FORMULA 1 | Page 3 SPOTLIGHT | Page 6 ‘F1 will seek Tokyo 2020 to reschedule organisers Chinese GP if say Games postponed’ will go ahead

Friday, February 7, 2020 CRICKET Jumada II 13, 1441 AH Pakistan target GULF TIMES consolidation in 1st Bangladesh Test SPORT Page 2

RALLYING Al-Attiyah takes special stage win in Oman

By Sports Reporter before the FIA protagonists took to the 7. Khalid al-Manji (OMN)/Rony Bou Muscat stage. The Omani guided his Subaru Abdo (LEB) Subaru Impreza STi 3min Impreza STi to a time of 3min 57sec to 54.1sec take a lead of 8.7 seconds over Ghaith 8. Abdullah al-Zubair (OMN)/Emad aleh al-Attiyah and French al-Qassimi into the night halt. Juma (JOR) Subaru Impreza STi 3min co-driver Matthieu Baumel Qatar’s Nasser After offi cial scrutineering, 11 54.2sec cruised to the fastest time of Saleh al-Attiyah in started the FIA event and seven were 9. Faisal al-Rashdi (OMN)/Waleed S3min 25.6sec on the opening action in the Oman permitted to take part in the National al-Rashdi (OMN) Subaru Impreza STi 3.55km super special stage of the Oman International Rally Rally. Teams face two loops of three 3min 59.7sec International Rally, round one of the yesterday. special stages today, starting with the 10. Henry Kahy (LEB)/Rony Maroun 2020 FIA Middle East Rally Champi- fi rst pass through the 19.20km of Al- (LEB) Škoda Fabia 4min 05.8sec onship (MERC), yesterday afternoon. Misfah at 09.59hrs. The 16.1km of Saal 11. Jassim al-Muqahwi (KWT)/Thamer After the ceremonial start at the follows at 10.32hrs and precedes Madi- al-Mutairi (KWT) Mitsubishi Lancer Oman Automobile Association, teams nat Al-Irfan (11.6km) from 11.20hrs. Evo X 4min 10.6sec tackled the fi rst FIA stage in Oman for The stages are then repeated in the af- fi ve years before the action switches to ternoon. 2019 Oman National Rally – positions the famous sinuous gravel trails in the after SS1: Al-Hajar mountains today and tomor- 2019 Oman International Rally – posi- 1. Zakariya al-Amri (OMN)/Abdullah al- row. tions after SS1: Amri (OMN) Subaru Impreza STi 3min Al-Attiyah guided his Volkswagen 1. Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Mat- 57.0sec Polo GTI R5 to an overnight lead of 5.9 thieu Baumel (FRA) Volkswagen Polo 2. Ghaith al-Qassimi (OMN)/Moham- seconds with Oman’s Abdullah al-Ru- GTI R5 3min 25.6sec med al-Amri (OMN) Mitsubishi Lancer wahi, partnered by Jordanian navigator 2. Abdullah al-Ruwahi (OMN)/Ata Evo VI 4min 05.7sec Ata Al-Hmoud, getting to grips with Hmoud (JOR) Ford Fiesta R5 3min 3. Hamid al-Qasim (OMN)/Ahmed al- his Ford Fiesta R5 for the fi rst time to 31.5sec Sadi (OMN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Vi snatch second place. 3. Meshari al-Thefiri (KWT)/Derek 4min 08.2sec Kuwait’s Meshari al-Thefi ri con- O’Brien (IRL) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 4. Waheed al-Kharusi (OMN)/Wadi tinued his recent domination of the 3min 35.0sec al-Kharusi (OMN) Toyota Yaris 4min MERC 2 category into a new season 4. Nasser Khalifa al-Attiyah (QAT)/Gio- 09.8sec with the third fastest time and the lead vanni Bernacchini (ITA) Ford Fiesta R5 5. Haitham al-Zadjali (OMN)/Sana al- in the showroom section in his Mit- 3min 42.4sec Shakaili (OMN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo subishi Lancer Evo X. He and Irish co- 5. Zakariya al-Ofi (OMN)/Ammar Al- VIII 4min 10.8sec driver Derek O’Brien fi nished the stage Balooshi (OMN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6. Yaqhdan al-Rashdi (OMN)/Saif al- 10.9 seconds ahead of Oman’s Zakariya his Italian co-driver Giovanni Bernac- defence of his ERC 3 title in solid style the international fi eld after incurring a IX 3min 45.9sec Hinai (OMN) Toyota Yaris 4min 13.1sec al-Ofi , who was second in MERC 2 and chini. by holding the two-wheel drive advan- jump-start penalty. 6. Jarah al-Tauqi (OMN)/Issa Al-Wardi 7. Mohammed al-Mazrui (OMN)/Wail fi fth overall, behind fourth-placed The Lebanese duo of Henry Kahy tage in their Škoda Fabia. Kuwait’s Jas- Zakariya al-Amri claimed the fast- (OMN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII 3min al-Shaibani (OMN) Toyota Yaris 4min Qatari Nasser Khalifa al-Attiyah and and Rony Maroun began the driver’s sim al-Muqahwi brought up the rear of est time in the National Rally that ran 48.7sec 20.6sec

FOOTBALL/ AMIR CUP Bounedjah, Song shine as Sadd, Duhail reach quarters Al Sadd’s Salem al-Hajri to miss rest of season after suff ering injury; North Korean Song opens account for Duhail

By Sports Reporter Doha

atar big guns Al Sadd and Al Duhail have ad- vanced to the quarter- fi nals of the Amir Cup, dashingQ the hopes of two second division teams in their round of 16 clashes yesterday. While Al Sadd accounted for Al Kharaitiyat 3-1 thanks to Bagh- dad Bounedjah’s brace, defending champions Al Duhail posted a 4-0 win over Muaither with their new North Korean recruit Han Kwang Song scoring two of them. Both victories however can be hardly classifi ed as convincing or even particularly thrilling. While Al Sadd huff ed and puff ed, Al Rayyan were restricted to just one goal by Muaither in the second half after having conceded three in the last fi ve minutes of the fi rst session. Song, the 21-year-old North Akram Afif is all smiles as he celebrates with teammates after Al Sadd’s victory over Al Kharaitiyat. At right, Al Duhail’s North Korean striker Han Kwang Song (R) is congratulated by Sultan al-Brake after scoring against Korean striker played for Perugia Muaither. PICTURES: Noushad and Anas in the Italian Serie A before join- ing Juventus where he didn’t get struck from close in the 42nd Mohamed Muntari punished right. Kharaitiyat, however, had ball into the box for Bounedjah, al-Ansari and Yasir Abubakar, as our thoughts on the upcoming a game and was relegated to their minute after receiving a pass from them for a rare mistake when a chance to draw level in the 14th who headed in past Al Kharaitiyat the Wolves looked to score an- AFC Champions League game. reserve team. He was sold to Al the left and hoodwinking a de- their backline moved upwards minute when they were awarded keeper Shehab Mamdouh. other goal to secure the result. It was possible to score more Duhail during the January trans- fender and scored the second two exposing the goalie. The goal was a penalty for a foul by Hamed Is- Salem al-Hajri thought he had And Afi f duly provided an assist goals, but after the third goal, we fer window. minutes later in similar fashion cleared after a VAR decision fol- mail in the box but Rachid Tiber- made it 3-1, when he scored in the for Bounedjah to score in the 82nd clinched the game in our favour,” The ambidextrous forward – except the pass this time came lowing a protest for off side by kanine’s spot kick hit the post. 48th minute but the referee after a minute as Sadd secured the result. the Spaniard said. was playing his fi rst match for Al from the right. Muaither. Tiberkanine made amends VAR review ruled out the goal for Xavi was delighted with the On the injury of midfi elder Sa- Duhail and put up an impressive The panic in the Muaither de- Earlier, Al Sadd had a dream though in the 20th minute a foul in the build-up. To make it performance of his players. “I’m lem al-Hajri, Xavi said: “Salem show, scoring two goals in a mat- fence was palpable and they let start to their last 16 encounter though, with the Moroccan strik- worse for al-Hajri, he sustained happy to win and qualify (for the al-Hajri suff ered an Achilles tear ter of as many minutes at the Ab- in another goal two minutes later, when Abdelkarim Hassan put the er unfurling a superb free-kick an Achilles tear and later Sadd quarter-fi nals) after playing a and will be absent for a long time. dulla bin Khalifa Stadium. with Almoez Ali scoring from a reigning QNB Stars League cham- from the edge of the box. confi rmed he will miss the rest of very diffi cult match against Al The season is over for him. He is Defensive laxity contributed to tight angle from outside the box pions ahead after just 54 seconds. Al Sadd soon restored their the season. Kharaitiyat,” he said. an excellent player and he was at both goals but Song’s fi ne drib- off a corner. With the Kharaitiyat defence all one-goal advantage, with Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernan- “We faced an organised team. his best levels recently. We will bling skills and sense of tim- Muaither tightened their de- over the pitch, Hassan headed in Bounedjah scoring in the 25th dez brought it Nam Tae-hee and We played a good match; we made miss him a lot, especially as he ing were pretty obvious. He fi rst fences in the second half, but from Hashim Ali’s cross from the minute. Ali Asad deftly lifted the Akram Afi f, in place of Abdulaziz some changes in the team, with was helping the team in a big way.” Gulf Times 2 Friday, February 7, 2020 CRICKET

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Rain hits star-studded Australia bushfi re Pakistan target fundraiser match

AFP teams. Sydney Warne, Michael Hussey, and Michael Clarke were among those forced out due to prior star-studded charity commitments. consolidation in fi rst game to aid Austral- “We have moved the Bush- ian bushfi re relief fi re Bash from the SCG because was yesterday moved we want to provide every op- fromA the Sydney Cricket portunity for the BBL fi nal to Ground to Melbourne due to be played on Saturday night,” forecast torrential rain, forcing said CA chief Kevin Roberts, some players to drop out. amid concerns that the pitch Shane Warne and Ricky could be damaged if there was Bangladesh Test Ponting were to come out a game beforehand. of retirement to skipper the Adam Gilchrist will now teams on Saturday to raise captain one of the teams in ‘CREDIT TO THE TWO BOARDS FOR MAKING THIS SERIES POSSIBLE’ money for victims of the blaz- Warne’s absence with Aus- es which began in September tralian Test skipper Tim Paine and have left at least 33 people acting as coach. The Ponting dead and thousands of homes team will be coached by Sachin destroyed. Tendulkar. It was scheduled as a cur- Other international stars tain raiser to the Twenty20 taking part include Wasim Big Bash League fi nal, but with Akram, Brian Lara, Courtney downpours expected, Cricket Walsh, and Justin Langer. Australia (CA) said it would no Match profi ts will go to the longer be possible at the SCG. Australian Red Cross Disaster Instead, it will be played on Relief and Recovery Fund. Sunday at the smaller Junction The Sydney Sixers will face Oval in Melbourne following either the Melbourne Stars or a T20 clash between the Aus- Sydney Thunder in the BBL fi - tralia and England women’s nal, weather permitting.

