FOOTBALL | Page 4 AATHLETICSTHLETICS | Page 11 Jose calls on Bolt aims for United fans more glory to get behind at Rio Olympic the team Games

Wednesday, July 13, 2016 CYCLING Shawwal 8, 1437 AH Dream comes true as GULF TIMES Matthews completes Grand Tour sweep SPORT Page 9

GOLF Zika risk ‘non-event’ for None of the world’s current top four players will feature at the Rio-bound Rose Summer Olympics next month AFP “But you’ve got to respect their posi- Troon, United Kingdom tion. You do have to put your health and family fi rst from that point of view.” Two-time Masters champion Bubba ustin Rose is hopeful the threat Watson, Henrik Stenson, Rickie Fowler posed by the Zika virus will prove and Willett are some of the players who to be a “non-event” as he ex- will feature in Rio, and Rose hopes golf plained his decision to compete can go on to retain its status as an Ol- atJ the Rio Olympics next month. ympic sport after this year. Golf’s return to the Olympics for the “I’m excited about it, treating it as a fi rst time in 112 years has been hit by a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I hope host of the world’s leading male players that I’ll be able to play again in Tokyo,” withdrawing en masse, with American in 2020, added Rose, who was talking at star Jordan Spieth the latest name to Troon in Scotland ahead of this week’s pull out on Monday. British Open. Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Dustin Johnson had already withdrawn amid WORTH IT FOR WILLETT fears over the mosquito-borne virus, Fellow Englishman Willett, who also meaning that none of the world’s cur- features on the fi nal list of 60 players rent top four players will feature in revealed on Monday, said going to Rio Rio. was a risk worth taking. “You’ve got more chance of getting The International Golf malaria in South Africa than you have Federation’s president Peter in getting Zika when you go to Rio,” said Dawson admitted on Monday Willett, 28. that the spate of pull-outs “I think the opportunity was obvi- “hasn’t shed golf in the best ously there to be an Olympian and that light” and Rose, 11 in the to me was something that I think was going to be pretty cool. world, accepted that it was “You don’t know how many times unfortunate to see so many you will be in the Olympics, if it will be leading names turn their in the Olympics again. backs on Brazil “I was pretty sure all along I wanted to go play unless the threat would have But Rose, whose words were echoed gotten worse, then it would have been a by reigning Masters champion Danny very diff erent story. Willett, said: “I think the Zika risk is “But from what I understand in going to be one of those things that we speaking to the guys, the threat is less- look back at and think it’s a non-event, ening every day. It’s obviously win- hopefully. ter over there, and the guys are taking “You’re going to get down there and precautionary measures to make sure you’re probably not going to see a mos- things are as safe as possible.” quito in sight. Defending the suggestion that the “But at the same time, no one can event will be less of a spectacle, Wil- stand there and categorically tell you lett added: “You’re still going to get to you’re going to be okay, and that’s the see some of the best golfers in the world problem.” competing, and there are a few that are The International Golf Federation’s going to be missing out there president Peter Dawson admitted on “But I don’t think it takes away from Monday that the spate of pull-outs the event because one or two guys pull “hasn’t shed golf in the best light” and out.” Rose, 11 in the world, accepted that it was unfortunate to see so many leading England’s Justin Rose (left) and names turn their backs on Brazil. compatriot Danny Willett are seen “It’s been sort of a sad situation to together during practice ahead of see those sorts of guys pulling out. It’s the 2016 British Open Golf Champion- obviously weakened the fi eld,” said the ship at Royal Troon in Scotland yester- Englishman. day. (AFP)

CRICKET Riaz promises Pakistan will back ‘younger brother’ Amir

AFP come full circle if, as expected, he “If you make a mistake it doesn’t back, all the best to him.” London makes his Test return in the fi rst of a mean that you are out of (excluded However, committee chairman four-match series at Lord’s tomorrow. from) this world.” Mike Brearley said Amir deserved an Riaz, who made his Test debut opportunity to make a return to Test akistan’s Wahab Riaz has at The Oval six years ago and also ‘CHEATED’ cricket. insisted Mohamed Amir played in the controversial match at But former Pakistan batsman Ram- “I think he was like King Lear, has the support of all his Lord’s, said Amir could handle being iz Raja, who was commentating ‘more sinned against than sinning’,” teammates as he prepares in the spotlight this week. at Lord’s in 2010, was less certain explained former England captain Pto make his return to Test cricket at “I think he will deal with all those about whether Amir deserved a sec- Brearley in a reference to the Shake- Lord’s tomorrow. things,” said Riaz at Lord’s yesterday. ond chance. speare play. Fellow left-arm quick Amir’s ca- “He is ready to answer with his “I tend to disagree a little bit be- “He was sinning, he did wrong, he reer came to a dramatic halt during performance — and that is what cause I’ve always felt that Pakistan was very foolish indeed. a Test against England at Lord’s in counts.” has a bad history of fi xing and all “But he was misled by senior 2010, when he and new-ball partner Not all of Amir’s Pakistan col- that kind of stuff ,” said Raja, a mem- players and I think there has to be a Mohamed Asif were caught bowling leagues welcomed him back with ber of the MCC world cricket com- gradation in guilt. no-balls to order on the instructions open arms to start with, but Riaz mittee meeting at Lord’s yesterday. “It seems to me that what he got of captain Salman Butt as part of a was adamant yesterday the talented “It’s an emotional subject for me, was about right. He served his time, tabloid newspaper sting operation. 24-year-old now had the support of but on the other hand he is a great he has been in prison, he has been All three received fi ve-year bans the whole touring squad. talent. disgraced and he has been stopped from cricket and together with “No-one is reluctant,” said Riaz. “I’m sure his mates will help him. from playing for fi ve years. sports agent Mazhar Majeed, jail “We all take him as our young Initially there was a little bit of con- “He has also shown remorse and terms. brother — he is a part of our family. cern regarding his comeback among taken part in education programmes Amir, who served three months We are all behind him.” the Pakistan players also because in Pakistan.” in an English young off enders in- He added: “What has happened they felt cheated in a way. Asked if Amir would get a tough stitute, has only featured in the in- has gone now. “Then they calmed down and now reception from the Lord’s crowd to- ternational game’s shorter formats “I want him to take fi ve wickets in they are trying to get along with morrow, Brearley replied: “None of since his return to Pakistan duty in this Test match to get his name back him.” us are without mistakes and he was a January. and to get his image back which has He added: “I stick by my initial young fellow and misled. I hope he’s Pakistan’s Mohamed Amir (centre) stands at the dressing room balcony at Lord’s in London But the 24-year-old’s career will been spoilt. reaction but if he’s making a come- given a generous response.” during the team’s practice session yesterday. (Reuters) Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, July 13, 2016 CRICKET

