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14 Established 1961 Sports Wednesday, January 31, 2018 Russian speed skater Graf rejects Pyeongchang invitation Russia’s skating federation chief respects Graf’s decision MOSCOW: Russian speed skater Olga Graf said yes- skating team did not receive invitations to the terday she had turned down an International Olympic Olympics, including my partners in the team pursuit, Committee (IOC) invitation to compete at next month’s who I don’t doubt are clean. Pyeongchang Winter Games. Graf, one of three female “Having been deprived of the chance to compete for speed skaters on the list of 169 Russians cleared to the Olympic podium in the team pursuit, I do not compete in Pyeongchang, is the first eligible Russian accept the IOC invitation for the XXIII Olympic Winter athlete to publicly announce she would not compete at Games in Pyeongchang.” Graf won bronze medals in the Games. the 3000 metres and team pursuit events at the 2014 Russia was banned last month from the Feb. 9-25 Sochi Games. Winter Olympics in South Korea over what the IOC Alexei Kravtsov, president of Russia’s speed skating called the “systematic federation, told RIA Novosti manipulation” of the anti- news agency it respected doping testing system at the Graf’s decision. “Two of her Sochi Games four years ago. partners in the team pursuit But the IOC left the door did not receive an invitation open for athletes without a I’m glad that IOC to the Olympics,” RIA quoted history of doping to com- Kravtsov as saying yesterday. pete at its invitation without recognized me as “This is the event she was the Russian tricolour, preparing for and she won’t national emblems or anthem. a clean athlete be able to take part in it.” Graf said the exclusion of Russian authorities last several team mates would month said they would sup- prevent “Olympic Athletes port the athletes who chose from Russia,” the term used to compete in Pyeongchang by the IOC to designate Russian competitors at the as neutrals following a ban of the Russian team, as well Games, from contending for a medal in the team pursuit as those who decided to snub the Games. The Court of event. Arbitration for Sport is expected to issue its decision “I’m glad that the IOC has recognized me as a clean this week in the cases of 39 Russian athletes who have CHELYABINSK: File photo taken on January 11, 2015 shows Russian Olga Graf reacting after finishing in the athlete, which is what I am,” Graf said in a Facebook been banned from the Olympic Games after being ladies’ 5000 m race at the ISU European Speed Skating Championships in Chelyabinsk, Russia. — AFP post. “I regret that more than half the national speed found guilty of doping at Sochi. — Reuters AKSF congratulates KIPCO sponsors Injuries HH the Amir on 12th Kuwait International overshadow ’versary of his Arabian Horse Festival start to Six Nations ascension to power KUWAIT: KIPCO, the Kuwait LONDON: Injuries during the Six Nations are one KUWAIT: President of Arab and Kuwait Projects Company (Holding) - thing, but the fact they are a major talking point even Shooting Federations (AKSF), CEO of Asian is sponsoring the Kuwait before this season’s edition kicks off highlights the Shooting Confederation Eng Duaij Khalaf Al- International Arabian Horse increasingly brutal nature of professional rugby Otaibi congratulated the Kuwait leadership and Festival 2018, held under the union. Europe’s elite international competition gets people on the 12th anniversary of HH the Amir auspices of HH the Amir, underway this weekend, with England looking to Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al become the first side to win three successive outright ascension to power, which coincides with the Duaij Khalaf Al-Otaibi Jaber Al-Sabah. The event, titles in the long history of the Championship. Yet National and Liberation days. organized by the Arabian they could be missing more than 16 players against Al-Otaibi, who spoke on the day of hoisting Horse Center, includes two Italy in Rome on Sunday, with wing Elliot Daly and the Kuwaiti flag, officially launching celebrations els, and Kuwait shooting is considered the leader tournaments: The 7th star No 8 Billy Vunipola already ruled out of the said “Kuwait was able to overcome challenges of Arab and Asian shooting sport. International Championship entire tournament. and hardships with the grace of Allah Almighty, He said that Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic on February 2-3; and The All Eman Al Awadhi Scotland, fresh from a hugely encouraging and the wise leadership of HH the Amir, who was Shooting Complex is the best evidence of HH the Nations Cup - Straight November that included a 53-24 win over Australia and still supporting stability in the region, and Amir interest as it is considered the best interna- Egyptians