INJURY Archer out of Sri Lanka tour and IPL

Reuters stress fracture. London “He will now commence an injury rehabilitation pro- gramme with the ECB medical ngland fast bowler team with a view to be ready Jofra Archer has been for the international sum- ruled out of their up- mer campaign starting in June coming Test tour of against the West Indies in a SriE Lanka and the 2020 Indian three-match Test series,” the Premier League season due to ECB said. an elbow injury, the England England are scheduled to and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) play two Tests against Sri Lan- said yesterday. ka next month, with the fi rst The 24-year-old was injured starting on March 19. in England’s fi rst Test against Archer played 11 matches South Africa last month and for Rajasthan Royals last sea- underwent scans on his elbow son and scalped 11 wickets. In on Wednesday that confi rmed 2018, he had played 10 matches he had suff ered a low-grade where he picked up 15 wickets.

Pakistan’s Azhar Ali (right) and his Bangladesh counterpart Mominul Haque hold the Test series trophy at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium yesterday. (AFP)

AFP Bangladesh, initially reluctant to make are a safe country,” said Azhar. Bangladesh Pakistan opener Abid Ali, meanwhile, Rawalpindi a lengthy stay in Pakistan, only agreed to will be without Shakib Al Hasan, who is will target another hundred in this Test tour in three phases, having played Twen- banned for one year in a spot-fi xing case, to equal Indian maestro Mohammad ty20s last month. and Mushfi qur Rahim, who opted not to Azharuddin’s record of three consecutive kipper Azhar Ali hopes Pakistan After this Test they head home, before tour Pakistan over security fears. centuries in his fi rst three Tests. will strengthen their credentials returning to play a one-day international Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque Azharuddin achieved the feat against — both as a team and as hosts — (April 3) and second Test (April 5-9) — admitted Rahim will be missed. England in 1984-85 in his fi rst three Tests. when they face a depleted Bang- both in Karachi. “It’s diffi cult to play without your best ladeshS side in the fi rst Test in Rawalpindi Azhar said the split series will give Pa- players, but it gives an opportunity to TEST SQUADS starting today. kistan further opportunity to establish it- younger players and we look forward to PAKISTAN: Azhar Ali (captain), Abid Ali, The match will further boost Pakistan’s self as a Test host nation. playing good cricket,” said Haque, who Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, eff orts to host Test cricket, which re- “Credit to the two Boards for making lost his fi rst series as skipper in India 2-0 Bilal Asif, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, turned to the country just two months ago this series possible,” Azhar told reporters. last year. Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Mohammad after a 10-year gap with a series against “Would have been good if the series was Also hurting Bangladesh will be the fact Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Sri Lanka. not split but we are focused as this is a they have not won any of 10 Tests against Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, International cricket was suspended World Test Championship match.” Pakistan (nine defeats with one draw), and Yasir Shah. in Pakistan after a militant attack on the Pakistan are currently fourth in the lost all fi ve Tests they played last year. Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March championship, which features the top Seasoned opener Tamim Iqbal — fresh BANGLADESH: Mominul Haque (cap- 2009, forcing them to play home fi xtures nine Test nations and is currently led by from a triple hundred in a domestic match tain), Tamim Iqbal, Saif Hassan, Najmul in the United Arab Emirates. world number one India (360 points) fol- in Bangladesh — along with Haque and Hossain Shanto, Mahmudullah, Moham- With improved security, Pakistan host- lowed by Australia (296) and England Mahmudullah will be Bangladesh’s main mad Mithun, Liton Das, Taijul Islam, ed limited-overs internationals between (146). The top two teams will play the fi nal hopes against a strong Pakistan bowl- Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Abu 2015-19 before security confi dence im- in June 2021. “Hosting matches in Paki- ing attack which includes sensational Jayed, Al-Amin Hossain, Rubel Hossain, proved. stan will send a strong message that we 16-year-old pacer Naseem Shah. Soumya Sarkar.

U-19 WORLD CUP England to join South Africa’s cancer cause by Bangladesh seal historic place in fi nal sporting pink kits IANS Parvez Hossain Emon three England will join hosts South Potchefstroom overs later but Joy then played Africa in raising funds for the role of anchor as the Bang- breast cancer charities by ladesh middle order took the wearing a limited edition hundred from Mah- game away from New Zealand. pink kit when the two teams mudul Hasan Joy and Joy fi rst shared a 68-run play each other in the third a clinical performance stand with Towhid Hridoy for one-day international (ODI) in from the bowlers led the third wicket before a 101- Johannesburg on Sunday. byA Shoriful Islam’s three-wick- run stand for the fourth wicket It will be the ninth time that et haul helped Bangladesh beat with Shahadat Hossain that all South Africa have played in New Zealand by six wickets in but fi nished the game. their traditional home ‘Pink the semi-fi nal of the ICC U-19 He looked to fi nish the game Day’ match, but the first time World Cup yesterday in Potch- quickly after reaching 100 but their opponents have also efstroom. This is the fi rst time ended up hitting it straight pledged their support to that Bangladesh have reached back to the bowler. Joy had the charitable initiative by the fi nal of any ICC tourna- scored 100 off 127 balls with sporting similar kits. ment. 13 fours in his innings. Captain Funds raised from the ODI Bangladesh restricted New Akbar Ali then hit the win- will go towards the Breast Zealand to 211/8 before chasing ning runs with a four down the Care Unit at the Charlotte down the target with 35 balls ground. Maxeke Academic Hospital in to spare. The Kiwis got off to a Bangladesh will now face In- Johannesburg. good start to their defence with dia, who have won all matches “We’ve been proud to supply Bangladesh losing their fi rst they have played thus far in the South Africa with pink jerseys wicket in the sixth over for 25 tournament, in the fi nal which for the past four years and runs. will be played on Sunday. to have both teams stepping Tanzid Hasan was the man out in special jerseys for the who fell trying to put a short BRIEF SCORES first time will be a special ball over third man off Kris- Bangladesh Under-19 215 for 4 moment,” kit supplier New tian Clarke. He only ended up (Joy 100, Shahadat 40*) beat Balance’s head of cricket Liam putting the ball straight down New Zealand Under-19 211 for 8 Burns said. the throat of third man. (Wheeler-Greenall 75, Lidstone The second ODI is today in David Hancock dismissed 44, Islam 3-45, Shamim 2-31) by Mahmudul Hasan Joy of Bangladesh bats during the ICC U-19 World Cup Super League Semi-final against New Zealand at JB Marks Oval in Durban. Reuters Tanzid’s opening partner six wickets Potchefstroom, South Africa, yesterday. PICTURE: ICC Gulf Times Friday, February 7, 2020 3 SPORT

MOTORSPORT F1 will seek to reschedule Chinese GP if postponed: Brawn Reuters calling off the race and time was running out. tion of Formula One’s revenues, with some London “There’s two logistical deadlines,” mot- races paying as much as $40mn a year, which orsport.com quoted him as saying. “One is could mean a big hit for commercial rights when all the sea freight goes which is this holders Liberty Media if they were to make ormula One would seek to reschedule week, or next week. So the things like fuel the fi rst move. the Chinese Grand Prix if it has to be and so on go on a ship. But that’s not dis- There has been talk of swapping dates with postponed due to the coronavirus epi- astrous if that shifts and has to be brought another race, such as Russia, later in the year demic, according to motorsport man- back. but Brawn said that was unlikely. The Rus- agingF director Ross Brawn. “Then we get into the physically putting sian promoters have already said they want The high-profi le race in Shanghai, due to people over there. That’s a big challenge to keep their September slot. be broadcast to many millions of television with people going there to prepare for the With a record 22 races scheduled, and viewers around the world, is scheduled for race. That’s a critical stage. And that will rounds regionally grouped together, there April 19. happen in two or three weeks time. are few spare weekends available and any The Shanghai sports authorities this week “I think that’s the point at which really you change will pose a major logistical challenge. recommended the suspension of all sporting have to say what the situation is.” Singapore and Russia are already back-to- events in the city until the epidemic is over. Some airlines have suspended fl ights back on September 20 and 27 while Japan is “China is an enthusiastic, growing mar- to China while governments have advised on October 11 as the next round after Sochi. ket. So we’d like to have a race in China,” against all non-essential travel. The championship then moves to the United Brawn told reporters. “We will just try to fi nd The death toll from the virus in mainland States on October 25. a window of when the race could happen to- China jumped by 73 to 563 yesterday, with Any extension to the calendar would take wards the end of the year.” more than 28,000 confi rmed infections the season into December and be unpopular The Briton said the Chinese authorities there. with teams as well as depriving big-paying would have to make the fi nal decision on Hosting fees make up a signifi cant propor- Abu Dhabi of a glittering fi nale. File photo of F1 managing director Ross Brawn. (Reuters)

CRICKET SELECTION Afghanistan recall pacer Zadran for Perry pushing for Ireland T20Is

IANS ities of Azmatullah Omerzai and Kabul leg spinner Qais Ahmad, who has returned from a successful BBL, as a future start which can’t fghanistan have re- be wasted. record crowd at called fast bowler Nineteen-year-old Ahmad, Shapoor Zadran for who recently had a stint in the the upcoming three- Big Bash League (BBL) for Ho- matchA T20I series against Ire- bart Hurricanes, fi nds a spot as land. Zadran makes a comeback well, having played only a soli- in national colours after almost tary Test match for Afghanistan one and a half years. The pacer so far. Afghanistan will face last played a T20I in June 2018 Ireland in a three-match T20I T20 World Cup fi nal against Bangladesh. series which will be played on The 15-member squad an- March 6, 8 and 10 at the Greater ‘Whatever teams play in that final it’s going to be an absolutely amazing memory..’ nounced by the Afghanistan Noida Ground. Cricket Board (ACB) selec- The last time when both sides tion committee also consists of played a T20I series, Afghani- young all-rounder Azmatul- stan whitewashed Ireland 3-0 in lah Omarzai. Opening batsman, Dehradun. Usman Ghani, who was not in- cluded in Afghanistan’s series SQUAD against West Indies in October Asghar Afghan (c), Rahmanullah 2019, is back in the squad as well. Gurbaz, Hazratullah Zazai, Karim “We have selected the current Janat, Najib Zadran, Mohammad best T20 players and hopefully Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid will do better against Ireland,” Khan, Naveen ul Haq, Shapoor said chief selector Andy Moles. Zadran, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Qais Hazrat Zazai’s fi tness has im- Ahmad, Azmatullah Omarzai, proved dramatically, Moles add- Samiullah Shinwari, Usman ed, praising the all-rounder abil- Ghani.