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Amir’s career set England’s Root ready to come full circle for number ‘You don’t see many 18-year-olds bowl like he did, he is an exceptional talent’ three role AFP London AFP nearly 3,500 runs in his 42 Tests London at an average of over 52 with nine he fl oppy hair he had as a teen- hundreds. ager may have been replaced by “The way they’ve dealt with a shorter cut and the once clean- ngland batsman Joe it has been really good and it’s shaven face is now home to a Root is confi dent he can given me time to get my head Tgoatee beard. But there was no mistaking cope with the added re- around it. the whippy left-arm action as Mohamed sponsibility of batting at “I feel pretty comfortable go- Amir ran in to bowl against Somerset at Enumber three during the upcom- ing into the series and it’s now Taunton last week or the “airplane” cel- ing Test series against Pakistan. just about trying to make sure ebration that greeted his three fi rst-in- Root has been promoted that moving forward that’s nings wickets. one place up the order follow- something I feel comfortable It was a sight many fans would have ing former number three Nick with and I can keep making big been forgiven for thinking they would Compton’s decision to take time scores and contributing to win- ever see again on an English fi eld after out from cricket following a poor ning Test matches.” Amir’s career came to a dramatic and series against Sri Lanka. Root denied England’s mid- possibly terminal halt at Lord’s in 2010. Although not true of Comp- dle-order would be weakened by During that year’s Test against Eng- ton, number three has histori- his promotion and the ongoing land, Amir and Pakistan new-ball partner cally been the place occupied by absence through injury of all- Mohamed Asif bowled no-balls to order after the scandal broke, saw both points Interestingly, Amir himself is now in might get a rough ride from the Lord’s a team’s leading batsman. rounder Ben Stokes. on the instructions of their captain Sal- of view. favour of life bans, telling in an interview crowd. But there were no boos at Taunton Root, who had a brief spell as an “I think that’s probably harsh,” man Butt as part of a sting operation car- “Part of me says you’ve got to make a in Karachi last month: “If fi xing is still and he could well get a polite reception at England opener, was persuaded to said Root. ried out by a tabloid newspaper. All three statement, and say: ‘Right, ban for life’... happening then it’s really alarming. I fully the ‘Home of Cricket’. make the move by captain Alastair “Someone like Jonny Bairstow received fi ve-year bans from cricket and, But another part of me says, ‘Should you back that fi xers should be banned for life.” “You don’t see many 18-year-olds Cook and coach Trevor Bayliss. would consider himself a mid- together with sports agent Mazhar Ma- give a person another chance?’” With Amir’s talent undimmed, Paki- bowl like he did, he is an exceptional tal- Now the 25-year-old York- dle-order batsman and he’s tak- jeed, jail terms. Amir who served three months in an stan captain Misbah-ul-Haq was in no ent,” said Cook at Lord’s last week. “It shireman will slot in at number en his game to another level.” There was a sense of shock and anger English young off enders’ institute, now doubt of his potential. “If you look at his will be diffi cult for us.” three for the fi rst of a four-Test He added: “Guys like James among cricket fans, although in Amir’s has that chance. He has only played bowling speed, swing and control — it’s Meanwhile, Amir is well aware of his series against Pakistan starting Vince, who will really be looking case there was also an overwhelming limited-overs internationals for Pa- there,” said Misbah ahead of the Somer- good fortune. “I still can’t believe that at Lord’s tomorrow. forward to getting back out play- sense of sadness that an 18-year-old kistan since his return, but his career set match. “He can still be the best bowler this is happening,” he said. “You call it a “We had a few discussions ing red-ball cricket again. should have become caught up in such a could come full circle when the fi rst of a in the world.” coincidence or whatever but for me it’s a throughout the season that it “He’s got a little bit of experi- scandal. four-Test series against England starts at England captain Alastair Cook, who blessing that I am restarting (Tests) right could be a possibility moving ence under his belt and will gain Former West Indies fast bowler Lord’s tomorrow. played in the 2010 match, suggested Amir at Lord’s from where I stopped in 2010.” forward,” Root told a Lord’s news confi dence from that.” Michael Holding is not given to excessive conference yesterday. Pakistan left-arm quick Mo- displays of emotion in his work as a tel- “I think the fact I had quite a hamed Amir is set to make his re- evision commentator and pundit. Yet he long time to think about it and turn to Test cricket tomorrow at was in tears as he discussed Amir’s plight Five great England- Pakistan fl are-ups to chat it over with the selectors Lord’s — the ground where he in- live on air the morning after the night the and Trevor and Cooky, it prob- curred a fi ve-year ban for delib- story broke during the Lord’s Test. 1956: IDRIS BAIG AND THE BUCKET play, Gatting presented the umpire with became the first team in 129 years and ably made it a bit easier, rather erately bowling no-balls against For Amir was — and on the evidence of OF WATER a scribbled apology. 1,814 fixtures to forfeit a Test match. than being thrown into the role,” England in the 2010 “spot-fi x- the Somerset match still is — a superbly Idris Baig, a Pakistani umpire, was “kid- The incident began on the fourth added Root, who has scored ing” row. skilled bowler, with the rare ability to napped” by England players, taken to 1992: SWING SUSPICIONS afternoon at The Oval when umpire make the ball swing late at sharp pace the team hotel in Peshawar and doused Reverse swing was used to great eff ect Darrell Hair signalled he had found off a good length, one of the most dif- with two buckets of water. As captain of by Pakistani pacemen Wasim Akram and the Pakistanis guilty of ball-tampering. fi cult types of bowling for even the best the touring MCC side, the late Donald Waqar Younis. But their success, which The angry tourists refused to take batsmen to face. It helped him earn him Carr dismissed the incident as a prank the England bowlers couldn’t match, the field after tea and Hair, together the Pakistan man-of-the-series award after some questionable decisions attracted suspicions of illegal ball-tamper- with umpire Billy Doctrove took that against England after he had taken 19 against MCC. ing and matters came to a head during to mean they had forfeited the match wickets at under 19 apiece in four Tests. a one-day international at Lord’s. Bad which, after hours of confusion, was Amir, Asif and Butt were all given fi ve- 1987: MIKE GATTING AND weather meant the game went into a sec- awarded to England. year bans by the International Cricket SHAKOOR RANA ond day when the ball was ordered to be Council and the trio were all jailed by an In the Faisalabad Test of 1987, Pakistani changed under Law 42, which deals with 2010: TROTT AND RIAZ CLASH English court. umpire Shakoor Rana accused England the condition of the ball. Administrators, Pakistan’s tour was already mired in Yet, the talent Amir had shown cre- captain Mike Gatting of illegally moving horrified by a possible scandal, refused to controversy following the spot-fixing ated a certain sympathy among cricket a fielder late on the second day. Gatting announce the reasons publicly. Mean- scandal in that year’s Lord’s Test and fans amid a widespread belief that he responded to being a called a “cheat” while, England batsman Allan Lamb gave when the teams returned to the ‘Home had been led astray by more experienced by Rana by confronting the square-leg an interview to the Daily Mirror headlined of Cricket’ for a one-day international, teammates. umpire and the two men were soon ‘How Pakistan Cheat at Cricket’. England batsman Jonathan Trott and Nevertheless, there were plenty of calls pointing fingers at each other’s chests. Pakistan paceman Wahab Riaz had to at the time and since for the three players Rana refused to stand on the third day 2006: FORFEIT AT THE OVAL be separated in the nets after exchang- to all be given life bans. Former England but shortly ahead of the fourth day’s England were bystanders as Pakistan ing angry words. captain Nasser Hussain, speaking soon

