GOLF | Page 5 SSPOTLIGHTPOTLIGHT | Page 7 Johnson Kevin Garnett leads Tour calls it a day To Advertise here C’ship as Day aft er 21 seasons Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 withdraws in the NBA

Sunday, September 25, 2016 FOOTBALL Dhul-Hijja 23, 1437 AH Five-star Liverpool GULF TIMES rout Hull, City cruise on Aguero double SPORT Page 2

FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT Wenger’s perfect Fossati is confi rmed as 20th anniversary Qatar coach

By Sports Reporter managed it earlier in 2007-8. Doha Fossati is highly rated in the Gulf, and has also coached in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. ruguayan Jorge Fossati has Last season he took Al Rayyan, one been handed the task of re- of Qatar’s biggest clubs, to the Qatar gift as Arsenal win viving Qatar’s qualifying Stars League title after a gap of 20 years Ucampaign after the team without winning the championship. crashed to back-to-back defeats in It had been speculated that he may Arsenal exploited lackadaisical Chelsea defending to score three times in the their fi rst two matches on the road to retain his job at Al Rayyan and take Russia 2018. charge of Qatar temporarily as the first half as they claimed a first league win over their London rivals since 2011 The Qatar Football Association emirate faces three Word Cup quali- confi rmed Fossati’s appointment via fi ers in the next two months, away to AFP Twitter yesterday following the sack- South Korea and China and home to London ing of his compatriot Jose Daniel Car- Syria. However it was unclear yester- reno on Friday. day if that was the case. “Mr. Jorge Fossati is Back offi cially (With inputs from AFP) rsenal gave manager Arsene to be the Head coach of our National Wenger a 20th anniver- team,” the QFA said on its Twitter feed sary to remember as Alexis without revealing any details of the Sanchez, Theo Walcott and agreement. AMesut Ozil scored in a slick 3-0 vic- Fossati, 63, was the frontrun- tory over Chelsea yesterday. ner to succeed Carreno after his exit This week marked 20 years since which followed two straight defeats Wenger’s appointment and whereas against Iran and Uzbekistan. Chelsea had spoilt his 1,000th game The losses left Qatar at the at the Arsenal helm with a 6-0 win in bottom of Group A in the March 2014, this milestone was mem- fi nal phase of qual- i- orable for the right reasons. fi cation, with an away Arsenal exploited lackadaisi- match against strong cal Chelsea defending to score three South Korea sched- times in the fi rst half as they claimed uled next month. a fi rst league win over their London The 2-0 de- rivals since a 5-3 triumph in October feat to Iran in 2011. Tehran was “Ideally you want the perfect game particu- and you never get it. We got nearly the larly em- perfect fi rst half and that is not bad,” barrassing Wenger told the BBC. because “Football doesn’t care for history both the g o a l s and the anniversaries, just the re- came in second- half injury- sult on the day. Today we had a good Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring their first goal time as a result of some shoddy de- performance.” It was Arsenal’s big- against Chelsea yesterday. Inset: Arsene Wenger fending. gest league win over Chelsea since It was a match which Qatar domi- Wenger’s fi rst game against them in nated at the imposing 128,000 ca- April 1997 (also 3-0) and their most pacity Azadi Stadium but poor handsome home victory against the works it is very hard for a player to games and within three minutes they to Sanchez and then hared into the fi nishing let them down before west London club in 26 years. play well.” had another. box to meet the Chilean’s lofted cross Iran secured three points with two Arsenal climbed to third place in Wenger made 11 changes to the sec- A slick passing combination cul- with a volley that skidded off the deck goals in injury time. the Premier League table, fi ve points ond-string team that had won 4-0 at minated in Alex Iwobi intelligently and looped over Courtois into the net. A few days in Doha, Qatar again below leaders Manchester City, af- Nottingham Forest in the League Cup picking out Hector Bellerin on the Cesc Fabregas had returned to the dominated before falling to a 1-0 ter registering four successive league and his big guns fi red immediately, right-hand side of the box and the Chelsea starting XI after his mid- defeat against Uzbekistan. wins for the fi rst time in over a year. Santi Cazorla stinging Thibaut Cour- Spaniard’s low cross was swept home week League Cup brace at Leicester Rumours about Carreno’s im- Antonio Conte’s Chelsea, whose tois’s palms. Arsenal went in front in by Walcott. City, but the former Arsenal skipper minent exit began to circulate af- side have now gone three league the 11th minute courtesy of an embar- Briefl y, hope fl ickered for Chelsea. was withdrawn nine minutes into the ter the Uzbekistan defeat, but it games without a win, slid to eighth, rassing error by Gary Cahill that left Willian drilled a shot narrowly wide second half. was only on Friday that the QFA the optimism engendered by their him hiding his face in his hands. and Arsenal’s rhythm was disrupted Marcos Alonso took his place as confi rmed the decision, saying they three opening victories now almost a Forty yards from goal, the England by the loss of Francis Coquelin to an Conte reconfi gured his team in a 3-4- were trying to replace him with Fos- distant memory. centre-back allowed himself to be apparent knee injury, with Granit 3 formation. sati in a desperate bid to bring the “After today we are thinking we robbed by Sanchez, who surged into Xhaka coming on. It helped Chelsea stop the rot, but qualifying campaign back on track. must work a lot because we are a great the box before clipping a lovely fi n- But with the visitors pushing for- they never threatened to force their Fossati, who has been in charge of team only on paper,” Conte said. ish over Courtois for his fourth goal ward, Arsenal hit them with a clinical way back into the game and Courtois Qatar Stars League champions Al Rayy- “It is always a team problem rath- in three games. It was Arsenal’s fi rst counter-attack fi ve minutes before had to spread himself at his near post to an, will begin his second spell with the er than individuals. When nothing league goal against Chelsea in seven half-time. Ozil threaded a pass wide prevent Walcott netting a second goal. Qatar national team on Sunday, having

BOTTOMLINE Nam nets hat-trick in Lekhwiya’s 5-4 victory

By Sports Reporter converted a penalty kick. Qatari inter- Gharafa found their way back into the Jeremy Bokila (56). Al Wakrah scored a Doha Lekhwiya’s hat-trick national defender Mohamed Moosa tie courtesy of Johnson Kendrik Costa late consolation through summer sign- hero Nam tae-Hee (L) brought down Weiss in the box and who scored their third goal in the the ing Pablo Zeballos in the 83rd minute. is congratulated by the Slovakian international later didn’t 73rd minute. With four minutes left to Visitors Al Kharaitiyat took the lead he goal-glut in the Qatar Stars Yousef Msakni. miss from the penalty spot. play South Korean midfi elder Kooky in the 48th minute when al-Marri fi red League continued yesterday Five minutes from the end of the fi rst Han produced Al Gharafa’s fourth goal from close range following an inch per- as Nam tae-Hee struck a hat- half, Lekhwiya added to Al Gharafa’s in the 86th minute, fl icking one home fect cross from the right fl ank. Twelve Ttrick to help former champi- woes when Youssef al-Arabi converted from the edge of the Lekhwiya box, in minutes later Amir Osim’s side cel- ons Lekhwiya edge Al Gharafa 5-4 in a an easy penalty. Three minutes later, what seemed to be a vital equaliser for ebrated their second goal this time after thrilling match at Al Gharafa stadium. Mohamed Abdulla defl ected a corner his side. a neat fi nish by summer signing Jeremy In the second game of the night, Le- kick to score Al Gharafa’s second goal. Lekhwiya, however, scored the win- Bokila. The DR Congo international khwiya kicked off proceedings with two Abdullah’s header went through Le- ner in injury time with Nam Tae Hee calmly slipped the ball past Wakrah quick goals to put Gharafa on the back khwiya goalkeeper Amine Lecomte’s capping off a fi ne individual perform- keeper Hassan, to give his side an in- foot. hands as Gharafa reduced the defi cit for ance by completing his hat-trick by fi r- valuable lead. Ali Hassan Afi f found the net in the the second time in the fi rst half. ing home a fi ne free-kick, giving Djamel With seven minutes left to play, 12th minute followed by an easy tap- Lekhiwya went into the break leading Belmadi’s side two wins from two QSL Wakrah striker Zeballos reduced the goal by Tae hee in the 17th minute. The 3-2. games. defi cit for Al Wakrah by tapping the ball South Korean international picked up Tae-hee scored his second and Le- Earlier, Al Kharaitiyat registered their into the net from close range. Al Wak- an easy rebound and fl icked the ball into khwiya’s fourth goal in the 48th minute fi rst win of the season beating home rah picked up pace in the dying min- the net for his season’s fi rst strike. when he produced a swinging free-kick side Al Wakrah 2-1. The Thunders utes of the second-round clash but Al Al Gharafa scored their fi rst goal in that hit the goalpost and landed inside grabbed their goals in the second half Kharaitiyat held on to their slender lead the 24th minute when Vladimir Weiss the Al Gharafa net. through Jaralla Ali al-Marri (48) and to pick up vital points. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, September 25, 2016 FOOTBALL

PREMIER LEAGUE BUNDESLIGA Hummels limps off as Bayern leave Five-star Liverpool it late in Hamburg AFP pinch of Mueller’s cheek follow- Berlin ing a tussle midway through the second half which escaped the referee’s attention. oshua Kimmich’s late It’s the latest in a string of off - rout Hull, City cruise winner preserved Bayern the-ball incidents involving the Munich’s 100% Bundes- Frenchman which had earned liga record in yesterday’s him a ticking off from Ancelotti 1-0J win at Hamburg, but the at the start of the season. leaders saw Mats Hummels limp Elsewhere, fourth-placed off with a knee injury. Borussia Moenchengladbach With Bayern facing Atletico warmed up for Wednesday’s visit Madrid away in the Champions of Barcelona in the Champions on Aguero double League on Wednesday, Germany League with a 2-0 win at home to international Kimmich convert- Ingolstadt thanks to goals by Os- ed a superb Franck Ribery cross car Wendt and captain Lars Stindl. Manchester City beat Swansea 3-1 to make it a perfect 10 victories under Guardiola, in the 88th minute. Having had their winning “We had three or four clear streak ended by Bayern in Mu- including six in the Premier League, the club’s best start yet to a top-flight campaign chances in the second half and nich on Wednesday, Hertha Ber- we struggled before the break be- lin were held to a 3-3 draw at Ein- fore sorting things out,” admitted tracht Frankfurt. Kimmich, who has scored four Hertha captain Vedad Ibisevic goals already in Bayern’s midfi eld. gave Berlin the lead when he con- Kimmich’s goal leaves Carlo verted a fi rst-half penalty after a Ancelotti’s Munich as the only foul on Swiss midfi elder Valentin team in Germany’s top fl ight with Stocker. But Frankfurt hit back fi ve league wins from fi ve. They with goals from Mexico’s attack- also have eight wins from eight ing midfi elder Marco Fabian and matches in all competitions. captain Alexander Maier to lead However, their joy was tem- 2-1 at the break. pered by seeing key defender Hertha dug deep as midfi elder Hummels suff er a right knee Alexander Esswein came off the injury in the second half which bench to play a key role by set- makes him a doubt for Wednes- ting up Ibisevic’s second goal in day’s European clash. “I am as- the second-half, then scoring suming I can (play against Atleti- himself to put Berlin 3-2 up with co), but there are no guarantees,” 25 minutes to go. said Hummels. But the teams shared the The win leaves Bayern three points after English-born Ja- points clear of Borussia Dort- maica defender Michael Hector, mund, who beat Freiburg 3-1 on on loan from Chelsea, scored Friday when Pierre-Emerick Au- Frankfurt’s equaliser in the 92nd bameyang scored his fi fth goal in minute to leave Frankfurt fi fth fi ve games. and Berlin sixth in the table. The defeat to Bayern is anoth- Mexico striker Javier ‘Chich- er blow to Hamburg coach Bruno arito’ Hernandez scored a hat- Labbadia, who is battling for his trick in Bayer Leverkusen’s 3-2 job after four straight defeats. win at Mainz to give them their Labbadia’s Hamburg certainly second win in fi ve league games put in the work, covering 115km before their midweek Champi- kilometres in the game — nine ons League game at Monaco. more than the Bayern team. It was the ex-Manchester Ribery, a second-half replace- United and Real Madrid striker’s ment for Kingsley Coman, lived second hat-trick in Germany’s dangerously with a patronising top fl ight and he scored the win- ning goal in the 92nd minute. Augsburg are mid-table af- ter their 1-0 win over 10-man Darmstadt thanks to Alfred Sergio Aguero Finnbogason’s second-half header. scored two goals in The victory came at a price Manchester City's as striker Raul Bobadilla faces 3-1 win. (Reuters) a lengthy stint on the sidelines after suff ering a suspected dis- located shoulder. Darmstadt de- AFP have doubled that tally. Sterling beat Lukasz Fabianski in the 77th through Ben Gibson’s 65th-minute goal. fender Leon Guwara was sent off Liverpool Hull’s cause was not helped by the dis- minute as City beat Swansea for the second Bournemouth ended Everton’s unbeat- just before the half-time whistle missal of Ahmed Elmohamady after half an time in a week after their EFL Cup success. en start to the season with a 1-0 home win for his second yellow card. hour as the defender blocked a shot from A swift move on the right, a clever turn secured by Junior Stanislas’s shot into the urgen Klopp disproved his own words Philippe Coutinho on the line with his arm. from Aguero and the visitors were a goal top corner. At the Stadium of Light, Crys- Results of warning as Liverpool crushed James Milner slotted home the resulting to the good. Swansea came close to level- tal Palace came from 2-0 down to beat Augsburg 1 beat Darmstadt 0 Hull City 5-1 at Anfi eld yesterday to penalty to make it 2-0, but even before ling matters in the 12th minute when Kyle Sunderland 3-2 and so deny the hosts a Borussia Moenchengladbach 2 climb into the top four of the Premier then Hull had never looked likely to end a Naughton, playing out of position at left fi rst league win of the campaign. beat Ingolstadt 0 JLeague. In the day’s other big game, Sergio record of never having won at Anfi eld. back, found himself one on one with Claudio Jermain Defoe seized on a mistake by Eintracht Frankfurt 3 drew with Aguero scored twice as Manchester City Liverpool, playing in front of Anfi eld’s Bravo, the City goalkeeper. Bravo pulled off a Joe Ledley as he fi red Sunderland into a Hertha Berlin 3 made it 10 wins in as many games this sea- new Main Stand for only the second time, decent save before City cleared. However, a 39th-minute lead before doubling their SV Hamburg 0 lost to son with a 3-1 victory away to Swansea. did as they pleased almost from the start minute later and the Swans were level. lead on the hour mark only for Ledley to Bayern Munich 1 Klopp had written in his programme as they made it an unhappy 54th birthday Gylfi Sigurdsson poked a ball through atone for his earlier error a minute earlier. Mainz-05 2 lost to notes of the uniquely competitive nature for Hull’s caretaker manager Mike Phelan. to Fernando Llorente, who having been James McArthur headed in an equaliser Bayer Leverkusen 3 of the Premier League, pointing out that Last season, before Klopp replaced played onside by John Stones, beat Bravo before Christian Benteke’s stoppage-time there are no easy games in England’s top Brendan Rodgers as manager, they scored with a stunning volley from 16 yards. With goal completed the south London club’s fl ight. Liverpool’s manager also claimed three goals in their opening six league the ball at their feet, Swansea showed de- comeback. that describing Hull as “just hard to beat” games. This time round they have 16 at cent quality. They were confi dent in mov- Entries sought for 7-a-side tourney was doing them a disservice. the same stage. ing through the gears and lacked only one Results Hull won their fi rst two league games At the Liberty Stadium, Aguero marked aspect — the fi nal delivery. Arsenal 3 beat Chelsea 0 Friends Circle Qatar are seeking entries for the Sixth Indian and were unbeaten away from home in his return to action with two well-taken South Korea’s Son Heung-Min scored Bournemouth 1 beat Everton 0 Invitational seven-a-side football tournament to be held both the Premier League and the Eng- goals for Pep Guardiola’s league leaders after twice as Tottenham Hotspur, without in- Liverpool 5 beat Hull 1 on October 29. The tournament, which is supported by lish Football League Cup, in which they serving a three-game ban for throwing an el- jured England star Harry Kane, won 2-1 Man United 4 beat Leicester 1 the Qatar Football Association, will be played on knockout are through to the last 16. But both those bow in last month’s victory over West Ham. away to Middlesbrough. Son opened the Middlesbrough 1 lost to Tottenham 2 basis, with trophies and individual prizes on off er. theories were swiftly shot to pieces by a The Argentinian striker opened the scoring in the seventh minute and doubled Stoke 1 drew with West Brom 1 Interested teams can contact the organisers on phone rampant Liverpool side, who scored three scoring in the ninth minute and he made it the London club’s advantage in the 23rd Sunderland 2 lost to Crystal Palace 3 numbers 30853820 and 55440284. goals before half-time and could easily 2-0 25 minutes from time before Raheem minute with a right-foot shot. Boro replied Swansea 1 lost to Man City 3

