SPORT Tuesday 28 August 2018 PAGE | 17 PAGE | 18 No Bolt, no cry for Federer looks to Coe after Su’s end decade-long 9.92 drought No hurdle for Samba in gold rush

Abderrahman Samba of ARMSTRONG VAS InI jjavelinava elinn tthrow,hrroow, Qatar celebrates after THE PENINSULA AhAhmedhmem d MaMMagourgoouur ffin-ini - winning the men’s 400m ishedisi heed sixthssixtxth byb hurdles during the 2018 : Qatar won a gold andd clearingclleariing a ddis-iss- at the GBK silver in athletics yesterday at thee tancetat ncn e of Main Stadium in , Asian Games with Abderrahmann Indonesia, yesterday. Samba sprinting to the finish too 78.23m787 .2. 2 3m3 m clinch the 400 metres gold whilee whilewwhh ill e Yassir Salem Mubarak clinched thee MohamadMMoohhaamam d KaidaKaK ida silver in the Steeplechase. finishedfif nishhed sevenseven pplaceslalacces After yesterday’s one gold andd behindbebehhiinndd him.hiimm. silver, Qatar now has three goldd InI highhigh jump,jummp, HamdiHamddi AlA AAmeenmmeeeenn and equal number of silver whilee leapedleeaapeded toto a distancedid sttana cec ofof 2.24m2.2.2244m too also picking up one bronze in thee comeccoomem ffifth.iffthh. continental championship. InIn ththee otothertheher atathleticsthlh eticcs eevevents,veenttss, Samba (22), broke the Gamess JamalJammaal HHaHairanairrana aandndn AAbubakerbubaker record in the men’s 400m hurdless Haidar,HHaaiiddara , bothbobothth qqualifieduaualiifiedd ffororo today’stoday’ss when he finished his run in 47.666 finalffinanal ofo tthehhee 8800m00m wiwwiththt a ttimingiminng ofo seconds. Dharun Ayyasamy off 1:47.451:1:4747.445 aanandnd 1:11:48.25:4848.2.25 rerrespectively.esps ece tit vveelyly. India was a distant second with a In Karate,Karaatte,e, QatarQaataarr werewerre notnon t so time of 48.96 while Japanesee luckyluluckcky aass QQassimassisim GhGhavidelhavavidell llostoost inn athlete finishedd thetthhe MMeMen’sen’n’s 77575kgkkg pre-quarter-finalsprpree--qquuara tet r-r ffiinanallss third. goingggooining downdoownwn toto PPaPakistan’sakkiisttann’ss SSaadiaaaadidi MEDAL TABLE (TOP 20) “I’ve had an awesome racee AbbasAAbbbbaas 6-1.66-11. RANK COUNTRY G S B TOTAL today! I’m very happy that I havee In SquashSquq asa h teamteeaamm event,evev nt, QatarQQaattaar 1 China 86 62 43 191 achieved a gold medal andd registeredrregiistterred ccontrastingoontrraastiingng wwinsinns inin tthehhee 2 Japan 43 36 57 136 clearing an Asian Games record.. PoolPPool B mmatches.atches. IInn tthehhee ffirstirrst mmatchatatchh 3 South Korea 28 36 42 106 It doesn’t beat my personal timee theytthey defeateddefeaeatet d ThailandThhaiailaandd 3-03-0 andannd 4 Indonesia 22 15 27 64 but it is still considered a greatt thentht en ddefeatedeffeaeated InIndonesiandodonen sia byby a 5 17 15 15 47 time under 48 secs. I’m proud too marginmmarggiinn ofof twottwo gamesggammees to oone.ne. raise the Qatari flag high on thee Meanwhile,MMeeannwhhililee, QQataraattar wwillili l fefeatureeaturu e 6 Chinese Taipei 12 12 17 41 podium. I would like to dedicatee inn Friday’sFriidadayy’s HandballHHanddbaball final,finall, asa theytheh y 7 DPR Korea 12 6 7 25 this gold medal to H H the Amirr defeatedddeefefeaatedd SSouthooutht 27-20277-20 inin yeyester-ester- 8 Thailand 9 10 33 52 and the people of Qatar, and I willl day’sdad yy’’s sessemi-final.emmi-ffinnala . 9 India 8 13 20 41 do my best to add to thiss ElsewhereElseewwherre tottoday,oday,y QQataratara wwillill 10 Kazakhstan 7 8 28 43 achievement in the comingg taketake onon ththehe chchallengehala leengge of JapanJappan inin 11 Uzbekistan 6 13 12 31 events,” said Samba after winningg thethhe VVoVolleyballolleyyball qquarter-finals.uarter-fini als.s 12 Bahrain 6 3 3 12 the event. Meanwhile,MMeeaannwhile,e InIIndia’sdia’s NeNeerajeraj 13 Hong Kong 3 11 15 29 “It’s a good feeling you know.. ChopraChopprraa smashedsmam shed thethee fieldfieeld ttoo clclaimaim Actually these are big competi-- thethe mmemen’sen’n s jajavelinvelin gogoldldd aatt ththee AsAsianian 14 Malaysia 3 8 6 17 tions, the Asian Games, the Asiann GamesGamees onon MMondayonday by postingpostiing hishis 15 United Arab Emirates 3 6 3 12 Championship. I think I workedd personalperssoonnalal bestbeest whichwhich waswaw s nearlynen arly 16 Singapore 3 4 10 17 hard this season to be in this placee sixsix metresmem trt es clearclear ooff hihhisis clcclosestoosest 17 Qatar 3 3 1 7 and I won gold medal,” he added.. competitor.competittorr. 18 Mongolia 3 2 5 10 “Also this competition makess TheThe lolong-hairedngg-hhaireed 2020-year-old-year-old 19 Philippines 3 0 12 15 me prepare for next year in thee enteredentered thethe cocompetitionmppetition in JJakartaakarta 20 Vietnam 2 11 13 26 world championship and 20200 havinghaving postedposted tthehe season’sseasson’s bestbest Tokyo Olympics,” Samba said afterr throwthrow by an AsAsianian when he hurlhurlededd winning the 400m race. 87.43878 .443 memetrestres at the DiamonDiamondd Earlier, Qatar’s Yassir Salemm LeagueLeL agueu legleg iinn DohaDoD ha iinn May.MaM y. Mubarak won the silver medal inn TheThe CommonwealthCoommonwealth GaGamesmes the steeplechase with a timing off championchampion threwthrew eveneven furtherfurthher at eight minutes 28.21 seconds. Thee thethe GeGeloralora Bung KaKarnornr o StStadium,adiui m,m men’s 3000m steeplechase goldd clearingclearing a distancedistance ofof 88.0688.066 went to Iranian Hossein Keyhani,, metres.metres. ChinChina’sa’s LiLiuu Qizhen ppostedosted who broke the Games record forr a pepersonalrsonal bbestest of 82.82.22m22m for the the event by clocking eightt silver.silver. PPakistan’sakistan’s ArArshadshad NNadeemadeem minutes 22.79 seconds while the took bronze. bronze medal went to Japanese Chopra began with a modest Kazuya Shiojiri. 