Ban match-fi xers for life, says Pietersen ASSESSMENT

Reuters chance in life but sport is diff erent,” the revelations dampened the mood in the “In cricket, the education players Bengaluru 36-year old wrote in his column in the victorious dressing room. receive is so thorough. I have sat My strength lies in Daily Telegraph yesterday. “The story broke on the Saturday night through so many (anti-corruption “We are paid to play a sport we love and we all felt sick on the final day of the lectures) that I could probably give my anned Pakistan bowler Mohamed and are damn lucky to lead the life of a game. We felt empty when we took the own, so ignorance of the rules is no Amir would not have the chance professional cricketer. There can be no wickets to win the match and did not defence,” he said. Tests, says Ishant Bto return to the sport on Thursday way back.” celebrate,” he added. “I understand that in the sub-continent, after serving a five-year ban for spot- Amir returns for Pakistan in the first “The relationship between the two cricketers come from villages where IANS The last time Ishant was here fixing if former England batsman Kevin test against England at Lord’s after a teams was fractured because we there is poverty and deprivation. St John’s, Antigua in 2011 he bagged a total of 22 Pietersen had his way. five-year exile imposed after he admit- all knew the damage it would do to “They get the chance to play interna- wickets from three Tests. He said He believes any player caught fixing the ted deliberately bowling a no-ball in the cricket.” tional cricket and earn massive sums he is sharing his experience with outcome of matches or incidents within fourth test against England in 2010. Pietersen, who last played for England of money and are exposed to tempta- ndian speedster Ishant the other youngsters in the team a game should be given life bans. Pietersen, who played in that match, in 2014, said there was no excuse for tion. But to bowl a no ball to earn more Sharma who is gearing up but insisted there was a need of “People always deserve a second which England won, said spot-fixing cricketers. money is just greed.” for the upcoming Test series two-way communication be- against the West Indies be- tween them. Ilieves the fi ve-day cricket is his “I am sharing my experiences strength. and hoping that what worked for BOTTOMLINE Ishant is the most-experi- me also works for them,” he said. enced fast bowler that India have “But then they have to also in their 17-member Test squad identify their areas of strength captained by ace batsman Vi- because everybody has their own rat Kohli. However, Ishant has strengths. Bhuvi’s (Bhuvneshwar Fit Starc can take 300 Test wickets: Lehmann struggled to fi nd a place in the Kumar) strength is swing but he shorter formats. can’t extract the bounce like I Reuters Starc took eight wickets in the Carib- “You have to be honest with can do. Similarly, I can’t get the Melbourne bean at an average of 21.37 from his fi ve yourself, that’s the most impor- ball to swing like him.” matches and Lehmann was delighted tant thing. If you are being hon- The 27-year-old added even with the return after the Sydney-born est with yourself it’s easy to ac- though the pitches are lifeless ustralia paceman Mitchell seamer had his home summer wiped out cept things. I know that I didn’t he would go fl at out everytime Starc can take 300 Test wickets by injuries, forcing him to miss the World do well in the shorter formats of he would have the leather in his and join the ranks of the nation’s Twenty20. the game, so I accepted it,” Ishant hands. great seamers if he can stay fi t “Happy he got through... He said he was quoted as saying by bcci.tv “You have to work hard forA long enough, coach Darren Lehmann was a little bit rusty early but felt better as yesterday. enough even if conditions are not said. the tournament went on. It’s a good sign,” “But I am doing well in Test favourable,” he said. “It is easy to Left-armer Starc, who has 91 wickets said Lehmann. cricket so I know what my give up and say there’s nothing in from 25 matches, has replaced the re- “For us it was a pretty good tick-the- strength is.” the wicket so spinners will do the tired Mitchell Johnson as Australia’s pace box exercise where he got through and The lanky pacer also said job and we (pacers) will only try spearhead but a succession of foot inju- we’re looking forward to the next phase switching from one format to the to hit the areas. ries have stifl ed the 26-year-old’s output. of Test cricket.” other in a short span of time has “But you should back yourself After a long lay-off following ankle Australia play the fi rst Test against Sri made life more diffi cult for bowl- and go fl at out. I like to go fl at out surgery, Starc made a successful return Lanka at Pallekele from July 26 and Le- ers. whether it is my second or third in the Caribbean for the one-day tour- hmann said he felt Starc’s reverse swing “If you are playing all formats spell. If I am playing I give my nament against West Indies and South would be telling during the series. of the game, it’s very diffi cult to 100%. That makes me a diff erent Africa last month and will lead the at- “He obviously has air speed, which is think what’s going wrong for you bowler. tack for Australia’s three-Test tour of going to be important when the ball goes and what’s going right for you,” “The conditions are very chal- Sri Lanka. reverse. It’s important that we keep him he said. lenging. It’s pretty hot out there, Only four Australian seamers have fi t and playing. We know how good he can “It’s very diffi cult as you have so you need to look after yourself breached the 300-wicket mark, with be,” Lehmann said. (a) very short time to understand properly. And obviously the time Glenn McGrath (563) topping the list hmann said in comments published by to be our challenge as a coaching staff and “It’s all up to him. His ability to knock all these things. I know I didn’t diff erence, it’s totally a diff er- ahead of Dennis Lillee (355), Johnson (313) Fairfax Media yesterday. selection panel, and (for) high-priority over good batsmen and also knock over do well in T20s. I think every- ent time zone and you need to be and Brett Lee (310), but Lehmann said “He plays all formats — that is the Test tours, one-day tours, World Cups the tail quite quickly, for us, that is a re- body has their strengths. I always mindful of that as well, especial- Starc had the qualities to join the club. hardest part for him. and all that... making sure he is fi t and ally important thing when you are trying believe in that, and there is no ly when you are playing four Test “If he stays on the park, he could,” Le- “Managing him through that is going available for those.” to get 20 wickets in a space of time.” harm to accept that thing.” matches.” Gulf Times Wednesday, July 13, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

FOCUS Was Euro 2016 the death of possession football? Games of cut-and-thrust, with two teams going at each other, were almost non-existent as we too often witnessed a slow bicycle race of non-possession

By Jonathan Wilson in London people of Iceland and Wales will rightly The question of what we’ve learned tactically from the tournament This is also the FA Cup’s dirty secret: of sides easing off having already se- The Guardian remember France 2016 with fondness. is always asked, but this is not 1958, with a back four bursting forth to people don’t watch the early rounds be- cured their place in the fi nals) and the But this felt like another staging post in change the world. It’s not even 1974 and the Netherlands confi rming cause they’re not very good. The shocks only diff erences to the last 16 that did the death of international football be- the effi cacy of the Total Football of Ajax and Feyenoord. It’s not even that are its lifeblood are, by defi nition, emerge are swapping Hungary and Ire- o, it’s over then, the worst of the ing regarded as in any way elite. Still, 1986 and the wonderment of the back three. Euro 2016’s relation to the rare even with Premier League sides often land for Austria and the Czech Repub- 15 European Championships to hurrah for the underdogs! club game was indirect and perhaps more psychological than tactical playing weakened sides, and the games lic: 36 games, most of them dull, over a date, a tournament so bereft of Although really, this was only David that aren’t shocks are often stultifying. two-week period for that. quality that Wales’ mildly di- against Goliath if Goliath had turned possession stats that frequently hit the point of nonexistent, a situation But at international level it’s worse This will be taken as complaining Sverting win over an inept Belgium was up knackered from a long season of 70% or more. exacerbated by the glut of moderate because attacks aren’t as well-drilled at teams defending. It is not. Weaker raised to the status of minor classic. lucrative fi ghting for Gath United in At fi rst everybody panicked and teams, the height of whose ambition is as they are at club level, the lack of time teams should defend, they must de- Of 51 games, perhaps one, France’s the Philistine Premier League wonder- tried to work out ways of getting the to pack eight men behind the ball. making it impossible to generate the fend. Their obligation is to get the victory over Germany, will be remem- ing what he was doing there when the ball off them, and then, in the wake of Stats are slippery beasts but, as a slickness of thought and the mutual best result possible, or it is no longer a bered by neutrals – and it, in truth, was quality and fi nancial rewards of the Internazionale’s success in the 2010 rough indication of that, 49% of games understanding that would help a side sport. That can be uplifting, but when utterly unrepresentative of the rest of club game were so much greater. Champions League semi-fi nal it was in this tournament featured one side cut through a massed rearguard. attacks are poor it tends to be dull. the tournament. The question of what we’ve learned recognised that the way to beat them having 60% possession or more, as Germany were able to do it against Instead, this is a lament for the best of Many have questioned whether Por- tactically from the tournament is al- was to let them have the ball. So José opposed to 37% of games in last sea- Slovakia because they have a creative the international tournaments, three- tugal were worthy winners, but in a sense ways asked, but this is not 1958, with a Mourinho’s radical non-possession son’s Premier League. Half of games, core—Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller and and-a-half weeks of sustained quality they are the most worthy of winners; no back four bursting forth to change the challenged Barça’s radical possession in other words, were essentially attack Mesut Özil—who have played together and interest destroyed by greed, politi- champions ever, perhaps, have been so world. It’s not even 1974 and the Neth- and a new paradigm emerged. against defence. for years. But they are a rarity. cal expediency and the woolly-minded representative of the ethos of a tourna- erlands confi rming the effi cacy of the Teams at this tournament have been That’s not necessarily a prob- This will be taken as elitism. It is give-everybody-a-go mentality that ment. Two forwards left to their own de- Total Football of Ajax and Feyenoord. eager to take on the reactive role. Many lem—Germany had 66.8% possession not. Everybody has a chance to qualify breeds mediocrity. Just because Euro vices in advance of an eight-man citadel It’s not even 1986 and the wonderment games have seemed almost a battle not against France—and if the reactive for the Euros. The smaller sides who 2012 was also a disappointing tourna- that conceded one goal in 420 knockout of the back three. to take the initiative, a slow bicycle side has a clear idea of how to attack, made an impact—Wales, Iceland, even ment doesn’t change that: the previous minutes and won only one game in nor- Euro 2016’s relation to the club game race of non-possession. as France did in Marseille, a disparity Northern Ireland—would have quali- three Euros were all excellent. mal time in the entire tournament. This was indirect and perhaps more psy- Games of cut-and-thrust, of two in possession can still produce stirring fi ed for a 16-team tournament because International football is drowning in is modern international football. chological than tactical. teams actually going at each other— football. But when a team essentially they were good enough. the dilution of quality. Euro 2016, per- Yes, there were rousing performanc- Along came Barcelona under Pep which is what makes for the most thrill- sets itself up as a punchbag, the results Take France plus the best 15 teams haps, will be remembered as the fi rst es from a handful of minnows, and the Guardiola, tiki-takaing their way to ing spectacle—have been rare almost to are rarely worth watching. from qualifying (allowing for a couple homeopathic tournament. EURO 2020 BRIEFS Get ready for games Loew stays on as Germany coach from Bilbao to Baku Hosting Euro 2020 in 13 cities across the continent and using the UEFA Nations League as part of the qualifying process mean it will feel very diff erent, and not necessarily for the better