Play both Kuldeep and Chahal in second ODI: Harbhajan

Former India spinner Harbhajan most expensive among the Singh said yesterday that India Indian bowlers. “I would like should ensure that the wrist to see both spinners playing spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav together — Kuldeep Yadav and and Yuzvendra Chahal play Yuzvendra Chahal,” Harbhajan together in the second ODI said on Star Sports. against New Zealand tomorrow. “This New Zealand team will Perry will be a major drawcard during Australia’s T20 title defence starting on February 21. PICTURE: ICC India are currently trailing the play fast bowlers on any given three-match series 0-1 with day and they will take anyone Reuters match promises to be a mile- year and in the same host nation the benefi ts, winning four of the Hosier Lane, a CBD alleyway Ross Taylor’s masterful century on. But when it comes to Melbourne stone moment for cricket it as the men’s T20 World Cup six T20 World Cups including decorated with street art and helping New Zealand chase playing spin, it has always been could also prove to be a water- but, signifi cantly, stands alone the last one in the West Indies popular with tourists. down a target of 348 in the first a case for them. You can get shed for women’s sport in gen- in its scheduling. in 2018. Perry has featured in all Her face now shares space ODI in Hamilton on Wednesday. those wickets in the middle ustralia all-round- eral, said the 29-year-old Perry. It follows Australia’s fi rst those triumphs, and much else on the wall with an image of Chahal was not included in overs. So I would like to see er Ellyse Perry has “The thought of having stand-alone women’s Big Bash besides. She became the young- the MCG and US pop star Katy the playing XI for that match both the spinners play together. smashed a slew of 90,000 people at the MCG for tournament last October and est Australian to play interna- Perry, who has signed up to per- and while Kuldeep took two Maybe leave out Kedar Jadhav records in a sparkling a fi nal — obviously we’d love to November, which preceded the tional cricket when she debuted form before and after the fi nal. wickets, he was also conceded and play an extra spinner,” he cricketingA career and now hopes be involved in that fi nal — but men’s domestic T20 competi- in a one-day match against New Having both Perrys on the 84 runs and was thus the said. – IANS to play a part in another by more than anything it’s just an tion. Zealand in 2007 before her 17th bill for the fi nal would be a mar- helping draw the biggest crowd amazing opportunity and really “In terms of progress and birthday. keter’s dream but the cricketer to a women’s sporting event at cool to be living it out,” Perry development, having our own A talented defender in soccer, said that hot favourites Aus- Lehmann to have heart surgery tomorrow next month’s T20 World Cup told Reuters in an interview in window for events and own- she also became the fi rst wom- tralia were not getting ahead of fi nal. Melbourne yesterday. ing them outright is absolutely an to represent the country at themselves. Former Australia coach will undergo heart bypass The record has long been “(It would be) a massive push brilliant,” said Perry, the ICC World Cups in two sports when “I don’t think you’re ever Darren Lehmann will have surgery tomorrow, Cricket held by the 1999 women’s soc- for the women’s game but more Women’s Cricketer of the Year. she played at the 2011 soccer comfortable regardless of where heart surgery tomorrow after Australia said. cer World Cup fi nal, which saw generally for women’s sport, “I think it makes it the main showpiece in Germany. you’re pitted in terms of favour- suff ering a health scare on his “I would like to thank everyone 90,185 pack into the Rose Bowl both in Australia and also glo- spectacle obviously. It also Arguably the fi rst global su- itism,” she said, with the T20 50th birthday on Wednesday. in the Australian cricket in California to watch the Unit- bally. highlights that women’s sport perstar of women’s cricket, World Cup trophy on display a The former test batsman family for their concern,” ed States defeat China. “Whatever teams play in that is a totally diff erent product and Perry will be a major drawcard few feet away from her. suff ered chest pains while on Lehmann, who coaches the However, T20 World Cup fi nal it’s going to be an abso- you can enjoy them equally but during Australia’s T20 title de- “We obviously want to do the Gold Coast to watch his Brisbane Heat in Australia’s organisers hope the fi nal at the lutely amazing memory that also diff erently.” fence starting on February 21. well and be successful but that son Jake Lehmann captain the Big Bash T20 league, said in a 100,000-capacity Melbourne will last a lifetime.” A huge media scrum jostled requires a lot between now and Cricket Australia XI against the statement. Cricket Ground can trump it — The fi nal, to be held on In- REAPING THE BENEFITS for pictures yesterday as Perry the fi nal to get there. touring England Lions. “I am receiving the best of particularly if the formidable ternational Women’s Day on Australia has upped its invest- spray-painted her signature on “You do everything you can He was resting in a Brisbane medical care and am confident host nation features. March 8, caps a tournament ment in women’s cricket over a mural promoting the tourna- and that’s all you can ask, what- hospital on Wednesday and I’ll be back on my feet soon.” While the championship that will be played in the same the past decade and is reaping ment on a wall in Melbourne’s ever happens happens.” Gulf Times 4 Friday, February 7, 2020 SPORT

RUGBY SPOTLIGHT Nike launches new, legal shoe to outrun England ring in the ‘tech doping’ furore

Reuters technology and equipment giv- London, United Kingdom ing competitors an unfair advan- tage, be it running shoes, soccer boots or tennis rackets? ike has launched a new Nike has always said it oper- changes for clash running shoe that com- ates within the rules, while ex- plies with limits set by ploring the possibilities provided World Athletics after by new technology. Its Vaporfl y Heinz, Ludlum, Nthe governing body imposed a shoes have led to a slew of world landmark ban on a version of records since their introduction Joseph, Kruis and the sportswear giant’s Vaporfl y in 2016 but WA ruled last week shoes that was used to run the that most of the versions used Mako Vunipola in fi rst sub-two hour marathon. for those records, and by thou- with Scotland The fi rst-ever shoe ban by sands of amateur runners, would World Athletics (WA) last week remain legal. addressed concerns that tech- Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge nology advances are giving ath- used a version of the Vaporfl y letes an unfair and unnatural now deemed illegal for his unof- advantage, described by some fi cial sub-two hour marathon in critics as “technological doping”. October, a model reportedly with New rules state road shoes extra-thick soles and three car- must have soles no thicker than bon plates. He is expected to use 40mm and not contain more the Alphafl y in his London mara- than one rigid, embedded carbon thon showdown with Ethiopian fi bre plate, and limit the use of rival Kenenisa Bekele in April’s some track spikes on the Vapor- London Marathon. fl y models, but permit the con- After launching the new shoe tinued use of most of the range. on Wednesday, Nike CEO John Nike has now duly launched Donahoe said it did not give ath- the latest incarnation of the shoe letes a “mechanical advantage”. — the Air Zoom Alphafl y Next% “It’s simply using the same — with one carbon plate and a materials that go into a shoe and sole thickness of 39.5mm, as well putting them together in an in- as newly added air pockets. novative way that allows the ath- “We are pleased the Nike lete to do their very best in a safe Zoom Vaporfl y series and Nike way,” Donahoe said in an inter- Zoom Alphafl y NEXT% remain view with CNBC. legal,” said the US company. “We A Wall Street Journal report will continue our dialogue with said limited numbers of the new World Athletics and the industry Alphafl y shoes will be made on new standards.” available to the public online this The Vaporfl y controversy has month, thereby meeting one of ignited a wider sporting debate: WA’s eligibility requirements for where should the line be drawn the shoe to be used at this year’s between advances in sports Tokyo Olympics.

England’s Owen Farrell (right) and Willi Heinz (left) take part in a training session in Bagshot, United Kingdom, yesterday. (Reuters)

Agencies London, United Kingdom Wakefi eld boss says Super League has barred comments on Folau