LIGUE 1 Ten-man PSG slump to 2-0 defeat at Toulouse AFP goal and the sending-off . That was the Aurier, who had already been booked, Paris key and after that it was more diffi cult was cautioned a second time for a foul Toulouse coach Pascal for us,” said Spaniard Emery, who ar- on Ola Toivonen in the area and Bodiger Dupraz celebrates the win rived from Sevilla to replace Laurent sent Alphonse Areola the wrong way with his players. (Reuters) vory Coast defender Serge Aurier Blanc in the summer. from the spot to open the scoring. was sent off against his old club as “We lost the ball more than we A young Toulouse side featured Paris Saint-Germain slumped to wanted, and that is something we need 19-year-old Clement Michelin start- a 2-0 defeat away at Toulouse in to improve, but we played well in the ing a Ligue 1 game for the fi rst time and ILigue 1 on Friday night. fi rst half and had chances to score. I 18-year-old loan striker Odsonne Ed- Aurier was shown a second yellow am working to improve things but it is ouard lining up against his parent club. card for conceding a penalty that Yann a long, diffi cult road. But they secured the points against Bodiger converted early in the second half “The team is not used to losing,” the 10 men after a disastrous mistake to put Toulouse in front at Le Stadium. added Emery, although he also said he by substitute Thiago Motta on 79 min- Jimmy Durmaz then secured the was “optimistic”. utes as he gifted possession to Swed- win for the home side late on as PSG Emery’s side travelled to south- ish international Durmaz, and he ran suff ered a second defeat in just seven western France fresh from two wins in through to make it 2-0. league games this season to leave new a week in which they had scored nine It was Toulouse’s fi rst win over PSG coach Unai Emery facing more ques- goals and conceded none to seemingly since 2009 and they celebrated with a tions about his management. kickstart their campaign. lap of honour on the pitch at full-time. The reigning champions took until French international winger Hatem Elsewhere, Lyon missed the chance the end of March to lose twice in the Ben Arfa was again left out of the squad to move level on points with the stum- league last season but this loss fol- for a fourth straight game and there bling champions after losing 1-0 at lowed a 3-1 reverse in Monaco last was no Marco Verratti, but Aurier re- struggling Lorient. Jimmy Cabot month and left Paris in third spot, a turned after injury. scored the only goal of the game early point behind Nice and Toulouse. Edinson Cavani, who had scored in the second half in Brittany as Lyon Leaders Nice go to Nancy today fi ve times in the last two matches, was lost for the third time this season. while Monaco, who host Angers, and twice brilliantly denied by Toulouse’s Toulouse are level on points with Bordeaux, who are at home to Caen, 17-year-old goalkeeper Alban Lafont leaders Nice, who visit Nancy today, could both climb above PSG in the ta- in the fi rst half before the game turned with Paris a point behind in third. Mo- ble over the course of the weekend. on an incident at the start of the sec- naco can go provisionally top with a “The match changed with the (fi rst) ond period. win at home to Angers. Gulf Times Sunday, September 25, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

FOCUS Rooney still a key fi gure for United, says Mourinho

AFP result. It is not easy against them and “I am blaming the people that af- side looked more like the vintage Unit- London not easy to win in the style that we did,” ter the England-Slovakia were, in my ed who regularly trampled their oppo- Mourinho said. opinion, too strong with their criticism nents at Old Traff ord under manager “Today we had intensity, movement for somebody who is a very important Alex Ferguson. ose Mourinho insists Wayne and dynamism. To be back home and player in the history of English foot- Superb link-up play as well as rapid Rooney can still be a key fi gure beat the champions is good. Last season ball, is the captain of England, is the and unpredictable ball movement, rare- for Manchester United despite we couldn’t beat them and this season record of goals, is almost the record of ly seen since Ferguson’s retirement in dropping the England striker for we have beaten them twice already. matches. 2013, brought the winners of a record 20 Jyesterday’s 4-1 win against Leicester. “We have lost six points in the Pre- “I think it was too much but I still league titles an almost surreal 4-0 halft- Mourinho left Rooney on the bench after mier League. We have four victories think, that a big boy like he is, he has to ime lead given their recent struggles. a series of underwhelming performanc- which is really important. face it in a strong way.” Never quite as gifted as his former es from the United captain and he wasn’t “Today it is about the security and Mourinho said Rooney had faced teammate Cristiano Ronaldo or Unit- missed as the Premier League champi- the happiness of the fans, I don’t know down his critics before. “That’s what ed’s latest fi ve-star acquisition Zlatan ons were crushed at Old Traff ord. when the last time that they had such a he tries every time. When he is on the Ibrahimovic, Rooney once dictated Juan Mata, who stepped into Rooney’s scoreline at half time.” pitch, he gives 100 percent. Always, al- games largely thanks to his tremendous number 10 role, was among the scorers, The 31-year-old Rooney, who on ways,” remarked Mourinho. work rate and aggression. but United manager Mourinho is ada- Thursday had said he didn’t pay any at- But If United’s performance in the But with his pace diminished, Roon- mant his axed star remains an important tention to outside criticism of his form, rout of Leicester is anything to go by, ey seems to have reached an impasse, member of the team and is not sulking has failed to sparkle and was anony- Rooney may struggle to get back into being neither an out-and-out striker about the decision to leave him out. mous in the two Premier League defeats the starting eleven. Rooney made a nor a midfi elder. Attempts to use him as “Wayne Rooney is a big player for me, United suff ered last week. cameo appearance in the match after he a forward playing behind a target man United and this country. He is my man, Mourinho, who himself has been replaced Marcus Rashford in the 83rd have also been ineff ective as his ability I trust him completely. He is happy,” subjected to criticism after United “Football is a diff erent story. In foot- dipped since he was heavily slammed minute. to turn quickly and run behind defend- Mourinho said, after Rooney was limited slumped to three successive defeats last ball everyone is the same and if he has to for his performance in the 2018 World Although the club captain struck a ers has decreased. to a seven-minute substitute appear- week—his worst run since 2002—said go on the bench, he goes on the bench. Cup qualifi er with Slovakia earlier this positive note as he waved and applaud- Mourinho is notorious for his ruth- ance at the end of the second half. he would not, unlike his predecessor “If he has to stay at home, he stays at month which England won 1-0 with a ed the fans as he headed down the tun- lessness towards big names when they After United were beaten in their Louis van Gaal, guarantee Rooney a home, but that doesn’t mean that you late goal. nel, his role as the team’s driving force stop delivering and with the pressure previous two league games, Mourinho starting place. don’t trust him or you have a problem “Honestly, I think there was a Wayne is under serious threat after United on the Portuguese to bring major tro- couldn’t aff ord his Rooney gamble to “Wayne is the captain of the club, he (with him). Not at all. We have no prob- before the Slovakia-England and a thrived with Mata fi lling his position phies back to Old Traff ord, he is likely backfi re and he delighted with the way is trusted by the players, he is trusted by lems. He is our captain but, of course, Wayne after the Slovakia-England,” superbly. to stick to whatever works on the pitch. his team blitzed Leicester with a four- myself and he represents the club in a no privilege, he is like anyone else.” said Mourinho. “And I am not blaming With Ander Herrera also preferred to The free-fl owing football which blew goal fi rst half. fantastic way as a player and person and Mourinho, though, believes that Sam (Allardyce, the England manager), Marouane Fellaini in the centre of mid- Leicester away yesterday will give him “It was a very good performance and what is now socially,” added Mourinho. Rooney’s form or certainly morale has not at all. fi eld alongside Paul Pogba, Mourinho’s plenty of food for thought.

PREMIER LEAGUE Guardiola thinks he is ‘God’, snipes Yaya Toure’s agent

AFP Rooney-less United London our-time African Player of the FYear Yaya Toure’s chances of ever playing for Manchester City again diminished further after his fiery agent launched another withering attack on club manager Pep Guardiola yesterday. thrash Leicester City Guardiola had said earlier this week Toure would not play for the club until his agent Dimitri Reigning Premier Leaque champs implode defensively as United score four goals between Seluk apologised for accusing the Spaniard of “humiliating” the the 22nd and 42nd minutes to hit back in style after losing their last two league games 33-year-old Ivorian midfielder after omitting him from the Champions League squad. Rather than back down Seluk — who is regarded as a father figure by Toure and by his elder brother Celtic defender Kolo Toure — launched into Guardiola on the BBC’s World Football Podcast. “Pep Guardiola — he thinks only about himself. He thinks he is al- ready God,” said the Ukrainian. “He won with Barcelona many titles but Yaya also won the same titles with Barcelona (Toure was in fact sold in 2010 and Guardiola stayed till 2012 accruing more silverware). Pep thinks now he has won everything and he can do what he wants.” Seluk, who numbers on his client roster largely eastern European or African players plying their trade in eastern Europe, said Guardiola had treated long-serving City play- ers with total disrespect. “For me, very strange things (have happened) in Manchester City because Yaya played with them many years, (Joe) Hart played with them many years, I don’t know, (Vincent) Kompany played many years, and (in) comes a new coach and says, ‘Okay, these players out like dogs’,” said Seluk. Toure, who announced his retirement from international duty moments before Guardiola re- Manchester United vealed he was out in the cold, has players celebrate a goal not figured in a single City match- against Leicester City day squad since Seluk made his in their Premier League initial remarks. clash yesterday. (AFP) “The day after that, his agent spoke and in that moment, Yaya is out,” Guardiola told a press confer- ence last Tuesday. “Unless Mr Dimitri Seluk comes back to the press or to his friends in the media — because he hasn’t the courage to call me, he goes to the media — and apologises to Manchester City first of all, then his teammates and afterwards the AFP display and a brilliant consolation goal United fi nally added a second goal as add his second goal with a fi rm shot £89mn ($115mn, 102mn euros) arrival trainer. When that happens, Yaya Manchester from half-time substitute Demarai Gray. they turned on the style eight minutes that Zieler parried well. from Juventus and had to endure criti- will be part of the group and he will It was the second successive Premier before half-time. Ander Herrera started It was one of the half-time substi- cism of some below-par performances. have the chance to play.” League away game in which Leicester the move with a fi ne ball to Mata before tutes who salvaged a modicum of re- But the 23-year-old France midfi elder Toure, who is in the final year of anchester United dis- had shipped four goals after doing so at a clever pass by Pogba and a fi ne fl ick by spectability for Leicester with a goal was on the scoresheet at last in the his contract at the Etihad Stadium, mantled Premier League Liverpool two weeks ago. Jesse Lingard allowed Mata to blast past of real quality on the hour-mark. Gray 42nd minute at Old Traff ord yesterday. has featured just once for City since champions Leicester in a Leicester held their own early on with Zieler. collected a crossfi eld pass from Daniel Timing his run perfectly, Pogba met Guardiola’s arrival. He played the Mruthless 20-minute burst Robert Huth lashing a shot just over but And the third goal arrived just two Amartey and cut inside Lingard before Daley Blind’s corner with a powerful full 90 minutes of their Champions as Jose Mourinho’s decision to drop it was United who edged in front in the minutes later as Leicester handed a lashing a brilliant shot past a helpless header that gave Leicester goalkeeper League play-off second-leg victory Wayne Rooney was rewarded with a 4-1 22nd minute after some neat play wide chance to Rashford which the youngster De Gea from 25 yards. Ron-Robert Zieler no chance. It was over Steaua Bucharest in August. win at Old Traff ord yesterday. on the left had forced a corner. snapped up. The visitors were caught But United were soon back on the at- United’s fourth goal of the half as Jose Leicester imploded defensively as It was delivered by Daley Blind and napping as Blind took a quick corner and tack as Zieler made a smart save from Mourinho’s side demolished the Pre- United racked up four goals between Smalling escaped the United defence Mata was free to square for an unmarked Ibrahimovic. Two more Leicester sub- mier League champions. the 22nd and 42nd minutes. It was a to power home a header from six yards. Rashford to fi nish from close range. stitutes combined for what should have “I am very happy for the result and stylish display from a United side who Rashford should have doubled United’s It was 4-0 before half-time as an- been a second goal but Andy King pro- the goal. I hope that is not going to be had entered the game under pressure lead moments later when Leicester other corner by Blind was headed in by duced a tame shot from a Jeff Schlupp the last,” Pogba said. His goal was just after losing their last two league games, squandered possession and Zlatan Ibra- Pogba as he leapt above Christian Fuchs. cross and De Gea saved easily. one of many encouraging aspects of against Manchester City and Watford, himovic galloped forwards and squared Leicester made a double change at Gray then went within a whisker of United’s display as they got back on with Chris Smalling opening the scor- for the teenager. But Rashford’s fi rst half-time with key duo Vardy and Riyad replicating his stunning goal with an track following two successive league ing after replacing Rooney as captain. touch was heavy and his shot fl ew over. Mahrez withdrawn ahead of the Cham- almost identical eff ort which De Gea defeats. Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Ibrahimovic then went close to a goal pions League meeting with FC Porto on scrambled back to push over the bar. Asked if he was bothered by criticism Paul Pogba, with his fi rst United goal after collecting a fabulous pass by Pog- Tuesday. of himself and the rest of the United following his world record £89mn ba, but the Swede’s eff ort on the turn And they almost had some joy when squad, Pogba added: “I never look at ($115mn, 102mn euros) arrival from Ju- just cleared the bar. David De Gea dived at the feet of Islam Pogba scores, finally the newspapers. I say one thing — it is ventus, were also on target after Eng- Next it was Pogba’s turn to let fl y Slimani but gifted possession back to Paul Pogba fi nally ended his wait for at the end, at the end we will see. We land captain Rooney was dropped to the with an outrageous eff ort from 30 yards the visitors with a poor throw. Fuchs a fi rst goal for Manchester United since were very focused, we knew it was gong substitutes’ bench. that bent towards the top corner but wasted the chance, however, with a his world record transfer in the 4-1 win to be diffi cult and we showed a very big But it was a chastening afternoon for was forced away by Leicester goalkeep- poor cross. against Leicester. Pogba had gone fi ve performance today. We want to keep on Leicester despite an improved second-half er Ron-Robert Zieler. And at the other end, Mata tried to games without scoring following his with that.” Gulf Times 4 Sunday, September 25, 2016 FOOTBALL

