Leicester City Owner Vichai for Lopetegui, It Is Now One Barca Repeatedly Opened Them His Own Box to Nacho, Who Ing the Mistakes

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Monday, October 29, 2018 FOOTBALL Safar 20, 1440 AH Suarez hits hat-trick GULF TIMES as Barcelona thrash Real Madrid 5-1 SPORT Page 2 FOOTBALL/ ASIAN U-19 CHAMPIONSHIP Qatar book semi-fi nal spot and ticket to FIFA U-20 WC QATAR BEAT THAILAND 7-3, WITH FOUR GOALS COMING IN EXTRA TIME, AFTER THE TEAMS HAD FINISHED 3-3 AT THE END OF 90 MINUTES

Ahmed Suhail gets airborne as the Qatar team celebrate after their win over Thailand in Jakarta yesterday.

AFC Jakarta

atar progressed to the semi- fi nals of the AFC U-19 Championship Indonesia Q2018 yesterday thanks to a 7-3 extra-time win over Thailand that also saw them book a spot at next year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup. Head coach Bruno Pinheiro’s charg- es, AFC U-19 champions in 2014, were made to dig deep by their Southeast Asian opponents as a quartet of late goals saw them advance to the last four where they will meet the winners of today’s quarter-fi nal tie between Korea Republic and Tajikistan. The late drama rounded off a classic evening of football, one which had swung one way and then the other before Qatar struck to seal a sensational victory and leave Thailand to rue what could have been. A piece of the action from the match. After a cautious opening to proceed- ings at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno feet of Korawich Tasa when the striker With both sides understandably Stadium, it was Qatar who struck fi rst, was clean through on goal. tired, Qatar duly regained the advan- Hashim Ali making the most of Anuson Thailand refused to buckle after tage on 99 minutes, Umaru sliding the Jaiphet’s wayward defensive pass to curl the break, and they reduced the defi - ball past Nopphon after being found by a sublime shot beyond Thailand goal- cit within three minutes of the restart Mohamed Waad Abdulwahhab to reg- keeper Nopphon Lakhonphon in the as Korawich Tasa raced onto Kittipong ister his sixth goal of the campaign. 13th minute. Sansanit’s astute pass and planted a fi rm Khaled Mansour then struck within With Thailand already on the back- shot past Zakaria. the opening seconds of the second foot, the West Asians wasted little For a moment, Qatar – possibly re- period of extra-time, Umaru added a time in doubling their advantage, this membering their second half struggles sixth and Youssef Ayman bagged an- time Nasser al-Yazidi – starting his against Indonesia – were rocked, and other in the fi nal seconds to eventually fi rst game of the competition – scoring Korawich almost restored parity on seal Qatar’s victory and edge his side with aplomb following Abdulrasheed 56 minutes only to see his delicate lob closer to continental glory and guar- Umaru’s excellent run eight minutes over Zakaria land inches wide of the far antee themselves a fourth appearance at later. post. the FIFA U-20 World Cup. At the scene of their remarkable 6-5 Sensing a way back into the game Qatar coach Pinheiro said: “We are group stage defeat of host nation Indo- was there for the taking, Thailand of course very proud to be going to the nesia, Qatar continued to press as fi rst dramatically drew level on 61 minutes FIFA U-20 World Cup. All of Qatar will al-Yazidi fi red narrowly over the bar as Ahmed al-Minhali’s clearance fell be proud of the players. We now have from an angle and then Khaled Saleh to Sakunchai Saengthopho who bril- three days to recover both physical and forced Nopphon into a fi ne sprawling liantly found the top corner from 20 mentally before our semi-fi nal. save shortly after the half-hour mark. yards. Thirapak Prueangna then lashed “Our target now is, of course to reach In the fi nal minutes of what had been home Ekanit Panya’s delivery to put the fi nal, because when you are in the an excellent fi rst period for the Qataris, Thailand ahead with only 10 min- last four, that is all you want to do – win Saleh went close again with a driven utes remaining, before Ahmed Suhail the game and be in the fi nal.” eff ort from distance, before Thailand found the net with a sublime free-kick Thai coach Ithsara Sritharo said his spurned their fi rst genuine chance of to throw Qatar a lifeline and send the team will be taking plenty of positives the game, Salah Zakaria diving at the game to extra-time. from the tournament. Gulf Times 2 Monday, October 29, 2018 FOOTBALL

LA LIGA RECOVERY Hoddle responding Suarez hat-trick well aft er heart attack as Barcelona blow away Real Madrid Suarez terrorised Madrid from start to finish and made light of Messi’s absence

Reuters is time to rest. Therefore, his London family have reiterated the re- quest for their privacy to be re- spected during this period.” ormer England manager Hoddle was one of English Glenn Hoddle is in seri- football’s top players during the ous condition in hospital 1980s, winning 53 England caps but responding well to before managing his country Ftreatment after suff ering a heart from 1996 to 1999. attack, his spokesman said yes- He spent 12 years at Totten- terday. ham, playing 490 games in all Hoddle, who spent the bulk competitions and winning the of his playing career with Tot- FA Cup and the UEFA Cup. tenham Hotspur and played for Hoddle guided England to the Chelsea, French club AS Monaco 1998 World Cup ﬁ nals in France and Swindon Town, was working but his tenure ended acrimo- for BT Sport as a pundit on his niously when his contract was 61st birthday on Saturday when terminated after an interview in he collapsed. which he expressed controver- “Glenn remains in a serious sial beliefs about disabled peo- condition in hospital after suf- ple. fering a heart attack yesterday. He went on to manage South- He continues to respond well to ampton, Tottenham and Wol- treatment,” the spokesman said. verhampton Wanderers before “Doctors have advised the working as a football television most important thing for Glenn pundit.

SPOTLIGHT Rescued Thai boys honoured

Barcelona’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez (L) scores against Real Madrid CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona yesterday. by Man United

AFP RESULTS hacked it to the feet of Arthur, headed over, Luka Modric hit Reuters Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba, Barcelona his shot parried away by Cour- the inside of the post and Isco’s Manchester Anthony Martial, Ashley Young, Getafe 2 (Vidal 60, Foulquier Levante 2 (Roger 14, Rochina tois. finish was blocked after Rafin- Andreas Pereira and Fred also 62) Real Betis 0 90) Leganes 0 Still, Barca needed the help ha ran into trouble. met the young players, whose arcelona ran riot in Barcelona 5 (Coutinho 11, Sua- Celta Vigo 4 (Aspas 5, 36, 82, of VAR for the second. Suarez Madrid were less trans- he team of young Thai predicament attracted world- the Clasico yesterday rez 30-pen, 75, 83, Vidal 87) Real Mendez 56) Eibar 0 was too quick to the ball at the formed at the back, where Sua- footballers who cap- wide attention last summer. as Luis Suarez scored Madrid 1 (Marcelo 50) Atletico Madrid 2 (Godin 45, near post and Varane bundled rez acrobatically volleyed onto tured the world’s atten- The youngsters have already Bthe hat-trick that will Played Saturday Luis 60) Real Sociedad 0 him over. It was a clear pen- the post before Alba fired just tion when trapped in an experienced a taste of Man- surely spell the end of Julen Lo- alty, which Suarez converted wide. As Madrid’s momen- Tunderground cave for more than chester United folklore, having Girona 2 (Portu 34-pen, 45) Played Friday petegui’s spell as Real Madrid Rayo Vallecano 1 (Galvez 61) Valladolid 1 (Verde 90+1) Espan- for his seventh goal in 11 games tum faded, Suarez landed the two weeks this summer enjoyed appeared alongside the club’s coach. Athletic Bilbao 0 Valencia 0 yol 1 (Iglesias 20) against these opponents. His knock-out blow. a day to remember at Manchester former forward Zlatan Ibrahi- Barcelona were 5-1 winners at eighth and ninth were still to Sergi Roberto chipped a United’s Old Traff ord yesterday. movic on a US talk show hosted the Camp Nou, dominant for come. cross into the box but the ball Having met United manager by Ellen Degeneres. all-but a 15-minute spell after win in six games, as Madrid fall up down the left early on. Gerard Pique should have had neither the pace nor the Jose Mourinho and fi rst team The 12 players were accom- half-time when the otherwise seven points behind Barcelona, Sergio Busquets was allowed headed in while a promis- angle to be headed in eas- stars on Saturday, they were panied by two coaches, family hapless Madrid briefly threat- who return to the top of the ta- time to wait for Jordi Alba’s ing Madrid free-kick some- ily. Suarez, however, generated guests of honour as the Red Dev- members and Thai government ened a comeback. ble. zooming run past both Gareth how ended with another Barca both himself to leave Courtois ils faced Everton in the Premier offi cial Werachon Sukondhap- All the failures that have un- This defeat was reminiscent Bale and Nacho, with the full- sprawl on the counter-attack. stranded. League. atipak. derlined their recent problems of the 4-0 thrashing that spelt back’s touch on the run per- The visitors were fortunate to If that was a masterclass The 12 youngsters from the Sat in the Old Traff ord direc- under Lopetegui were on show the end of Rafael Benitez’s fectly pushed into the area. be only two down at half-time in adaptation, his third was a “Wild Boars” club, aged between tors’ box, all wearing United here, poor finishing, dread- time in charge two years ago Suarez rushed past but but the game was a mirror im- demonstration of finesse. Ra- 11 and 16, and their coach spent scarves and bobble hats, they ful defending and key players but while Benitez survived two Coutinho held his ground by age after the restart. mos was pushed off the ball by 17 days trapped underground received a rapturous welcome performing well below par, let more months, Lopetegui may the penalty spot, where Alba Varane had gone off, with a Sergi Roberto, who freed Sua- before being rescued in a multi- from the home support when alone their best. not last the week. found him with the cut-back. muscle problem the club said, rez. Suarez feathered the ball national operation. introduced to the crowd before Philippe Coutinho scored Much was made of this being It was the move’s 30th pass, for Lucas Vazquez, with Na- over Courtois for his hat-trick. And they were invited to Unit- kick-off . the first and Arturo Vidal the the first Clasico without either the most for a goal in a La Liga cho moving to centre-back. Madrid were fi nished but the ed’s Carrington training ground United, meanwhile, held a last but in between the game Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo in Clasico in 13 seasons. Vazquez was key to Madrid’s humiliation was not over yet to meet Mourinho and fi rst team minute’s silence before kick- belonged to Suarez, who ter- 11 years but Suarez’s master- On the touchline, Lopetegui goal, his disguised pass allow- as Ousmane Dembele crossed stars on the eve of the Everton off , in joint memory of Remem- rorised Madrid from start to class will mean this contest stood motionless. Varane ing Isco to pick out Marcelo, for Vidal to head home a fi fth. game. brance Sunday and the helicop- finish and made light of Lionel lives long in the memory. clapped but his team-mates who finished for his third in Suarez could even have had a Mourinho hugged every mem- ter crash on Saturday evening Messi’s injury-enforced ab- Madrid looked dazed in pos- looked shell-shocked. Sergio three games. fourth in injury-time but Cour- ber of the squad and posed for involving the aircraft belonging sence. session and dizzy out of it as Ramos thrashed a pass across Suddenly, it was Barca mak- tois saved. Five was more than photographs before signing sou- to Leicester City owner Vichai For Lopetegui, it is now one Barca repeatedly opened them his own box to Nacho, who ing the mistakes. Sergio Ramos enough. venirs. Srivaddhanaprabha.

