CCYCLINGYCLING | Page 2 GOLF | Page 4 Ecuador’s McIlroy likes Narvaez solos Augusta to win on Masters 12th stage tuneups

Friday, October 16, 2020 CRICKET Safar 29, 1442 AH Gayle back in GULF TIMES business as Kings XI beat RCB in IPL SPORT Page 3 SPOTLIGHT Al-Attiyah aims to regain Dakar crown and then win Olympic gold AFP “After not driving for eight months, He has set up a rally academy in Spain Nicosia, Cyprus now we start again very strong. We won to pass on his know-how to future gen- a deserved Andalucia rally last week. All erations — and not just drivers. the contestants were there to prepare for “I bought a farm in Barcelona, and I atari multi-sport competitor Dakar. I think we have a good chance for love being there,” he said. “Generations Nasser al-Attiyah, a three-time the second edition in Saudi Arabia and will graduate, not only drivers, but also Dakar Rally winner and an Ol- our goal is to win.” engineers and mechanics, it will be simi- ympic skeet shooting bronze Al-Attiyah, 49, identifi ed the 58-year- lar to a university.” medallist,Q has ambitions for a double tri- old Carlos Sainz and 55-year-old The farm is also where he trains in the umph in 2021. Stephane Peterhansel as his main rivals. skeet. He has shot in six Olympics, win- Al-Attiyah, who won the car class in “I think the competition will be be- ning bronze in the London Games in 2012. the Dakar in 2011, 2015 and last year, plans tween this trio if we don’t face mechani- “I will be ready for the Olympics in a fresh assault in January when the gru- cal problems,” he told AFP. 2021. God willing, we will be in form,” he elling race is held in Saudi Arabia for the “I am younger than Carlos and said. “Our goal is gold and to represent second consecutive year. Stephane, which gives me some advan- my country and the Arab world.” Six months later he is aiming to be in tage. As we saw in the Andalucia Rally, Al-Attiyah says his love of sports keeps action at the Tokyo Olympics where the I was more in control. But of course the him competitive. “When you love some- skeet event is scheduled for the last week Dakar Rally has its circumstances and thing, you give it from your heart,” he Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah sits in his Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 during a testing session ahead of the Cyprus Rally, of July. surprises.” said. near Kapedes village in the Nicosia District of Cyprus, on Wednesday. (AFP)

HORSE RACING Bughanaim gets off the mark Qatari jockey rides season’s first winner with Hajadie Du Croate in Al Gharafa Cup

By Sports Reporter and distance for the third time. Doha After Eduardo Pedroza guided the English Channel colt to a thrilling short head victory for atari jockey Faleh Thoroughbreds, Hadi Nasser al- Bughanaim rode his Ramzani’s ward now has three fi rst winner of the wins and a top-three fi nish in season astride Nass- four outings over the course and erQ Saeed al-Eida’s Hajadie Du distance at Al Rayyan Park. Croate in the Al Gharafa Cup, Ronan Thomas and his mount yesterday’s feature on turf at the Take A Nap ran out of real estate Qatar Racing and Equestrian to try and take a win, and settled Club’s Al Rayyan Park. for second. In the mile-long Purebred Apprentice rider Rashid Ali Arabian feature, Bughanaim and al-Marri led a one-two for Qatari Jassim Mohamed Ghazali’s ward jockeys as he sided Saeed Mo- did not have the best of starts hamed al-Shafi ’s Al Mikdam to a despite starting on the inside, fi ne victory in the Thoroughbred even as JP Guillambert-ridden Handicap for horses rated 75 and Casimir De Codines set the pace below. for the bulk of the race. In the packed 16-strong miler, Umm Qarn’s Muqla took the Al Mikdam held on to his ad- advantage two furlongs out. vantage as he went past the post However, Bughanaim had been a little less than two lengths in egging Hajadie Du Croate on front of Faleh Bughanaim and his through the back straight and the mount, War Order. turn and the duo steadily clawed Zyzzyva was the fi rst winner their way up to edge out Muqla for Qatari trainer Ibrahim al- by a quarter-of-a-length at the Malki this season with the Siy- post. ouni gelding entering the win- In the penultimate race of the ner’s enclosure for the fi rst time Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Racing manager Mohamed Khalid al-Khalifa (third from right) with the winners of the Al Gharafa Cup after Nasser Saeed al-Eida’s Hajadie Du Croate day, Soufi ane Saadi’s second vic- in Qatar. won the 1,600m Purebred Arabian feature at Al Rayyan Park yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim tory of the day was almost a cer- The bay horse had fi nished in tainty since he was astride Ab- the money twice before at Al Rayy- (Soufiane Saadi). Won by: 1 ¼, dulatif Hussain al-Emadi’s Black an Park, but this time Thomas’ 2 ¼, 1. Time: 1:09.32. Owner: Pearl, a Qatar-bred horse that brilliant ride saw the fi ve-year-old Ibrahim al-Malki. Trainer: Ibrahim had won fi ve out of his six career win the six-furlong Thoroughbred al-Malki. outings. Handicap for horses rated 70-90 RACE 4: 1. Al Mikdam (Rashid Black Pearl played true to his by a little more than a length, beat- Ali al-Marri), 2. War Order (Faleh form edging out Zuhair Mohsen- ing Faleh Bughanaim-ridden Ran- Bughanaim), 3. Better Than Ever trained Mosayter, ridden by Alber- dom Decision. (Alberto Sanna), 4. Hakeem to Sanna, by a quarter of a length at Earlier in the evening, Ali bin (Eduardo Pedroza). Won by: 1 ¾, the post for his sixth win. Saeed al-Jafali al-Nuaimi’s Ajal 1, 1 ½. Time: 1:35.16. Owner: Saeed Umm Qarn colours entered the registered his fi rst career victory Mohamed Shafi al-Shafi. Trainer: winner’s enclosure twice yester- after a winning ride by Alberto Saeed Mohamed Shafi al-Shafi. day with French trainer Alban de Sanna. RACE 5: 1. Arabic Channel (Edu- Mieulle saddling two winners. ardo Pedroza), 2. Take A Nap After Umm Qarn colts Dream Boy RESULTS (Ronan Thomas), 3. Pettifogger and Equinoxe swept the top two RACE 1: 1. Dream Boy (Soufiane (Luca Maniezzi), 4. Black Granite spots in the local Thoroughbred Saadi), 2. Equinoxe (Ronan Tho- (JP Guillambert). Won by: Shd, Maiden Plate event for three- mas), 3. Thamina (JP Guillam- 2, 2 ¼. Time: 1:22.00. Owner: Al year-olds under Saadi and Ronan bert), 4. Dreem Of Doha (Faleh Jeryan Stud. Trainer: Hadi Nasser Thomas respectively, Thomas Bughanaim). Won by: 2, 3 ¼, 1 ¾. al-Ramzani. helmed Gold Amer to a mile-long Time: 1:13.21. Owner: Umm Qarn. RACE 6: 1. Gold Amer (Ronan Purebred Arabian Handicap win. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle. Thomas), 2. Ennab (Alberto Thomas was in the saddle the RACE 2: 1. Ajal (Alberto Sanna), Sanna), 3. Ghazi Al Jeryan (Killian last time the fi ve-year-old had 2. Al Khor Surprise (Soufiane Leonard), 4. Al Junood (Meteb run course and distance, but it Saadi), 3. Qatar Gold (Saleh Salem Ali al-Marri). Won by: 1, Hd, ¼. was far from ideal. al-Marri), 4. Al Hadah (Eduardo Time: 1:43.86. Owner: Umm Qarn. Yesterday, however, they Pedroza). Won by: 3 ¾, ½, 3 ¼. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle. picked up a fi ne one-length vic- Time: 1:37.67. Owner: Ali bin RACE 7: 1. Black Pearl (Soufiane tory, that was the colt’s third Saeed al-Jafali al-Nuaimi. Trainer: Saadi), 2. Mosayter (Alberto San- overall. Majed Seifeddine. na), 3. Abha (Eduardo Pedroza), 4. Al Jeryan Stud’s Arabic Chan- RACE 3: 1. Zyzzyva (Ronan Latamah (Killian Leonard). Won Faleh Bughanaim rides Hajadie Du Croate to victory in the Al Gharafa Cup at Al Rayyan Park yesterday. nel made his preference for a Thomas), 2. Random Decision by: ¼, 1 ½, 1 ¼. Time: 1:10.48. Own- seven-furlong race on turf amply (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Monsieur er: Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi. RACE 8: 1. Hajadie Du Croate (Ronan Thomas), 3. Veverka Py Codines (JP Guillambert). Won by: Nasser Saeed al-Eida. Trainer: clear when he won on the course Noir (Luca Maniezzi), 4. Fuwayrit Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki. (Faleh Bughanaim), 2. Muqla (Francois Herholdt), 4. Casimir De ¼, 2, 2 ¼. Time: 1:44.58. Owner: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali. Gulf Times 2 Friday, October 16, 2020 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT I will only play Grand Slams from now on, jokes Kvitova AFP season and Wimbledon in particular.” Prague “I hope next season won’t be as tough as this year, that things will calm down and that the world will wo-time Wimbledon cham- get back to normal at least a bit,” she pion Petra Kvitova jokingly added. suggested she might only play Kvitova said she was now planning Grand Slams in the future af- to rest and then train in Dubai be- Tter ending a “very, very successful” fore leaving for the Australian Open, Grand Slam season yesterday. where she will be looking to use her The 30-year-old world number mental improvement from the virus- eight reached the quarter-fi nals at the plagued season. Australian Open and the last-16 phase “We didn’t play tournaments for at the US Open before losing in the three months and the motivation was semi-fi nals of the French Open last really poor, I didn’t really feel like week. “I guess I will only play Grand training... but I could get ready for the Slams from now on,” a smiling Kvitova important events,” Kvitova said. told reporters in Prague, looking back “I guess I just set my head right, I at her best Grand Slam season in years. made myself work hard to win each “I’ll just get ready and go to a Grand point, and even when I wasn’t play- Slam,” chuckled the left-handed big ing well, I could fi nd a way out,” she hitter, who switched from the US added. Open hardcourt to the French Open It marks a remarkable resurgence clay without playing a single tourna- from Kvitova who suff ered a career- ment in between. threatening injury to her playing hand “The season looked doomed, but it when she fought off a knife-wielding turned out a very, very successful one burglar at her home in 2016. at Grand Slams,” Kvitova said about “Since 2017, I’ve been grateful for the year heavily aff ected by the coro- being able to play at this level. I call navirus pandemic which had torn up this my second career,” Kvitova said. the tournament calendar. “Unfortu- “Even if I hadn’t reached the French nately, Wimbledon was cancelled. I’m Open semi-fi nals, I’d still be here and still sad, it’s a pity, because Wimble- be happy.” don is very special,” added Kvitova, “Sometimes there are more impor- who won the tournament in 2011 and tant things in your life than just hit- 2014. “But I’m looking forward to next ting the ball.” Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic returns the ball to Kateryna Kozlova of the Ukraine during their US Open match in New York on September 2, 2020. (AFP)

