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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2014 SPORTS

MADRID: Serbia’s centre Nenad Krstic (left) vies with France’s centre MADRID: An acrobat performs during the 2014 FIBA World championships semifinal match France vs Serbia at the Palaciode los during the 2014 FIBA World basketball championships semifinal match France vs Deportes in Madrid on September 12, 2014. Serbia won 90-85. — AFP Serbia at the Palacio de los Deportes in Madrid on September 12, 2014. — AFP Serbia hold off France to reach final

MADRID: Serbia held off France 90-85 in the other Serbs had 10 points as they defeated Spain even though did score 35 15 after one quarter. Serbia opened the sec- quickly got the lead to the magical 10-point semi-finals of the 2014 FIBA Basketball World France, who had beaten hosts and major title points - 17 of those in the fourth quarter - and ond quarter with a 10-0 run for a 30-15 lead, barrier. And then Diaw, Batum and Evan Cup in Madrid on Friday to set up a title fight contenders Spain in the quarters. “What can I had 13. and a 7-0 surge later in the quarter pushed the Fournier all nailed three-pointers to cut the against undefeated reigning champions the say about Milos? He’s our leader. He is one of The reigning European champions now margin to 18 points - 43-25. The Serbs were Serbian lead down to 65-61 with five minutes United States. Serbia won five world titles as the best point guards in the world. But this face off against Lithuania in the game for third leading 46-32 at the break - thanks to Teodosic to play. Bogdanovic came up with a big three- part of Yugoslavia as recently as 2002 but they was a great team performance,” said Nikola place, looking for their first-ever podium fin- scoring 10 points in the second period. pointer and layup to keep France at at bay and now have reached their first final since inde- Kalinic. In their first worlds as Serbia, the ish. France’s previous best showing was fourth France tried to get back into the game but then Teodosic’s three-pointer made it 77-68 pendence. They next play the United States Balkan giants reached the third place game in in 1954. France were able to stay with Serbia in they could not get enough defensive stops. with three minutes left. Batum, Diaw and who beat Lithuania 96-68 in Barcelona on 2010 but lost to Lithuania. But Sasha first five minutes before Teodosic really began ’s team cut the gap to 53-41 but all knocked down three- Thursday. Djordjevic’s men have secured at least second to take control of the game. The playmaker Serbia continued to have an answer for every pointers to trim the gap to 82-79 but France Milos Teodosic led the way with 24 points place this time around. France were unable to had six points and one in an 11-0 run to France push and the advantage was 61-46 couldn’t stop Serbia at the other end as they while Bogdan Bogdanovic had 13 and three repeat their dazzling performance against give Serbia a 20-10 lead. The cushion was 21- after 30 minutes. France did not give up and coasted into Sunday’s final.—AFP High demand for the Rugby WCup tickets

LONDON: Some supporters had to wait for ing in a queue, so that’s pretty good and up to an hour online when tickets for next there haven’t been any technological year’s Rugby World Cup in England went on issues.” general sale on Friday. However, England Meanwhile Jevans warned fans not to Rugby 2015 chief executive Debbie Jevans buy tickets from unauthorized secondary insisted the computer system had worked websites which in some cases were adver- well but that demand was “high” with up to tising tickets for more than 10 times their 50,000 people waiting in a queue. value. One site was even offering a ticket Officials reminded fans that they could for the final at £8,870 ($14,428, 11,130 wait to submit their application until the euros) when the most expensive official sales window closes on September 29 price is £715. “We don’t know if that ticket because tickets will be distributed via a bal- exists,” said Jevans. “I am passionate that we lot rather than on a first-come-first-served have our tickets at face value and getting basis. “Applications have gone really well. to fans. I don’t like seeing tickets as com- The queue time was about an hour, which modities, I want to see them getting into is what we anticipated. There’s been good the hands of people who want to watch enthusiasm,” Jevans said. “We were able to the event.” Over-subscribed games will be have thousands of people on the site at the decided via a ballot after the sales window same time and it’s been going well. “People shuts on September 29. Prices for adults are applying for tickets across all 48 match- range from £15 for low-profile group es and that’s what made me really pleased. games up to £715 for the most expensive “At one point there were over 50,000 wait- seat for the final at Twickenham.