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Thursday, December 14, 2017 CRICKET Rabia I 26, 1439 AH Fed-up Root tells GULF TIMES England to stand up and be counted SPORT Page 2

SPOTLIGHT Sharma fi rst player to Mo Farah hit 3 ODI double tons the star

AFP unbeaten 111. Leg-spinner Yuz- Mohali vendra Chahal claimed three wickets. attraction The third and deciding match kipper Rohit Sharma will be played in Visakhapa- became the first bats- tanam on Sunday. man to hit three double Scenturies in one-day India in Ooredoo internationals as he powered R. Sharma not out ...... 208 India to a 141-run win over Sri S. Dhawan c Thirimanne b Lanka in the second match Pathirana ...... 68 yesterday. S. Iyer c sub (Chaturanga) b Sharma’s ubeaten 208 steered Perera ...... 88 Marathon the hosts to an imposing 392-4 M.S. Dhoni lbw b Perera ...... 7 and then restricted Sri Lanka to H. Pandya c Thirimanne b By Sports Reporter participation event in Qatar at- 251-8 to level the three-match Perera ...... 8 Doha tracting runners from over 50 na- series at 1-1 in Mohali. Extras (b1, lb1, w11) ...... 13 tionalities. Farah continued, “I also His epic knock, laced with 12 Total (4 wickets, 50 overs) 392 look forward to running alongside India’s Rohit Sharma sixes and 13 fours in 153-ball Fall of wickets: 1-115 (Dhawan), ritish distance running ace my fellow elite athletes and spend- reacts after recording his stay, led the Indian charge after 2-328 (Iyer), 3-354 (Dhoni), 4-392 Sir Mo Farah will be the star ing time with amateur athletes and double century against they were invited to bat first in (Pandya) attraction in the Ooredoo spectators at the marathon. Doha is Sri Lanka yesterday. overcast conditions. Did not bat: D. Karthik, M. Pan- Doha Marathon on January a truly international city, and that B12, 2018, Ooredoo and Qatar Tour- makes for a great atmosphere and Sharma reached 200 in the dey, B. Kumar, W. Sundar, J. Bum- 50th over, bowled by opposi- rah, Y. Chahal ism Authority (QTA) announced overall experience.” tion skipper Thisara Perera. His Bowling: Mathews 4-1-9-0, yesterday. During his stay in Qatar’s capital, first hundred came off 115 balls, Lakmal 8-0-71-0 (w1), Perera 8-0- The organisers have invited run- Farah and other top international and his second off just 38 balls. 80-3 (w1), Pradeep 10-0-106-0 ners, new and experienced, in Qatar athletes will be visiting schools and The right-hander scored 209 (w3), Dananjaya 10-0-51-0 (w1), and from around the world, to join universities to give talks and coach against Australia in Bangalore Pathirana 9-0-63-1 (w3), Gu- Farah in Doha. students. They are also scheduled to in 2013, and followed that dou- naratne 1-0-10-0 (w2) Farah became the fi rst athlete to attend public events where fans will ble-hundred with his highest win three long-distance doubles at have a unique chance to meet their score of 264 against Sri Lanka a Sri Lanka (target 393) successive World Championships heroes. year later in Kolkata. D. Gunathilaka c Dhoni and Olympic Games – securing his Hassan al-Ibrahim, Acting Chair- Martin Guptill (New Zealand), b Bumrah ...... 16 place in the history books when man at QTA said, “We are delighted Virender Sehwag (India), Chris U. Tharanga c Karthik he won double gold in 5,000m and that Sir Mo Farah has chosen Doha Gayle (West Indies) and Sachin b Pandya ...... 7 10,000m at the Rio Olympics in as the launch pad for this exciting Tendulkar (India) have recorded L. Thirimanne b Sundar ...... 21 2016. new chapter of his athletic career.” a double century each in ODI A. Mathews not out ...... 111 His participation in the half mar- He added, “Qatar has played host cricket. N. Dickwella c Sundar athon event in Doha, will be his fi rst to numerous global sporting events, Sharma made a bright start b Chahal ...... 22 event of 2018. It will also be his fi rst and with its pleasant winter weath- with his opening partner A. Gunaratne st Dhoni under his new coach, Gary Lough, er, world-class sporting facilities, Shikhar Dhawan (68) after b Chahal ...... 34 who coached women’s marathon and award-wining hospitality op- the Indian batsmen’s horror T. Perera c Dhoni b Chahal ...... 5 world record holder Paula Radcliff e. tions, provides the ideal destina- showing in the opening ODI, S. Pathirana c Dhawan The half marathon in Doha will be tion for athletes and sport tourists when they were skittled out for b Kumar ...... 2 an important step towards the Lon- to come together and celebrate their just 112. A. Dananjaya c Sharma don Marathon in April 2018 where passion for sport. We look forward Sharma’s 213-run stand for the b Bumrah ...... 11 Farah will do battle with the Olym- to welcoming Sir Mo and all inter- second wicket with Shreyas S. Lakmal not out ...... 11 pic champion Eliud Kipchoge. national participants in Qatar for Iyer, who scored 88, also stood Extras (lb2, w9) ...... 11 On coming to Doha, Farah com- the Ooredoo Doha Marathon.” out on a hazy day in Mohali. Total (8 wickets, 50 overs) 251 mented, “I am really looking for- Waleed al-Sayed, Ooredoo’s Dhawan, who hit nine bounda- Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Tha- ward to opening my 2018 season in Chief Executive Offi cer, said: “Hav- ries during his 67-ball knock, ranga), 2-30 (Gunathilaka), 3-62 Doha. I am looking forward to the ing such a world-class and well- was caught at mid-wicket off (Thirimanne), 4-115 (Dickwella), event, as a chance to test myself on respected athlete like Sir Mo Farah Sachith Pathirana. 5-159 (Gunaratne), 6-166 (Perera), the fast and fl at run along Doha, and enter the Ooredoo Marathon will The wicket though proved to be 7-180 (Pathirana), 8-207 (Danan- also to hopefully check out the city.” hopefully encourage more people a minor blemish on India’s in- jaya) The invitational elite half mara- than ever from across Qatar’s com- nings as Sharma dominated the Did not bat: N. Pradeep thon that Sir Mo is taking part in, munities to take part. This year we bowlers with the attack-minded Bowling: Kumar 9-0-40-1 (w2), will be part of the Ooredoo Doha are asking everyone to be ‘united’ as Iyer for company. Pandya 10-0-39-1, Bumrah 10-0- Marathon which includes a full mar- we run, whether you’re running for Sri Lanka were never in the 43-2 (w2), Sundar 10-0-65-1, Cha- athon, half marathon, 10K and 5K health, for fun, or for a great cause, chase after losing their open- hal 10-0-60-3 (w5), Iyer 1-0-2-0 events for adults and youth as well we hope that together we can make ers for just 30 runs as Angelo Toss: Sri Lanka as 3K and 1K events for children. the Marathon a shining example of Mathews top-scored with an Result: India won by 141 runs Over the past fi ve years, the Oore- Qatar’s ability to host international doo Doha Marathon has steadily sporting events, and inspire every- grown to become the largest mass one to get active.”

FOOTBALL/ CLUB WORLD CUP Mo Farah of Britain. Returning Bale rescues Real

AFP credible stop to turn a defl ected Ron- sure to cut inside and curl his shot in- Abu Dhabi aldo header onto the bar then got down side Keylor Navas’ far post. well to parry eff orts from Luka Modric A monumental upset looked on and Karim Benzema. when Al Jazira had the ball in the net areth Bale came off the Real Madrid’s Benzema also had a goal ruled out for for a second time two minutes into bench to book Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale a push by Ronaldo in the build-up, but the second half. However, this time place in the Club World Cup celebrates Madrid thought they had fi nally gone VAR came to Madrid’s rescue as Mbark Gfi nal as the European cham- in Abu Dhabi ahead when Casemiro’s header de- Boussoufa was off side by the fi nest of pions recovered from the shock of go- yesterday. fl ected off an Al Jazira head and looped margins before slotting home. ing behind to beat Emirati champions over Khaseif. Zinedine Zidane’s men grabbed Al Jazira 2-1 yesterday. However, after a four-minute delay that let-off gratefully and were level Despite dominating throughout, for the VAR referral, Brazilian referee eight minutes later when Ronaldo was Madrid trailed at half-time to Romar- Gremio on Saturday. Sandro Ricci disallowed the goal due played in by Modric and smashed a inho’s opener in a match also marred Al Jazira, only invited to the compe- to Benzema being in an off side position shot past Khaled al-Senaani, who had by use of the video assistant referee tition as champions of the host coun- despite the fact the Frenchman was ar- replaced the injured Khaseif moments (VAR) that ruled out a goal for both try, enjoyed their 15 minutes of fame guably not interfering with play. earlier. Madrid continued to lay seige sides. at the break after a remarkable fi rst 45 In total Madrid had 18 shots on goal to the Al Jazira goal, but the misfi ring Madrid’s pressure fi nally paid off minutes. in the fi rst half, but were shocked four Benzema shot straight at al-Senaani 10 minutes into the second half when Madrid scored fi ve in the fi rst half minutes before the break when the then hit the post with two other glori- Cristiano Ronaldo levelled before Bale against Sevilla on Saturday and could hosts caught the Real defence cold on ous chances. broke Al Jazira’s resistence with his easily have had another handful but for the counter-attack. Benzema was eventually replaced by fi rst touch eight minutes from time. some exceptional goalkeeping from Ali A poor clearance from Nacho gifted Bale, who had only played 28 minutes Real will go for their fi fth trophy of Khaseif. away possession inside the Madrid half since September due to a series of in- the year when they face Brazilian side The Al Jazira captain made an in- and Romarinho showed great compo- juries. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, December 14, 2017 CRICKET

