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FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP Duhail gained valuable experience despite defeat: Benatia

By Sports Reporter stronger attack and a more controlling Doha way, but we lost. We returned to our true level in the second half, but we did not succeed in fi nding the equaliser, l Duhail suff ered a narrow 1-0 and I must congratulate Al Ahly and defeat to Egypt’s Al Ahly in the wish them success in their next match.” second round of the FIFA Club Al Duhail head coach Sabri Lam- World Cup Qatar on Thursday, ouchi lamented the diff erence between Abut defender Mehdi Benatia believes the the two teams’ experience, but prom- team gained valuable experience. In a ised his side will be better equipped for match where Al Ahly claimed a fi rst half the tie against 2020 AFC Champions lead through Hussein El Shahat’s eff ort, League winners Ulsan Hyundai. “It was Al Duhail bounced back stronger in the a great honour for me and the players to second half, but fi ne defending by the participate in the fi rst match in this im- African champions saw them holding portant tournament,” Lamouchi said. on for the win. “In such matches, the fi ne details Benatia, 33, admitted Al Duhail’s fi rst are what makes the diff erence, but de- half performance was not up to mark spite the loss, the team gained experi- but said the reigning Qatar Stars League ence and we will try to change some champions have already shifted their things. Al Duhail lacked experience focus towards the fi fth-place play-off and we could have made the diff erence against Ulsan Hyundai, who lost 2-1 to with experience, and we will work hard Tigres UANL. to achieve victory in our next match “We gained exceptional experi- against Ulsan Hyundai.” ence from this match, although we did The Frenchman said Duhail played not succeed in achieving victory,” said better in the second half, but paid the Benatia. “We weren’t good in the fi rst price for a poor fi rst half. “We were half, but better in the second half and cautious in the fi rst half and did not showed our true level. It is diffi cult to take the necessary risk. In the second lose this way because we made a mis- half we went all out in attack and the take in the fi rst goal, but we are now performance of the players improved. looking at the next match. We have to We created more than one opportunity, fi ght and show the same performance but could not score a goal. Unfortu- as we did in the second half. We need to nately, we lost by solitary goal but I do have confi dence and we need to respect not blame the players and in the second the coach’s plan.” half we played well,” he said. Almoez Ali was called in to replace Meanwhile, Al Ahly manager Pit- Bassam al-Rawi in the second half so Mosimane was delighted with his to turn the tide, but the 24-year-old team’s win over Duhail. “We faced striker was left disappointed as he a tough opponent. They have a lot failed to fi nd the back of the net. “We of great players, but we managed to tried to equalise in the second half after achieve our goal and win the match,” Al Duhail defender Mehdi Benatia admits Al Duhail’s first half performance against Al Ahly was not up to mark but said the reigning Qatar Stars League champions the coaching staff made some changes, the South African said. have already shifted their focus towards the fifth-place play-off against Ulsan Hyundai. (Reuters) but the team did not succeed in scoring “I hoped that the team would con- despite our clear possession of the ball,” tinue with the same performance as game, Duhail created several chances Mosimane praised Congo striker well today. He put in a lot of eff ort in ahead of our upcoming match against said Ali. the fi rst half. However, in the end we but we managed to deal with their Walter Bwalya, who was brilliant in the the fi rst half that is why I took him off Bayern Munich. We will have to be very “We played at home with our fans, achieved our target and won the game. pressure in the best possible manner,” match as he setup El Shahat for lone the pitch in the second half. We will concentrated and prepare well for the and we could have appeared with a Moreover in the last ten minutes of the he added. goal of the match. “Bwalya played very learn from our mistakes in today’s game game,” he added.

SPOTLIGHT Club World Cup organising committee pays tribute to Rossi Palmeiras, Bayern bid and Maradona Doha: The FIFA Club World Cup 2020 organising com- mittee paid tribute to late football legends Paolo Rossi and Diego Maradona at the Education City Stadium for more silverware ahead of the second round match Al Duhail and Al Ahly. No South American team have won the tournament since Corinthians beat Chelsea in 2012 The committee played clips of Rossi and Maradona Reuters that included their goals for Doha Italy and Argentina. Brazilian club Palmeiras players Maradona, one of the train at the Aspire pitch yesterday. greatest players of all time, eams from two of football’s died at the age of 60 on superpower nations found out November 25. The former Ar- their opponents in the Club gentina attacking midfielder World Cup semi-fi nals on and manager suff ered a heart ThursdayT as Tigres of Mexico set up a attack at his Buenos Aires showdown with Brazilian club Palmei- home. He had successful ras and Al Ahly qualifi ed to face German surgery on a brain blood clot giants Bayern Munich. earlier in November. Marado- Tigres beat South Korean side Ulsan na was captain when Argen- Hyundai 2-1 and Egyptian side Al Ahly tina won the 1986 World Cup, overcame Al Duhail 1-0 to fi rm up the scoring the famous ‘Hand of last four in Qatar. No South Ameri- God’ goal against England in can team have won the tournament the quarter-finals. since Corinthians beat Chelsea in 2012 Maradona played for and Palmeiras are eager to go one bet- Barcelona and Napoli during ter than in 1999, when they lost 1-0 to his club career, winning two Manchester United. Serie A titles with the Italian The Sao Paulo club won their second side. He started his career Copa Libertadores less than a week ago, with Argentinos Juniors, also beating Santos with a last-gasp goal at playing for Sevilla, and Boca the Maracana stadium. FIFA rules mean Juniors and Newell’s Old Boys Breno Lopes, who scored that winner, in his homeland. He scored cannot participate but in Danilo, Gabri- 34 goals in 91 appearances el Menino and Patrick de Paula, they for Argentina, representing have a young and highly-rated mid- they have fallen at the semi-fi nal stage but never the fi nal, and their top scorer fi nal. The German champions hope huge run of success we had with the them in four World Cups. fi eld, as well as exciting wingers Rony to teams from Japan and the United Andre-Pierre Gignac lauded his team to cap a successful year in which they Champions League win last summer,” A little over two weeks and Gabriel Veron and veteran goal- Arab Emirates. Palmeiras’s opponents after they came from 1-0 down to beat won the Champions League and their said Bayern forward Thomas Mueller. after the death of Mara- keeper Weverton. However, even reach- Tigres are the standout Mexican side of the Koreans. “We came here to make eighth consecutive Bundesliga title and “We want to crown this outstanding dona, fellow Paolo Rossi also ing the fi nal is no longer a given for the recent years, winning fi ve league titles history and we are through a fi rst round whose striker Robert Lewandowski was year by winning the Club World Cup, so passed away at the age of 64. South Americans. When this title was and a CONCACAF Champions League that wasn’t easy,” Gignac said. “We had crowned the Best FIFA Men’s Player of we’re very ambitious concerning this Just as Maradona did four reserved solely for South America and since 2010, all under the guidance of the character to come back.” the Year. Victory in Qatar would be Bay- trophy. As a European team, we are cer- years later at Mexico 1986, European teams before 2005, the Latin Brazilian coach Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti. The winners of the Tigres-Palmei- ern’s sixth title in nine months, a record tainly favourites. We want to underline the Italy forward led his side clubs won 22 to Europe’s 21. Mexican clubs have reached the last ras match will likely face Champions for German football. “The tournament that and win the trophy as well, but it’ll to glory at Spain 1982. In two of the last four years, however, four of the Club World Cup nine times League winners Bayern Munich in the is an opportunity for us to wrap up this certainly be a challenge.” Gulf Times 2 Saturday, February 6, 2021 FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP

SPOTLIGHT Bayern’s biggest strengths are mentality, quality: Kimmich Kimmich is one of the most important players at Bayern Munich and is preparing for his FIFA Club World Cup debut n an August 2016 entry in The Players’ Tribune, Joshua Kimmich tells his story of learning to play football in his parents’ garden in Ithe small German village of Bosingen. Total population? About 1,700. When one grows up in a small town, there’s not a lot to do, so it’s impor- tant to get creative. After breaking too many of his parents’ windows and ru- ining their plants with stray shots in the garden, Kimmich’s parents got two regulation goals from the local club and instructed him to play with his friends across the street on an open space of land. It was there, where he and his friends built their own “stadium” with makeshift stands, that his dreams started formulating fi rmly in his head. Fast-forward over 18 years and Kim- mich is one of the most important players on arguably the world’s best team and is preparing for his FIFA Club World Cup debut, where he will be playing in stadiums that will be used at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. FIFA. com caught up with Kimmich ahead of Bayern’s semi-fi nal at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Monday, which coinci- dentally, will land on his 26th birthday.

Q. 2020 was a fantastic year for Bayern. What was your favourite moment of the year? Kimmich: Of course it was an out- standing year. There were a lot of positive moments, but for me the best moment was winning the Champions League, defeating PSG and knowing that we are the champions now.

There’s a chance you could win a sixth title on the spin. What would it mean to you to win the FIFA Club World Cup? Every player wants to win this tro- phy because the qualifi cation for this Defender Joshua Kimmich poses with the trophies he won at Bayern Munich. (FIFA.com) trophy is the hardest qualifi cation! You have to win the Champions League motivation to play against them? which will also be used in the FIFA What do you think is the biggest ryone knows we have a lot of quality in and we also wanted to give other peo- to get a chance to win this trophy. We It is special because you play against World Cup in 2022? strength of Bayern right now? our squad. It doesn’t matter who plays, ple who wanted to help the chance and want to win our sixth title in one year. other countries from far away. It is re- It’s always nice to play in new and big Our biggest strengths are our men- there is always a world class player in initiative to help. For us it’s a lot of trust For me and also for my teammates it ally interesting because it’s not often stadiums. Fortunately here in Germany tality and our quality. Both are really the fi rst 11 and that is a big strength. they put in us. We wanted to take this would be outstanding, so we’re totally that you get to play against such teams. we also have really big and nice stadi- important and we have both. We have a responsibility and give money to these motivated to win this big title. ums but there are no spectators at the great mentality in our group. We always You’ve been raising a lot of money organisations who are helping people. It will be a new stadium for you, too. moment. This is not that nice, but to want to win, even when we don’t play with your #WeKickCorona initia- This is the big goal: to help a lot of peo- Now you’re facing teams from dif- How much are you looking forward play in these stadiums is always a really very well. You can always see that we tive. What does it mean to you? ple. We did it in the past and we will do ferent continents. Is there a special to play in these brand new stadiums, good feeling. want to win those types of games. Eve- We wanted to help a lot of people it in the future.

