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Sunday, October 28, 2018 FORMULA 1 Safar 19, 1440 AH Ricciardo pips GULF TIMES Verstappen for Mexico GP pole SPORT Page 7 48TH ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DOHA 2018 Biles shrugs off hospital visit to star in qualifying American leads her team to top of the standings after being taken to the hospital for kidney stone hours before

By Sahan Bidappa around title. Doha That would take her beyond Russia’s Svetlana Khorkina for the all-time female record, while kidney stone wouldn’t if she was to claim two more wins stop her from compet- in the team and individual ap- ing at the World Artistic paratus she will overtake Vitaly Gymnastics Champi- Scherbo’s mark of 12 for the most Aonship, Simone Biles said, and golds in Worlds history. thankfully it didn’t. The Ameri- All those records could be in can sensation was in the emer- danger this week as Biles looks gency room past 1am at a Doha in prime shape, despite carrying hospital, just 17 hours before the a kidney stone. After the quali- USA women’s team qualifi ca- fi cations yesterday, Biles said she tions would begin at the Aspire would wait for the World Cham- Dome. Soon after Biles found pionships to get over on Novem- that she had a kidney stone. ber 3 to get the kidney stone re- While she was advised rest, Biles moved, which she said was “big”. wanted to get out of the hospital. “I was in the ER last night Yesterday, the 21-year-old de- and came back at around 1am. I fi ed medical advice as she clam- found out I had a kidney stone. bered off her hospital bed to de- The pain is pretty OK right now, liver a breathtaking performance so that’s good. As an athlete my to not just lead the USA to top of pain tolerance is defi nitely a little the standings, but also top the higher than your average person, qualifi cations in the All-around, I guess,” she said. Vault, Balance Beam and Floor “My pain has been a lot lower Exercise. She was second in Un- than it has been in the last cou- even Bars. ple of days, so that’s good. I think the team really cheers me up and adrenaline kicked in, so I think that really helped a lot,” Biles added. Biles said it was completely her decision to compete. “It was defi nitely 100 percent my deci- sion. Nobody forced me to be out here. I’m really happy that they let me decide what I wanted to do. I think tonight went pretty well overall. I had a little mistake Simone Biles of the US competes in the women’s Uneven Bar qualification at the 2018 FIG Artistic World on bars but I kept it going. I think, Gymnastics Championships at Aspire Dome in Doha yesterday. (AFP) Jana al-Kiky of Qatar takes part in the qualification rounds yesterday. for the rest, I tried to stay as calm as possible and to relax,” she said. will qualify for Tuesday’s fi nal, old Jana al-Kiky put on a spirited Biles is also set to get a vault with China and Russia compet- performance in her maiden world named after her, subject to ap- ing today. championships. The young gym- proval by the International Gym- Germany (161.071) was third, nast will only be richer by experi- nastics Federation (FIG). She followed by the Netherlands ence from competing on a big stage landed her signature forward (159.029), Belgium (158.970) and at home. She was absolutely lovely double-twisting vault for the Italy (153.237). on fl oor event, with her twisting fi rst time in global competition. Meanwhile, the 43-year-old routine and received a thunderous “I heard roller-coasters may While in fl oor routine, she scored Oksana Chusovitina proved age applause from the crowd. help kidney stones and I am 15.333 with a clinical display. is just a number as she fi nished Al-Kiky said it was not her best basically my own little roller- After fi rst day’s women’s qual- third in Vault after the fi rst day’s performance because of injuries coaster out there,” Biles said with ifi cations, Biles fi nished with qualifi cation. Almost three times to both her ankles, but nonethe- a chuckle, after enthralling the 60.965 points in All-around, for as old as some of her competi- less, she was satisfi ed her work. crowd yesterday. a good 4.5 points lead over com- tors, the Uzbekistan gymnast put “I felt a little bit stressed at the At 21, Biles is already a legend patriot and good friend Morgan herself in contention to make the start due to the big support and of the sport. She won four gold Hurd, who won the All-around Vault fi nal. This is Chusovitina’s the fact that it is the world cham- medals and a bronze at the 2016 title in Montreal World Champi- 16th world championships. Her pionships. It was a completely Rio Olympics and is a 10-time onships last year. fi rst Worlds was in 1991, which diff erent atmosphere from what I world champion. Biles is return- The USA is well ahead in the means she’s been at a world- saw before during the world cups ing to competition this year af- team qualifi cation with 174.429 class level since before all of her and Asian Games, but the cheer- ter taking a break in 2017 and is points, with Japan a distant sec- competitors were even born. ing from the crowd helped me to Qatar Gymnastics Federation president Ali al-Hitmi (centre) watches the proceedings on Day Three of the aiming for her fourth world All- ond (162.180). Top eight teams Meanwhile, Qatar’s 16-year- give my best,” she said. Artistic Gymnastics World Championships yesterday. PICTURES: Thajudheen

FOOTBALL / AFC U-19 CHAMPIONSHIP Qatar young guns take on Thais, target U-20 World Cup spot AFC heiro believes the chance to qual- “Such a big game should be ahead of our quarter-fi nal.” a loss to Japan and a win over Jakarta ify for the event will only spur his a motivation though. Hope- Like his opposite number, DPR Korea on Matchday Three Qatari youngsters on to succeed. fully, we will have the answers Thailand head coach Ithsara secured their passage through to “We are happy to be still in- and what it takes to both win the Sritharo feels the chance play at the last eight. atar will clash with volved at this stage of the compe- match and qualify for the U-20 the FIFA U-20 World Cup will Not surprisingly, Ithsara has Thailand in the quar- tition, and of course we want to World Cup.” give his side an extra incentive as been working hard to iron out the ter-fi nals of the AFC progress even further, initially to After losing their open- they seek to qualify for the com- issues aff ecting his squad, with U-19 Championship qualify for the U-20 World Cup,” ing group stage fi xture to the petition for the fi rst time in the the 38-year-old more than happy todayQ with a spot in next year’s he said. United Arab Emirates, Qatar re- country’s history. with what he has subsequently FIFA U-20 World Cup at stake. “Having the chance to go the sponded by winning their next “It is defi nitely motivating us,” seen at training. The top four sides in Indone- World Cup will, I hope, be mo- two matches against host nation he said. “We have been focusing on sia will guarantee themselves a tivation enough for my team Indonesia and Chinese Taipei “Leading up to this game, my solving the problems that we had ticket to the global extravaganza against Thailand.” – an upturn in fortune that has players have the desire to cre- during our fi rst three group stage in Poland, leaving both Group A “Sometimes when there is pleased Pinheiro. ate history by qualifying for the matches,” the one-time Thailand winners Qatar and Thailand, who a need to win, players become “We have rebounded well after World Cup, but to do that, we U-23 coach explained. fi nished as runners-up in Group afraid to do what they are meant our defeat in the fi rst match,” de- first have to beat Qatar – some- “It’s all been about getting B, potentially just 90 minutes to, or what they are used to do- clared the Portuguese tactician. thing we are absolutely ready the team suffi ciently recovered away from the prospect of rub- ing. As we saw when we played “As you saw in the last game for.” and tailoring our tactics to rem- bing shoulders with the game’s against Indonesia, we were play- against Chinese Taipei, we had Thailand did not have every- edy the issues we faced. The fi nest. ing very well but suddenly we great possession and played thing their own way during the boys have been doing very well Qatar players take part in a training session ahead of their AFC U-19 Rather than being fazed by the became afraid to play our normal without fear, something which group stage, with late goals res- in training so that has been very Championship match against Thailand. PICTURE: Fadi al-Asaad prospect of failure, Bruno Pin- style. can only stand us in good stead cuing a point against Iraq, before positive.” Gulf Times 2 Sunday, October 28, 2018 SPORT

