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Wednesday, March 8, 2018 FOOTBALL Jumada II 1, 1439 AH Ruthless Real GULF TIMES Madrid’s work is far from done SPORT Page 3 FOOTBALL RALLYINGSPOTLIGHT Injured Taylor hammers 181 PSG to continue as New Zealand beat England

AFP building despite Dunedin njury-hit played through the pain to score a remarkable unbeaten 181 and seal a series-level- Iling win for New Zealand in the fourth one-day international Real heartbreak against England yesterday. Taylor limped through much ‘Now is not the time to talk about change, everyone is upset. We want to calm down of his innings in Dunedin after aggravating a thigh injury, but before working out what needs to be changed. We have time to think about that’ batted on to compile a career- best innings and make it 2-2 in the series with one to play. New Zealand ended on 339 for fi ve in reply to England’s 335 for nine, winning by fi ve and taking the fi ve-match series to a crunch decider in Christchurch on Saturday. tin Guptill and Colin Munro both Taylor scored 17 fours and six went for ducks. sixes as New Zealand reached the and Taylor target with three balls to spare, rebuilt with an 84-run partner- wincing with pain after every ship before England’s star all- shot in the latter half of his in- rounder Ben Stokes dismissed nings. the New Zealand at 45 in “It’s still sinking in,” he said the 17th over. after tearfully leaving the fi eld Taylor and then to a standing ovation, revealing combined for a 187-run partner- team medics gave him the option ship, with Latham contributing of retiring hurt due to the pain. 71. “I was glad I made the decision Taylor’s injury came when he to stay out there and swing.” was on 109 and had to dive to New Zealand captain Kane avoid a run-out, infl aming the Williamson rated Taylor’s in- thigh strain that forced him out nings as “one of the great one- of the previous match in the se- day knocks” and said he hoped ries. the batsman would be fi t for the Unable to run freely, he con- decider. centrated on hitting boundaries, “Ross’s knock was just sensa- taking New Zealand to the posi- tional, he’s kind of been tion where they needed 80 off the like that all year,” he said. fi nal 10 overs. “Hopefully his injuries are England slowed New Zealand’s minor and we can see him in the momentum with Latham’s dis- next game.” missal and Colin de Grandhom- Taylor’s heroics in scoring his me’s departure on 23. 19th ODI century overshadowed Henry Nicholls looked nervy a fi ne batting performance from when he came to the crease but England, marred by a late col- worked well to give Taylor most lapse that cost them dearly. of the strike. blazed his way With three runs needed off the to 138 off 106 balls and Joe Root fi nal over, Nicholls faced two dot grafted out a hard-fought 102 balls then smashed before England self-destructed for six to seal the win. late in their innings. England should have put Real Madrid’s Brazilian midfielder England captain Eoin Morgan the match beyond reach after Casemiro (R) celebrates with Real had no explanation for the col- Bairstow and Root had them at Madrid’s Portuguese forward lapse but was confi dent his side’s 267 for 1 in the 38th over. Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring his deep batting line-up would not But Bairstow’s departure team’s second goal against PSG on fail so spectacularly again. sparked a collapse that saw six Tuesday. “It isn’t ideal. Normally one of wickets go for 21 runs, ending us (batsmen) comes off , so it is a their hopes of setting a monster fi rst,” he said. total on the small University Oval AFP League knockout tie in six seasons of try- “We won’t look into it too ground. Paris ing. They also need to revamp their squad much at the moment if he hap- A late cameo of 22 off 10 balls again, and replace the likes of Thiago Sil- pens consistently we’ll have to from Curran added a degree of va, Thiago Motta, Dani Alves and Angel Di do something.” diffi culty to the target but also aris Saint-Germain will con- Maria, all in their 30s. New Zealand’s chase started showed New Zealand’s batsmen tinue building the team in the The club insist they are not worried disastrously when openers Mar- that there were runs in the pitch. hope of winning the Champions about falling foul of UEFA’s Financial Fair League in the future, coach Unai Play rules, even if a premature European PEmry said after yet another heartbreak exit will mean a shortfall of millions of SCORECARD on Tuesday. euros. The top French side were beaten by “We are relaxed about it. It is more of England New Zealand: Spanish giants Real Madrid in the last 16 an issue outside the club than inside. It is J. Roy c Santner b Sodhi ...... 42 M. Guptill c Stokes b Woakes ...... 0 of the current competition, having exited March and we have until the end of June. J. Bairstow c Southee b Munro .138 C. Munro lbw Wood...... 0 the event at the same stage last year. There are no worries,” sporting director J. Root c Latham b Southee ...... 102 K. Williamson c Buttler b Stokes 45 PSG’s desire for instant success marked Antero Henrique told L’Equipe last week- J. Buttler c and b Sodhi ...... 0 R. Taylor ...... 181 by the signing of Neymar and Kylian end. E. Morgan c Munro b Boult ...... 5 T. Latham c Ali b Curran ...... 71 Mbappe for a combined 402 million euros One thing that is unlikely to happen is B. Stokes c Nicholls b Sodhi ...... 1 C. de Grandhomme c Woakes ...... b ($499 million) has not worked, with Ney- Neymar leaving, despite ongoing specu- M. Ali c Southee b Sodhi ...... 3 Curran ...... 23 mar left watching Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at British former football players David Beckham (R) and US model Bella Hadid (C) lation that the Brazilian has not settled C. Woakes c Boult b Munro ...... 3 H. Nicholls not out ...... 13 the Parc des Princes that sealed the Paris attend the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between in France. Qatar’s beIN Sports owns the A. Rashid b Boult ...... 11 Extras: (lb4, w2) ...... 6 side’s fate from Brazil, where he is recov- Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Real Madrid on March 6 at the Parc des Princes exclusive international distribution rights T. Curran not out ...... 22 Total: (5 wickets; 49.3 overs) 339 ering from a foot operation. stadium in Paris. for television coverage of the French M. Wood not out ...... 3 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Munro), 2-2 “We believe in our players. We want to league, and the network is currently in the Extras: (lb1, w4) ...... 5 (Guptill), 3-86 (Williamson), 4-273 continue the project, with the two of them defeat, leaving the French side as far away the future,” said coach Unai Emery on process of negotiating new deals around Total: (9 wickets; 50 overs) ...... 335 (Latham), 5-303 (de Grandhomme) because they are the future of the club,” from being European champions as at any Tuesday. the world. In that context, PSG selling a Fall of wickets: 1-77 (Roy), 2-267 : Woakes 8-2-42-1, Wood 8-0- said Paris Saint-Germain’s Qatari presi- point since Qatar bought the club in 2011. “When I came here I said I was sure this star such as Neymar this year is unthink- (Bairstow), 3-267 (Buttler), 4-274 65-1 (1w), Rashid 10-0-74-0, Curran dent Nasser al-Khelaifi on Tuesday when Seven years after PSG were bought team can win the Champions League. But able. (Morgan), 5-276 (Stokes), 6-280 (Ali), 8.3-0-57-2, Stokes 7-0-45-1 (1w), Ali asked if the club’s investment should be by Qatar, they have managed to beat it’s a process.” Soon to be out of contract, But in the meantime another period 7-288 (Woakes), 8-305 (Root), 9-313 8-0-52-0 called into question. just three teams in the Champions Emery will not be given another crack at of soul-searching will begin for PSG and (Rashid) Toss: New Zealand After an honourable defeat to Barcelona League knockout stage: Valencia, Bayer the competition in Paris. The club will their Qatari owners. Bowling: Southee 10-0-87-1 (1w), Result: New Zealand win by five wickets on away goals in the Champions League Leverkusen and Chelsea. look for a new coach, and they will be “Now is not the time to talk about Boult 10-0-56-2 (1w), de Grandhomme Series: 2-2 quarter-fi nals in 2013, al-Khelaifi had But PSG are showing no signs of re- tempted to go for a big name after the change, everyone is upset. We want to 2-0-23-0 (1w), Santner 10-0-57-0, Umpires: Shaun Haig (NZL), Rod stated the club’s objective was to win the straining their ambitions. failure of the Emery experiment — the calm down before working out what Sodhi 10-1-58-4 (1w), Munro 8-0-53-2 Tucker (AUS) competition “in the next fi ve years”. “We will continue, as much as patience Spaniard won three Europa Leagues with needs to be changed. We have time to TV : Ruchira Palliyaguruge That deadline expired with Tuesday’s allows, to build a team which can win in Sevilla but has never won a Champions think about that,” said al-Khelaifi Gulf Times 2 Thursday, March 8, 2018 FOOTBALL

EUROPA LEAGUE Arsenal test as murky fi nances threaten AC Milan Former midfielder Gattuso has turned around the fortunes of AC Milan, with his side unbeaten in 13 games