FOCUS CONFIDENT Al Ahly’s Bwalya seeking We know we are capable of making breakthrough against Bayern history, says Tigres striker Gignac hen African people hear the surname igres UANL got off to a Bwalya, many in- shaky start in their FIFA stinctively think Club World Cup Qatar Wof Kalusha Bwalya, the former 2020 opener against Ul- Zambia captain who lost almost Tsan Hyundai on Thursday, fall- all his international teammates ing behind after just 24 minutes when their airplane crashed en courtesy of a powerful header by route to a match in 1993. Bwalya Kim Kee-hee. was making his own way to the Despite this rude awaken- game and was thus spared the ing, it was the Mexican side that same fate. were smiling at the fi nal whistle Two years later, his name- thanks to, who else but, Andre- sake Walter Bwalya was born Pierre Gignac. The Frenchman in Lubumbashi in Congo DR. delivered the two goals that al- With the city more than 2,200 lowed Los Felinos to turn the kilometres from Kinshasa, and game around before half-time closer to Zambia than the coun- and progress to the semi-fi nals, try’s capital, Bwalya has both where they will face Brazil’s Pal- Congolese and Zambian na- meiras tomorrow. tionality. And if that were not enough, After beginning his profes- Gignac’s opening strike, steered sional career in Congo DR, the in from close range after Diego striker then represented several Reyes fl icked a corner into his Zambian clubs before joining El path, was the 400th goal in Club Gouna in the Egyptian Premier World Cup history, another im- League. The 25-year-old made pressive statistic in the striker’s rapid progress, top-scoring glittering career. during his season-and-a-half “These matches are decided by there, which paved the way for details. They opened the scoring a move to Al Ahly in the Decem- from a corner before we equal- ber transfer window. Just over ised the same way, and it was a month later, he fi nds himself from another corner that they competing in the FIFA Club handled for our penalty. That’s Andre-Pierre Gignac struck twice as Tigres UANL came from behind to beat Ulsan Hyundai in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2020. what these games are like – there Club World Cup at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Thursday. (AFP) Despite going off exhausted are no easy opponents. We’re at a midway through the second world championship, so the most tre back Kim Kee-hee powered and had done their homework, starting in 2010. half against Al Duhail on Thurs- important was winning tonight. home a header from a Yoon Bit- but we managed to win. We don’t Tigres were in danger of be- day, Bwalya was still one of the That was our objective, because garam corner at the Ahmad Bin take any opponent lightly, but ing relegated at the time, but the most eff ective players on the we know we’re capable of making Ali Stadium. nor do we build teams up to be man they call Tuca had a plan: night, winning the ball to set history and want to do so,” the Tigres responded from a cor- bigger than they are. That’s our not only would he save them up Elshahat’s decisive goal, and French striker said. ner of their own, with Gignac mindset. from the drop, he would also take almost doubling his side’s lead Al Ahly striker Walter Bwalya (right) in action during the FIFA Club “Every match is diff erent but fi nding the net from close range On facing Palmeiras, he said: them to the very top. He has been shortly afterwards – only to World Cup second round match against Duhail at the Education tonight we faced a really good after the ball was fl icked on by “We know what Palmeiras rep- true to his word. have eff ort ruled out by VAR by City Stadium on Thursday. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed team. The Koreans played a great Mexican defender Diego Reyes. resent and that they’re Liberta- Since then, Tigres have the smallest of margins. game and had big, strong play- Gignac then scored what was dores champions, which I know amassed nine trophies, winning The forward is under pres- coach Pitso Mosimane. “In fact, Bwalya will have the chance ers – I was expecting them to to prove the decider with a pen- all about, being a Brazilian. We’ll Liga MX fi ve times, the Copa sure to deliver goals, having not I thought he had scored, only of a lifetime when facing Bay- be smaller in stature. They were alty just before halftime after confront them like we did Ulsan. MX once and the Campeon de yet scored in his short time with for technology to decide oth- ern Munich in the semi-fi nals. also very good on the ball. Now VAR spotted Kim Kee-hee had With respect; no more, no less.” Campeones [contested by the the Red Devils. However, the erwise. They have a better view Were he to score his fi rst goal for we have to face a diff erent kind of handled the ball in the box. It has been a case of third time Apertura and Clausura winners club has huge faith in his strik- of it than we have, so we can’t the club against the European opponent in Palmeiras, so we’re Tigres coach Ricardo Ferretti lucky for Ferretti in his long as- each season] three times. ing abilities and understands argue with that. He was strong champions, it would surely be going to analyse them to see what said: “A lot of people thought this sociation with Tigres UANL. The only trophy that had evad- that the pressure he puts on in attack, and we only replaced an historic achievement. “He’s we can do against them,” Gignac was going to be an easy match Trophy-less in his fi rst spell in ed the club over the last decade himself may be behind some of him in the second half because a good striker and his job is to added. against Ulsan, but, as I said pre- charge between 2000 and 2003, was the Concacaf Champions the missed chances. of the stress and physical toll score goals, so I’m sure he’ll fi nd Asian Champions League win- viously, we’re not a team that un- he returned for 27 games in 2006 League, a competition in which “He came close to scoring his that these kinds of games exert the formula again soon,” said ners Ulsan broke the deadlock derestimates anyone. Our oppo- before fi nally hitting the jackpot they lost three fi nals between fi rst goal for us today,” said Ahly on players.” Mosimane. (FIFA.com) in the 24th minute when cen- nents played very good football with the club in his third spell 2016 and 2019. (FIFA.com) Gulf Times Saturday, February 6, 2021 3 FOOTBALL

PREMIER LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT ‘Hero’ Ronaldo still surprising Pirlo Liverpool face every day in training

Reuters has fun and wants to win. It’s the Turin main thing when you get to play football at 36, when you’ve won everything and beat all records. uventus coach Andrea “If you still have this desire must-win City test Pirlo said that Cristiano and ambition it means that you Ronaldo, who turned 36 are truly a hero.” yesterday, is a “hero” who Pirlo’s side can leapfrog Roma The Reds have suff ered back-to-back 1-0 defeats to Burnley and Brighton stillJ surprises him every day in into third in the standings with training. Despite his advancing victory at the Juventus Stadium AFP years, Ronaldo is showing no sign as the Serie A title race continues London of slowing down, with his double to remain as close as it has been helping Juventus making it fi ve for many years. wins in a row in all competitions Leaders AC Milan were anchester City and with a 2-1 victory at Inter Milan crowned “winter champions” Liverpool have in their Coppa Italia semi-fi nal at the halfway stage, something dominated the Pre- fi rst-leg on Tuesday. that is taken seriously in Italy mier League over The Portuguese also leads the given that only twice since the Mthe past four seasons but a size- way in the Serie A goalscoring league reverted to 20 teams in able gap has opened up between charts with 15 strikes this sea- 2004 have the winter champions the leaders and the champions son despite Juventus making an failed to fi nish on top. ahead of their latest meeting uncharacteristically slow start to Pirlo is fully aware of how tomorrow. the campaign, with Pirlo insist- open the race remains. City are seven points clear of ing his talisman is still the exam- “Milan, Inter, Roma, Napoli fourth-placed Liverpool, with a ple to follow. and Atalanta are all equipped for game in hand, and could kill off “I knew about how profes- the title fi ght,” the Italian added. any hopes of a revival for Jurgen sional he was before, but see- “This is an unusual champion- Klopp’s men with a fi rst victory ing how he trains every day still ship, but we are among those at Anfi eld for 18 years. surprises me,” Pirlo told a news who can aspire to winning the At the other end of the table, conference ahead of Juventus’ title. Sheffi eld United, West Brom Serie A match against AS Roma “Roma are still there to fi ght, and Fulham have been cut adrift on Saturday. they are one of the teams who and look destined for a return to “He still has great passion, he play better football.” the Championship. But struggles for Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Ar- senal have opened up the race for a Champions League place, with a host of other contenders aiming for a top-four fi nish. Man City leave Liverpool trailingDespite the vast sums invested and multiple trophies won since Shiekh Mansour’s takeover 13 years ago, Anfi eld has remained an unassailable fortress for the men in blue with City’s last victory there coming in 2003. File photo of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (R) with Liverpool counterpart Juergen Klopp. However, Liverpool’s invin- cibility at home has crumbled missed the Brighton defeat on sLiverpool remain fourth for to win at Aston Villa to keep All of the bottom three face in recent weeks in front of emp- Wednesday but could return now despite their faltering form their chances of a return to the tough fi xtures this weekend, ty stands. for the daunting task of halting but just nine points separate Champions League next season but failure to win could see the After a club-record 68-game City’s 13-game winning run in them from Arsenal in 10th spot. alive. Bottom three doomed?A relegation dogfi ght peter out unbeaten run in the Premier all competitions. Sixth-placed Everton are bad week for Fulham and West with a whimper. Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo. League at Anfi eld, the Reds Despite the absence of Kevin six points behind Leicester, in Brom combined with recent have suff ered back-to-back 1-0 De Bruyne, City have found the third spot, but have two games wins for Burnley, Brighton, FIXTURES (ALL TIMES GMT) defeats to Burnley and Bright- kind of form that enabled them in hand. Newcastle, Wolves and Crystal FOCUS on. to pip Liverpool to the title by However, on Saturday, Carlo Palace has opened up an eight- Today Liverpool have not won any a single point in the 2018/19 Ancelotti’s men travel to face a point gap between the bottom Aston Villa v Arsenal (1230), of their past four home games season. Pep Guardiola’s men Manchester United side fresh three and survival. Burnley v Brighton, Newcastle — and have not found the net have conceded just one goal in from equalling the Premier “It leaves us with a great gap v Southampton (both 1500), Liverpool’s Leipzig there since late December. winning their past nine league League’s record winning mar- to fi ll,” said West Brom boss Fulham v West Ham (1730), Klopp admitted his side games to storm three points gin, with a 9-0 demolition of Sam Allardyce after taking just Manchester United v Everton were suff ering from mental clear at the top with a game in nine-man Southampton. one point from games against (2000) Champions League and physical fatigue as an in- hand over second-placed Man- West Ham can move above Fulham and Sheffi eld United. jury crisis in defence continues chester United. Liverpool when they visit Ful- The Blades are the only side Tomorrow to have an impact on the rest “At the end the aim is to be ham, while Tottenham and in the relegation zone showing Tottenham v West Brom (1200), trip to be moved to of the team, with midfi elders champion,” said Guardiola, Chelsea will be confi dent of signs of life, with three wins in Wolves v Leicester (1400), Liv- Fabinho and Jordan Henderson looking ahead after easing past bolstering their push for a their past fi ve games, but Chris erpool v Man City (1630), Shef- forced into deputising at cen- Burnley on Wednesday. “It is top-four fi nish when they face Wilder’s men have given them- field United v Chelsea (1915) Budapest — reports tre-back. the same (three) points, but struggling West Brom and selves a mountain to climb after Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, against a contender.” Sheffi eld United respectively. picking up just two points from Monday AFP League. Fabinho and Sadio Mane all Champions League dream- Arsenal desperately need their opening 17 games. Leeds v Crystal Palace (2000) Berlin “It’s not our decision, nobody from Germany called me and asked me how is the situation in BOTTOMLINE alks are reportedly un- England,” Klopp said at a press derway to hold Liv- conference on Friday. erpool’s Champions “With all the stuff we are do- League last 16 fi rst leg ing here, the record we have with United not getting carried away aft er thrashing Saints tieT at RB Leipzig in Budapest al- cases, the discipline we show though the German club said no with all the stuff we do, I think it decision had yet been made. would be absolutely reasonable AFP Solskjaer said it was impor- scored his fi rst Old Traff ord goal The English club have been to make an exception.” London tant to put the result in context on Tuesday but was taken off at barred from entering Germany British media report that Leip- because the visitors played al- half-time with an ankle knock. for the fi xture on February 16 zig are in discussions to host the most the entire match with 10 “Edinson should be available, because of entry rules imposed game at the Puskas Arena in the le Gunnar Solskjaer men and were reduced to nine yes, defi nitely,” said Solskjaer. to combat the coronavirus pan- Hungarian capital, among other said yesterday Man- players in the closing minutes. “He got a bad ankle knock there. demic. options. chester United have “Well, you’ve got to take the Eric is a doubt and apart from UEFA’s regulations say the A spokesperson from the Hun- immediately refo- good with the good and the bad that everyone’s raring to go.” home side must fi nd a way of garian Football Federation told cusedO after their 9-0 midweek with the bad sometimes,” the Saturday marks the 63rd an- hosting the match or risk forfeit- AFP it would accept a request if mauling of Southampton, re- Norwegian said. niversary of the Munich air ing it as a 3-0 defeat. one was made. fusing to get “carried away” by “What the boys took from disaster and Solskjaer said he Liverpool’s German manager “Everything is still possible the record-equalling Premier that one is that we did the right wanted his side to mark the oc- Jurgen Klopp said he believed but no decision has yet been League scoreline. things, we kept good habits. casion with a “fi tting perform- an exemption should have been made. We have to verify certain United gave their goal diff er- “I don’t think anyone will get ance”. made for his side to travel. points,” a Leipzig offi cial told ence a huge boost as they put carried away with the scoreline On February 6, 1958, United’s All Premier League sides are AFP yesterday Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side to the because we know we played plane crashed on a fl ight back being tested at least twice a week Later, Leipzig coach Julian sword at Old Traff ord on Tues- against 10 men for the full game from a European Cup tie away to with UEFA also undertaking a Nagelsmann said he remained day. and of course that’s demoralis- Red Star Belgrade — resulting in testing programme for teams confi dent the encounter would Seven United players found ing when they lose players like the deaths of 23 people. in the Champions and Europa go ahead. the net as they matched their they did.” “It’s only the fourth time the 9-0 win against Ipswich in 1995 Solskjaer said the attention game is played on the actual an- and Leicester’s humbling of the had quickly turned to Saturday’s niversary and it’s important that Saints last season. home match against seventh- we put on a fi tting performance Suarez says Messi contract leak was ‘evil’ The result lifted United level placed Everton. and hopefully we can honour with Manchester City at the top The United boss expects for- them with a result,” said former London: Atletico Madrid striker for the club. “What Leo has given of the table but Pep Guardiola’s ward Edinson Cavani to be fi t United striker Solskjaer. Luis Suarez said yesterday he to Barcelona, no player has ever men won the following day to but defender Eric Bailly is a “It’s such an important part of does not understand how given to a club,” the Uruguay in- restore their three-point lead, doubt. our history and the spirit of the “people could be so evil” to leak ternational told Onda Cero radio. with a game in hand. Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The 33-year-old Cavani club.” the contract of his friend and Suarez said he had not talked to former Barcelona teammate his former striker partner about Lionel Messi. the leak, “just like he has avoided LA LIGA Spanish newspaper El Mundo my situations when I have had a controversially published details bad time.” of Barcelona’s contract with The former Liverpool forward Messi, showing the Argentinian leads the La Liga goalscoring Zidane demands respect for Real achievements will be paid up to 555 mn euros chart with 14 goals this season, ($674 mn) over four years. two ahead of Messi, and has Reuters Atletico Madrid having played “I don’t deserve to be treated tle bit of respect for what we’ve until the end,” he said. Barcelona, who were in a bitter been a major factor in Atletico’s Madrid a game more. In an impassioned like that by the press. We won achieved. You (the press) say a Captain Sergio Ramos will standoff with Messi in the sum- table-topping form. news conference, Real’s French the league last season and I’d lot. Why don’t you tell me to my once again be absent for an in- mer, have denied they leaked the “I was not sure I was going to be coach lost his usual composure hope for a bit of respect. face that you want me out of the jury-hit Real side, with Zidane contract. able to maintain this level,” Suarez fi red-up Zinedine Zi- and said it was too early to write “We’ve earned the right to club, not just behind my back.” naming a squad of just 17, in- Suarez, who won a Champions admitted, but “when a striker is dane hit out at Real his side off and they should be fi ght for La Liga this season, at Zidane was talking in his fi rst cluding three goalkeepers and League and four La Liga titles sweet, he is sweet, and you have Madrid’s critics yes- aff orded the respect of a team least give us the season. Next media duties since returning just 12 senior outfi eld players, playing alongside Messi at the to seize the moment.” terday, demanding re- defending their crown. season, there’ll need to be from a period of isolation fol- for the game. Camp Nou, said: “I don’t under- Atlético Madrid are 10 points spectA for both himself and his “What makes me laugh is you changes, but this year let us, lowing a positive COVID-19 Eden Hazard, Dani Carvajal, stand why people are so evil as ahead of Barcelona at the top of players while insisting they re- ask me why I might be annoyed the team who won the league test. Federico Valverde, Rodrygo and to make something public that is La Liga with a game in hand and main in the La Liga title race. (at questions over his future),” last season, fi ght for it this year, “I’ve been locked in a cage for Lucas Vazquez will also be ab- so private, such as Leo’s contract. host Celta Vigo on Monday in The current champions sit he said ahead of today’s visit to too. It wasn’t 10 years ago, it was two weeks, I can’t wait to get out sent through injury, while Eder Especially given all he has done their next match. 10 points behind league leaders basement club Huesca. last season. “Just show us a lit- and show that I’m going to fi ght Militao is suspended. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, February 6, 2021 TENNIS