Joachim Loew ended speculation about his immediate future when he confirmed yesterday that he would stay on as coach of Germany despite the disappointment of the Euro 2016 semi-final defeat by France. Loew, who took Germany to World Cup glory in Brazil in 2014, said in a statement issued by the German football federation: “We were disappointed after the semi-final, but despite our disappointment, the Mannschaft did not disappoint.” Loew, 56, said he had seen “great potential” in the squad that would serve Germany well in the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Loew, in charge since 2006, has a contract that runs to 2018 but he had left some doubt about his position after Germany were eliminated from the European Championships. Barca complete deal for Lyon’s Umtiti Barcelona have completed the matches, including Sunday’s 1-0 signing of France defender defeat by Portugal in the final. Samuel Umtiti from Lyon Umtiti, who can also play at left- in a deal worth 25mn euros back, will be off icially presented ($27.7mn), the Spanish cham- as a Barcelona player on Friday pions announced yesterday. after undergoing a medi- Umtiti, 22, will pen a five-year cal at the Camp Nou. He will contract with Barcelona which compete for playing time with includes a buy-out clause of Gerard Pique, Javier Mascher- 60mn euros. Barcelona presi- ano and France teammate dent Josep Maria Bartomeu Jeremy Mathieu, whose injury confirmed last month that prompted Didier Deschamps to the two clubs had reached an call up Umtiti for the Euro- agreement over the transfer pean Championship. Umtiti, an while Umtiti was on internation- under-20 World Cup winner in al duty for France at Euro 2016. 2013, becomes Barca’s second The Cameroon-born centre- signing of the summer after back made his France debut the Catalan giants exercised in the quarter-finals against a buy-back clause to re-sign Iceland and retained his place midfielder Denis Suarez from in the team for the next two Villarreal last week. Spurs sign Dutch striker Janssen Iceland, who knocked out England in the Round of 16, were one of the surprise packages of the just-concluded Euro 2016. The 2020 tournament could see more such teams. Prolific Dutch international striker Vincent Janssen signed for Eng- By Martin Belam in London the introduction of the UEFA Nations on Euro 2016 would almost certainly end Euro 2016, the play-off s to determine the last lish Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur yesterday from AZ theguardian.com League tournament from 2018. up being among the highest-placed teams qualifi ers were in November 2015, meaning Alkmaar for a reported fee of £17mn ($22.3mn, 20.1mn euros). The Intended as a means of replacing friend- in League A or League B yet to qualify for the draw could be done before Christmas, 22-year-old—well known to English football fans having scored in a lies with competitive fi xtures, it will involve the fi nals. The play-off s involve a one-off giving fans six months to plan their expe- 2-1 friendly win over England in March this year—signed a four-year ike all tournaments, it feels sudden- each country in Europe being placed into semi-fi nal and one-off fi nal match, with ditions to France. The fi nal lineup for Euro contract. “We are delighted to announce the signing of Vincent ly over far too soon. Euro 2016 isn’t one of four leagues (A to D), based on UEFA’s the winner progressing to Euro 2020. 2020 won’t be known until three months be- Janssen from AZ Alkmaar, subject to international clearance,” read going to go down as a classic over- national country rankings. Those leagues fore the opening game is due to kick off . a statement from Spurs. “The striker has signed a contract with all, but it had the incredible stories will then be subdivided into four groups of Guaranteed spot for weakest nations the club until 2020.” Janssen, who finished top scorer in the Dutch Lof Wales and Iceland, some brilliant goals, three or four teams, and between September As well as ensuring that the big teams won’t Euro 2020 qualifying timeline league last term with 27 goals and won the Johan Cruyff trophy for and the most ridiculous penalty shootout 2018 and November 2018 the teams in those miss out, the new system will also ensure that September-November 2018: UEFA Nations young player of the year which future Spurs teammate Christian you are ever likely to see between two of the groups will play each other home and away. a couple of UEFA’s least competitive nations League group matches Eriksen won when at Ajax, joins Kenyan midfield enforcer Victor heavyweights of the international game. The top teams in each group in League do make it in. One team from League C and March 2018-June 2019: Euro 2020 qualify- Wanyama as fresh faces at Spurs. Manager Mauricio Pochettino has And there won’t be another tournament like A will go on to play for the UEFA Nations one from League D will also be guaranteed to ing matches been strengthening the squad for the twin challenges of the title it for eight years. Next time we get together to League trophy in a mini-tournament in progress to Euro 2020 via the play-off system. June 2019: UEFA Nations League finals race—having finished third last term—and the Champions League. crown the champions of Europe, it will be in summer 2019. There is promotion and rel- In the case of League D, under the current tournament an experimental multi-city format, stretching egation between the leagues based on fi n- rankings, that would mean one of Finland, September-November 2019: Euro 2020 No bidders for Hurst’s 1966 WC shirt across the continent, with London’s Wembley ishing top or bottom of your group. Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Belarus, Latvia, qualifying matches continue hosting the semi-fi nals and fi nal. Euro 2020 qualifying will then get under- Georgia, Macedonia, Faroe Islands, Liechten- March 2020: UEFA Nations League play- Probably the most iconic seized his chance impeccably, If you were lucky enough to get to France way in March 2019. There will be 10 quali- stein, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Malta, Andor- off s (with Euro 2020 places for winners) England football shirt in scoring a hat-trick—including during Euro 2016, you will know that in cit- fying groups, and the top two sides in each ra, San Marino or Gibraltar being at the fi nals. Nations League possible groupings history, worn by Geoff Hurst the final goal to the immortal ies such as Lille, Lyon and Saint-Étienne, group will go through to the fi nals. The qual- Yes, there’s always the chance of a fairy- when he scored a hat-trick in line by the commentator Ken- the second you stepped off the train you ifying will be wrapped up by November 2019. tale success like Iceland or Wales. But let’s Based on the 2016 UEFA national rank- the 4-2 World Cup final victory neth Wolstenholme “the crowd knew you were in the middle of a nation The eagle-eyed among you will spot that be clear – those two sides did brilliantly, but ings, the four divisions of the UEFA Nations over West Germany in 1966, are on the pitch, they think it’s hosting a tournament. this will generate 20 teams—four short of before the tournament they were ranked League would currently look like: failed to net a buyer at auction all over...it is now!”—in what UEFA will surely pull out all the usual the number required for the fi nals, which 22nd and 25th in Europe by UEFA. The League A: Belgium, Croatia, England, yesterday. The long-sleeved is England’s only ever major branding and marketing tricks, and there for 2020 has no host nation automatically League D teams occupy places 39 to 54. France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Portugal, red cotton shirt—bearing the tournament victory. The shirt will be banners and fanzones and only one qualifying. That’s where the UEFA Nations Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine number 10—was valued at is believed to have been first type of low alcohol beer available, just as League comes back into play. In each league, A more complicated journey for fans League B: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, between £300,000 (355,000 auctioned at Christie’s in 2000, we found in France. But with games spread the four best-placed teams who haven’t yet The format of the fi nals will also pose in- Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, euros, $395,000) and when it was sold for £91,750 to from Baku and St Petersburg in the east, qualifi ed for the fi nals get another shot, via credible logistical problems for fans. If you Iceland, Poland, Republic of Ireland, £500,000, but despite some a private collector. It was then to Dublin and Bilbao in the west, it will be a play-off system. These matches are pro- are following a team who get all the way to Romania, Russia, Sweden bids in the room, it fell short of bought in 2008 by property much harder to give the tournament that posed for March 2020. There are going to be the fi nal, you may end up having to visit League C: Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Estonia, the reserve price at Sotheby’s investor Andrew Leslau for an feel of a unifi ed nation partying while it is three main eff ects of this: four or fi ve countries along the way. De- Israel, Lithuania, Montenegro, Northern Ireland, in London. Hurst would prob- undisclosed sum on behalf of having a football festival. pending on how the group fi xtures are ar- Norway, Scotland, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey, Wales ably have never featured in the international investors. Leslau But it’s not just the fi nals tournament Another safety net for bigger nations ranged, you will probably end up having to League D: Andorra, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cy- side but for an injury to first- insured the shirt for £1 mn, call- of Euro 2020 that will feel completely dif- Under the new system, countries in UEFA’s visit at least two diff erent countries just to prus, Faroe Islands, Finland, Georgia, Gibraltar, choice striker Jimmy Greaves ing it “the most important shirt ferent. UEFA is also planning signifi cant top 20 nations such as Holland, Denmark see your country’s three opening matches. Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxem- prior to the quarter-finals. He in English football history”. changes to the way qualifying works, with or Bosnia and Herzegovina who missed out And you will have less time to plan it. For bourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, San Marino Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, July 13, 2016 FOOTBALL