SERIE A Juve warm up for Dinamo with cagey victory AFP lot of mistakes and when you play for frightening.” rushed out to thwart Higuain as he Milan Juventus that can’t happen. Luckily for Palermo, Juve also had an waited for Cuadrado’s inswinger, Pjan- “Compliments to Palermo. They off -night. ic pouncing on the rebound to shoot played well, defended well throughout. Higuain, looking for his fi fth goal straight at the ‘keeper. ani Alves’s defl ected strike We have to use this game as a stepping in six games, was tightly marked Juve started the second half bright- kept Juventus top of Serie stone to improving. throughout and gave Juve a brief scare ly but it took a huge delection from A as they warmed up for a “Now, it’s time to focus on the when left on the pitch clutching his Edoardo Goldaniga, who stuck his leg Champions League clash at Champions League and winning our lower back and requiring treatment out to stop Alves’s speculative shot DinamoD Zagreb with a cagey 1-0 win at next game in Zagreb.” after falling heavily under a challenge from 30 yards out, for Juve to fi nally Palermo yesterday. After just 12 seconds Gonzalo by Posavec. beat Posavec. Juventus travelled to Sicily looking Higuain latched on to Miralem Allegri was then forced to review his Yet the going didn’t get any easier for to protect a one-point lead on Napoli Pjanic’s ball to fi re just wide of the gameplan when defender Daniele Ru- the champions. but with one eye on claiming a win in upright as Juve looked to make their gani, starting in place of Giorgio Chiel- Their next shot on goal didn’t come Croatia on Tuesday after a scoreless mark early on. lini, was forced off with a knock on the until 15 minutes later, Posavec parry- draw at home to Sevilla in their Group Minutes later, Pjanic’s direct free half hour. ing a crisp drive from Mandzukic from H opener. kick from a tight angle had Palermo Attacking midfi elder Juan Cuadrado close range. Coach Massimiliano Allegro rested ‘keeper Josip Posavec on his toes. replaced Rugani but minutes later the Sami Khedira must have then regret- Paulo Dybala in place of Mario Mand- But Palermo were out to make life visitors were left frustrated again. ted not fi ring at goal himself after un- zukic, a choice that almost paid divi- diffi cult, and ultimately succeeded Juve should have done better on the selfi shly laying off for the big striker, dends when the Croatia international during a fi rst half that saw three players counter when Higuain ran on to Man- who saw Posavec race back across goal came close on several occasions. from each side earn cautions. dzukic’s smart backheel in midfi eld to somehow get one hand to his drive But days after calling for the Turin The hosts pressed late in the second to set up Mario Lemina for a shot that eight yards out. giants to start “taking command” of half, but coach Roberto De Zerbi was Posavec parried, before his central de- Mandzukic had the ball in the net their games, the 49-year-old Allegri left to lament: “We tried to press after fence headed to safety. minutes later but was ruled off side. was perhaps left with more questions their goal but we just lacked the fi nal It was Juve’s best collective play Palermo pressed for a late equaliser than answers. touch. Juventus’ players celebrate their edgy 1-0 win against Palermo yesterday. The win of the game, but epitomised their but in extra-time Gianluigi Buff on got Defender Leonardo Bonucci told Sky “We’re proud of how we played. helped them extend their lead at the top of Serie A to four points in what was the evening’s work. down low to thwart Aleesami after he Sport: “In technical terms, we made a When Juve get their game together, it’s Italian champions' fifth win in six league matches this season. (Reuters) On the stroke of half-time Posavec had been set up by Andrea Rispoli.

LA LIGA SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP Dembele shines Suarez, Neymar as Celtic cruise AFP test against English Premier League lead- Glasgow ers City, Celtic named a strong side and Griffi ths had to make do with a place on the bench after returning from a four- fi re Messi-less oussa Dembele grabbed a dou- match injury lay-off . ble as Celtic warmed up for The Hoops were well on top early on their Champions League tie but it was Kilmarnock who took the lead against Manchester City with through a sensational Coulibaly strike. Ma 6-1 thrashing of Kilmarnock yesterday. The Ivorian-born forward collected the Souleymane Coulibaly silenced Celtic ball with his back to goal before spinning Park with a sensational 35-yard strike to and sending a looping shot that caught the give Kilmarnock the lead against the run of back-tracking Dorus de Vries off his line Barcelona to top play just after the half-hour mark. and the goalkeeper, who should have done However, Killie’s joy was short-lived as better, could only watch it sail over his head. Dembele struck in the 35th and 37th min- However, they held their lead for lit- ‘It is a result that doesn’t tell the true story of the game — 5-0 makes it seem easy utes, before James Forrest added a third in tle over two minutes as Celtic responded the 52nd minute and substitute Leigh Grif- swiftly through Dembele, the French striker and simple and that couldn’t be further from the truth. We were poor at the start fi ths headed home on 66 minutes. fi ring a fi rst-time shot beyond Jamie Mac- Scott Sinclair then netted from the pen- Donald from a Mikael Lustig pass. of the second half, we didn’t kill the game off and Sporting could have got back’ alty spot as he scored for the sixth succes- Celtic then went in front for the fi rst sive league match for the Hoops and Aus- time in the match less than two minutes tralian international Tom Rogic wrapped later as Dembele grabbed his 10th goal of up the scoring fi ve minutes from time to the season. Hoops captain Scott Brown move Celtic fi ve points clear of Hearts, drove his team forward before picking out who were held to a goalless draw by Ross Kieran Tierney, who cut the ball back from County, with a game in hand. the left for Dembele to slam home. Old Firm rivals Rangers are seven points De Vries, who has shipped 12 goals in off top spot and face a tough trip to take on fi ve games for the Hoops, was replaced at Aberdeen today. the break by Craig Gordon and Celtic soon “It was a brilliant team performance. moved further ahead. Forrest played a neat They scored a goal out of nowhere but one-two with Rogic before fi ring past Mac- we stayed calm and created chances and Donald with the outside of his right boot. played very well,” Celtic manager Brendan Dembele was replaced by Griffi ths in Rodgers said. “To win a game 6-1 gives us the 64th minute and two minutes later the incredible confi dence.” substitute had his eighth goal of the season Kilmarnock manager Lee Clark said his when he applied the fi nishing touch to Jozo side couldn’t cope with Celtic in the second Simunovic’s net-bound header. half. “They stepped it up a level. At half- Griffi ths was then brought down in the time we still felt if we did things right with- box by Gary Dicker to earn his side a pen- out the ball we might give ourselves a fi ght- alty which Sinclair dispatched to keep on ing chance to get back in the game but we track to equal Celtic legend Jimmy Mc- simply got blown away in the second half,” Grory’s long-standing club record of scor- Clark said. “It was men against boys in every ing in eight consecutive league matches for aspect. We had some young boys out there the Hoops. Socceroo star Rogic completed and it showed but we’ve got to learn from it.” the rout late on as his weak eff ort from just With one eye on Wednesday’s tough inside the box bounced over MacDonald.

Moussa Dembele struck a brace in Celtic's 6-1 thrashing of Kilmarnock

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez (second from left) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal against Sporting Gijon goal yesterday. (Reuters)

AFP Real Madrid can regain a three- 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid as the second half ahead of Wednesday’s Madrid point lead over Barca with victory Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic, Javier visit to Borussia Moenchengladbach when they beat Las Palmas later in Mascherano and Jordi Alba joined in the Champions League as Sergio the evening. the injured Messi in dropping out. Busquets and Suarez were replaced arcelona shrugged off the Despite scoring fi ve goals for the The champions looked unsettled by Denis Suarez and Paco Alcacer. absence of Lionel Messi to second consecutive away game, Bar- in the early stages and goalkeeper However, the goals fl owed after move to the top of La Liga ca coach Luis Enrique was far from Marc-Andre ter Stegen was lucky to Lora dived in on Roberto to leave his as Luis Suarez and Neymar satisfi ed with his side’s display, par- escape further punishment when he side a man light. Alcacer was denied wereB on target in a 5-0 thrashing of ticularly early in the second half. gave away a free-kick for handling his fi rst Barca goal when he smashed Sporting Gijon yesterday. “It is a result that doesn’t tell the outside his area with the score still the ball off the underside of the bar, The hosts enjoyed the better of true story of the game — 5-0 makes level at 0-0. but Neymar mopped up the rebound the opening half-hour, but were hit it seem easy and simple and that However, one moment of Suarez to make it 3-0. by a two-goal Barca burst in three couldn’t be further from the truth,” magic turned the game in Barca’s Roberto was the provider once minutes as Suarez rounded Ivan he said. “We were poor at the start favour as he raced onto Turan’s more for the fourth as Turan pow- Cuellar to slot home the opener be- of the second half, we didn’t kill the through ball and fl icked the ball past ered home his cross at the back post fore Rafi nha headed home a second. game off and Sporting could have the onrushing Cuellar before slot- four minutes later. Sporting were reduced to 10 men got back into the game. Fortunately, ting into an empty net. Denis Suarez then teed up Ney- 16 minutes from time when Alberto that wasn’t to be and after the send- A fi ne team goal put the game mar to sweep home his second of the Lora saw a second yellow card and ing-off it unbalanced the game and beyond Sporting moments later as game two minutes from time. Barca made their man advantage allowed us to score those three goals Neymar freed Sergi Roberto down And the Brazilian could even count as a Neymar double and Arda at the end.” the right and Rafi nha met his cross have had a hat-trick when he Turan rounded off the scoring in the Luis Enrique made fi ve changes with a powerful near-post header. curled another eff ort off the post in fi nal 10 minutes. to the side that started Wednesday’s Barca appeared to have eased up in stoppage-time. Gulf Times Sunday, September 25, 2016 5 SPORT

GOLF ROUND-UP Levy leads by Johnson leads Tour four at fog-hit European Open Championship as AFP 129 — Michael Jonzon (SWE) 66 63 Bad Griesbach, Germany 130 — Ross Fisher 65 65 131 — Martin Kaymer (GER) 67 64, Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 63 68, rance’s Alexander Levy Florian Fritsch (GER) 67 64 closed in on a third ca- 132 — Robert Karlsson (SWE) 69 63, reer European Tour tri- Bradley Dredge 68 64, Jean Hugo Day withdraws umph yesterday when he (RSA) 66 66 Fstormed to a four-shot lead at 133 — Matthew Southgate 66 67, the fog-hit European Open. Lee Soomin (KOR) 66 67 After being badly aff ected by 134 — Richard Bland 67 67, Paul Day’s season ended in disappointing fashion after he withdrew due to back pain the weather on Thursday and Dunne 66 68, Eduardo De La Riva Friday when seven hours were (ESP) 68 66, David Lipsky (USA) AFP lost, the tournament suff ered 68 66, Paul Peterson (USA) 68 66, Washington three more hours of delays yes- Oliver Fisher 66 68 Dustin Johnson hits a tee shot during the terday, forcing organisers to de- third round of the Tour Championship in clare a 54-hole event. THAI TEEN ON COURSE FOR ustin Johnson edged closer to Atlanta, Georgia yesterday. (AFP) The third and fi nal round will FIRST ASIAN WIN the USPGA Tour’s $10mn FedEx be played today. Levy, who won Thai teenager Phachara Khong- Cup playoff prize on Friday, fir- two titles in 2014, came into yes- watmai retained a one-stroke ing a three-under par 67 to seize terday with just one hole of his lead at the Asia-Pacifi c Diamond aD one-stroke lead in the season-ending delayed second round to com- Cup as he stayed on course for his Tour Championship in Atlanta, Georgia. plete. He made par on the ninth fi rst Asian Tour victory yester- US Open champion Johnson, who ar- to stay at 17 under. day. The 17-year-old shot one- rived at East Lake Golf Club atop the Ross Fisher made a birdie on under-par 69 at Osaka’s Ibaraki playoff standings after his win at the the seventh in his fi nal three Country Club for a three-round BMW Championship two weeks ago, fi red holes to cut the Frenchman’s total of 202. fi ve birdies with two bogeys for a seven- overnight lead to fi ve shots but it Japan’s Ippei Koike parred the under total of 133. was Swede Michael Jonzon who fi rst 17 holes before rolling in his He was one shot in front of fellow surged through the fi eld, shoot- only birdie of the day as he fi n- American Kevin Chappell, who started ing a 63 to get to 13 under. ished the third round in second the day in a three-way tie for the lead Jonzon only found out he was place. Despite maintaining his with Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama and playing on Wednesday afternoon fi rst ever Asian Tour lead for the signed for a second-round 68 for 134. It after being fourth reserve for the second day in a row, Phachara was three shots back to Matsuyama, who event, but he will now have the said he could have played bet- shot a one-over par 71, and Kevin Kisner chance to win his third European ter after shooting three birdies (70) on 137. Tour title, 19 years after claiming against two bogeys. World number one Jason Day’s season his fi rst at the Portuguese Mas- LEADING SCORES (PAR-70): ended in disappointing fashion as the ters. 202 — Phachara Khongwatmai Australian walked off before completing “I always said I function well (THA) 66-67-69 the eighth hole with back pain. It’s the under these circumstances,” said 203 — Ippei Koike (JPN) 67-67-69 same injury that forced Day out of the fi - 44-year-old Jonzon. “I struggle 205 — Song Young-Han (KOR) 72- nal round of the BMW Championship, al- more just trying to make cuts be- 68-65, Kazuhiro Yamashita (JPN) though he had voiced cautious optimism cause I can put a lot of pressure 69-67-69 that his back would allow him to chal- on myself. I know what I can do 206 — Brad Kennedy (AUS) 71-66- lenge for the win this week. and sometimes I try too much. 69, Daisuke Kataoka (JPN) 68-69- A statement from Day’s management I’ve been there before. I’m just 69, Satoshi Kodaira (JPN) 64-72-70, team described the injury as a “strained going to go out tomorrow and try Thitiphun Chuayprakong (THA) ligament in his lower right back with a to shoot as good as I can, what- 66-69-71 muscle spasm” and his withdrawal as a ever happens after that is not in 207 — Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN) 66-71- “precautionary measure”. my control.” 70, Park Sang-Hyun (KOR) 68-68-71, The top fi ve players in the playoff LEADING SCORES Toru Taniguchi (JPN) 70-66-71, standings coming into the $8.5 mn sea- 125 — Alexander Levy (FRA) 62 63 Michio Matsumura (JPN) 72-63-72 son fi nale can each claim the bonus with a victory. Anyone lower in the standings must win and count on those top players fi nishing down the leaderboard — some- thing that was looking less and less likely in Johnson’s case. Johnson, already the front-runner for player of the year honours, is seeking his fourth title of 2016. “I felt like I played re- ally, really solid today and just didnt’ re- ally get a lot out of it,” Johnson said. “I had some close looks that I didn’t make. Still, obviously three-under is a great score around here. sixth through eighth. the US Ryder Cup team, posted an unim- 141 — Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 74-67, Brandt I’m never going to be upset with that.” He bogeyed the 11th, but stayed steady pressive 73 that left him tied for 25th. Snedeker 72-69 Johnson had back-to-back birdies at the coming in to keep himself in contention. 142 — Sean O’Hair 74-68, Gary Woodland 72- fi fth and sixth and again at 10 and 11 be- England’s Paul Casey, Northern Ireland’s SECOND-ROUND SCORES 70, Matt Kuchar 69-73 fore is fi rst bogey of the day at the 12th. Rory McIlroy and American Ryan Moore 133 — Dustin Johnson 66-67 143 — Daniel Berger 74-69, Patrick Reed He nabbed the fi rst birdie of the day at were tied for fi fth on 138. 134 — Kevin Chappell 66-68 73-70, Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 73-70, Roberto the par-four 16th, hitting his approach Scotland’s Russell Knox carded the low 137 — Kevin Kisner 67-70, Hideki Matsuyama Castro 73-70, Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) 70-73 from 147 yards to 12 feet and draining the round of the day of 66 to join South Ko- (JPN) 66-71 144 — JB Holmes 73-71 putt.After giving a shot back at 17, John- rea’s Kim Si-Woo and American Justin 138 — Ryan Moore 70-68, Paul Casey (ENG) 145 — Bubba Watson 72-73 son saved par from six feet at the last, Thomas on 139, while defending cham- 68-70, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 68-70 146 — William McGirt 77-69, Phil Mickelson where Chappell missed a chance to pull pion Jordan Spieth was in a group on 140 139 — Russell Knox (SCO) 73-66, Justin Tho- 74-72 level. that also included Australian Adam Scott. mas 68-71, Kim Si-Woo (KOR) 67-72 148 — Jimmy Walker 74-74 Chappell, seeking his fi rst PGA Tour World number seven Bubba Watson, 140 — Jason Dufner 73-67, Adam Scott (AUS) 151 — Kevin Na 77-74 title, had three birdies in a row from the angling for the fi nal captain’s pick spot on 69-71, Jordan Spieth 68-72 Jason Day (AUS) 67-WD Alexander levy of France has a four-shot lead at European Open.