AFP unanimously on Wednesday “My hands are tied at this in from Australia last week- ngland coach Ed- London, United Kingdom for more powers to stop future moment in time. Whether end and, although he has not die Jones has rung the controversial signings but the that changes over the coming played any kind of rugby for 10 changes for tomor- saga is set to drag on. weeks, I don’t know but I’m months, the Dragons are short row’s Six Nations game akefield coach Chris Huddersfield cancelled their under strict guidelines here of outside backs. againstE Scotland, with Willi Chester says he is scheduled weekly pre-match from my chairman and my Coach Steve McNamara, who Heinz replacing Ben Youngs at Wunder strict orders press conference on the advice CEO and also from Super has warned that Folau will scrumhalf. not to speak about the Catalans of Super League ahead of their League.” need time to re-adjust to rugby Mako Vunipola returns to the Dragons’ controversial signing visit to the Catalans a week ago Wakefield captain Jacob Miller league after being out of the front row and George Kruis has of Israel Folau ahead of the and Chester was told not to an- said the former Wallabies full- game for 10 years, will provide been named in the second row as clubs’ Super League match on swer questions from the media back would be a potential an indication of his plans when In this October 12, 2019, picture, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge (right) runs Jones seeks to bounce back from Sunday. on the subject at yesterday’s handful if he made his debut on he names his 21-man squad wearing Nike Vaporfly shoes during his attempt to run a marathon in England’s shock opening defeat The French rugby league team conference. Sunday. today. under two hours in Vienna, Austria. (Reuters) by France. caused a furore when they “I’ve been strictly told by the “He’ll be a massive threat,” Wakefield are to hold a celebra- “Scotland are a dangerous handed a 12-month contract to people above and by Super he said. “He’s a massive kick tion of inclusivity when the side. They like to play with a lot Folau, who was sacked by Aus- League not to make any com- target and a big human out on Catalans visit. of width and with a lot of fl ow tralia rugby union bosses last ment on anything to do with the edges. Hopefully he has Wigan responded to Folau’s Mixed doubles Grand Slam champion and tempo in their game. We year for posting homophobic the gentleman from Catalans another week off .” signing by declaring a Pride want to make sure we dominate comments on social media. and I won’t be making any com- Folau has been training with Day when the Dragons travel to handed 22-month doping ban the gain line,” Jones said. Super League chiefs voted ment on it,” Chester said. his new team-mates after flying the DW Stadium on March 22. AFP explanation as to how the “Their win record against Paris, France prasterone and testosterone England at Murrayfi eld is sub- entered her system and that stantially higher than their Nations clash with England. Adam Hastings will fi ll in for “I will reassess things after we guys who’ve been out, who’ve her use was unconnected to overall record against us, so we Russell was axed from the Russell against England and, get through this weekend.” been out injured, but will hope- ormer Australian Open sports performance...although have to recognise they are a dan- Scotland squad for their tourna- with rumours of discord be- Asked if it was a positive con- fully be back in the next couple mixed doubles cham- her fault was deemed to be gerous beast and we have to be at ment opener against Ireland last tween the coach and Russell versation, he quickly clarifi ed, of weeks.” Fpion Abigail Spears of the high,” said an ITF statement. our best to beat them.” weekend after breaching team over tactics, Townsend plans saying: “It was a conversation Townsend was pressed on United States was Wednesday Her ban was backdated to rules with a late-night drinking to take his time before deciding and it was telling him he wasn’t what exactly was required of banned for 22 months after fail- November 7, 2019 and will end TOWNSEND MAKES RUSSELL session in the build-up to the if the Racing 92 stand-off has going to be back in the squad Russell to seal a return to the ing a drugs test, the International on September 6, 2021. WAIT FOR RETURN FROM match in Dublin. done enough to earn back his this week. squad but quickly shot down the Tennis Federation announced. Spears has won 21 doubles SCOTLAND EXILE Townsend spoke with the trust. “We will look at things next questions. Spears, 38, tested positive for titles in her career with the Scotland coach Gregor 27-year-old the day after Scot- “I spoke to Finn on Sunday week. Yes of course (he could “I’d rather not discuss that as banned substances prasterone highlight her Australian Open Townsend has told Finn Russell land’s 19-12 defeat to inform night to let him know that we feature before the end of the Six we have a big game this week- and testosterone at the 2019 mixed doubles title alongside he will not consider bringing the him that he would be left out wouldn’t be making any chang- Nations). Just in the same way end,” he said. “I want to be talk- US Open in New York. Juan Sebastian Cabal of Colom- shamed star back into the fold again for England’s visit to Ed- es to our squad,” Townsend said there’s a possibility that Sam ing about the players who are “The ITF accepted Ms. Spears’ bia in 2017. until after this weekend’s Six inburgh tomorrow. yesterday. Skinner and Matt Fagerson, involved in that game.”

TENNIS Serena in Fed Cup fourth decade under pressure from young pretenders

AFP 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2018. It will be an emotional week 2016 gold medallist Monica Puig Paris, France Kenin, now the top-ranked for 31-year-old Suarez Navarro comfortably fulfi ls the basic US player at seven in the world as the world number 55 is in her qualifying criteria despite a cur- after her stunning Grand Slam fi nal season as a professional, 12 rent lowly world ranking of 83. erena Williams enters breakthrough in Melbourne, has years after her Fed Cup bow. her fourth decade as a a Fed Cup singles record of 1-3 Spain are fi ve-time champi- ANDREESCU LEFT OFF Fed Cup player with the while 15-year-old Gauff has yet ons, behind the USA (18), Czech CANADA’S ROSTER United States today and to make her debut. Republic (10) and Australia (sev- US Open champion Bianca An- tomorrowS as the 2020 qualifi ers en) on the all-time list. dreescu was left off Canada’s sin- get under way. OSAKA EYES JAPAN gles roster at the draw ceremony The 38-year-old icon teams BREAKTHROUGH OLYMPICS ARE FED CUP yesterday for the qualifi er against with newly-crowned Australian Two-time Grand Slam cham- FACTOR Switzerland as she continues to Open champion Sofi a Kenin and pion Naomi Osaka is making her Places at the Tokyo Olympics recover from a knee injury. teenage star Coco Gauff as the US fi rst Fed Cup appearance since are also up for grabs today and Andreescu, who missed the tackle Latvia in Everett, Wash- helping Japan defeat Great Brit- tomorrow in the eight ties. last three months after suff er- ington. ain in the 2018 World Group II Under Fed Cup rules, players are ing the injury at the WTA Finals In total, there are eight ties play-off s. required to be part of a nominated in Shenzhen, could still play with the winners earning places The world number 10 has won team on at least three occasions in doubles alongside Gabriela Dab- in the new-look Fed Cup fi nals in fi ve out of six singles ties she has a four-year Olympic cycle. rowski if the best-of-fi ve tie in Budapest from April 15-17 where contested since her 2017 debut. That excludes players who Biel goes the distance. 2019 champions France, run- However, Japan, whose best Fed have represented their nation 20 Andreescu’s last appearance ners-up Australia, hosts Hunga- Cup run was a semi-fi nal spot in or more times in their careers, for Canada came in last year’s ry and wildcard Czech Republic 1996, have a tough task this week- who must be nominated on at World Group II playoff against will be waiting. Here’s a look at end, facing Spain in La Manga. least two occasions in the Olym- the Netherlands when she won three talking points ahead of this Serena Williams made her Fed Cup debut in 1999 in a semi-final win over Italy. The tie is on clay, easily playing pic cycle. the fi rst and third rubbers to help week’s qualifi ers: into the comfort zone of a Spain Crucially for this week, all the team to a 4-0 victory. but in a semi-fi nal win over Italy. away from being born. However, despite her longevity, team led by Carla Suarez Nav- players must be nominated at The winner of the Feb. 7-8 tie SERENA’S SENIOR SERVICE Teammate Sofi a Kenin was Williams has a 100 percent her relationship with the tourna- arro, her nation’s top player in least once in the 2019-20 cycle. in Biel will qualify for the Fed It was back in 1999 that Serena just eight months old while Coco record in singles in the Fed Cup, ment has been very much on-off , the absence of Australian Open Serena was 2012 Olympic Cup Finals in Budapest, Hungary Williams made her Fed Cup de- Gauff was still almost fi ve years winning 13 out of 13 rubbers. playing only in 1999, 2003, 2007, runner-up Garbine Muguruza. champion in London while Rio in April. Gulf Times Friday, February 7, 2020 5 SPORT

NBA NHL Blackhawks suff er bruising OT loss Lowry, Ibaka spark to Bruins

Reuters this season, the top total in the Los Angeles NHL. Alex DeBrincat opened the scoring for the Blackhawks harlie McAvoy scored with a power-play goal at 6:50 Raptors over Pacers at 1:19 of overtime, of the second period, knocking and Jaroslav Halak in a rebound of a Dach shot af- stopped 21 of 22 shots ter Patrick Kane found Dach in Cto lift the visiting Bruins to a front of the net. It was the fi rst 2-1 victory against the Chicago power-play goal the Bruins al- Blackhawks on Wednesday for lowed in 14 tries. Boston’s fi fth consecutive win. Sean Kuraly tied the game Moments after a Chicago for Boston about six minutes for 12th straight win power play ended, McAvoy later. Kuraly skated with the put a shot past Blackhawks puck from behind the net and ‘The key is we keep our composure during the game. We just didn’t give up’ goalie Robin Lehner off Jake went to the lower right circle, DeBrusk’s feed from the left where he turned and wristed wing. It was McAvoy’s fi rst the puck past Lehner, who goal of the season. stopped Boston’s fi rst 21 shots “What a pass,” McAvoy said. to start the game. Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (centre) “Thank God I buried that one.” Lehner drew a standing goes up to make a basket against the Indiana The Blackhawks have lost ovation from the home crowd Pacers during the second half at Scotiabank three of four (0-1-2) after a with 1:51 to go in the fi rst pe- Arena. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports fi ve-game winning streak. riod after sprawling across the Chicago fans voiced their goal to make a pair of saves displeasure late in regulation and keep the game scoreless. after a possible game-win- Lehner stopped 16 shots in ning goal was waved off . With the fi rst 20 minutes, while the Blackhawks on the pen- the Blackhawks managed just alty kill, the referee blew the fi ve. whistle on a delayed penalty Blackhawks defenseman against Boston’s Torey Krug Adam Boqvist sustained an before Chicago’s Drake Cag- upper-body injury early in giula gained possession of the the second period and did not puck and scored a would-be, return. Skating near the side go-ahead, short-handed goal boards in pursuit of a loose with 1:05 to go. puck, Boqvist had his right Chicago’s Kirby Dach creat- shoulder jammed into the ed the opportunity for an ear- boards on a hit by Boston’s lier man advantage, stealing David Krejci and was taken to the puck in the neutral zone the dressing room. and racing in for a breakaway Krejci was whistled for opportunity against Halak. boarding, and DeBrincat Boston’s Chris Wagner was scored 37 seconds later, tally- called for slashing on the play ing his 13th goal of the season with just over fi ve minutes re- and ninth on the power play. maining, but the Blackhawks Kane’s assist on the goal was were unable to score. his 41st of the season and came Lehner stopped 38 of 40 one night after his 12-game shots, but it wasn’t enough as point streak was snapped in an the Bruins leapt to 78 points overtime loss at Minnesota.