NEW BEGINNING FOCUS Ancelotti to build on Mourinho calls on Guardiola’s foundations

Reuters Man United fans to Munich ew Bayern Munich manager Carlo Ancelotti has no plans to rip up the foundations laid by predecessor Pep Guardiola and Nsays he will look to continue the club’s tradition of attacking football when the get behind the team season kicks off in August. The Italian has large boots to fi ll as Guardiola, who switched to English Pre- ‘I understand that they expect a lot from me but I also expect a lot from them. There is no chance mier League side Manchester City this month, won three straight Bundesliga ti- we will be happy if we are not together and I think the passion for this club is really amazing’ tles during his tenure at the Allianz Arena. “I know very well that the style of Bay- ern Munich is to play attacking football and we want to play attacking football. I love to play attacking football,” Ancelotti told reporters on Monday. “I’m not here to make a revolution because the job that Guardiola did here was fantastic and I would like to follow his style. I don’t think our style is going to change a lot compared to last year. The system will be more or less the same.” Despite the domestic dominance, Guar- diola’s three-year spell at Bayern was not deemed entirely successful having missed out on the Champions League title. Ancelotti said it was impossible to predict whether he would do any better. “Of course everybody wants to win the Champions League, but only one team wins it,” added Ancelotti, who is the only manager to have won the Champions League three times. “I know that Bayern have a fantas- tic history in the Bundesliga and in the Champions League. The only thing that we cannot control is the result—if I could control that too I would be a magician, but I’m only a manager.” Having managed AC Milan, Paris St- Germain, Chelsea, Juventus and Real Madrid, Ancelotti said he had become accustomed to the pressure that comes with taking up a job with clubs targeting Champions League success. “A lot of people ask about the pres- sure—I am used to it. I had the luck in my career of coaching top teams—all top teams who want to win, but honestly I don’t feel the pressure because I’m used to it,” the 57-year-old said. By Mark Redding in London the manager is, it doesn’t who the new Rooney says Mourinho will Bayern kick off their title defence The Guardian players are or who is staying or leav- give him ‘extra motivation’ “I like to think I’m always against Werder Bremen on August 26. ing, it’s Man United and Man United is much more than any one of us. Manchester United skipper Wayne motivated as a player but I’d osé Mourinho has called on “The passion the fans have is for the Rooney (pic right) has said Mour- be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit Manchester United’s fans to once club and I feel that I am a club man. inho’s appointment as manager has more motivated when a new more get behind the team after When I arrived, I wore the shirt im- given him extra motivation for the three disaff ected years in which mediately and this is the kind of club new Premier League season. Mour- manager comes in. I’m sure J all the lads will be happy to they were forced to endure the unad- and the kind of shirt that I am very inho, tasked with making United title venturous tactics of David Moyes and proud to represent. I am going to do contenders once more after the sack- be working under Jose and Louis van Gaal. my best to be happy and to make the ing of Louis van Gaal in May, has sig- also eager to impress” Moyes lasted just 10 months to be people happy.” nalled that he sees Rooney playing up temporarily replaced by Ryan Giggs In terms of targets for his fi rst year, front—rather than the deeper midfi eld while Van Gaal was eventually dis- Mourinho reiterated his comments position he took up for England and pensed with despite winning the FA at his fi rst press conference when he United at the back end of last season. Cup, chants of “We’re Man United, we said: “I’m not humble when I talk Rooney, 30, who is only four goals want to attack!” becoming the refrain about targets, I’m quite aggressive behind Bobby Charlton’s record haul at several games last season. on that. I want everything and eve- of 249 in United’s all-time top-scor- The new manager has promised rything is to win matches, play well, ers’ list, told Inside United magazine: the supporters a fresh start, despite score goals, don’t concede goals… “I’m really excited to be working with suspicions that he may bring his own everything. I want everything. I know Jose this season as he’s one of the best brand of negativity to Old Traff ord, that we are speaking about a hypo- managers in the world. It’s an exciting and told the club website: “I under- thetical situation which is very dif- time for Manchester United. stand that they expect a lot from me fi cult to reach but I want everything.” “I’ve always respected him both as but I also expect a lot from them. Mourinho has already made his a man and a manager, he’s a nice guy There is no chance we will be happy mark by signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and one of the most successful man- if we are not together and I think the Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly agers of all time. Traff ord over the summer by Ibrahi- the former Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real passion for this club is really amazing. this summer, while Paul Pogba has “I like to think I’m always motivat- movic, Ivorian defender Bailly and Madrid and Porto boss. He’ll bring all “It’s a new chapter in the club’s life. been linked with a €100mn return to ed as a player but I’d be lying if I said Armenian playmaker Mkhitaryan, these qualities with him and I’m sure Always when you change a manager, I his former club from Juventus. I wasn’t a bit more motivated when said he had never enjoyed an easy he’ll have his own ideas, but one of the feel it is a sad moment but it is a new Mourinho will get his fi rst taste a new manager comes in. I’m sure all game against a Mourinho side. biggest assets will be his experience. chapter now. We have brought a few of the dugout when United take on the lads will be happy to be working “His teams are always hard to beat, “He’s managed a lot of successful new faces in, we will keep some others Wigan in a friendly at the DW Stadi- under Jose and also eager to impress.” tactically disciplined and, most im- teams throughout his career and all but, in the end, it doesn’t matter who um this Saturday. Rooney, who has been joined at Old portantly, successful,” Rooney said of that experience will be vital.”