AFP Milan

C Milan’s superb recent run faces a stiff test against trou- bled Arsenal in the Europa League last-16 fi rst leg in ItalyA today amid a backdrop of murky fi nances which are threatening one of Italy’s most successful clubs. Former AC Milan midfi elder Gennaro Gattuso has turned around the fortunes of the struggling former European power on the pitch, with his side unbeaten in 13 games, and back within reach of Cham- pions League qualifi cation. But behind the scenes European football’s governing body UEFA have voiced concerns over the club’s com- plicated fi nancial situation under their new Chinese owners. There have been questions about the fi nancial stability of the Chinese-led consortium that purchased the club from Silvio Berlusconi for 740mn eu- ros ($918mn) last April, spending more Arsenal players train in London yesterday, ahead of their Europa League match against AC Milan today. (Reuters) than 200mn euros on new players in the summer. owner Li Yonghong’s wealth is prov- UEFA will assess Milan’s fi nances aging director as the club announced second leg in London on March 15. in all competitions, to sit sixth in the The seven-time European champi- ing a barrier to refi nancing with the again in the coming months with pos- losses for the fi rst half of the season AC Milan beat AS Roma 2-0 away in Premier League, with the Europa ons have a massive loan for repayment 48-year-old businessman last month sible punishments including limits on to December 31, 2017 were down to their last Serie A game, as they sit joint League representing their only remain- and are in trouble with Financial Fair dismissing reports he was insolvent transfer spending, player salaries, and 22.3mn euros from 39.4mn for the same sixth, and reached the Italian Cup fi nal ing chance of success this season. Arse- Play restrictions, with Bank of America when he purchased the club. The club squad sizes for UEFA competitions. period in 2016. in midweek after overcoming Lazio in a nal’s last six games in all competitions Merrill Lynch (BAML) given the man- are also in the fi ring line with UEFA. In the meantime a board meeting will Gattuso’s side can help lighten the dramatic penalty shoot-out. have seen them defeated four time. date to refi nance debts. AC Milan are European football’s governing body be called to approve a capital increase fi nancial burden by defeating Arsenal But their derby showdown with Inter working to refi nance more than 300mn in December rejected AC Milan’s off er to get the club through to the end of the and keeping their Europa League cam- Milan on Sunday was postponed due to UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE FIXTURES euros in high-interest loans from US of a voluntary agreement to restructure season making the revenue generated paign alive as long as possible, to move the death of Fiorentina captain Davide CSKA Moskva v Olympique Lyonnais, hedge fund Elliott Management. fi nances, stating “there are still uncer- by their Europa League run of increased closer to a Champions League place for Astori, so the team will be rested for Borussia Dortmund v Salzburg, Milan If the club is not able to refi nance by tainties in relation to the refi nancing importance. next season. Arsenal as they will look to extend their v Arsenal, Atletico Madrid v Lokomotiv next October the US hedge fund will of the loans to be paid back in October “I’m very optimistic about any po- A packed San Siro Stadium should winning run to seven games. Moskva, Olympique Marseille v Athletic seize control of the club. But limited 2018 and the fi nancial guarantees pro- tential refi nancing of the club’s debt,” certainly help with more than 70,000 Arsenal, meanwhile, are in crisis, Club, Sporting CP v Viktoria Plzen, Lazio v information on the source of Chinese vided by the main shareholder”. said Marco Fassone, AC Milan’s man- fans expected in the stands, before the having lost eight of their last 13 games Dynamo Kyiv, RB Leipzig v Zenit

Al Sadd hope quick recovery QNB STARS LEAFGUE for Xavi and Morteza Al Sadd hope their Spanish ing fielding resident players Traditional rivalry at fore as midfield star Xavi Hernandez in the QNB Stars League and Iranian defender Morteza matches. Al Gharafa had Mohammed recover from lodged a complaint, claiming their injuries sooner rather that the rivals fielded six resi- than later, and play in their dent players. The number of Al Rayyan take on Al Arabi forthcoming matches in the resident players to be included QNB Stars League as well as in the team list in the QNB uch is at stake when AFC Champions League. Stars League fixtures should Al Rayyan face Al Xavi injured his back muscle not exceed five. Arabi in the marquee during their key QNB Stars The Cheetahs cemented the clash in Week 20 of Mthe QNB Stars League tomorrow. League Week 19 clash against fourth spot in style with a 6-1 Al Duhail, which they lost 3-4, win over Al Rayyan last week. The kick-off is at 20:10 at the Al and had come out of the field Al Gharafa are also playing in Sadd Stadium. in the first half. Morteza sus- the AFC Champions League The match has greater signifi - tained the injury during their alongside Al Duhail, Al Sadd cance as it also involves tradi- 5-0 win over Al Ahli in Week 18. and Al Rayyan, and have four tional rivalry between two of Qa- Al Sadd had also lost to matter that is being discussed points in Group A with one tar’s oldest clubs with the most ’s Nasaf 0-1 in their among the football fraternity victory, draw and defeat each passionate and loyal fans. third-round Group C AFC at the moment is which team after the completion of three Al Rayyan are third in the Champions League match in will end up fourth? rounds. Interestingly, they are QNB Stars League table with 39 Qarshi on Monday. Meanwhile, Well, there are four teams up against Al Sailiya in Week points, while Al Arabi are ninth Al Sadd started their prepara- vying for the coveted fourth 20 on Friday, 9th March. The on 18 points. Al Rayyan suff ered tions for the game against spot and thereby qualify for Peregrines are keen to get a demoralising 1-6 defeat to Al Umm Salal in Week 20 of the the prestigious Qatar Cup. back into the top four, where Gharafa, whereas Al Arabi reg- QNB Stars League, scheduled They are Al Gharafa, Umm they stayed for long before istered their second successive for tomorrow. Coach Jesualdo Salal, Al Sailiya and Al Ahli in being displaced by Umm Salal victory by prevailing 3-1 over Al Ferreira gave an extra day’s that order. Al Gharafa have 29 with a 1-0 victory in Week 18. Markhiya. They had beaten Al rest to the players who com- points, Umm Salal 28, Al Sailiya Al Gharafa have eight wins, Kharaitiyat in Week 18. peted against Nasaf. Al Sadd 25 and Al Ahli 22. five draws and six defeats, The Lions had recently lost are second in the table with 46 Al Gharafa have just while Al Sailiya have won out in the title race and now trail points, five behind Al Duhail. stormed into the top four for seven games, drawn four and leaders Al Duhail by 12 points and two matches and are second in tion threat to a great extent. and result-oriented approach the first time this season after lost eight. Umm Salal, who second-placed Al Sadd by seven. Group D with three points. Croatian coach Luka Bonacic by Bonacic, who replaced Qais RACE FOR FOURTH the Qatar Football Associa- have seven wins to their credit, Al Rayyan, coached by Danish On the other hand, Al Arabi has succeeded in instilling con- Yaakoubi towards the end of fi rst PLACE PICKS UP PACE tion’s Disciplinary Committee host Al Sadd at the Al Gharafa great Michael Laudrup, recov- do not have continental engage- fi dence in the players and their phase. They lost to only unbeaten Al Duhail, Al Sadd and Al overturned their 2-3 defeat to Stadium with much hope as ered from the big loss to Al Du- ments and are keen to collect as performance in the second phase side Al Duhail by a 0-1 margin in Rayyan have been confirmed Al Markhiya in Week 18 of the they are just one point behind hail as they held Saudi Arabia’s many points as possible so that of QNB Stars League is proof for Week 13. as the top three teams in the QNB Stars League and instead Al Gharafa. Al Ahli, with six Al Hilal 1-1 in their third-round they can improve their position. that. Al Arabi will surely look to 2017-18 season’s QNB Stars handed them a 3-0 win. victories under their belt, face away game in Group D of the AFC The six points from the last two At the end of fi rst phase, Al build on all that as they seek wins League. They are almost sure The decision was made after the problem of inconsistency Champions League on Tuesday. wins have boosted their con- Arabi had only nine points, half in the remaining three games and to finish in that order as they Al Markhiya were found to when they face Al Markhiya The return fi xture is in Doha on fi dence enormously and The of what they have now. And they compensate for their slump re- stand now. The most relevant have breached the rule regard- challenge. 12th March. Dream Team are now breathing had conceded 24 goals as against sulting from a sedate start to this The Lions had drawn their fi rst easily having warded off relega- 38 now. That shows the defensive season’s league competition.

FOCUS Oscar brace earns Asian Champions League point for SIPG

Reuters his second into the top corner from the lead with a close-range tap-in. Shanghai SIPG’s Hong Kong edge of the area to keep Shanghai on George equalised from the penalty Oscar (left) in action top of Group F with seven points from spot two minutes into injury time as yesterday. (AFP) three games. “I’m quite satisfi ed with Melbourne picked up their second point razilian Oscar scored twice to the performance today, even though of the competition. Shanghai Shen- salvage a 2-2 draw for Shanghai the result wasn’t ideal,” said SIPG coach hua had Giovanni Moreno to thank for SIPG against Ulsan Hyundai Vitor Pereira. “The players have shown salvaging a 1-1 draw with the Suwon yesterday as the Chinese Super great fi ghting spirit and mentality. We Bluewings in Group H as the Colombian LeagueB side’s perfect start to the Asian hit the bar three times. This is football. struck from the penalty spot after the Champions League came to an end. The You might have a great process but have twice continental champions had taken former Chelsea playmaker twice lev- a less than ideal result.” the lead through Lee Ki-je. elled for SIPG after Richard Windbich- Ulsan are second in the group with The draw kept both teams in touch ler and Kim In-sung had scored for the Melbourne Victory in third after Leroy with leaders , who South Koreans. George’s late penalty earned the Austral- moved on to seven points after a 2-0 win Windbichler put his side in front in ian side a 2-2 draw with Kawasaki Fron- over Sydney FC. Goals from Shoma Doi the 37th minute but Oscar levelled with tale, who twice took the lead only to be and Naomichi Ueda gave the Japanese a low, long-range strike into the bot- pegged back. Elsinho gave the Japanese side the win to leave Graham Arnold’s tom corner less than a minute later. Two champions the lead before Besart Berisha Sydney sitting bottom of the group with minutes after Kim restored Ulsan’s ad- levelled the scores with a header, only for just one point from their opening three vantage, the 26-year-old Oscar curled Kyohei Noborizato to restore Kawasaki’s games. Gulf Times Thursday, March 8, 2018 3 FOOTBALL