83.46 and after fouling his second Qatar assured of medal Qatar’s Hashim Mohamed attempt, registered his best effort came fifth finishing the race in of the night on his third. eight minutes 35.40 seconds. In men’s high jump, China’s in beach volleyball The rest of the medals for Qatar Wang Yu leapt 2.30 metres to claim at the 2018 Games have come from the gold ahead of South Korea’s ’s gold in 400m, Woo Sang-hyeok whose season’s ARMSTRONG VAS In the first set, Rachmawan- Ashraf Saifi’s gold in hammer throw, best of 2.28 fetched him the silver. THE PENINSULA Ashfiya defeated Ramadhan- Tosin Ogunode’s silver in the 100m Syrian Majd Eddin Ghzal and Yudistira Pribadi 21-13. race, Fares Hassouna’s silver in Japan’s Naoto Tobe both cleared DOHA: Qatar are assured of a In the second set, Rach- weightlifting (94kg), and Hammad 2.24 to claim a bronze apiece. medal in Beach Volleyball when mawan-Ashfiya defeated their Al Marri’s bronze medal in shooting, It was Syria’s first medal at the the Al Annabi pair of Ahmed compatriots 21-19. double Trap. ongoing Games. Tijan and Cherif Younousse take Rachmawan, accompanied on Indonesian pair of Ade Candra by Ashfiya, Ramadhan and Gold medallist of Rachmawan and Mohammad Pribadi, said after the match Qatar on the podium with silver medallist Ashfiya in the final at the that the team would compete Dharun Ayyasamy of India (left). Jakabaring Sport City Beach in the finals was not a team of Volleyball Court in Palembang two individuals, but a team of today. the Indonesian nation. Qatar’s Ahmed and Cherif Rachmawan added that cruised to the final showdown they would strive to win the with an unbeaten record after gold medal, while the other squeezing China’s Goa and Li out team would strive to win the while host pair Rachmawan and bronze. Ashfiya followed to join the “So, hopefully we’ll get one champion contest after elimi- gold and one bronze,” he said. nating their compatriots Gilang Speaking about Team 1’s Ramadhan and Danangsyah strategy to face the Qatari pair Yudistira Pribadi. in the final, Rachmawan said Facing the world 10th ranked they would give their best for the Ahmed and Cherif, China’s Goa country. and Li did caused some troubles “We’ll be all-out because we but finally conceded in a narrow have the support of the Indo- Qatar’s Yaser Bagharab competes in the final of the 0-2 (18-21, 24-26). nesian people,” he said, while men’s 3000m steeplechase athletics event during Rachmawan and Ashfiya adding that he had met the Qatari the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 27, 2018. won the match in straight sets. players once previously. TUESDAY 28 AUGUST 2018 SPORT 17 No Bolt, no cry for Coe after Su’s 9.92 sprint

AFP at the 2016 Rio Olympics, took swim star Sun Yang’s part- nised there are gaps in their saying to me what on earth are bronze, underlining Coe’s confi- nership with Australian own coaching structures and we going to be doing after JAKARTA: Su Bingtian’s Asian dence in the future of Asian Denis Cotterell has helped said ‘hey, let’s bring that talent Muhammad Ali? But actually, Games gold in the 100 metres sprinting. turn him into a to the table’. Floyd Mayweather, Hagler, Hearns came as little surprise to many, “You could argue Japan and world-beater. “It’s a pragmatic come along. including athletics boss Sebastian China are two of the most “If you look at the approach. There’s been a “Do they suddenly replace Coe, long an admirer of the pint- improved athletics nations over Chinese federation, greater clarity around Muhammad Ali? No. Should we sized Chinese sprinter. the last six or seven years,” the they’ve been quite the importance of suddenly expect these athletes to The 28-year-old streaked to Briton said in an interview with global,” said Coe. coaching.” replace him? No,” he added. victory in a competition record of news agencies. “They’ve recog- Coe is aware of “Because Usain is not simply 9.92 seconds in Jakarta at the “For me it’s very clear -- the massive void left thought about at the status that weekend, missing the continental they’re making very good by athletics mega- he’s thought about because he’s record by the tiniest of progress. If we’d been sitting star Bolt after the got a sack full of world records fractions. here a decade ago, talking Jamaican legend’s and he’s got a clutch of Olympic Su edged out Qatari Tosin about potential here for a China retirement last year. titles. Ogunode - younger brother of athlete to run 9.8, you’d have But he also wants “It’s actually because he’s a Femi Ogunode, with whom the probably taken quite long odds athletes to be person- personality. It’s performance plus Chinese star shares the conti- on that.” alities who can personality. We’ve got to help the OAAF President Sebastian Coe nental best of 9.91 -- on a night Coe, President of track and connect with fans. athletes tell their stories.” when six African-born athletes field’s governing IAAF, pointed “I’m a boxing Su himself is a superstar in here than at a world champion- bagged six golds to China’s willingness to embrace fan,” said Coe, China, although he has some way ships,” said Su, swallowed by a at Asia’s showcase sports overseas coaches after years of twice an Olympic to achieve the celebrity that scrum of state media after his win. event. fostering suspicion of state-spon- 1,500m champion. pin-up Liu Xiang achieved after “Everybody expected me to Ryota Yamagata - part of the sored doping. China’s Su Bingtian celebrates after winning “If we’d been winning 110m hurdles gold at the win so I kept telling myself to stay 4x100m Japan team that took Su is coached by American the men’s 100m final of the 2018 Asian sitting in the 70s, 2004 Athens Olympics. calm. I just found a way. It’s a silver behind Usain Bolt’s Jamaica coach Randy Huntington, while Games on Sunday. you’d probably be “There was more pressure massive victory for me.”

