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Saturday, April 17, 2021 CRICKET Ramadan 5, 1442 AH Pakistan seal series GULF TIMES with nervy victory over South Africa SPORT Page 4 AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Al Sadd face Al Nassr today in search of fi rst victory ‘We played against them twice so we know. The target doesn’t change, we are still aiming for all three points’

AFC Riyadh Duhail’s Lamouchi satisfi ed with opening win AFC t will be a battle of familiar Jeddah opponents when Al Sadd face Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr in Group D of the 2021 AFC ead coach Sabri Lam- IChampions League today. ouchi said it was hugely The two faced at the same Himportant for Al Duhail to stage last year, with the matches open their 2021 AFC Champions ending 1-1 and 2-2, as both ad- League Group C campaign with vanced to the Round of 16. a win. That, however, is not the case Goals from Michael Olunga this year with only the group and Edmilson Junior steered winners confi rmed of going the Qataris to a perfect start through, with the three best sec- against Iraq’s Al Shorta at King ond-placed teams from the fi ve Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Frenchman. “We tried to hold on our usual,” said Ilic. “We tried to West groups also advancing. Thursday, with Lamouchi’s only for the win in the second period create something diff erent in Al Nassr were denied an open- regret being the margin of vic- with the least possible eff ort and the second period but we failed ing day win by tournament deb- tory which he felt should have we managed to do so.” to score.” utants Al Wehdat on Wednesday, been higher. The win is an early boost for Al “We had to made some changes with the hosts frustrated despite “It is always important to have a Duhail in their bid to advance in the positions of the players controlling 67 percent of posses- winning start in a competition,” to the Round of 16, having been as some were injured and this sion. said Lamouchi. “We controlled eliminated at the group stage in aff ected us,” added the Serbian. Such domination may not be the match in an excellent way. the 2020 edition. “The result is not good of course possible against the Xavi-led Al “The players played well and we Al Shorta head coach Ale- but we expect to be better in the Sadd but with newly-appointed could have scored more goals. ksandar Ilic said his side’s next matches.” head coach Mano Menezes hav- I’m happy with the performance performance improved in the Al Shorta face another diff icult ing seen his team in action, the Al but we lacked the final touch second half, after a first period test as they take on Esteghlal Nassr will not be lacking in con- with several chances that we devoid of clearcut chances for tomorrow. The Iranian side fi dence when they play the Qatar had.” the Iraqis. impressed with a 5-2 win over Stars League champions. “In the first half we didn’t give Al “In the second half, we had good Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli Saudi FC “The fi rst round of matches Shorta the chance to threaten organisation unlike the first on Thursday. Al Ahli will face Al ended with draws, so naturally our goal,” said the 49-year-old half where we didn’t produce Duhail on the same day. all the teams will be more com- petitive to get the win now,” said Menezes. “We coaches know the expec- tations of fans are high, and we will need some time to fi ll in the Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez addresses a press conference on the eve of their AFC Champions League gaps. Group D match against Al Nassr yesterday. “There are three things that we will need to focus on. Firstly, last gasp goal salvaging a point teammates at the King Saud Uni- Xavi wasn’t worried about we need to close the distance for them against Iran’s Foolad versity Stadium. Menezes taking charge of Al between our defence and attack. Khouzestan on Wednesday. “We expect a really tough game Nassr, saying: “Not expecting Secondly, we need to be able to While Barcelona legend Xavi against one of the best clubs much changes to the way they regain possession quickly, and was not pleased with the result, in my opinion,” said Xavi. “We play. They are more or less the lastly, to be more organised in our he welcomed Al Sadd’s willing- played against them twice so we same team. attacks.” ness to fi ght till the end and will know. The target doesn’t change, “We trust in our own process Al Sadd also endured a tough expect a more potent outing we are still aiming for all three and players, and we have to keep Al Duhail players (in red) celebrate their win over Al Shorta on Thursday. opener, with Boualem Khoukhi’s from Baghdad Bounedjah and his points.” going.”

HORSE RACING Al Shaqab Racing’s Calgary stays unbeaten

Agencies Lyon-Parilly, France Sheikh Abdullah’s Qaiser opens his account Agencies l Shaqab Racing’s Cal- Lyon-Parilly, France gary yet again turned on the style. Consequent- ly, the gelding remains aiser made it third time Aunbeaten in the wake of his clear- lucky on Thursday. The cut victory in the Class 1 Prix Qrepresentative of His des Poulains, a race for three- Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin year-old colts and geldings over Khalifa al-Thani was com- 2,200m, scoring his third win in ing off a creditable fourth at as many starts. Toulouse, having first visited On this particular Thursday the racecourse in mid-January card at Lyon-Parilly, the Frederic following his debut third. Rossi-trained runner shadowed Making his first visit to Lyon- the leader Blackjac Du Houley – he Parilly, the three-year-old colt Olivier Peslier rides Qaiser to Prix Carrus victory at Lyon-Parilly in was never more than three-quar- trained by Antoine de Watrig- France on Thursday. (Studio Henri Durand) ters of a length behind the lat- ant, showed that he has made ter – before taking the lead in the big strides forward in the wake in his wake to finish second Holly Polly. The latter won three mid-stretch and easing his way to of his victory in Prix Carrus, a for trainer Miss J. Soudan and races in France and was second a comfortable two-length win in 2,200m race for three-year- jockey Alexis Pouchin. in the Langer Hamburger (LR) front of Francis-Henri Graff ard- Sylvain Ruis (right) rides Calgary to Prix des Poulains victory at Lyon-Parilly in France. (Studio Henri Durand) old maidens, after powering Where Chop was further length over 3,200m. He is a grand- trained and Christophe Soumil- his way to victory under and a quarter behind in third son of the Pretty Polly Stakes lon-ridden Prometeo. Blackjac Du taken another step forward and has Bred by Al Shaqab Racing, Cal- joyed Gr2 status at the time), and Oliver Peslier. Smartly away for trainer R. Philippon and (Group 2) heroine Hanami. Houley was a further short head proved that he’s a really good horse. gary is a son of Olympic Glory, third in both the Prix Cléopatre and always prominent, Qaiser jockey Stephane Laurent. This is the family of the Prix de behind in third for trainer Y. Bar- He still has scope for improvement, the Haras de Bouquetot sire, and and the Prix Minerve (Group 3s). quickened into the lead half- Qaiser is a son of Charm Spirit, Royallieu (Group 2) winner and berot and jockey Gregory Benoist. as I didn’t have to get serious on Brezena. The latter is the sister of Brezena has a two-year-old, El way up the straight, and he left a stallion based at the Haras Prix Vermeille (Group 1) third Jockey Sylvain Ruis said, “He him in the straight. It’s a real pleas- La Conquérante, who ran third in Bnoud, currently in training with Inveterate toiling five lengths du Logis Saint Germain, and The Juliet Rose. really has a lot of quality. He has ure to ride horses like him.” the Prix de Royallieu (which en- Rossi and a foal by Ectot. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, April 17, 2021 FOOTBALL

AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND-UP Roma defender Smalling robbed by Al Rayyan take on armed burglars S Roma defender Chris striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic Smalling was robbed suspended. at gunpoint by burglars who broke into his SPAIN MUST KEEP EURO homeA in Rome in the early hours GAMES, SAYS FEDERATION Persepolis, aim yesterday, a source close to the PRESIDENT RUBIALES matter said. Smalling’s wife, The president of the Spanish son, mother and another family football federation Luis Rubiales member were also in the house said he will do “everything situated off the ancient Appian humanly possible” to ensure Way south of the city, accord- Spain hosts its four Euro 2021 ing to the source. Three men games this summer. Bilbao is entered the house at around 5am due to host three group games for fi rst victory and forced Smalling to open the and a match in the last 16 but safe and hand over three Rolex the possibility of supporters watches, jewels and around 300 attending is in doubt after the Blanc’s Rayyan have not tasted victory in their last five encounters in all competitions euros ($359.46) in cash, accord- regional government insisted on ing to news agency ANSA and a number of strict health condi- AFC Rome’s main sports daily Cor- tions. Margao, India riere dello Sport. If UEFA decide in a meeting on It was not immediately pos- Monday that Bilbao cannot host sible to contact the 31-year-old games, Rubiales has suggested l Rayyan will be aiming for an former England defender and Seville could be an alternative upset win against Iran’s Persep- Roma were not available to com- option. The city’s La Cartuja olis today in their second group ment. Smalling sat out Roma’s stadium will stage a second Copa stage match of the AFC Cham- Europa League quarter-fi nal del Rey fi nal in two weeks on pionsA League in Margao, India. second leg with Ajax Amsterdam Saturday after the same venue The Qatar side failed to secure three on Thursday due to a knee in- also held the fi nal of the Spanish points against FC Goa after a goalless jury. He watched them draw the Super Cup in January. draw in the opener, while the 2019 run- second leg 1-1 to win 3-2 on ag- “What is clear for us as a na- ners-up Persepolis defeated UAE’s Al gregate, setting up a semi-fi nal tional team, and I would say as a Wahda 1-0 on Wednesday. against his old club Manchester country, is that it is essential we Their Matchday One stalemate means United. are able to host,” said Rubiales in Laurent Blanc’s Al Rayyan have not tasted Seville yesterday, ahead of this victory in their last fi ve encounters in all AC MILAN GIVE INJURED year’s Spanish cup fi nal between competitions after three losses and one MANDZUKIC’S FORFEITED Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao. draw in the Qatar Stars League. SALARY TO CHARITY “It is true that there are serious However, with only the group winners Croatian striker Mario Mandzu- diffi culties in Bilbao and with assured of advancing, Al Rayyan will def- kic has forfeited a month’s salary this in mind, it is UEFA who has initely take the game to Persepolis. “The at AC Milan after he picked up to decide.” result from the last match was not good an injury, with the club then of- Rubiales said it would be “dis- for Al Rayyan because I think we deserved fering the sum to a charity. The astrous” if the four games were to win and scoring the fi rst goal is very 34-year-old arrived at Milan transferred to another country. important,” said Blanc. in January on a six-month deal UEFA has confi rmed nine of the “Against Persepolis, we need to ap- worth 300,000 euros a month. 12 original host cities expect to ply the same intensity and that is to keep “This exceptional gesture be able to have stadiums fi lled to the ball high up and score at least one or shows Mario Mandzukic’s at least 25 per cent capacity this two goals. The pressure is on Persepolis professional ethics,” AC Milan summer. The remaining three and not with Al Rayyan. Persepolis and president Paolo Scaroni said, — Bilbao, Dublin and Munich — Al Wahda are the favourites of the group. adding the money would go to a have been given until Monday to Last year they (Persepolis) reached the fi - charity for youngsters. submit additional information nal of the AFC Champions League and a Mandzukic could return on fans attending fi xtures, before couple of times reached the semi-fi nals.” for Milan tomorrow, with star a fi nal decision is made. The teams met in the group stage of the 2017 edition with Al Rayyan having the edge with one win and a draw. Judging by their current form, Yahya Golmohammadi’s Persepolis have cer- tainly put behind last season’s AFC Champions League fi nal defeat against Korea Republic’s Ulsan Hyundai FC. Persepolis have not lost in their last fi ve matches in all competitions, with their only blemish being a 1-1 draw against Shahr Khodro in the Iran Pro League on April 3. Seyed Jalal Hosseini has been a rock Al Rayyan players train in Margao, India, yesterday. for Persepolis, with the veteran defend- er scoring a rare goal in the win over Al less draw in Group E’s other fi xture. where the home advantage is not really an when they beat Bengaluru FC in the In- Wahda and the Iranian giants will not be Al Wahda came from a goal down to advantage. Because normally the advan- dian Super League in February. lacking confi dence against Al Rayyan. defeat Iraq’s Al Zawraa SC 2-1 in the 2021 tage is because of the crowd. There’s no Centre-back Gonzalez will have his “We have prepared everything for this AFC Champions League playoff but were crowd, so there’s no home advantage. work cut out for him while captain Bedia match and we have prepared them well unable to replicate their performance “I watched FC Goa’s game against Al will be the ever present force in midfi eld. for the six games we have here for this against Persepolis on Wednesday. Rayyan. They are a very well organised Jorge Ortiz and Ishan Pandita will be re- edition of the AFC Champions League,” Henk Ten Cate’s charges have notched team with a very good defensive centre lied upon to deliver the goals. said Persepolis assistant head coach Ha- three wins and two losses in their last fi ve with James Donachie, Ivan González, Edu “We earned a point in the last match mid Motahari. matches in all competitions and the Abu Bedia in the middle and they are a very and we are obviously looking to improve “Persepolis has always had a winning Dhabi-based side hold the edge over their strong part of the team with a very good and continue in the same way in our next Al Bidda stun Al Khor, Al Ahli mentality built in the players and we are Indian rivals, having a superior Conti- goalkeeper. We are facing an opponent match,” said Ferrando. “It’s important to fully committed to achieving success by nental experience with 12 previous ap- who already have a point but one win can have control in the way we attack, espe- held by Mesaimeer being the best and becoming champions.” pearances in the AFC Champions League. change the whole dynamics of the group cially in the fi nal third. Doha: Second Division side Al Al Ahli, who had finished fifth Al Wahda will be boosted by the re- and we’re here to do so.” “The most important aspect here is Bidda stunned Al Khor 1-0 in in the recently concluded QNB AL WAHDA, FC GOA PRIMED turn of captain Ismael Matar, who made a FC Goa kept Qatar’s Al Rayyan at bay to to work as a unit and stay focused on their opening match of the QFA Stars League, were staring at FOR FACE-OFF cameo in the second half against Persep- earn a historic fi rst-ever point for an In- Champions League football and noth- Cup tournament on Thursday a defeat before Nabil El Zhar In another Group E match, United Arab olis. Tim Matavz will lead their attacking dian team in the AFC Champions League. ing else. Of course it is the most impor- night at the Hamad bin Khalifa converted a penalty in the Emirates’ Al Wahda and India’s FC Goa line alongside Khalil al-Hammadi. Boosted by the point, Juan Ferrando’s tant journey for us as a club but we must Stadium. The winning goal 87th-minute penalty to snatch will be eyeing victory when they lock “Despite the loss in the fi rst game. I men are set to approach their next game keep our heads in the game. We did what in the Group A came from a point. Aldoukali al-Baoure horns today. was not unhappy with the performance diff erently, hoping to earn three points was needed in the fi rst game. I’m happy Mohamed al-Aqib in the 86th (14th minute) and Dahadha Al Wahda suff ered a 1-0 defeat against of the team,” said ten Cate. “First of all we against Al Wahda. with how the team played in defence and minute. Mahmoud were the scorers for 2020 AFC Champions League runners- played one of the best teams in Asia and Apart from having home advantage, FC we needed some improvements in attack In an earlier match, Al Ahli Mesaimeer, while Mohamed up Persepolis FC on Matchday One, while I felt we at least deserved a point. Now Goa will be searching for their fi rst win in but now the most important thing is the were held to a 2-2 draw by sec- al-Naimi scored the other goal FC Goa held Qatar’s Al Rayyan to a goal- we’re facing another opponent (FC Goa) fi ve matches, having last tasted victory present and the future.” ond division side Mesaimeer. for Ahli.

SPOTLIGHT Copa del Rey fi nal should not aff ect my Barcelona future, says Koeman AFP away in La Liga. Victory in Seville this Liverpool meant Barca were already a trophy could enhance the sense that Madrid weekend would be the 31st time Barca devastated before Valencia landed a he is happy again and that the club is on have won the competition while Ath- knock-out blow. the right track. letic are going for their 24th success, But Barcelona are not the team they Defeat would serve as a reminder of onald Koeman has said he two weeks after losing last year’s post- were and the Copa assumes far greater recent disappointments. Messi was fi nds it “strange” that his fu- poned fi nal to Real Sociedad. “It would importance in a season of recovery un- sent off when Athletic won the Span- ture as Barcelona coach is be important for the club to win a big der Koeman. The Dutch coach said in ish Super Cup in January, an exhilarat- being linked to the result of trophy, especially given the situation of January that “Barcelona are not ready ing contest that saw Inaki Williams’ today’sR Copa del Rey fi nal against Ath- the club,” said Koeman, who said Ger- to win a lot of things right now” but he thunderbolt snatch a 3-2 victory after letic Bilbao. Koeman took charge only ard Pique is ready to play after recover- will be a victim of his own progress if extra-time. Williams said it was “the last year but despite an encouraging ing from a knee injury. the team gets close in both the league best goal of my career” and his team fi rst season, his position is uncertain Barcelona are still in contention in and cup and comes away with neither. will draw hope from that game, when after the arrival of new club president La Liga too, with two points separating There is also a growing concern about they deserved to beat Barcelona three Joan Laporta. them and league leaders Atletico Ma- Barca’s inability to deliver on the big days after having beaten Real Madrid. “It’s a little bit strange that I need drid, with eight games left to play. “It’s occasion this season, with encourag- Athletic’s Asier Villalibre celebrated to answer questions like this because a fi nal that’s completely separate from ing performances against Spain’s lesser by playing the trumpet with his team- we had a run of 19 games without los- the league,” Barca goalkeeper Marc-An- lights coming in stark contrast to games mates dancing around him in the mid- ing. We lose one game and I need to talk dre ter Stegen said. “But you feel good if against tougher opponents, when Koe- dle of the pitch, while Marcelino Garcia about my future?” Koeman said yester- you win and bad if you lose so our aim man’s youngsters have looked exposed. Toral hoisted a trophy in just his third day. “Maybe I have to accept it. I have is to win tomorrow and get a boost for They have lost all three games played game since being appointed coach. one more year on my contract. I know everything else we have to face.” against Real Madrid and Atletico Ma- Their momentum has slowed since it’s a big pressure and I can handle that For Athletic, defeat would mean drid, were overwhelmed by Paris Saint- then thanks to four consecutive draws but sometimes it’s a little bit strange.” making unwanted history as the team Germain in the Champions League last in La Liga which have made a late push Asked if he would like a public show that lost in the fi nal of the same cup 16 and overrun by Athletic Bilbao in the for Europe unlikely, perhaps in part due of support from Laporta, Koeman said: twice in a fortnight, the fi rst all the fi nal of the Spanish Super Cup. to their concentration wavering as the “I don’t need that every time the press more devastating for the fact it came Failure in the biggest matches is two cup fi nals came into view. says something. He has shown me his against Basque rivals Real Sociedad. likely to count against Koeman when The fi rst against Real Sociedad was confi dence. I know where I am. Despite It will be a contest between the Copa When Barca were beaten by Valencia failures in Europe. the club’s new president Joan Laporta always going to be their best hope of the fi nancial problems, at Barca you del Rey’s two most successful clubs in in 2019, it was the fi rst time in fi ve years Ernesto Valverde’s domestic double weighs up whether to continue with winning the Copa del Rey for the fi rst have to win things.” the empty Estadio La Cartuja in Seville, they missed out on the cup, their domi- as coach in 2018 was all-but forgotten him this summer, when Lionel Messi time since 1984. Today, in the same city Barcelona lost to Athletic Bilbao in Barcelona having won the competition nance creating a sense of ambivalence in the swirl of anger around the Cham- will also decide on his future. It seems and the same stadium where they lost a the fi nal of the Spanish Super Cup in 30 times and Athletic 23, with 81 fi nal about the tournament, particularly pions League collapse against Roma, unlikely that winning a seventh Copa fortnight ago, they will have a second January but have beat them home and appearances between them. when held up against more dramatic while a year later the implosion against del Rey would be decisive for Messi but chance. Gulf Times Saturday, April 17, 2021 3 FOOTBALL

EUROPA LEAGUE FOCUS Bundesliga fi ghting to Arteta hails young guns fi nish season aft er virus outbreak

