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Tuesday, November 5, 2019 FOOTBALL Rabia I 8, 1441 AH Balotelli hits back GULF TIMES as Verona fan chief fuels racism row SPORT Page 4 ASIAN SHOOTING OPENING CEREMONY
The 14th Asian Shooting Championships off icially began yesterday with a traditional opening ceremony at the Losail Shooting Complex. Ali Mohamed al-Kuwari, President of Qatar Shooting & Archery Association, and Vice-President Asian Shooting Confederation, Jassim bin Rashid al-Buenain, Secretary-General of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), Sheikh Saud bin Ali al-Thani, First Vice-President, QOC, Duaij al-Otaibi, Secretary-General, Asian Shooting Federation, and other off icials were present on the occasion. The 12-day event with over 1,500 athletes from 34 nations will conclude on November 14. Al-Kuwari (second picture on top) and al-Otaibi (second picture at bottom) welcomed the participants. Shooters will be aiming for 38 quota berths at the Tokyo Olympics next year.
SPOTLIGHT ‘Overwhelmed’ Hamilton seals sixth F1 world title HAMILTON ADDED THE 2019 TITLE TO PREVIOUS TRIUMPHS IN 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017 AND 2018
AFP Red Bull. Daniel Ricciardo was sixth for but was held for 7.7 seconds as his crew Austin Renault ahead of the two McLarens of struggled to fi t his left rear wheel. Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz, Nico Like Hamilton, still nursing his orig- Hulkenberg in the second Renault and inal mediums, he was presumed to be ewis Hamilton clinched his Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat. on a one-stop strategy. sixth world title, but not in the On a perfect blue-skied day, the race Hamilton was asked to pit on lap 24. style he hoped for on Sunday began with an explosive rush uphill “Box, box,” said his engineer, but the Lwhen he fi nished second be- towards Turn One, Bottas taking full driver said no. “I want to go longer,” hind his triumphant Mercedes team- advantage of his pole position with a he replied, ignoring a Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas in an eventful fl awless start.Behind him, Verstappen request. A lap later, he was in and sta- United States Grand Prix. pulled alongside Vettel to take second tionary for 2.4 seconds, re-joining The 34-year-old Briton fought with while Hamilton followed and took ad- third on hard tyres, 23 seconds behind ferocious determination to win from vantage of both Ferraris. Bottas and 15 in arrears to Verstappen. fi fth on the grid, but was unable to “I must have damage,” reported Vet- Hamilton quickly clocked a fastest resist the Finn, who started from pole tel. “I didn’t hit anything, but I have lap to his team’s alarm, fearing tyre and, with a two-stop strategy, had under-steer like crazy.” welfare. fresher tyres in the critical fi nal laps. By lap fi ve, he had tumbled to sev- Five laps later, Verstappen pitted After leading twice, Hamilton was enth, but worse followed when his again for mediums and re-joined third. passed by Bottas with three laps re- car’s suspension failed, the right-rear Bottas followed one lap later, re-join- maining and then resisted Red Bull’s collapsing as he went through Turn ing second ahead of the Dutchman as Max Verstappen to take his 150th podi- Nine. Hamilton led again, by ten seconds. um fi nish and his 31st successive fi nish Vettel’s exit left Hamilton chasing With 20 to go, it appeared to be all in the points. Verstappen who pitted early, on lap 14, about tyre-wear for the leading trio. It sealed his sixth title, leaving him for a set of hard tyres. With 12 laps to go, Bottas was 3.6 one adrift of Michael Schumacher on One lap later, Bottas came in, also seconds behind Hamilton and six seven. for hards, and Hamilton inherited the ahead of Verstappen. Hamilton added the 2019 title to lead. The Finn was soon past Leclerc to Leclerc was a distant fourth, by 50 previous triumphs in 2008, 2014, 2015, Formula One World Drivers Champion Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates after the F1 Grand Prix claim second as the Silver Arrows led seconds. For Bottas, it was a tall order 2017 and 2018. of USA at Circuit of The Americas on Sunday in Austin, Texas. the fi eld. to catch the Englishman and even more “I can’t believe it, thanks a lot,” son.” or seven never to give up and that’s space “reserved for the champion” be- “Just be sensible,” Red Bull warned to pass him without risking everything Hamilton said over the team radio as he “I didn’t know if it would be possi- kind of the family motto.” fore leaping into the arms of his family Verstappen, who had a new rear wing for Mercedes. moved out of a tie for fi ve titles he held ble but I worked as hard as I could here It was Bottas’s fourth win of the sea- and friends. Verstappen fi nished third fi tted on the grid. On lap 52, Bottas tried a pass, but with Argentina’s Juan-Manuel Fangio. with my team back at the factory. My son and the seventh of his career. ahead of Charles Leclerc of Ferrari He was soon up to third in hot pur- Hamilton resisted and forced him He added: “It’s just overwhelming if mum, dad, step-mum and step-dad “It’s a good win,” said the Finn. — some compensation to team boss suit while Bottas, on fresh rubber, cut wide. I’m really honest. It was such a tough and my family are here and it’s an hon- “Personally, I failed on my target this Mattia Binotto on his 50th birthday chunks of time from Hamilton’s lead, A lap later and it was done, the Finn race today, Valtteri did a great job. As our to be here with six titles with those year, but Lewis deserves it. He’s had a following the early retirement, with reducing it from 15 seconds to 6.6 by regaining his lead to leave Hamilton at an athlete I feel as fresh as can be. We’ll greats. good season.” broken suspension, of Sebastian Vettel lap 20. the mercy of the rampant Verstappen keep pushing for the rest of the sea- “My dad told me when I was like six Hamilton parked his Mercedes in a — with Alex Albon fi fth in the second Leclerc pitted from fourth on lap 21, — a threat he resisted. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, November 5, 2019 SPORT
FORMULA ONE FOCUS Boy from nowhere Ferrari hit back at cements place Verstappen ‘cheating’ amongst giants allegation His journey was unprivileged and without luxury, but it was clear from an early age that AFP ous big speed advantage on the Austin straights. he had an outstanding gift for speed and all the gutsy natural instincts of a born racer Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel re- tired early with broken sus- errari has hit back at Max pension and teammate Charles Verstappen’s ‘cheating’ Leclerc, powered by an ‘old’ Spec claims made against the 2 engine, fi nished fourth, 50 sec- Italian team following onds adrift of Verstappen’s Red theF United States Grand Prix. Bull. Dutchman Verstappen, who Asked why he thought Ferrari fi nished third behind the Mer- had suff ered a slump, Verstappen cedes duo of Valtteri Bottas and said: “That’s what happens when newly-crowned six-time cham- you stop cheating...” pion Lewis Hamilton, said Fer- Binotto rejected the charge, rari had lost their previous speed saying: “As a matter of fact, I be- and form because they had been lieve we were very close to pole stopped from cheating by an of- position as it was in the last race. fi cial technical directive. I think Seb could have scored The directive, from the sport’s pole, but maybe was a bit too ruling body, the International cautious in one corner.” Motoring Federation (FIA), fol- He said Leclerc faced technical lowed an inquiry from Vertap- diffi culties without which “he pen’s Red Bull about a ‘tricky’ was potentially on the pole as fuel-fl ow system, designed to well. So, I don’t see where is the boost power, that was declared problem... “ illegal. He explained that Ferrari Speaking to reporters late changed their base set-up and Sunday at the Circuit of the ran with more down-force — a Americas in Austin, Ferrari team switch that helped them gain in chief Mattia Binotto said: “I read the corners, but at the cost of and I heard a lot of comments speed on the straights. this weekend about a technical “The trade-off between grip directive and the impact on our limit and power limit has moved cars. this weekend, as a test on our “I heard comments at the end side, to try to match their cor- of the race, which I feel were very nering. I think that it is as simple disappointing... as that.” “It is the type of comments Leclerc, who is regarded as a that are completely wrong in the rival to Verstappen as F1’s next sport. It is not good for the sport champion driver, said the Dutch- and I think everybody should be a man had no idea what he was bit more cautious.” talking about. Binotto, who celebrated his The Monegasque driver said: 50th birthday on race day Sun- “I think it is a joke, to be com- AFP bryonic racing career in karts. time champion Fernando Alon- and diversity as champion again and revealed a fl eeting despair at day, went on to launch a defence pletely honest. He has no clue. Austin His journey was unprivileged so, who left McLaren at the end in 2014 and 2015. the state of the world when he of his team, explaining how their He is not on the team. We know and without luxury, but it was of the year. Rosberg broke Hamilton’s se- used Instagram to declare that six-race run of pole positions exactly what we are doing. clear from an early age that he That was a signal of how quence of supremacy in 2016 and the planet was “a messed-up came to an end and why they en- “I don’t know why he is speak- ewis Hamilton ce- had an outstanding gift for speed tough it was to be for all his fu- then retired, leaving the English- place” and he felt he wanted “to dured a disappointing race with ing. He doesn’t know anything mented his position as and all the gutsy natural instincts ture team-mates as Hamilton, man to dominate. give up”. an apparent loss of their previ- about us.” one of Formula One’s true of a born racer. who narrowly missed out on the His former McLaren team- That commentary, including greats when he captured In 1995, aged 10, and wearing a 2007 title, returned to triumph in mate Jenson Button summed revelations about his vegan life- hisL sixth world title, a stagger- jacket and shoes borrowed from 2008 with a dramatic last-gasp up Hamilton’s pure speed when style, led to him being accused of ing achievement described as his predecessor as British For- fi fth-place fi nish in Brazil. he said: “For me, over one lap, hypocrisy. “not bad for a boy from a council mula Cadet karting champion, He also showed frustration I don’t think there is anyone as “I’m only human,” he said. house.” he went to a glittering awards as McLaren failed to deliver the quick as Lewis and I don’t think “Like everyone, we have up and His second-place fi nish at the ceremony in London where he speed to beat current rival and there ever has been.” down days. That’s what I’ve been United States Grand Prix on Sun- met McLaren’s then-boss Ron four-time champion Sebastian That speed, which has always really trying to convey.” day took him past the fi ve titles of Dennis. Vettel and Red Bull, who reeled been a natural talent, has in re- His own career and his quest Juan-Manuel Fangio — who he He asked for an autograph and off four straight title triumphs cent seasons been allied to a more for self-expression and freedom describes as “The Godfather” — told him “one day I want to race from 2010 to 2013, by when mature attitude to his job as team has shaped his advice for young and to within one of seven-time for you”. Dennis replied: “Phone Hamilton had departed for Mer- leader. drivers. champion Michael Schumacher. me in nine years and I’ll sort you cedes.Escaping the management Mercedes team chief Toto “What I can defi nitely advise He had already won more a deal.” regime of Dennis and his father, Wolff summed up: “He is never any kid that’s out there trying to than men like