FORMULA ONE ‘My father’s death made me want to follow in his footsteps’

Interview by Donna Ferguson for many years. It caught us so hard. There was a The Guardian Damon Hill has revealed that his void – a crater – where he had been. I dealt with father’s death made him want things by telling myself it was no good feeling to follow in his footsteps and sorry for myself. We were lucky to have had the he former F1 driver talks about his fa- become a Formula One driver. time we had with him. ther, Graham Hill, sibling rivalry, his I absolutely worshipped my father, but quartet of formidable great aunts and when he died, the spotlight was turned off and his bowels-obsessed grandma I had the chance to be myself. There was this THill revealed that his father’s death made him sense of relief. I didn’t have to worry about want to follow in his footsteps and become a whether my dad approved of what I was doing. Formula One driver. The 1996 world champion It was a complicated feeling of freedom, at the said that after being prepared for his father Gra- cost of his life. ham’s death during his double world champi- My father’s death made me want to fol- onship winning career, when he died in a plane low in his footsteps and start racing. I hadn’t crash just months after after retiring in 1975, the expressed any desire to race cars before he died news came as a shock. Hill said that after want- and I might not have felt any motivation to race ing to emulate his father for a number of years, if he’d lived – I honestly don’t know. I do know I his passing allowed him to become his own man. haven’t missed it that much since I stopped. By EXCERPTS racing, I was resurrecting my dad. My perform- Death was a constant presence in my ances were mine, but they inevitably contained childhood. My father [Graham Hill] was a For- some legacy of my dad’s racing career and hon- mula One driver and at the time, F1 was horrifi c. oured his memory. In some senses, it was a way It was a bloodsport. I remember thinking my of getting to know him as an adult that I couldn’t dad might not be here next Christmas, or next have done any other way. Knowing what he week. Part of me felt impressed that my dad was went through, I did get closer to understanding special and did something dangerous, and part him. But it’s a very diffi cult thing to carry on in of me was thinking: but I don’t want him to die, the same profession as your parents if they have I don’t want him to be doing this. been successful. My mother liked brave men and was a My mum, who is 90, was and still is a competitive person. But she never had a sense very loyal supporter. During my career, of herself as someone who was autonomous and she could be a little bit of a liability. If I was ever could take charge of her own life. Our whole wronged in her eyes, then she didn’t hold back in family was orientated towards my father’s sat- letting people know what she thought. isfaction. My mum’s job was to make sure eve- I’ve tried to keep a lower profi le while my rything was right for him. My sisters and I were were young. And as Graham Hill’s only son, I was completely cowed by his formidable sisters, with whether or not you’d done a number two. kids have been growing up because I wanted secondary to that project. was always being put in cars and photographed including my grandma. They were all small and I was 15 when my father died [in an air them to have the space to be themselves. If they My sister Brigitte is 18 months older than – and they weren’t. round, apart from Gladys, who was quite tall and accident]. His death was an emotional nuclear are being shoehorned into some image from a me while Samantha is four years younger. There I had this gang of great-aunts – Edna, Gla- thin. It was like they were something out of a bomb. It was so out of the blue – he’d just retired very early age, they won’t have a chance to fi nd was defi nitely some sibling rivalry to claim dys, Phyllis and Constance – and one great-un- Miss Marple episode. My grandma was obsessed and so my mum, my sisters and I had let our out who they are. I hated being in the limelight closeness or proximity to our father when we cle, Reggie, who wouldn’t say boo to a goose. He with bowel movements – everything was to do guard down, after being prepared for the worst as a child. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, September 25, 2016 SPORT

MLB NFL Rams’ Barron has added motivation’ in Kazmir hurt but facing former team Dodgers still down Colorado 5-2 For the Dodgers, this convincing win over Colorado Rockies pushed them within one night of clinching their fourth consecutive National League West title

MCT Los Angeles File picture of Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Mark Barron (left).

t 7:10pm Friday night at Dodger MCT caneers last season at St. Louis, Stadium, Los Angeles Dodgers Los Angeles making eight tackles in a 31-23 starter Scott Kazmir hiked up Rams victory. his right leg, uncorked his body, But the return to Florida is dif- andA delivered a pitch to Yasmani Grandal. e was the seventh play- ferent. And then he turned around and waited, er picked in the 2012 Barron joined the Buccaneers and eventually repeated the exercise. His NFL draft, a hard-hit- under former coach Greg Schi- warmup sessions, already extended ear- ting safety from Ala- ano and intercepted three passes lier this season because of chronic fi rst- Hbama who was envisioned as a in two seasons. Lovie Smith re- inning struggles, were further length- possible linchpin for the Tampa placed the fi red Schiano in 2014, ened because of his team’s hour-long Bay Buccaneers defence. and Barron apparently became pregame ceremony honouring Vin Scully. Less than three seasons later, expendable. The game’s start was estimated for the Buccaneers traded him to the Barron said he was unaware 7:20pm, but fi nally at 7:46pm, Kazmir Rams for draft picks. that he was being discussed in did it for real. Reality, for him, did not On Sunday, Mark Barron will trade talks. When he found out last very long. In his return to the mound return to Raymond James Stadi- after the deal was done, he was following a month away, the left-hander um for the fi rst time since 2014. not thrilled. “Anytime there’s a exited after one scoreless inning because That’s when Tampa Bay traded situation where you don’t know of what the team termed right intercostal him, he said, without any com- anything about what’s going on spasms, an apparent aggravation of his munication that it might happen. and something like that happens, previous symptoms. The circumstances provide how would you feel?” he said. For the Dodgers, reality pushed them “a little added motivation” for a “So it most defi nitely (angered) within one night of clinching their fourth player who has thrived as a hy- me a little bit.” consecutive National League West title, brid linebacker for the Rams. The 6-foot-2, 213-pound if Clayton Kershaw wins his Saturday “It’s not that big of a deal,” Barron is happy with how it has start and San Francisco’s Madison Bum- Barron said, grinning. “But it’s a played out. garner loses his. On Friday, they beat deal.” So is Ogletree. Colorado, 5-2, and halved their magic Barron, 26, was dealt to the “I love playing next to him,” number to two. Rams in a trade-deadline swap he said. “He’s understanding the Rockies leadoff hitter Charlie Black- for fourth and sixth-round picks. defence a lot more and under- mon slapped Kazmir’s sixth pitch into He had three sacks in nine standing the position.” right fi eld for a single. With one out, No- games for the Rams to fi nish “He can run and hit with the lan Arenado tapped a cutter back up the the 2014 season, and was still at best of them and also cover.” middle. Kazmir picked it up and sought safety when he began 2015. Barron was in coverage on the the double play, but threw low to Chase But after weak-side linebacker victory-clinching play against Utley at second base, and Utley’s throw Alec Ogletree suff ered a broken the Seahawks. After running over to fi rst was even worse. ankle in Week 4 at Arizona, de- back Christine Michael caught Arenado took second, and then tried fensive coordinator Gregg Wil- a late fourth-quarter pass, Bar- to get home when Carlos Gonzalez sub- liams deployed Barron in a hy- ron and Ogletree zeroed in for a sequently singled to left fi eld. Andrew Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Kazmir winds up a pitch against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego. brid role. tackle. Toles delivered a rapid, on-target throw The eff ect on the Rams’ de- Ogletree was credited with home, clocked at 97.6 mph, to easily pre- Stripling set down the Rockies in Results whelm him, and he exited an Aug 22 start fence – and on Barron’s career – stripping the ball and recover- vent him from scoring. order in the second. In the third, the after 22/3 innings, citing back and neck was signifi cant. ing it, but Fisher said Barron was When Kazmir returned to the Dodgers’ Rockies strung together two singles and Nationals...... 5 Pirates ...... 6 issues before and during the game. Barron fi nished the season equally responsible. dugout, he was examined by team train- a sacrifice bunt. DJ LeMahieu’s flare to Diamondbacks .....2 Orioles ...... 3 He made a minor league rehab start with a team-best 116 tackles “I told (Barron) the debate is ers and immediately removed from the right would have scored at least one Yankees ...... 0 Blue Jays ...... 9 two weeks later but again exited early and drew comparisons to hybrid still up: Who caused the fum- game. run, but Josh Reddick lunged forward Royals ...... 3 Tigers ...... 8 and was diagnosed with thoracic spine linebacker Deone Bucannon of ble?” Ogletree said, laughing. and caught it. With two outs, Stripling White Sox ...... 4 Indians ...... 10 infl ammation. Roberts was admittedly the Arizona Cardinals. “It was a great play. ... If he got it CONSECUTIVE PITCHES battled Arenado, the National League Braves ...... 3 Marlins...... 2 unsure he’d pitch again in 2016. Either In March, Barron parleyed that out, I’m glad, because we got the In the bottom half of the fi rst, Corey leader in home runs. Red Sox ...... 2 Rays ...... 1 way, the Dodgers will owe Kazmir $32 performance into a fi ve-year, ball and won the game.” Seager worked an eight-pitch walk. Jus- When the count reached 3-and-2, Phillies...... 5 Mets ...... 10 million over the next two seasons unless $45-million contract. Barron’s Said Barron: “We had that talk tin Turner fouled off four consecutive Stripling tried a slider on the outside Reds ...... 4 Brewers ...... 5 he opts out of his contract, a possibility play was a contributing factor and we kind of went back and pitches, then took Colorado starter Jon corner, where the Dodgers have fo- Mariners ...... 10 Twins ...... 1 that seems unlikely. in the Rams’ decision to move forth on it. We decided to go half Gray’s 97-mph fastball off his body and cused on pitching Arenado this series. Angels...... 10 Astros ...... 6 The Dodgers did not turn to him out Ogletree to middle linebacker and half on it.” walked to fi rst. While starter-turned- He fouled it off. Then Stripling landed a Rangers ...... 3 Athletics ...... 0 of current desperation, but rather out of and part ways with veteran James Barron could play a key role long-reliever Ross Stripling warmed in curveball at the base of the strike zone, Rockies ...... 2 Dodgers ...... 5 luxury, aff orded by their position in the Laurinaitis. Sunday when the Rams try to the bullpen, Adrian Gonzalez walked, and Arenado struck out swinging to end Giants ...... 2 Padres ...... 7 standings. They entered Friday six games Last week, Barron broke up a neutralise Buccaneers quarter- and Grandal blooped a single into short the threat. up on San Francisco and pushing to halve pass and made a team-best 10 back Jameis Winston. right fi eld. Two runs scored. Stripling forged on, fi nishing the their magic number of four. And perhaps tackles in the Rams’ 9-3 vic- Last season against the Rams, The Dodgers did not put another baseball fourth inning, before Dodgers Manager as one of the Dodgers’ few reliable start- some future desperation: They need a tory over the Seattle Seahawks, Winston passed for 363 yards into play until the third inning, when Turn- Dave Roberts pieced together the rest ing options. He was rarely spectacular, fourth playoff starter and lack an obvious including one that resulted in a and two touchdowns. er led off with a groundout to third. Gray of the required relief. Arenado launched but he was steady. He’d work into the candidate. victory-clinching fumble. That will be only one of the recorded his fi rst six outs on strikeouts, but a solo shot off Josh Fields in the sixth sixth inning, sometimes fi nish it, and Before the game, Roberts said he was “He’s so talented and so in- story lines in Barron’s return to used far too many pitches and tired by the for Colorado’s fi rst run, and Fields soon give up about three runs. uncertain how many innings Kazmir stinctive around the line of Tampa Bay. fourth inning, at which point Joc Pederson yielded another run, unearned because He’d strike out a lot of hitters and yield might be able to handle. scrimmage,” Rams Coach Jeff “I never got any closure on it,” and Andre Ethier launched back-to-back of a Seager error. a lot of homers. “As far as a buildup,” Roberts said, “he Fisher said. “Just let him play.” he said, adding, “I don’t need it. solo homers on fastballs. Kazmir, 32, spent much of this season But, last month, pain began to over- hasn’t really had it.” Barron played against the Buc- “I’m good. I’ve moved on.”

WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY New chapter for Canada and Russia rivalry

AFP couver and followed it up with another “I think this is one of the greatest Toronto gold four years later in Sochi, Russia. rivalries ever: Canada against They won the last two IIHF World Russia. We know how they play. Championship titles in Russia and the They have a really good team, he mighty Canadians and a de- Czech Republic. good players, the best players in termined Russia square off in They rolled through three prelimi- the world, so we need to be good” the semi-fi nals of the World Cup nary round games of the 2016 World of Hockey starting Tuesday, a Cup, beating Team Europe, Czech Re- nating Ovechkin and the Washington closelyT watched clash of the two most public and the USA by a combined score Capitals. successful nations in the sport’s history. of 14-3. While Crosby has won almost every Sidney Crosby’s Canadian team will Russia beat Finland 3-0 in their fi nal elite team title there is, Ovechkin has look to continue their dominance when preliminary round game to advance, numerous individual scoring records they face Russia, led by Alex Ovechkin, fi nishing with a 2-1 record after also but has yet to capture either a Stanley for a spot in the best-of-three champi- beating Team North America and los- Cup or an Olympic gold medal. onship series. ing to Sweden. “Saturday is a big one and none of the This is also the latest chapter in the other games really matter,” said Crosby. Crosby and Ovechkin rivalry with past ‘OUR GUYS ARE DIALLED IN’ “I think the trust and belief is there, bragging rights, between the two most Canada’s coach Mike Babcock said his it’s nice to have that, it’s good to have dynamic players in hockey, going to charges are chomping at the bit to get that experience with guys and believe Crosby based on a pair of Stanley Cup the game started. you can play diff erent kind of games championships and two Olympic gold “We know what they are going to do,” and overcome things.” medals. Babcock said. “We know what we have The biggest question mark for Russia The other semi-fi nal features Team to do. Now we have to get out there and is the status of star centre Pavel Dat- Europe against Sweden on Sunday. play.” syuk. The game is also being played on the “Our guys are dialled in. We are pre- The 38-year-old did not play in Rus- 44th anniversary of Canada’s dramat- File picture of Canada’s Sidney Crosby. File picture of Russia’s Alex Ovechkin . paring a game plan for Russia. We have sia’s win over Finland because of an un- ic come-from-behind victory in the had lots of time to see them.” disclosed injury. eight-game 1972 Summit Series against sia,” said Russian forward Vladimir best players in the world, so we need to losing 5-3 to the Americans in the early Crosby and Ovechkin met four “We’ll do everything for him to make the former Soviet Union. Tarasenko. be good.” rounds of the men’s hockey tourna- months ago in the second round of the him healthy, but we do not have any an- “I think this is one of the greatest “We know how they play. They have Canada is on a 13-game winning ment at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. National Hockey League playoff s with swers as of right now,” Russia assistant rivalries ever: Canada against Rus- a really good team, good players, the streak in best-on-best events since Canada went on to win gold in Van- Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins elimi- coach Harijs Vitolinsh said. Gulf Times Sunday, September 25, 2016 7 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT OPINION Mariners did right thing by suspending Kevin Garnett Steve Clevenger calls it a day aft er 21 NBA seasons