AFP as Arsenal reach semis Berlin he last few weeks of Roma line up a blockbuster semi-final clash with Manchester United after holding Ajax to a 1-1 draw the German Bundes- liga season were thrown AFP into chaos yesterday as Ta coronavirus outbreak at Her- London tha Berlin forced the capital club into a two-week quarantine. The rsenal boss Mikel Arteta German Football League (DFL) praised Emile Smith Rowe and said it would postpone Hertha’s Bukayo Saka after the young- next three games after defender sters blooded by his predeces- Marvin Plattenhardt became the sorA Unai Emery helped set up a Europa fourth member of playing and League semi-fi nal between the two coaching staff to test positive in managers. a single day on Thursday. Saka, 19, scored and 20-year-old With the entire team forced to Smith Rowe was a commanding pres- self-isolate for a fortnight, the ence in midfi eld as the Gunners beat relegation-threatened club will Slavia Prague 4-0 on Thursday — 5-1 on have to reschedule their trip to aggregate — to reach the last four for the Mainz tomorrow, a home game third time in four years. against Freiburg next Wednes- There they will meet Villarreal, man- day and the visit to bottom side aged by Emery, who won the trophy Schalke on April 24. “That is the three years in a row from 2014 when he right step from a health perspec- was in charge of Sevilla and also took tive, but it is obviously a blow Arsenal to the 2019 fi nal. Winning the from a sporting perspective,” Europa League could be Arsenal’s ticket said Hertha sporting director back into Europe as they are struggling Arne Friedrich. in mid-table in the Premier League after After coach Pal Dardai, as- an inconsistent season. sistant coach Admir Hamzagic The performances of Saka and Smith and Belgium striker Dodi Luke- Rowe, who had a goal disallowed but bakio returned positive tests on set up Nicolas Pepe for his opener, im- Thursday morning, Hertha ini- pressed Arteta. Both players made their tially planned to isolate together debuts under Emery, who was sacked in as a team in a local hotel, leaving November 2019 after 18 months at the only for training and matches. Emirates. “For me it is a joy to watch That idea was torpedoed by them play, to watch them every day in Plattenhardt’s positive test, with training,” said a delighted Arteta. “How local health authorities impos- they behave, the passion and the com- ing what Hertha called “stricter mitment they have for the club. And measures”. Friedrich said the then how much they like to play foot- team would hold “virtual train- ball. You have to let them express them- ing sessions” at home in a bid to selves, and give them certain frame- stay fi t for the rest of the relega- works to work in and some ideas on how tion fi ght. they can exploit their qualities.” Yet the outbreak also provides Their performances plus two goals the Bundesliga with a schedul- from French striker Alexandre Laca- ing headache, with the German zette made light of the absence of last Football League (DFL) under season’s leading scorer Pierre-Emerick pressure to complete the season Aubameyang. The Gabon international by the end of May before players revealed on Thursday he had been hos- leave for the European Champi- pitalised after contracting malaria while Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Slavia Prague during the Europa League quarter-final in Prague. (Reuters) onships in the summer. on international duty. Similar outbreaks had already Lacazette has done his case for a new with Manchester United after holding Stadio Olimpico with a slender lead but With Ajax needing to score again to own goal sealed the win for United, who plunged the second division into contract no harm at all of late and is Ajax to a 1-1 draw to go through to the two away goals from last week’s fi rst leg take the tie into extra-time the hosts could yet have an all-English fi nal with chaos this month, with three on course for his most prolifi c season last four 3-2 on aggregate. in Amsterdam. Their European cam- were galvanised and managed to fend Arsenal. clubs in self-isolation and un- since arriving from Lyon in 2017. The Edin Dzeko’s strike 18 minutes from paign looked in danger when Ajax teen off Erik ten Hag’s outfi t, who will have Emery is on course to claim his fourth able to play. Yet DFL president 29-year-old Frenchman heads into time ensured the draw and passage for Brian Brobbey was introduced for An- to wait until next season for a shot at Europa League crown as a coach after Christian Seifert said there was tomorrow’s league match with strug- Paulo Fonseca’s side, who were on the tony at the break and the striker made European glory. Roma will be hoping to his Villarreal team made short work of time to reschedule all postponed gling Fulham on 13 goals, one shy of the back foot for most of the match, and a an instant impact, racing onto Perr Sch- gain revenge on United for the 7-1 ham- Dinamo Zagreb in a 2-1 win to qualify games. 14 he scored in his maiden campaign in showdown with United who strolled uurs pass three minutes after the restart mering they suff ered at Old Traff ord at 3-1 on aggregate. Paco Alacer opened “In my view, there is no reason 2017/18. Lacazette — whose contract into the semis after a 2-0 win over La and nipped the ball past an onrushing the quarter-fi nal stage of the Champi- the scoring nine minutes before the to think about suspending the is up next year — reached 50 Premier Liga outfi t Granada at Old Traff ord. Pau Lopez. ons League in 2007. break when he fi nished off a superb season at the moment. We will League goals for Arsenal when he hit “I’ve never got to a semi-fi nal be- However after Dusan Tadic’s strike United had few problems against team move and Gerard Moreno contin- just wait and watch” he told the his second against Sheffi eld United last fore, so I’m very proud, especially as we for the away side six minutes later was Granada, who had a mountain to climb ued a career-best season shortly after- Bild newspaper yesterday. Sunday. Arteta said a fortnight ago he are representing Italy right now,” said ruled out for a foul on Henrikh Mkhi- after losing the fi rst leg 2-0 in Spain. wards, fi ring home his sixth goal in the He added that the league would only enter contract discussions Fonseca, who has been under pressure taryan in the build up, Dzeko tipped the Edinson Cavani opened the scoring af- competition after Dominik Livakovic’s could “rethink” if the situa- with Lacazette at the end of the season. following a disappointing Serie A cam- tie in Roma’s favour. The Bosnian was ter just fi ve minutes to put United ahead save. tion changed over the next two However, following the win over Slavia paign. “It’s a source of pride for Roma on hand to tap home the leveller which on the night when he lashed home Paul Mislav Orsic salvaged some pride weeks. In a statement, the DFL he was eff usive in his praise. and we are all very happy.” put Roma a goal ahead on aggregate af- Pogba’s looping knockdown. for Dinamo with 16 minutes left, but it said it would announce new Meanwhile, Roma lined up a block- Italy’s only remaining representa- ter Riccardo Calafi ori’s low cross was The away side pressed and had some was to little too late to save the Croatian dates for the postponed Hertha buster Europa League semi-fi nal clash tive in Europe came into the clash at the defl ected into his path. chances but Jesus Valleho’s last-minute champions’ European campaign. games “in the coming week”.

SPOTLIGHT City’s Foden dumps social media company over Mbappe tweet Pogba accuses former boss Mourinho of ‘going against players’ London: Manchester City’s Phil company Ten Toes Media, has AFP the United vice-captaincy in September Premier League games to play. Foden has parted ways with a since been deleted but not London 2018. “What I have now with Ole is dif- Solskjaer and Mourinho clashed in a social media company handling before it gained a lot of traction ferent because he wouldn’t go against the heated exchange of words after the Unit- his accounts after they posted online. “We are saddened with players,” Pogba said in a Sky Sports inter- ed boss was unhappy when Son Heung- a controversial tweet calling the current situation. Since the aul Pogba has attacked Jose view yesterday. min went down in the build-up to Ed- out Paris St Germain’s Kylian company was founded we have Mourinho’s man-management “Maybe Ole wouldn’t pick them, but inson Cavani’s controversial disallowed Mbappe when both teams adopted a process which re- style, accusing him of “going it’s not like he puts them on the side like opener. Mourinho said he was “very qualified for the Champions quires all posts to be approved against players” and making they don’t exist anymore. That’s the dif- disappointed” by Solskjaer’s claims he League semi-finals. in advance by the talent (or) Pthem feel like “they don’t exist any more”. ference between Mourinho and Ole. Once would not feed his son if he had behaved Foden sealed victory with a representative — no excep- After Mourinho’s appointment as Man- I had a great relationship with Mourinho. like the South Korean, but Pogba accused late goal in Wednesday’s 2-1 win tions,” it said in a statement. chester United manager in 2016, he made Everybody sees that and the next day you the Portuguese of using defl ection tactics over Borussia Dortmund as City “They always have been ap- Pogba the world’s most expensive player. don’t know what happened. That’s the to take the focus away from Tottenham’s progressed to the semi-finals proved — that has been true for Pogba was instrumental as United strange thing I had with Mourinho. And I performance. where they will meet PSG. four years and is still true today. claimed a League Cup and Europa League cannot explain to you because, even me, I Pogba said: “I am sure Mourinho said However, minutes after City Phil Foden is a special person double in 2017, but the pair had an uneasy don’t know.” something that made people speak. were through, a tweet appeared and footballer and we wish him relationship before Mourinho was sacked his players deteriorated following that Pogba’s comments came after United That’s what he does. We got the result on Foden’s account saying: “@ the very best going forward.” in December 2018 and succeeded by Ole fi rst campaign and there were reports of piled the pressure on Mourinho with a 3-1 that we wanted. Ole knows it and we en- KMbappe are you ready?”. The company did not say if Gunnar Solskjaer. a training ground spat with Pogba after win at Tottenham last Sunday. Spurs are joyed that moment. We know Mourinho The tweet, posted by the the tweet was approved or not. Mourinho’s relationship with some of the France midfi elder was stripped of six points off the top four with just seven and what he likes. We don’t need this.”

BOTTOMLINE Chelsea’s Tuchel vows to hunt down Man City ahead of FA Cup clash AFP Tuchel, who replaced Frank Lampard in League fi nal. He said: “It’s much, much easier. London the Stamford Bridge hot seat in January, He revealed the Catalan had had a Imagine playing after not qualifying “If you look at the fi xture in the Premier major eff ect on his coaching style, con- for the semi-fi nal of the Champions League and the fi xtures in the last years ceding he was glued to the screen dur- League. It would be much tougher. Of homas Tuchel admits Chelsea we have to accept this. And it’s impor- ing Guardiola’s Barcelona tenure. course I would love to have more days still lag behind Manchester tant that we accept this without mak- “He’s a huge infl uence on me be- to enjoy our qualifi cation, for recovery City as he prepares to face the ing ourselves too small. cause when he was coach at Barcelona and to prepare for the game, but the runaway Premier League lead- “So from next year on, from day one I didn’t have the chance to know him schedule is the schedule and when you Ters in an FA Cup semi-fi nal but vowed of next season we will hunt them, we personally, but I was watching almost are a contender in all competitions you to hunt down Europe’s “benchmark” will try to close the gap between us,” every game,” he said. “I was very im- have to handle this schedule.” club next season. added Tuchel, whose side are currently pressed by the way they made success It will be Guardiola’s fi rst meeting Chelsea face City at Wembley today, 20 points adrift of City in the Premier happen, by the style they were playing, in English football with Tuchel. Guar- with Tuchel chasing a maiden manage- League. “And this the benchmark. For all the academy guys, the off ensive ball diola said: “He took over a team here in rial win over Pep Guardiola, whose side me in Europe there are two teams who possession. And what was maybe most mid-season but has a lot of experience are still on course for an unprecedented are the benchmark, there is Bayern Mu- impressive about this team was the at top clubs like PSG and now Chelsea. I quadruple. The Blues’ German boss nich and Manchester City.” mentality and how they defended when knew from the beginning he would do a believes Chelsea still have long-term Tuchel said his side, who have lost Chelsea players train ahead of the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City. they lost the ball.” good job. It will be a good battle in this ground to make up on City but has ex- just twice since he took charge, had Meanwhile, Guardiola said he will game.” horted his players to close that gap just the belief they could close the gap for mentum of football on our side, and Germain boss Tuchel has taken on have no problem getting his side to Guardiola confi rmed City record for 90 minutes. one game. “I arrive happy to compete to play at the top level it’s not to force Guardiola fi ve times and remains win- re-focus after the emotional high of goalscorer Sergio Aguero remains on “We have to accept that there is a gap against the benchmark in England and things, and we’ll need a bit of luck.” less against the City manager, whom Wednesday’s Champions League vic- the sidelines with a muscular problem between us and Manchester City,” said Europe,” he said. “We want the mo- Former Dortmund and Paris Saint- he could also face in the Champions tory against Borussia Dortmund. but he has no other injury concerns. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, April 17, 2021 CRICEKT

T20 IPL Chahar stars with Pakistan seal series four wickets as Chennai rout Punjab