Australia’s Jack Bold, determined and indi- Hamilton found freedom at Mer- satisfi ed. He never settles. He is race is don’t listen to people who Brabham, fellow-Briton Jackie vidual, he almost won the title cedes alongside team-mate Ger- never happy with where he is as a tell you that you need a mental Stewart, Austrian Niki Lauda in his fi rst record-breaking sea- man Nico Rosberg, his teenage racing driver and a human being. coach or you need someone to and Brazilians Nelson Piquet and son as he reeled off nine succes- karting friend and rival. He wants to optimise, to develop help control your mind,” he said. Ayrton Senna in a spectacular sive podiums from his debut in This enabled Hamilton to ex- and he is very much part of the “You need to let it run wild and statement of achievement. Melbourne, rocking the estab- press himself with a headline- leadership of the team.” free and discover yourself. It is The son of a black father and lishment along the way with his grabbing trans-Atlantic life- Having achieved so much as all about discovery. And only you a white mother, who survived a speed and his style. style, mixing with musicians and his sport’s best-known ambas- can do it.” broken home in his youth, Ham- On and off the track, he was ‘fashionistas’. sador, Hamilton’s interest in On Sunday, father Anthony ilton, 34, grew up on a municipal fast, somewhat mercurial and He showed little love for any social issues has emerged more summed up his son’s achieve- housing estate where his father occasionally tempestuous and duty to obey conventions and, for frequently. ment: “It’s absolutely amazing Anthony at one time held down this combination led to a fi erce many observers, gave his sport a Earlier this month, he posted and not bad for a boy from a Ste- Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing. three jobs to fund his son’s em- rivalry with team-mate and two- welcome injection of freshness his concerns for the environment venage council house.” You deserve it all, Vettel tells Hamilton BOTTOMLINE In his moment of triumph, Hamilton thinks of loss
Reuters look great but it’s not always the happens it can put lots of doubts Austin, Texas case. “And I am also struggling in your mind and thinking, ‘OK, with lots of diff erent things and jeez, is it time to stop or shall I battling certain demons and try- keep going?’ Because there’s lots n his moment of triumph on ing to make sure that I’m con- of life afterwards. Sunday, an emotional Lewis stantly growing as a person.” “I still want to spend time with Hamilton refl ected on loss, Hamilton said it had been a my family, I still want to have a demons and the personal real struggle to come to terms family one day, all these diff erent Austin: Sebastian Vettel said Hamilton. Igrowth that led him to a sixth with the death of friend and tri- things. yesterday that he told Lewis “If somebody wins the title six Formula One drivers’ title. ple world champion Niki Lauda, “But I love doing what I do so Hamilton ‘he deserved it all’ times, he deserves all of it. That’s As his Mercedes team cel- the team’s non-executive chair- much that I don’t think there’s a after the British Mercedes driver what I told him as well.” ebrated, Hamilton’s comments man who had been instrumental lot that can particularly stop me clinched his sixth world title at “Obviously I’m happy for him,” after the race said as much about in persuading him to join Mer- in that sense.” the United States Grand Prix. he added. “I’m not happy that the man as the fi erce competi- cedes. Hamilton said he would not Hamilton finished second behind we are not in contention this tiveness he showed on the track The dangers of the job also hit truly refl ect on what he has ac- Mercedes team-mate Valtteri year and we were so far back, in trying to seal the champion- home with the death of Anthoine complished until the season is Bottas in Austin on Sunday and but you need to respect what ship with a victory at the US Hubert in a high-speed crash over. With two more races there was cooling down after the he achieved these last years Grand Prix. during a Formula Two race at the is still work to be done. race when, unexpectedly, Fer- and, also, this year, together with The win would elude him, Belgian Grand Prix. The French- “Usually the refl ection comes rari’s four-time champion Vettel his team how strong they have ultimately going to teammate man was 22. at the end of the year when work dropped in to whisper in his ear. been. I’m happy for him but less Valtteri Bottas, but only after “I would say this year that los- fi nishes and you can just take a Vettel, for several years Hamil- happy for us.” Hamilton’s fading tyres saw him ing Niki, I didn’t think that was load off and just sit back and have ton’s fiercest on-track rival, had Vettel’s Ferrari team-mate surrender the lead in the dying Lewis Hamilton (C) celebrates his sixth F1 world title following the going to hit me as hard as it did,” a beer,” said Hamilton, fi nally retired early in the race after Charles Leclerc said: “On my side, laps. F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, on said Hamilton. “It really was up- breaking into a smile. his car’s suspension had failed I didn’t even win won one world Second place was still good Sunday. setting and I miss him dearly to- “I will be with my dogs, with on the bumpy Circuit of the title... To win six is just incredible. enough for him to become the day and I didn’t realise how much my feet up and just only then you Americas. “I think he deserves it. He has second Formula One driver after asked where title No 6 ranks. “Each and every single one of I loved the guy. can have a moment to grasp how “I think now is the time for you done an incredible season. I Michael Schumacher to win six “Every year you go through a dif- us is struggling with something “Also we lost a young kid in great a year it has been. to write as many good things as grew up watching him on the TV world championships. ferent rollercoaster ride of emo- in life. Spa. Again, I saw it on the TV, I “I’m always just looking to you can,” Vettel informed report- and, yeah, just a huge congratu- “I don’t know, every journey tions to get to where you’re go- “I tried to show people that, saw it happen. improve and I really love being in ers, referring to what he said to lations.” is diff erent,” said Hamilton when ing. from the outside, things always “When something like that this sport.” Gulf Times Tuesday, November 5, 2019 3 FOOTBALL
BUNDESLIGA PREMIER LEAGUE Everton’s Gomes Hunt on for new Bayern expected to make full recovery AFP coach aft er Kovac exit London
verton midfi elder Andre Bayern severed ties with Kovac on Sunday night after winning just three of their last six games Gomes is expected to make a “full recovery” AFP Bayern’s dressing room last season and after undergoing sur- that winning the double only papered geryE to repair a fracture dislo- Berlin over the cracks. “His concept of football cation of his ankle, the Premier was never clear, players lacked detailed League club said yesterday. The ayern Munich are looking for tactical guidance,” Kicker wrote. Portugal international suff ered a new head coach after Niko What is certainly true is that Bayern’s the shocking injury when he fell Kovac was sacked in the wake stars looked desperately short of ideas awkwardly following a challenge of their 5-1 drubbing at Ein- when Jerome Boateng was sent off af- from Tottenham’s Son Heung- trachtB Frankfurt — their worst Bundes- ter only nine minutes at Frankfurt on min in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at liga defeat in 10 years. Despite his team Saturday. Robert Lewandowski bludg- Goodison Park. routing Tottenham 7-2 in the Cham- eoned his way through the Frankfurt “Everton Football Club can pions League in early October, Bayern defence for Bayern’s only goal, but indi- confi rm Andre Gomes under- severed ties with Kovac after 16 months vidual errors contributed to all fi ve goals went surgery to repair a fracture in charge on Sunday night after winning they conceded. Sports director Hasan dislocation to his right ankle just three of their last six games. Salihamidzic says a “positive develop- earlier today and the procedure It was no secret that chairman Karl- ment” is now expected from the record went extremely well,” a club Heinz Rummenigge was a reluctant 29-time German champions “so we can statement said. It added: “The supporter of Kovac becoming coach achieve our goals for the season”. 26-year-old is expected to make when the former Bayern midfi elder Kovac’s problems were compounded a full recovery.” succeeded Jupp Heynckes in July 2018. in recent weeks by losing both fi rst- Tottenham’s players were also President Uli Hoeness persuaded Rum- choice centre-backs Niklas Suele and aff ected by the incident, with menigge that the right man was Kovac, Lucas Hernandez to long-term injuries. Son — who was sent off by refe- who endured a storm of criticism inside In Frankfurt, Boateng was paired with ree Martin Atkinson for his chal- his fi rst three months following back- David Alaba, usually a left-back, in a lenge — in tears and Serge Au- to-back Bundesliga defeats by Hertha curious selection in the middle of the rier, who collided with Gomes, Berlin and Moenchengladbach. defence. substituted. The Premier League Bayern still won the league and cup Boateng is now suspended for Sat- said in a statement that Son’s double last season, but the writing was urday’s home Bundesliga clash against red card was for “endangering again on the wall last month when Hof- Dortmund with right-back Benjamin the safety of a player”, but Spurs fenheim pulled off a shock 2-1 win in Pavard likely to shift into the centre. are expected to lodge an appeal Munich. Sloppy defending also saw Similarly, Kovac’s replacement must against Atkinson’s decision. Bayern concede a late goal in their 2-2 solve the same puzzling issue of where Tottenham manager Mauricio draw at Augsburg a fortnight ago. to regularly play Thomas Mueller, who Pochettino felt the injury led to An unconvincing 3-2 victory at Ol- made his 500th appearance for Bayern an over-reaction. “It was clear ympiakos in the Champions League the on Saturday yet was frustrated under it was never the intention of Son following game moved Rummenigge to Kovac by a lack of game time. to create the problem that hap- brand the performance “careless”. “I Whoever does get the Bayern job, pened afterwards. It is unbeliev- don’t think the performance we pro- to allay concerns he was a big enough Champions League game at home to “If Bayern ring, I wouldn’t rule it out,” however, still has a good chance of able to see a red card,” said the duced will bring us serious success this name for a club of Bayern’s stature. Fol- Olympiakos. Ten Hag told magazine Kicker recently. success this season. Bayern top their Spurs boss. “We all feel sorry for season,” he said in a thinly-veiled dig at lowing spells under elite coaches in Pep Jose Mourinho has been linked to the Ex-Juventus coach Massimiliano Al- Champions League group after three Andre. I want to send my best Kovac. Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti, Bayern role and is reportedly learning German, legri, Ralf Rangnick, director of football straight wins and are through to the last wishes to him and to his family Kovac, after his dismissal, was quot- will search for a successor of similar ilk while Ajax coach Erik ten Hag — Bay- at RB Leipzig, and revered former Arse- 16 of the German Cup, while they only in this tough moment. We want ed as saying “this is the correct deci- to replace Kovac, whose assistant Hansi ern’s reserves coach from 2013-15 un- nal boss Arsene Wenger have also been trail leaders Gladbach by four points in to send, on behalf of the squad, sion for the club”, and he was never able Flick will take charge for tomorrow’s der Guardiola — is another contender. mentioned. Kicker claims Kovac lost the league. our best wishes.”