PREVIEW SPOTLIGHT All-rounder Marsh in line for Test recall ‘Fed up’ Root his ability to provide a fi fth bowling op- AFP Perth tion to support Australia’s pace attack on what is expected to be a fl at WACA wicket. kipper Steve Smith says he is “If we do go down that route it’s leaning towards playing all- purely for the reasons we think we need rounder Mitchell Marsh as an extra bowler on this wicket — noth- SAustralia’s fi fth bowler in to- ing to do with anyone’s batting,” Smith urges England day’s potentially Ashes-deciding third said. Test against England in Perth. “The stats suggest over the past Smith declined to fi nalise an Aus- couple of years that bowlers have had tralian XI at his Test-eve media confer- a pretty heavy workload out on this ence yesterday as selectors mull over wicket. We’re probably leaning down the merits of struggling batsman Peter that way at the moment. Handscomb and local star Marsh. “It will depend on what we think the Handscomb’s place is under threat wicket’s like tomorrow and if it is go- to stand up after a total of 62 runs in three innings ing to be hard and fast and bouncy, that in the series after a diffi cult Adelaide might change our thinking.” second Test in which his batting tech- England, rattled by off -fi eld booze- The tourists are on the precipice, trailing Australia 2-0 in the five-Test series nique came under the microscope. related incidents, face the prospect of If recalled, it would be the fi rst ap- losing the series in Perth where they AFP pearance for Marsh since a shoulder in- have not beaten Australia since 1978. Perth jury mid-way through Australia’s Test They were heavily defeated in the series in India earlier this year. opening two Tests in Brisbane and Ad- His chances have improved through elaide. aptain Joe Root has chal- lenged his England team to stand up and keep the Ashes PRAISE series alive in Thursday’s crucialC third Test against Australia in Perth. Root, who admits he is “fed up” ‘Unique’ Wagner an talking about off -fi eld issues, said it was time for his teammates to prove why they have been chosen to play. artist at work, says The tourists are on the precipice, trailing Australia 2-0 in the fi ve-Test series, battling to avoid another heavy New Zealand coach defeat that would hand back the Ashes urn to Steve Smith’s team. To keep the series alive Root’s men AFP must not lose at the WACA Ground Hamilton where England last won in 1978. “It’s time to stand up,” Root said yesterday. “These are the games that ew Zealand coach Mike Hes- when you get them right, they really son heaped special praise hit home with people. yesterday on Neil Wagner, “And that’s what people want to see whose bouncing barrage — in the face of adversity, people stand Nwreaked havoc in the West Indies ranks up and really put in those big perform- to set up a Test series sweep. ances and prove why they have been Wagner took 14 wickets at 18.28 in selected to play for England. the two Tests as he tormented the West “That’s the opportunity that’s in England captain Joe Root laughs as he walks Indies with his short deliveries angling front of this group, to go and win here past the pitch before a team training session in into the body. at the WACA for the fi rst time in a long Perth yesterday. “No matter where in the world he time, by playing well for longer. If we bowls he can create some indecision. get that right, there is no reason we It’s quite a unique skill. It’s very hard to can’t be sat here at 2-1 next week.” prepare for,” Hesson said. When Roston Chase tried to rebuild England are facing the spectre of Wagner took nine wickets in New the innings and reached 64, Wag- repeating the 5-0 series humiliation Zealand’s innings win in the fi rst Test ner came back to remove the stubborn on their last tour to Australia where the touring team’s reputation. know, but a lot of people back home he said. at Wellington, including a career best batsman. Jonathan Trott returned home after “I’m fed up talking about stuff that’s probably don’t, the stories are not a “I want to be concentrating on seven for 39 in the West Indies fi rst “He bowls a lot of balls between the the fi rst Test, Graeme Swann retired not cricket,” Root told travelling Eng- fair refl ection of this team. But a lot of making sure we get things right on knock. chest and throat,” Hesson said. and following the tour coach Andy lish media earlier in the day. the stuff that’s being spouted is giving the fi eld. That’s my job as captain. I’m He bagged another fi ve in the second “A lot of guys can stand up and play Flower resigned. “We have to make sure we perform ammunition.” trying to develop a team that over a Test at Hamilton, which wound up on it but if you stand up and play it and it Root admitted he was sick and tired well this week and win. Get people He said it was frustrating and the long period can achieve success and day four on Tuesday with New Zealand bounces a little bit more you get drawn with the team’s off -fi eld alcohol-re- talking about the cricket. team had to be “smarter”. do special things. winning by 240 runs. into playing a ball that perhaps you lated incidents, which began before “This is a very professional group of Root, who has only been captain “One of this group’s big strengths Once new-ball pair Trent Boult and shouldn’t. the tour when Ben Stokes was banned players that goes about things in the for nine Tests, added that he knew it is we do look after each other. The Tim Southee accounted for the top or- “That’s a skill that not many people from international cricket while au- right way. But we’ve had two incidents would be a challenging role and there lads have done some stupid stuff but der on the fi nal day of the second Test, around the world have. Some guys can thorities probe his alleged involve- that have been blown up and made would be issues outside cricket, “but we care about each other. We’re in it Wagner worked over the middle. do it for maybe a couple of overs... For ment in a fi ght outside a nightclub. a big deal of. They could have been not to this extent”. together and we are only going to get In a 10-ball burst he took out Shai Neil, it’s probably a more natural length Scandals involving Jonny Bairstow avoided. “You have to take it in your stride back into this series if we stick to- Hope and Shane Dowrich and ended than others and he can sustain it for and Ben Duckett have further harmed “That’s the annoying thing, as you and learn from it — I’ve learned a lot,” gether.” Sunil Ambris’ tour with a broken arm. 7-8-9-10 over spells.”

BOTTOMLINE FOCUS World changed for Ashes to Ashes, England face English cricket aft er similar WACA ordeal Stokes incident: Cook AFP Perth Reuters Much of England’s shell-shock was Perth delivered by Australia’s man-of-the- series Mitchell Johnson, who grabbed enior batsman Alastair Cook six of his 37 wickets at the WACA says the world has changed for wo-nil down and with a har- with his intimidating left-arm pace. English cricket in the wake of ried captain insisting his None of Australia’s current pace the damaging Ben Stokes aff air, team was neither dead nor trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazle- Sand warned the team cannot aff ord any Tburied, there was an unnerv- wood and Pat Cummins have enjoyed more “mistakes”. ing sense of deja vu at the WACA as Johnson-style dominance yet, but The star all-rounder is currently England made their fi nal preparations each have made vital contributions banned from the international game on the eve of the third Ashes Test yes- and denied England’s batsmen a mo- while authorities probe his alleged in- terday. rale-boosting century. volvement in a late-night fi ght outside Four years on from the last doomed Root said it was up to senior players a nightclub. Cook, a former captain who trip to Western Australia, Joe Root like he and Cook to lead the way with will become the fi rst Englishman to led a mostly diff erent set of players big scores at the WACA but in truth, play 150 Tests when he appears against through their drills under a big Perth the pitch might ultimately prove to be Australia in today's crucial third Ashes sky while facing the same unenvi- the most decisive actor. clash in Perth, admits his side has been England’s Alastair Cook (L) waits to bat able predicament as his predecessor A worker installs a The WACA’s traditional bounce and slow to learn from the fall-out. Dubbed during training in Perth yesterday. Alastair Cook. set of stumps into the pace once played into the hands of a “behavioural cleanskin”, Cook senses The glorious weather did little pitch at the WACA Australia’s fast men for decades but England should have learnt their lesson “it’s now down to us to adjust to it to ease a feeling of foreboding sur- in Perth yesterday. recent years have seen it lose potency. months ago that standards would be quickly and we can’t aff ord any more rounding Root’s team, one that also Australia and New Zealand’s bats- intensely scrutinised in the wake of the mistakes”. weighed on Cook’s England before men dominated a bore-draw two years Stokes scandal. Experienced fast bowler James An- their meek surrender in 2013-14. ago, and the home side were beaten by “It has been a very strange thing,” he derson said while the Duckett incident The tourists need a draw to keep South Africa last year after the Proteas told reporters in Perth late Tuesday. was not malicious and a “bit of a non the fi ve-match series alive before set a mammoth 539-run victory tar- “The world has obviously changed event”, the tourists had to understand they head to Melbourne, but hold- get. for the English cricket team from Sep- the current situation and act smarter. ers England have not managed one The home side’s quicks have had tember. We have taken a couple of Duckett was fi ned and will play no in over 30 years at the WACA, where fi ngers crossed this week for a reprise months to really realise that. further part in the remaining matches they have lost their past seven tests in of the WACA wickets of old and while “These last two incidents have for the England Lions in Australia af- succession. curator Matt Page left grass on the proved that. I’ve seen words written ter he poured a beer over Anderson in a Like his former captain Cook, still pitch to give them some hope, cap- down, ‘trivial misdemeanour at best’, Perth bar. “The frustrating thing is that present as an out-of-form opening tain Steve Smith seemed disappointed but since the Stokes incident times what was a pretty silly incident would batsman, Root has endured a tour with the surface yesterday. have changed for the English cricket have gone unnoticed before but now Down Under littered with distrac- “Probably not as hard as I would team.” Cook was referring to further puts an unfair question mark over our tions and tawdry off -fi eld problems. have liked it to be a day out but 24 off -fi eld alcohol-related scandals in- (team’s) culture,” Anderson wrote in a He has also echoed Cook’s words hours can change a wicket and we’ll volving Jonny Bairstow and Ben Duck- column for Britain’s Telegraph news- from the last tour, insisting his side two tests to spare. a 22-year-old middle order rookie have another look in the morning,” he ett on the tour of Australia. paper. can defy 80 years of history and join Root’s rallying cry might prove just during the 5-0 whitewash of 2013-14. told reporters after a test-eve inspec- “It’s sad in some ways because we “We are all aware that from now on Don Bradman’s Australia as the only as futile but yesterday, at least, the “The guys have got a really clear tion. have always been a bit diff erent to foot- even a minor incident will be seized team to come back from 2-0 down to young captain was adamant his team idea of where they want to go and how It delayed Smith from naming his ball and been able to go under the radar upon. I know Australia will use the win an Ashes series. was better equipped than Cook’s to they’re going to look to play. side, though he suggested Western a bit and enjoy playing cricket for Eng- Duckett incident as a way of goad- A 150-run thrashing followed days pull off something “special”. “I’m not sure that was quite the Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh land and enjoy seeing the country out- ing us, or taking the mickey. Fine. The after Cook’s backs-to-the-wall bra- “I think we’re in a much better same the last time round. I think we might be in line for a recall, most likely side that,” Cook said. players have moved on already. Our vado, along with the ignominy of place this time round if I’m being were a bit more shell-shocked about at the expense of number fi ve batsman But the spotlight was now fi rmly on main focus is getting back in the series. handing back the coveted urn with brutally honest,” said Root, who was how things had turned out.” Peter Handscomb. England and its off -fi eld antics and That is all everyone is talking about.” Gulf Times Thursday, December 14, 2017 3 FOOTBALL

