three fouls. Kaul nadian dropped to third place season’s best of 8494 with LeP- just 0.1 shy of his lifetime best event, maintained his standing age ended his day with a PB to Germany’s , excelled, though, and added al- overall. LePage scaled 5.20m to age placing fi fth (8445) and Oig- with 10.66. Kaul ran 11.27, while after throwing 15.33m. Uibo’s win the fastest heat in 47.35, bronze medallist in 2017, moved most two metres to his PB with move into the lead. Shkurenyov lane sixth (8297). Ilya Shkurenyov recorded 11.02 15.12m moved the Estonian three bringing his day-one tally to up to seventh place overall thanks 49.20m. Shkurenyov also per- matched that height, but – as “Decathlon is really diffi cult, and Maicel Uibo set a season’s places up the leader board into 4486, about 70 points off his to a 47.35 run in the 400m. Kaul formed well, breaking his fi ve- was the case in the other vertical so it is always a pleasure when best of 11.10. ninth, while Kaul’s 15.10m heave PB pace. Warner placed fi fth in continued his rise up the leader year-old PB by more than two jumps event – Uibo was the last you can fi nish it,” said Kaul. “I The Canadians swapped their moved him into 16th place. that race with 48.12, but it was board by running 48.48, end- metres with 48.75m, and Uibo man left. The Estonian got over cannot really describe this feel- overall positions in the second The high jump marked the enough to give him the overall ing the day in 11th place. Kaz- threw a season’s best of 46.64m. 5.40m to add 10 centimetres to ing. I still can’t comprehend it. I event after LePage jumped 7.79m fi rst clear sign of Mayer’s injury lead at the end of the fi rst day mirek’s medal ambitions ended The Canadians weren’t at his PB. Kaul, too, added 10 centi- never believed that such a thing to take the lead from Warner, who woes – and another advance with 4513. in the fi rst event of day two as their best with Warner manag- metres to his outdoor PB, clear- could be possible.”

FOCUS Beating back the pressure, Gong successfully retains shot put gold IAAF However, retaining her title this gives me a lot of confi dence ished in front of Gong being the No Chinese putter, of either Doha – and emulating the feat of her going forward to next year and IAAF World Indoor Champion- gender, has won an Olympic title compatriot Huang Zhihong who the Tokyo Olympics.” ships when they fi nished second although Gong is among three hinese athletes couldn’t won back-to-back titles in 1991 Gong herself has thrown far- and third respectively – as Gong women who have come close, quite deliver their and 1993 – was certainly a much ther than she did in Doha in no had clinched the gold medal be- taking the silver in 2012 with presents on time to cel- harder deal than getting her ini- less than four other competi- fore she entered the circle for Huang in 1992 and Sui Xinmei ebrate the 70th birthday tial win two years ago in London, tions this summer, including the last put of a tense and en- in 1996 also fi nishing second, ofC the People’s Republic of China when Gong also started as the winning the Diamond League ti- gaging competition which saw so making another little piece on Tuesday, with walkers Hong big favourite, both metaphori- tle in Zurich at the end of August the putters enjoy being the sole of Chinese sporting history Liu and Rui Liang getting to the cally and physically considering with a world-leading 20.31m. focus of attention in the Khalifa beckons. “I have been throwing party prematurely with victories her 110kg frame. However, despite not fulfi lling Stadium for the fi nal two rounds for 19 years, since I was 11, and last weekend and Gong Lijiao ar- On that occasion she reached her own high standards in Doha, due to a hiatus in the late night I have yet to achieve my dream riving late after shot put gold on 19.94m to defeat her nearest ri- she was far from unhappy and programme. and that’s to win at the Olympic Thursday. val, Hungary’s Anita Marton by a content to provide a sanguine The victory also took Gong’s Games, that’s why I’m hanging No matter, they were still wel- comfortable 45cm. assessment of her performance. 2019 tally to 13 wins in 14 out- in there,” added Gong. come guests to the festivities This time around, it was “You have your ups and ings this year, including a win at “The Rio setback hit me pretty with Gong’s gold being arguably much, much closer, and it wasn’t downs. I have had them in the the Asian Championships in the hard at the time. It came after I even more cherished than her Marton – who was to eventu- past and I know I’m not invin- same stadium back in May. had got medals in Beijing and two compatriots as China had ally fi nish fi fth – who pushed her cible. What I plan to do now is Like in 2019, Gong only suf- London, I had high expectations, been primed for women’s jave- but Jamaica’s Danniel Thomas- relax for a little while and the fo- fered one loss in each of the 2017 but I didn’t recognise myself lin favourite Lyu Huihui to stand Dodd, whose last round 19.47m cus on building up to the Tokyo and 2018 calendar years and has when I saw a video of that com- on top of the podium on Day 5 in was just eight centimetres shy of Olympics.” elevated herself to the position petition. It took me a long time Doha, coinciding with China’s Gong’s winning fourth round ef- “I felt under pressure because of the world’s most dominant to walk out of that shadow,” said National Day, only for the luck- fort of 19.55m. my main rival (Thomas-Dodd) women’s shot putter during the Gong, who has mentioned in the less Lyu to fi nish third. “The distance is a bit low and was close behind me. I thought last three years after her fourth past that she cried all the way to Looking for a timely triumph it was worse than I expected. that if she had made a longer place at the Rio 2016 Olympic the airport in Rio before taking to herald, local TV at home made I was lucky,” appraised Gong, throw (than Gong’s fourth round Games acted as a spur to rais- her fl ight home. Gong’s defence of her title head- sobbing with delight and relief eff ort, which was followed by a ing her game even further even “But that disappointment also line news, get athletics even after taking the gold medal al- foul in the fi fth) then it would be though she had also won med- motivated me to work harder. more attention in the main- beit with the shortest winning diffi cult to overtake her (with her als at the three previous IAAF What happened in Rio is why I stream media in the wake of the distance in IAAF last attempt).” World Athletics Championships have improved since then.” recent boost to the sport from Championships history. In the end it proved to be a in Daegu, and Beijing. the knock-on eff ect of the IAAF “But it’s great to fi nish the moot point – and Gong took her The next big challenge on the World Athletics Championships season with a win at a major head-to-head account against horizon is to now confi rm her China’s Lijiao Gong reacts after Being 2015 and the Diamond championship and despite the Thomas-Dodd to 13-1, with the current supremacy at the Tokyo winning women’s Shot Put gold. League in Shanghai. diffi culties of the competition, only time the Jamaican has fi n- 2020 Olympic Games. (Reuters) Gulf Times Saturday, October 5, 2019 5