‘I’m just thankful man. I can’t ever put that into words. I’m just thankful for everybody File picture of Steve Clevenger. and the love. I never would have thought that people loved me like this’ By Larry Stone, MCT Mariners career, and possibly his Seattle major league career. Though he MCT remains in the organization and Minneapolis will be arbitration-eligible next ho would have ever year, I would be surprised if the guessed that Steve Mariners don’t cut loose Clev- he Kevin Garnett era with the Clevenger, a weak- enger, 30, after the season, mak- Timberwolves has ended. hitting, injured, ing him a free agent. But that was Again. Wbackup catcher, would overnight a possible outcome even if this Garnett, the best player in become the focal point of a team incident hadn’t happened. Tfranchise history and a certain future on a last-ditch playoff drive? There will be those who call Hall of Famer, retired Friday. Garnett led Clevenger almost certainly was this suspension political cor- the team to eight straight playoff appear- not going to play again for the rectness run amok, and that ances starting in the spring of 1997 and to Mariners this year, having suff ered Clevenger merely did an inel- the 2003-04 Western Conference fi nals. a broken hand in late June and then egant job of presenting a view- Garnett and the Timberwolves came a fl exor strain in his right elbow point held by many. to an agreement Friday, and Garnett of- last week. He has not appeared in If Clevenger had expressed fi cially retired. a game, in fact, since June 29, and opposition to Black Lives Matters In an enigmatic video posted to his before that played in just 22 games without using such incendiary Instagram account Friday afternoon, in 2016. He’s a career .227 hitter in language, I don’t think the Mari- Garnett is seen walking in a quiet, empty parts of six seasons across three ners would have had grounds to Target Center. “I’m just thankful man,” organizations. discipline him. We desperately he said. “I can’t ever put that into words. Clevenger in every way has need to get to the point where I’m just thankful. I’m just thankful for been a fringe player _ until disagreements in political phi- everybody and the love. I never would Thursday, when he took to his losophy can be aired civilly and have thought that people loved me like computer or cellphone, pecked debated thoughtfully. this. But, for it to be reality is something away with his fi ngers and sud- But Clevenger crossed a line else. We’re going to be all right, man. I denly became the latest front- _ and just because some people don’t expect this to be easy. But so far so and-center entrant into the cul- happen to be there with him on good. Stay tuned.” tural and political hotbed that is the other side of that line doesn’t As the video ends, the word, “Fare- percolating, and fomenting, at make it acceptable. Especially well” appears on the screen. Followed by, the intersection of sports and the for someone representing a Ma- “Thank you for the journey.” so-called real world. jor League Baseball team. Ball- The Wolves issued a news release on The Mariners did the right players have been counseled Garnett’s retirement after the video was thing Friday when they suspend- that they indeed are refl ecting posted. “It has been a real joy to watch KG ed Clevenger for the remainder on their team when they take to come into the league as a young man and of the season for two off ensive social media. watch him develop his skills to become tweets. One, an apparent refer- Of course, there also will be one of the very best in the NBA,” Wolves ence to the protests in Charlotte, those comparing this to Colin owner Glen Taylor said in the release. “I N.C., called the victim of a police Kaepernick and others who pro- have treasured the opportunity to see shooting a “thug.” The other, af- test the national anthem by tak- him grow as a leader. I wish him contin- ter referencing President Obama ing a knee or raising a fi st. Aren’t ued success in the next chapter of his life. File picture of Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett in action during an NBA game against Atlanta Hawks. and the Black Lives Matters they off ending some people, too? His Minnesota fans will always cherish movement, stated: “Everyone Clearly they are, and unless the memories he has provided.” ond time, having played 970 of his career two fi rst-round draft choices, which be- I know these are the declining days of my involved should be locked behind you’re living under a rock you’ve The news comes with the Timber- 1,462 games here, having scored 19,201 of came Wayne Ellington and Jonny Flynn. playing days, but I think I have so much bars like animals.” heard from those off ended peo- wolves fi rst training camp under Tom his 26,071 points and grabbing 10,718 of Spring of 2008 was when Garnett won more to bring. This is the perfect situa- The suspension is largely sym- ple. You might well BE one of Thibodeau set to begin Tuesday. his 14,662 rebounds in a Timberwolves his only NBA championship, with Boston tion. This is full-circle right here.” bolic, because the season had a those people. But I think there’s a Garnett, who waived his no-trade uniform. defeating the Lakers in six games. After returning to thunderous ap- mere 10 games remaining, and rather sharp distinction between clause in order to reunite with the Tim- Garnett fi nished his career ranked fi fth The Celtics returned to the champion- plause in his fi rst game back at Target Clevenger wasn’t going to be part a silent and peaceful expres- berwolves in February of 2015 in a move in NBA history in games played, third in ship series in 2010, losing to the Lakers in Center, Garnett played in only four more of them anyway. The lost salary sion of a social cause, and hate- orchestrated by the late president of bas- minutes (50,418), 17th in points, 11th in fi ve games. After the 2012-13 season Gar- games, missing the team’s fi nal 15 with for Clevenger amounts to about ful words that demean an entire ketball operations and coach Flip Saun- fi eld goals made (10,505), ninth in total nett was traded to Brooklyn. knee soreness. $33,000, less than 6 percent of his group of people. ders, will not play out the second year of rebounds, 16th in steals (1,859) and 17th But with Saunders back running the Last season, with Sam Mitchell coach- $516,500 salary for the season. I have a feeling that the Clev- his two-year, $16.5 million contract. The in blocks (2,037). He is the only player organization and the Wolves’ prospects ing the team after Saunders passed away But in a sport that prides itself enger case will be taught in so- Wolves will take the same procedural step in league history with at least 25,000 looking up, Saunders was able to mend from cancer, Garnett appeared in 38 on inclusion, and a team fi lled cial-media workshops around the San Antonio Spurs took when Tim points, 10,000 rebounds, 5,000 assists, fences and convince Garnett, then with games. He last played Jan. 23 vs. Mem- with a variety of ethnicities in the sporting world at all levels, Duncan retired at the end of last season. 1,500 steals and 1,500 blocks. the Nets, to agree to a trade that brought phis, then missed the rest of the season its clubhouse, symbolism mat- including the lessons in social- That would be waiving Garnett, which Garnett, now 40, became the fi rst him back to Minnesota in exchange for with knee soreness. ters. The word “thug” is racially media etiquette the Mariners of- will guarantee him the $8 million left on player in 20 years to go directly from Thaddeus Young So much has changed since. Taylor charged. You can’t liken African- fer as part of their media training his contract. The NBA thus will lose three high school to the NBA when the Wolves Garnett made it clear in his return- hired Thibodeau as president of bas- Americans to animals without to all players. all-time greats _ Garnett, Duncan and drafted the 19-year-old out of Chicago’s ing press conference that he was coming ketball operations and coach and Scott repercussions. Would the Mariners, two Kobe Bryant _ to retirement in the same Farragut Academy with the fi fth overall back with bigger goals than just wearing Layden as general manager. Changes in It’s not a fi rst-amendment is- games out of a playoff berth that off season. pick in the 1995 draft. the uniform again. He talked about one the front offi ce likely closed the door to sue; Clevenger has the right to the organization desperately Thus ends the fi nal chapter of Gar- He joined a team that had not made the day being part of a group that owned the Garnett one day joining ownership. tweet whatever he wants. But craves, have given the same sus- nett’s time in Minnesota, a two-part se- playoff s in its fi rst six seasons, losing 60 Wolves, a prospect that now seems dim. Through the draft and free agency, he also has to face the conse- pension to a star player who had ries that included myriad highs and a few or more games in fi ve of those seasons. But aching knees limited his role as Garnett’s status remained unresolved, quences for doing so, particular- tweeted what Clevenger did? lows, including some bruised feelings In the summer of 2007, with the a player to act as a veteran mentor to a with Thibodeau and Taylor remaining ly when his words are repugnant We’ll never know, but I’d like to when he was traded to Boston in a block- Wolves feeling they needed to rebuild, young team, while playing for a franchise mum on the subject. Ultimately, with to so many. A lackluster apology think the ballclub would have done buster deal that sent a bundle of players Garnett agreed to a blockbuster trade he appeared to have reconnected with. owner Glen Taylor taking the lead, the doesn’t erase that. the right thing, regardless of the and draft picks to Minnesota in the sum- that sent him to the Celtics in exchange “It’s perfect,” Garnett said. “If you have two sides were able to reach an agree- The consequence for Clev- impact. As it was, they made the mer of 2007. for Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jeff er- a story, this is a fairy tale. This is a perfect ment that ended Garnett’s second tenure enger was the premature end of move that was inevitable the mo- Garnett leaves Minnesota, for a sec- son, Theo Ratliff , Sebastian Telfair and ending to it. This is how you want to do it. with the franchise. his season _ and most likely his ment Clevenger hit send.

BOTTOMLINE Sadly, it’s time Bosh bid adieu to basketball

By Dave Hyde, MCT back on the court, believing he still has est of ways how much he loves the Just let him walk out the door Miami good basketball in him and then us real- game, and to what ends he wants to now. Please let it end here. This izing at some point the life-threatening keep playing it, even if it seems a bit isn’t a tragedy, as some are calling warnings doctors gave him were right foolhardy to the rest of us. it. It’s a sad story. It’s unfortunate t ends here, right? after all. Bosh suggested in an online video considering the way it’s fallen for Chris Bosh doesn’t need to thank It’s been like watching a divorce this week how he wanted to play in the him the last few seasons. doctors for possibly saving his life court between Bosh and the Heat in playoff s last spring and the Heat re- again, or hug the Miami Heat for recent months, with each side making fused. The implication was the Heat verbial four dentists saying Bosh’s is- Itreating him as a father of fi ve rather subtle arguments, each side delicately wanted to get his rich contract off the sues mean it’s too risky to continue his than a commodity to victories. drawing on medical information, each salary-cap books. basketball career. Bosh apparently has He can still believe there’s some sort side trying to get its point across. There’s no doubt the Heat will want the fi fth saying otherwise. of medical and basketball conspiracy In some ways, it is odd Bosh fought that contract off the books in February, At least that was the case until this against him, like some Oliver Stone this so hard considering his money was if that’s how everything works out. But latest blood clot found this week dur- script, if he wants. guaranteed and his health wasn’t. He they’d rather have a healthy Bosh. ing Bosh’s pre-training-camp physi- But after being diagnosed with a always has been a player who saw more He would have helped them reach cal. This is three blood clots in less than third blood clot in less than three years, than the game, who learned Spanish in the Eastern Conference Finals last year. three years. according to sources, it’s time for the the off season and read books about ge- They can’t buy a better player than him Bosh didn’t respond immediately Heat veteran to call it a career. A good netic science or Japanese samurai. with that money. Friday to the Heat’s statement about his career. A great one, even. How could someone who realizes it’s There are so many questions with failing the physical. He didn’t respond He’d walk out the door at 32 with two just a game deny medical evidence so answers only Bosh and the Heat know. to reports a new blood clot has been championship rings, a certain Hall of completely? Medical questions. Privacy questions. found in his body. Fame bid, more than $76 million still Blood-clot questions. Beyond all that, He didn’t respond to the report of guaranteed to him and a wife and young LOVE OF THE GAME there’s the truth, which can be harder him going to the league offi ces in New family to further enjoy his lottery life. That’s the easiest question to answer of still to get your arms around. York and receiving a second medical Just let him walk out the door now. all: He loves basketball. He found peo- Four of fi ve dentists recommend a opinion supporting the Heat’s doc- Please let it end here. This isn’t a trag- ple who said the health risk is minimal. certain toothpaste. But what of the tors. By now, it’s clear this isn’t about edy, as some are calling it. It’s a sad sto- There’s something admirable in that, fi fth? Is that dentist dismissed? Does salary-cap money or roster building or ry. It’s unfortunate considering the way considering we’re in an age when so his advice mean nothing? That’s what some grand conspiracy against him. it’s fallen for him the last few seasons. many players are accused of just play- seems to be happening with Bosh and It’s about his life. And, unfortunate- But a tragedy would be Bosh ignoring ing for money or celebrity. the Heat. ly, it’s time for him to go live it without yet another blood clot, fi ghting to get File picture of Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh (left) in action during an NBA game. Here is someone saying in the loud- The Heat apparently have the pro- basketball. Gulf Times 8 Sunday, September 25, 2016 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT ISSUE German athletics chief not impressed Heroes in Rio, with IOC over doping and Russia

DPA the IOC was also driven by po- Berlin litical motives.” Ukraine’s disabled Propok said the IOC could have followed the blanket bans erman athletics fed- imposed on Russian athletes by eration (DLV) chief the ruling athletics body IAAF Clemens Prokop has and the International Paralym- named the Interna- pic Committee (IPC) which were Gtional Olympic Comittee (IOC) confi rmed by the Court of Arbi- “a problematic actor” in the fi ght tration for Sport. struggle at home against doping which according He named the sanctions to him must be led by a truly in- against Russia in connection dependent organisation. with wide-ranging and state- ‘The situation is getting better, new clubs are being built and the Paralympics were on Prokop told yesterday’s Sued- sponsored doping “a turning deutsche Zeitung (SZ) that the point”, and called for the World TV, which makes society more perceptive to people with disabilities’ IOC was seemingly driven by Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to political motives when it stopped become more independent and short of imposing a blanket gain the right to impose sanc- ban on Russian athletes for last tions. month’s Rio Olympics, a deci- Prokop also suggested that sion that according to Prokop some leading fi gures in sport may harmed the credibility of sport. be irritated by the growing confi - “It is important to have an in- dence of WADA and the IPC. ternational organisation in the He said that IOC president fi ght against doping which is in- Thomas Bach “has been criti- dependent from sport and state,” cised a lot and justly that he Prokop said. didn’t travel to the Paralympics.” “For me the IOC appears to be Bach cited a packed agenda but a problematic actor in this re- Prokop spoke of “priorities” as spect. he concluded: “I would have There was an impression in the probably decided in favour of the debate about a Russian ban that Paralympics.”

