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Tuesday, August 16, 2016 Dhul-Qa’da 13, 1437 AH OLYMPICS Murray carves his place with the greats with second gold Page 7

FOCUS Record-breaking night for Bolt, Van Niekerk

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt celebrates after he won the men’s 100m final at the Olympic Stadium in on Sunday. (AFP) Jamaican star storms to third straight Olympic 100m title, South African breaks Michael Johnson’s 400m mark

AFP STAR OF THE DAY Rio de Janeiro Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa sain Bolt stormed to an un- precedented third straight Today’s Star of the Day is South Africa’s Olympic 100m title as Wayde Wayde van Niekerk, who ran the fastest van Niekerk smashed Michael single lap in history to win the 400m gold UJohnson’s long-standing 400m record medal in 43.03 seconds and break a 17-year- in Rio on Sunday. old world record at the . On a night of high drama Sunday, Running in lane eight, the 24-year-old world Bolt galloped past drug-tainted US champion got off to a flier and was streaking rival Justin Gatlin to cross in 9.81sec clear on the back straight but he upped his and become the fi rst athlete to win the pace even further in the second half of the 100m three times in a row. race to better American Michael Johnson’s The victory set the Jamaican show- 1999 mark of 43.18 seconds. Van Niekerk man off on his quest to complete the crossed the line a good five metres ahead ‘triple triple’ — 100m, 200m and of 2012 champion Kirani James and held his 4x100m gold medals at three consecu- hands to his head in disbelief at his time be- tive Olympics. fore being embraced by the Grenadian, who “Somebody said I can become im- took silver in 43.76. “Oh my God! From lane mortal. Two more medals to go and I eight, a world record,” Johnson said on the can sign off . Immortal,” said Bolt. BBC. “He took it out so quick. I have never Minutes earlier, jaws dropped as van seen anything from 200 to 400 like that.” Niekerk timed a lightning 43.03sec in the 400m, breaking Johnson’s 17-year- old record set in 1999. Van Niekerk, running in the unfa- voured lane eight, blasted off the fi nal corner to time 0.15sec quicker than Johnson’s previous world best set in Seville in 1999, a record that had taken on mythical-like standing. “I believed I could get the world Wayde van Niekerk record,” the 24-year-old South African of South Africa said. “I’ve dreamed of this medal since celebrates his win forever. I am blessed.” in the men’s 400m Defending champion Kirani James of final on Sunday. Grenada took silver in 43.76sec, with (Reuters) American Lashawn Merritt bronze (43.85). Although way short of his 9.58sec rest after the semi-fi nals, it’s possi- “Congrats to Wayde on the new world world record, Bolt was happy with the ble,” Bolt said. “I’m going to leave it all record. I’m happy to be part of a race that performance but admitted he had been on the track and do the best I possibly made history. We have put this sport on a “shocked” at booing from the crowd can,” he added. pedestal,” James said, adding that 400m directed at Gatlin, who has twiced Bolt has repeatedly said he wants to runners normally have the habit of tying been banned for doping. be the fi rst man to dip under 19 seconds up as they hit the home stretch. “Usu- He started slowly but reeled in Gatlin for the 200m. That goal will probably ally that’s what happens, the guys slow within 70 metres and eased up, thump- remain elusive in Rio — Bolt’s fastest down a bit! But when you keep going like ing his chest as he crossed the line. Can- time for the 200m this year is 19.89sec, that, there’s going to be world records. It ada’s Andre de Grasse took bronze. set in last month. shows that there’s always room for guys “I didn’t go so fast but I’m so happy I Four men have run quicker over the to improve. He just did that and exem- won,” he said. distance this season, with LaShawn plifi ed that.” Bolt, who is desperate to better his Merritt of the United States leading the “I have never seen anything like 2009 world best of 19.19sec, said a new times with a best of 19.74sec, set at the that,” Johnson told the BBC. “That was record could be on the cards as he geared US Olympic trials in Eugene on July 8. a massacre by Van Niekerk. This young up for today’s opening round of the 200. Gatlin is second fastest, clocking man has done something truly special.” “I think if I can get a good night’s 19.75 last month.

Medals tally

Country G S B T Country G S B T Country G S B T 1. United States 26 21 23 70 11. Hungary 5 3 4 12 21. 2 1 1 4 2. Great Britain 16 16 8 40 12. 5 2 3 10 21. Thailand 2 1 1 4 3. 15 14 17 46 13. Spain 3 0 2 5 23. 2 1 0 3 4. Russia 9 12 11 32 14. New Zealand 2 6 0 8 24. 2 0 1 3 5. 8 6 5 19 15. North Korea 2 3 2 7 24. Iran 2 0 1 3 6. Italy 7 9 6 22 16. Canada 2 2 9 13 24. Jamaica 2 0 1 3 7. 7 8 7 22 17. Kazakhstan 2 2 4 8 27. South Africa 1 5 1 7 8. 7 4 16 27 18. Colombia 2 2 0 4 28. Sweden 1 4 1 6 9. Australia 6 7 9 22 19. Poland 2 1 2 5 29. 1 3 4 8 10. South Korea 6 3 5 14 19. Switzerland 2 1 2 5 30. Denmark 1 3 3 7 Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, August 16, 2016

STEP CLOSER ’s Barshim in tonight’s high jump fi nal atar’s Mutaz Barshim made from China, could go no higher than it to tonight’s high jump fi nal 2.22m and nor could his compatriot after a 2.29m eff ort in yester- Wang Yu, both men having cleared day’s qualifying competition. 2.33m this year. QAs many as 43 men started the high Recent European Championships jump qualifying competition with am- medallists, Chris Baker from Great bitions of either clearing the automatic Britain and Eike Onnen from Germany, qualifying height of 2.31m to make to- were also eliminated. Both men cleared night’s fi nal, or being among the top 12. 2.26m but had failures during the com- The critical height was 2.29m with petition. 12 men in each of the two groups still in An interested, and somewhat dis- contention. consolate spectator was Italy’s Gian- Only 11 cleared this height so there marco Tamberi, who had won the 2016 was no need to raise the bar further and world indoor and European titles, who the four men who were fl awless up to many a month ago would have consid- and including 2.26m also progressed to ered the gold medal favourite. the fi nal. He cleared an Italian record of 2.39m Four men had no failures in the quali- when winning at the IAAF Diamond fying competition: 2015 world cham- League in Monaco last month before pion Derek Drouin and his predecessor injuring himself while attempting Bogdan Bondarenko, Barshim and, per- 2.41m and subsequently being ruled haps surprisingly, Bulgaria’s Tikomir Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim competes during the preliminary round of the men’s high jump event on Sunday. (Reuters) out of Rio. Ivanov, who provided a delighted jig He was moved to tears of frustration Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi cries as he for the crowd upon clearing the height Nearly all the expected medal con- bly in such a large fi eld, there were a few IAAF World Championships on several occasions and had to be con- watches the preliminary round of the which equalled his personal best. tenders progressed but, almost inevita- notable casualties. 2015 silver medallist Zhang Guowei, soled by his girlfriend. (IAAF) high jump event on Sunday. (AFP)

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Felix runs Bahrain’s Jebet season’s leads from front for best to reach 400m fi nal

Reuters of American Natasha Hastings, Rio de Janeiro whose time of 49.90 was also her steeplechase gold best of 2016. The United States and Jamaica llyson Felix sounded a also fi lled the automatic qualify- Jebet runs Asian record of 8min 59.75sec, narrowly missing out on world record warning to her 400 me- ing spots in the opening heat with tres rivals with a sea- American Phyllis Francis making AFP son’s best run of 49.67 up fi ve metres on Stephenie Ann secondsA to reach the fi nal of the McPherson on the home straight Rio de Janeiro one-lap sprint at the Rio Olym- to win in 50.31. pics on Sunday. Jamaica’s McPherson ran ahrain’s Kenyan-born Ruth The American’s time was the 50.69 for second place. Ital- Jebet produced an astonish- second fastest of the year behind ian Libania Grenot (50.60) and ing piece of front running only the 49.55 clocked in London ’s Olha Zemlyak (50.75) to win gold in the Olympic last month by Shaunae Miller, will also line up in the fi nal after women’sB 3000m steeplechase yes- who was second in the third qualifying as the fastest fi nishers terday. semi-fi nal behind Felix in 49.91. outside the top two. Jebet timed an Asian record of Felix, seeking her fi fth Olym- “It was my coach’s birthday 8min 59.75sec, missing out on the pic gold, got off to a strong start yesterday,” said Zemlyak, whose world record by less than a second. and ran down Miller on the back time was a personal best. “Every Reigning world champion Hyvin straight but the Bahamian came day I make him presents. Tomor- Kiyeng Jepkemoi of Kenya took sil- back at her on the fi nal bend and row I want to give him the fi nal.” ver in 9:07.12, with American Emma might have caught the world Felix, who suff ered an ankle Coburn claiming bronze (9:07.63). champion had she not eased up injury in a gym accident earlier US champion Coburn set the approaching the line. this year, was unable to defend early pace before Jebet, who trans- “I wanted to get a solid eff ort her 200 metres title in Rio after ferred her allegiance to Bahrain from and try to make a run at a good failing to fi nish in the top three at her native Kenya in February 2013, lane tomorrow. I wanted to bump the US trials. surged with fi ve laps to run of the up the intensity tonight,” the The London 400 metres seven-and-a-half lap race. 30-year-old Felix told reporters. champion Sanya Richards-Ross As temperatures hit 35 degrees Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson was also unable to defend the Celsius (95F), her pace immediately ran the second fastest time of Olympic crown after suff ering a split the fi eld, Jepkemoi and fellow the night, a personal best 49.83, career-ending injury at the same Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech just to win a tight semi-fi nal ahead meet. about staying in touch, with Coburn in fourth. Jebet, the former world junior champion who is the second-fastest woman ever and only the second to run the event in less than nine min- utes, maintained her punishing pace as the bell rang for the fi nal lap. Chepkoech fell off as Coburn moved up in her own battle for silver with Jepkemoi. Ahead of them, Jebet pushed for Russian Gulnara Galkina’s world record of 8:58.81, just failing in her quest as she landed the Gulf state of Bahrain its fi rst Olympic gold. Bahrain’s Morocco-born Rashid Ramzi was initially awarded gold in the men’s 1500m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but he was stripped of that after testing positive for doping. Ruth Jebet of Bahrain competes in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase final in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. (Reuters)

BOTTOMLINE Dibaba eases into 1500m fi nal with quickest time

Reuters World champ Bett crashes out of 400m hurdles Rio de Janeiro

AFP Rio de Janeiro thiopian world record holder Genzebe Dibaba qualified for the women’s 1,500 Emetres final with the fastest time on eigning world champion Nicholas Bett Sunday, comfortably winning her heat in four of Kenya crashed out of the fi rst round of minutes 3.06 seconds to justify her tag as the men’s 400m hurdles yesterday. favourite for Olympic gold. Bett, who was the event’s surprise Dibaba stormed clear of the field at the bell in Rwinner in the Beijing world championships last the second semi-final, with the top five runners year, clipped the last hurdle and jogged the fi nal in both races advancing, and eased down on the metres. home straight to finish ahead of Sifan Hassan of Also missing from today’s semi-fi nals will be the Netherlands and Britain’s Laura Muir. American Michael Tinsley, who won silver at the Kenya’s Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon won the London Olympics in 2012. first semi-final in 4:03.95 on a day when a ma- Two of Bett’s teammates, Haron Koech and jority of the 10 qualifiers for today’s final were Boniface Tumuti, qualifi ed with no such prob- trying not to exert themselves and advance lems. with the minimum of fuss. Jamaican Annsert Whyte led the qualifying After setting a new world record of 3:50.07 in times with 48.37sec, while his teammate Roxroy Monaco and winning the world 1500m title in Cato looked comfortable and Javier Culson of Beijing last year, Dibaba has had a mixed 2016 , bronze medallist in London four campaign and arrived in Rio carrying a nig- years ago and twice a world silver medallist, also gling toe injury. advanced. Adding to the her troubles, Dibaba’s coach The US fl ag will be fl own by , was arrested in Spain on doping charges just world champion in 2009 and silver medallist at Kenya’s Nicholas Bett (left) stumbles during the first round of the men’s 400m Hurdles at weeks before the Olympics. the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and Byron Robinson. the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. (Reuters) Gulf Times Tuesday, August 16, 2016 3

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Schippers through, Wlodarczyk breaks Campbell-Brown in early exit