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT Liverpool are Ruthless Real’s work back where they belong: Klopp is far from done semis, that is of course the target. Reuters Liverpool I think we are in time.” Porto manager Sergio Con- Ronaldo’s form this season has, not coincidentally, matched that of his team ceicao feels Liverpool, who last iverpool reached the won the Champions League in Champions League quar- 2005, have what it takes to go ter-fi nals for the fi rst time all the way again. “Liverpool are in nine years on Tuesday, defi nitely one of the teams that Lwith a 0-0 second leg draw at can win this year, they are really Anfi eld earning them a 5-0 ag- strong and everyone knows that,” gregate win over Porto, and man- said the former Portugal winger. ager Juergen Klopp said the club Despite facing old rivals were back where they belong. Manchester United in the Pre- The last time the fi ve times mier League on Saturday, Klopp European champions reached fi elded a strong side although this stage of Europe’s elite club top scorer Mohamed Salah and competition was in 2009 when record signing Virgil van Dijk they went out to Chelsea in a both started on the bench. dramatic 7-5 aggregate defeat. In a predictably low-key game, “It feels good to be honest, feels Liverpool striker Sadio Mane, really good. I cannot feel like whose hat-trick in Porto helped people who waited so long for ensure there was little at stake at it, but it feels good,” said Klopp, Anfi eld, came closest to breaking who made clear that he expected the deadlock. more. “Last eight is cool. (But) Mane was off target with an we’re not a little bit satisfi ed to eff ort at full-stretch from a Joe be honest. I think it was time that Gomez cross in the 18th minute we showed up again,” he said. and then hit the post in the 31st Klopp, who took his previous minute after taking down a ball club Borussia Dortmund to the from James Milner and releasing Champions League fi nal in 2012, a low diagonal drive. losing to Bayern Munich, said While the night lacked dra- reaching the last eight highlight- ma, the passion was brought by ed the progress at Anfi eld. “There Porto’s supporters who, despite is a good development in Liver- the heavy loss from two weeks pool at the moment, it is a nice ago, travelled to Merseyside to fi ll moment, but if you don’t show up the away section and sang their in a competition like the Champi- hearts out all night. ons League then no-one realises They received little in the way it,” he said. “So I am happy for all of excitement from their team in the people involved that we made return with their fi rst real eff ort that step. It’s done, it’s good and on goal not coming until the 52nd now let’s go and carry on.” minute when Ghanaian winger Klopp is in his third season at Majeed Waris’ shot from the the Merseyside club and said this edge of the box was pushed wide Real Madrid’s Casemiro (second left) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Paris St Germain in the Champions League Round of 16 match. (Reuters) year’s progress in Europe was by Liverpool keeper Loris Karius. about in line with his expecta- Substitute Danny Ings then AFP has, not coincidentally, matched that of treat from view, replaced by a likely third- By then, Bale will hope to have played tions for the team’s improve- forced a fi ne save out of Porto’s Madrid his team. place fi nish in La Liga and lack of silver- his way back into favour. The Welshman ment. “I never had a time sched- veteran Spanish keeper Iker Initially below his own high standards ware added in the equation. was left out of the starting line-up in ule in my mind. I don’t want to Casillas with a looping header in in La Liga, particularly at the Santiago Perhaps a squad that won the league France, just as he had been for the fi rst leg make it smaller than it is but, on the fi nal stages. ristiano Ronaldo is setting Bernabeu, he has sustained his perform- title last season, and owns three Cham- in Madrid three weeks before. the other hand, I don’t want to Casillas, a three-times Cham- records again and Zinedine Zi- ances in Europe and hit a peak in recent pions League triumphs, has lacked edge Snubbed for Real’s two biggest games make it bigger than it is. pions League winner with Real dane is back in favour after Real weeks. The Portguese’s opener in Paris in the campaign’s early stages but is of the season so far, Bale would appear to “This year we belong there to Madrid, will be released by Porto Madrid brushed aside Paris means he now has 15 goals in his last sharpening with a major prize in sight. have reached a crossroads in his relation- be honest, it should not be a big at the end of this season and at Saint-GermainC to reach their eighth nine games overall and, in the Champi- “We’ve had diffi cult moments in the Liga ship with Zidane, whose explanation af- surprise and the next round will the age of 36 this may have been consecutive Champions League quarter- ons League, has scored in a remarkable and Copa del Rey, but it’s always diffi cult terwards was brief but revealing. be very diffi cult, there are seven his last game in Europe’s elite fi nal on Tuesday night. nine consecutive matches, equalling the to maintain the same level while playing “Today it was important to have two other very good teams involved, club competition. The keeper After a bruising few months, in which record of Ruud van Nistelrooy. every three days,” Zidane said on Tues- lines of four, to defend well against their so maybe fi ve or four are from was given an impressive round of Real have limped out of the running for Zidane, meanwhile, disregarded in day. “You can’t always win everything, wide players,” the Frenchman said. “We England, it doesn’t make it easier applause from Liverpool’s fans as every domestic honour, they saved their February, is top dog in March, lauded but we’re winning now in the Liga and we did that very well.” to be honest. But I think we will he took his place in front of the best for the Parc des Princes and what in Spain for his tactical acumen against have to look ahead to our game with Eibar Fit again, and seemingly fi nding form, have a chance for sure to go to the Kop for the second half. defender Sergio Ramos described as the Unai Emery, and strength of character for on Saturday.” Bale faces a fi ght not to be deployed only club’s “favourite tournament”. picking a bench that included Gareth Bale Zidane has begun treating domestic in Real’s throwaway fi xtures. “For sure Certainly, their emphatic 5-2 aggre- and Isco, as well as Luka Modric and Toni games almost like trials for Europe, ro- Bale would prefer to play more,” Zidane gate victory over PSG was as convincing Kroos, both available after injury. tating key players or trying other ones in added. “All the players are important as it was comfortable, and an unprec- But Real must now turn their revival unfamiliar positions. That strategy will here, which is what I look at. Gareth is edented third straight Champions League into something more concrete. Lose in be tested in April, given Real host city ri- one of them. He did not start the home or triumph, the fourth in fi ve years, is now the quarter-fi nals, or even the last four, vals Atletico Madrid in La Liga, the week- away (games against PSG), but he will play within reach. Ronaldo’s form this season and the success over PSG will quickly re- end before their quarter-fi nal second leg. games. He is an important player for us.”

Man United need to improve to beat Liverpool: Matic

Manchester: Manchester United performance. It is obviously great to United host Brighton & Hove Albion we are as well. It’s the dream for every showed plenty of character in Monday’s win game by game and when you have in the FA Cup quarter-finals on the Sat- single player to play this kind of game so come-from-behind Premier League win a match against Liverpool coming up, a urday following the match with the Span- everyone is looking forward to it.” over Crystal Palace but they need to big derby, it’s important to go into that iards. “It is a big game against Liverpool,” Liverpool last won at Old Traff ord in show improvement when Liverpool visit with a win,” Serbia internatioanal Matic Mourinho said. “I think we both want to 2014 but goalkeeper Lorius Karius is con- Old Traff ord at the weekend, midfielder added. finish in the top four, but we both want fident that the Merseyside club can get a Nemanja Matic has said. With runaway leaders Manchester City to finish second so, yes, it is a big game. crucial win as they aim to seal Champi- Matic scored his first United goal with closing in on their third league title in “Then we have Sevilla in the Champions ons League football for next season. “It’s a superb volleyed added-time winner as seven seasons, attention has shifted to League knockout and Brighton in the FA a very big game for us, for the club, for they recovered from two goals down to the fight for Champions League qualifi- Cup knockout, so three big matches at the fans,” Karius said. seal a 3-2 victory that took them back cation and United’s battle with Liverpool Old Traff ord,” the Portuguese manager “With the situation being this tight up to second place above Liverpool to finish second behind their neighbours. added. together on the table also, we can’t really ahead of Saturday’s blockbuster Premier Jose Mourinho’s United side have 62 Meanwhile, Liverpool forward Sadio ask for more. Of course they have a good League clash. “We have to do more if we points and lead the Merseyside club by Mane believes the Merseyside club have squad and we have respect for them, but want to win, as Liverpool is a team with two with nine game remaining. Both the ability to defeat any team in the we don’t fear anyone. We’re really confi- great quality. We have to play better, but clubs are also targeting European glory, world, including bitter rivals Manchester dent, looking at ourselves and our own with the same character,” Matic said. with Liverpool reaching the Champions United. “It will not be easy but I’ve always abilities, we know we can beat them. We “We’ll show the same character as League quarter-finals after a 5-0 aggre- said we can beat any team in the world,” want to go directly into the Champions we did (against Palace)... but we have gate win over Porto while United face Se- Mane said. “Honestly they (Manchester League again, there’s not many places to be honest... we have to play better, villa in the return leg of their last 16 clash United) are one of the best teams in for it and second (place) would be ideal especially when you see our first half on Tuesday having drawn 0-0 away. England, of course in the world also, but obviously.” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp hugs midfielder Mohamed Salah after the Champions League match against FC Porto. (REuters)

ROUND-UP No action taken against player accused of racism by Liverpool’s Brewster partak Moscow youth team tician who has become the fi rst black team and plays club soccer for French fans but also claims it was fake. player Leonid Mironov will not person elected to the Senate should be side Nice. The League has adopted an “After the last consultation with be charged for racially abus- ashamed of himself for representing a uncompromising anti-migrant stance, many doctors, I’ve decided to stay ing Liverpool teenager Rhian fi ercely anti-migrant party. drawn up with the help of Iwobi, and away from football,” the Facebook post BrewsterS during a UEFA Youth League Nigerian-born Toni Iwobi moved has called for the deportation of some said. “As my time as a football player game last December, after UEFA found to Italy in 1976 and joined the League 600,000 immigrants, many from comes to an end, I would like to say few no evidence to confi rm the allegation. in 1993, serving as a local councillor. Africa, who have reached Italy over the words. I want to thank everybody for Mironov admitted swearing at He was elected to the upper house on past four years. However, the party has the kindness and support they have Brewster, who was the leading scorer Sunday to represent the northern city said it supports legal migration. Iwobi shown me in this incredible city, you in England’s Under-17 World Cup of Bergamo — the League’s heartland. came to Italy legally on a student visa will be always in my heart.” triumph last year, but denied making a “Perhaps I’m blind or perhaps they and subsequently married an Italian. A spokesman for the club said that racial slur. UEFA yesterday announced haven’t yet told him that he is black. He went on to set up an IT company. Mahrez’s account had been hacked. that an investigation had not found But shame on you!!!” Balotelli wrote The post has apparently now been de- any evidence of racist abuse, after an on Instagram. LEICESTER DENY MAHREZ HAS leted. Leicester ran a feature on Mahrez inspector took statements from fi ve The post showed a photograph RETIRED AFTER BIZARRE on their website looking at the impact players from each team and two match of Iwobi with League leader Matteo FACEBOOK POST of the player this season, suggesting offi cials. European football’s govern- Last month the English FA didn’t season, and is yet to make an appear- Salvini, both wearing T-shirts saying: Leicester City confi rmed yesterday the Facebook post was a hoax. ing body acknowledged that Brewster’s take any action against Liverpool fi rst- ance for the Liverpool senior side. “Stop the Invasion” — a reference to that star forward Riyad Mahrez is not Mahrez, 27, scored his fi rst goal allegation was made in good faith. team forward Roberto Firmino after the party’s call for a halt to African quitting football after a bizarre post at the weekend since a protracted Liverpool responded by calling on the Brazilian was accused of racially BALOTELLI SCORNS ITALY’S FIRST migrants who have poured into Italy in appeared on the player’s Facebook page transfer saga over a proposed move authorities to do more in tackling dis- abusing Everton’s Mason Holgate in BLACK SENATOR OVER PARTY’S recent years. announcing he was retiring. The post to Manchester City, which resulted in crimination in the game, after Brewster a similar incident. The 17-year-old MIGRANT STANCE Balotelli was born in Sicily to Gha- said the Algerian was retiring after a a 10-day absence from the club. His had claimed UEFA “don’t care” about Brewster has struggled with knee inju- Mario Balotelli, Italy’s most famous naian immigrants. He has played more medical consultation, prompting an stoppage-time free-kick rescued a 1-1 racism in the aftermath of the incident. ries since the Under-17 World Cup last black footballer, said yesterday a poli- than 30 times for the Italian national outpouring of disappointment from draw against Bournemouth. Gulf Times 4 Thursday, March 8, 2018 SPORT Afghanistan’s Nabi signs for Leicestershire ROLLING IN MONEY India players AFP Nabi recently played for the Mel- (head coach) Paul Nixon and joining London bourne Renegades in the Big Bash a professional and ambitious county League and will represent SunRisers with a good track record in T20.” to get huge pay Hyderabad in the upcoming Indian “I know all about Mohamed Nabi’s nglish county side Leicester- Premier League. qualities in the game,” said Nixon. “He shire yesterday announced The off -spinner has underlined his can make a huge impact in our middle hike as BCCI adopts the signing of Afghanistan white-ball ability in 93 one-day inter- order and is an off -break bowler who all-rounder Mohammad Nabi nationals, claiming 96 scalps with an operates with great control and skill. asE an overseas player for Twenty20 economy rate of 4.27. “Nabi has a brilliant white-ball record new fee structure matches. “I have heard a lot of good things for Afghanistan and in T20 competi- The 33-year-old has a of about the Foxes,” said Nabi, who also tions around the world. He is exactly nearly 140 in 60 T20 internationals has an ODI century and 11 ODI half- the type of player that we were look- and has chipped in with 61 wickets at centuries to his name. ing for and is somebody who will fit in an average of 24.80. “I am looking forward to working with beautifully here.”