AUSTRALIAN OPEN WOMEN’S TUNEUP Barty beats Rogers at Yarra Valley, Djokovic to start Serena pulls out against Chardy, Kenin faces Inglis

Reuters ramping up her serve when it Nadal, seeking a first title at the major since 2009, will meet Serbia’s Laslo Djere Melbourne mattered to get the job done. Williams, who had to pull out Reuters were ordered to take tests and ahead of her second round match Melbourne isolate until they received their erena Williams with- at Roland Garros last year due to result, with six warm-up tour- drew from the Yarra Val- injury, attended a media con- naments suspended on Thurs- ley Classic semi-fi nals ference and spoke to reporters ovak Djokovic will be- day. Syesterday due to a shoul- about her next match with Barty gin his Australian Open But they were all cleared yes- der injury, just days before the and there was no mention of any title defence against terday as the action resumed at American begins her quest for a physical problem. NFrenchman Jeremy Melbourne Park. 24th Grand Slam title at the Aus- But her decision could be more Chardy, while reigning women’s “All tests conducted on AO tralian Open. out of caution with the year’s fi rst champion Sofi a Kenin meets (Australian Open) quarantine Williams had advanced to a Grand Slam about to start from wild card Maddison Inglis, fol- participants yesterday have re- mouth-watering semi-fi nal clash Monday. lowing the draw for the year’s turned negative results,” said a against world number one Ash “I’m really disappointed I can’t fi rst Grand Slam yesterday. tweet on the tournament’s offi - Barty after getting past Danielle fi nish out this #yarravallleywta World number one Djokovic cial Twitter account. Collins 6-2, 4-6 (10-6) and while tournament,” Williams later said captured a record-extending The Australian Open’s rocky she showed no sign of discom- in a post on Instagram. eighth title at Melbourne Park build-up has underscored the fort the WTA Tour later said the “Going to take a day off to get last year by beating Dominic diffi culties of international 39-year-old was pulling out with my shoulder ready for the @aus- Thiem, who is seeded third and sport during the pandemic, as a right shoulder injury. tralianopen.” Barty and Rogers will face Kazakh Mikhail Kuku- Olympics organisers wrestle Barty had also needed a super were among the fi rst players out shkin in the fi rst round. with preparations for the Tokyo tiebreaker to beat Shelby Rogers on court, playing under a closed Rafa Nadal, seeking a fi rst ti- Games which start in July. 7-5, 2-6, (10-4) in her quarter- roof at Margaret Court Arena on a tle at the major since 2009, will State authorities and the fi nal. Super tiebreakers are being rainy morning at Melbourne Park meet Serbia’s Laslo Djere in his Australian public are extremely played after two sets in all WTA as the Australian Open warmups opener. wary of coronavirus cases after matches as organisers look to resumed following a COVID-19 The Spaniard is level with Melbourne spent four months in clear a backlog caused by Thurs- scare. Roger Federer on 20 Grand Slam lockdown until late October. day’s suspension of play after a “It was a tricky one, when the titles and looking to overtake Victoria state had gone 28 worker at one of the Melbourne roof shuts here the conditions the Swiss champion, who is not Serbia’s Novak Djokovic signs autographs for fans after beating Germany’s Alexander Zverev in their days without a locally acquired quarantine hotels contracted become quite sterile,” said Barty. playing this year following knee ATP Cup group A men’s singles tennis match in Melbourne yesterday. infection before the latest case, Covid-19. “There were certainly some surgery. which prompted a tightening In the other half of the Yarra challenges today... Happy to get Top-ranked Ash Barty ova. round in the previous two years, on Arantxa Rus of the Neth- of restrictions around wearing Valley draw, Garbine Muguruza through and get another oppor- resumes her quest to become the The Japanese player could face meets Canada’s Vasek Pospisil, erlands while Venus Williams masks. dumped Australian Open cham- tunity tomorrow.” fi rst homegrown singles win- Caroline Garcia and Ons Jabeur while young guns Jannik Sinner plays Kirsten Flipkens. Despite the scare, Australian pion Sofi a Kenin out of the tour- Two-time Grand Slam win- ner at the Australian Open since in her next two rounds before and Denis Shapovalov are set to Meanwhile, an Australian Open boss Craig Tiley said he nament 6-2 6-2 in a re-match ner Halep made a brisk start to 1978 when the 24-year-old takes a likely match-up with either face off in what promises to be a Open testing blitz has revealed was confi dent fans would still of last year’s Grand Slam fi nal at go up 2-0 against Alexandrova on Danka Kovinic. Garbine Muguruza or Angelique blockbuster opener. no new coronavirus cases, or- be able to attend matches this Melbourne Park. but the Russian then reeled off American Serena Williams, Kerber in the fourth round. Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas ganisers , putting preparations week and at the Australian Open, Muguruza will next play Mar- nine straight games as the frus- bidding to win a record-equal- Second seed Simona Halep has a tricky test against French for the Grand Slam tournament which starts on Monday. keta Vondrousova after the Czech trated top seed moved gingerly on ling 24th major, will meet Lau- of Romania, a beaten fi nalist at veteran Gilles Simon while Alex- back on track after a Covid scare. “Spectators will continue to took down Nadia Podoroska 4-6, court. She also put a heat pack on ra Siegemund in the opening Melbourne Park three years ago, ander Zverev and Andrey Rublev Planning for the year’s open- be allowed in the site, and we are 6-3 (10-4). At the Gippsland Tro- her lower back towards the close round. will play wild card Lizette Ca- have relatively easier fi rst rounds ing tennis major was thrown into still selling tickets,” he said yes- phy, world number two Simona of the fi rst set. Naomi Osaka, the 2019 cham- brera while fi fth-seeded Ukrain- against Marcos Giron and Yan- disarray when a worker at one terday. Halep suff ered a surprise 6-2 6-1 Ninth seed Alexandrova will pion, has a series of potentially ian Elina Svitolina faces Marie nick Hanfmann, respectively. of the designated tournament “The site will be an extremely defeat to Ekaterina Alexandrova. next face Kaia Kanepi, who ad- tough matches starting with a Bouzkova. Iga Swiatek, who made her hotels became infected with the safe place. There’s health checks, Former Australian Open vanced after her quarter-fi nal clash against former quarter- ATP Finals champion Daniil breakthrough last year by win- virus. contact tracing set up, divided champion Victoria Azarenka ad- opponent Karolina Muchova fi nalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenk- Medvedev, who lost in the fourth ning the French Open title, takes Some 507 players and offi cials into zones, physical distancing.” vanced at the Grampians Trophy withdrew from Friday’s match with a 6-4, 1-6, (11-9) win over due to an abdominal injury. Yulia Putintseva but top seed Be- World number three Naomi FOCUS linda Bencic fell 7-5, 6-2 to Sora- Osaka eased past Irina-Camelia na Cirstea. Begu of Romania 7-5, 6-1 to set American Williams never up a semi-fi nal matchup against looked in any real danger of fol- seventh seed Elise Mertens, who lowing Kenin through the exit ousted third seed Elina Svitolina door despite a tricky tie against 6-3, 5-7, (10-6) in the last quar- Kyrgios loses temper, match her compatriot, the 39-year-old ter-fi nal.