Reuters fi nished fi fth in the 100 metres Rio de Janeiro on Sunday but she said at one world record for stage it looked like she would not compete at all in Rio. ‘It was worth giving it orld champion Daf- ne Schippers shook VERY DISAPPOINTED a go... parents in the off injury to reach “Last Wednesday I was ready to the 200 metres go home because of the injury,” stands, fans cheering...’ Wsemi-fi nals but twice Olympic she explained. hammer gold gold medallist Veronica Camp- “But I carried on. All I could do bell-Brown made an early exit was to run and have treatment. Reuters from her fi fth Games yesterday. I was very disappointed that I Rio de Janeiro Campbell-Brown, back-to- wasn’t able to show what I’m ca- back champion in 2004 and pable of doing.” 2008, fi nished third in the ninth “I was broken. I didn’t come oland’s Anita Wlodarczyk under- heat and her time of 22.97 was here to fi nish fi fth but that was lined her absolute dominance of not enough to get through to Fri- the maximum I could do,” said the women’s hammer by throw- day’s semis. Schippers. ing a world record 82.29 metres The 34-year-old, who will also The 24-year-old said she was Pto win the Rio Olympic gold by an incred- run in the 4x100 relay, blamed feeling “better” on Monday after ible 554 centimetres yesterday. poor execution but did not rule winning her heat easing up. The only woman to have thrown the out returning for a sixth Games “I’m glad it went so well in the hammer further than 80 metres, the in in 2020. 200,” she added. “I’ve now got 31-year-old world champion had already “I’ve been through worse in the chance to show what I am ca- broken the Olympic record with a second my life,” she said. “This is not pable of doing.” throw of 80.40 when she entered the ring such a crazy hurt to get over, Elaine Thompson proved for the third time. I’ve never been in this position on Saturday that the Jamaican Whipping the hammer around her before. I don’t know why things sprint production line is still go- body eight times before launching it into happen but sometimes you don’t ing strong and the 100 metres the sunny morning sky, Wlodarczyk was get your desire.” champion progressed in 22.63. screaming in delight before the ball even Trinidad and Tobago’s She had to settle for second pitched on the grass of the infi eld, well Michelle-Lee Ahye, sixth in the place in heat four behind Ivorian beyond the 80 metre tape. 100, ran the fourth fastest time Marie-Josee Ta Lou though. It was far enough to better the mark of of a sunny morning to win heat African champion Ta Lou 81.08 she set in Cetniewo in Poland this three in 22.50, one-hundredth of missed out on a bronze medal in month, as was her fi fth throw of 81.74. a second ahead of Schippers who the 100 by a few thousandths of “Competition of my life,” she told Po- won heat one. a second and looked like she had land’s TVP. “After the fi rst round I knew With champion Allyson Felix a point to prove back on the blue that I would get the gold medal and after unable to defend her title after track of the Olympic Stadium as the second one I went for it all. Massacre.” failing to fi nish in the top three she topped the timesheets with a “I think that no one made such a sur- at the US Trials, Dutchwoman personal best 22.31. prise during Olympics. I was close to Schippers came to Brazil with high Just behind her were two beating the record for the second time. I hopes of adding the Olympic title Americans in Deajah Stevens didn’t want to hold back.” to the world title she won last year. (22.45) and Tori Bowie who “I thought, this is that day. It was worth A leg muscle injury prevented backed up her silver medal in the giving it a go, because you never know if Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk competes in the women’s Hammer Throw final at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. (AFP) her from running freely as she 100 by winning her heat in 22.47. it’s going to happen again — parents in the stands, fans cheering... I think I’m the happiest woman in the world right now.” Unbeaten since June 2014, Wlodarczyk Colombia’s Ibarguen wins triple jump gold now owns the 11 best throws of all time. Her winning margin was by far the largest Triple jumper Caterine Ibarguen won break Ukraine’s Inessa Kravets’s world in the history of the women’s event. Colombia’s first Olympic gold medal in record of 15.50m set in 1995. She was the second Pole to win the title athletics on Sunday, building on several Ibarguen’s young challenger Yulimar after Kamila Skolimowska, who won the years of dominance by sweeping to Rojas took silver with a 14.98m jump inaugural women’s hammer at the Sydney victory with a season’s best leap of and became the first woman from the Olympics in 2000 before dying at the age of 15.17 metres. “It’s the biggest dream to South American country to win a medal 26 of a pulmonary embolism while training. achieve this,” said Ibarguen. “I’m very in athletics. “Everyone thought I’d win the gold happy and proud.” The 20-year-old also became the medal,” said Wlodarczyk. “But the best The two-time world champion Ibar- youngest female winner of a triple jump thing for me is the world record, because I guen was hot-favourite going into the Olympic medal, capping her meteoric talked a lot about it.” Rio Games after winning 36 of her last rise in an event she only started two “I didn’t fail the fans, I didn’t fail Po- 37 competitions excluding qualifying years ago. land so that’s just great. It’s time to cel- events. Kazakhstan’s London Olympics cham- ebrate.” The 32-year-old soared past 15m twice pion Olga Rypakova pulled off the Wlodarczyk fi nished runner-up to and appeared in total control after two best jumps of her season, but her Tatyana Lysenko at the London Games producing her best jump in the fourth 14.74m in the fifth round was only good four years ago but the Russian was un- round, though she failed in her plan to enough for bronze. able to defend her title in Rio after being banned for doping for the second time in her career earlier this year. Hitchon was third with a British record moon. I didn’t expect that I would hold there and a national record, I couldn’t be China’s Zhang Wenxiu threw 76.75 to 74.54 from her fi nal throw to claim a fi rst third, I just wanted to throw further,” the happier.” add a silver medal to the bronze she won on medal for her country in the women’s comparatively diminutive Hitchon said. Betty Heidler of Germany, the former home soil at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. hammer. “I had to double take a little bit. It was world champion and world record holder, Netherlands’ Dafne Schippers (right) competes in the women’s 200m Former world junior champion Sophie “To get a bronze medal, I am over the just incredible to see the number three fi nished fourth with a best throw of 73.71. Round 1 heat in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. (AFP)

OPINION CLOSE CALL Britain’s Ennis-Hill calls Tribunal lets Klishina for global doping rethink back into Rio Games AFP Rio de Janeiro AFP RETIREMENT ‘TOUGH QUESTION’ Rio de Janeiro The Sheffi eld athlete fi nished fourth at the Osaka world championships in 2007, before he world sports tribunal silver medallist Lyudmyla Blonska of Ukraine yesterday overturned a ritish heptathlete Jessica Ennis- was banned for life a year later for her second last-minute IAAF ban Hill called for a worldwide rethink doping off ence. on long-jumper Darya on doping on Sunday after the Rio She also took silver at the 2011 Daegu world TKlishina taking part in the Rio Olympics were plagued by drugs championships behind Russia’s Tatyana Olympics. scandalsB including the suspension of Russia’s Chernova, who was later banned for two years Klishina, 25, was the only Rus- entire athletics team. for doping. sian accepted for the Olympic Ennis-Hill, speaking a day after she added Wheels are in motion to intensify the anti- track and fi eld but the sport’s a silver medal to her 2012 Olympic gold, said a drugs fi ght with the International Associa- world body suspended her on vigorous testing regime needed to be “stand- tion of Athletics Federations (IAAF) planning Friday after new information on ardised across the world”. an independent integrity unit to oversee dop- her doping record emerged. The British star was beaten at both the ing and disciplinary matters. After a day of hearings, the sociation of Athletics Federa- ever that despite McLaren’s 2007 and 2011 world championships by ath- The World Anti-Doping Agency has indicat- Court of Arbitration (CAS) an- tions (IAAF) to revoke her Rio new information, Klishina letes who were later exposed as drug cheats. ed it’s open to an update after the International nounced that Klishina’s appeal eligibility. “complied with the relevant “Defi nitely it needs to be reviewed,” Ennis- Olympic Committee called for a sweeping re- had succeeded and she “re- The IAAF doping board re- criteria (to compete at Rio) be- Hill told AFP during an appearance for Olym- view in the wake of the Russian crisis. mained eligible to compete in jected 67 athletes entered by cause of her permanent resi- pics timekeeper Omega at Ipanema in Rio de Ennis-Hill said everything needs to be on the Olympic Games in Rio.” Russia but accepted Klishina, dence outside Russia.” Janeiro. the table as athletics searches for a way for- The decision came just in who is based in Florida, because It added that Klishina “es- “I think our testing system in Britain is ward after a torrid period in its history. time for Klishina, a former Eu- she lived abroad and had been tablished that she was subject great. We have lots of tests, we have out- “It is for the monitoring system and for ropean indoor champion, to through regular international to fully compliant drug-testing of-competition tests and we’re tested really the spotlight after an offi cial was sent home everything to be looked at. We have to put resume her campaign for the doping checks after a cutoff pe- in- and out-of-competition regularly and that needs to be standardised from Rio over allegations he demanded bribes trust in the federations and people that mon- women’s long-jump competi- riod starting January 1, 2014 outside of Russia” from 2014 across the world.” to warn athletes of impending drug tests. itor the drug-testing worldwide and hope tion which starts today. The doping review board told onwards. Ennis-Hill came up just short against Bel- “I can understand that fans have that ele- that we fi nd a solution,” she said. Russia’s Sports Minister Vi- the CAS hearing that “certain Klishina had insisted in a gium’s Nafi ssatou Thiam, 21, late on Satur- ment of disappointment,” said Ennis-Hill, Ennis-Hill, who spent two hours in anti- taly Mutko welcomed the deci- of the athlete’s samples has statement after the ban was an- day after a battle that came down to the fi nal 30. “As an athlete, I look at the sport and doping after Saturday’s competition “waiting sion, saying “you cannot punish been subject to tampering and nounced that she is “clean”. event, the 800m. when I hear these stories of doping scandals to go to the toilet”, reiterated that she is un- her for what she did not do.” manipulation,” according to the Her lawyers have argued chief Sebastian Coe has it’s devastating.” decided about whether to retire or push on to The appeal was the latest fall- tribunal’s statement. that no evidence had been pre- said he hoped fans have faith that Olympic “But there are some amazing true perform- next year’s world championships in London. out from the inquiry by Canadi- sented, only that McLaren had athletics is clean, but Ennis-Hill had sympa- ances, athletes have trained incredibly hard “I’m not sure what my next goal is going to an lawyer Richard McLaren for ‘PROVOCATIVE MOMENTS’ told the IAAF about the sample thy with their concerns. and so many athletes that you see compete be,” she said, adding that returning to athlet- the World Anti-Doping Agency Media reports have said two bottles which reportedly had Coe’s IAAF came down hard on the un- here are true, performing athletes.” ics after the birth of her son, two-year-old which accused Russia of mass bottles of Klishina’s urine sam- scratch marks on them. earthing of a state-run Russian doping con- “So it’s to not take that away from the ath- Reggie, had been a “huge challenge”. “state-sponsored” doping. ples had been tampered with Speaking to Moscow’s Inter- spiracy, suspending the team en masse while letes that are doing it right, and hope that “I defi nitely like to set goals and like to have The CAS said it was McLaren and one of the samples con- fax news agency Sports Minis- the country cleans up its act. the federations and the monitoring system things that I want to achieve and work to- who provided the “new fac- tained two diff erent kinds of ter Mutko said justice had been Kenya, another powerhouse of the sport, within drug-testing worldwide is sorted out wards but I’m not sure at this stage. That’s a tual elements” about Klishina DNA. done. “This decision proves also fl irted with suspension and remains in and cleaned up.” tough question.” which led the International As- The CAS panel decided how- that justice can be fair,” he said. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, August 16, 2016

GYMNASTICS Petrounias fl exes his muscles to Whitlock calm aft er win gold Rio de Janeiro: Greek muscle first Greek since Dimosthenis man Tampakos in 2004 to win the showed off his superior power rings. It was Greece’s second in the strongman’s event as he gold in Rio. edged out local favourite and There were six more com- 2012 champion petitors to follow but none of double gold triumph to win the rings gold medal them came close to breaching at the Olympics yesterday. the 16-point barrier, despite Petrounias added the Rio Zanetti being roared on to the ‘It’s such a proud feeling to hear your national anthem being played’ Games title to the world and rings with chants of “Brazil- European crowns he holds with Brazil-Brazil”. a score of 16.000. China’s , silver med- Reuters Zanetti lost out on the top allist behind Petrounias at last Rio de Janeiro Max Whitlock ended Britain’s 120-year wait prize by 0.234 of a point while year’s world championships, for an Olympic gymnastics gold by winning Russia’s Denis Abliazin had had been expected to push the men’s title at the Rio Games on to settle for bronze. Petrou- him all the way with a routine ost athletes would be fl oored by the re- Sunday before claiming a second gold less nias showed off his bulging that had the highest 7.000 alisation they had just won a historic than two hours later in the pommel horse. muscles, and the Olympic rings diff iculty score. However, when double Olympic gold medal, but Britain’s (AFP / Toshifumi Kitamura) tattooed on his upper back, as he almost stumbled off the Max Whitlock says he was just doing he smoothly moved from one mat from his double twisting- Mhis job and is keen to get back in the gym. Whitlock diff icult element to another. double layout somersault dis- ended Britain’s 120-year wait for an Olympic gym- There was not a wobble mount, his medal hopes were nastics gold medal by winning the men’s fl oor title at in sight as he held on to the dashed and he finished sixth the Rio Games on Sunday before claiming a second Maltese cross — where a out of the eight finalists. gold less than two hours later in the pommel horse. gymnast holds the rings with , the 2005 Making it even sweeter for Britain, compatriot his body lined up horizontally world champion, had quali- Louis Smith grabbed silver in the pommel horse — — for what seemed an eternity fied for the final but was a no a repeat of their one-two fi nish at the 2015 world before flowing into a number show after he was expelled championships in Glasgow. “It was really cool to see of handstands. from the Olympics for violating two fl ags rise up there, it’s just an amazing feeling,” When he nailed the dis- Dutch team rules on alcohol Whitlock told reporters. mount, he saluted the crowd consumption following the “It’s such a proud feeling to hear your national an- with a raised fist confident qualifying competition last them being played and just stand there with Louis, that he would become the weekend. one and two again like the world championship.” Whitlock, 23, is no stranger to record-setting wins. Last year’s gold ended Britain’s 112-year hunt for a men’s world champion. He also took bronze this week in the all around, which was won by his idol Kohei Uchimura of Japan. Despite the weight of his fi rst gold in the fl oor ex- ercises, he did not have time to enjoy the moment as his day was only half over. “I couldn’t really take in what I’d done on the fl oor. I had another job to do on pommel horse and I had to go back and refocus and get warmed up for that,” he said. Now that he has time to take it all in, Whitlock said he would take a short break but would soon be back in the gym. “There’s always stuff for me to learn. As I say after every competition, it motivates me even more to get back in the gym and learn more stuff , and I feel that way now,” he said. Whitlock does have one regret from Rio, however. The gymnast said he does not watch others compete, in order to keep his focus and stay calm, and that left him unable to view Uchimura’s fi nal routine. “He’s one of those elite superstars. The reason why I idolise him is he delivers every time,” Whitlock said. Silver medallist Brazil’s Arthur Zanetti (left) and gold medallist “That’s quite tough, (not having) the pleasure of Eleftherios Petrounias of Greece celebrate after the men’s rings watching him fi nish off his all-around title with his event final at the Olympic Arena. (AFP / Thomas Coex) high bar routine.”

FOCUS North Korea’s Ri wins title

Reuters after both earned the same average score. said Douglas, who has been overshadowed Rio de Janeiro by star teammate Simone Biles. Fallen idol Douglas exits Biles is set to become the greatest woman Rio Games on a low gymnast ever and on course for a record haul i Se-gwang became the fi rst North of fi ve gold medals in Rio. Douglas slammed Korean man to win the Olympic Gabby Douglas, the golden girl of gymnas- ‘hurtful’ comments about her hairstyle and vault title as he soared to victory tics at the 2012 Olympics, exited Rio on a smile and suggestions that she bleaches her with an average score of 15.691 yes- low on Sunday slumping on uneven bars skin. Douglas took time off after London and terday.R The double world champion also be- amid claims she has been the victim of on- since then 19-year-old Biles has dominated came only the second man from his country line social media abuse. Douglas became the women’s gymnastics. Douglas had already to win an Olympic gymnastics title follow- fi rst African-American to win the Olympic come under fi re for her inclusion in the Ol- ing the success of Pae Gil-su on the pommel title in London 2012 and fi rst US gymnast ympic team despite struggling in US trials. horse at the 1992 Barcelona Games. to claim both the team and all-around gold In Rio, she failed to defend her all-around Ri beat Russia’s Denis Abliazin by 0.175 of medals in a single Games. title after qualifying third behind Biles and a point. Japan’s Kenzo Shirai, who missed But the 20-year-old fi nished seventh in Aly Raisman, with a two-per-country limit. out on a medal on his signature fl oor ex- the eight-woman uneven bars fi nal on Sun- Despite helping the US defend their team ti- ercise event on Sunday, won bronze with day with Russia’s Aliya Mustafi na retaining tle, she was forced to apologise after a back- (From left) silver medallist Denis Abliazin of Russia, gold medal winner North Korea’s Ri Se Gwang and bronze 15.449 as he edged out 35-year-old Roma- her title ahead of American Madison Ko- lash for failing to put her hand on her heart medallist Japan’s Kenzo Shirai pose on the podium after the men’s vault final. (AFP) nian Marian Dragulescu on the tiebreak rule cian. “I wanted to fi nish on a stronger note,” during the American national anthem.