GYMNASTICS SPOTLIGHT It takes an Olympic The Money Clasico — champ to tame Real Madrid the Pommel Horse and Barca’s ‘I did hear before I went out that a lot of people had been race to a struggling, which for me I didn’t really want to know’ some eff ort, to remain firmly in billion FIG Doha the zone ahead of his qualifying eff ort. “Stretching this morning and o one told World and yesterday, the boys like talking Olympic Pommel about it but I tried to keep my- Horse champion Max self to myself to avoid hearing Whitlock of Great any scores,” the 25 year old said. BritainN that a host of huge names “I know you go in and compete had been struggling on his fa- against the others but I don’t vourite apparatus during quali- feel like it’s like that. I just try fying at the 2018 World Cham- and do my job and score my tar- pionships. get scores. There is no point me From the 2018 European and going in thinking this person has Commonwealth Games gold scored 15.700 or whatever.” medallist Rhys McClenaghan of There were some rumblings Ireland to the great Kohei Uch- from disgruntled gymnasts imura of Japan, a collection of about the equipment being used highly accomplished Pommel in the Aspire Arena but Whit- Horse practitioners failed to lock was having none of it. master the apparatus during the “Everyone is in a fair game,” fi rst two days of men’s competi- he said. “It’s hard to really com- tion at the 2018 Artistic Gym- plain about the equipment be- nastics World Championships. cause everyone has the same job Until that is, Great Brit- to do on that apparatus.” ain’s reigning World and Rio The man who won the title in 2016 Olympic Games Pommel Montreal last year with a score Horse champion Max Whitlock of 15.441 is disappointed that stepped up and smashed it. some of his biggest rivals, in- “I did hear before I went cluding McClenaghan who beat out that a lot of people had him in two major fi nals this year, been struggling, which for me during his routine on Friday. His gymnasts Oleg Verniaiev of mel Horse World Champion will not be lining up for the bat- I didn’t really want to know,” fi nal score of 11.066 was 4.234 Ukraine, Kazuma Kaya of Japan Marias Urzica. tle for gold in Doha. laughed Whitlock who twisted points below that with which he and Harutyun Merdinyan of Ar- Remarkably, the eighth place “It is a shame, I have always Real Madrid’s Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui (R) kicks a ball during and turned his way to a score of took gold, ahead of Whitlock, at menia were among those to join qualifi er for the fi nal, Chih Kai said every single competition a training session at the Ciudad Real Madrid training facilities in 14.966, 0.333 points ahead of his the European Championships in McClenaghan in failing to make Lee from Chinese Taipei, scored that I want the best to be there,” Madrid’s suburb of Valdebebas yesterday. nearest competitor. Glasgow in August. The Irish- the top eight and progress to 13.700, which would have placed Whitlock said. “It’s always good McClenaghan has been one man later revealed that he has the Pommel Horse fi nal. Team him 25th in qualifi cation for the when you have strong compe- AFP then help build the brand fur- of the hottest men on the Horse been managing a “small shoul- Romania found it particularly 2017 World Championships in tition. And as a gymnast you Barcelona ther,” says Michael Goldberg, this year but the 19 year old from der injury” in the run-up to the tough going, recording nine falls Montreal. know how hard people train and senior vice president at the glo- Belfast, Northern Ireland strug- Championships. across their routines – and they Not that any of that bothered to make mistakes on the day is bal credit rating agency DBRS. gled from the off , falling twice Renowned Pommel Horse are trained by three-time Pom- Whitlock, who managed, with very tough.” arcelona against Real “But we don´t believe having Madrid is a rivalry that a star enhances credit that much goes back 116 years, to a over the long-term. Cristiano pitch drenched in horse Ronaldo leaving Madrid will not manureB and spectators that do much damage unless it´s the ‘Doha Worlds will provide fi llip to gymnastics in the region’ cheered players falling over as beginning of the end and it be- much as them scoring a goal. comes a regular pattern.” Sports Reporter An accomplished linguist organisation. “Gymnastics is diff erent from Barca won that fi rst meeting Instead, the clincher is likely Doha and a patient negotiator be- “I would like to congratulate football, but it certainly will in May 1902, 3-1, but more than to lie in stadium plans. Barca’s sides being a well-advised the Organising Committee of give a positive fi llip and I hope a century on the landscape looks Camp Nou and Real’s Santiago businessman, Gueisbuhler Doha Worlds and their team, that the organisation of the rather diff erent. Bernabeu are set to undergo he International expressed his views on the especially the volunteers, who forthcoming FIFA World Cup Two of the world’s greatest major overhauls from 2019, Gymnastics Federa- on-going championships say- are doing great work, espe- Qatar 2022 will boost region clubs are engaged in a battle off with the aim of enhancing com- tion (FIG) Secretary- ing, “Since the very start, we cially on the opening day of further, and not just Qatar.” the pitch just as fi erce: the race to mercial advantages. General Andre Gue- knew that the event was go- the tournament, which is usu- On the establishment of one billion euros. At a time when clubs like Tot- isbuhlerT has been impressed ing to be somewhat diff erent ally one of the toughest days of the gymnastics worlds for the This autumn, their presidents, tenham in the Premier League with the way the 48th Artistic and special being hosted by any event. fi rst time in the Middle East, Josep Maria Bartomeu of Bar- are struggling to keep the cost Gymnastics World Champi- the Qatar Gymnastics Federa- “The venue – Aspire – has he said, “Certainly, it contrib- celona and Florentino Perez of of a new ground below 1bn onships 2018 has been organ- tion. Now in the fi rst days of distinctive facilities and eve- utes to the dissemination of Madrid, each made clear their pounds, the projects of Barca ised in Doha. the championships, we have rything is available under the gymnastics in the region. We desperation to cross the line fi rst. and Real Madrid appear rela- This is the fi rst time that the found everything going better dome. Its vast expanse and see that in all countries that The revenue milestone is not tively cheap. gymnastics world champion- than planned and which now state-of-the-art facilities add organise world championships just fi nancial, it is a mark of sta- For 400mn euros, Barce- ships are being staged in the makes us wait more to see the to the grandeur of the event. and we see great interest in the tus, proof of success, another lona will increase the capacity Middle East and Gueisbuhler developments until the very We are happy to be here,” he sport of gymnastics in Qatar. notch in the debate about which of Camp Nou from 99,000 to has expressed his delight at last of this wonderful event said. Live television also contrib- club is bigger. 105,000 and install a roof. Ma- the way things have been pro- that Qatar has brought to the On Qatar and its sporting utes to the spread of gymnas- In fi ve years, Madrid’s turno- drid will not increase the 81,000 gressing at the Aspire Dome. world through their worthy culture, Gueisbuhler opined, tics in the region. ver has soared from 521mn eu- seats in the Santiago Bernabeu ros to a projected 752mn euros but will take out a loan of 525mn for the 2018/19 season. Barca euros to add a roof and a metal pocketed490 mn euros fi ve envelope around the current FOOTBALL/ LA LIGA years ago. This season they ex- structure. Perez has indicated pect to make 960mn. they expect the updates to bring “Either club could be the fi rst in more than 150mn euros of ad- one to do this,” Esteve Calzada, ditional revenue per year. Barcelona must beware the wrath of ‘wounded’ Real Barcelona’s marketing director Added to that is the issue of between 2002 and 2007, and naming rights, which can be a Reuters now boss of Prime Time Sport sensitive issue for fans, particu- Barcelona group, told AFP this week. larly when stadiums carry a deep But there is still work to do. sense of history and identity. “It will take a few more years Madrid are yet to fi nd a buyer eal Madrid’s dire run of form unless either club sells a player but Barca have said they are “op- makes them an even more dan- before then for 400mn euros,” timistic” they will agree a title- gerous prospect for La Liga lead- said Placido Rodriguez Guerre- partner by June next year, in an ers Barcelona in today’s ‘Clasico’, ro, professor at the University of agreement worth 200mn euros. RBarca coach Ernesto Valverde said yester- Oviedo and researcher in sports “Naming is a crucial issue,” day. economics. says Calzada, who estimates the Real head to the Nou Camp without a Success on the pitch counts rights could be worth 15 to 20mn win in the league since Sept. 22, seventh for a lot. Winning trophies euros each year. in the table and with coach Julen Lo- swells the sums made from “But there is an obstacle be- petegui almost certainly facing the sack broadcasting rights and acti- cause we are talking about a re- should his side fail to win the eagerly- vates pre-agreed bonuses. design of these two stadiums, it anticipated meeting between Spain’s two Barcelona will receive from is not a new stadium where it is biggest clubs. their shirt sponsor Rakuten an much easier to start again with a “We all know how Madrid are, the more extra 1.5mn euros if they win new name.” wounded they are, the more dangerous La Liga this season and another There is also the need to break they are,” Valverde told a news confer- Barcelona’s Arturo Vidal, Gerard Pique and others during training ahead of their match against Real Madrid. 5mn euros if they triumph in the new ground internationally. Next ence. Champions League. year, Barcelona will fl y to Asia for “The key to winning the game will be what our opponents are truly like, and they with a broken arm although Valverde Portuguese controversially crossed the di- The clubs can target global their summer tour while the club who plays best on the day and not about have a fantastic team, they aren’t lacking said Barca, who eased to victory over In- vide. stars that boost visibility and have expressed support for La who is in better form. I expect to face the in any areas,” he added. ter without the Argentinian, have already For most of the last decade, the fi xture merchandise sales, by the sheer Liga’s highly-controversial plan best possible Madrid side.” “We are only four points ahead of them, dealt with the temporary absence of their has been defi ned by the battle for suprem- weight of their talent and pro- to stage a fi xture against Girona Despite Real’s problems, a win for the it’s not a huge distance. Crises in teams like all-time top scorer. acy between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, fi le. in January in the United States. European champions would see them Real Madrid are always blown out of pro- “We have already moved on, we have who left Real for Juventus at the end of last During the 2000s, it was a “The future for commercial cut the gap behind Barca down to a single portion, but out on the pitch the players to take a step forward like we did against season. policy that made its name in is about tapping into worldwide point. are the same as they are.” Inter. It feels strange to prepare for a Cla- Valverde, though, laughed off sugges- Madrid, as the likes of David fanbases,” adds Benjamin Den- Valverde said Real’s problems have been Barca experienced their own struggles sico without him, but the team is mentally tions that the two forwards’ absence would Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and nis, a writer at DBRS. “Fans in exaggerated and that his side were moti- with form this season when they went on ready,” he said. make the fi xture any less entertaining. Luis Figo were all signed for Miami will get to see a competi- vated by a desire to further twist the knife a four-match winless run but they are on a The ‘Clasico’ is the most watched do- “It is no less of a ‘Clasico’ without hefty fees. In recent years, the tive match and that could be a into their arch-rivals. roll after a convincing 4-2 win over Sevilla mestic game in club football and has pro- Messi and Cristiano,” he said. “It has ex- club has reined in its spending. diff erence maker if Barca play “We aren’t focusing too much on that, last week and an impressive 2-0 victory duced unforgettable moments, such as a isted long before they did, there has al- “It can be positive in the short more games abroad.” there’s a lot of noise when teams run into over Inter Milan in the Champions League. Barca fan throwing a pig’s head at Real’s ways been tension, there have even been term to have a superstar, they In the race for fi nancial supe- situations like this but we are focusing on They will still be without Lionel Messi Luis Figo in a meeting in 2002 after the fl ying pigs heads.” join because of the brand and riority, nothing is off -limits. Gulf Times Sunday, October 28, 2018 3 FOOTBALL

EPL Liverpool top as Bournemouth and

Watford press on Juventus’ Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring against Empoli at the Carlo Castellani Stadium in Empoli MANE TWICE ON TARGET FOR REDS, SALAH ALSO SCORES yesterday. SERIE A Ronaldo’s brace clinches 2-1 comeback for Juventus at Empoli