South Korea Yesterday’s edge past highlights REUTERS

Uzbekistan JAKARTA: HIGHLIGHTS of day 10 of the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and in thriller Palembang yesterday. CHINA WIN MIXED AND AFP WOMEN’S DOUBLES TITLES China won gold in the women’s INDONESIA: Tottenham forward Son doubles and mixed doubles badminton Heung-min helped South Korea reach competitions after failing to win a singles the Asian Games semi-finals as the medal at the Games for the first time defending champions beat since 1970. Uzbekistan 4-3 in an extra-time cliff- Japan’s Olympic champions Misaki hanger yesterday. Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi gave The World Cup star, who is in up leads in both games to lose the Indonesia chasing a gold medal that women’s doubles final 22-20 22-20 to would spare him a career-threat- Chinese duo Chen Qingchen and Jia ening spell of military service, pro- Yifan. duced a pair of smart assists for hat- In the mixed doubles final, China’s trick hero Hwang Ui-jo before a late Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong Hwang Hee-chan penalty sent the Qatar’s Yaser Bagharab (left), Iran’s Hossein Keyhani (right) and thrashed Hong Kong pair Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet 21-8 21-15. Koreans through. Japan’s Kazuya Shiojiri (centre) compete in the men’s 3,000m While Spurs prepared to visit SAMBA SECURES 400M steeplechase final during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta HURDLES GOLD FOR QATAR Manchester United in the Premier yesterday. Bagharab won the silver medal behind Keyhani. League some 7,000 miles away, Son Abderrahman Samba secured was the driving force as the Koreans Qatar’s third gold of the meet with a squeezed through to face either Syria victory in the . or Vietnam in the last four. Hosts Indonesia smash Asian Games record The 22-year-old crossed the line in The Korea captain revealed that 47.66 seconds, a new Games record. AFP he was supposed to take the penalty Dharun Ayyasamy of India finished kick but that substitute Hwang Hee- in second, and Japan’s Takatoshi Abe chan had demanded to take it -- and JAKARTA: Asian Games hosts Indonesia completed the podium with a third-place Son couldn’t bear to watch. smashed their record gold medal haul finish. The 26-year-old Son provided a yesterday on a day tainted by referee INDONESIA NOTCH EIGHTH superb assist after just five minutes controversy, while Son Heung-min’s PENCAK SILAT GOLD in Bekasi, near Jakarta. hopes of a military service reprieve Abdul Malik won Indonesia’s eighth It was the tournament’s top scorer were kept alive by a penalty deep in gold in Pencak Silat, beating Muhammad Hwang Ui-jo who hit the opener, extra time. Faizul M Nasir of Malaysia 5-0 in the 50 tucking away his sixth goal of the Indonesia dominated its home- to 55kg final. Games after a brilliant run from Son. grown ancient martial art of pencak IRAN’S SALIMIKORDASIABI But Jaloliddin Masharipov silat, scooping all eight gold medals as DEFENDS WEIGHTLIFTING GOLD pounced on South Korea’s defensive they doubled their previous best tally Iran weightlifter Behdad Salimikor- hesitation to equalise with a sharp at the regional Olympics. dasiab won his third straight Asiad gold finish after 17 minutes. But there were controversial scenes medal in the men’s +105kg category. Japan-based Hwang smashed in as a Malaysian athlete withdrew in HOSTS INDONESIA SURPASS his seventh of the competition with protest two seconds before the end of PRE-GAMES GOLD TARGET a dipping shot from long distance to his final, accusing judges of bias. Indonesia won two more gold restore his side’s advantage 10 Mohd Al-Jufferi Jamari, the 2016 medals in the local martial art of pencak minutes before the break. world champion, punched a hole in the silat to reach a total of 17, one more than However, Korean hopes of wall of the warm-up area, but officials their pre-Games goal. Sri Lanka’s Indunil Herath (left), India’s Jinson Johnson (centre) and Qatar’s advancing to the semi-finals almost told he was unlikely to face sanctions. Aji Bangkit Pamungkas won in the Jamal Hairana (right) compete in a heats of the men’s 800m event during evaporated in the space of two There were also golds for Indonesia men’s 85-90kg event while Komang calamitous second-half minutes. in both the men’s and women’s speed the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta yesterday. All three of them qualified for Harik Adi Putra won in the men’s Ikromjon Alibaev fired climbing events. today’s final. 