AFP beyond the arc until hitting the decider. 3-pointer at the fi nal buzzer. Los Angeles RESULTS “I missed a couple open threes earlier. Jayson Tatum netted 33 points and Coach told me keep shooting with con- grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Bos- Detroit 116-108 Phoenix fi dence and moving the ball,” Ibaka said. ton Celtics over visiting Orlando 116- panish center Serge Ibaka scored Boston 116-100 Orlando “That gave me a lot of confi dence.” 100. Frenchman Evan Fournier led the a season-high 30 points and Brooklyn 129-88 Golden State Nurse likes what he has seen lately Magic with 26 points. powered the defending NBA from Ibaka, saying: “He is getting better. Atlanta All-Star guard Trae Young champion Toronto Raptors to a Toronto 119-118 Indiana He has been really good. He’s way more scored 32 points and passed off 11 assists Sclub-record 12th consecutive triumph Oklahoma 109-103 Cleveland than pick, pop and shoot.” to power the Atlanta Hawks over host on Wednesday by beating Indiana 119- Atlanta 127-120 Minnesota Paul George and reserve guard Lan- Minnesota 127-120, dealing the Timber- 118. dry Shamet each scored 23 points to lead wolves a 13th consecutive defeat. Memphis 121-107 Dallas The 30-year-old Congo-born big man eight double-fi gure scorers from the Los German guard Dennis Schroder scored sank a go-ahead 3-pointer with 30 sec- Denver 98-95 Utah Angeles Clippers in a 128-111 home vic- 30 points off the bench to power Oklaho- onds remaining to cap a game-ending LA Clippers 128-111 Miami tory over Miami. ma City over visiting Cleveland 109-103. 11-0 Raptors run as the Raptors rallied Heat star forward Jimmy Butler left Andre Drummond scored 31 points from a 19-point third-quarter defi cit. Pascal Siakam added 25 points and nine after scoring 11 points in 26 minutes with and grabbed 19 rebounds while Reggie “The key is we keep our composure rebounds for the reigning NBA champi- a strained right shoulder. Jackson added 25 points to lead Detroit during the game. We just didn’t give up. ons. Serbian center Nikola Jokic’s triple over visiting Phoenix 116-108. We kept digging and digging,” Ibaka said. Toronto, which trailed 69-50 early in double of 30 points, 21 rebounds and 10 Brooklyn’s Caris Levert had 23 points “We have the mindset of ‘Don’t give the third quarter, improved the third- assists sparked the Denver Nuggets over and eight assists in the Nets’ 129-88 rout up.’ We don’t point the fi ngers when best record in the NBA to 37-14. host Utah 98-95, although Jamal Murray of visiting Golden State. things go bad. We stay together and I Ibaka, who won his fi rst NBA title with led the visitors with 31 points. Ja Morant’s 21 points led six double- think that’s what makes us special.” Toronto last year in his 10th league cam- Jokic hit a go-ahead jumper with 59 digit scorers for Memphis in a 121-107 Raptors guard Kyle Lowry scored 32 paign, was bolstered by Raptors coach seconds remaining and Murray sank two victory at Dallas, while Latvian center Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins skates with the puck during points, passed out 10 assists and grabbed Nick Nurse to keep fi ring 3-pointers free throws with fi ve seconds to play Kristaps Porzingis had 32 points and 12 a game against the Vancouver Canucks at TD Garden in Boston, eight rebounds while Cameroonian star even though he was only 1-for-7 from while Utah’s Bojan Bogdanovic missed a rebounds in a losing cause. Massachusetts, on Tuesday. (AFP)

NFL Chiefs celebrate Super Bowl title with parade, rally AFP Washington Steelers GM Colbert signs 1-year contract extension ansas City Chiefs players and coaches celebrated their Su- Pittsburgh Steelers vice pleased he will lead those per Bowl victory over San Francisco with supporters on president and general eff orts for at least one Wednesday with a two-mile downtown parade and pep manager Kevin Colbert has more year.” rally. signed a one-year contract Colbert, who is in his 10th K“This is the most beautiful scene I’ve ever witnessed in my life,” extension, the club year as the Steelers GM, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said. “I love this city to death. I prom- announced Wednesday. said in the statement: ise you from here to the end, I cherish every moment with y’all and I Entering his 21st year with “It’s hard to quantify how promise you everybody here feels the exact same way.” the organisation, Colbert, fortunate I am to have been The Chiefs won their fi rst Super Bowl title in 50 years on Sunday by 63, is set to remain with the part of this organisation rallying in the fourth quarter to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20. team through the 2021 NFL for the last 20 years. I look Kelce, whose older brother Jason gave a popular speech two years Draft. Other terms of the forward to the challenge of ago when the Philadelphia Eagles celebrated their Super Bowl tri- deal were not announced. getting our team back into umph over New England, drew huge cheers for his emotional speech. “I am happy to announce playoff contention while “I’m wearing about half the beers I’ve been trying to drink,” Kelce we have extended Kevin never losing sight of our said. “It has been a long time coming. We had to fi ght for our right to Colbert’s contract for an ultimate goal — winning a party.” additional year,” Steelers Super Bowl.” Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who captured his fi rst NFL crown, was President Art Rooney Since joining the praised by Kelce for waiting 21 years for the victory. II said in a statement organisation as director “That’s how long this has been turning for my guy Andy Reid.... on the team’s website. of football operations and what did we do? We unleashed a can of whoopass on everybody,” “Kevin continues to play in February 2000, the Kelce said. a key role in our success Steelers have won two Reid told the crowd that they should prepare for a similar jubilant and his dedication to Super Bowls, three AFC bash in 2021. our personnel eff orts championships and nine “Next year, we’re coming right back here,” Reid said. “One more Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (right) hoists the Lombardi Trophy during the Super Bowl LIV is unparalleled. We are division titles. Reuters time baby.” championship parade in Kansas City, Missouri. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Gulf Times 6 Friday, January 7, 2020 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Olympics organisers blast virus rumours, say Games will go ahead AFP Olympics and Paralympics. “Fear is The Japanese government has char- Tokyo spreading quicker than the virus,” he tered three fl ights to repatriate 565 said. “It’s important we quell that fear. Japanese nationals from Wuhan, the Only 191 of the total cases are out- central Chinese city hardest hit by the okyo 2020 Olympics organis- side mainland China, so let’s put things virus. Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike ers said yesterday the Games into perspective. “If you compare those promised at the weekend to implement would “go ahead as planned”, rates with the common fl u, they are “thorough measures” to protect people slamming misinformation over still relatively small numbers,” added from the virus. Tthe new coronavirus for triggering pan- Spence. “The World Health Organiza- The health scare has led to the can- ic. Chief executive offi cer Toshiro Muto tion (WHO) has not declared this a pan- cellation of Olympic qualifying events revealed that organisers have set up a demic. We dealt with the Zika virus in in China such as boxing and badmin- task force to combat the fast-spreading Rio and in these matters we need to rely ton. The Tokyo Olympics are scheduled disease that has killed over 560 peo- on the experts. We will follow the advice to run until August 9 with the Paralym- ple and infected at least 28,000 — the of the World Health Organisation. Every pics starting on August 25. vast majority in mainland China — but organising committee looks into coun- Meanwhile, Spence confi rmed promised that the Games would be not termeasures, and we have measures in that progress was being made to keep derailed from their July 24 start date. place from previous Olympics and Par- wheelchair basketball’s place in this “The Olympics will go ahead as alympics here in Tokyo. It is standard summer’s Paralympics after the sport planned,” he told reporters after a practice, it’s business as usual.” was removed from the 2024 Games project review of the Paralympics, More than 20 countries have con- programme following a row over its which are scheduled to take place after fi rmed cases of the fl u-like coronavi- classifi cation code. the Olympics. “It is important to re- rus. Japan has had no reported deaths International Wheelchair Basketball main objective and cool-headed. so far, but 45 cases have been detected, Federation (IWBF) has until the end of We don’t want to alarm the public. including at least 20 people on a cruise May to bring itself in alignment with The infection is still limited and there is ship carrying more than 3,700 passen- the IPC rules, or face exclusion. “For no problem staging the Olympics based gers and crew quarantined off Yoko- A general view of the Ariake Arena, venue for the volleyball and wheelchair basketball competitions for the Tokyo 2020 now, wheelchair basketball is in,” said on the current situation.” hama. The WHO has declared the out- Olympic and Paralympic Games. (AFP) Spence. “The IWBF have been co-op- International Paralympic Committee break a global health emergency. Japan erative and the signs are encouraging (IPC) spokesman Craig Spence com- has warned citizens against non-es- spread of the virus. “The coronavirus is beginning to have eration with the IOC (International Ol- for Tokyo 2020. It’s a fantastic sport plained that scare-mongering had cre- sential travel to China and fast-tracked Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe an impact on tourism,” he said. “But the ympic Committee), the local organising and the Paralympics are richer with ated an “info-demic” that could skew new rules including limits on entering yesterday pledged that preparations for government will continue to steadily committee and the Tokyo Metropolitan it (involved), but they have to comply public perception in the run-up to the the country as it tries to contain the the Olympics would proceed as normal. prepare for the Games in close co-op- Government.” with the rules.”