CYCLING TENNIS ‘Training during quarantine essential Ecuador’s Narvaez for Australian Open’

Reuters “What we are negotiating, Sydney or what we’re trying to have an agreement on, is that we set up a quarantine environment where he Australian Open will they can train and go between solos to win on only go ahead in Janu- the hotel and the courts in those ary if agreement can two weeks.” be reached with lo- Tiley has always said that fl ex- calT authorities to allow players ible planning via various graded to practice while they undergo scenarios would be the key to quarantine in Melbourne, tour- getting the tournament up and nament director Craig Tiley said running as long as the global yesterday. health crisis continued. Giro’s 12th stage Tiley is confi dent the Grand He has revised his expected Slam will go ahead but conceded crowd numbers from the 50% that the ATP Cup and warm-up he predicted in August down to a ‘Today I woke up with the right spirit and wanted to be the main player in this stage’ tournaments might need to be likely 25% of the normal number switched to Melbourne if the of visitors to Melbourne Park - borders between Australia’s roughly 100,000 people. states remain closed because of The $15 million ATP Cup, a the Covid-19 pandemic. joint venture between the men’s Melbourne remains locked tour and tennis Australia (TA), down after a second spike in debuted last year at the heart of a cases of the novel coronavirus rejigged Australian Open warm- and everyone arriving in Aus- up schedule, which also includ- tralia must currently quarantine ed women’s events in Adelaide, for 14 days in a hotel at their own Brisbane and Hobart. expense. Tiley, who doubles as TA chief Variations have been allowed executive, said holding the ATP in some states to allow sports Cup over three cities would be teams to train while in isolation impossible if state borders re- and Tiley believes something mained closed and is hoping similar will be essential for the the improving health conditions Australian Open to go ahead. would lead to a relaxation. “If a player has to quarantine “We’re getting to crunch time and be stuck in a hotel for two now. We need commitments weeks just before their season, from the governments and the that won’t happen,” Tiley told health offi cers,” he said. Australian Associated Press. “We need to kind of know “You can’t ask players to quar- in the next two weeks, maybe antine for two weeks and then a month, that this is what can step out and be ready to play a happen: borders are going to Grand Slam. open and then we can have a “We completely accept that multi-city event. everyone coming from overseas “If we cannot have a multi- has got to have two weeks in city event, we’ve got to recon- quarantine,” he added. sider everything.”

Froome confi rmed in Ineos-Grenadiers’ Vuelta roster, Roglic on for Jumbo-Visma

The Vuelta a Espana looks set to turn into a Jumbo-Visma v Ineos- Argentina’s Maximiliano Richeze (left) and Team Ineos rider Ecuador’s Jhonatan Narvaez (right) ride during as a part of the thirteen-men breakaway during the 12th stage of the Grenadiers battle as Chris Froome was confirmed in the squad for Giro d’Italia 2020 race, a 204km route between Cesenatico and Cesenatico, yesterday. (AFP) his last race with the British outfit yesterday. The four-time Tour de France champion, who has been struggling AFP battled it out after escaping fer it to the hot weather.” The was a very tough stage,” said the a miserably cold and wet day in to hit top form since returning from a career-threatening crash last London from a 14-man lead group. 23-year-old dedicated his fi rst Deceuninck rider. the northern Apennines. With year, will lead Ineos-Grenadiers alongside 2019 Giro d’Italia winner But Padun suff ered a broken WorldTour win to ex-Ineos “I am happy to have managed the peloton giving up the chase Richard Carapaz. front wheel with little more than sports director Nico Portal who to keep the Maglia Rosa. Once on the fi nal climb of the day, Froome will leave the team at the end of the season to join Israel- cuador’s Jhonatan Nar- 20km of the 204km stage from died aged 40 this year after a again my team was extraordi- Narvaez and Padun looked set Start Up Nation. vaez soloed his way Cesenatico to Cesenatico left heart attack. nary, I’m really grateful to my for a head-to-head time trial to Jumbo-Visma will go with former Giro champion Tom Dumoulin to victory on a rain- and despite valiantly chasing “I learned a lot from him,” teammates.” the fi nish on the Adriatic coast. and this year’s Tour de France runner-up Primoz Roglic after the drenched 12th stage down Narvaez he ran out of legs. said Narvaez. It was a day of After the bitter disappoint- But Padun’s misfortune Slovenian lost the overall lead in the world’s greatest race on the last ofE the Giro d’Italia yesterday Narvaez, 23, kept the power consolidation for Portugal’s ment of losing team leader Ge- turned Narvaez’s fi rst Grand competitive day. to give Ineos Grenadiers their down to extend his advantage in Joao Almeida (Deceuninck- raint Thomas to a fractured hip Tour stage victory into a pro- Other challengers include France’s Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), third win in this year’s race. the closing kilometres, winning Quickstep) who retained the sustained in the third stage, cession as he covered the last who lost all hope of winning the Tour after sustaining a back injury On a day in which the weath- by over a minute. “Today I woke leader’s pink jersey, preserving British team Ineos Grenadiers 10km in just under 13 minutes during the opening stage, but also Spaniard Enric Mas (Movistar), er conditions dampened the up with the right spirit and his 34-second lead over Wilco have bounced back in style. at an average speed of 46.8kph. who finished the Vuelta in second place in 2018. hoped-for fi reworks in the GC wanted to be the main player in Kelderman (Sunweb). Filippo Ganna followed up his Today’s stage is a more or less The Vuelta starts from Irun on Tuesday. battle over fi ve categorised this stage,” said Narvaez. The race leader’s group fi n- stage one time trial success with fl at 192km route from Cervia to The race will only feature 18 stages after organisers scraped the climbs, Narvaez and Ukraine’s “It is not a problem for me to ished eight minutes and 26 sec- victory on stage fi ve and Nar- Monselice and should be anoth- start from the Netherlands amid the Covid-19 crisis. Mark Padun (Bahrain McLaren) race in the rain, in fact, I pre- onds behind Narvaez. “Today vaez produced a superb ride on er day for the sprinters. Gulf Times Friday, October 16, 2020 3 CRICKET

IPL FOCUS Australia coach Langer opposed to Test and Gayle back in T20 schedule clash

Reuters could deplete the quality of both Melbourne test and T20 squads, Langer said he was also concerned about the domestic Sheffi eld Shield. ustralia coach Justin “Let’s say we’ve got to take 18 business as Punjab Langer says he is op- players to New Zealand, we’ve posed to the prospect got to take 18 players to South of playing a Test series Africa, that’s 36 players out of andA Twenty20 series concur- the backend of the Sheffi eld rently in early 2021. Shield competition,” he said. Australia are scheduled to play “And that’s before any injuries fi ve T20s in New Zealand from that will inevitably happen every Feb 22 - March 7, which would year. They’re the sort of things beat Bangalore clash with the proposed test tour that worry me with this.” of South Africa. Langer said he As for all international sport, had raised his concerns with gov- the Covid-19 pandemic has ‘IT IS THE UNIVERSE BOSS BATTING, HOW CAN I BE NERVOUS?’ erning body Cricket Australia. caused huge schedule disrup- “The chairman knows this, tions and forced cricket boards the CEO knows this really clearly to make compromises to organ- AFP - my personal opinion is I don’t ise competitions. Dubai like it at all,” Langer told local ra- Cricket Australia interim dio station SEN. Chief Executive Nick Hockley “I don’t ever want to have two said last month all playing na- hris Gayle smashed 53 Australian teams in one place. tions needed to “play (their) part in his fi rst outing this That’s my personal opinion. In in helping international cricket Indian Premier League this year, with what’s happening back to a healthy position.” season to give Kings XI with Covid, I understand there’s “This is a unique set of cir- PunjabC their second win of the complexities to it. cumstances brought on by the virus-hit Twenty20 tourna- “We’re one country, aren’t pandemic and is not something ment yesterday. we? We’re not two countries. we envisage replicating regularly The explosive West Indies And we’re one sport.” in future,” he said of the sched- batsman walked in at number While the schedule clash ule. three to put on a key 93-run partnership with skipper K L Rahul, who made an unbeaten 61, as Punjab chased down 172 to beat Royal Challengers Ban- galore by eight wickets in Shar- jah. The match witnessed late drama with Punjab, needing two for victory, scored just one run and lost Gayle to a run out on the fi fth ball before Nicho- las Pooran hit the winning six on the last ball off leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Gayle, the 41-year-old self- styled “Universe Boss” who re- cently recovered from a stom- Pakistan cricketer reports match fi xing ach bug, smashed fi ve sixes in approach to offi cials his 45-ball knock to announce his arrival in the United Arab KARACHI: Pakistan cricket au- and pace bowler Ata-ur-Reh- Emirates. thorities yesterday said a player man were banned for life after “It is the Universe Boss bat- has reported being approached a judicial inquiry conducted ting, how can I be nervous?” the by a bookmaker during an between 1998-2000. left-handed said after the win. ongoing domestic tournament, The investigation was ordered “I might give you a heart at- as off icials celebrated a rare win after Australian players Shane tack, I thought I had it in the bag in the fight against match fixing Warne, Mark Waugh and Tim but stranger things have hap- in sports. May alleged Malik off ered them pened in cricket. The Pakistan Cricket Board a bribe to under perform during “It was a very sticky surface, (PCB) said the unnamed player a tour of Pakistan in 1995. very slow, but it was better bat- reported the matter to the Six players including Pakistani ting second. The team asked me body’s anti-corruption unit greats Wasim Akram, Waqar to do a job at three and it wasn’t during the ongoing National Younis and Inzamam-ul-Haq an issue (coming one down from T20 Cup, which is currently be- were also fined. his usual opening slot).” ing held in the garrison city of In 2010, the cricket world was The in-form Rahul consoli- Rawalpindi. rattled after three Pakistan dated his top spot in the IPL “I have complimented the players - then Test captain batting chart with 448 runs as player for following the PCB Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, the opener struck his fourth anti-corruption code and re- and Mohammad Amir - were fi fty - he has hit a hundred as porting the approach,” said Asif banned and jailed in a spot well - of the season. Rahul put Mahmood, the cricket body’s fixing case linked to Pakistan’s on 78 with opening partner anti-corruption and security tour of England. Mayank Agarwal, who made 45 director. That same year Pakistan’s off 25 deliveries before becom- Mahmood added that cricket leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was ing Chahal’s 200th T20 victim. authorities had also reached charged in a spot fixing case Punjab though still languish out to federal law enforcement during a county match and at the bottom of the eight-team off icials over the incident. later banned for life. table with two wins from eight Under the PCB code all players The Pakistan Super League - a games in the Twenty20 tour- and off icials must report any Twenty20 domestic tourna- nament that was moved out instance of being approached ment - was hit by a fixing case of India due to the coronavi- to gamble or tamper with the in 2017 leading to bans on rus pandemic. “As a group, we Chris Gayle of Kings XI Punjab bats during the Indian Premier League natch against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Sharjah yesterday. outcome of a sporting event. openers Sharjeel Khan, Khalid have been disappointing. It can (Sportzpics for BCCI) The failure to report such an Latif, Shahzaib Hasan and Nasir get frustrating. Our skills were approach can result in a fine Jamshed. good, but we didn’t capitalise on On Gayle’s fi rst appearance Earlier, Bangalore skipper Vi- was dropped down to six in the BRIEF SCORES and ban. Jamshed was jailed in Britain the big moments,” said Rahul. after seven games, Rahul said: rat Kohli made 48 before Chris batting order, for two. RCB 171/6 wkts in 20 overs Pakistan has a long history of earlier this year and is likely to “It becomes a habit - winning “He was training hard, he want- Morris’ late-order cameo pro- But the India paceman con- (Virat Kohli 48, Chris Morris 25; involvement in match fixing, be deported next week. and not winning. There are ups ed be out on the park. It was a pelled Bangalore to 171 for six ceded 24 in the fi nal over with Murugan Ashwin 2/23) lost to leading to bans and fines on Plagued and stigmatised over and downs and this has been the tough call to make and not make after electing to bat fi rst. Morris hitting three sixes to KXIP 177/2 wkts in 20 overs (KL several top players in the last the repeated controversies, the roller-coaster. We wanted this him play. It’s important to keep Mohamed Shami claimed two fi nish off the innings on a high Rahul 61 not out, Chris Gayle two decades. PCB last year launched eff orts win to get some confi dence in the lion hungry. Wherever he key wickets including Kohli and with his unbeaten 25 off eight 53; Yuzvendra Chahal 1/35) by Former captain Saleem Malik to criminalise fixing. (AFP) the group.” bats, he’s dangerous.” the in-form AB de Villiers, who deliveries. eight wickets.

