SPORT Page 2 Al Sadd in Amir Cup Final

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Monday, May 10, 2021 FOOTBALL Ramadan 28, 1442 AH Man City’s title GULF TIMES party delayed by United win at Villa SPORT Page 2 Al Sadd in Amir Cup final

Al Sadd’s Hassan al-Haydos (L) congratulates Nam Ta-hee after the South Korean forward scored against Al Arabi in the Amir Cup semi-final yesterday. All Sadd won 3-0 to stay on course for their 18th Amir Cup title. At right a piece of the action from the match. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil and Jayan Orma

FORMULA 1 ATHLETICS Barshim joint winner with Tobe Fift h straight for at Tokyo meeting Hamilton in Spain ‘I saw a British flag out there which I haven’t seen for a long, long time. I feel great’

AFP Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/McLaren- Barcelona Mercedes) 1:13.768, 7. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 1:14.670, 8. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren- ewis Hamilton claimed Mercedes) 1 lap, 9. Esteban his fi fth successive Span- Mercedes’ British Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1 lap, ish Grand Prix yesterday driver Lewis Hamilton 10. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTau- ahead of Red Bull’s Max poses for a selfie with ri-Honda) 1 lap, 11. Lance Stroll LVerstappen after a Mercedes team members after (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) pit-stop masterstroke. the Spanish 1 lap, 12. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/ Hamilton moved on to 98 ca- Formula One Grand Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) 1 lap, 13. reer wins after a surprise second Prix race at the Circuit Sebastian Vettel (GER/Aston change of tyres hoodwinked Red de Catalunya in Martin-Mercedes) 1 lap, 14. Bull to lift him 14 points clear Montmelo on the George Russell (GBR/Williams- of Verstappen in the drivers’ outskirts of Barcelona. Mercedes) 1 lap, 15. Antonio standings. Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Romeo- “It was a really great strat- Ferrari) 1 lap, 16. Nicholas Latifi egy by the team. What a day!” (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) 1 beamed Hamilton, who was lap, 17. Fernando Alonso (ESP/ quick to acknowledge the smat- Alpine-Renault) 1 lap, 18. Mick tering of fans allowed in to Schumacher (GER/Haas-Ferrari) Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim in action during the men’s high jump watch, a rare occurrence in the 2 laps, 19. Nikita Mazepin (RUS/ final in Tokyo yesterday. time of coronavirus. Haas-Ferrari) 2 laps “It is great to see. I saw a Brit- Fastest lap: Max Verstappen Agencies in Doha, where he managed ish fl ag out there which I haven’t Retired: Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/ Tokyo 2.25m in March this year. In To- seen for a long, long time. I feel AlphaTauri-Honda) kyo both athletes were clearly great after this. I feel like I could slow by a couple of seconds in “Currently 22 seconds... between us. Remarkable job by feeling the strain after a long go again.” another minor but potentially we’ve done it before...” came everyone in this team. What a Drivers standings atar’s Mutaz Barshim competition and therefore de- Hamilton had set off from critical error by the Red Bull title back the reply. day.” 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 94 pts, warmed up for the cided to share victory ahead of pole for the 100th time but was pretenders. There was a note of despera- Red Bull boss Christian 2. Max Verstappen (NED) 80, 3. Doha Diamond Takashi Eto, who also cleared beaten to the fi rst corner by Ver- The Mercedes pit wall pulled tion on Red Bull’s radio with Horner was magnanimous in Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 47, 4. Lando League in style by 2.30m but had required two at- stappen, with Charles Leclerc Hamilton in for a lightning stop Verstappen suggesting “I don’t defeat, saying: “In fairness, hats Norris (GBR) 41, 5. Charles Qclaiming joint fi rst position tempts at that height as well as for Ferrari dishing out the same a few laps later as they pinned know how we are going to make off to Mercedes and Lewis.” Leclerc (MON) 40, 6. Sergio Pe- with Japan’s Naoto Tobe at the three at 2.27m. treatment on Valtteri Bottas on their hopes on fresher medium it to the end”. Verstappen said: “We’re not rez (MEX) 32, 7. Daniel Ricciardo Ready Steady Tokyo meeting Competing in the stadium turn two. On lap eight Yuki Tsu- tyres making the diff erence to- Hamilton moved into second where we want to be and we still (AUS) 24, 8. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) yesterday. The event is part of which will host Olympic athlet- noda’s drive in Catalonia suf- wards the fi nish. but there was no hint of team need to push hard and catch up 20, 9. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 10, 10. the World Athletics Continen- ics action this summer, Kazuki fered a premature end when his At the midway point Hamilton orders with Bottas forcing his because at the moment we are a Pierre Gasly (FRA) 8, 11. Lance tal Tour Gold series. Kurokawa and Ryuji Miura were AlphaTauri came to a grinding set the fastest lap to go less than teammate into full overtaking little bit slower. But compared to Stroll (CAN) 5, 12. Fernando A battle between Barshim among the athletes to rise to the halt. two and a half seconds behind mode.Ten laps to go and Ham- last year, it has been a jump for Alonso (ESP) 5, 13. Yuki Tsunoda and Japan’s top three athletes occasion. But on the track, it “Engine stop” the Japanese his Dutch rival. The gap was less ilton had only three seconds to us.” (JPN) 2, 14. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) had been expected in the men’s was Kurokawa and Miura who rookie lamented as the safety car than a second shortly after. make up on Verstappen and on Bottas took third in the sec- 0, 15. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) high jump, but a jump off be- had the races of their lives in the emerged briefl y to remove the On lap 43 Mercedes played lap 60 he did it, surging past the ond Mercedes with Leclerc’s 0, 16. Sebastian Vettel (GER) tween Qatar’s two-time Olym- 400m hurdles and 3000m stee- immobile obstacle. their ace card. Dutchman on turn one – Toto Ferrari in fourth and Sergio Pe- 0, 17. George Russell (GBR) 0, pic medallist and the Japanese plechase respectively. Verstappen held off Hamilton Hamilton, half a second off Wolff , his team boss, punching rez in the second Red Bull com- 18. Mick Schumacher (GER) 0, indoor record-holder Tobe took For Kurokawa, that resulted comfortably on the restart on the lead, came into the pits for a the air with delight as their mas- pleting the top fi ve. 19. Nicholas Latifi (CAN) 0, 20. things up another notch. in a PB of 48.68 to lead the top lap 11, with Leclerc continuing second new set of mediums. terstroke paid off . Nikita Mazepin (RUS) 0 With both athletes clearing three all under the Olympic to split the two Mercedes. He re-emerged with under Hamilton said he was in two Race heights from 2.15m to 2.30m qualifying mark of 48.90. The With a third of the race com- 23sec to make up on Verstappen, minds as to whether to obey the 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mer- Constructors standings on their fi rst attempts and then 19-year-old, who is coached pleted the fi rst round of pit stops who with tyre wear was in dan- order to come in. cedes) 1hr 33min 07.680sec, 2. 1. Mercedes 141 pts, 2. Red Bull- failing their three goes at 2.33m, by 1997 world indoor 400m began, with all eyes on which ger of becoming what he would “I was about to get a shot to Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull- Honda 112, 3. McLaren-Mercedes they then took it in turns to at- bronze medallist Shunji Karu- of the front two with less than describe afterwards as “a sitting get past him as I pitted. I was re- Honda) at 15.841sec, 3. Valtteri 65, 4. Ferrari 60, 5. Alpine-Re- tempt 2.33m, 2.31m and 2.29m be, led from start to fi nish and a second between them would duck” for the man in pursuit of a ally confl icted — ‘do I come in or Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 26.610, nault 15, 6. AlphaTauri-Honda 10, to decide the winner. although tiring in the closing blink fi rst. record eighth drivers’ title. ignore the call?’. 4. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 7. Aston Martin-Mercedes 5, 8. Since retaining his world title stages he held on to improve on Verstappen it was who came Hamilton asked his pit wall: “I did what the team asked 54.616, 5. Sergio Perez (MEX/ Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari 0, 9. on home soil in 2019, Barshim his previous best of 49.19 set in on lap 25, but the pit stop was “How far have I got to catch up?” because there is a great trust Red Bull-Honda) 1:03.671, 6. Williams 0, 10. Haas-Ferrari 0 had competed just once, also last year. Gulf Times 2 Monday, May 10, 2021 FOOTBALL