ROUND-UP Warburton rewarded with new Rangers deal Agencies “We have sold more than 41,000 to Premier League side Southampton by sure we can go on to achieve even bet- es from 1999 to 2007, had been work- with the national association ANFP. At Glasgow season tickets and, like everyone at the signing a fi ve-year contract yesterday. ter things,” added Bertrand, who joined ing with Arsenal youth players as part a general meeting of the players’ union club, our supporters are looking for- The 26-year-old joins goalkeeper from Chelsea in 2014. of his UEFA A Licence course. SIFUP, it was unanimously agreed that ward to seeing the team compete in the Fraser Forster, Dutch central defender Saints, who fi nished a best ever Another former Arsenal legend, the top two leagues in the country would ark Warburton’s success top fl ight once again—both domesti- Virgil van Dijk, England Under-21 sixth in the Premier League last term, Tony Adams, 49, will take the role not begin as planned on July 22. The dis- in steering Scottish gi- cally and in Europe.” skipper James Ward-Prowse and have signed Nathan Redmond from with the under-18s. Adams’ former pute centres around money owed from ants Rangers back into the Warburton, who has forged a suc- Northern Irish veteran Steven Davis in relegated Norwich, and on Monday central-defensive partner Steve Bould last season, the timing of the league sea- MPremiership earned him cessful managerial career despite signing new contracts at St Mary’s. highly-rated Danish international is Wenger’s assistant manager while son and the number of clubs being pro- a much improved three-year contract never playing in league football, said it Securing Bertrand’s signature will Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg joined them another ex-player, Freddie Ljungberg, moted and relegated. It was decided by yesterday. The 53-year-old English- was a privilege to be in such a prestig- be a boost to the club as they have be- from Bayern Munich. will work with the under-16s. the ANFP that there would be only one man—who took over at Rangers last ious job. “I have said this many times come accustomed to losing star play- Henry must now fi nd a team to coach club promoted to the top-fl ight from the year after a successful stint at unfash- since moving to Glasgow but it really is ers after a successful season—Kenyan to complete his Pro Licence. Reviews of season division in 2016-17 rather than ionable English side Brentford—had a huge honour and privilege to be man- midfi eld enforcer Victor Wanyama, TV money lures Henry Henry’s performances as a pundit for the usual two, a move criticized by the his present contract, which had two ager of Rangers Football Club and I am Italian striker Graziano Pelle and Sen- away from Gunners Sky have been largely critical, but crit- union for restricting competitiveness. years remaining on it, ripped up and thrilled to agree a new contract,” said egalese forward Sadio Mane all depart- ics agreed that he was far better on the replaced by a three-year deal. Warburton, who also guided Rangers ing as well as manager Ronald Koeman France and Arsenal legend Thierry BBC during Euro 2016. Noted sports His assistant, former Rangers and to the Scottish Cup fi nal last term after this close season. Henry ended his association with the TV critic Giles Smith said in The Times Whelan’s loyalty Scotland defensive pillar, David Weir— a sensational semi-fi nal victory over “I’m very pleased. It’s been a fantas- English Premier League club yesterday, newspaper yesterday: “One puzzle rewarded by Stoke who worked with him at Brentford— bitter city rivals Celtic. tic move for me since the day I came to preferring to focus on his burgeoning we’re nowhere nearer solving: how was also rewarded with a similarly im- “Our debut campaign in Scotland this club and I look forward to many media career. The 38-year-old former can the same Thierry Henry who is so Republic of Ireland international mid- proved off er. was certainly a positive one but we are more successful years and really push- striker—part of the 1998 World Cup open and engaging on the BBC be such fi elder Glenn Whelan’s sterling service “Our decision to reward Mark and all working tirelessly to deliver contin- ing forward,” Bertrand told the club and Euro 2000 winning teams—could a lump of wet wool on Sky Sports?” to Premier League side Stoke was re- David with signifi cantly improved ued success for our fans.” website. “I’ve enjoyed my football have coached the Gunners’ under-18 warded with a one-year extension to contracts was primarily driven by our here. I’ve really enjoyed the club, and side but declined the off er when Ar- his contract yesterday. The deal with recognition of their role in transform- the fans have been fantastic with me sene Wenger told him he would have League in Chile under the 32-year-old—capped 73 times ing the football department at all levels Bertrand boosts Saints personally as well, so I couldn’t think to give up his lucrative Sky Sports TV threat as players strike since making his international debut in throughout the club and their desire to by signing new contract of any better place to play football contract for which he is reportedly paid 2008—will see him stay at the club until continue with that project in the sea- and to keep on developing. The club £4mn ($5.2mn, 4.7mn euros) a year. The start of the next football season in 2018. That would make it a decade at the sons ahead,” said Rangers managing England left-back Ryan Bertrand be- is always thinking forward and I re- Henry, Arsenal’s all-time leading Chile is under threat after players de- Britannia Stadium, having joined from director Stewart Robertson. came the latest player to commit himself ally want to be a part of that, and I am scorer with 174 goals in 254 appearanc- cided upon strike action in a dispute Sheffi eld Wednesday for £500,000. Gulf Times Wednesday, July 13, 2016 5 FOOTBALL FOCUS Sam ready to mentor England may turn to successor

By Louise Taylor in London The Guardian

he chances of Sam Allardyce becoming ‘regeneration man’ the next England manager have been Tenhanced by his willingness to help the Football Association to mentor a young assist- ant who would be groomed as his successor. The FA is keen to talk to both Allardyce, who left Sunderland’s training camp in Austria on Monday night, and Jürgen Klinsmann, the USA coach, about the vacancy created following Roy Allardyce to rebuild Hodgson’s resignation, but have been encour- aged by the 61-year-old’s apparent enthusiasm for helping them to polish the next in line. Much maligned in the past for his soccer philosophy and underhand tactics, the Sunderland Sunderland insisted that Allardyce’s early departure concerned ongoing discussions manager is in reality a deep thinker about the game who has learned his trade the hard way over potential transfers, with one source stat- ing it was “business as usual”. The club had earlier remained resolutely By Louise Taylor in London silent in the face of mounting speculation on The Guardian Monday. While formal contact between manager, club and the FA is still to be established, Al- am Allardyce is the sort of lardyce has made no secret of his desire to man who walks into a packed coach his country and was desperately disap- room and immediately domi- pointed to lose out to Steve McClaren when nates it. If that hardly ranks as the pair competed for the post a decade ago. Sa rare trait among football managers, After performing wonders to rescue Sunder- particularly those standing 6ft 3in, the land from relegation last season, a manager who diff erence with Allardyce is that he re- has one year remaining on his contract at the ally listens to what people are saying— ‘Stadium of Light’ knows his stock is high. and with a surprisingly open mind. While suggestions that his Wearside deal This approach has helped create includes an escape clause designed to facilitate one of the English game’s most in- an easy exit should England come calling have novative, three-dimensional think- been dismissed by club sources, the relative ers whose fascination with, among brevity of his current agreement indicates that many other things, sports science compensation would not be an insurmountable and statistics is underscored by issue for the FA. sure-footed intuition. Although Allardyce enjoys a good relationship At 61, Sunderland’s manager is with Ellis Short, Sunderland’s American owner, surely the right man, in the right he seems deeply frustrated by the club’s failure place, at the right time to not only to make a single signing so far this summer. breathe new life into the England It appeared Martin Bain, Sunderland’s new team but challenge all sorts of dubi- chief executive who began work on July 1 after ous received wisdoms currently per- arriving from Maccabi Tel Aviv, had made a vading Football Association philoso- breakthrough last week when Davide Santon phy. If Allardyce really was the binary, seemed to be on the brink of joining from “hoof and hope” boss of popular car- Internazionale only for negotiations to icature he would not have been able break down at the last moment. to rescue a deeply fl awed Wearsiders’ “We want to improve the squad with two, squad from a once seemingly inevita- three or four players as quickly as we can,” ble relegation. Allardyce told Sunderland’s website. The diffi culty of that job – dubbed “We’re trying to work in the market “impossible” by his predecessor shrewdly and to get the best value for money Dick Advocaat, who resigned in de- we possibly can. Hopefully the fans will be a spair last October—should not be little bit patient but I have to admit myself that underestimated and is unlikely to be my patience is wearing thin—very, very thin forgotten by any player involved. indeed.” “I don’t think Sam needed much Allardyce, anxious to sign West Ham United time to analyse us as either football- striker Diafra Sakho, is understood to be angry ers or people,” says Younès Kaboul, about the failure to solve a problem position at the former Tottenham Hotspur cen- left-back by signing Santon and described the tre-half who morphed from being £3mn move’s collapse as “a huge disappoint- a liability to a big reason why Sun- that impressed Jan Kirchhoff after a and the League cup fi nal, lacks the cha at Bolton, he had a tendency to football “19th century”. ment”. derland lost only one of their fi nal 11 midfi elder coached by Pep Guardiola trophies to show for decades of mud limit individual players’ potential But people can change and Al- If such travails should encourage Martin games last spring. swapped Bayern Munich for Sunder- on boots endeavour. by restricting them to performing lardyce appeared to undergo an Glenn, Dan Ashworth and David Gill—the “Sam’s got so much experience land last January. The absence of silverware is down to very specifi c roles, often creativity epiphany at West Ham where he ulti- FA’s chief executive, technical director and that, for him, one week was enough “Pep’s the best coach in the world sheer lack of opportunity. As one of the stifl ing ones. If Bolton’s football was mately produced a surprisingly mul- vice-chairman respectively—in their pursuit of to know us. To learn which way we but Sam’s good,” Kirchhoff says. “His fi rst Premier League managers to deploy not quite as direct as advertised, as- tifaceted side featuring the clever use Allardyce they will be more interested in his should play and what we needed to treatment of players, the way Sam both psychology and Prozone analysis, sorted rival managers—most notably of Stewart Downing in “the hole”. consistent championing of young English do to improve. Sam knows football speaks to us, is very good. His vid- he proved ahead of his time but was not Rafael Benítez and Arsène Wenger— Similarly, Sunderland proved unex- coaches over the years. better than he knows his family. He eo analysis, too. I’ve had really bad seen as suffi ciently “sophisticated” to did not appreciate Allardyce’s de- pectedly low on balls crashed into the Even so, the FA continues to talk to a knows exactly how to—how can I say coaches—but Sam’s a really good one.” be shortlisted for top jobs. ployment of gamesmanship. corners last season. Having taken the number of potential candidates and interested it—upset the other team. He made us Perhaps it is down to Allardyce Increasingly chippy, the boy from One notorious “black art” in- boldly controversial step of fi elding parties which are likely to include Bourne- strong and solid. He’s shown us how having “done the hard yards”. Allied Dudley in the west Midlands who volved his teams’ ability to escape the diminutive Jermain Defoe as a lone mouth’s Eddie Howe and Steve Bruce. to stay in games, and how to win. He’s to the sort of inquiring mind which had overcome undiagnosed child- unpunished despite repeated indul- striker, Allardyce turned tactical cha- Although they are still to make contact also a very straight guy; you know has converted him to the benefi ts of hood dyslexia lamented, repeatedly, gence in the Kevin Nolan speciality meleon and ensured team-mates sup- with either Hull’s manager or his club Bruce, what he’s thinking and, even if you near daily transcendental medita- how things would have been diff er- otherwise known as blatantly ob- plied the low, smartly angled passes a currently at a pre-season training camp in don’t, he’s going to tell you.” tion, an impressively solid body of ent if only his name were “Allardici”. structing opposition goalkeepers. forward capped 55 times by England Portugal, was delighted to be mentioned in Fabio Borini, the team’s one-time work embracing stints at Limerick, Yet, although those repeated digs A sometimes uneasy on the eye, craved. “Sam’s 100% good enough dispatches. Liverpool and Chelsea forward, is Preston, Blackpool, Notts County, contained uncomfortable truths safety-fi rst modus operandi, bigger on for England,” Defoe says. “Football’s “It’s highly flattering and, whether or not it equally positive. “With some manag- Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn, West about English football’s growing destruction than construction, con- about results—and he’s a winner.” goes any further than that, I’m honoured to be ers you switch off ,” he acknowledges. Ham and now Sunderland dictates obsession with image and branding, tributed to both his downfall at New- Infi nitely less chippy and, by his linked with it,” he said. “But you always listen to Sam.” that he really does know how to set there was more to his top-table ex- castle as well as a frequently awkward own admission, “much mellowed”— “It’s the pinnacle isn’t it? To manage your Allardyce’s imposing, sometimes a team up for almost every occasion. clusion than sheer snobbery. relationship with West Ham fans. he even has kind words for Benítez country, there’s no bigger job. It’s all specula- misleadingly rough-and-ready pres- Creditably, he has never been rel- Despite signing some undeniably Many Upton Park regulars were and Wenger these days—Allardyce is tion but there’s a lot of people who have writ- ence is underscored by the sort of egated from the Premier League but, talented footballers, most notably apparently secretly delighted when also a man fi nally comfortable in his ten nice things and I’m grateful for that.” psychological and tactical subtleties despite leading Bolton into Europe Youri Djorkaeff and Jay-Jay Oko- José Mourinho deemed “Big Sam’s” own skin.