EPL United ease pressure on Mourinho, Chelsea cruise but Arsenal stumble

AFP the opener. The United fans still weren’t happy three matches so we’re very happy with the London with Pogba, though, as he received jeers for his result.” The Gunners’ winning run had raised laboured run-up to the spot-kick. hopes of an unexpected title challenge from Ar- Pogba made some amends as it was from his senal. anchester United eased the pres- pass Anthony Martial curled home a fi ne sec- However, their defensive defi ciencies were sure on manager Jose Mourinho by ond four minutes into the second half. shown up in rash challenges by Shkodran Mus- seeing off Everton 2-1 at Old Traf- However, another sloppy pass from Pogba tafi and Granit Xhaka to give Milivojevic the Mford yesterday, as Chelsea leap- helped get Everton back in the game as Gylfi chance to earn Palace a share of the spoils. frogged Manchester City into second with a Sigurdsson scored from the penalty spot after In between the Serbian’s spot-kicks, a bril- 4-0 thrashing of Burnley. Chris Smalling chopped down Richarlison. liant Xhaka free-kick and Pierre-Emerick Arsenal’s 11-game winning run was fi nally Chelsea enjoyed a far more comfortable af- Aubameyang’s controversial ninth goal of the ended, though, as two Luka Milivojevic penal- ternoon to close to within two points of Liver- season, after he pounced on a knockdown from ties earned Crystal Palace a much-needed point pool at the top of the table despite the absence Alexandre Lacazette’s hand, had put Arsenal in in a 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park. of top scorer Eden Hazard with a back injury. front. And Emery admitted his side still have Yesterday’s action on the fi eld was overshad- Alvaro Morata, Ross Barkley, Willian and plenty to learn if they are to compete with the owed by the ongoing investigation into the heli- Ruben Loftus-Cheek were all on target to ease Premier League elite. “We can make mistakes copter crash on Saturday evening that is feared concerns over who could carry the goalscoring on the pitch,” said the Spaniard. “Every day I to have killed Leicester City owner Vichai Sri- burden without the Belgian for Maurizio Sarri’s am making mistakes in my decisions. Mistakes vaddhanaprabha. side. The Italian remains unbeaten since taking are to learn from.” A minute’s refl ection both in honour of Re- charge at Stamford Bridge, and Sarri was also membrance Sunday and the crash was held be- happy with a better defensive display than in RESULTS fore kick-off at all three matches. recent weeks. Burnley 0 Chelsea 4 (Morata 22, Barkley 57, Willian 62, There was an even more poignant scene at Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho applauds the fans after the match against Everton. “We were in trouble for the fi rst 10 minutes Loftus-Cheek 90+2) Old Traff ord as the 12 Thai boys rescued from because Burnley started very aggressively and Crystal Palace 2 (Milivojevic 45+1-pen, 83-pen) Arsenal 2 an underground cave in July were in attendance in the Champions League on Tuesday had put Paul Pogba’s penalty was saved by England we were in trouble,” said Sarri. (Xhaka 51, Aubameyang 56) and given a rousing reception by supporters. Mourinho’s position in peril once more. number one Jordan Pickford, but rolled kindly “Then we started to move the ball very well Manchester United 2 (Pogba 27, Martial 49) Everton 1 United’s fi fth defeat of the season to Juventus But he got the slice of luck he needed when back into the Frenchman’s path to slot home and we also defended better than in the last (Sigurdsson 77-pen) Gulf Times Monday, October 29, 2018 3 FOOTBALL

PREVIEW Guardiola urges City to stay focused for Spurs

AFP starting against a Tottenham side Saturday, but Guardiola’s men can There has been concern about won their last four league games London who have made their best start to regain pole position on goal dif- what condition the pitch will be to keep in touch with the leaders, a Premier League season. ference if they beat Tottenham at in after a pounding from the NFL albeit without playing at their best “Always it’s tough. It was in my Wembley. teams. in that run. ep Guardiola has chal- fi rst season here. I didn’t expect Having already won at Arsenal Guardiola admits it is not an Pochettino is well aware City lenged Manchester City any more,” Guardiola said. and held Liverpool at bay, seeing ideal situation, but insists he will are the standard by which all as- to prove they are still the “Nothing is going to change off Tottenham would show City not hold back any players, includ- piring title contenders should be PPremier League’s pre- my opinion of my team. I want to remain the cream of the crop. ing Kevin De Bruyne, who only judged. eminent force as the champions focus to win the game and give a Crucially, Guardiola feels the made his fi rst start in midweek af- “I think for me they are the best face a key test against title rivals good performance, knowing the competition for places in his starter two months out injured with a team today in England, fantastic Tottenham today. quality of the Spurs side. studded squad is keeping everyone knee problem. players, an amazing manager,” he Since losing to Lyon in the “But it’s not going to fi nish on top of their game. Tottenham can move above City said. Champions League in September, anything. After this it’s Fulham, “All the players want to play with a win as Mauricio Pochet- “The quality of the club, the Guardiola’s side have gone on a Southampton, Manchester United good, be ready, be part of the team. tino’s team try to get back on track players, the coaching staff and Pep seven-game unbeaten run in all and Shakhtar.” We are lucky to have a squad with following a damaging midweek of course, make them a very diffi - competitions. While City are in good form, huge quality,” he said. draw at PSV Eindhoven. cult opponent. It’s a massive chal- City have won six of those there is less attention on the “They try to play good because Conceding a late goal in Eind- lenge for us to play against them. matches, with the only draw a Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champi- 5-0 win at Cardiff and a 6-1 dem- champions this season as free- if it doesn’t happen, others are hoven has left Tottenham’s hopes “I don’t believe that in football goalless stalemate against Liver- ons League on Tuesday prompted olition of Huddersfi eld this term, scoring Liverpool and revitalised ready.” of making the Champions League you can fi nd something that is im- pool that ranked as an impressive Guardiola to hail the performance that ranks as high praise from the Chelsea and Arsenal have taken City’s trip to Wembley comes 24 knockout stages hanging by a possible to do, but it will be diffi - result given their struggles at An- as City’s best this season. Spaniard. the spotlight. hours after the Jacksonville Jag- slender thread. cult of course because we need to fi eld last season. Given City had just thrashed But Guardiola knows much Liverpool knocked City off the uars take on the Philadelphia Ea- While they have struggled in play well and have a bit of luck to An eye-catching 3-0 win at Burnley 5-0, while also enjoying a sterner tests lie in wait for City, top with a 4-1 win over Cardiff on gles at the national stadium. Europe, the north Londoners have win the game.”

TRAGEDY Leicester’s Thai boss feared dead aft er helicopter crash Vichai bought Leicester City in 2010 and moved to chairman the following February, pouring millions into the team