PREMIER LEAGUE WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE Resilient Kirby Man City’s title reigns as Chelsea crowned queens party delayed by of England Reuters like I didn’t know how it was to London, England feel normal... I remember having numerous conversations and thinking, I can’t do this any- ust over a year on from an more,” she told the Daily Tele- infection that threatened graph newspaper. to end her career, Chel- Not only did she return, she United win at Villa sea midfi elder Fran Kirby came back and performed better scoredJ twice as her side were than ever. ‘That’s the best thing. At least we don’t drive into a blue army tonight’ crowned Women’s Super League In a star-studded attack, Kirby champions thanks in no small was the driving force in a season AFP part to her incredible resurgence. where Chelsea won the Commu- RESULTS London, England Chelsea retained their league nity Shield, the Continental Cup Aston Villa 1 (Traore 24) crown with a 5-0 thrashing of and the WSL. Manchester United 3 (Fernandes Reading of the fi nal day of the In all, Kirby netted a career- anchester City’s 52-pen, Greenwood 56, Cavani season. best 16 goals in the league but it 87) is her ability to make space for Premier League title West Ham 0 Everton 1 “I’ve loved every minute of it. celebrations were (Calvert-Lewin 24) I’ve loved playing football again, the likes of Sam Kerr, Bethany put on hold again as Wolves 2 (Traore 76, Gibbs- I’ve loved being part of this team, England and Pernille Harder that MManchester United fought back I’ve found a new love for it and has made her so valuable and her White 90) Brighton 1 (Dunk 13) to win 3-1 at Aston Villa, while this is really special,” Kirby told team’s attack so potent. West Ham’s top four bid suff ered STANDINGS (top 10) BT Sport before rushing off to “The character in this team a major setback in a 1-0 defeat P W D L GD Pts continue celebrating with her is incredible – one goal is not against Everton yesterday. Man City 35 25 5 5 46 80 teammates. enough, we want to go and score In February 2020 after she had again and again. We pride our- Pep Guardiola’s side missed Man Utd 34 20 10 4 31 70 a chance to seal the title when been out of the team for several selves on scoring goals, but we they lost 2-1 to Chelsea on Sat- Chelsea 35 18 10 7 23 64 months, the club revealed that also keep clean sheets,” Kirby urday. Leicester 35 19 6 10 20 63 the 27-year-old was suff ering told BT Sport. City could have started the West Ham 35 17 7 11 10 58 from pericarditis, an infl amma- Kirby and Chelsea can round party if second placed United Liverpool 34 16 9 9 18 57 tion of the fi brous sac surround- off a remarkable season by over- lost at Villa Park, but their arching the heart. Kirby worried that coming Barcelona in the Cham- rivals kept the leaders’ cham- Tottenham 35 16 8 11 20 56 she might never return. pions League fi nal in Gothen- pagne on ice with a second-half Everton 34 16 7 11 4 55 “I got to the stage where I felt burg, Sweden next Sunday. escape act. Leeds 35 15 5 15 0 50 Trailing to Bertrand Traore’s Arsenal 34 14 7 13 9 49 fi rst half rocket, United equalised through Bruno Fernandes’ Barcelona women crowned Spanish penalty before Mason Green- Calvert-Lewin latched on to champions again wood and Edinson Cavani net- Ben Godfrey’s pass and out- ted to leave City frustrated. paced Craig Dawson before fi r- Reuters title when the season was Asked if he was pleased to ing home in the 24th minute. Barcelona, Spain ended prematurely due to the make City wait, United man- West Ham defender Vladimir coronavirus pandemic. ager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: Coufal hit the post in the sec- It has long seemed a case “That’s the best thing. At least ond half, but David Moyes’ men arcelona retained the of if rather than when they we don’t drive into a blue army now have just three games left to Spanish women’s soccer were going to clinch the title tonight. We’ll try to delay it as overhaul fourth-placed Leices- Btitle yesterday after this campaign after making a long as we can.” ter. maintaining their 100 percent breathtaking start and never City, with three matches to The Hammers, in fi fth, have record in the league by beat- relenting. play, are now 10 points clear of lost three of their last four ing Granadilla Tenerife 1-0 They have won all 26 of their United, who have four games games and sit fi ve points behind before mathematically sealing games to lead the standings left. Leicester, who lost to Newcastle their crown when nearest on 78 points, scoring 128 goals United host Leicester on on Friday. challengers Levante drew 1-1 at while only conceding five. Tuesday and Liverpool on Everton are eighth and remain Espanyol. They are 16 points above Thursday, with a defeat in either in the hunt for Europa League Bruna Vilamala, 18, scored the second-placed Levante with of those matches guaranteeing qualifi cation. only goal of the game against three games in hand. They are the title for City, who are next Brighton blew a chance to se- Granadilla late in the first half. also unbeaten in the league in action at Newcastle on Friday. cure their survival in a dramatic The Catalans won last year’s since February 2019. Treble-chasing City’s blis- 2-1 defeat at Wolves. tering form has turned the title Brighton took the lead after Moyes admits top-four chances ‘slim’ race into a procession since the 13 minutes when Lewis Dunk new year and it is only a matter headed in Pascal Gross’ corner. aft er Everton defeat of time before their coronation Graham Potter’s side needed Reuters half goal, told reporters. “At the is confi rmed. a victory to be sure of avoiding London, England moment our chances of the They will have to wait another relegation. Champions League are slim. 48 hours at least due to the latest But Brighton captain Dunk “We have been shooting for the display of United’s fortitude. was sent off in the 53rd minute avid Moyes said West stars and will continue to try for Villa took the lead in the 24th after he pulled back Fabio Sil- Ham United will con- that but if we don’t make (the minute through Traore, who va. Dtinue shooting for the Champions League) then hope- turned sharply in the penalty Wolves equalised in the 76th stars but concedes his side’s fully whatever we get we will area and shrugged off Victor minute through Adama Traore chances of reaching next sea- look at as a good result.” Lindelof before smashing a su- and Morgan Gibbs-White won it son’s Champions League are There is still hope for West Ham perb strike into the top corner in the 90th minute with his fi rst slim after a 1-0 home loss to in that Leicester’s last three from an acute angle. Premier League goal. Everton in the Premier League games are tough, including But Solskjaer’s team have Brighton’s Neal Maupay was yesterday. Tuesday’s trip to Old Traff ord to been experts at second-half sent off for foul and abusive lan- Fifth-placed West Ham could play Manchester United. West comebacks this season and Paul Manchester United’s Edinson Cavani celebrates after scoring a goal during the Premier League match guage after the fi nal whistle. have exerted real pressure on Ham’s remaining games are Pogba won a 52nd minute pen- against Aston Villa at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, yesterday. (AFP) The Seagulls are 10 points fourth-placed Leicester City against sides in the bottom half. alty when Douglas Luiz need- above the relegation zone, with with a win, but instead remain However, United manager Ole lessly bundled over the United the wrong way from the spot. their captain Harry Maguire was sent off moments later for a third bottom Fulham, who have five points behind with three Gunnar Solskjaer has said he midfi elder. Greenwood put United ahead limped off after colliding with second booking after diving in a four games left, playing Burnley games left. will play a much-changed team City’s Sergio Aguero had four minutes later as he swiv- Anwar El Ghazi. failed attempt to win a penalty. on Monday. “I don’t think we deserved on Tuesday because of a fixture missed a penalty against Chel- elled past Tyrone Mings on the Cavani wrapped up the points Second bottom West Bro- to lose today and we have to schedule that means his side sea with a risky ‘Panenka’ edge of the area and drove a low with a glancing header from HAMMER BLOW mwich Albion, 10 points from pick up and go again,” Moyes, must play three league games chipped eff ort, but Fernandes fi nish past Martinez’s weak at- Marcus Rashford’s cross in the At the London Stadium, West safety with four games left, will whose side were undone by in five days, culminating in a was far more clinical as he sent tempted save. 87th minute. Ham were rocked by Everton be relegated if they lose at Arse- Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s first- Thursday clash with Liverpool. Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez United suff ered a blow when Villa striker Ollie Watkins striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. nal in Sunday’s last game.

BUNDESLIGA Frankfurt frustrated in top four race, Cologne slip towards relegation

AFP keeper Kevin Trapp told Sky. lead on 18 minutes, before Erme- on the counter-attack. Berlin, Germany Austrian striker Karim On- din Demirovic doubled the lead Defeat saw Cologne miss isiwo fi red Mainz in front with a with a tap-in two minutes later. the chance to leapfrog Arminia daisy-cutting long-range eff ort Cheered on by fans from out- Bielefeld and Hertha Berlin, who ustralian midfi elder Aj- on 11 minutes. side the stadium, the hosts came held each other to a goalless draw din Hrustic scored a bi- Frankfurt remained blunt for out fi ghting in the second half. in yesterday’s late game. zarre late equaliser yes- much of the second half, be- Sebastian Andersson pulled a Despite several chances in the terday to give Eintracht fore Hrustic struck late to save a goal back with a brilliant fi rst- fi rst half, Bielefeld were unable to FrankfurtA a 1-1 draw with local point. time fi nish four minutes after lift themselves off the relegation rivals Mainz and prevent their Having fallen over after his the break. Cologne looked set to play-off place as they battled to a Champions League hopes suff er- fi rst shot was blocked, the mid- equalise when Ismail Jakobs was point in the capital. ing a worse blow. fi elder fl icked out his left leg from brought down in the box on the They are now level on points Hrustic managed to lob Mainz the fl oor to send the rebound counter-attack. with both Werder Bremen and goalkeeper Robin Zentner while looping into the net. Yet Ondrej Duda slipped as he Hertha, who have a game in hand lying on the fl oor to score his fi rst Mainz, who seemed certain to took the penalty, skying the ball and a chance to pull clear when ever Bundesliga goal. go down for much of the season, high into the empty stands. they play Schalke on Wednesday. The draw dropped Frank- have not lost in nine games and Cologne had the ball in the net furt out of the top four for the are now fi ve points clear of the in stoppage time, but the goal RESULTS fi rst time since January, as they bottom three. was controversially disallowed Eintracht Frankfurt 1 (Hrustic slipped a point behind Borussia for handball, despite video foot- 85) Mainz 1 (Onisiwo 11) Dortmund. CONTROVERSY IN COLOGNE age showing it had struck Jonas Cologne 1 (Andersson Having pulled seven points Earlier yesterday, strugglers Co- Hector’s shoulder. 49) Freiburg 4 (Petersen 18, clear of Dortmund in April, logne suff ered another blow in “It wasn’t a handball for me Demirovic 20, Grifo 90+3, 90+6) Frankfurt have seen their Cham- their bid to avoid relegation as a – I don’t know what a handball Hertha Berlin 0 Arminia pions League prospects fade with disputed handball decision and a is anymore. It’s extremely bit- Bielefeld 0 just one win in their last four missed penalty saw them slip to ter, because it would have been games. a 4-1 defeat at home to Freiburg. an important point for us today,” Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ajdin “You could say the momentum Friedhelm Funkel’s side remain said Hector. Hrustic celebrates scoring the is with Dortmund now. It’s no two points adrift of safety. The hosts then fell apart in the equaliser during the Bundesliga longer in our hands, but every- Nils Petersen pounced on dying minutes as Vincenzo Grifo match against FSV Mainz 05 at thing is still possible. We have to some sloppy defending from El- and Jonathan Schmid sealed the Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, keep believing,” Frankfurt goal- lyes Skhiri to give Freiburg the win for Freiburg with two goals Germany, yesterday. (Reuters) Gulf Times Monday, May 10, 2021 3 FOOTBALL

LIGUE 1 AFC CUP Bengaluru FC told to exit Maldives aft er Monaco stay on virus protocol breach