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT Dortmund to sustain ‘feel-good’ Klopp refuses to be distracted by factor against Inter Milan Man City as Liverpool welcome Genk Reuters Liverpool
iverpool will not allow themselves to be distracted by the weekend’s Premier League match against Man- chester City and are solely focused Lon today’s Champions League group game against Genk, manager Juergen Klopp has said. League leaders Liverpool host City in a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday as they look to extend a six-point advantage. Eu- ropean champions Liverpool are second in their Champions League group — a point behind Napoli — and Klopp’s side host Genk at Anfi eld. “I don’t think about Man City, I don’t have to tell the boys. The story they wrote Dortmund’s Mario Goetze (left) the last three years is only possible because and Mahmoud Dahoud train we focus on the next game,” Klopp told re- Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (right) with Adam Lallana during training. (Reuters) yesterday. (AFP) porters yesterday. “We have big ambitions in the Champi- Sadio Mane of diving after his match-win- about Man City, I really want to talk about ons League and it’s an open group. We have ning display against Aston Villa over the Genk.” to be 100% spot on, we have to make an at- weekend. “I don’t know how he could have Liverpool beat Genk 4-1 away in the pre- mosphere, get these points. For the people known about any incident in our game so vious round of fi xtures but Klopp said they at Anfi eld, we need to focus on this match, quickly after the game,” Klopp added. would “respect” the Belgian side as they same as the players. I don’t doubt my play- “Sadio is not a diver. There was a situa- were targeting a third-place fi nish and a ers at all, I would feel a bit embarrassed if I tion in the Villa game when he got a contact spot in the Europa League knockout stages. AFP before trouncing Wolfsburg 3-0 fi dence booster for goal-scorers had to tell them, ‘Don’t think about Man and went down but there was contact. I’m “The group is still open and we need eve- Berlin on Saturday in the league. “We Thorgan Hazard, who bagged City already’.” 100% sure if something like this happened ryone,” the German manager said. “They have already beaten quite a few his fi rst goal since joining from Klopp also hit back at City boss Pep to Man City they would want to have a pen- can still make Europa League so they still other teams here,” said winger Gladbach, and Mario Goetze, Guardiola, who accused Liverpool forward alty. I’m absolutely not in the mood to talk have targets. We need to respect them.” orussia Dortmund and Julian Brandt in press confer- who converted a late penalty af- their under-fi re coach ence, hoping Signal Iduna Park ter starting most games this sea- Lucien Favre hope to will be a factor against Inter. son on the bench. FOCUS maintain the ‘feel-good’ With one eye on the Italians, However, the news is not all factorB from back-to-back wins Favre said it was “nice to see” good for Favre. Chief playmaker as they chase Champions League his side has broken their habit of and Germany star Marco Reus, revenge at home to Inter Milan conceding late goals amid nerv- who also missed the away de- Qatar U-19 squad gear up for AFC qualifi ers today. A below-par performance ous defending. However, “we feat in Milan, is doubtful with a saw Dortmund crash to a 2-0 de- need a win,” insisted sports di- knock to the foot. “We will have By Sports Reporter feat in Milan nearly a fortnight rector Michael Zorc, who hoped to see after training,” said Favre. Doha ago, sparking reports Jose Mour- beating Wolfsburg “will give us Both clubs meet at Signal Idu- inho was waiting in the wings the necessary self-confi dence”, na Park second in their respective to replace Favre unless results especially with a crunch Bundes- leagues after Inter’s burly Belgian abio Cesar, coach of Qatar’s un- improved, which the club subse- liga tie at Bayern Munich loom- striker Romelu Lukaku scored der-19 team, announced the squad quently denied. ing on Saturday. twice in Saturday’s 2-1 win at for the AFC U-20 Championship The German media piled into Both Inter and Dortmund Bologna to leave his side a point qualifi ers. The draw has placed Favre after forward Lautaro Mar- come into today’s tie on four behind Juventus in Serie A. FQatar with Yemen, Turkmenistan and Sri tinez give Inter a fi rst-half lead, points from three games, each Despite two wins inside a Lanka in Group B, with matches to be held then had a late penalty saved, with a win, a defeat and draw. week, Dortmund must take three at Aspire Academy. In the opening match before winger Antonio Candreva Dortmund must repeat the rock- points to calm fears of a group tomorrow, Qatar take on Sri Lanka, while raced clear to seal Dortmund’s solid defending in their goal- stage exit. Group leaders Barce- Yemen face Turkmenistan. defeat at the San Siro. less draw at home to Barcelona lona are at home to bottom side Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka were the fi rst Favre’s team were short of in September to contain Inter’s Slavia Prague today. to arrive in Doha for the qualifi ers, with the ideas against a water-tight de- attack and Saturday’s win over Yemeni team arriving on Monday. fence and only Roman Burki’s Wolfsburg suggests confi dence FIXTURES The qualifi ers have been distributed to fi ne save from Martinez’s penalty is high. GROUP E: Liverpool vs KRC two geographical regions: West (West Asia, prevented a rout in Milan. Dort- For once, there were no whis- Genk; Napoli vs Red Bull Salz- South and Central) with 25 teams in six mund have since improved but tles of displeasure from home burg groups, and East (East Asia and ASEAN) are under pressure to beat Inter fans, no awkward post-match with 21 teams in fi ve groups. The fi rst-place GROUP F: Barcelona vs Slavia at home in order to stay on course questions and no frustrated out- fi nishers in each of the 11 groups and the top QATAR SQUAD Ibrahim (Al Sadd), Abdulrahman Bilal, Prague; Borussia Dortmund vs for the knock-out phase. bursts from players, as in previ- four teams will qualify for the fi nals. Saif Al-Din Hassan, Abdul Rahman Hassan, Jassem Jaber, Abdullah Issa (Al Arabi), Inter Milan A goalless draw at Schalke ous weeks due to Dortmund’s In the event that the host country receives Jassim Fahd, Abdullah Yousef, Mustafa Nayef Abdul Rahim, Makki Hassan (Al last weekend was backed-up habit of leaking late goals. GROUP G: Zenit St Petersburg vs one of the direct qualifying spots for the Asim, Mohamed Mansour (Al Gharafa), Rayyan), Hadi Ali (Al Sailiya), Ali Nasser, by dumping Bundesliga leaders “The fun is back again”, stated RB Leipzig; Lyon vs Benfica tournament, the team which fi nished fi fth Mohamed Ayash, Jassim Mohamed, Diab Osama Abdul Karim (Muaither), Ahmed Borussia Moenchengladbach out midfi elder Julian Weigl. GROUP H: Chelsea vs Ajax; among the second groups will qualify for the Haroun and Mubarak Shanan (Al-Duhail), Tayeb (Qatar), Mohamed Abdul Wahab of the German Cup in midweek Saturday’s win was also a con- Valencia vs Lille fi nals which will be held in October 2020. Yousef Abdullah, Faisal Mohamed, Talal (Al Khor) Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, November 5, 2019 FOOTBALL
SPOTLIGHT Sociedad gatecrash Granada party to go level at top of table Madrid: Real Sociedad went as substitute Adnan Januzaj level on points with La Liga picked out Porto with a ground leaders Barcelona after snatch- pass and the striker again Balotelli hits back ing a 2-1 victory away to fellow showed real composure inside high-flyers Granada on Sunday the area to score his second night thanks to a late strike goal of the game. from forward Cristian Portu. The victory took Real So- Portu had given the Basque ciedad third on the standings side the lead midway through on 22 points after 12 games, the first half, latching on to a level with second-placed Real as Verona fans’ chief pass from Mikel Oyarzabal and Madrid and leaders Barcelona, confidently finishing into the who both have a game in bottom corner after Granada hand. Sociedad coach Imanol lost possession inside their Alguacil said his side deserved own half. Promoted Granada the victory but was not inter- had fallen off the summit of the ested in discussing whether table in mid-week after surpris- they could remain among the fuels racism row ingly leading the standings last top three come the end of the weekend and had the chance season. to reclaim top spot after Barce- Osasuna continued their Despite denials of abuse from Verona, a video showed a number of supporters lona, Real Madrid and Atletico remarkable home form by beat- Madrid had all failed to win on ing Alaves 4-2 for a club record directing abuse at Balotelli before the forward booted the ball at them in the stands Saturday. 31st home victory in a row in They drew level in the 36th league competition. The Pam- AFP minute with an audacious long plona club were last beaten Milan range free kick from Alvaro at their El Sadar home in April Vadillo, helped by some poor 2018 when they were in Spain’s goalkeeping from Sociedad’s second division and earlier ario Balotelli yesterday react- Alex Remiro. But it was the this campaign held champions ed with anger after the head visitors who struck in the 89th Barca to a 2-2 draw there as of Verona’s hard core ultras minute to steal all the points, well as beating Valencia 3-1. fans group fuelled the racism Mrow by denying any abuse had been di- rected at the Brescia forward who he said could not even be considered Italian. FOCUS Italian international Balotelli scored in a 2-1 Serie A defeat on Sunday but his per- formance was overshadowed by his fury at monkey chants from a section of Vero- Cardiff face long na’s supporters. But Verona’s supporters group leader Luca Castellini insisted their fans were not racist. “Balotelli’s a clown. transfer ban if they He only heard it in his own head,” Castel- lini told Radio Cafe yesterday. “We have a cultural identity of a cer- miss Sala payment tain kind,” Castellini continued. “We’re an irreverent fan base, who make fun of AFP tire and consecutive registration bald players, ones with long hair, south- London periods”. ern players and the ones of colour, but According to a source close we don’t do it with political or racist in- to Nantes, the French club sent stincts. The chants came from only four ardiff City face a three- bank details to Cardiff “at the people, who were only heard by the peo- window transfer ban beginning of October”, which ple who recorded the video.” unless they pay the fi rst would mean the Welsh outfi t has Despite denials of abuse from Verona, instalment of the 17mn until mid-November to make a video published on Twitter by a fan eurosC ($19mn) transfer fee for the payment and thereby avoid showed a number of supporters direct- Emiliano Sala to Nantes. The Ar- a transfer ban. “Nantes expect ing abuse at Balotelli before the forward gentine, 28, died when the light everyone to fulfi l their commit- booted the ball at them in the stands. The aircraft he was travelling in from ments and that the amount due 29-year-old, who was born in Palermo to France to Britain crashed into the to them is paid,” a source said. Ghanaian parents but was raised just out- English Channel in January. Cardiff confi rmed they would side Brescia, had to be held back by play- Cardiff and Nantes were un- lodge an appeal against the deci- ers from both teams to stop him leaving able to reach an amicable con- sion to the Court of Arbitration the pitch. clusion on the fi nancial aspects for Sport (CAS) within the next Castellini added that the 36-times of the move, so the case came two weeks. They said the act of capped international could not even be Italian international Mario Balotelli scored in a 2-1 Serie A defeat on Sunday but his performance was overshadowed by his fury at before the Players’ Status Com- announcing they would appeal considered Italian. “Balotelli’s Italian monkey chants from a section of Verona’s supporters. (AFP) mittee (PSC) of