AFP Leicester

eicester City’s charismatic Thai boss was feared dead yesterday after a helicopter belonging to the billionaire crashed and burst Linto fl ames in the football stadium car park moments after taking off from the club’s pitch. Neither the police nor the club would confi rm or deny whether Vichai Sri- vaddhanaprabha, a regular at matches who fl ies to and from home games by helicopter, was on board the aircraft when it appeared to develop a mechan- ical problem in its rear propeller. The BBC, Sky News and several Brit- ish papers quoted sources saying the 60-year-old and a group of others boarded the blue helicopter from the middle of the pitch once the stadium emptied after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham. Leicester City said only that it was assisting police with a “major incident” and Vichai’s King Power duty-free shopping empire was not commenting. Local police thanked fans for their “patience” in a tweet issued nearly 18 hours after the crash. “We are working with a number of other agencies to get an update out to the public and press,” the Leicestershire police force said in a tweet. Images showed orange balls of fl ame engulfi ng the wreckage in the car park at King Power Stadium. “Literally the engine stopped and I turned around, and it made a bit of a Supporters pause at the pile of floral tributes outside Leicester City Football whirring noise. It turned silent, blades Club’s King Power Stadium in Leicester, eastern England yesterday. started spinning and then there was a big bang,” freelance photographer Ryan In this file photo taken on May 18, 2016 Leicester City FC’s owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha applauds as they take part in a club helped return them to England’s could have imagined what happened Brown told BBC Radio 5 Live. presentation of the English Premier League football trophy at the King Power duty-free headquarters in Bangkok. Premier League from the second-tier next. Prayers and words of warm praise Championship in 2014. Vardy, signed from non-league poured in from across Britain and before the whistle of Sunday’s two early Sven-Goran Eriksson, who was man- Vichai bought Leicester City in 2010 They initially seemed outclassed by Fleetwood Town, scored in 11 consecu- yond for the Thai boss who many credit Premier League matches. ager of the team under Vichai, called and moved to chairman the follow- richer and more established clubs from tive matches, propelling the men in with spurring Leicester’s against-all- “He’s put Leicester on the map,” club his former boss a “very, very generous ing February, pouring millions into the London, Liverpool and Manchester, blue to a title without parallel in Pre- odds Premier League title victory in supporter Cathy Dann, 55,told AFP. man” who “saw every game during my team and becoming a beloved fi gure in languishing at the very bottom of the mier League history. 2016. “He’s made us big.” time”. the club and the city — a feat not always table for most of the 2014/15 season. The success also qualifi ed them for A steady stream of grieving fans laid England legend Gary Lineker, a And ordinary fans in central Bangkok achieved by the Premier League’s for- The Foxes, as the team are nick- the fi rst time for the lucrative Cham- down football scarves and shirts out- former Leicester player and host of the said Vichai helped develop Thailand’s eign owners. named, then engineered what fans pions League, the pinnacle of European side the home fans’ entrance as aviation BBC’s Match of the Day, tweeted: “That football as well, bringing the Southeast It was under Vichai’s ownership now fondly refer to as the “Great Es- football played by the continent’s most experts picked through the helicopter’s was the most diffi cult @BBCMOTD I’ve Asian country greater recognition in that Leicester crafted one of the big- cape”, winning seven of their last nine successful sides, including Barcelona charred remains. ever hosted... A terrible tragedy. Heart- the sports world. gest fairy-tales in English football his- matches. and Real Madrid. Among the tributes was an image of breaking.” “He is an important person who has tory by winning the 2015/16 Premier They ended up fi nishing 14th, secur- There, Leicester City defi ed the odds Ganesh — a Hindu god also seen in Thai Leicester stars Jamie Vardy and raised the bar of Thai football further,” League, having started the season as ing another season in Europe’s richest yet again, winning their group before Buddhist temples. Harry Maguire both tweeted emojis of Apichart Jitratkavee, a Leicester fan in 5,000-1 outsiders for the title. league in 2015/16. eventually losing their quarter-fi nal 2-1 A minute of silence was observed be- hands held up in prayer. the Thai capital, told AFP. Vichai’s major investments in the But not even their most devout fans over two legs to Atletico Madrid.

BOTTOMLINE He made us champions, say Leicester fans AFP fl owers — the colours of the football club. they’re like us. They believe in what the club is said: “I think there’s a lot of Leicester fans Leicester “He’s put Leicester on the map. He’s made us and they’ve bought into that,” said Mahendra around the world — not just in Leicester, but big, we’re not just a little club anymore,” said Mistri, 59. around the world — who I think will be devas- one supporter, 55-year-old Cathy Dann. Kanti Patel, one of the fi rst supporters to tated and he meant a lot to the fans.” ans laid down hundreds of football John Welford, 68, said: “What a fantastic man! come to pay tribute, told AFP: “It means a lot to Vichai also brought Thailand greater recog- scarves, shirts and fl owers outside I’ve been a supporter 60 years and personally I me, he did a lot for the club. nition in the international sporting world, de- Leicester City’s stadium yesterday, a think he’s the best ever owner we’ve ever had”. “I can’t get over it. Since him being with the veloping the Southeast Asian country’s football day after a helicopter belonging to the There was no offi cial confi rmation that the club the club has done well, and I don’t know scene. club’sF Thai billionaire owner crashed outside 60-year-old businessman, who frequently fl ies what’s going to happen now.” At a football game in central Bangkok, Leices- the grounds. to and from Leicester’s home games by helicop- Another fan, Tom Lievers, arrived with a ter City fan Apichart Jitratkavee said: “He is an Among the tributes to Vichai Srivaddhana- ter, was aboard the aircraft. “Champions” scarf to pay tribute to Vichai. important person who has raised the bar of Thai prabha — the funder behind the club’s epic 2016 But many in the city in central England and in “Well you know where we were when he football further. Premier League victory — was also an image of Vichai’s homeland already feared the worst for bought the club — we were absolutely nowhere. “There were projects by Leicester City to se- Ganesh, a Hindu god often seen at Thai Bud- the man they credit with the club’s against-all- So I brought down my ‘Champions’ scarf be- lect Thai teenagers to train in the club’s acad- dhist temples. odds League title. cause he made us champions.” emy. They will have a chance to serve the nation As emergency vehicles passed back and forth Many also remembered the owner’s generos- Andrew Aldwinckle said: “He was more like in the future.” from the scene of the crash, a steady stream of A man kneels with a statue of the Buddha and ity to fans — free breakfasts at away matches and he was a supporter, a proper supporter, rather Another fan, Nathavut Sirimontaporn, said people came to express their gratitude: a man devotional scripture outside Leicester City free beers on his birthday — as well as to the city, than a money man. He was one of the crowd. As Vichai has brought “benefi ts” to Thai football. on crutches, a father consoling his teenage son, Football Club’s King Power Stadium in including a donation to the local hospital. far as we’re concerned, that’s it.” “I think having him as an owner of the Leicester a woman carrying a bouquet of blue and white Leicester, eastern England, yesterday. “They’re sort of around like supporters, Steve Walton, who wore the club’s blue hat, City made people know Thailand more,” he said. Gulf Times 4 Monday, October 29, 2018 SPORT

CRICKET / IND VS WI, 4TH ODI India looking for answers against confi dent Windies

IANS Apart from Kohli, the rest of The visitors will once again bank The West Indian spin pair of De- Mumbai the Indian batting has not been on the likes of the in-form duo of vendra Bishoo and Ashley Nurse in top form in the series. The Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer have a lot to work on in the middle usually bankable wicketkeeper who have been in excellent form. overs if they fancy any chances of ndia will aim to pull up the batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni Hope has scored 250 runs in taking the lead in the series. socks in both batting and has also been a fl op, scoring just three matches which includes bowling departments when 27 runs in two matches. one half century and one century SQUADS they face a resurgent West The bowling has also leaked along with a clinical 32. India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit IIndies in the fourth One Day runs. The hosts have conceded The other batsmen Kieron Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar International (ODI) at the Bra- above 300 runs in two of the Powell, Chanderpaul Hemraj and Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Rishabh bourne Stadium here today. three games. Rovman Powell have done well in Pant, M.S. Dhoni (wicketkeeper), West Indies got a much-need- With the ODI World Cup com- the supporting role. Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, ed boost when they defeated In- ing up early next year, the poor The West Indians will also be Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar dia by 43 runs in the third ODI to performance at home against hoping for veteran Marlon Samuels Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel register their fi rst win of the tour. an inexperienced team like West to pull up his socks and strengthen Ahmed, Umesh Yadav, Lokesh Chasing a healthy 284, India Indies must be giving sleepless the fragile middle order. Rahul, Manish Pandey. looked on course with skipper nights to the Indian team man- Skipper Jason Holder has had West Indies: Jason Holder (cap- Virat Kohli belting an excellent agement and selectors. a decent series so far, contribut- tain), Fabian Allen, Sunil Ambris, 107 off 119 balls, his third con- The visitors on the other hand ing with both the bat and ball, Devendra Bishoo, Chanderpaul secutive century of the series, will be high on confi dence. Hav- but the tourists will mainly be Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai and opener Shikhar Dhawan ing missed what would have been concerned with the performance Hope (wicketkeeper), Alzarri scoring 35 before a middle-order a well-deserved victory in the of their frontline pacers in Kemar Joseph, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, collapse, coupled with some dis- tied second match, the boys from Roach and Oshane Thomas, who Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, ciplined bowling, bundled the the Caribbean were clearly the have been milked at will by the Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, hosts out for 240 in 47.4 overs. better side in the third match. Indian top order. Oshane Thomas. Apart from captain Virat Kohli, the rest of the Indian batting has not been in top form in the series. (AFP)

MOTORCYCLING CRICKET / PAK VS AUS, 3RD T20I Babar and Shadab help Pakistan Vinales wins Aussie whitewash Australia