ROUND-UP BOXING Brazil judge orders four boxer, who lost sister THG executives arrests to murderous world champion

AFP Rio de Janeiro Venezuela’s Yoel Finol (right) for ticketing fraud beat Muhammad Ali of Britain yesterday. (Reuters) Reuters comment further on the issue. In their statement oxing has always attracted characters Rio de Janeiro last week, police noted that the chief executive of with hard-luck stories, bad boys who THG, James Sinton, was detained in Rio in 2014, earned redemption or fi ghters who accused of forming part of a World Cup “ticket- beat the odds for shock glory. But Brazilian judge yesterday ordered the ing mafi a.” THG Group is owned by Marcus Evans theB disturbing story of Venezuela’s Olympic arrest of four executives at international Group, which also controls English football club boxer Yoel Finol takes some beating. sports hospitality company THG Sports Ipswich Town. In 2010, the Olympic Council of He was lured into boxing by his brother-in- accused of fraudulent ticket sales at the Ireland appointed THG as its offi cial ticketing law Edwin Valero, a two-weight world cham- Olympics,A widening an investigation into ticket agent for the 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 pion professional who was to later end his overcharging at the Games. THG rejected the ac- Winter Games in Sochi. career and life unbeaten with 27 wins, all by cusations against the company and its director knock-out. Valero taught Finol, now 19 and Kevin Mallon, saying that more than 1,000 tickets Overhead TV camera falls in Olympic a winner on Monday in his second fl yweight seized by police were being held legally on behalf park, injures two: Report bout in Rio, his fi rst punch and trained him. of authorised Irish reseller Pro 10 and criticising Valero would even parade Finol through the local Olympic organisers. Two people were lightly injured when a television rough streets of the Venezuelan city of Merida The police did not name the four executives but camera suspended by cables fell to the ground in looking to get into fi ghts “to become a man”. said they were directly involved in a scheme to the Olympic Park on Monday outside the basket- And then, six years ago, Valero killed his own me the basics, and took me street-fi ghting Finol recalls how Valero would always tell overcharge for tickets. Last week police detained ball arena, Globonews reported. Television images wife, who was Finol’s sister. to make me a man. He wanted me to become him that the ultimate ambition was to be a Mallon and a translator employed by the compa- showed one woman who was treated by medics He was locked up and two days later killed world champion and be my agent.” professional world champion. But after the ny, alleging that they could have made 10mn reais walk from the scene wearing a neck brace, while himself at age 28 and unbeaten as a pro. But Valero’s life began to disintegrate in a trauma of six years ago Finol had a new dream ($3mn) from buying tickets and reselling them the other victim was carried off on a stretcher. Somehow Finol says he does not carry blur of drugs and alcohol. Then, on April 17, — Olympic glory. Finol’s journey to Rio was — at a higher price. THG and Pro 10 said that Mal- around hate for Valero, even though his tena- 2010, Valero stabbed Finol’s sister Carolina predictably — a turbulent one. lon was holding authorised tickets for collection Wrestler Borrero wins ’s fi rst gold cious displays at the Games suggest a burn- to death with three savage thrusts of a knife. He joined a boxing gym and scraped to- by European clients in Rio and both accused Rio ing within. “I have forgiven him. Although Two days later, Valero was found hanged in gether funds by the only method he knew 2016 organisers of spreading misinformation. “It Greco-Roman wrestler Ismael Borrero claimed he killed my sister, I forgave him,” said Finol, his jail cell. “The drugs damaged him and how: street fi ghting for money. “The road appears that (organisers) and the local authorities Cuba’s fi rst gold medal of the Rio Olympics when speaking in Rio. changed him because he was not a bad per- is long and uphill, but I have taken the fi rst have an agenda to impede the legitimate activities he won in the 59kg category. Borrero beat Japan’s “At fi rst I did not understand why he did son,” said Finol, displaying a maturity beyond step,” he said, crossing himself and looking to of THG in order to support the activities of their Shinobu Ota 8-0 to add Olympic gold to his world it. I felt anger, but I found God and learned to his teenage years, underlined by the fact that the sky in wonder. locally approved hospitality provider,” said THG. title won last year. Later, Russia’s Roman Vlasov forgive him.” Finol started boxing at age nine, he now cares for the tragic couple’s two young “God took from me my dear sister and my Pro 10 added that it had suff ered commercial successfully defended his 75kg title with a 5-1 encouraged by his uncle, and then by Valero. children. “These things happen in life and brother-in-law Edwin, but he gave me some- losses due to the seized tickets and declined to victory over Denmark’s Mark Madsen. “He taught me to throw punches, taught only God knows why.” thing in return — to be better.” Gulf Times Tuesday, August 16, 2016 5

CYCLING FOCUS Australian great Kenny masters Meares blows medal hopes teammate Skinner Reuters after of the track cycling men’s Rio de Janeiro omnium as the multi-discipline event headed towards a thrilling conclusion later last night. ustralian track cycling After four of the six disci- great Anna Meares will plines, Viviani was leading with be a spectator when 140 points, 14 more than over- to win sprint gold the Olympic sprint night leader Thomas Boudat of goldA is decided today after fail- France and Britain’s Mark Cav- ing to qualify for the quarter- endish. fi nals. Reigning sprint champion Reigning Olympic champion ‘It was weird because we finished the semis yesterday which were a real scrap’ Meares, who claimed a sixth Ol- Lasse Norman Hansen of Den- ympic medal when she fi nished mark, who gained a maximum Reuters third in the keirin on Saturday, points haul in Sunday’s 60-lap Rio de Janeiro was narrowly beaten by Hong scratch race and 4km individual Britain’s Jason Kenny (left) and teammate Kong’s Lee Wai Sze in the Rio pursuit but messed up the elimi- Callum Skinner celebrate after winning gold velodrome yesterday. Then she nation race, was fourth with ason Kenny proved conclusively he is and silver respectively, in the cycling track failed to make it through the re- world champion Fernando Ga- still top dog in the British team, and sprinting on Sunday. (Reuters / Eric Gaillard) pechage. viria fi fth. Yesterday’s early ac- the world, when it comes to track It meant Meares, 32, was bat- tion was the individual time trial sprinting, leaving compatriot Callum tling for ninth place later last covering four laps of the track. SkinnerJ in his slipstream to power to a fi fth night, rather than a medal 24 Viviani’s time of 57.749 sec- Olympic gold medal on Sunday. hours later. Meares, who made onds was good enough for third The training partners — who put the her Olympic debut in of 17 starters, the best among the wheels of the British cycling juggernaut in in 2004, struggled all the way medal contenders. Cavendish, motion with team sprint gold on Thursday — through the competition and lost who won four stages of the Tour had set up a head-to-head in the individual her qualifying heat on Sunday to de France last month and who is fi nal in the Rio velodrome but the 28-year- Simona Krupeckaite before sur- chasing a fi rst Olympic medal, old Kenny dished out a harsh lesson. viving the cut by coming through was looking ominously strong Using all his experience, Kenny responded a repechage. and focused. to the challenge from within the ranks with The 11-times world champion, He put himself right in the two dominant rides, winning both heats with who has yet to say whether this mix on Sunday with a scintil- something to spare. Kenny has now won as will be her Olympic swansong, lating 4km individual pursuit, many gold medals for Britain as fellow cyclist looked off the pace in Monday’s going second fastest, 11 seconds Bradley Wiggins and could take his tally to repechage as her medal hopes quicker than at the London world six when he contests his fi nal event, the kei- disappeared — losing out to Chi- championships when a poor ride rin, today. na’s Tianshi Zhong in the dash in the IP left his Rio selection The two fi nalist have been sharing digs in to the line. Two British riders, hopes in danger. the Olympic Village and know each other’s Rebecca James and Katie March- Cavendish was sixth fastest in race styles inside out after thousands of ant, qualifi ed for the last eight the time trial. The fl ying lap is training session together. But come the real as the country’s domination of the penultimate discipline before thing there was only going to be one winner the Rio boards showed no sign the climax in the 160-lap points with world champion Kenny at his devastat- of weakening. James will face race where riders can earn points ing best. world champion and Olympic in sprints every 10 laps. At the “It’s really special, it’s not really sunk in,” team sprint gold medallist Zhong London world championships in Kenny told reporters. “It was weird because Tianshi while Marchant faces March, Gaviria, Roger Kluge and we fi nished the semis yesterday which were a Lithuania’s Krupeckaite. Former Australian Glenn O’Shea all end- real scrap and had 24 hours to sit on it. It’s a world champion Kristina Voegel ed on 191 points in a nerve jan- bit strange and it feels like a bit of a lull now.” is also in contention for a fi rst gling fi nale, with Gaviria taking Asked whether the previous night had Olympic gold in the sprint. the title by virtue of having won been awkward, Kenny said he and Skinner two of the six elements. had chatted about the progress of other Brit- Viviani leads as omnium An equally tight battle is likely ish athletes at the Games. “(Andy) Murray, heads for thrilling climax to decide gold here. Britain have heptathlon and (Greg) Rutherford,” he said. won four of the six track golds at Skinner’s emergence has prompted com- Italy’s Elia Viviani took the lead Rio Olympics. parisons with six-times Olympic gold med- allist Chris Hoy, his fellow Scot who was commentating on the race at trackside. Ken- ny said the past few days had reminded him of Beijing eight years ago when he was the new kid on the block and Hoy was at the peak of his powers. On that occasion he won the team sprint alongside Hoy but had to play second fi ddle to his superior in the individual event where Hoy won gold and he took the silver. “It took me back to Beijing a little bit,” he said. “I remember sitting having breakfast with Chris that morning and it was a bit the same this time. “But I enjoyed it, it was a bit lonely in London with only one (rider) per nation and being on my own in the fi nals. I tried to con- vince myself that I would probably be feel- ing better as I have a few more years training than Callum, but in reality I was hurting this morning, I knew it would be a fi ght.” Britain have dominated the track cycling programme in Rio, winning four of the six events completed and with Kenny’s fi ance Laura Trott targeting a second gold as she Australia’s Anna Meares competes in the women’s sprint qualifying begins the defence of her omnium title. track cycling event at the Velodrome in Rio. (AFP / Greg Baker)

EQUESTRIAN VAN ROUWENDAAL WINS 10K GOLD AS MORE Britain’s Dujardin wins OPEN WATER CONTROVERSY FLARES Rio de Janeiro: Dutch swimmer Olympic editions — it was less than one sec- SHARON VAN ROUWENDAAL romped to ond in London and 1.5 seconds in Beijing. dressage gold again 10km open water gold at the Olympics “I felt so good, I swam so easy,” van Rou- yesterday as the course layout sparked wendaal said. “I didn’t feel any fatigue so more controversy at the under-fire Co- after 6km I changed my mind and thought I Reuters pacabana beach venue. Van Rouwendaal, should push on,” she said. “I kicked hard for Rio de Janeiro whose training was hindered by a shoulder about 200m and looked back to see that injury for eight months earlier this year, I’d opened a gap. From there I just used my made it look easy as she powered to vic- arms and paced the race. I didn’t feel any reat Britain’s CHARLOTTE DUJARDIN tory in 1hr 56min 32.1sec. fatigue until the very end.” won her second individual dressage gold Behind her there was a fierce battle The open water competition in Rio in her fi nal Olympic performance on horse for silver raging, and her French training marked a return to Olympic swimming’s Valegro yesterday, though she came short partner Aurelie Muller appeared to have ocean roots. Swimming in the first modern Gof breaking her own world record. Dujardin led with nabbed it. But Muller was disqualified for Games, in 1896, was held in the Bay of Zea. the top Freestyle score of 93.857 out of 100, below impeding Italian Rachele Bruni, who ended But the sport moved to the pool in 1908 her 2014 record of 94.30. up in second ahead of bronze medallist and since marathon swimming was added Isabell Werth claimed silver after helping Ger- of Brazil. to the programme in 2008 it’s been held many win the team dressage title on Friday. Fellow Muller departed the picturesque cres- in contained bodies of water — the rowing German Kristina Broring-Sprehe took bronze. Du- cent beach in tears after she swam into her center in Beijing and the Serpentine in jardin, 31, won individual and team gold four years rival in the finishing chute, French team Hyde Park in London, rather than the sea. ago in London and has broken numerous dressage off icials saying she was confused because Copacabana provided one of the most records. the tall buoys marking the start of the lane beautiful backdrops Rio has to off er, but the A former groom who worked her way up in an were improperly aligned with the buoys at sewage-tainted wanters of Guanabara Bay elite sport, she counts Queen Elizabeth II among the finish line. raised fears of health dangers for swim- her fans. The top 18 individual riders started with Disoriented, world and European cham- mers as for sailors and rowers. a clean slate to ride for individual medals in the pion Muller veered into Bruni when she The venue suff ered another disaster on Freestyle competition, a routine of choreographed realized she wasn’t headed for the timing Saturday, when the starting platform was moves to music that is essentially the equine ver- board. Bruni, who only knew that Muller destroyed by strong currents 48 hours sion of a gymnastics fl oor routine. pushed her arm down at the finish, clocked before the start of competition. Yesterday’s competition featured a Swedish 1:56:49.5 — a whopping 17.4sec behind van With no time to replace it, the field of 26 horse and rider pair performing extended trots to Rouwendaal. strode across the sand, waded into the surf the Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations. Dujardin’s mu- Okimoto snared bronze — a first Olympic and swam out to the starting marker as a sic was Brazil-inspired. Severo Jurado Lopez from swimming medal for a Brazilian woman crowd of fans, teammates and assorted Spain cantered to Santana’s Smooth, before coming — in 1:56:51.4 — 19.3 seconds off the lead. beach-goers cheered. It made for a festive down centre line to Bon Jovi’s It’s My Life to thun- Okimoto expunged the bitter memory “Today I was prepared to do everything show, even though FINA’s open water rules derous applause. His score of 83.625 was widely of the London Games, where she had to and this was the best event of my life,” stipulate that races “must start with ath- booed by an audience that thought it was too low. meaning the top dressage scores were claimed by be fished out of the water suff ering from she said. “God is Brazilian.” The margin of letes jumping into the water from a fixed American Laura Graves, a former hair stylist women in an Olympic event in which they compete hypothermia. victory dwarfed those in the two previous platform, above water level”. riding a horse she trained herself, came in fourth, against men. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, August 16, 2016

WEIGHTLIFTING The draw of gold brings tainted lift ers back to Olympic battle Gold medallists Nijat of Kazakhstan, Iran’s Moradi and Srisurat of Thailand all spent two years banned from the sport CHINA TOP TABLE AGAIN; ROBLES ENDS LONG US WAIT