Reuters and needed treatment midway through his racquet and threw it into the empty prepare for an event just like that. It’s not UPSET Melbourne the match at the Australian Open warm- stands. like a tap,” he told reporters. “I thought I up event. On Wednesday, Kyrgios had needed did everything I could this week, won a “I can’t serve without pain. When I assurances from a tournament supervi- couple of matches, had a lot of court time land it feels unstable,” media quoted Kyr- sor that he would not be fi ned by the ATP and practised every day. Germany end ick Kyrgios was warned for bad gios as telling a trainer between sets. for his behaviour in the last round against “I think I’m ticking the boxes, I think language and docked a point for “I’ll probably just play one more game. Harry Bourchier before agreeing to play I’m giving myself a chance.” unsportsmanlike conduct after I’m serving at like 170 (kph) instead of on. With so little competitive action over Former Australian Open champion Serbia’s ATP Cup Nthe Australian threw his racquet 220.” The 25-year-old, playing his fi rst the last year, Kyrgios said it was diffi cult Stan Wawrinka was made to work hard for into the stands during yesterday’s 6-3, tournament in nearly a year due to the to hit top gear quickly and added there a win by Alex Bolt before prevailing 6-4. 6-4 defeat by Borna Coric in the Murray Covid-19 pandemic, carried on and was was a “massive question mark” over his 4-6. 7-6(5). run to reach semis River Open at Melbourne Park. warned by the chair umpire for swearing chances at the Australian Open, which The Swiss top seed then pulled out of Kyrgios’ problems began early yester- at 4-4 in the second set. begins on Monday. his quarter-fi nal match against Jeremy Reuters singles match. We’ll try another day as he struggled with a left knee issue After his serve was broken, he smashed “It’s not easy to just turn around and Chardy later in the day due to fatigue. Melbourne time.” A year after crashing out of the inaugural ATP Cup with a huge BOTTOMLINE lexander Zverev tally of double-faults, Zverev’s shrugged off a tight loss serving demons returned under to Novak Djokovic to pressure against Djokovic in the Aend Serbia’s ATP Cup singles and again in the doubles US legend Trabert, who won 5 Slams, dies at age 90 title defence with victory in the on Friday. doubles as Germany advanced He was broken at 5-5 in the AFP of Cincinnati while also playing for the to the semi-fi nals of the team- second set of the doubles after Washington school basketball team. based event in Melbourne yes- two double-faults but nailed his “Tony’s impact went far beyond the terday. serves when Germany grabbed court, in particular to those who knew Germany will meet Russia in match points in the super tie- him closely,” said J. Wayne Richmond, the last four, with Spain to take break. ony Trabert, a fi ve-time Grand director of the ATP Cincinnati Masters on Italy. Djokovic consoled himself Slam singles champion from the event. “He was so proud of his Cincinnati Zverev, beaten 6-7(3), 6-2, 7-5 that he had an excellent warmup United States who produced one roots and was always a loyal supporter of in a high-quality match by world against Zverev in the singles. of the greatest seasons in tennis the tournament.” number one Djokovic earlier “I thought it was a great match. Thistory in 1955, died Wednesday. He was After serving a stint of nearly two years yesterday, stepped up to partner I thought we both played well... 90. in the US Navy ending in June 1953, Trab- Jan-Lennard Struff to a rousing He defi nitely had a big serving Trabert captured the 1953 US Open, the ert returned and won the US national 7-6(4), 5-7, (10-7) victory over match. It was so diffi cult to play 1954 French Open and the 1955 US and crown then took the Roland Garros title Djokovic and Nikola Cacic on against him today,” he said. French Opens and Wimbledon. the following year, setting the stage for an Rod Laver Arena. With Rafa Nadal still side- The ATP Tour and International Tennis epic 1955 run at age 25. “I was quite frustrated with lined with a back problem, Pa- Hall of Fame, which inducted Trabert in Trabert went 106-7 in 1955, including how the singles ended in a way,” blo Carrena Busta guided a de- 1970, announced his death. a 38-match win streak, and captured 18 Zverev said on court. “Still got to pleted Spain into the last four by Trabert served as the Hall of Fame’s titles, including three majors. He lifted give myself some time. claiming a 6-3 6-4 win against president from 2001 to 2011 and spent 10 trophies in a row at one stage and suf- “We played well, both of us,” Greece’s Michail Pervolarakis at 30 years as a television analyst. He also fered his only Grand Slam loss of the year he added of his doubles match John Cain Arena. served as an author and coach and cap- to Ken Rosewall in the semi-fi nals of the with Struff , who beat Dusan La- Though eliminated, Greece tained the US Davis Cup team from 1976- Australian championships. jovic 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the opening ended up winning the tie 2-1, 1980, guiding the squad to titles in 1978 No US man won the French singles singles rubber. with Stefanos Tsitsipas easing and 1979. crown again until 17-year-old Michael Djokovic’s 11-match winning past Roberto Bautista Agut 7-5, “He didn’t just show us all how to be a Chang in 1989. streak in the team tournament 7-5. great champion,” said Hall of Fame presi- Trabert is in a select group of men to was broken, and he will have no Spain retired after losing the dent Stan Smith, who followed Trabert win three Grand Slam titles in a single more match practice before his opening game of the doubles, into the job. year, a lineup that includes Don Budge Australian Open title defence. handing Greece the win. “He was also a role model as a wise (1938), Rod Laver (1962, 1969), Mats Wi- “I am upset that we lost, that’s In a dead rubber between Aus- coach and mentor, a fair and eff ective lander (1988), Roger Federer (2004, 2006, all I can say, I’m not thinking tria and France in the evening, leader, someone who gave back to the In this file photo taken in March 1953 US tennis player Tony Trabert sits beside his 2007), Rafael Nadal (2010) and Novak about the Australian Open or an- world number three Dominic sport, and an all-around terrifi c ambas- girlfriend, Utah’s beauty queen, Shauna Wood. Trabert, a five-time Grand Slam singles Djokovic (2011, 2015). ything else,” said Djokovic. Thiem’s hopes of getting some sador for tennis. He was a good friend to champion, died on February 3. As a professional touring with Jack “It’s unfortunate we lost the match practice were cut short me and to so many and he will be greatly Kramer, Trabert helped usher in the Open tie. That’s what this competition when his French opponent, Be- missed.” courts in a Cincinnati park, Trabert began brothers. He was a 1951 national col- Era of tennis and opened tennis camps in is all about. It’s about the team, noit Paire, retired while trailing Growing up two houses from clay playing tennis at age six against his older lege singles champion at the University the 1970s. not about winning one match, (a) 6-1. Gulf Times Saturday, February 6, 2021 5 SPORT

NBA FOCUS NFL must do more to help black LeBron James’ coaches: Goodell

AFP Los Angeles

atonal Football triple-double leads League chief Roger Goodell said Thurs- ‘We were not getting any day more needs to Nbe done to promote minority stops. We knew we could coaches after another hiring cycle that saw black candi- score at will but we dates largely snubbed for head coaching roles. Lakers’ romp needed to get some stops’ The NFL has faced accusa- tions of institutional racism in recent seasons over the league’s tendency to favor white candi- NFL commissioner Roger dates for head coaching jobs Goodell. (USA TODAY Sports) despite a player base that is roughly 70% black. ranging discussions with teams Of seven head coaching jobs and candidates to determine that fell open following the reg- how best to remedy the issue. ular season, only two of those “We want to continue to positions went to minority look and see what went right, candidates, with David Culley and what went wrong,” Good- joining the Houston Texans and ell said. Arab-American Robert Saleh “There have to be individual hired by the New York Jets. discussions, with candidates, The recent appointments both those that were success- take the number of minority ful and unsuccessful, and the head coaches in the 32-team clubs. These are not the out- NFL to fi ve, with only three of comes we wanted. But we want those jobs occupied by Afri- it to be a natural process, and can-American coaches. Good- we want it to be a process that ell said Thursday the issue had makes us more diverse more dominated discussions be- ultimately.” tween league offi cials and team Goodell said the appoint- owners over the past year. ment of three African-Amer- “We had two minority ican general managers was a coaches hired this year but it cause for optimism. wasn’t what we expected, and “But we feel we can do better it’s not what we expect going and we’re going to,” he said. forward,” Goodell said in his Goodell said the league annual pre-Super Bowl news would continue to look at the conference. question of implementing a Although the NFL intro- hiring freeze until after the duced its groundbreaking completion of the Super Bowl. “Rooney Rule” in 2003 – which With hiring swinging into requires teams to interview action as soon as the regular ethnic-minority candidates season is complete, some be- every time a head coaching job lieve the current rules penalise comes vacant – the policy has coaches who are already em- barely moved the needle. ployed by teams involved in the With three black head playoff s. coaches in today’s NFL, the “This is an issue we had a lot number is the same as it was of discussion about,” Goodell when the rule was introduced said. “It’s something that I’m 18 years ago. Goodell said the sure will be brought back up league planned to hold wide- again.”