EPL COMMENT ‘Honest’ Conte says title still a pipe dream Chelsea give Conte has struggled for form since AFP Huddersfield, United Kingdom his £40 million ($53.3 million, 45.4 million euros) move from Monaco in July, but Conte said helsea head coach this was his best performance Antonio Conte says in a Chelsea shirt. “Bakayoko he would rather be played a really good game to- honest than pretend night and I’m really happy for cheer, Burnley go 4th heC believes his team are realis- him,” Conte said. tic contenders for the Premier “He’s 22 years old and I ‘It’s not the first time to play with these type of players - Hazard, Willian, Pedro. I think League title. think he’s adapting to English Conte claimed after Satur- football. Tonight, I saw the they are very good technically. They are very fast. They played very well’ day’s 1-0 defeat at West Ham best performance from Baka United that his side’s defence and I started to see what I of their title was eff ectively want. To fi nd the right pass, to over. change side, to be solid, to be He was happy with the focused for the whole game. way his players responded in “I’m very pleased for him. Tuesday’s 3-1 win at Hud- This performance improved dersfi eld Town, but cautioned his confi dence. I’m not wor- they are still 11 points behind ried about Baka. He’s starting leaders Manchester City, who to realise he is in a big club. He play their game in hand at showed me he has the right Swansea City yesterday. desire to improve himself and “I think that when you tell try to be better.” the truth, it’s the truth,” Con- Huddersfi eld head coach te told reporters at the John David Wagner blamed sloppy Smith’s Stadium. defending for the fi rst two “We have 11 points less than goals that his team conceded. Manchester City. Man City However, he was pleased won 15 and drew one. In 17 that his players continued to games, we lost four. compete after going 3-0 down “When you have a compet- early in the second half, earn- itor like Manchester City who ing reward through Laurent are winning every game, it’s Depoitre’s headed consola- very diffi cult to think you can tion goal in stoppage time. fi ght for the title.” “Chelsea were good, there’s Conte rubbished sugges- no doubt about that,” Wagner tions his stance was unduly said. “The bigger problem is that negative after a win secured we haven’t over-performed. We by goals from Tiemoue Bakay- didn’t underperform. We were oko, Willian and Pedro. at an average level. “People say talk negative “In the fi rst half, our de- or positive. It’s bullshit. It’s fence shape was good, we about being realistic,” said the wanted to frustrate them. Italian. I want to always tell Unfortunately we conced- the truth. I would rather tell ed a sloppy goal where our the truth than a good lie. concentration wasn’t good “I can be too honest, but enough. Our concentration I like to speak very honestly wasn’t good enough for the with my players and fans. It second goal too. doesn’t mean we don’t want “We had to be at our best to try to catch them. for every single second and “We have a big leap to make in these two instances this and we need to win every wasn’t the case. But the play- game in this league. This ers showed good character. Chelsea’s Spanish midfielder Pedro (right) celebrates with teammates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League match against Huddersfield Town in Hud- league is very diffi cult. You They deserved the goal they dersfield, northern England. (AFP) have to give 120 per cent of scored at the end.” yourself in every game or risk AFP matic 2-1 defeat of Watford. touched on stylishly by Hazard home in the 89th minute to While the prospect of end- dropping points. Huddersfield, United Kingdom Conte, who has cut an increas- to Willian. snatch a gritty win over Stoke at ing the season in a Champions “There are six teams to fi ght ingly grumpy fi gure this season, The Brazilian fed a pass left Turf Moor. League spot might be pushing for the title and the Champi- said after Chelsea’s surprise 1-0 for Bakayoko to chip over the ad- The modest Lancashire club the boundaries of credibility, ons League. We have to look helsea responded per- defeat at West Ham United that vancing goalkeeper and into the climb above Liverpool, Arsenal Dyche was quick to point out at ourselves to try to improve. fectly to head coach his side had no chance of catch- net despite Chris Lowe’s attempt and Tottenham Hotspur. that Burnley would not be the Tonight, I enjoyed my players’ Antonio Conte’s claim ing leaders Manchester City in to clear off the line. “Football is about realities, fi rst unfancied club to ruffl e the performance.” their Premier League the title race. but also about dreams,” Burnley feathers of the big boys. titleC hopes are over with a con- For Chelsea’s fourth game manager Sean Dyche told BBC “Football is about realities but Bakayoko’s best yet Dyche dreams vincing 3-1 win at Huddersfi eld of nine in a packed December, The champions got their sec- Radio 5 Live. also about dreams. It’s a tough Bakayoko atoned for a poor Town on Tuesday. Conte was without his 10-goal ond goal two minutes before “We’re having a real go at what task for us winning games at this performance at West Ham by Tiemoue Bakayoko opened top scorer Alvaro Morata because half-time. Stand-in captain Ce- we can achieve this season.” level but Leicester blew the roof scoring the opening goal with the scoring midway through the of a bad back, but Eden Hazard sar Azpilicueta’s long diagonal There was an extraordinary off dreams in football - there’s a dinked fi nish before Willian fi rst half with a deft clipped fi n- shone as a false nine and was ably pass from inside his own half fi nale at Selhurst Park, where no bold statement from me on added a second with a header ish, off ering an answer to sup- supported by Willian and Pedro. found Marcos Alonso in space on Palace scored twice in the dying that,” Dyche said of the surprise and Pedro blasted in a third. porters who have criticised him “I have decided for this solu- the left and he had time to cross stages to beat Watford and leap 2016 champions. France midfi elder Bakayoko Chelsea’s coach Antonio Conte for a series of poor performances tion,” said the Chelsea manager. for Willian to bounce in a header out of the relegation zone from “We’ve got an aligned think- following his July move from “It’s not the fi rst time to play at the far post. the foot of the standings. ing here, there’s no superstars, Monaco. with these type of players - Haz- A third Chelsea goal took less Daryl Janmaat put Watford no favourites from me. I believe PSG swoop for Fluminense starlet Wendel Willian headed in a second ard, Willian, Pedro. I think they than fi ve minutes of the second in front in the third minute, but in all of them. We’ve got a group Paris Saint-Germain will reinforce their midfield with the latest goal shortly before half-time are very good technically. They half to arrive and again it came after Tom Cleverley was sent off , of people - there’s a belief in Brazilian wonderkid Wendel in the January transfer window, the and Pedro made it three to leave are very fast. They played very from an Alonso cross. Bakary Sako bundled in an 89th- everything we do here.” player’s agent told French daily L’Equipe yesterday. Chelsea level on points with well.” Willian held off Mathias Jor- minute equaliser and Wilfried Asked if Burnley could be The 20-year-old is under contract with Rio outfit Fluminense where second-place Manchester Unit- The visitors thought they had gensen and teed up Pedro to Zaha teed up James McArthur playing in Europe next season, he is enjoying a remarkable breakout season, but has now agreed ed, who host Bournemouth on made the breakthrough in the hammer into the top-right cor- for a stoppage-time winner. Dyche said his side must keep to “a dream move to Paris”, the agent Carlos Henrique Brasil told Wednesday. sixth minute, but Pedro was just ner from 18 yards. “I’m very proud, I’m super their feet on the ground. L’Equipe. “A good win,” Conte told BT off side as he ran clear to slot in Huddersfi eld, who stay 12th, proud, I’m the proudest man in “I think there’s enough people The player would be seen as a long-term replacement for midfield Sport. “From the start we played Willian’s pass. claimed a stoppage-time con- Proudsville,” Dyche, who took saying good things. I keep reality general Thiago Motta, now 35, but may first be loaned out to Porto good football.” But Chelsea made their su- solation when Laurent Depoitre over in 2012, told reporters. because this division will eat you until next July. Upwardly mobile Burnley periority count as they took the glanced a header into the net Burnley have conceded just 12 alive,” he said. “Whatever PSG decide Wendel is ready, he’s got lots of personality are one place below Chelsea in lead midway through the fi rst from fellow substitute Florent league goals this season, behind “I’m not being negative. I’m a and lots of heart,” the agent said. fourth after edging Stoke City half. Hadergjonaj’s left-wing cross. only the top two, Manchester realist, there’s a lot of challenges The ambitious French club signed two Brazilians in the striker 1-0, while Crystal Palace hauled Goalkeeper Jonas Lossl Burnley provisionally climbed City and Manchester United, coming our way. The fans and Neymar and defender Dani Alves this summer and also have themselves off the foot of the ta- slipped as he cleared the ball to the dizzy heights of fourth and Dyche’s side have won four the town have got to enjoy these defenders Thiago Silva and Marquinos on their books. ble with two late goals in a dra- and Victor Moses’s header was place after Ashley Barnes drilled of their last six games. times, why wouldn’t you?”