65-70kg category. Uzbekistan level in the 53rd minute The successes brought their gold JAPANESE ARCHERS WIN MIXED after finding himself unmarked at the count for the day to 10, and their total for the Games to 22 -- double their pre- symbolising this year’s rapprochement TEAM RECURVE GOLD back post. vious best, when they last hosted the on the Korean peninsula, won their first Japanese archers Tomomi Sugimoto Moments later, the midfielder regional Olympics in 1962. Asian Games gold in the women’s and Takaharu Furukawa won gold in the tried his luck from range and got a And there was more reason to cheer dragon boat racing, their men’s team mixed team recurve competition with a huge slice of luck as the ball took a for local fans in Jakarta as homegrown took a bronze in the 1,000m race. 6-0 victory over North Korea’s Kang Un wicked deflection off Hwang Hyun- badminton star Jonatan Christie And the South’s weightlifters joined Ju and Pak Yong Won in the final. soo and trickled into the net. stormed into the men’s final with a their Northern neighbours in cele- KAZAKHSTAN’S GAFUROVA Hwang Ui-jo -- like Son hoping 21-15, 15-21, 21-19 victory over Kenta bration as Kim Kuk Hyang secured WINS KARATE GOLD for exemption from military service Nishimoto of Japan. North Korea’s eighth gold on the last Kazakhstan’s Guzaliya Gafurova suc- -- struck back, latching on to a Son The world number 15, who began day of the sport these Games -- dou- cessfully defended her title in the karate through-ball to complete his hat- his route to the gold medal match by bling their previous record. 68kg women’s event. China’s Tang Lin- trick with aplomb after 75 minutes. knocking out top-seeded Shi Yuqi of “I think we have shown the world gling claimed silver. Son then let fly with a ferocious China, said he was “overwhelmed” by that the people of Korea are the greatest TAIWAN’S MEN WIN TEAM left-foot shot that whistled past the the support in badminton-mad as one,” Kim said. RECURVE ARCHERY GOLD post as the Koreans went in search Indonesia. Earlier, Iranian giant Behdad Sal- Taiwan’s male archers avenged the of a winner in normal time. He will face off against Taiwan’s imikordasiabi claimed a hat-trick of defeat of their women’s team by South Already booked, Alibaev was Chou Tien-chen today, who ended the Asiad golds in the men’s superheavy- Korea earlier on Monday, winning the sent off for a shove early in the first dream run of fellow Indonesian shuttler weight class. recurve team gold with a 5-3 victory in period of extra time before hat-trick Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the other And farmer’s son Neeraj Chopra the final. man Hwang missed a sitter from semi-final. skewered India’s first-ever Asian Games SOUTH KOREAN WOMEN CON- point-blank range. Meanwhile, NBA star Jordan javelin gold medal, despite recently TINUE ARCHERY DOMINANCE Both teams looked out on their Clarkson is on his way home after his learning of the death of his former coach. South Korean archers claimed gold feet after going toe-to-toe in Philippines side lost out to South Korea In the medal standings China’s haul in the women’s recurve team event to sapping humidity but as a penalty in basketball. continued to rocket, claiming eight more extend their winning streak to six shootout loomed, Hwang Hee-chan The remnants of Japan’s basketball golds including wins in both men’s and Games. triggered ecstatic scenes from the team -- after four players were sent women’s cycling team sprints. The trio of Chang Hye-jin, Kang Koreans as he stepped up to blast Qatar’s Ahmed Magour competes in packing in disgrace - were also elimi- The Asian Games giant now has 86 Chae-won and Lee Eun-gyeong beat home from the spot after a foul on the men’s javelin throw final yesterday. nated in a 93-67 thrashing by Iran. golds, followed by Japan on 43 and Taiwan 5-3 at the GBK Archery Field. Hwang Ui-jo. A day after a joint Korean team, South Korea on 28. Japan claimed bronze. 18 SPORT TUESDAY 28 AUGUST 2018

US OPEN: FIVE TALKING POINTS Nadal, Federer to meet -- for first time? -- Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have Federer looks to end 37 Grand Slam titles between them and have clashed 38 times in a mesmerising ri- valry stretching back to 2004. However, the world’s two top players have never met at the US Open. Nadal leads their head-to-head 23-15 and is 9-3 at the Slams. Nine of those 12 at the majors have been in finals with the pair never having met before the semi-finals. decade-long drought If they are to meet at the US Open this year, it can only be in the final as Nadal is top seed and Federer is seeded two. AP Will Federer end 10-year New York drought? -- Federer has won five US Open both. He finally got back to the final titles, but they all came between 2004-2008. He has even been French Open again in 2015 but was beaten by champion (2009) since the last time he triumphed in New York! NEW YORK: Even with all the times Djokovic, then had to miss the 2016 Since 2008, he has twice been a runner-up -- to Juan Martin del Potro in 2009 and Roger Federer held the US Open event because of a knee injury. trophy, he still can’t forget the time He won the Australian Open Novak Djokovic in 2015. it slipped through his fingers. and Wimbledon in a resurgent 2017 Del Potro returned to haunt him again last year when the towering Argentine tri- He had won five titles in a row but tweaked his back while umphed in the quarter-finals. in Flushing Meadows and was a reaching the Montreal final and Now 37, Federer would become the oldest New York champion in the Open era game away from a sixth in 2009 knew his body and his game should he lift the trophy again on September 9 and second oldest of all time. when Juan Martin del Potro pulled weren’t in shape by the time he got “It’s even a bigger priority this year, the US Open, than it has been last year. Not that out a fourth-set tiebreaker, then to New York. it wasn’t last year, but Wimbledon was key for me last year,” Federer said Friday. won the fifth set. “I knew from the get-go it was Time for ‘NextGen’ to take next step -- They are young, gifted but not quite yet “I still wish I