AFP Dubai

MotoGP as Marquez pener Babar Azam struck a half-century and leg-spinner Shad- ab Khan claimed three wicketsO as Pakistan secured a 3-0 T20 series whitewash over Australia with a 33-run victory in Dubai yesterday. jinx strikes again Azam’s 40-ball 50 lifted Paki- stan to another challenging total of 150-5 before Shadab’s 3-19 Spaniard scores his first win of the year to break Yamaha’s 25-race win drought helped bowl Australia out for 117 in 19.1 overs. AFP It is Pakistan’s fi rst-ever Phillip Island, Australia whitewash against Australia in a limited-over series and their 10th series win under Sarfraz averick Vinales Ahmed since he took over as cap- powered to a domi- tain in September 2016. nant victory at the Pakistan justifi ed their world- Australian MotoGP number-one ranking in the short- Myesterday as newly-crowned est format of the game, following a world champion Marc Marquez 66-run thrashing in Abu Dhabi by was dramatically forced out af- an 11-run win in Dubai. ter a frightening high-speed Australia’s batting attack nev- Farhan, dismissed for a fi rst- collision. er recovered from being bowled ball duck in his only previous The Spanish rider, who start- out for 89 in the fi rst game. match against Australia in Harare ed second and took the lead after Only Mitchell Marsh (21), Ben in July, hit a 38-ball 39. Marquez retired, scored his fi rst McDermott (21) and Alex Carey But after the openers, only win of the year to break Yama- (20) looked like getting big scores Mohamed Hafeez managed to ha’s 25-race win drought, taking on Sunday against a varied Paki- score freely during his 20-ball 32 the chequered fl ag ahead of An- stan attack. not out. drea Iannone on a Suzuki. Carey, promoted to open the Shoaib Malik scored 18 and Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso innings, smashed two fours and became the second highest run was third, strengthening his bid two sixes in Imad Wasim’s fi rst scorer in T20 international his- to fi nish runner-up in the world over of the innings but they lost tory, passing New Zealand’s championship as his nearest ri- wickets at regular intervals. Brendon McCullum. val, Valentino Rossi, could only Skipper Aaron Finch failed Another New Zealander Mar- manage sixth. yet again, scoring only one while tin Guptill is the highest run “It feels amazing,” said Chris Lynn (15) and Glenn Max- scorer in Twenty20 international Vinales. “I didn’t think I could well (four) also infl icted little cricket with 2,271 in 75 matches - win, but the bike was perfect. It damage as seamer Hasan Ali fi n- 118 more than Malik. means a lot to me, particularly ished with 2-14. Pakistan next play New Zea- in Australia because it’s a place I Earlier, Azam scored his second land in three Twenty20 in- love to be.” fi fty of the series after the hosts ternationals, three ODIs and “This track suits me really had won the toss and batted. three Tests, starting with the well and maybe that’s why I Azam and Sahibzada Farhan fi rst Twenty20 in Abu Dhabi on could give a little bit more. gave Pakistan an excellent start Wednesday. “The season has been diffi - -- their opening stand of 99 their cult, I needed that win, Yamaha highest against Australia in T20 BRIEF SCORES: Pakistan 150 for 5 need that win to give us the mo- Movistar Yamaha’s Spanish rider Maverick Vinales celebrates on the podium after winning the MotoGP Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island internationals - in 12.5 overs, but (Babar 50, Farhan 39, M Marsh 2-6) tivation to start again next year,” Circuit yesterday. (AFP) Pakistan could not capitalise on beat Australia 117 all out (Shadab he added. that start. 3-19, Hasan 2-14) by 33 runs While he celebrated, there was The Frenchman skidded off “The most important thing hometown hero Jack Miller third. tial to win the race, but when I disappointment for Honda hot- through the gravel, but gave a is that we are both okay. Luck- But then it all went pear- made a mistake on corner four, shot Marquez, who sealed his thumbs up to show he was un- ily I won the championship last shaped for Marquez, leaving the I lost four or fi ve positions,” he FOCUS fi fth world title in motorcycling’s hurt. week, but unfortunately another race wide open. said. “I started to recover but I premier class in Japan a week ago. Marquez managed to stay on non-fi nish for me at Phillip Is- Vinales took full advantage felt the tyres were beginning to While he won at Phillip Island his bike but his back seat was land.” and began clocking fastest laps, go a bit.” in 2015 and 2017, he also has the mangled and his suspension ap- bursting away from the pack, In other racing, Spain’s Albert Hurt Warner ‘sledged bizarre record now of failing to peared damaged, forcing him to BURST AWAY which was left in a dog fi ght for Arenas won an exciting and fi erce fi nish on three occasions after call it a day. Marquez started from pole, and the minor podium places. Moto3 battle on a KTM bike that clinching the world title in Japan It was his fi rst non-fi nish of in dry conditions on the de- Iannone had set the pace dur- saw a spate of ugly crashes and by Hughes’ brother’ (2014, 2016 and 2018). the season, having won the last manding and picturesque circuit ing the practice sessions and several riders taken to the medical He was lucky to escape injury three races, but he refused to he was super-aggressive from Marquez had tipped him to win, centre for check-ups. AFP It claimed that what started as after Yamaha’s Johann Zarco blame Zarco. the word go. but the Italian was content to Another KTM rider, South Sydney goading from Hughes soon turned shunted him on lap six as they “I feel very lucky. I will not Dovizioso, who was fourth on just get on the podium in his Africa’s Brad Binder, took out personal and Warner — who has a were screaming down the track complain because it was a racing the grid, quickly stormed into best result of the year. the Moto2 crown for his third fi erce on-fi eld reputation — de- at 250 kph. incident,” he said in the pits. second behind the Spaniard, with “I thought we had the poten- win of the year. avid Warner’s decision cided to leave before it escalated. to walk off mid-innings Sydney’s Daily Telegraph al- in a Sydney grade game leged that Hughes called Warner was sparked by com- “a disgrace” and “weak”. Masterstroke sees veteran Loeb win Catalan rally mentsD from the brother of his It claimed one witness heard former Test teammate Phillip a direct reference to Phillip AFP on 204 points just three ahead ing in a handful of rallies since Hughes, who died in 2014 after Hughes’s death and Warner was Salou, Spain of Thierry Neuville on 201 as he juggles interest in other being hit by a ball, reports said “considerably hurt” by the in- with a single rally remaining forms of motorsport. yesterday. cident. in Australia (15-18 Nov), where This was only Loeb’s third event The former Australia vice-cap- Neither Hughes nor Warner ebastien Loeb won the Ott Tanak on 181 has an outside of the year and his first win tain, who is serving a 12-month has made any comment. Rally of Catalunya yester- shot at the title too since Argentina five years ago. ban from international and state Warner, along with Steve Sday when a last minute “I would have prefered to win “It’s incredible, I can hardly cricket for his role in a ball-tam- Smith, was sent home in disgrace tactical change to hard tyres the rally, but I’m really happy believe it myself, when you win pering scandal, was batting for his and banned over the tampering on rain soaked roads gave him with the points,” Ogier said. a rally and only find out as you club Randwick-Petersham at the scandal during the third Test in a shock lead as conditions sud- “Now he (Neuville) has to beat cross the finish line,” said Loeb, time on Saturday. South Africa in March. denly dried. me in Australia.” who scrambled atop his Citroen He left the fi eld but returned He was blamed as the insti- The 44-year-old nine time world Belgian Neuville could have to celebrate before fans on the shortly afterwards following the gator of the incident in which champion eventually won in his snatched victory himself but hit a finish line. intervention of teammates, and Cameron Bancroft attempted to Citroen by two seconds from rock on the final special breaking Five-time world champion and went on to score a majestic 157. alter the ball with a piece of yel- Ford’s Sebastien Ogier with his back wheel and flying over winner of the Wales rally two Cricket Australia’s website low sandpaper. Britain’s Elfyn Evans in third af- the finish line with a flat tyre. weeks ago Sebastien Ogier said the fi elder involved was Two reviews prompted by the ter holding on to a slender lead This was Loeb’s 79th career meanwhile kept his hopes on Jason Hughes — the brother scandal — one focusing on the in a reverse final special. win, he in fact retired from full- winning the world rally champi- of Warner’s former Test team- culture within Cricket Australia The result puts Sebastien Ogier time rallying in 2012, compet- onships very much alive. mate Phillip, whose tragic death and the other into the team — are rocked the sporting world. due to be released today. Gulf Times Monday, October 29, 2018 5 SPORT

MLB Red Sox stun Dodgers, reach brink of World Series title Boston seized a 3-1 lead in Major League Baseball’s best-of-seven championship final

AFP post-season — after his three-run blast Los Angeles in the Dodgers’ game-seven victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the Na- tional League Championship Series. It he Boston Red Sox, fuelled ignited the Dodger Stadium crowd, but by homers from Steve Pearce their euphoria was short-lived. and Mitch Moreland, erased a The cushion was all but gone an in- four-run defi cit to beat the Los ning later thanks to Moreland’s 437- TAngeles Dodgers 9-6 and move to the foot pinch-hit blast off Dodgers relief brink of a ninth World Series crown. pitcher Ryan Madson. Madson was the Moreland smashed a three-run third pitcher of the inning, brought in pinch-hit homer in the seventh in- after Dodgers starter Rich Hill walked ning and fi rst baseman Pearce belted a Xander Bogaerts and struck out Eduar- game-tying solo shot in the eighth and do Nunez and reliever Scott Alexander a three-run double in the ninth as Bos- walked Brock Holt. Moreland drilled ton seized a 3-1 lead in Major League the fi rst pitch he saw from Madson Baseball’s best-of-seven champion- over the wall in right fi eld. Until then, ship fi nal. Red Sox manager Alex Cora admitted, The Red Sox, who boast an impos- Boston had been fl at, partly, perhaps, a ing 6-1 road record this post-season, hangover from the 7-hour, 20-minute can wrap up a ninth World Series title, game three but mostly because Hill had and a fi rst since 2013, with a victory in given them no opening, allowing just game fi ve at Dodger Stadium last night. one hit over 6 1/3 innings. After outlasting Boston 3-2 in an 18-in- With the lead down to one, Roberts ning game three marathon on Friday, turned to Kenley Jansen to pitch the the Dodgers looked poised to build on eighth and the Dodgers closer gave up that victory when Yasiel Puig clubbed a a game-tying solo homer to Pearce, the three-run home run off Red Sox start- second batter he faced. The Dodgers ing pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez to cap a threatened in the bottom of the eighth four-run sixth inning for Los Angeles. but pinch hitter Yasmani Grandal Rodriguez, who made a brief appear- struck out to end the inning stranding ance out of the bullpen in game three runners on fi rst and third. and became the fi rst pitcher since 1924 Boston took the lead for the fi rst time to start a World Series game on zero in the ninth inning, when Rafael Devers’ days’ rest, was up to the task through singled in the go-ahead run off reliever fi ve innings. But he hit David Freese to Dylan Floro. Pearce added a three-run lead off the sixth before Justin Turner double and scored on Bogaerts’ single smacked a one-out double just inside to stretch the lead to 9-4 as the Red Sox the third base line. Pinch runner En- battered the Dodgers bullpen. rique Hernandez reached third and the Boston Red Sox’s Brock Holt (centre) celebrates with Sandy Leon (left) and Eduardo Nunez after scoring a run against Los Angeles Dodgers . (USA TODAY Sports) Dodgers pinch hitter Enrique Her- Red Sox intentionally walked Manny nandez raised hopes of an improbable Machado to load the bases with one Machado at the plate. double play was off target, allowing arms as he rounded the bases while his glove on the ground in disgust as the comeback with a two-run homer in the out. Cody Bellinger hit a ground ball But catcher Christian Vazquez’s Turner to score the game’s fi rst run. Rodriguez, who had scattered just two ball sailed into the left fi eld bleachers. ninth, but Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel to Pearce and the throw home caught throw back to fi rst for an attempted That brought up Puig, who raised his hits over fi ve scoreless innings, threw It was Puig’s second home run of the held on for the fi nal three outs.