SPOTLIGHT Warner fi ned but cleared for 2nd S Africa Test CCTV footage showed him apparently turning on De Kock as the players walked is among the top tier players who will receive a up a staircase during the tea break in the fourth day of the match in Durban retainer fee of $1.1mn each year.

Reuters in a statement yesterday. AFP Quinton de Kock in the fi rst Test Mumbai Last year, senior players ex- Durban in Durban. pressed dissatisfaction with the South Africa team manager pay rises they received, lead- Mohamed Moosajee said on he Board of Control for ing Vinod Rai, head of the Su- ustralia vice-captain Monday that Warner had en- in India (BCCI) preme Court-appointed CoA, David Warner is free to gaged in a personal verbal attack has introduced a new to announce that a further hike play in the second Test against De Kock on the pitch that TA+ category in the re- would be considered for the against South Africa involved members of his family. tainer fee structure for it’s top current season. afterA he accepted an ICC charge “That’s completely false. At no players, who will receive a huge The world’s richest cricket of bringing the game into disre- stage was Quinton’s family men- pay increase under the new An- board handed seven players pute yesterday. tioned, that’s 100 % false,” Paine nual Contracts for the 2017-18 Grade A contracts this season, Cricket’s world body fi ned told reporters of the events pre- season. including former captain M S Warner 75 % of his match fee for ceding a fl are-up that occurred The retainer structure now Dhoni, all-rounder Ravindra an altercation with South Af- as the teams left the fi eld for tea features four categories — Grade Jadeja and batsman Ajinkya Ra- rican wicketkeeper Quinton de on Sunday’s fourth day. A+, Grade A, Grade B and Grade hane, who will receive 50mn In- Kock in the fi rst Test this week. “I don’t know how their team C — compared to three in previ- dian rupees each. CCTV footage showed him manager can hear from where ous years. Top Indian cricketers also re- apparently turning on De Kock as he’s sitting but from where I was, The uppermost category ceive a match fee for each inter- the players walked up a staircase which was right near the whole features fi ve players — skipper national appearance and many during the tea break in the fourth time, there was nothing we said , opening batsmen benefi t from playing in the lu- day of the match in Durban. that was inappropriate.” and Shikhar Dha- crative The footage shows Warner be- Australia have long had a rep- wan, pacemen Bhuvneshwar (IPL). ing restrained by teammates Us- utation for attempting to unset- Kumar and — Grade B players, including man Khawaja and tle opposition players with words who have been put on a retain- fast bowler Ishant Sharma and before being persuaded to go into as well as actions, but Paine says er worth 70mn Indian rupees all-rounder Hardik Pandya, will the dressing room by Australia there was a line the team would ($1.1mn). earn 30mn Indian rupees each captain . not cross. The amount is a signifi cant while Grade C players will re- By accepting a level two of- “Our stuff is the way we’ve al- increase from last year, where ceive 10mn Indian rupees each. fence, Warner was hit with three ways played our cricket,” he said. players in the uppermost ‘A’ The CoA, which supervises demerit points and fi ned but “Certainly it’s hard, and we like category were handed retainers the operations of the BCCI, said avoided a one-Test ban. to make them feel uncomfortable of 20mn Indian rupees. that it had sanctioned the crea- De Kock was also charged by out there. “The CoA (Committee of Ad- tion of a Players Revenue/ Com- the ICC but is contesting and will “But we don’t cross the line ministrators) was of the view pensation Equalization Fund have a hearing later Wednesday. and bring people’s wives and that the performance and po- (PR/CEF) to insulate player After a feisty game that saw family into the cricket game. sition of Indian Cricket needs compensation. Australia take a 1-0 lead in the And we’ll continue to do that for to be recognised with the fee The BCCI will contribute ap- four-Test series, visiting off - as long as we play.” structure comparable to the proximately 1.25bn Indian ru- spinner Nathan Lyon was also Warner is no stranger to con- best in the world,” the BCCI said pees per annum to the fund. fi ned 15 % of his match fee after troversy and was nicknamed appearing to drop the ball on AB ‘Bull’ early in his career, a de Villiers after the batsman was moniker that fi ttingly captured FORMULA ONE run out. his rampaging batting and ten- Meanwhile, Australia - dency to rack up violations for keeper Tim Paine has suggested ill-tempered episodes during South Africa are not being truth- play. Ricciardo breaks ful with their version of events in He was suspended in 2013 for In this file photograph taken on March 3, 2018, Australian batsman David Warner (L) is watched by the build-up to the confronta- punching England batsman Joe South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock as he plays a shot on the third day of the first Test match tion between David Warner and Root in a bar. at The Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. Barcelona track

BOTTOMLINE record in testing

Reuters cal head James Allison told Sky Barcelona Sports. “There’s clearly no doubt about that... there’s still some aniel Ricciardo showed blurriness, it’s still not possible County stint will help Kohli Red Bull’s pace yes- to say for sure whether we’ve terday by lapping Bar- got our nose in front of them or celona’s Formula One they’ve got their nose in front of circuitD faster than anyone since us. the track was reconfi gured in “But you can say it’s close.” prepare for England, says Dev 2007. Vettel, who did 171 laps on The Australian’s time of one Tuesday when he was fastest, Reuters part, anywhere, any kind of conditions, minute 18.047 seconds on the was drafted in for the morning Mumbai they used to perform. new hypersoft Pirelli tyres lit up after team mate Kimi Raikkonen “Virat Kohli, the question mark is in the timing screens on the second felt unwell. front of him, it’s there. He has to get runs day of the fi nal pre-season test McLaren’s Fernando Alonso ndia captain Virat Kohli would ben- where it is considered to be the toughest at the Circuit de Catalunya. was fourth fastest at the halfway efi t from a stint in the county cham- conditions in the world.” The time was more than a point, with teams deciding not pionship before this year’s Test series During India’s last Test series in Eng- second quicker than Lewis to break for lunch to make up for Iagainst England, former skipper Ka- land four years ago, Kohli averaged a Hamilton’s 2017 Spanish Grand bad weather last week, and did pil Dev has said. disappointing 13.40, way below his ca- Prix pole position of 1:19.149 for 47 laps before pulling over with The fi ve-match contest between the reer batting average of 53.40 from 66 Mercedes, and also quicker than smoke coming from the car. two sides begins in August and India will Tests. any lap in last year’s winter test- The team detected an oil leak be hoping to improve their performance Dev, who led India to a Test series vic- ing. and decided to change the Re- on English soil having recorded just three tory in England in 1986, spent two sea- Track records set in testing nault engine, costing the Span- Test victories since 1986. sons playing for Northamptonshire and are deemed unoffi cial. iard several hours of much- Dev, who lifted the World Cup as skip- believes a similar spell would help the Four-times world cham- needed track time. per in 1983, said Kohli is among the 29-year-old Kohli to adapt to English pion Hamilton, who was fast- “Even when you have a small world’s elite batsmen who must get runs pitches. est last week, was second on problem, the world is watching,” everywhere. “What we’re seeing, with his tempera- the timesheets with a lap 0.043 said McLaren’s executive direc- “Practice makes a man perfect. One ment, I think he’s good enough. It all de- seconds slower on the ultrasoft tor Zak Brown of a stoppage that has to practise those conditions,” Dev pends if he gets a good start. He has the tyres with Ferrari’s Sebastian revived painful memories of the told British media. “The bar which we as ability,” the former all-rounder added. Vettel third. now-terminated Honda part- cricketers set for these people is that you “If he can play a season or two in Eng- “There’s three quick teams nership with its regular engine have to be good in all conditions. lish county cricket there would be nothing and there’s no doubt that Red failures. “That’s what we used to say about Al- wrong, because if you want to be the best Bull are going to be people that “We know what the issues are, lan Border or Vivian Richards or Sunil player in the world you have to get runs we are going to be fi ghting with they’re all easily fi xed,” added Gavaskar — they were players to play any everywhere.” this year,” Mercedes techni- the American. Gulf Times Thursday, March 8, 2018 5 SPORT

NBA NFL Patriots pick up WR Britt’s option, to Paul and Harden decline DT Branch’s