Sights from Day 8 of the World Championships

Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim reacts during men’s high jump final round at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha yesterday. PICTURES: AFP/Reuters Erica Bougard of the US in action during women’s heptathlon long jump yesterday.

Uzbekistan’s Ekaterina Voronina in action during women’s heptathlon .

Brazil’s Fernanda Martins in action during women’s final yesterday.

Dalilah Muhammad of the US crosses the line to win women’s 400m hurdles gold ahead of Sydney Action from men’s 3,000m steeplechase final yesterday. McLaughlin of the US yesterday. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, October 5, 2019 SPORT

RUGBY WORLD CUP FOCUS Djokovic stuns Japan Open with Kolbe magic as machine-like tennis

AFP vided further evidence of his Tokyo swift recovery from a left shoul- der injury that caused him to pull out of the US Open. orld number one The Japan Open is the fi rst Boks put one foot Novak Djokovic competition for Djokovic since yesterday put on a the incident. stunning show of He nailed eight aces and never Wsupremacy at the Japan Open committed double fault while with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Lucas collecting points on 82 percent Pouille of France. of his successful fi rst serves. The Serb overwhelmed his After cruising through the fi rst opponent in the quarter-fi nal set, Djokovic stepped up his ten- in quarter-fi nals match, showering Pouille with nis and began the second set by a barrage of powerful, preci- taking four games straight. sion shots to deep, wide corners Pouille fought back to keep the ‘This was crunch game for us. It looked easy, but it was a fairly slippery game for us’ mixed with delicate drop shots. fi fth game and in the sixth game, “I am not a machine. But I did he collected his only break of the AFP play like one today,” he said after match. Shizuoka, Japan their 50-minute contest. But Djokovic denied any other “This was one of the best attempt by the French challeng- matches I played this year. Very, er, who was able to survive only lectric winger Cheslin very pleased with the way I feel one of seven break points. Kolbe scored a classy and played on the court,” said It was the third meeting be- double as South Africa Djokovic. tween the two men this year. put one foot in the Rugby “I am looking forward to an- Djokovic won all of them. WorldE Cup quarter-fi nals with other battle tomorrow, hopefully In the rest of the Tokyo tour- a comprehensive 49-3 victory I will be able to keep up with this nament, qualifi er John Millman over 14-man Italy yesterday. quality of tennis.” of Australia defeated Japanese The result left both teams on In the semifi nals, Djokovic will wild card Taro Daniel 6-4, 6-0. 10 points, but Rassie Erasmus’ face 2017 Japan Open champion The winner will face Ameri- Springboks will bid for another David Goffi n of Belgium, who can player Reilly Opelka, who full fi ve points when they round also comfortably defeated Chung beat Japanese qualifi er Yasutaka off their Pool B campaign against Hyeon of South Korea 6-2, 6-2. Uchiyama 6-3, 6-3, in the semi- whipping boys Canada in Kobe Djokovic’s latest victory pro- fi nals. on Tuesday. Italy, however, are left with a testing game against in-form defending champions New Zea- land - who fi rst take on Namibia tomorrow - in Toyota on Octo- ber 12. Man-of-the-match Kolbe’s try double was the highlight for the Springboks but the evening ended uncomfortably for the speedster when he limped off late in the game after twisting his ankle in a tackle. “This was crunch game for us. It looked easy, but it was a fairly slippery game for us,” said South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus. “In