FOOTBALL GOLF McDowell eyes another Pebble Bayern squeeze Beach win aft er Saudi title AFP two putts from 25 feet to win a San Francisco US Open — you visualise that as a kid standing on the putting green and then all of a sudden you’re en years after winning like, ‘I’ve got two to win a major his only major title at championship here.’ into German Cup “So just special memories. Pebble Beach, Graeme McDowell returns to the And obviously, kick started a Tseaside California layout coming pretty amazing fi ve or six years of off a victory in Saudi Arabia and my career. hungry for more. Can’t believe it’s going to be The 40-year-old from North- 10 years in June, but a lot of good ern Ireland, who won the 2010 stuff has happened. Excited to quarter-fi nals be kicking back up into the top- US Open at Pebble Beach, seeks his fi rst victory on US soil since 50 in the world. And one of my 2013 this week at the Pebble big goals is get myself back up Alario strike helps Leverkusen to a 2-1 win over VfB Stuttgart Beach Pro-Am, played over three in the top-20 and have a chance Northern California courses. to experience that back nine at a “It’s a fun week, but at the major championship again with a same time I’m here to try and chance to win. So that’s really the continue to play well,” McDowell goals for the next three or four said. “Feel like the game is cer- years.” tainly trending in the right direc- US left-hander Phil Mick- tion and obviously would love to elson, who turns 50 in June, have a nice week this week.” claimed his fi fth Pebble Beach McDowell won last week’s crown and 44th career US PGA Saudi International title, defeat- title last year. The 72nd-ranked ing defending champion Dustin fi ve-time major winner makes Johnson by two strokes to cap- his 24th career start at Pebble ture his fi rst European Tour title as a springboard to kick on for a Beach. since 2014 and jump from 104th big year, big season ahead.” “I believe I can play at an ex- to 47th in the world rankings. McDowell recalled how it felt tremely high level. I just need to “The win last week was im- to win his fi rst major title a dec- show it,” Mickelson said. “Physi- portant at a lot of levels, just to ade ago at Pebble Beach, which cally, I’m swinging the club bet- get me back up the rankings, get along with Spyglass Hill and ter, more on plane, striking it me back in a couple of the WGC Monterey Peninsula courses will more solid, hitting the ball long- events, which is really impor- host the fi rst three rounds. Sun- er, swinging the club faster than tant, the major championships, day’s fi nal round after the cut will I have in many, many years. But and get me back in the right di- be at Pebble Beach. there’s a lot more to winning than rection again, so very pleasing,” “Lots of great memories,” Mc- just hitting bombs. I’m trying to McDowell said. “Ticked a lot of Dowell said. “Probably coming put all those pieces together and boxes and hopefully I can use it up the last and just having that I’m enjoying the challenge.”

FOCUS Police investigate racist abuse of Hertha’s Torunarigha Bayern Munich’s Thomas Mueller (second right) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Hoff enheim in Munich. (AFP) AFP yellow card after throwing a crate AFP early nerves, forcing an own goal from Ben- ler. The Poland striker was on hand to head Berlin of drinks in frustration on the Berlin jamin Huebner to equalise after Bayern de- the stray ball into an empty net on 36 min- sidelines and took to social me- fender Jerome Boateng had turned the ball utes and appeared to have settled the mat- dia yesterday to address the in- into his own net. Mueller then gave Bayern ter with a well-taken fourth goal after the olice in Gelsenkirchen cident. “I was born in Germany, homas Mueller weighed in with a a 2-1 lead before Lewandowski netted either break. are investigating alle- I grew up here, I graduated from goal and an assist as holders Bayern side of half-time to extend their lead before Lewandowski has scored in all four of gations of racist abuse high school here, I speak German Munich edged a 4-3 thriller with Hoff enheim’s late fi ghtback. Bayern’s matches so far in 2020 and boasts suff ered during a Ger- like everybody else, so I can’t un- Hoff enheim on Wednesday night to Bayern are the biggest name into the last a season tally of 35 goals in 29 games in all manP Cup match by Hertha Berlin derstand these comments made reachT the German Cup quarter-fi nals. Mu- eight after RB Leipzig and Borussia Dort- competitions. Union Berlin are also through defender Jordan Torunarigha, by a few idiots during the game,” eller’s golden run continued at the Allianz mund both crashed out on Tuesday to Ein- after seeing off fourth-tier minnows Verl who yesterday slammed the “idi- Torunarigha wrote on Instagram. Arena to leave him with seven goals and nine tracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen re- with a 1-0 win thanks to a late goal by mid- ots” responsible on social media. “I’m glad that I have the good assists in the 14 games since Hansi Flick re- spectively. After Lewandowski had an early fi elder Robert Andrich. The 22-year-old defender was fortune to have such support placed Niko Kovac as coach last November. goal disallowed for off side, Hoff enheim A goal by Argentinian striker Lucas Alario allegedly the victim of monkey from my family, my teammates Not to be outdone, Mueller’s strike part- threatened an upset when Boateng turned a helped Bayer Leverkusen to a 2-1 win at sec- chants and other racist insults and the club. “Maybe not every- ner Robert Lewandowski claimed two goals shot by Hoff enheim winger Ihlas Bebou into ond-division side VfB Stuttgart. during Hertha’s 3-2 extra-time one in such a situation has that.” in the third-round tie. However, Hoff enhe- his own net on eight minutes. loss to Schalke in Gelsenkirchen Torunarigha was born in im’s Israeli forward Munas Dabbur caused However, the lead lasted just fi ve minutes. GERMAN CUP THIRD ROUND RESULTS on Tuesday. Chemnitz, where he spent the Bayern a few nervous moments with two Canadian winger Alphonso Davies crossed (aet denotes after extra time): “Yes, we are investigating, ciation (DFB) also launched an fi rst eight years of his life, after late goals as the visitors threatened a fi ght- to Mueller in the middle, but the ball clipped even if no complaint has yet investigation on Wednesday. his father Ojokojo moved there back from 4-1 down. the knee of Huebner and looped into the Vert 0 Union Berlin 1 (Andrich 85); Bayer been received,” a police spokes- Should the culprits be identifi ed, from Nigeria in 1990, shortly af- “In the second half, we gave too much ball net. Bayern were 2-1 up on 20 minutes when Leverkusen 2 (Bredlow 72-og, Alario 83) man said. Neither Torunarigha Schalke has said “there will be ter the fall of the Berlin Wall. To- away and let them come back into the game,” David Alaba’s cross found Mueller and the Stuttgart 1 (Wamangituka 85); Saarbruecken nor Hertha have yet fi led a com- consequences” and sports direc- runarigha’s father signed for the admitted Bayern winger Serge Gnabry. “We Germany star fi red home from close range. 0 Karlsruher 0 — aet Saarbruecken won 5-3 plaint, but police say they are tor Jochen Schneider insists the local football club Chemnitzer have to look at that, however we had a lot of Lewandowski then pounced when Hof- on penalties; Bayern Munich 4 (Huebner “talking to the club and watching club will show “zero tolerance”. FC and was one of the fi rst black fun going forward in attack.” fenheim goalkeeper Philipp Pentke failed to 13-og, Mueller 20, Lewandowski 36, 80) Hof- video footage” of the incident. Visibly upset, Torunarigha was players to play in former East It was Mueller who had calmed Bayern’s claim a high ball under pressure from Muel- fenheim 3 (Boateng 8-og, Dabbur 82, 90+2) The German Football Asso- sent off in extra time for a second Germany.

BARCA’S DEMBELE TO UNDERGO SURGERY NEXT WEEK AFTER HAMSTRING TEAR

Madrid: Barcelona forward Ousmane lona from Borussia Dortmund in 2017. now not expected to play again this MIRANDES INTO SPANISH CUP Celta Vigo and Sevilla. They previously in the top flight. Martin Merquelanz Dembele will undergo surgery on his The Frenchman had been close to re- season. “Barcelona player Ousmane SEMIS FOR SECOND TIME reached the last four in 2012 when they restored Mirandes’ advantage with a right hamstring in Finland on Tues- turning from a thigh problem sustained Dembele will undergo surgery on Tues- Second division Mirandes reached were still a third division outfit, eventu- penalty on the stroke of half-time. Santi day, the club have confirmed. Barca in November but was forced to pull day, 11 February in Turku, Finland, to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey for ally being defeated by Athletic Bilbao. Cazorla equalised 10 minutes into the said an “approximate recovery time” out of training on Monday due to what treat a rupture of his right hamstring,” just the second time on Wednesday Brazilian striker Matheus Barrozo gave second period with another penalty. would be given once the operation was the club initially described as “muscle a club statement read. “Once the when they defeated top flight Villarreal the home side the lead after 17 minutes However, two minutes later, Mirandes complete. fatigue”. operation has been concluded, further 4-2. Mirandes, currently in mid-table, before Javier Ontiveros levelled just were back in front thanks to Odei Dembele has suff ered a number of But tests showed Dembele had torn information will be given regarding his claimed a third successive victory over after the half-hour mark for Villarreal Onaindia with Antonio Sanchez making injury problems since joining Barce- his hamstring and the 22-year-old is approximate recovery time.” a La Liga side after earlier knocking out who currently sit in seventh place it 4-2 in stoppage time. Gulf Times Friday, February 7, 2020 7 FOOTBALL

FA CUP FOCUS Premier League clubs vote for longer summer Mourinho admits ‘best transfer window