NBA NHL DeRozan powers Spurs past Lakers Backstrom leads Capitals to AFP Los Angeles shootout win over Flames Reuters eMar DeRozan fi nished with 30 Washington points and 12 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs overcame a 35-point performance from Le- icklas Backstrom BronD James to defeat the Los Angeles Lak- scored the shootout ers 110-106 on Saturday. DeRozan nailed winner, and goalie a clutch fadeaway jumper with 16 seconds Pheonix Copley re- remaining to help secure the Spurs’ second Ncorded his fi rst career NHL vic- victory over the Lakers in a week. tory as the visiting Washington DeRozan also had eight assists while Rudy Capitals claimed a 4-3 win over Gay scored 16 points and LaMarcus Aldridge the Calgary Flames on Saturday had 15 for the Spurs, who improved to 3-2 afternoon. on the season. Kyle Kuzma fi nished with Backstrom converted in the 15 points and Lance Stephenson added 14 fourth round of the shootout for points in the loss. The Lakers shot 53% in the diff erence-maker, while Co- the fi rst half and led by as many as 14 points. pley made 27 saves through over- James extended his career points total to time and stopped three of four 31,202 to pass Dirk Nowitzki for sixth place players he faced in the showdown. on the NBA all-time scoring list. The Spurs Calgary’s Sean Monahan and seized their fi rst lead of the contest at 93-91 Washington’s Evgeny Kuznetsov early in the fourth quarter, then extended it traded goals in the second round to eight points before James answered with of the shootout. Flames goalie Washington Capitals centre Nicklas Backstrom controls the puck a couple of baskets and an assist to cut it to Mike Smith stopped 24 shots against the Calgary Flames. (USA TODAY Sports) just one, 106-105. through overtime. Rudy Gobert and Ricky Rubio paced the opponents, 23-6. Benn scored for the Canadiens, attack as the Utah Jazz handed the short- WILD 3, AVALANCHE 2 with Benn capping the victory handed New Orleans Pelicans their fi rst loss Eric Staal scored a tiebreaking OILERS 5, PREDATORS 3 with an empty-netter with 29 of the season with a 132-111 win. Pelicans goal midway through the third Backup goalie Mikko Koskinen seconds remaining. star Anthony Davis was missing from the period, and streaking Minnesota recorded the win in his fi rst NHL Price improved to 25-11-5 off ence because of a strained right elbow. beat visiting Colorado for its fi fth game in more than seven years, against Boston as the Bruins suf- Gobert, of France, fi nished with 25 points win in a row. Staal also had an as- and Leon Draisaitl and Drake fered their fi rst loss in fi ve home and 14 rebounds and Spain’s Rubio had 28 sist, Mikael Granlund had a goal Caggiula both scored twice to games and lost to the Canadiens points and 12 assists for the Jazz, who beat and an assist and Devan Dubnyk lead visiting Edmonton over for the fi rst time since the 2016- the Pelicans three out of four times last sea- stopped 30 shots for the Wild. Nashville. Koskinen, who last 17 season. son. American Donovan Mitchell scored 22 Jonas Brodin scored short- played in the NHL with the New for Utah, which led by as many as 28 points handed on an empty net with York Islanders in 2010-11 and ISLANDERS 6, FLYERS 1 in the third quarter and were ahead 102-82 at 2:43 remaining for what stood as spent the last fi ve seasons in the Brock Nelson scored two goals the start of the fourth in front of a crowd of the game-winner after Gabriel KHL before signing with the Oil- as New York routed host Phila- 16,300 at the Smoothie King Center arena. DeMar DeRozan of San Antonio Spurs dunks in front of Kyle Kuzma of the Los Angeles Landeskog tallied for the Ava- ers in the summer, stopped 24 delphia. Leo Komarov, Anthony Davis played through the elbow injury Lakers in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday. (AFP) lanche with 42 seconds left. shots in the victory. Beauvillier, Adam Pelech and on Friday against Brooklyn but couldn’t go Mark Barberio also scored for The win also snapped Nash- Anders Lee also scored for the against the Jazz and his status for today’s In Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo fi rst half. The Magic shot 32% from the fi eld Colorado, and Semyon Varlamov ville’s 13-game winning streak Islanders, who snapped a two- contest in Denver will be determined after scored 21 points and Khris Middleton had 18 overall and 23 % from three-point range. had 25 saves. against Edmonton. game losing streak. he visits the team doctor. “ as the Bucks won their sixth straight game Landeskog’s goal was his 10th Robin Lehner made 22 saves The Pelicans cut the Jazz lead to 110-102 with a 113-91 win over the Orlando Magic. of the season, which leads the to earn the win, improving his RESULTS MAPLE LEAFS 3, JETS 2 on Wesley Johnson’s three pointer with Milwaukee needs one more win to equal team. Mikko Rantanen added his Jake Gardiner and Kasperi Kap- record to 3-2-1. Jori Lehtera 6:34 left. But Rubio responded with six free their franchise record of seven straight to Miami 120, Portland 111; Milwaukee 113, league-leading 16th assist. anen scored late in regulation as picked up a loose puck and scored throws during a 10-2 Jazz run. Nikola Mi- start the season in 1971-72. Orlando 91; San Antonio 110, LA Lakers 106; Toronto rallied for three third- unassisted for the Flyers, who rotic scored 15 of his 25 points in the fi rst Antetokounmpo also had seven rebounds Atlanta 85, Chicago 97; Cleveland 107, Indiana PENGUINS 5, CANUCKS 0 period goals to defeat visiting have lost three straight games, quarter and Jrue Holiday had 18 for the Peli- in 19 minutes of playing time. Nikola 119; Philadelphia 105, Charlotte 103; Memphis Evgeni Malkin had two goals and Winnipeg. Nazem Kadri also including two of those at home. cans, who had not trailed by more than 13 Vucevic had 16 points and nine rebounds 117, Phoenix 96; Detroit 89, Boston 109; New an assist, and Sidney Crosby also scored for the Maple Leafs, who points in the previous four games. for Orlando. DJ Augustin added 11, all in the Orleans 111, Utah 132 scored two goals to lead Pitts- had defeated the Jets 4-2 in Win- BLUE JACKETS 5, SABRES burgh over host Vancouver. Phil nipeg on Wednesday. Artemi Panarin scored 31 sec- Kessel fi nished with a goal and an Mitch Marner added two as- onds into overtime, his second assist, and Jake Guentzel added sists. Maple Leafs center Auston goal of the night, to lead host Jacobs grabs middleweight title with spit decision win two assists for the Penguins, who Matthews suff ered a shoulder Columbus past Buff alo. The Blue won their fourth straight game injury early in the second period Jackets won the faceoff to start New York: Daniel Jacobs claimed the sion victory with two judges scoring it 115- 181 punches compared to 160 for his oppo- dating back to a 3-2 overtime and did not return. Kyle Connor overtime, and Panarin fi red his vacant IBF middleweight title as he traded 112 and the other having Derevyanchenko nent. Derevyanchenko tagged Jacobs with loss to the Canucks on Oct. 16 in and Mark Scheifele gave the Jets a second overtime game-winner in his sparring gloves for the real thing on the winner at 114-113. Jacobs is hoping a hook in the second round. Jacobs said Pittsburgh. 2-0 lead. Connor Hellebuyck had from the left circle. Saturday to take a split-decision victory this win lands him a shot at middleweight he is ready to raise his level another notch Casey DeSmith, playing in his 28 saves in defeat. He also tallied in the extra ses- over Sergiy Derevyanchenko. kingpin Canelo Alvarez. and fight the best in the middleweight 18th career game and making his sion in the club’s season-opening The two former training partners have Jacobs said he has been having trouble division. Elsewhere, hard-hitting Ivan 15th start, had 29 saves to gar- CANADIENS 3, BRUINS 0 3-2 win in Detroit. Panarin and sparred over 300 rounds together early in getting good fights but now that he has the Baranchyk stopped Sweden’s Anthony Yigit ner his second career shutout as Carey Price made 33 saves as Cam Atkinson each scored twice their careers but Saturday’s clash at Madi- IBF belt he has more clout. Jacobs knocked after seven rounds to claim the vacant IBF Pittsburgh swept its four-game Montreal blanked host Boston. and had an assist, while Pierre- son Square Garden was the real thing. down Derevyanchenko in the first round junior welterweight crown and advance to Canadian road trip that also in- Price earned his second career Luc Dubois had a goal and two Jacobs earned a hard fought split deci- with a stinging overhand right. He landed the semi-finals of the WBS Series. cluded stops at Toronto, Edmon- shutout of the Bruins. Brendan assists for Columbus, which won ton and Calgary, outscoring its Gallagher, Max Domi and Jordie its second straight. Gulf Times 6 Monday, October 29, 2018 SPORT

TENNIS Svitolina subdues Stephens to claim WTA Finals crown ‘This is a very special moment for me and it will give me plenty of confidence for the season coming ahead’

Reuters Counter-puncher Svitolina contin- Singapore ued to plug away, holding another tight Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina service game to stay alive in the opener, celebrates with the trophy after but Stephens sealed the set when her winning the WTA Finals tennis lina Svitolina stretched every opponent could only fi nd the net with tournament in Singapore. (AFP) sinew in a brilliant display of a backhand from deep behind the base- defensive tennis to register the line. There was very little to choose be- biggest win of her career when tween the players as the match proceed- sheE rallied for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 triumph ed and it was Svitolina’s turn to make over Sloane Stephens in an enthralling the initial breakthrough in the second WTA Finals title decider yesterday. set when she capitalised on untidy play Ukrainian Svitolina had arrived in from Stephens to edge a break ahead. Singapore woefully out of form, but The Ukrainian was pumping her fi st the baseliner gathered momentum as enthusiastically after every winning the tournament progressed, winning all point as her opponent suddenly ap- three pool matches and semi-fi nal be- peared lethargic, her energetic play re- fore subduing a fast-starting Stephens. warded with a third break of the set to “This is a very special moment for send the contest into a decider. me in my career and it will give me The world number seven was dictat- plenty of confi dence for the season ing terms as a leaden-footed Stephens coming ahead, I am really pleased with struggled to match Svitolina’s relent- my performance,” Svitolina said as she less pace and once the Ukrainian moved received the Billie Jean King trophy. 3-0 ahead after edging two epic games, Stephens, who looks deceptively the American could sense her chances casual but possesses supreme speed were slipping away. Stephens made one and athleticism, settled the quicker fi nal eff ort to fi ght her way back into against a nervous-looking Svitolina, the match, but Svitolina kept the points breaking at the fi rst opportunity to lay long to force her opponent into un- down an early marker. After a lacklustre forced errors as she sought winners and start, however, Svitolina began warm- wrapped up a memorable victory when ing to her task and found some range Stephens skewed a backhand wide. and depth to fashion two break-back “I am super happy that I was able to points but Stephens’ forehand was di- fi nish off the season the way I did. Ob- alled in and she moved 3-0 ahead when viously, it was not the result I wanted the Ukrainian’s backhand faltered. but I worked really hard to get here, Svitolina fi nally got on the score- am proud of my play and really pleased board in the fourth game, able to pla- with what I did this week,” Stephens cate the Stephens forehand with some said. Svitolina’s triumph was her 13th brilliant defence, but the American victory in 15 fi nals and should fi ll her continued to pound away at the corners full of confi dence as she looks to make a to maintain her break advantage. Grand Slam breakthrough in 2019.