the beginning, we were a bit worried about this game. And I thought that the red card obvi- ously cost them because there were stages when they almost came back into the game.” Italy coach Conor O’Shea was incensed after prop Andrea Lovotti’s sending-off for a dan- gerous tip-tackle on Duane Ver- meulen as the Azzurri attacked South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe reacts after scoring a try during the Pool ‘B’ match against Italy at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka, early in the second half. Japan, yesterday. (AFP) “I’m destroyed really for eve- rybody because we worked so right touchline, but he somehow of lock pairing Eben Etzebeth and Pollard hit a second penalty as a deserved try after a great indi- hard,” said the Irishman. stepped inside Tommaso Benve- Lood de Jager, and No 8 Vermeu- Italy struggled to cope with the vidual game, Pollard converting. “We get to the start of the sec- nuti and darted around Matteo len, to take charge of their formi- Springboks’ all-encompassing With Italy under the cosh Kolbe ond half, we’re close to the line Minozzi to dot down in the corner dable driving mauls off attack- defensive line speed and power defi ed his size to bundle Minozzi and then just crass stupidity, for a fi ne try Handre Pollard con- ing line-outs. A wayward pass by runners in midfi eld. The fl ood- touchwards with such force the crass stupidity. And then you’re verted. Italy fl y-half Tommaso Kolbe saw Le Roux fumble what gates opened after centre Dam- Italy fullback attempted to keep down to 14 men,” he fumed. Allan and Pollard traded penal- would certainly have been a try, ian de Allende sparked a slick the ball alive. Things didn’t start well for ties as Italy coach Conor O’Shea but hooker Mbongeni Mbonambi offl oading attack before Pollard Bok replacement RG Snyman Italy as tighthead prop Simone was dealt a further blow when his was on hand to dive over after one cross-kicked on the recycle, was on hand to intercept for the Ferrari was subbed off after in- second tighthead, replacement such effi cient drive off a line-out. Kolbe picking up on the second simplest of tries before Malcolm juring his leg in the fi rst scrum Marco Riccioni, was subbed off Pollard converted to make it 17-3 bounce to cross for his brace. Marx popped over for the fi nal within two minutes. Spurn- injured with just 18 minutes on at half-time. The fl y-half sliced that con- word from an line-out maul. ing a shot at goal, the Boks the clock. It meant English referee version, but made no mistake af- South Africa will now look were quickly on the scoreboard Wayne Barnes had no option but TIP-TACKLE ter centre Lukhanyo Am grabbed forward to putting Canada to thanks to the lightning feet of to order non-contested scrums, Incredibly, Italy lost a third prop an opportunistic intercept try, the sword to line up an October jinking Toulouse pocket-rocket during which neither side can at the start of the second pe- Italy’s Gloucester fl anker Jake 20 quarter-fi nal game in Tokyo Kolbe. push, starving South Africa of one riod when loosehead Lovotti was Polledri forcing an inside pass against the winner of Pool A, A fl oated miss-pass from Wil- of their key attacking weapons. sent off for his tip-tackle after with no one home. where things are yet to be decid- lie Le Roux found the diminutive The Springboks, however, could the whistle on Vermeulen - the Left winger Makazole Mapimpi ed between Ireland, Scotland, Novak Djokovic reacts during his quarter-final match against Lucas winger in a dead end down his still call on their big men, the likes third red card of this World Cup. then gathered a chip to cross for Japan and Samoa. Pouille at the Japan Open in Tokyo, Japan, yesterday. (Reuters)