DPA Juve woke up after the break Rome and had Alex Sandro denied from close range before Miralem Pjanic fi red against the bar. erie A leaders Juventus The pressing fi nally led to a were far from impressive penalty converted by Ronaldo yesterday but Cristiano on 54 after Ismael Bennacer Ronaldo came to the res- tackled Dybala. The striker cueS with a brace as they rallied to stunned Provedel again on 70 a 2-1 win at strugglers Empoli. minutes, fi ring from outside The Portuguese ace converted the box. It turned out to be the a penalty and found the top-left winner as Juve hung on in a per- corner for a seven-goal tally formance marked by little preci- after the Tuscany hosts took a sion and several technical mis- fi rst-half lead from Francesco takes. Atalanta beat Parma 3-0 Caputo’s fourth season goal. earlier yesterday to steer clear Juve have 28 points from 10 of the lower reaches. They got games, with second-place Na- a lucky opener on 55 minutes as poli on 21 before welcoming goalkeeper Luigi Sepe parried a Roma today. Caputo drilled a Josip Ilicic drive onto the legs of swerving shot into the left cor- his defender Riccardo Gagliolo ner on 28 minutes to punish the for an involuntary fl ick into his indolent approach to the game own net. of the reigning champions. Jose Palomino and Gianluca Ronaldo misfi red in two occa- Mancini then struck from close sions and nodded into the hands range. Atalanta have 12 points Liverpool’s Sadio Mane celebrates scoring their fourth goal against Cardiff at Anfield yesterday. of Ivan Provedel, while Paulo from 10 games and sit level with Dybala also lacked precision and AC Milan and Spal. Promoted AFP Mohamed Salah, now putting Bournemouth closed on fi fth- with a superb solo eff ort, col- 1-0 win at home to Wolves. an Alex Sandro header caused no Parma have one more point London a stuttering start to the season placed Tottenham with a 3-0 lecting the ball out wide on the Bruno fi red the ball across problem for the goalkeeper. alongside Genoa and Torino. behind him, fi red Liverpool into win away to Fulham. left and beating six Huddersfi eld goal and Murray side-footed a 10th-minute lead. Callum Wilson won and then defenders as he cut inside before in from close range in the 48th adio Mane scored twice From a cross into the Cardiff scored a 14th-minute penalty shooting from the edge of the minute. Bayern win at Mainz to trim Dortmund’s lead as Liverpool took advan- box, Mane’s shot was blocked after he was brought down by area. Leicester face West Ham in tage of their title rivals’ by Sean Morrison but Egypt Timothy Fosu-Mensah. The Hornets doubled their Saturday’s late kick-off . Berlin: Bayern Munich cut first-half in Mainz as Bayern inactivity to go three forward Salah pounced on the David Brooks then scored his lead nine minutes later when Borussia Dortmund’s lead at the dominated with Joshua Kim- pointsS clear at the top of the rebound for his 33rd goal in 35 third goal in four games to dou- more dire defending by the visi- RESULTS top of the Bundesliga table to mich hitting the woodwork on Premier League with a 4-1 win games at Anfi eld. ble the Cherries’ lead in the 72nd tors allowed Gerard Deulofeu to Brighton 1 (Murray 48) Wolver- just two points yesterday with 27 minutes, Thiago had a goal at home to Cardiff yesterday as But as long as the lead was minute. dribble past Chris Lowe, beat hampton Wanderers 0 a 2-1 away win at Mainz, thanks disallowed for an off side. Bournemouth and Watford both just 1-0, Cardiff were still in the Minutes later, Fulham’s day another attempted challenge Fulham 0 Bournemouth 3 (Wil- to Thiago Alcantara’s winning The Mainz defence finally continued their fi ne starts to the game. went from bad to worse when and then score from a tight angle son 14-pen, 85, Brooks 72) goal. yielded when Kimmich sent the season. Mane, however, doubled Liv- captain Kevin McDonald was 15 yards out. Liverpool 4 (Salah 10, Mane 66, While goals by Leon Goretzka ball into the box and Goretzka Liverpool were the only club erpool’s lead in the 66th minute sent off for a second bookable The aptly-named Isaac Suc- 87, Shaqiri 84) Cardiff 1 (Pater- and Thiago sealed the three volleyed home six minutes who started the weekend among when, running on to an Alberto off ence following a late chal- cess sealed Watford’s win 10 son 77) points for Bayern, Dortmund before half-time as it stayed 1-0 the top fi ve in action onyester- Moreno pass, he smashed a shot lenge on Brooks. minutes from time. Southampton 0 Newcastle 0 have only themselves to blame at the break. day, with reigning champions into the top corner. Wilson rounded out Bourne- Defeat dropped Huddersfi eld Watford 3 (Pereyra 10, Deulofeu for conceding a 91st-minute Just as it looked like Bayern Manchester City not facing Tot- But Liverpool’s hopes of a mouth’s victory when he scored to the bottom of the table after 19, Success 80) Huddersfield 0 penalty which Salomon Kalou were going to pull away, Mainz tenham Hotspur until Monday. club record 10th successive his second goal fi ve minutes Newcastle, previously propping Leicester 1 (Ndidi 89) West Ham converted in their 2-2 draw at drew level thanks to sloppy Meanwhile midweek Euro- home clean sheet were dashed from time at Craven Cottage. up the division, managed a point 1 (Balbuena 30) home to Hertha Berlin. defending. pean commitments also meant in the 77th minute when Callum Watford were far too strong in a goalless draw at home to Playing today (all times GMT) Dortmund’s England interna- Bayern’s goalkeeper and cap- that Chelsea, like City and Liv- Paterson turned in a cross de- for Huddersfi eld in a 3-0 win at Southampton. Burnley v Chelsea (1330), tional Jadon Sancho, 18, scored tain Manuel Neuer was furious erpool yet to lose in the Premier fl ected by Reds defender Virgil Vicarage Road. Elsewhere, Brighton striker Crystal Palace v Arsenal (1330), twice and could have finished after Serge Gnabry failed to League this season, were playing van Dijk. They were 2-0 up inside 19 Glenn Murray, fresh from be- Manchester United v Everton with four goals in an outstand- close down a cross by Daniel Burnley today, when in-form However, two goals inside the minutes thanks to two well- ing taken off after suff ering (1600) ing display, only for Kalou to Brosinki and Jean-Paul Boetius Arsenal travel to Crystal Palace fi nal 10 minutes from substitute struck goals. concussion against Newcastle Playing tomorrow snatch a point by converting stole a yard on Kimmich to tap and Manchester United wel- Xherdan Shaqiri and Mane put Roberto Pereyra broke the last week, returned to score his Tottenham Hotspur v Manches- the late penalty after his first- home with a first-time shot on come Everton to Old Traff ord. the result beyond doubt. deadlock in the 10th minute 100th goal for the Seagulls in a ter City (2000) half goal. 48 minutes. Dortmund’s next home match Having been denied a first-half — against Bayern in a fortnight goal, Thiago hit the winner PREVIEW — is shaping up to be a top of 28 minutes from time with a the table clash. superb strike, sliding in to tap Bayern have climbed from sixth home Robert Lewandowski’s to fourth and now to second low cross after burly midfielder over the last seven days. Renato Sanches won posses- Emery demands urgency as It was all one-way traff ic in the sion. Arsenal chase 12th straight win SPOTLIGHT

AFP The former Paris Saint Germain with Palace, have been revitalised Hoddle ‘seriously ill’ London manager’s attention to detail and since opening the season with his refusal to bow to the whims a two-game losing run against Reuters gatch subsequently confi rmed of star players like Mesut Ozil has Manchester City and Chelsea. London that the broadcaster had can- nai Emery has implored won over a squad that went stale And Palace manager Roy Hodg- celled its football results show. his Arsenal stars to be- in the depressing fi nal years of the son says Emery deserves praise for “You will understand why gin matches with more Wenger era. lifting Arsenal out of their rut so ormer England manager there’s no BT Sport Score this af- urgency as they head to While it is too early to label Ar- quickly. Glenn Hoddle was taken ternoon. All our thoughts are with UCrystal Palace biding for a remark- senal as title contenders, they al- “Emery has brought back that to hospital after falling Glenn Hoddle and his family,” he able 12th successive victory today. ready sit in fourth in the Premier energy and quality of play that ‘seriously ill’ at the BT said on Twitter. Emery’s side notched their 11th League — just two points behind Arsene also had for many years. FSport studio yesterday. An elegant midfi elder Hoddle win in a row on Thursday as Danny leaders Manchester City — and at Certainly when he took the league “Our friend & colleague Glenn won 53 caps for his country before Welbeck’s late strike sealed a 1-0 least look capable of bagging a top by storm playing that type of foot- Hoddle was taken seriously ill at managing the team from 1996- success at Sporting Lisbon in the four fi nish. ball,” said Hodgson, whose side the BT Sport studio this morning. 1999. He was celebrating his 61st Europa League. Qualifying for the Champions have lost their last three matches. Everyone of us is right with you birthday on Saturday. Arsenal’s blistering streak is League would be a successful fi rst “He has started extremely well. Glenn, sending love & strength,” As a player — considered by their best run for 11 years as they plays after the interval. is that when we were in the dress- season for Emery, and making a I know a lot about him and his BT Sport presenter Jake Hum- many as one of the most gifted chase the club record of 14 con- “Each match is a very big op- ing room at half-time, we spoke. little history along the way would career, because I’ve followed his phrey posted on his offi cial twit- of his generation — Hoddle was secutive wins in all competitions. portunity to improve things and “We need to continue fi nding add lustre to his debut campaign. work, in particular at Sevilla and ter feed. best known for a 12-year career But to equal that landmark tally, one thing is this,” Emery said when the solution for us to be better in For Arsenal to set a new club Paris Saint Germain, and I know Hoddle, who spent the bulk at Tottenham, where he played set by George Graham’s team in asked about starting matches too the fi rst halves.” record for successive victories, what a good coach he is, and he’s of his playing career with Tot- 490 games in all competitions 1987, the Gunners need to start slowly. Arsenal’s current impressive they must beat Palace, then de- proving that. tenham Hotspur and also played winning both the FA Cup and the games with a little more tempo “We spoke in the dressing room sequence speaks volumes for the feat Blackpool in the League Cup, “Eleven straight wins is an in- for Chelsea, Monaco and Swin- UEFA Cup. and desire according to Emery. before the start of the match today quiet revolution Emery has over- Liverpool in the Premier League credible record; we’ve got to try don Town, works as a pundit for He left Spurs in 1987 to play Several times this season, Arse- about our objectives. And one ob- seen at the Emirates Stadium fol- and Sporting in their European and do our level best that they BT Sport and also works for ITV for Monaco and won the French nal have laboured in the fi rst half jective is this. lowing the end of Arsene Wenger’s rematch. Arsenal, who have lost don’t make it 12, because we need Sport for England games. title under then manager Arsene before turning in dominant dis- “But the most important thing 22-year reign. only one of their last 17 meetings the points.” BT Sport presenter Mark Pou- Wenger. Gulf Times 4 Sunday, October 28, 2018 CRICKET

IND VS WI, 3RD ODI NEW ADDITION Aussie ball-tamperer Kohli’s third straight Warner to join Bangladesh league

AFP with Indian Premier League side Dhaka Surnrisers Hyderabad. But he returned to play in the inaugural Global T20 tournament ton in vain as West avid Warner has “paid in Canada in June before travelling enough” of a price for to the West Indies to play in the his role in a ball-tam- Caribbean Premier League. pering scandal, Bang- He has also played grade crick- ladesh’sD Sylhet Sixers said, after et, where he sometimes received the club announced the Austral- hostile receptions from oppo- ian’s signing yesterday. nents. Indies level series Australian cricket was rocked Warner walked off the eldfi by the cheating fi asco in the mid-innings after being sledged Cape Town Test against South during a Sydney game yesterday, Hope scores 95 as visitors post 283; Samuels scalps three as hosts are all out for 240 Africa in March, with the fallout reports said. resulting in year-long interna- Sylhet Sixers will be his fi rst tional bans for Warner and then- team in the Bangladesh league. captain Steve Smith. Obaid said Warner had com- But the Sixers are now count- mitted for the full tournament, ing on Warner to boost their which concludes on February 8. chances in the lucrative Bangla- “We are expecting him to join desh Premier League, which be- us after Christmas and stay the gins in January. full season. We hope he will give “Our legal and compliance us one hundred % for the best in- team analysed his situation and terests of his career,” he said. cleared his signing. After that we The Sixers also signed Nepa- signed a contract with him for lese leg-spinner Sandeep Lam- the next season,” Sixers chief ex- ichhane as their second permit- ecutive Yasir Obaid told AFP. ted foreign recruit, Obaid said. “We believe he has paid The BPL was dogged by allega- enough for the ball-tempering tions of match-fi xing scandals in scandal. We are happy to have the early years following its for- him in our squad as we think we mation in 2011. he has still plenty of cricket left After a suspension the tour- in him.” nament resumed in 2015 and has The controversy in South Af- since been staged without seri- rica cost Warner his contract ous controversy.