INTERVIEW Speroni all smiles aft er win in 400th Palace game Reuters sults under manager Marco Silva have Tom Cleverley’s sending off in the 87th London dipped recently, though they remain in minute after a second booking certainly the top half of the table and captain Troy helped Palace, with substitute Bakary Deeney missed what looked like a sitter Sako bundling in the equaliser two min- rystal Palace goalkeeper Julian on the half hour. utes later and Scotland’s James McArthur Speroni’s 400th appearance for Luck has often deserted Palace in a striking the winner from Wilfried Zaha’s the south London club started season that began awfully with zero cross. with him picking the ball out of points in their opening seven matches. theC net in the third minute of their Pre- However, their form has picked up since MILESTONE mier league match against Watford at Roy Hodgson took over from Frank de “I’m really happy, playing 400 match- Selhurst Park on Tuesday. Boer in September and fortune smiled on es is not an everyday thing, it’s been The Argentine veteran looked set for them on a cold, wet Tuesday evening. many years of hard work to keep in shape a forgettable milestone, only for Palace “We found those two goals that in the and keep playing at the best level,” Sper- to end the night equalising in the 89th end gave us this precious victory,” said oni said. minute and scoring a stoppage-time Speroni, whose team are on a run of six He said he believed his career total winner in a dramatic late turnaround that matches unbeaten in the league. was more than 500 in all competitions lifted them out of the relegation zone. “That’s the character of this squad with two for Platense in his native Bue- “We suff ered a lot after the goal to keep on plugging away even when nos Aires, before a move when he was 22 they scored so early in the match,” the things don’t work out. You could say we to Dundee in Scotland where he played 38-year-old told Reuters. “In the fi rst had quite a bit of bad luck in our recent close to a hundred. He joined Palace in half I think they were quite a bit better matches that we deserved to win and 2004. than us. ended up drawing,” he said thinking back “I feel good and I want to play all the “But then in the second we controlled to Saturday’s 2-2 stalemate with Bourne- matches if possible,” said Speroni, who the match and that shows you that you mouth, after striker Christian Benteke has become a Palace fans’ favourite, voted have to keep pushing to the end because had a late penalty saved. the club’s player of the season four times. you never know what’s going to happen.” “Today, thank God we got the result we Having been understudy to Wales It could have been so diff erent if Sper- so wanted, to add (points) in threes is so goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey last season oni had not saved at point-blank range important,” Speroni added, with Palace and in the early part of this, the Argen- before halftime from Brazilian Richarli- now in 17th place on 14 points from 17 tine has featured in some of their best re- son, who had crossed for Daryl Janmaat’s matches before the three teams now in sults including the surprise 2-1 home win early, headed goal. the relegation zone play yesterday. over champions Chelsea in October that Watford’s impressive early season re- Watford’s former England midfi elder earned them their fi rst points. Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni during the EPL game against Watford at Selhurst Park on Tuesday. (Reuters) Gulf Times 4 Thursday, December 14, 2017 FOOTBALL

BUNDESLIGA SPOTLIGHT FA gives United, City more time to Coach Stoeger off explain bust-up

AFP ing up to 20 players and staff in London a crowded corridor. City coach Mikel Arteta was reportedly left with a cut be- he Football Associa- low his eye after being hit by a to winning start tion yesterday gave plastic bottle. Manchester United The FA had asked for a re- and Manchester City sponse from the clubs by extraT time to explain the ugly Wednesday but they have been post-match scenes at Old given until two extra days to Traff ord following victory for provide observations on the Pep Guardiola’s team. alleged fracas. Runaway Premier League “Manchester United and with Dortmund leaders City opened an Manchester City have both been 11-point gap over second- given extra time to provide their ‘We are very happy, and also relieved. It was obviously diff icult, because we didn’t placed United with their 2-1 observations following reports win on Sunday. of an incident after Sunday’s have much time to discuss everything ahead of the game. In the second-half, we Victory sparked mass cel- game. They now have until ebrations from City. United 6:00pm on Friday 15 Decem- restored a bit of order, and we could have wrapped it up earlier than we did’ are understood to have taken ber,” the FA said in a statement. exception to how their visitors Mourinho has dismissed AFP conducted themselves in and claims his players were in Berlin around the dressing room area. the wrong during the chaotic Milk and water were report- post-match confrontation edly thrown at United boss that overshadowed the derby. ew coach Peter Stoeger Jose Mourinho after a confron- City manager Guardiola has led Borussia Dortmund tation with City goalkeeper also defended his players, al- to their fi rst victory in Ederson and this allegedly es- though he has off ered an apol- 10 games on Tuesday, calated into altercation involv- ogy to United. Nas his side picked up a hard- fought 2-0 win away to Mainz. It was victory at the fi rst at- tempt for Stoeger, who replaced Germany sets World Cup victory Peter Bosz as head coach of the bonus at 350,000 euros per player struggling side on Sunday. A disciplined defensive per- The German Football Association (DFB) announced yesterday formance saw Dortmund battle that each member of their squad will receive a 350,000 euros to victory and pick up their fi rst ($411,267) bonus should Germany defend their World Cup title clean sheet in the Bundesliga next year in Russia. since September, with Sokra- If the Germans win a fifth world title, Joachim Loew and his squad tis Papastathopoulos and Shinji stand to get an increase in prize money from the 300,000 euros Kagawa scoring their goals. they each got for winning the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil. “We are very happy, and Germany kick off their 2018 defence against Mexico on June 17 in also relieved,” Stoeger told Sky Moscow having also drawn Sweden and South Korea in Group F. Sports. “It was obviously dif- “For our players, it is a great motivation to become world cham- fi cult, because we didn’t have pions back-to-back for the first time in the history of German much time to discuss everything football,” said DFB president Reinhard Grindel. ahead of the game. In the second “That would be a title for the eternity and certainly worth a special half, we restored a bit of order, bonus. and we could have wrapped it up “But you can feel in this team, that the sporting challenge is the earlier than we did.” main focus and not the economic aspect.” Having struggled in the fi rst Germany have a reputation for being a tournament team and half, Dortmund took the lead on there will be no prize money from their FA until they reach at least 55 minutes as Kagawa’s free-kick the quarter-finals, where each player would get 75,000 euros. was knocked onto the post and The cash rises to 125,000 euros for the semi-finals, 150,000 for Sokratis lashed the ball in on the third place and 200,000 if they lose the final on July 15 at Mos- rebound. cow’s Luzhniki Stadium. Kagawa doubled the lead two minutes from time, Pierre-Em- Borussia Dortmund coach Peter Stoeger during his team’s Bundesliga match against Mainz. (Reuters) erick Aubameyang holding the ball up on the counter-attack scores before Mijat Gacinovic FOCUS before setting up the Japanese put Frankfurt ahead midway Bayern maintain iron-grip as Leipzig falter international. through the fi rst half. The home “I think it would be too easy to side found the net in the second RB Leipzig risk falling off the our younger players. In this Eintracht Frankfurt and Borus- put everything down to the new half, but the off side fl ag denied pace in the pack chasing three-day rhythm, which goes sia Moenchengladbach are all Neymar returns to coach,” said Dortmund’s Marcel Hamburg the equaliser and Den- run-away Bundesliga leaders on and on, you lose your power within three points behind. Schmelzer after the game. nis Diekmeier a fi rst goal in 197 Bayern Munich with their coach at some point,” admitted mid- In Wolfsburg on Tuesday, Leip- “Every player fought today, Bundesliga appearances. Ralph Hasenhuettl admitting fielder Kevin Kampl. zig struggled to get back on Paris aft er Brazil trip and that was important. That, Earlier, second-place RB his side is flagging. Leipzig are at risk of being level terms after Paul Verhaegh and our quality, was what got us Leipzig also dropped points, as “We’re running close to empty caught by their league chasing slotted an early penalty for the AFP former Barcelona star would the win.” they were held to a 1-1 draw away and you can see the team is rivals. hosts. Paris be back in “three or four days”. The three points saw Dort- to Wolfsburg. torturing itself,” said Hasen- Hasenhuettl’s side finally got Amid speculation over the mund jump back into the top Marcel Halstenberg’s second- huettl after his team scraped a Leipzig struggled to get the break when Marcel Halsten- reasons behind Neymar’s trip, four after Borussia Moencheng- half equaliser saved a point for 1-1 draw on Tuesday to just back on level terms aft er burg equalised on 52 minutes. aris Saint-Germain Brazilian website Globoe- ladbach went down 1-0 away at Leipzig after Paul Verhaegh had hold onto second place in the Paul Verhaegh slotted an However in the closing stages, forward Neymar has sporte published social me- Freiburg. put Wolfsburg ahead from the table. early penalty for the hosts goalkeeper Peter Gulasci pulled returned to the French dia messages accompanied by Nils Petersen scored the win- penalty spot early on. The Austrian’s youthful squad of a string of saves as Divock capital and will train photographs which suggest ner for Freiburg from 12 yards in Leipzig also ended the game todayP after being allowed to the player could have been have struggled to meet the They have taken only five Origi, on loan from Liverpool, the 20th minute after the video with 10 men as Dayot Upame- demands of having to play points in as many games while nearly restored Wolfsburg’s visit his native Brazil on fam- at the birthday party of his assistant referee intervened to cano was shown a second yellow virtually every three days in Bayern have tightened their lead. ily matters, the Ligue 1 leaders friend’s father and had also give the home side a penalty. card at the death for a foul on recent weeks, but now have iron-grip on first place by win- Leipzig then had defender said yesterday. visited a dental clinic. Gladbach’s defeat allowed Victor Osimhen. just one game left before the ning seven of their last eight Dayot Upamecano sent off in The world’s most expen- On Monday, Neymar pub- Eintracht Frankfurt to leapfrog Second-place Leipzig trail Bundesliga breaks for winter. Bundesliga games. injury time for a second yellow sive player will miss Wednes- lished a photo of himself on over them into fi fth place as they leaders Bayern Munich by seven Last week’s 2-1 home defeat Jupp Heynckes’ Bavarians card and the French teenager is day’s French League Cup tie at Twitter with the message: came from behind to win 2-1 points and have won just one of against Besiktas meant they could open a ten-point gap if suspended for Sunday’s visit of Strasbourg, after also sitting “Focus, strength and faith away to Hamburg. their last fi ve league matches. bowed out of the Champions they beat bottom side Cologne Hertha Berlin in Leipzig’s final out last weekend’s 3-1 win for the celebration of another Kyriakos Papadopou- Bayern entertain bottom club League in the group stages and and third-placed Schalke fail to Bundesliga game of 2017. over Lille through suspension. day!!” los headed in an early opener Cologne, who are still to win will face Napoli in the last 32 of beat Augsburg on Wednesday. “Against, Hertha, we want to PSG coach Unai Emery said PSG, who are bidding for a for Hamburg, but Frankfurt a game in the Bundesliga this the Europa League in February. Leipzig are currently on 28 show some of our old strength on Monday that Neymar had fi fth successive League Cup quickly rallied. A ferocious shot season, on Wednesday as third- “It is especially diff icult for points, but Schalke, Dortmund, again,” said Kampl. gone home because of a family title, lost 2-1 to Strasbourg in from Marius Wolf levelled the placed Schalke host Augsburg. problem and that he hoped the the league 11 days ago.