Lakers star LeBron James says All-Star Game would be ‘slap in the face’

LeBron James slammed the a way to recoup some of the LeBron James (left) of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates his basket with Dennis Schroder (second left) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (second right) 1 against the Denver Nuggets NBA’s plans for staging an All- revenue lost during the pan- at Staples Center in Los Angeles. (Getty Images/AFP) Star Game during the global demic. James said the reign- Covid-19 pandemic, describ- ing NBA champion Lakers’ AFP (12,681) for number three on career fi eld team with the best record in the Eastern ing it as “a slap in the face” for players were looking forward Los Angeles goals made list. Canadian Jamal Murray RESULTS Conference. “It was just a diff erent energy players. “I have zero energy to some much needed time scored 20 points and Monte Morris added with the team,” Portland’s CJ Elleby said. and zero excitement about off after one of the shortest 16 for the Nuggets, who suff ered their sec- Houston 115-103 Memphis Joel Embiid scored a game high 37 an All-Star Game this year,” off seasons in league history. eBron James had a triple double ond loss in eight games. Portland 121-105 Philadelphia points, Furkan Korkmaz had 13 and Tyrese James said Thursday night “We came off a short off sea- of 27 points, 10 assists and 10 re- Nikola Jokic, who was coming off a Utah 112-91 Atlanta Maxey came off the bench to score 15 following the Los Angeles son of 71 days and then com- bounds as the Los Angeles Lakers 47-point performance in his previous points for Philadelphia. Lakers 114-93 victory over the ing into season we were told Lakers 114-93 Denver rallied from a double digit halft- game, struggled to just 13 points and 10 Embiid scored 31 of his points in the fi rst Denver Nuggets. we were not going to have Lime defi cit to pull away in the second half rebounds. This was the fi rst meeting be- Golden State 147-116 Dallas half after an injury scare. Embiid hyper- “I am not happy about it. If an All Star Game so we would for a 114-93 victory over the Denver Nug- tween the teams since the Lakers captured extended his knee in the fi rst quarter after I am selected I will be there have a nice little break. Then gets. the conference fi nals 4-1 over the Nuggets Portland only had nine players available. landing awkwardly while playing defence. physically but not mentally.” they throw an All-Star Game James recorded his second triple double last season. They were was also missing Jusuf Nurkic He limped off the fl oor to receive medical The 2021 All-Star Game had on us like this,” James said. of the season and 96th of his career as the The Nuggets looked out of sorts coming (broken wrist), CJ McCollum (broken foot) treatment but returned after about three previously been cancelled “It is pretty much a slap in the Lakers opened their fi ve-game homestand off a surprise four day break after Mon- and Derrick Jones (sprained foot), among minutes. but on Thursday The Athletic face. We are still dealing with with an impressive come-from-behind day’s contest at home against the Detroit others. Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons was a late reported that the NBA had pandemic and we are going win. Dennis Schroder scored 21 points, Pistons was postponed because Detroit But the Trail Blazers are deep in tal- scratch due to a sore left calf. Seth Curry, reached an agreement with to bring the whole league into Talen Horton-Tucker had 17 for the de- did not have the required eight players ent and it showed against the Sixers as who was reportedly ill, went scoreless the players association to a city that is open.” fending NBA champions who improved to available due to Covid-19 protocols. Gary Trent scored 24 points and Swiss through 12 minutes of playing time for the host the event in Atlanta, James wasn’t the only player 17-6 on the season. In Philadelphia, Carmelo Anthony de- Enes Kanter fi nished with 17 points and Sixers who had their four-game winning Georgia on March 7. speaking out against the Anthony Davis said the Lakers had to livered a throwback performance by scor- 18 rebounds in the win at the Wells Fargo streak halted. The move to hold an All-Star showcase event. With Cov- make some adjustments at halftime, espe- ing 22 points as the short-handed Port- Center arena. Elsewhere, Kelly Oubre exploded for Game this season comes id-19 safety measures needed cially with their defence. land Trail Blazers stunned the Eastern “On both ends of the fl oor, the other a career-high 40 points as the visiting after the event in Indianapolis for regular games and plenty “We were not getting any stops. We Conference juggernaut Philadelphia 76ers guys did an amazing job today,” said Kant- Golden State Warriors overpowered the was initially cancelled before of those already postponed, knew we could score at will but we needed 121-105. er. Dallas Mavericks 147-116 in the opener of the season started, due to staging the contest is a “stu- to get some stops. Guys talked in locker The depleted Blazers won despite an ar- Anthony shot eight of 14, dished out fi ve a two-game set. the pandemic, and the NBA pid” idea, Sacramento Kings room and we were able to come out in that ray of injuries that got worse earlier Thurs- assists and drained three of four threes. Also, Jordan Clarkson came off the awarded the Pacers with the guard De’Aaron Fox said. third quarter and hold them to 13 points,” day with the announcement that marquee Despite the revolving door on the infi r- bench to score 23 points and the Utah 2024 All-Star Game instead. “If I’m going to be brutally said Davis. player Damian Lillard was ruled out of the mary this season, the Blazers have man- Jazz hammered the short-handed At- Critics have said the league honest, I think it’s stupid,” Fox With his third basket in the third quar- contest with an abdominal strain that had aged to win 12 of their fi rst 20 games, lanta Hawks 112-91 for their 13th win in 14 is using the All-Star Game as said. ter, James surpassed Wilt Chamberlain been hampering him for several games. including Thursday’s shocker over the games.

NHL Hat-trick from Spezza powers Leafs past Canucks Toronto Horvat scored his sixth from the left circle Reuters RESULTS 22 seconds later on a pass from Miller. Spezza scored at 8:44 of the second on a pass from Maple Leafs 7-3 Canucks Nic Petan to complete a three-on-two rush. ason Spezza had his eighth career hat- Predators 6-5 Panthers Toronto fi nished the second period with a trick and the Toronto Maple Leafs de- Coyotes 4-3 Blues 5-2 lead after Tavares notched his fi fth, tip- feated the visiting Vancouver Canucks ping in Nylander’s pass at 17:56. 7-3 Thursday night in the opener of a Rangers 4-2 Capitals Spezza scored his fourth this season at 4:34 three-gameJ series. Jets 4-1 Flames of the third period, skating around Alexander Auston Matthews added two goals for the Blackhawks 6-4 Hurricanes Edler before cutting in to the front of the net. Maple Leafs, Mitchell Marner had a goal and Miller scored his third this season at 8:14 of two assists and John Tavares scored his 350th Blue Jackets 4-3 Stars the third on a four-on-three power play. career goal. Senators 3-2 Canadiens Marner scored his sixth at 11:37 of the third William Nylander had three assists and and now has a six-game point streak (three Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin and Travis Boyd deep in the left circle at 2:56. He has scored in goals, eight assists). each had two assists. each of his past six games. The Maple Leafs lost defenseman Travis JT Miller had a goal and an assist for Van- Pearson jammed in his fourth goal from the Dermott with a leg injury early in the fi rst couver. Tanner Pearson and Bo Horvat also right side of the net after a pass from behind period. scored for the Canucks, who have lost three the goal by Nils Hoglander at 6:24. straight. Spezza scored at 10:14 on a power play with Frederik Andersen made 16 saves in the To- a slap shot from the top of the right circle. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Spezza ronto goal. Thatcher Demko made 30 stops Quinn Hughes was off for tripping. (centre) celebrates his goal against the for Vancouver. Toronto led 2-1 after the fi rst Matthews scored his eighth of the season Vancouver Canucks with teammates John period. Matthews completed a solo rush by on Marner’s pass from behind the goal at 3:04 Tavares (left) and Zach Hyman at Scotiabank powering around Miller before scoring from of the second period. Arena in Toronto. (USA TODAY Sports) Gulf Times 6 Saturday, February 6, 2021 SPORT

GOLF / SAUDI INTERNATIONAL Honda commits to MotoGP contract until 2026 MotoGP’s most successful manufacturer Hon- Fox takes clubhouse lead as Johnson makes move da has committed to the world championship until at least 2026, the sport said yesterday. AFP and eight-under for the tour- good chance on Sunday.” Pines last week, has won two Honda follow KTM and Ducati in signing a new King Abdullah Economic City, nament. Andy Sullivan and Aus- PGA Tour titles and will be agreement with commercial rights holders Saudi Arabia The American, who won trian Bernd Wiesberger sit at hoping to qualify for Europe’s Dorna Sports, with others expected to follow. the inaugural event in Saudi eight-under after their sec- Ryder Cup team ahead of the The Japanese manufacturer has won 25 rider Arabia in 2019 and fi nished ond rounds, with Sweden’s delayed matches later this world championships in the top category ew Zealander Ryan runner-up to Graeme Mc- Marcus Kinhult also on that year. of motorcycle grand prix racing, a record. It Fox took the club- Dowell last year, birdied his number with two holes of his Hovland made four birdies celebrated its 800th grand prix win last year. house lead after a fi nal two holes before bad round remaining. in a bogey-free round, play- “Honda believes MotoGP racing is vital to weather-hit second light brought play to a close. The chasing pack, featur- ing with Ryder Cup stalwart our motorsports activities,” said Noriaki Abe, Nday of the Saudi Interna- Johnson is still yet to make ing a host of big names, will Ian Poulter. Honda’s head of motorcycle operations, in a tional yesterday, with world a bogey this week. be confi dent of reeling in Fox “It was awesome (playing statement. “MotoGP is the pinnacle of motor- number one Dustin Johnson An earlier two-hour delay and Gallacher over the week- with Ian),” the world number cycle racing — it allows us to develop various only two shots behind. due to dangerous conditions end. 12 said. “He’s obviously a very technologies, and through fierce competition, Fox carded a second meant the later starters will English duo Tommy Fleet- passionate guy, and it’s cool teach our engineers and nurture their skills.” straight fi ve-under-par 65 to have to fi nish round two to- wood and Justin Rose, who is to see that passion come out, reach 10-under overall and day. through 15 holes, are both at even though it’s not a Ryder Mayweather Tokyo sit tied atop the leaderboard Fox, the world number In this September 29, 2019, picture, New Zealand’s Ryan Fox seven-under, while in-form Cup... I’d love to maybe be in with Scotland’s Stephen 208, rolled in six birdies but is in action during the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Norwegian Viktor Hovland the same setting some day.” exhibition postponed over Gallacher, who will complete bogeyed the ninth, his fi nal Championship at St Andrews in Scotland. (Reuters) also surged into conten- US Open champion Bry- virus restrictions the fi nal six holes of his sec- hole, to slip into a tie over- tion with a 66, in the trickier son DeChambeau endured a ond round today. night with former Ryder Cup Fox, looking for his second I’ll just go out and enjoy it on morning weather, to reach frustrating day, though, and Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather’s exhibition Masters champion John- winner Gallacher. European Tour win. the weekend and see if I can six-under. is six shots off the leaders fight in Tokyo this month has been postponed son is fi ve-under through 14 “This is what you play golf “And it’s been a while since keep playing how I’m play- The 23-year-old, who fi n- and one-over par through 14 because of coronavirus restrictions, organis- holes for his second round for, to be in contention,” said I’ve been in this position... ing. I know if I do, I’ve got a ished joint-second at Torrey holes in his second round. ers announced yesterday. Retired ex-champ Mayweather, 43, was scheduled to fight against an unnamed opponent at Tokyo Dome OLYMPICS on February 28, but organisers pulled the plug with Japan’s borders closed to almost all foreign arrivals. Tokyo and other parts of Ja- pan are under a virus state of emergency that is set to end on March 7, with attendance at sports events limited to 5,000 or half capacity, whichever is less. Mayweather’s fight against YouTuber Logan Paul, which was scheduled for February 20, was also postponed last Qualifi ers resume as week. Mayweather, who fought a Japanese kickboxer in a widely ridiculed 2018 exhibi- tion in Japan, said he hopes the Tokyo Dome event, dubbed “Mega 2021,” can be resched- uled “within the year”. Games draw closer Athletes’ body seeks comprehensive Covid-19 61 percent of athlete quota places have been allocated to National Olympic Committees plan ahead of Games