West Indies bowler Marlon Samuels (left) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of India captain Virat Kohli (right) during the third one-day international match in Pune yesterday. (AFP)

Reuters Rohit Sharma then took a Mumbai Scorecard sharp catch at fi rst slip to send back the other opener, Kieran WEST INDIES 4-111 (Hetmyer), 5-121 (R. Powell), Y. Chahal c sub (Paul) b Roach 3 Powell, and once fast bowler SPOTLIGHT ndia captain Virat Kohli K. Powell c Sharma b Bumrah 21 6-197 (Holder), 7-217 (Allen), K. Ahmed st Hope b Samuels 3 Khaleel Ahmed dismissed Sam- struck his third consecu- 8-227 (Hope), 9-283 (Nurse) uels cheaply, West Indies were C. Hemraj c Dhoni b Bumrah 15 J. Bumrah c Holder b Samuels 0 tive hundred but it was not Bowling: Kumar 10-0-70-1 (w2), reduced to 55 for three. enough as West Indies de- S. Hope b Bumrah 95 Bumrah 10-1-35-4 (w2), Ahmed Extras (lb1, w5) 6 Hope, who hit six fours and Australia fume at Ifeated the hosts by 43 runs in the three sixes in his 113-ball knock, M. Samuels c Dhoni b Ahmed 9 10-0-65-1 (w1), Chahal 10-1-56-1, Total (all out, 47.4 overs) 240 third one-day international yes- Yadav 10-0-52-2 and the swashbuckling Shim- terday to square the fi ve-match S. Hetmyer st Dhoni b Yadav 37 Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Sharma), ron Hetmyer (37) then added a umpire as Pakistan series at 1-1. R. Powell c Sharma b Yadav 4 2-88 (Dhawan), 3-153 (Rayudu), quickfi re 56 before Dhoni com- INDIA 4-172 (Pant), 5-194 (Dhoni), 6-215 Milestone man Kohli, who J. Holder c sub (Jadeja) b Kumar 32 pleted a smart stumping to dis- became the fastest batsman to R. Sharma b Holder 8(Kumar), 7-220 (Kohli), 8-225 miss the latter off -spinner Kul- F. Allen c Pant b Chahal 5 (Chahal), 9-237 (Ahmed), 10-240 clinch series reach 10,000 ODI runs during S. Dhawan lbw b Nurse 35 deep Yadav. A. Nurse lbw b Bumrah 40 (Bumrah) Wednesday’s tied match at Vi- Hetmyer hit two fours and Reuters man out. V. Kohli b Samuels 107 Bowling: Roach 10-0-48-1, sakhapatnam, compiled 107 to K. Roach not out 15 three sixes in his 21-ball knock Dubai “We certainly had a view as bring up his 38th century in the A. Rayudu b McCoy 22 Holder 9-0-46-2 (w3), McCoy after scores of 106 and 94 in the a team that we thought his bat O. McCoy not out 0 format but his dismissal ended R. Pant c Hope b Nurse 24 5-0-38-2 (w1), Nurse 10-0-43-2 two previous ODIs. was clearly grounded behind the India’s hopes of chasing down Extras (b1, lb4, w5) 10 (w1), Allen 10-0-52-0, Samuels Bumrah produced a superb ustralia were left fum- line,” Australia batsman Glenn MS Dhoni c Hope b Holder 7 284 for victory. Total (9 wickets, 50 overs) 283 3.4-1-12-3 inswinging yorker to dismiss ing by the dismissal of Maxwell told reporters. B. Kumar c R Powell b McCoy 10 Part-time off -spinner Marlon Fall of wickets: 1-25 (Hemraj), RESULT: West Indies won by Hope, reducing West Indies Darcy Short after the “Maybe the third umpire Samuels emerged as wrecker- 2-38 (K. Powell), 3-55 (Samuels), K. Yadav not out 15 43 runs to 227-8 and boosting India’s tourists lost to Pakistan pressed the wrong button. We’ve in-chief for the Caribbean side, hopes of restricting their oppo- byA 11 runs in Dubai on Friday to all made mistakes.” picking up his best ODI bowling nents to a modest total. go 2-0 down in the three-match The dismissal triggered yet an- fi gures of three for 12 as India With Kohli in irrepress- his hundred — but once he got with four for 35, and his early But the West Indies were series. other Australia top order collapse were all out for 240 in the 48th ible form, India appeared to be castled in Samuels’ fi rst over, strikes threw the West Indies’ boosted by tailenders Ashley The Australians had been set and although Maxwell’s 52 from 37 over. comfortably placed at 172 for the fate of the match was sealed. innings into disarray. Nurse and Kemar Roach, who 148 to win the match and level the balls gave them some hope, Paki- West Indies batsman Shai three after 31 overs but lost their The right-handed batsman, Opener Chandrapaul Hem- added another 56 runs off 36 series but made the worst possi- stan would not be denied. Hope, who, like Kohli, also bats at way with the quick wickets of who will turn 30 next month, hit raj fell to a sensational catch by balls to take their side past 280. ble start when opener Short was Babar Azam top-scored for number three, continued his rich Rishabh Pant, who made 24 off 10 fours and one six in his 119- India’s 37-year-old wickekeeper Nurse hit four boundaries and adjudged to have been run out at the hosts with 45 but it was in vein of form, following up his un- 18 balls, and Mahendra Singh ball knock. Dhoni, who ran towards the two sixes in his 22-ball 40 be- the non-striker’s end when Imad the fi eld that Pakistan came into beaten 123 in the last match with Dhoni. Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah — one fi ne-leg boundary and com- fore becoming Bumrah’s fourth Wasim diverted an Aaron Finch their own with some fi ne bowl- 95 to anchor the innings and help Kohli still looked like a man of the three fast bowlers the pleted a full-length diving catch victim. shot onto the stumps. ing and a series of outstanding his side to 283 for nine after being on a mission — evident from his hosts drafted in for the match — after the batsman had miscued a The penultimate ODI will be Short, supported by his open- catches. asked to bat fi rst. muted celebration after reaching was the pick of the Indian attack pull shot off Bumrah. played in Mumbai tomorrow. ing partner and captain Finch, The highlight was a remark- was adamant he had his bat down able run out of Ben McDermott in the crease when the ball hit the by Fakhar Zaman, who dived one SL VS ENG, T20 INTERNATIONAL stumps but the third umpire saw way and threw the ball the other it diff erently and gave the bats- to hit the middle stump.

Roy and spinners help England to 30-run win over SL Mental health issues sideline Aussie Reuters match for England since a T20 six sixes in his knock but also cricket young gun Pucovski Colombo against Pakistan in Dubai in had to thank the Sri Lankan February, 2010, opened the fi elders who put down three AFP “Will is a terrific young player bowling and made an immedi- catches he off ered. Sydney and we need to do what’s ngland opening ate impact by dismissing Kusal All-rounder Moeen Ali best for him at this time,” batsman Jason Roy Mendis in his fi rst over. also made a handy contribu- said Cricket Victoria general smashed 69 off 36 He then picked up the tion with the bat, plundering ne of Australia’s most manager Shaun Graf. balls before leg-spin other opener Niroshan Dick- 27 off 11 balls. promising young bats- “We’ll continue to work with duoE Joe Denly and Adil Rash- wella in his next over. Sri Lanka’s ambidextrous Omen Will Pucovski will our medical staff to determine id shared seven wickets to The 32-year-old returned all-rounder Kamindu Mendis be sidelined from cricket for an the best training and prepara- lead the tourists to a 30-run in the last over of the match showed signs of promise on indefinite period due to mental tion plan to support Will at win over Sri Lanka in a lone to add two more wickets to his debut with the bat in a health issues, off icials said. this time.” Twenty20 international yes- his tally to fi nish with match fearless knock of 24 off 14 de- The 20-year-old smashed According to local media, terday. fi gures of 4-19 to script a liveries but the 20-year-old a superb 243 for Victoria Pucovski has a history of England, who won the strong comeback to interna- went wicketless with the ball against Western Australia concussion, including three fi ve-match one-day interna- tional cricket. and proved expensive, giving last week, putting him on the last season. tional series 3-1 against the Sri Lanka’s batsmen also away 27 in three overs. radar of Test selectors. The talented right-hander’s hosts, posted 187-8 in their failed to read much of Rash- The two sides will now But he was left out of their double century made him rain-interrupted innings af- id’s bowling, with his four contest a three-Test series, Sheff ield Shield clash this only the ninth player in Shef- ter being put in to bat fi rst. overs of leg-spin costing just starting in Galle from No- week against New South field Shield history to score Sri Lanka lost the top half 11 runs for three wickets. vember 6. Wales. 200 before his 21st birthday. of their batting to the Eng- Sri Lanka captain Thisara In a statement late Friday, Vic- It put him in distinguished land spinners with just 77 on Perera top-scored for his BRIEF SCORES: England 187 toria team management said company alongside the likes the board and were fi nally all side with 57 in 31 balls but his for 8 (Roy 69; Aponso 2-29) he was “currently receiving of Donald Bradman, Ricky out for 157 on the last ball of knock was too little too late. beat Sri Lanka 157 all out treatment for a mental health- Ponting, Doug Walters and Ian their innings. Earlier, the 28-year-old (Thisara 57; Denly 4-19, Rashid England’s Jason Roy plays a shot during the Twenty20 international against related illness”. Chappell. Denly, playing his fi rst Roy hit four boundaries and 3-11) by 30 runs Sri Lanka in Colombo yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times Sunday, October 28, 2018 5 SPORT