SPOTLIGHT Nortje goes all out, thanks to Ponting’s licence to freedom IANS themselves. By nature, Nortje “Having Rabada from the same struggling with injuries that New Delhi is someone who goes out and team also helps. It is a great un- forced him to miss last year’s bowls fast. There are no instruc- derstanding between the two; IPL or having his MSL season in tions to bowl fast. You cannot both are helping each other out,” 2018, where he made waves, cut elhi Capitals (DC) ask everyone to bowl fast. If you he points. short. coach Ricky Ponting’s have genuine pace then obvious- Nortje made his international Even his entry into the top- virtual carte blanche ly, you’d like to give that,” said debut in all three formats only level fi rst-class cricket in South encouraged fast bowler the former Delhi captain. last year. Although he has been Africa, the franchise cricket, AnrichD Nortje to go all out and That is what Nortje, playing in playing fi rst-class cricket since from the second rung provincial bowl the fastest delivery in the his fi rst IPL season, is doing. 2013, he burst onto the fi rma- fi rst-class competition was de- Indian Premier League history Nortje came into Delhi Capi- ment and got noticed in his layed by a couple of injuries - in (IPL), revealed Vijay Dahiya, tals squad after Chris Woakes home country only in 2018 while lower back and umbilical hernia. head talent scout of the fran- pulled out of the league in Au- representing Cape Town Blitz in Dahiya says the emphasis on chise, yesterday. gust 2020. The speedster was the well-televised Mzansi Super fi tness lies on an individual play- South African Nortje clocked bought by Kolkata Knight Rid- League (MSL). er, and informs about amazing three of the fastest deliveries ers last year for Rs.20 lakh but South Africa gave him the in- work ethic of Nortje. in IPL history, the fastest be- couldn’t play due to a shoulder ternational cap in all three for- “Luckily, because of the Cov- ing 156.2kph, against Rajasthan injury. mats last year as they were look- id-19 situation, the DC camp Royals (RR) at the Dubai Inter- “There are a few things when ing for a replacement for Duanne was almost three-week long, you national Stadium on Wednesday. you seek a replacement. Speed is Olivier, another pace sensation got into rhythm. Nortje’s work “The word fl oating around one thing but you know he is an who had opted to go to England ethic is phenomenal. It brought within our team is freedom. You international cricketer as well. via Kolpak, as the qualifying that confi dence in him. give people freedom to go out The management was keeping a route to represent England is “He has done well. Also be- there and be confi dent about it,” good eye on him. Everyone knew called. cause of Covid, you got more former India wicket-keeper Da- he had pace. When you are look- Nortje though has been prone time to pay emphasis on your hiya told IANS from the United ing for pace, you look for an out to injuries throughout his fi rst- fi tness and work on areas that Arab Emirates. and out fast bowler,” Dahiya said. class career. He had to give up require fi tness. There has been “From day one, Ponting has The fact that his opening rugby, a fi erce contact sport, af- less international cricket in the been emphasising with every- bowling partner at Delhi Capi- ter he broke his collar bone as a last six-seven months so that one that we give batsmen and tals, Kagiso Rabada, also plays 17-year-old. Then throughout gives you enough time to recover Anrich Nortje of Delhi Capitals bowling during the Indian Premier League match against the Rajasthan bowlers that freedom to express for South Africa is working well. his cricket career, he has been and get strong,” said Dahiya. Royals in Dubai on Wednesday. (Sportzpics for BCCI) Gulf Times 4 Friday, October 16, 2020 SPORT

GOLF SPOTLIGHT SA tight-lipped on McIlroy likes Masters Boks withdrawal from Rugby tuneups, tests Championship Reuters Cape Town, South Africa player welfare and the need for government approval as sticking points in taking part in the com- outh African Rugby says petition. a fi nal decision on their Should their withdrawal be Bryson-like swings participation in the Rug- confi rmed, they face going into by Championship will next July’s British & Irish Lions onlyS be communicated today as a series on home soil having played report in New Zealand suggested little or no tests since their victory Four-time Major winner could complete a career Grand Slam at Augusta next month they have already given notice of in the 2019 Rugby World Cup fi nal their intention to withdraw from against England last November. AFP this year’s competition. South Africa’s long and hard Los Angeles, United States An SA Rugby statement yes- Covid-19 lockdown means the terday did not deny the veracity country’s leading players were of the report, instead suggesting sidelined from competitive ac- ory McIlroy is looking the fi nal decision would be com- tion between mid-March and the for two good weeks of municated by organisers SAN- start of the domestic season this Masters preparation at ZAAR today. past weekend. the CJ Cup at Shadow “An SA Rugby spokesperson Team offi cials have suggested CreekR even as he tries to emu- said that speculation in the me- they will need at least 500 min- late Bryson DeChambeau’s ball- dia that the Springboks were to utes of competitive rugby before blasting style. be withdrawn from the Rugby they can take part in the Rugby The four-time major win- Championship have been noted,” Championship, with all but their ner from Northern Ireland, who the statement read. overseas-based players well could complete a career Grand “However, it would make no short of this. Slam by winning the green jack- comment on the reports until It was hoped a compromise et next month at Augusta Na- SANZAAR had updated all stake- by SANZAAR to allow the Boks tional, has not played since last holders through offi cial chan- to enter the competition at the month’s US Open was won by nels, which was expect to be on halfway point, giving players DeChambeau. Friday, Oct 16.” greater preparation time, might “I’m excited, after three The New Zealand Herald have ease those concerns. weeks, to get back at it again,” suggested the decision has al- If the Boks do participate, then McIlroy said. “With how good ready been made, and that the the need to quarantine in host the greens are here and how competition will now feature country Australia for 14 days slopey, how fast and how the only Australia, New Zealand and before their scheduled opener course is set up, it’s actually not Argentina, a fi nancial blow to all against Argentina in Nov 7 means a bad place to prepare for Au- four countries. they are in a race again time to gusta. The Springboks have cited board the plane. “Same conditions you’re go- ing to get there in terms of grass anyway. Climate’s going to be CHANGE a bit diff erent, but it’s not bad preparation.” The Covid-19 pandemic forced the Masters to move from Jenkins to replace April to November and caused this week’s event in Las Vegas to move from South Korea and Warburton as Wales next week’s event at Sherwood in suburban Los Angeles to move from Japan. defence coach “Two really good weeks to see Rory McIlroy in action during practice for the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, on Wednesday. (AFP) where your game’s at,” McIlroy Reuters ion on Thursday. said. “And then go home and course is suited to my game and practice rounds before the No- fast as he can, and it’s trying the way it’s going.” Cardiff , Wales “I’d like to thank Sam for his work on some stuff before Au- all that stuff , I think that’s just vember 12-15 event. to get your body used to mov- McIlroy sees DeChambeau as hard work over the last year, and gusta. perceived expectation from the “I’ve heard it can be beauti- ing that way and sort of mak- the fi rst to make full use of all the what he has given to the team and “Feel like my game is at least outside rather than what I put ful in November,” McIlroy said. ing the target irrelevant for a new data available to golfers. ormer prop Gethin to Wales.” heading in the right direction.” on myself. “I’ve heard it can be quite cold. time being,” McIlroy said. “He’s “He has went to the Nth de- Jenkins has been drafted Warburton will work along- McIlroy, whose fi nal-round “I know if I do play well I I think it’s really luck of the draw defi nitely the most talked about gree of everything we have into the Wales coaching side Jenkins for a brief handover 80 in 2011 cost him a Masters should have a decent chance. I what weather we get. It’s some- man in golf right now.” available to us, science, Track- team as a breakdown and period at the start of the Autumn crown, says he does not put don’t think having a daughter’s thing we’re just going to have to And McIlroy is paying atten- Man, biomechanics, everything, defenceF specialist, replacing ex- series of internationals, which much extra pressure on himself going to change how I play. It adapt to.” tion. all the knowledge that we have teammate Sam Warburton, who includes a friendly fi xture away at Augusta National even with a might change my outlook if I “From what I’ve done and nowadays that golfers 20 years has left after less than a year in against France on October 24. career Slam at stake since 2015. have a bad day and I know that RORY TRIES BRYSON’S WAY what I’ve been trying — sort ago didn’t,” McIlroy said. the role. “I have had time to refl ect and “I don’t feel like I put a lot of I can go back and see my family Something all golf stars are of experimenting with the last “Now that we have all that, Jenkins, who had three tours plan during the lockdown and pressure on myself that week,” and have a smile on my face, but adapting to is the success of De- couple weeks — it’s the fast- Bryson is that personality that with the British & Irish Lions as I feel with a new addition to my McIlroy said. “Obviously having I don’t think it’s going to make Chambeau, whose style of driv- est I’ve ever moved the club, goes down that rabbit hole more a player, will assist head coach family and business interests a really good chance to win back me play the tournament any dif- ing as far as possible no matter the fastest my body has ever than anyone else. So I think Wayne Pivac and brings a wealth away from coaching, I can’t de- in 2011 and not being able to ferently.” where the ball lands produced a moved,” McIlroy said. “I think that’s credit to him, he’s worked of experience after 129 test caps vote the time needed in the role win the tournament since then McIlroy plans on sneaking in US Open triumph. it’s the way the game’s going. his ass off to do that and it’s pay- before his retirement in 2018. and so have decided to step away and a lot of people say that the a couple of trips to Augusta for “He’s just trying to move as I’m just trying to keep up with ing off hugely.” He most recently worked as from coaching,” Warburton said. defence coach for the Wales Un- Wales will also complete their der-20 side. 2020 Six Nations campaign at RUGBY “He has vast experience of the home to Scotland on Oct. 31, be- international game and is huge- fore the Autumn Nations Cup fi x- ly respected. Since retiring he tures that include a trip to Dublin has built a great reputation as a to face Ireland (Nov 13), followed coach,” Pivac said in a media re- by home games against Georgia Australian hubris sets up Wallabies lease from the Welsh Rugby Un- (Nov 21) and England (Nov 28). Carter and McCaw head nominees for for Eden Park reality check World Rugby’s Player of the Decade