Reuters The World Players Association (WPA) yesterday Bengaluru, India Olympics facing ‘major issue’ aft er Mori’s controversial remarks: Tokyo governor called for a comprehensive and fully funded Covid-19 protection plan as opposed to mere Reuters “The IOC is a big organi- nese athletes, activists and statements from the organisers to safeguard ith Olympics of- Tokyo, Japan sation that is steeped in ordinary women see Mori’s the health of athletes at this year’s Tokyo Olym- fi cials reiterating history and requires a lot remarks as a clear signal pics. The Games were postponed last year due their commit- of negotiating, and in that that gender equality in Japa- to the spread of the novel coronavirus and a re- ment to holding apan’s Olympic Games sense, the question of who nese sports, and society as cent spike in infections in Japan that triggered Wthe Tokyo Games this year faced a “major issue” is qualified for the top job is a whole, remains a distant a state of emergency in some areas has fuelled despite the Covid-19 pan- Jafter the head of the one that requires a decision dream. speculation about whether they can be held demic, several sports will local organising committee by the Tokyo 2020 organis- Momoko Nojo, the head of this summer. Olympic off icials on Wednesday soon resume qualifying for made sexist remarks, To- ing committee,” she said. a group aiming to educate unveiled the first of many Covid-19 rules for athletes with less than six kyo’s governor said yester- Anger over Mori’s com- young people about politics, the Games, which include banning singing and months to go. day, sending a clear signal ments is likely to further said the desire to make the chanting during events and mandating event The pandemic decimated the deepening controversy alienate a Japanese public anger of ordinary citizens participants to wear masks at “all times” except Olympic qualifying across risked tarnishing the global wary of the government’s clear to Mori and the people when eating, sleeping or outdoors. WPA said sporting disciplines last year, event. attempts to hold the Games around him led her and the return to play protocols followed by other with numerous competi- Yoshiro Mori, 83, set off a during the pandemic. Nearly other activists to launch a major sports must serve as a blueprint for the tions postponed or cancelled storm on social media both 80 percent of the public op- petition on Change.org. IOC. The WPA represents some 85,000 athletes before the Games itself was at home and abroad this poses holding the Games in “So many people around me through more than 100 player associations in pushed back a year. week by saying that women The International Olympic She said she’d heard the July, according to the most on Twitter and so on were over 60 countries. As things stand, 61 percent talked too much, in remarks Committee (IOC) said on Tokyo government was recent poll. angry, but I felt that unless of athlete quota places have made in a meeting with the Thursday Mori’s apology fielding complaint calls from Prime Minister Yoshihide these voices were made Kenya’s Kibet gets already been allocated to Japan Olympic Committee had settled the issue, but city residents. Suga said he didn’t have the visible, the fact that so many National Olympic Commit- (JOC). He later retracted the criticism of the octogenar- “I myself was struck speech- authority to demand Mori’s people are upset would four-year ban for violating tees for the July 23-August 8 comments and apologised ian former prime minister less by his comments, resignation, the Jiji news never get across to them,” anti-doping rules Games, with another 25 per- but refused to resign. only grew yesterday. which should not have been agency reported. she told Reuters. cent to be determined by June The incident has cast “The mission of the me- made.” Yasuhiro Yamashita, head By last night, their petition Kenyan distance runner James Kibet has been 29. another dark shadow over tropolis and the organising Later, she said Mori had of the JOC, said Mori’s — “Looking into ‘Dealing handed a four-year ban for anti-doping viola- The remaining 14 percent, the Games, postponed for a committee is to prepare for called and apologised comments went against the with Mori’ and Preventing tions, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said yes- in sports including swim- year due to the coronavirus a safe and secure Games, directly. But she sidestepped Olympic spirit and were in- Recurrences,” launched terday. Kibet was provisionally suspended after ming, tennis, badminton and pandemic, with just months and we are facing a major is- questions about whether appropriate, a view cabinet on Thursday night — had his urine sample collected at the Corsa dei Santi golf, will be decided accord- left before the opening sue,” Tokyo Governor Yuriko she thought he was qualified ministers echoed. gained nearly 68,000 event in Nov. 2019 tested positive for nandrolo- ing to their respective rank- ceremony. Koike said. for the job. Angry and frustrated Japa- signatures. ne and anabolic steroids, which are on World ing systems, the Internation- Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list. Despite al Olympic Committee (IOC) admitting to have committed a doping violation, said last week. Track and fi eld athletes 2020, have already qualifi ed unrest in Belarus apart from Latin America in March and tween China and South Ko- Kibet said the substance could have entered Olympic offi cials unveiled have until June 29 to secure for the Games. the pandemic, with world April. rea — which will determine his body through contaminated meat. Kibet their fi rst Games guidelines qualifi cation through World Triathlon hopefuls, how- championship organisers In handball, the top two Asia’s last entry — is now set also submitted a video recording of a farmer on Wednesday, including Athletics’ rankings pathway, ever, are in limbo because forced to move the June 7-13 teams at tournaments in for April after initially being in the Kenyan town of Eldoret explaining how mandatory mask-wearing, a which will be based on the standings have been frozen event to Cairo from Minsk Norway, France and Ger- scheduled for this month, they farm and feed animals using supplements. ban on chants during events average of an athlete’s top since March. due to safety concerns. many from March 12-14 will marking the fourth time the The AIU argued it is the athlete’s “personal duty and another on the use of fi ve results, with perform- The World Triathlon Ex- Wrestling hopes to hold complete the men’s lineup, tie has been postponed. to ensure no prohibited substance” enters his public transport. ances weighted according to ecutive Board said yester- qualifying events in Europe, while the two best women’s The artistic swimming body. Kibet became the latest Kenyan athlete to So far, only fi ve Olympic the status of the meet. day that it would not restart Asia, and Africa and Oce- teams from events in Spain, qualifi cation event due to be be sanctioned in recent years, a list that includes disciplines have completed The top 10 fi nishers in qualifying until May 1, and ania in March and April, as Hungary and Montenegro held in Tokyo in March as a 2008 Olympic 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop, the qualifi cation process for marathon events at the 2019 would only take a fi nal deci- well as a world qualification (March 19-21) will also head test event for the Games has former Boston and Chicago Marathon winner Tokyo — road and track cy- Doha world championships sion next month. tournament in May, while to Tokyo. also been pushed to May be- Rita Jeptoo and 2016 Olympic marathon cham- cling, equestrian, hockey, and each of the marathon Modern pentathlon has table tennis events will be The two-legged women’s cause of novel coronavirus pion Jemima Sumgong. volleyball and climbing. majors held up to April 5, had to contend with political held in Europe, Asia and soccer qualifying playoff be- restrictions in Japan.

GOLF / PHOENIX OPEN MOTORSPORT Hubbard, NeSmith share lead in Arizona F1 season could start with two

AFP exploded last year. Los Angeles, United States It’s a far cry from the raucous Bahrain races, says Domenicali norm for a tournament that usually attracts some 700,000 Reuters crisis. ark Hubbard bird- over the course of the week. London, United Kingdom “As you know, there is a TBC ied the last four But even with the stadium date there and if it was Portugal it holes at TPC Scotts- style grandstand at the par- would say Portugal and the rea- dale on Thursday to three 16th modifi ed to accom- ormula One could start son why it is not is because the Mjoin Matthew NeSmith atop an modate 2,600 — rather than the the season with two rac- situation is not closed yet. unlikely leaderboard at the US 16,000 that usually pack into es in Bahrain due to the “We will be able to announce PGA Tour Phoenix Open. three levels of hospitality suites Covid-19 pandemic but something in the next days and Hubbard fi red eight birdies surrounding the hole — it was a isF still confi dent of putting on a I have personal meetings this in a career-low round of eight- welcome jolt of energy for play- record 23 rounds, chief executive weekend to decide. One possible under par 63, while NeSmith ers. Stefano Domenicali said on plan B could be the double race in matched his best round on tour “It’s fun,” Rahm said. “It’s Thursday. Bahrain, that is... an opinion on with an eagle and six birdies. great to have actually feed- The current schedule has the the table for our discussion.” The top duo — both in search back when you hit a shot on the Gulf kingdom opening on March Bahrain hosted back-to-back of a fi rst tour title — were one green. We’ve had none of that 28, followed by Imola in Italy races last year, the second on the stroke in front of fellow Ameri- for a while, and sometimes you on April 18. Australia, the regu- Sakhir circuit’s outer layout, and cans Nate Lashley and Sam don’t know if you’re 30 feet lar start to the season, was last is also the venue for pre-season Burns. or three feet. It’s nice to have month postponed to November. testing. It was a further stroke back Thomas couldn’t take advan- — where he was in two bunkers that feedback, to hear the fans Domenicali, who took over at The Italian also said that For- to US Ryder Cup captain Steve tage of the perfect scoring con- and the water hazard. cheering for you.” the helm in January, told a virtual mula One has given up on the Stricker — less than three weeks ditions. Rahm said his closing bogey World number six Rory McIl- media round table that Formula idea of holding reverse-grid races shy of his 54th birthday — who Spain’s Rahm, who attended made the round “feel so much roy, making his Phoenix debut, One had plenty of backup op- in place of qualifying at some had seven birdies in his six-un- college at Arizona State Uni- worse than it really is. was pleased to post a one-un- tions. ready with another possibility grand prix weekends but is still der par 65. versity and has made fi ve starts “To be honest, I was four- der par 70 after opening with a “Everyone was thinking this and we have plans B, C, D.” considering a Saturday sprint World number four Xan- in the Phoenix Open, had four under, bogey-free through 17 double-bogey at the 10th and a year would be easier (than last) The Italian, a former Ferrari format. der Schauff ele had seven bird- birdies in a three-under 68 without having my best.” bogey at 11. but it is not,” he said of dealing boss, said Imola would happen. “What we are looking at... ies in his fi ve-under 66 to head capped by his lone bogey of the And like his rivals, Rahm was “Being three-over through with a virus that has closed bor- A space remains to be fi lled on (is) what could be the approach a group of six players sharing day at the 18th. delighted to be playing in front two isn’t ideal, especially on ders, sent nations into lockdown May 2 where Vietnam would have of the so-called sprint race on sixth place. Thomas posted a one-under of 5,000 fans — the most al- this golf course where you sort and imposed quarantine on trav- been. Portugal had been lined up Saturday. We are thinking if this But world number two Jon par 70 that included a triple- lowed into a PGA Tour event of need to make birdies,” McIl- ellers. to fi ll that but now looks uncer- could be tested already this year,” Rahm and third-ranked Justin bogey seven at the par-four 17th since the coronavirus pandemic roy said. “We are fl uid and fl exible to be tain due to the country’s health he added. Gulf Times Saturday, February 6, 2021 7 SPORT