NBA Durant scores 41 points as Warriors rout Knicks “He’s really good,” said Raptors coach Nick AFP RESULTS Los Angeles Nurse of Lowry. Golden State 128-100 New York “Each year that goes by, he starts being able to pick out things and see it more clear- evin Durant scored 25 of his 41 Toronto 116-107 Dallas ly.” points in the fourth quarter as the Sacramento 116-112 Washington Toronto has now surpassed the 5-0 start NBA champion Golden State War- Clippers 133-113 Houston they compiled in the 2015-16 season. riors manhandled the New York Lowry has recorded 10 or more assists for KKnicks 128-100 on Friday at Madison Square Milwaukee 125-95 Minnesota a career-best fourth straight game and is the Garden. New Orleans 117-115 Brooklyn fi rst Toronto player to achieve this since Jose “I just tried to be aggressive and score,” Charlotte 135-106 Chicago Calderon had fi ve in a row six years ago. Durant said. “I thought our third quarter was Jonas Valanciunas scored 17 points, Danny pretty bad. I tried to give us a spark by scoring building near the famed arena urging him to Green had 15 and Serge Ibaka fi nished with 11. in the fourth and it got us going.” sign with the Knicks. DeAndre Jordan had 18 points and 15 re- Durant said being the defending NBA Golden State outscored New York 47-16 in bounds for the Mavericks, who trailed by 17 champions means every other team is trying the fourth quarter. points in the fi rst quarter. to knock you off that lofty perch. Stephen Curry added 29 points and sank Luka Doncic scored 22 points, and Wesley “They challenged us tonight. It’s better to six 3-pointers, giving him at least fi ve from Matthews had 21 in the loss. Also, the Los be the hunted and get everybody’s best game. beyond the arc in every game this season. Angeles Clippers took advantage of a missing It brings out the best in us,” Durant said. Curry delivered his career best perform- James Harden to easily beat the struggling He fi nished 17 of 24 from the fl oor, includ- ance of 54 points at Madison Square Garden Houston Rockets 133-113. ing fi ve of nine from three-point range, and in 2013. Montrezl Harrell scored a career-high 30 seized nine rebounds. Tim Hardaway scored 24 points for the points off the bench to help the Clippers rout Durant said his pre-game preparation was Knicks, who have dropped fi ve in a row after a the short-handed Rockets who fell to 1-4 on just the way he likes it. season-opening win over Atlanta. the season. Without Harden, Houston had to “I want to shoot good shots and shoot the Frank Ntilikina scored 17 points and Trey rely on ageing journeyman Carmelo Anthony shots I practice every day and shoot them Burke had 15 for the Knicks, who jumped out who led the Rockets with 24 points. with confi dence. I want to prepare right be- to a 16-10 lead. It was the Clippers’ second win this season fore the game so I can come out here and be Elsewhere, Kyle Lowry fi nished with 20 over the Rockets, who played without Hard- myself when the lights turn on.” points and 12 assists as Toronto added to en due to a hamstring injury. Durant could become a free agent at the their perfect start with a 116-107 win over the Chris Paul had 12 points and eight assists end of the season and the Knicks are consid- Dallas Mavericks. against his former team in his return after be- ered to be one of the teams interested in woo- Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points and To- ing slapped with a two-game ban for a heated Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant controls the ball against New York Knicks forward Lance ing him. He received a loud ovation when he ronto set a franchise record with its sixth fi ght with Los Angeles Lakers player Rajon Thomas (left) and New York Knicks guard Damyean Dotson during the second quarter of their NBA game was introduced and there’s a billboard on a straight win to start the season. Rondo. at Madison Square Garden. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports

MLB NHL MacKinnon and Landeskog rally Muncy homer as Avs past Senators

Reuters power play exactly four minutes Denver later when his one-timer off a cross-zone pass from MacKin- non beat Anderson to make it athan MacKinnon and 3-2. Dodgers down Red Gabriel Landeskog Ryan Dzingel got the scoring scored in a three-goal started just 2:42 into the game barrage to start the when he roofed a shot over Gru- Nthird period, and the Colorado bauer’s shoulder for his third Avalanche rallied to beat the Ot- goal of the season. tawa Senators 6-3 in Denver on Friday night. POINT LEADS LIGHTNING MacKinnon and Landeskog PAST GOLDEN KNIGHTS Sox in marathon each added two assists, Mikko Brayden Point scored his team- Rantanen had a goal and three leading sixth goal to spoil Ne- ‘It was a great game, seven hours whatever it is. People back home are probably waking up to the end’ assists and Samuel Girard, Carl vada Day as the Tampa Bay Soderberg and Matt Nieto also Lightning defeated the Vegas AFP scored for the Avalanche, who Golden Knights 3-2 on Friday Los Angeles spoiled the return of former afternoon in Las Vegas. teammate Matt Duchene. Tyler Johnson and J.T. Miller Duchene had two goals to help scored for the Lightning, who ax Muncy blasted an 18th Ottawa take a 3-2 lead after the are 7-1-1 to start the season and inning walkoff home run second period, but Colorado beat the Golden Knights for the as the Los Angeles Dodgers came storming back in the third. fi rst time in team history. snatched a 3-2 victory over Craig Anderson, also a former Nikita Kucherov’s assist on Mthe Boston Red Sox in the longest game in Avalanche player, had 31 saves. Point’s tally gave him a seven- World Series history. Soderberg tied it on the power game point streak, the second- A record-shattering game three that play a minute into the third pe- longest in the league behind Se- began on Friday afternoon at 5.09pm lo- riod when his pass to the front bastian Aho’s nine for Carolina. cal time fi nished 7hrs 20 minutes later in of the net went off Anderson’s Vegas’ Shea Theodore and the early hours of Saturday morning with skate and in. It was his fourth William Karlsson had goals the Dodgers claiming a victory that cut of the season. Landeskog gave -- the latter on the power play Boston’s lead in the best-of-seven series the Avalanche the lead with his against the NHL’s top-ranked to 2-1. ninth goal of the season at 6:14, penalty kill in the third period The game was the longest in the 115- and MacKinnon made it 5-3 with to cut the home team’s defi cit to year history of the World Series, com- a goal 2:24 later. It was also his 3-2. Left winger Max Pacioretty, fortably surpassing the 14-inning, 5hr ninth of the season. a key off season acquisition from 41min battle between the Houston As- The Avalanche sealed it with Montreal, was injured in the fi rst tros and Chicago White Sox in 2005. Nieto’s second of the season at period and skated only two shifts The marathon duel was also the long- 15:33. Philipp Grubauer stopped for the Golden Knights. est postseason game in Major League 21 shots in his fi rst home start for Vegas has scored two goals or Baseball history. Colorado. Avalanche defense- fewer in eight of its 10 games. “Had our backs against the wall many man Tyson Barrie had three as- Andrei Vasilevskiy, who times, and for us to persevere, it wasn’t sists. turned in a 22-save shutout in how we scripted it but it was a big win for Duchene’s demand for a trade Denver against the Colorado Av- us,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. from Colorado was fulfi lled last alanche on Wednesday, made 29 Red Sox manager Alex Cora said the November when the Senators saves for the Lightning. game was “probably one of the best, if acquired him as part of a three- Marc-Andre Fleury, named not the best game I’ve ever been a part team deal. The Avalanche paid the NHL’s Third Star of the of.” tribute to their former fi rst- Week on Oct. 22, made his fi fth “It was a great baseball game, seven round pick midway through the straight start and recorded 20 hours whatever it is. People back home fi rst period, and he scored his saves for Vegas. The game was are probably waking up to the end,” Cora fi rst goal on a redirection fi ve a rare weekday matinee honor- said. Both exhausted teams emptied their seconds later that gave Ottawa a ing Nevada Day, a last-Friday- benches as they attempted to get over 2-0 lead. in-October commemoration of the line, combining to use 46 players, a Colorado got within a goal the Silver State’s admission to record for a World Series game. when Girard, one of the assets statehood in 1864. The Golden Boston decimated their pitching re- acquired in the Duchene trade, Knights wore their white road sources as they sought to claim a win that got his fi rst of the season at 10:20 jerseys for the state holiday. would have given them a formidable 3-0 of the second period. Duchene series lead. The Red Sox’ Nathan Eovaldi, muted the celebration when he RESULTS who had been due to start on the mound scored 12 seconds later on a feed Tampa Bay 3-2 Las Vegas in game four at Dodger Stadium on Sat- from Colin White, who fi nished Winnipeg 2-1 Detroit urday, was pressed into action in the 12th with two assists. Carolina 4-3San Jose inning and ended up having to hurl for six Rantanen responded on the Colorado 6-3 Ottawa innings and 97 pitches. “What Nate did tonight, that was amazing,” Cora said. Former National Hockey League BUEHLER SETS STAGE president Ziegler dead The extra-inning drama was the fi nal act of an epic contest which saw the Dodgers Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy celebrates after hitting a walk off solo home run against the Boston Red Sox in John Ziegler, who guided the players in the NHL grew from claw their way into a winning position the 18th inning in game three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports National Hockey League from two to 11 percent, players from after a magnifi cent pitching performance 1977 until 1992, died Thursday the former Soviet Union first by rookie right-hander Walker Buehler. ning to level at 1-1. in the bottom of the 13th with another The stadium erupted in the 15th when at age 84, current league com- entered the league and games Needing a win to have any chance of The Red Sox were denied a 2-1 lead fi elding gaff e. Down to their fi nal out, Muncy missed a home run by just a few missioner Gary Bettman said between NHL and European battling back into the series, the 24-year- in the 10th inning by a stunning double Cuban slugger Yasiel Puig hit a simple feet in far right fi eld as it drifted into foul on Friday. Ziegler, the league’s clubs became a nearly annual old Buehler gave his team a platform for play from Cody Bellinger, the Dodgers ground ball to Red Sox veteran Kinsler, territory. As the clock turned midnight, fourth president, oversaw the tradition,” Bettman said. victory through seven scoreless innings, outfi elder launching a bomb from long- but the second baseman chucked wildly the crowd cheered wildly as the game now 31-team NHL growing fr- Ziegler stepped down as which included seven strikeouts. range that found catcher Austin Barnes past fi rst base allowing Muncy to race neared the 20-inning mark. rom 18 to 24 clubs and players president in June 1992 while When Buehler left the game, the at home plate who tagged out Ian Kinsler. over for the tying run at 2-2. In the bottom of the 18th inning from the former Soviet Union Bettman became the NHL’s first Dodgers led 1-0 through Joc Pederson’s The Red Sox then took the lead in the From that point on it became a ques- though, Muncy fi nally got his reward. joining the NHL. commissioner in February 1993. towering home run that soared into the 13th inning when a fi elding blunder in- tion of who would blink fi rst. Eovaldi opened by serving three balls and “He was instrumental in the “John provided invaluable right fi eld stands in the bottom of the volving Dodgers reliever Scott Alexander Eovaldi did brilliantly to shut down a strike. Muncy then pounced on his fi rst NHL’s transition to becoming counsel during my early days as third inning. and Kike Hernandez allowed Brock Holt the Dodgers in the late innings, while the opening, bludgeoning the ball high into a more international League,” commissioner and was always But the Red Sox hit back when Jackie to scamper home for a 2-1 lead. Dodgers Kenta Maeda survived a jam in left centre fi eld for a home run before be- Bettman said. “During his ten- generous with his time,” Bett- Bradley Jr homered off Dodgers closer The Dodgers appeared to be sliding to the 15th when the Red Sox got two men ing mobbed by Dodgers team-mates at ure, the share of European-born man said. Kenley Jansen at the top of the eighth in- defeat but were then gifted a tying run on base but were unable to score. home plate. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, October 28, 2018 SPORT

AL-RUMAIHI GUIDES VIVALDI K TO BIG TOUR WIN AT HATHAB EQUESTRIAN SERIES

Mubarak Yousuf al-Rumaihi piloted his 16-year-old gelding Vivaldi K to Big Tour triumph during the second leg of the Hathab equestrian series at the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s Outdoor Arena yesterday. Khalid Mohamed al-Emadi fin- Amna Ahmad al-Saff ar (centre) won the Dressage level 1 competition. Jessica Waldon (left) came second, while ished second and also third with his diff erent two horses FIJI and Colibri 19 respectively. Ali Mohamed al-Marri finished third.