RE-ELECTED Mutko wins new term as Russian Football Union chief

Reuters presidency again,” Mutko told Moscow delegates at the conference. “You know the situation in Russian football is diffi cult as we ussian sports minister are experiencing certain prob- Vitaly Mutko has won lems. This is a crisis or a coma - a new four-year term everyone has their own thoughts. as President of the It is impossible not to see the fact RussianR Football Union (RFU) that Russian football has huge po- following elections in Moscow tential and possibilities, but these yesterday. are not being realised. The 57-year-old received 266 “Last year was very diffi - The coach Raisa Lagutenko speaks with disabled children after a training session in a swimming pool in Kiev. votes from delegates. cult for me. However, in a short His rival for the post was space of time, we managed to AFP portunities are frequently missing as the edly recognised as the most liveable in former Russia and CSKA Mos- consolidate things and started Kiev country still struggles to make progress Ukraine — have led the way in making cow coach Valery Gazzaev, who to move forward,” added Mutko, despite its recent shift towards the West. their streets more disabled-friendly and received 142 votes. who is also chairman of the Rus- “Let’s face it: it is easier for Ukrainian started installing facilities that have long Mutko has had two spells in sian Local Organising Commit- group of children stand by a Paralympians to get a gold medal than to been taken for granted in the West. charge of the RFU, the fi rst from tee for the 2018 World Cup. swimming pool in Kiev clutch- get to the store, or even a cinema in Kiev,” “After some time, a year later, acces- 2005-09. Mutko has also come in for ing their goggles and dreaming Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Deputy sible public transport started appearing He also became caretaker head criticism regarding the doping of emulating the heroes they Prime Minister on European and Euro- one by one,” Andriy said. of Russian soccer’s governing scandal that has rocked Russian justA watched scoop medals at the Paral- Atlantic Integration, lamented. Now when Shcherbatskiy wants to body in September 2015 when sport. The country’s track and ympic Games in Rio. For some, the problems can be blamed get to the city centre for his table tennis his predecessor Nikolay Tolstykh fi eld athletes and weightlifters Ukraine’s team fi nished in a surprising on the legacy of the Soviet period when practice the bus driver is now prepared to was removed by a vote of no- were barred from this year’s Rio third place in Brazil ahead of giants like the the disabled were often consigned to help him on board. confi dence after the organisation Olympics after a World Anti- United States and Germany — a stunning grim state-run institutions or forced to racked up substantial debts. Doping Agency report uncov- result for the ex-Soviet nation where disa- live in far-fl ung towns. WAR WOUNDED “It was not an easy decision ered systematic state-sponsored bled people often feel forgotten. During Moscow’s hosting of the Sum- Vinnitsya, however, remains an anom- for me to decide to run for the doping within the country. “What is your biggest dream?”, coach mer Olympic Games in 1980, people with aly in Ukraine and most cities are yet to Raisa Lagutenko demands of the chil- disabilities were cleared from the streets change. dren, who have conditions ranging from to keep them out of view. Ukrainian Paralympics archer Dmytro But the issue of disabled rights looks ACTION cerebral palsy to stunted growth. “It is a shame that so far, unfortu- Schebetyuk (L), takes part in a training. set to become even more pressing for the “To become a Paralympic medallist”, nately, this separates us from European country as a confl ict that has killed 9,640 they shout back. societies”, Klympush-Tsintsadze wrote tion where you can realise yourself and people and injured nearly 22,500 more Lagutenko has been training disabled on Facebook. truly feel like you are living a fulfi lling drags on in the east of the country. Asia council sets kids for over a decade and she insists the Dmytro Shchebetyuk, 26, an archer life”, he added. Last year “Pidmoga.info”, a site that dire situation they once faced in Ukraine on the Paralympics reserve team and co- helps soldiers who suff ered from the is improving. “Ten years ago, this pool founder of “Dostupno UA”, a project moni- ‘HOW CAN I GO ON LIVING?’ 29-month pro-Russian separatist war, up sub offi ces as was the only one available for people with toring accessibility for people with disabil- When Andriy Shcherbatskiy, 25, was left invited famous Ukrainians to spend a day special needs,” said Lagutenko, who had ities, agrees that he fi nds it hard to come in a wheelchair after breaking his neck six in a wheelchair and talk about their expe- three of her prodigies competing in Rio. back to Ukraine after travelling abroad. years ago he wondered how he could ever riences. Kuwait row rumbles “The situation is getting better, new He complains that many countries cope. “I thought, how can I go on living?”, “We now have a very diffi cult situation clubs are being built and the Paralympics make life normal for the disabled, pro- he told AFP. — a lot of boys and girls will return from were on TV, which makes society more viding facilities such as sidewalks and His hometown of Vinnytsya, a west- the war, and they will need to be integrat- Reuters ber last year and we are looking perceptive to people with disabilities.” underground passageways with ramps as central city with a population of nearly ed into society”, singer and writer Irena Danang, Vietnam forward to fi nalising all the related But despite some progress and the standard, and that returning home after 400,000, lacked the basic infrastructure to Carpa told journalists after experiencing issues offi cially with them. glow of Paralympic glory, most agree that time away was “something one has to get help disabled people get around and daily life through the eyes of a disabled person. “But now, with these fi ve of- Ukraine still has a long way to go. used to again”. existence seemed a daunting challenge. “If this does not happen, we will face a he Olympic Council of fi ces, plus Lausanne, the OCA Basics from access ramps to equal op- Sports “is practically the only occupa- But authorities in the city — repeat- large-scale disaster”, Irena warned. Asia (OCA) has decided and the Asian Games is well pro- to set up fi ve new sub tected.” offi ces to enable it to The board meeting in Danang, Tfunction eff ectively while the Vietnam also agreed to limit the BADMINTON / YONEX OPEN row with the Kuwait government number of athletes at the Asian continues over its headquarters Games to two per country per in the Gulf State. sport. Kuwait was suspended by the “This decision has been made International Olympic Commit- to reduce the participants at tee (IOC) in October 2015 after the Asian Games, which now Lee to face Jorgensen in fi nal the government was accused of involve 15,000 athletes and of- AFP Lee seeks to reclaim the Japa- China, who knocked out Aya interference in its national Ol- fi cials from the 45 countries and Tokyo nese trophy that he took in 2014, Ohori of Japan 21-17, 22-20. ympic Committee, which has regions, 4,000 technical staff , 2013, 2012, 2010, and 2007, after In men’s doubles, Chinese subsequently been dissolved. 8,000 media and 30,000 vol- recently hinting at possibly ex- pair Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen A month later, the long-term unteers and workforce, meaning alaysian badminton tending his career to the Tokyo upset Indonesian pair Moham- agreement for the OCA to have some 60,000 people are involved king Lee Chong Wei 2020 Olympics for another shot mad Ahsan and Hendra Setia- its headquarters in Kuwait City every day of the Games,” read an yesterday beat 15th at an elusive badminton gold, wan, winners here in 2013, in a was unilaterally torn up by the OCA statement. ranked Marc Zwie- despite earlier indicating the Rio 21-13, 18-21, 21-15 victory. government. Australia, who are in the Oce- Mbler of Germany in the semifi nal Games would be his last. The Chinese will clash with The OCA Executive Board met ania confederation for the Olym- at the Yonex Open Japan, mov- Korean pair Kim Gi Jung and Ko yesterday and decided to set up pics but Asia for soccer, have also ing a step closer to his sixth title HOME DISADVANTAGE Sung Hyun in the fi nal. regional offi ces in Bangkok, Al- been invited to participate at the of the Japanese tournament. In women’s singles, home fans In women’s doubles, Rio gold maty, Delhi and Nansha, China 2017 Asian Winter Games, but Lee, silver medallist in the last were silenced following two winning Japanese pair Misaki as well as in Lausanne, Switzer- without the chance of winning three Olympics, clinched a com- crushing defeats of their do- Matsumoto and Ayaka Taka- land, the home of the IOC. medals. fortable 21-14, 21-15 triumph to mestic hopefuls, including 12th hashi fended off challenges from “We are committed to not only “Oceania is a neighbouring Zwiebler in the men’s singles at ranked Akane Yamaguchi, in the their compatriots Shiho Tanaka continuing with our services but confederation for Asia and we Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. semifi nals. and Koharu Yonemoto with a to improve them further,” OCA welcome not only Australia but The 33-year-old world Sun Yu of China secured a 21- 46-minute, 21-14, 21-19 win. Director General Husain al- all Oceania to take the opportu- number one set up a Japan title 17, 21-18 win to Yamaguchi, the The Japanese pair will face Musallam said in a statement. nity to enter for the fi rst time, as clash with third-seed Jan O Jor- fi rst Japanese to win the Yonex their Danish rivals Christinna “We hope for the (Kuwait) gov- a guest but with no medals,” the gensen of Denmark, who beat Open Japan in 2013 at age 16. Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter ernment to fi nalise what is the statement added. sixth-seed Son Wan Ho of South Sun is to vie for the women’s Juhl, silver medallists in Rio. direction.(They) terminated the “We will evaluate the situation Korea 21-14, 21-19. File picture of Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen. title with He Bingjiao also of diplomatic agreement in Novem- after that.” Gulf Times Sunday, September 25, 2016 9 SPORT

TENNIS Wawrinka and Zverev to meet in final

US Open champion Stan Wawrinka and Alexander Zverev of Germany cruised Wozniacki to meet Osaka into the Saint Petersburg Open final on Saturday beat- ing Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain and the Czech Thomas Berdych respectively. Swiss top seed Wawrinka won his first ever meet- ing with the fourth seeded in Pan Pacifi c Open final Bautista Agut 7-6 (10/8), 6-2 in one hour 50 minutes to set up a clash with the Ger- ‘She played really well and I was lucky to win that second set and then we just fought really hard in the third’ man teenager in the final. The world number three produced a catalogue of 31 Reuters unforced errors but never- Tokyo theless took the opening set in a tiebreak after one hour 15 minutes on court. aroline Wozniacki out- In the second Wawrinka lasted Agnieszka Rad- moved up a gear to race wanska 4-6 7-5 6-4 in a through the set into the final, dog fi ght of a semi-fi nal courtesy of service breaks in Cat the Pan Pacifi c Open yesterday the first and seventh games. to end the Pole’s reign at the Ari- “I always try to win any ake Coliseum. match I’m playing,” Wawrin- The former world number one ka said. “I have enjoyed the prevailed in two hours and 50 week here so far and making minutes of hard-fought tennis the final is a very positive and will meet Naomi Osaka in sign for me. Today it was a today’s fi nal after the local wild- tough match and I’m happy card rallied to secure a 1-6 6-3 with the way I was fighting 6-2 over Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina and found solutions.” in the second semi-fi nal. Meanwhile, the 19-year-old World number four Radwan- Zverev, who is seeking his ska served for the match in the maiden ATP title here, beat second set but then lost fi ve third seed Berdych 6-4, 6-4 straight games as Wozniacki in one hour 20 minutes. levelled up the contest and took Berdych, currently ninth in an early break in the decider. the race to the London ATP There were 13 breaks of serve Finals - which features the in the topsy-turvy encounter, year’s top eight players – however, and it was not until a looked slightly rusty from fourth match point, which Rad- the start and Zverev took the wanska slapped into the net for opening set in 35 minutes. her 43rd unforced error, that the Dane was certain of her place in Pouille reaches Moselle the fi nal. Open final Frenchman Lucas Pouille The former world number saw off Belgium’s David one prevailed in two hours Goff in 7-6(6) 6-1 to reach the and 50 minutes of hard- Moselle Open final, setting fought tennis and will meet up a clash with Austrian top Naomi Osaka in fi nal seed Dominic Thiem. The world number 18 made an “I think every time I play her excellent start, opening a we play really tough matches,” 4-1 lead but Goff in forced a Wozniacki said in a courtside tiebreak which Pouille won interview. “She played really after saving a set point. well today and I was lucky to win that second set and then we just fought really hard, both of us, in Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark celebrates her victory against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during their singles semi-final at the WTA Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo yesterday.(AFP) the third.” Languishing at 28th in the Tsurenko stuns world rankings after a string of champion Jankovic injuries, Wozniacki reached the Mirza, Strycova claim doubles crown for Guangzhou title semi-fi nal of the US Open earlier Guangzhou: Lesia Tsurenko this month and should be confi - No.2 seeded Sania Mirza and Barbora Strycova took home their second edged past defending cham- dent of clinching her second title doubles title of the year, handily defeating the unseeded Chinese duo pion and No.2 seed Jelena in her third Pan Pacifi c Open fi - of Liang Chen and Yang Zhaoxuan 6-1, 6-1, in the final of the Pan Pacific Jankovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to claim nal on Sunday. Open yesterday. the title at the Guangzhou The 18-year-old Osaka got off “We were playing great from the beginning to the end,” Strycova said in International Open. Playing to a sluggish start in her one hour their post-match press conference. Guangzhou for the second and 47 minute contest against “We actually didn’t make any errors in the first set and we felt great on time in her career, Tsurenko Svitolina, with the promising the court. I think it was one of the best matches we played together.” capped off her trip to the youngster lacking patience and Mirza and Strycova, who first teamed up in Cincinnati and won their first sprawling Chinese port city by committing a string of unforced title at the Western & Southern Open, overcame a tough draw which saw taking home her second career errors in a disastrous fi rst set them face off against home favorites Misaki Doiand Kurumi Nara in the title after a nearly two-hour- showing. first round. and-thirty-minute clash against However, the home favourite After edging past the Japanese duo 6-7(3), 7-5, 10-8, Mirza and Strycova Jankovic. “I think today I played regained her composure in the cruised against Kato Miyu and Xu Yifan before battling past Gabriela really good tennis, except second set as her much improved Dabrowski and María José Martínez Sánchez to reach the final. Liang maybe in the second set when service game, which included and Yang faced a tougher road to the Tokyo final, needing to battle past I felt a little bit tired,” Tsurenko four aces, roused the crowd and two seeded teams – the No.1 seeded Chan Hao-Ching and Chan-Yung-Jan said. “But I said to myself that she utilised her power to send the in the first round, then the No.3 seeds Raquel Atawo and Abigail Spears I have to give it all in the final contest into a deciding set. before booking a clash against the No.2 seeded Mirza and Strycova. set, and I was fighting for each Osaka continued to build on “It’s great to play your best tennis in the final, we were happy to do that,” point. I had to give 100 percent her momentum in the third, Mirza said. “We played very solid, and we kept our concentration the to win this title.” breaking the Ukrainian twice whole match. Like [Barbora] said, it was one of the best matches that The Tashkent Open is up next on her way to knocking out the we played.” The victory puts Mirza and Strycova one step closer to a for the Ukrainian, who is com- world number 20 as she reached potential spot in the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by ing off a career-best week at her fi rst Pan Pacifi c Open fi nal. SC Global. Entering Tokyo the duo sat at No.19 on the Road to Singapore the Grand Slams with a fourth Today’s contest will be the fi rst Leaderboard, trailing the top 8 by about 500 points. With 470 points round appearance at the US meeting between Wozniacki and now in the bag, the team received a major boost in their standings. Sania Mirza of India (L) and Barbora Strycova of Czech Republic pose with their trophy. (Reuters) Open. Osaka.

BOXING ‘Medically unfi t’ Fury out of Klitschko rematch

Reuters Berlin Fury holding Klitschko hostage: Manager Berlin: Wladimir Klitschko’s manager says Tyson Then the rematch, set for July 9 in Manchester, ext month’s world Fury is holding the ex-world champion ‘hostage’ was called off when the British fighter suff ered an heavyweight title re- in the wake of the Briton’s latest postponement of ankle injury. It was then revealed Fury had failed a match between cham- their heavyweight rematch. dope test. pion Tyson Fury and “Wladimir is totally disappointed that this bloke “I’m very disappointed that Fury has now NUkrainian Vladimir Klitschko has delayed the fight again. He’s holding him hos- cancelled the fight for the second time,” said was called off on Friday for a sec- tage,” said Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente. Klitschko, who has been training in Kiev. “I’m in ond time with the Briton ruled “Wladimir wants to fight, he’s training and in the top condition and would like to have retrieved my ‘medically unfi t’. meantime it’s already been nearly a year since the world title belt in Manchester. Since turning pro in The fi ght was due to be held on first fight.” 1996, I have never had to take such a long break.” October 29 in Manchester, hav- Klitschko is based in Hamburg and his manage- A third date for the rematch has not been set and ing been originally postponed in ment has reserved the city’s Barclaycard-Arena for Boente says it is now up to the WBA and WBO to July when Fury suff ered an ankle December 10 in the hope the rematch can still take decide what happens next. injury. place in 2016. “It now lies with the associations to make a deci- “Tyson has this week been de- But the rematch has been blighted by problems. sion regarding the title — but that’s not in our clared medically unfi t to fi ght,” After agreeing to again fight Klitschko over 12 hands,” said Boente. his promoters Hennessy Sports rounds, Fury was stripped of the IBF title for failing “We hope that Wladimir will be able to fight again said in a statement without elab- to face its mandatory challenger. soon.” orating. This file photo taken on November 27, 2015 shows Ukrainian Heavyweight World Champion Wladimir “Medical specialists have ad- Klitschko (L) and his challenger Britain’s Tyson Fury (R) posing for a face-off during an off icial weigh-in in vised that the condition is too event and all the boxing fans who then we ask that Tyson and his ahead during a news conference Essen, western Germany. (AFP) severe to allow him to participate had been looking forward to the family be given the privacy and earlier this month. in the rematch and that he will rematch. the space he needs to recover Fury, who has been charged November. months before he beat Klitschko tradictory and launched High require treatment before going Tyson is understandably dev- during this diffi cult time.” over anti-doping violations but The unbeaten Briton, who has showed traces of the banned Court proceedings against back into the ring.” astated by the development,” Previous champion Klitschko, denies any wrongdoing, caused courted controversy throughout substance nandrolone. UKAD. “We and Tyson wish to ex- read the statement. who had ruled the heavyweight a huge shock when he registered his career, was charged by UK Fury’s legal team said the re- A provisional suspension was press our sincerest apologies “We will be making a further division for a decade, raised a unanimous points victory over Anti-Doping (UKAD) in June sult of tests on the samples in lifted pending the result of an to all those concerned with the statement in due course. Until doubts about the fi ght going the Ukrainian in Duesseldorf in after a urine sample taken nine March and May 2015 were con- independent hearing. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, September 25, 2016 SPORT

CYCLING MOTOGP Marquez shrugs off crash to claim Pibernik wins stage, Aragon pole