EPL Palace still have a mountain to climb: Hodgson Reuters well and had disappointment on Saturday, London so we’ve gone through the full range of emo- tions,” the 70-year-old said. “We’ve done well in the late stages of rystal Palace escaped the Premier games, so I’ve got to commend the players’ League relegation zone for the fi rst attitude and determination to keep going even time this season with a last-gasp 2-1 when things don’t look like they’re going our home win over Watford on Tuesday way. butC still have a mountain to climb to avoid rel- “It is a huge three points. But the moment egation, according to manager Roy Hodgson. we think our problems are over is the moment Trailing to Daryl Janmaat’s third-minute our problems will begin. goal Palace looked set for a damaging defeat “We have a mountain to climb and it’s won- that would have left them bottom, but Bakary derful to win but we’re still very close to the Sako scored a fortunate equaliser after 89 bottom of the table because we haven’t quite minutes before Wilfried Zaha set up James made up from getting zero points from the McArthur for a stoppage-time winner. fi rst seven games,” he added. The victory, Palace’s third of the season All three of Palace’s wins this season have after they lost their opening seven games come since Hodgson replaced the sacked without scoring, moved them up to 17th place Frank de Boer and they have now gone six with 14 points, one more than West Bromwich matches unbeaten, albeit drawing four of Albion and West Ham United, and two above them. basement side Swansea City. Late goals have become something of a That trio all have tough games on Wednes- theme, one coming in the 97th minute against day so there is every chance Palace will stay West Ham United in a 2-2 home draw. out of the bottom three. But Hodgson said he was revelling in his Hodgson, whose side wasted a chance to work with the squad despite the stress that beat Bournemouth on Saturday when Chris- comes with the job. tian Benteke had a stoppage-time penalty “It is stressful but if I didn’t think I was able saved when he was not even supposed to have to take that stress then I wouldn’t have taken taken it, has been around too long to start up the off er to come and work at this club,” he counting his chickens though. said. “The daily work with the players is as “We got a late winner against Stoke as enjoyable as anything I’ve done in my career.” Crystal Palace’s James McArthur (right) celebrates after scoring a goal against Watford in their EPL game. (Reuters) Gulf Times Thursday, December 14, 2017 5 SPORT

NHL Blackhawks defeat Panthers 3-2 in overtime By Chris Hine er several bagels on the score sheet. plays,” Quenneville said. “Let’s get the Chicago Tribune In the fi rst period, the Hawks picked momentum and keep it and add to it.” up where they left off , controlling most The Panthers were all over the Hawks of the action 5-on-5 thanks in part to in the second period and outshot them fter playing a whirlwind fi ve the top line of Toews, Saad and Alex De- 17-4, and to add injury to insult, the games of hockey in seven days, Brincat. The trio created some chances Hawks lost defenseman Jan Rutta to an the NHL schedule makers in the fi rst few shifts of the night, but apparent head injury. handed the Hawks a deserved they would help the Hawks strike fi rst Rutta was on the receiving end of break.A They had the Sabres, Coyotes later in the period. a crushing hit from Panthers winger and Panthers, three teams who will be After a prolonged shift in which the Connor Brickley. Brickley’s shoulder competing in a race to the bottom of the line kept the Panthers pinned in their connected with Rutta’s head and Rutta standings instead of the playoff s. own end, DeBrincat found a streaking slammed into the boards at 6:48. Rutta The Hawks took care of getting two Saad in the slot for a goal 16 minutes, had diffi culty getting up on his power points against the fi rst two teams and 49 seconds into the period. DeBrincat and when he did, he had trouble keep- just needed to close this homestand fi red a perfect pass to Saad from be- ing his balance as the Hawks’ medi- with a win over a team they have already hind the net and Saad didn’t get all of cal training staff arrived to help him. defeated. It wasn’t easy, but the Hawks his one-time attempt but got enough to He went to the locker room for further came from behind to beat the Panthers, get it past Reimer. The second line also evaluation. 3-2, overcoming a one-goal defi cit in had its moments, with Nick Schmaltz The Panthers tied the game not long the third period after losing defenseman looking more aggressive than usual in after a miscue from Rutta’s defensive Jan Rutta to an apparent head injury. seeking scoring opportunities instead partner Gustav Forsling. Alexander Jamie McGinn put the Panthers of trying to pass and create for others. Barkov fl oated the puck over Forsling’s ahead 3 minutes, 53 seconds into the Schmaltz had two scoring chances that head and hit center Nick Bjugstad, who third period when he settled a hot pass just went wide. had gotten behind Forsling, in stride. from Vincent Trocheck with his skates The Hawks also got a productive Bjugstad had an easy breakaway on and beat Corey Crawford top shelf to power play starting at 9:43 despite Crawford and didn’t miss at 11:12. give the Panthers the lead. But Jonathan not scoring a goal. The top power-play Toews would tie it off a feed from Bran- unit of Toews, Kane, Artem Anisimov, RESULTS don Saad at 13:58. Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith kept Carolina ...... 3 Las Vegas ...... 2 (SO) Patrick Kane scored the winner on a possession in the Panthers zone for 1 Chicago ...... 3 Florida ...... 2 (OT) breakaway 2:24 into the 3-on-3 over- minute, 52 seconds of the man advan- Tampa Bay ...... 3 St. Louis ...... 0 time. The Hawks’ 4-1 victory over the tage. Though it didn’t score, the power Minnesota ...... 2 Calgary ...... 1 (SO) Panthers on November 25 was one of play did something coach Joel Quen- Buff alo...... 3 Ottawa ...... 2 the Hawks’ most complete eff orts of the neville was hoping it could do – main- New Jersey ...... 5 Los Angeles...... 1 season. It was also a big game for Toews tain momentum. Philadelphia ...... 4 Toronto ...... 2 and Saad, who each scored to boost “The last few games I think we Washington ...... 5 Colorado ...... 2 Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks readies to shoot against James Reimer of the Florida Panthers at the United Centre their confi dence after stringing togeth- slowed down our team in our power Edmonton ...... 7 Columbus ...... 2 in Chicago, Illinois. (Getty Images/AFP)

NBA NFL Packers QB Rodgers says cleared to Leonard returns but return from injury

The Sports Xchange (Editing by John O’Brien) New York Faulk suspended over harassment allegations he uncertainty about Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk Spurs stumble; James whether Green Bay and two other analysts for the Packers quarterback National Football League’s Aaron Rodgers would television channel have been Tbe ready to return this week suspended over allegations was resolved on Thursday of sexual harassment and as- when Rodgers announced on sault, the network confi rmed Instagram that he was medi- on Tuesday. cally cleared to play football. Former running back Faulk, leads Cavaliers rout That presumably means a star of the St. Louis Rams that Rodgers, sidelined the team which won the 2000 ‘For me to assist my teammates making shots has always been an enjoyment of past two months due to a Super Bowl, was suspended broken right collarbone, will along with former players mine... my teammates were excellent tonight, We’re in a good rhythm right now’ play Sunday in a pivotal game Heath Evans and Ike Taylor. against the Carolina Panthers. All three stand accused of AFP Following a day of consulta- sexually harassing a former Los Angeles tion with a medical team led by wardrobe stylist, Jami Cantor, Pat McKenzie, the team phy- who worked at the network sician, Rodgers posted a mes- from 2006 until she was fi red awhi Leonard made his sage on his Instagram account. in 2016. long-awaited return “It’s been a long road from Cantor has made the alle- from injury but could that day to this, but I’m hap- gations against the three men not stop San Antonio py to say I’ve been medically in a lawsuit fi led in Los Ange- Kfrom an upset defeat in Dallas on cleared to return. Thanks for les Superior Court claiming Tuesday as LeBron James led the all the love, support, prayers, wrongful termination. Cleveland Cavaliers to a ninth and well wishes over the past Former NFL Network exec- straight win. 8 weeks (heart) and a big thank utive Eric Weinberger, ex-NFL Leonard, who missed the fi rst you to Dr McKenzie and our Network analyst and Phila- 27 games of the season due to a incredible training staff . #ri- delphia Eagles quarterback thigh muscle injury, made an seagain,” he said. Donovan McNabb and former impressive cameo in his 15 min- Rodgers sustained the injury NFL player Eric Davis were utes on court, scoring 13 points in Week Six against the Min- also named in the lawsuit. and pulling down six rebounds. nesota Vikings, when he was “Marshall Faulk, Ike Taylor, But when Leonard exited as tackled by linebacker Anthony and Heath Evans have been expected early in the third quar- Barr. It was the second time in suspended from their duties ter soon after helping the Spurs fi ve years that Rodgers broke at NFL Network pending an into a 55-50 lead, the Mavericks his collarbone. investigation into these al- came back into the contest to run Green Bay put him on in- legations,” an NFL Network out 95-89 winners at the Ameri- jured reserve, hoping he could spokesperson said. can Airlines Center. return in Week 15. Last week Davis and McNabb who The defeat was a jolt for San it became apparent Rodg- have diff erent jobs with sports Antonio, who fell to 19-9 for ers might return this week, broadcaster ESPN, have been the season. The Mavs improved although there was some suspended by the network fol- to 8-20, led by 17 points from concern early this week that lowing emergence of the alle- Harrison Barnes. In Cleveland Rodgers might not be cleared. gations. meanwhile, the Cavaliers rained The Packers went 3-4 in In her lawsuit, Cantor al- down a bombardment of three- Rodgers’ absence with Brett leged Faulk repeatedly groped pointers on the Atlanta Hawks to Hundley serving as the quar- her on set and asked “deeply secure a 123-114 win. terback. personal and invasive ques- Cleveland bagged a season- Green Bay is still in the play- tions” about her sex life. high 20 three-pointers during off hunt with a 7-6 record, but Faulk, who retired in 2007, the game, with James scoring 25 Rodgers will not have an easy is a seven-time Pro Bowler. points and tying a career-high task as his fi rst two games will Taylor played 12 seasons with 17 assists. Kyle Korver had 19 be at Carolina (9-4) and home the Pittsburgh Steelers, win- points - including six three- against the Minnesota Vikings ning two Super Bowl titles be- pointers - while Kevin Love had (10-3). fore retiring in 2015. 17 points and 12 rebounds. Jose The Packers, who might Evans played with four dif- Calderon had 14 points. need to win their remaining ferent teams in 10 seasons and three games to make the posts- won a Super Bowl with the Happy to help eason, fi nish at Detroit (7-6). New Orleans Saints in 2010. James was satisfi ed with his tally of assists as much as his Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (right) drives against Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder in the first quarter at Quicken Loans points total. Arena. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Hester announces his retirement “For me to assist my team- mates making shots has always pace-setters Boston. Cavs coach 850 regular season games and points and had 11 rebounds as that we could have done better Devin Hester, the all-time missed field goal for touch- been an enjoyment of mine... my Tyronn Lue said the Hawks had playoff s and that’s one of the the New York Knicks overcame to give ourselves a better chance leader in combined kick- downs in his career for an NFL teammates were excellent to- struggled to contain James’ worst ones I’ve ever had,” Van the Los Angeles Lakers 113-109 to win that game,” Lakers coach off and punt returns for record 20 return TDs. night,” James said. passing threat. Gundy said. in overtime. Luke Walton said following the touchdowns, announced his “We’re in a good rhythm right “I think they do a lot of dou- “We didn’t do anything to- Enes Kanter had 14 points and loss. The Knicks improved to 14- retirement from the NFL on now. We know what we want to ble-teaming and tilting with the night. We didn’t compete. That’s 11 rebounds for New York while 13 with the win. The Lakers, who Twitter. “I have good news and run, we know where guys are go- bigs so that allows LeBron to just on me as a coach. I’ve got to fi nd Knicks rookie Frank Ntilikina are 10-16 for the season. bad news,” the 35-year-old ing to be out on the fl oor, we kind pick the guys apart,” Lue said. the answers...that was an em- added a career-high 13 points. Hester wrote. “Good news: of know how defenses have been barrassment tonight.” The Lakers scoring was led by RESULTS Commissioner Goodell, you playing us as of late and guys are ‘Embarrassment’ After a solid start to the season Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with Minnesota ...... 112 Philadelphia ...... 118 can put the kickoff back at the moving and sharing the ball ex- for Van Gundy the Pistons are now 14-13 in the 24 points while Lonzo Ball had (OT) 30. Bad news: Y’all will have to tremely well. When the ball is Elsewhere Tuesday, Detroit Eastern Conference. 17 points, eight rebounds and six Dallas ...... 95 San Antonio ...... 89 find a new favourite returner.” moving, energy is behind it and Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy Wilson Chandler scored 18 assists. Brooklyn ...... 103 Washington ...... 98 Hester could have a case for guys are in rhythm.” was left lamenting his team’s points for the Nuggets while “You have to give them credit Sacramento ...... 99 Phoenix ...... 92 becoming the first return man The Cavaliers improved to “embarrassing” performance Mason Plumlee had 10 points for making plays, but as a team Cleveland ...... 123 Atlanta ...... 114 to be named to the Pro Foot- 20-8 and have now won 15 of after a seventh straight defeat and a season-high 13 rebounds. you always look at what you can Detroit ...... 84 Denver ...... 103 ball Hall of Fame. He returned their last 16 games to keep the in a 103-84 rout by the Denver At Madison Square Garden, do better as a group, as an indi- New York ...... 113 LA Lakers ...... 109 14 punts, five kickoff s and a pressure on Eastern Conference Nuggets. “I’ve coached around Kristaps Porzingis scored 37 vidual, and there is a lot tonight (OT) Gulf Times 6 Thursday, December 14, 2017 SPORT