Reuters cated on all counts, and we were Melbourne, Australia right... There is a resurgence and it’s happening now.”

draw against New Zea- ‘ONLY THE BEGINNING’ land is as good as a McLennan’s words may be mu- win for some pundits sic to the ears of some long- in Australia who have suff ering Wallabies’ fans but seizedA on Wellington as proof mere bluster to others, given the the Wallabies are ready to rise up team’s record of thrashings at and claim the Bledisloe Cup for Eden Park after challenging the the fi rst time in 18 years. All Blacks in previous Tests. Double World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw and fellow All In Dave Rennie’s fi rst match The Wallabies went to the Blacks Dan Carter head the list of nominees for World Rugby’s in charge, the Wallabies came Auckland venue last year full Player of the Decade which was published yesterday. Both players, within inches of a fi rst victory of beans after beating the All who took New Zealand to World Cup glory in 2011 and 2015, are in New Zealand since 2001 but Blacks 47-26 in Perth when the three-time winners of the World Player of the Year Award. They ended up with a 16-16 draw after visitors played with only 14 men have been joined on the list by the other winners between 2010 Reece Hodge’s late penalty re- in the second half. and 2019 — three other All Blacks in Kieran Read, Brodie Retal- bounded off the post. The result was a 36-0 shellack- lick and Beauden Barrett, Irish fly-half Johnny Sexton, Springbok Australia had little to cel- ing that took the wind out of the Pieter-Steph du Toit and former France captain Thierry Dusautoir. ebrate in their fi nal years under Wallabies’ sails in the leadup to Similarly, the Women’s Player of the Year winners since 2010, from Michael Cheika, slumping to the World Cup and saw New Zea- Black Fern Carla Hohepa to England’s 2019 recipient Emily Scarratt, seventh in the world rankings land retain the Bledisloe Cup. have been nominated for the Women’s Player of the Decade award. and being punted from the Rug- A 12-12 draw in Sydney in The vote is open to the public and will close on October 25. There by World Cup quarter-fi nals in 2014 was followed by a similar are also awards Try of the Decase and Sevens Player of the Decade. Japan. 51-20 humiliation at Eden Park So Wellington was enough for to secure the Cup. Sydney columnist Peter FitzSi- Former coach Robbie Deans French federation and league agree mons to declare the Wallabies led the Wallabies to a convincing on players’ availability transformed ahead of Sunday’s 34-19 win over New Zealand in second Test at Eden Park, where New Zealand’s Damian McKenzie (bottom) tackles Australia’s Marika Koroibete as he scores a try during Sydney in 2008, which was fol- The French rugby federation and the league have reached an they have not won since 1986. the Bledisloe Cup rugby union match in Wellington on Sunday. (AFP) lowed by a 39-10 reverse at Eden agreement over the players’ availabilities for this autumn’s test “Against the All Blacks on Park the following week. matches, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told New Zealand soil, a draw really the trans-Tasman rivals, Aus- Australia (RA) is now helmed Super Rugby competition. The Wallabies players have Reuters yesterday. According to the agreement, 31 players will be is a bloody victory,” FitzSimons, tralia has long been weary of the by a more assertive leadership After Wellington, RA chair- avoided talking tough this week made available for the six matches France are scheduled to play, who played a handful of Tests for All Blacks’ dominance. who have publicly berated their man Hamish McLennan said the and say they expect an All Blacks although one player will not be allowed to feature in more than Australia in 1989-90, wrote for The Covid-19 pandemic has neighbours for having a “mas- Wallabies had shown up New backlash on Sunday. three games, said the source who declined to be named. Les Bleus Fairfax Media. added to frustrations, fuelling ter-slave” approach to their Zealand’s “fl awed” thinking. Yet it has not been easy to take on Wales in a friendly test on October 24 before hosting “The Wallabies are back. disputes between the countries dealings. “From day one we’ve defended avoid getting caught up in the Ireland for a rescheduled Six Nations match on October 31. Fabien Game on.” over international scheduling RA took umbrage with sug- our players, and this proves how hype. Galthie’s team will then face Fiji, Scotland and Italy in the Autumn With nearly two decades of and the future of Super Rugby. gestions out of New Zealand fl awed New Zealand’s thinking “This is only the beginning. Nations Cup with the Finals weekend match being played on failure in the Bledisloe Cup, the Once led by a New Zealander that Australia would bring down was and it’s a joke,” he said. There’s a lot more to come,” said December 5. annual series contested between CEO in Raelene Castle, Rugby the quality of a trans-Tasman “We feel completely vindi- fl yhalf James O’Connor. Gulf Times Friday, October 16, 2020 5 SPORT

MLB FOCUS Rams look to hand 49ers third straight Astros stay alive, home loss

Reuters which gave him a head-start New York compared to his part-time sta- tus leading up to the Miami de- bacle. wo teams seeking to re- “We’re not going to hit him or Dodgers’ 11-run capture the magic that anything,” Shanahan said of the led to recent Super Bowl pre-Rams practices. “We’ll see appearances go head how he plays, if he gets better or Tto head Sunday night when the worse from it, but I expect him to Los Angeles Rams visit the San get better.” Francisco 49ers in an NFC West One 49ers concern this week matchup. is that they have allowed 18 sacks The Rams (4-1) will be look- in fi ve games, the fourth most in salvo routs Braves ing for their third road win of the the NFL, while the Rams are tied season while the 49ers (2-3) at- with the Steelers for the league tempt to pick up their fi rst home lead with 20 sacks. ‘I’m just happy that we won a game and we’re on until tomorrow’ victory in a duel of the NFC’s Garoppolo hasn’t been the only past two Super Bowl representa- 49er in and out of the lineup. The tives. Los Angeles used a two- team lost defensive star Nick Bosa game sweep over its California for the season with a knee injury rival as a springboard to a 13-3 and announced this week that season and the second seed in standout cornerback Richard the 2018 NFC playoff s, during Sherman had a setback while re- which they eliminated the Dal- habbing a hamstring injury. las Cowboys and New Orleans The Rams will take the fi eld in Saints before a Super Bowl loss far better shape physically, al- to the New England Patriots. though they sustained a key loss San Francisco turned the ta- when rookie safety Jordan Fuller bles in 2019, capturing both of reinjured his shoulder last week the home-and-home games in a in a 30-10 win at Washington 13-3 campaign that led to playoff and had to be placed on injured wins over the Minnesota Vikings reserve. and Green Bay Packers before a “Wanted to give him a few defeat at the hands of the Kansas weeks,” Rams coach Sean McVay City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. said. “That was something that The Rams endured a three- we felt like was going to be the game losing streak early in the best decision for him, and for us 2019 season and wound up to be able to get him as healthy as missing the playoff s at 9-7. A possible.” 20-7 home loss to San Francis- Los Angeles has held four of co capped that skid. The Rams its fi rst fi ve opponents under 20 could send the 49ers to the same points, but defenses have rested fate a year later when they take the last two times the Rams and on a team that has lost two in a 49ers met in prime time at Levi’s row, both at home. Stadium. The scoring spree be- San Francisco’s most recent gan on a Thursday night in Week loss was its most disappoint- 3 of the 2017 season, when Jared ing. Despite getting quarterback Goff threw for 292 yards and Jimmy Garoppolo and running three touchdowns in a 41-39 back Raheem Mostert back from Rams win. The 49ers made the injuries, the 49ers fell behind the most of an under-the-lights re- Miami Dolphins 30-7 at halftime match in Week 16 last season, en route to a 43-17 embarrass- getting a 34-31 win. ment last week. Fearing for his Goff , who grew up about 30 Garoppolo’s health, 49ers coach miles north of San Francisco in Kyle Shanahan pulled the quar- Novato, California, has thrown terback at halftime. Garoppolo for eight touchdowns and had missed the previous two plunged in for two of the Rams’ Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (left) and centre fielder George Springer celebrate after Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Enrique Hernandez (left) and second baseman games due to a high ankle sprain. nine rushing TDs this season, beating the Tampa Bay Rays in game four of the 2020 ALCS at Petco Park in San Diego. Chris Taylor celebrate after defeating the Atlanta Braves in game three of the Garoppolo began this week tied for tops in the NFL. He (USA TODAY Sports) 2020 NLCS at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (USA TODAY Sports) as a full participant at practice, turned 26 on Wednesday.

