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MONDAY, MAY 22, 2017 SPORTS Hahn leads Byron Nelson by one as Day charges DALLAS: James Hahn fired his second good day,” said Hahn, the 18-hole co- and I’ll just show up,” he said. “There’s a lot Masters champion Sergio Garcia of Spain Byeong-Hun (69) were on 203. World bogey-free 64 of the week on Saturday leader. “It is really close. One putt here or on the line but I feel like when I’m on the fired a 64 to finish on 202 and share sixth number one Dustin Johnson shared 19th while Australia’s Jason Day charged into there. You need good breaks to happen to golf course there’s a different animal that with former Byron Nelson champion after carding a one-over 71 Saturday, contention entering the final round of the keep the momentum going and I did that comes out and I get very competitive.” Day Jason Dufner (65) and Bud Cauley (68). snapping a streak of 14 consecutive par- US PGA Byron Nelson tournament.World today.” Fellow American Billy Horschel was had eight birdies to move into a share of Defending champion Garcia shot 29 on or-better rounds at the Byron Nelson for number three Day blasted a seven-under second on 199 after a 66 that included third with second-round leader Jason the back nine Saturday, the same score he Johnson, who is seven shots behind Hahn. par 63 in the third round at the TPC Las birdies on his last three holes. Hahn said Kokrak, who shot 72. American Cameron posted on the front nine in the opening “Mentally and physically I’m fine,” Johnson Colinas course just outside Dallas, but was he won’t worry while sleeping on the lead, Tringale was fifth at 201 after a 67. round when he won in 2016. said. “I’m not as sharp as I was, obviously, two strokes off the pace as Hahn grabbed even though there were a dozen players Day made an incredible 60-foot birdie Americans Scott Brown (65), Scott before the Masters and it’s going to take a the lead on 12-under 198. within five strokes. putt on the par-3 17th to move into a Piercy (66), Grayson Murray (68), Chad little time to get back in that kind of “I played well out there. Overall it was a “Tell me what my tee time is tomorrow share of the lead at one stage. Reigning Campbell (68) and South Korea’s An rhythm but I’m seeing good signs.” — AFP Int’l football returns to Iraq BAGHDAD: After a years-long absence pre- it and left it in place for nearly four years. dominantly due to security concerns, inter- But FIFA again lifted the ban on interna- national football will return to Iraq when tional friendlies in Iraq earlier this month, the country hosts a second-round match of while the AFC agreed to allow Iraq to host the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) the match between Air Force and Al- Cup. Defending Cup champions Air Force Zawraa. Club and Al-Zawraa-both Iraqi teams-will face off at Franso Hariri Stadium in the THREE-MONTH TRIAL autonomous Kurdish region’s capital Arbil Iraq will now go through a three-month on Monday night for the first international trial period to see if it can host and organ- match to be held in the country since 2013. ise matches according to international “I think this is an opportunity for us as standards. Security has not been the only fans and athletes to prove to the world that problem for Iraqi football: issues such as we deserve to hold matches on our soil,” Al- inadequate electricity and fans going onto Zawraa coach Essam Hamad told journal- the football pitch have also been sources of ists in Arbil. Basim Qasim, the Air Force concern. Over the past two years, Iraqi Club’s coach, also called for “completely lift- forces have made major gains against ing the ban on Iraqi football”. Iraqis’ passion jihadists, retaking three of the country’s for football cuts across the deep religious four cities that IS had seized. and political divisions that have fuelled Arbil has largely been spared the vio- horrific violence in the country for years, lence that has ravaged other parts of the and the country’s national teams have country, but getting fans of the two brought people together amid some of the Baghdad-based clubs to Arbil does pose a worst of the unrest. potential challenge. Iraq’s Kurdish region subjects citizens from other areas-most of PERIODIC BANS them members of the country’s Arab But world football’s governing body majority-to strict security screening that FIFA and the AFC have periodically banned many of them consider discriminatory. Iraq from hosting international matches, Iraq’s Ministry of Youth and Sports