could have played not going to be possible for me to that match again,” Federer said on win,” Federer said. “Everything the finished product. Tennis’s widely-touted ‘NextGen’ are still to make an impact at Friday. would have had to fall into place.” the Slams with much expected of German star Alexander Zverev, the world number He’s never been that close to So he was even more cautious four. winning the US Open since, just in monitoring his schedule this year, The 21-year-old has yet to get past the quarter-final of a Slam while his last two once reaching the final. sitting out the clay-court season visits to New York have seen second-round exits. That would have been hard to again and pulling out of Toronto, Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas, 20, who is ranked 15 having been at 161 in the world imagine then, when Federer would making Cincinnati his only hard- this time last year, made his mark at the Toronto Masters this month where he de- steamroll into New York at the tail court warmup. That’s left him only feated Zverev, Novak Djokovic and Kevin Anderson on his way to the final where he end of some of the greatest seasons four tournaments in five months, lost to Nadal. in tennis history. He was 247-15 perhaps explaining some of the from 2004-06, and knew he’d shots that once were winners but “Zverev’s been struggling at Slams maybe a little bit, sure, but he’s still young, so figure things out across seven were sprayed around the court time is on his side,” said Federer of a player who has hired Ivan Lendl as his coach. matches on the hard courts in a city against Djokovic. Serena on verge of Grand Slam history -- Serena Williams missed the US Open where he is so comfortable. “It’s a fine line of how fit do you last year as she prepared to give birth to daughter Olympia. Her return to the sport “For a long period I think I was need to be and how much tennis has been a rollercoaster with a runners-up spot at Wimbledon followed by a 6-1, 6-0 not losing much,” Federer said, “and Roger Federer of can you play to be competitive?” defeat by Britain’s Johanna Konta in San Jose -- the worst loss of her career. when I came to the Open, I had all Switzerland trains Hall of Famer Rod Laver said. However, the 36-year-old is still one of the favourites to lift a modern era record the answers for all the guys, all my prior to the US Open “And if you’re not able to go get seventh US Open and 24th career Grand Slam to go level with the mark set by Mar- opponents, all conditions, wind, you at USTA Billie Jean the match practice, then you’ve got know, night, day. I really embraced to rely on being competitive on the garet Court. King National Tennis “I think the surface plays in her favour, as does competing at her home Grand Slam everything about New York.” Center on Friday. other side of the coin, which is how Still does, which is why - at age fit can you be. He certainly is fit and having an American crowd cheer for her. All of those things will be helpful,” 37, and a full decade removed from enough but mentally in the final, I former champion Martina Navratilova told wtatennis.com. his last title at the place - Federer Defending champion Rafael Nadal is easier to play well in the Grand could tell he was sort of down. You “It’s about trying to win a 24th Grand Slam to equal Court -- that’s the number she believes he can succeed again at the is the top seed after taking back the Slam, no? No doubt of that,” Nadal could tell he was just frustrated with cares about.” year’s final Grand Slam tournament No. 1 ranking that Federer had said. some of the shots that he played.” Murray to win second US Open? Don’t count on it -- When Andy Murray won and collect a male-record 21st regained earlier this season for the “At the same time it’s true that Federer won’t second-guess his the US Open in 2012, he ended Britain’s 76-year wait for a men’s singles champion major when main-draw play begins first time in five years. especially a few players are able to scheduling, believing he’s made the at the Slams. He has gone on to add two Wimbledons to his CV, but his career has Monday. A sixth US Open title And del Potro is up to a career- increase the level of concentration, right decisions for his preparation. would break a tie with Jimmy best No. 3 in the world and proved the level of tennis, level of intensity Nor will he kick himself over the been stalled by hip surgery in January which has seen his ranking slump to 378 in the Connors and Pete Sampras for the again he could handle Federer at in some places. If you have to do it, US Opens lost over the last decade. world. most in the professional era. the US Open when he stopped him this is one of the places.” “I won the US Open five times. The 31-year-old has not played at a Slam since Wimbledon in 2017 and there remain “Well, I mean, it would mean last year in the quarterfinals. Federer hasn’t done it in the So I stand here pretty happy, to be serious doubts over whether or not he can last two weeks of intense best-of-five sets the world to me,” he said. Yet few would count out No. 2 biggest moments in New York over quite honest,” Federer said. in New York. Novak Djokovic just beat seed Federer, even as erratic as his the last decade. The loss to del Potro “It’s not like, ‘God, the US Open “It feels slightly different, this one, because for the last 10 years or so I’ve been

