SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017 SPORTS

BADMINTON Battling Lee into seventh All-England final

BIRMINGHAM: World number one Lee be back next year. But for a while he which he began to risk round-the-head due to face an unseeded semi-final 20, 21-16 against Akane Yamaguchi, the Chong Wei reached the final of the All- could not repel the heavy attacks of his angled smashes and overhead fast opponent, Shi, a 21-year-old Chinese teenaged sixth seed from . England Open for a seventh time yester- unseeded but impressively aggressive drops. That accelerated him towards vic- compatriot. Tai was also in difficulties for a while, day after rallying past Chou Tien Chen of Taiwanese opponent. It was only after tory, to the accompaniment of rapturous losing the first game 21-11 and going 6- Taiwan 10-21, 21-14, 21-9. Lee deftly tied up more rallies at the net, noises. It may have been this reception CREATIVE 5 down in the second before finding the Lee increased the possibility of a that he induced sufficient false strokes which partly decided Lee to return here Meanwhile the women’s final will be more creative patterns which loosened dream showdown with defending cham- from his opponent and created enough one more time. He is also clearly pleased between Tai Tzu Ying, the top-seeded the grip of Sung Ji-Hyun, the Korean, pion Lin Dan who takes on fellow openings to prevail. with the way his spare and wiry body Taiwanese player and Ratchanok and fashioned a 11-21, 21-14, 21-14 suc- Chinese Shi Yuqi in Saturday’s second “I’m still not a hundred percent recov- has responded to an increasingly heavy Intanon, the pleasingly creative Thai cess. Ratchanok says she has grown semi-final. ered,” said Lee, referring to the left knee load after many weeks without competi- who has been both the youngest world more experienced at handling the stress It was a wonderful turn-around by injury sustained with a trip on a bad- tion. Was it also that he misses playing champion and the youngest finalist of a big final. Lee after an indifferent first game and a minton mat back home in Kuala Lumpur Lin Dan in a final, he was asked. The here, at the age of 18. Intanon reckons it is better to treat it tournament preparation hampered by last month. “I just focus myself and do answer was a curt “no!” Now four years later Intanon, like Lee, as just another match. Both are skillful injury, so much so that the 34-year-old what I can. I just came here to enjoy it.” But the chances of a climactic meet- has recovered from injuries which enough to make their philosophies revealed that his retirement has been Enjoying it he clearly is, as first he ing with Lin, his great rival and his even placed her participation in doubt. work, and both are sufficiently unpre- postponed yet again - it has been moot- skillfully warded off danger, and then greater nemesis looked strong. The She came from 12-16 in the first dictable to get themselves into a rough ed at least three times - and that he will cunningly worked half openings from three-times Olympic champion was also game and 13-15 in the second to win 22- ride before that happens. —AFP

NHL Kessel lifts Penguins over Oilers in shootout

EDMONTON: Phil Kessel scored the also connected for Buffalo, and Lehner shootout winner in the Pittsburgh stopped 35 shots. The Sabres have lost Penguins’ 3-2 NHL victory over the four straight. Edmonton Oilers on Friday night. Marc- Andre Fleury made 40 saves, Nick Bonino RED WINGS 4, BLACKHAWKS 2 and Evgeni Malkin scored in regulation for Tomas Tatar had two goals and an assist Pittsburgh, while Sidney Crosby had a goal while Jimmy Howard made 24 saves in his in the shootout. The Penguins have won return from a knee injury to help Detroit four games in a row. David Desharnais and beat Chicago. Howard saw his first NHL Connor McDavid countered for Edmonton, action since injuring a knee Dec. 20 at with McDavid getting the Oilers’ lone goal Tampa Bay. Tatar scored what proved the in the tiebreaker. They have lost two winner late in the second period and straight. Pittsburgh opened the scoring six added an insurance goal in the third period minutes into the first period. Oilers goalie to end Detroit’s three-game losing streak. Cam Talbot was down on a rebound, allow- He has a team-high 17 goals. Andreas ing Scott Wilson to feed it in front and give Athanasiou and Xavier Ouellet also scored Bonino an easy goal. The Penguins went up for Detroit. The Blackhawks lost for the sec- 2-0 with 2 1/2 minutes to play in the sec- ond straight night and had their club- ond. A shot got behind Talbot and was record road winning streak end at eight rolling slowly into the net before McDavid games. Trevor Van Riemsdyk and Artemi tried to kick the puck to safety, only to have Panarin scored for Chicago. it hit Talbot’s pads and go in. Malkin was credited with