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 Michigan 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: Anderson Silva of Brazil, screams after kicking Chris Weidman 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.