Federer in the final in Cincinnati, gifted game looked against was followed by semifinal defeats never worked out for me.’ It hasn’t coming and trying to prepare to win the event, whereas I don’t feel like that’s realis- and the Wimbledon champion Djokovic on Sunday in Ohio. against Djokovic in both 2010 and the last couple years, but it’s all tic for me this year,” he admits might be the favorite in New York. “If you are playing well before, 2011, blowing two match points in good.” McGrath says Anderson’s DeChambeau wins Northern Trust title AFP Test wicket haul won’t who collected $1.62m in prize money to take his earnings this PARAMUS, US: Bryson season to $6.25m. ever be beaten DeChambeau says he is now on His win comes after the con- a “double mission” after his troversy of seeing victory slip in AFP impressive four-shot victory at last month’s European Open in the PGA Northern Trust tour- Germany and also last fortnight’s : James Anderson nament on Sunday. agony in missing the halfway cut (pictured) will not be caught Jimmy Anderson DeChambeau, 24, captured in the PGA Championship. once the England cricketer his second PGA Tour victory this In missing the St Louis cut, becomes the most prolific fast deserves everything year and the third of his short DeChambeau dropped to ninth bowler in Test history, says he gets, and even pro career courtesy of a two- on the Ryder Cup standings to Australia’s current record- though he is an under par 69 for an 18-under miss out on automatic selection. holder Glenn McGrath. Englishman I will 266 total on the Ridgewood But with victory in New Jersey Anderson has 557 wickets, County Club course. he has now done enough to earn just six fewer than the retired be delighted for The American headed into a USA wildcard pick when USA McGrath ahead of the fourth him when he goes the last round of the opening captain Jim Furyk announces Test against India, which starts past my record and event of the FedEx Cup Play-Off three of his four Versailles picks on Thursday. Series enjoying a four-stroke in early September. McGrath, who played his becomes the most lead and stretched that to six Also in line for a debut USA Bryson DeChambeau (USA) kisses the trophy after winning the last Test in 2007, expects prolific fast bowler shots with birdies on his opening Ryder Cup cap is Tony Finau (68) Northern Trust tournament at Ridgewood Country Club on Sunday. Anderson to surpass his record in Test history: Glenn two holes. who was second at 14-under par. and that it will then stand the McGrath DeChambeau then stalled Tiger Woods continued to test of time. with bogeys at the third and charge at DeChambeau failed to saving par after a wild drive way struggle with his putter, posting “Jimmy Anderson deserves proud to have taken more ninth holes and also found materialise and when he birdied right into the spectators on the a last day 70 for a share of 40th everything he gets, and even wickets than any fast bowler in himself leading by two as his 12 and 13 to move to 18-under last hole. place. though he is an Englishman I Test history, but any high is rivals, including Aaron Wise, par. It was then a matter of by “I’m a man on a mission Woods was asked what he will be delighted for him when there to be beaten.” who had raced to 14-under how many shots he would right now. With two missions takes away from this week in he goes past my record and Spin bowlers occupy the top through 14 holes, sought to secure victory. actually, one being the Ryder what was his first appearance in becomes the most prolific fast three places on the overall list bridge the gap. DeChambeau parred his Cup and other winning the a FedEx Cup play-off series bowler in Test history,” he of Test wicket-takers -- Sri However, any inward half remaining five holes, including FedEx Cup,” said DeChambeau, event in five years. wrote in BritainBritain’s s DailDailyy Mail Lankan off-spinneroff spinner Muttiah newspaper.newspaper. MuralitharanMuralitharan took “I havehave an awfulawful 800800 wickets,wickets, aaheadhead ofof lot of respect for Australia’s Jimmy.Jimmy. Good luck to ShShaneane Henderson clinches historic triumph him.him. I believebelieve onceonce WWarnea rne he goes past me he ((708)708) and AFP willwill nneverever bbee India’sIndia’s AnilAnil Wascana Country Club in Sas- Two weeks shy of her 21st beaten. KumbleK umble REGINA, CANADA: Brooke katchewan on 21-under 267. birthday, Henderson took her “Records“Records areare (619).(619). Henderson (pictured) became The only other Canadian seventh career LPGA title, one nicenice aandnd I’vI’vee the first Canadian since 1973 to winner of the event was shy of Sandra Post’s all-time been capture her homeland’s top Jocelyne Bourassa in its debut Canadian record of eight, and veryvery LPGA event, firing a seven- 45 years ago. second tour triumph of the under par 65 on Sunday to win Fans serenaded Henderson season after the Lotte Champi- the Canadian Open by four with the national anthem, “Oh onship in April at Hawaii. strokes. Canada”, after the victory. “It’s The historic win was Hend- The 20-year-old from amazing. It’s just surreal,” a erson’s first since the death of Smiths Falls, Ontario, ran off tearful Henderson said. her grandfather in June at age four consecutive birdies on the “The crowds have been 81 after a battle with cancer. It back nine and closed with amazing all week. It’s a dream came with sister Brittany another to finish 72 holes at come true.” serving as Henderson’s caddie. TUESDAY 28 AUGUST 2018 SPORT 19 Bounedjah stars as Al Sadd down Esteghlal THE PENINSULA ‘Attack’ main weapon : Feared striker Baghdad Bounedjah excelled with a brace as Al Sadd for Al Duhail in clash bounced back from an own goal to beat Iran’s Esteghlal 3-1 in the first leg of the Asian against Persepolis Champions League quarter- FAWAD HUSSAIN finals in Tehran, yesterday. AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 8 The Jesualdo Ferreira’s THE PENINSULA side held their nerves in an Al Duhail vs Persepolis (first leg) away match at Azadi Stadium DOHA: Al Duhail will look to tackle Venue: Khalifa International Stadium