most recently in 2013 after a coach was announced that it would cover travel killed by security forces. Violence was ris- expenses for 1,000 fans from each of the two ing, part of a multi-year crescendo of clubs, which have hired buses to transport bloodshed that culminated in the Islamic supporters to see the match. “Staging the State group’s takeover of large areas north two matches between Al-Zawraa and Air ROME: Alexander Zverev of Germany (R) poses with the trophy after winning the ATP Tennis Open final against Novak Djokovic (L)of Serbia on and west of Baghdad the following sum- Force in Iraqi stadiums will be important in May 21, 2017, at the Foro Italico. — AFP photos mer. Among the targets of frequent jihadist proving Iraq’s capability to organise and host attacks in 2013 were football pitches where international matches with efficiency and Iraqi children played the sport and cafes safety,” said Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al- broadcasting matches. FIFA, which had just Khalifa, the head of the AFC. “We are sure Djokovic names Agassi as lifted a ban on Iraq hosting international that this step will have a positive impact on friendlies a few months before, reimposed the future of the game in the country.” —AFP new coach at French open Svitolina surges to No 1 in ROME: Novak Djokovic revealed yesterday that HUMBLE MAN American great Andre Agassi would be his new “Obviously, Andre is someone that I have race with Italian Open title coach, but said they did not yet have a “long- tremendous respect for as a person and as a term commitment”. “I spoke to Andre the last player. He has been through everything that I’m ROME: Elina Svitolina surged to No 1 in the “Sorry guys for third set,” Halep told the couple weeks on the phone, and we decided to going through. “You know, on the court he season-long rankings race by winning the crowd. “It was a little tough for me to get get together in Paris. So he’s gonna be there. understands the game amazingly well. I am Italian Open on Sunday with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 through but Elina played great.” Halep was We’ll see what future brings. We are both excited enjoying every conversation that I have with victory over Simona Halep. It was a tour- playing in her second clay-court final in two to work together and see where it takes us,” said him. But also, on the other hand, he’s someone best fourth title this year for Svitolina and weeks after winning the title in Madrid last Djokovic, beaten 6-4, 6-3 in the Rome Masters that nurtures the family values, philanthropy the most prestigious trophy of her career Sunday. Svitolina also required medical final yesterday by 20-year-old German Alexander work. “He’s a very humble man, is very educated so far. The 22-year-old Ukrainian also leads treatment from a trainer midway through Zverev. “We don’t have any long-term commit- in just-you know, he’s a person that can con- the tour with 31 match wins this season, the second set, for an apparent problem ment. It’s just us trying to get to know each oth- tribute to my life on and off the court a lot. I’m putting her among the favorites for the with her left leg. er in Paris a little bit.” very excited to see what is ahead of us.” French Open, which starts next Sunday. “Hopefully we’ll recover, me and Djokovic returns to Paris next weekend as the Agassi, unlike television pundit Becker, has “Every day I’m just trying to work on my Simona, because we’re struggling a bit defending French Open champion but looking been away from the sport for a considerable mental part, my physical, my tennis,” physically,” Svitolina said. During the post- to improve his clay court game after an inconsis- time having retired in 2006. Djokovic said he tent spell. He parted with long-time coach Svitolina said. “Everything just came togeth- match presentation, Svitolina dropped the managed to seduce Agassi, the 1999 French Marian Vajda earlier this month, having also end- er and I’m very happy that it’s happened in cover of the silver trophy on to the red clay Open champion, smiling: “I persuaded him.” He ed a three-year relationship with six-time Grand such a big tournament.” The fourth-ranked court, prompting her to say, “Oops.” The first added: “He’s someone that has been so success- Halep was in full control and serving for the two sets featured long, nervous baseline Slam champion Boris Becker at the end of last ful in this sport, and he’s a legend of our sport.

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