— AFP Political football as competition starts SEOUL: Japan and hosts South Korea will get Cup experience: goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu, LA ROCHELLE: La Rochelle’s captain Uini Atonio (center) is tackled by Castres’s Ray Kockott (left) and Piula Faasalele (right) during the the Asian Games off to an unofficial start today Mainz 05 defender Park Joo-Ho and 6ft 5in French Top 14 rugby union match La Rochelle vs Castres on September 12, 2014 at the Marcel Deflandre stadium in La Rochelle, southwest- when the bitter rivals begin their bids for glory (1.95m) Ulsan Hyundai striker Kim Shin-Wook. ern France. —AFP in what could be a tense football competition. “He has great skills for a player his size. I think Former war-time aggressor Japan, the defend- he should really thrive against Asian oppo- ing champions, can expect a frosty reception nents,” said Lee of Kim Shin-Wook. Iran, whose La Rochelle overpower by home fans as they taste their first action in four titles remains an Asian Games record, are Incheon, five days before the opening ceremo- expected to be Japan and South Korea’s clos- ny. Officials will be braced for a repeat of their est challengers in the men’s competition. controversial London Olympics clash if both Twenty-nine countries will compete across Castres; Bobo runs riot Japan and South Korea, bracketed in separate eight groups, with the top two progressing to groups, reach the October 2 final. the knockout stages. Each squad is restricted In 2012, after South Korea won 2-0 to to under-23s and three over-age players. In the PARIS: Veteran Fijian winger Sireli Bobo ran riot this victory and we achieved it.” Collazo’s men Murimurivalu notched up a fourth try for the secure the bronze medal, Park Jong-Woo held women’s, Japan are grouped with three-time as he helped lift newly-promoted La Rochelle off could also thank the indiscipline of their visitors hosts after 55 minutes to extend their lead to 34- up a sign saying “Dokdo is our territory”, refer- winners China. They also can expect a chal- the bottom of the Top 14 table with a 41-16 vic- during a balanced first half, and their scrum-half 16. La Rochelle did not crack faced with Castres ring to a highly charged dispute over a group lenge from 2002 and 2006 champions North tory which piled more misery on Castres. Julien Audy who proved effective with the boot, attempts to break through and managed to pick of islands. Park was hit by a two-match ban but Korea, who have reached the last four finals. Castres, the 2013 champions and last season’s accounting for 19 of the hosts points on the up their first bonus point of the season two min- it did not stop rival groups of Korean and Japan coach Norio Sasaki, constrained by his Top 14 runners-up, are in huge difficulty since night. utes from time when Bobo’s dramatic 90 metres Japanese fans unfurling political banners European-based players’ club commitments, their opening defeat to Stade Francais, and now La Rochelle flyhalf Jean-Pascal Barraque run bore fruit to earn him a standing ovation. “We when the sides met at last year’s East Asia Cup. has picked some new faces alongside highly prop up the bottom of the table after five opened with a try after 12 minutes which was can’t deny we’re in a critical situation with just six A final between Japan and South Korea would decorated stalwarts like Aya Miyama.— AFP matches. duly converted by Audy as Castres multiplied points in four matches,” admitted Castres deputy mean a security headache for organisers in Bobo, 38, touched down two of his side’s four the errors to trail 19-9 at the break. Back from coach David Darricarrere. “But it’s not a reason to what would be a game brimming with emo- tries to the delight of the close on 15,000 specta- the locker room Bobo once again punished bury our heads in a bucket. We’re in for the long tion and national pride. tors at Stade Marcel-Deflandre on the atlantic Castres before Rory Kockott, who scored 11 of haul. “There are reasons to believe that the sky Apart from a gold medal, some players in coast. “With more conviction we showed that the visitors points, reacted with pride to set up will be clearer tomorrow. We must quickly regain the under-23 line-ups will be hoping to secure things can work,” said La Rochelle coach Patrice centre Thomas Combezou who touched down stability and confidence,” he added. La Rochelle a spot in their senior teams for next year’s Collazo. “There was battle, commitment. We won Castres’ only try on the night. However, the final move up to 10th in the 14-team table ahead of Asian Cup, where Japan are also defending because we did things in order. We went after glimmer for Castres faded when Fiji back Kini yesterday’s full program of games.