Teenager Matazo Reuters AFC did not give revised dates for Bengaluru, India the games. scores the winner at “Participating clubs who have travelled to Maldives will be re- Reims for Kovac’s side; ndian Super League (ISL) quired to arrange for their return course for CL soccer team Bengaluru FC home while adhering to the Cov- Marseille’s hopes of were asked to leave the Mal- id-19 health and travel protocols dives yesterday by the coun- put in place by the country,” the finishing fifth dealt a Itry’s sports minister, after some AFC said in a statement. players breached Covid-19 pro- “At the same time, the AFC blow as they lose 1-0 at tocols ahead of their AFC Cup is in contact with all other par- playoff tie with Eagles FC. ticipating clubs and offi cials who Saint-Etienne Maldives Minister of Youth, have not entered the Maldives qualifi cation Sports and Community Empow- to cancel their travel arrange- erment Ahmed Mahloof took ments.” to Twitter to call for the Indian Group D includes India’s ATK RESULTS team to leave the country for Mohun Bagan, Bashundhara  Saint-Etienne 1 (Nordin 43) breaching guidelines set by the Kings of Bangladesh, Maldives’ Marseille 0 Health Protection Agency (HPA) Maziya Sports & Recreation and Angers 3 (Fulgini 7, Allagbe before their match on May 11. the winner of the playoff . 50-og, Diony 89) Dijon 0 “Unacceptable behaviour Bengaluru FC CEO Parth Jin- Metz 0 Nimes 3 (Fomba 61, from @bengalurufc breaching dal said on Twitter that the club Ripart 67-pen, Ferhat 89) would sanction three members Nice 3 (Lopes 38, Boudaoui the strict guidelines from HPA,” 61, Kamara 89) Brest 2 (Mounie Mahloof said. “The club should of the travelling party. 4, 43) leave... immediately as we can’t “On behalf of @bengalurufc, Strasbourg 2 (Ajorque entertain this act. I am extremely sorry for the in- 69, Zohi 90+5) Montpellier 3 “We have informed FAM excusable behavior of three of (Laborde 36, 50, Delort 46) (Football Association of Mal- our foreign players/staff while in Reims 0 Monaco 1 (Matazo dives) that we cannot hold the Male — the strictest action will 20) match, and asked them to make be taken against these players/ Playing later yesterday arrangements for @bengalu- staff ,” Jindal said. Rennes v PSG rufc’s departure. We will be in Earlier, Group J matches in further correspondence with Hong Kong were postponed from STANDINGS (top 10) AFC... to postpone the group May to June due to challenges P W D L GD Pts stage.” caused by the Covid-19 pan- The AFC later confi rmed that demic. Lille 36 23 10 3 40 79 all AFC Cup south zone group The 2020 edition of the AFC PSG 35 24 3 8 52 75 stage matches in the Maldives Cup was cancelled due to the Monaco 36 23 5 8 33 74 had been postponed. Covid-19 pandemic when quar- Group D matches were origi- antine regulations in many na- Lyon 36 21 10 5 36 73 nally scheduled to be held in the tions made international travel Marseille 36 15 11 10 14 56 capital Male from May 14-21. The almost impossible. Lens 36 15 11 10 4 56 Rennes 35 15 9 11 11 54 Montpellier 36 13 11 12 -3 50 Klopp expects strong United squad in Nice 36 14 7 15 -2 49 rearranged game despite fi xture pile-up Metz 36 12 10 14 -3 46 Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he expects Manchester United to field a strong fi nishing fi fth and taking the last squad in Thursday’s rearranged Premier European place were dealt a blow League fixture despite the Old Traff ord club’s as Jorge Sampaoli’s side lost 1-0 at hectic schedule. United travel to Aston Villa Saint-Etienne with Arnaud Nor- on Sunday before hosting Leicester City on din scoring the only goal. Tuesday. The rearranged fixture with Liver- Meanwhile at the other end of pool, postponed last weekend following fan the table six teams are still bat- protests, has been scheduled for 48 hours tling to avoid two places in the later on Thursday. United manager Ole Gun- Monaco’s Eliot Matazo (left) celebrates his goal during the Ligue 1 match against Reims in Reims, France, yesterday. (AFP) bottom three. nar Solskjaer said he may have no other option but to rotate his Brest were beaten 3-2 at Nice squad heavily because of the fixture pile-up. But Klopp expects AFP out the victory to get back on gle point behind Paris Saint- Monaco, who had been in and Strasbourg went down 3-2 a tough test. “I expect a strong team against us,” Klopp said after Paris, France track after losing at home to ri- Germain before the capital side’s outstanding form before being at home to Montpellier meaning Saturday’s 2-0 win over Southampton. “I think Man United has vals Lyon last weekend. trip to Rennes later. beaten by Lyon, went in front both remain at risk of slipping only good players. If I think about the players they could play, The principality side were Lille were convincing 3-0 when 19-year-old Matazo set into the relegation zone on the they have a really strong side available. Midfield, wow. Up front, fi rst senior goal for beaten 3-2 in that game and winners at northern rivals Lens off on a driving run towards last two weekends. all good players. They might be young but they are good.” Belgian youngster Eliot were then leapfrogged by Lyon on Friday as they kept their title goal and exchanged passes with Nantes occupy 18th place, the Matazo gave Monaco a after they defeated Lorient 4-1 destiny in their own hands and Kevin Volland before slotting in. relegation play-off spot, but a Man City’s Aguero apologises for 1-0 win at Reims yes- on Saturday. increased the pressure on PSG. The visitors then thought they 3-0 win over Bordeaux on Sat- terdayA that kept the principality However, this victory takes Only the top three in France had been awarded a penalty in urday was their third in a row penalty miss aft er Chelsea defeat club on course for a top-three Niko Kovac’s side back up to qualify for the Champions the fi nal minute of the fi rst half and they are now just a single fi nish in Ligue 1 and a return third on 74 points, one point League, with the top two going when Wout Faes was ruled to point from outright safety. Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero to the Champions League next better off than Lyon with just straight into the group stage of have fouled Volland in the box, Beneath them, Nimes are 19th apologised for his failed attempt at a chipped season. two games of the season re- Europe’s elite club competition but the referee changed his mind and set to go down automatical- penalty in Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League Teenager Matazo, who was maining. and third entering in the third after reviewing the images. ly with already-relegated Dijon. defeat to Chelsea, saying it was a “bad signed from Anderlecht aged Champions and Champions qualifying round. However, Monaco saw out the However, they kept their decision”. City were 1-0 up when they were 16 in 2018, struck in the 20th League semi-fi nalists in 2017, Fourth will have to settle for win with their 10th clean sheet hopes of salvation alive with a handed a chance to extend their lead at the minute at the Stade Auguste- Monaco are also fi ve points the consolation of a place in the in their last 11 outings. 3-0 victory at Metz to stay just break after a penalty was awarded following Delaune and Monaco then saw adrift of leaders Lille and a sin- Europa League. Earlier, Marseille’s hopes of two points behind Nantes. Billy Gilmour’s challenge on Gabriel Jesus in the box. Aguero attempted a “Panenka” penalty designed to fool the goalkeeper with SERIE A a chip straight down the middle, but Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy did not commit to his dive and was able to simply stand up and catch the gentle shot. “I would like to apologise to my teammates, staff and supporters for missing the penalty,” City’s all-time top scorer Aguero tweeted after the game. “It was a bad Atalanta fl atten Parma to return second decision and I take full responsibility.” City boss Pep Guardiola refused to criticise Aguero for his fluff ed attempt and said it was AFP Atalanta have the top attack in Serie A Genoa, with goals in either half from Gi- which could have snatched a 2-2 draw, wrong to argue the penalty had turned the game. Milan, Italy ahead of newly-crowned champions In- acomo Raspadori and Domenico Berardi. but it was overruled after a VAR review. ter Milan which they added to in Parma Roberto De Zerbi’s side are eighth, Joao Pedro sealed the win for the Sar- Delicate negotiations going on about with Ruslan Malinovskyi grabbing the two points behind Roma, who crushed dinians deep into injury time. uis Muriel scored twice as Ata- fi rst after 12 minutes. relegated Crotone 5-0 to end the capital CLeague fi nal venue: UK minister lanta brushed aside relegated Par- Muriel and Matteo Pessina came on side’s four-match winless league run, RESULTS ma 5-2 to move back into second after the break and the Colombian set days after their Europa League exit to Genoa 1 (Zappacosta 85) Sassuolo 2 Delicate negotiations are going on between the British govern- place in Serie A yesterday. up the Italian for the second six minutes Manchester United. (Raspadori 14, Berardi 66) ment, European soccer’s governing body UEFA and others about LGian Piero Gasperini’s side are clos- later. Borja Mayoral and Lorenzo Pellegrini Benevento 1 (Lapadula 16) Cagliari 3 where the Champions League final should be played, senior ing in on a third consecutive season of Muriel then struck twice within 10 both scored twice each with Henrikh (Lykogiannis 1, Pavoletti 64, Joao Pedro British minister Michael Gove said yesterday. The final, sched- Champions League football as they sit minutes in the fi nal quarter of an hour to Mkhitaryan getting his fi rst goal in over 90+3) uled for May 29, will be between two English clubs, Manchester two points ahead of third-placed Napoli bring his tally to 21 goals this campaign. three months. Parma 2 (Brunetta 79, Sohm 88) Ata- City and Chelsea. It was due to be played in Istanbul but that was with three games to play. Aleksei Miranchuk grabbed a fi fth in Cagliari won the battle with relega- lanta 5 (Malinovskyi 12, Pessina 52, Muriel thrown into doubt after the British government placed Turkey “There’s still two weeks to go and a lot injury time after Juan Brunetta and Si- tion rivals Benevento 3-1, to move four 77, 86, Miranchuk 90+3) on its travel red list, making it all but impossible for British fans can happen,” said Gasperini with Juven- mon Sohm had pulled two goals back late points clear of the drop zone, equal on Hellas Verona 1 (Dimarco 88) Torino 1 to attend. “There are delicate negotiations that are going on at tus and AC Milan a further point behind for Parma. points with Torino who held Hellas Ve- (Vojvoda 85) the moment,” Gove said on Sky News when asked about where the Bergamo side before they clash later Earlier Sassuolo kept their Europa rona 1-1. Roma 5 (Mayoral 47, 90, Pellegrini 70, the final should take place. “My friend, my colleague the culture on Sunday in Turin. League hopes alive with a 2-1 win over Benevento were awarded a late penalty 73, Mkhitaryan 78) Crotone 0 secretary Oliver Dowden (also the minister for sport) is talking to people about this at the moment, and so I don’t want to cut across that. But I’m sure that fans in the UK would dearly love to Sporting Lisbon’s risk on fertile youth system pays off see the final played here in the UK.” Bayern’s Goretzka injured, doubtful for That drought could end today if Bruno de Carvalho, whose con- have established themselves. Sporting brought in experi- AFP Euro 2020: report Lisbon, Portugal second-placed Porto fail to win frontational relationship with In midfield, Daniel Braganca enced players last summer, in- at home to second-bottom Fa- players led to accusations that (21) and Matheus Nunes (22) cluding 28-year-old Portuguese rense, or tomorrow if Sporting he had inflamed fans’ anger. have been regulars. In attack, international Joao Mario, who Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka porting Lisbon are finally win at home against struggling Last year, Frederico Varandas, Jovane Cabral (22) and Tiago started his career at the club, will be ruled out for the rest of the season poised to turn their pro- Boavista. who replaced de Carvalho as Tomas (18) have scored impor- 33-year-old former Real Madrid and could miss the start of Euro 2020 after Sductive youth system into With three games left, Sporting president, decided to “change tant goals. goalkeeper Antonio Adan and picking up a thigh injury, German media trophies as a team filled with lead by eight points and are un- the paradigm” and put youth at Youth “is our bet”, Amorim much travelled 32-year-old reported yesterday. Goretzka played just 10 youngsters stand one match beaten in the league this season. the heart of the club’s strategy. said at the end of March, after Moroccan international Zouhair minutes after coming on during Bayern’s from ending the club’s 19-year They are winning with kids. the debut of midfielder Dario Feddal. 6-0 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach wait for a league title. Just three years ago, Sporting EXPERIENCE TO BLEND Essugo, who at 16 years and “The mix of academy players on Saturday before going off again with The club developed Luis Figo went though the worst crisis in WITH YOUNGSTERS six days became the youngest and more experienced players an apparent injury. According to German and, more recently, almost half their 100-year history. In May While the club still has a core of player to appear in the Portu- is important in the success of magazine Kicker, the 26-year-old tore a thigh of the Euro 2016-winning team 2018, after the club finished experienced veterans, this sea- guese top flight. teams,” Amorim said after the muscle and will now be out of action for the last two weeks of including Cristiano Ronaldo, third in the Portuguese league son has seen the rise of young “Dario has a lot of talent, he is club ensured it would finish the Bundesliga season. “The Bayern player now appears to face a Joao Moutinho, Nani and Ricar- fans invaded and ransacked its home-grown players under part of our project, no matter in the top two and qualify for race against time” to be fit for the start of the European Champi- do Quaresma but they have not training centre and assaulted coach Ruben Amorim, himself what age, it’s a message to all the Champions League next onship, wrote the magazine, citing sources in Munich. Bayern are won a Portuguese league title players and staff . only 36 years old. the kids who are undecided season. yet to confirm the report. Germany are scheduled to play their since the 2001-2002 season. The incident led to the de- In defence, 18-year-old Nuno between several clubs, let them “We will suff er, but we cannot opening group game at the delayed tournament against France Since then, Sporting’s Lisbon parture of coach Jorge Jesus, Mendes, who is being courted know that here the door is change our idea of betting on on June 15 in Munich’s Allianz Arena. Goretzka has 31 caps for rivals Benfica and Porto have several senior members of by Manchester City and Ju- open,” the coach stressed. the training and development Germany and has become a leading player for Joachim Loew’s split the title between them. the squad and club president ventus, and Goncalo Inacio, 19, To support the youngsters, of players,” he said. team in recent years. Gulf Times 4 Monday, May 10, 2021 SPORT