Agencies required, Sam Curran fi nished Mumbai off the chase in style, with a boundary and CSK chased down with nervy victory the total. he bowlers led from the Earlier, CSK were on fi re with front once again in the the new ball after getting rid of early stage of the season both the PBKS openers. Cha- as Chennai Super Kings har castled Mayank Agarwal’s T(CSK) secured their fi rst game stumps in the very fi rst over, of the Indian Premier League hitting the top of off -stump fol- over South Africa thrashing Punjab Kings (PBKS) lowed by Ravindra Jadeja’s out- at the Wankhede Stadium in standing fi elding eff ort – a direct Mumbai yesterday. hit – inside the circle that ran out Medium pacer Faheem Ashraf sets up an easy win for Pakistan as he took three for 17 Deepak Chahar’s remarkable the PBKS skipper, K L Rahul. four-wicket haul helped CSK Chahar the dismissed Gayle restrict PBKS to 106/8 before and got Nicholas Pooran in the they chased down the target with sam over as PBKS were strug- more than four overs to spare. gling at 26-4 at the end of pow- CSK made a cautious start erplay. Chahar scalped his 4th with the bat, chasing 107. Noth- wicket after Deepak Hooda ing to take away though from the chipped it into the hands of du PBKS pacers – Mohamed Shami Plessis at mid-off . and Jhye Richardson – who were Shahrukh Khan, along with Ri- right on the money with the new chardson formed a vital partner- ball, conceding only eight runs in ship for the sixth wicket, adding the fi rst three overs. 31 runs. However, Moeen Ali put Faf du Plessis then switched an end to the same, crashing one gears, smacking 2 fours and a into the stumps of Richardson. perfectly executed scoop that Shahrukh kept the boundaries went all the way for a maximum, fl owing, despite wickets tum- scoring 14 off the fourth over bling at one end and raced off to by Richardson. Arshdeep Singh 39. Dwayne Bravo got Murugan dismissed the struggling Ruturaj Ashwin out and the PBKS were Gaikwad after the right-hander struggling at 87-7 at the end of holed out in the deep. the 17th over. But Moeen Ali Ali and du Ples- The Punjab Kings brought sis kept rotating the strike with- their hundred up in the penulti- out taking big risks as CSK sailed mate over bowled by Bravo, who past fi fty in the eighth over, in conceded only 4 runs. Shahrukh total control of the chase. Khan fell just three runs short of Ali came out with positive his half-century after he tried to intent as he smashed a couple smack Sam Curran for a maxi- of boundaries off Shami. Ali mum, only to fi nd Jadeja in the launched one off Murugan Ash- deep. PBKS fi nished with a total win, over long-on for a maxi- of 106-8, scoring only 6 runs in mum. While he was caught in the the fi nal over of the innings. deep in the same over, he ensured the damage was done after scor- BRIEF SCORES ing 46 off 31 balls. Chennai Super Kings 107/4 Shami came in to bowl the 15th (Moeen Ali 46, Faf du Plessis 36*; over and created some late dam- age for CSK after picking two Mohamed Shami 2/21) beat Pun- wickets in two balls, dismissing jab Kings 106/8 (Shahrukh Khan Suresh Raina and Ambati Ray- 47, Jhye Richardson 15; Deepak udu respectively.With four runs Chahar 4/13) by 6 wickets Pakistan players and support staff celebrate after the T20 series win over South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion yesterday. (AFP)

AFP on what is usually a high-scoring ground. Bavuma because of injury, batted poorly took three for 40 and two for 18 respec- Centurion, South Africa Pakistan were cruising at 92 for one in but clawed their way back into the game tively. Rassie van der Dussen top-scored the tenth over as Babar and Fakhar Za- despite bowling four no-balls and seven for South Africa with 52 off 36 balls. The man shared a impressive second-wicket wides. series completed a truncated home sea- akistan completed a clean sweep partnership after Mohamed Rizwan was “I am disappointed but we have young son for South Africa, who lost a T20 series of four trophies in four series stumped in the fi rst over. cricketers with great talent and I am against England and gained their only se- against South Africa but had But Fakhar, who hit fi ve fours and four proud of them,” said stand-in captain ries win when they won two Tests against anxious moments before scram- sixes in a 34-ball 60, went for one big hit Heinrich Klaasen. “We showed we can Sri Lanka before taking on Pakistan. Pbling to a three-wicket win with one ball too many and sliced a high catch to back- fi ght and compete as a young group but Babar praised the facilities provided for to spare in the fourth and fi nal Twenty20 ward point. we need to get more consistency in our his team in a bio-secure country club be- international at SuperSport Park in Cen- Babar, who was named man of the se- performances.” tween Johannesburg and Centurion, with turion yesterday. ries, was caught at wide third man for Faheem earlier started a South Afri- the matches shared between the two ven- “It is a big moment for Pakistan. It is 24 three balls later and Pakistan found can collapse similar to that which later ues. His team will now head to Harare for not easy winning matches in South Af- themselves in a collapse in which six affl icted Pakistan. South Africa had three T20 internationals and two Tests rica,” captain Babar Azam said through an wickets fell for 37 runs. Two no-balls in reached 73 for one after the early loss of against Zimbabwe. interpreter at the post-match presenta- the penultimate over by Sisanda Magala Aiden Markram when Faheem had Janne- tion. Pakistan, who earlier in the season proved disastrous for the hosts, with the man Malan caught at mid-off for 33 in the BRIEF SCORES defeated South Africa in Tests and T20 second resultant free hit being slammed ninth over. South Africa 144 all out in 19.3 overs internationals in Pakistan, followed up a for six by Mohammad Nawaz. He followed up with the wickets of (J. Malan 33, H. van der Dussen 52; Haris 2-1 one-day series win with a 3-1 victory However, it still went down to the fi fth Klaasen and George Linde. He bowled in the T20s to round off a successful tour. ball of the over before Nawaz clinched his four overs in succession and did not Rauf 2-18, Hasan Ali 3-40, Faheem Ashraf Medium-pace bowler Faheem Ashraf victory with another six, off Lizaad Wil- concede a boundary. “My brief was clear 3-17) lost to Pakistan 149 for 7 in 19.5 set up what seemed likely to be an easy liams. South Africa, with fi ve key players from the captain but the tone was set by overs (Fakhar Zaman 60, Mohamed Deepak Chahar (right) of Chennai Super Kings celebrates after win for Pakistan when he took three for 17 released to the Indian Premier League the new ball bowlers,” he said. Nawaz not out 25; Williams 2-39, Magala taking the wicket of Mayank Agarwal of Punjab Kings during the as South Africa were bowled out for 144 and without appointed captain Temba Fast bowlers Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf 2-33) by three wickets Indian Premier League in Mumbai yesterday. (Sportzpics for IPL)

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS England all-rounder Stokes out for Ponting rues Delhi’s bowling mistakes up to 12 weeks with broken fi nger Reuters We talked about how to bowl to him, but the Mumbai execution probably wasn’t there.” AFP Delhi may also regret not giving Ravi- London chandran Ashwin his full quota of four elhi Capitals head coach Ricky overs, even though he conceded only 14 runs Ponting was left to rue his team’s in his three bowled without giving away ll-rounder Ben Stokes poor bowling on Thursday after a boundary. “That’s certainly something will be sidelined for up they allowed Rajasthan Royals’ that we will talk about when I get a chance to three months after ChrisD Morris to smack four sixes off the nalfi to sit down with the team,” Ponting said of fracturing a fi nger dur- 10 balls to seal a three-wicket win in the In- the off -spinner, who had gone 47-1 against ingA Indian Premier League duty, dian Premier League (IPL). Mumbai in the previous match. while a broken bone in batsman Delhi were defending a below-par total of “He had a disappointing game in game Dom Sibley’s right hand has giv- 147-8 in Mumbai and had reduced Rajasthan one, but he has worked really hard in the last en England a further headache. to 42-5 in the 10th over before David Miller few days to make sure he adjusted and got Stokes, 29, will be absent for delivered a quickfi re 62. After Miller’s exit, things right in this game. Probably a mis- a chunk of England’s summer Rajasthan needed 27 runs off the last two take on our behalf, and something we will be schedule after suff ering the in- overs from Kagiso Rabada and Tom Curran Ponting said they had not put Morris un- talking about later on.” jury while fi elding for Rajasthan with three wickets in hand. der enough pressure. “We probably gave Meanwhile, Morris proved he is worth Royals in their fi rst Indian Pre- South African Morris, bought for a him a few too many easy balls, a few too every penny. “There are guys who get paid mier League match of the year record $2.17mn in February’s players auc- many slot balls if you like,” he told reporters. for batting and there are guys who get paid against Punjab Kings this week. tion, feasted on some soft bowling to seal “If you bowled a reasonable yorker, he didn’t for slogging. I know which one I am,” Morris “England all-rounder Ben a thrilling victory for the 2008 champions score off them. If it was back of a length, sort said after his unbeaten 36 off 18 balls. “I am Stokes will be out for up to 12 and hand the Capitals their fi rst loss of the of, above stump high, he didn’t get hold of a slogger at the end of the day who swings at weeks after a repeat X-ray and for white-ball series against Sri the world for the second year in campaign. them either, especially with pace on the ball. everything he can.” CT scan on Thursday revealed Lanka and Pakistan. The start of a row, becoming the fi rst Eng- that he has a fracture of his left the inaugural Hundred franchise land cricketer to win the award index fi nger,” an England and competition in late July and a twice. England opening bats- BOTTOMLINE Wales Cricket Board statement fi ve-Test series against India be- man Sibley sustained a fractured said yesterday. ginning in early August are like- fi nger fi elding for Warwickshire “Stokes, who is currently in lier to be on Stokes’s radar for a in their County Championship India with Rajasthan Royals in return. The Royals said earlier in match against Nottinghamshire New Zealand players to get vaccines today the Indian Premier League, will the week that the powerful all- on Thursday. fl y home tomorrow. He will have rounder would be ruled out of He did not bat in Warwick- Reuters Stuff said both the Ministry of Health and ampton. On Wednesday, New Zealand start- surgery in Leeds on Monday. The the remainder of the IPL season. shire’s fi rst innings but the club Bengaluru New Zealand Cricket (NZC) had confi rmed ed administering vaccinations to its athletes injury occurred while fi elding “Everyone at Rajasthan Royals kept open the possibility of a the report. The New Zealand government ahead of their departure for the Tokyo Ol- during Royals’ opening match absolutely admires Ben for be- return to action at Trent Bridge. said last month it would allow athletes to ympics. against Punjab Kings on Monday ing such a huge asset and a valu- “Sibley is being regularly as- ew Zealand will begin adminis- jump the queue in the country’s vaccine More than 200 athletes are expected to when he completed a catch in the able member of the Royals fam- sessed and his contribution to tering Covid-19 vaccinations to rollout to allow them to participate in events represent New Zealand at the July 23-Aug. deep to see off West Indies bats- ily, both on and off the eld,fi and the remainder of the game will its men’s cricket team and sup- of “national signifi cance”. 8 Games. New Zealand has been one of the man Chris Gayle.” wishes him a speedy recovery,” be determined by the level of dis- port staff today before they travel New Zealand are due to travel to England most successful countries at containing the Stokes looks set to miss Eng- the team said. comfort that the player is expe- toN England for a two-match series and the for a two-test series starting June 2 before novel coronavirus and started the second land’s two Tests against New Stokes was this week named riencing and the medical team,” World Test Championship fi nal, local news facing India in the fi nal of the ICC World round of its vaccine rollout for border and Zealand in June and is a doubt Wisden’s leading cricketer in the club said in a statement. website Stuff reported. Test Championship on June 18 at South- quarantine workers last month. Gulf Times Saturday, April 17, 2021 5 SPORT