RUGBY Centre parting as England-Scotland marks 150th anniversary

AFP it should be an intense match.” London Scotland’s hopes of ending their winless run at Twickenham may be aided by the absence of spectators at ugby Union’s oldest interna- the 80,000 capacity stadium, with tional rivalry will feature two Saturday’s match taking place behind of the sport’s youngest talents closed doors in response to the Cov- when England begin their Six id-19 pandemic. NationsR title defence against Scotland “It is an opportunity with no crowds, today. you can’t deny it, but you have got to Ollie Lawrence and Cameron Red- take the opportunity,” said Townsend. path were once England Under-20 “It becomes more of a neutral venue teammates but the centres will be on but you have got to make sure you play opposite sides in a Twickenham match rugby, and not wait for any lack of that marks the 150th anniversary of the crowd noise to help you.” fi rst England-Scotland clash. Meanwhile, Farrell and his fellow Lawrence, whose Test chances have England internationals at Saracens – been bolstered by Manu Tuilagi’s long- Elliot Daly, Billy Vunipola, Maro Itoje term Achilles injury, joins Henry Slade and Jamie George – head into the game in a midfi eld where England captain lacking competitive match action this Owen Farrell has been moved to fl y- England’s Ollie Lawrence during a training session in Twickenham Stadium in season. Saracens were relegated to the half, with regular No 10 George Ford London yesterday. (Reuters) Championship at the end of last term Scotland’s Cameron Redpath during a training session yesterday. (Reuters) now on the bench. for breaches of the Premiership sal- “We feel this is the right balance,” debut as the Scots go in search of a fi rst same fearless mindset of wanting to ary cap but the start of the second-tier Finn Russell took them to the brink of fully utilise their resources by playing said England coach Eddie Jones. win over England at Twickenham since take on the opposition,” he said. league campaign has been delayed by an astounding win before Ford’s last- a more expansive game. “It’s a good combination of Owen’s 1983. Townsend, a former Scotland inter- the impact of the coronavirus. gasp converted try saw the match end “We allowed ourselves to be seduced tactical acumen, Henry’s running skills Scotland coach Gregor Townsend, national, was clear about the enduring Jones, however, said the enforced in a 38-38 draw. Fit again fl y-half Rus- by the scoreboard,” said Jones as he re- and left-foot kicking and Ollie’s power. only nine-years-old at the time of that signifi cance of Test rugby’s foundation break had been a “godsend” for the sell is ready to orchestrate Scotland’s fl ected on the 2019 encounter. “He (Lawrence) runs good lines and success, had no qualms however, about match. players concerned, adding: “They’ve attack again this weekend, but former “It seduced us into playing a way is a good defensive player. He’ll add a throwing the son of former Dark Blues “The fi rst game of the tournament, come in fresh, they’ve got a spring in playmaker Townsend warned against that suited Scotland and invited them bit of punch to the backline.” scrum-half Bryan Redpath in at the we play for one of the oldest trophies their step.” relying on “one or two players”. back into the game,” the veteran Aus- Lawrence will be winning just his deep end. in sport, 142 years since we have played Scotland almost ended their Twick- That match left its mark on England tralian coach added. fourth cap but fellow 21-year-old Red- “I have been really impressed with for the Calcutta Cup, 150 years since enham hoodoo two years ago when, and may well explain why a team re- “Since then we’ve been working path is even less experienced, with the him in games where, maybe away from this game was fi rst played,” he said. having been all but beaten at 31-0 be- nowned for their forward power have very hard to make sure that we just play Bath midfi elder set to make his Test home or up against it, he has had that “So the rivalry will always be there and hind, a second-half rally inspired by largely resisted subsequent calls to each minute of the game.”

CRICKET FOCUS Farrell hands Six Nations debut to Bowlers revive Ireland wing Lowe

AFP The Irish beat Wales twice Dublin last year as the Welsh struggled to adapt to new coach Wayne Pivac and went from 2019 Six ew Zealand-born Nations Grand Slam winners to West Indies in wing James Lowe is fi nishing second from bottom. set to start for Ire- But Farrell said he did not land against Wales on believe “for one second” that NSunday as Andy Farrell’s men Wales were no longer the force seek to end an eight-year wait they were. for a Six Nations win in Cardiff . “Our boys are very familiar The 28-year-old Lowe im- with them,” he said. “We know pressed in the Autumn Nations how good they are, especially Bangladesh Test Cup but was then sidelined when under pressure. with a groin injury, only re- “It is a huge game for both turning to training last month. teams and it will be a war of at- ‘I am stepping into the right direction. But I was very disappointed at the way I got out’ He has been preferred to his trition.” Leinster teammate Jordan Lar- Hugo Keenan gets a chance AFP mour, who missed the Nations to impress at full-back with Chittagong, Bangladesh Cup due to injury and fi nds Jacob Stockdale out injured. himself on the replacements’ British and Irish Lions prop bench. Tadhg Furlong is named on he West Indies claimed three Farrell, speaking after the the bench despite not having quick wickets in the second in- team was announced on Friday, played rugby since Ireland’s nings to restore some parity in the said Lowe should not be seen as defeat by England last Febru- fi rst Test against Bangladesh in a surprise pick. ary. Billy Burns appears to be ChittagongT yesterday. “He is not in our eyes,” said the favoured successor to Sex- The hosts on the third day stumps the Ireland head coach. “He is ton as the England-born Ulster reached 47-3, stretching their 171-run fi rst a great player and right for this fl y-half is preferred to Ross innings lead to 218 after bowling out the game. Byrne on the bench. West Indies for 259 runs earlier in the day. “He has been in great form “We (coaching staff ) liked The Windies, after losing the last fi ve and Jordan too has not played what we saw in training,” said wickets for only six runs after Kraigg much rugby.” Farrell. Brathwaite smashed 76 and Jermaine Johnny Sexton, embarking “We put them under tre- Blackwood added 68, hit back almost on his 12th Six Nations cam- mendous pressure and I immediately through spinner Rahkeem paign, will skipper the side as thought Billy would give us Cornwall. they bid to win their fi rst Six some dynamism off the bench.” The right arm off -break removed open- Nations match in the Welsh er Tamim Iqbal and one-down Najmul capital since 2013. TEAM (15-1): Hossain for ducks in the second over of the Fly-half Sexton is one of fi ve Hugo Keenan; Keith Earls, innings before Shannon Gabriel bounced players from that team to be in- Garry Ringrose, Robbie Hen- out other opener Shadman Islam for fi ve volved in Sunday’s match. shaw, James Lowe; Johnny runs. His half-back partner, Sexton (capt), Conor Murray; Skipper Mominul Haque stemmed the Conor Murray, is another of CJ Stander, Josh van der Flier, rot to stay 31 not out at close alongside them, along with prop Cian Peter O’Mahony; James Ryan, Mushfi qur Rahim with 10 not out. “Some Healy, who makes his 50th Six Tadhg Beirne; Andrew Porter, 250 runs are enough to win in this wicket. Nations appearance. Rob Herring, Cian Healy But the way we bowled in the fi rst session, Farrell said that even though Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, if do that it will be tough to win... we are many pundits have made Ire- Dave Kilcoyne, Tadhg Furlong, expecting now to give them a target of land favourites to end that poor Iain Henderson, Will Connors, 300 to 350 runs,” said Bangladesh spinner run, he and the team would not Jamison Gibson Park, Billy Taijul Islam. be taking Wales for granted. Burns, Jordan Larmour The early fi fties of Brathwaite and Blackwood gave the West Indies hopes of going close to Bangladesh’s total of 430 before their fi rst innings came to an abrupt France count on Dupont’s electric form end. Mehidy Hasan, who scored high- to spark Six Nations campaign est with 103 in Bangladesh’s fi rst innings, triggered the collapse to fi nish with 4-58 France will be counting on the dynamic form of star scrum-half as the West Indies were bowled out soon Antoine Dupont to energise their Six Nations campaign starting after the tea break. today against Italy in Rome. The visitors owed their total to Black- The 24-year-old, the Six Nations player of the tournament last wood who shared a 99-run partnership West Indies’ Rahkeem Cornwall (third from left) celebrates with teammates after taking the wickets of Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal (left) year, has been on an upward trajectory since making his France with Joshua Da Silva (42) for the sixth on the third day of the first Test at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong yesterday. (AFP) debut in 2017 against Italy in the Stadio Olimpico. wicket to help them recover from 154-5. France were runners-up in 2020 with the same number of Off -spinners Nayeem Hasan and Me- Scorecard points as champions England, who they beat in Paris, but with a hidy dismissed Da Silva and Blackwood in poorer points diff erence. successive overs just before the break to BANGLADESH 1st innings 430 J. Warrican b Taijul 4 BANGLADESH 2nd innings Dupont’s athleticism, running 249m with ball in hand in the com- end their resistance. WEST INDIES (overnight 75-2) S. Gabriel not out 0 S. Islam c Da Silva b Gabriel 5 petition and with a championship-high 12 off loads, lifted France Da Silva, who was dropped by Najmul even though they missed out on their first trophy since 2010. K. Brathwaite b Nayeem 76 Extras (lb 1, nb4) 5 T. Iqbal Lbw b Cornwall 0 off Taijul at 24, edged Nayeem to wicket- On Saturday, fly-half Matthieu Jalibert will partner Dupont with keeper Liton Das in the penultimate over J. Campbell lbw b Mustafizur 3 Total (all out; 96.1 overs) 259 N. Hossain c Blackwood b Cornwall 0 Toulouse teammate Romain Ntamack, the top scorer in last of the session. S. Moseley lbw Mustafizur 2 Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Campbell), 2-24 (Mose- M. Haque not out 31 year’s tournament, out with a double jaw fracture. Blackwood, who faced 146 balls and N. Bonner c Najmul b Taijul 17 ley) 3-75 (Bonner), 4-130 (Brathwaite), 5-154 M. Rahim not out 10 “It’s been 10 years since there was a French victory, so there’s a struck nine boundaries, fell in the next ( Mayers,), 6-253 (Da Silva), 7-253 (Black- lot of desire,” said Dupont, as the three-time world runners-up over, edging Mehidy to Liton down the leg. K. Mayers lbw b Mehidy 40 wood), 8-253 (Roach), 9-259 (Cornwall), Extras (nb1) 1 look to get back winning to lay the groundwork for the 2023 “It was very frustrating. I really wanted J. Blackwood c Liton b Mehidy 68 10-259 ( Warrican) Total (three wickets; 20 overs) 47 World Cup at home. to convert more of these half centuries J. Da Silva c Liton b Nayeem 42 Bowlers: R Mustafizur 15-4-46-2 (nb1), Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Tamim), 2-1 (Najmul), “I joined Toulouse like the French team during a generation into centuries. I am stepping into the right Shakib 6-1-16-0, Mehidy 26-9-58-4(nb1), 3-33 (Shadman) change,” said the player for south-west, who arrived at the Top direction. But I was very disappointed at R. Cornwall b Mehidy 2 Taijul 33.1-11-84-2 (nb2), Nayeem 16-1-54-2 14 side in 2017, the year he won the first of his 27 France caps. the way I got out,” said Blackwood. K. Roach c Sub b Mehidy 0 Bowling: Roach 4-1-5-0 (nb1), Cornwall 9-1- “Periods of transition are always complicated. The renewal in Brathwaite earlier provided the West In- 28-2, Gabriel 6-0-13-1, Warrican 1-0-1-0. the French team, whether the staff or the players, has done a lot dies with some momentum after they lost of good. three crucial wickets in the morning ses- Taijul spun the length ball sharply to an error of judgement cost the West Indies fore for 40 to compound the West Indies’ “We were able to start again on a healthy basis.” sion. take the outside edge of Bonner, who at- skipper his wicket. Brathwaite wanted problems. The arrival of head coach Fabien Galthie and a new coaching Resuming on 75-2, the West Indies suf- tempted to defend but ended up giving a to leave the ball from Nayeem but it spun Bangladesh were one bowler short on staff has pushed the team in the right direction, Dupont believes. fered a blow in the fi rst ball of the day when catch to Najmul at fi rst slip. more than he expected, smashing onto his the third day after Shakib Al Hasan picked “I’ve never seen such a large staff . Almost as many (coaches) as left-arm spinner Taijul removed Nkrumah Brathwaite and debutant Kyle Mayers off -stump. up a fresh groin injury. He appears unlikely players!” he said. Bonner for 17. put on 55 runs for the fourth wicket before Mehidy soon trapped Mayers leg-be- to participate further in the game.