AFP London

remier League clubs voted yesterday to push team lost’ as Son sends the closing date of the summer transfer win- Pdow back to bring it into line with the rest of Europe. The clubs decided at a shareholders’ meeting to revert to the tradi- tional date at the end of August or early September after two Spurs into fi ft h round seasons when the window closed on the eve of the campaign. This year’s summer window Tottenham, who last won the FA Cup in 1991, will host struggling Norwich in the fifth round will close at 1600 GMT on Tues- day, September 1 as August 31 is a AFP public holiday. A Premier League London statement read: “At a share- holders’ meeting today, Premier League clubs voted to adopt a ose Mourinho admitted Tot- change to the summer transfer tenham got lucky after Son window closing date for season Heung-min’s late penalty se- 2020/21. cured a dramatic 3-2 win against This will move the closing date SouthamptonJ in Wednesday night’s FA back to the traditional point at Cup fourth-round replay. Mourinho’s the end of August/early Septem- side were 12 minutes away from be- ber. The 2020 closing date will ing knocked out after squandering the therefore be 17:00 BST (1600 fi rst-half lead given to them by Jack GMT) on 1 September. Clubs Stephens’ own goal. agreed after discussing the topic Shane Long and Danny Ings scored as at length at previous sharehold- Southampton hit back to take the lead ers’ meetings.” at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The switch to an earlier clos- But Lucas Moura equalised before Son ing date was motivated by com- won and converted the decisive penalty plaints from managers that with just two minutes left. “I have to be keeping it open after the start of honest and say I think the best team lost the season was disruptive. It was on the pitch but my team were the ones thought major leagues across with more heart and went to their lim- Europe would also bring their it,” Mourinho said. “We suff ered but we own windows forward to fall in deserved to win because we were in our line with the Premier League. limits. Southampton were fresher than When that did not happen a us but we played with our souls and number of English clubs found heart and gave absolutely everything.” themselves in the unwanted Tottenham, who last won the FA Cup position of having their play- in 1991, will host struggling Norwich ers linked with European teams, in the fi fth round in the fi rst week of even though they would be un- March. Aiming for the fi rst trophy of his able to bring in replacements for reign, Mourinho, who replaced Mauri- anyone they sold after the Pre- cio Pochettino earlier this season, will mier League window closed. be relieved Tottenham avoided a sur- Liverpool chairman Tom prise exit from a competition he has not Werner welcomed the change. won since 2007 with Chelsea. Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-Min (right) is brought down by Southampton’s goalkeeper Angus Gunn during the FA Cup fourth round match in London. (AFP) “We felt it was in the best inter- Taking credit for the win in classic ests of the league to be in sync Mourinho self-promoting style, he said: display. Mourinho will also have to get they were in front after 12 minutes. blame for Lloris, who limply parried out goal of the season. But Lucas came to with the other leagues and ex- “I think I did very well because I had to Jan Vertonghen back onside after the Ryan Sessegnon’s burst opened up Nathan Redmond’s shot for Long to slot Tottenham’s rescue in the 78th minute tend the window until the end of manage a team with so many diffi cul- defender’s dejected trudge off the pitch the Southampton defence and when home. There was a blow for the visitors when he took Dele Alli’s pass and clev- August,” he said. “I understood ties. The priority is to survive. We have following his substitution. the ball bounced to Tanguy Ndombele before half-time when Ward-Prowse erly turned into the space on the edge of the reason for (bringing the lots of diffi culties. I’m not speaking just “I understand his sadness, it is nor- on the edge of the area, the midfi elder was stretchered off after needing oxy- the area before drilling a superb strike deadline forward) but it put a lot about Harry Kane, I’m speaking about mal. He is always respectful and always drilled a powerful shot that took a big gen for a knee injury suff ered in a chal- into the far corner. of pressure on all of us to make injuries to Giovani lo Celso and Erik professional. It doesn’t make me happy defl ection off Stephens into his own net. lenge with Sessegnon. Ralph Hasen- The momentum had swung in Tot- decisions and it gave an advan- Lamela. Today was a team completely to make a substitution. I did it for the Ings should have equalised when he huttl’s side deservedly took the lead in tenham’s favour and Son won it in the tage to other leagues, so it’s good unbalanced, really hard to organise it.” team, Jan is happy for the team,” Mour- ran onto James Ward-Prowse’s pin- the 72nd minute. 88th minute when he charged into the to be consistent.” Tottenham are without a major tro- inho said. point pass and got to the ball ahead of Redmond made an incisive surge from area and went down under minimal Liverpool manager Jurgen phy of any kind since the 2008 League Tottenham had won eight of their the hesitant Hugo Lloris, but the in- deep inside his own half and slipped a contact from goalkeeper Angus Gunn. Klopp had been among those to Cup and Mourinho would dearly love to last nine home games against South- form striker’s shot cannoned back off pass to Ings, who cut past Japhet Tan- Son stepped up to take the penalty him- call for the Premier League to end that drought, but his team will have ampton, including a 2-1 success in the the bar. Southampton’s 34th-minute ganga before curling a fi ne fi nish into self and fi red home to send Tottenham align itself with the other top to improve signifi cantly on this erratic Premier League earlier this season, and equaliser carried more than a whiff of the far corner from 18 yards for his 17th into the last 16. leagues in Europe.

LIGUE 1 SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP Payet dedicates win to Marseille fans Hagi lift s Rangers, but Celtic cement lead caught in Saint-Etienne no-go zone AFP him about. “But he’s a brave player. Even if Glasgow he makes a mistake, he won’t shy away. His AFP second-half performance deserved to win Paris the match. It’s his dad’s birthday as well so angers were boosted by a late win- it’s a nice moment for him.” ner from the Ianis Hagi son of Ro- Hearts’ home woes against Kilmarnock imitri Payet scored a manian legend Gheorghe Hagi, but continued as Daniel Stendel’s men suff ered brilliant goal as sec- Celtic remain on course for a ninth a 3-2 defeat. Goals from Stuart Findlay, ond-placed Marseille successiveR title after crushing Motherwell Chris Burke and Eamonn Brophy secured a claimed a 2-0 victory 4-0 on Wednesday. In-form Celtic striker fourth successive victory at Tynecastle for atD Saint-Etienne on Wednes- Odsonne Edouard scored after nine minutes the Ayrshire outfi t. day night to cut the gap to Ligue at Fir Park and Leigh Griffi ths prodded in Killie ended the game with 10 men fol- 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain number two in the 51st minute. lowing the dismissal of goalkeeper Lauren- back to 12 points although hun- Callum McGregor added a third with a tiu Branescu and endured a nervous fi nish dreds of their diehard fans were thunderous volley, then Edouard curled in following goals from Sean Clare and Craig stopped from watching the game. a wonderful free-kick, his second set-piece Halkett. An early goal from Ali McCann gave Andre Villas-Boas’ Mar- goal in two matches, for his 24th goal of the St Johnstone a 1-0 win at Aberdeen, who seille opened up a six-point lead season. It was Celtic’s sixth consecutive Paul Hanlon fi red Hibernian in front mid- have now gone four league games without a over third-placed Rennes, who victory since they lost to Old Firm rivals way through the fi rst half. goal. Ross County registered a fi rst win since lost 1-0 at Lille on Tuesday, by Rangers at the end of last year. But George Edmundson — back in the mid-December after Billy McKay’s double bouncing back from successive The Hoops remain seven points ahead of starting line-up for the fi rst time since Oc- downed Livingston 2-0, while relegation goalless stalemates against Bor- Rangers at the top of the table, albeit Steven tober — slammed home his fi rst goal since rivals St Mirren and Hamilton shared a 1-1 deaux and Angers. The match Gerrard’s men have a game in hand. “The joining from Oldham in the summer to level draw. was delayed by 15 minutes after quality of our play and the motivation, hun- just before half-time. Rangers, who had clashes between the two sets of ger and desire and quality of the goals was dropped fi ve points in their fi rst four games SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP RESULTS fans outside the Stade Geoff roy- spectacular,” Celtic manager Neil Lennon after the winter break, completed their Aberdeen 0 St Johnstone 1 (McCann Guichard. said. “Odsonne’s just special. When he’s on comeback with just six minutes left. 6); Hearts 2 (Clare 79-pen, Halkett 89) According to fi refi ghters and that form he’s a joy to watch. It was a great On-loan Genk star Hagi opened his Rang- Kilmarnock 3 (Findlay 24, Burke 38, Brophy the Saint-Etienne prosecutors’ Saint-Etienne’s Jean-Eudes Aholou (left) vies for the ball with fi nish for the fi rst goal. His link-up play with ers account with a superb fi nish from Scott 50); Motherwell 0 Celtic 4 (Edouard 9, 80, offi ce, there were no injuries or Marseille’s Dimitri Payet during the French L1 match. (AFP) Leigh was very creative and good to watch.” Arfi eld’s header. “Ianis is a top talent. I Griff iths 51, McGregor 75); Rangers 2 (Ed- arrests. However, the game was Ianis Hagi, 21, showed some of his leg- said that when he arrived,” Gerrard said. “I mundson 45, Hagi 84) Hibernian 1 (Hanlon played without visiting support- stadium.” below their normal level,” said endary father’s quality to keep Rangers in thought his performance grew as the game 35); Ross County 2 (McKay 2, 59) Living- ers — believed to number around Saint-Etienne rarely threat- coach Garcia. “We gave our best the hunt as his fi rst goal for Gerrard’s side wore on. In the fi rst half he was getting used ston 0; St Mirren 1 (Durmus 73) Hamilton 1 400 — who left under police es- ened, although Marseille goal- and it wasn’t much.” sealed a 2-1 win over Hibernian at Ibrox. to the game in Scotland, people knocking (Templeton 25) cort despite making a round trip keeper Steve Mandanda had to Elsewhere, bottom club Tou- of around 650km. be alert to keep out Lois Diony’s louse were cut further adrift with Payet gave Marseille a sev- eff ort shortly before half-time. a 1-0 loss to Strasbourg, while enth-minute lead with a mag- The away side made the points Montpellier moved into fi fth de- nifi cent individual goal, shaping safe in the 85th minute, as Ne- spite a 1-1 home draw with Metz. RECORD-EQUALLING LAZIO MISS CHANCE TO GO SECOND to cross before cutting onto his manja Radonjic drilled a fi ne On Tuesday, PSG edged to a 2-1 Milan: Lazio equalled a 21-year Juventus and 11 points clear unbeaten Serie A run of 17 con- for keeping them in the match left foot and hammering the ball left-footed shot into the bottom victory at Nantes to strengthen club record for staying unde- of fourth-placed Atalanta who secutive matches, the feat of early on as he denied quick-fire past bewildered home goalkeep- corner. their position at the top of the feated but missed the chance occupy the final Champions the 1999 side coached by Sven- eff orts from Matteo Pessina and er Stephane Ruffi er from what Earlier on Wednesday, Lyon table. to move second in Serie A, be- League berth, ahead of Roma Goran Eriksson. “It’s a record Fabio Borini. seemed an impossible angle. failed to close the gap to the top ing held to a goalless draw by on goal diff erence. that pleases me,” said Inzaghi Lazio midfielder Luis Alberto The former West Ham United three as they were held to a goal- FRENCH LIGUE 1 RESULTS Hellas Verona on Wednesday. “The game was intense. De- who played for the team under proved wasteful, missing three star has scored 10 goals in all less draw at home by lowly Ami- Brest 1 (Benito 80-og) Bordeaux The match had been re- spite the disappointing result, Eriksson and helped Lazio lift chances, twice rattling the ens. Rudi Garcia’s side sit sixth competitions this season. 1 (Hwang 10); Lyon 0 Amiens 0; scheduled from last December, we came away satisfied,” said their last Scudetto in the 1999- woodwork before being denied “I was looking for the cross, in the table, seven points adrift Montpellier 1 (Savanier 13) Metz 1 when Lazio beat Juventus to Inzaghi. “We had 27 shots on 2000 season. by Verona goalkeeper Marco but I saw that he (Ruffi er) wasn’t of Rennes, who occupy the third win the Italian Super Cup in goal, hit the post twice. I can’t Serie A leading scorer Ciro Silvestri deep into injury time. (Boulaya 80); Nimes 2 (Benrahou in his goal at all, so I took the op- and fi nal Champions League Saudi Arabia. ask the team for more. Results Immobile missed the chance to Verona missed out on moving 4, Roux 44) Dijon 0; Reims 1 (Ab- portunity to hit it hard,” Payet qualifi cation spot. Simone Inzaghi’s side closed count, but so do performances, add to his 25 league goals this into sixth place and the Europa said. “I will dedicate this match Rayan Cherki, 16, came off the delhamid 77) Nice 1 (Lees Melou to within a point of second- and the lads gave it every- season at the Stadio Olimpico. League berths as they remain to our supporters who unfor- bench but was denied a winner 50); Toulouse 0 Strasbourg 1 placed Inter Milan. The Romans thing.” And the hosts could thank ninth, but just one point off the tunately this evening made the when his eff ort struck the post. (Waris 76); Saint-Etienne 0 Mar- are four points behind leaders Lazio matched their longest goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha European spots. round trip but couldn’t reach the “Too many players have been seille 2 (Payet 7, Radonjic 85)