FIFA. The world had eff ectively stopped the clock because he has Italian citizenship, but he governing body announced on on the 45-day countdown. can never be completely Italian,” contin- and he scored yesterday and all of Verona the stadium loudspeaker threatening that are sheep when they are not in a group. September 30 that Cardiff must The Championship club have ued Castellini. applauded.” Castellini was referring to both teams would leave the fi eld if there It would be enough to do as in England, pay an initial 6mn euros (£5.2mn) argued that Sala was not offi - That prompted Balotelli to reply on Verona forward Eddie Salcedo. was a repeat of any abuse, a message that there are cameras. We need decisions, not to the French club. cially their player when he died. Instagram: “Here, my friends, this has Verona president Maurizio Setti said was whistled loudly by a large number of small talk.” Documents published yes- However, the PSC found that nothing to do with football anymore. Sunday that his club’s supporters were the home fans. A number of black players have been terday, detailing the grounds for all the terms within the transfer “You are implying about a social and his- “light-hearted, not racist” and were a Former England manager Fabio Capel- racially abused by supporters in Italy in the decision, show that failure agreement concluded between torical situation much bigger than you crowd with “real sport in its DNA”. “We lo praised the former Manchester City the opening weeks of the season, with by Cardiff to pay the fee within Cardiff and Nantes had been ful- small-minded people. You guys are losing are the fi rst to condemn racism but it is and Inter Milan player’s reaction, and Milan midfi elder Franck Kessie targeted 45 days of receiving bank details fi lled. The documents also show it. Wake up, you ignorant people.” wrong to generalise... Maybe two or three called for strong action. “Balotelli’s reac- by Verona fans in September and Inter from Nantes following the ruling that Cardiff had sought a delay Balotelli added: “But when Mario people among 20,000 fans might have tion was excessive in one respect but im- Milan striker Romelu Lukaku abused at would mean “a ban on register- in the case until any other civil scored and still guarantees to score goals said something.” portant,” the 73-year-old said. Cagliari, also serial off enders. Brescia, ing new players, either nationally or criminal investigations into for Italy, you were fi ne with it?” When The match was suspended for a few “We give importance to these people, meanwhile, sacked their 49-year-old or internationally, up until the Sala’s death had been completed. asked if Verona fans were racist, Castel- minutes as Balotelli tried to leave the nobody has the strength to condemn coach Eugenio Corini on Sunday after due amounts are paid and for the The full fee payable for Sala was lini added: “We have a negro in our team pitch before a message was read out on them. They feel strong in groups and their seventh defeat in ten games. maximum duration of three en- 17mn euros.
LIGUE 1 SERIE A St Etienne beat Monaco to Lazio end Milan curse to move into confi rm resurgence under Puel top four with late win at San Siro Reuters beaten 2-0 at Girondins de Bordeaux, slipping Paris down to third on 19 points. At Geoff roy Guichard, Reuters St Etienne seemed content to abandon posses- Milan sion to their visitors, hoping to hit Monaco on the t Etienne confi rmed their resurgence break while their back four handled the Wissam under coach Claude Puel when a Denis Ben Yedder threat perfectly. azio recorded their fi rst Bouanga second-half goal earned them a Bouanga, who had missed several chances ear- away win against AC Mi- 1-0 home victory against Monaco in Ligue lier, found the back of the net in the 59th minute, lan in Serie A for 30 years 1S on Sunday. Bouanga struck shortly before the poking the ball home after keeper Benjamin Le- to move fourth with a hour to give Les Verts their third victory in four comte parried Romain Hamouma’s eff ort into his L2-1 victory at San Siro yester- league games since former Southampton and path. Monaco, who had won four of their previous day. Ciro Immobile headed in his Leicester City boss Puel took over four weeks ago. fi ve league matches, had several opportunities to 100th goal for the capital club in The result lifted St Etienne up to eighth in the salvage a point but Aleksandr Golovin and Adrien the fi rst half but the home side standings on 18 points from 12 games, nine be- Silva lacked effi ciency. were soon level through a Bastos hind leaders Paris St Germain but only two adrift St Etienne, now unbeaten in fi ve games in all own goal. of second-placed Angers. Monaco, who fi nished competitions with Puel, could have doubled the Joaquin Correa sealed the three with 10 men after Ruben Aguilar was sent off two tally in injury time but Bouanga was brought points for Lazio with six minutes minutes into added time, dropped to 15th on 15 down by Aguilar while rushing towards goal, re- remaining to extend their un- points. Elsewhere, Nantes suff ered their third sulting in the defender being shown a straight red beaten league run to six matches consecutive defeat in Ligue 1 when they were card. and move into the Champions League places on 21 points, level with Atalanta and Cagliari. “We won an important game, I think deservedly, against a side that in my view had a good per- formance, but Lazio played very well and did everything to win,” Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi said. “It’s a little premature after 11 games to talk about the table, but we are getting some consistency in terms of performances and re- sults.” Stefano Pioli has picked up Lazio extended their unbeaten league run to six matches and move into the Champions League places on four points from his fi rst four 21 points, level with Atalanta and Cagliari. (AFP) games in charge of Milan, since replacing sacked coach Marco performance was there tonight. way through the fi rst half when fender Bastos was left with his Giampaolo in October. Milan We took a few risks in order to Immobile curled a fi nish off the head in his hands after direct- are stranded in 11th place with create danger for the opponents, crossbar before Samu Castillejo’s ing a cross into his own net off 13 points, having won just two matching them all the way to the rasping shot was palmed wide his chest. The opportunities of their last eight games, but the end, and I believe we are on the by a diving Thomas Strakosha. dried up after the break as the coach remains confi dent that right path now. All we can do is Lazio took the lead soon after two teams tired, having played Saint-Etienne’s Denis Bouanga they are heading in the right di- keep improving along these lines. when Serie A’s leading scorer Im- three games each in the space celebrates after scoring against rection. I saw a team that fought hard for mobile got on the end of Manuel of a week. But Lazio found the Monaco in the French Ligue 1 on “In my view, the team is im- 95 minutes. I did not see a team Lazzari’s cross to head in his 13th breakthrough when Luis Alberto Sunday. (AFP) proving,” he said. “Of course, that was struggling, afraid or let league goal of the season. slipped a pass into the box for for the table and the situation, their heads drop.” Milan needed just three min- Correa, who smashed a shot into it was important to win, but the The game burst into life mid- utes to draw level as Lazio de- the top corner. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 5, 2019 5 SPORT
NBA James posts second straight triple double in Lakers win 'I’m playing injury free. I’m not injured. My quick twitch is back. My speed is back, my strength is back’
AFP Los Angeles RESULTS Indiana 108 Chicago 95 eBron James delivered his sec- Miami 129 Houston 100 ond straight triple double as the Sacramento 113 New York 92 Los Angeles Lakers won their LA Lakers 103 San Antonio 96 fi fth game in a row for the fi rst Ltime in over a year with a 103-96 victo- Dallas 131 Cleveland 111 ry against the San Antonio Spurs. James La Clippers 105 Utah 94 fi nished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists for the Lakers, who have Howard had 14 points each. missed the playoff s six seasons in a Howard also grabbed a game-high 13 row and went the entire 2018-19 sea- rebounds for the Lakers, who improved son without winning fi ve consecutive to 5-1 on the season. Lakers head coach games. Frank Vogel was especially pleased with “I’m playing injury free. I’m not the play of journeyman reserve player injured. My quick twitch is back. My Howard, who is with his fi fth team in speed is back, my strength is back,” the last fi ve seasons. James said. The Spurs kept it close in The former fi rst overall draft pick the fourth thanks to Dejounte Murray’s by Orlando in 2004 is past his prime 16 consecutive San Antonio points. as a starter in the league and appears He made a layup with just over four to be more comfortable coming off the minutes to play to tie the contest 90- bench. “He’s bought into his role on 90. Los Angeles then went on a 9-2 this team... he is dominating on the de- to hold off the Spurs down the stretch fensive end,” Vogel said of the 33-year- and get the victory. “It was about us old Howard. and how we could execute on the of- Murray produced 18 points and 11 re- fensive end which we did,” James said. bounds for the Spurs, who lost at home “We held a great off ensive team to 40% for the fi rst time in four games this sea- shooting and under 100 points.” son. Rudy Gay and Derrick White add- Anthony Davis fi nished with 25 ed 16 and 12 points, respectively, off the points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, bench, with DeMar DeRozan scoring 14 who are trying to rebuild their team points and Bryn Forbes hitting for 12 for around James, who also had a triple San Antonio. double two nights earlier against Dal- Kyle Kuzma’s 38-foot buzzer-beater las. James said being healthy makes all allowed the Lakers to fi nish the second the diff erence in the world. quarter with a 10-0 run and take a 56- “Playing with a torn groin last year — 43 lead at halftime. Gay’s jump shot even when I came back it was still par- from near half court at the end of the tially torn — it was diffi cult to be able to third quarter gave the Lakers a 77-72 move and shift like I’m capable of doing lead heading into the fourth quarter. that defensively,” James said. Elsewhere, Luka Doncic also record- “For me I just take the challenge. I ed his second consecutive triple-dou- love being challenged. I put a lot of hard ble as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the work into my off season by getting my Cleveland Cavaliers 131-111. Doncic, of Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James attempts to score during the NBA match against San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night. (USA TODAY Sports) quick twitch, getting my bounce back, Slovenia, fi nished with 29 points, 14 re- getting may speed back, my reaction bounds and 15 assists for the Mavericks, est player in NBA history to have back to reach his 29 points. His 14 rebounds a game in which he suff ered a head in- Seth Curry 13, Boban Marjanovic, of time back. My mind has always been who trailed 73-69 with 4:52 remaining to back 25-point triple doubles. It is were the third most of his career and his jury after being blindsided by the Lak- Serbia, and Tim Hardaway 12 apiece, there.” in the third quarter before dominating the 11th triple double of his burgeoning 15 assists tied a career best. He also had ers’ Howard. and Dorian Finney-Smith 10 for the Avery Bradley added 16 points while the rest of the game. career. Doncic shot nine-for-17 overall 15 assists in a triple double perform- Latvia’s Kristaps Porzingis chipped Mavericks, who have alternated wins Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Dwight The 20-year old Doncic is the young- and fi ve-for-10 from three-point range ance against the Lakers on Friday night, in with 18 points, Jalen Brunson 14, and losses in their last fi ve games.