AFP However, Lorenzo’s Yamaha Alcañiz, Spain teammate Rossi has plenty of work to do on Sunday to avoid a potentially fatal blow to his otoGP world chances of a 10th world title. Dennis retains lead championship Britain’s Cal Crutchlow will leader Marc Mar- start just ahead of Rossi in fi fth quez claimed pole despite crashing towards the ‘I have a strong team and I feel good. But it could rain and that would make the cobbles slippery’ Mposition for the Aragon Grand end of qualifying. Prix for the fourth consecu- Dani Pedrosa, winner in San tive season after overcoming a Marino two weeks ago, also AFP crash in practice on Saturday. came off his bike to hinder his Brussels The Spaniard dislocated his chances of another victory as shoulder as one of seven riders Marquez’s teammate will start to crash in the third free prac- from seventh. lovenia’s Luka Pibernik tice session. Maverick Vinales Britain’s Sam Lowes starts of the Lampre team won and defending champion Jorge on pole in the Moto2 category the sixth stage of the Lorenzo completed an all- after an off -day for champion- Eneco Tour yesterday, Spanish front row. ship contenders Johann Zarco beatingS Englishman Mark Mc- Marquez’s closest champi- and Alex Rins in qualifying. Nally and Belgium’s Bert Van onship rival Valentino Rossi Lowes leads a front row also Lerberghe in a sprint at Lanaken. will start from sixth with just containing Alex Marquez and Australian BMC rider Rohan fi ve races remaining to cut into Takaaki Nakagami. Defending Dennis still leads in the over- the two-time world champi- champion Zarco, who holds a all standings, his advantage 16 on’s 43-point lead. slender three-point champi- seconds from Taylor Phinney of The Honda rider has been onship lead, starts from fi fth the United States and 24 seconds dogged by shoulder problems with Rins down in 13th. over Germany’s Tony Martin already this season as he also South African Brad Binder’s ahead of today’s fi nal stage. dislocated his left shoulder bid to seal the Moto3 world ti- The seventh stage will be a in practice for the Austrian tle was dealt a blow as cham- 197.8 kilometre ride from Bornem Grand Prix last month. pionship rival Enea Bastianini to Grammont and includes chal- However, he appeared un- claimed pole. lenging climbs that feature on the bothered by the problem as Binder was only seventh Tour of Flanders Classic. he recovered to set the fastest fastest as Spain’s Jorge Navarro “I have a strong team and I feel time in both morning practice and Belgian Livio Loi complet- good. But it could rain and that sessions before posting a lap ed the front row. would make the cobbles very of 1min 47.117sec that was too Bastianini trails Binder by a slippery. I’ve not won the race good for the fi eld in qualifying. huge 106 points with just fi ve yet,” said Dennis. “I’m very happy, above all races left and needs to cut the The peloton mis-timed its with the fourth free practice gap to below a 100 to prevent pursuit of the fi ve-man break, where our pace was very good,” Binder sealing the title today. allowed the group consisting Marquez told Spanish TV sta- of McNally, Pibernik, Alexis tion Movistar. Grids for Aragon Gougeard (Ag2r), Chad Haga “It seems like it could be a motorcycling Grand Prix: (Giant-Alpecin) and Bert Van bit colder tomorrow so we will MotoGP Lerberghe (Topsport Vlaander- have to look at the tyres again, 1st row en-Baloise) to contest the fi nish but I’m happy with everything 1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) in Lanaken, Belgium. Berden de else.” 1:47.117, 2. Maverick Vinales Vries (Roompot) had also been Slovenia’s Luka Pibernik (C) of Lampre-Merida crossed the finish line ahead of Belgian Bert Van Lerberghe (L) of team Topsport Vlaanderen Lorenzo, who has won in (ESP/Suuki) at 0.631, 3. Jorge in the original escape, but was - Baloise and British Mark McNally (R) of Wanty-Groupe Gobert the sixth stage of the Eneco Tour cycling race, a 197.2 km race from Riemst to Aragon for the past two sea- Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 0.661 dropped inside the fi nal 20km. Lanaken in Belgium yesterday. (AFP) sons was well off the pace in 2nd row Slovenian Pibernik opened up practice, but did enough with 4. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/ his sprint fi rst with McNally rap- SPOTLIGHT his fl ying qualifying lap just Ducati) 0.702, 5. Cal Crutchlow idly accelerating to catch him, but before the session ended to (GBR/Honda LCR) 0.726, 6. the British rider simply ran out climb into third. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) of road before the line and had “I knew I had to have a dif- 0.834 to settle for second place, deny- Wiggins’ former doctor questions TUE use ferent strategy to other quali- 3rd row ing him his fi rst WorldTour win. fying sessions,” said Lorenzo, 7. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) The 27-year-old from Lancashire AFP who sits third in the champi- 0.900, 8. Aleix Espargaro was fi fth on stage three, so he is London onship standings, 61 points (ESP/Suzuki) 1.113, 9. Danilo steadily rising up the ranks. adrift of Marquez. Petrucci (ITA/Ducati) 1.119 Van Lerberghe completed the “If you go too fast in the fi rst 4th row top three on the day with the ne of British cycling great Bradley lap you destroy the tyres for 10. Scott Reading (GBR/Ducati) peloton led home by Italian Gi- Wiggins’s former team doctors has the second one, so I had to go 1.125, 11. Pol Espargaro (ESP/ acomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) expressed his “surprise” at the de- slowly to go much faster in the Yamaha Tech3) 1.331, 12. Stefan at fi ve seconds. cision to allow him to use a triamci- second lap.” Brandl (GER/Aprilla) 1.966. Overall race leader Dennis fi n- noloneO ahead of three major races. ished in the bunch to retain his Prentice Steff en questioned the move by top position in the general clas- the International Cycling Union to grant sifi cation. The Australian lies Wiggins a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) 16 seconds ahead of American for the powerful corticosteroid triamci- team-mate Taylor Phinney, with nolone, which he was permitted to take just German Tony Martin (Etixx- days before the 2012 Tour de France, which QuickStep) in third at 24 seconds. he won, as well as the 2011 Tour and the 2013 Giro d’Italia. STAGE 6 RESULTS Steff en was multiple Olympic champion “I would say certainly now in retrospect it normally prohibited medication. There is no 1. Luka Pibernik (Slovenia/Lam- Wiggins’s doctor at Garmin Slipstream, with doesn’t look good, it doesn’t look right from a suggestion of wrongdoing by any of the ath- pre) 4:28:45” whom he fi nished fourth in the 2009 Tour de health or sporting perspective.” letes. 2. Mark McNally (Wanty) ST France before the Briton joined Team Sky. A cyber espionage group called “Fancy Wiggins requested TUEs in order to use 3. Bert Van Lerberghe (Belgium/ Wiggins’s TUE history was made pub- Bears”, which is believed to be Russian, has triamcinolone to treat his asthma. Topsport Vlaanderen) lic last week when his medical records were been leaking medical data about famous ath- A spokesperson for Wiggins, 36, said: 4. Alexis Gougeard (France/ leaked. Steff en told the BBC’s Newsnight pro- letes after targeting records held by the World “There’s nothing new here. Everyone knows AG2R) gramme on Friday the leaked details of Wig- Anti-Doping Agency. Brad suff ers from asthma. 5. Chad Haga (US/Giant) gins’s TUEs did not “look good”. American tennis stars Serena and Venus “His medical treatment is BC- (British Cy- 6. Giacomo Nizzolo (Italy/Trek) “I was surprised to see there were TUEs Williams, American gymnast Simone Biles cling) and UCI — (International Cycling Un- +5” documented for intramuscular triamcinolone and Wiggins’s Team Sky team-mate Chris ion) approved and like all Team GB athletes he 7. Nacer Bouhanni (France/ just before three major events — two Tours de Froome have also been the subject of leaks. follows WADA regulations to the letter. Cofidis) France and one Tour d’Italia,” Steff en said. The targeted athletes have been revealed to “The leak of these records is an attempt to 8. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor- “You do have to think it is kind of coinci- have received TUEs for the use of substances undermine the credibility of WADA and that’s way/Dimension Data) dental that a big dose of intramuscular long- that would usually contravene anti-doping something for them to deal with.” 9. Arnaud Demare (France/FDJ) acting corticosteroids would be needed at rules. Wiggins will personally address the con- Repsol Honda’s Spanish rider Marc Marquez celebrates his first 10. Jonas Van Genechten (Bel- that... exact time before the most important TUEs can be issued to athletes who have an troversy for the fi rst time when he appears on pole position after the Moto GP qualifying session on the eve of gium/IAM Cycling). race of the season. illness or condition that requires the use of BBC television today. the Aragon Grand Prix in Alcaniz yesterday. (AFP)

UCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DOHA 2016 Van der Breggen searching for fi nal elusive title

By Sports Reporter Doha European jersey insurance policy for Sagan Reigning UCI World Champion Peter Sagan has (FRA), and Sagan finished third in Bolsward, the fter becoming Olympic champion continued his exceptional preparation for the UCI Netherlands. in Rio de Janeiro and winning the World Championships Doha 2016, taking the first In Plumelec, Sagan had five teammates to support European title in Plumelec, France, ever European title for elite riders in Plumelec, him during the race. “It wouldn’t have been pos- Anna van der Breggen could win France. sible without the dedicated work of all my Slovak theA only major international road race ti- With the victory, Sagan acquired another distinc- teammates. I dedicate this victory to them as well tle she does not yet have at the UCI World tive jersey to wear. As continental champion, the as the entire country of Slovakia and I congratulate Championships Doha 2016. Slovak is allowed to wear a blue and white jersey all riders of Tinkoff for their eff ort in this European Van der Breggen defeated Polish Kasia with yellow stars to symbolize Europe. Championship,” he said. Niewiadoma and Italy’s Elisa Longo Borghini “It is an insurance for next year. If I don’t retain At the European Championships, Slovakia was at the European Championships. The three the rainbow jersey, I’ll be happy to wear this one,” allowed to start six riders. At the UCI Road World had jumped clear from the peloton inside the Sagan told cyclingnews.com. Championships in Doha, Sagan will have fewer fi nal kilometre and Van der Breggen proved to Sagan outsprinted France’s Julian Alaphilippe and countrymen to help him out as Slovakia can only be the strongest in an uphill sprint. Spain’s Dani Moreno in Plumelec to take the title, start three riders. The Dutchwoman, who took silver in the with less than three weeks to go until the historic road race and in the time trial and bronze in UCI Road World Championships Doha 2016. the team time trial at last year’s UCI World As strong as he may be, the reigning UCI World Championships in Richmond, may not be her Champion, other riders are hoping to prove that country’s main trump at the Doha 2016 road he is not invincible. Alaphilippe told cyclingnews: race, however. “Sagan is beatable. He’s human but he’s also an “The course in Qatar does not suit me very exceptional rider. I’m aware that I’m second behind well because it’s very fl at,” Van der Breggen the best cyclist of our generation.” said. The fresh European Champion be- Dutch Dylan Groenewegen proved Alaphilippe lieves that her team is well-placed to perform Doha, but everything is possible, especially if The Women’s Elite Road Race will be held right when he beat the fresh European champion strongly at the UCI Road World Champion- there’s a lot of wind, because that’s what we on Saturday, 15 October, with the 134.5km in the first flat 184.7 kilometre stage of the Eneco ships Doha 2016: “It’s going to be diffi cult in Dutch girls are good at.” course fi nishing at the iconic Pearl-Qatar. Tour. The Dutchman outsprinted Nacer Bouhanni Gulf Times Sunday, September 25, 2016 11 CRICKETSPORT

SPOTLIGHT ECB’s T20 plans risk ruining County Championship Middlesex’s title win was so exciting because it really mattered and that must not be diminished by another T20 event

By Vic Marks structure that diminishes the championship The Guardian signifi cantly. The debate over the proposals for a new T20 competition in addition to the existing NatWest Blast is coming to a head. It seems as uddenly county cricket is sexy. The if it is no longer a battle of reasoned arguments, melodrama of the last round of matches but a battle of wills and egos, with self-interest was agony for the committed, fascinat- rather than common sense dictating the out- ing for the neutral and it even captured come. At the last meeting the vote, which drew aS fresh audience, which will please everyone at so much attention, was not so much on the mer- the England and Wales Cricket Board since they it of the proposals, but a “back me or sack me” keep stressing this goal (rather than their eager- resolution from the centre. Which may not be ness to generate some more quick cash). the best way to plot the future. Taken in isolation the Middlesex-Yorkshire The lie of the land has changed signifi cantly match at Lord’s was often a turgid aff air on a dull in the past month. Counties instinctively op- surface. Yet it was mesmerising as the visitors posed to the ECB’s preferred direction of travel eked out the last few runs to take them to 350; are now open to the proposals. This represents a as Nick Gubbins rose to the occasion as impres- remarkable volte-face, which is often unrepre- sively as the doughty old veteran Tim Bresnan; sentative of their members’ views. as we glimpsed the fevered negotiations going The counties with Test grounds are broadly in on in the old pavilion on the last afternoon and favour of the ECB proposals, with the honour- as Toby Roland-Jones produced his stunning, able exception of Surrey. They can all smell the title-deciding hat-trick. possibility of more money, which some of them Why was it all so mesmerising? Because badly need. Some of the smaller, impoverished for some unfathomable reason that may have counties are just as desperate and feel they have something to do with more than 120 years of no alternative, but to support the ECB even if Championship cricket, it seemed to matter so they will be denied access to the premier T20 much. Without any doubt it mattered a great competition. deal to the players and supporters of the three Meanwhile, those clubs in the middle, who sides in contention for the title on the last after- are not entirely dependent on ECB cash because noon of the season and the same applied in the they make the NatWest Blast work well for relegation tussles that were going on at the same them, are conscious of not wanting to miss out time around the country. on any gravy train. For them there is the pos- The Championship is still the trophy that sibility – or even the promise – of a few high- means the most and somehow that has hap- profi le T20 games alongside the lead venues. pened without millions of pounds being spent Forget the arguments, they do not want to risk on delivering the “right brand to the cricketing being ostracised by the centre. This is a deadly consumer”. By way of contrast get ready for an cocktail that may result in a domestic structure onslaught from the marketeers when the ECB that will do the game no favours. launches its new T20 competition. No other country has two T20 competitions, In the West Country they are fed up at coming which is what we are blindly heading towards. second again. There were more sad smiles from I’m not entirely sure of the best solution but am Marcus Trescothick and his younger colleagues increasingly convinced that it involves either a along with the acknowledgement that Middle- new, all-singing, all-dancing eight-team com- sex were worthy winners. The new champions petition or a version of the current NatWest remained unbeaten throughout and have to Blast. But surely not both. overcome the perennial burden of playing most If the preferred option prevails with two T20 of their home games on a surface that off ers lit- tournaments, the second one (the Blast) will tle succour to bowlers of any type. soon fi zzle away – as would a championship The pursuit of the pennant transcended the competition reduced in quantity or quality, or usual newslines. There was no talk of Gubbins, possibly both. Under the current plan, 100 or Roland-Jones, Jack Leach or even Bresnan, who Toby Roland-Jones claimed hat-trick as Middlesex sealed a thrilling 61-run victory against Yorkshire at Lord’s to win the 2016 County Championship so of our best county cricketers will be playing now appears to be one of the best batsmen in for the first time since 1993. T20 throughout the month of August – once the Yorkshire, “nudging the selectors”. This would NatWest Blast has fi nished. not have entered anyone’s thoughts because the all the above-mentioned have enhanced their all responded to the grand occasion superbly. Somerset enjoyed the tension and drama of the Alongside the new competition the Champi- players were all engaged in something far more claims for future elevation by their perform- Roland-Jones’s hat-trick will be part of Mid- fi nal round because this may soon become a relic onship will potter on with county sides unrec- important than that. ances in the last round of matches when sud- dlesex’s folklore for decades to come. of the past. We are in real danger of sleepwalk- ognisable from those that started the season. However, now that is all over we can note that denly many more eyes were upon them. They Hopefully, all of you outside of Yorkshire and ing into chaos. We could soon have a domestic Will anyone care any more?