TENNIS Murray heartened by progress despite quarter-fi nal loss AFP Nadal pulls out of Shanghai Masters with wrist injury Beijing Rafael Nadal has pulled out “I am very sad to announce 2020 tournament.” ndy Murray said that of the Shanghai Masters due that I won’t be able to play in Two-times finalist Nadal’s his comeback from ca- to a wrist injury that cut short Shanghai this year. It is the withdrawal denies fans the reer-saving hip surgery his participation in last month’s second year in a row and in chance to witness the reunion was progressing bet- Laver Cup, the world number China I have great fans,” Nadal of the Big Four of men’s tennis terA than expected despite going two said yesterday. said in a statement. at the Oct 6-13 tournament, with down fi ghting in the China Open The 33-year-old, who claimed “But, as you all probably know, I Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic quarter-fi nals yesterday. his 19th Grand Slam title at this had an inflammation on my left and Andy Murray all scheduled The 32-year-old Briton lost year’s US Open, said that he had wrist during the Laver Cup and I to feature. It also hands Djokovic 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) to top seed Do- not had enough time to practise haven’t had the time to recover the advantage in the battle to minic Thiem in Beijing, but said: suff iciently due to inflammation and practice to be ready... I hope seal the year-end number one “I think this (week) was maybe in his left wrist. to be back in Shanghai for the ranking. Reuters the best in terms of how I played since I came back. “It was great for me, I played the Murray that topped the world ceded that he was not yet at the number one Ashleigh Barty said three matches in four days, which rankings in 2016, but the second stage of being able to challenge she produced some of her best is quite a lot. set started in the same way as the the top players. “I think I need a tennis this year as she battled “Actually I felt better than I fi rst, the Briton having his serve few more weeks of kind of play- into the semi-fi nals with a gutsy expected today, as well,” said the broken. ing matches like this, two, three, victory over Petra Kvitova. former number one, who had a Murray, who says that he now four matches in a week, trying The Australian came from a major operation in January and has no pain in his hip and it is a to play consistently well in all of set down to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 only returned to singles tennis in question of building up match those matches to say I’m playing and will play Kiki Bertens of the August. fi tness, looked down and out as top-20 tennis or something like Netherlands. Asked by AFP if he was further Thiem served for the match. that, he said. “From my opinion, that ahead than he expected to be in But he does not know how Third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas was one of the highest-qual- his comeback, he replied: “Yeah, to quit and a nervy Thiem sur- of Greece will play second seed ity matches I played all year,” maybe. rendered his service game for Alexander Zverev in the other said the 23-year-old Barty, the “I’m getting there, this week is 5-5. Murray went up 6-5, before semi-fi nal in an intriguing clash reigning French Open cham- better than last week, I hope next Thiem forced the tie break. between two rising stars of men’s pion. week is better than this week,” He carried that momentum tennis. Germany’s Zverev, at 22 “Petra always has a way of the three-time Grand Slam Andy Murray hits a return during his quarter-final match against Dominic Thiem at the China Open in to victory and the 26-year-old a year older than Tsitsipas, has bringing out the best in me, she champion said. “That’s how I Beijing, yesterday. (AFP) Thiem plays Karen Khachanov of cruised into the last four, yet to really does.” Reigning champion have to try to keep going to see Russia in the last four. drop a set. Caroline Wozniacki faces Nao- where my limit is, I don’t think ing. That’s what this week has the Austrian Thiem, ranked fi fth service game, putting himself Murray will go straight to the mi Osaka or Bianca Andreescu I’m at that limit now. shown me.” Murray had the Bei- in the world to his opponent’s under pressure immediately. Shanghai Masters, where he will BARTY BATTLES THROUGH in the other women’s semi- “I think I can keep improv- jing crowd behind him against 503rd. But Murray lost his fi rst At times there were shades of face a tougher fi eld, and con- In the women’s draw, world fi nal. Gulf Times Saturday, October 5, 2019 7 FOOTBALL

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Guardiola urges Walker to fi ght for Pochettino hopes his England place

AFP attack from wide but from inside, London yeah but as player he can do eve- rything,” said the City manager. “The opinion of Gareth, I am ep Guardiola has chal- not here to (question). He made to stay with Spurs lenged Kyle Walker to the selection, he had a huge se- prove Gareth Southgate lection of players to select, he wrong after the England decided the last two times and managerP left him out of his na- Kyle respects it, I respect it. tional squad for the second time “Gareth does what he does for this season. the best of the national team in The Manchester City full- England. It’s a big challenge for back has fallen behind Liver- Kyle to show how him good he for fi ve more years pool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold is. Not because he’s not in the and Kieran Trippier, now at national team will my opinion ‘Football is a game to enjoy and when you don’t win it is