WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 SPORTS

Ali century builds on Amir haul in Pakistan opener

TAUNTON: Azhar Ali made an unbeaten taking an impressive three for 36, just Trescothick 37 not out. But first-class Dom Bess for two huge sixes over long- captain Salman Butt as part of a tabloid century to strengthen Pakistan’s position holding out for a draw would be a fine debutant Adam Hose was out off what on in successive balls. As soon as Ali had newspaper sting operation. on the final day of their England tour achievement for the south-west county. became the last ball before lunch when gone to his 26th first-class century, in All three received five-year bans from opener against Somerset at Taunton on However, a sunny day at Taunton he was lbw to leg-spinner Yasir Shah for 168 balls including 12 fours and two six- cricket and together with sports agent Tuesday. Ali (101 not out) and Asad meant there was less swing in the air for eight after he missed a ball that went es, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq Mazhar Majeed, jail terms. Shafiq (69 not out) shared a stand of 138 Pakistan’s pacemen than earlier in the straight on. declared. Amir, who served three months in an in 30 overs as Pakistan made 236 for four match. Veteran Somerset opener Marcus Pakistan resumed Tuesday on 140 for Former spot-fixer Amir took three for English young offenders institute, has declared in their second innings. Trescothick, the former England bats- four, with Ali 50 not out and Shafiq 36 in 11 overs in Somerset’s meagre first only featured in the game’s shorter for- That left Somerset needing a huge man, drove both Amir and Sohail Khan unbeaten on 26. Shafiq went on to com- innings. Amir’s exciting career came to a mats since his return to Pakistan duty in total of 468 in 73 overs for victory. down the ground. plete a 76-ball fifty with seven fours. The shuddering halt during a Lord’s Test in January. But the 24-year-old left-armer is But given Somerset had collapsed to He also late cut Khan for a couple of pair were especially severe on 2010 when he and new-ball partner now back in England and could make his 128 in their first innings, with fours. At lunch, Somerset were 47 for Somerset’s spinners on Tuesday, with Mohammad Asif were caught bowling Test return in the first of a four-match left-arm paceman Mohammad Amir one with 40-year-old left-hander the 31-year-old Ali hoisting teenager no-balls to order on the instructions of series at Lord’s on July 14. — AFP Russia says 68 athletes asked to compete in Rio

MOSCOW: Russia’s athletics federation went a step further and said athletes who yesterday published a list of the 68 ath- pass an individual test by the IAAF can letes who have formally requested to be compete under their nation’s flag. The allowed to compete at the Rio Olympics process through which athletes can “clearly following a decision to suspend the track and convincingly show that they are not and field team. tainted by the Russian system” as the IAAF The athletes have “met the criteria” to demands before the Games begin is not participate and were approved by Russian entirely clear. coaches, said the federation (ARAF), which The World Anti-Doping Association last month had its suspension over allega- (WADA) argues that tough measures are tions of institutionalised and pervasive key to send a message that doping is unac- doping upheld by athletics’ ruling body the ceptable, while another investigation of IAAF. “Every athlete has sent in an individ- Russian doping is still ongoing, with a ual request to participate in the Olympic report to be published next week. The Games, for confirmation by the IAAF,” ARAF WADA investigations were launched fol- said. The list includes stars lowing allegations revealed by whistle- like world champion hurdler Sergey blowing athlete Yuliya Stepanova last year, Shubenkov, long-jumper Darya Klishina, who said athletics officials supply banned and pole vault tsarina Yelena Isinbayeva. substances to competitors in exchange for The IAAF’s ruling on June 17 said that a share of athletes’ fees. Russia’s athletics federation was up to two Stepanova last Friday was declared eligi- years away from returning to operational ble to compete under a neutral flag. The compliance with anti-doping requirements. Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said But it left the door ajar to some com- Monday it will decide whether to overturn petitors not tainted by doping to compete the ban against Russia’s athletics pro- as neutrals in Rio. gramme by July 21, two weeks before the The International Olympic Committee start of the Rio Games. — AFP Berian upset as crash row flares at US trials EUGENE: Alysia Montano falls to the track in the Women’s 800 Meter Final during the 2016 US Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward EUGENE: World indoor 800 meters another move and I just couldn’t regain Field yesterday in Eugene, Oregon. — AFP champion suffered an upset my composure,” she told reporters, tears defeat at the US Olympic trials here welling. Monday as a dramatic collision in the Montano rails against ‘corrupt’ women’s two-lap race left two of the BLAME GAME front-runners in tears. Martinez’s coach pointed the finger of Berian, a rising star in the 800m who blame at Montano-but the former IAAF after missing Rio spot was working in a McDonald’s restaurant Olympian denied responsibility. two years ago, was narrowly beaten in “I don’t know what happened to EUGENE: A distraught Alysia Montano called her eight years of my life as a professional runner,” of receiving over 1 million euros ($1.09 million) the final stretch at Hayward Field, finish- Brenda but she ended up tripping and I career “a farce” and branded the International said Montano, who believes she lost medals in bribes to cover up positive doping tests. ing second behind . found myself jumping around her and Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) “a cor- because of cheating rivals at the 2011 and 2013 Diack’s son Papa Massata Diack, a former Murphy came home in 1 minute 44.76 then someone kicked me out from rupt institution” after crashing out of the US world championships. IAAF consultant also embroiled in the case, has seconds, just ahead of Berian who was behind,” Montano said. Olympic trials on Monday. Fifth at the 2012 Olympics, Montano has denied any involvement in bribery or corruption second in 1:44.92 with third “I didn’t touch anyone. You can go The runner, who believes she has since seen both winner Mariya Savinova and and says his father is also innocent. The IAAF has in 1:45.48. All three runners booked their back and watch the footage - she just been denied at least three global medals by bronze medallist Ekaterina Poistogova, both also called for Russian athletes to be banned tickets to Rio in the performance. jumps straight out.” dope cheats, had hoped this would be the year Russians, accused of doping by a World Anti- from the Rio Games after a WADA report Despite the defeat Berian was delighted Asked about the suggestion from she finally made the Olympic podium. But with Doping Agency (WADA) report. unearthed what it alleged was evidence of sys- to have secured his Olympic qualifica- Martinez’s coach that she had been to less than 100 metres to go in Monday’s final she “My entire professional career has been a tematic state-sponsored doping. Emotionally, it tion. “All this came so fast, it’s just amaz- blame for the incident, Montano replied: became entangled with and fell farce basically,” said the emotional Montano had all been difficult to cope with as she chased ing right now,” Berian said. Murphy’s vic- “He needs to go and watch the footage to the track, eventually finishing dead last. “Now everyone is talking about the Russians not a spot in Rio, Montano said. tory was the biggest racing surprise in but if this is going to be a blame game I That ended any hope of her going to Rio running in the Olympics but they are missing “Trying not to take that anger with me to the fourth day of action but was over- don’t really want to play that right now.” since only the top three finishers in the cut- the whole point that the IAAF is a corrupt insti- today and still try to be in the sport, knowing shadowed by controversy in the Reflecting on her emotional finish, throat trials advance. Tears flowed from the 30- tution which is still running the game for us pro- that who’s been running the show have been women’s 800m as a final-bend collision Montano said she had realized her year-old defending US champion as she spoke fessional athletes.” The IAAF was not immediate- using us all along. That’s why it was an emotion- knocked Alysia Montano and Brenda Olympic dream was over as soon as she to reporters and the agony only intensified after ly available for comment. The former president al struggle for me,” Montano said. “And I made it she was asked why this had been such an emo- of the sport’s global governing body, Lamine all the way to the final, with all that emotional Martinez out of contention. Montano, an crashed to the floor. “It doesn’t really set- tional year. “I’m missing three medals in like Diack, has been accused by French investigators baggage.” —Reuters outspoken voice in the fight against tle in at that moment in time. You just say drugs and who has missed out on several ‘Get up’ and they’re really far away. And medals at major championships after fin- your heart breaks,” she said, choking back ishing behind Russian runners later tears. Elsewhere Sunday in the men’s found to have been doping, appeared to pole vault, rising star South Korean archers clip Martinez from behind with around comfortably qualified with a winning 150 meters