NBA NHL Jets stay hot with Lakers welcome win at Maple Leafs Reuters advantage for one minute, 11 sec- New York, United States onds. The Jets then struck for three goals on three shots in a span of yle Connor had two 3:09. goals and an assist, Ehlers scored nine seconds back fans for fi rst Nikolaj Ehlers scored into a power play on a shot from two goals and the vis- the left circle at 10:45. Zach Bo- itingK Winnipeg Jets defeated gosian was off for interference. the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Connor scored 27 seconds lat- Thursday night. er from the left circle. Scheifele Mark Scheifele added a goal set him up with a cross-ice pass. and two assists for the Jets, who Scheifele scored his 17th on a have won fi ve of their past six breakaway at 13:54 and Rittich time in over a year games. Neal Pionk added two as- replaced Campbell. sists. Tavares scored his 14th goal of Connor Hellebuyck made 31 the season at 6:47 of the second Jaylen Brown finishes with 40 points as Celtics beat Lakers 121-113 saves for Winnipeg. period. Jason Spezza was in the AFP John Tavares had a goal and an right corner when he made the Los Angeles, United States assist for the Maple Leafs, who pass that went across the goal- have lost three straight. Alex Gal- mouth. chenyuk also scored for Toronto. Ehlers scored his 20th goal at os Angeles fans took advantage of Toronto goaltender Jack 5:34 of the third period. He took relaxed rules on attending sport- Campbell allowed three goals on the puck from Mitchell Marner ing events on Thursday with a six shots before being replaced in the Toronto zone and poked it limited number of spectators al- by David Rittich in the fi rst pe- past Rittich. Llowed into Staples Center for the fi rst riod. Rittich made 16 saves. Connor (No. 21) scored into an time in over a year to watch the Boston The Maple Leafs played with- empty net at 19:23 of the third. Celtics beat their Lakers 121-113. out Auston Matthews (upper- Thursday night was the fi rst time that body injury), who leads the NHL NBA fans were allowed to watch a game in with 32 goals. RESULTS person at Staples Center since March 10, The Jets led 3-1 after scoring 2020, when the Lakers lost 104-102 to the three straight goals in the fi rst Boston 4-1 NY Islanders Brooklyn Nets. period. Carolina 4-1 Nashville Health offi cials in Los Angeles County Galchenyuk scored at 3:41 on a NY Rangers 4-0 New Jersey recently relaxed Covid-19 restrictions, shot from the slot that defl ected clearing the way for about 2,000 people off Hellebuyck’s blocker, into the Philadelphia 2-1 Pittsburgh to pass through the turnstiles. top left corner and just as quickly (SO) The fi rst of the lucky few that managed popped out. Play continued for Tampa Bay 3-2 Florida to snag tickets began arriving outside the several seconds before a video Winnipeg 5-2 Toronto arena in downtown Los Angeles a couple review determined that it was a of hours prior to tipoff . goal. It was Galchenyuk’s third of Buff alo 5-2 Washington That included season ticket holder the season. Detroit 4-1 Chicago Timothy Ferguson who says he was tired The Maple Leafs could not Dallas 4-1 Columbus of watching games on TV. score when they had a two-man “There’s nothing like live. I mean we watch it on our wide-screen at home but there’s nothing like live,” Ferguson said. Denise Fernandez liked the idea of watching a game unobstructed and being able to stretch out in her seat. “I was telling her to come,” said Fern- andez who convinced a friend to come along. “No one will be standing in front of her, she won’t have a problem seeing. I think it’s cool no one will be around us.” Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (right) scores a basket against Los Angeles Lakers center Marc Gasol (left) during the first half of Some fans also fi lled up the outdoor the NBA game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, United States, on Thursday. (USA TODAY Sports) patios at nearby restaurants across the street from Staples. worst outbreaks of Covid-19 in America chase food and drink. Scalpers were selling tickets for $300 with over 23,000 deaths and 1.23mn cas- Unfortunately, the 1,915 fans didn’t RESULTS each. es and counting. have much to cheer about as Boston Even though it didn’t show on the score- rolled to a one-sided victory. Milwaukee 120-109 Atlanta board, Lakers coach Frank Vogel said they NO BAGS Boston’s Jaylen Brown fi nished with 40 Golden State 119-101 Cleveland Those in attendance on Thursday had to points and grabbed nine rebounds for the got a boost from the cheering section. Boston 121-113 LA Lakers “When you get energy like you get to- prove they had been vaccinated or show Celtics who roared out to a 14-2 lead in night it feels good,” Vogel said. “Hope- proof of a negative coronavirus test 72 the fi rst quarter. Phoenix 122-114 Sacramento Winnipeg Jets’ Kyle Connor scores an empty net goal with this shot fully we will be at capacity at some point.” hours prior. They were also not allowed to Boston stretched their lead to 27 points against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period at Scotiabank Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said carry any bags, including purses, into the at one stage of the fourth quarter. The Celtics never trailed in the game. Arena in Toronto, Canada, on Thursday. (USA TODAY Sports) he hopes to eventually get the number of stadium. only run for Los Angeles came during a “It was not an ideal fi nish,” said Brown. fans up by having fans show a “vaccine Fans had to wear face coverings, main- stretch late in the game when the Lak- “We played good in spurts. But a win is a passport”. tain six feet of distance from each other ers made some headway against Boston’s win. We wanted to go back home feeling Los Angeles County has had one of the and use cashless cards and apps to pur- reserves who ultimately made sure the good about ourselves and now we do.” Cubs pitcher, manager suspended for throw at opponent Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Tepera was suspended for three games and fined an undisclosed amount for intentionally Anthony Davis nearing return for Lakers throwing at Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff , Major League Reuters strained calf and tendinosis in “Especially with the nature of sprain in a loss to the Atlanta Baseball said Thursday. Cubs manager David Ross was also Los Angeles, United States his right leg. practice and how shorthanded Hawks on March 20. At the suspended one game and fined for the incident, which came in Los Angeles is 13-15 since the we are, he’s going to have to time, it was estimated the four- the bottom of the fifth inning of Tuesday’s game in Milwaukee. injury. use some games to try to get time league MVP would miss Ross will serve his suspension on Friday when the Cubs host os Angeles Lakers star The Lakers are scheduled to himself back in shape. So the up to six weeks. the Atlanta Braves. But Tempera has opted to appeal, and his Anthony Davis is on the host the NBA-leading Utah Jazz first two games he’s back will The return of Davis (22.5 points, suspension won’t begin until that process is complete. Tepera’s Lcusp of rejoining the team on Saturday and Monday, and likely be short-minute perform- 8.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.3 pitch behind Brewers pitcher Woodruff came an inning after for the stretch run toward the Vogel said Davis is unlikely to ances.” steals per game this season) Woodruff threw high and inside to Cubs catcher Willson Contre- playoff s after missing 28 games play. When he returns, Davis After Monday’s game, the and James (25.4 points, 7.9 ras, hitting Contreras on the hands. “That caught me off -guard,” with a calf injury. will be on a minutes limit to Lakers will embark on a four- rebounds, 7.9 assists) will be Contreras said of Tepera’s throw, in comments widely interpret- Coach Frank Vogel said Thurs- start. game road swing that begins a boost to the defending NBA ed to confirm Tepera meant to pitch at Woodruff . “I didn’t know day night that Davis has been “Whenever it is that he returns, Thursday night in Dallas. champions. anything about it. I was just trying to calm (Woodruff ) down cleared for full practice and it’s not going to be a full return There is still no estimate on the At 34-22, they are in fifth place in because I know how it feels to be thrown at.” could play next week. Davis to playing 30-something return date for LeBron James, the tough Western Conference, 7 was sidelined Feb. 14 with a minutes a night,” Vogel said. who sustained a high-ankle 1/2 games behind the Jazz. NHL delays Canucks’ return from Covid-19 outbreak

MLB The NHL announced Thursday that the game between Van- couver and the Edmonton Oilers rescheduled for Friday has been postponed, handing the Canucks another setback in their attempt to return from the league’s worst Covid-19 outbreak. A coronavirus outbreak aff ected 22 players and four others from Swanson gives Braves walk-off win over Marlins the organisation and led to a lengthy pause in their schedule. Vancouver has not played since March 24. They were supposed Reuters to return to action Friday against the Oilers and then play Sat- New York, United States RESULTS urday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. But the players voiced their displeasure this week with the NHL Players’ Association, Atlanta 7-6 Miami telling union off icials that they were being pushed to return to ansby Swanson lined the fi rst Seattle 4-2 Baltimore action too soon. There was no word on whether the Canucks’ pitch he saw into left fi eld to San Diego 8-3 Pittsburgh game against the Leafs would go ahead as planned. The players complete a two-run rally and were reportedly concerned about having to play 19 games in 31 give the Atlanta Braves a 7-6 Minnesota 4-3 Boston days after not being able to skate for three weeks. “It is not go- walkoffD win over the visiting Miami Mar- Cleveland 4-2 White Sox ing to be too safe, if you are asking me,” forward JT Miller told lins on Thursday, breaking a four-game Seattle 2-1 Baltimore reporters. “Even the guys that didn’t get (the virus) aren’t ready. losing streak. We try to talk about our No. 1 priority is our players’ health and The Braves loaded the bases against Arizona 11-6 Washington their families’ safety, and it’s impossible to achieve that with Dylan Floro (0-1) on back-to-back sin- Texas 6-4 Tampa Bay what we’re being asked to do.” gles by Ender Inciarte and Ronald Acuna Kansas City 7-5 Toronto Jr. and a 10-pitch at-bat walk to Freddie Freeman. A walk to Ozzie Albies forced in Avalanche, Kings cancel morning the tying run and Swanson ended it with Miami got another run in the fourth in- skate aft er positive test his third hit of the game. ning to take a 3-0 lead. Wallach walked, The Marlins had taken the lead in the moved to second on a sacrifi ce and scored The Colorado Avalanche cancelled their morning skate as a top of the ninth against reliever A.J. on Corey Dickerson’s single to left. precaution because one person within the organisation tested Minter. Miguel Rojas walked to lead off The Braves got on the board in the fi fth positive for Covid-19, the team announced yesterday. Per the the inning and scored on pinch hitter inning when Acuna delivered a two-run Avalanche, the unidentified person is in isolation and all other Adam Duvall’s double to right. After the homer, his seventh. staff and players have tested negative. Goaltender Philipp Gru- next two Marlins were retired, Garrett Pablo Sandoval gave the Braves the bauer was placed in the NHL Covid-19 protocol Wednesday and Cooper lined a single up the middle just Dansby Swanson of the Atlanta Braves celebrates after hitting a walk off , game-winning lead with a three-run pinch-hit homer will be sidelined at least two weeks, coach Jared Bednar said. out of the reach of shortstop Swanson. single in the ninth inning of an MLB game against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park in in the sixth inning off reliever Zach Pop. Rookie defenseman Bowen Byram, 19, has been on the NHL Neither starter fi gured in the decision. Atlanta, Georgia, United States, on Thursday. (AFP) It was the third pinch-hit home run this protocol list since last Friday. Colorado is scheduled to host the Atlanta’s Ian Anderson worked fi ve in- month for Sandoval, which set a franchise Los Angeles Kings on Friday in Denver. The Kings also cancelled nings and allowed three runs on six hits, and seven strikeouts. runs in the second. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and record. their morning skate “out of an abundance of caution,” but they four walks and six strikeouts. Miami’s Minter (1-0) got the win, despite al- Jon Berti hit back-to-back doubles with The Marlins got a solo homer from announced over social media that they are “preparing to play Trevor Rogers pitched fi ve innings and al- lowing two runs in his lone inning. one out. Chad Wallach drove in Berti with Starling Marte, his fi rst, in the seventh the game” on Friday night. lowed two runs on three hits, three walks The Marlins took an early lead with two a single to left fi eld. against reliever Nate Jones. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, April 17, 2021 SPORT

