MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013 SPORTS

Injured Wozniacki Russian great Four-times world champion out of Brisbane Tsymbalar dead Kudukhov dead in car crash MOSCOW: Former Russian international and Spartak Moscow champi- BRISBANE: Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki yesterday withdrew from the MOSCOW: Russian freestyle wrestler Besik Kudukhov has died at the age of 27 on Ilya Tsymbalar has died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 44 following a car accident yesterday, the domestic federation said. Brisbane International tennis tournament after succumbing to a shoulder after a glittering career that saw him crowned the country’s top player. injury. The former world number one hurt her shoulder during training “The tragedy occurred on the federal highway near Armavir as the wrestler Russia’s Rossiyskaya Gazeta government daily said the diminutive was travelling from Vladikavkaz to Krasnodar,” the Russian wrestling federation and decided to pull out of Brisbane to avoid the risk of further damage. midfielder died on Saturday evening of heart disease. “Tsymbalar had a Wozniacki said she was confident she would be able to said in a statement, adding that Kudukhov’s car collided with a truck. reputation as the most talented player in contemporary Russian foot- “Besik Kudukhov will remain forever in our hearts.” Kudukhov was one of play in Sydney next week ahead of the Australian Open ball history,” the state daily wrote on its website. “His calling card was his in Melbourne, the first major of the season. the most successful Russian wrestlers in recent years, winning four world titles elegant dribbling and his shot. And as any leader should, Ilya often and two Olympic medals - a bronze at the 2008 Games in Beijing and a “There is nothing wrong with the ligaments or scored vital goals,” Rossiyskaya Gazeta said. silver at the 2012 Games in London. with the tendons,” she said. “So that’s very positive. Tsymbalar was one of the stars of a glorious Spartak squad that won He also won one European championship title. Kudukhov was They just said to take it easy over the next few seven titles in the 1990s and was renowned for its skillful passing remi- due to be one of the torchbearers on the Sochi Winter Olympics days. niscent of Lionel Messi’s present Barcelona side. The team also included torch relay in Krasnodar on February 4, three days before the “I’m fine doing some things on the court as the likes of central defender Yury Nikoforov and Valery Karpin-two of opening ceremony. “Besik’s death is a huge loss for world sport, well, which is great,” she added. “It’s improving the first post-Soviet stars to establish reputations in top western not only for Russian sport,” Russian freestyle wrestling coach every day, so a few more days and I should be European leagues. Magomed Huseynov told local media. — Reuters ready. “I just feel like for me it’s more important Tsymbalar scored 54 goals in 204 matches for Spartak. He also netted that I really get 100 percent and make sure that the ball on four occasions in 28 caps for Russia during performances that it doesn’t get worse. included the 1992 World Cup in the United States and the 1996 “I thought the right decision for me was European Championship in England. Tsymbalar was officially recognised to withdraw from here.” — AFP as the Russian league’s top player on just one occasion in 1995. —AFP Kansas State rolls over in BWW Bowl

TEMPE: Kansas State coach Bill Snyder Dakota State. The Wildcats won five of saw what was coming and tried to avoid their final six games while scoring at it, racing 20 yards down the sideline and least 31 points in each. out onto the field. Spry as he might be, Michigan limped to the finish after a the 74-year-old coach was no match for 5-0 start, losing five of its final seven players young enough to be his grand- games and Gardner along the way. The children, turning just in time to take the redshirt junior injured his toe in the reg- full icy brunt of defensive end Ryan ular-season finale against Ohio State Mueller dumping a water bucket over and didn’t recover in time for the bowl his head. game, leaving the Wolverines in the “I did (see it), but I’m too old to get hands of Morris. out of the way,” Snyder said. He’s cer- The freshman hasn’t played much tainly not too old to win bowl games. over the past year, limited to four games The architect of one of college football’s as a high school senior due to mononu- biggest turnarounds during his first cleosis and to nine pass attempts as stint at Kansas State, Snyder and his Gardner’s backup this season. Morris Wildcats won their first bowl game in 11 didn’t seem to mind being thrust into years by rolling over Michigan 31-14 in the spotlight as the first Michigan quar- the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl on terback to make his first career start in a LAS VEGAS: of Brazil, screams after kicking of Baldwin, N.Y., and injuring his leg during the UFC 168 mixed mar- Saturday night. bowl game. He was helped by a conser- tial arts middleweight championship bout on Saturday, in Las Vegas. Weidman won during the second round by a technical knock out after the Jake Waters threw for 271 yards and vative game plan filled with short kick by Silva. — AP connected with record-breaking receiv- throws early and started unleashing his er Tyler Lockett on three scores, helping big left arm by Michigan’s second drive, Kansas State (8-5) end a five-game bowl completing 15 of 19 passes for 121 Weidman defends UFC belt, losing