diff icult to enjoy’ Atletico Madrid, in Southgate’s change, and neither will Ga- pecking order ahead of the Euro reth’s. So he remains an incred- Reuters 2020 qualifi ers against the Czech ible full-back.” London Republic and Bulgaria. With Manchester United’s WALKER’S CANCELO Aaron Wan-Bissaka also in con- THREAT ottenham Hotspur tention, it may be that Walker To compound Walker’s concerns, coach Mauricio Pochet- will not add to the 48 caps he has Cancelo, after a slow start to his tino dismissed specula- won for his country. City career following a summer tion about his future at At the same time, the City move from Juventus, is now look- Tthe club yesterday and said he manager placed further pres- ing capable of supplanting him in hoped to spend many more years sure on Walker by spending £60 Guardiola’s fi rst team. “With the in North London. million ($74mn) in the summer ball we don’t have doubts, with- Spurs were hammered 7-2 transfer window on young Por- out the ball he (Cancelo) starts to at home by Bayern Munich in tuguese defender Joao Cancelo, understand what we want and he Tuesday’s Champions League whom Guardiola believes is now did it quite well in the games he clash but Pochettino said the ready to challenge for a regular has played,” said the City boss. defeat would force him and fi rst-team start. “Kyle doesn’t have doubts his players to work harder and But Guardiola, whose side host about that. Last season it hap- recover “their best feeling,” Wolves on Sunday, believes the pened in one or two games - hopefully in Saturday’s Premier 29-year-old Walker is currently Danilo played a few games last League game at Brighton & Hove exhibiting form good enough to season and he reacted incredibly Albion. win over Southgate and retain his well, so we cannot play 11 months Despite reaching the Cham- place with the champions. with one player. pions League fi nal in June and “Kyle, it is a big challenge for “We survived two seasons fi nishing fourth in the Premier him to show the manager from with no left full-backs, so we League, Tottenham have lost 16 England how good he is,” Guar- need this player, this position, to matches in 2019 and their form diola said at his pre-match press make competition for Kyle and at the start of the new campaign conference yesterday. “Our life let him rest and maybe when Joao has been inconsistent. in sports is about challenge, plays in a good level, take his po- They beat Southampton last about duels, targets, and he has sition, that’s what it is.” weekend, having played more one in front of him in every single City will be without Kevin than half of the game with 10 game to show how good he is to De Bruyne as he recovers from men, but Tuesday’s defeat was come back into the team. a groin injury but the Belgian, Tottenham’s worst ever at home “He came as an incredible, along with defender John Stones, in Europe.“On Monday I was the outstanding player and still is an should be available for a fi rst- best and after Tuesday I am the outstanding player. Physicality, team return after the upcoming worst,” he told reporters. “That strong, fast, and we try to help international break. is the reality when you lose and him to be better since we were De Bruyne has scored two you cannot defend yourself. together.” goals and assisted another nine “In fi ve-and-a-half years I Southgate has indicated that in an incredible start to the Pre- think in every single press con- Walker is too defensive-minded mier League season, while the ference we are talking about my for his preferred system with only game he has not started future. I hope... I am going to England. was City’s one defeat so far at spend fi ve years more here at “We ask him many times don’t Norwich. least. “Football is a game to enjoy and when you don’t win it is dif- fi cult to enjoy but you can’t cre- ate a drama,” Pochettino added. Mauricio Pochettino gestures on the touchline during the UEFA Champions League Group B match between Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern “And we are not going to create Munich at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London on Tuesday. (AFP) a drama.” While the result against Bay- but we played really bad games the best quality and the best midfi elder Dele Alli’s loss of form and the platform. ern led defender Jan Vertong- in more than fi ve years here with performance, the competition which has cost him his place in the “Now he is in a tough period but hen to say he felt “ashamed”, a diff erent result.” Tottenham doesn’t wait for you. England squad. we need him because he is a very Pochettino said the scoreline have won only two of their last “You cannot go home and cry “There is nothing wrong with important player for us.” should not detract from their nine games in all competitions and spend three days closed in Dele,” he said. “Football is about Tottenham are without right fi rst-half display. and sit sixth in the league, 10 your room, you need to move on form and sometimes you have a back Serge Aurier through sus- Asked if it was his low point points behind leaders Liverpool. quick, that is the key. You stick not so good period. pension for the trip to Brighton. at Tottenham, Pochettino said: “We need to move on and we with your ideas and be more “Dele only needs time to re- Midfi elder Moussa Sissoko looks “I don’t believe so. In terms of need to be ready,” Pochettino stronger than before.” Pochet- cover his best performance and we likely to slot in there for the 1130 the result of course, the score, said. “We need to try to show tino played down concerns about will help him and provide the tools GMT kickoff .