Rio de Janeiro: China ensured top place in the Guoxin, made the change. weightlifting medals table for the fifth succes- His decision was influenced, he said, by the sive Olympic Games when Meng Suping won absence of Tatiana Kashirina of Russia, the her nation’s fifth gold on Sunday. Sarah Robles, world record holder who beat Meng in the in third place in the +75kg, won the first weight- past two IWF World Championships. She was lifting medal for the United States since 2000. excluded when the entire Russian team was Meng had to make her last clean and jerk banned from Rio for state-sponsored doping. of 177kg to edge out Kim Kuk Hyang of North The ban was not confirmed until the week Korea, who lifted more than 300kg for the first before the Games started. Kashirina’s world time. Meng did it and justified her last-minute record total of 348kg is way beyond the win- selection for the Rio team. ning total in Rio. “It’s a pity she was not here,” Meng occasionally looked shaky, missing said Meng. “She is a very strong competitor.” her first snatch and her first clean and jerk, but Both Robles, 28, and Kim have served two- did enough. year doping bans. Kim’s total 306kg was 1kg “I was at home in China training hard when behind Meng. She was in tears afterwards and I heard I had been selected,” she said. “It was said, “I am happy to win silver but also sad that a personal challenge for me and I know there it was not gold.” was a lot of weight on me, but it was my duty At 143kg Robles was 20kg or more heavier to perform well for my country and I did it. I than her rivals and turned that to her advan- was a bit nervous on my first lift but I stabi- tage to become the first American on the lised. I didn’t think about how much I had to lift, weightlifting podium since Tara Nott won at I just followed my coach’s directions and the Sydney 2000. “This means a lot, to be on the end result was pretty good.” podium and give exposure to our sport at a Kazakhstan’s Nijat Rahimov, who was Meng’s gold takes China’s weightlifting tally time when it’s already growing,” said Robles. representing Azerbaijan when was to 28 in the five Games this century. They have “It’s good not just for me, but for women of caught doping, won gold in the men’s never won fewer than five in a single Games size, for women who want to get up off the 77kg in Rio on Thursday. (AFP) since women’s contests were added to the couch and do something diff erent.” schedule in 2000. Their total in Rio is five golds Her two-year ban, she said, was the result of and two silvers with one lifter yet to compete unknowingly taking an over-the-counter sup- — Zhe Yang in the men’s 105kg last night. No plement that contained a banned substance. other team can overtake them. Life was hard for Robles. AFP doping off ences. It punished North Korea, Ro- for a banned substance following an out-of- A knee injury to the 48kg favourite Hou She lost her funding, took three or four Rio de Janeiro mania, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Moldova as competition test in July in Athens. Zhihui prompted the decision to call for Meng, menial jobs, kept training and strove to return. well by reducing their allocation of lifters. Kazakhstan’s Rahimov, who was represent- 27. Hou thought she had recovered suff iciently “I know I’m a good and honest person and if I The IWF had also wanted to bar Belarus and ing Azerbaijan when was caught doping, won in a pre-Games training camp in Sao Paulo but put hard work in I would be able to reach my ight weightlifters who previously Kazakhstan over high-profi le drugs scandals gold in the men’s 77kg on Thursday just over a China’s head coach of the women’s team, Wang goals.” served doping bans have won medals at but the International Olympic Committee was year after returning from his ban in June 2015. Rio, while others have been sent home unable to complete retesting of samples from Iranian Moradi insisted his gold in the men’s for failed tests, highlighting again the the Beijing and London Games in time. 94kg on Saturday had not been diminished by scandal-plaguedE sport’s battle with drugs. Kazakhstan and Belarus have been free to his two-year suspension for testing positive for Gold medallists Nijat Rahimov of Kaza- compete at the 31st Olympiad and have picked the painkiller methadone, insisting he’d always khstan, Iran’s Sohrab Moradi and Sukanya up four and two medals respectively, although been “100 percent” clean. Srisurat of Thailand all spent two years banned there is absolutely no evidence of foul play. Thailand’s Sukanya said her 58kg Olympic from the sport after testing positive for illegal “We are doing everything in our power to gold was redemption for her two-year ban, substances. change the mentalities of some countries that which ended in May 2013. She claimed she had Another four weightlifters caught doping might be more aff ected (by doping) than oth- never knowingly taken the anabolic steroid earlier in their careers have claimed bronze ers,” an IWF spokesperson told AFP. found in her system. medals in Brazil, as has one silver medal- A weightlifter has yet to fail a doping test Silver medallist Kim Kuk-Hyang of North list. Four athletes, including a Polish Olympic after competing in Rio, but two brothers from Korea and bronze medallists Farkhad Kharki champion, were withdrawn from the compe- Poland, a Taiwanese athlete and a Cypriot were of Kazakhstan, ’s Gabriel Sincraian, tition for testing positive. Thirteen golds have prevented from taking part after failing drugs Lithuanian Aurimas Didzbalis and Ameri- been awarded, with two still to come. tests before their competition started. can Sarah Robles also spent 24 months out of “People do cheat,” said American weight- Adrian Zielinski, a 2012 Olympic champion, the sport for testing positive for banned sub- lifter Kendrick Farris. “Hopefully, they’ll con- tested positive for the anabolic steroid nan- stances. Retesting of samples from Beijing and tinue to do the work they’re doing and we’ll drolone just three days after his brother Tomasz London recently unearthed at least 20 posi- get more athletes competing clean,” he added, suff ered the same fate, Poland’s anti-doping tive results in weightlifting, including Kaza- referring to governing body the International committee said on Friday. The Zielinskis, who khstan’s double Olympic champion Ilya Ilyin. Weightlifting Federation. trained for the Olympics individually, outside Several lifters are waiting to be upgraded to Weightlifting has long been affl icted by the Polish federation framework, had both medal status after those who failed drugs tests doping scandals and the IWF has undertaken been due to compete in the 94kg competition are stripped of their podium fi nishes from the a major crackdown on performance-enhanc- the next day and denied any wrongdoing. past two Games. ing drugs. It has led the way on anti-doping Earlier in the week, Taiwan’s former weight- Didzbalis, the 94kg Rio bronze medallist, measures that are now being adopted by other lifting world record holder Lin Tzu-chi was told reporters he was hurt by continued ques- sports, such as publicly naming athletes after suspended and withdrawn from the women’s tions over the legitimacy of weightlifting re- their initial ‘A’ sample tests positive. 63kg category after a routine dope test ‘detect- sults. “There have always been people who un- Gold medal winner China’s Meng Suping (centre), silver medallist North Korea’s Kim Kuk Hyang The IWF banned Russia and Bulgaria, both ed an abnormal reaction.’ Cypriot lifter An- derstand this sport and those who don’t. There (left) and bronze medallist Sarah Elizabeth Robles of USA pose during the podium ceremony for traditional powerhouses, from competing in tonis Martasides was reportedly sent home on are always haters but I cannot do anything the women’s weightlifting +75kg event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. (AFP / Goh Chai Hin) weightlifting at the Rio Olympics for repeated the eve of the Games after after testing positive about it. It’s just the way it is,” he said.

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT US swimmer Lochte Campriani becomes shooting supremo

Reuters says he challenged Rio de Janeiro rmed with his girlfriend’s rifl e, Ol- ympic champion Niccolo Campri- armed robbers in Rio ani narrowly won his second gold of the Games on Sunday at the men’s swimmers left a club host- 50A metre rifl e three positions event, making Reuters Rio de Janeiro ing a French Games delegation Italy the most successful country in the Rio party early on Sunday, bought shooting competition. popcorn from a street vendor The 28-year-old Campriani, won gold in YAN LOCHTE ini- and then got into a taxi cab. Rio three positions in London 2012 and gold in 10 tially resisted a group police have said they plan to in- metre air rifl e last Monday, said he was de- of armed men posing terview the swimmers as part of pleted when he shot a disappointing 9.2 (out as police who robbed their investigation into the rob- of 10.9) in his last standing target in the fi nal theR Olympic gold medallist and bery. Lochte has won a total of shooting event of the Games. three fellow American swim- 12 Olympic medals, six of which But it was enough to scrape past Russia’s mers in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, are gold, behind teammate Sergey Kamenskiy, who was making his Ol- Lochte said in an interview. Michael Phelps’s 28 medals, 23 ympic debut and lost the gold with a devas- The robbery of Lochte, Gun- of them gold. He said he was tating 8.3 in the last of 45 shots in kneeling, nar Bentz, Jack Conger and looking forward to returning to prone and standing positions. Jimmy Feigen early Sunday, as the United States and starting Campriani won his third gold by just 0.3 of they returned in a taxi to their getting down on the ground,” training with an eye to compet- a point to become the only shooter to win two hotels after a night of party- Lochte said in the interview ing at the Tokyo Games in 2020. golds here. Under the weight of their stability ing, has fed concern over safety conducted at a Rio beach. The incident stoked worries clothing, the two exhausted men embraced. at the fi rst Olympic Games in “And then the guy pulled out over the safety of competitors “The gold medal of London was a relief, the South America. “We got pulled his gun, he cocked it, put it to and visitors to Rio, which has gold medal on Monday made me angry, and over in our taxi and these guys my forehead.” a long history of violent crime, the gold medal today, I would say I enjoyed came out with a badge, a police At that point, Lochte said though Brazil’s sports minister it,” said Campriani, who had to use the rifl e of Italy’s Niccolo Campriani waves after winning the 50m Rifle 3 positions men’s gold at the badge,” 32-year-old Lochte said he complied. “I put my hands insisted that athletes who re- girlfriend and fellow Italy shooter Petra Zub- Olympic Shooting Centre in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. (AFP / Pascal Guyot) in his fi rst interview about the up, and was like, ‘Whatever.’” mained on the Olympic site had lasing after having problems with his own. crime. “They pulled out their The gunmen stole their cash experienced no problems. “My heart gave up, I was so tired after this American Matt Emmons, the world No. 1 a lottery,” said Kamenskiy, adding “I was un- guns, they told the other swim- and wallets, he said. They let In addition to the swimmers, week,” he added. “My matches, three fi nals, I and three positions event favourite, failed to lucky, unfortunately.” mers to get down on the ground, the swimmers keep their cell Swedish tourists were briefl y was watching Petra shoot, it was just such a qualify, fi nishing in 19th place. Campriani France’s Alexis Raynaud took the bronze in they got down on the ground.” phones and credentials. Lochte abducted when they visited a long week.” said he was sad Emmons did not make it, call- his fi rst Olympics at the age of 21. Campriani But Lochte, among the most released a statement on Sunday, slum, ’s visiting edu- Over nine days and 15 events, Italy fi nished ing the 35-year-old ‘the best shooter of the said Rio might be the end of a 16-year shoot- successful male swimmers in in which he said: “What is most cation minister was robbed at at the top of the shooting medals table, with year, the century.’ ing career. Olympic history, said he initial- important is that we are safe knife point, bullets fl ew into the four golds and three silvers, and was followed Kamenskiy, 28, said he felt blessed with the “Life is long and there are so many things ly refused. “I was like, we didn’t and unharmed.” equestrian centre and a Games by Germany. Powerhouses like the United silver because he was the least experienced of I can do,” he said.“But if I quit now it would do anything wrong, so I’m not Witnesses said the four bus was attacked with stones. States and China had disappointing shows. the fi nalists. “You know, the last shot is like piss me off that my last shot was a 9.2.” Gulf Times Tuesday, August 16, 2016 7 OLYMPICS

TENNIS Podium to proposal as Chinese pair Zi & Kai Murray carves his ‘dive’ into marriage place with the greats No other tennis player, man or woman, has defended an Olympic singles crown. And now Murray has two Olympic golds—a status unmatched by any of those peers with whom he is often less than favourably compared

hinese diver He Zi had a marry myself out so early,” said day to remember as no He, who tearfully accepted the Csooner had she stepped proposal with a big hug. down from the podium than “I saw him during the after- boyfriend and fellow Olympic noon and he seemed to be mem- medallist Qin Kai got down on orising something, so I asked one knee to propose. him ‘what are you doing?’ and he He grabbed silver in the said he was singing,” added He, women’s 3m springboard on Sun- who also won silver in London day, but Qin — who won bronze four years ago. “I didn’t know he in the men’s 3m synchronised was (practising) the proposal.” springboard last week — won “I’ve forgotten most of what gold for bravery as he popped the he’s said (during the proposal), question in front of a global TV but it’s largely what you can audience. Thankfully, she said yes. expect like promises, but what “We’ve been dating for six touched me the most is that he years, but I didn’t expect him to said he was willing to be bullied propose today,” said He, proudly by me for life,” she laughed. Reuters runners-up fi nishes and the He did it with a typically dy- head in the centre of the court other tablets to capture the mo- sporting the sparkling new ring. Shi Tingmao claimed gold for Rio de Janeiro French Open fi nal defeat. Forget namic display of baseline tennis and fought back tears when he ment digitally. Something for Fa- “He said a lot of things, made a China in the 3m springboard that his three Grand Slam titles seasoned with smart forays to fi nally clinched victory after a cebook, and Twitter and to prove lot of promises, but I think the diving final, but was relegated is 14 shy of Roger Federer’s record the net, pinpoint serving when four-hour-two-minute battle. to friends and family that they thing that touched me the most to third wheel by the newly en- or Andy Murray, there haul, or 11 short of Pete Sampras it mattered, and ironman fi tness. Burying his head in his towel, had been there. is I think this is the guy I can gaged teammates. The engage- have been highs. Then and Rafa Nadal. Del Potro, conqueror of both Murray shook with emotion as “Tonight was one of the hard- trust for the rest of my life.” ment is the second of the Games, there was this. On a No matter that among the Djokovic and Nadal here, at 6ft the Olympic podium was hastily est matches I have played,” Mur- Qin climbed up to the stage af- after Brazilian women’s rugby Fsmall, green patch of ‘Big Four’ Federer, Nadal, Novak 6ins (1.98m) was somehow a fi t- assembled, and dozens of pho- ray said in the bowels of the ten- ter He received her silver medal, player Isadora Cerullo accepted a scorched acrylic some 9,000 kil- Djokovic and Murray, the Scot ting giant to fell. The Argentine tographers swarmed the net like nis stadium, a British fl ag draped getting down on one knee while marriage proposal from her girl- ometres (5592 miles) from home, is the only one not to have com- put up a valiant fi ght before going camera-wielding hornets jostling round his shoulders. holding a red box with the ring friend at the medals ceremony the Scot achieved a unique Ol- pleted the full collection of Grand down 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5. for place. “I know the fact it has not been and a glass-encased rose. for the first Olympic rugby sev- ympic feat, converting heart and Slam crowns. It was not always pretty, played The crowd roared ‘ole ole ole’ done before means it is very hard “I didn’t expect myself to ens competition last week. guts and sweat into Rio gold. Now he has eclipsed them, out in front of a noisy, chant- as Murray walked to the side of to do, and I am very, very proud to With victory over Juan-Mar- though the man himself would ing Latin crowd, in a sometimes the court to greet fans, many of be the fi rst one to have done it.” tin del Potro, the 29-year-old never be so immodest. “I don’t soccer stadium atmosphere, but whom were clad in Argentine soc- “Four years is a long time, a claimed a status unmatched by think I would say that,” he smiled. it was a compelling spectacle in cer shirts and had been screaming lot can happen. I had back sur- Ali suff ers the sting of defeat any of those peers with whom But still, no other tennis play- which, from one perspective, against him all evening. gery between London and now... he is often less than favourably er, man or woman, has defended Murray elevated himself above Now though, they hailed him, I’ve gone through some tough here was no rhyme or rhythm, no talk of bees or butterflies, compared—two Olympics sin- an Olympic singles crown. his illustrious peers and pred- leaping high to catch soaking times on court.” Sunday night in only the savage sting of defeat as British flyweight Mohamed gles crowns. And now, Murray has two ecessors. sweatbands thrown by the play- Rio was undoubtedly one of his TAli lost on his Olympic debut yesterday. Forget the fi ve Australian Open Olympic golds. Little wonder he clutched his er, and lifting iPads, phones and greatest times. With cheers of ‘Ali, Ali’ echoing around the arena from a home crowd enjoying the chance to hail his late heavyweight world champion namesake, Ali was outmanoeuvred 3-0 by Venezuelan southpaw Yoel Segundo Finol. Questions about the name are Hingis adds silver medal to rich career storyline well worn by now — his father is a boxing-mad taxi driver — and reporters were warned by a team off icial not to land any more as a hey should make a movie out of feat by Russians Ekaterina Makarova Grand Slams at 16, you think you distraught Ali struggled to come to terms with what had happened. TMartina Hingis’s tennis career. and Elena Vesnina and there were have another 10 years, at least, at the The last of the heavily-fancied British boxers to fight, the 20-year- First the meteoric rise, five Grand plenty of tears shed at the end. top of the game,” said Hingis. “But old from Bury — home town of 2004 silver medallist Amir Khan — Slam singles titles while still a teen- But a while later the 35-year-old, now that I know it’s coming towards Ali had been waiting for his moment. ager, the world number one ranking who came out of retirement for a sec- the end and everything is behind me, “I thought I’d been here too long. I was just itching to get in there,” and her dazzling smile adorning ond time in 2013 and has won three today is the way it is.” he said, with his rival going through to the quarter-finals and one step magazine covers around the world. Grand Slam doubles titles to add to Back in the 1996 Olympics, Hingis away from a medal. “I just tried too hard and nothing was flowing. It’s Then there were the accidents, the nine she managed earlier in her lost in the second round of the sin- going to be heartbreaking to see them on the podium and I’m just injuries, relationship bust-ups, retire- career, reflected on her achievement. gles and reached the quarter-finals here. I just feel like it’s the end of the world. I was just too anxious.” ments, two comebacks and a two- “Of course, you are a little disappoint- of the doubles with Patty Schnyder. Finol, 19, was given several warnings for holding and eff ectively year suspension for testing positive ed (not to win gold), but looking back it’s She went on to establish herself as manhandled Ali around the ring while falling back on his ringcraft for cocaine in 2007. been an incredible journey,” said Hingis, the leading player of her generation, to stay out of danger and landing scoring combinations. Older and wiser, the former ‘Swiss who had hoped to partner Roger Feder- winning five Grand Slam singles “Another clinch, another clinch and the referee wouldn’t say anything,” Miss’ added another line to an already er in a dream mixed doubles match-up titles between 1997 and 1999. But she said the Briton bitterly. “A warning or something at least. He just kept rich plot on Sunday when, 20 years until he was forced out by injury. retired in 2003 with a knee injury doing it for the full three rounds. I just couldn’t get any rhythm going. He after playing in her only previous The Swiss, who recently an- before returning to the Tour in 2006. was just being clever, holding and hitting and moving and moving.” Games in Atlanta, she added an Olym- nounced that she had split with Hingis has yet to commit to playing The Venezuelan, whose late brother-in-law Edwin Valero was a pic medal to her collection in Rio. doubles partner Sania Mirza, said the at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo when two-time WBA and WBC world champion and committed suicide in It was not the colour Hingis wanted tears were a mixture of joy and relief she’ll pushing 40. “I think if you asked prison in 2010 after being arrested for the murder of Finol’s sister, Rio Olympics women’s doubles silver medallists Martina as she and partner Timea Bacsinszky after a tension-packed week. me 10 years ago if I would be here in said the tactic had worked. “He is a young boxer with great talent Hingis (right) and Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland. (AFP) were beaten to gold in a 6-4, 6-4 de- “It’s diff erent when you are winning Rio, I would say you’re crazy...” and also a great name,” he said of Ali.