RUGBY SPOTLIGHT With Dodgers, Rams and LeBron, Los All Blacks crush Angeles sports have never been better

Reuters Wallabies 37-20 in Los Angeles hen LeBron James ‘It was important we start the showed up to his fi rst home game as tour with a good performance a Los Angeles Laker, Whe sported a crisp blue Los An- and we did that tonight’ geles Dodgers cap, a smart move Yokohama as the Dodgers would go on to book their ticket to the World Series midway through his Sta- ples Center debut. As James congratulated the LeBron James Dodgers in his postgame press conference it underscored In 2020, the Rams will move something that has become in- into a brand-new, $2.6 billion creasingly clear – there’s never stadium in Inglewood, which been a better time to be a LA they will share with the Los An- sports fan. geles Chargers, the city’s other The Dodgers are back in the NFL team that moved to LA in World Series for their second 2017 and have started the season consecutive year and the NFL’s with a 5-2 record. Los Angeles Rams, who returned The Dodgers $200 million to the city in 2016 after two dec- payroll is the third highest in ades in St. Louis, are the only baseball and the Lakers can af- undefeated team in the league ford to sign another marquee after starting the season 7-0. player next off season to join And then there’s James. James even after agreeing to his The NBA’s best all-around monster $154 million deal. player in July signed a four-year Los Angeles is also a sought- deal with the Lakers and over- after destination for athletes night turned the team from a since it is home to Hollywood, bottom feeder in the Western a built-in advantage for the city Conference to title contender. at a time when the best-known “It’s outrageous. There’s nev- athletes are looking to make er been anything like this here a name for themselves off the before,” Liz Habib, a veteran fi eld. sports reporter for Fox 11 in Los James, for example, has sev- Angeles, told Reuters prior to eral projects in the works via his Game Three of the World Series LA-based SpringHill Entertain- at Dodger Stadium on Friday. ment production company and “It’s like everything good came after a well-received turn in the at once.” 2015 comedy “Trainwreck,” will She said the reason for the feature in the highly-anticipated city’s unprecedented success is “Space Jam 2.” simple. “There’s never been more of “It’s money,” she said. a crossover between entertain- “There’s a lot of money in sports ment and sports,” said Habib. and it has everything to do with “Sports stars are becoming the power of the dollar.” the biggest celebrities in some Expensive TV rights along regards,” she said. with pricey merchandise and “It’s the sports capital of the tickets have led to windfalls for world because everything is the city’s teams, giving them the here. And it’s never been this ability to spend lavishly. good.”

Mayer and Asher-Smith crowned European athletes of the year New Zealand’s flyhalf Beauden Barrett (right) tackles Australia’s flanker Michael Hooper during the Bledisloe Cup rugby union match at Yokohama International Stadium in Yokohama yesterday. (AFP) World decathlon record-holder Kevin Mayer and British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, the European 100m, 200m and 4x100m cham- Reuters side backs Ben Smith and Rieko to prove after a poor season, tackle to extend New Zealand’s into the contest suff ered a fatal pion, have been named men’s and women’s European athletes of Yokohama Ioane completed an emphatic exploded out of the blocks in lead to 17-3. blow when Latu was sin binned the year. victory. front of 46,143 fans in Yoko- EARLY PRESSURE for a retaliatory swipe at Taylor. Mayer is the third Frenchman to be earn the title after Christophe “It was a good start (to the hama and almost scored in the The Wallabies hit back just Further tries from Ben Smith Lemaitre in 2010 and Renaud Lavillenie in 2014. He is also the first ll Blacks fl yhalf Beau- tour),” said New Zealand coach second minute only for fullback before halftime, though, with and Ioane, his 11th of the year decathlete to win the award since Tomas Dvorak of the Czech den Barrett scored 17 Steve Hansen, whose side face Dane Haylett-Petty’s eff ort to winger Sefa Naivalu barrelling and 22nd in 21 tests, either Republic did so in 1999. points as New Zealand Japan next week before heading be ruled out by the TMO. clean through Barrett to score side of Israel Folau’s consola- Asher-Smith is the fourth British athlete to win the women’s award completed a Bledisloe to Europe. After that, New Zealand took in the corner on the last play of tion score for the Australians after Sally Gunnell in 1993, Kelly Holmes in 2004 and Jessica Ennis- CupA clean sweep with a 37-20 “Australia play diff erent to control, dominating possession the half. wrapped up another compre- Hill in 2012. win over Australia at the venue what we are going to be playing and territory throughout the Back in the game at 17-10, hensive win for Hansen’s men. She fended off competition from last year’s winner Ekaterini for the 2019 World Cup fi nal in the next couple of weeks but fi rst half and opening the scor- Michael Cheika’s team piled on “Devastated? That’s a big Stefanidi of Greece and reigning European, world and Olympic yesterday. they are a formidable opponent ing on 11 minutes when Squire the pressure early in the second word,” Wallabies coach Chei- heptathlon champion Nafissatou Thiam of Belgium. Flanker Liam Squire and cap- and on their day can play very broke through Kurtley Beale’s half but they had to settle for ka, who led his side to the 2015 Asher-Smith dominated the sprints at the European Champion- tain Kieran Read crossed before well. tackle. Plagued by errors and an early penalty after lock Rob World Cup fi nal and a victory ships in Berlin, anchoring the British 4x100m relay team to victory the break to put the All Blacks “So it was important we start penalties – Australia conceded Simmons was held up under the over the All Blacks in the third to become the third woman in European Championships history to in a commanding position and the tour with a good perform- 11 to New Zealand’s fi ve – the posts. Bledisloe Cup test last year, told win a sprint treble. the world champions piled on ance and we did that tonight.” Wallabies allowed their oppo- It was then that Barrett took reporters. Mayer was one of four finalists for the award alongside Turkish the points in the closing stages New Zealand had won the nents too much turnover ball control of the contest, slotting “I care a lot. I care about my world and European 200m champion Ramil Guliyev, Norway’s when Australia were a man fi rst two tests between the and, as usual, the All Blacks his second penalty before link- team, the players and about European 1,500m and 5,000m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen and down. trans-Tasman Sea rivals in the punished them. ing up with Ioane to score the Rugby in Australia. Swedish European pole vault champion Armand Duplantis. Australia replacement hook- Rugby Championship in Au- After penalties apiece for try of the match on the hour “One thing that comes with He won the world indoor heptathlon title in Birmingham at the er Tolu Latu was sinbinned gust to be assured of retaining Beale and Barrett, number mark - his sixth against the care is fi ght and whatever is start of the season and ended his campaign by breaking Ashton for striking his New Zealand the Bledisloe Cup for the 16th eight Read peeled off the back Wallabies this year. necessary (to beat New Zealand) Eaton’s decathlon world record with a score of 9,126 in Talence in counterpart Codie Taylor on straight year. of a scrum in the 36th minute Already up against it, Aus- we will make sure we get it done September. 66 minutes and tries from out- The Wallabies, with plenty and ran through Ned Hanigan’s tralia’s hopes of getting back before we meet them again.” Gulf Times Sunday, October 28, 2018 7 SPORT