CYCLING/GIRO D’ITALIA Merlier sprints to 2nd stage win, Ganna holds pink jersey AFP Novara, Italy RESULTS FROM SECOND STAGE 1. Tim Merlier (BEL/Alpecin) GENERAL CLASSIFICATION elgian Tim Merlier won 4hrs 21mins 9sec, 2. Giacomo 1. Filippo Ganna (ITA/Ineos) a sprint fi nish for the Nizzolo (ITA/QHU) same time, 4hrs 29mins 53sec, 2. Edoardo second stage of the Giro 3. Elia Viviani (ITA/COF) s.t., 4. Aff ini (ITA/JUM) at 13sec, 3. d’Italia yesterday with Dylan Groenewegen (NED/JUM) Tobias Foss (NOR/JUM) 16, 4. Italy’sB Filippo Ganna holding the s.t., 5. Peter Sagan (SVK/BOR) Remco Evenepoel (BEL/DEC) leader’s pink jersey. s.t., 6. Matteo Moschetti (ITA/ 20, 5. Joao Almeida (POR/DEC) Merlier, 28, riding for Alpecin, TRE) s.t., 7. Filippo Fiorelli (ITA/ same time, 6. Remi Cavagna fi nished ahead of two Italians, BAR) s.t., 8. Lawrence Naesen (FRA/DEC) 21, 7. Jos van Emden European champion Giacomo (BEL/AG2) s.t., 9. Davide Cimolai (NED/JUM) s.t., 8. Max Walsc- Nizzolo and Elia Viviani, to claim (ITA/ISR) s.t., 10. Caleb Ewan heid (GER/QHU) 22, 9. Matthias his fourth win of the season. (AUS/LOT) s.t. Brändle (AUT/ISR) 25, 10. Gianni Dutch rider Dylan Groenewe- SELECTED Moscon (ITA/INE) 26 gen fi nished fourth on his return 16. Egan Bernal (COL/INE) s.t., Selected: 37. Simon Yates (GBR/ after a nine-month ban for his 20. Filippo Ganna (ITA/INE) s.t., BIK) 41, 40. Egan Bernal (COL/ part in a crash that left compa- 34. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/TRE) INE) 42, 50. Vincenzo Nibali triot Fabio Jakobsen with seri- s.t., 35. Romain Bardet (FRA/ (ITA/TRE) 44, 91. Romain Bardet ous injuries at last year’s Tour DSM) s.t. (FRA/DSM) 55 of Poland. “I’m very happy with this victory in my fi rst sprint at a Grand Tour,” said Merlier. ian fi nished among the bunched name today. We know tomor- “I was confi dent before tack- sprint fi nish which included his row is a perfect stage for Peter ling the Giro. I knew it was im- Ineos teammate and 2019 Tour Sagan.” portant to be well-positioned at de France winner Egan Bernal. Today’s 190km third stage be- the last roundabout. “I did the time bonus sprint tween Biella and Canale includes “When I came out of it I only just to take the bonifi cation three climbs in the second half of thought of going faster and faster (time bonus) away from the oth- the race including one 15km from afterwards. I went from far out, ers, thinking of the coming days the fi nishing line. at about 250 metres. I still had if Egan or Pavel (Sivakov) are enough to fi nish it off . My prepa- fi ghting for the Maglia Rosa,” ration at altitude has been good.” said Ganna, who fi nished 20th in Opening time-trial stage the same time as the leaders. Alpecin-Fenix rider Tim Merlier winner Ganna of Ineos holds “I saw Remco (Evenepoel) was of Belgium celebrates crossing the overall race lead after the trying to go for it too. But Gi- the finish line to win the Giro 179-kilometre run between anni (Moscon) and myself did a d’Italia second stage – Stupinigi Stupinigi near Turin to Novara good job. “I enjoyed hearing the to Novara – in Stupinigi, Italy, in his native Piedmont. The Ital- crowd of Piedmont yelling my yesterday. (Reuters)

HARARE TEST FOCUS New Zealand’s Boult, Neesham arrive Pakistan on verge of in Auckland aft er IPL’s suspension

Reuters via Tokyo. A second fl ight car- Auckland rying bowler Lockie Ferguson, successive innings coaches Brendon McCullum, Stephen Fleming and Kyle Mills, ew Zealand players in- commentators Simon Doull and cluding Trent Boult Scott Styris and umpire Chris and Jimmy Neesham Gaff aney will arrive later on were among a fi rst group Sunday, the report added. toN return to the country from the New Zealand Cricket said on Indian Premier League on Satur- Saturday batsman Tim Seifert win over Zimbabwe day after the series was abruptly will remain in India after testing suspended, NZ Herald reported. positive for Covid-19 but skip- International cricketers who per Kane Williamson and four ‘I NEVER LOST HOPE AND KEPT PERFORMING AT THE DOMESTIC LEVEL’ were part of the IPL started others have been moved to the heading back home on Wednes- Maldives pending their depar- AFP day after the lucrative Twenty20 ture for England. Harare competition was called off on Mumbai Indians said later Tuesday over the coronavirus yesterday that all of their foreign crisis in India. contingent, apart from the New akistan were thwarted by bad Boult and Neesham were Zealand cohort, had also reached light yesterday, one wicket short joined on a charter fl ight to their respective destinations af- of a second successive innings Auckland by their Mumbai In- ter leaving from New Delhi. win against Zimbabwe, but could dians team mate Adam Milne West Indies all-rounder Ki- Paff ord to start contemplating a clean plus Royal Challengers Banga- eron Pollard arrived in Trinidad, sweep of series wins on their southern lore (RCB) duo of Finn Allen and while South Africa’s Quinton de Africa tour. Scott Kuggeleijn, the report said. Kock and Marco Jansen landed in Despite a fi ghting innings by Regis RCB’s Director of Cricket Op- Johannesburg. Chakabva on the third day of the sec- eration Mike Hesson was also Australian duo Nathan Coul- ond and fi nal Test at Harare Sports Club, part of the group along with ter-Nile and Chris Lynn arrived Zimbabwe were 220 for nine in their James Pamment and Shane Bond in the Maldives. Australia has follow-on innings at the close, 158 runs who have coaching and manage- banned travellers from India, short of making Pakistan bat again. ment roles in the IPL. even its own citizens, until May “It would be a great win for us tomor- The group arrived in Auckland 15. row as we will end both tours with wins in all series,” said left-arm spinner Nauman Ali, who took fi ve for 86 in the second innings. Pakistan won two white-ball series in South Africa before winning a Twenty20 series in Zimbabwe ahead of the Test matches. Chakabva scored 80 as Zimbabwe Pakistan players celebrate made their highest total of a series in aft er taking a Zimbabwe which they have been outclassed. wicket on the third day of The wicketkeeper-batsman followed the second Test in Harare up his top score of 33 in the fi rst innings yesterday. (Twitter/PCB) by making his team’s only half-century in the two matches. But his dismissal started a collapse in cause of my hard work. I was a bit angry Taylor spoke after the second day playing a long innings and taking my op- which six wickets fell for 35 runs. on missing a maiden century so I was de- about the need for batsmen to spend a portunities when they came,” he said. “It’s a very disappointing situation to termined to do well in bowling.” long time at the crease but both he and The ninth wicket fell two overs before fi nd ourselves in, in both Test matches Chakabva batted aggressively in his Chakabva went for their shots, especially the scheduled fi nish but the last pair, actually,” said Chikabva. 137-ball innings, hitting 13 fours and two against the Pakistan spin bowlers, as cap- Luke Jongwe and Blessing Muzaranbani, Panthers hire Morgan as assistant GM “Pakistan have good bowlers. They’re sixes. He shared an attacking third wicket tain Babar Azam set attacking fi elds. survived. The Carolina Panthers are 2018. The Panthers named very skilful but it’s disappointing that on partnership of 79 with captain Brendan Chakabva fell when he edged an at- The umpires allowed an extra half reuniting with one of their own, Fitterer their general manager a good batting track we didn’t apply our- Taylor, who raced to 49 off 31 balls before tempted big hit off Nauman to Babar at hour’s play in order to try to achieve a hiring former linebacker and in January 2021. He spent 20 selves the way we should have.” being caught by wicketkeeper Mohamed slip. result but called it off for bad light four one-time first-round pick Dan seasons with the Seahawks, Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali contin- Rizwan down the leg side off Afridi. “I was trying to fi nd a balance between overs into the added time. Morgan as assistant general most recently as vice president ued his mastery over Zimbabwe’s bats- manager. of football operations. men, taking a career-best fi ve for 27 as SCORECARD Morgan spent seven seasons, the host nation were bowled out for 132 in three of them injury-filled, with Bertelsen dies at 71 the fi rst innings. PAKISTAN 1st innings 510-8 decl Total (60.4 overs) 132 D. Tiripano lbw b Ali 0 the Panthers after they made Former Los Angeles Rams run- Hasan, man-of-the-match after tak- him the No. 11 overall pick in ning back and ex-Texas Long- ZIMBABWE 1st innings (overnight 52-4) Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Musakanda), 2-23 R. Kaia c Khan b Ali 0 ing nine for 89 when Pakistan won the the 2001 NFL Draft. He was a horns great Jim Bertelsen has (Kasuza), 3-40 (Taylor), 4-49 (Shumba), fi rst Test by an innings and 116 runs at the SRI LANKA 2nd innings (overnight 17-2) T. Chisoro b Afridi 8 key member of the 2003 team, died at age 71, the university 5-53 (Chisoro), 6-68 (Chakabva), 7-77 same venue, went wicketless in the sec- which lost Super Bowl XXXVIII announced Friday. K. Kasuza b Ali 4 (Jongwe), 8-108 (Tiripano), 9-110 (Kaia), 10- R. Ngarava b Afridi 0 ond innings but conceded only nine runs to the New England Patriots, The school revealed the news T. Musakanda lbw Khan 0 132 (Muzarabini) B. Muzarabani not out 0 in ten overs. 32-29, and a Pro Bowl selection in a Twitter post that honoured Nauman and left-arm fast bowler R. Chakabva c Abid b Ali 33 Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi 14-4-34-1 (1w), Extras: (b1, lb5) 6 in 2004. He retired in 2008 be- the two-time national champion Shaheen Shah Afridi, who took four for B. Taylor c Rizwan b Afridi 9 Tabish Khan 15-8-22-1, Hasan Ali 13-4-27-5, Total (9 wkts, 63 overs) 220 cause of injuries and started to who still ranks among the top Nauman Ali 6-3-3-0, Sajid Khan 12.4-6-39-2 45, were the wicket-takers in the second M. Shumba lbw b Khan 2 Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Musakanda), 2-63 work in NFL front off ices a few 10 in rushing touchdowns in innings. ZIMBABWE 2nd innings (follow-on) (Kasuza), 3-142 (Taylor), 4-170 (Chakabva), years later. Most recently, he Longhorns history. No details Nauman, who had to wait until he was T. Chisoro c Butt b Ali 1 K. Kasuza b Ali 22 5-188 (Shumba), 6-196 (Tiripano), 7-196 was director of player person- were given regarding the 34 before making his Test debut against L. Jongwe b Ali 19 nel for the Buff alo Bills. cause of death. Originally from T. Musakanda c Rizwan b Afridi 8 (Kaia), 8-205 (Chisoro), 9-205 (Ngarava) South Africa in January, claimed his sec- D. Tiripano c sub (Shakeel) b Khan 23 Morgan, 42, worked with Pan- Saint Paul, Minn., Bertlesen ond fi ve-wicket haul in four Tests. His R Chakabva c Azam b Ali 80 Bowling: S. Afridi 17-5-45-4, T. Khan 9-2- thers general manager Scott attended Hudson High School R. Kaia c Ali b Ali 11 42-0, H. Ali 10-7-9-0, S. Khan 6-1-32-0, N. bowling performance followed a swash- B. Taylor c Rizwan b Afridi 49 Fitterer with the Seahawks for in Wisconsin before enrolling at buckling innings of 97 on Saturday. R. Ngarava not out 15 Ali 21-3-86-5. several years. Morgan began as Texas, where he became a star M. Shumba c Butt b Ali 16 “I never lost hope and kept performing B. Muzarabani run out (Butt) 7 Match situation: Zimbabwe trail by 158 an intern in Seattle in 2010, and ballcarrier. at the domestic level,” he said. L. Jongwe not out 31 runs with one wicket remaining he had been with the Bills since (Reuters) “My performance in Tests is all be- Extras ( b4, lb3, w1) 8 Gulf Times Monday, May 10, 2021 5 SPORT