AFP League Championship Series two batters before Will Smith’s ning with a homer, and Seager said he knew his eff ort was a Los Angeles to 2-1. Max Muncy’s grand slam double scored Seager. sparked an three-run third with homer as it came off his bat. Washington’s Allen practices, Haskins remains absent was the Dodgers’ third homer Joc Pederson and Edwin a lead-off homer as Los Angeles “I was able to hit a high fast- of the fi rst inning, capping the Rios homered on back-to-back raced into a 15-0 lead. ball there,” he said. “It’s a tight One quarterback returned to curred when Ramsay hit the he Houston Astros highest-scoring inning in post- pitches, with Pederson’s blast The fi ve home runs were a line, so I’m happy that it stayed the practice field for the Wash- quarterback as he ran for a stayed alive by the season history. scoring three runs. record for the fi rst three innings fair.” ington Football Team Wednes- first down, Allen connected on slimmest of margins The Braves had been on the Wright walked Chris Taylor of a playoff game during which Jose Altuve hit his 18th career day, while the team’s original 9 of 13 passes for 74 yards. He Wednesday while the wrong side of the prior playoff before he was replaced by Grant all nine Dodgers batters record- playoff home run in the fi rst in- starter remained curiously rushed for one touchdown. TLos Angeles Dodgers rewrote record, surrendering 10 runs in Dayton – who surrendered a ed a hit – Seager had three. ning and added a run-scoring absent. Kyle Allen, who started On Monday Rivera called Allen the Major League Baseball play- an inning against the St. Louis run-scoring single to Seager For Atlanta, Cristian Pache double in the third. and was knocked from the “our starter” at quarterback off record book with a 15-3 rout Cardinals last year. and loaded the bases to set the pulled one back with a solo Tampa Bay tied it in the team’s home loss against the ahead of the team’s upcoming of Atlanta in the battles for a The Dodgers, buoyed by a late stage for Muncy’s 435-foot homer down the left fi eld line fourth when rookie Randy Aro- Los Angeles Rams on Sunday home game this Sunday when World Series berth. surge that saw them come up blast to centre. in the bottom of the third and zarena belted a 3-1 curveball with an arm injury, practised Washington faces the New York The Astros, facing elimina- just short in an 8-7 loss to the two consolation runs came in from Astros starting pitcher without restriction two days Giants. Haskins, the first-round tion at 3-0 down in the best-of- Braves on Tuesday, came out ‘NOT MANY THINGS COOLER’ the ninth. The Dodgers expect Zack Greinke over the leftfi eld after coach Ron Rivera dubbed draft choice with the 15th seven American League Cham- fi ring. “There’s not too many things to have ace pitcher Clayton Ker- wall for a two-run home run. Allen the team’s No. 1 quarter- overall pick in 2019, helmed the pionship Series in San Diego, “The big thing for us was to that are cooler than that,” shaw on the mound after miss- They were the only runs al- back when healthy. off ense for the team’s first four held off the Tampa Bay 4-3 as carry that over,” Muncy said of Muncy said of notching a post- ing game two with back spasms lowed by Greinke, who struck Allen replaced Dwayne Haskins games before being demoted the Rays missed their chance to the momentum built from scor- season Grand Slam in his home when they try to level the series. out seven in six innings for his as Washington’s starter for the to No. 3 on the depth chart last return to the MLB champion- ing seven runs in the fi nal three state. “But the biggest thing for In San Diego, Houston’s fi rst playoff win since 2015. 30-10 loss to the Rams, but left week. He then was not present ship showcase for the fi rst time innings on Tuesday night. “We me is our team got a ‘W’ and got George Springer smacked a The Rays still have history before halftime following a hit for the loss to the Rams, with since 2008. were able to do that.” guys back on track.” towering two-run shot to left on their side. Only one Major by cornerback Jalen Ramsey. the team saying Haskins had In Arlington, Texas, the Mookie Betts led off with The three homers were a fi eld to break a 2-2 tie in the League team – the Boston Red Allen was later cleared to return a stomach illness. Rivera Dodgers erupted for a record- an infi eld single on the fi rst record for a fi rst inning in a bottom of the fi fth inning as Sox against the New York Yan- to the game, but Rivera chose was asked by reporters after setting 11 runs in the fi rst inning pitch from Atlanta starter Kyle playoff game, equalling the the Astros cut the series defi cit kees in the 2004 ALCS – has to stick with veteran Alex Smith Haskins, 3-8 as a starter over on the way to a dominant victo- Wright and Corey Seager belt- most in any post-season inning. to 3-1. “I’m just happy that we recovered from a 3-0 defi cit to as a precautionary measure. his first two seasons, was sent ry over the Braves that trimmed ed a double off the next pitch The Dodgers weren’t done. won a game and we’re on until win a best-of-seven playoff se- Before the injury, which oc- home and did not practice. the defi cit in their National to score Betts. Wright retired Bellinger led off the second in- tomorrow,” said Springer, who ries in 38 prior attempts.

NFL Dolphins look to continue resurgence against Jets Reuters Prior to the injury, Darnold had seen Rookie fi rst-round pick Austin Jack- New York his numbers regress. After going 7-6 last son, who had been playing left tackle, season with 19 TDs and 13 interceptions, is out injured. Flores moved right tackle Darnold is 0-4 this year with three TDs Jesse Davis to the left side to replace he much-improved Miami Dol- and four picks. Jackson, creating the opening for Hunt. phins, coming off an impressive Joe Flacco, who led the Baltimore Miami is also starting a rookie at right 43-17 win over the San Francisco Ravens to a Super Bowl victory in the guard, fourth-round pick Solomon 49ers, must protect against a 2012 season, is set to start his second Kindley. Tletdown when the winless New York Jets consecutive game in place of Darnold. The big story for the Dolphins’ de- visit on Sunday. Flacco, 35, is an accomplished veteran, fense is the play of star cornerback Xav- The rout in the Bay Area improved but he hasn’t had a winning season since ien Howard, who has one interception Miami’s record to 2-3. Since starting the 2017. Since then, he is 6-12 as a starter in each of his past three games. Howard 2019 season 0-7, the Dolphins are 7-7. with 19 touchdown passes and 11 inter- shared the NFL lead with seven intercep- Coincidentally, the turnaround started ceptions for three teams. tions in 2018 but was limited to just fi ve with a 26-18 victory last November over Meanwhile, Dolphins starting quar- games last year due to a knee injury. ... the Jets. New York (0-5) has been a terback Ryan Fitzpatrick turns 38 next “That dude always seems to fi nd a way mess this season, and that continued this month, and he is playing as if he were a to get the ball,” Dolphins cornerback week when general manager Joe Douglas decade younger. Byron Jones said of Howard, who has 15 decided to cut running back Le’Veon Fitzpatrick has three 300-yard games interceptions in his past 27 games. “It’s Bell, who made $27.5 million while play- this season, and he is completing 70.6 cool to be out there with one of the best.” ing just 17 games for the club. percent of his passes. He is prone to tak- Howard and Jones, who both made the Bell, who had been a three-time Pro ing sacks (40 last year and eight this sea- Pro Bowl in 2018, will look to shut down Bowl player with the Pittsburgh Steelers, son) and throwing interceptions (13 last a Jets passing game that has just wide rushed for just 863 yards and a 3.3-yard year and fi ve this season), but he also receiver Jamison Crowder in terms of average with the Jets, but he was hardly scrambles endlessly, often creating hav- reliable playmakers. In just three games New York’s only problem. Quarterback oc on defenses. this year, Crowder has 22 catches for 335 Sam Darnold, who missed last week’s Fitzpatrick is playing behind a rebuilt yards and two touchdowns. 30-10 home loss to the Arizona Cardi- off ensive line. At right tackle, rookie Miami, meanwhile, has three pass- nals due to a shoulder injury, has been second-round pick Robert Hunt made catching playmakers: wide receivers ruled out for the game at Miami. his fi rst start against the 49ers, playing DeVante Parker (team-high 26 catches “There’s pain every now and then, but every off ensive snap. for 329 yards) and Preston Williams I’m feeling a lot better,” Darnold said ear- “He showed himself well,” Dolphins (team-high 19.5-yard average per re- lier this week. “It’s getting better every second-year coach Brian Flores said. ception) and tight end Mike Gesicki (18 day.” “The moment wasn’t too big for him.” catches, 15.6 average). New York Jets’ quarterback Sam Darnold. Gulf Times 6 Friday, October 16, 2020 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Vonn urges athletes to be Quartararo under mindful of wellbeing

Reuters New York

inter Olympic ath- pressure to deliver at letes are facing enormous chal- lenges ahead of the W2022 Beijing Games, former Ol- ympic Alpine skiing downhill champion Lindsey Vonn said, as the Covid-19 pandemic has upended “normalcy” across the Aragon MotoGP globe. With the 2020 Summer Olympics pushed back a year, American Vonn, who retired in 2019 having claimed a women’s 'We are in a good position going to Aragon, we don’t really have to change anything on the bike' record 82 World Cup victories, said the challenges athletes are AFP facing in the coronavirus era go Alcaniz, Spain beyond any norm. “Athletes are so laser focused on training all the time and this abio Quartararo may be leading has really derailed a lot of that the MotoGP world champion- sense of normalcy, and for some, ship title race but the pressure is purpose,” Vonn said. mounting on the young French- Vonn, who is appearing at the manF as the riders head to Spain for Sun- Women’s Sports Foundation An- day’s Aragon GP. nual Salute to Women in Sports, After only fi nishing ninth at a rain- has been an outspoken advocate swept French GP at Le Mans last week- for mental health and encour- end, the 21-year-old heads the stand- aged athletes to be mindful of ings but is only 10 points ahead of Joan their wellbeing beyond training. Mir with Andrea Dovizioso and Maver- “The best advice I could give to ick Vinales not far behind. One mistake athletes struggling to fi nd calm and he could slip to fourth in a blink. in this chaotic time is to put Quartararo’s main problem may be yourself fi rst,” said Vonn. the track, Motorland Aragon, whose The Covid-19 pandemic has long straight runs the risk for Quar- killed more than 1mn people tararo of exposing the lack of raw speed worldwide and upended daily of his Yamaha. To compound the prob- life for countless more across lem, this is the fi rst of two races on suc- the globe. In the world of sport, cessive weekends at the circuit. the outbreak has forced numer- “It’s a track that could be a bit diffi - ous delays, cancellations and cult for us, but we have the extra mo- postponements in 2020, includ- tivation to fi ght for a very good result,” ing wiping out the alpine racing said Quartararo, who fi nished fourth at schedule in North America. the circuit last year in his debut season. “I really, really feel for the There have already been seven diff er- athletes this year. It’s diffi cult in ent winners in the MotoGP 2020 sea- any circumstances to get ready son but “El Diablo”, as the French press for the Olympics, let alone now likes to call him, is the only one to have with all the uncertainty,” Vonn, climbed to the top of the podium more 35, said. “The biggest challenge than once. for the athletes coming into the “We are in a good position going to Fabio Quartararo heads the MotoGP standings but is only 10 points ahead of Joan Mir with Andrea Dovizioso and Maverick Vinales not far behind. (AFP) Beijing Games, I would think, is Aragon, we don’t really have to change going to be adaptability.” anything on the bike,” he said. “We are victory on this circuit while racing open for Andrea Dovizioso, three-time for an early return, which could have with the exception of 2015. Vonn, who won Olympic fi ghting for the championship. Last Moto3 in 2017. runner-up to Marc Marquez in the seen him have enough races to put to- “I am happy to continue competing downhill gold in Vancouver in weekend we managed to extend our “It’s a track that I like a lot and I’m championship. The 34-year-old Italian gether a late rally for the Championship, with the Repsol Honda team in Aragon 2010, has had to adapt as well. lead in tricky conditions, so I think we coming to it in good shape,” said Mir is being dropped by Ducati at the end of but those hopes have dissipated ahead but I also hope Marc continues to recov- After an emotional transition can do really well again this weekend. who fi nished 11th in the rain at Le Mans. the season. The prospect of leaving as of the weekend’s action. er well. Getting back in the points in the into retirement last year, she First we’ll look to enjoy being back on “I’m still close to the lead in the cham- reigning world champion could add to Honda have confi rmed that Bradl will last race has given me extra motivation has poured herself into passion the bike, then see how we can make this pionship standings and I managed to his motivation. continue in Marquez’s absence at the for this weekend in Aragon,” Bradl said. projects — including her epony- weekend a great GP for us and of course, rescue some points in the last race.” Meanwhile, Aragon GP won’t be see- Aragon GP. The German arrives at the “It is a circuit with a lot of variety and mous foundation — and spent see what the conditions are like.” Mir, however, has a similar problem ing a miraculous Marc Marquez title tilt, Aragonese circuit at a good time, hav- some diffi cult points, especially if the more time with her fi ance, NHL With fi ve races remaining in the 2020 to Quartararo. Like the Yamahas, his as the Spaniard has offi cially been ruled ing achieved his best result of the year temperatures are colder, you should pay player PK Subban. season, it remains the tightest title bat- Suzuki is armed with an engine that out of this weekend’s race with Stefan last weekend at Le Mans, fi nishing 8th. attention to the right side of the tire at “There will be so many new tle for years. Mir is the closest to Quar- promotes handling at the expense of Bradl continuing in his place on the LCR It is also a track he has form at, as he has the beginning of the lap. The objective challenges and the best athletes tararo and although he has yet to win a speed. The long straights could be a Repsol Honda Team. Many were tipping always fi nished in the top 10 in all his is to return to off er the best possible re- will have to adapt to their sur- MotoGP race, the Spaniard has tasted problem and that could leave the door the six-time MotoGP World Champion appearances in the Aragon Grand Prix, sult for the team.” roundings and perform under new circumstances than ever before,” Vonn said. ROSSI TESTS POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS, MISSES ARAGON MOTOGP Paris: Seven-time MotoGP world champion Rossi, in his final season with the factory staff missed last week’s race at Le Mans when one Valentino Rossi said yesterday he has tested posi- Yamaha team, had endured a tough season with member tested positive — despite being asymp- tive for coronavirus and will miss this weekend’s three successive crashes leaving ‘The Doctor’ tomatic. “These two incidents remind us that no Grand Prix of Aragon. The 41-year-old Italian said down in 13th in the world championship. “I’d like matter how careful you are, the risk is always he could also miss next week’s Teruel Grand Prix to be optimistic and confident, but I expect the present — as we see with the rising numbers of at the same circuit in Spain. second round in Aragon to be a ‘no-go’ for me as infections in Europe at this time,” said Yamaha “Unfortunately, this morning I woke up and I well... I am sad and angry because I did my best to team managing director Lin Jarvis. was not feeling good. My bones were sore and respect the protocol and although the test I had Rossi’s condition will be closely monitored by I had a slight fever, so I immediately called the on Tuesday was negative, I self-isolated since my medical staff in Tavullia, Italy, where he lives. “We doctor who tested me twice,” said Rossi in a state- arrival from Le Mans,” he added. have checked with the Italian health authorities ment. “The quick PCR test result was negative, “Anyway, this is the way it is, and I can’t do and we have been advised that any member of just like the test I underwent on Tuesday. But the anything to change the situation. I will now follow our team that was in contact with Valentino up second one, of which the result was sent to me at the medical advice, and I just hope I will be feeling until Monday is excluded from direct risk,” added 16:00 this afternoon, was unfortunately positive. well soon.” Jarvis. “Nevertheless, we will be even more atten- I am so disappointed that I will have to miss the Rossi’s absence is another setback for the tive from now on to minimise the chance for any race at Aragon.” factory Yamaha team after six of their technical future issues.”