—AFP champions. Korean patience would be sorely tested if Japan do the double by also winning gold in the women’s competition, where their “Nadeshiko” are the world, Asian and defend- Formula E: Prost, Senna start at ing Asiad champions. For Japan’s men’s coach Makoto Teguramori, the goal is simple: rein- forcing their status as the dominant force in opposite ends of the electric grid Asian football. “We want to show that Japan are Asia’s number one side,” Teguramori said. BEIJING: Two of motorsports’ most famous third on the grid after he clocked one minute ner, there is a crossing for pedestrians that “Our team is united and we can be flexible names start the first ever Formula E race for 42.454 seconds. Prost, 33, who races for the E changes the grid, and many other things, so with tactics,” he added. “We will be going for a electric cars at opposite ends of the grid in Dams Renault team co-founded by his father, each corner is actually very different, so that win in each match and I want to bring out the Beijing, with Nicolas Prost taking pole position crashed into the barriers on one of his four complexity during these laps makes it very dif- best in every player.” in Beijing and Bruno Senna second from last. laps, but said there was no damage to his car. ficult to race.” Frenchman Prost, the son of four-time F1 cham- He felt “fantastic” with his qualifying, he The first-ever Formula E race takes place in Back-to-back trophies pion Alain, went some way to meeting the said, in his first street race since 2005. “To be the shadow of the Bird’s Nest stadium in the Today’s eight matches constitute the first heavy expectations on his shoulders by clock- honest I was a bit worried, but in the end it Chinese capital. The series will see 10 races on competition of the Asian Games, which ing the best lap on the 3.453-kilometre circuit turned out OK,” he added. “I was very disap- different street circuits around the world encompass 36 sports offering 439 gold medals MANILA: Members of the Palestinian with a time of one minute 42.200 seconds. pointed with myself because my first lap was involving 20 drivers from 10 different teams, and close on October 4. Japan kick off their football team stretch as they take part But Senna, the nephew of Ayrton Senna, obviously very good but my second lap I was with British tycoon Branson and Hollywood campaign against Kuwait, while three-time in a training session during an invita- suffered a miserable afternoon after his car flying, I was much quicker, and I messed it up, actor Leonardo DiCaprio backing one team winners South Korea take on Malaysia in their tional tournament in Manila. The failed to start in qualifying, meaning he was to so I was a bit disappointed with myself but in each. While Senna did not take part in qualify- opening match today. The Koreans had to set- Palestinian team’s under-23 side will begin the race in 19th position. Prost was more the end it was enough and it feels just great.” ing because of a “battery issue” with his car, an tle for bronze four years ago and they haven’t also play at the Asian Games in Incheon than a tenth of a second ahead of second- Prost compared the track to an American street official at his team, Mahindra Racing, told AFP won gold since Seoul 1986, something coach this month. The Asian Games will be placed Brazilian Lucas Di Grassi, whose fastest circuit, while di Grassi said it was challenging that he would be racing. Nelson Piquet Junior, Lee Kwang-Jong will be keen to rectify. held from September 19 to October 4, lap was one minute 42.306. Di Grassi’s team- given that “each corner has its own peculiarity”. also the son of a former motor sport great, will His squad includes three players with World 2014. — AFP mate at Audi Sport ABT, Daniel Abt, will be “The tarmac changes in the middle of the cor- start the race in 10th spot.— AFP