FOCUS Westbrook ties Robertson for most NBA triple-doubles CURRY SCORES 49 AS WARRIORS ROUT THUNDER

AFP was running out of superlatives for his Los Angeles RESULTS superstar. “I don’t know how to describe it,” Brooklyn 125-119 Denver Kerr said. nother historic night from Utah 124-116 Houston The Warriors led by as many as 41 Russell Westbrook helped the points and were up by 39 after three Washington Wizards to a 133- Memphis 109-99 Toronto quarters, after which Curry and fellow 132 overtime victory over the Golden State 136-97 Oklahoma Golden State starters Andrew Wig- IndianaA Pacers on Saturday. gins and Draymond Green checked out, Portland 124-102 San Antonio Westbrook notched the 181st triple- along with all of the Thunder starters. double of his career on Saturday, tying Washington 133-132 Indiana The Grizzlies, fuelled by a double- Oscar Robertson for the most in NBA Philadelphia 118-104 Detroit double of 18 points and 21 rebounds history. from Jonas Valanciunas, beat the To- He fi nished with 33 points, 19 re- overtake Robertson on Monday when ronto Raptors 109-99 as the 10th- bounds and 15 assists, draining the the Wizards play the Hawks in Atlanta. placed San Antonio Spurs fell 102-124 go-ahead free-throws with one second But he and the rest of the Wizards are to the Portland Trail Blazers. left in overtime then blocking a poten- focused on the standings, where their Despite the defeat, the Spurs re- tial game-winning shot from Indiana’s narrow victory in a game that featured mained two games ahead of the New Caris LeVert as time expired. 33 lead changes saw them inch ahead of Orleans Pelicans for the fi nal play-in “That’s Russell, he’s an incredible the Pacers into ninth place in the East- spot. The Utah Jazz improved their player and person,” said Wizards coach ern Conference standings. Western Conference-leading record to Scott Brooks, who said he thought the The seventh through 10th-placed 50-18 with a 124-116 victory over the triple-double record established by teams will compete in the play-in Houston Rockets – who are assured of Robertson during an NBA career from tournament for a berth in the playoff s fi nishing among the worst three teams. 1960-74 “would never be touched.” proper. The Eastern Conference-leading Bradley Beal scored 50 points for the “We just want to keep playing good Philadelphia 76ers romped past already Wizards but missed overtime with a basketball moving into it,” Brooks said. eliminated Detroit 118-104. hamstring strain. Beal’s outburst wasn’t “If we keep moving up, that’d be great.” But the Brooklyn Nets had to bat- Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook in action during the second half of their NBA game against the Indiana Pacers the only impressive performance over- Among other teams fi ghting for tle for a 125-119 victory over the Den- at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (USA TODAY Sports) shadowed by Westbrook. LeVert scored play-in spots, the Golden State War- ver Nuggets that put them half a game 35 for Indiana whose Domantas Sabonis riors notched a 136-97 rout of Okla- ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks for sec- also had a triple-double of 30 points, 13 homa City thanks to Stephen Curry’s ond in the East. rebounds and 13 assists. 49 points in three quarters. Kevin Durant’s 33 points included But before Beal’s departure – a wor- The win kept the Warriors ahead of fi ve free-throws for the last fi ve points risome development for the Wizards the Memphis Grizzlies in eighth place of a game in which Brooklyn trailed by with the regular season winding down in the Western Conference. 21 points in the fi rst half and by as many – Westbrook had secured his record- Curry was on fi re from the opening as 15 in the third quarter. equalling triple-double with his 10th tip-off , draining fi ve three-pointers on Kyrie Irving added 31 points for the assist late in the third with an arching the way to 24 points in the fi rst quar- Nets, who snapped a four-game losing pass to Beal for a fl oater in the lane. ter and maintaining his lead over Beal streak. “Man, it’s unbelievable,” Westbrook in the NBA scoring race, despite the They held the Nuggets to 15 points in said of matching Robertson. Washington star’s big night. the fourth quarter, taking a one-point “I take a lot of pride in doing every- Curry connected on 14 of 26 shots lead – their fi rst since the opening thing that impacts winning, as much as from the fi eld, including 11 of 21 from minute – on forward Joe Harris’s basket I can leave it on the fl oor. To be in a con- three-point range. with 6:12 to play. versation with Oscar, one I just want to It was Curry’s fourth game this sea- Durant welcomed the “playoff inten- thank him, because he set the stage.” son with at least 11 three-pointers, an sity” of the contest. Westbrook gets a fi rst chance to NBA record. Warriors coach Steve Kerr “It’ll make us better,” he said. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (right) is fouled by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Isaiah Roby (centre) Jordan’s game-worn North Carolina jersey sold for record $1.38mn in the fi rst quarter at the Chase A game-worn jersey belonging to when he was named Sporting News’ jersey has everything any serious col- Center in San Francisco. Michael Jordan from his sophomore NCAA Player of the Year. lector could possibly want,” Chris Ivy (USA TODAY Sports) season at the University of North Caro- It broke the previous record for a of Heritage Auctions said. lina was sold for a record $1.38 million Jordan jersey when a full game-worn Jordan, a six-time NBA champion with on Saturday at Heritage Auctions. Chicago Bulls uniform from Jordan’s the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, is a It is the only known jersey photo- 1986-87 season was sold for $480,000 basketball Hall of Famer who owns the matched to Jordan’s 1982-83 season in October, also at Heritage Auctions. Charlotte Hornets. with the North Carolina Tar Heels “As the final price tag proves, this (Reuters)

NHL MLB Predators down Hurricanes Yankees rally for 11-inning win over Nationals

Reuters 3-1 to seal playoff berth New York

Reuters leyber Torres hit a bases-loaded infi eld Nashville, Tennessee single with no outs in the 11th inning, lifting the New York Yankees to a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Washington uke Kunin scored two goals and the GNationals on Saturday. host Nashville Predators sealed a The Yankees struck out 14 times against Na- playoff s spot by defeating the Central tionals starter Max Scherzer before twice tying Division champion Carolina Hurri- the game against Washington closer Brad Hand. Lcanes 3-1 on Saturday night. With DJ LeMahieu on second base to start the Goalie Juuse Saros made 21 saves and held 11th inning, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton a shutout into the third period in what was drew walks off Tanner Rainey (0-2) to load the a preview of a fi rst-round postseason series. bases. Torres gave New York its 12th win in 18 The teams conclude the regular season with a games when he hit a soft high chopper a little over rematch Monday night in Nashville. halfway down the third base line. Kunin scored in the second and third peri- Rainey moved in front of third baseman Star- ods for a 2-0 Predators lead. Mikael Granlund lin Castro to fi eld the ball, but LeMahieu beat the assisted on both goals. off -balance throw home to cap the game that be- Aaron Hicks congratulates Gleyber Torres (right) gan after a two-hour, 25-minute rain delay. of the New York Yankees after Torres hit a game Torres struck out three times against Scherzer. winning single in the 11th inning of a game RESULTS Justin Wilson (1-0) pitched a hitless 11th after against the Washington Nationals at Yankee Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman allowed his fi rst Stadium in New York City. (Getty Images/AFP) Predators 3-1 Hurricanes run of the season in the 10th. The Nationals took a 3-2 lead in the 10th when Maple Leafs 3-2 Canadiens RESULTS Trea Turner lifted a sacrifi ce fl y to right, but the Oilers 4-3 Canucks Yankees tied the game on Mike Ford’s single Yankees 4-3 Nationals Avalanche 3-2 Kings off Hand. Hand also gave up a game-tying hit to Torres in the ninth. He blew his fi rst save in Braves 8-7 Phillies Golden Knights 4-1 Blues Nashville Predators center Luke Kunin (centre) is congratulated by teammates after scoring 25 regular-season chances since Aug. 23, 2019. Cardinals 9-8 Rockies Coyotes 5-4 Sharks two goals in the playoff -clinching win over the Carolina Hurricanes at Bridgestone Arena in Hand also squandered a save chance against the Nashville. (USA TODAY Sports) Yankees in Game 2 of the 2020 American League Dodgers 14-11 Angels Penguins 1-0 Sabres wild-card playoff s when he was pitching for the Brewers 6-2 Marlins Panthers 5-1 Lightning points) won for the third time in their past time in his last nine outings, and his season Cleveland Indians. four games. record dropped to 15-5-3. Before tying it, the Yankees were dominated Giants 7-1 Padres Capitals 2-1 Flyers The Hurricanes (36-11-8, 80 points) had The Hurricanes lost defenseman Jaccob by Scherzer, who was making his fi rst start since Athletics 6-3 Rays Rangers 5-4 Bruins their 13-game points streak end. The 9-0-4 Slavin to a lower-body injury in the fi rst pe- becoming a father for the third time following Islanders 5-1 Devils run had matched the longest points string in riod. his fi ve-hit complete-game win over the Miami Blue Jays 8-4 Astros franchise history. He played slightly more than seven min- Marlins on May 2. Scherzer allowed one run (a Senators 4-2 Jets It was the fi rst time in seven meetings this utes. Kunin has 10 goals this season, with solo homer to Kyle Higashioka) on two hits and Tigers 7-3 Twins Blue Jackets 5-4 Red Wings season that the Predators defeated the Hur- Saturday marking his fi rst multi-goal eff ort one walk in 7 1/3 innings. Scherzer produced Cubs 3-2 Pirates ricanes. Carolina’s goal came from Morgan of the season. his 100th career regular-season double-digit Wild 4-3 Ducks Geekie less than 1 1/2 minute after Kunin’s Geekie’s third goal of the year was set up by strikeout game. He joined Nolan Ryan, Randy Indians 9-2 Reds second goal. a pass from Steven Lorentz. The Hurricanes Johnson, Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez as White Sox 9-1 Royals A day earlier, the Hurricanes clinched the had won 13 of their previous 14 games against the fi fth pitcher to reach the milestone. After the Hurricanes got within 2-1, Erik top seed in the Central Division when the Nashville prior to Saturday night’s result. The The three-time Cy Young Award winner also Mets 4-2 D’Backs Haula, a former Carolina player, wrapped Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the Dallas Stars. Predators went 0-for-3 on power plays. They moved past Mickey Lolich into 20th place on the Red Sox 11-6 Orioles up the result with an empty-net goal with Carolina goalie Alex Nedeljkovic made 27 also had a successful penalty kill on Caro- all-time strikeout list at 2,845. Lolich had 2,832. 1:03 remaining. The Predators (30-23-2, 62 saves. He took a loss in regulation for the fi rst lina’s lone situation with a man advantage. He is 10 shy of matching Jim Bunning for 19th. Rangers 9-8 Mariners Gulf Times 6 Monday, May 10, 2021 SPORT