SPOTLIGHT GOLF Federer beats Copil Birthday boy Schauff ele gift s himself Shanghai win AFP tournament. But Rose, the world number to win 99th career Shanghai three who could have returned to number one with a win, faltered late and fi nished four strokes back at 10 under. title in Basel ander Schauff ele bagged the It was a harsh disappointment for the biggest victory of his young ca- long-hitting, 29-year-old Finau, who reer yesterday, chasing down was impressive all week and lead after the Tony Finau to win a nail-biting second and third rounds. Of Samoan and XWGC-HSBC Champions in a play-off . Tongan descent, Finau is the fi rst player Schauff ele, the 2017 PGA Tour Rookie of of that ancestry on the PGA Tour and the the Year who celebrated his 25th birthday fi rst Polynesian to play in the Ryder Cup, on opening-round on Thursday, started where he provided a rare bright spot as a the fi nal round three strokes behind fel- USA captain’s pick in last month’s crush- low American Finau at a windy Sheshan ing loss to Europe. International Golf Club in Shanghai. His only PGA win so far was the 2016 Schauff ele had some early wobbles but Puerto Rico Open. But Finau, along with closed strong, including crucial birdies Schauff ele, has become a player to watch, on the fi nal two holes to record the low- recording 11 top-10 fi nishes in 2018, in- est score of the day — a four-under 68 cluding at three majors, and his Ryder Cup — catching Finau to force the play-off . performance. Finau was world number 17 Replaying the par-fi ve 18th in sudden- before the WGC-HSBC Champions, to death, Finau handed Schauff ele the ad- Schauff ele’s 19th. “(I) defi nitely feel like I vantage when his tee shot leaked into a let one get away. Xander played incredi- fairway bunker. ble golf,” said Finau. “He posted a number Schauff ele reached the green in two, and made birdie on a playoff hole when it and Finau faced a do-or-die birdie putt counted. Hats off him to. He played nicely from the fringe of the green, which just today and deserved to win.” The tourna- Switzerland’s Roger Federer poses with ball boys after winning the missed. Schauff ele’s win comes with a ment, dubbed “Asia’s major”, annually Swiss Indoors tournament in Basel yesterday. (AFP) $1.8mn victor’s purse and moves him Xander Schauff ele of the US smiles after winning the WGC-HSBC Champions golf gathers a premier fi eld with its winner’s atop the standings in the young FedEx tournament in Shanghai yesterday. (AFP) purse of $1.8mn. But aside from Rose, Reuters striking 22 winners and winning Cup 2018-2019 season. several of the world’s top golfers struggled Basel 32 out of 34 fi rst-serve points. It also helps put to rest notions that his they want but my team and I, we know we green on the par-5 hole in two, and each in the unpredictable winds that buff eted Copil made 31 unforced errors 2017 rookie season, in which Schauff ele are doing the right things.” sank birdie putts to fi nish the 72 holes in the lengthy par-72 Sheshan course. World and crumbled when the pressure won twice — the Greenbrier Classic and Down a stroke going to the tee of the 14 under and set up the playoff . No 1 Brooks Koepka shot a 69 yesterdayto orld number three was highest, allowing Federer to Tour Championship — was a fl uke. “Last par-3 17th in regulation, Schauff ele bird- Schauff ele, Finau and playing partner fi nish at two under, second-ranked Dust- Roger Federer beat recover from a break down in the season, I really wanted to win to jus- ied to move level with Finau and walk to Justin Rose, the defending champion, had in Johnson fi nished at three over, and Rory Romanian qualifi er second set and win the last fi ve tify my rookie year and wasn’t able to do the fi nal hole tied at 13 under par. Both pulled away from the fi eld over the back McIlroy managed even par only once in Marius Copil 7-6(5), games as the Romanian’s chal- that,” he said. “People can say whatever hit outstanding approaches to reach the nine, making it essentially a three-man Shanghai to fi nish at 10 over par. W6-4 to win the Swiss Indoors yes- lenge ran out of steam. terday and claim his 99th career title in front of his home crowd ANDERSON INTO ATP FOCUS in Basel. Federer began the year FINALS AFTER VIENNA OPEN by winning the Australian Open WIN OVER NISHIKORI and his ninth Basel title was his Big-serving South African Kevin fourth of the season but the fi rst Anderson secured his spot at India’s Joshi clinches maiden Asian Tour title since his victory in Stuttgart in next month’s season-ending June. The Swiss top seed was ATP Finals by beating Japan’s AFP won the 2017 Joburg Open to earn full when she spoke to 25-year-old Jessica, a made to work hard by the fearless Kei Nishikori 6-3, 7-6(3) to win New Delhi membership on the European Tour. fi ve-time LPGA Tour winner, and other Copil, whose path to the fi nal in- the Vienna Open yesterday. The India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu managed a family members at home in the United cluded wins over world number world number eight sent down two-under in the fi nal round to end tied States via video chat. six Marin Cilic and number fi ve 13 aces and 36 winners as he ndia’s Khalin Joshi fi red a decisive third alongside Suradit Yongcharoenchai “That defi nitely brought me to tears, Alexander Zverev. wrapped up victory in just under birdie on the 18th hole to clinch his of Thailand. seeing everyone lined up there. When The 28-year-old broke Feder- two hours. The 32-year-old is the maiden Asian Tour title at the Pana- I was walking up to 18 I was like ‘Oh my er’s serve early in the match but fi rst South African to reach the sonic Open India tournament in New NELLY BECOMES LPGA WINNER, gosh Nelly, hold back the tears!’” she the Swiss recovered to force a tie- ATP Finals in 23 years and follows IDelhi yesterday. The 26-year-old Joshi EXTENDING SPORTING DYNASTY said. The Korda sisters are the daughters break that he needed every bit of in the footsteps of compatriot hit four-under 68 in the fourth round to America’s Nelly Korda claimed her maid- of former tennis world number two Petr his vast experience to win. Copil Wayne Ferreira who achieved the edge out Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh en LPGA Tour victory in Taiwan yester- Korda, who won the Australian Open 20 stormed out of the blocks in the feat in 1995. Anderson joins Rafa by one shot in a dramatic fi nish at the day, joining her elder sister Jessica as a years ago in 1998. second set, racing into a 3-0 lead Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Juan Delhi Golf Course. winner on the circuit and extending a before Federer got on the score- Martin del Potro, Roger Federer Joshi, who was the overnight leader family sporting resume which also boasts US ROOKIE CHAMP FIRES 64 TO board, but the Swiss kept a level and Alexander Zverev in seal- along with Rahman, started with two a Grand Slam tennis title. GRAB FOUR-SHOT US PGA LEAD head to reel his opponent back ing his spot at the season fi nale, bogeys in the fi rst three holes but soon Korda, 20, shot four-under-par 68 for American rookie Cameron Champ, seek- in before breaking serve to take a which will run from Nov 11-18 at gained momentum to hit six birdies. Rah- an aggregate score of 13-under 288 at the ing his fi rst US PGA title, fi red an eight- 5-4 lead in the second set. the O2 Arena in London. man, who won the Indian Open at the LPGA Taiwan Championship in Taoyuan, under par 64 to seize a four-stroke lead He closed out the victory in His qualifi cation means there Delhi course in 2013, carded an even-par fi nishing two shots clear of Australia’s after Saturday’s third round of the Sand- one hour, 34 minutes for his are two places still up for grabs at the fi nal hole and Joshi hit the winning Minjee Lee. Two birdies, no bogeys and erson Farms Championship. fourth consecutive title in Basel ahead of next week’s Paris Mas- putt to a loud roar. an eagle on the par-fi ve sixth made for a The 23-year-old Californian stood on to draw within one of his cen- ters, with Croatian Marin Cil- “It’s been a great feeling. I have been Joshi underlined India’s domination at straightforward win after Korda’s over- 17-under 199 after 54 holes at the Coun- tury. American Jimmy Connors ic, Austrian Dominic Thiem, knocking on the door for quite a while, the $400,000 Asian Tour event, becom- night co-leader, Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling, try Club of Jackson in Mississippi with (109) is the only player to have Nishikori and American John Is- since the day I turned pro (in 2013),” ing the seventh Indian winner in eight fell away with a 74 to fi nish tied sixth. Canada’s Corey Conners second after won more than 100 career titles ner still in the race. Joshi said after the win. “I knew I had to editions. Australia’s Wade Ormsby re- Australia’s Lee shot 66, her lowest his own 64. Champ led after 18 holes and in the professional era. Anderson was runner-up to make a birdie over here...It didn’t mat- mains the only foreign winner, in 2013. round of the tournament, to rise to sec- shared a second-round advantage with Despite being broken twice Djokovic at Wimbledon this year ter what Siddikur was doing. I wanted to Joshi now has his eyes set on getting a ond, one stroke ahead of American player Chinese-American Norman Xiong, who by world number 93 Copil, Fe- but the win in Vienna represent- my best and hopefully that would be good European Tour card just like his Indian Ryann O’Toole who carded 67 to fi nish stumbled to a 76 Saturday to fall off the derer was never truly in danger, ed the biggest title of his career. enough,” he told reporters. counterpart Shubhankar Sharma, who third. Korda was in tears on the 18th green leaderboard. Gulf Times Monday, October 29, 2018 7 SPORT