Reuters Branch was set to count more New York than $4.5 million against the cap in 2018, which will instead drop to a $1 million charge in dead eteran wide receiver money. fi re as Rockets roll Kenny Britt will be The 33-year-old has spent the more than a rental for last four seasons with the Patri- the New England Pa- ots, but he lost his starting role Vtriots. during the 2017 season and was The 29-year-old was in- a healthy scratch for all three of formed by the Patriots that his the team’s playoff games. In 12 option for 2018 has been picked NFL seasons, Branch has 10.5 up, according to a report from sacks, 15 passes defensed and to sweet 16th NFL Network. Britt will carry 279 tackles across 146 games (85 a cap hit of approximately $1.5 starts). He said last month that ‘We’ve still got a long away to go, especially these last 20 games or whatever we’ve got left’ million next season, with the he doesn’t plan to retire this off - chance to earn up to $2 million in season. AFP incentives. “I love playing football,” Los Angeles Britt fi nished last season with Branch said on WEEI radio. “As the Patriots after being released long as they keep paying me by the Cleveland Browns in early money, I’m going to try to do it.” hris Paul scored 25 December. He caught two pass- points as the Houston es for 23 yards in three games Redskins re-sign S Everett to Rockets overpowered played with New England after multiyear deal Russell Westbrook’s totalling 18 catches for 233 yards The Washington Redskins an- OklahomaC City Thunder to and two touchdowns in nine nounced the signing of safety tighten their grip on the West- games with Cleveland. Deshazor Everett to a multiyear ern Conference with a 16th Britt was in the fi rst season of contract on Tuesday. straight victory on Tuesday. a four-year, $32.5 million con- Terms of the deal were not Paul produced a scintillat- tract with the Browns before his disclosed. Everett was set to be- ing display of shooting which release. come a restricted free agent this included fi ve three-pointers to With the Patriots next year, off season. help the Rockets bring up their Britt is expected to have a bigger In addition, the Redskins 50th win of the season, a 122-112 role in the off ense, according to waived tackle Kevin Bowen, run- victory. the report. Danny Amendola is ning back Kenny Hilliard and Houston now lead the West expected to become a free agent running back Dare Ogunbowale. at 50-13, one game ahead of the while Julian Edelman will be Everett has played all three of Golden State Warriors who de- returning from an ACL injury his seasons in the NFL with the feated the Brooklyn Nets 114- and tight end Rob Gronkowski’s Redskins, appearing in 41 games 101 on Tuesday. playing future is still up in the and starting eight, all of which The Thunder, meanwhile, air. came last season. The 26-year- remain fi rmly in the battle for Britt had a 1,000-yard season old has 61 tackles, six passes de- one of the lower-seeded playoff as recently as 2016 with the Los fensed, one forced fumble and spots, lying seventh at 37-29. Angeles Rams. For his career, he one interception in his career. Against the Rockets, the tal- has 329 catches for 5,137 yards Last season, Everett set career ismanic fi gure of Westbrook and 32 touchdowns across nine highs in tackles (52), passes de- once again led the way for the seasons. fensed (fi ve) and forced fumbles Thunder with 32 points while Meanwhile, the Patriots are (one). Carmelo Anthony fi nished with not expected to pick up defen- Everett went undrafted out of 23. sive tackle Alan Branch’s option Texas A&M and originally signed Paul George had 17 points for 2018, according to a NESN with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while New Zealand’s Steven report, making him a free agent on May 4, 2015. He later joined Adams chipped in with 16. on March 14. the Redskins on Aug. 1, 2015. Houston’s greater depth in off ense, however, was to prove decisive, with seven players Texas Rangers to sign Cuban outfi eld cracking double digits. MVP hopeful James Harden prospect Martinez was happy to take a backseat to On his first day of eligibility to sign with a major league team, Cuban Paul, but still managed to come outfield prospect Julio Pablo Martinez has agreed to a deal with the up with 23 points, 11 assists and Texas Rangers, according to a report from Baseball America. Mar- fi ve rebounds. tinez’s contract is worth the remainder of the Rangers’ international Harden meanwhile warned bonus pool, which was at $2.8 million, according to the report. MLB. against complacency as the com reports the two sides are still nearing an agreement, and an of- Rockets targeted a strong fi nish ficial announcement is expected soon. to the regular season. Martinez, 21, is expected to become one of the club’s top prospects “We’ve still got a long away Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul shoots the ball in front of Oklahoma City Thunder centre Steven Adams during the second quarter of based on his intriguing combination of power and speed. In the Cu- to go, especially these last 20 their NBA game at Chesapeake Energy Arena. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports ban Serie Nacional last year, Martinez posted a .333/.469/.498 slash games or whatever we’ve got line with six home runs, 52 walks, 30 strikeouts and 24 stolen bases in left,” he said. many times.” tors notched a fi fth consecutive foot of the Eastern Conference In Washington, Bradley Beal 61 games. Martinez will have to pay Major League Baseball $100,000 “Every single game is going In Oakland, Stephen Curry victory to remain fi rmly on top with a 20-45 record. had 30 points while Markieff once he receives his signing bonus as a result of providing the league to be a diff erent challenge that scored 34 points as Golden of the standings with a 106- In Charlotte, Robert Cov- Morris exerted his infl uence as with “sworn declarations that contained incomplete and inaccurate we’re going to face.” State eased past Brooklyn at the 90 romp against the Atlanta ington led an all-round scoring the Wizards maintained their information regarding time you had spent in the United States and Oracle Arena. Hawks. display from the Philadelphia playoff push, winning 117-113 Canada,” according to Baseball America. Martinez told the site he Turnovers costly Kevin Durant had 19 points The Raptors improved to 76ers in a 128-114 defeat of the over the Miami Heat. Morris wasn’t trying to mislead the league and that he made a mistake when Thunder coach Billy Donovan with Klay Thompson 18 and 46-17 with the win, helped by Hornets. had 16 points with 13 rebounds trying to remember when he was in those countries last year. bemoaned his team’s tendency Draymond Green 16 to maintain Jonas Valanciunas contributing Covington scored 22 points to help the Wizards improve to to concede cheap turnovers. the reigning NBA champions’ 15 points and CJ Miles 14 off the for the Sixers, one of seven play- 37-28. D-backs bringing back bullpen cart “We turned the ball over too pursuit of Houston. bench. ers to fi nish in double fi gures for The Arizona Diamondbacks are bringing the bullpen cart back for much, both halves,” Donovan In Los Angeles, Anthony Serge Ibaka and Delon Wright the visitors, who improved to RESULTS the 2018 season, making them the first MLB team to use a vehicle to said. Davis exploded for 41 points as also made double fi gures with 35-28 and remain sixth in the Philadelphia 128 Charlotte 114 shuttle in relief pitchers since the Milwaukee Brewers in 1995. “We need to do a better job of New Orleans edged the Clippers 10 points apiece. standings. Toronto 106 Atlanta 90 The team released a picture of the new-age cart on their Twitter taking care of the basketball. 126-121 to claim a ninth straight John Collins and Kent Baze- Dario Saric had 19 points Washington 117 Miami 113 (OT) account Tuesday morning. The golf cart is topped with a Diamond- “I thought the diff erence in win. The Pelicans improved to more each made 14 points for while Joel Embiid snared 18. Houston 122 Oklahoma City 112 backs cap that has an OnTrac sponsorship logo on the side. “We think the game was the three-point 37-26 with the result. the Hawks, but the visitors were Australian star Ben Simmons Dallas 118 Denver 107 the time is right to bring it back,” Arizona president and CEO Derrick line and the free-throw line. In the Eastern Conference on unable to prevent a sixth defeat got 16 points with 13 assists and Portland 111 New York 87 Hall said via ESPN.com. “... An ancillary benefit might be that it could We didn’t get there enough and Tuesday, DeMar DeRozan led in eight games. eight rebounds. Charlotte fell to Golden State 114 Brooklyn 101 speed up the game. I expect a lot of teams to follow suit.” probably put them there too the scoring as the Toronto Rap- Atlanta remain rooted to the 28-37 in the defeat. New Orleans 121 LA Clippers 116

NHL Marchand hat-trick in Bruins win over Red Wings Reuters Red Wings, but was pulled after Sean Kuraly’s penalty for trip- Boston allowing four goals on 16 shots. ping expired. Howard fi nished with 19 saves. The Bruins clung to a 5-4 Nielsen’s goal was the 150th of lead through two after March- rad Marchand complet- his NHL career, but he departed and scored twice in the period ed his third career hat- with an upper-body injury in the (at 3:27 and 13:18). Mantha also trick 34 seconds into fi rst period following a hit from scored both of his goals in the overtime and fi nished David Backes and did not re- period (12:05, 15:50) to keep the withB fi ve points on the evening turn. Nielsen has nine goals and Red Wings close. to send the Boston Bruins past eight assists in his career against Krug scored twice in the fi rst the Detroit Red Wings 6-5 on Boston. Boston swept the four- (0:37, 13:48) and DeBrusk had a Tuesday night in Boston. After game season series with Detroit, goal (0:52), but Boston’s lead was the puck bounced off Red Wings defeating the Red Wings 3-2 in only one entering the second af- goalie Jimmy Howard’s blocker, overtime on the road on Dec. 13, ter goals from Nielsen (2:16) and Marchand grabbed it and deked 3-1 at home on Dec. 23 and 3-2 at Green (7:53). to create space before tucking it home on Feb. 6 On Krug’s second goal, David past Howard for the winner. Before the game, Boston an- Pastrnak recorded the 100th as- Marchand now leads the team nounced that rookie defenseman sist of his NHL career. with 28 goals on the season and Charlie McAvoy would miss up Boston plays the fourth of six recorded his 11th career regular- to four weeks after sustaining straight games at home Thurs- season overtime goal, moving a sprained MCL in his left knee day against Philadelphia. Detroit him into fi rst all-time in Bruins during Saturday’s win against is home Thursday against Vegas, history. rival Montreal. Marchand also its lone game on home ice at Lit- Torey Krug (13 goals) scored scored an OT goal in the Bruins’ tle Caesars Arena in a stretch of twice, Jake DeBrusk (14) added a 2-1 win against the Canadiens on 11 games. goal and Anton Khudobin made Saturday. 30 saves as Boston earned its The Bruins played their fourth RESULTS fourth straight victory. Anthony straight game without alter- Jets 3 Rangers 0 Mantha (23 goals) lit the lamp nate captain Patrice Bergeron Devils 6 Canadiens 4 twice and Frans Nielsen (14), (foot fracture) and their second Blue Jackets 4 Golden Knights 1 Martin Frk (11) and Mike Green straight without starting goalie Lightning 5 Panthers 4 (OT) (7) each had goals for Detroit, Tuukka Rask (minor injury). Wild 6 Hurricanes 2 which lost its fourth straight. Frk’s goal with 10:14 remain- Predators 2 Stars 0 Jared Coreau made his fi rst ing in the third period tied the Blackhawks 2 Avalanche 1 (OT) Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (second right) scores the winning goal in overtime against Detroit Red Wings at TD Garden in Boston. start of the season in net for the game at 5 only seconds after Ducks 4 Capitals 0 PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Gulf Times 6 Thursday, March 8, 2018 SPORT