by scoring three goals in the Persepolis with an aggressive Kick-off: Today, 6:30pm second half to take a big step approach when the two familiar towards the semi-finals. Asian football giants square off in Al Sadd, the 2011 cham- the first leg of AFC Champions the same approach. “The Iranian pions began the game brightly League quarter-finals in Doha, team is a special team but Al Duhail but were dealt a blow in the today. strategy is clear which is to rely on 12th minute, conceding a goal Qatar’s Al Duhail and Iran’s the attack and thank God the team through an unfortunate Persepolis have not met before but has a big number of players who mistake. the two teams have much in are able to make opportunities for A high ball into the Al Sadd common as they are aiming for the our strikers,” said Al Duhail head box was headed down by coveted Asian title after winning coach at a pre-match press con- Boualem Khoukhi for his their premier domestic leagues – ference at Torch Hotel in Doha, keeper Meshaal Aissa to pick Al Sadd players celebrate after scoring a goal against Esteghlal during their AFC Champions QNB Stars League and Persian Gulf yesterday. up, but the young custodian League quarter-final (first leg) at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, yesterday. Pro League – respectively. In the Maaloul, who coached Tunisia inadvertently let it slip past AFC Champions League, Al Duhail at Russia 2018 World Cup, said his him to gift the hosts an opener. finished on top in group B while team was prepared to take on the Esteghlal maintained their out before slotting home Al Feared striker the only Chinese side left in Persepolis also advanced after top Iranian team. lead right up to halftime, after Sadd’s second goal. Bounedjah Baghdad the competition and their securing first position in group C. “The preparations are going surviving a scare in injury then made it 3-1 for the Qataris Bounedjah excelled debut appearance can already But, Al Duhail will enter the well and the players are in their best time when Akram Afif’s shot in the 74th minute after with a brace as Al Sadd be considered a major success Khalifa International Stadium with level and well prepared. Our main rebounded off the post to be winning and then converting after suffering just one defeat a psychological edge over the last goal is to win this title. We also gathered by Esteghlal keeper the penalty, following a foul on win first leg 3-1. in eight games en route to the year’s semi-finalists, taking an know that we are facing the Mehdi Rahmati. him by Vouria Ghafouri. quarter-finals. eight-match AFC Champions champion of the Iranian league In the second half, Al Sadd Al Sadd will now take Al Sadd will Away wins over Suwon League winning streak with them. championship, and we hope that came out of the tunnel looking home a valuable advantage now take home Samsung Bluewings and After easing to the top of the the players will achieve positive for a way back into the game ahead of the return leg in a valuable advantage Sydney FC on Matchdays Two group and qualifying to the Round result before travelling to Tehran and were rewarded for their Doha on September 17. ahead of the return leg in and Three set Kashima well of 16 with two games to spare, Al for the away match,” he said. attacking intent with a goal at Meanwhile, Kashima Doha on September 17. on their way to a sixth Duhail made light work of 2016 Meanwhile, Al Duhail striker the hour mark following a Antlers and Tianjin Quanjian knockout stage appearance as finalists Al Ain, putting eight goals Edmilson hoped his team will come well-worked move. After a are aiming to reach the AFC they sat top of Group H at the past them across the two legs. victorious in what he believed to fine one-two with Bounedjah, Champions League semi- once before appeared in the midway stage. An unstoppable attacking force, be a difficult battle. Afif beat his marker and fin- finals for the first time in their last eight – a decade ago, A point at home against Al Duhail have bagged 21 goals in the “Everyone in the team knows ished past Rahmati to level the history ahead of the first leg before the introduction of the Sydney then slowed progress, competition so far, six more than the the importance of the match. We score. of the quarter-finals at Round of 16 – but will be but the J.League side then next best West Asian side, Al Sadd, know the game will not be easy but Five minutes later, Kashima Soccer Stadium looking to follow in the foot- wrapped up qualification with and head coach Nabil Maaloul said we will work hard to achieve pos- Bounedjah latched onto Xavi’s today. steps of countrymen Urawa a 2-2 draw against Shanghai his side will play today’s clash with itive result “. flicked through ball, made his Japan’s sole remaining Red Diamonds, who won the Shenhua as they progressed way into the box, turned representative on the con- 2017 edition. to their second successive Mohammad Daneshgar inside tinent, Kashima, have only Tianjin, meanwhile, are Round of 16 with a game to spare. Kashima again faced opposition from Shanghai – in the form of SIPG – in the last 16, where Yuma Suzuki and Daigo Nishi scored in a 3-1 first-leg home win