to go. leap of 5.91 meters, well clear of his near- Martinez was knocked off balance and est rival who failed at 5.70. out of contention as raced Kendricks, a second lieutenant in target more gold in Rio clear to win in 1:59.10 ahead of Ajee the US Army reserve, was unable to set Wilson and . what would have been a world leading Montano, 30, meanwhile had collapsed best with three failures at 6.00. The SEOUL: Ki Bo-bae is under no illusions about letes are still head and shoulders above every- when he won the freestyle gold in sobbing to the track before crossing the 23-year-old from Mississippi has the pressure she will face in Rio as she bids to one else,” said Ki. , completed an 18-month doping ban line in tears, as she digested the end of emerged as the nearest rival to become the first archer to defend an individ- ABSENT STARS? imposed by world governing body FINA in her dream of competing in Rio four years France’s Renaud Lavillenie, the reign- ual Olympic title but after shooting more than While Korea are confident of getting golds March. However, as per Korea Olympic after she was denied a bronze at the ing Olympic champion, who edged 500 arrows a day in training the South Korean in archery as well as shooting, judo and taek- Committee regulations, he was then subject 2012 London Games. Martinez said the Kendricks into silver at the World is ready for the challenge. wondo, two of their biggest stars may not be to an additional three-year ban from the day incident had been triggered after she Indoor Championships in March. Archery has been a gold mine for Korea at on the plane to Rio. Olympic vault champion the FINA suspension expired. was knocked off balance from behind. “I In the day’s other final, the Olympics with the country’s athletes hog- Yang Hak-seon missed two selection trials due Park took his case to the CAS and filed an don’t know, I got clipped from behind. I won the javelin with a throw of 83.24m. ging 19 of the 36 titles up for grabs since the to a torn Achilles but a gymnastics official said injunction with a local court, which ruled he just tried catching my fall but by then Curtis Thompson was second with sport returned in its modern format in 1972. on Tuesday they would hold three more trials should be eligible for selection. “The opinion they were already making another gear, 82.88m and Riley Dolezal third. — AFP The strong performance of the archery team, in the hope that he would be fit enough to try from CAS has not come out yet,” national who have won at least two golds at each to claim a place on their five-man team. Olympic Committee President Kim Jung- Games since 1988, has helped the Koreans to The situation regarding swimmer Park Tae- haeng said at a news conference. “We would punch above their weight in the overall hwan remains in the hands of the Court of need to respect both the ruling from the medals table. With that success has come Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Park, the first Seoul Eastern District Court and also the CAS expectation, Ki told Reuters. “Previous Korean Korean to win an Olympic swimming medal ruling.” — Reuters archery teams have left a legacy with their great achievements and for many South Koreans when they think of the Olympics they remember how successful our archers have been,” she said. “So there is a bit of pressure weighing on our shoulders in that regard. But we have to think positive and the only way to overcome that pressure is through training.” Training is something the Koreans take very seriously. Still sporting nasty sunburn from a practice session on Mount Halla on Korea’s Jeju Island, Ki loosed arrows with frightening accuracy at the target as torrential rain hammered down at the Taeneung national training centre in Seoul. If Ki was distracted by the rain she did not show it. Cameras flashed, telephones rang, the media jostled for position but still she did not flinch. Hardly surprising, though, given that the team practised at a baseball stadium last weekend before a domestic league game in order to get used to crowd noise. Such has been the success of Korean archers that their coaches are in high demand around the world, which has gone some way SEOUL: South Korean archery national team member Ki Bo-bae, a 2012 London Olympic gold to levelling the playing field. EUGENE: Clayton Murphy, left, winner, and Boris Berian, in second place, celebrate medalist, prepares to shoot during a media day for the 2016 Olympic Summer “It’s true that the average level of tech- after men’s 800-meter final at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials, Monday, in games at the Korean National Training Center in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. The 2016 Eugene Ore. —AP nique and skills have gone up but Asian ath- Olympic Summer games will be held in Rio De Janeiro, from Aug 5 to Aug 21. — AP