THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 12

Coutinho injury blow for Barcelona Falah wins bowling title Bahraini star clinches title in Bahrain Bowling Association’s National Day Tournament

Ahmed Fareed finishes• as runner-up, while Emerson Gotencio takes third place KNOW WHAT More than 40 top bowlers• from across Kingdom take part Yousif Falah is one of Bahrain’s most in competition decorated bowlers. He has won tourna- TDT | Manama ments at the Asian, Arab, GCC and na- Philippe Coutinho reacts after falling ahrain national bowling tional levels team star Yousif Falah Yousif Falah receives his champion’s trophy from officials Reuters | Barcelona Bwas crowned champion of the Bahrain Bowling Associ- were Mohammed Ansari, Aqeel to move forward after playing Following the step-ladder, ation (BBA) National Day Tour- Ahmed, Fawaz Abdulla, Mo- a 246. Al Goud had a 225 total Falah received the champion’s arcelona midfielder nament 2020, which came to hammed Al Shawoosh, Abdulla while Al Awadhi struggled with trophy from BBA officials. BPhilippe Coutinho needs a close at Funland Centre on Abdulkarim, Shaker Daraj and a 186. Gotencio, however, fell More than 40 of the King - surgery to mend a torn menis- 3 Tuesday night. Hussain Bushiri. to Fareed 161-192 in the next dom’s best bowlers of different goals were scored were cus after the Brazilian limped scored by Philippe Falah won the highly coveted In the first game of the step, setting the stage for the nationalities, including men, off the pitch late in Tues - Coutinho who returned to title after defeating fellow-in- step-ladder, Gotencio, Al Goud championship clincher against women and youth players, took day’s drab home draw with Barca this season after a ternational Ahmed Fareed in and Al Awadhi were on the lanes Falah, who eventually won that part in the tournament, which Eibar. successful loan spell with the final game of the step-ladder and Gotencio earned the right match-up convincingly. was held throughout the week. Coutinho, 28, started the Bayern Munich round 229-15. game on the bench and came He had earlier earned an au- on in the second half but tomatic berth in the decider af- limped off the pitch during frame on his return. ter finishing first in the semi-fi- stoppage time as Barcelona Coutinho, who returned to nals. There, he played a total of finished the game with 10 men Barca this season after a suc- 1,506 pins over six games for an having made all their substi- cessful loan spell with Bayern average of 251.0. tutions. Munich, has three goals and Fareed was ranked second “The tests carried out on two assists in all competitions. with a 229.5 average from a 1,377 the first team player Philippe He joins a growing injury list total, while Emerson Gotencio Coutinho have shown that which already includes Gerard came third on 220.5 and 1,323 the midfielder has an injury Pique, Ansu Fati and Sergi marks. to the lateral meniscus in his Roberto. Completing the top five and left knee,” the club said in a Barcelona have endured a also making it through to the statement. torrid start to their La Liga step-ladder were Ahmed Al “Treatment will necessitate campaign and sit sixth in the Goud (217.0, 1,302) and Ahmed arthroscopic surgery which La Liga standings on 25 points Al Awadhi (212.2, 1,273). will take place in the coming from 15 games, seven behind Missing out on advancing days.” leaders Atletico Madrid who and finishing the competition The club did not give a time- have two games in hand. sixth through 12th, respectively, Bowlers from the top 12 with officials

Barty to partner Burns dumped as Warner, Pucovski get nod for American Brady AFP | BFA open registration for Australian ustralia yesterday included for amateur league David Warner and debu- A TDT | Manama Open doubles tant Will Pucovski in their that are not existing BFA mem- squad for the third Test against bers, youth centres, ministries India, with selectors ditching he Bahrain Football As- and government agencies, Joe Burns after a poor start to Tsociation (BFA) companies and institu- the series. have opened the tions, academies, Warner will return as he con- registration process communities or indi- tinues recovering from a groin for teams wishing to viduals. injury, while Pucovski is also participate in the BFA The establishment expected to be fit after a con- Amateur Football of the AFL comes fol- cussion, Australia said League (AFL), which lowing the approv- Ash Barty in a statement. will be launched in al of the Response Reuters | Melbourne Fast bowler has February of next year. Committee, headed also recovered from a calf strain Those looking to by Supreme Council omen’s world number and was included in the 18-man take part can register via for Youth and Sports Wone Ash Barty will squad for the remainder of the the following link: https:// first deputy-chairman and partner US Open semi-fi- four-Test series. bit.ly/2WUfUzN. Registration Bahrain Olympic Commit- nalist Jennifer Brady of the But out-of-form Burns was David Warner of Australia warms up in the nets will be open until January 10. tee president His Highness United States in doubles at released after struggling in the The BFA has set January 14 Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al the 2021 Australian Open first two Tests. the series on Tuesday with an as the date for the league’s Khalifa, with the support of in a high-profile pairing be- “Unfortunately, Joe’s returns eight- win in Melbourne. draw ceremony. Player regis- BFA president Shaikh Ali bin tween top singles players, haven’t been what he or the Despite an outbreak of Cov- tration will then be held from Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. organisers said. selectors would like or what David has made id-19 in Sydney, Cricket Aus- January 15 to 25. Each partic- The league is an opportunity Australian Barty played we consider he is capable of,” tralia has confirmed the third ipating team will be allowed for all segments of society to with now-retired German national selector Trevor Hohns strong progress in Test will be held at the SCG on to register 30 players for the integrate and interact through Julia Georges in this year’s said. his recovery from January 7, with players expect- competition. an official football tournament tournament in Melbourne Although Warner was still injury and will be ed to arrive on January 4. Those who are allowed to that promotes participation in where they lost in the sec- recovering from his injury, se- given every chance The virus cluster, which register to compete are clubs the game. ond round to eventual win- lectors were hoping the opener to play emerged earlier this month, ners Timea Babos and Kris- would be fit for the match at the has forced authorities to put TREVOR HOHNS tina Mladenovic. Crowd fa- Sydney Cricket Ground. parts of the city in lockdown Teams wishing to participate vourite Barty’s singles run “David has made strong pro- and place restrictions on travel in the Bahrain Football As- in this year’s tournament gress in his recovery from in- after a blow to the helmet in to other states. sociation’s Amateur Football ended in the semi-finals jury and will be given every a warm-up match earlier this But officials were still con- League can register via the with a defeat to American chance to play,” Hohns said. month. fident the Test would be able ACT NOW Sofia Kenin, who went on to The selection of Pucovski Australia won the open- to go ahead before the teams link: https://bit.ly/2WUfUzN win her maiden Grand Slam clears the way for the 22-year- ing Test in Adelaide by eight travelled to Brisbane for the until January 10 title in Melbourne. old to make his Test debut, , with India levelling final Test on January 15.

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