the goal. Edmonton cut into WILD 7, PANTHERS 4 the lead five minutes into the second peri- Zach Parise scored the go-ahead goal od when Desharnais poked a loose puck with 5:07 left and Minnesota pulled away under Fleury for his first goal with the to beat reeling Florida. Mikael Granlund Oilers. The Oilers tied it 13 minutes into the scored an empty-net goal with 1:10 left, his second when McDavid made no mistake team-leading 22nd of the season, and on a rebound opportunity, scoring his 23rd Charlie Coyle added another empty-netter INDIAN WELLS: Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic waits for a serve in her match against Monica Puig of Puerto Rico at Indian Wells Tennis goal of the season and 75th point. with 2.5 seconds left. Eric Staal scored Garden on Friday in Indian Wells, . — AFP twice for Minnesota, while Jason BLUE JACKETS 4, SABRES 3 Pominville and Jason Zucker also connect- TENNIS Boone Jenner broke a tie with 5:07 left ed. The Western Conference-leading Wild and Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves in the won for the first time in three games. The Columbus Blue Jackets’ victory over the Panthers have lost seven of their past Sabres. Nick Foligno and Sam Gagner had eight. Jaromir Jagr scored his 762nd NHL Pliskova rallies past Puig power-play goals, and David Savard also goal. Mark Pysyk had a goal and an assist, scored for the Blue Jackets. They have and Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan won three straight and seven of their last Marchessault also scored. 10. Bobrovsky had a three-game shutout to avoid Indian Wells upset streak broken, but still got his NHL-lead- BLUES 4, DUCKS 3 ing 36th victory. Jenner corralled a loose Joel Edmundson scored with 20 seconds puck and wrapped it around goalie Robin left and Jake Allen made 23 saves in St. Muguruza outlasts Flipkens Lehner, and the Blue Jackets held on for Louis’ victory over Anaheim. Paul Stastny, their 43rd victory to tie the franchise sea- Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan Reaves also INDIAN WELLS: Karolina Pliskova roared back son record set in 2013-14. Josh Gorges scored to help the Blues win their third from a set down to outlast Olympic gold medal- scored his first goal in more than a year, straight. Jakob Silfverberg, Chris Wagner and ist Monica Puig 1-6 6-4 6-4 as the Czech third Evan Rodrigues and Rasmus Ristolainen Rickard Rakell scored for the Ducks. — AP seed avoided a major upset at the BNP Paribas Shiffrin wins World Open in California on Friday. Pliskova, after falling behind 3-0 in the third NHL results/standings set, fought through a long sixth game to help Cup turn the tide and won six of the last seven Pittsburgh 3, Edmonton 2 (SO); St. Louis 4, Anaheim 3; Detroit 4, Chicago 2; Minnesota 7, Florida 4; games to advance to the third round. “I’m defi- OLYMPIC VALLEY: covered ing on her mind. “For sure, it is some pressure,” Columbus 4, Buffalo 3. nitely happy I had my serve today; it was work- her mouth with her glove in disbelief after said the 27-year-old Worley, who won a GS Western Conference Ottawa 38 22 6 178 171 82 ing with me, especially in the third set when I crossing the finish line. Finally believing, she competition at Killington, Vermont, in Central Division Boston 35 26 6 188 175 76 was 0-3 down,” she said in a courtside interview. tossed her right ski pole into the air. Usually November. “Before every race, before every WLOTLGFGAPTS Toronto 30 22 14 201 197 74 “She was playing really well, hitting the balls so stoic, the American standout let her emo- run, I’m trying to clean my mind and stay Minnesota 43 17 6 221 159 92 Tampa Bay 31 26 9 183 182 71 really fast and deep, making it tough for me to tions loose. With good reason: This was a vic- focused on the main thing - and the main Chicago 42 20 5 200 169 89 Florida 29 26 11 166 190 69 play my game.” Puig, from Puerto Rico, had never tory on US snow. thing is to ski. Nashville 32 24 11 197 191 75 Buffalo 27 29 12 172 200 66 taken a set from Pliskova, but broke her Czech Shiffrin used a strong burst near the end to “If I don’t ski, I don’t get anything. I’m try- St. Louis 34 27 5 182 186 73 rival four times to sweep the opening set. win a giant slalom race as the World Cup ing to ski as fast as I can. I have no regrets this Winnipeg 30 32 6 204 216 66 Detroit 26 29 11 165 198 63 Metropolitan Division Pliskova used several service breaks of her returned to Squaw Valley for the first time season. We’ll see if it goes how I want it to go Dallas 27 30 10 188 216 64 own and served out the second set to level the since 1969. She finished in a combined time or not.” Shiffrin will put off any celebrations Colorado 19 44 3 129 217 41 Washington 44 15 7 214 143 95 Pacific Division Columbus 43 17 6 211 152 92 match. The Czech had 19 winners to 34 unforced of 2 minutes, 16.42 seconds on