TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 SPORTS Golden oldie ‘Kazu’ breaks goal record - at 49

TOKYO: Twinkle-toed former Japan striker Miura celebrated with his trademark tap flight is the Brazilian legend Zico, who was believe in yourself.” Miura, dubbed King mer coach Takeshi Okada before the coun- Kazuyoshi Miura proved he has no plans to dance, albeit slightly slower than in his hey- 41. Closing in on his half century, Miura Kazu at the peak of his powers in the early try’s first World Cup appearance in 1998, it shuffle off into the sunset after the 49-year- day. “You have to be very determined to credited baseball superstar Ichiro Suzuki, 1990s when he was Asia’s best-known foot- triggered a national debate. old rewrote his own record as the J-League’s keep going for 31 years and still score goals,” who at 42 recently set his own personal baller, is Japan’s second-highest goalscorer Unperturbed, Miura defiantly offered his oldest goal scorer. Miura told local media. “I felt I could get a milestone by notching 4,257 career hits, with 55 goals in 89 matches. He blazed a services for the 2010 World Cup in South “King Kazu”, who is playing in his 31st goal today,” added Japan’s erstwhile poster passing Pete Rose’s Major League Baseball trail for Japanese players when he joined Africa-with no apparent hint of irony-at the season as a professional, scored with a rare boy, who reached his latest milestone aged record total. “(Ichiro) taught me how impor- Italy’s Genoa in 1994, although a broken ripe old age of 43. Okada, in his second header for Yokohama FC on Sunday in his 49 years, three months and 24 days. “But I tant it is to keep chipping away to reach nose on his debut took some of the gloss spell as coach, politely declined. side’s 2-1 defeat at home to FC Gifu in the should be scoring more if I’m honest,” bigger goals,” Miura said, his pin-up looks off his trumpeted arrival. Miura finally got his dream to play for Japanese second division. Thought to be Japan’s Kyodo news agency quoted him as latterly replaced by a few grey hairs and tell- When the former Dinamo Zagreb player Japan in a World Cup at 45, albeit in the fut- the world’s oldest professional footballer, saying. The oldest goal scorer in Japan’s top tale wrinkles. “The important thing is to was axed from the Japanese squad by for- sal version in Thailand. — AFP US dream of Copa America shock against Argentina

HOUSTON: Jurgen Klinsmann is daring to Privately however Klinsmann will be dream that the United States can pull off attempting to solve the puzzle caused by mission improbable in the Copa America the suspensions of influential midfielder Centenario semi-finals here today as the Jermaine Jones, wide player Alejandro hosts face a Lionel Messi-inspired Bedoya and the Hamburg-bound striker Argentina closing in on a long-awaited Bobby Wood. All three have played a piv- tournament triumph. Klinsmann has otal role in the US campaign, with Wood already met his pre-tournament goal of providing the speed and thrust in attack reaching the last four after helping his side which has created the space for veteran navigate a challenging group phase and an Clint Dempsey to thrive, and Jones a tower- awkward quarter-final against in-form ing presence in the heart of midfield. Ecuador. Although Klinsmann has urged his team But despite a raft of suspensions which to shed their underdog mentality, insisting will decimate his first choice starting line- he wants them to be bold against more up at Houston’s NRG Stadium, Klinsmann is heralded opponents, a gung-ho approach bullishly talking up his team’s chances as against Argentina could be disastrous. they prepare to take on the might of When the relentless US pressing dropped Argentina. The German World Cup winner off in the second half against Ecuador in cites his team’s impressive record in recent the quarter-finals, the South Americans cre- friendlies, which has included away wins ated chance after chance only to be let over Germany and the Netherlands, and down by poor finishing. Argentina, who their performances in the 2014 World Cup have amassed 14 goals in four games, are as reasons to believe. “There’s no reason at unlikely to be as profligate. all why we can’t win Copa America,” Messi, superb in Saturday’s 4-1 quarter- Klinsmann said on Sunday. final demolition of Venezuela, where he “We travelled the world the last few scored once to join Gabriel Batistuta as years to very difficult friendly games all Argentina’s record international goalscorer over Europe and in Mexico and we came with 54 goals, cautions that facing the away with wins.” In Brazil two years ago, hosts on home turf may not be as straight- Klinsmann’s side helped eliminate a forward as it seems. Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal and highly “We’re on the right track, but it will be rated Ghana before qualifying with very difficult playing in front of the LONDON: Britain’s Andy Murray (2L) is presented with the trophy after winning the men’s singles final match against Canada’s Milos Raonic (L) Germany in the World Cup’s “Group of American crowd. Physically they are a very at the ATP Aegon Championships tennis tournament at the Queen’s Club in west London on Sunday. Murray won the match 6-7, 6-4, 6-3. — AFP Death.” “We don’t need to talk up Argentina strong team and they can do a lot of dam- any bigger than they are,” Klinsmann said. age if they are allowed to play,” warned “Two years ago we had Mr Ronaldo against Messi. Yet it is hard to see anything other us in Manaus. And we led them 2-1 until than an Argentina victory which would ‘Champagne on ice’ for the 96th minute,” Klinsmann said of his leave Gerardo Martino’s side 90 minutes team’s first round World Cup match which away from ending a 23-year wait for a finished in a 2-2 draw. major title. Messi and his team-mates have “We surprised a lot of people-no one suffered agonizing losses in the finals of Wimbledon, says Murray gave us a chance to get out of the group in last year’s Copa America in Chile and the Brazil. We left Portugal behind, we left 2014 World Cup against Germany. Ghana behind. “Anything is possible in “It is clear that I want to win something LONDON: Andy Murray warned Novak Djokovic he said. While Djokovic has been resting follow- ly means a lot to me. It’s been my most success- knockout games. You’re 50-50 with whoev- with my country and I want to do every- he has the champagne on ice as the Queen’s ing the long-awaited completion of his career ful tournament by far,” he said. “To be the first er you play against,” he said. “Dream big- thing I can to make that happen,” said the Club history-maker plots to end the world num- Grand Slam at Roland Garros, Murray has been player to win five times, it’s not an easy tourna- why not? This is about two more games.” Barcelona superstar. — AFP ber one’s reign as Wimbledon champion. honing his grass-court game and getting reac- ment to win. It always has a great field and the Murray completed the perfect warm-up for quainted with Lendl, who proved an invaluable players I have beaten in the finals have been top Wimbledon when the world number two defeat- presence when the Scot defeated Djokovic in players.” Murray won’t be resting on his laurels India level Tweny20 ed Milos Raonic 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday to the Wimbledon and US Open finals. Murray is however and he will head straight to Wimbledon retain the Queen’s title and lift the trophy for a also encouraged by reaching four finals in his for a practice session on Monday. record fifth time. last four tournaments, a run that has brought “It’s obviously good preparation to win the series with 10-wkt win With Wimbledon getting underway on June him two titles including his victory over Djokovic event right beforehand, but I still have eight 29, Murray looks well placed to emulate his his- on the Rome clay in May. days until my first match at Wimbledon, so HARARE: Mandeep Singh blasted a quick- Rahul (47 from 40 balls) put on a century toric 2013 triumph at the All England Club. But “I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have done that there’s time to make things better and there’s fire unbeaten half-century as India crushed stand. All the Zimbabwe batsmen strug- the 29-year-old knows he is likely to have to before,” Murray said. “It’s a sign things are going also time to mess things up,” he said. “If I have Zimbabwe by 10 wickets to level the gled to score quick runs in their innings defeat Djokovic, who has won Wimbledon for the right direction the last few months. “I’m giv- five rubbish days of practice and don’t put Twenty20 series yesterday. The result sets with none managing more than a run a the last two years, to earn the third Grand Slam ing myself chances every week right now and everything into it and concentrate on what I’m up a series decider in the third and final ball. Peter Moor (31 from 32 balls) was the of his career. winning a lot of matches. trying to do and get better, then I can go into game that will also be played at the Harare only one to muster any sort of resistance. Despite losing to Djokovic in 13 of their past “It’s been a good three months or so, and I Wimbledon feeling rubbish. Sports Club tomorrow. Debutant seamer Barinder Sran took for 15 meetings, including this year’s Australian and need to try to keep that up between now and “It’s been great, but I’m aware that I need to Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to wickets to lead the Indian charge, while fel- French Open finals, Murray believes the return to the end of the year. That’s the goal.” stay on it these next seven days. If I do that, then bat, but could only muster 99 for nine in low paceman Jasprit Bumrah picked up his camp of coach Ivan Lendl this week can I’ll put myself in a good position.” Murray does at their 20 overs as the Indian bowlers stran- three wickets in his four overs. make the difference in the grass-court Grand SPECIAL PLACE least plan to spend a day or two with wife Kim gled the run-rate. The tourists made short India also handed a debut to seamer Slam. And, asked what he