WEIGHTLIFTING BADMINTON USA, Britain slam ousting of IWF interim chief Srikanth enters Denmark

Reuters was the norm and the voices of clean athletes London silenced.” Open quarters, Lakshya out The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday it was ‘very wor- IANS understand where I’m at. That’s the whole idea of SA Weightlifting has condemned ried’ by the replacement of Papandrea, the Copenhagen playing this tournament. He hits hard, he’s some- the ‘outrageous’ ousting of Ameri- way the decision had been taken and the one who has an overall game, he has a hard smash, can Ursula Garza Papandrea chosen replacement. Thai weightlifters are he knows when to attack and when to defend. He as interim president of the world banned from the Tokyo Games due to a high ndia’s Kidambi Srikanth yesterday went has matured. It’s always good when you play a top Ugoverning body, warning that the troubled number of doping cases. through to the quarter-fi nals of the Denmark four player.” sport’s future was at stake. The BWL said seven of 19 members of the Open while Lakshya Sen’s campaign came Women’s singles No.6 seed Beiwen Zhang was They were joined in protest by Britain’s latest IWF board are from countries barred to an end with a defeat to Denmark’s Hans- in danger of an early exit with Evgeniya Koset- BWL governing body, which called for the from the Olympics or able to send only re- IKristian Vittinghus. skaya ahead at 18-17 in the third game, but pulled International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) duced teams due to doping violations. The In a hard-fought tie replete with long rallies, herself ahead, 14-21 21-12 12-18. executive board to stand down with immedi- IWF said on its website that its executive Lakshya lost 21-15, 7-21, 17-21. The match lasted ate eff ect and start a new electoral process. board had revoked Papandrea’s appointment for 55 minutes with Lakshya winning the fi rst Papandrea, who was overseeing reform at an emergency meeting, without giving a game after winning six consecutive points from at a sport that risks being dropped from the reason, but said she remained a vice-presi- 15-15. Vittinghus, however, raced back into the Olympics after next year’s Tokyo Games due dent. match by not allowing Lakshya to cross over into to doping and corruption scandals, was re- It said the board would meet again soon to double digits in the second game. placed by Thailand’s Intarat Yodbangtoey on consider the position of Interim President. Vittinghus remained ahead of Lakshya for Tuesday. doping reform and Athlete representation,” it The IWF elected Papandrea in January after much of the closely-fought third game. He pulled USA Weightlifting said it had written to the said. 81-year-old president Tamas Ajan, a Hungar- away after Lakshya reached 17 points, thus se- sport’s 187 member federations demanding “These transparently corrupt actions serve ian, resigned during a corruption probe. Ajan curing the match and a quarterfi nal clash against the IWF convene an extraordinary congress only one purpose: rewarding and empower- had been at the IWF for 44 years as general Japanese sixth seed Kenta Nishimoto. by the end of November. The American fed- ing nations who can only win by cheating.” secretary and president. Earlier, Srikanth beat Canada’s Jason An- eration’s board had earlier issued a strong The BWL expressed ‘huge disappointment’ Richard McLaren, the Canadian law pro- thony Ho-Shue in straight games to enter the statement saying the removal of Papandrea in a separate statement. “The Executive fessor whose fi ndings in July 2016 led to quarter-fi nals. In a match that lasted 33 minutes, and departure of interim deputy director Board are clearly failing the sport, its member Russia being banned from all international Srikanth won 21-15, 21-14. Back in action after general Phil Andrews, USA Weightlifting’s federations and most importantly its athletes athletic competitions, including the Rio Ol- seven months, Srikanth had beaten England’s CEO, was a “dark day” for the sport. and has done so for many years,” it said. ympics, told reporters in June that the IWF Toby Penty 21-12, 21-18 in his opening match on “We are disgusted and outraged that a ma- “The ideals of clean sport and fair play are was rife with corruption. Wednesday. jority of the IWF Executive Board continues under attack. It is disheartening that a major- This included vote buying, doping cover- Talking of his next round against Chou Tien to block eff orts to create real and substan- ity of the IWF Executive Board wishes to see ups and $10.4mn in cash that cannot be ac- Chen, Kidambi said: “He’s been playing well the tive change in the areas of governance, anti- weightlifting return to an era where cheating counted for. Ajan denied any wrongdoing. last few years. It’s defi nitely a match where I can Gulf Times Friday, October 16, 2020 7 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS EFL to reject £50mn Premier League has Premier League off er and demand control over money