Friday, February 7, 2020 GULF TIMES SPORT

CAF Super Cup trophy tour

The CAF (Confederation of African Football) Super Cup trophy was displayed at Al Bidda Tower yesterday as part of the Qatar Football Association’s promotional activities for the final scheduled to be played in Doha on February14. The match is played annually between the winners of the previous season’s two CAF club competitions — the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. This year’s final will be played between Espérance de Tunis from Tunisia, the 2018-19 CAF Champions League winners, and Zamalek from Egypt, the 2018-19 CAF Confederation Cup winners, at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium in Al Rayyan. The final is being played in Qatar for the second season in a row, after Qatar and CAF signed a three-year agreement. The trophy will be displayed at Doha Festival City (today from 6pm to 9pm), Cairo Language School (Sunday from 11am to 12pm) and Tunisian School in Lukta (Monday from 9am to 10am).

HORSE RACING Topsy Turvy wins feature to cap big day for al-Malki Trainer Ibrahim al-Malki saddles four winners

By Sports Reporter Doha

heikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani’s Topsy Turvy won the Al Wajba Cup at the Qatar RacingS and Equestrian Club’s Al Rayyan Park to cap a fantastic day in the offi ce for trainer Ibra- him al-Malki, who saddled four winners yesterday. The dirt feature victory for the gelding was the second on the day for the owner-trainer-jockey combine with Tomas Lukasek also riding Fuwairat to a Gradu- ation Plate victory earlier in the day. Mohamed Abdulla Abdulma- lik’s Sea The Light was a maiden winner for the Qatari trainer, while Al Bida Racing’s Cool Ex- hibit topped a novice event under Leo Salles. In the fi nale yesterday, Lukasek Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club deputy chief steward Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi (third from right) with the winners of the Al Wajba Cup after guided Topsy Turvy to a fi ne vic- Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani’s Topsy Turvy won the feature at Al Rayyan Park yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim tory in the 1900m feature with a little more than two lengths to Qatari rider Meteb Ali al-Marri career victory. It was Mohamed Owner: Al Majd Stud. Trainer: 1:48.77. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail Tomas Lukasek rides Topsy Turvy to Al Wajba Cup victory yesterday. spare. continued gaining valuable expe- Hussain-schooled gelding’s fi rst Osama Omer al-Dafea. al-Kuwari. Trainer: Mohamed Jas- In the penultimate race of the rience and adding victories to his win in almost two years. Race 2: 1. Sea The Light (Anas sim Ghazali. ¾. Time: 1:58.89. Owner: Sheikh lambert), 3. Bint Saff ian (Tomas day, a Thoroughbred Handicap tally yesterday. The apprentice Earlier in the day, Al Majd al-Seyabi), 2. Al Shomos (Al Race 4: 1. Cool Exhibit (Leo Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al- Lukasek), 4. Inde (Theo Bachelot). run for horses rated 80 and below, rider rode his seventh winner of Stud’s Al Hindi and Khalifa bin Moatasem al-Balushi), 3. Lehwaila Salles), 2. Romantic Heart (Theo Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki. Won by: 1, ¾, ¼. Time: 1:12.33. Own- Zarandi registered his second the season, which is more than Sheail al-Kuwari’s Al Mujahaz (Mustafa Manav), 4. Al Magawir Bachelot), 3. Rex Place (Alexander Race 6: 1. Succeed And Excel (Me- er: Saeed Nasser al-Qadi. Trainer: straight victory in Qatar. Carlos his cumulative haul from three were among the Thoroughbreds (Leo Salles). Won by: 2, 2 ¼, 1 ½. Reznikov), 4. Southernmachoman teb Ali al-Marri), 2. Eledeed (Luca Hamad Ahmed al-Malki al-Jehani. Henrique, riding Hamad Ahmed previous seasons, in the Thor- to shed their maiden status. Time: 1:14.23. Owner: Mohamed (Tomas Lukasek). Won by: 3, ¾, Maniezzi), 3. Hard Forest (Tomas Race 8: 1. Topsy Turvy (Tomas Lu- al-Malki al-Jehani-schooled colt oughbred Handicap event for Abdulla Abdulmalik. Trainer: Hd. Time: 1:12.64. Owner: Al Bida Lukasek), 4. Nibras (Al Moatasem kasek), 2. Karraar (Anas al-Seya- in the colours of Saeed Nasser al- horses rated 70 and below. RESULTS Ibrahim al-Malki. Racing. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki. al-Balushi). Won by: 2, 3 ½, 2. bi), 3. Shabbab (Pier Convertino), Qadi, was in the four-year-old’s Yesterday, the rider was astride Race 1: 1. Al Hindi (Al Moatasem Race 3: 1. Al Mujahaz (Theo Race 5: 1. Fuwairat (Tomas Time: 1:51.06. Owner: Dhafi Rashid 4. Vitally Important (Al Moatasem saddle for all of the horse’s three Dhafi Rashid al-Marri’s Succeed al-Balushi), 2. Al Sareh (Tomas Bachelot), 2. Damon Runyon (Leo Lukasek), 2. Shabih Alreeh al-Marri. Trainer: Mohamed Hus- al-Balushi). Won by: 2 ¼, Hd, 2. victories this season, and yester- And Excel, and a fantastic ride Lukasek), 3. Arandas (Anas al-Sey- Salles), 3. Gold Fleece (Soufiane (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Naima sain Afroz. Time: 2:03.32. Owner: Sheikh day, the two won the six-furlong saw the jockey guide his nine- abi), 4. Sindbad (JP Guillambert). Saadi), 4. Tafaahum (Ivan Rossi). (Ivan Rossi), 4. Bin Majd Al Arab Race 7: 1. Zarandi (Carlos Hen- Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al- sprint by a length. year-old mount to his seventh Won by: 1 ½, ¾, Nk. Time: 1:16.98. Won by: 3 ¾, 2 ½. 6 ¼. Time: (Gary Sanchez). Won by: 4, 10, 4 rique), 2. Lo De Nalane (JP Guil- Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.

CRICKET Kamran, Hassan lift Gladiators to QCA T20 Division B title By Sports Reporter and after his departure, Kamran was their top scorer with 34, Doha ensured that his team crossed the which contained two sixes and fi nish line in 16.3 overs with seven three fours. Ameer added 24 with wickets intact. Kamran was de- a boundary. amran and Hasan were clared the Player of the Final for Allan grabbed four wickets for stand-out performers his all-round display. 18 and Adhar secured two for 30. as Gladiators won the Division B fi nal of the LANKA KNIGHTS DIVISION C BRIEF SCORES KQCA Twenty20 Cricket Tourna- CHAMPIONS DIVISION B FINAL: Shapoorji ment with a convincing seven- Lanka Knights battled hard to Pallonji 134 for 9 (Deepak 31 wicket triumph against Shapoor- hold off Karwar Indians by 13 in 22 balls, Fajas 26 in 25 balls, ji Pallonji. runs in the fi nal of the Division C, Aftab 24 in 22 balls; Kamran 4 At the West Bay Grounds, with splendid spells from Player for 14, Hasan 1 for 15, Faiz 1 for 12, Kamran (four for 14) and Hasan of the Final Priya and Eranda. Kaleem 1 for 14, Awais 1 for 33) took fi ve wickets between them After putting up a reasonable lost to Gladiators 135 for three to contain Shapoorji Pallonji at 141 all out, Lanka Knights did in 16.3 overs (Hasan 53 in 42 balls, 134 for nine. not let any partnership develop Kamran 37 not out in 29 balls; Later, Hasan smashed eight with Eranda and Priya sharing Vivek 1 for 27) by seven wickets. boundaries to compile 53 in 42 six scalps. As a result, Karwar Player of the Final: Kamran (Gladi- balls and Kamran fi nished un- Indians folded up at 128 in 19.3 ators) beaten on 37, which included a overs. DIVISION C FINAL: Lanka six and three boundaries, to steer It was only Rahil, who resisted Knights 141 all out (Dinesh 34 their team to a one-sided vic- the most and got 29 in 17 balls in 30 balls, Ameer 24 in 22 balls; tory with more than three overs QCA Domestic Cricket Head Gul Khan Jadoon and other QCA off icials with Qatar T20 Cricket Tournament Division B winners Gladiators (in white) with a six and three boundaries. Allan 4 for 18, Adhar 2 for 30) to spare. and runners-up Shapoorji Pallonji (in blue) after the prize distribution. Eranda got three wickets for 24 beat Karwar Indians 128 all out Shapoorji Pallonji struggled and Priya’s haul cost him 27 runs. in 19.5 overs (Rahil 29 in 17 balls; against fi ne bowling and good possible — a 41-run alliance be- Fajas hit 26 with four bounda- grafted in and was the last player and Hasan, Faiz, Kaleem and Earlier, batting fi rst, Lanka Priya 3 for 27, Eranda 3 for 24) by fi elding by the rivals and only tween Fajas and Aftab after their ries and Aftab made 24, includ- out. He cracked a six and two Awais also got a wicket each. Knights overcame four strikes 13 runs. Player of the Final: Priya one stand of some substance was team was three down for 37. ing three fours. Captain Deepak fours in his 31. Besides Kamran Hasan dominated the chase from Allan to reach 141. Dinesh (Lanka Knights)