would do with the Since claiming his first ever ATP Tour match and baby Sophia before the Wimbledon whirl- work of their reply, racing to their victory Dhawal Kulkarni, though he was by far the large bottle of champagne given to him by win at Queen’s in 2005, the venue has retained a wind. “I’ll take a couple of off-days next week target off 13.1 overs as Mandeep Singh (52 most expensive of the bowlers as his one Queen’s officials, Murray issued a statement of special place in Murray’s heart and he was visibly because I need it,” he said. “Most of the time it’s from 40 balls) and fellow opener Lokesh wicket cost 32 runs. — Reuters intent to Djokovic. “I’ll take it home, I guess, and moved by surpassing four-time champions John just being around the family, go for a walk with hopefully maybe have something to celebrate in McEnroe, Boris Becker, Andy Roddick and the dogs, do normal stuff away from the court. a few weeks. Yeah, keep it for after Wimbledon,” Lleyton Hewitt.b “It’s a tournament that obvious- I’m looking forward to it.” — AFP Bencic seeks training time amid Eastbourne rain

EASTBOURNE: Defending champion Belinda courts, so that’s the most important.” Top seed of the week. “It’s only one day like this. A couple Bencic missed out on training time yesterday Radwanska is also looking for training time amid of times I just finished five minutes before the despite rain letting up at the Eastbourne the weather chaos. The Pole who won the title rain. I’m hoping it will be much better than the International as organisers failed to cover any of on the south coast eight years ago, said that she last week.” Due to the weather, officials the training courts. has barely had time for any outdoor practise but rearranged the day’s programme, limiting their The overnight and morning rain which is counting on better weather forecast for much hopes to six first-round matches. — AFP soaked Devonshire Park did little to help the courts, left to the elements on a chilly day of 15 Celsius temperatures. “I was hoping for today but doesn’t look good,” said Swiss Bencic, who won the title a year ago over Agnieszka Radwanska. “When they don’t cover the courts, we have no chance to practise. “I guess it’s the same for everyone, but still it’s a little bit of a disadvantage.” Local officials had HARARE: India’s batsman Mandeep Singh hits a shot during the second T20 cricket no immediate explanation as to why practise match in a series of three games between India and host Zimbabwe in the Prayag courts were left uncovered while match courts Cup at Harare Sports Club, yesterday. — AFP were protected at the public park. The 19-year- old Bencic, ranked eighth, is keen to get stuck into her final week before the June 27 start of SCOREBOARD Wimbledon after slightly injuring her leg in a slipping fall last week in Birmingham which forced her to retire in the first round. HARARE: Scoreboard for the second Twenty20 international between Zimbabwe and Bencic is currently playing only her third India yesterday: event after missing the clay season with back Zimbabwe Bowling: Sran 4-0-10-4, Kulkarni 4-0-32-1, problems. She reached the semi-finals on grass C. Chibhabha c Rayudu b Sran 10 Patel 4-0-23-0, Chahal 4-1-19-1, in the Netherlands earlier this month. H. Masakadza b Sran 10 Bumrah 4-0-11-3 “Everyone has injuries at some point of their P. Moor c Patel b Bumrah 31 career, so I’m not the first person to get an injury. Sikandar Raza c Rahul b Sran 1 India Obviously the other girls have also had a little T. Mutombodzi lbw b Sran 0 KL Rahul not out 47 something. M. Waller c Patel b Chahal 14 Mandeep Singh not out 52 “This (the back) was my first or second serious E. Chigumbura b Bumrah 8 Extras (3w, 1nb) 4 injury, I just take it as a part of the job. It’s noth- G. Cremer c Rayudu b Kulkarni 4 Total (0 wkts, 13.1 overs) 103 ing special.” The third seed was waiting for a sec- N. Madziva b Bumrah 1 Did not bat: Ambati Rayudu, Manish ond-round opponent after a bye as Heather D. Tiripano not out 11 Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Mahendra Singh Watson faced 2013 Elena Vesnina. T. Muzarabani not out 0 Dhoni, Axar Patel, Dhawal Kulkarni, Bencic expresses no worries as she returns to Extras (4lb, 4w, 1nb) 9 Jasprit Bumrah, Barinder Sran, Yuzvendra full-time tennis with Wimbledon bearing down. Total (9 wkts, 20 overs) 99 Chahal “Why would I feel pressure? Of course it’s rank- Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Chibhabha), 2-26 Bowling: Tiripano 3-0-11-0, Madziva 2.1- ing points, but every week someone is defend- (Masakadza), 3-28 (Sikandar Raza), 0-19-0, Muzarabani 2-0-17-0, Cremer ing points somewhere. “It’s just a normal situa- 4-28 (Mutombodzi), 5-57 (Waller), 6-75 3-0-24-0, Chibhabha 2-0-23-0, Sikandar tion. I don’t feel any pressure and have no expec- (Moor), 7-81 (Chigumbura), 8-83 Raza 1-0-9-0. tations because I haven’t played a lot of matches (Madziva), 9-91 (Cremer) Result: India won by 10 wickets lately. “I’m just trying to get the matches in and just keep going. I’m so glad to be back on the Belinda Bencic