NHL NFL Kane’s overtime winner lift s Jackson scores three TDs as Ravens Blackhawks over Ducks hand juggernaut Patriots fi rst loss AFP Los Angeles
amar Jackson passed for a touchdown and rushed for two others as the Baltimore Ravens carved Lup New England 37-20 on Sun- day, stamping out the Patriots’ bid for an undefeated season. Quarterback Jackson completed 17 of 23 passes for 163 yards and ran for 61 more, while Mark In- gram rushed for a season-high 115 yards as Baltimore improved to 6-2 on the season. “This man is the MVP. He is playing MVP type football,” said Ravens safety Earl Thomas of Jackson. “I am right behind him. I am backing him. He makes my job that much easier. It just felt good to be part of a win like this.” Marlon Humphrey scored on a fumble return for the second Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane (left) moves the puck past Anaheim Ducks' Erik Gudbranson during the straight game, and Thomas had NHL game in Anaheim, California, on Sunday. (USA TODAY Sports) an interception for the Ravens, who won their fourth consecu- Reuters man advantage as the Black- season from the left side of the tive game. Tom Brady complet- Anaheim, US hawks won for just the second Ducks goal. Kane sent a cross- ed 30 of 46 passes for 285 yards, time in their last eight games. ice pass through the top of the one touchdown and one inter- Sam Steel scored a second-pe- crease and DeBrincat redirected ception for the Patriots, whose dam Boqvist scored his riod goal for the Ducks, his fi rst the puck off Miller. Steel’s goal loss leaves the San Francisco Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (centre) runs past New England Patriots linebacker fi rst career goal Patrick of the season, while Nick Ritchie at 12:39 of the second period ap- 49ers as the NFL’s lone unde- Kyle Van Noy (right) during the fourth quarter in Baltimore on Sunday. (USA TODAY Sports) Kane delivered 24 sec- tied the game 2-2 at 6:17 of the peared to take a slight defl ection feated team at 8-0. onds into overtime third period with a power-play of the stick of DeBrincat. Heading into Sunday’s con- Aaron Rodgers and the Green victory. Butker’s winning kick onA Sunday to give the visiting goal, his second tally of the sea- It was his seventh career goal test, Brady’s Patriots had out- RESULTS Bay Packers. Quarterback Philip from 44 yards came after he Chicago Blackhawks a 3-2 vic- son. It was not only the 1,000th in 34 games after making his scored their opponents by a Rivers passed for 294 yards and had successfully converted a Houston 26 Jacksonville 3 tory over the Anaheim Ducks. career game for Getzlaf, it was NHL debut last season. Getzlaf combined 189 points. “I don’t the Chargers rushed for 159 diffi cult 54-yard eff ort to level Alex DeBrincat also scored a goal also the 2,000th game in the his- was credited with an assist on care if it is Tom Brady. I just Washington 9 Buff alo 24 yards in their fi rst game under the scores at 23-23 earlier in for the Blackhawks, as Chicago tory of the Ducks franchise. Steel’s goal one game after he want to win,” said Jackson when Minnesota 23 Kansas City 26 interim off ensive coordinator the fourth quarter. The win was spoiled the party being held for The Ducks center received a scored the game-winning goal in asked about going up against the NY Jets 18 Miami 26 Shane Steichen. a much-needed boost for the the 1,000th career game of Ducks video tribute midway through overtime against the Vancouver defending Super Bowl cham- They came into the contest Chiefs, who had suff ered three veteran centre Ryan Getzlaf. the fi rst period that drew a Canucks. pions. New England was al- Chicago 14 Philadelphia 22 with less than 40 rushing yards straight defeats at their Arrow- It was just like the glory days standing ovation from the near- lowing just 7.6 points per game Indianapolis 24 Pittsburgh 26 in four consecutive games. Riv- head Stadium home and who are for the Blackhawks in overtime capacity crowd. Anaheim lost VRANA’S HAT-TRICK before being dominated by the Tennessee 20 Carolina 30 ers completed 21 of 28 passes still missing injured quarter- as Jonathan Toews sent a cross- for just the second time in eight POWERS CAPS OVER FLAMES Ravens. “We didn’t do anything for the Chargers, who have won back Patrick Mahomes. Detroit 24 Oakland 31 ice pass to Kane, who lifted the home games one month into the With the World Series-cham- normal,” said Patriots coach Bill two consecutive games and im- Backup Chiefs quarterback puck into the goal past Ducks season. After losing in overtime pion Washington Nationals on Belichick. “We certainly didn’t Tampa Bay 34 Seattle 40 OT proved to 4-5 on the season. Matt Moore threw for 275 yards goaltender Ryan Miller for the Saturday, the Blackhawks re- hand and celebrating their title, coach well. Give them credit. Cleveland 19 Denver 24 The mighty Packers off ence and one touchdown from 25- winner. Boqvist was playing in bounded quickly with Boqvist’s Jakub Vrana’s fi rst career hat- They have a lot of weapons.” Green Bay 11 LA Chargers 26 couldn’t get untracked against of-35 attempts. Moore’s touch- his second game after making his goal 9:21 into the game off a feed trick paced the host Washington The Ravens stormed out of the stingy Chargers defense. down was a 40-yard eff ort to debut Saturday at Los Angeles from Alex Nylander. Capitals to a 4-2 win over the the gate scoring 17 consecu- New England 20 Baltimore 37 Rodgers fi nished 23 of 35 for 161 wide receiver Tyreek Hill in the against the Kings. The No. 8 overall selection Calgary Flames. tive points and outgaining New yards and a touchdown. Else- fi rst quarter. The play of the Per hockey-reference.com, in last year’s NHL draft ripped On a red-hot team, Vrana has England 198-4 in the fi rst 15 Elsewhere, the Los Angeles where, Harrison Butker nailed game came from running back Boqvist is the fi rst Blackhawks a shot through traffi c that re- been among the most prolifi c minutes. Jackson scored on a Chargers dominated in almost a last-gasp fi eld goal as the Damien Williams, who weaved defenseman to score a goal before bounded off the right post and players, boasting a fi ve-game one-yard run with 3:12 left in every aspect on Sunday, kick- Kansas City Chiefs snapped the 91 yards for a spectacular third the age of 20 since Nick Leddy in into the goal. DeBrincat came point streak in which he’s col- the fi nal quarter to extend the starting their running game and Minnesota Vikings’ four-game quarter touchdown that helped 2010. DeBrincat scored on a two- through for his fourth goal of the lected six goals and three assists. Ravens lead to 37-20. cruising to a 26-11 victory over winning streak with a 26-23 the Chiefs into a 17-16 lead. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, November 5, 2019 SPORT
RUGBY SPOTLIGHTSPOTLIGHT England’s Jones slams WC criticism Future bright for who masterminded Japan’s jaw- AFP Yokohama, Japan dropping upset of South Africa at the 2015 World Cup. “If you can’t get on the front ngland boss Eddie Jones foot you look like a team that has hit out at “negativ- lacks ideas, lacks energy and ity” over his side’s per- looks tired.” formance after they were Japan rugby aft er smashedE 32-12 by South Africa ‘NO ANSWERS, MATE’ in the World Cup fi nal. Turning his famous “stink eye” The Australian stood by his on the British press pack, Jones players after Saturday’s sting- denied England had choked. ing loss in Yokohama, where “You write that, you’re the England looked a shadow of the clever guy,” he fumed. “We put team that had stunned defend- everything in we could — we ing champions New Zealand just weren’t good enough today. ‘fairytale’ WC 19-7 a week earlier. We’re the second-best team in “We were beaten by a better the world.” JAPAN’S SUCCESS BRIEFLY TOOK THEM TO SIXTH IN THE WORLD RANKINGS team, but I’m so proud of the He dismissed opposite players,” he insisted after fi nish- number Rassie Erasmus’s the- ing as the losing coach for the ory that the English pack had second time in a World Cup fi nal. come into the decider fatigued, “I’m disappointed there’s while South Africa’s split of six such a negative attitude about forwards — dubbed the “bomb our performance,” bristled squad” — and only two backs on Jones, noting that he had taken a the bench allowed the Boks to team that crashed out in the pool replace their hulking pack for the stage four years ago to the brink last half-hour of games. of a fi rst world title in 16 years. “Winning coaches have got “We weren’t good enough to- all the answers — I’ve got no day — sorry, I apologise! We’ve answers, mate,” growled Jones, just got beaten in the fi nal and who lost prop Kyle Sinckler — there’s all this negativity — I fi nd so explosive in England’s 40-16 it incredible.” quarter-fi nal thrashing of Aus- Jones, Wallabies coach when tralia and against All Blacks — Jonny Wilkinson’s extra-time to a head injury after just three drop goal brought England rug- minutes. by’s holy grail in 2003, struggled “It’s bad luck when you lose a to explain why his team had been tighthead in the fi rst minute, but destroyed in the scrum and at it’s not an excuse. You’re better the breakdown, as Handre Pol- off putting that game to the side lard kicked six penalties before and getting on with it.” tries from Makazole Mapimpi Jones refused to be drawn on and Cheslin Kolbe completed whether he would seek to extend the rout. his current deal with England “If I knew, I’d be able to fi x it,” beyond 2021. he snapped after England lost in “That’s not my decision,” a World Cup fi nal for the third he barked, admitting England time following heartbreak in would be “kicking stones for 1991 and 2007, when they were four years” after such a devas- also beaten 15-6 by South Africa tating end to the tournament. and Jones had a consulting role “Remember three weeks ago, with the Springboks. I was going to get the sack — “They won a signifi cant area of there was going to be blood on the game, which was the scrum, the walls at Twickenham. Sorry and that trickled down to the guys, but you’ve got me for an- rest of the game,” added Jones, other two years.”