GOLF ATHLETICS Revised Diamond League season to Australia’s Smith start in Gateshead

AFP lowed to attend. Paris The meeting in Florence will move from June 4 to June 10. In another change, the Bis- he Diamond League lett Games in Oslo, due to take leads RBC Heritage season of elite athlet- place in June, will be postponed ics meetings will now until July 1 to comply with local begin in Gateshead on coronavirus restrictions. MayT 23 after the city in north- Diamond League chair Se- east England replaced Rabat. bastian Coe said organisers The meeting in the Moroc- were “working hard, in ex- can capital has been cancelled traordinarily difficult and fast because of coronavirus restric- changing circumstances, to with sizzling 62 tions as the pandemic contin- deliver events for the athletes ues to disrupt the calendar as rather than cancelling them”. Smith defied afternoon winds to fire nine birdies, matching Cink at eight-under athletes prepare for the rear- ranged Tokyo Olympics this Revised 2021 Diamond when he holed out from a bunker at the 17th and seizing the solo lead year. It will be the first time League calendar Gateshead has hosted a Dia- May 23 — Gateshead (GBR) mond League meeting since May 28 — Doha (QAT) the series, formerly the Golden June 10 — Florence (ITA) League, was rebranded in 2010. July 1 — Oslo (NOR) In other changes to the 2021 July 4 — Stockholm (SWE) calendar, Rome’s Pietro Men- July 9 — Monaco (MON) nea Golden Gala meeting will July 13 — London (GBR) relocate to Florence following August 14 — Shanghai (CHN) the confirmation on Wednes- August 21 — Eugene (USA) day that the Italian capital’s August 22 — Venue to be con- Stadio Olimpico will host firmed (CHN) matches in the football Euro- August 26 — Lausanne (SUI) pean Championship after the August 28 — Paris (FRA) Italian government met UEFA’s September 3 — Brussels (BEL) demand that spectators be al- September 8-9 — Zurich (SUI)

TRAGEDY Wales and Lions great John Dawes dies, aged 80

AFP land at Lansdowne Road in 1964, London marking the occasion with a try. The following year he took over the captaincy of London ohn Dawes, the only British Welsh, where his insistence on and Irish Lions captain to lead moving the ball at speed became the combined side to a Test a hallmark of one of the most Jseries win in New Zealand, successful club sides of the era, has died. He was 80 years old. with that attacking style of play As well as skippering the Li- also underpinning the victorious ons to their 1971 success over the Wales teams of the 1970s. All Blacks, the Wales centre was The London Welsh side of also the Barbarians captain when that time featured Dawes’ fellow they beat New Zealand in Cardiff Wales internationals JPR Wil- in 1973, where he had a hand in liams, Gerald Davies, Mervyn Gareth Edwards’ celebrated try. Davies and John Taylor, all of Dawes’ death was announced whom starred for the 1971 Lions. by one of his former clubs, New- Dawes fi rst captained Wales in bridge, who said yesterday: “Af- 1968 and was their skipper when ter a period of ill health, John they won a Grand Slam in the old Dawes sadly passed away this Five Nations in 1971. morning.” He was also the Lions coach on Dawes won the fi rst of his 22 their losing tour of New Zealand Wales caps aged 23 against Ire- in 1977.

Cameron Smith of Australia looks over his putt on the 12th green during the first round of the RBC Heritage on Thursday at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Philippines’s Saso leads Lyida Ko by 2

AFP US PGA Tour title, said. “It was week on every chip shot, and I lazy on the fi rst shot was kind of Americans Charles Howell, Los Angeles: Yuka Saso fired der through the first two holes Washington a great day on the green. I was feel like I can be really aggres- like a slap in the face and it got Billy Horschel and Harold Var- a second straight 64 to take a at Kapolei Golf Club in Oahu, hitting my irons really good. sive around here,” said Smith, my attention. ner shared fi fth on fi ve-under two-stoke halfway lead over Hawaii. “I had lots of good looks, and who tied for 10th at the Masters “And so we were really good 66. former world number one Lydia After her lone bogey of the day ameron Smith blitzed I just took advantage of them.” won by Hideki Matsuyama. and clean the rest of the way, Will Zalatoris, who fi nished Ko in the LPGA Lotte Champi- at the fourth she birdied the Harbour Town Golf Smith’s fi ve front-nine bird- Cink, who turns 48 next and no more mistakes,” said runner-up to Matsuyama at onship on Thursday. fifth, then charged with four Links for a nine-under ies included three in a row at month, enjoyed “a very smooth Cink, who had seven birdies and Augusta National by one stroke, Saso, a 19-year-old from the birdies in a row at the seventh, par 62 on Thursday to four, fi ve and six. After a birdie round” after a disastrous start an eagle to position himself for carded a three-under 68. Philippines seeking a first eighth, ninth and 10th to tie Ko Cgrab a one-stroke lead in the at the 12th he kept the momen- at the 10th, where he said his a run at a third Harbour Town World number one Dustin US LPGA title after two wins atop the leaderboard. RBC Heritage over former Brit- tum going with a solid up and tee ball into the lake “was prob- title to go with victories in 2000 Johnson, coming off a missed on the Japan LPGA, shared a She snaked in a long birdie ish Open champion Stewart down at the 13th and added a ably one of the worst opening and 2004. cut at Augusta National in his one-stroke overnight lead with bomb at the 16th to gain the Cink. Smith defi ed diffi cult af- three-foot birdie at 15 before his drives I ever hit in my life. Cink was two strokes clear defense of his Masters title, said Brittany Altomare. solo lead, and drained a four- ternoon winds to fi re nine bird- closing brace. “You’d think that’s a bad way of England’s Matt Wallace and he played better than his one- But she was six adrift when she footer at 17 as she built a 36- ies, matching Cink at eight- He said after the pressure of to start, but in a way it’s a wake- American Collin Morikawa on under 70 showed, although a teed off after New Zealand’s Ko hole total of 16-under par 128. under when he holed out from Masters week last week, chip- up call,” said Cink, who was 65. Wallace had six birdies in his three-putt bogey and a double- stormed up the leaderboard “I think I hit good tee shots a bunker at the 17th and seizing ping on the Harbour Town feeling a Masters hangover in a six-under eff ort while Mori- bogey on the par-three fourth with a sensational nine-under today and holed a lot of birdie the solo lead with a four and a layout in Hilton Head Island, diff erent way. kawa, gearing up for the defense were lowlights. par 63 that featured nine bird- putts,” said Saso, who added half-foot birdie putt at 18. South Carolina, was “almost “After playing in the Masters of his PGA Championship title “I need to just clean it up a ies without a bogey. that the wind was “a little bit of “Everything just came to- like a breeze. and being super-focused and next month, had seven birdies little bit tomorrow,” Johnson Undaunted, Saso was two un- a factor” on the back nine. gether,” Smith, chasing a third “I was so scared almost last intense, to come here and be and a bogey. said.

BOTTOMLINECYCLING French climber Pinot targets Giro summit

AFP stages on the Tour de France, racing quite another. You only Germany and Briton Mark Paris Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Es- really find out where you are in Cavendish to win yesterday’s pana. competition.” sixth stage of the Tour of “But I’ll only go to the Giro Pinot had French fans hop- Turkey in the coastal town of rench climber Thibaut if I’m 100 per cent,” he said, ing for a home victory in the Marmaris. Pinot, who has been adding he was 99 per cent 2019 Tor de France until three Greipel, 38, finished second struggling with a back sure that whatever happened days from the finish line when and the 35-year-old Cavend- problem, will test his he would not race the Tour de he pulled out. ish fourth. fitnessF for the Giro d’Italia at France, which this year favours The FDJ rider told his fans It was a second top-of-the- the Tour of the Alps next week. time trailers. not to judge his form on results podium finish this month for Popular with French fans for “The Giro is the toughest at the recent Tirreno-Adriati- Philipsen, the 23-year-old his ‘all in’ approach Pinot says event and I couldn’t face go- co, where he finished 43rd af- having savoured his first suc- he will be at the start-line of ing through what happened ter suffering bronchitis. cess in winning the Schelde- the Giro on May 8, if and only to me on the Tour and Vuelta,” “I’m unconcerned by the prijs road cycling one day race if, he is on top form. he said referring to his strug- results, I just want to know if ahead of Ireland’s Sam Ben- He won the Tour of the Alps gles after a bad fall on the Nice I’ll be fit enough for the Giro,” nett and Cavendish. in 2018, and it will be telling Promenade des Anglais last said Pinot, who is highly pop- Spain’s Jose Manuel Diaz how he does on the five day year on the opening stage of ular in Italy and who has a tat- (Delko) retained the leader’s mountain run with its short, the Tour de France. too in Italian on his arm: “Only jersey, while Cavendish holds steep, explosive stages that he Since then, Pinot has had to winning is beautiful”. the sprint points jersey by a once called his finest victory. change his position and wear single point from Philipsen. “I’m optimistic about the orthopaedic insoles. PHILIPSEN EXCELS Today sees the riders tackle back, but we’ll only find out “That is why I’m being so Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen a largely flat 180km seventh in the race,” said the 30-year- careful,” he says. (Alpecin) beat home veteran and penultimate stage from old, who has won mountain “Training is one thing, but sprinters Andre Greipel of Marmaris to Turgutreis. Gulf Times Saturday, April 17, 2021 7 SPORT