Mbappe ‘needs more treatment’, to miss Angers game

Kylian Mbappe has suff ered a set- Bordeaux last weekend and at nerve are too close and we have so far this term. still sidelined. Tuchel will hope to back in his recovery from a thigh Galatasaray in the Champions to treat. “We have to give him Reigning French champions PSG have Mbappe back after the in- injury and will miss Paris Saint- League in midweek. more treatment, it’s a problem sit two points clear of surprise ternational break for trips to Nice Germain’s top-of-the-table clash “Kylian will not be able to play when he plays. We have to treat challengers Angers at the top of and Club Brugge, in the Champi- with Angers in Ligue 1 today. tomorrow,” PSG coach Thomas that and we need time.” Mbappe, the table after eight matches of ons League, although he could The 20-year-old returned after Tuchel said on Friday. who was the Ligue 1 top-scorer the campaign. miss France’s Euro 2020 qualifiers a month-long absence with “He is not injured again, it isn’t last season with 33 goals, has But they have struggled with in- against Iceland on October 11 and substitute appearances against a relapse. But the scar and the netted twice in all competitions juries, and Edinson Cavani is also Turkey three days later. Pep Guardiola (left) with Kyle Walker.

QNB STARS LEAGUE Arabi earn come-from-behind win over Khor By Sports Reporter gory Gomis and then Pierre Lasogga spot kick against the right upright. Jong took the free-kick which was Doha could not connect Yousef’s pass. Al Arabi soon earned a penalty af- defl ected by the wall and demanded Al Khor slowly, but steadily made ter Robert Alexander brought down a save from Naim. The referee then their way into the game, with Tiago Harbaoui and the latter converted referred back to VAR after a handball l Arabi earned a dramatic, Bezerra and Ahmed Hammoudan from the spot. Lasogga struck at the was spotted in the wall and a penalty come-from-behind 3-1 leading their charge. stroke of fi nal whistle to seal a pul- was awarded which Rezaeian con- victory against Al Khor Al Khor drew fi rst blood when sating victory for Al Arabi. verted with aplomb. at the QNB Stars League Ahmed Hassan volleyed in fi rst time The moment of the match, and an yesterday.A an angular cross from the left by Ib- SHAHANIA 1-1 UMM SALAL early goal of the season contender, Hamdi Harbaoui (78th-minute rahim Amada, leaving Gomis with Al Shahania and Umm Salal were was reserved for a very special eff ort penalty and 90+5-minute penalty) no chance to make a save. forced to share the spoils follow- by Rhaili to bring the scores level in and Pierre Lasogga (90+8 minutes) Al Khor were more in the game ing a 1-1 draw at the Al Arabi Sta- the latter stages of the fi rst half. Af- scored Al Arabi’s goals. Ahmed Has- in the second half and The Knights dium yesterday. Al Shanania got on ter receiving the ball just inside the san scored for Al Khor in the 37th almost doubled their lead just past the scoresheet in the 27th minute, opposition half, he took a few steps minute. the hour mark, but Amada’s shot thanks to Ramin Rezaeian, and Umm forward before launching an auda- Al Arabi, who were not in ac- was fi rst blocked by Gomis and then Salal equalised in the 38th minute, cious left-footed shot which fl ew tion last week as their game against cleared by Musab Keder. courtesy of an Adil Rhaili goal. past the goalkeeper and burst the net reigning champions Al Sadd (Qatar Al Arabi too made desperate at- The tense battle began in a fren- on arrival. Derby) was deferred due to the lat- tempts for an equaliser. After Aron zied fashion with chances off ered Umm Salal thought they had tak- ter’s AFC Champions League fi rst- Gunnarsson shot over from four on either side. Rezaeian fl oated in en the lead with a spectacular strike leg semifi nal against Saudi Arabia’s yards out off a corner kick, The a cross to the far post which Reza from an indirect free-kick early in Al Hilal played in Doha on 1st Oc- Dream Team earned a penalty af- Shanbeh was able to volley in sump- the second half, but Victor Vazquez’s tober, moved to 13 points. Al Khor ter Al Khor defender Khaled Rad- tuous fashion. However, Yazan Naim celebrations were ended after VAR stood on four points. wan was adjudged to have handled was able to pull off a fine save. controversially ruled the goal out as Al Khor thus suff ered their fourth the ball off a corner kick. Harbaoui Meanwhile, Mahmoud al-Mawas Lawrence Quawe was adjudged to successive defeat, having lost to Al calmly converted from the spot. had a similar opportunity and saw have been in an off side position. Ahli, Al Rayyan and Qatar SC also. The match saw dramatic scenes his well-hit strike pushed to safety Having made a match-saving Al Arabi were the dominant side towards the end, with both teams in defi ant fashion by Khalifa al-Dos- tackle up one end, Rhaili nearly be- in the fi rst half and, understandably, seeking headway, and the VAR was sari. came the match winner deep into created more chances though they used on more occasions than one. The deadlock was broken midway injury time as he tried to replicate lacked teeth enough to give them Al Khor were awarded a penalty through the half after Aldoukali al- his earlier goal with another long- the lead. Yousef Abdulrazaq headed when Morteza Pouraliganji fouled Baoure had earned his team a free- range eff ort, but this time it was Al Arabi players celebrate their victory over Al Khor in their QNB Stars League match yesterday. straight to Al Arabi goalkeeper Gre- Amada. And Tiago hit the resultant kick on the edge of the box. Nigel de well-saved. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed

Saturday, October 5, 2019 GULF TIMES SPORT

HORSE RACING Lady Princess is queen of Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches ‘She is a star, even though, as her jockey confirmed, the ground was not her cup of tea’

Qatar Equestrian Federation president Hamad bin Abdurahman al-Attiyah (right) presents the trophy to Khalifa Sheail al-Kuwari after Lady Princess won the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches. PICTURES: Juhaim/Zuzanna Lupa Jockey Christophe Soumilon rides Lady Princess to victory in Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches at Saint-Cloud in Paris yesterday.