RUGBY SPOTLIGHT Wales hit by Faletau injury blow ahead Australia launch bid of Six Nations for 2027 World Cup ‘The Rugby World Cup is the pinnacle for our Wallabies and Wallaroos teams and we want to bring those tournaments home for any player, boy or girl, man or woman, who ever dreamed of lifting the Cup here on our home soil’

AFP followed by a Twickenham trip London to face title-holders England seven days later, then Ireland in Dublin on February 24. ales forward Tau- A 12-week absence would lupe Faletau could rule Faletau out of Wales’s fi rst miss the whole of three Six Nations games, but the Six Nations the whole tournament could Wafter English Premiership side prove off -limits for him, with Bath said on Tuesday he had Wales also facing Italy on March suff ered medial knee ligament 11 and France six days later. damage. “We’re really disappointed The British and Irish Lions for Taulupe,” said Bath direc- player was hurt during his tor of rugby Todd Blackadder. side’s 24-20 European Cham- “He’s been in great form this pions Cup defeat in Toulon season so it’s really unfortunate on Saturday and is likely to be news. However, he’s in great sidelined for between 12 and hands with the medical team 16 weeks. Faletau’s fellow 2017 and we look forward to having British and Irish Lions Jonath- him back on the pitch soon.” an Davies and Sam Warbur- Faletau will also miss Bath’s ton are already sidelined from fi nal three European Cham- Wales coach Warren Gatland’s pions Cup pool matches, plans as long-term injury ab- starting with Toulon’s visit sentees, while lock Jake Ball is on Saturday, followed by two The Wallabies pose with the Rugby Championship trophy after beating New Zealand in Sydney on August 7, 2015. currently battling to overcome more encounters with Scarlets a dislocated shoulder. and Treviso in January. The Reuters ter voters ignored a World Rugby ing and renovating three Sydney Wales kick off their Six Na- 27-year-old has won 70 caps Sydney evaluation report that said South venues a factor in Wednesday’s New Rugby union competition tions campaign against in- for Wales and featured on the Africa had the strongest bid. announcement. form Scotland on February 3, past two Lions Tours. Australia were the sole hosts “With the NSW Government’s for women in Australia ustralia have launched of the tournament in 2003 and commitment to build a network A new five-team women’s competition will kick off early next year, bids to host the men’s co-hosts with New Zealand in of three world-class rectangular Rugby Australia said yesterday, building on the fast-growing momen- All Blacks captain Read to have back surgery Rugby World Cup in the inaugural World Cup in 1987. venues in Sydney, adding to the tum for female sports throughout the country. 2027 and the women’s The nation has never hosted mix of quality stadiums available The Super W league, over six weeks and featuring sides from All Blacks captain Kieran Read is to have back surgery this weekend eventA in 2021, Rugby Australia the women’s World Cup. The across the country, our pros- Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and will miss the early rounds of next year’s Super Rugby competi- (RA) said yesterday. eighth version was held in Ire- pects of bringing the World Cups Victoria and Western Australia, will begin in March. It follows moves tion. The day after the organisation land earlier this year, where Aus- to Australia have never been bet- by the National Rugby League, Australian Football League, Cricket Read had an injury-plagued 2017 due to thumb and wrist issues and introduced Raelene Castle as tralia fi nished sixth. ter,” Clyne added. Australia and Football Federation Australia, among others, to institute was ruled out of the team’s final test against Wales last month with their fi rst female chief executive, “The Rugby World Cup is the That expenditure, however, women’s competitions as female participation soars. a hip flexor problem. they also announced a national pinnacle for our Wallabies and has caused uproar in Australia’s “The Australian Rugby community has been incredibly proud of the Super Rugby champions Canterbury said Read had suff ered a women’s 15-a-side tournament Wallaroos teams and we want to largest city, with an online peti- growth of the women’s game in recent times and I know that this prolapsed disc while on duty with the All Blacks and would be out of starting next March. bring those tournaments home tion launched by former Wal- crucial competition is going to supercharge this growth in future action for up to four months, ruling him out of the competition until It will complement the sevens for any player, boy or girl, man labies lock Peter Fitzsimons last years,” said outgoing Rugby Australia chief Bill Pulver. about round nine in mid-April. competition launched this year or woman, who ever dreamed of week attracting almost 150,000 In a sign of the times, Pulver is being replaced by a woman, Raelene “Head in for surgery on a disc in my back on Saturday which I to capitalise on the success of lifting the Cup here on our home signatures in opposition. Castle, who will become the first female to oversee the sport injured at the end of the season,” Read wrote on his Facebook page. the Australian women’s team at soil,” RA chairman Cameron South Africa, who have bid for anywhere in the world. Pulver said the Super W competition would “Hopefully I don’t miss too much of the start of the @superRugby the Rio Games where they won Clyne said in a statement. the last four World Cups, have provide greater opportunity for players, lift playing standards and season.” rugby’s fi rst Olympic gold medal RA had said last month they not hosted the event since 1995 redefine the pathway to the Wallaroos national team. Read joins hooker Dane Coles as long-term injury concerns for the since 1924. were interested in hosting future and could loom as major chal- “For a young girl picking up a Rugby ball for the first time next sea- All Blacks. The Wellington Hurricanes captain ruptured knee liga- The 2019 Rugby World Cup World Cups, with the decision by lengers for Australia in 2027, son, she will now have a clear and accessible pathway to represent ments against France and is not due back for six months. will be held in Japan while the the New South Wales state gov- while New Zealand may throw her country through the Wallaroos and Australian women’s sevens The Crusaders open their title defence against the Waikato Chiefs 2023 event was controversially ernment to spend around A$2 its hat into the ring for the 2021 team,” he said. on February 24 in Christchurch. awarded to France last month af- billion ($1.51 billion) demolish- women’s tournament.

TENNIS FOCUS McCall gives Sarries Azarenka gets Aussie Open January deadline to save season wildcard amidst custody battle ing room is that by the end of AFP AFP London January we hope we can be Melbourne proud of how we respond to this diffi cult situation we fi nd aracens director of ourselves in,” he said. wo-time Australian Open winner Victoria Rugby Mark McCall “Potentially, that isn’t just Azarenka, who has been locked in a custody says the European about outcomes because we battle over her baby son, was yesterday hand- champions have given have a diffi cult game against ed a wildcard into January’s Australian Open. themselvesS six weeks to save Clermont away in six days – TTournament director Craig Tiley said every as- their season after crashing to it’s also about staying tight as sistance would be provided to the former Belarus their sixth successive defeat. a group and sticking together world number one so she can compete at the Mel- The team went down 46- as a group. bourne event where she has achieved her greatest 14 to Clermont on Monday – “We’ve got enough good success. their heaviest-ever defeat in players at the club and peo- “Vika’s current situation is obviously very dif- European competition – cap- ple who care about the club fi cult for her and we have reached out to off er any ping a miserable weekend for enough to respond in the right support we can,” Tiley said. English Premiership clubs. way over a six-week period.” “As a two-time Australian Open champion we’ve The Pool 2 match had been The rivals meet again in awarded her a wildcard and look forward to seeing delayed by a day due to ad- France on Sunday with Cl- her back on court in Melbourne in January.” verse conditions around Alli- ermont now occupying fi rst Azarenka returned from maternity leave in the anz Park but it was the French place in Pool 2 with three middle of the year but was forced to skip the US giants who adapted better to rounds of the group phase Open in August after a Los Angeles judge presiding the unfamiliar Monday late remaining – the fi nal two in a custody case over her son Leo ruled the child afternoon kick-off in front of a matches will be played on suc- could not leave California until the matter had been near-empty stadium. cessive weekends in January. settled. “We didn’t see that com- Clermont were infuriated by Azarenka, who has slipped down the rankings to ing,” said McCall. “I know the decision to postpone the be world number 210, said she was looking forward we’ve lost a few games in a row fi xture from 3:15pm on Sunday to returning to the opening Grand Slam of the year. but they were relatively tight to 5:30pm on Monday due to “I’m so excited about coming back to Melbourne games that we lost by a point the hazardous condition of the for the Australian Open, it’s my favourite tourna- or two here or there.” approaches to the stadium af- ment,” she said. McCall said he and the play- ter a night of snowfall. “I’ve won there twice and always feel so comfort- ers had put their heads to- Last season’s beaten fi nal- able on court and the city is great. gether after the match – a re- ists said they were not con- “It’s been a tough year and being able to come peat of last season’s fi nal – to sulted throughout a process back to the Australian Open will be a really positive thrash out how the two-time they described as “completely way to start 2018. I’d like to thank Craig and his team defending European champi- absurd” and were angry at for their understanding and support and can’t wait ons could pull themselves out multiple changes to the kick- to see all my Aussie fans again.” of their slump. off time for the rearranged fi x- The tournament runs from January 15-28. “What we said in the chang- ture. Gulf Times Thursday, December 14, 2017 7 SPORT