OPTIMISM Tokyo Olympics chief commits to Games as Covid-19 infections surge

Reuters we can to implement a thorough roads. transmission, along with limited Hiroshi Nishiura, an advisor Tokyo safety regimen that will make Overseas fans have been testing capacity and a slow vac- to the government’s pandemic people feel complete safety.” barred from the Games and offi - cination rollout, according to a response, urged in a magazine The government added Aichi, cials say that domestic fans may commentary of health experts commentary this week that au- okyo’s Olympics chief Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba be kept out too. published in the British Medical thorities postpone the Olympics said yesterday that Ja- to six other prefectures already Underscoring the diffi cul- Journal on Wednesday. one year to allow for more time pan was committed to under contagion controls, in- ties of planning during the pan- “Plans to hold the Olympic to vaccinate the public. holding a safe Games cluding the cities of Tokyo and demic, Tokyo Olympic organ- and Paralympic games this sum- Japan began its inoculation thisT summer, as a surge in Cov- Osaka. isers postponed another test mer must be reconsidered as a push in February, later than most id-19 cases prompted an expan- Japan’s top health experts event, the BMX freestyle cycling matter of urgency,” wrote lead major economies. Only 0.9% sion of contagion controls and have acknowledged that the scheduled for April 24-25, be- author Kazuki Shimizu of the of the Japanese public have re- with fresh calls for the Games to Covid-19 pandemic has entered cause of the impact on schedul- London School of Economics. ceived their fi rst shot so far, again be postponed or cancelled. a fourth wave. ing from the Covid-19 situation. “Holding Tokyo 2020 for do- compared with 2.5% in South The government expanded Daily cases in Osaka reached Olympic and government of- mestic political and economic Korea, and 48% in the United quasi-emergency measures to a record 1,209 yesterday, driven fi cials have said further post- purposes - ignoring scientifi c Kingdom. 10 regions as a fourth wave of by a virulent strain of the virus ponement of the Games is out of and moral imperatives - is con- Japan’s government denied infections spread, casting more fi rst identifi ed in Britain. New the question. tradictory to Japan’s commit- reports last week that it would doubt on whether the Olympics infections in Tokyo were 729 on But a groundswell of health ment to global health and human prioritise athletes for vaccina- can be held in Tokyo in fewer Thursday, the most since early experts have said it’s too risky security.” tion. Australia is one nation con- than 100 days. February when most of the na- to hold the Games this summer. A survey of more than 1,000 sidering such a move. “We’re not thinking of cancel- tion was under a state of emer- said on Thursday that cancelling ganisers said on Friday that on Compounding the problem is Ja- Japanese doctors last month Japanese Prime Minister ling the Olympics,” Tokyo 2020 gency. Almost two-thirds of Jap- this year’s Olympics remains an the main island of Okinawa in pan’s relatively slow inoculation showed that 75% believed it was Yoshihide Suga said on Thurs- President Seiko Hashimoto said, anese said the Olympics should option if the coronavirus situa- Japan’s southernmost Okinawa push, which began February us- better to postpone the Games, day the government would do speaking on behalf of the organ- be cancelled or postponed, a Jiji tion becomes too dire. prefecture they would stage the ing imported vaccines. according to physician referral “everything possible” to prevent ising committee. news poll showed yesterday. A scaled-back torch relay is relay in restricted areas without Japan has exhibited “poor per- company Ishinotomo. further contagion ahead of the “We will continue to do what A senior ruling party offi cial already underway. Olympic or- spectators instead of on public formance” in containing virus Kyoto University professor Games.

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Kipchoge warming up for Olympics Coleman’s ban cut marathon with Netherlands race

Reuters race,” Kipchoge said. Nairobi Considered one of the sport’s but he will still greatest marathoners, the 36-year-old suff ered his first enya’s Eliud Kipchoge, defeat since 2013 in London. the Olympic marathon Kipchoge, who up until the champion and world London marathon had won 10 record holder, said he straight races, said he had suf- Kwas looking forward to a beauti- fered from a blocked ear that af- ful race tomorrow in Enschede, fected his breathing and cramp miss Olympics the Netherlands, a run he sees in his hip. as crucial preparation for this While he told reporters that The ban, which was due to run until May 13 2022, will now end on Nov 14 year’s Tokyo Olympics. he did not change any part of his The race was originally sched- training after the London race, Reuters uled to take place on April 11 in the experience taught him how Zurich Hamburg but was postponed to run without fans, who have over Covid-19 restrictions, forc- been forced to stay home from ing the organisers to look for an sports competitions due to the orld 100 metres champion alternative location. pandemic. Christian Coleman had his It will be Kipchoge’s fi rst out- “I still continue with my two-year ban for breaching ing since his surprise loss at training, I have the same coach, anti-doping whereabouts the London marathon in Octo- same management, same think- rulesW reduced to 18 months by the Court ber when he was eighth, more ing and that’s why I am here of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) yesterday than fi ve minutes slower than again,” he said. but will still be ineligible for the Tokyo his world record of 2:01:39 and “We started to run without Olympics. over a minute adrift of Ethiopian fans in London and this is the Coleman’s ban, which was due to run winner Shura Kitata. second leg of running without until May 13 2022, will now end on Nov “My goal is the same — to run fans and that’s one way to learn 14, meaning he will miss the July 23-Aug a good race and a beautiful race,” and actually absorb and accept 8 Tokyo Games but can return to compe- he told reporters in a virtual that we should move on because tition in time to defend his world indoor news conference yesterday. “All life cannot stop anymore.” and outdoor titles next year. of us will enjoy, we will test our- Overseas fans have already The sprinter had been given a two- selves, the shape we will have on been barred from attending the year suspension by an independent tri- Sunday, but above is the beauty Tokyo Games and organisers bunal of track and fi eld’s Athletics Integ- of the race.” plan to decide this month on the rity Unit (AIU) in October last year. The event, closed to the pub- maximum number of local fans He appealed against his ban in No- lic, will feature more than 50 permitted in venues. vember. elite athletes from at least 20 The race in Enschede tomor- “Christian Coleman’s appeal was par- countries, said the organisers. row, taking place at Twente tially upheld and he will serve a reduced Among those competing to- airport, is crucial preparation period of ineligibility of 18 months as morrow against Kipchoge will for the Olympics marathon in from May 14 2020,” CAS said in a state- be 2012 Olympic marathon August, said Kipchoge, the fi rst ment yesterday. champion Stephen Kiprotich of man to run the distance in under CAS said its Panel had determined Uganda. two hours in an unoffi cial race. Coleman had committed an anti-doping “Winning is important, spe- “It’s good actually this race violation but found his “degree of neg- cifi c time is important but I can’t was organised, to help me and ligence to be lower than that established say I want to aim for this time, the rest of the people who will be in the challenged decision”. I really want to run a beautiful qualifying for Tokyo,” he said. Three failures in a 12-month period to This file photo taken on February 14, 2020 shows Christian Coleman competing in the 60m during the 2020 Toyota USATF Indoor be at a location provided to anti-doping Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico. offi cials is considered a doping violation. Coleman, who won the 100m world world championships held in the United in equal measure.” on “high alert” that day. title at the 2019 Doha world champion- States next summer where I plan to de- Coleman found himself in hot water However, it also said he would have ships in 9.76 seconds and had been the fend my world title against a new Olym- with the AIU in 2019 when he was ruled been able to return to his apartment to hot favourite for Olympic gold in Tokyo, pic champion in the 100 meters.” to have missed three tests. He did not undergo a test had he received a tele- said he was disappointed that he would The AIU welcomed the CAS ruling and contest a fi rst missed test but disputed phone call from a doping control offi cer miss the Summer Games. said the decision confi rmed that athletes a fi ling failure on April 26 and wherea- during his 60-minute window. “While I appreciate that the arbitra- needed to take their whereabouts re- bouts failure on Dec 9. CAS said that while a telephone call tors correctly found that I am a clean sponsibilities seriously. Coleman argued that he had stepped was not required by the rules, it was athlete, I am obviously disappointed “No-notice out-of-competition test- out to do some Christmas shopping but “standard practice among other doping that I will miss the Olympic Games this ing is a fundamental pillar of the World had returned home during the allotted control offi cers”. summer,” said Coleman in a statement to Anti-Doping Code and is only possible one-hour time window. Coleman also narrowly escaped a ban Reuters. with strict enforcement of whereabouts Doping control offi cers testifi ed before in 2019 for whereabouts failures. He said he would now focus on next requirements,” Brett Clothier, head of a disciplinary tribunal that they were Just weeks before the world cham- year’s world championships, which will the AIU, said. present during the whole of the allotted pionships, he had looked in danger of be staged in the United States for the “It is not suffi cient for athletes to be hour in front of his house. missing the event when the US Anti- fi rst time. near their indicated location and to rely CAS said in its ruling Coleman was Doping Agency fi led — and later with- “I look forward to representing the on being called by the doping control of- not at home when he should have been drew — a whereabouts violation charge United States at both world champion- fi cer. The whereabouts requirements ap- on Dec. 9 and due to his two existing that could have resulted in a one- or ships in 2022, especially the fi rst ever ply to all elite athletes around the world whereabout failures he should have been two-year suspension. Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge.

BOTTOMLINE Japan skating star Hanyu plays down asthma fears aft er losing to Chen

AFP ympic title defence could be in jeopardy ma would put him at higher risk if he I did well.” Chen won the free pro- the US on top of the overall table with Osaka next February. caught the coronavirus. gramme with a score of 203.24, one one day remaining. But he said he had not suff ered an- This week’s event is being held in day after fi nishing on top in the short Russia leads the six-nation competi- other fl are-up this week in Osaka, Osaka, which is currently battling a programme. The American ends the tion on 91 points, followed by the US on lympic fi gure skating cham- chalking his loss down to simple tech- surge in infections. The city banned the season in red-hot form having also 83, Japan on 78, and France, Italy and pion Yuzuru Hanyu insisted nical errors. “Honestly, I don’t have Olympic torch relay from passing along claimed his third straight world title, Canada bringing up the rear. his asthma will not hamper any problems with my asthma,” said its public roads earlier this week, but but he insisted it was “too early to say” In ice dancing, Russia’s Victoria Sin- his title defence at next year’s Hanyu, who fi nished second behind around 3,000 fans — half the venue’s what will happen at the Olympics. itsina and Nikita Katsalapov won the OBeijing Games, despite losing again to Chen with a free programme score of capacity — have been allowed into the “I don’t know what other guys will free skate with a score of 130.15. rival Nathan Chen yesterday. 193.76. World Team Trophy. look like by then, I don’t know what the The Russians won the world title last Japanese star Hanyu was outshone “I didn’t feel it. I felt really fi ne at this Hanyu admitted he had “regrets” season will look like, and I don’t know month after enduring what Katsalapov by American Chen in the men’s compe- competition. I had some little mistakes over his performance after spending how many competitions I’ll have,” he called a “very tough and challenging” tition at the World Team Trophy in Os- in the short programme and I’m disap- two weeks in quarantine since return- said. year of illness and injury. aka, just as he was at the world cham- pointed with my free programme be- ing from Sweden. “So, right now, I’ll just enjoy the sea- Sinitsina suff ered a knee injury and pionships in Stockholm last month. cause I had a big mistake. I need to train “It hasn’t been a normal life, with son that I had, go home, rest, recover was also hospitalised with coronavirus Hanyu admitted after the worlds more.” your emotions and not being able to eat and get myself refreshed for the follow- — forcing the pair to miss six months of that he felt asthmatic after his free Hanyu skipped this season’s Grand the food you usually eat,” he said. ing season.” training — but they are now targeting programme, fuelling fears that his Ol- Prix series over concerns that his asth- “So, given the conditions, I think Chen’s win was not enough to put Olympic gold in Beijing.