In this file photo taken on October 13, 2019, Japan’s players pose for a group photo after winning their Pool A match against Scotland at the International Stadium Yokohama. (AFP)
AFP a side he had once described as a Japanese rugby fans adopted tale was really special. Not only soms. Japan’s World Cup suc- Tokyo World Cup “joke team” to three New Zealand as their second them winning games but the cess briefl y took them to sixth victories, including an astonish- team at the World Cup, largely manner in which they did,” add- in the world rankings and even ing 34-32 upset over the Spring- because the All Blacks were al- ed the 2007 World Cup winner. led to calls to bring them into the nce mere cannon boks. ready famous in the country, ap- “I wanted to take all the emo- Rugby Championship alongside fodder for rugby’s But Japanese offi cials are de- pearing on billboards and televi- tion and atmosphere that I was the All Blacks, South Africa, big guns, Japan have termined not to repeat that mis- sion commercials. feeling and put it in a bottle.” Australia and Argentina. staked their place as take after the team’s breathless With a population of 126mn — “Their rugby has been of such seriousO global players after their performances swept the hosts NEXT LEVEL more than 26 times that of New a high standard, such high qual- dream run to the World Cup past Russia, Ireland, Samoa and But the fever pitch at Japan’s Zealand — Japan has fewer than ity, I’m not sure going back to quarter-fi nals — and are now Scotland, sparking rugby-mania games was next-level stuff . 100,000 registered rugby play- playing in the Pacifi c Cup is go- looking to capitalise on their across a nation infatuated with Pictures of Japan’s history- ers, and less than two % of teen- ing to really cut it,” said former success. baseball. “People said stadiums making heroes were splashed all agers play the sport. England captain Lawrence Dal- The tournament hosts defi ed would be empty, Japan would over the country’s newspapers, Japan’s Top League has lured laglio, who proposed Japan be odds of 50/1 to top Pool A with get heavily beaten — there was with jet-heeled wingers Kenki the likes of Sonny Bill Williams, involved in the Rugby Cham- a perfect four wins, including no point having the World Cup Fukuoka and Kotaro Matsushi- Dan Carter and George Gre- pionship or Six Nations in the explosive victories over Six Na- here,” Koji Tokumasu, senior di- ma — who Joseph calls his “Fer- gan with monster pay cheques, future. tions powers Ireland and Scot- rector of the World Cup organis- raris” — grabbing many of the while just-retired All Blacks “What they have done in the land, to reach the knockout stage ing committee, told AFP. headlines. “It’s scary to think captain Keiran Read and Aus- last eight years has been phe- for the fi rst time. “But these miraculous things how far this team can grow,” tralian scrum-half Will Genia nomenal. It’s not about the Not even a 26-3 thrashing happened, one after another — said talismanic captain Michael are among those on their way. national team — it’s about the by eventual champions South now there’s a lot of talk Japan Leitch. Despite the regular arrival of grassroots of the game as well. Africa could diminish the re- will get more games against Tri- “Japan are only going to get big names, last season crowds Hopefully the next generation markable achievement of Jamie Nations or Six Nations teams.” stronger.” This from a team averaged just 2,500 — but that will have been inspired by their Joseph’s Brave Blossoms in be- The cult of celebrity plays big smashed 145-17 by New Zealand could be set to change. heroes.” coming the fi rst Asian side to in Japan, where a life-size choc- at the 1995 World Cup. But World Cup tournament reach the last eight — and the olate statue of former England “It’s been brilliant to see the NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK director Alan Gilpin sounded a fi rst Tier Two team since Fiji in footballer David Beckham once rise of Japanese rugby,” said Tokumasu noted that “lots of note of caution. 2007. Japan failed to build on the popped up outside a Tokyo con- Springboks legend Bryan Haba- kids are knocking at the door” of “They need to move quickly feel-good factor generated four fectionery store at the height of na. the rugby school in Tokyo after because this audience will move England head coach Eddie Jones as he arrives at Heathrow airport years ago when Eddie Jones led his stardom. “In this tournament the fairy- being bewitched by the Blos- on,” he told AFP. yesterday. (Reuters)
CRICKET Victory over India brings back Bangladesh smiles AFP “In my 15 years, these last two or players stuck together and the way New Delhi three weeks were the toughest that bowlers bowled on this track, espe- I have faced,” Mushfi qur said after cially against India, it’s outstand- the seven-wicket win. ing.” angladesh’s stunning “Before I left Bangladesh, I said He added that winning had given Twenty20 win over In- the only thing that can put us on the Bangladesh “the freedom to play... dia brought back smiles to right track is if we can win a couple fearless cricket”. a team left in turmoil by of matches or play really well. With regular skipper Virat Kohli weeksB of scandal, according to man “So this brings smiles and calm- rested for the series, India were of the match Mushfi qur Rahim. ness in our team and the whole na- sloppy in the fi eld. Krunal Pandya The veteran wicketkeeper-bats- tion. That’s what we have done and dropped Mushfi qur on 38 and poor man scored an unbeaten 60 on Sun- we will try continue this form.” judgement in two TV reviews also day to anchor Bangladesh’s chase of Bangladesh were also without cost the hosts. 149 in pollution-hit New Delhi. Tamim Iqbal, who took leave for Yuzvendra Chahal rapped Mush- Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad hit family reasons, when Mahmudul- fi ur on the pad but India did not the winning six in the fi nal over to lah won the toss and elected to fi eld opt for a review following wicket- give Bangladesh their fi rst T20 win fi rst. keeper Rishabh Pant’s call. Replays over India in nine attempts and a Their bowlers restricted India to indicated the ball would have hit leg 1-0 lead in the three-match series. 148 for six and then Mushfi qur took stump. The Bangladesh players danced in charge after Bangladesh lost opener “It was a defendable score, and the Delhi smog, having eased what Liton Das, for seven, in the fi rst over. we made mistakes on the fi eld. The Mushfi qur called the “toughest” Mushfi qur put on 60 for the third guys are a bit inexperienced, and weeks of his career following a two- wicket with Soumya Sarkar, who they can learn from that, perhaps year ban on star player and captain made 39, and hit eight fours and a not make them the next time,” said Shakib Al Hasan for failing to dis- six in his 43-ball knock. stand-in-skipper Rohit Sharma. close corrupt approaches. “It is a great moment for Bangla- “The reviews were a mistake by The past month also saw a player desh,” said Mushfi qur. our side.” revolt against the Bangladesh board “We are missing a couple of The second T20 is in Rajkot on over pay. key players but the way the young Thursday. Mushfiqur Rahim plays a shot during the first T20 match against India at Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. (AFP) Gulf Times Tuesday, November 5, 2019 7 SPORT
TENNIS FOCUS Barty tops end of season ranking Nadal’s dreadful AFP Paris WTA RANKINGS 1. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 7,851 pts 2. Karolína Pliskova (CZE) 5,940 shleigh Barty of Aus- 3. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 5,496 tralia tops the end of 4. Simona Halep (ROU) 5,462 (+1) season women’s tennis 5. Bianca Andreescu (CAN) 5,192 rankings released yes- (-1) terday,A a day after her triumph late-season injury 6. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 5,075 in the WTA Finals in Shenzhen, (+2) China. 7. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 4,776 (-1) With 7,851 points, Barty, who 8. Belinda Bencic (SUI) 4,745 (-1) has topped the rankings since 9. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4,245 (+1) early September, eclipsed sec- 10. Serena Williams (USA) 3,935 ond-placed Karolína Plísková (-1) (5,940 points) by almost 2,000 11. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 3,120 jinx strikes again points. Naomi Osaka (5,497) held (+3) on to third place from Simona 12. Johanna Konta (GBR) 2,879 The injury has put his participation at ATP Tour Finals and the Davis Cup in doubt Halep, who moved up one spot to (-1) fourth on 5.462 points. 13. Madison Keys (USA) 2,767 AFP Barty dominated Elina Svitoli- 14. Sofia Kenin (USA) 2,740 (-2) Paris na in Sunday’s fi nal in Shenzhen, 15. Petra Martic (CRO) 2,617 winning 6-4, 6-3 to collect the 16. Marketa Vondrousová (CZE) richest prize in women’s tennis of 2,390 afael Nadal’s vulnerability $4.4mn. Svitolina rose two places 17. Elise Mertens (BEL) 2,290 (+1) to late-season injuries re- to sixth in the rankings while Kiki 18. Alison Riske (USA) 2,210 (+1) surfaced this weekend as Bertens moved up one to ninth at 19. Donna Vekic (CRO) 2,205 (+1) the 19-time Grand Slam the expense of Serena Williams 20. Angelique Kerber (GER) championR was forced out of the who slipped to 10th spot. 2,175 (-3) Paris Masters with an abdominal muscle strain. The 33-year-old has carved out one of the sport’s greatest-ever careers in spite of persistent injury troubles, a pattern which has con- tinued in 2019. The latest problem has put his participation at both the ATP Tour Finals and the Davis Cup in doubt. Nadal, who has never won the title at Bercy or the Tour Finals, also withdrew from the Paris Mas- ters before the quarter-fi nals on his last appearance in 2017 with a knee problem and missed last year’s tournament with another abdomi- nal injury. The world number one has still only won two ATP titles indoors, a fi gure at least partly down to his Ashleigh Barty of Australia celebrates with her trophy after winning November injury woes. He had been the WTA Finals in Shenzhen on Sunday. (AFP) due to play Canadian youngster Denis Shapovalov in the semis with a fi nal against Djokovic at stake, but announced he was pulling out just Clijsters comeback delayed minutes before the scheduled start by knee injury of the match on Saturday. But Nadal insisted it was not worth the risk, Former world number one 2005, 2009 and 2010, and the having also suff ered with a similar Kim Clijsters has been forced Australian Open in 2011. injury 10 years ago. to delay her planned return to She initially retired in 2007 “I had this issue in the US Open competitive tennis in January aged 23, making a return two 2009 with a bad experience,” he following a seven-year hiatus years later after having her said. “Because I started the tourna- because of a knee injury. first child to win her second ment with, if I remember, around The 36-year-old four-time US Open, then hanging up her six, seven, millimetres of strain and singles Grand Slam champion racquet again after the 2012 US I keep playing, I keep playing. Rafael Nadal addresses a press conference to announce his withdrawal from the semi-final match of the Paris Masters in Paris on Saturday. (AFP) in September announced plans Open. Clijsters made her WTA “I fi nished the tournament with of a surprise comeback ahead debut aged 15 at Antwerp in (a) 28-millimetre strain, so have 16-year-old in 2003 when he hurt for most Grand Slam titles. and Paris was his fi rst appearance “No, that’s not an issue.” of the Australian Open in 2020. 