SQUASH Qatar to host men’s Worlds for fi ft h time next season

By Yash Mudgal tense sets (13-11, 7-11, 5-11, 11-5, pionships. We are looking for- thanked Qatar for supporting Doha 14-12) in 90 minutes of edge-of- ward to an exciting event.” squash by organising big events. the-seat action. Tournament Director Tariq Za- “I just heard that we will play “We are delighted to announce inal said: “Hosting the PSA Men’s the World Championships here atar will host the 2019- that the 2019-20 PSA Men’s World Championships for the fi fth next year, and I want to thank 20 edition of the men’s World Championships will take time is another proof of Qatar’s the Qatari federation for the hard world championships place in Qatar next season and commitment to the development work they are doing to get us here as the prestigious tour- are looking forward to seeing the of our sport. Over the years, Qa- every year, and for supporting namentQ returns to the country world’s greatest players return to tar has grown to be a global des- squash for so long.” for the fi fth time, Professional the country for what promises to tination for top sporting events India squash star Sourav Gho- Squash Association (PSA) an- be an exciting week of action,” of which squash occupies a major sal is also excited with the devel- nounced yesterday. PSA chief executive Alex Gough place in the top hierarchy. We are opment. “It’s great news. Qatar The 40th edition of the iconic told Gulf Times. happy and prepared to host once Classic is a classic example for championships, the most prestig- “Qatar is a major destination again a memorable event that other hosts as to how PSA World ious and lucrative tournament of on the international squash scene promises to be the best ever. Tour Platinum events should be the PSA Tour Calendar, will take and has hosted some incredible “I’m sure all the players and held. I have played here (Qatar) place from October 31-November tournaments and matches down participants are looking forward in a World Championships in the 8, 2019, at the Khalifa Internation- the years. There is also a promis- to the wonderful hospitality and past and have enjoyed the hos- al Tennis and Squash Complex. ing crop of young Qatari players superb organisation. We believe pitality and the organisation has In all, 64 players including 56 starting to make their mark on the championships will be an- been of the top order. Qatar has highest ranked players and eight the PSA Tour, including Abdulla other opportunity for squash done a fantastic job in the past wild card entrants will compete al-Tamimi, who is on the verge of fans, especially in the region, and I think they have the capacity for a share of the $325,000 total making the world’s top 20.” to enjoy watching their beloved to organise big events like world cash prize at the tournament. “The Qatar Squash Federa- players compete at the topmost championships and I am sure Qatar had previously hosted tion (QSF) has taken the tourna- level of the game. It will also pro- they will deliver a perfect cham- the sport’s pinnacle tournament to another level in terms Qatar Squash Federation secretary-general Tareq Zainal (left) and Professional Squash Association CEO vide an opportunity for upcom- pionships next year.” ment in 1998, 2004, 2012 and of the presentation and produc- Alex Gough address a press conference in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma ing stars to gain valuable experi- The 2019-20 PSA Men’s World 2014, with the 2014 fi nal between tion values of the event in recent ence which a tournament of such Championships will replace the Egyptian duo Ramy Ashour years and we are looking forward said: “In 2014, we saw one of the Qatar, players are so well looked fantastic. Qatar has always pro- nature provides. We are delighted Qatar Classic, PSA World Tour and Mohamed ElShorbagy go- to working with them over the greatest fi nals between Moham- after as QSF’s hospitality is sec- duced best quality tournaments. to host this tournament and we Platinum event on the PSA Tour ing down in history as one of the coming months,” he said. ed ElShorbagy and Ramy Ashour. ond to none. I am sure (tournament director) look forward to welcoming the calendar next season. The Qatar sport’s greatest ever matches. Talking about expectation If anything like that is repeated “Everything from venue to Tariq (Zainal) and his team will world in 2019,” Zainal added. Classic will return to the calen- Ashour won the fi nal in fi ve from the championships, Gough we will be very proud. Here in physio facilities and press is so make it an exciting world cham- World No 1 ElShorbagy dar for the 2020-21 season.

SQUASH / QATAR CLASSIC SPOTLIGHT Qatar Motorsport Academy launched ElShorbagy stays at Losail circuit during WSBK round

By Sports Reporter Luis Cardoso. With all of them, Doha we will have a great experience in on course despite developing young riders.” Egger said, “We have been atar Motorsports talking ‘what is the best way to Academy (QMA), an get involved?’. In Qatar Motor- international facility sports Academy, our role is not for training young tal- technical. What we can do is look entedQ motorcycle riders, was of- after the physical and mental fi cially launched this past Friday condition of the elite athletes. sluggish start at the Losail International Cir- We have loads of expertise in this cuit during the WorldSBK Pirelli fi eld.” Qatar Round and is due to kick Cardoso has vast experience Fourth seed Simon Rosner, Tom Richards, Adrian Waller also win on the day off on November 23. in motorsport and is very excited Losail Circuit Sports Club about this opportunity to build a By Sports Reporter (LCSC) vice-president and gen- new generation of riders in Qatar. Doha eral manager Khalid al-Remaihi “This project is very impor- was joined by Aspire Academy’s tant for Qatar and Losail Circuit Sport and Strategy director Sports Club,” Cardoso said. orld No 1 Mohamed Markus Egger and QMA’s Motor- “We are working on a very ElShorbagy started cycling head and former MotoGP exclusive and high quality pro- his title defence and WorldSBK rider Jose Luis gramme, and I am sure it will defeating Tsz Fung Cardoso for the announcement. bring us many successes. It will WYip of Hong Kong 3-1 (11-3, 11-9, The project was fi rst an- give an opportunity to boys and 6-11, 11-9) in the second round nounced during the Grand Prix girls between the ages of 8 and 16 of Qatar Classic yesterday. of Qatar earlier in March 2018 in years old to learn and evolve in a At the Khalifa International the presence of the three main sport as elite as motorcycling.” Tennis and Squash Complex, partners — Dorna Sports SL, QMA will have both theo- three-time champion ElShor- Aspire Academy and LCSC. The retical and practical lessons for bagy lost just one game against main objective of this academy all types of tracks with experi- the 25-year-old Yip, but was is to give young riders the tools enced instructors leading them. sluggish. to learn the basics of motorcycle These lessons will take place on ElShorbagy lauded Yip’s. “He racing and improve their skills in Tuesdays and Saturdays. For all- played really well, it’s the fi rst a safe environment. round development, the acade- time we have played (each oth- Al-Remaihi said: “We have my will also be working on phys- er), so I was not sure what to ex- made this announcement be- ical preparation and nutrition. pect but I know how good he is. cause we know this country has A family open day will take He’s shown great potential and I huge racing talent. We want to place on November 23 for all the think he will go up the rankings train young kids from Qatar and participants, who have previ- in future for sure,” he said. abroad the right way with expert ously registered on the website. It started very quickly as the help coming from Dorna Sports Online registration is still avail- world No 27 took a game to ad- SL, Aspire Academy and José able at lcsc.qa/qma. just to the style and power of the champion as he lost it in just six minutes. The second game was a dif- ferent. Yip took the advantage of a slow court by attacking in the front corners. He surprised the world No 1 with several winners at the front to maintain it at 5-all. ElShorbagy found some rhythm back as he took a four- point lead (9-5), but Yip earned the next four points to make it 9-9 and later used his experience to fi nish the game 11-9 in Egypt’s Mohamed ElShorbagy (left) in action during the Qatar Classic second round match against Tsz Fung Yip at Khalifa International Ten- nine minutes. nis and Squash Complex yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma Yip took a fl ying start in the third with an 8-3 lead as ElShor- you have a hard day, you just games. I used the conditions bagy was suddenly found want- need to stop and remember why well and I’m just delighted to ing. He tried to make a come- you started in the fi rst place,” be fi t and healthy and playing. I back in the game but it was late ElShorbagy said. knew I had the game to beat and for him as Yip won the game Waller defeated Egypt’s Omar I knew I can beat him but equally 11-6 in seven minutes. Mossad 3-0 (11-0, 11-2, 11-5) in I knew he was more than capable The impartial spectators saw 22 minutes. of blowing me away so I’m just some fi ne attacking shots, re- Talking about his next match, happy to come through,” said trievals and counter drops from he said: “It would be nice if Yip Richards. both the players. It looked like could win…. Mohamed has a “It was a question of confi - it is over as ElShorbagy took reputation and it’s evident how dence today I think. After the a commanding 7-4 lead, but good he is and especially here. It second mid game, I started to the Hong Kong boy came back will be a good test for me to see relax and let the arm go. I was strongly to make it 8-8. At that how I fare against the best in the moving well, hitting well and point, the Egyptian gave the fi - world and I’ll just give it my best I took a bit of confi dence away nal push to his game and crossed and see what happens.” from him as he saw I was getting the fi nish line with 11-9 in nine Tom Richards of Britain gave some good shots at the front. minutes. another fi ne performance yes- “I’m happy I came back from ElShorbagy, who is eyeing his terday as he defeated Ryan the fi rst game, where he beat me fourth title in Doha, will take on Cuskelly of Australia 3-1 (5-11, rather comfortably, and I changed Adrian Waller of England in the 11-7, 11-5, 11-7) in 58 minutes, my game. I tried to be more posi- third round tomorrow. while fourth seed Simon Ros- tive really. I also stop boasting that “I have to make sure I stay ner of Germany defeated George much, on that court, you think positive for the rest of the sea- Parker of England 3-0 (11-3, 11- playing short but in fact, it pays son. There are a lot of players out 3, 11-5). off to play straight. So I played as (From left) Aspire Academy’s Sport and Strategy director Markus Egger, there that are playing really well “Ryan is a great player and straight as I could and once in a Players Mohamed ElShorbagy, Ali Farag, Tareq Momen and Simon Losail Circuit Sports Club vice-president and general manager Khalid at the moment, so I have to stay I feel like I played some re- while went for a couple of nicks,” Rosner, pose with Qatar Classic tournament director Tareq Zainal al-Remaihi and Qatar Motorsports Academy’s Motorcycling head and hungry and motivated. When ally good squash in the last few he said. and PSA CEO Alex Gough during the Gala Dinner on Saturday. former MotoGP and WorldSBK rider Jose Luis Cardoso.