a warm Friday, for a few days. There’s too much work ahead. San Jose 40 19 7 184 154 87 Pittsburgh 42 16 8 233 186 92 errors and converted five of her seven break eclipsing of by 0.07 The Olympic slalom champion has a slalom Anaheim 35 23 10 176 172 80 NY Rangers 43 23 2 219 179 88 point opportunities in the match. seconds. of was third, race Saturday at Squaw Valley before heading Edmonton 35 23 9 190 177 79 NY Islanders 32 23 11 196 197 75 Puig’s 37 unforced errors canceled out her 32 0.86 seconds back. Worley’s lead over Shiffrin to Aspen, Colorado, next week for the World Calgary 37 26 4 184 182 78 Philadelphia 31 27 8 172 197 70 winners. French Open champion Garbine in the season-long GS standings shrank to 80 Cup Finals. Los Angeles 32 28 6 164 166 70 Carolina 27 27 10 160 186 64 Muguruza, the seventh seed, had slightly easier points with just one event remaining in the When asked about her post-race exulta- Vancouver 28 30 9 156 192 65 time as the Spaniard survived some nervous discipline. This was Shiffrin’s fourth career tion, Shiffrin said she did that because, “I’m in Arizona 23 35 8 159 213 54 New Jersey 25 30 12 149 192 62 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point moments before defeating Belgian Kirsten World Cup GS win - not a bad early birthday the USA.” She then screamed to the partisan Eastern Conference Flipkens 6-2 6-3 in her opening round match. present. “I just knew that no matter what, I crowd: “You guys are so awesome! Thank you Atlantic Division in the standings and are not included in the loss Montreal 38 22 8 185 171 84 column (L) have to attack like crazy,” said Shiffrin, who for coming out here!” TALENTED PLAYER turns 22 on Monday. “All these girls are going It’s been a banner season for Shiffrin, who The win set up a meeting with U.S. teenager for wins. I’m so happy with how that went earned her 30th career World Cup win. She Kayla Day, who surprised Australian Open semi- today.” In addition, Shiffrin increased her lead also won her third straight slalom title at finalist Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia in three in the race for the overall World Cup title to world championships last month. sets 6-4 5-7 7-5. After taking the first set and 278 points over Slovenia’s Ilka Stuhec, who Now, she’s trying to join some elite compa- grabbing a 5-0 lead in the second before crashed in the first run. Sofia Goggia of Italy ny in , Tamara McKinney, Bode Flipkens rallied, Muguruza broke through for the moved into third place and is 366 points Miller and as the only sixth and final time in the match, striking 24 win- behind Shiffrin with five races left. Americans to win the overall crown. ners to 28 unforced errors. Goggia had one of the more entertaining “Even having a 270-something lead going “It was a difficult match,” Muguruza said post- final runs of the afternoon when she hit a into the last (five) races, that’s big,” said match. “She’s very talented and she can hit some gate and lost her left ski pole. She quickly Shiffrin, who captured a GS title at Squaw dur- critical shots and she can be tricky.” recovered and didn’t miss a beat as she fin- ing the 2014 US championships. “At same The Spaniard won her third straight match ished seventh. Worley could’ve clinched the time, I don’t feel like I’ve done anything yet. against her rival on a hard surface after splitting GS crystal globe with a victory. It was weigh- Try not to take it for granted.” —AP their first four meetings, losing twice on grass. “It’s always difficult to close out your first match,” Muguruza said. “She’s a very talented player, unbelievable, with a very different game. I got nervous!” Day, 17, won the final four games of her match with the 32nd-seeded Lucic-Baroni to claim victory. “I started to really believe I could win at 6-5 in the third,” said Day. “It was still a really tough game, because I was a little bit tight to close it out. But my serve had been giving her a lot of problems, so I knew if I stuck to my game it might work out.” Among other top-seeded players, Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia and Ukrainian Elina Svitolina had the toughest assignments. Fifth seeded Cibulkova outlasted Latvian Jelena Ostapenko 6-4 3-6 6-3 and the 10th seeded Svitolina needed three sets to defeat Wang Qiang of China 3-6 6-3 7-6(3). Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, the eighth seed, defeated Johanna Larsson of Sweden 7- EDMONTON: Patrick Maroon #19 of the Edmonton Oilers can’t get past goalie Marc- 6(3) 6-4, and 11th seeded Johanna Konta pre- CALIFORNIA: Mikaela Shiffrin competes during the first run in the women’s World Cup Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, vailed 6-4 6-4 over Heather Watson in a meeting slalom competition yesterday, in Olympic Valley, Calif. — AP Alberta, Canada. — AFP of British players. —Reuters