on February 16-17. and a narrow defeat by world champions New bring brothers closers to overcome the Gulf dis- tional complex that has the most modern facili- The event is supervised by the All Nations Cup and the Zealand, are missing six front-row forwards. putes that could have caused more rifts. ties and highly skilled and qualified trainers. European Conference of Arabian Horse Organizations. Ms Meanwhile Wales, the Scots’ opening opponents in Eng. Al-Otaibi said “HH the Amir Sheikh He said “we receive Arab and International Eman Al Awadhi, KIPCO’s Group Communications Director Cardiff on Saturday, are without several British and Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah had an inte- friends every year be it for training or competi- said: “At KIPCO, we are constantly looking for opportunities to Irish Lions in Taulupe Faletau, Sam Warburton, gral role in caring for youth and provide them tion, by organizing HH the Amir Annual Shooting highlight and support the heritage of our nation. Horse riding, Jonathan Davies and Dan Biggar. with opportunities, especially the support of Grand Prix, in which several world and Olympic once a necessary skill and now an art form, is one element of But if any team can deal with a raft of injuries, it athletes and providing them with all facilities. He champions participate, and is held under his this region’s rich history. We are delighted to be supporting the ought to be a well-resourced England. Eddie Jones, said, “HH the Amir’s interest in sports had a great patronage. “Indeed, HH the Amir is an excep- Arabian Horse Center’s endeavors to protect our heritage for the title-holders’ Australian coach, said the Lions’ influence for Kuwait’s shooting excellent tional leader as being testified by Arab and generations to come.” gruelling drawn series in New Zealand last year part- achievements at the international and local lev- International communities”, Al-Otaibi concluded. ly explained the injury toll. “You just have these runs,” he insisted. “For the Lions players you can understand that the injury risk is high because of the lack of a proper pre-season that they have, but obvi- ously they’re not all Lions players.” Jones has tried to Four Continents Championships at South play down England’s chances, even though he can still Two in a billion: Korea’s Gangneung-the same venue that call upon the likes of fly-half Owen Farrell, by will be used for the Olympics. Sui and installing Ireland, who inflicted the only defeat so far Golden couple Han’s chemistry on the ice has sparked on his Red Rose record when denying them a second rumours online and in Chinese media that straight Grand Slam in Dublin last March, as Six they are romantically involved, but they Nations favourites. carry China’s laugh off the gossip. “Han Cong and I are only a couple on ‘EXPECTATION’ Olympic hopes screen, not in real life,” Sui wrote on Ireland’s provincial sides have impressed in Weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter, Europe’s Champions Cup club competition and Jones addressing the frequent rumours. “We are said: “I think the expectation on Ireland is high, and friends or like a Dad and daughter.” it’s how they handle it now, isn’t it? It’s different going SHANGHAI: Figure skaters Sui Wenjing into the tournament as favourites, rather than being and Han Cong have weathered injury, AGE CONTROVERSY the underdog.” But with their concluding game of the controversy and rampant speculation Sui and Han’s ascension to the top of tournament at Twickenham-where England have not about their personal lives. Now all that’s figure skating pairs has had its challenges, lost a home Test under Jones-Ireland coach Joe left is to deliver gold for China at the and controversies. In 2016, Sui missed Schmidt said: “Bookies don’t make money by being Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. nine months after operations on her right wrong. You’ve got a team (England) there that’s won Plenty depends on the photogenic ankle and left foot, and was bed-ridden 22 out of 23 Test matches over the last two years.” duo, who are the pairs world champions for three months, unable to even stand. Ireland too have injury problems, with the experi- and Olympic favourites, as victory would Her brave recovery made last year’s world enced Sean O’Brien and Jared Payne both sidelined at go a long way towards igniting Chinese championship victory all the more the moment. interest in winter sports before the Beijing remarkable-and emotional. As the aptly Meanwhile France have turned to a new coach in 2022 Winter Games. named “Bridge over Troubled Water” by Jacques Brunel, the former Italy boss, in a bid to lift While China is a powerhouse of the Simon and Garfunkel came to a rousing them out of a prolonged slump.

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