Monday, October 29, 2018 GULF TIMES GYMNASTICS

FOCUS Love for gymnastics drives Jamaica’s Francis toward Tokyo

FIG Doha

anusia Francis is already living up to the ‘Aspire Today, Inspire Tomorrow’ motto emblazonedD over the athlete entrance at the Aspire Dome in Doha, where she competed Sat- urday night at her second World Championships for Jamaica. Francis, 24, is eager to pass on her wisdom to the young gymnasts she coaches, but love of the sport – and unfulfi lled Ol- ympic ambition – led Francis, 24, to make her comeback last September after more than a year of retirement. “It’s really exciting,” Francis says. “I always dreamed to be in the Olympics. I was toing and froing at the idea [of coming 48TH FIG ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DOHA 2018 back] and I thought I would regret if I didn’t try. It’s amazing was hard,” says Francis, whose Beam Confi dence Workshop to be back at the world champi- paternal grandparents emi- to inspire young gymnasts just onships.” grated from Jamaica. “Toni has beginning their sporting ca- The Londoner was a member been doing Jamaica the long- reers. of the British squad that took est, so it’s cool that she got to do “I just thought, ‘what’s the fi fth at the 2011 World Champi- Rio and hopefully I’ll be there main thing I learned that I kind of onships in Tokyo and served as in Tokyo with the Jamaican fl ag wish I knew when I was young- alternate to the team at the 2012 on!” er?’” she says. “It’s evolved a bit Mustafi na leads Olympics in her hometown. She Francis, who has been train- since I’ve begun but I’ve just had joined the University of Cali- ing at London’s Heathrow amazing feedback. It feels so fornia in Los Angeles (UCLA), Gymnastics Club since age 9, good to be able to help and it’s re- competing in the US collegiate credits the coaches who have ally fun for me.” ranks while still hoping to com- guided her throughout her ca- Francis also had fun as a stunt pete at the 2016 Rio Olympics. reer with instilling for her love double for Rita Ora in a promo Francis was the top perform- of the sport. At UCLA, she for last year’s MTV European Russia to fi nal er for Jamaica at the 2015 World trained under Valorie Kondos- Music Awards, in which she Championships in Glasgow Field, known simply as Miss did a somersault into a sports (GBR). However, Jamaica’s Na- Val, a former ballet dancer who car. She also did stuntwork this tional Gymnastics Federation is noted for her inspirational past summer in a fi lm coming decided to send another gym- approach to coaching. out next year – the fi lm is big nast, Toni-Ann Williams, to the “Miss Val was a massive in- enough that she cannot reveal Rio Test event, as she had been fl uence in giving me that confi - its title – shot at Warner Bros. on comeback representing Jamaica longer dence boost,” Francis says. “Not London studio. than Francis, and she became that I didn’t have confi dence, Francis, whose sporting idol Jamaica’s fi rst gymnastics Ol- but she brought me to that next is Usain Bolt, has embraced 24-year-old returns to competition 16 months after giving birth, ympian. level to have confi dence as a her role as a leader for Jamaica, Francis’ disappointment was leader as a well. Right now there which for the fi rst time has full as Russian women’s team finish second in the qualifying round lessened by the fact that the Rio are three of us here at worlds teams for men and women at Test event was held the same and they are much younger than the world championships. She weekend as the college national me. I learned how to be a leader is as serious about being a lead- championships, her fi nal com- and bring people up and give er as she is about her Gymnas- petition for UCLA. them hope and confi dence.” tics training. “I don’t look back and regret When not training herself, “It makes you feel better it, but being the reserve in 2012 Francis visits clubs in Britain when everyone around you is and then missing out in 2016 to give her unique Dance and doing well,” she says.

SPOTLIGHT Competing alongside idol Mustafi na ‘so cool’: Alekseeva

Russia’s Aliya Mustafina. PICTURE: Thajudheen

By Sahan Bidappa little bit of nerves,” she said. ympics. The result means Brit- Doha “So we’ll hope to get rid of those ain will not have representa- for the team fi nal.” tion in a world championships China was below par yester- women’s team fi nal for the fi rst ust like Simone Biles, day, committing mistakes in its time since 2006. Aliya Mustafi na is mak- traditionally two strongest ap- There were standout pering her own comeback. paratus – Uneven Bars and Bal- formances from Becky Downie, The Russian is back to ance Beam. But it was still good who produced a stunning Bars competingJ just 16 months af- enough to fi nish third. routine to qualify for the in- ter giving birth to daughter One Chinese gymnast fell on dividual fi nal, while her sister Alisa. While there were doubts Uneven Bars, and two of them Ellie showed her credentials in over how she would perform at struggled on Beam, but all- All-around to seal her place in the World Artistic Gymnastics arounder Chen Yile predicted the fi nal alongside Simm. Championships, the seven- a better result in team fi nal. “I “It was a tough competition. time Olympic medallist and think the whole team will do It’s not been the easiest of years 2010 world All-around cham- much better in the fi nal,” Chen for us with injuries to some of pion showed little eff ects of said. “We all have trust in each our key players. We’ve given it FIG na captured the All-around title tend university in the United motherhood as she led Russia to other. We will try our best to get all we’ve got and we can’t really Doha at the world championships in States. “There are so many good team fi nals at the Aspire Dome a medal.” ask for more than that,” Becky Rotterdam. Alekseeva rapidly gymnasts, but I get to train with yesterday. Meanwhile, Canada quali- said. “It’s the fi rst time they’ve rose through the junior ranks them, and they’re amazing, so “I was missing the emotions, fi ed fourth with veteran Ellie come into a team world cham- ne year ago, Irina and hoped to compete for the they teach me a lot!” the equipment, the girls, eve- Black leading the team’s charge pionships and that kind of pres- Alekseeva could not American team. In recent years, Mustafi na, who was also rything. When you become a as they totalled 163.897 points. sure.” have imagined mak- she has won international invi- coached as a junior by Kamalo- mother, your life doesn’t end,” Black, the 2017 Worlds silver “We’ll go back and look at ing the Russian team tationals representing her club, va at CSKA Moscow, was one of Mustafi na said, after guid- medallist, qualifi ed sixth in All- where we can improve and take forO the 2018 World Champion- World Olympic Gymnastics Alekseeva’s earliest idols in the ing a young Russian team to of China (165.196). However, around. it from there. Don’t write us off . ships in Doha, much less quali- Academy, but without citizen- gym. second place in qualifying. Russia’s total was nearly nine “I’m very proud of how eve- There’s still a whole year until fying to the All-around fi nal. ship, her Olympic aspirations “I was one of the little girls The 24-year-old had to shep- points behind the Americans, ryone in the team did,” said qualifi cation for the 2020 To- But after living and training half were stalled. and I always saw her practis- herd three rookies — 18-year- who dominated the qualifi ca- Black. “They all held them- kyo Olympics and, if anything, her life in the United States, the “[Returning to Russia] has ing and looked up to her,” re- old Angelina Melnikova, and tions on Saturday thanks to selves up high — chins up and it’s just going to make us work 16-year-old Alekseeva suited always been an option,” she calls Alekseeva with a big smile, 16-year-olds Irina Alekseeva Biles’ brilliance. The women’s had a positive attitude — and harder,” she added. up yesterday alongside child- says in fl awless American Eng- “and now that I’m back and and Angelina Simakova — who fi nals are scheduled for to- really put it all out there.” Today, the men’s team fi nal hood hero Aliya Mustafi na to lish, “but we started contacting practising and competing with were nervous to perform on the morrow, and Biles will lead an Brazil, Japan, France and will be held in the evening. help Russia qualify second to them last year and they invited her, I think that’s so cool!” big stage. The nervousness was American squad that is heavily Germany made the top eight to More than 500 gymnasts from tomorrow’s team fi nal at the me to the training camp.” Alekseeva relies on her more laid bare when Angelina Sima- favoured to continue a winning qualify for the fi nal. There was 76 nations are taking part in the Aspire Dome, and even clinched Alekseeva joined the Rus- experienced teammates, in- kova scored zero points on Vault streak that dates back to the disappointment for Britain as World Championship, which is a spot for herself in Thursday’s sian national team in May and cluding two-time Olympic as she did not land her feet fi rst 2011 World Championships they missed out on fi nal place being staged in the Middle East All-around fi nal. has been mainly training at the champion Mustafi na, to relax in and then fell on Uneven Bars. Alekseeva, who earned a spot by just 0.107 points and fi n- for the fi rst time. Along with 42 “It feels really, really good national training centre outside competition. But Mustafi na steadied the in the All-around fi nal after ished ninth. Kelly Simm, Geor- world championship medals, the to be here, especially with the Moscow. In August, she helped “The older girls have a lot ship with clinical routine in being 12th in qualifying, was gia-Mae Fenton, Alice Kinsella, three medal-winning nations in Russian team,” says Alekseeva, Russia win team gold at the Eu- of experience because they’ve Uneven Bars, Floor Exercise confi dent the Russian team will Ellie Downie and Becky Downie the team fi nals for both men and also known as Ira Alexeeva. ropean championships in Glas- done this so many times,” she and Balance Beam as Rus- perform better in the fi nal. “It’s combined to score a team total women will earn team berths Then aged 7, the Moscow na- gow. explains. “I get nervous and I sia fi nished with a team score just qualifi cations and it’s the of 160.964 points. Britain had directly to the 2020 Olympic tive followed coach Dina Kam- “It’s a diff erent atmosphere start going really fast, and they of 165.497 points, just ahead fi rst day, so of course we had a fi nishing fi fth at the 2016 Ol- Games in Tokyo. alova when she moved to Texas [in Russia],” says Alekseeva, tell me, ‘Calm down! You’ll be in 2010, the same year Mustafi - whose two older brothers at- fi ne!’”