WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016 SPORTS Jansrud claims Santa Caterina super-G

SANTA CATERINA VALFURVA: Not since surgery to repair a herniated disk in his has a skier dominated in back in September. super-G the way is doing this “I’m really pleased to be back on the season. podium so soon,” Reichelt said. “My goal The Norwegian yesterday became only was to be back in top shape for January so the second man to win the first three this gives me a lot of confidence.” super-G races of the season after Austrian It was the second podium result for Paris great Hermann Maier, who accomplished in super-G this season. “I love downhill but the feat twice - in 1997-98 and 1999-2000. lately I’ve been doing better in super-G,” “Looking at his career and mine, I’m not the Italian said. As usual in Santa Caterina, even comparable to him,” Jansrud said. It visibility was difficult with the Deborah was the 18th win of Jansrud’s World Cup Compagnoni course almost entirely in the career, matching him with for shade. The top American was Tommy third place among Norwegian men - Biesemeyer in a career-best eighth, which behind (32) and Kjetil was quite an achievement with the No. 45 Andre Aamodt (21). bib. Also, two-time Olympic super-G While Svindal and Aamodt may still be medalist Andrew Weibrecht finished 12th. in range for Jansrud, catching Maier, who is Biesemeyer was also quick in downhill second on the all-time list with 54 wins, is training a day earlier. The Keene, New York, unlikely. “Just to be mentioned together skier is starting to see the results of focus- with his name is quite unbelievable,” ing exclusively on the speed events of Jansrud said. downhill and super-G this season, having Jansrud, the Olympic champion, fin- previously also raced . ished 0.60 seconds ahead of Hannes “This kind of hill, this kind of snow and Reichelt of Austria and 0.65 in front of course set plays into my favor,” Biesemeyer of Italy. “Standing here with said. “I look at this kind of course and see three wins is quite extraordinary,” Jansrud confidence, whereas some other courses I said. “But I’ve got to stay humble because I don’t and that is a reflection of my results. know there are a lot of great skiers around. It’s a huge step. And I think there’s more For sure I’ll try to continue winning but I’ve speed out there and that’s very motivating.” got to take one day at a time.” Not a speed specialist, overall World Cup In another strong day for , leader finished 47th and Jansrud’s teammates Aleksander Aamodt failed to gain any points. Still, the Austrian Kilde finished fourth and Adrian Smiseth holds a comfortable lead of 151 points over Sejersted was a career-best ninth. Jansrud in the overall standings. Svindal is sitting out this week’s races to In the super-G standings, Jansrud has a SEMMERING: United States’s , center, winner of an alpine ski, women’s World Cup Giant Slalom, celebrates on thepodium with rest a sore knee. It’s been an up-and-down perfect 300 points and is 148 ahead of second-placed ’s Tessa Worley, left, and third-placed Italy’s Manuela Moelgg, in Semmering, Austria, yesterday. — AP year for the 36-year-old Reichelt, the reign- Paris. This was the first time that a men’s ing world champion in super-G. super-G was contested on the Compagnoni In January, Reichelt sustained bruises course. The race was originally scheduled Shiffrin beats Worley and a mild concussion in a crash at the clas- for Lake Louise, Alberta, earlier this season sic race in Kitzbuehel. Then shortly after but was moved due to a lack of snow in the getting married over the summer, he had Canadian resort. — AP for second career GS win