FOCUS PAKISTAN BEAT WEST INDIES TO Bangladesh guard against rust CLINCH T20 SERIES

AFP Dubai: Pakistan outclassed Opener Latif made a 36-ball 40 Dhaka world champions the West with three boundaries and a Indies by 16 runs in the second towering six. Babar Azam made Twenty20 match in Dubai 19 and Sharjeel Khan two. They angladesh will be hoping their yesterday to take an unassail- then restricted the West Indies long absence from international able 2-0 lead in the three-game to 144-9 with left-arm paceman cricket does not hurt their form series. Sohail Tanvir taking 3-13, also when they play a three-match Pakistan scored 160-4 in completing 50 wickets in the one-dayB international series against Af- their 20 overs after they were shortest format. Medium pacer ghanistan in Dhaka today. sent in to bat with skipper Sar- Hasan Ali grabbed 3-49. The home side last played an inter- fraz Ahmed (46 not out), Khalid Andre Fletcher made 29 national match during the ICC World Latif (40) and Shoaib Malik (37) while Sunil Narine top-scored Twenty20 in India in April this year and amongst the runs. with 30 for the West Indies. Pa- has played no one-dayers since hosting Ahmed hit a rapid 32-ball kistan had won the first match Zimbabwe in November last year. The 46 and added 69 runs for the — also in Dubai — by nine Afghanistan series was hastily arranged third wicket with Shoaib Malik wickets on Friday. The third and to give Bangladesh some cricket ahead of (37 off 28 balls) to lift Pakistan final match takes place in Abu a more serious engagement against Eng- after West Indies won the toss Dhabi on Tuesday. land, who will be visiting the country in and decided to bowl on a slow BRIEF SCORES: Pakistan 160 for October for three ODIs and two Tests. Dubai stadium pitch. 4 (Sarfraz 46 not out, Latif 40) Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe said Ahmed’s knock featured beat West Indies 144 for 9 (Narine the team’s main focus was to get back to five boundaries while Malik 30, Fletcher 29, Tanvir 3-13) by rhythm as soon as possible. “Not playing smashed a six and three fours. 16 runs for a long time is a bit of an Achilles’ heel for us,” Hathurusinghe said yesterday. “That is what we are trying to get over, that uncertainty. The fi rst match is vital for us. We have no concern over any skill part — batting, bowling or fi elding. It is all about the mental side of the game — getting into the game, playing in front of a crowd for your country.” The home side was buoyed by the re- turn of pace bowler Taskin Ahmed, who was cleared to bowl in international cricket on Friday after he successfully re- modelled his action. Taskin and left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny were reported for suspect actions after Bangladesh’s open- ing match in the ICC World Twenty20 The Afghanistan series was hastily arranged to give Bangladesh some cricket ahead of a more serious engagement against against the Netherlands in India. England, who will be visiting the country in October for three ODIs and two Tests. While Sunny was made to wait, Bang- ladesh drafted Taskin immediately for will miss Fizz,” said Mortaza, using Mus- lateral series between the two teams. SQUAD: Bangaldesh: M Mortaza (c), S Al their squad against Afghanistan. “The tafi zur’s nickname. Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh in Hasan, T Iqbal, I Kayes, S Sarkar, M Rahim, quality of Taskin’s skill will benefi t any “But our current attack is similar to the Asia Cup 2014 but Stanikzai said it Sabbir Rahman, M Riyad, Mosaddek Hossain, team in world cricket,” said Hathurus- what we had in the World Cup last year. would be tough to repeat the glory. “The Nasir Hossain, Taijul Islam, Shafiul Islam, inghe. “He is one of our best bowlers. So This is another chance for us to prove win was two years ago and that was a Rubel Hossain and Taskin Ahmed. he is coming and we are very relieved to ourselves,” he said. past,” he said. “I think our team has Afghanistan: Asghar Stanikzai (c), Amir have this ban off .” Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanik- played more cricket against full members Hamza, Dawlat Zadran, Fareed Ahmad, Hash- Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza said zai thanked Bangladesh for providing and we are now a little bit experienced.” matullah Shahidi, Ihsanullah Karim Janat, Taskin’s return will help the team over- them with a rare chance to a play a series All three matches are taking place at Mirwais Ashraf, Mohammad Nabi, Moham- come the absence of Mustafi zur Rahman, against a Test-playing county. “It will the Sher-e-Bangla stadium, with the mad Shahzad, Najibullah Zadran, Naveen-ul- Pakistan’s Sohail Tanvir bowls during the T20I match against who has been sidelined for months after really help both nations to come closer,” second game on September 28 and the fi - Haq, Nawroz Mangal, Rahmat Shah, Rashid West Indies at the Dubai International Stadium. (AFP) shoulder surgery. “Frankly speaking, we Stanikzai said ahead of the fi rst ever bi- nale on October 1. Khan, Samiullah Shenwari, and Shabir Noori. Sunday, September 25, 2016 GULF TIMES CRICKET

FIRST TEST Jadeja, Ashwin heroics put India on top as Kiwis collapse The spin duo shared nine wickets between them, bowling out New Zealand for 262 and securing a vital 56-run lead Lbw glut puts New Zealand on back foot Kanpur: With six leg before that way and he conceded the wicket (lbw) dismissals clut- pitch at Kanpur’s Green Park tering up their scorecard, Stadium had had his team New Zealand clearly did not guessing. “Sometimes the ball put their best foot forward spins here and sometimes it in the first Test against India doesn’t,” he said. “It’s about the yesterday. India spinners Ravi- lines we play and we’re work- chandran Ashwin and Ravindra ing on that every day, trying to Jadeja frequently beat the bats figure it out.” and hit the pads of the New While the Kiwis prepared to Zealand batsmen, the hosts tackle the spin, Tom Latham, coming close to equalling the Ross Taylor and Ish Sodhi were record of seven lbw dismissals trapped lbw by deliveries that in a test innings. did not really turn. A couple of “They were trying to play the leg-before decisions — espe- sweep shot and we knew if an cially those of Luke Ronchi and odd ball keeps low or an odd Ish Sodhi — were debatable but ball spins, there were always Watling was not complaining changes of an edge or an lbw,” about the umpires. Jadeja, whose five-wicket haul “They have to make a call. included four leg befores, told It’s the game of cricket, if they reporters. “Ashwin and I stuck think it is out, it is out,” he said. to the stump line. So if you play Jadeja exploited the rough to shots against those deliveries, keep the New Zealand batsmen you expose yourself to being on their toes and the 27-year- leg-before or bowled.” old credited head coach and Jadeja said the lbws could be former spinner Anil Kumble for a result of New Zealand’s dilem- his input. ma on a pitch where the odd “He told me when bowling to ball spun viciously while others the left-hander, there was this went straight. “Batsmen who rough where you’d have the are not familiar with Indian or sixth stump. Asian conditions often cannot He advised me to create an India’s Ravindra Jadeja (centre) appeals make up their mind which ball angle and deliver from wide successfully with teammates for the wicket to defend and which one to at- of the crease. He said I should of New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi during the third tack,” Jadeja said. “By the time bowl as much as possible into day of the first Test at Green Park Stadium in they got a hang of it, they had that rough. After pitching there, Kanpur yesterday. (AFP) lost six-seven wickets.” some balls were going straight BJ Watling was one of the and some were turning. It put few Kiwi batsmen not to perish doubts in the batsmen’s mind.” AFP boundaries to record his eight Test fi fty in the batsman lbw to break the 49-run fi fth- R. Taylor lbw Jadeja 0 Kanpur his 36th match. wicket partnership before lunch. The spin L. Ronchi lbw Jadeja 38 Earlier Ashwin got overnight batsmen twins continued to wreak havoc after the M. Santner c Saha b Ashwin 32 Tom Latham and Kane Williamson in the fi rst session as Jadeja, who was denied a BJ. Watling c & b Ashwin 21 pinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi- morning session to hurt the Black Caps, hat-trick, wiped off the opposition tail af- M. Craig lbw Jadeja 2 chandran Ashwin helped India gain who started the day on 152 for one in re- ter taking three wickets in the 95th over of I. Sodhi lbw Jadeja 0 control of the fi rst Test against New sponse to India’s 318. “We knew that it was the innings. T. Boult c Sharma b Jadeja 0 Zealand before the hosts stretched Kane who can really bat for long in their New Zealand lost fi ve wickets for just N. Wagner not out 0 theS second innings lead to 215 on the third line up. The plan was to get him out. We seven runs as they nosedived from 255 Extras (b-8, lb-5, nb-2) 15 day in Kanpur yesterday. know others can’t bat long hours,” Jadeja for fi ve to pack up in 95.5 overs. Santner Total (all out: 95.5 overs) 262 India, who are playing their 500th Test said. “We got four wickets in the morning contributed with 32 while wicketkeeper- Fall of wickets: 1-35 (Guptill), 2-159 (Latham), match, were 159 for one at stumps with session and that was game changing.” batsman BJ Watling also scored 21 to put 3-160 (Taylor), 4-170 (Williamson), 5-219 opener Murali Vijay on 64 and Cheteshwar Off -spinner Ashwin, who took four up some fi ght but the lower-order bats- (Ronchi), 6-255 (Santner), 7-258 (Craig), 8-258 Pujara on 50 going strong. The batting duo wickets, struck in the fi fth over of the day men failed to handle the Indian spinners. (Sodhi), 9-258 (Boult), 10-268 (Watling) put together an unbeaten 107-run stand to get Latham trapped lbw for 58 and break “There was defi nitely a bit more turn Bowling: Shami 11-1-35-0, Yadav 15-5-33-1, for the second wicket to take the attack to the 124-run partnership for the second (on day three), but they have two qual- Jadeja 34-7-73-5, Ashwin 30.5-7-93-4, Vijay 4-0- the opposition bowlers. wicket. The left-handed Latham, who ity spin bowlers and we lost wickets in 10-0, Sharma 1-0-5-0 But it was Jadeja and Aswhin, sharing added just two runs to his overnight score, clumps,” said Watling. Six New Zealand nine wickets between them, who spun it was done in by a drifter bowled by Ashwin batsmen were trapped lbw on the pitch India II innings around for India after bowling out New from around the wicket. which started to turn a lot more than the L. Rahul c Taylor b Sodhi 38 Zealand for 262 in their fi rst innings and But it was the wicket of Williamson, fi rst two days. “We talked about that, we M. Vijay not out 64 securing a vital 56-run lead. The Indian who scored 75, that turned the tables for know it’s tough to start in these conditions C. Pujara not out 50 batsmen seized the advantage with Vijay the hosts as Ashwin got the dangerman and we’ve defi nitely got to do that better in Extras (lb-7) 7 putting on a 52-run opening stand with bowled off a beautiful delivery that spun our second innings,” said Watling. Total (1 wicket; 47 overs) 159 Lokesh Rahul, who fell to New Zealand a lot from outside the off stump. “It was To bat: V. Kohli, A. Rahane, R. Sharma, R. Ash- spinner Ish Sodhi for 38. a good ball that came through the bat and SCOREBOARD win, W. Saha, R. Jadeja, M. Shami, U. Yadav Vijay, who registered his 13th half-cen- the pad,” Jadeja, who recorded his fi fth India I innings 318 all out Fall of wickets: 1-52 (Rahul) tury, struck seven fours and a six to enter- fi ve-wicket haul in Tests, said of Ashwin’s New Zealand I innings (overnight 152/1) Bowling: Trent Boult 5-0-1-0, Mitchell Santner tain the raucous home crowd at Kanpur’s delivery. M. Guptill lbw Yadav 21 13-5-33-0, M. Craig 11-1-48-0, Wagner 8-3-17-1, Green Park Stadium. Pujara also took on Luke Ronchi steadied the innings for a T. Latham lbw Ashwin 58 Sodhi 7-2-29-1, Guptill 3-0-14-0 the spinners with aplomb as he hit eight while with his composed 38 but Jadeja got K. Williamson b Ashwin 75 India lead by 215 runs Captain Kane Williamson top-scored for New Zealand with 75. (AFP)

FOCUS LOCAL CRICKET Trott reveals Stallions conclude successful tour of UK Doha: Stallions Cricket Academy con- ‘admiration’ for cluded a very successful tour of England in August. The 60 strong tour group, comprising of a mixture of players, coaches, and parents, who embarked on nemesis Johnson the second tour of the UK played over 15 matches in Leeds and London. Stallions took two teams to UK – Un- AFP “I admire Mitchell Johnson,” der-14 and Under-11. Competing strong- London Trott wrote in an extract from ly against teams from UK, Qatar’s young- Unguarded published in The sters performed very well. The Doha Times on Friday. Stallions under-14 Team also won the onathan Trott said he felt “He had been through some six-a-side tournament played in London no resentment and re- tough times, worked hard and competing against four other London vealed he even admired deserved his success. One day I’d based teams. Mitchell Johnson, the like to shake him by the hand and As part of the tour the offi cials of the AustralianJ fast bowler and nem- say, ‘Well bowled’. I don’t bear Stallions Cricket Academy incorporated esis who played a defi ning role in him an ounce of resentment. Test a visit to the home of cricket, Lords, in derailing his England career. cricket is meant to be hard and he order to build enthusiasm and awareness Meanwhile former England was admirably ruthless.” towards the history, traditions, and cul- captain Michael Vaughan called Trott added that he had been ture associated with the game. in lawyers over comments about “scared of failing”. Trott, who The Lords visit included a well- him in Trott’s autobiography recently helped Warwickshire planned, individual indoor coaching “Unguarded”, saying he would win English cricket’s One-Day session where players used the latest not accept “any attack on my Cup, retired from Test duty in Hawk Eye technology, to develop their honesty and integrity”. 2015 with 3,835 runs in 52 match- personal style and talent. This is the fi rst Trott returned home early es, including nine hundreds, at time young players have been exposed to Gulf Agencies, and Qatar Airways. providing coaching in Cricket, Basketball nities to aspiring young cricketers to have from the 2013/14 Ashes series in an average of 44.08. Vaughan, technology of this calibre. Qatar’s youth- Commenting on the tour Head Coach and Badminton for juniors from the age of the opportunity to learn from ICC quali- Australia, which England even- England’s 2005 Ashes-win- ful players were also mentored by pro- of Stallions, Sidath Tennakoon said: “We 6 to 18 years through a well-qualifi ed and fi ed coaches. Stallions recently opened tually lost 5-0, with a stress- ning captain, took exception to fessional coaches from the MCC Cricket are delighted that the Stallions Cricket experienced team of coaches. branches in Singapore and Dubai. related illness after the fi rst Test a damning extract of the book Academy. Academy has been successful in tour- The academy has already completed The new cricket season for Stallion’s in Brisbane. That match saw published Thursday when Trott Many sponsors and well-wishers were ing UK for the second time. The touring two Cricket tours to England, Sri Lanka has already started at their fully equipped Trott struggle badly against suggested he had an “agenda”. behind the success of this tour. The main team has been practising for the past few and UAE during the past two years and practice locations at Sherborne School Johnson, with the South Africa- Vaughan, writing in the Daily sponsors were City Exchange, Doha months and we are extremely happy with planning to tour Australia, South Africa, and Pakshama School. born batsman saying the fi ery Telegraph at the time, had said he Bank, Dubai Duty Free, LuLu Hyper Mar- the individual and team performances of India, Malaysia and Singapore in future. More details of the academy’s pro- left-arm quick had improved his felt “conned” by Trott’s explana- ket, Kanoo Shipping, Al Majed Jawad the children.” The academy in Qatar was launched with grams can be obtained by visiting www. game just at the moment he him- tion to Sky Sports of why he re- Marketing, Infoventures, GAC Shipping, Stallions Sports Services is the lead- the purpose of developing the game of stallionsqatar.com or calling admin self was on the wane. turned home early. Ever Bright Shipping, Roma Transport, ing sports academy in Doha, currently cricket in Qatar, and to provide opportu- number 70030491.