BASKETBALL US men, women close out pool play unbeaten Reuters known as the ‘Stifl e Tower’. game to beat them. They haven’t been dom- Rio de Janeiro The United States will not know their inating but they haven’t lost either. They are quarter-fi nal opponent until after the fi nal struggling but they are winning.” Group B matches but are well aware that In other Group A action, Australia (4-1) he US men’s basketball team closed they need to raise their game considerably if locked down second place after easing past out pool play with an unbeaten they hope to make it to the fi nal. Venezuela 81-56, while France (3-2) fi nished record but a nervy 100-97 win While the performance has been uneven, third. Serbia (2-3), playing in the fi nal pool Tover France on Sunday confi rmed Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski remained game, thumped winless China 94-60 to fi nish that getting to the top step of the Olympic unconcerned, insisting there is only one fourth and grab a spot in the knockout round. podium will not be an easy climb. statistic that matters and that is the win Meanwhile, the US women’s team “Personally I felt we were going to domi- column, where his team is perfect. wrapped up Olympic preliminary round nate these games that they were going to “At the end of the day, no one will ask play in familiar blowout style by routing come easy,” American guard Paul George told you anything else except if you have won,” China 105-62 on Sunday, storming into the reporters. “But you start playing better com- Krzyzewski said. quarter-fi nals unbeaten and on course for a petition, you see these teams are pretty good.” “While you are approaching that win- sixth straight gold medal. After a pair of blowout wins over China ning you are asked a bunch of other things. Serbia also secured a spot in the last and Venezuela to open the tournament, the I think we are getting better off ensively and eight, grinding out a 95-88 victory over United States have received a wake-up call we have to get better defensively.” winless Senegal, while Spain beat Canada in the way of narrow three-point wins over Like most nations lining up against the 73-60 in the fi nal Group B clash to set the France and Serbia and a battling 10-point United States, France came into the contest matchups. victory against Australia. still searching for a fi rst-ever Olympic win Group B top-seeded United States have The alarm bells continued to ring on over their opponents. their next opponent, 16th ranked Japan, in Sunday as the United States allowed France, The two had met fi ve times previously with their crosshairs while Serbia get unbeaten playing without talismanic point guard the closest France coming to a victory before Australia, Group A’s top seed. The other Tony Parker, to rally from a 16-point defi cit Sunday being a 10-point loss in the gold med- games, all scheduled for today, will see 2012 late in the third quarter to turn a predicted al game at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. London silver medallists France take on rout into another nail-biter. France came closer to ending that run Canada and Spain face Turkey. Despite their troubles, the United States in their sixth encounter and fancied their No nation faces a more daunting task fi nished top of Group A with a perfect 5-0 chances, but to beat a US team still not fi ring than fourth-seeded Japan, who will try to record to run their Olympic winning streak on all cylinders will take something special. end the Americans’ 46-game Olympic win- to 22 games and remain the favourite to “You’ve seen the past three games, ning run that dates back to the 1992 Barce- claim what would be a third straight gold against Serbia, against Australia and we lona Games. on the fi nal day of the Games. “Today they thought we had a chance too,” said French- With an overall record of 63-3, Olym- did not play very well and still won so they man Boris Diaw. pic losses are rare for the US, but Japan can are still the favourites,” said 7-foot, 1-inch “We played pretty well but we didn’t play claim one of them, although it occurred 40 Zou Yuchen of China tries to grab a loose ball from Stefan Bircevic of Serbia during their Group A match on (2.16) French centre Rudy Gobert, also perfectly and you have to have a near perfect years ago at the 1976 Montreal Games. Sunday. Serbia thumped winless China 94-60 to finish fourth and grab a spot in the knockout round. (Reuters) Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, August 16, 2016 OLYMPICS

FOCUS Brazil’s Nagl tees off fi rst in women’s golf Aft er the initial doubts, AFP Rio de Janeiro

razil’s Miriam Nagl will hit the first Olympic golf shot by a woman since B1900 tomorrow while world number one Lydia Ko begins her quest for gold in the final group. golf a big winner in Rio Pairings for the first two rounds of the Rio Olympic women’s golf tournament were released yesterday with Nagl being ‘I think it was very important for Olympic golf going forward. I don’t know who wouldn’t accorded the same honour as compatriot Adilson da Silva in the men’s event, the want to be a part of great competition. I love competition at the highest level and for host nation heroes making historic tee shots marking golf’s return. me, that’s what the Olympics is all about — the best of the best, going head to head’ Golf had not been played in the Olym- pics since 1904 in St. Louis when men’s AFP team and individual events were staged. Rio de Janeiro But the only prior women’s Olympic event British golfer Justin Rose celebrates his was a nine-hole tournament at Paris in Olympic title-winning birdie on Sunday. (AFP) 1900 won by American Margaret Abbott, hen the International the first US woman to win Olympic gold. Olympic Committee ex- Nagl will be joined in the opening amines every Olympic group tomorrow at 7:30 am (1030 GMT) event next year to decide by Malaysia’s Kelly Tan and Ireland’s Leona Wits fate beyond 2020, golf will make a Maguire, one of three amateurs in the field simple case to off set absent stars — of 60 for the 72-hole strokeplay event. remember the golden duel. New Zealand teen star Ko will tee off in the Golf’s 112-year hiatus from the last group alongside Britain’s 27th-ranked Olympic lineup ended with Britain’s Charley Hull and Sweden’s 11th-ranked Justin Rose edging Sweden’s Henrik Anna Nordqvist. Stenson for the gold medal, pitching “We’re all going to have a good time,” the ball inches from the cup on the Ko said. “It’s fun... us golfers can be among 72nd hole to set up a title-winning these other great athletes. It celebrates birdie after a day of intense drama. each athlete and their countries.” Australia’s top-ranked Jason Day, The 19-year-old, who moved from Americans Dustin Johnson and Jordan South Korea as a child and became a New Spieth and Rory McIlroy of Northern Zealand citizen at age 12, won her first ma- Ireland—the world’s four top players— jor title at last year’s Evian Championship. didn’t play, heading a list of about 20 She captured her second major in April at top golfers who skipped Rio, many of the ANA Inspiration, one of five titles Ko them citing the threat of the Zika virus, has won this year. which causes severe illness and has The group in front of Ko will also be been linked to certain birth defects. one to watch, with Thailand’s second- But 2013 US Open champion Rose, ranked Ariya Jutanugarn joined by ranked ninth this week, and new seventh-ranked American Stacy Lewis and world number four Stenson, who won South Korea’s sixth-ranked Kim Sei-Young. his fi rst major at last month’s British The last group in Thursday’s second Open, staged a shotmaking classic round and 10th trio in round one will be where the lead swung back and forth a showcase triumverate as well featur- and displayed world-class golf skills. ing third-ranked Canadian teen Brooke “I think it was very important for Henderson, fourth-ranked American Olympic golf going forward,” Rose Lexi Thompson and Norway’s Suzann said. “I don’t know who wouldn’t Pettersen, who was among those cham- want to be a part of great competi- pioning golf’s case to the International tion. I love competition at the highest Olympic Committee for inclusion in Rio. level and for me, that’s what the Ol- South Korea’s fifth-ranked Park In-Bee ympics is all about — the best of the is in the group just ahead of that alongside best, going head to head.” Spain’s Azahara Munoz and American Gerina Stenson settled for silver but like Piller. Maguire will have twin sister Lisa as her Rose had put a priority on the Olym- be said except what transpired this ously very diff erent reasons for not later for campaigns when the Olympics So it’s somewhat fi tting that an- caddie, just as she did when she shared 25th pics in a crowded schedule that of- week. What a great showdown for going to Rio, not related to Zika,” Bach could pinch two major tournaments, other Briton, this one passionate at last month’s British Women’s Open. “It’s a fered two major titles in three weeks these two guys,” said 15th-ranked Ku- said. “We are also following with in- the tour playoff s and the Ryder Cup. about the notion of his place and dream come true and I aim to enjoy every last month. “It’s a whole new expe- char of his podium neighbors. “This terest the discussion in the golf com- Golf pre-dates the modern Olym- golf’s place in the pantheon of sport, single moment,” Maguire said. “To have my rience for us golfers,” Stenson said. event has gone over fantastically well. munity how they themselves are pics as a major sports off ering, the made the case for bringing the two sister as caddie, and being able to share the “It’s the opportunity of a lifetime and It’s a clear winner going forward.” considering these decisions and what fi rst British Open in 1860 coming 19th Century ideas together again for experience with her, is extra special.” I’m thrilled I came here.” IOC president Thomas Bach ques- judgements they are making.” nearly 30 years before France’s Pierre the fi rst time since Canada’s George Other amateurs in the field include American Matt Kuchar, who took tions whether top players skipped Rio It could mean the IOC wants to de Coubertin fi rst considered the idea Lyon won gold in 1904 at St. Louis. Swiss Albane Valenzuela, who plays along bronze after a fi nal-round eight-under to rest for the US PGA’s season-end- see how a revamped Olympic-year of reviving the multi-sport spectacle. “I made it a big deal in my sched- Taiwan’s Teresa Lu and Norway’s Marianne par 63, said the Rose-Stenson show- ing playoff s and the chase for a $10 events calendar might look to priori- Scotsmen Old Tom Morris and ule,” Rose said. “I made it a highlight. I Skarpnord in Thursday’s first group of the down spoke volumes about why golf million top prize, Zika used only as a tize Games golf and better ensure par- Young Tom Morris were multiple ma- felt very inspired this week. I felt very day, and Hong Kong’s Tiff any Chan, who and the Olympics were good for each convenient excuse. ticipation by all top stars. That would jor winners well before Greece’s Spy- focused. It’s defi nitely something I’ve will be joined by Brazil’s Victoria Lovelady other ahead of the 2017 IOC rethink. “We see now in the discussion in mean golf governing bodies working ridon Louis won the fi rst marathon in been looking forward to a long, long and Swiss Fabienne In-Albon. “I’m not sure much more needs to the golf community, there are obvi- up a new solution sooner rather than the 1896 Athens Olympics. time. I was very motivated.” STANDING TALL, BOTH INDIA ROUND-UP Srikanth shines, athletes fl op IANS Rio de Janeiro

huttler Kidambi Srikanth’s en- try into the quarter-fi nals kept India’s medal hopes alive as the Sathletes continued to cut a sorry fi gure while wrestler Ravinder Khatri also fl opped in his bout at the Rio Olympics yesterday. World No. 11 Srikanth continued his rol- licking form to register a 21-19, 21-19 tri- umph in 42 minutes over world No. 5 Jan O Jorgensen in their pre-quarter-fi nal tie. In a hard fought fi rst game, both shut- tlers started on an attacking note but it was Srikanth who managed to maintain the lead with some bodyline smashes. Jor- gensen, bronze medallist at the 2014 World Championships, gave a tough fi ght at the end but it was the Guntur lad who proved superior to clinch the fi rst game 21-19. In the second game, the Denmark play- er upped the ante and played a disciplined game to maintain the lead from the start. But with some swift court movement, the Indian diminished the lead to stay at 17- 17 and then took a one-point lead to make it 19-18 before wrapping up the game to advance into the quarter-fi nals. Srikanth had entered the pre-quarter- fi nals after topping Group H. In the quar- ters, he will face the tough task of beating Kidambi Srikanth will meet two-time two-time defending champion and fi ve- defending champion and five-time time world champion Lin Dan of China. world champion Lin Dan of China in Meanwhile, it was heartbreak for the the quarter-finals tomorrow. (AFP) athletes who endured another dismal day at the Games. Lalita Babbar, competing in an individ- from the track and fi eld events as Srabani metres in his fi rst attempt, which was Lorincz by technical superiority in the ual track event for the fi rst time since PT Nanda failed to qualify for the semi-fi nals way short of the qualifi cation mark. men’s Greco-Roman 85kg 1/8 fi nals. Usha in 1984, fi nished 10th in the fi nal of of the women’s 200 metres after fi nishing In his second attempt, the Indian The 24-year-old Indian failed to pro- the women’s 3,000-metre steeplechase. 55th among 72 athletes. jumped 16.13m, which still was short of vide any resistance during a 0-9 loss to Lalita clocked nine minutes and 22.74 Srabani clocked 23.58 seconds, way the qualifi cation mark of 16.95m. the World Championship bronze medal- seconds—nearly three seconds behind below topper Cote d’Ivoire’s Marie-Josee Placed at 23rd spot, he was under pres- list. Khatri started the fi rst round poorly her national record timing in the water Talou (22.31 seconds). sure to hit the qualifi cation mark in the as he had no answers to the 26-year-old’s US gymnast Simone Biles with compatriot and swimmer Michael and barrier race. In men’s triple jump, Renjith Ma- fi nal attempt. He could only manage a moves. Leading 4-0, the Hungarian took Phelps. The 19-year-old Biles, standing at 4-ft 8-in, looks tiny next The Maharashtra athlete was inside the heshwary fi nished a disappointing 30th jump of 15.99 in the third and fi nal at- one more point to seal the fi rst round in to the 6-ft 4-in Phelps. The gymnast, who won her third gold medal top eight competitors midway but was to crash out of the qualifi cation stage. tempt to negate any chances of qualifying two minutes and 55 seconds. on Sunday night, posted on Twitter: “Size diff erence in Olympians not able to push as much as she would Competing in his second Olympics, Ma- for the fi nal round. Lorincz then sealed his place at the 1/4 doesn’t matter, depending on what sport you do 6’8” & 4’8””. have liked to towards the closing laps. heshwary found himself at the 11th spot To add salt to the wounds, wrestler fi nals, eff ecting a huge take-down to gain More disappointment was in store in the qualifi ers, after an eff ort of 15.80 Ravinder Khatri lost to Hungary’s Viktor four more points. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 16, 2016 9 SPORT