SPOTLIGHT Howard back in MLS aft er more than a decade away

By Dave Caldwell in New York Howard was supplanted at mid- next season after relegation from the “There are a lot of good teams in the theguardian.com season by Joel Robles as the starter at Premier League. Further, the US were MLS,” Howard said. “We keep seeing Everton, who later sacked their coach, clearly outclassed by Argentina in that that with the talent we have on dis- Roberto Martinez. Howard started only 4-0 semi-fi nal loss. (Howard has said he play—with more foreign players who ajor League Soccer is in a two of Everton’s fi nal 18 Premier League intends to continue playing for the US are trying to ply their trade in the MLS, diff erent place from when matches. But Howard said his MLS team internationally, if he is selected.) that’s clearly isn’t something have to Tim Howard last pa- contract extends through 2019, and he But Howard appears to have provided worry about. Mtrolled the league’s penalty is eager to show he can win in a league a bump at the ticket booths. “There are a heck of a lot of teams in areas way back in 2003. The 20-team that is much better than it was when he Although a post-match fi reworks the Premier League who don’t have a league is twice the size it was then. was 24 and had rather more hair. display might have had something to do chance in hell of making the Champi- New York has two clubs, and neither “It is the ability to attract world-class with it, Howard’s debut with the Rap- ons League, but players are going to be is named the MetroStars, who played talent,” he says. “I think David Beckham ids, a 0-0 draw with Portland on July attracted to those clubs, too.” in a mostly empty NFL stadium then— did an incredible service to US soccer,” 4, drew 18,759 spectators, nearly 20% Howard will be 40 when his contract though that was better than the Dallas Howard adds, referring to the former more than the Rapids’ average in 2015, with the Rapids expires, but he did not Burn playing in a high school stadium. England captain, who appeared in 98 when they were the poorest-drawing sound like a professional athlete mak- After 13 years in the Premier League, MLS matches for the Los Angeles Gal- MLS team at home. ing a transition to retirement. which included stints at Manchester axy between 2007 and 2012. “He was When asked how big he thought the He took the job as a Premier League United and Everton, the 37-year-old one of the biggest things in world foot- MLS could get—maybe even bigger commentator with NBC, he said, be- Howard has returned to the United ball, and he chose to come to the MLS. It than a European league?—Howard said: cause it did not interfere with his regu- States to play for the Colorado Rapids, opened some eyes, and we have seen all “Look, it’s a good league, and the num- lar job, which was playing for Everton. who won MLS Cup in 2010 and play in the talent that has followed since. bers would tell you that. But it’s also a He fi gures he has three-and-a-half an 18,000-seat soccer-specifi c stadi- “That part, for me, has been great. growing league, and it has been around years left in his career, and he plans to um in the Denver suburbs. There were obviously one or two tal- for two decades or so. We have to try make the most of this chance. Since Howard played for the Met- ented footballers in the MLS, but now and get better each and every year. Of Asked what he would miss about liv- roStars, he has appeared in more than we have an infl ux of them. From the US course, you set a target. Maybe there’s ing in England, Howard laughed when 100 matches for the US men’s national side of things, our players are becom- a league in Europe where we can say: he said: “I won’t miss the rain.” team, a record for a goalkeeper, and has ing more (successful) at a younger age. we want to be better than this league or But he then said: “Everton became become a spokesman for soccer here, if We have kids playing in Europe. We that league.” my home. I have been very open about not an ambassador. have kids playing major roles within last played in it, but it is still is regarded $2.8mn a season with the Rapids.) On the other hand, Howard doesn’t that. I’ll miss everything affi liated with When the NBC Sports Network asked the league here. That was something I by some as a place for older players—like Howard did not play for the US team necessarily see it as a hindrance to at- that club. I had a really good life, great him two years ago to moonlight as a didn’t see when I left.” Howard—to ride out their professional in Copa America; he was supplanted tracting talent that MLS doesn’t com- friends, all of those kind of day-to-day commentator on Premier League tel- The 20-year-old MLS is generally seen careers while being paid well. (Howard by Brad Guzan of Aston Villa, who will pete in big competitions like the Cham- things will be sorely missed. But I’ll ecasts, he was solid, if not spectacular. to be much more viable than when Howard reportedly will make between $2.5mn and play in the second-tier Championship pions League. keep in touch.” Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, July 13, 2016 SPORT