streak. yards in the first half. “Nobody on the team won a bowl “You would have thought he was game,” Lockett said. “It has been 11 doing it five years now,” Michigan offen- years, (like) 4,018 games. We wanted to sive lineman Taylor Lewan said. The Silva out with leg injury send the seniors out with a great win in problem for the Wolverines was they a Kansas State uniform.” couldn’t finish off drives, settling for LAS VEGAS: Chris Weidman defended his UFC kick a lot. The idea is to pull your leg and for their on her, Rousey couldn’t finish until getting a The Wildcats surged at the end of the field goals of 22 and 26 yards by Matt middleweight title when Anderson Silva broke shin to land at the knee. That’s exactly what I did, weary opponent into her patented arm bar - the season and were unstoppable early Wile. his left leg on a kick in the second round, ending and I felt his leg go right away.” submission move she has used to end each of against Michigan (7-6), scoring on their That was good for Wile, who made UFC 168 with a horrific injury Saturday night. Referee Herb Dean waved off the fight when her eight professional fights. first three possessions behind Lockett one field goal all season, but not for Weidman (11-0) quietly celebrated his victory Silva fell back, clutching his leg with both hands. Rousey and Tate engaged in a brawl worthy of and Waters. Michigan because its defense couldn’t while medical personnel tended to Silva (33-6), Silva left the octagon strapped to a stretcher their vicious rivalry, trading big shots and strug- Lockett set a school record with 10 stop the Wildcats - particularly the whose left shin bent grotesquely while landing a with a brace on his leg, screaming in pain. With gling with each other’s strengths. Rousey used catches for 116 yards and tied the Waters-to-Lockett combination. kick on Weidman’s left leg 1:16 into the round. his belt back around his waist, Weidman paid her judo skills to drop Tate numerous times, but Kansas State bowl record with his three Kansas State set the tone on its open- “There’s no real excitement in a fight finishing tribute to the injured ex-champion. Tate landed plenty of strikes to Rousey’s head, TDs. Waters was efficient in leading ing drive, grinding out 75 yards in 15 like that, because you never want to see anyone “He’s still known as the greatest fighter of all particularly during a thrilling first round in which Kansas State’s offense, completing 21 of plays and 7:51 off the clock. Lockett get hurt like that,” Weidman said after his second time,” Weidman said. she tested Rousey’s chin. 27 passes and running for 42 yards. capped it with a 6-yard touchdown straight win over the long-reigning champion. Silva’s nearly seven-year reign atop the mid- But when Tate attempted to shake her hand, The Wildcats’ defense dominated catch after the Wildcats’ line gave Weidman, who earned his belt with an upset dleweight division ended nearly six months ago Rousey slowly rose and walked away. The crowd most of the night, holding Michigan to Waters just enough time to get the victory in July, also dominated the first round of when Weidman stopped the champion with a booed vociferously when the replay was shown the rematch. In the second, Weidman used his left hook at UFC 162. With two straight wins, the in slow motion, but Rousey didn’t change her 261 total yards - 82 of that on a final throw off against Michigan’s blitz. knee to block Silva’s kick with perfect technique, former Hofstra wrestler has firmly ended the opinion of her opponent. scoring drive in the fourth quarter with Lockett set up the next drive with a never anticipating the result. reign of Silva, who engaged in none of the Nearly two years ago, Rousey defeated Tate by the game out of reach. 40-yard kickoff return and capped it “I did work on checking kicks,” Weidman said. preening and posturing that might have con- first-round arm bar to claim Tate’s Strikeforce title, “To win the way we did it put a nice with a 29-yard touchdown catch, set up “I figured if I (caught) him on my knee, it could tributed to his first loss. Silva’s injury cementing her meteoric rise from the U.S. little cap to our season,” Waters said. by Waters’ pump fake that gave him really hurt him. Crazy how this happened.” in the rematch conceivably could end the 38- Olympic judo team to the apex of MMA. Rousey “The journey we have been through, to separation behind Michigan’s defense. also retained her ban- year-old Brazilian’s MMA career. and Tate have made no secret of their distaste end like this is special.” Freshman quar- Kansas State raced down the field tamweight title in the UFC’s year-end event, sub- Thousands of Brazilian fans - including retired since that bout, further stoked by their combat- terback Shane Morris was steady in again on its next drive, setting up mitting with a third-round arm bar. soccer star Ronaldo - chanted, sang and waved ive appearance as coaches on the most recent place of injured starter , Lockett’s third touchdown, an 8-yarder Rousey then walked away from her bitter rival’s flags for Silva and several Brazilian undercard season of “,” the UFC’s com- leading Michigan on two early scoring from Waters that put the Wildcats up 21- offer of a post-fight handshake, earning ferocious fighters, creating a semblance of the huge home- petition reality show. drives. The Wolverines settled for field 6 at halftime. boos from the MGM Grand Garden crowd. cage advantage enjoyed by their fighters back Tate got a rematch with Rousey only after Cat goals on both and did little the rest