RUGBY TENNIS Sharapova could return in January, Favourites New says Russian Tennis Zealand brace for Federation chief vengeful rivals New Zealand travel to Sydney to face Australia on Saturday for what promises to be a feisty meeting of old foes, before South Africa host later in Nelspruit

Reuters Cape Town New Zealand coach Sreve Hansen.

orld champions New Zea- land must battle the loss of some of the game’s greats and a desire for revenge from Wtheir opponents as they prepare for the start of the Rugby Championship this weekend. But even in the face of change and some Reuters banned drug meldonium during adversity, the All Blacks remain favour- Moscow January’s Australian Open. ites to regain the title they lost to Aus- The 29-year-old was named in tralia last year after and impressive fi rst ive-times grand slam Russia’s offi cial entry list for the hit-out of their revamped side with a 3-0 winner Maria Shara- Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro series win over Wales in June. pova, banned in June for but the Court of Arbitration for New Zealand travel to Sydney to face Ftwo years for doping of- Sport (CAS) decided in July to Australia on Saturday for what promises fences, may be allowed to return defer its decision on her appeal to be a feisty meeting of old foes, before in January, according to Russian against the ban until Sept 19. South Africa host Argentina later in Nel- Tennis Federation president Sharapova is seeking to have spruit. Shamil Tarpishchev. her suspension, which was New Zealand defeated Australia 34-17 “Everything will be decided handed down by the Interna- in last year’s World Cup fi nal and there in September. It is impossible tional Tennis Federation (ITF) in has been plenty of chatter since between to say for certain but I think she June, wiped out or reduced. coach Steve Hansen and counterpart will start playing again by Janu- The postponement of the rul- Michael Cheika after the Wallabies suf- ary,” Tarpishchev was quoted as ing came because Sharapova and fered a humiliating 3-0 loss to England saying by the TASS news agency the ITF needed more time to in June. yesterday. “complete and respond to their It is likely, therefore, the All Blacks Former world number one respective evidentiary submis- will face a vengeful, hurting Australia, Sharapova was suspended fol- sions”, the CAS said in a state- who have brought back a number of their lowing a positive test for the ment. overseas-based, experienced players to bolster the squad that competed against England. NFL In contrast, Hansen is rebuilding fol- “It’s good of the Australian coach to between them and will bolster the deci- at set-piece and the maul, but we want to lowing the retirement of players who start picking our team,” a testy Hanson sion-making signifi cantly. be more eff ective.” have become synonymous with All Black told reporters when his side arrived in South Africa had a wobble in the home The Boks have their own wish for re- jersey over the past decade in infl uential Sydney on Sunday. series with an injury-depleted Ireland in venge over the All Blacks having been Pats prepare to captain Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Keven “I’d say he’s got enough problems of June, claiming a 2-1 success in uncon- edged by their great rivals in the World Mealamu, Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith. his own, probably. But we’ll pick ours and vincing fashion. Cup semi-fi nals last year. The recent Super Rugby competition, he can pick his and he’ll have a lot to say, They are still fi nding their feet under Argentina showed at last year’s World welcome back won by the Wellington Hurricanes, was a no doubt.” new coach Allister Coetzee, who is trying Cup, where they fi nished fourth, how great indicator of the depth of New Zea- Australia’s loss to England has seen a to gradually move the side away from the competing in the Rugby Championship land rugby though and Hansen’s biggest cavalry call from Cheika as they face their forward-dominated style of play that has since 2012 had polished the rough edges US Olympic rugby decision may be over who to pick at fl y- longest losing streak in 11 years. characterised the team. of their game. half between Beauden Barrett and Aaron Defeat against New Zealand on Satur- “Lots of other international sides un- The majority of the squad comes from Cruden. day would be a fi fth in a row, their worst derstand that they have to match South the Jaguares Super Rugby franchise that player Ebner It’s a problem his coaching counter- run since they lost seven tests in succes- Africa’s physicality and we’ve got to be a endured a diffi cult maiden season in parts in the competition would be de- sion in 2005. bit smarter and more accurate now,” Co- the competition, but with coach Daniel lighted to have and Cheika irked the New The Toulon pair of Matt Giteau and etzee told Barbarians News recently. Hourcade back at the helm they have high The Sports Xchange supported Ebner’s participa- Zealand coach last week when he sug- Drew Mitchell, as well as Bordeaux’s “I believe in a balanced style of play. hopes of continuing their international New York tion in the Olympics and said he gested this would be a diffi cult poser for Adam Ashley-Cooper and Will Genia We don’t want to go all-out attack and improvement. trusted him to be ready when the Hansen. from Stade Francais have 352 test caps neglect our forward style, our dominance season starts — but not without he New England Patriots a lot of work. released off ensive line- “Football. Not training. Foot- SPOTLIGHT man Kyler Kerbyson on ball. He hasn’t played football,” Sunday to open a roster Belichick said Sunday when Tspot ahead of safety Nate Ebner asked what the biggest adjust- returning to the team after com- ment for Ebner will be. All Blacks give Wallabies ‘no chance’, says Cheika peting for the US Olympic rugby “You can go out there and run team at the Rio Olympics. The around a track all you want, but 27-year-old Ebner, entering his put 21 guys out there it’s a whole AFP day’s Test in Sydney, which also dou- of their home series against Wales in fi fth NFL season, was placed on diff erent ballgame. You can’t Sydney bles as a Bledisloe Cup match. June. the reserve/did not report list train for that. You have to have “I don’t know what he’s upset Cheika said he had worked on last month so he could partici- him out there. It’s not his fault. about,” Cheika told reporters. building belief among the Wallabies, pate in the Olympics. It’s not anybody’s fault. It just is oach Michael Cheika fi red “It’s up to him. For us, I think we but the All Blacks provided the ulti- Ebner missed the fi rst three what it is. up the war of words with his know how we’re thought of. mate test for his players. weeks of training camp to be “He just hasn’t played foot- New Zealand counterpart “We know they think we’re no “We’ve come off the back of a fair with Team USA Rugby. Ebner ball coming up on eight-plus Steve Hansen on Monday, chance to do anything and they’re few years of indiff erent performanc- scored a try in a 26-0 win last months, whatever it is.... He has sayingC the All Blacks rate the Walla- validated, I suppose, we haven’t es,” Cheika said. week over hosts Brazil for the a long way to go. Nobody will bies as having no chance of winning beaten them for ages in the series so “Over the last 18 months we’ve Americans, who fi nished in work harder at it than he will.” this weekend’s Rugby Championship it’s understandable that they would been trying to build it (belief) in not ninth place. Ebner was an All- Ebner had 13 tackles in 15 opener. think that.” The Wallabies have a 13- just the guys who are starting, but in American rugby player at Ohio games last season. He also had The Wallabies are the defending year Bledisloe Cup drought and New the bigger group of players. State before the Patriots select- 11 special teams tackles, which Rugby Championship title holders but Zealand’s rugby ascendancy remains a “When you are doing that you will ed him in the sixth round of the ranked third on the team. He has have won just one of their last 13 en- thorn in Australia’s side. come up against resistance some 2012 NFL Draft. played in 57 games over his four counters with the world champions. “We’ve been working hard for a times or things that may not go right, Patriots coach Bill Belichick NFL seasons. On arrival in Sydney at the week- few weeks to get ourselves together,” but that doesn’t mean you stop, end, Hansen was told Cheika had Cheika said. you’ve got to push through it. suggested he faced some interest- “We’ll just get our stuff together “You need mental fortitude and ing All Blacks selection decisions and and do our absolute best when we get there’s no better place to test mental Golfer Allenby arrested outside American casino responded by saying the Wallabies out there on Saturday night.” fortitude than against New Zealand.” coach had enough problems of his The Wallabies are coming into the South Africa face Argentina in the AFP, Los Angeles: Australian first time the two-time Tour own to worry about. Rugby Championship on the back of other opening round match of the golfer Robert Allenby was ar- of Australasia Order of Merit Cheika hit back on Monday as the a 3-0 home series loss to England, Rugby Championship in Nelspruit on Australia coach Paul Cheika rested for disorderly conduct winner has encountered US tensions began to rise ahead of Satur- while the All Blacks won all three Tests Saturday. outside an American gam- law authorities after a missed bling casino, just hours after cut. missing the cut at the John In January 2015, Allenby GOLF Deere Classic tournament. missed the cut in the Sony The 45-year-old from Mel- Open in Hawaii and said he bourne was also charged with was abducted and beaten criminal trespassing after the after visiting a Honolulu wine Moore mows down fi eld at John Deere Classic early Saturday incident at bar. His story came under Jumer’s Casino in Rock Island, scrutiny when witnesses said Illinois. He was eventually they saw the Australian at a AFP the past few years,” Moore said of the Tour, Moore was steady coming in. He released on $1,500 bail and strip bar. Los Angeles Deere Run. “I’ve come to appreciate how recorded eight consecutive pars to com- returned to his US home in Allenby said he didn’t remem- well it fi ts me and suits my game. plete 72 holes on top of the leaderboard, Jupiter, Florida, USA Today ber much of the night until he “I think that’s where a lot of the good including a two-putt from 46 feet on the reported Sunday. was pushed out of a car more merican Ryan Moore shot a play comes from — just being comfort- fi nal hole. He led by fi ve shots after Hoff - “I don’t know anything that’s than 10 kilometres (six miles) closing round of 67 at the John able and confi dent, and when I show up mann bogeyed No. 12, and no one could going on, so you can say from the wine bar without his Deere Classic Sunday to earn a here, I feel like I can win.” mount a challenge. whatever you want,” Allenby wallet and cell phone. two-shot victory and claim his Runner-up Ben Martin tried to make a Moore had birdies on the second, told the newspaper. An arrest eventually was fiA fth career PGA Tour title. run with three consecutive birdies on the fourth, ninth and 10th holes on Sunday. He said he was playing cards made and a Honolulu man The 33-year-old Moore fi nished in back nine but fell short with a 68 in the “I liked how steady it was,” Moore said. at the casino with his golf and was given five years in jail for near darkness after a marathon Saturday fourth round. “I feel like this is the kind of golf I can caddie buddies. using Allenby’s credit cards. session but he returned Sunday morning Ryan Moore acknowledges the crowd Tied for third at 267 were Kim Whee of play — just really solid and really steady, “There’s nothing to be said Allenby shot even-par 142 at none the worse for wear and managed to after his winning putt on Sunday. South Korea and Morgan Hoff mann who no bogeys on the weekend.” or done about. Nothing hap- the John Deere event in Silvis, hold off the rest of the field. shot a closing 71. Kim wrapped up the Defending champion Jordan Spieth pened,” Allenby said. Illinois, and missed the cut by Moore fi nished at 22-under 262 at each of the fi rst three rounds. weekend with a 67. was not entered this week after also de- Saturday’s arrest isn’t the three strokes. Deere Run course after shooting 65s in “It’s one I’ve grown to like more over In winning for the fi fth time on the US ciding to skip the Olympic Games. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, August 16, 2016 FOOTBALL

SUPERCUP CHANGE Turkey’s Fenerbahce choose Advocaat to Suarez strike gives reverse fortunes Barcelona edge over Sevilla