LOCAL BASKETBALL TRAINING SESSION Thrilling win for Al Sadd, Al Gharafa have it easy

By Sports Reporter also had a 17-point scoring run in the Doha second quarter, but all that came to nought in the end as they crashed to yet another defeat. l Sadd overcame a stagger- Stephen Hurt top-scored for Al ing 13-point halfway defi cit Rayyan with 24, while Sherwood to edge out Al Rayyan 84- Brown and Mohamed Abdelkaway had A82 in the Qatar Basketball 20 and 17 respectively. League at the Al Gharafa Sports Club In another match, Al Gharafa yesterday. thrashed Al Shamal 101-82 with Sam- In an encounter that saw the lead my Monroe and Edward Justice scor- change 22 times and the teams tied ing 27 apiece. Al Gharafa were off to a on seven occasions, Al Rayyan could fl ying start, leading 25-15 at the end be forgiven for believing they had the of the fi rst quarter and maintaining match in their grip after a 26-point their upper hand throughout the en- eff ort in the second quarter saw them counter. take a 46-33 lead. They led throughout the match and Al Sadd made up some ground in hardly gave their rivals a sniff at an Qatar football players Mohamed Muntari and Karim Boudiaf jog during a training session in Doha yesterday. Qatar will take on Liechtenstein in a friendly the third quarter with 25 points but upset. Justice scored 15 of his points international today in preparation for the Gulf Cup in Kuwait later this month. former champions Al Rayyan still from three-pointers and had a scor- managed a 65-58 advantage going into ing accuracy of 55% on fi eld goal at- the fi nal 10 minutes. tempts, while Monroe’s was even bet- But Al Sadd produced another 26 ter at 80%. WORLD 9-BALL POOL points in the fi nal quarter, while Al At one stage, Al Gharafa led by Rayyan could only manage 17, allow- 32 points (86-54) in the fi nal period ing the former to squeak ahead just in which comfortably settled the out- the nick of time. come of the match. Julius Coles top scored for Al Sadd Mychal Ammons and Malek Abdul- with 21 points while Babacar Dieng la also excelled for Al Gharafa with 15 had 17 and Darrius Oldham and Nass- and 11 points respectively. er Khalifa al-Rayes 15 each. For Al Shamal, Bryan Brown scored At one point of the match after the 26 points with four three-pointers Kaci, Garcia, second quarter, Al Rayyan enjoyed from six attempts. Moses Ahambi Biado and Wu an 18-point advantage (51-33). They with 23 was the second best. chase Doha glory Unlucky Liu forfeits match after failing to show up for the quarter-finals

By a correspondent Doha

fter a day of intense pool dra- ma mostly played at the high- est levels of the sport, the 2017 Albania’s 18-year-old World 9-ball Championship sensation Klenti Kaci and the hasA come down to just four players re- Philippines Carlo Biado maining. And what a fi nal four it prom- (bottom) could meet in today’s ises to be. World 9-ball final in Doha. In one semi-fi nal, Taiwan’s newest pool playing super hero, 22-year-old Wu Kun Lin, will take on Filipino veteran Carlo Biado, who at 34 years old seems more ready than ever to ascend to the mountain top. In the other semi-fi nal sits another Al Gharafa’s Mychal Ammons goes for the basket against Al Shamal yesterday. Filipino, Roland Garcia, who once stud- ied at the foot of the legendary Efren Reyes and has, this week, been show- BOXING casing similar magician-like skills. The 36-year-old Garcia will square up against pool’s new wunderkind in 18-year-old Albanian Klenti Kaci. British board to Both semi-fi nals will be race to 11, alternate break and will be played con- currently at 10am Doha Time at the Al review Fury licence Arabi Sports Club. The fi nals will be a race to 13, alternate break and will begin AFP Fury immediately laid down a chal- at 2pm Doha time. win and win big, and today could see London lenge to British compatriot Anthony Not only did yesterday’s action en- him fi nally grab pool’s ultimate prize. Joshua, who successfully defended sure that pool will have a brand new, fi rst Biado will fi rst have to match wits his IBF and WBA titles against Carlos time champion come Thursday evening, with rising Taiwanese star Wu Kun yson Fury could have his box- Takam in October. but it also proved that old axiom that Lin. The 22-year-old travelled to the ing licence reinstated when Fury tweeted: “@anthonyfj oshua seems to be a common occurrence in US and reached the semi-fi nals in the the British Boxing Board of where you at boy? I’m coming for you pool; once you think you’ve seen it all, World Pool Series in New York a few TControl (BBBofC) meets next punk ent no1 blocking my path now!” something else quickly comes along to months ago. month, a move that would allow the The boxer had been charged along prove you wrong. Yesterday, Wu proved himself by controversial fi ghter to make a dramat- with his cousin Hughie, who also failed In this case, unfortunately, that fi rst crushing defending champion ic return to the ring. a test for nandrolone in February 2015. something else had absolutely noth- Albin Ouschan, 11 – 3. He then poured UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has cleared Both have strongly denied the nan- ing to do with pool skills played out on it on against fellow Taiwanese Hsieh the 29-year-old former world heavy- drolone charges, saying the positive the blue pitch. The incident in ques- Chia Chen, winning handily, 11 – 7. weight champion to return, after an tests were a result of eating wild boar tion happened right at the start of the Garcia will have to maintain his in- absence of over two years, following that had not been castrated. quarter-fi nals on Wednesday. Biado had credible pace today for he is up against his acceptance of a backdated two-year The British board in a statement said come off a gruelling test against fellow a player in Kaci who appears absolutely ban over a positive test for a banned fellow heavyweight Hughie “has no Filipino Jeff rey Ignacio, outlasting his unstoppable. The 18-year-old Alba- steroid. outstanding matters with the BBBofC younger compatriot 11-7 to advance to nian’s superb skills and seemingly im- Fury, who has denied any wrongdo- at this time”, but general secretary the fi nal 8. After a 90 minute rest, Biado penetrable armour were on full display ing, has spoken of his desire to “reclaim Robert Smith said they were yet to hear sat in his chair waiting for his opponent, again today in his two matches. Kaci the world titles which are rightfully from the Fury camp. China’s Liu Haitao, who had earlier fi rst dismantled Canada’s John Morra, mine” but can only box again with the Before he makes any return, Fury will stormed back from a 10-8 defi cit to win 11-6. He then faced off with one of the permission of the BBBofC. need to appear before the board so that his fi nal 16 match, 11-10 against Tai- young surprises of the event, the 23 “Tyson Fury’s boxing licence sus- he can be assessed both physically and wan’s Ko Ping Chung. The veteran Liu, year Maung Maung from Myanmar. pension will be considered by the stew- mentally. however, was nowhere to be found. Liu couldn’t believe what had just per talented nice guy who kept bang- With two World Pool Series wins ards of the board in January,” the board “We have to be satisfi ed about Ty- As it turned out, Liu had gone back happened, and neither could Biado, ing on the door of success, but without and a runner up fi nish at the US Open said yesterday. son’s physical wellbeing, that he is fi t to his nearby hotel between sessions who was awarded the match by an much luck. under his belt this year alone, the un- Fury, who has not fought since his to fi ght, and that’s not just medically, for a bit of a rest and had likely forgot- 11-0 score line without fi ring in a sin- But in 2015, Biado started to crack fl appable Kaci would seem to be the shock win against Wladimir Klitschko that’s physically as well,” Smith told ten to wake up in time. Tournament gle ball. the door open, especially when he favourite of the four semi-fi nalists in November 2015 to become the un- Britain’s Press Association. offi cials at the hotel were able to roust Whether the lack of a match in the came within a few racks of winning the ready to chase pool history on Thurs- disputed heavyweight world cham- “It’s well reported he’s not in physi- Liu and put him in a van to try and quarter-fi nals will help or hurt the World 10-ball championship against day. He is clearly a rare pool talent, a pion, said he was looking forward to cal condition to return straight away, so beat the clock, where rules stated that Filipino is anyone’s guess. Certainly, Taiwan’s Ko Pin Yi. Then earlier this prodigy of the likes of Wu Chia Ching, getting back into the ring. he’s got a bit of work to do.” players get a 15 minute grace period to however, Biado is well positioned to year, Biado achieved his biggest suc- who won the World 9-ball and World “I’m a fi ghting man through and Tyson Fury also failed a test for co- show up for a match. But Liu arrived fi nally ascend to the mountain top of cess to date when he captured a cov- 8-ball crowns in 2005 at the age of 16. through and I’ve never backed down caine in September 2016 and later ad- at the Al Arabi Sports Club ten min- the sport after over 15 years of taking eted gold medal at the World Games in Should he pull off two wins today and from anyone in my life and I was cer- mitted using the recreational drug to utes past the grace period and found his lumps in all corners of the globe. Poland. claim world 9-ball supremacy, Kaci tainly not going to back down from deal with depression related to his in- himself disqualifi ed. A shell shocked For many years he was seen as this su- The Filipino is clearly not afraid to will surely go down in pool history. fi ghting this dispute,” he said. jury and UKAD problems.