GOLF SPOTLIGHT South Africa’s Higgo sinks hole-in-one en McIlroy two back route to Canary Islands triumph

Reuters it a lot better. “I can’t believe it Tenerife, Spain, happened so quickly again but of leader Mitchell my game has been good so I can believe it as well. outh African youngster “I’ve been working really hard, Garrick Higgo fi red an a lot of little things, and I’ve also outrageous hole-in-one accepted what works for me and in the fi nal round of the stuck with that, I think that’s CanaryS Islands Championship been a big thing, and not if I yesterday as he carded a seven- don’t play as well look for some- at Quail Hollow under 64 to seal his second Euro- thing. I’m just going to try and pean Tour victory in three weeks. keep going.” Higgo began the day at Golf Antcliff fi red fi ve birdies and ‘I worked pretty hard these last couple weeks. I found something last week’ Costa Adeje in Tenerife two an eagle to surge up the lead- strokes clear and pulled away erboard but never looked like from the chasing pack with his catching Higgo, whose third fi rst professional ace at the par- European Tour win in just 26 three seventh hole. events makes him the fastest The 21-year-old also produced South African to three victories, seven birdies and two bogeys to excluding Majors and World Golf move to 27-under overall and se- Championships. cure a six-shot victory over Aus- Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen tralian Maverick Antcliff . clinched third spot with a clos- “It’s unreal, I played so well ing 66 that lifted him to 20-un- today,” said Higgo, who also der, one shot ahead of home triumphed at the Gran Canaria favourite Adri Arnaus, South Lopesan Open a fortnight ago. Africa’s Dean Burmester, Nicolai “I hit the ball very nicely so it Hojgaard of Denmark, England’s was a lot less stressful than the Andrew Johnston and Irishman last time because I was hitting Niall Kearney.

HORSE RACING Kentucky Derby

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his second shot on the 14th hole during the third round of the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North winner Medina Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)

AFP LEADING THIRD-ROUND SCORES McIlroy said. “I felt where the holes were Spirit fails drugs test Washington cut, they were tough to read. There were some tricky putts out there.” Reuters scrutinised trainer. The last (USA unless noted, par-71) Ancer (MEX) 69-70-70, Matt Wallace Washington thing I want to do is something eith Mitchell, chasing his sec- 204-Keith Mitchell 67-71-66 (ENG) 69-67-73 DISASTER AT THE 12TH that would jeopardize the great- ond career US PGA title, fi red 206-Rory McIlroy (NIR) 72-66-68, Gary 210-Richy Werenski 70-73-67, Cameron McIlroy sank a 25-foot birdie putt at the est sport. “This shouldn’t have a fi ve-under par 66 to seize Woodland 67-69-70 Davis (AUS) 70-71-69, Bubba Watson par-4 third and rolled in another from rainer Bob Baff ert, who happened. There’s a problem a two-stroke lead over Rory 207-Luke List 67-72-68 70-69-71 just under 17 feet at the par-3 fourth. won a record-setting somewhere. It didn’t come from KMcIlroy and Gary Woodland after Sat- 208-Satoshi Kodaira (JPN) 68-72-68, 211-Aaron Wise 72-71-68, Xander “When I hole putts like that, it helps,” seventh Kentucky Derby us. It’s such an injustice to the urday’s third round of the Wells Fargo Scott Stallings 69-69-70 Schauff ele 72-71-68, Russell Knox (SCO) McIlroy said. At the par-5 seventh, he with Medina Spirit this horse. I don’t feel embarrassed, I Championship. 209-Jason Dufner 71-71-67, Viktor 70-71-70, Vincent Whaley 72-68-71, Joel blasted out of a bunker just inside seven Tmonth, yesterday said the dark feel like I was wronged.” The 29-year-old American’s bogey- Hovland (NOR) 69-72-68, Kyle Stanley 67- Dahmen 68-72-71, Carlos Ortiz (MEX) 70- feet and sank a birdie putt. McIlroy curled bay colt had failed a drugs test. Last month, Baff ert success- free round left him on nine-under 204 af- 74-68, Patrick Reed 71-69-69, Abraham 68-73, Scott Piercy 70-68-73 in his fourth birdie at the par-4 eighth, Baff ert said a post-race sam- fully appealed against a 15-day ter 54 holes at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, sinking a 21-foot birdie putt to seize the ple provided by Medina Spirit suspension given to him by the North Carolina. “All of it feels good right lead at 8-under. McIlroy reached the back had tested positive for 21 pico- Arkansas Racing Commission now,” Mitchell said. “Really just trying to demic levels as the tour has seen. from 13 and eight feet at the par-4 ninth nine with a two-stroke advantage, but grams of the anti-infl ammatory after two of his horses had tested keep the ball in front of me and see what “I felt that buzz out there on the course and par-5 10th, and added a tap-in birdie his tee shot at the par-5 10th sailed way drug betamethasone, over the positive for a banned substance. we can do tomorrow.” and when you feel it you can give some- at 14 and a fi ve-foot birdie at the 16th. “I right beyond a cart path. He blasted into a legal limit in Kentucky racing. Baff ert said Medina Spirit had Four-time major winner McIlroy fi red thing back,” McIlroy said. “Just so cool to really started hitting my driver better a bunker near the green and saved par with Medina Spirit, ridden by not yet been offi cially disqualifi ed 68 and 2019 US Open champion Wood- play in an atmosphere like that again. I’ve couple weeks ago. I started standing a lit- a four-foot putt. jockey John Velazquez had se- from the Derby and that he would land shot 70 to fi nish on 206, one stroke missed it. I didn’t think I would miss it as tle taller,” Mitchell said. Disaster struck on he par-4 12th when cured a half-length victory in launch his own investigation. ahead of American Luke List with Japan’s much as I did, but I really have. “This course sets up well for me. I real- McIlroy went left into trees, pitched into the 19-horse Kentucky Derby on “I’m going to fi ght it,” he added. Satoshi Kodaira and American Scott “So to be in contention, to have the ly hit a lot of fades. I love the way it looks the rough and later missed a six-foot May 1. Baff ert’s camp were in- “There are problems in racing, Stallings sharing fi fth on 208. fans back, I really enjoyed it out there and to my eye and right now it’s clicking.” bogey putt, falling two adrift. McIl- formed of the news by Kentucky but it’s not Bob Baff ert. I don’t McIlroy, in his fi rst event since miss- I’m excited about tomorrow.” McIlroy, who has not won since a No- roy salvaged par from eight feet at the offi cials on Saturday, but the believe in conspiracy theories, ing the cut at the Masters, said his game World number 249 Mitchell, whose vember 2019 WGC event in Shanghai, par-3 13th, a fi st pump showing how 68-year-old denied giving the but why is it happening to me?” has turned a corner. “I felt far off . I still only PGA victory came at the 2019 Hon- has won twice at Quail Hollow, where he much the save meant, and punched out horse illegal substances and said In 2015, Baff ert-trained think I was pretty far away,” McIlroy said da Classic, had been struggling with his owns the course record of 61. of the rough to seven feet at the par-5 15th the positive test was “the biggest American Pharoah became the of his game. “I worked pretty hard these putter until his coach told him Tuesday it The 32-year-old from Northern Ire- and sank his birdie putt to reach 7-under. gut punch in racing”. fi rst horse since 1978 to win U.S. last couple weeks. I found something last was bent. “I took it to the trailer, they bent land had fi ve birdies but a double bogey at List birdied three of the last four holes “I was totally shocked when thoroughbred racing’s coveted week.” it back and here we are,” Mitchell said. the par-4 12th denied him a share of the to shoot 68 while Kodaira had seven bird- I heard this news,” Baff ert told a Triple Crown. Baff ert celebrated McIlroy said he was energized by a Mitchell had a tap-in birdie at the par-5 lead. He said he putted well on a day when ies and four bogeys in a roller-coaster news conference. “I’m still try- another Triple Crown in 2018 spectators gallery as near to pre-pan- seventh, holed back to back birdie putts that was not easy. “It was really tough,” round. ing to absorb it. I am the most with Justify.