‘This is not decided. In the second half we played very well. It’s important to win away This file photo shows then Zenit’s Dutch coach Dick Advocaat. from home against an opponent as good as Sevilla’ AFP team’s defeat at the hands of Istanbul Monaco in the third qualifying round of the Champions League earlier this month. utch coach Dick Advo- The board are keen to have a caat yesterday arrived in new manager in place for when Istanbul to take over as Fenerbahce take on Grashopper manager of Turkish gi- of Zurich in the fi rst leg of play- antsD Fenerbahce and reverse the off s for the Europa League in Is- club’s fortunes after it failed to win tanbul on Thursday. silverware last season and exited Advocaat has stepped down this year’s Champions League. from his position as assistant to Advocaat’s rapid appoint- Netherlands national manager ment follows the sacking of Vitor Danny Blind for the move, the Pereira in an acrimonious parting Royal Netherlands Football As- that ended with the club unilat- sociation (KNVB) said in a state- erally terminating the contract of ment. “I am surprised and disap- the Portuguese. pointed,” it quoted Blind as saying. He arrived late afternoon at “When I fi rst approached Dick Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen airport to be an assistant he gave me for fi nal talks, Fenerbahce’s tel- the impression he would engage evision channel said. himself for the long term.” In a lightning fast process, Pereira, a former Porto and he could be taking charge of the Olympiakos boss, was appointed team’s training as soon as Tues- Fenerbahce coach in June 2015. day, the NTV channel and Fana- But the club lost out to local tik sports daily reported. rivals Besiktas in the race for the In a statement to Fanatik, Advo- league title last season despite caat, 68, appeared to confi rm the boasting talent like former Man- appointment, saying he thought chester United stars Robin van he would not return to club man- Persie and Nani. agement but Fenerbahce made an Peirera’s sacking had been off er he could not refuse. reported by Turkish media on “Fenerbahce made me an un- Thursday but was only confi rmed believable off er. And I agreed. by Fenerbahce on Monday, with You don’t turn down such an of- the Portuguese clearly unhappy fer from such a big club,” he was with the manner of his dismissal. quoted as saying. The club said that Pereira had In a colourful managerial ca- left the country on Saturday reer spanning over three decades along with his assistants, with- that has seen spells with some out informing Fenerbahce. two dozen clubs and countries, It said his contract had been Advocaat had most recently “terminated” and the legal managed clubs including Zenit consequences would be han- St Petersburg and Sunderland. dled in coordination with FIFA Barcelona’s Uruguayan forward Luis alberto Suarez celebrates after scoring during the first leg of the Spanish Supercup football match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona. Fenerbahce decided to part and the Court of Arbitration for company with Pereira after the Sport (CAS). AFP the home supporters who shouted insults Sergi Roberto was also chosen out of po- chance at the start of the second half Madrid at him from the stands at the Ramon sition at right-back, ahead of Aleix Vidal. when Rico saved his fl icked eff ort, but it Sanchez-Pizjuan. However, by the 35th minute both was third time lucky for the Uruguayan. ANALYSIS Suarez added: “They can keep talking, Lucas Digne and Denis Suarez had to be Denis Suarez lofted a neat ball into the uis Suarez insisted the Spanish I’m going to do my thing, which is to play brought on for their offi cial debuts, with area and Turan chested it home for the Super Cup is not Barcelona’s yet football. It’s not a problem, we are the Mathieu and Andres Iniesta injuring forward to fi nish with aplomb. after helping his team shoot down protagonists, not them.” their hamstring and knee respectively. Messi should have doubled the lead Napoli, Juventus fans Sevilla 2-0 to give them a com- Luis Enrique was thrilled with the per- Iniesta was making his 594th appear- moments later, but Rico made a fi ne stop Lfortable lead after Sunday’s fi rst leg of formance, which puts his team halfway ance for Barcelona, taking over from from his dinked eff ort, after good work by the fi nal. towards the fi rst trophy of the season. Carles Puyol as the player with the sec- Turan and Suarez carved the Argentine have diff erent takes The Uruguayan opened the scoring early “We continue with the same ambition ond most appearances for the club, be- an opening. in the second half, making amends for two as always,” he said in his post-game press hind Xavi Hernandez, but it was ended Eventually substitute Munir put the earlier misses, before Munir El Haddadi conference. “This team knows how to prematurely after a fi erce challenge by game and probably the tie to bed sliding on big transfer fees sealed the win when he ran on to a Lionel sacrifi ce and compete, because we want Gabriel Mercado. the ball past Rico with the outside of his Messi through-ball and fi red home. all the titles and we’ve ended up with a The fi rst period saw few chances creat- left boot after Messi fed through an invit- DPA Having been beaten 4-0 by Athletic Bil- magnifi cent result. ed, although the best of them fell to Luis ing pass. It was evident that neither team Rome bao in the fi rst leg of last year’s fi nal, Bar- “We played a good game, as much de- Suarez in the sixth minute. were as fi t as they would have liked, with celona were determined to improve on that fensively as in attack, and in the second Sergio Busquets played him in and af- Sevilla energy levels falling away in the showing, setting themselves up nicely for half we were able to connect with the ter spinning masterfully away from the second half, no doubt as a result of play- he departure of Gonzalo the return at Camp Nou on August 17. forwards and open the scoring. I am very defence his low strike was saved well by ing 120 minutes in a heartbreaking last Higuain from Napoli “This is not decided,” Suarez told happy with everything.” goalkeeper Sergio Rico. gasp 3-2 defeat Real Madrid in the UEFA sparked bitter feelings Spanish television after the game. The coach sprang a surprise with his At the other end Jorge Sampaoli’s team Super Cup earlier in the week. of betrayal while sadness “In the second half we played very well. selection, picking Jeremy Mathieu at worked their way into the game but de- Now Sampaoli needs to pick them up prevailedT after Paul Pogba left It’s important to win away from home left-back and Arda Turan at left-wing in spite plenty of possession in dangerous ahead of the second leg tomorrow, where Juventus as the Italian cham- against an opponent as good as Sevilla.” place of the absent Neymar, with all four areas, they couldn’t worry Claudio Bravo. a monumental eff ort will be required if pions set spending and selling He was not impressed with some of summer signings left out. Luis Suarez spurned another good they are to overturn the defi cit. records in the transfer window due to close at the end of August. Last week’s sale of Pogba to BOTTOMLINE Manchester United, whence he arrived on a nominal fee in 2012, File picture of Gonzalo Higuain brought Juve 110 million eu- during his time with Napoli. ros (122.8 million dollars). That an all-time transfer fee record feel like staying one more minute mitigated fans’ disappointment with him.” Podolski retires from national team to see the French ace leave after Higuain’s agent, his brother lifting four Serie A titles. Nicolas, explained that Napoli’s DPA time for Germans behind Lothar “Schweini” and “Poldi” grow up But while a lucrative sale of projects failed to meet the ambi- Mattaeus’ 150 caps and 137 from in front of their eyes together. Pogba had been rumoured al- tion of a player who in 2013 left Miroslav Klose. Schweinsteiger earned 120 ready a year ago, very few in Spain’s giants Real Madrid, and “We won so much with the caps from 2004 to 2016. Naples expected a goodbye from played down money issues. welve years, seven ma- DFB (German Football Federa- “You can and could always Higuain after he closed his third De Laurentiis, a noted fi lm jor tournaments and tion) team. I have seen so many rely on him. For all the looseness season with an all-time Serie A producer, replied that Higuain one World Cup crown countries and cities, have met so and easiness that he stands for, record of 36 goals, helping Na- “is either a false person or a poor proved to be enough for many people, had so many un- he is a model of professionalism poli clinch second place. actor” and that Neapolitans can TLukas Podolski as the veteran forgettable moments. It’s been and attitude,” Loew said about Juve paid Napoli 90 million be cheated but not mocked. striker announced yesterday quite a journey,” Podolski said. Podolski on the DFB website. euros, the highest ever amount As a result, fans who have of- that he has stepped down from The Gliwice, Poland native “With Poldi, the national in Italy and a record for players ten accused their president of the “Mannschaft” - the German thanked the DFB, his former team loses a passionate foot- transferring within any domes- not fulfi lling his commitment to national team. team-mates and his former baller and a huge personality tic league. But fans’ anger toward the club seem now to have buried “The time has come,” Podolski coaches. He also praised the who will be missed by us and the the Argentine erupted in social the hatchet. wrote on his Instagram account. ever-present support from the fans,” German national team media, often degenerating to Higuain “succeeded in the ti- “I want to tell you today, that I German fans. manager Oliver Bierhoff added make him a public enemy. tanic task of making president have called Coach (Joachim) Loew “My appreciation for all the fan on the DFB site. The classic Neapolitan song De Laurentiis likeable,” veteran to inform him that I’ll not be part support could not be greater. You Podolski’s fi nal appearance for “Core ‘ngrato,” meaning “un- commentator Mimmo Carratelli of the national team any longer. guys have been amazing,” he said. Germany came in the Round of grateful heart”, a love tune made wrote in the Naples daily news- I’m at a point in my career where “You always kept the faith. 16 at Euro 2016 against Slovakia famous by Luciano Pavarotti and paper Il Mattino. I want to cut it back a bit. You just never wavered, I could as he came on in the 72nd minute. other star tenors, became the The Argentine, meanwhile, is “Now, my focus shifts to other This file photo Germany’s forward Lukas Podolski. always rely on you. This connec- “Poldi” said he will now sup- soundtrack to the aff air. approaching top form after play- aspects. My club. My founda- tion has been so important for port the national team as a fan. After the late-July signing, Hi- ing the Copa America Centenar- tion. Obviously my family, my the biggest highlight being the in these 12 years. It was an in- me. As I leave the Mannschaft, “For the German team, my guain’s fi rst press conference at io in June and looks to debut with wife and my two kids.” 2014 World Cup crown. comparable experience with so this is what I’ll miss the most: best wishes. Let’s defend this Juve fuelled the controversy saying Juve in Saturday’s league opener The 31-year-old, who “It was a hard decision to much joy, passion, emotion and the closeness with the fans. For great title in 2018 and keep this that his bad relationship with Na- with Fiorentina. this weekend starts his sec- make,” he wrote. “For me, the togetherness.” all and everything: Thank You.” marvelous trophy,” he wrote. poli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis He signed a fi ve-year contract ond season with Turkish club Mannschaft always has been Podolski, who made his Ger- Podolski’s retirement comes “Starting today, I’ll keep my was his main reason to leave. said to be worth 7.5 million euros Galatasaray, bows out of inter- and always will be an aff air of man debut in June 2004 just barely over two weeks after fi ngers crossed - as one more fan “I did not have a relationship per season, two million higher national play after appearing the heart. I feel a great deal of two days after his 19th birthday, Bastian Schweinsteiger stepped of the Mannschaft. Take care. with him,” the 28-year-old said. than his pay at Napoli, who, in three World Cups and four pride. What an amazing time it scored 48 goals in 129 caps - the down on July 29. It’s been an honour.” Thank you “He was ill at ease with me and I however, seemed ready for a rise European Championships, with has been, all that we achieved latter which ranks him third all- German football fans watched for your days with Arsenal. was ill at ease with him. I did not to 6.5 million euros. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 16, 2016 11 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT CHALLENGE Conte urges Costa to Ibrahimovic treads aim high at Chelsea in Cantona’s Man United footsteps

‘For the next two seasons I think he can be phenomenal for the team... Cantona was File picture of Chelsea’s Diego Costa. here at the best moment in his career. This guy (Ibrahimovic) is more than a player’ The Guardian “Diego is a forward and he London knows that, in my idea of football, the forward must be a point of ref- erence for the team,” Conte said. ntonio Conte has thrown “I don’t like that a forward moves down the gauntlet to around the pitch. I like him to stay Diego Costa on the eve there [in the box] because you are of Chelsea’s Premier a forward and your commitment LeagueA season opener at home is to score goals and to stay in the to West Ham United on Monday right position. You are a forward night, telling him to concentrate – not a midfi elder, not a defender. on playing as a penalty box fi nisher “I don’t like to speak about and to score 30 goals. single players but I will make an The new manager, who is exception. Diego is a great player. keyed up and in his own words I know that he is a fantastic fi n- “not relaxed” before his fi rst isher but I think he can still im- competitive game with the club, prove a lot. I hope for this. I try to was asked whether he would set improve all of my players. Their Costa the target of 20 goals for past is not important to me and the season. “Why 20 and not now, I am seeing a good attitude 30?” he shot back, with a smile. from Diego – to work and to im- Conte qualifi ed the remark prove in diff erent situations. by saying that he never gives his “I am happy that Diego stays strikers specifi c goal targets but here to work with us. We know the ambition was clear; he wants that we can improve through the Costa to aim high and put his work and the most important heart and soul into the collective thing is that the players have put eff ort. Costa, who arrived from themselves into this idea. Diego Atlético Madrid in 2014, scored can give a lot to this team and I am 20 league goals in his fi rst season sure he will have a good season.” as Chelsea won the title. But he Conte’s passion and work eth- managed only 12 in the competi- ic has underpinned everything tion last time out, in what was a he has done in the game. He said testing campaign. it was why he was able to remain The 27-year-old felt his goal as a player at Juventus for 13 years touch evaporate as the club im- and also coach the club for three ploded under José Mourinho years and the Italy team for two and, having been left out of the years. It is what has carried him team, an example of his frus- to Stamford Bridge. Costa, too, is tration came when he threw his known as a fi ery competitor and training bib in the direction of Conte said he likes his spirit. Mourinho, after he was left as an “Diego always shows a great unused substitute at Tottenham passion and I am the same,” Con- Hotspur on 29 November. te said. “He doesn’t want to lose. Costa’s form improved dra- I like this passion and I want to Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring their third goal against AFC Bournemouth during their Premier League clash. matically after Guus Hiddink took put it in the team. It’s important over as the caretaker manager to have passion for your work, AFP moment in his career. This guy (Ibrahi- a United changing room that had lost the and Paul Scholes to raise their game. following Mourinho’s sacking in for your football. It can help you London movic) is more than a player.” self-assurance of the Ferguson era. Mourinho made a similar observation mid-December but he was not se- to get over diffi culties. I like this Ibrahimovic began the season by scor- Discussing Cantona’s arrival, Ferguson about Ibrahimovic. lected by Spain for the Euro 2016 commitment – that the players ing in the Community Shield, heading said: “He swaggered in, stuck his chest “The fi rst thing I can tell you is at his fi nals and has endured a summer work very strongly for the team. t is very early days in Zlatan Ibrahi- home an 83rd-minute winner as FA Cup out, raised his head and surveyed eve- table for breakfast and for meals he is of speculation over his future. “I ask Diego for this and I de- movic’s Manchester United career, winners United overcame Leicester City. rything as though he were asking: ‘I’m surrounded by the kids, the younger ones Atlético made no secret of their mand this of him. I never ask but the Swedish striker’s initial suc- Cantona also decided a Community Cantona. How big are you? Are you big like (Marcus) Rashford and (Luke) Shaw,” desire to re-sign him and Chel- [specifi c goal targets] of my cesses have already evoked memories Shield, netting a hat-trick in a 4-3 win enough for me?’” said the Portuguese. sea even threatened to take action strikers but I ask Diego and all Iof Old Traff ord legend Eric Cantona. over Liverpool in August 1992, but he was “He knows what he can be for them as against the Spanish club in two the players to have a great atti- Cantona made an extraordinary im- playing for league champions Leeds. BREAKFAST PEP TALKS well as what he does with his perform- written warnings. But Costa has tude. Then, the goals arrive. I am pact when he arrived from Leeds United He joined Manchester United in a Ibrahimovic’s arrival at United has been ances.” stayed at Stamford Bridge, and it sure of this. It’s important that in November 1992, inspiring Alex Fergu- shock move three months later. described in comparable terms, with The main diff erence between the play- sounded as though Conte wanted the players play our football, not son’s team to end the club’s 26-year wait Winning the league in his fi rst season captain Wayne Rooney and midfi eld ers is that whereas Cantona was 25 and to send him a message. their own football.” for the English title. gave Cantona a third straight national teammate Morgan Schneiderlin both in the last-chance saloon when he came United have not fallen anywhere near title, following previous successes with speaking about his “aura”. to England after disciplinary problems in as low in the three years since Ferguson Marseille and Leeds. On the pitch, Ibrahimovic has made an France, the experienced Ibrahimovic is a CONTROVERSY retired in 2013, but after the gloom of He would go on to win a further three assured start with two goals in two games. proven medal magnet. David Moyes and Louis van Gaal’s man- with United, plus two FA Cups. Ibrahi- At Bournemouth he showed a willingness If he wins the title with United, it will agerial tenures, Ibrahimovic has given movic, 34, hopes to win a fi fth consecu- to drop deep from his number nine role be the seventh time that he has ended his them a major lift. tive title, after four with Paris Saint-Ger- and allow Rooney to take his place at the fi rst season at a club with a league win- Malaysia loses FIFA “For the next two seasons I think he main, and 12th in total (the two he won at tip of the attack. Ibrahimovic is also hav- ner’s medal around his neck. can be phenomenal for the team and the Juventus having been revoked due to the ing an impact behind the scenes. Informed by Cantona, in a tongue- Premier League,” said United manager Calciopoli referee-rigging scandal). Ferguson has often spoken about how in-cheek video message, that there event over Israel visas Jose Mourinho after Ibrahimovic scored As much as his title-winning know- Cantona’s dedication on the training could only be one ‘King’ of Old Traf- in Sunday’s 3-1 win at Bournemouth. how, Ibrahimovic was signed from PSG to ground inspired a young generation of ford, Ibrahimovic responded that he AFP Muslim-majority Malaysia “Eric Cantona was here at the best inject some panache and self-belief into United players including David Beckham would be the ‘God’. Kuala Lumpur has no diplomatic ties with Israel but has stood up for the rights of Palestinians. BOTTOMLINE alaysia has relin- Malaysia’s move also follows quished the rights to speculation of snap elections in host the 2017 FIFA the fi rst half of next year. Congress, a sports The presence of Israeli offi cials Moffi cial said yesterday after the could stir anger among Muslim predominantly Muslim country voters against the ruling Barisan refused to issue visas to Israeli Nasional coalition led by Prime ‘We’re not ready,’ says Wenger delegates. Minister Najib Razak which tra- “We were advised by the gov- ditionally depends on them to AFP many players are injured today. “Only then you have a ernment to withdraw from host- stay in power. London “Can they recover for next chance in the Premier ing the congress due to security The country has been rocked week? I don’t know. But we are League. 4-3 is obviously a issues,” said Aff andi Hamzah, by a scandal over allegations that not stupid. We prepared well the spectacular result, but it’s not deputy president of the Football billions of dollars were stolen rsenal manager Arsene players we have in, but I think the result you want to have a Association of Malaysia. from a state wealth fund founded Wenger said his team you have to consider we have lot of times in a season” Aff andi declined to elaborate and overseen by Najib. were not physically been a bit unlucky as well. on the “security issues” but said Former Asian Football Con- ready for the Premier “We have lost Mertesacker gives you always a knock.” the move was tied to comments federation general secretary Pe- LeagueA season after opening the and Gabriel in preparation, and While Klopp applauded the by Deputy Prime Minister Zahid ter Velappan described Malay- campaign with a chaotic 4-3 de- Koscielny is not fi t. You have quality of his team’s attacking Hamidi over the weekend. sia’s failure to host the event as feat at home to Liverpool. to sometimes accept that you football, he warned that they Zahid had said Malaysia was “painful”. With Per Mertesacker and cannot control absolutely eve- will not achieve anything this unable to provide visas to Israeli “Suddenly Malaysia puts re- Gabriel injured and Laurent Ko- rything, even if you try to be as season if they do not learn to de- offi cials because it did not have strictions. Violating the FIFA scielny short of match fi tness, intelligent as possible.” fend more cohesively. diplomatic ties and could rile up conditions and losing the host- Wenger deployed Calum Cham- “The game was intense for all local sensitivities. ing rights at this stage is very bers, 21, and 20-year-old debu- KLOPP APPLAUDS TEAM of us. We made our mistakes to- “Some of the conditions of painful,” he said. tant Rob Holding at centre-back Visiting manager Jurgen Klopp gether and we scored wonderful hosting the event include placing Israel missed the 2015 Youth in Saturday’s game. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. blamed himself for his team’s goals,” he said. “That’s really im- the (Israeli) fl ag on the table dur- Sailing World Championships Like Koscielny, Olivier Gir- lapses in concentration, saying portant. It gives us on one side ing the congress,” he was quoted in Malaysia, reportedly after a oud and Mesut Ozil are return- the season without many of your and Wenger is unsure whether that his exuberant reaction to confi dence and the knowledge as saying by the New Straits similar row over visas and fl ags. ing to fitness after Euro 2016 players? Or do they play in this Koscielny, Ozil and Giroud will Mane’s goal in the 63rd minute that we can score goals. On the Times online. In 1997, when Israel played the and to compound matters, kind of game and get injured, like be ready to return to action at had made his players feel the other side, there’s no alternative “After comparing the benefi ts International Cricket Council Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi Ramsey today? the King Power Stadium. game was already won. to defend together. and the risks, it is better for Ma- Trophy competition in Malaysia, were both forced off by injury “We had many players that “We will try, but when they Klopp has been tipped to lead “Only then you have a chance laysia to avoid playing host.” hundreds of people took part in in the second half. played very late in the Euros. have not enough preparation, Liverpool into title contention in the Premier League. 4-3 is Aff andi said the FAM had in angry demonstrations. “Physically we are not ready,” Ramsey, Koscielny, Ozil, Giroud, they get injured,” he said. this season, but he said it was far obviously a spectacular result, July written to FIFA informing Protestors also took to the Wenger told reporters at the they went to the semi-fi nals (at “We have to be ready next too early to start thinking about but it’s not the result you want them it was withdrawing from streets and burned Singapore Emirates Stadium. least). We had four players who week because we go to Leicester. silverware. “It’s a little bit like to have a lot of times in a season. hosting the event on “govern- and Israeli fl ags when the then “You are in a Catch 22 situ- went very late.” But we’ll see fi rst what we can our behaviour after 4-1, or my “When you’re good enough ment advice” and the world Israeli president Chaim Her- ation with the Euros — do you Arsenal visit defending cham- do with the players who are pre- behaviour,” said the German. to score four goals, you need to football body accepted Malay- zog made an offi cial visit to the give the players a rest and start pions Leicester City on Saturday paring at the moment and how “If you celebrate too early, life avoid (conceding) three.” sia’s decision. neighbouring city-state in 1986.