Thursday, December 14, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

FOOTBALL CYCLING Tour de France winner Froome S Korea hero Hong faces questions says Asia must over drugs test

back Qatar WCup File photo of Froome celebrating ‘The KFA are proud of Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup’ his Tour de France win earlier this year.

AFP of the three big tours, in France Paris and in Italy, in 2018. Unipublic, the company that runs the Vuelta, refused yester- our-time Tour de France day to take a negative stance on winner Chris Froome Froome saying they were wait- had twice the permis- ing for the UCI to fi nish their Fsible amount of asthma probe before deciding whether medication in his system during to take any action against their the Vuelta race in September, the champion. UCI and his team revealed yes- “Our position is one of ex- terday. treme prudence, and it is our Cycling’s governing body said hope that the matter will be re- an anti-doping test that the Brit- solved swiftly,” Unipublic said. ish Team Sky rider took in Spain Froome won the Vuelta Sep- on September 7 showed more tember 10, 2017 fi nishing 2min than the allowable level of 1,000 15sec clear of second placed Vi- ng/ml of the drug Salbutamol in cenzo Nibali, who was far from his body. celebratory in mood yesterday. Team Sky gave more informa- “It’s not a great day for cy- tion, saying the test showed the cling and it’s not a great day for presence of 2,000 ng/ml — twice him,” said the Italian climber, the allowed limit — but said who like Froome has won all Froome had taken the medicine three major cycling tours. because he had suff ered from Nibali refused to be drawn asthma towards the end of the further before an official rul- race, which he went on to win. ing. The team insisted however “But if this positive test is that 32-year-old Froome had confirmed it will not feel as if taken no more than the amount I climbed onto the highest step allowed under the rules. of the podium to be declared The UCI has asked Froome to champion in Madrid,” said the provide more information but 2014 Tour de France winner. in line with World Anti-Doping Froome, widely considered Agency guidelines has not sus- the greatest Tour rider of his pended him. generation, is scheduled to race Hong Myung-bo, the South Korean football legend, who is now the CEO of the Korean Football Association. Picture below shows Hong in action during the 2002 World Cup. Team Sky said in a statement: the Giro d’Italia in May 2018 “During the fi nal week of the ahead of defending his Tour de By Abilash Nalapat is proud of his own signifi cant role. He Vuelta, Chris experienced acute France title in July 2018. Doha reminisced how his team rewrote history asthma symptoms. On the ad- Sky’s aim for next year was in 2002, which became the foundation vice of the Team Sky doctor, to have Froome enter a clique for successive generations of talented he used an increased dosage of of riders who held all three outh Korea legend Hong Myung- Korean footballers to excel in top Euro- Salbutamol (still within the per- Grand Tour titles at the same bo is calling on countries across pean leagues. missible doses) in the run-up to time, and for him to clinch a Asia to support Qatar’s hosting of ”I was part of the 1994 and 1998 tour- the 7 September urine test.” record equalling fifth Tour de the 2022 FIFA World Cup. naments but we did not win a single game Sky said Froome had declared France title after his victories in SHong is fully aware of the benefi ts of in USA or France,” he explained. his use of the medication, add- 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017. hosting a FIFA World Cup on home soil “I was nervous in the lead-up to 2002. ing: “The notifi cation of the test The test is bound to raise after leading his nation to the semi-fi nals We were together for six months under fi nding does not mean that any new questions about British in 2002, and winning the Bronze Ball in the watchful eyes of Guus Hiddink. rule has been broken.” cycling following the scandal the process as the tournament’s third “In the World Cup opener we defeated Froome himself said the UCI surrounding the only previous best player. Poland, but we still didn’t think we were was “absolutely right” to scruti- British Tour de France winner, Now the CEO of the Korean Football onto something special. In our next game, nise the test results. Bradley Wiggins, over his use Association, Hong is proud that Qatar we snatched a draw from the jaws of de- He said that during the Vuelta of so-called therapeutic use ex- will host the continent’s second FIFA feat against the USA. The crowd really got he had “followed the team doc- emptions (TUEs). World Cup in fi ve years’ time. behind us and our confi dence grew. We tor’s advice to increase my Salb- It emerged that Wiggins re- When speaking to www.sc.qa, Hong were also mentally tough.” utamol dosage”. ceived TUEs in order to take a said the 22nd edition of the tournament He continued: “I remember telling the “As always, I took the great- corticosteroid before his three could boost both economic and football team before the last group game – against est care to ensure that I did not biggest races in 2011, 2012 and development in Qatar and the region. a strong Portugal side – that this was our use more than the permissible 2013, including his 2012 Tour de “The KFA are proud of Qatar hosting moment, and sure enough it was. We then dose,” he said. France win. the 2022 FIFA World Cup,” said Hong, upset Italy in the next round before Spain “Together with the team, I Wiggins and Sky have re- who coached his national team to a bronze in the quarter-fi nals. Those were tight will provide whatever infor- peatedly denied any wrongdo- medal at the 2012 Olympics. “The whole games and our confi dence, self-belief mation (the UCI) requires,” he ing, saying the drug was pre- of Asia must get behind Qatar. Hosting and the fi ghting spirit of our fans carried added. scribed to treat a longstanding the World Cup is likely to do wonders to us through.” Froome was notifi ed of the pollen allergy. Qatar’s economy, as well as fast-track its Hong also believes Qatar’s national test on September 20, the day he In 2008 Italian sprinter Ales- development as a football nation.” team should take inspiration from Korea’s fi nished third in the world time- sandro Petacchi was given a Hong is speaking from personal expe- run to the last four in 2002. trial championship in Bergen, 12-month ban and stripped of rience – he saw how the 2002 tourna- He said: “Qatar should do extensive re- Norway. five stage wins in the 2007 Giro ment benefi ted his nation and inspired Olympics. “Our manufacturing sector a substantial market share of all major search on our preparation. A home World He has not competed since d’Italia despite having a TUE future generations. became very sleek during the interven- global economies. Qatar is also seeking to Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity then, but has announced his in- for Salbutamol, having also ex- “The 2002 World Cup was all about ing period and laid the foundation of our propel the country forward economically and Qatar needs to do all it can to deliver tention to try to win at least two ceeded the limit. showcasing Korea’s rapid economic de- export-driven growth. During the decade just like we did.” on the fi eld. I can vouch that it has the velopment, which was set in motion by after 2002, our exports grew at double- Korea’s football revolution after 2002 potential to be a transformative moment hosting another mega-event, the 1988 digit pace and today Korean brands have has been remarkable as well, and Hong for the country.” SPOTLIGHT BOTTOMLINE World Schools handball in Doha

‘No concerns’ over Tokyo osts Qatar are clubbed while Germany, Czech Repub- in boys Group A at the lic, Romania and Georgia are in 24th ISF World Schools Group D. Championships Hand- “Qatar has the potential to ballH following a draw ceremony host top international tourna- Olympic preparations: IOC was at the Al Bidda Tower yes- ments. We always feel confi dent terday.. when Doha hosts big events. The AFP construction and I see no reason why, reduction opportunities,” promised those allegations and that his lawyers are The event will be held from country had hosted the Handball Tokyo in a country so sophisticated, that this Coates. disputing those allegations in the Israeli February 21 to March 1. World Championships in 2015. won’t continue to be the case.” “The next version of the budget is press. Denmark, who fi nished fourth By hosting the competition, the After bungling the rollout of the show- being completed by the end of this “The IOC has been kept fully informed in the last edition, Austria, Po- sport will get a major boost,” said okyo organisers have shown piece Olympic stadium two years ago, year and we’ll see that when we get to of all of the legalities that he’s pursu- land and Morocco are the other International School Sports Fed- they will complete all their Japanese organisers have faced criticism Pyeongchang (for the Winter Olympics) ing at the moment. He’s entitled to due teams in the group. eration Deputy President Stelios 2020 Olympic venues on but the successful opening last month of in February.” process... There’s no basis for him not Defending champions Turkey, Daskalakis. Tschedule, the International Ol- the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, set to But Coates also added: “We are confi - to be here, that’s our position.” Local or- Brazil, Greece, India and Belgium Meanwhile, defending cham- ympic Committee (IOC) said yesterday host badminton and modern pentathlon dent signifi cant savings can be achieved. ganising president Yoshiro Mori stressed are in Group C. “We’re proud to pions Denmark, France, Croatia, at the conclusion of a three-day visit. fencing, brought a welcome public rela- But we have to be aware that history the importance of close cooperation be- host the competition and look Belgium and Georgia are placed Co-ordination commission chairman tions score. shows us sometimes things can get out tween Tokyo and outlying municipali- forward to an interesting cham- in Group D of the girls’ tourna- John Coates insisted he had “no con- The original plans for the new national of hand, so we’ve got to be very careful.” ties, particularly areas devastated by the pionships next year,” said Qatar ment, which will be its 23rd edi- cerns” over Tokyo’s preparations after stadium were ripped up by Japanese Meanwhile, the Australian denied any 2011 tsunami in north-eastern Japan and School Sports Association Sec- tion. local organisers recently unveiled their Prime Minister Shinzo Abe two years ago impropriety in his vice chair, Alex Gilady, resulting nuclear crisis. retary General Ali Ahmed Group A has Turkey, Germa- fi rst new permanent venue. because of public anger over its eye-wa- travelling to Tokyo following recent alle- “Olympic preparations are moving al-Hitmi. ny, Romania and Bulgaria while “We received reports on the progress tering $2bn price tag. gations of sexual assault and harassment along very smoothly,” he concluded. Runners-up in the 2016 edi- Group B consists of Hungary, of venue construction and it’s just not an IOC offi cials have since called on To- dating back to the 1990s during his time “Further cost reduction remains a prior- tion, France, who are the most Austria, Serbia, Czech Republic area that we have any concerns — I have kyo to make eff orts to further reduce the as a television executive in Israel. “I’m ity but from next year the focus will be successful sides with six titles, and India. any concerns — about,” he told reporters. current $12bn Games budget. aware of the allegations,” said Coates. fi rmly on Tokyo so we have to solve any are placed with Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Brazil, Sweden and “You’re meeting all your deadlines of “We will continue to explore cost “I’m also aware that he strongly disputes pending issues in the timeline agreed.” Iran and Bulgaria in Group C Greece complete Group C.