to mean they travelled to China with a two-goal lead to defend. Despite falling behind early on in the return meeting, Shoma Doi calmed any nerves when he levelled shortly before half-time, and the eventual 2-1 defeat was enough to see Go Oiwa’s team through to only their second The kits for the two teams were put on display in Doha yesterday. Al quarter-finals after advancing Duhail will be in red while Persepolis will sport white kit. Al Sadd forward Baghdad Bounedjah (centre) scores a goal against Esteghlal, yesterday. from the knockout rounds for the first time. No Ronaldo, no problem Schweinsteiger expects tears on his Bayern farewell for Real coach Lopetegui AFP Soeder described the 2014 World Cup AFP “We were calm and clear winner as a ‘living legend’. and had plenty of space. When BERLIN: Bastian Schweinsteiger expects “I’m overwhelmed, I accept the medal MADRID: Real Madrid coach we have that this team gets to shed a few tears today on his final on behalf of all Bayern fans - many of Julen Lopetegui insisted after a going, it works and the goals Bayern Munich appearance during his testi- whom deserve this,” said Schweinsteiger come from behind 4-1 win at start to flow,” he said. monial against current club Chicago Fire. humbly. Girona that a “keep calm under “This time it was Gareth, The 34-year-old former Germany The football star from the Upper pressure” attitude would deliver Karim and Sergio, but we don’t captain will play a half each for Bayern and Bavarian town of Kolbermoor, near the the goals previously scored by mind who gets them as long as Chicago at the Allianz Arena (1830 GMT). border with Austria, said he missed his the prolific but now departed we get them,” he said. It will be his farewell appearance in homeland. Cristiano Ronaldo. Real Madrid have yet to sign Munich, having quit his childhood club for “Friends and family, the mountains - Seeking their second win of a direct replacement for the Por- Manchester United in 2015 after 17 years and the Kaiserschmarrn (a Bavarian the new La Liga season the tuguese superstar Ronaldo, who and a total of 20 titles with Bayern. dessert),” are the things he misses most European champions fell behind switched to Juventus in July after Schweinsteiger wept when he received living in Chicago with his wife, former before a brace from Karim scoring 450 goals in 438 games a standing ovation on his 121st and final tennis star Ana Ivanovic, and their baby Benzema and further goals from over nine seasons at the club. appearance for Germany in a 2-0 friendly son. Schweinsteiger made more than 500 Sergio Ramos and Welsh star Lopetegui left World Cup win over Finland two years ago in appearances for Bayern, who he joined as Gareth Bale saw Madrid even- final stars Luka Modric and Moenchengladbach. a 13-year-old. tually cruise to three precious Rafael Varane on the bench, and More tears are to be expected in His last home appearance in the points. also stunned observers by Munich today. famous red shirt was when he scored in a “Both halves were tricky. pulling off veteran left-back “I somewhat underestimated that 2-0 win against Mainz in May 2015, before Girona have a good collective Marcelo on the hour. when I retired from the national moving to United two months later, and game, they started well got an Spanish daily Marca said team,” admitted Schweinsteiger he has not been back to the Allianz Arena early goal and could have had Lopetegui “Proved he was in on his return to Munich. since. His popularity has its price and Sch- another,” said Lopetegui. charge” and was not “afraid to “I felt lots of emotions, weinsteiger can not walk the streets of “Then we got two penalties. make unpopular decisions for you have so many images in Munich “without a cap and sunglasses”, We deserved them because we the best of the team. your head and let yourself be unlike in Chicago where his wife “is recog- were playing to win and had a There was no start either for Chicago Fire’s led by that. nised more than me - she’s a bit prettier hatful of chances,” said the Thibaut Courtois who joined the Bastian “There are already so many too,” he added with a grin. former Spain manager, sacked club from Chelsea, Real’s major Schweinsteiger memories coming back up. Despite recent results -- Chicago sit on the eve of Russia 2018 after summer signing had to watch plays the ball “It was a great time, Bayern is second from bottom in the Eastern Con- his deal with Madrid was the popular Costa Rican Keylor during a training always in my heart, but I know it’ll be ference of the North American MLS league revealed. Navas turn in a solid game in session on emotional for me.” -- Schweinsteiger is enjoying playing in the “We kept calm under goal. Sunday, two days It was obvious from the huge smile on States. pressure and played well “We have tried to explain before a farewell his face at Bayern’s training ground that “I feel good physically, it’s fun to drive enough in the second half to it but it isn’t easy, that much is match between he is enjoying being back in Munich. to training each day and I play every deserve the victory. We were clear,” said the new coach. “I Bayern Munich On Sunday, he was awarded the game,” he said and hopes to play another flying forwards too quickly in have two great goalkeepers. and Chicago Fire, Bavarian Order of Merit at a civil ceremony, few seasons for Fire, who he joined in 2017 the first half, we were too keen Three if you count Kiko dedicated to him. where Bavarian Prime Minister Markus after 18 months at Old Trafford. to attack,” he said. Casilla.”