Tuesday, August 16, 2016 GULF TIMES CRICKET

CRICKET COLOMBO TEST Smith, Marsh tons give Australia ‘Homeless’ Pak slender lead

AFP SCORECARD Colombo Sri Lanka 1st innings: 355 (D. Chandimal 132, D. de Silva 129; deserve to be enturies from skipper M. Starc 5-63, N. Lyon 3-110) Steve Smith and Shaun Australia 1st innings: Marsh gave Australia D. Warner c Kusal Perera b de hope of a consolation Silva ...... 11 Cvictory in the fi nal Test against S. Marsh b Lakmal ...... 130 Sri Lanka yesterday before being S. Smith st Kusal Perera b Her- pegged back by their bogeyman ath ...... 119 Rangana Herath. A. Voges lbw b Herath ...... 22 No 1, says Misbah Smith and Marsh put on a M. Henriques st Kusal Perera b record 246 runs for the second Herath ...... 4 wicket, raising Australian hopes M. Marsh c Mendis b Herath 53 Pakistan’s achievement is all the more impressive as they have not played a Test of building a match-winning P. Nevill lbw b Dilruwan Perera .. lead in response to Sri Lanka’s ...... 14 series on home soil since an armed attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore in 2009 fi rst innings total of 355 before M. Starc not out ...... 9 the veteran Herath put the brakes N. Lyon c Mendis b Dilruwan on with a six wicket haul. Perera ...... 3 Australia were eventually all J. Hazlewood b Herath ...... 0 out for 379, a lead which was J. Holland c Mathews b Herath 1 reduced to just two runs by the Extras: (b4, lb9) ...... 13 close of play as Sri Lanka reached Total: (all out, 125.1 overs) .... 379 22 at stumps, albeit with the loss Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Warner), of opener Dilruwan Perera who 2-267 (S. Marsh), 3-275 (Smith), was lbw to Mitchell Starc for 4-283 (Henriques), 5-316 (Voges), eight. 6-353 (Nevill), 7-367 (M. Marsh), Dimuth Karunaratne was 8-376 (Lyon), 9-377 (Hazlewood), unbeaten on eight, alongside 10-379 (Holland) Kaushal Silva who has so far Bowling: Perera 44-4-129-2, de made six at the Sinhalese Sports Silva 7-0-27-1, Herath 38.1-11-81-6, Club ground in the fi nal match Sandakan 19-0-70-0, Lakmal of the series. Australia are trail- 13-0-54-1, Mathews 4-1-5-0 ing 0-2. Sri Lanka 2nd innings Herath — who took a hat-trick D. Perera lbw b Starc ...... 8 in the last Test and 10 wickets in D. Karunaratne not out ...... 8 the fi rst match of the series — K. Silva not out ...... 6 again brought the hosts back into Extras: ...... 0 contention by taking six for 81. Total: (1 wicket; 5 overs) ...... 22 The 38-year-old veteran ran Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Perera) through the Australian tail with Bowling: Starc 3-0-19-1, Lyon help from fellow spinner Dilru- 2-0-3-0 wan Perera’s two wickets. Medium-pacer Suranga Lak- mal struck with the second new the Australia side because of ball in the second session to get his long experience of Asian the wicket of Marsh and break conditions, survived a dropped the dangerous partnership. catch on 67 early in the morn- Marsh, who had hit his 19th ing against Herath but soon took boundary off the previous deliv- control. ery, was bowled on 130 after he He brought up his hundred chopped Lakmal’s good length with an inside edge off Dilruwan delivery onto his stumps. Perera that went for a boundary Smith, who hit 10 fours and and celebrated the milestone by a six during his 119-run knock, hugging his skipper at the other departed after being stumped end. off Herath, with the third umpire Smith, who resumed the day ruling in favour of the bowler in a on 61, reached his 15th Test cen- close decision. tury to improve on his previous The marathon partnership be- best of 55 in the series. tween Smith and Marsh was the Mitchell Marsh, who regis- highest second-wicket stand be- tered his second Test half-cen- tween the two countries. tury, contributed a useful 53 to The pair ensured that Austral- help Australia surpass Sri Lan- ia did not lose a wicket in the fi rst ka’s fi rst innings score. session as the visitors took lunch Top-ranked Australia are bid- on 235 for one. ding to avoid a series whitewash Marsh, who was drafted into after losing the fi rst two Tests.

England captain Alastair Cook (R) chats with Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq as they stand with the shared trophy after the series ended in a 2-2 draw on Sunday.

AFP become their adopted base. Pakistan’s success at The Oval — Test return at Lord’s and he had to deal London But for all their success in conditions which was achieved on the 69th anniver- with the odd crowd shout of “no-ball”. similar to those on home soil, Pakistan sary of the country’s foundation as an in- But there were no on-fi eld fl are-ups often fi nd themselves facing in the dis- dependent state — was built on a brilliant between Misbah’s men and an England akistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq piriting position of playing before mea- 218 by Younis Khan, a hundred from Asad side led by Alastair Cook. said his side will deserve to be gre crowds rather than in front of their Shafi q and fi ve second-innings wickets “Cricket matches are won and lost but the world’s top-ranked Test team own passionate supporters. for leg-spinner Yasir Shah. to win audience, people, supporters — after they came from behind to “This team deserves that (going to It was an especially impressive result that’s important,” said Misbah, who took drawP a four-match series 2-2 in England. number one) for six years of no cricket at given that after their 75-run win in the over as captain six years ago soon after Their 10-wicket thrashing of the hosts home, sometimes people think it’s easy fi rst Test at Lord’s — where 42-year-old the spot-fi xing scandal. in the fourth and fi nal Test at The Oval on — the UAE suits us, we win — but just skipper Misbah made a hundred — Paki- “This series has been (played) in good Sunday gave Pakistan, currently third in getting every day away from the country, stan had suff ered heavy defeats, by 330 spirits, both teams fought well. the standings, a chance of climbing to the without family and friends and all games and 141 runs, at Old Traff ord and Edgbas- “There were no off fi eld issues — we top of the table. out of Pakistan, it’s really diffi cult,” Mis- ton respectively. are happy to conclude on a pleasing note, But for that to happen later this month bah told reporters at The Oval on Sunday But Misbah was even happier with his 2-2, everyone enjoyed it, we made friends they need Sri Lanka to win 2-0 or 3-0 at after Pakistan won with more than a day side’ conduct on their fi rst tour of Eng- on and off the field.” home to Australia, coupled with a 2-0 or to spare. land since a controversial trip in 2010 Cook added: “It’s been a great series 2-1 series win for India away to the West “It’s mentally tough — I’ve only seen saw often strained Anglo-Pakistani to be part of, two good teams playing Indies. my mother and sister once in a year, some cricket relations sink to an all-time low. good cricket and for once with Pakistan Pakistan’s achievement is all the more friends I haven’t seen for three or four That tour featured the infamous ‘spot- and England we’ve just talked about the impressive as they have not played a Test years. fi xing’ Test at Lord’s where then captain cricket.” series on home soil since an armed attack “It’s not easy, given those circum- Salman Butt, pace bowler Mohamed Amir took 12 wickets in the series at on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore in 2009 stances but the team is playing competi- Amir and Mohamed Asif were all given an expensive average of 42 but his fi gures turned the country into a no-go area for tive cricket. fi ve-year bans and jail terms for deliber- would have been far better had Pakistan the world’s leading Test nations. “I am really proud of them and this ately bowling no-balls. held all the chances the left-arm quick Australia’s Mitchell Marsh plays a shot on the way to his century The United Arab Emirates has since team really deserves to be number one.” This year’s series saw Amir make his created. against Sri Lanka in Colombo yesterday.

BOTTOMLINE England face ‘tough decisions’ ahead: Bayliss

AFP Bayliss’s preference is to make sure his fi rst-innings dismissal to a controversial low “Certainly, I’ll be trying to get there when I London players have time to prove themselves, catch. can,” he said. but following England’s 10-wicket loss at However, no one in county cricket has yet “There might be a chance in the next few The Oval on Sunday, he made it clear that made an overwhelming case to take over one of days, but you’ve got to be lucky enough that ngland coach Trevor Bayliss has ac- his patience with England’s England’s problem batting positions. whoever you are going to watch is actually bat- cepted “tough decisions” will need to be underperforming specialist batsmen “There doesn’t seem to be anyone crying out ting or bowling on that day,” he said. made when the selectors pick the Test was not limitless to be selected above anyone else,” added Bayliss. Meanwhile England are due to announce to- squad for the upcoming tour of Bangla- “There’s a number of guys we’ve seen score day their squad for a fi ve-match one-day inter- deshE and India. underperforming specialist batsmen was not some runs earlier this season, under a bit of national series against Pakistan starting next The most pressing problem that England face limitless. scrutiny when their names are mentioned about week. following Sunday’s 2-2 series draw at home to “They’ve defi nitely had a decent run at it,” the possibility of getting into the team. Few changes are expected from the side that Pakistan concerns their top order batting. said Bayliss. “Some of them have dropped off .” defeated Sri Lanka earlier in the season but the While England captain Alastair Cook and “We’ve probably got around a month before Bayliss added: “I think I heard Cookie say Durham duo of all-rounder Ben Stokes and number three Joe Root scored a combined 935 we get together and discuss the next Test se- the two or three guys we’ve got in the team paceman Mark Wood could return from injury. runs at an average of 66.78 over the four Tests, ries, so there will be some tough decisions to be have been very good players over the last two Stokes has been sidelined with knee and calf in- the rest of the top fi ve — Alex Hales, James Vince made,” the Australian added. or three years, experienced players at county juries this season while Wood has undergone two and Gary Ballance — managed 498 runs at 22.63 Hales has yet to score a century in 11 Tests and level, and they have found it tough to jump up ankle operations since last playing for England in a between them. has a meagre average of 27. to this level. Test against Pakistan in Dubai in October. Bayliss’s preference is to make sure players At The Oval, he managed just 18 runs in the “They have shown bits and pieces, but I think England head coach Trevor Bayliss. Eoin Morgan, England’s ODI captain and have time to prove themselves, but following match, dropped a routine catch and annoyed it just proves that the jump between fi rst-class wicket-keeper Jos Buttler have been out of ac- England’s 10-wicket loss at The Oval on Sunday, the England management by getting himself cricket and Test cricket is a big one.” side he has few chances to watch any of the con- tion recently with hand injuries, but they are he made it clear that his patience with England’s fi ned after confronting the third umpire about With Bayliss also coaching England’s one-day tenders himself by attending county fi xtures. both understood to be fi t for selection.