By A Correspondent QREC chairman lauds Qatari success in Arabian races Paris Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend kicks off today QREC chairman Issa bin Mohamed al-Mohannadi in the Qatar Arabian Trophies for colts and fillies lauded the Qatari victories at Saint-Cloud yes- reflect QREC’s commitment to Arabian racing and The stage is set for the the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de this race are Mountain Angel, Skalleti, Villa Rosa, ady Princess, who runs in terday, as part of the events associated with the vision to promote as a world hub for horse racing Triomphe weekend to kick off today. Over two Line Of Duty, Flambeur and Leo De Fury. the colours of Sheail bin Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend. “I’m very and a leader in the pure Arabian breed. We look days, the world’s best thoroughbreds and Arabi- Race 3 will be the €200,000 Gr2 Qatar Prix Daniel Khalifa al-Kuwari, added pleased with victory made in presence of His High- forward to Sunday and a Qatari victory in the Qatar ans, ridden by the most celebrated jockeys, will Wildenstein for 3YO+ over a mile. There will be five a second Group1 PA to ness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, owner Arabian World Cup, especially as Qatar has had descend on the ParisLongchamp racecourse. runners; The Revenant, Olmedo, Impulsif, Shaman Lher tally, keeping the scorecard of Al Shahania Stud,” said al-Mohannadi after the a lion’s share of the coveted title in the previous As many as 98 horses will feature in nine races and Tauran Shaman. The €70,000 Qatar Grand of her young career unblem- races. “The win scored for Sheail bin Khalifa al- editions. In addition, the presence of His High- one Day 1, including three Group1s and three Handicap Des Juments (Race 4) will be for 3YO+ ished. Kuwari is also a demonstration of Qatari owners’ ness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani-owned Group2s. fillies and mares over 2,000 metres. 16 fillies and In the hands of Christophe commitment and ability to run their horses and win and bred French King in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de At 03:00pm Doha time, the €150,000 (Gr1 PA) mares will be contesting in this race. Soumilon, who gave her a copy- outside Qatar. It is an excellent start, giving a very Triomhe reflects a bright image of Qatar’s horse Qatar Arabian Trophy Des Juments (Race 2) will Race 5 will be the €275,000 Haras de Bouquetot book ride, she justifi ed her fa- positive indicator of the success of the Qatar-spon- racing and equestrian sport. It is brilliant to have a feature ten 4YO fillies, who will contest over - Critérium de la Vente d’Octobre Arqana. 14 two- vourite status in the Qatar Ara- sored Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Qatari-owned and bred horse in the World’s Best 2,000 metres. Three will run in the colours of His year-old runners will contest over a mile. bian Trophy des Pouliches when “The victories of Amyr du Soleil and Lady Princess Race Horse. Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani; The €300,000 Gr1 Qatar (Race winning by three quarters of a Aksinya, Al Ryma Monlau and Raahah. Al Shaqab 6) is reserved for 3YO+ fillies and mares over length. She was coming here off Racing representative in this race is Al Haff anah, 2,. The nine runners in this race are a win in the Group1 PA Al Rayyan the straight, the bay daughter of was further fi ve lengths behind it. My runners will now have a who won the Qatar Arabian Trophy Des Pouliches Enbihaar, Pilaster, Musis Amica, Lah Ti Dar, Muta- Cup (Pric Kesberoy) at Deauville General came up to join the lead- in third under Jean-Bernard break. Amyr Du Soleil and Lady last year. makina, South Sea Pearl, Anapurna, Delphinia and in August, having debuted suc- ers two furlongs from the fi nish- Eyquem. Princess will stay in France for The other runners are Jadeeda, Durat Al Zaman, Satomi. cessfully at Toulouse last April. ing line before taking the lead in “She is a star, even though, as next year.” R’ezala, jaazmah Athbah, Vivabaina and Bayan. Race 8 will be the €300,000 Gr1 Qatar Prix Du Thirteen runners lined up in the fi nal furlong. She won un- her jockey confi rmed, the ground Lady Princess is a daughter of The €200,000 Gr2 Qatar (Race7 – Cadran is reserved for 4YO+ stayers. Ten runners this 2,000m race, which crowns der a hands and heels ride from was not her cup of tea,” com- General and is out of Group3 PA 6pm Doha time) is for 3YO over 3,000 metres. Ten will do their best to prove their stamina over the best three-year-old Pure- Soumillon, who encouraged her mented winning trainer Thomas Prix Damas scorer NACREE AL runners will be in the fray. Al Shaqab Racing will 4,000 metres. They are Dee Ex Bee, Mille Et Mille, bred Arabian fi lly in France. Lady every stride, staying on well. Fourcy, “She has a huge heart. MAURY, dam of Mister Ginoux, be represented in this race by Lucky Lycra. The Way To Paris, Holdthasigreen, Who Dares Wins, Princess jumped quietly and her The Al Shaqab Racing-owned She was holding back, but when winner of the Qatar Internation- other runners are Moonlight Spirit, Iskanderhon, Cleonte, Falcon Eight, Call The Wind, Funny Kid jockey allowed the others to go and Thomas Fourcy-trained she saw the others, she went for al Trophy (Gr1 PA) and the Qa- Dashing Willoughby, Nayef Road, San Huberto, and Line Des Ongrais. forward before settling mid- Meethag fi nished in second the win. She is the Zarkava of tar Derby des Pur-sang Arabes Ashrun, Technician, Golden Box and Muette. Race 9, the Prix Qatar Racing And Equestrian division. under Jerome Cabre. The His Purebred Arabians. She doesn’t (Gr2 PA), now a sire at Haras de Earlier, the opener will be the €200,000 Gr2 Qatar Club will conclude the day at 7:10pm Doha time. He stayed in touch with the Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin put on a show, but she is extraor- Thouars. This is the exceptional for 3YO+ over 1,950 metres and will 18 3YO+ fillies and mares will contest in the 2,000 leaders in the fi nal turn when the Khalifa al-Thani-owned and dinary. Meethag fi nished a good female line of blue hen and foun- start at 02:30pm Doha time. The six runners of metres handicap carrying a purse of €28,000. pace began to pick up and once in Mrs JF Bernard-trained Artemis second. She has lost nothing by dation mare Nevada II.