1999. She has 41 singles titles, been a big, big thing after that. “I re- his elbow in a fall during training But he has been far from an since. Many pundits consistently Nadal said he would fi ght to be “I’ve had to make the decision and is the only mother to top member (it) well because I couldn’t and had to miss the French Open ever-present on tour. The Span- predicted Nadal would struggle to fi t for the season-ending champi- that I will not be able to the WTA charts since computer play semi-fi nals of the Davis Cup – an event he has gone on to win a iard handed Federer a walkover enjoy a long career due to his gruel- onships in London, which start on compete in January,” Clijsters rankings began in 1975. Despite against Israel... So for me, I took record-breaking 12 times. He has when they were set to meet in the ling style of play and he has proved November 10, until it is “impos- tweeted. “I am undergoing her lengthy time out she still almost a month outside of the ten- missed at least one tournament in Indian Wells semi-fi nals before them wrong time and again since. sible”, but will fi rst head home to rehab and treatment for a knee ranks third among active nis court, so we don’t want to repeat every year of his career since. Nadal pulling out of the following Miami And he says his latest injury is Mallorca to start his recovery. It injury. It’s a setback but I’m players in terms of tournament that.” has enjoyed a fantastic 2019, win- Open with the same right knee is- not due to anything technical. will also be a busy 2020, though, determined as ever to get back success behind the Williams LONG INJURY HISTORY ning both Roland Garros and the sue. A left wrist problem forced “I have been serving like this for Nadal, with the Tokyo Olym- to the game I love.” sisters — Serena with 72 titles Nadal’s fi rst injury-enforced ab- US Open to move to within one of him to end his Laver Cup halfway during the whole season. It was not pics wedged between Wimbledon Clijsters won the US Open in and Venus with 49. sence from the ATP Tour came as a great rival Roger Federer on the list through the event in September, a diff erent movement at all. and the US Open. Nadal returns to number one in spite of Djokovic win in Paris afael Nadal’s return to ended a year ago on November 4, Wimbledon, is set to go to the wire semis. 2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 8,945 (-1) the world number one 2018, withdrew from his semi-final as either could still finish the year Nadal first reached number one 3. Roger Federer (SUI) 6,190 position for the eighth against Shapovalov in Paris with at number one. on August 18, 2008 when he was 4. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 5,705 time in his career was an abdominal muscle strain. If the Spaniard does not play or just 22. He has spent 197 weeks at 5. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 5,025 confiR rmed when the ATP rank- Djokovic slips down the rankings fails to win a round-robin match the top, the sixth highest in ATP 6. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4,000 ings were released yesterday. because he loses the points that at the World Tour Finals, Djokovic history behind Roger Federer (+1) The Spaniard leapfrogs Novak he won a year ago in London must claim two group-stage (310), Pete Sampras (286), 7. Alexander Zverev (GER) 2,945 Djokovic even though the Serb when Nadal was absent. victories and make the final to Djokovic (275), Ivan Lendl (270) (-1) sealed his fifth Paris Masters title The 2019 battle between Nadal, pass him. Djokovic would also be and Jimmy Connors (268). 8. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 2,670 (+1) on Sunday with a 6-3, 6-4 victory winner of the French and US sure of the year-end top ranking 9. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2,540 over Canadian Denis Shapovalov. Opens, and Djokovic who should he win the tournament Top 10 ATP rankings (+1) Nadal, whose last stint at the top triumphed in Australia and and Nadal does not reach the 1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9,585 pts (+1) 10. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 2,530 (+3)
GOLF Todd rolls in for fi rst Tour win in fi ve years Reuters fore regaining his PGA Tour card this year Hamilton, Bermuda by the minor league Korn Ferry Tour this year. Along the way he read a book by golfer rendon Todd ended fi ve years of Bradley Hughes and began working with frustration as the American shot a the Australian-born writer. career best nine-under 62 to win “I went and saw him and it’s just kind of the inaugural Bermuda Champion- been a home run ever since,” Todd said in shipB by four strokes on Sunday. the May interview. Defying his world number 525 ranking, Still, Sunday’s sparking performance was Todd rolled in 10 birdies, seven of them in a not expected by a golfer who missed a pair row, against one bogey for the second PGA of cuts before tying for 28th at October’s Tour victory of his up-and-down career Houston Open. and fi rst since 2014. After rounds of 68, 63 and 67, Todd began His 24-under 260 made him a comfort- the fi nal day two strokes behind Higgs. able winner over third round leader Harry Following a par at his opening hole, the Higgs, who closed with a 68 at Port Royal in American made seven birdies in a row, Southampton. completing the turn in 29 strokes after a par Fellow Americans Hank Lebioda (63), at the ninth. Aaron Wise (65), Brian Gay (67) and Scottie Birdies at the 10th, 11th and 15th added to Scheffl er (66) tied for third at 18 under. dream round before a bogey at the last. “A year ago I wasn’t sure if I was going to “We had nice weather today,” the Ameri- keep playing, so it’s really special to get this can said. “The golf course we had been win this soon,” the 34-year-old Todd told playing under heavy winds felt easy to me Golf Channel. today. “I’m just overcome with emotion.” “I just felt like I was going to play a good Winner of the 2014 Byron Nelson, he round, and when I got the lead, I was able to climbed to 42nd in the world rankings be- kind of relax and hit shots. “ fore losing his PGA Tour card in 2016. Higgs needed a comeback to fi nish sec- “Ball-striking yips. Hitting a 4-iron like ond. 50 yards right out of play every round and I A double bogey at the seventh put him did that for like two years,” Todd told Global one over for the round, but he grabbed bird- Golf Post in May. ies at the 10th and 14th and topped off the Brendon Todd plays his second shot into the 14th green during the final round of the Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, He missed 37 of 41 cuts from 2016-18 be- day with an eagle at the par-fi ve 17th. Bermuda, on Sunday. (AFP)
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 GULF TIMES SPORT
SPOTLIGHT Registration opens for fourth cohort of Josoor Institute professional programmes
osoor Institute has opened reg- committed to delivering an outstand- Sports Media, Digital and Communica- istration for its Professional Di- ing 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. We are tions. The Major Events Management ploma Programmes in Sports confi dent that we will continue to build professional diploma covers modules JManagement and Major Events the capabilities to deliver similar tour- such as Event Planning and Operations Management, delivered in partnership naments and other major events that lie Management; People Management with SDA Bocconi School of Manage- ahead.” in the Events Industry; and Strategic ment, its academic partner university. Each block of the programmes in- Marketing and Communications. The programmes are delivered in six clude participation by high profi le By the end of 2019, when Josoor In- blocks, each module delivered over a speakers both local and international, stitute concludes the third cohort of week. This year, Josoor Institute is of- to give as much context as possible to the diploma programmes, the total fering the diploma programmes with ensure an informative education expe- number of graduates from the diplomas simultaneous Arabic translation of the rience for delegates. The third cohort of will reach 252. lectures, giving easier access to those the Professional Diploma Programmes The fl agship Professional Diploma who would prefer to listen and speak in included industry heavyweights such Programmes build on Josoor Institute’s Arabic. as Javier Zanetti, Vice President at FC continuous eff orts to equip industry Bringing together theory and prac- Internazionale Milan and a Member professionals with the know-how and tice, Josoor Institute’s Professional Di- of the Organising Committee for FIFA creativity required to deliver every ploma Programmes provide delegates Competitions; Jane Fraser, acclaimed facet of world-class event production with a fi rm academic background and a executive producer; and Adam Croth- in Qatar and the wider Mena region, practical skillset, targeting profession- ers, Head of Digital Licensing & Part- both to ensure the legacy of the FIFA als, or those hoping to pursue careers in nerships at Formula 1. World Cup Qatar 2022 and to deliver the sports management or events man- At the same time, content is localised and manage sports and non-sporting agement fi elds. through Josoor Institute’s research on events beyond. Afraa al-Noaimi, Executive Director the Mena region to contextualise infor- Block one of the Professional Diplo- of Josoor Institute, noted: “Our Profes- mation with local data so delegates can ma Programmes begins on 16 February sional Diploma Programmes empower compare and contrast local and inter- 2020. Admissions are now open, and aspiring professionals to tackle work- national markets. 30 January 2020 is the fi nal day to ap- related challenges they may face in the The diploma modules focus on ply. Applicants who have completed a sports and event sectors with confi - broadening participants’ knowledge in college diploma or a university degree dence. With the 2019 IAAF World Ath- a range of relevant areas. The Sports are eligible for admission. For more letics Championships having just taken Management programme covers mod- information and to apply to one of the place all around the city, there is no ules such as Sports Finance; Sports diploma programmes, please visit ht- need to remind ourselves that Qatar has Marketing and Sponsorship; and tps://www.josoorinstitute.qa/ . Afraa al-Noaimi, Executive Director of Josoor Institute with Javier Zanetti, Vice President at FC Internazionale Milan.