FOCUS Ariya ends 14-year wait for home LPGA title AFP and fi ve, the two-time major LEADING SCORES Bangkok champion stormed towards the 266-Ariya Jutanugarn (THA) turn with three birdies in her 65-69-69-63 next four holes. She continued 267-Atthaya Thitikul (THA) 64- hailand’s Ariya Jutanu- her birdie blitz on 10 and 12 and 67-68-68 garn staged one of her remained steady with another 268-So Yeon Ryu (KOR) 69-70- biggest fi ghtbacks by fi ve straight pars from the 13th 65-64, Amy Yang (KOR) 69-65- fi ring a fi nal round nine- hole before a closing birdie on 18 70-64, Angel Yin (USA) 72-65- under-parT 63 to become the fi rst sealed an emotional victory for 65-66, Patty Tavatanakit (THA) Thai to win the Honda LPGA the 25-year-old. 64-64-70-70 Thailand yesterday. “This victory means a lot to me 269-Chella Choi (KOR) 69-68- The former world number because I have always wanted to 65-67 one also snapped a three-year win in Thailand and I fi nally did 269-Hannah Green (AUS) 66-71- winless streak by lifting her 11th it. I had a tough time the last two 64-68 LPGA Tour title with her winning years. Sometimes, I tell myself I 270-Gaby Lopez (MEX) 69-64-67- four-day total of 22-under-par want to rest and stop (playing golf) 70 270, Caroline Masson (GER) 266 at the Siam Country Club. for a while. But at the same time, I 66-66-67-71 Atthaya Thitkul, who had the know I cannot give up as I need to 271-Lydia Ko (NZL) 66-67-67-71 chance to force a play-off with a try harder and one day, that win 272-In Gee Chun (KOR) 72-68- birdie at the last hole, could only will come again,” said Ariya. 65-67 manage to close with a par when Despite coming so close to her 273-Pajaree Anannarukarn (THA) play resumed, having been sus- breakthrough on the LPGA Tour, 68-72-70-63, Danielle Kang (USA) pended for more than an hour Atthaya was delighted with her 69-67-71-66, Carlota Ciganda due to inclement weather. sterling performance on home (ESP) 67-71-67-68, Xiyu Lin (CHN) Ariya started her fi nal round soil. 67-72-65-69 fi ve shots off the lead in ninth “This is like a new experience 275-Celine Boutier (FRA) 68-70- place but fi red an ominous warn- for me, having come so close to a 71-66, Emily Kristine Pedersen ing to her rivals by charging out win. But I’m already feeling very (DEN) 72-68-67-68, Gerina with three successive birdies proud to be here and it’s always Piller (USA) 68-72-67-68, Moriya starting from the fi rst hole. Af- amazing to be playing at home,” Jutanugarn (THA) 70-70-66-69, Thai golfer Ariya Jutanugarn celebrates with the trophy after winning the Honda LPGA Thailand golf tournament at the Siam Country Club in ter making pars on holes four said Atthaya. Nanna Koerstz Madsen (DEN) Pattaya yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times Monday, May 10, 2021 7 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT ATHLETICS Alvarez stops USA’s Gatlin eyes gold at Saunders to unify Olympics and beyond AFP I’m still hungry for competition, Tokyo so I won’t say never.” three boxing titles Gatlin wonyesterday’s100m race in a time of 10.24sec, and eteran US sprinter Jus- said he was satisfi ed with his ‘I think I broke his cheek. He didn’t come out to fight because I broke his cheek’ tin Gatlin set his sights form as he looks ahead to next on winning another month’s US trials. Olympic gold at the But he conceded that the VTokyo Games yesterday – then Games would “defi nitely be dif- refused to rule out continuing his ferent” with strict virus coun- career into his 40s. termeasures in place, and that The 39-year-old will become “a lot of athletes are not going to the oldest man ever to win an be happy” with rules restricting Olympic track medal if he makes their movement. the podium at this summer’s “I just miss going out – going coronavirus-delayed Tokyo to local dineries and eating the Games. local food,” he said. And with former archrival Us- “Hopefully by the time the Ol- ain Bolt now retired and reign- ympics come around, it will be ing world 100m world champion just a little more lenient about Christian Coleman banned from where we can go.” the Tokyo Games for missing Yesterday’s event was held three doping tests, Gatlin said he behind closed doors, with Tokyo believes he has a realistic chance. currently under a virus state of “I hope so – That’s why I’m emergency, and Gatlin described still here,” he said after compet- the atmosphere inside the cav- ing at a test event held behind ernous stadium as “weird”. closed doors at Tokyo’s Olympic Olympics organisers will de- Stadium. cide next month how many – if “I love making Olympic teams, any – fans can attend the Games, but I’m not in it for the free trip. I and Gatlin believes athletes will want to be able to work hard and have to “bring their own energy get on top of that podium again to the track”. at some point, and I hope this “For all the athletes that are year is that year for me.” going to come, they have to come Gatlin won 100m gold in Ath- with their focus on level 10,” he ens in 2004 but was forced to said. miss the 2008 Games because of The Tokyo Games will be the a suspension for drug off enses. fi rst Olympics since Gatlin won He won bronze in 2012 and sil- gold in 2004 not to feature three- ver four years later, and said yes- time 100m champion Bolt. terday that Tokyo would be his But Gatlin is taking nothing for “fourth and last Olympics” if he granted with his former rival now makes the US team. out of the picture. But he quickly changed tack “Before, it was Usain and me when asked if he would defi nitely going head to head and knowing hang up his spikes this summer. exactly what was going to hap- “I’m saying it right now, but pen,” he said. obviously the way my career’s “Now, you’ve got to keep your going, I don’t know,” he said. head on swivel, because anybody “I’m happy with where I’m at. can come up.”

In this handout photo provided by Matchroom Boxing, Mexican boxer Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (L) hits British boxer Billy Joe Saunders during their super middleweight title fight at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

AFP called a halt in front of 73,000- Alvarez, who improved to 56- his time until he could impose his though that wasn’t the case this Arlington, United States plus fans at AT&T Stadium, 1-2 with 38 knockouts, was ahead will on Saunders, who had never time he followed the game plan which was also the biggest to on all three judges scorecards faced an opponent of this mag- set out by his trainers to perfec- watch an American sports event when Saunders decided not to nitude. tion. aul “Canelo” Alvarez since the coronavirus pandemic. come out of his corner. Everything changed in the “I said before the fi ght that it stopped Billy Joe Saun- Saunders sat still saying he The 31-year-old Saunders, eighth and the end came sud- was going to develop by seventh ders in eight rounds on couldn’t see out of his right eye who dropped to 30-1 with 14 denly for Saunders as the fi ght and eighth round,” Alvarez said. Saturday to unify three which was badly swollen from KOs, argued and won his case to came down to Alvarez’s power “I was winning round by round. Ssuper middleweight titles in Alvarez’s repeated and deliberate increase the size of the ring from and speed and the boxing skills of “I started to adjust really front of the largest US crowd in blows. 20 feet to 22 feet. But no amount Saunders. quick.” The other major cham- history to watch an indoor box- Alvarez could sense victory of extra space was going to allow But to his credit Saunders pion in the 168-pound division is ing event. in the eighth as he chased the him to escape Alvarez’s devastat- proved to be a tough opponent unbeaten American Caleb Plant, Four weight world champion southpaw around the ring waiv- ing punching power. for the Mexican champ to catch the International Boxing Federa- Alvarez retained his World Box- ing his arms in the air as if to let The victory serves as another in the early rounds. tion title holder who is 21-0 with ing Council and World Boxing the pro-Mexican crowd know step in Alvarez’s quest to domi- Alvarez had his way in the 12 knockouts. Association titles and seized the that the end was near. nate the 168-pound (76.2 kg) di- eighth as Saunders tried to duck Alvarez was fi ghting for the Saunders’ World Boxing Organi- “I knew it,” Alvarez said. “I vision. and clinch his way through the third time in six months so box- zation belt when the previously think I broke his cheek. He didn’t Mexican pound-for-pound round, but the punches were too ing fans know he likes to stay undefeated Briton retired on his come out to fi ght because I broke king’s only career loss to date much for the Briton and his right busy in the ring and now he stool after taking a beating in the his cheek.” came as a 23-year-old against eye was closing fast. wants to fi ght Plant as soon as eighth round. Saunders headed from the ring the legendary Floyd Mayweather Alvarez often brutally over- possible. Alvarez won by technical to the hospital to get his injured Jr in 2013. powers his opponents before “I am coming man, I am com- knockout after Saunders’ corner eye looked at. The 30-year-old Alvarez bided knocking them out and even ing my friend,” he said.

BOTTOMLINE

Coe says Tokyo Games can be a ‘beacon of hope’ Justin Gatlin of the US wins the men’s 100m final in Tokyo yesterday.

AFP day’s athletics test event, which Tokyo featured 420 athletes, including nine from overseas. FOCUSSPOTLIGHT Olympic organisers insist the orld Athletics chief Games can be held safely and Sebastian Coe have laid down strict guidelines said yesterday he for athletes, warning they could Covid claims two believes the coro- be kicked out if they break the Wnavirus-postponed Tokyo Ol- rules. ympics can be “a beacon of hope “There’s not an athletics fed- India Olympic and optimism”, despite infec- eration that will be coming here tions surging in Japan and other that doesn’t understand the im- countries. portance of following the rules hockey veterans A virus state of emergency in and the regulations,” Coe said. Tokyo and other parts of Japan “The athletes are very keen to AFP India has been battling a huge was extended on Friday, less be here but they also know that New Delhi surge in infections in recent than three months before the they have a responsibility to do weeks with new deaths pass- Games are due to begin. everything they possibly can for ing 4,000 for the first time on The emergency measures the infection not to spread.” wo members of In- Saturday. come as Olympic organisers Coe admitted that the virus dia’s last Olympic Kaushik went on to coach the struggle to win over a sceptical restrictions mean “this is not, gold medal-winning India men’s side to gold at the Japanese public, who fear the under any circumstances, busi- hockey team in Mos- 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok. Games could spread infections very, very seriously”. Japan’s Covid-19 outbreak Games, with a decision on how ness as usual” and that there are cowT 1980, Ravindra Pal Singh He also coached the women’s despite a ban on overseas fans “I think that it will also act as remains much smaller than in many domestic fans – if any – “no perfect solutions” to deter- and Maharaj Krishan Kaushik, side that took bronze at the and possibly domestic specta- a beacon of hope and optimism many countries, with just over can attend to be taken in June. mine which athletes qualify for have died from coronavirus 2006 Asian Games in Doha. tors too. in a world that I hope is soon 10,500 deaths. More than 300,000 people the Games. on the same day. Singh also played for India But Coe, speaking at an ath- moving back to some type of But its vaccine rollout is mov- have signed an online peti- But he insisted that the Their families said they died at the 1984 Olympics in Los letics test event held behind normalcy,” he told reporters. ing slowly and some areas have tion titled “Cancel the Tokyo competition will be “fair”, and hours apart on Saturday: Angeles, but retired because closed doors at Tokyo’s Olym- “I think that these Games will seen record cases as more infec- Olympics to protect our lives”, that he has been “consistently Singh, 60, in the northern of chronic back injuries. pic Stadium, said he believes leave a strong lasting legacy, not tious variants drive fresh waves launched Wednesday by a law- bowled over” by the athletes’ city of Lucknow and Kaushik, “His contribution to Indian the Games can “have a profound just for Japan but at a time when of contagion. yer and former Tokyo guberna- ability to deal with the restric- 66, later in New Delhi. Both sports will always be remem- impact” on the world and moved the world is coming to terms More than 10,000 athletes torial candidate. tions. had been on ventilators in bered,” said Sports Minister to reassure the Japanese public with some pretty diffi cult and from 200 countries and regions A group of around 100 people “I think everybody is in the hospitals. Kiren Rijuju in a tribute. that “we take those concerns harrowing months.” are set to travel to Tokyo for the staged a protest outside yester- same boat here.”