SEMMERING: A few days after Mikaela Shiffrin lead to 55 points over defending champion Lara “I am happy because in the first run I lost so spent Christmas at Manuela Moelgg’s home in Gut of Switzerland, who finished yesterday’s race much time on the top section,” Worley said. “In Italy and trained with her, the American and the in fourth. At the previous GS in two the second run I was just attacking the whole Italian finished first and third in a women’s World weeks ago, Shiffrin also held a first-run lead but way down.” Returning from a 14-month injury Cup giant slalom yesterday. dropped to sixth after a disappointing final run. layoff, two-time former overall champion Anna Shiffrin held on to her first-run lead on the icy It made her skip the speed races in Val d’Isere, Veith finished 3.21 seconds off the lead and Panorama course to beat Tessa Worley of France France, the following week in order to put in failed to qualify for the final run. The Austrian by 0.78 seconds. The result ended Shiffrin’s 26- extra GS training. The sessions with Moelgg at caught a stone which damaged the edge of a ski month wait for a second GS win after celebrating Kronplatz, which will host a World Cup GS in early in her run. “Unfortunately, this was not how her maiden triumph in the opening race of the January, have paid off immediately. I thought it would be,” Veith said about her first 2014-15 season. “But it feels like it’s taking forever. I want to race since March 2015. She missed last season to Moelgg came 1.09 back in third for the get better in GS for five years now,” said the recover from knee surgery. Italian’s first podium in nearly six years. “It’s so American slalom specialist, who won Olympic “But I am happy that I was back at the start cool. She and her family were so inviting for gold, two world championships and three World again even though the skiing was far off from Christmas. It made it feel more like home for us,” Cup season titles in her favorite discipline. where I want it to be,” Veith said. said Shiffrin, adding “it’s so special” that Moelgg Moelgg was all smiles after sharing the podi- The final run was interrupted for a few min- also made the top three - for the first time since um with Shiffrin and Worley, the GS world cham- utes after Maria Pietilae-Holmner lost her right placing third at a slalom in Zagreb, Croatia, in pion in 2013. “To be here with them is a dream,” ski as she went through a gate and crashed full- Jan. 2011. “We have been training at her home,” said the Italian, who is still seeking a first win speed into the safety boarding near the end of Shiffrin said. “We really only had Christmas Day after 258 World Cup starts. “I had a good feeling, her run, though the Swede seemed to have off. But it was OK, I had a restful day. And some- I raced well.” Worley was only sixth after the avoided serious injuries. times it is like when you take a break, then your opening run, 0.80 seconds behind Shiffrin. She The race replaced the GS that was canceled body says, ‘Oh, it’s a break!’, and then you get hardly won time on the American in the final run because of high winds in Courchevel, France, last sick. I tried to fight that off but I feel good right and missed out on her third straight GS win after week. Another GS in Semmering is scheduled for now. My energy is good.” triumphing in Killington, Vermont, and Sestriere Wednesday, followed by a flood-lit slalom the Shiffrin’s 24th career win extended her overall over the last few weeks. next day. — AP

SANTA CATERINA: Norway’s Kjetil Jansrud celebrates winning during an alpine ski, men’s World Cup Super G, in Santa Caterina, Italy, yesterday. — AP KIB sponsors Kuwait National Cycling team

KSSC general assembly approves new club statutes By Abdellatif Sharaa shooting sport more achievements, and wish ernment for the sake of the general interest of the country all success under the leadership of our beloved country. KUWAIT: Kuwait Shooting Sport Club HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Osaimi said the most notable amend- Extraordinary General Assembly unanimously Al-Sabah, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf ments in the new statutes is full membership approved the new club statutes in compliance Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Prime of specialized clubs in Kuwait Olympic with decreed law 953/2016, and agrees with Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. Committee, because those clubs were not rec- the Olympic charter and ISSF laws. Meanwhile Secretary General Obaid ognized before at KOC despite their KSSC Chairman of the Board Eng Duaij Al- Munahi Al-Osaimi lauded the role of General International and Olympic achievements. KUWAIT: As part of the Bank’s mission to believed that our national champions are Otaibi thanked the General Assembly mem- Assembly members and their contribution to Al-Osaimi said the new statutes recognize support Kuwaiti champions and athletes, capable of achieving great victories on a bers for attending the meeting, adding that the development of the sport of shooting in Kuwait’s sovereignty, preserves public funds Kuwait International Bank (KIB) offered its regional and even international level, contacts with them are beneficial to hear their Kuwait. He said the board of directors is keen through having supervision over sports enti- exclusive sponsorship to the Kuwait through their passionate dedication and opinions and proposals. He said we wish the on implementing decisions made by the gov- ties by public authority for sports. National Cycling Team, who recently com- sophisticated sportsmanship. These talent- peted in the Tour Gulf 9 Cycling ed young stars are playing a very important Championship which took place in Bahrain role in propelling Kuwait to the forefront of and Saudi Arabia. many different sports, bringing much Featuring an elite group of professional deserved international glory to themselves cyclers, the Kuwaiti champions gave a and their country.” tremendously solid performance through- Najia concluded by saying: “KIB is keen out the different legs of the competition. on sponsoring local sporting initiatives and One of the biggest standouts of the tourna- supporting local athletes, as we believe ment proved to be Kuwaiti cyclist Said Jafar that sports is a vital cornerstone of any Ali, who received the Fighter Jersey (also developed contemporary society.” known as the Red Jersey) in recognition of On his part, Abdullah Al-Shammari, his outstanding performance and fierce General Secretary of the Kuwait Cycling competitive spirit, as he went up against Federation, said: “KIB’s embracing support some of the biggest names in cycling in the of the Kuwait National Cycling Team was GCC. Speaking about the sponsorship, truly a key component driving the team’s Nawaf Najia, Manager of the Corporate strong performance, enabling our athletes Communications Unit at the Bank, said: “KIB to achieve excellent results in Tour Gulf 9. has always been an ardent supporter of We are very grateful for the Bank’s ongoing Kuwaiti athletes and champions, and we efforts to support the athletes of Kuwait, are especially proud of our sponsorship of helping Kuwait’s name to shine across the National Cycling Team. We have always many different fields of sports.”