GOLF APPOINTMENT Dutchman Oltmans to coach Pakistan Sharma targets home hockey team win and Major glory ‘It’s every golfer’s dream to get to the Masters and I’m very happy. The Open Championship is my favourite Major but you can’t compare a Major to another Major’

Reuters formance director before he Lahore took over as chief coach from compatriot Paul van Ass in 2015. ormer India hock- Oltmans was sacked from ey coach Roelant his role last September. Oltmans will take “Today I can confi rm an charge of their arch-ri- Agreement with PHF for a role valsF Pakistan on a two-and-a- as Chief Coach for the next 2 half year deal, the 63-year-old 1/2 Years,” Oltmans tweeted. Dutchman announced yester- Oltmans’ major assign- day. ments with Pakistan this year Oltmans’ return to Pakistan will be the Commonwealth as chief coach of the men’s Games in April and the World team will be his second spell Cup in December. in the country, having coached Pakistan, three-times Ol- them in 2003-04 up to the ympic champions and four- Athens Olympics where they times World Cup gold medal- fi nished fi fth. lists, failed to qualify for the The experienced Oltmans 2016 Olympics in Rio de Ja- was at the helm of Indian neiro. hockey for four years from They are currently ranked 2013, initially as a high per- 13th in the world.

RUGBY Faletau to skipper much-changed Wales team

Reuters player, hugely experienced and Cardiff this will be great for his de- velopment and we are looking forward to seeing those leader- aulupe Faletau will ship qualities come through,” lead a much-changed Gatland said in a statement. Wales team for the fi rst “It is challenging making time as he was named changes, but we have picked a Tcaptain upon his return to the really exciting team and Sun- starting line-up for Sunday’s day is their chance.” Six Nations clash against Italy. Wales, who have lost their It is the fi rst appearance last two games away in Eng- Shubhankar Sharma watches his shot from the seventh tee during the final round of the WGC-Mexico Championship at Club de Golf Chapultepec. PICTURE: USA TODAY SPORTS of the championship for the land and Ireland, take on an eigthman, who forms part of Italian team who have con- European Tour further, so much so he has been jor. “I remember all the nights not think he enters the week as “To win the Indian Open in a new-look pack that shows ceded an average of 45 points New handed a special invitation to the that I woke up and saw the Mas- the favourite despite his recent front of a home crowd has always seven changes from the side in each of their three defeats in Masters Tournament in April. ters and the US Open and PGA. exploits. Two-time defending been a dream for me and what- that lost 37-27 to Ireland in this year’s Six Nations. With two wins under his belt The Masters has the same feel to champion SSP Chawrasia and ever happens I will come back to Dublin on February 24. Wales have lost just twice to his week’s Hero Indian and two Majors on his calendar, it as Wimbledon for tennis. in-form Ryder Cup star Chris the Indian Open. It includes a fi rst cap at Italy in 25 previous meetings Open may feel like a fi fth the 21 year old has every reason “It’s a dream come true that Wood are part of an impressive “I’m glad that I’m back to openside fl ank for Scarlets’ but never at home. Major Championship to to feel confi dent and he insists I’m into Majors and hopefully fi eld gathered in New Delhi for my home course and trying to James Davies. Shubhankar Sharma but he will not just be making up the I’ll get into the US Open and the the biggest event on the Indian win this tournament. I’m really Coach Warren Gatland has Team: Tthe rising star is already target- numbers on the biggest stage. PGA as well. golfi ng calendar. looking forward to it, it’s a great made 10 changes in all to his 15-Liam Williams, 14-George ing victory in one of golf’s big “I’m very happy. I got the call “In golf, anything is possi- And while it would be a dream fi eld and the golf course is great side, announced on Wednes- North, 13-Owen Watkin, four. yesterday after I landed,” he said. ble. Now that I’ve won on a high come true for Sharma to claim as well. day, with Gareth Anscombe 12-Hadleigh Parkes, 11-Steff The Race to Dubai Rankings “I was very tough on myself stage and I’ve competed with home glory, he knows he not “The toughest competition coming in at fl yhalf to replace Evans, 10-Gareth Anscombe, presented by Rolex leader has on the fl ight, I wasn’t too happy the best in the world at the only has to beat the fi eld but the here at the Hero Indian Open is Dan Biggar and Owen Watkin 9-Gareth Davies, 8-Taulupe enjoyed a meteoric rise of late, with the way I fi nished the tour- WGC, I feel like if I play my fearsome DLF Golf and Country the golf course. It’s about man- making his fi rst Six Nations Faletau (captain), 7-James winning the Joburg Open to nament but when I got the call all best for four days it will be good Club layout. aging yourself out there. start as partner at centre to Davies, 6-, earn himself a place at the Open the pain washed away and I was enough “The Indian Open is very close “Not a lot of players will fi nish Hadleigh Parkes. 5-Bradley Davies, 4-, Championship and following very happy that I made it to the to contend anywhere in the to my heart. It is our fi fth Major under par this week. The course George North returns to the 3-Tomas Francis, 2-Elliot Dee, that up with a win at the May- Masters. It’s every golfer’s dream world. I know my best will be for all of us,” he said. is playing tougher compared to starting team which means 1-Nicky Smith bank Championship. to get to the Masters and I’m very good enough for a top ten or a top “I’ve grown up watching the last year and it’s going to be a test Liam Williams moves to full- Replacements: 16-Ken Owens, A top ten on debut at last happy. fi ve or even a win.” Indian Open on TV and most of of patience. back in place of Leigh Half- 17-, 18-, week’s WGC-Mexico Cham- “The Open Championship is This will be Sharma’s fourth Indian Opens since I could go, “A lot of great players are penny. 19-, 20-Ellis Jenkins, pionship after holding the 54- my favourite Major but you can’t Hero Indian Open on a course I’ve been there to witness it my- playing this week so may the “It is a great opportunity 21-Aled Davies, 22-Rhys Patch- hole lead saw his stock rise even compare a Major to another Ma- he knows well but he does self. best golfer win.” for Taulupe, he is a world class ell, 23-Leigh Halfpenny.

SIX NATION S England’s Hughes seeks ‘big start’ in France clash AFP board ticking. “If we can create that big Scotland stick with Calcutta Cup winning formula London mountain for them to climb I think it will be quite hard for them to get back.” will make a first start for Scotland as he was chosen There is rain forecast at the Stade de yesterday to replace the injured at wing in coach athan Hughes says England France this weekend for the clash be- ’s only change to his side to take on Ireland in the will be looking for a “big start” tween England and fi fth-placed France, Six Nations on Saturday. Seymour has not recovered from a back against France in the Six Na- which Hughes said could be a factor. injury suff ered in Scotland’s Calcutta Cup success over England at tions on Saturday, desperate to “The weather is going to dictate the Murrayfield two weeks ago when they beat the auld enemy 25-13. The Nbounce back from the defeat to Scotland game so if it’s going to be a wet one then 21-year-old Kinghorn debuted as a substitute in the match. It was no that ended their Grand Slam hopes. our forwards need to muscle up on their surprise that Townsend stuck with a winning combination after Scot- The Wasps No 8, who returned from forwards and carry us around. land scored a second successive win in this year’s competition and injury in the loss in Edinburgh, believes “We’re not going to make the weather are now looking to derail Ireland’s hopes of a Grand Slam when they England need to come out of the blocks change the way we want to play, we still play in Dublin. Scotland added 10 players to their squad on Monday strongly against Les Bleus if they are to want to play expansive, running rugby including the return from injury of a number of stalwarts like Richie secure back-to-back wins in the French and for us to do that we need to be con- Gray and , but only hooker Fraser Brown made it into capital following their 2016 victory. nected. the match 23. “We were delighted with the result against England and The defending Six Nations champi- “We don’t want to change too much of backing up our win against France with an improved performance,” ons are second in the table after their our game – that’s why we’ve been doing said Townsend in a statement. “The intent we showed in attack and shock 25-13 defeat against Scotland, with heaps of skills and stuff like that to cope defence in the first half was very encouraging and we continued to Grand Slam-chasing Ireland favourites to with whatever weather that comes.” work hard in the second-half. The eff ort that went into denying England win the tournament. Although Hughes is not taking his se- a second try in the closing minutes was great to see. “Our players had Captain Dylan Hartley is a doubt for lection for granted, he says the whole prepared very well for the challenge of taking on England and there has the game in Paris while Jack Nowell and team are motivated to put things right been a similar focus and commitment this week at training.” Sam Underhill have been ruled out. after their defeat. Team: 15-, 14-Blair Kinghorn, 13-Huw Jones, 12-Pete “Our mentality this week is to have a “I’ve got a lot of minutes into the legs Horne, 11-, 10-, 9-, 8-Ryan big start,” said the 26-year-old Hughes, so I’m ready to go if I get the nod to play Wilson, 7-Hamish Watson, 6-John Barclay (captain), 5-, who was born in Fiji. this weekend,” he said. 4-, 3-Simon Berghan, 2-Stuart McInally, 1-Gordon “With France they’ve got big boys so “I’ll be raring to go really because of the Reid. if we can move them around in the early performance when we lost in Scotland. Replacements: 16-Fraser Brown, 17-, 18-WP Nel, 19-Tim part of the game then that’ll be a big bo- We want to turn that around and go back Swinson, 20-David Denton, 21-, 22-, 23-Lee Jones. nus for us, and (if we can) keep the score- to winning ways.” England head coach Eddie Jones (left) during a training session. (Reuters) Gulf Times Thursday, March 8, 2018 7 SPORT