CRICKET PREVIEW Elgar, de Kock lead SA fi ghtback Pakistan launch T20 AFP Scorecard World Cup preparation Visakhapatnam INDIA 1st innings 502-7 dec SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings with Sri Lanka series ean Elgar and Quinton de (overnight 39-3, D. Elgar 27, T. Kock centuries helped ing beaten them in eight of the Bavuma 1) AFP South Africa fi ght back Lahore, Pakistan 13 matches they have played yesterday to reach 385 D. Elgar c Pujara b Jadeja 160 against each other to date. forD eight in response to India’s They beat Sri Lanka in the fi - A. Markram b Markram 5 mammoth fi rst-innings 502. T. de Bruyn c Saha b Ashwin 4 orld number one nal to win the 2009 Twenty20 De Kock made 111 and put on Twenty20 team World Cup in England. a key 164-run stand with Elgar, D. Piedt b Jadeja 0 Pakistan take Sarfaraz is also one of the who scored 160, to thwart the In- T. Bavuma lbw b I. Sharma 18 on an inexperi- most successful captains in dian bowling attack on day three Wenced Sri Lanka in the fi rst of the shortest format, winning F. du Plessis c Pujara b Ashwin 55 of the fi rst Test in Visakhapat- a three-match series in Lahore 29 of the 34 matches he has nam. Off -spinner Ravichandran Q. de Kock b Ashwin 111 today, starting their prepara- captained, losing only fi ve. Ashwin kept chipping away at S. Muthusamy not out 12 tion for next year’s World Cup Pakistan have a world the batsmen however to claim his V. Philander b Ashwin 0 in the shortest format. number one ranked Twenty20 27th fi ve-wicket haul in 66 Tests. Pakistan will also play three batsman in Babar Azam, while K. Maharaj not out 3 At stumps, the Proteas still Twenty20 matches in Austral- the recall of Ahmed Sheh- trail by 117 runs as they chase In- EXTRAS (b8, lb4, nb5) 17 ia next month before hosting zad and Umar Akmal further dia’s fi rst innings score of 502 for TOTAL (8 wickets, 118 overs) 385 Bangladesh and later travel- boosts their batting. Sri Lanka will miss their seven declared. FALL OF WICKETS: 11-14 ling to Ireland and England, top players Kusal Perera, An- Debutant Senuran Muth- (Markram), 2-31 (de Bruyn), 3-34 all ahead of the Twenty20 Asia gelo Mathews, Dhananjaya usamy, on 12, and Keshav Maha- (Piedt), 4-63 (Bavuma, 5-178 (du Cup. That gives them ideal De Silva, Thisara Perera and raj, on three, were at the crease Plessis), 6-342 (Elgar), 7-370 (de preparation for the Twenty20 Niroshan Dickwella, who were after the long day with 98 overs Kock), 8-376 (Philander) World Cup to be held in Aus- bowled to make for lost time be- tralia in October and Novem- among ten players who refused cause of storms on day one. BOWLERS: Sharma 14-2-44-1 ber next year. to tour Pakistan over security Wicketkeeper-batsman De (nb1), Shami 15-3-40-0 (nb1), Pakistan captain Sarfaraz fears. But Shanaka, who was Kock completed his fi fth Test South Africa’s Quinton de Kock and Dean Elgar (left) run between the wickets during the third day’s play of Ashwin 41-11-128-5, Jadeja 37-4- Ahmed said the preparation one of four players who came hundred in the fi nal session with the first Test against India at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam 116-2 (nb1), Vihari 9-1-38-0 (nb2), was good but he was keeping to Pakistan when Sri Lanka a six off Ashwin before eventually yesterday. (AFP) Sharma 2-1-7-0. his eye on the ball: Sri Lanka. played a single Tweny20 in- being bowled by the off -spinner. ma struck early, taking overnight “We will not take them ternational in Lahore in 2017, Ashwin struck again with the of county cricket. That’s an ex- Faf du Plessis for the fi fth wicket wicket haul for your country,” said batsman Temba Bavuma low for lightly,” said Sarfaraz. put on a brave face. wicket of Vernon Philander for tremely big motivating factor for to put pressure on India’s bowl- Ashwin. This place is very special 18. Jadeja also posed problems “A Twenty20 match can be “I am happy to lead the team nought. The left-handed Elgar, my career that always improves ers. Ashwin, back in the Indian XI for me but I enjoyed a fi ve wicket and nearly got Elgar on 74 but won by one good performance and we will do our best to put who started the day on 27, led the me as a player,” said Elgar. after his last outing in Australia haul for Nottingham too. One is wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha in batting and one in bowling, up a fi ght against our very revival after South Africa slipped “I’d like to think that this in- last year, also said playing county not too lesser than the other.” spilled the chance. so we need to work hard to win strong hosts,” said Shanaka. to 63 for four in the morning ses- nings didn’t come by fl uke, but cricket for Nottinghamshire had Ashwin’s spin partner Ravin- Indian opener Mayank Agar- the series.” Like in Karachi, where Sri sion. The 32-year-old credited came because I have done the helped him during his time away dra Jadeja also made it count with wal set the tone for the hosts’ The remaining matches Lanka lost the three-match his stint with Surrey in the Eng- hard work. I have spent a lot of from the Indian team. Elgar’s wicket in the fi nal session dominance of the game with his will be played on Monday and one-day series 2-0 (with the lish county championship for his time away from home which you “I am elated to be back. It is as he moved to 200 Test scalps. 215 and a 317-run opening stand Wednesday, also in Lahore. fi rst match rained off ), strin- impressive show. have got to sacrifi ce.” always special for India. There South Africa started the day on with Rohit Sharma, who hit 176 Pakistan enjoy a superior gent security will be in place “I have played fi ve months Elgar put on 115 with skipper is nothing like picking up a fi ve 39-3 but fast bowler Ishant Shar- of India’s giant score. record against Sri Lanka, hav- for the teams.