FORMULA 1 GOLF Ricciardo pips Verstappen for Mexico GP pole Finau fi ghts off AFP United States Grand Prix in 2013 and pointed at being outpaced by Ric- Mexico City on a day that record-breaking speed ciardo. gave them the initiative for a race “Thanks, legends,” shouted a won by Verstappen last year. wildly happy Ricciardo over team holder Rose aniel Ricciardo upstaged World championship leader radio before adding later: “I knew his Red Bull teammate Max Hamilton, seeking to clinch his fi fth it was in there somewhere – I just Verstappen with a dazzling drivers’ title, was third for Mercedes knew the pace was in the car... Shout record lap in the fi nal sec- ahead of his only rival Sebastian out to the team to get a one-two.” ondsD of yesterday’s thrilling qualify- Vettel of Ferrari, with Valtteri Bot- Verstappen could not hide his ing shootout for the Mexican Grand tas fi fth in the second Mercedes and feelings as he made a gentle collision Prix, as the title-chasing Lewis Kimi Raikkonen sixth. with a number board as he parked Hamilton took third. German Nico Hulkenberg was his car. “The whole qualifying was After seeing his young Dutch seventh ahead of his Renault team- crap,” he said. teammate dominate every practice mate Carlos Sainz and the two Sau- Hamilton, who only needs to fi n- session, the Renault-bound Aus- bers of Charles Leclerc and Marcus ish seventh to secure the champion- tralian produced a stunning riposte Ericsson. ship, was satisfi ed with third. as he took pole and Red Bull swept Verstappen had been hoping to “I am really happy with it,” he the front row of the grid. become the youngest pole-sitter said. “We had a diffi cult day yester- AFP down, at least for the most part. It was their fi rst lockout since the in F1 history and was clearly disap- day and it was a big improvement.” Shanghai It usually serves me well in this game.” Two strokes behind Rose TENNIS / WTA FINALS ustin Rose will have one on the back nine, Finau closed more day to try to catch strong with birdies on the last leader Tony Finau after three holes, highlighted by what the American fought off he called a “perfect” iron off the aJ challenge from the defend- tee on the 212-yard par-3 17th ing champion in the third round that set up a kick-in for birdie. of the WGC-HSBC Champions His only PGA win so far was tournament. the 2016 Puerto Rico Open. Finau grinded out a hard- But his star has risen, with 11 Stephens wins to set fought two-under 70 to end top-10 fi nishes in 2018, includ- yesterday at 13 under par over- ing at three majors, and his Ryder all, three strokes ahead of play- Cup performance. He is current- ing partners Rose and Masters ly the world number 17. champion Patrick Reed, who also Rose surrendered the crucial each carded a 70. 54-hole advantage with a costly Joining Reed and Rose at double-bogey on the par-3 17th 10-under was American Xander after his tee shot leaked into a up Svitolina fi nal Schauff ele, who posted a 69. hazard. Newly anointed world Finau, who teed off with a number one Brooks Koepka was three-stroke lead, is known on the well off the pace at one over par, Stephens lost the first eight games before turning things around against Pliskova tour for his upbeat approach to the while Dustin Johnson was a fur- game, and it came in handy after ther three strokes back. Four- he surrendered the leaderboard to time Major winner Rory McIlroy Home favourite Federer storms the English world number three was eight over par. Rose with two bogeys on a shaky into Basel fi nal front nine at Shanghai’s Sheshan LEADING SCORES ROUND III International Golf Club. 203 — Tony Finau (USA) 66-67-70 DPA “There was no need to panic. 206 — Patrick Reed (USA) 64-72- London Just play some good golf coming 70, Xander Schauff ele (USA) 66- down the stretch and I was able 71-69, Justin Rose (ENG) 69-67-70 to do that,” Finau said. 208 — Andrew Putnam (USA) 70- oger Federer will get “I feel like my attitude is like 71-67, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) a chance to claim his this a lot. Never too up, never too 68-68-72 R99th career title on his home court after dismissing Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 6-1, SPOTLIGHT 6-4 at the Swiss Indoors in Basel yesterday. The eight-time champion and title holder was competing in Romanian qualifier Marius Teen Xiong grabs his 12th straight Swiss Indoors Copil will face Federer in the semi-final out of 15 total, hav- final. (AFP) ing lost only once before. share of US PGA lead Apart from his absence in ning 10 years. 2016, Federer has reached AFP every final of the event since NISHIKORI, ANDERSON Jackson, United States 2006. REACH VIENNA FINAL His latest win now extends In Vienna, Kei Nishikori will Federer’s unbeaten record at have a chance to win his first hinese-American teen his hometown tournament to ATP title in over two years Norman Xiong fi red a 19 matches. today after beating qualifier fi ve-under par 67 Friday Sloane Stephens of the US hits a return against Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova (not pictured) during Today, Federer will meet Ro- Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4 6-3 to to seize a share of the Clead after the second round of the their WTA Finals semi-final in Singapore yesterday. (AFP) manian qualifier Marius Copil reach the final. in the final after the world The Japanese, ranked 11th in US PGA Tour’s Sanderson Farms AFP Stephens fought back with re- who uncharacteristically made a number 93 stunned Ger- the world, will face this year’s Championship. Singapore lentless hustle as the Czech slew of errors. man second seed Alexander Wimbledon runner-up Kevin Two weeks before his 20th went off the boil. After surviving an early break Zverev 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-4. Anderson after the South Af- birthday, the Guam-born prodi- “I think obviously today was point, the one-way traffi c contin- Copil’s win over Zverev and rican beat Spaniard Fernando gy — playing on a sponsor’s ex- gutsy Sloane Stephens a great comeback,’ Stephens told ued in the second set with Plisk- a place in the final caps a Verdasco 6-3 3-6 6-4. emption — made his fi rst cut in recovered from early reporters. “I just made a couple ova breaking in the second game sensational week for the Nishikori, who won the last seven starts since turning pro- a 50-foot birdie bid, and chipped embarrassment to storm extra plays on the ball. Tried against a dejected Stephens. 28-year-old, who also beat of his 11 titles in Memphis in fessional in May. in from the rough from 47 feet past Karolina Pliskova something a little diff erent. The humiliation ended for world number six Marin Cilic 2016, will attempt to end a run He shared the top spot at the at the par-4 16th, then added a yesterday,A setting up a mouth- When I did that, it worked.” Stephens when she broke Plisk- Country Club of Jackson, Missis- three-foot birdie putt at the par- en route to his second ATP of eight successive defeats in watering WTA Finals decider Pliskova said she produced ova’s previously impregnable senior final in a career span- tournament finals. sippi, with fi rst-round leader and 5 third and a 24-footer from the against in-form Elina Svitolina. her “best set” of the year before serve in the third game and then fellow American Cameron Champ fringe for birdie at the par-4 sixth. The former US Open champi- the dramatic change. started to fi nd her range. on nine-under 135 for 36 holes. Champ fi red a 70 to share the on triumphed yesterday against “I don’t think I did that many Pliskova’s first serve desert- nals for the second straight year. to continue her bid to make Xiong, who moved to the lead with Xiong with fellow Amer- an inconsistent Pliskova 0-6, things wrong in the second set,” ed her as a composed Stephens amends for a lacklustre early United States at age six with icans Shawn Stefani and Jonathan 6-4, 6-1 in one hour and 55 min- she said. “Obviously, I lost a lit- forced a decider and her mo- SVITOLINA THROUGH exit last year. his mother and uncle, won the Byrd sharing second on 136. utes in Singapore. tle bit energy in the third set.” mentum continued by captur- Earlier, a determined Svitolina Her defensive prowess wore junior world title while in high A stunned Stephens lost the It was an unexpected result ing a break to open the third overcame the relentless power down Bertens, who blasted 41 school and was named the 2018 LEADING AFTER ROUND II opening eight games before after Pliskova’s early domina- set. of Kiki Bertens, continuing a winners but made 63 unforced US Golfer of the Year playing for 135 — Norman Xiong (USA) 68-67, turning things around to win 12 tion through power and preci- Stephens rolled through dogged quest for her fi rst WTA errors. It ended a fairy tale run the University of Oregon. Cameron Champ (USA) 65-70 of the next 15. sion to blitz through the fi rst set against a slumping Pliskova to Finals triumph. for Bertens, who only quali- Starting on the back nine, 136 — Shawn Stefani (USA) 68-68, The hard-hitting Pliskova in 31 minutes. complete a monumental turna- Svitolina outlasted the world fi ed days before the tournament Xiong sank a 55-foot eagle putt Jonathan Byrd (USA) 68-68 started red hot in what loomed She pinpointed the lines to to- round, as the former world number nine 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-4 when world number one Simona from the fringe at the par-5 11th 137 — Hudson Swaff ord (USA) as a one-sided contest before tally rattle a fl ustered Stephens, number one fell in the semi-fi - in two hours and 39 minutes Halep withdrew from injury. before taking his lone bogey at 12, 69-68, Seth Reeves (USA) 67-70, missing a 12-foot par putt. Scott Stallings (USA) 70-67, DJ Xiong responded with a tap-in Trahan (USA) 67-70, Chad Ramey MOTOGP birdie at the par-5 14th, just shy on (USA) 70-67

Joshi 64 grabs joint lead at India Masterful world champ Marquez grabs pole Asian Tour event AFP rain blighted the fi nal minutes. India’s Khalin Joshi hit an eight under par 64 to join Siddikur Phillip Island, Australia “I was doing quick laps, the Rahman of Bangladesh at the top of the rankings after three corners were really fast and rounds of the Panasonic India Open yesterday. The 26-year-old there were small drops of rain on Joshi recorded three of his nine birdies in the last five holes asterful world my visor. It was hard and I just to leap up the standings at the Delhi Golf Club. “I hit it pretty champion Marc tried to take care,” said Marquez. well off the tee and the putting was also good, so overall the Marquez con- “Tomorrow it will be impor- game is in good shape,” said Joshi, who has never won on the quered tricky condi- tant to make the right rear tyre Asian Tour. “I’m happy with the way I’m playing.” Rahman, who Mtions to storm to a fi fth straight choice. It’s normally a long and has two Asian Tour wins including the 2013 Indian Open title, Australian Moto GP pole yester- diffi cult race and we will need to managed a two-under-par 70 but did enough to hang on to his day and maintain his dominance manage the tyres and hopefully overnight lead with a total score of 13-under 203. of the sport. fi ght for the podium.” The super-consistent Honda Crowd favourite Hsu hopes to bring star clocked a fastest lap of one MotoGP Grid minute, 29.199 seconds around Front row: 1. Marc Marquez it home in Taiwan the demanding 4.4-kilometre (Honda) 1:29.199, 2. Maverick Phillip Island circuit on a day Vinales (Yamaha) +0.310, 3. Home favourite Hsu Wei-ling bounced back from a first hole of intermittent sunshine and Johann Zarco (Yamaha Tech 3) bogey yesterday to share the lead with the USA’s Nelly Korda showers. +0.506 going into the final round of the LPGA Taiwan Championship. Maverick Vinales, who fi n- Second row: 4. Andrea Iannone Korda fired five birdies to card 69 at the par-72 Ta Shee Golf and ished on the podium last year, (Suzuki) +0.513, 5. Alex Rins Country Club in Taoyuan and chase down Hsu, who has basked was 0.310 off the pace and will (Suzuki) +0.827, 6. Jack Miller in the encouragement from a crowd eager to see a local golfer begin Sunday’s race from sec- (Ducati Pramac) +0.941 win for the first time in five years. Jodi Ewart Shadoff ’s hopes for ond with fellow Yamaha rider Honda rider Marc Marquez speeds through a corner at the Phillip Island circuit yesterday. (AFP) Third row: 7. Valentino Rossi a first tour victory after sparkling seven-under-par 65 opening Johann Zarco in third. (Yamaha) +1.071, 8. Danilo Petrucci round looked increasingly distant as she bogeyed the 11th to Italy’s Andrea Iannone, who Veteran Valentino Rossi causing headaches over tyre mark time before Iannone went (Ducati Pramac) +1.129, 9. Andrea card 73. She sits on 209, alongside fellow Englishwoman Bronte dominated the free practice ses- (Yamaha), and Ducati duo Dani- choice. While it didn’t last long, faster. Dovizioso (Ducati) +1.320 Law, American Megan Kang and Jin Young Ko of South Korea, sions, another Suzuki rider Alex lo Petrucci and Andrea Dovizio- it meant the riders pushed hard The Italian was then ousted Fourth row: 10. Hafizh Syahrin who went bogey-free to equal her second round score of 69. Rins and local hope Jack Miller so are behind them. early on to get quick laps in be- by Zarco before the world cham- (Yamaha Tech3) +1.394, 11. Pol Es- Also at 209 was former world number one Lydia Ko, who shot a (Ducati) fi ll out the second row Drops of rain started to fall fore the weather changed again. pion asserted his authority again pargaro (KTM) +1.441, 12. Alvaro single birdie and bogey apiece. of the grid. as the qualifying session began, Marquez soon set a bench- and no one could catch him as Bautista (Ducati) +3.168