TABLE TENNIS Xue Fei and Zhang Rui win U-21 ITTF titles in Doha ‘I feel I played well today. I was strong on the first three attacking strokes that kept him under pressure’

11-9, 13-11), while Liu Shiwen account- ed for Singapore’s Lin Ye (8-11, 11-6, 12- 10, 14-12, 11-9). India’s Manika Batra beat Canada’s Zhang Mo in a gruelling seven games contest (8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 11-2, 13- 15, 11-7) to top her group. Korea’s Choi Hyojoo, the Czech Republic’s Hana Matelova and Hong Kong’s Ng Wing Nam also won their respective games. Choi Hyojoo overcame Japan’s Yui Hamamoto, fi ghting back from a three games to nil defi cit to emerge victorious (12-14, 8-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7, 11-4). Similarly, Ng Wing Nam accounted for Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Hsien-Tzu (11- 8, 10-12, 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 13-11, 11-5). Hana Matelova ended the hopes of Austria’s Liu Jia in a tension packed encounter (13-11, 9-11. 8-11. 11-3, 11-8, 10-12, 13-11). Liu Jia was the women’s singles runner-up in Doha in 2014. There was more success for India on the day as Sharath Kamal Achanta and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran sealed their place in the main draw. After having overcome Anton Kallberg, Sharath beat Germany’s Ruwen Filus 11-6, 8-11, 11- 7, 11-2, 11-7) to reserve his place in the main draw. Gnanasekaran beat Korea’s Kim Donghyun in four straight games (12- 10, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9) and was elated to India’s Manika Batra in action. play in the main rounds. “I needed to win one game, I was under pressure; it was ahead 9-5 and lost; then I said to easily, it meant he knew he was out. He China’s Xue Fei beat Hong Kong’s Ng Pak Nam in three straight games to clinch the men’s title at the ITTF World Tour would have been easier if it had been myself just go for it, just focus on play- just played totally carefree, I tried, I Platinum Qatar Open at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena yesterday. a normal match. In the second game I ing not the score. I won the third game didn’t give in.” said Gnanasekaran.

By Sports Reporter Chinese under-21 women’s singles Doha fi nal, after beating Chen Ke in four games 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7. “It’s been a long day and we are both tired, Chen Ke hina’s Xue Fei and Zhang Rui has played one more match than me to- clinched the men’s and wom- day so perhaps she was the more tired. en’s Under-21 singles titles In the fi nal my concentration was good respectively at the ITTF World and I tried not to think about the score TourC Platinum Qatar Open at Ali Bin but just play one point at a time,” said Hamad Al Attiyah Arena yesterday. Zhang Rui. Crowned World Junior champion in Notably for both players it was their Riva del Garda three months ago, Xue third time in an ITTF World Tour Under Fei added to his list of successes as he 21 Women’s Singles fi nal, for Chen Ke beat Hong Kong’s Ng Pak Nam in three her second this year. She won in Hun- straight games (11-8, 11-9, 11-7) to col- gary in late January having succeeded lect the third such title of his career. last year in Germany alongside Xue Fei. “I feel I played well today. I was Similarly for Zhang Rui it was her third strong on the fi rst three attacking fi nal, last year she succeeded in both strokes, especially after the service but the Czech Republic and in Sweden. most important was that I put a lot of Meanwhile, China’s Ding Ning and spin on the ball; that kept him under Liu Shiwen won their respective quali- pressure.” said Xue Fei. In 2017, he had fying matches to seal their spot in the won in Germany and in Linz; further- main draw of the women’s singles. more it is now three fi nals, three wins. Ding Ning needed fi ve games to beat Meanwhile, Zhang Rui won the all- Japan’s Miyuu Kihara (12-14, 11-8, 11-4, Medallist and off icials pose at the Under-21 awards ceremony.

FOCUS FOOTBALL Qatar’s Shanan enters Kuwait national team ACFT quarters to be held second round Doha: Qatar’s Mubarak Shanan entered the second round of the Qatar F2 Futures tennis players complete today and tomorrow tournament, which is being organised by the Qatar Tennis, he 6th Asian Commu- Squash and Badminton Federa- nities Football Tour- tion (QTSBF) in co-operation treatment at Aspetar nament quarter-fi nals with the International Tennis will take place today Federation. The tournament our Qadsia SC football- andT tomorrow. Today’s matches will conclude on Saturday. ers and Kuwait national will see Jordan take on Indone- In the first round at the football teammates Ab- sia and Sri Lanka face Nepal at Khalifa Tennis and Squash dulaziz al-Meshaan, 8pm and 9:20pm respectively Complex, Shanan beat his AhmedF al-Dhafi ri, Saif al- and will be held at Doha Sta- compatriot and brother Hashan, Saleh Sheikh al-Hendi dium. In tomorrow’s matches, Mousa Shanan in straight sets and Soud al-Mejmed have suc- India will take on Bangladesh, 6-0, 6-2). Mubarak will face cessfully completed compre- while Malaysia are up against the tournament’s top seed, hensive treatment programmes Lebanon. Matches will take Britain’s Jay Clarke next. Clarke at Qatar’s world renowned or- place at 8pm and 9:20pm and progressed to the second thopaedic and sports medicine will be held at Al Markhiya round thanks to a 2-1 win over hospital, Aspetar. Sports Club. German Adrian Obert. On the side-lines of his visit, The teams have qualifi ed to The tournament features 32 former RE Mouscron (Belgium) the quarter-fi nals stage after players in the singles category and 1 FK Pribram (Czech Re- earning the highest number of and 16 teams in the doubles public) midfi elder al-Meshaan points in their groups. Jordan competition. QTSBF granted praised Aspetar’s facilities, say- has secured fi rst place in Group wildcards to a number of ing: “My fi rst visit was back in A for collecting 15 points in to- Qatari players, the Shanan 2007, shortly after Aspetar was tal in the group stage, while brothers, Rayyan al-Jufairi and established, when I became the India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia Jabor al-Mutawa. fi rst player outside Qatar to be have come in second, third, and treated at the hospital. I am still Kuwait’s Abdulaziz al-Meshaan trains at Aspetar. fourth place after collecting 10, QATAR JUNIORS IN as impressed today with their 10, and 6 points respectively. SEMIS OF QUALIFIERS facilities and treatments as I tify to this when they send their it’ll make every Arab proud.” Group B’s top spot sees Leba- Qatar junior tennis team was over 11 years ago. players to be treated here, be- Aspetar boasts one of the non leading the group after col- moved into the semi-finals of “The MRIs show that I un- cause they’re confi dent Aspetar most advanced medical depart- lecting 13 points in total. The the pre-qualifying Davis Cup fortunately have a small tear will bring their players back to ments in the region, which is second, third and fourth place Asian-Oceania group, cur- in my Anterior Cruciate Liga- their pre-injury state as quickly integral to the hospital’s multi- teams include Nepal (13 points), rently being held in Sri Lankan ment (ACL), but my doctors and and as safely as possible.” disciplinary approach to athlete Bangladesh (7) and Indonesia capital, Colombo, under the physiotherapists are doing an Speaking about Qatar as a management. Aspetar’s meth- (7). The semi-fi nals are sched- auspices of the ITF. excellent job and I already feel host nation for the 2022 World od focuses on assessment and uled to take place on Friday 16 In the quarter-finals of the much better than I did when Cup, al-Enezi remarked: “Eve- treatment of injured athletes by March at Al Markhiya Sports qualifiers, the Qatari team beat I came last week. My medical ryone [must be] proud to have implementing personalised in- Club, while the 3rd place de- terest from the various commu- gether various Asian commu- the Philippines two matches team expect I’ll return to play an Arab country host the FIFA jury treatment programmes, in- cider match and fi nal will take nities in Qatar who were eager nities residing in Qatar, and for only one match. The Qatari within a week or two.” World Cup for the fi rst time. cluding the hamstring protocol. place on 23 March and 30 March to take part in the tournament, encourages them to play more team started their qualifying He added: “I came back to For me, the 2022 FIFA World Utilising an evidence-based respectively. and thus resulted in a signifi - football in a fun competitive with a 2-0 win over Pakistan. Aspetar because of its world- Cup Qatar will be diff erent from model, Aspetar’s experienced The ACFT is organised by cant increase in the number of environment. This year, the The three players represent- class facilities and services. I’ve what we’ve seen with past tour- practitioners aim to return pa- the Qatar Football Association participating teams year after ACFT is sponsored by the Su- ing Qatar in this tournament been to hospitals in countries naments and I am sure it will tients to their pre-injury life- (QFA) and initially featured the year. This year, twelve Asian preme Committee for are Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, Rashed like the US and France, and showcase the region for all its style as quickly and safely as participation of six teams dur- community teams are partici- & Legacy as the offi cial strate- Nawaf and Nasser Alyafei. Ten honestly, I haven’t seen a hos- positives. Qatar started prepar- possible with a proven track ing its’ fi rst edition. Following pating for the grand prize. gic partner, Nike as the offi cial clubs are participating in the pital as comprehensive as As- ing for the tournament years record of treating regional and the success of the fi rst edition, The ACFT is a community supplier, and Al Kass Sports tournament. petar. International clubs tes- ago and I expect (come 2022) international athletes. the tournament drew lots of in- tournament which brings to- Channels as the broadcaster.