obligation to lower By Ben Fisher man, containing a £250mn bail- The Guardian out, was “one step too far” but clubs believe something closer to that package is required. Parry nglish Football League is understood to have EFL clubs’ clubs are set to reject unilateral backing. a £50mn rescue pack- HASENHUETTL SAYS clubs, says Arteta age for League One and PROJECT BIG PICTURE LeagueE Two after deeming the WOULD CREATE BORING bailout fi nancially inadequate PREMIER LEAGUE ‘We want to produce grassroots and opportunities for everybody in this industry’ and insist Championship clubs Meanwhile, Southampton man- should be part of any deal. It is ager Ralph Hasenhuettl says the AFP understood clubs are uncomfort- Premier League would become London able with the Premier League ex- boring and fairytales like Leices- cluding second-tier teams from ter City’s 2015-16 title run would the loans and grants package on be impossible if “Project Big Pic- remier League clubs have an off er and league executives are ture’ came in. obligation to protect those fur- unanimous in believing Champi- “It’s short thinking because ther down the English football onship clubs must be part of any maybe you get immediately a pyramid, Arsenal manager Mikel future conversation. little bit more money or a bet- PArteta said yesterday, the day after top- Clubs also believe the EFL and ter advantage for yourself, but in fl ight clubs voted against Project Big not the Premier League should the end it ends up in a league that Picture. Touted by the American own- dictate where any fi nancial sup- maybe has one champion for the ers of Liverpool and Manchester United, port goes, although there is an next nine years, like in Germany the plan called for the Premier League’s acknowledgment that most or in Italy,” the Austrian told re- six biggest clubs, plus three long-term League One and League Two porters. members, to have “special voting rights” clubs are in greater peril than “For me, it’s boring, to be hon- that would eff ectively put them in com- those in the Championship and est. What I like so much about mand of the world’s most commercially would be the fi rst to receive such the Premier League is that we successful league. help. have every two, three years a new Many Football League (EFL) clubs wel- A Championship source champion.’A Leicester’ will never comed the project that promised a 250mn stressed the EFL is “72 clubs, be possible with these changes. pounds ($322.80mn) rescue fund and not 48” and acknowledged the I am very happy that they have Arteta says that whatever the rights and EFL must continue dialogue with seen it is better to stick with wrongs of the proposals, lower league the Premier League to establish a what we have done here so far in clubs should be protected. “I think we suffi cient fi nancial package. One England. The reason the Premier have to protect the lower leagues as well, League One chairman described League is so famous is because this is our obligation,” Arteta told report- the Premier League’s off er, which it’s the most competitive in the ers ahead of his side’s trip to his old club was £20mn in grants and £30mn world — a 7-2 result from (Aston) Manchester City tomorrow. “We want to placed in reserve to prevent any Villa against Liverpool is what produce grassroots and opportunities for clubs from going bust, as “em- makes this league so interesting.” everybody in this industry. I think it’s fair barrassing, disgraceful and dis- Burnley boss Sean Dyche said to assess the situation and fi nd the best ingenuous”, adding that the deal power should be shared between possible way to achieve that. This is our was akin to giving a “starving all the Premier League clubs, in- responsibility as well.” child tidbits to survive”. cluding any decisions on how to Arteta said he believed unity was vital There is a general appreciation help struggling clubs in the Foot- in any decisions regarding a re-structur- that the Project Big Picture pro- ball League. “I played in League ing of the Premier League. “I think that’s posal rejected by Premier League One and League Two. Do I want a massive strength so as much as we can, clubs on Wednesday, which them to suff er? No, I don’t. If we can maintain that unity and sustain was put forward by Manchester there can be a way found from all our way of doing things,” Arteta said. “I United and Liverpool, together parties, then I hope a way can be think that’s very valuable and the im- with Rick Parry, the EFL chair- found,” he said. age that we project to the outside world is really, really strong. I hope that we can maintain that.” While Project Big Picture has domi- Walcott set for Saints debut as nated the agenda this week, Arteta’s main concern is Arsenal’s clash with City who Armstrong and Djenepo miss out have begun the season in stuttering fash- ion, taking four points from their fi rst London: Stuart Armstrong injury in the same match. three games. “They are still producing Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says that whatever the rights and wrongs of the proposals, lower league clubs should be protected. and Moussa Djenepo will miss “There is always a push back incredible numbers in everything that Southampton’s Premier League every time he makes a step into they are doing,” Arteta said. “In my opin- next few days. He also suggested defender lines. But Scottish health authorities tual ones in the Premier League.” trip to Chelsea tomorrow but the team, and this is a problem ion, they have been really unlucky with William Saliba would not be departing on identifi ed the two players, as well as two The number of positive Covid-19 tests manager Ralph Hasenhuettl for us,” Hasenhuettl added. some of the results they got because they loan to the Championship after the club members of the Scotland backroom staff , has increased during the international sees this as an opportunity “With all the injuries we have should have put games to bed very early had looked into the possibility of getting as close contacts of Armstrong. break, with the Ireland squad hit by a to hand deadline day signing in the number 10 position, with in those games, and then the level of ef- the teenage defender some football away Tierney missed Scotland’s three fi x- number of enforced withdrawals, while Theo Walcott his debut at Stam- Stuey out and Moussa out, fi ciency of the opponents when they had from the club. tures and told Arsenal’s website he was Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo was ford Bridge. Theo has more chance to play half chances have punished them a lot. Arteta is hoping to have defender Ki- “so disappointed and frustrated to be in also a confi rmed coronavirus case. Midfielder Armstrong tested on the weekend.” But I haven’t seen any decrease in the lev- eran Tierney available for trip to Man- this situation”. But, as talks remain ongo- Arteta believes it is important to keep positive for Covid-19 while Everton loanee Walcott has el of the way they are playing or in what chester City as discussions over his need ing to release Tierney from his period of international fi xtures on the calendar on international duty with returned to his boyhood club they are producing game by game.” to self-isolate continue. Tierney, as well self-isolation, Arteta remains hopeful the with big tournaments coming up but Scotland and will complete his on a season-long deal and will Arsenal could hand a debut to new as compatriot Ryan Christie, were in- full-back can feature at the Etihad Sta- wants consistency in the rules. “What 10-day isolation period today. look to resurrect his career signing Thomas Partey after his arrival structed to quarantine for 14 days after dium this weekend. we are asking is that we try to unify those Meanwhile, Malian winger after struggling for first-team from Atletico Madrid. “Today he will Scotland team-mate Stuart Armstrong “We are still having some discussions protocols, rules to try to create a safe en- Djenepo, who scored his first opportunities under Carlo have his fi rst training session, so every- tested positive for coronavirus while on with the authorities,” the Arsenal boss vironment for our players,” he said. “But league goal in over a year in Ancelotti. Southampton are 11th thing has to come quickly for him,” Arteta international duty. said. “This is getting very complicated as well protect the clubs because obvi- Southampton’s 2-0 win over in the standings with six points, said. “We knew that before we signed him Both Tierney and Christie returned when you are sending players abroad and ously the impact of having a few players West Bromwich Albion last time while Chelsea are seventh with that he is fi t, he is very willing to start negative tests and have insisted they obviously you lose control. Some author- out when we resume the Premier League out, picked up a hamstring seven points after four games. playing. We will see how he goes in the complied with social-distancing guide- ities have diff erent regulations to the ac- is really big.”

NATIONS LEAGUE PREMIER LEAGUE Portugal as impressive as ever, Everton’s renaissance set for ultimate derby test at Liverpool with or without Ronaldo and Tom Davies, Everton’s form Reuters Reuters London does not look like being a fl ash in Lisbon the pan. They have won seven out of seven in all competitions so far ough Covid-19 restric- but tomorrow’s derby will be the ith or without Cristiano Ronal- tions have cast a pre- ultimate litmus test as they seek do, Portugal remain one of the winter gloom across a fi rst league win over Liverpool most impressive teams in Eu- Merseyside but at least for 10 years. rope as they showed once again TEverton supporters have some- Ex Everton defender Sylvain Wwith their 3-0 Nations League win over thing to lift their spirits after Distin said former Juventus, Mi- Sweden on Wednesday. Sweden have made their side’s storming start to the lan, Chelsea, Real Madrid man- a habit of knocking teams such as Portugal Premier League season. ager Ancelotti’s impact has been out of their stride with their aggressive, Tomorrow, Carlo Ancelotti’s a key factor in Everton’s revival. physical style but the European champions table-toppers host champi- While Liverpool will be look- refused to be bullied, even without their tal- ons Liverpool at Goodison Park Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton boast ing to rebound, so will Manches- ismanic all-time record scorer. fl ushed with a rare sense of supe- the only 100% record in the ter City and Manchester United The 35-year-old was ruled out of the riority over their Mersey rivals. Premier League from teams that who have both started the season match on Tuesday after testing positive Everton boast the only 100% have played four games. in worrying fashion. Guardiola’s for Covid-19 and fl ew back to Italy, where record in the Premier League City followed up a 5-2 home de- he plays for Juventus, before Wednesday’s from teams that have played four clash outside of the city itself. feat by Leicester City with a 1-1 game to sit out at least 10 days in quarantine. games, are averaging three goals Calvert-Lewin has been grab- draw against newly-promoted Ronaldo also missed the match at home to per game and in Dominic Cal- bing the headlines with his six Leeds United while United have Croatia last month due to a toe infection – vert-Lewin have the division’s league goals so far but it is Ever- lost two of their opening three but Portugal also won that one 4-1. Portugal’s Diogo Jota (right) celebrates with Joao Felix after scoring against Sweden during joint-leading scorer. ton’s new signings who have games, including a 6-1 thrashing In fact, there have often been murmurs the Nations League match at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on Wednesday. (AFP) By contrast, Liverpool, who transformed Ancelotti’s side at home to Tottenham Hotspur that Portugal look a better, more coherent were in a league of their own from the sterile under-achievers last time out. City host Arse- side without Ronaldo, whose presence can ways going to be a threat. round. Rui Patricio was unfl appable in goal last season, went into the inter- they were last season into poten- nal tomorrow while Ole Gunnar be overbearing for younger players. Two “Portugal have played well (without Ro- and the central defensive pairing of Pepe national shutdown licking their tial top-four candidates. Colom- Solskjaer’s United side travel to years ago, he sat out of the Nations League naldo) plenty of times already,” said Santos and Ruben Dias also looked solid. Best of all, wounds after a 7-2 defeat by bian playmaker James Rodriguez Newcastle United. United will qualifying stage altogether to concentrate who, has lost only three competitive games maybe, was the midfi eld pairing of Danilo Aston Villa and after four games has been a revelation so far in an be without new signing Edin- on his club football and Portugal cruised since taking over six years ago. “We are cer- and the remarkably dependable William have the joint second-worst de- attacking trio alongside Calvert- son Cavani who is isolating and through their group without losing. tainly not better without him, but the team Carvalho, who is back in the team after a se- fensive record in the top fl ight. Lewin and Richarlison while the striker Anthony Martial after his When he returned for the Final Four last still have the capability, quality and strategy ries of nagging injuries. Of course, it is far too early to industry of Brazilian Allan and red card in the defeat by Spurs. year, Portugal won that as well, with Ron- to face any opponents.” “We managed to make things easier for be talking about a shift of power the power of Abdoulaye Dou- Sunday’s big clash will see aldo scoring a hat-trick in their 3-1 semi- On Wednesday, it was Diogo Jota’s turn to ourselves,” said Angola-born Carvalho. “It from the red to the blue half of coure have turned Everton’s Tottenham host West Ham Unit- fi nal win over Switzerland. With a seem- shine. Selected as Ronaldo’s replacement, wasn’t in response to Ronaldo’s absence – Merseyside, but Everton’s invig- midfi eld into a formidable unit. ed in what is expected to be Ga- ingly endless production line churning out the 23-year-old set up the fi rst goal for he’s the best player in the world and his ab- orating football so far and Liv- With back-up options such reth Bale’s return game for the talented players and a wily, down-to-earth Bernardo Silva and scored the other goals sence is always felt. But we performed well erpool’s fragility have certainly as new central defensive signing north Londoners after arriving coach in Fernando Santos, Portugal are al- himself. But Portugal were impressive all- without Cristiano and that was our aim.” heightened interest in Saturday’s Ben Godfrey, Alex Iwobi, Bernard on loan from Real Madrid. Friday, October 16, 2020 GULF TIMES FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Adnan looking forward to unique World Cup in 2022 ‘I think they chose the right place to play the World Cup.