Saturday, February 6, 2021 GULF TIMES SPORT

KATARA INTERNATIONAL ARABIAN HORSE FESTIVAL — TITLE SHOW Qualifying comes to a close, championship round today Ministers make a visit; Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Noft Alnayfat and Sundown KA top a class each

By Mikhil Bhat Doha

he Title Show at the Ka- tara International Ara- bian Horse Festival saw some top quality fi eld Tstrutting around on the beach- front on the fi nal day of qualify- ing classes yesterday. The Festival was yesterday vis- ited by HE the Minister of Jus- tice and Acting Minister of State for the Cabinet Aff airs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi, HE the Minister of Finance Ali Sherif al- Emadi, and a number of envoys to Qatar. Prof. Khalid bin Ibrahim HE the Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Aff airs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi al-Sulaiti, General Manager of HE the Minister of Finance Ali Sherif al-Emadi (right) and Prof. Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, General Manager (right) and Prof. Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara, and Chairman of the Organizing Katara, and Chairman of the Or- of Katara, and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, at the Festival yesterday. Committee, at the Festival yesterday. ganizing Committee, honoured the sponsors of the festival. tar National Arabian Horse Show, With a total prize money of reached the championship round QR13mn, the show, which will yet again with 92.83 points. Nasser conclude with the championship Mohamed al-Hajri’s Wasa (92.17), round today, is of the highest the 2018 mares champion in the quality with contenders from as Qatar national show, rounded out many as 12 countries participat- the top three. ing over the course of four days. In the final qualifying class The Title Show is being con- of the Title Show, class 12 for ducted and organised by Katara, 11-plus-year-old stallions, Al together with Qatar Equestrian Shaqab’s Fadi Al Shaqab took Federation, and Qatar Racing and the win after being rewarded Equestrian Club (QREC). 91.75 points. Nasser Mohamed Yesterday, as many as 69 Ara- al-Hajri’s Al Milan was sec- bian horses participated in the ond with 90.83 points. Al Reeh fi ve qualifying classes for mares Stud’s Om El Sanadeed edged and stallions. out al-Hajri-owned Gazwan Top three from the qualifying the biggest points haul yesterday, third respectively. The former at the Qatar National Arabian Al Dana al-Meslemani (Al Thu- it today’s medal round with 91.75 Al Nasser, bronze winner last classes across yearling, junior in class 8B for seven-ten-year- was ranked higher on move after Show in December 2019, Falah mama Stud) won the fi rst quali- points. month, on type for third place and senior categories will reach old mares. Sheikh Jassim’s con- both the horses tied on overall Al Shaqab (92.17), owned by fying class of the day, 8A for Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser al- in the class after the two were the championship round for the tenders had topped three quali- points and type. Al Shaqab — Member of Qa- seven-ten-year-old mares with Thani’s (Al Nasser Stud) Rihab Al tied at 90.50 points. respective categories. fying classes on Thursday. Sheikh Jassim had another tar Foundation, was second. Al 92.75 points. In second spot was Nasser, mares champion at the The Title Show will conclude HE Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa Yesterday, HE Sheikh Al Qaqa qualifying class topper in Sun- Shahaniya Stud’s EKS Mansour, Al Asayel Stud’s Fattam Al Nass- 2018 AHO World Cup in France, today with the championship al-Thani-owned horses contin- bin Hamad al-Thani’s Bavi- down KA. With 94 points from champion in Deauville in 2016, er, bronze winner in the 22nd earned 93.17 points for the win in rounds for yearling fi llies, year- ued to shine yesterday with Noft era HVP and Aijana, owned by the judges, the grey horse topped was third with 91.92 points. Qatar National Arabian Horse class 9 for 11-plus-year-old mares. ling colts, junior fi llies, junior Alnayfat impressing the judges Al Shaqab — Member of Qatar class 11 for seven-ten-year-old The 2018 Polish national Show, with 92.42 points, while Al Shahaniya Stud’s Piacenza, colts, senior mares and senior enough to amass 94.17 points, Foundation, were second and stallions. The gold champion champion, Galerida, owned by Kaheel Stud’s Mouniraj too made bronze winner at last month’s Qa- stallions.

CRICKET / IND VS ENG, 1ST TEST, DAY 1 CRICKET / PAK VS RSA, 2ND TEST, DAY 2 Root celebrates milestone with Nortje takes fi ve-for to restrict ton as England punish India Reuters Pakistan, but hosts fi ght back Chennai, India Reuters Rawalpindi, Pakistan ngland’s Joe Root cel- ebrated his 100th Test with an unbeaten 128 nrich Nortje took fi ve against India as he and wickets as Pakistan openerE Dom Sibley put the tour- were dismissed for ists in a commanding position in 272 but South Africa’s the opening match on Friday. strugglesA with the bat in the The England captain had de- sub-continent continued as manded a big fi rst-innings total they limped to 106 for four at from his team after electing to the close on the second day of bat at Chennai’s MA Chidambar- the second test in Rawalpindi am Stadium. yesterday. When they threatened to Captain Quinton de Kock (24 squander their strong start, Root not out from 11 balls) and Temba partnered Sibley in a marathon Bavuma (15 not out) survived in 200-run stand to help England the gloom at the close, but the post a strong 263-3 at stumps. tourists still trail by 166 runs Root’s unbeaten knock was and will be looking for a coun- studded with 14 boundaries and ter-punch on day three. a six. Sibley made 87 before Jas- South Africa have passed 300 prit Bumrah trapped him lbw just three times in their last 25 with the fi nal delivery of the day. innings on the sub-continent, “Really pleased with the po- and have been prone to spec- sition we’ve got ourselves into tacular collapses, as they seek to now,” Root told the broadcasters level the two-match series after after the opening day’s play. a seven wicket defeat in the fi rst “Bit of a shame to lose Dom at test in Karachi. the end of the day there but we’re England’s Joe Root celebrates after reaching his century against India Nortje (5-56) was superb with just going to try and match that on the first day of the first Test in Chennai, India, yesterday. (BCCI) the ball, his aggression and ac- again tomorrow, make use of a curacy leading to a third fi ve- South Africa’s Anrich Nortje (right) celebrates after the dismissal of Pakistan’s Nauman Ali (not pictured) really strong fi rst day.” Root, who suff ered cramps to- wicket haul in tests to restrict on the second day of the second Test in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, yesterday. (AFP) Root later told reporters: “I Scorecard wards the end, provided a tem- Pakistan to a manageable fi rst think we’ve got to look to try and plate for playing spin bowling, innings score. ENGLAND 1st innings get as many as we can - 600, 700 using his feet and frequently South Africa’s openers Dean Scorecard if we can, really try and make the R. Burns c Pant b Ashwin 33 playing the sweep shot after his Elgar (15) and Aiden Markram PAKISTAN 1st innings (o/n 145-3) Extras (b2, lb2, nb5) 9 A. Markram c S. Shah b N. Ali 32 most of the fi rst innings while it’s D. Sibley lbw b Bumrah 87 early caution against Ashwin. were positive at the start of the good.” India, playing their fi rst home innings, but disaster struck as I Butt c de Kock b Maharaj 15 Total (114.3 overs, all out) 272 R. van der Dussen b H. Ali 0 D. Lawrence lbw b Bumrah 0 Root won an important toss series since the Covid-19 pan- they lost two wickets in the fi- Abid Ali c Markram b Nortje 6Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Butt), 2-21 F. du Plessis c Rizwan b Ashraf 17 and unsurprisingly elected to bat, J. Root not out 128 demic struck last year, looked nal two balls of the middle ses- Azhar Ali lbw b Maharaj 0(Azhar Ali), 3-22 (Abid Ali), 4-145 T. Bavuma not out 15 avoiding the potentially tricky Extras (lb4, nb11) 15 sloppy in the fi eld with several sion. (Azam), 5-149 (Alam), 6-190 B Azam c du Plessis b Nortje 77 Q. de Kock not out 24 task of batting in the fourth in- Total (89.3overs, 3 wickets) 263 misfi elds while Pant dropped a Elgar was caught by wicket- (Rizwan), 7-221 (H. Ali), 8-251 (Y. nings on a crumbling wicket. low catch to reprieve Burns early keeper Mohamed Rizwan off the F Alam run out 45 Shah), 9-272 (N. Ali) Extras (nb3) 3 England got off to a steady Fall of wickets: 1-63 (Burns), in his innings. bowling of Hasan Ali (2-29), and M Rizwan c Rabada b Nortje 18 Bowling: Rabada 21-2-72-0, Total (28 overs; for four wkts) 106 start with a 63-run stand be- 2-63 (Lawrence), 3-263 (Sibley) They bowled 11 no-balls, four the very next delivery Rassie van Nortje 24.3-8-56-5 (3nb), Maha- tween Sibley and Rory Burns but Bowling: Sharma 15-3-27-0 of them by left-arm spinner der Dussen was deceived by a F Ashraf not out 78 Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Elgar), 2-26 raj 45-11-90-3, Linde 5.5-2-4-0, faltered ahead of the lunch break. (nb4), Bumrah 18.3-2-40-2 Shahbaz Nadeem. ball that kept low and clattered H Ali c Elgar b Maharaj 8 (Dussen), 3-55 (du Plessis), 4-81 Elgar 1.1-0-6-0, Mulder 17-7-40-1 Burns made 33 before at- (nb3), Ashwin, 24-2-68-1, Na- Bumrah, playing his fi rst Test into his stumps. (Markram) Y Shah c and b Mulder 8(2nb) tempting a reckless reverse- deem 20-3-69-0 (nb4), Sundar on home soil, said there was not Faf du Plessis (17) looked Bowling: S. Shah 5-1-19-0, H. Ali N Ali c Markram b Nortje 8 sweep against Ravichandran 12-0-55-0 much help from the pitch. in control until he inexplica- SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 5-0-29-2 (nb3), Ashraf 5-0-16-1, N. S Shah c Elgra b Nortje 0 Ashwin and off ering a simple “The ball became soft, the bly tried to cut a wide Faheem D. Elgar c Rizwan b H. Ali 15 Ali 9-5-19-1, Y. Shah 4-1-23-0 catch to Rishabh Pant. hind the stumps. wicket was on the fl atter side and Ashraf delivery and edged to Bumrah then trapped Dan His battle against Ashwin is the bounce was low — we were Rizwan. Lawrence lbw for a duck but Root one of the sub-plots of the four- left with limited options,” he told The visitors were dealt a innings on 145 for three but lost centurion from the fi rst test, Fa- morning. and Sibley denied India a wicket Test series and the England cap- a video conference. further blow when left-arm their two set batsmen from the wad Alam (45) was run out by a Faheem Ashraf picked up the in the steady second session. tain took a single off the spinner “We put some pressure but spinner Nauman Ali deceived day before in quick succession. direct hit from Bavuma. momentum with a superb un- Root survived an early run- to bring up his 20th hundred. gave away 20-25 extra runs in Markram (32) and the lat- Captain Babar Azam (77) Babar and Fawad had put on beaten 78, but ran out of part- out chance and the lack of carry Root jumped in celebration the last session. We’ll come back ter chipped a simple catch to edged the second delivery of 127 for the fourth wicket to res- ners as Nortje chipped away at in the wicket meant a couple of while India counterpart Virat tomorrow and put pressure on Shaheen Shah at mid-wicket. the morning from Nortje to Du cue the home side from a pre- the wickets column to leave the edges fell short of the fi elders be- Kohli clapped. them again.” Pakistan had resumed their Plessis at second slip, before the carious 22 for three on the fi rst home side all out just before tea.