Monday, May 10, 2021 GULF TIMES SPORT

HORSE RACING Al Shaqab ’s Alkedri lands Group 3 Prix Damas

Agencies Bordeaux, France Sheikh Mohamed’s Moharram Sheikh Abdullah’s Mutabahi wins Prix Djelfor on perfect debut lands Prix Louis Saulnier l Shaqab Racing’s homebred Alkedri proved to be the domi- nant force in the Prix Damas,A a Group 3 contest for four-year-olds and older Arabi- ans over a mile, at Bordeaux in France yesterday. The Charles Gourdain-trained fi lly left her rivals rooted to the spot once Ioritz Mendizabal asked the fi lly to pick up and she Guillaume Guedj–Gay dominated to win by an impres- (left) guides Moharram sive four-length margin. The to Prix Djelfor victory Julien Guillochon (right) guides Mutabahi to victory in the Prix Thomas Fourcy-trained and Jer- in Bordeaux, France, Louis Saulnier in Lyon-Parilly, France, yesterday. (H. Durand) ome Cabre ridden Murjan was yesterday. (Robert the runner-up, giving Al Shaqab Polin) Agencies some 250m from the wire to Racing a one-two. The Renee- Lyon-Parilly, France go clear of the field. The colt Laure Koch-owned and Olivier Agencies Olivier D’ Andigne-ridden Ihsan finished two-and-a-half lengths Trigodet-trained Natalma Al Bordeaux, France D’etiolles. in front of JP Gauvin-trained Maury was two-and-a-half The latter had the advantage is Highness Sheikh and Guillaume Millet-ridden lengths behind in third under Ol- of prior racecourse experience. Abdullah bin Khalifa Rock Joyeux. The principals ivier Peslier. is Highness Sheikh Ibis De Litre, who is trained by Hal-Thani’s homebred Mu- were well clear of the rest, as The four-year-old Alkedri Mohamed bin Khalifa the winning trainer Thomas tabahi made a big impression by JM Baratti-trained and Maxime shaped promisingly on her sea- Hal-Thani’s homebred Mo- Fourcy and was ridden by Jer- winning the Prix Louis Saulnier, Guyon-ridden Peinture Secrète sonal debut two weeks earlier. harram made a winning debut ome Cabre finished two lengths a 2,000m race for three-year-old was more than six lengths Among the better Arabian three- in the Prix Djelfor — Wathba further in third. maidens in Lyon-Parilly, France, behind in third. year-olds of last season, she had Stallion Cup at Bordeaux-Le “We had got a fair amount of yesterday. The two previous Mutabahi is a son of French been hit by bad luck, as a fall on Bouscat yesterday. work into him,” said Fourcy. “He winners of the same contest, Fifteen, a stallion based at the the way to the start caused her Ioritz Mendizabal (left) rides Alkedri to Prix Damas victory in Bordeaux, The Thomas Fourcy-trained should have made his debut Channel (2019) and In Swoop Haras du Logis Saint-Germain, to be withdrawn from the line up France, yesterday. (Robert Polin) colt was last, but one for a long sooner, but he developed a (2020) went on win the Prix de and Marina Piccola. He is a full of the Qatar Arabian Trophy des way. However, he came good in cough. He had every right to Diane Longines (Group 1), and brother to French King, winner Pouliches (Group 1 PA). The question mark going into the Al Maury, descends from the line the straight and dominated the make a bold showing on his finish second in the Qatar Prix of His Highness The Amir Tro- “She’s a very good fi lly and race was her ability to handle the of the much heralded Bergeron- mile for three-year-old Arabian debut.” de l’Arc de Triomphe (Group 1). phy (Group 1 QA). one that had a peach of a race af- rain-softened ground. However, nette and a fair number of her maidens by seven lengths with Being a son of Assy and Aman- After a good start, the Henri Mutabahi is entered in the ter shadowing the leader,” said she handled it well. We will try and fi rst, second and third generation Guillaume Guedj–Gay in the dine De Ghazal, Moharram hails Alex Pantall-trained Muta- Grand Prix de Paris (Group 1) Gourdain. “Once she settles into make up for the lost time with her.” descendants have gone on to gain saddle at the main expense of from the same line as the high bahi showed a sharp turn of which will be run at ParisLong- a good rhythm during a race, the Alkedri hails from the fi rst crop black type, in the image of Dahor the Jean de Mieulle-trained and class Gazwan. foot under Julien Guillochon champ on July 14. fi lly fi nishes her races off strongly. of Mister Ginoux. The dam, Bise De Brugère.

TENNIS FOCUS Defending champ Zverev rallies to Halep wary of Sabalenka in Rome

AFP The world number three is not Rome, Italy in the same half of the draw as Sabalenka, who could meet Barty again in the quarter-fi nals at the win Madrid Open efending Rome cham- Foro Italico. pion Simona Halep But ex-Wimbledon and French said yesterday she had Open champion Halep could play Three-set win over not been surprised by former four-time Rome win- ArynaD Sabalenka’s success at the ner Serena Williams or world Berrettini hands Madrid Open, and was expecting number two Naomi Osaka in the the Belarusian to challenge again semi-fi nals. the German his on clay in Italy. “I have no expectations and no Seventh-ranked Sabalenka pressure about defending my ti- fourth Masters title stunned world number one Ash- tle,” continued Halep, who exited leigh Barty to win in Madrid on in Madrid in the last 16 to Belgian AFP Saturday for the biggest title of Elise Mertens. Madrid, Spain her career. “I don’t really have regrets “It’s not surprising,” said Ha- about that. But I can say I need lep. “She’s playing great. Very to calm down a little bit, change lexander Zverev recovered powerful tennis. She has confi - attitude, not rushing that much from a set down to defeat Mat- dence. She can actually do a lot and to stop missing in the impor- teo Berrettini 6-7 (8), 6-4, 6-3 Germany’s Alexander in Grand Slams also, so she’s get- tant moments. and win the Madrid Open for a Zverev poses with the ting closer to that. She played the “But those things I think are secondA time yesterday as he clinched a winner’s trophy after fi nal in Stuttgart, so it’s not the coming with more matches, so fourth Masters 1000 title. beating Italy’s Matteo fi rst result on clay. I’m just looking forward to have The German fi fth seed recorded his Berrettini (not pictured) “She’s playing really well. as many as possible until French third consecutive top-10 victory this in the Madrid Open final Yeah, I think her confi dence is Open. This tournament is going week, having eliminated fi ve-time Ma- yesterday. (AFP) very high. I was not surprised, to be important and taking the drid champion Rafael Nadal and Dominic and I’m expecting actually more pressure away.” Thiem to reach the fi nal. from her.” Halep fi nished runner-up in Zverev, last year’s US Open runner-up, Halep will open her title defence 2017 and 2018 before winning added to his 2018 Madrid triumph as he in the second round against either last year, with the tournament denied Berrettini successive titles fol- Germany’s Angelique Kerber or pushed back to September be- lowing the Italian’s win in Belgrade last French qualifi er Alize Cornet. cause of coronavirus. month. Berrettini, making his Madrid main draw debut this week, was attempting to become this year’s third fi rst-time Masters champion after Hubert Hurkacz (Miami) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (Monte Carlo). tie-break but Zverev clawed it back to 5-4 not let go to waste. into a decider. World number 10 Berrettini landed before two set points slipped beyond the It was the fi rst set lost by Zverev, whose The German then broke to move 3-2 the fi rst blow as he broke Zverev to move grasp of Berrettini. last clay-court title had come in Geneva ahead in the fi nal set and closed out vic- 4-3 ahead in the opening set at the Caja Zverev failed to take a set point of his in 2019. tory after two hours and 40 minutes with Magica, only to drop his service the very own at 7-6 and then saved a third, but a Zverev secured the only break of the another break, earning his second title of next game. double fault at 8-8 handed Berrettini an- second set in game nine, when Berret- the season after taking home the Acapul- The Italian raced into a 5-0 lead in the other opportunity that this time he did tini double faulted, to send the match co crown in March.

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Osaka frustrated at clay court ‘mental block’ Andreescu pulls out of Rome

AFP last year’s Grand Slam because second round against either over Covid-19 rules Rome, Italy of injury. Russia’s 37th-ranked Daria Ka- “Mentally it’s a bit harder be- satkina or American Jessica AFP year,” Andreescu said in a post cause you have to structure the Pegula, the world number 33. Rome, Italy on Instagram. aomi Osaka conceded points diff erently,” she contin- “Honestly, I feel like that’s the It’s yet another setback for the she found playing out- ued. “There are bad bounces and reason why I’m here for match 20-year-old from Ontario, who side her comfort zone stuff . I get quite frustrated. So, prep,” said Osaka, whose best anadian tennis star retired from the Miami Open fi- on clay frustrating as yeah, mentally I think it’s a bit showing at the tournament was Bianca Andreescu yes- nal against top-ranked Ashleigh Nthe world number two contin- more taxing. a quarter-fi nal run in 2019. Cterday pulled out of the Barty with a right foot injury. ues her warm-up for the French “But I think as soon as I get And she welcomed the extra WTA Rome tournament over She had hoped to be ready for Open at the WTA tournament in that sort of block out of my week of warm-up before Roland Covid-19 rules in Italy. the clay-court swing leading up Rome. mind, then I’ll be more open to Garros, even if it means less time Andreescu, the world number to the French Open, and had re- Osaka has never won a tour- the mistakes. at home before the Tokyo Olym- six, missed last week’s Madrid ceived a first-round bye in Rome. level event on the red dirt while “Right now, I’m taking every- pics. Open after testing positive for Andreescu, who won the US at the French Open, which starts thing as a learning process, and “In the beginning I was a bit Covid-19 after arriving in Spain. open title in 2019 with a victory on May 30, she is yet to make it I’m trying not to be so hard on sad because it means more time “Although I have tested nega- over US great Serena Williams past the third round. myself.” away from home. tive following my isolation pe- in the final, spent 15 months on The Japanese four-time Osaka is in the same half of the “But at the same time I feel riod in Madrid and having been the sidelines, nursing a knee Grand Slam champion was draw as four-time Rome winner like I need the extra time on clay, back in full training the last few injury before the coronavirus dumped out of the Madrid Open Serena Williams, who hasn’t especially with my past results. days, the Italian Government pandemic hit in 2020. in the second round last week, telling you this, but I’m just not Osaka told a press conference in played since losing to Osaka in Hopefully I do better here. rules put me at risk of being She returned in February at the having taken almost a month off that comfortable on it (clay) still, Rome yesterday. the Australian Open semi-fi nal, “But I’m not really mad at, isolated again if I travel to Italy, Australian Open, where she fell following her quarter-fi nal exit and I’m not sure if it’s because I Osaka has played just two and defending champion Simo- I guess, grinding on clay and so unfortunately I have to within straight sets in the second in Miami. need to play longer on it or if matches on clay since the 2019 na Halep of Romania. practising here for a couple more draw from the Italian Open this round to Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei. “I’m not sure if I should be I just haven’t grown up on it,” French Open having skipped Before then she opens in the weeks.”