of “We wanted to get a fast start and we But Rousey’s sportsmanship was dwarfed by home. The show was heavy on violent stoppages. Zingano, who beat Tate earlier this year to the way. did,” Lockett said. “We got on top of the abrupt finish of the main event. Silva’s injury Heavyweight knocked out veteran become the No. 1 contender, was injured. Rousey Morris threw for 196 yards on 24-of- them early and that helped us out.” The cast a pall over arguably the UFC’s biggest fight in the first round with a series of felt Tate hadn’t earned the chance at the belt, 38 passing with an interception. Wildcats bogged down in the second card of the year, reminding every fan of the rap- elbows to the head, earning the third straight and she proceeded to pound on Tate with judo Michigan’s run game didn’t give him half, but so did the Wolverines. idly growing sport about the brutality at its core. early stoppage on the pay-per-view portion of throws and striking in the rematch until finally much support, particularly early, and Michigan had 23 total yards in the third Although the injury happened too quickly to the card. landing an arm bar. finished with 65 yards on 15 carries. quarter and failed to capitalize on the be seen by most naked eyes in Las Vegas, the Before the unsettling main event, Rousey (8-0) Browne continued his ascent up the heavy- Michigan’s defense also had trouble game’s first turnover - a fumble by sound of Silva’s cracking shin could be heard at got the biggest test of her ascendant career. weight ranks with an eye-popping knockout of stopping Kansas State most of the Daniel Sams - by going three-and-out. cageside. Thousands of fans cringed audibly Rousey had never seen the second round of a Barnett, who went limp while leaning against when the replay was shown once on the arena’s mixed martial arts fight after seven straight first- Browne after absorbing several elbows to the night, giving up 420 total yards in the Kansas State’s Ian Anderson hit a 22- big screens. “I knew coming into the fight that round wins, but Tate tested the champion with head. Browne earned his third straight first- Wolverines’ second straight bowl loss. yard field goal in the fourth quarter, what he could hurt me most with was the leg striking and tenacity. Although Rousey repeated- round victory and closed in on position for a title “We didn’t play well enough in a lot John Hubert scored on a 1-yard run after kicks,” Weidman said. “We trained checking the ly tossed Tate (13-5) to the canvas and pounded shot. — AP of areas,” coach said. Kansas Morris’ interception and the Wildcats cel- State finished the season strong after ebrated Snyder’s seventh bowl victory some early difficulties - starting with a by chasing him down the sideline for the home loss to FCS opponent North water-bucket dump. — AP Schumacher in hospital for head injuries

LYON: Formula One legend Michael Schumacher is receiving treatment in SCHUMACHER FACTFILE hospital for head injuries after a ski accident at Meribel yesterday, officials LYON: Michael Schumacher factfile after the German Formula at the French ski resort reported. One legend suffered head injuries in a skiing accident at the The seven time German world French ski resort of Meribel yesterday: champion, who reportedly owns prop- Name: Michael Schumacher erty at the resort, was skiing off-piste Date of birth: January 3, 1969 with other skiers when he sustained a Place of birth: Huert-Hermuehlheim (Germany) knock to the head in a fall. Nationality: German The 44-year-old was hospitalised at Website: www.michael-schumacher.de the nearby town of Moutiers, officials Career honours World champion: 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, said, before being taken to hospital in 2003, 2004 Number of Grands Prix raced: 307 Teams: Jordan- Grenoble. Ford (August 1991), Benetton-Ford (Sept 1991-1994), Benetton- The extent of his injuries was Renault (1995), Ferrari (1996-2006), Mercedes (2010-2012) unclear but according to Christophe Debut in F1: Belgium 1991 Gernignon-Lecomte, director of the First win: Belgium 1992 Meribel resort, he was not seriously Last win: China 2006 injured. Last Grand Prix: Brazil 2012 Gernignon-Lecomte told Radio Michael Schumacher Victories: 91 Podiums: 155 Monte Carlo Sport: “He was shocked, a Two medical officers attended Pole positions: 69 little shaken but conscious. “It may be Schumacher at the scene before he Last pole position: Monaco 2012 a head injury but it is not very serious.” was airlifted by helicopter to hospital. Best laps: 77 He added: “He was wearing a hel- Schuamcher, who won the last of Points scored in F1: 1,566 (49 in 2012) met and banged (his head) against a his world titles in 2004, retired from World championship finishes: 1st (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, rock.” “The accident occurred around the sport he had towered over since 2003, 2004), 2nd (1998, 2006), 3rd (1992, 1996, 2005), 4th (1993), TEMPE: Jake Waters #15 of the Kansas State Wildcats drops back to 5th (1999), 8th (2011), 9th (2010), 13th (2012) pass under pressure from linebacker Cameron Gordon #4 of the Michigan 1100 (1000GMT) between the slopes making his debut in Belgium in 1991 of Georges Mauduit and la Biche,” the after finishing seventh in the 2012 Landmarks: 7 world titles, 91 victories, 69 pole positions, 13 wins Wolverines during the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday in in one season (2004), 17 podiums in 17 races (2002). — AFP Tempe, Arizona. — AFP Meribel resort’s press office disclosed. Brazilian Grand Prix. —AFP