ROUND-UP FOCUS ASIA congress to be held at Qatar win two gold Aspire Academy medals in Arab judo
By Sports Reporter sults. I want to thank Qatari delegation of Doha administrators, players and technical staff for their great eff ort to achieve this great success,” al-Hitmi said. atar judokas clinched two gold The QGF added that gymnastics in Qa- medals at the Arab Judo Cham- tar is on the right track and expressed hope pionship 2019 in Jordan’s capital gymnasts will continue to achieved good of Amman on Sunday. Waleed results in the future competitions. QAziz Hanafi and Nasser al-Ansi won gold in the Nage-no-Kata class, while their YOUTH HANDBALL Saleha al-Badi took women’s U-52kg top The Qatari men’s youth handball team spot. A total of 14 Arab countries – Qa- defeated Jordan 28-11 to take fi fth place in tar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi the 10th Arab Championships in Tunisia. Arabia, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, The event brought together 6 teams in- By Sports Reporter ance environment for aspiring Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and hosts Jordan cluding Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Ku- Doha athletes and the programme of are taking part in the event. wait, Morocco and hosts Tunisia. this congress should stimulate Qatar’s Squad: Abdullah Khalifa new ideas as well as time to re- GYMNASTS PRAISED al-Jassim, Abdullah Mubarak al-Sulaiti, he foremost Asian fl ect on pertinent,” he said. Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) Abdullah Ali al-Dosari, Ali Hamad al-Su- high-performance The Association of Sports In- President Ali al-Hitmi hailed gymnasts’ waidi, Abdulrahman Jabor, Yazan Emad, sporting institutes are stitutes in Asia (ASIA) is a non- impressive performance at the recently- Osama Hamdan, Badr Khamis al-Shemali, Tmeeting in Qatar for profi t-making non-government concluded Arab Gymnastics Champion- Qatar’s judokas Waleed Aziz Hanafi and Nasser al-Ansi pose with the off icials after Thenyan Khalifa, Khalis Saeed al-Qassem, the 4th ‘Association of Sports organisation and is a representa- ship in Tunisia. winning gold at the Arab Judo Championship in Amman, Jordan. Saad Ismail, Adel al-Safadi, Jassim Mo- Institutes in Asia’ (ASIA) con- tive body of high-performance “We are very satisfi ed with our gym- hamed al-Danhim, Mubarak Ahmed al- gress which begins today and sports institutes in Asia. nasts show at the Arab championship. The QGF is working with a clear strategy and vision and is always looking for better re- Sulaiti and Deyaldin al-Zawadi. runs until November 7 at the ASIA was founded in 2015 world renowned Aspire Acad- with the vision to build a vibrant emy. and active community of sports BOTTOMLINE The founding members name- institutes by combining forces ly, Aspire Academy (Qatar), Hong between its member organisa- Kong Sports Institute, Japan tions. Sport Council and Singapore The association envisions a Sport Institute will spearhead the vibrant and active community congress at which will bring to- of all Asian countries, collabo- gether the leading international rating towards a stronger sport- Former WADA president and regional sports performance ing Asia performance based on practitioners to share insights sound practices, with respect and generate discussion on the and openness. ASIA seeks to topics that include: transition- make connections with Asian ing athletes from Youth to Senior, countries on the foundation of Pound calls for ‘tougher’ action developing High Performance en- high-performance development AFP “If you do that three or four times then deterrent. “The results obtained are good. vironments and implementation to support the sporting ambi- Katowice, Poland people will get the message.” The work that was done on the Russian of sports technology, research and tions of each member. ASIA has Pound is frustrated by the inconsist- ‘lab’ is remarkable. And we passed on innovation into performance pro- currently 15 members including ency between sports, especially the way information to the Austrian police about grammes. its founders Aspire Academy, he fi rst president of the World team sports have negotiated certain ar- the biathlon scandal. Aspire Academy Deputy Di- the Japan Sports Council, Singa- Anti-Doping Agency Dick rangements. “These are good examples. It is a work rector General and Chairman of pore Sports Institute and Hong Pound has called for “tougher” “In a football match, for example, two in progress.” the 4th ASIA Congress, Ali Sa- Kong Sports Institute. treatment of athletes and nations players are randomly selected for testing. In spite of the problems that Pound lem Afi fa welcomed the guests. Besides international speak- Twho are found to be doping but remains And it is only if both players are positive sees in cleaning up sport, the Canadian is “As Asia continues to make ers from the US, United King- optimistic about the fi ght against cheat- that we can target the team (with other genuinely proud of the work and achieve- history in the sporting arena, it dom, Ireland, New Zealand and ing. controls). It’s a lottery. ments of WADA over the last 20 years, is timely that we encourage dis- Australia, the event also features “Many sports now know that some- “You can suspend an individual who especially the World Anti-Doping Code cussions and sharing around the speakers from Aspire Academy, one is looking over their shoulder,” the tests positive but that has no eff ect on the which was implemented just before the development of a high perform- the event hosts. 77-year-old Canadian told AFP ahead of outcome of the competition. The match Athens Olympics in 2004. the 20th anniversary WADA meeting in isn’t lost which is what happens with a “It signifi es that every sport in every Katowice. relay team in athletics.” country is subject to the same rules. Pound, a former Olympic swimmer, has With a positive worldwide rate of less “It was one of our fi rst missions. There 1948 Olympics cycling champion Dupont dies long beaten a vocal and often controver- than 2%, anti-doping controls are often were 200 countries, 40 Olympic federa- sial path in the bid to uncover the drugs considered ineff ective, a view that Pound tions and each one had its own rules with Paris: French cyclist Jacques Two days later Dupont was back cheats. appears to endorse. diff erent list of (banned) products, diff er- Dupont, who won a gold medal in the saddle for the road race He led WADA from its inception in “That shows that the monitoring of ent sanctions, procedures, it was chaos. at the 1948 Olympic Games in which doubled as an individual 1999-2007 and remains an Olympic anti-doping programmes is not good be- “Then there is the Unesco Internation- London, has died at the age and team event. Movement representative on the WADA cause we know that more than 2% of ath- al Convention Against Doping, through of 91, his family announced Dupont could only manage 17th Foundation Board. letes are doping. which governments agree to apply the yesterday. in the individual but helped the He is proud of what WADA has achieved Pound cites the ongoing suspension of “WADA lacks the means of controlling World Anti-Doping Code — 188 states Dupont, who was born and died French take bronze in the team but regrets missed opportunities to take the Russian athletics federation by the the way in which these programmes are have acceded to it. in the village of Lezat sur Leze event alongside Jose Beyaert the fi ght deeper. International Association of Athletics carried out. “It is the most eff ective convention of in the south-west of France, and Alain Moineau. “What I fi nd the most disappointing Federations over state-organised doping “You can have thousands of tests in a Unesco.” achieved his gold medal at the The Belgians took gold without is the reticence in going in really hard as an example of how to tackle the prob- sport and come out with no positives be- The third great success, according to Herne Hill Velodrome on August realising it and only received against the those who sign up to the World lem. cause you select the athletes who don’t Pound, is the creation of an independ- 11, 1948. their medals in 2010 – 62 years Anti-Doping Code but only go halfway in “That’s been going on fi ve years now dope, you avoid testing the high risk ath- ent committee within WADA that verifi es The aged 20, Dupont eclipsed later. implementing it,” he says. and they are still not allowed to compete, letes. whether a signatory organisation (a fed- the field in the 1,000 metre time Dupont turned professional, “After 20 years, everyone knows the that is the way things need to be done. “The investigations yield far more re- eration of national anti-doping agency) is trial, beating Belgian Pierre Ni- winning the French champion- code, everyone knows the rules and they “We must be tougher. You know the sults than controls. compliant with the code. hant by one second. The Briton ship in 1954 and the prestigious aren’t always applied. We must be more rules, you fail to apply them, then sorry, “The simple fact WADA exists and can “It virtually eliminates any political Tommy Godwin took the bronze. Paris-Tours in 1951 and 1955. persuasive.” you are suspended. set up investigations is at least a partial consideration of its decisions.”