Qatar is one of the safest places in the world’ Ali Adnan hopes to lead li Adnan, one of Iraq’s most Many times, Qatar has been home for World Cups because everything will be Iraq to their first World Cup successful footballing ex- our national team. When I played for in one place. Qatar is a small country, appearance since 1986. ports, is no stranger to break- clubs in the region, we went to Qatar so everything will be close. It’s going to ing new ground during his a lot. As a country, it has everything. I be easy for teams to recover better, to career.A The attack-minded left-back think they chose the right place to play play more games, and to not travel that became the fi rst Iraqi player to play in the World Cup. It is one of the safest much. Italy’s Serie A when he signed for Udi- places in the world. nese in 2015. The 26-year-old then cre- How much of a goal is it for you ated more history when he moved to How important do you think it is for and your teammates in the Iraqi North America to play for Vancouver the FIFA World Cup to come to the national team to try and qualify for Whitecaps in 2019. By joining the Ca- Middle East and Arab world for the Qatar 2022? nadian outfi t, Adnan became the fi rst fi rst time? Right now, the situation is very dif- Iraqi-born player to appear in Major Fans in the Middle East are really ex- fi cult for all the national teams in the League Soccer. cited for the World Cup in Qatar. It is world. As a country with Covid-19, we Having set these unique milestones, going to be a diff erent World Cup and are not training or playing games right the Iraqi international is well posi- one of the best because it is in the mid- now. We are not allowed to play games tioned to provide insight on the FIFA dle of the Middle East and many people until next year. That’s a hard one for all World Cup Qatar 2022 and the impact [from across the region] are going to the teams in the world, especially for it will have on the region he calls home. travel to watch, especially to see the big Asian national teams. Recently, Adnan took time from his teams like Brazil, Spain and Italy. It is As I’ve said many times, we have a busy schedule with the Whitecaps to nice to visit and to play there. good team. We have young players, we speak to qatar2022.qa about the fi rst have a good coach, and until now, we World Cup that will be played in the Qatar 2022 will be the most compact have been doing really well. That is why Middle East and Arab world, as well as World Cup in modern history. The we are fi rst in our qualifying group. In his hopes to lead his country – known proximity of stadiums will mean our group, it is not easy to play against as the Lions of Mesopotamia – to their that teams will be able to stay in one Iran, who appear at the World Cup fi rst World Cup fi nals appearance since accommodation and train in one lo- regularly, or against Bahrain. Qualify- 1986. Excerpts cation throughout the tournament. ing for the World Cup is not easy for a In your opinion, how important is country that hasn’t played in a World As a Iraqi and a member of the Iraqi it for teams to be able to avoid long Cup for many years. But we have the team, how excited are you to see the travel times between matches? confi dence to qualify and make it to the next FIFA World Cup take place in That’s going to be very good and next World Cup in Qatar. neighbouring Qatar in 2022? why it is going to be diff erent to other (qatar2022.qa)

FOCUS NATIONS LEAGUE AFC Champions League off ers important Maguire sent off as England lose, lessons for football world during Covid-19 era Mbappe gets France winner

he AFC Champions League – West AFP the Danes atop League A, Group after Lorenzo Pellegrini put Italy Zone matches, which were recently Paris 2. Belgium won 2-1 in Iceland on ahead. held in Qatar from 14 September to Wednesday with Romelu Lukaku Below the top tier, Scotland 3 October, marked the successful scoring twice. They host England continued their tentative revival Treturn of football in Asia following its sus- ngland’s prospects of re- in Brussels on November 15. by beating the Czech Republic pension in March due to the Covid-19 pan- turning to the fi nals of In Zagreb, Paris Saint-Ger- 1-0 at an empty Hampden thanks demic. the Nations League suf- main star Mbappe missed an to an early goal by Newcastle Fifteen teams from Iran, Iraq, Qatar, fered a big hit as Gareth open goal early on but got the United’s Ryan Fraser. After edg- Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Southgate’sE side lost 1-0 at home winner in the 79th minute as ing Israel on penalties to reach Uzbekistan competed over 36 matches for to Denmark on Wednesday night, France beat Croatia 2-1 in their the Euro qualifying play-off fi - a spot in the fi nal of the continent’s most while Kylian Mbappe gave World latest re-run of the 2018 World nal, Scotland beat Slovakia 1-0 at prestigious club competition. The matches Cup holders France a 2-1 vic- Cup fi nal. Antoine Griezmann the weekend. were played across four venues, three of tory in Croatia and Portugal won had put France ahead with Nikola They are now unbeaten in eight which will be used during the FIFA World without Cristiano Ronaldo. Vlasic equalising in the second matches and are four points clear Cup Qatar 2022. Harry Maguire was sent off for half for Croatia before around of the Czechs at the top of League The Local Organising Committee (LOC) England in the fi rst half at Wem- 7,000 fans. Les Bleus have still B, Group 2, and fi ve ahead of Is- worked closely with local medical au- bley for two clumsy yellow cards, never lost to Croatia and are level rael who came from 2-0 down to thorities, the Asian Football Confederation and Christian Eriksen then con- with Portugal on 10 points at the win 3-2 in Slovakia with a hat- (AFC), and the Qatar Football Association verted a 35th-minute penalty on top of League A, Group 3. trick from PSV Eindhoven’s Eran (QFA) to put in place a robust bubble-to- the occasion of his 100th cap to Portugal, winners of the inau- Zahavi. In Group 4, Wales won bubble bio framework that enabled the safe put the Danes ahead. gural Nations League, shrugged 1-0 in Bulgaria with a late Jonny participation of teams, offi cials and LOC They held on to infl ict a fi rst off the absence of Ronaldo be- Williams goal. They are unbeaten staff . Although football leagues and sport- home defeat on England in two cause of a positive Covid-19 test in eight competitive games, and ing events have been slowly returning to years, with the hosts also hav- as they beat Sweden 3-0 in Lis- Ryan Giggs’ side are top with 10 stadiums and arenas around the world, the ing young Chelsea full-back bon. Liverpool’s Diogo Jota set points, a point ahead of Finland. return of the AFC Champions League was Reece James sent off for dissent up Bernardo Silva for the opener Stephen Kenny is still wait- the fi rst continental football competition to after the fi nal whistle. “He is a then scored two of his own, one ing for his fi rst win as Republic feature group stage matches. top player, he is a massive part either side of half-time. “This of Ireland manager after a 1-0 The system put in place ensured all par- of what we do,” Southgate said team will always be better with defeat in Finland left his side ticipants remained safely isolated in a man- in defence of Maguire, who has Cristiano, but they showed they out of contention for top spot in ner that enabled them to participate in all struggled for Manchester United can still compete,” said Portugal that group. Before 8,000 fans in aspects of the tournament. The movement since his involvement in a brawl coach Fernando Santos. Helsinki, Fredrik Jensen scored of players, offi cials and LOC staff was re- Over 20 days, more than 7,900 tests were administered on players, off icials and across the on the Greek island of Mykonos Meanwhile, the prolifi c Robert the only goal, as he did when the stricted only to and from designated accom- tournament workforce as the event was conducted successfully in Qatar. in August. “He is having a pe- Lewandowski scored a brace as sides met last month in Dublin. modation, stadiums and training sites. To riod where is having a lot of stick Poland beat Bosnia and Herze- Also in League B, Northern prevent the spread of Covid-19, individuals sites, stadiums and hotels. cluding FIFA-compliant fl oodlit natural thrown his way and he is big govina 3-0 in Warsaw. Karol Li- Ireland kept Erling Braut Haa- under the same ‘medical bubble’ were not AFC Deputy Director of Competitions grass pitches, gyms, media facilities and enough to deal with that.” netty got the other goal and Po- land quiet enough but a second- permitted to make contact with anyone out- and Football Events Division, Avazbek Ber- other state-of-the-art infrastructure. England got to the four-team land are top of Group A, a point half Stuart Dallas own goal gave side their bubble. dikulov, spoke about the choice to resume The resumption of the AFC Champions fi nals of the inaugural Na- above Italy and two ahead of the Norway a 1-0 win in Oslo in Further measures included mandatory the competition in Qatar. “In addition to League also provided an opportunity for tions League last year but their Netherlands. Group 1. Turkey came from 2-0 Covid-19 testing on arrival in Qatar and the safety measures put in place, there were volunteers to develop their skills ahead of chances of getting there again The Dutch came from behind down to draw 2-2 with Serbia in throughout the tournament, safe transpor- three key components of any successful Qatar 2022. The Tournament Readiness di- this time are very much in the to draw 1-1 with Italy in Ber- Group 3, which is topped by Rus- tation methods, regular disinfection of all tournament that Qatar was able to provide vision of the Supreme Committee for De- balance with Belgium two points gamo, with Donny van de Beek sia who were held 0-0 by Hun- tournament venues, including training and to the highest standards,” Berdikulov said. livery & Legacy (SC) joined forces with the ahead of Southgate’s team and netting for Frank de Boer’s side gary in Moscow. media facilities, as well as the provision of “They were world-class stadiums, training SC’s education and training arm, Josoor medical staff in stadiums throughout the grounds and accommodation. Seeing these Institute, to develop and deliver a training competition. Over 20 days, more than 7,900 facilities fi rst-hand gives us full confi dence programme that helped volunteers deliver a tests were administered on players, offi cials that Qatar will excel in hosting the 2022 fi rst-class competition. and across the tournament workforce. Tests FIFA World Cup.” The training programme was the fi rst in were repeated every three to six days, as a “In particular, players and coaches alike a series of formal training programs that means to allow for early detection and inter- were very pleased with the innovative cool- Tournament Readiness and Josoor Institute vention. The result was a positivity rate of ing technology used in stadiums, where de- will carry out over the next two years. The just 1.7%. A daily analysis of all tournament spite the outside temperature being 39C, the fi rst session in the programme focused on competition and non-competition venues matches were being played in ideal condi- volunteer team leaders, with the follow-up was conducted to allow for swift mitigation tions of approximately 22C,” he added. session being targeted at the main event vol- of any positive cases to stop the spread of The tournament was also an important unteers. the virus. milestone in Qatar’s preparations for the Prior to kick-off on 14 September, volun- Dr Abdul Wahab al-Musleh, Adviser to FIFA World Cup, as it utilised Al Janoub, teers visited all four stadiums and conduct- the Minister of Public Health of Qatar on Khalifa International and Education City ed venue and role specifi c training on site. Sports Aff airs, which led the safety initia- stadiums; providing an opportunity to test The West Zone tournament concluded tive, said: “The AFC Champions League was the operational plans of these venues and with Iran’s Persepolis FC defeating Saudi a sizeable tournament, with the number of ensure their readiness for football’s show- Arabian side Al Nassr FC to qualify for this teams participating being almost half the piece event in 2022. year’s AFC Champions League fi nal, with number that will partake in the 2022 FIFA It also introduced players, some of whom the winner of the western region playing World Cup. While we hope that the pan- may return to Qatar in 2022 to compete in their counterpart from the eastern zone. demic resolves in the coming months, the the World Cup with their national teams, Following the successful staging of the success we achieved with hosting the AFC to the compact nature of the tournament’s AFC Champions League – West Zone com- Champions League has given us a further hosting concept. Teams were able to stay petition, the AFC handed Qatar the respon- boost of confi dence that we will be able to in the same accommodation throughout sibility of hosting the remaining matches welcome both fans and players in any mega the tournament, utilise the same train- in the AFC Champions League – East Zone sporting events in the lead up to 2022, and ing grounds and experience minimal travel from 18 November to 13 December. This will the World Cup itself, in two years’ time.” times between venues. include the resumption of the group stage To ensure that the bubble-to-bubble In addition to the use of three Qatar 2022 that was paused by the Covid-19 pandemic model was eff ectively implemented, the stadiums, participating teams also experi- back in March and continue through the tournament’s LOC distributed around enced some of the training sites that will be round of 16 to the quarter-fi nals and semi- 24,000 masks and 640 litres of bottled sani- used by the world’s leading football teams fi nals. The 2020 AFC Champions League fi - tiser in various sizes. Additionally, 78 com- during the tournament. The training sites nal will be played on 19 December at a venue France’s forward Kylian Mbappe scores during the UEFA Nations League Group A3 match against Croatia pliance inspections were made to training are outfi tted with an array of facilities, in- that is yet to be confi rmed. (qatar2022.qa) at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb on Wednesday. (AFP)