Sunday, October 28, 2018 GULF TIMES SPORT

SQUASH QNB STARS LEAGUE Ibrahimi nets Qatar trio bow out of brace as Ahli stun Al Sadd By Sports Reporter was standing in for injured reg- Classic in fi rst round ular custodian Yazan Naim. In Doha the process, Al Sadd slipped to third in the QNB Stars League ‘I am happy with my show. I just stayed disciplined and did not make many errors’ mid Ibrahimi struck standings as Al Rayyan moved to twice as Al Sadd were second with 18 points after their handed a shock 4-1 win over Al Sailiya. defeat by Al Ahli in the In the second match of the QNBO Stars League yesterday. day, Al Shahania and Umm Ibrahimi scored in the fi fth Salal played out a 1-1 draw at and 63rd minutes, while Ab- the Al Arabi Stadium. Luciano delrahman Mohamed (21st) and Vazquez scored for Al Shaha- Mohamed Muntaru (34, pen) nia in the 32nd minute, a lead completed the tally for Al Ahli as that was neutralised by Umm they recorded their fi fth victory. Salal through Yannick Sagbo’s Algerian striker Baghdad penalty conversion in the 72nd Bounedjah converted from the minute. Umm Salal moved to 15 penalty spot in the 52nd minute points and Al Shahania have 11. for Al Sadd’s consolation goal. Both teams created chances Al Ahli earned the penal- right throughout in the fast- ty when Pedro Miguel fouled paced game. Umm Salal’s Law- Omid, while that of Al Sadd was rence Quaye came up with a awarded after Majed Moham- stunning free-kick in the 17th med tripped Boualem Khoukhi. minute, which was palmed over The Brigadiers opened the by Al Shahania goalkeeper Kha- scoring through an opportunis- lifa al-Dossari. Umm Salal had tic strike by Omid who took ad- a slight edge in ball possession vantage of a defensive blunder and Mahmoud al-Mawas then made by Khoukhi. hit wide of the mark. Al Sadd did not seem to have However, it was Al Shahania psychologically recovered from who took the lead past the half- their defeat to Iran’s Persepolis hour mark. Luciano rose above in the AFC Champions League the challenge of Mohamed semifi nal despite drawing the Kassola to nod home a cross by second-leg match in Tehran 1-1. Kesse Amangoua from the right. The Wolves lost out 1-2 on ag- It was the Argentinian striker’s gregate, having lost 0-1 in Doha. fourth goal in the campaign. Meshaal Barshim, guarding Al Shahania suff ered a set- the Al Sadd goal in place of in- back when Luciano received his jured fi rst-choice goalkeeper marching orders from referee Saad al-Dossari, did not help Mohammed al-Shammari for a their cause either. Moroccan lunging foul on Adil Rhaili inside midfi elder Mohsine Moutaoli, the box and they had to play 20- Muntari, Omid and Ali Qaderi odd minutes with a numerical mainly excelled for Al Ahli. disadvantage. Xavi Hernandez, Gabi Fern- Ivorian striker Sagbo con- andez, Bounedjah, Hamed Is- verted the resultant penalty to mail and all tried hard, but Al take his goals’ tally in this sea- Sadd had a bad day out in their son’s QNB Stars League to seven campaign. The defeat dealt a goals. The plot involving Law- serious blow to Al Sadd’s ti- rence and Khalifa got repeated at Eain Yow Ng lunges for the ball during his first round match against Qatar’s Abdulla al-Tamimi (right) in the Qatar Classic yesterday. The Malaysian advanced to the next round. tle hopes as they stayed on 17 the other end in the 78th minute. points, fi ve behind leaders Al This time, the goalkeeper just By Sports Reporter be tough to play him in his home town, so through in fi ve games and secure a place in round three as he targets his second Duhail who moved to 22 points about managed to tip over a Doha I just told myself that there was no pres- in the second round of the PSA World major PSA title after falling narrowly following their 4-1 win over Al power-packed long-ranger. The sure and to relax and enjoy the match,” Tour Platinum event, with the 27-year- short to ElShorbagy in Philadelphia ear- Kharaitiyat. Al Ahli owed it to stalemate continued in the six- said Ng, who led Malaysia to a gold medal old coming from behind to see off Mexi- lier this month. goalkeeper Ivan Rodrigues who minute stoppage time too. ain Yow Ng of Malaysia upstaged at the recent Asian Games Team Cham- can Arturo Salazar. home favourite Abdulla Moham- pionship. “I have belief in my abilities Kandra, playing at a career high rank- RESULTS (FIRST ROUND) ed al-Tamimi 3-1 (11-3, 8-11, 11- and hopefully I will live up to the ex- ing of 19, was off the pace to start with Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) bt [WC] Syed Azlan 9, 11-5) on the opening day of the pectations in the tournament. It’s a very but managed to turn the match around Amjad (QAT) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-7 (24m); QatarE Classic yesterday. tough draw, but I’m just looking at it one and prevail against the dangerous Salazar The world No 42 Ng played confi - match at a time,” the 2016 world junior - who’s brother Cesar saved match ball to Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Chris Simpson dently to register his career’s biggest win champion said. triumph in another fi ve-game battle with (ENG) 3-1: 5-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-4 (51m); Greg in the fi rst round at the Khalifa Interna- The 20-year-old Ng has another tough Welshman Peter Creed. Lobban (SCO) bt Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) tional Tennis and Squash Complex. “I am match against former champion Ka- World No 1 Mohamed ElShorbagy will 3-2: 5-11, 11-7, 9-11, 13-11, 11-5 (84m); Raphael happy with my show today. I just stayed rim Abdel Gawad of Egypt in the second also start his title defence against Hong Kandra (GER) bt Arturo Salazar (MEX) 3-2: disciplined and did not make too many round today. “To win today means a lot to Kong’s Tsz Fung Yip in the second round 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 7-11, 11-3 (55m); Cesar Salazar unforced errors,” Ng said. me as well because I’ve fallen short at the today. Yip defeated wildcard Qatar’s (MEX) bt Peter Creed (WAL) 3-2: 7-11, 11-5, Competing in the fi rst round of a major major events previously and have strug- Syed Azlan Amjad 11-4, 11-7, 11-7 in the 5-11, 12-10, 11-8 (57m); Adrian Waller (ENG) PSA World Tour Platinum event for just gled to get to the main draws so wining fi rst round yesterday. bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 12-10 the second time, Ng played an attack- today and getting into the second round The World No 2 Ali Farag, who has (38m); Tom Richards (ENG) bt Mohamed ing game from the start. Playing with a for the fi rst time is big for me. Playing beaten compatriot ElShorbagy once al- Reda (EGY) 3-2: 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6 relaxed, composed manner the 20-year- against players like Gawad, who’s some- ready this season in the fi nal of the Ora- (60m); Borja Golan (ESP) bt Nathan Lake old Malaysian forced errors from the one I have looked up to, is the sort of cle NetSuite Open, faces a tricky opening (ENG) 3-2: 10-12, 11-2, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4 (56m); racket of a nervous al-Tamimi to take the thing that every player works for so I’m round in Qatar as he faces compatriot opening game for the loss of just three excited to just give it everything I’ve got and World No 9 Mohamed Abouelghar, Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [WC] Abdulrah- points. World No 24 al-Tamimi, who has and see what happens.” who has enjoyed a strong start to the sea- man al-Malki (QAT) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 (26m) been having a successful run on the PSA Qatar’s Abdulrahman al-Malki also son by winning his biggest title at the JP George Parker (ENG) bt Campbell Grayson Tour this season, came off well to win bowed out against Australian Cameron Morgan China Squash Open. (NZL) 3-1: 12-10, 11-5, 5-11, 11-8 (68m) Math- the second game easily, but he commit- Pilley in 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 in the fi rst round. Other strong contenders for the title ieu Castagnet (FRA) bt Youssef Soliman ted unforced errors in the third game, as Egypt’s World No 45 Karim Ali Fathi include World No 4 and runner-up Tarek (EGY) 3-1: 11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5 (58m) Joel Ng re-established his lead. He then came also produced a surprise win on the Momen, who will be high on confi dence Makin (WAL) bt Rex Hedrick (AUS) 3-2: from behind in the fourth game to seal opening day of action as he secured a 3-0 after his big win at the Channel VAS 8-11, 11-5, 13-11, 8-11, 11-3 (78m) Eain Yow Ng the win and book a place in the second victory over France’s World No 31 Gre- Championships at St George’s Hill. (MAS) bt Abdulla Mohd al-Tamimi (QAT) round of a major event for the fi rst time goire Marche while Mazen Hesham, Greg The number three seed will face ‘Swiss 3-1: 11-3, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5 (40m) Karim Ali Fathi in his career. Lobban, Adrian Waller, Tom Richards, Rocket’ Nicolas Mueller in the round two (EGY) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 3-0: 11-6, Borja Golan, George Parker, Mathieu as both players receive a fi rst round bye. The Malaysian was eager to bounce 11-8, 11-7 (37m) Declan James (ENG) bt back in Doha after a disappointing early Castagnet, Declan James and Joel Makin US Open runner-up Simon Rosner will Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 3-0: 11-1, 11-5, exit in the Chicago Open last week, and were the other winners on the day. take on either England’s George Parker, he did it in style in just 40 minutes today. German number two Raphael Kandra who defeated New Zealand’s Campbell 11-8 (38m); Leo Au (HKG) bt Ben Coleman “I knew coming into it today it would was one of six players to narrowly come Grayson 12-10, 11-5, 5-11, 11-8, for a place (ENG) 3-1: 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-3 (53m) Omid Ibrahimi celebrates his goal against Al Sadd yesterday.

MOTORCYCLING WorldSBK Race 2 cancelled, Cortese wins SSP title

By Sports Reporter International Circuit after the after- Doha noon’s storms kept the riders on their toes on what was an otherwise dry track, but the consensus was for the ollowing a severe rain and sand fi nal race to go ahead. storm yesterday morning, the The lights went out and a wild open- Race 2 of the Qatar Round of ing lap began. Pole-sitter Lucas Ma- World Superbike Champion- hias of Yamaha went horribly wide at shipF was cancelled. With the storm turn 1, falling to fourth, while Coren- hitting the Losail track in the morning, tin Perolari of Yamaha slotted himself conditions deteriorated and therefore between the two title contenders as a diffi cult decision was taken to cancel Cluzel took the lead. the fi nal race of the day. Cortese could aff ord to finish third, The cancellation meant Jonathan behind Cluzel, if Mahias won. The Ka- Rea did not get a chance to beat Doug llio Racing competitor was thus happy Polen’s all-time record of 17 wins in a to see Mahias build a lead, while Cluzel season, which the Kawasaki star tied became ever more agitated to get ahead after winning the Race 1 on Friday. of Cortese and close down Mahias. The four-time world champion Kallio Racing’s Sandro Cortese celebrates after winning the World Supersport Lucas Mahias of Yamaha crosses the finish line to win the Qatar round of the The title fi ght was then decided would also have been chasing his championship. He finished second in the last round at Losail Circuit yesterday. World Supersport championship at the Losail International Circuit yesterday. when Cluzel made a lunge at Turn 7, twelfth win in a row and a record sev- but lost the front of his NRT Yamaha enth double win of the year. The early pion after fi nishing second to Lucas Kallio Racing’s Cortese began the have to say thank you to my team, they great. And a thank you to my family, and fell. Worse was to follow when end to the season also confi rmed Duca- Mahias in a dramatic season fi nale. race with a fi ve-point lead over Cluzel, picked me up after such a diffi cult win- they helped me in hard times and I can’t Cluzel crashed again after remount- ti’s Chaz Davies as second in the world Cortese, competing in his debut WSSP the Frenchman chasing his fi rst world ter, I had no ride and they believed in wait to get back home,” she added. ing - this time a nasty highside after championship, ahead of Yamaha’s season, was confi rmed as champion crown and Cortese seeking to add the me,” Cortese said. Tension was at an all-time high yes- crossing a stream of water than left Michael van der Mark. when title rival Jules Cluzel crashed 600cc title to his 2012 Moto3 cham- “I think we did the maximum we terday evening, with the race itself up him holding his leg, meaning outgoing Meanwhile, Sandro Cortese was on the fi nal lap while trying to pass the pionship. “I am so speechless! I am so could this year, we gave everything all in the air until the reconnaissance lap. champion Mahias snatched second in crowned the World Supersport cham- German for second place. happy and I can enjoy this moment. I year, and the people in my team are Puddles scattered around the Losail the world championship.