Thursday, March 8, 2018 GULF TIMES SPORT

FIVB WORLD TOUR FOCUS Sathish, Farhan set up a close victory Qatar’s Younousse for United in Qatar Airways T20 cricket

By Sports Reporter fi red 60 with four sixers and Doha six boundaries in 40 balls af- and Tijan advance ter Sulah returned a rich fi ve- wicket haul to contain Bangla- athish collected anoth- desh Seniors at 137 in 20 overs. ‘We’re very happy er Man-of-the-Match Batting fi rst, Bangladesh Saward and combined Seniors could put up only 137 with our first win and with Farhan to help United on the board before getting all Challengers edge City Ex- out in 20 overs. A 41 by Moin it is a big step for us’ change by seven runs in a Qa- with two sixes and a four and to next round tar Airways Twenty20 Cricket Fakhruddin’s 27 were the main By Sports Reporter the winners taking on Norway’s Tournament for Division A at contributions. Besides Mid- Doha Anders Berntsen Mol and Chris- the West Bay Grounds. hun’s half-century, the win- tian Sandlie Sorum later in the Qatar Airways, one of the ners got a crucial 27-run con- day. Schachter has been to Doha youngest airlines in the world tribution from Jotish as well. atar’s Cherif Younousse twice before and had fi nished with strong presence in all He hit a six and three bounda- and Ahmed Tijan defeat- runners-up with Josh Binstock six continents, has been the ries in his knock. Qed Nico Beeler and Marco to Germans Tim Holler and Jonas sponsor of the tournament Krattiger of Switzerland 21-15, Schroder in 2014. The Canadians for a long time and support- Brief scores 16-21, 15-10 to enter the knock- contested in the 2016 event as ing the Qatar Cricket Associa- United Challengers beat City out round of the FIVB World well but fi nished in the 17th spot. tion in developing the game in Exchange by 7 runs Tour Katara Beach Volleyball Cup Qatar’s other two teams failed the country. Sunil and Ahanaf United Challengers: 163 for yesterday. to progress after losing both their played well to boost United six in 20 overs (Ahanaf 37 in Younousse and Tijan lost their group matches. Challengers to 163 for six in 20 35 balls, Sunil 47 in 27 balls, opener against Ryan Doherty and Benlouaer Ziad Ziad and overs. Sunil smashed 47 off 27 Nishad 3/34) William Allen 18-21, 21-17, 15-8, Ahmed Nassir, who were play- balls with three big sixes and City Exchange: 156 for nine but they came back strongly to ing for the fi rst time in the World four boundaries, while Ahanaf in 20 overs (Shareef 38 in 39 beat the Swiss pair and progress Tour, lost to top seeds Philip made 38 off 39 deliveries with balls, Jithesh 46 in 31 balls, to the next round as the third Dalhausser and Nicholas Lu- fi ve boundaries. Nishad’s three Farhan 3/34, Sathish 4/18) team from Pool H. cena of the USA 13-21, 15-21 in for 34 restricted them from Man of the Match: Sathish While Doherty and Allen won their opening match before going scoring a bigger total. of United Challengers (four the group to directly book their down to Dries Koekelkoren and City Exchange responded wickets) place in the last 16, Alexander Tom Van Walle of Belgium 8-21, strongly during the chase Regal Strikers beat Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen 9-21. through Jithesh and Shareef. Bangladesh Seniors by five of the Netherlands fi nished sec- In Pool F, Olympian Jeff erson However, Sathish grabbed four wickets ond and, like the Qataris, will Santos Pereira and Julio Cesar scalps for 18 and Farhan dis- Bangladesh Seniors: 137 all have to play another round for a Do Nascimento Junior began missed three players to limit out in 20 overs (Moin 41 in 36 pre-quarter-fi nal berth. with a straight loss to sixth seeds the rivals to 156 for nine in 20 balls, Fakhruddin 29 in 27 balls, Younousse and Tijan clinched Martin Plavins and Edgars Tocs overs. Jithesh’ 46 in 31 balls Sulah 5/24) the opening set against American from Latvia. Then they took on contained two sixes and as Regal Strikers: 138 for five in 18 qualifi ers Billy Allen and Ryan Brazilians Saymon Barbosa and many fours and Ahanaf got 37 overs (Midhun 60 in 40 balls, Doherty but could not sustain Alvaro Filho in the losers’ game. in 35 balls with fi ve fours. Jotish 27 in 27 balls, Halim the momentum and were upset They had to win it to stay in the In another match, Regal 3/19) in three sets. The Qataris how- tournament but the 2017 Fort Strikers cruised to a fi ve- Man of the Match: Sulah of ever lifted their game superbly in Qatar’s Cherif Younousse (left) and Ahmed Tijan during their match against Nico Beeler and Marco Krattiger Lauderdale Major fi ve-star event wicket triumph when Midhun Regal Strikers (five wickets) the group losers’ match against of Switzerland at the FIVB Katara Beach Volleyball Cup yesterday. PICTURES: Jayaram champions managed to overcome qualifi ers Beeler and Krattiger the challenge of the Qataris in and posted a fi ne victory in 47 three sets. minutes to enter the next stage. The other Asia and Oceania This was the fi rst meeting be- zone team Likejiang Ha and Jiax- tween the two pairs on the Tour. in Wu from China also lost both “We’re a new team, while most their matches. of other teams have been playing The Chinese pair was fi rst out- together for a long time. Many played by third-seeded Italians of the top pairs in the world are Daniele Lup and Paolo Nicolai in competing here so no match is the fi rst match but they fought going to be easy, but we’re de- hard in the losers’ clash against lighted to get through the group” Canadians Grant O’Gorman and Younousse said. Ben Saxton, 14th seeds, before Sathish of United Challengers. “We’re very happy with our bowing out. fi rst win in the tournament and it Australians Christopher is a big step for us. We had poor McHugh, who won the Asia service in the fi rst match in the Championship with Issac Kapa, morning. Also we made other and Damien Schumann survived mistakes and lost the fi rst game. the fi rst qualifying round against The level of this event is very high Indonesians Koko Darkuncoro in general. We’re relieved and will and Danangsyah Pribadi 2-0 but focus on the next match,” he said. lost to Poles Kacper Kujawiak and Talking about his partner Ti- Action from Qatar’s Jeff erson Santos Pereira and Julio Cesar Do Nascimento first round match against Maciej Rudol Poland in straight jan, Younousse said, “He is com- Martin Plavins and Edgars Tocs from Latvia. sets in the next on Tuesday. plimenting me very well. He is Another Indonesian pair also reading the game nicely and de- strong team in future. The proc- can fi nish in front of the home on Canada’s Sam Pedlow and suff ered a fi rst qualifying round fending strongly. We feel we have ess to gel well has already started fans.” Sam Schachter in the knock- defeat against Swiss Mirco Ger- the potential to become a very and we’ll see how high we Younousse and Tijan will take out round today morning with son and Adrian Heidrich. Sulah of Regal Strikers

SPOTLIGHT ‘Challenging Beyond Expectation’ to celebrate achievement of Qatari women in sport today By Sports Reporter 8th and is a global day celebrat- Doha ing the social, economic, cul- tural and political achievements of women. The day also marks ix inspirational indi- a call to action for accelerating viduals will be sharing gender parity. their incredible stories Following the panel session, Sof achieving success in professional lifestyle coach women’s sport and health in a Carla Mantoani and professional panel session open to all today. personal trainer Althia Malli- This will be immediately fol- aros will join Jawaher Alfardan lowed by sporting activities led in leading sporting activities, by Qatar’s leading health and including cycling, yoga, boxing lifestyle professionals for female and more, and providing advice guests of all ages and abilities. and guidance. Both activities are free to attend The event aims to support and no registration is necessary. more women across Qatar lead Organised by the Qatar Olym- healthy and active lifestyles, pic Committee (QOC) in collab- whilst increasing their confi - oration with the Aspire Zone, the Swimmer Nada Mohamed Arakji. dence and raising awareness event aims to highlight and cel- about the opportunities avail- ebrate the extraordinary women Dana al-Anazy, who together bal medallist Sara Masoud, who able to participate. The session in Qatar who are breaking down with Sheikha Asma became one won para-athletics silver med- is for women only and it’s is free barriers and changing percep- of the fi rst Qatari females to als in the Rio 2016 Paralympic of charge. Guests are requested tions of women in sport in hon- summit Mount Kiliminjaro in Games and London 2017 World to arrive to Al Shulaa Hall in the our of International Women’s 2014. Championships. Aspire Zone across from Villag- Day 2018. The event will pro- Also participating will be en- The event’s theme, ‘Challeng- gio Mall at 5:45pm today for the vide an opportunity to create a Sheikha Asma al-Thani during North Pole training expedition. trepreneur Jawaher Alfardan, ing Beyond Expectation’ was the panel session. Sporting ac- conversation about what more who co-founded Qatar’s fi rst- inspired by the powerful women tivities will begin immediately can be done to inspire and em- “International Women’s Day to further support the partici- ternational team of women from ever vegan café and fi rst-ever in Qatar that are motivating oth- afterwards at 7:15pm. power more females to achieve is a chance to shine a spotlight pation of more women in sport Western and Arabian cultures. Qatari-owned yoga studio, ers, changing perceptions and You can keep up to date with their sporting dreams, whilst on the incredible achievements at any and every level. We invite The expedition aims to foster swimmer Nada Mohamed, who are united to make a change and all news and information on the encouraging more females to of women in Qatar and around everyone, men and women, to greater dialogue and under- is the fi rst Qatari female to com- go beyond what they previously event and activities on the Team live healthy and active lifestyles the world so that more women come down and participate in standing and inspire all women pete at two Olympic Games, thought possible. Qatar social media channels, as through the free sporting activi- are inspired and empowered to what we hope will be a fascinat- to reach beyond the expectation Mariam Farid, 2019 IAAF World Men also are welcomed to the well as by signing up to the Team ties on off er. achieve their dreams. The QOC ing and inspirational session.” of others and fulfi l their own ul- Championships Ambassador panel session to create a united Qatar Club, where you will also Commenting on the event, is organising this event not only In addition to her role at the timate life ambitions. and a member of Qatar’s na- front in supporting gender in- have access to exclusive content, Sheikha Asma al-Thani, panel- to celebrate our successful wom- QOC, Sheikha Asma will later Sheikha Asma will be joined tional athletics team and Suhail clusivity and women’s equality off ers and competitions. It is free list and Director of Marketing en in sport and health but also to this month attempt to be the fi rst on the panel by youth activist at Choukou from the Qatar Para- in sport. and easy to sign up – just head to and Communications at the Qa- create a conversation about what Qatari to ski to the last degree of Education Above All and Educa- lympic Committee who closely International Women’s Day www.olympic.qa/en/teamqa- tar Olympic Committee, said: we can all be doing as a society the North Pole as part of an in- tion Excellence Award winner supported Qatar’s fi rst-ever glo- takes place annually on March tarclub