Saturday, April 17, 2021 GULF TIMES SPORT

TENNIS MOTORCYCLING Speed still there, Nadal knocked says Marquez on impressive out of Monte Carlo MotoGP return ‘For Rafa, it must be incredibly diff icult to play with this pressure of by Rublev always having to win’ AFP “The level of play was high at Monte Carlo the beginning,” said Tsitsipas. “We played a lot of long rallies, and the intensity was high in afael Nadal’s bid for a every one of them.” 12th Monte Carlo Mas- Tsitsipas immediately broke ters title was shattered back and as Davidovich strug- by Russia’s Andrey Ru- gled, broke again to end the set blev,R who swept to a 6-2, 4-6, and the match. 6-2 quarter-fi nal win yesterday. “I noticed he was hurt. His leg Nadal, bidding to reach the was hurting. But I didn’t want semi-fi nals of a Masters event to think about it, I tried to pre- for the 75th time, followed world tend he wasn’t injured and keep number one Novak Djokovic, playing as I was doing,” said who was beaten in the third Tsitsipas. but he added: “I had round, out of the tournament. to do what I had to do: force him “For Rafa, it must be incred- to run and work on every point. Repsol Honda Team’s Spanish rider Marc Marquez smiles in the ibly diffi cult to play with this At the end of the day, he wasn’t team garage during the first MotoGP free practice session for the pressure of always having to able to play me until the end.” Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimao yesterday. (AFP) win,” said Rublev who also made the Miami Masters semi-fi nals RUUD AWAKENING FOR AFP He steadily improved through at the start of April. FOGNINI Portimao, Portugal the fi rst session to post a time of “I’m shocked to see the level Evans edged Goffi n after the 1min 42.378ec. which he can reach despite this Belgian made 47 unforced er- He was 0.251 behind compa- pressure. It’s much easier to play rors, including a fi nal forehand ix-time MotoGP world triot Maverick Vinales who set when you have nothing to lose.” on match point, to win. champion Marc Marquez the fastest time in the fi rst ses- It was only the second time in Goffi n also only converted made a remarkable come- sion on his Yamaha. 16 appearances in Monte Carlo two of the 17 break points. Evans back yesterday in his fi rst So far this season, Honda that Nadal had failed to make the was not very eff ective either, but competitiveS ride since crashing have struggled with Yamaha’s semi-fi nals. he did win four of the nine break nine months ago and declared: Vinales and Fabio Quartararo Rublev is no stranger to tak- points. “The speed is still there.” winning the opening rounds in ing out the big names — back in The 30-year-old Briton, who Marquez was third fastest in Qatar. 2019, he stunned Roger Federer was playing in his fi rst Masters the opening free practice for the Pol Espargaro and Stefan at Cincinnati in just 62 minutes. 1000 quarter-fi nal on a clay Portuguese Grand Prix. Brandl, who has stepped in for Yesterday, the 23-year-old court that is not his favourite The Spaniard fared marginally Marquez, were eighth and 11th won the fi rst set in 38 minutes surface. less well in the second session and then 13th and 14th respec- but Nadal then pocketed the last “I played good today. I felt a but still produced the sixth fast- tively for the Honda factory team four games of the 73-minute bit more pressure to not just win est time overall to round off an in the Gulf. second set to level the contest. yesterday and give a bad per- exciting return, 271 days after his “I am nervous,” admitted Mar- In the decider, Rublev held Russia’s Andrey Rublev in action during his Monte Carlo Masters quarter-final against Spain’s Rafael formance today,” said Evans. crash at the Spanish Grand Prix. quez on Thursday. “I have but- his nerve, breaking the Spaniard Nadal (below) yesterday. (Reuters/AFP) “It wasn’t easy after the In the second session, Honda terfl ies in my stomach.” three times on his way to a fa- match yesterday, I felt really rider Marquez fi nished 0.473secs Quartararo was second fastest mous win. tired afterwards. To get back and behind the Italian Francesco overall Friday while Joan Mir, who World number eight Rublev focus, it was diffi cult. I am proud Bagnaia who set the fastest time man who stepped into Marquez’s will face unseeded Casper Ruud, of how I came back.” of the day on his Ducati. shoes last year to win the world who put out defending cham- Defending champion Fognini “The speed is there,” said Mar- title for Suzuki, clocked the third pion Fabio Fognini, for a place in was knocked out by unseeded quez. “Everything will now de- fastest time in spite of not having the fi nal, while the other semi- Ruud, ranked 27, 6-4, 6-3 as the pend on my physical condition. his chief engineer after he tested fi nal will feature Greek fourth 15th seeded Italian hit 33 un- “This afternoon, I already felt positive for Covid-19. seed Stefanos Tsitsipas against forced errors. my arm was a little tired. In what Marquez’s rivals were im- Britain’s Dan Evans, the man The 22-year-old Norwegian state will I wake up tomorrow? If pressed by the Spaniard’s per- who shocked Djokovic in the Ruud, 22, makes the last four 24 I have less power, I will have to formance. third round. years after his father Christian adapt my riding.” “He’s strong,” said champi- Tsitsipas is the highest seed had also reached the quarter- The 28-year-old broke his onship leader Johann Zarco of left after world number two fi nals at the tournament. right arm when he crashed in Ducati-Pramac who was eighth Daniil Medvedev was forced to “He can be very surprising. Jerez in July 2020 in the opening fastest. “You feel that he has withdraw due to a positive Cov- He can make winning points race of last season. He missed the not lost any of his edge. He is id-19 test. from anywhere on the court,” rest of the campaign and opted not eight times world champion Tsitsipas advanced to the said Ruud. not to ride in this season’s back- (all categories) for nothing. He last-four when his quarter-fi nal fi rst in the principality, against pounced to hit a winning back- But at 3-3, Davidovich called “So I’m happy to have re- to-back openers in Qatar having adapts immediately. It’s even opponent Alejandro Davidovich Evans, who battled past Belgian hand return with his opponent for the doctor to treat his left mained focussed. We’ve both undergone three surgeries. better than I imagined.” withdrew after losing the fi rst David Goffi n 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. quitting after dropping the thigh. He immediately managed played better tennis in our lives, Yesterday, at Portimao, the Span- Quartararo added: “We know set. Struggling with an injury to opener 7-5. the fi rst break of the match, as but in the end I managed to put iard was unperturbed by compli- how mentally strong he is and Tsitsipas, the world number his left thigh, Spaniard Davi- Until he was hurt, world Tsitsipas began to show signs of in a few more balls than him cated conditions on the track which how well he knows his Honda. It fi ve, will play his sixth Masters dovich tried an underarm serve number 58 Davidovich gave his irritation, to the point of receiv- and got the upper hand on key had numerous damp patches. was the same Marc.” 1000 semi-fi nal today, and his when facing set point. Tsitsipas Greek opponent problems. ing a warning for swearing. points.”

Alonso casts doubt on racing FORMULA 1 Indianapolis 500 again Two-times Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso said on Thursday he was not sure he would race the Indianapolis 500 Wary Mercedes dominate practice in again. The US race is the final part of the so-called “Triple Crown of Motorsport” which Alonso wants to complete after winning the Le Mans 24 Hours, twice, and Formula One’s Monaco Grand Prix. Only one man, the late British champion Graham Hill, has managed the triple. “If I do it again it’s going to be for a dream of Imola as Verstappen runs into trouble the Triple Crown or try to achieve the win. It’s not that you do that type of race just for fun. But I don’t know if I will do it again or not,” AFP cars off the track. Alonso, who turns 40 in July, is making a Formula One comeback Imola, Italy Perez, who was on a “fl ying” this season with Renault-owned Alpine. He led Indianapolis for 27 lap, according to his team boss laps on his 2017 debut before his car’s engine expired, and failed Christian Horner, had a dam- to qualify in 2019. He made a third attempt last year. ercedes drivers Val- aged rear-left tyre while Ocon, terri Bottas and on a “slow” lap, had a broken Lewis Hamilton front right. Djokovic gets second Belgrade event produced the quick- The drivers were called to the in Roland Garros shake-up Mest times in practice yesterday stewards to explain the incident for the Emilia-Romagna Grand but no further action was taken. Novak Djokovic’s tennis centre in his native Belgrade will stage a Prix but Max Verstappen and “The two cars reached the second clay court tournament on the eve of Roland Garros, the Charles Leclerc both ran into apex at the same time, and just ATP announced yesterday. The Novak Tennis Centre in the Serb trouble in the second session. barely touched wheels,” said the capital will host an event next week and now another in the week Bottas was quickest round the stewards’ report. beginning May 24 to fill the gap left by the French Open’s decision legendary Imola circuit in both “Both drivers agreed in the to push their Grand Slam back by one week. The Emilia-Romagna sessions but only just, 0.01 sec- hearing that it was an unfortu- Open in Parma will also be added to the schedule in that week. Ro- onds faster than his teammate nate miscommunication of tim- land Garros’ decision to delay the start of their event by one week Hamilton. ing between them, not helped has caused headaches for the grass court season. The Stuttgart “We didn’t see the best from by the fact that both drivers had grass court tournament will remain in its scheduled week of June Red Bull today but we’ll see that limited or no communications 7 even though it clashes with the second week of Roland Garros. in Q3 tomorrow. No doubt they with their teams at the time. However, the event planned for ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Nether- are going to be fast,” admitted Both drivers agreed that neither lands has been postponed for a second successive year. Bottas. was at fault.” Seven-time world champion They were both back in busi- Hamilton said he hoped Imola ness for the second session with Formula E shift s up to full Monaco would favour Mercedes more Perez clocking the sixth fastest Grand Prix circuit than Red Bull over the weekend. time. “The team worked very hard to The second red fl ag of the Formula E will use the full Monaco Grand Prix circuit for the first understand what happened in the Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas drives during a practice session for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at the morning came just before the time in May with the electric cars now capable of tackling the last race where we were weak and Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari race track in Imola, Italy, yesterday. (AFP) end of the session after Haas longer layout up the hill to Casino Square and through the tunnel, to see if we can try to tweak the car rookie Nikita Mazepin went too the championship said yesterday. The lap will be slightly diff er- for a better set-up,” he said. Leclerc who crashed into a wall “Something snapped on the session behind the two Mercedes. wide into a corner and spun. ent to the Formula One version, avoiding unfavourable lap-time “I also think the track has at the end of the second session, rear,” Verstappen told his team. The fi rst session was also It was another unfortunate comparisons with the far faster grand prix cars, with tweaks at the come a little bit more in our di- prompting a red fl ag and the de- The Dutchman, who fi nished marked by two red fl ags. incident for the 22-year-old tunnel exit and Sainte Devote first corner. When Formula E started rection.” cision not to restart. second behind Hamilton in the A collision between Red Bull’s Russian. He failed to complete in 2014, drivers had to switch cars to complete a race but the cur- The pair were followed by There was bad news for Red season-opening Bahrain Grand Sergio Perez and the Alpine of the opening lap in Bahrain and rent Gen2 version has greater range and performance and can go AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly and Bull too as Verstappen pulled up Prix, had earlier clocked the Esteban Ocon, which escaped has been tagged with the nick- a full distance on a single charge. the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and with a mechanical problem. third-fastest time in the opening the cameras, resulted in both name ‘Mazespin’.