NBA Flyers’ Bardreau continues comeback from broken neck

By Sam Carchidi The Philadelphia Inquirer

Green faces assault f overcoming adversity leads to success, center Cole Bardreau should have a solid NHL career. Signed by the Flyers as a free agent last year, the 5-foot-10, I193-pound Bardreau – who broke his neck while playing for Cornell in 2013 and was nearly paralyzed – looks like he has a future as a scrappy third- or fourth-line player. “He’s tenacious, irritating, hard-working,” general manager Ron Hextall said after watching Bardreau at the Flyers’ develop- charge for slapping ment camp in Voorhees the other day. “Plays hard and plays physical.” After a slow start with the Phantoms last season, Bardreau regrouped and finished with 13 goals and 17 assists in 54 AHL games. “He was really quiet the first 20 games.... but then he was back to the Cole Bardreau we saw at Cornell,” Hextall said. “I think he is going to be a role-type of player. He made terrific strides last a football player year and hopefully it continues, and at some point he takes a run at the big club.” Bardreau, who turns 23 on July 22, suff ered a broken vertebra in ‘We will have no further comment until we have a better understanding of the situation’ two places in his neck during his sophomore season at Cornell. The injury occurred a short time after he and Shayne Gostisbe- here helped Team USA win the World Junior Championships. Coming off the World Junior win, Bardreau said, he was “feeling awesome” and that “my confidence was high.” And then, in a game against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Bardreau’s promising career nearly ended when he fractured the C-7 vertebra in the front and back of his neck. “It was kind of just a cutback play in the corner. I got a little bit of bad ice and a nudge from behind,” the Fairport, N.Y., native said. “I went into the boards awkwardly and I felt a little numb- ness in my fingers, but by the time my trainer got to me it went away and it was something I thought I could shake off as the game went on.” So Bardreau continued playing. Two days later, he still had neck pain, and Cornell’s trainer sug- gested a precautionary X-ray. “So I walked into our local infirmary with my backpack on like nothing was wrong, then ended up leaving on a stretcher and went to the hospital,” Bardreau said. Bardreau underwent an MRI and CAT scan and it was deter- mined he had broken his neck. “Since I was able to finish the game and I could take some contact, (I was told I) could get away with a stiff neck brace for three and a half months,” he said. “I couldn’t carry any weight, and had to get a roller book bag for myself.” When he returned to the ice, it took Bardreau a while before he regained his strength and got back into a skating rhythm. “But it kind of happened at a good time, when I was able to get clear- ance right as the summer started, so I had the whole summer to gain back my strength and get back on the ice and I had a pretty good turnaround from there,” he said. Bardreau played two more years at Cornell, and spent part of the 2014-15 season with the Phantoms. Last year was his first full AHL season. “I thought it went really well,” he said. “Obviously the biggest change in college is probably the amount of games, going from 30 games to 76 can be quite a bit of a grind, but I thought I did a pretty good job in transitioning and I’m looking forward to another year.” Coaches in the organization have “let me know I have to bring the energy” to be an eff ective player, said Bardreau, adding he models his game after Ryan Callahan’s and tries to “bring that edge every night, the compete level, an in-your-face kind of guy that can also have a little scoring touch at the other end, too.” Last season, Bardreau just wanted to contribute to the Phan- toms. “But this year, the goal is to try and get a few games up with the Flyers. It’s important for me to come in with that mind- set, and it’s going to help me along the way.”

Golden State Warriors Draymond Green (R)shooting the ball in front of Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (L) during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 8 in Cleveland. (AFP)

By Diamond Leung said by phone before declining ing Police Department public as Green is a member of the US “poor judgment” after a video The Mercury News further comment. information offi cer Scott Wrig- Olympic team that will compete was posted to his Snapchat ac- Heos, fi led a waiver of ar- glesworth told the Detroit Free next month in Rio de Janeiro. count showing a car occupant’s raignment, and the player does Press. The restaurant serves no The team begins training in Las view of the speedometer reach- arriors forward not need to attend it in person. alcohol, keeping its doors open Vegas on July 18 and will play ing 118 mph. Draymond Green Green, 26, was an All-Ameri- until 2:45am to cater to a college in a July 26 exhibition at Oracle Green lives in the Bay Area, was arrested on an can player at Michigan State who town crowd that enjoys night Arena. but often returns to East Lans- assault charge in became an All-Star this season light in the area. Along with his stellar play, ing, Mich. He grew up about an WEast Lansing, Mich., on Sun- while on the Warriors’ record- A video obtained by TMZ.com Green has previously apologized hour’s drive away in Saginaw day after he allegedly slapped a setting 73-win team and has showed Green with his hands for lapses in judgment this sea- and has said he wanted to be a Michigan State football player, previously won an NBA cham- behind his back walking with son. positive role model. according to sources. pionship. two offi cers as they escorted him He did so after putting himself “I try to be a bright spot for The East Lansing Police De- His ties to Michigan State run to a police vehicle. in the position to accumulate the city, keep my nose clean,” partment arrested Green in con- deep, as he donated $3.1mn to his The Warriors released a state- enough postseason fl agrant fouls Green said in January. I’m trying nection with the altercation that alma mater last year after sign- ment on Monday. to be suspended for Game 5 of to show kids that, ‘Hey man, he’s took place at 2:28am, and he was ing a new fi ve-year, $82mn con- “We are aware of news involv- the NBA Finals - a game and se- from Saginaw, he’s doing this, released on $200 bond, accord- tract with the Warriors. Hours ing Draymond Green in Michi- ries the Warriors went on to lose. why can’t they?’ Staying clean ing to a district court document before the incident, he attended gan over the weekend. At this In February, Green apologized is a part of that. I just think it’s released Monday. The victim the wedding of a former Michi- point, we are collecting infor- after going on a halftime tirade very important to not only have was not injured. gan State football player. mation and will have no further in the locker room at Oklahoma success on the court. Keep play- “I will tell you, Draymond is But in the wee hours of the comment until we have a better City that was directed at coach ing as well as I’ve been playing, completely innocent - ‘com- morning, Green was arrested understanding of the situation.” Steve Kerr but could be over- but also continue to carry myself pletely’ should be capitalised,” near campus shortly after leav- USA Basketball released a heard by a television reporter. the right way. I think that’s more James Heos, Green’s attorney ing a Conrad’s Grill, East Lans- similarly worded statement, In March, Green said he used important than anything.”

MLB Yankees’ Beltran knows he could be trade bait

By David Lennon from the Bronx. Twice before, potent addition to any contender’s ing, other than winning a World Newsday Beltran has been used as midsea- lineup. Based on his recent knee Series, the one thing that has son trade bait, by the Royals in issues and lack of range in the fi eld, eluded him in his 19-year career. 2004 and the Mets in 2011. however, he probably is best suited But the Yankees will have to step arlos Beltran doesn’t The Royals, via a three-way for DH duty, a liability that could up their play to get him deep into possess David Ortiz’s deal involving the A’s that sent restrict the Yankees’ options. October this season. larger-than-life Big Papi Beltran to the Astros, received Beltran, who has roughly $7mn “I do feel like we can be com- persona or the cartoon- Mark Teahen, Mike Wood and left on his three-year, $45mn petitors,” Beltran said. “But it’s ishC charm of the ageless Bartolo John Buck in a 2004 trade. The deal, also has 15 teams on his lim- got to happen now in the second Colon. Mets acquired Zack Wheeler from ited no-trade list. “This is a busi- half. We have to fi nd a way to play But as the third-oldest player the Giants in a 2011 swap. ness,” he said. “We’re employees, better baseball.” to be selected for tonight’s All- As for whether the Yankees will man.” Then again, this year prob- Star Game, Beltran is a valuable consider him a chip in a possible That’s not to say Beltran is ably won’t be the end of Beltran’s commodity: a coveted hitter who rebuild, Beltran shrugged. “I’m not ready to jump ship in the Bronx. pursuit of a ring. Similar to Ortiz, might be on the trade market be- going to push it,” he said. “I love He wants to stay put for a run at who is on pace for 40 home runs fore too long. where I am. At the same time, the the postseason and has faith that at age 40, Beltran isn’t feeling all That was the gist of the ques- organization will make the deci- the Yankees can build off their that old lately. tions directed at Beltran, 39, dur- sions that are important to them.” series win over the Indians before “Age, for me, doesn’t mean ing Monday’s media availability, With a slash line the break. anything,” he said. “What’s im- when he alternately talked about of.299/.338/.550, 19 home runs With a Hall of Fame plaque portant for me is passion, and the Yankees’ iff y playoff chances and 56 RBIs in 83 games, the close to being clinched, Beltran my passion for the game is above and his own potential departure switch-hitting Beltran would be a doesn’t have many goals remain- everything.” Gulf Times Wednesday, July 13, 2016 7 RUGBY

BLEDISLOE CUP Hansen says Cheika bully jibe ‘not personal’

AFP Wellington

ll Blacks coach Steve Hansen said Not-so-Super Australia yesterday he did not mean to rile Wallabies counterpart Michael Cheika by suggesting the Austral- ianA had let England mentor Eddie Jones bully him. After England claimed an unprecedent- ed series victory in Australia last month, Hansen said he was puzzled the normally will be competitive, says feisty Cheika had refused to respond to Jones’ verbal jibes. Cheika labelled Hansen’s comments “shallow” and said “it’s easy to kick blokes when they’re down”, vowing the Wallabies would bounce back. Hansen, whose All Blacks face Australia in the Rugby Championship opener in Sydney All Blacks coach Hansen on August 20, said he meant no off ence. “It wasn’t directed at Michael, I just thought that Eddie had dominated him a ‘Australia will field a very strong side. They will be hurting after their 3-0 loss to England’ wee bit in the media and he took it quite per- sonal,” Hansen told Radio Sport. “It wasn’t meant to be personal.” Reuters Hansen dismissed suggestions that the Wellington New Zealand All Blacks coach Steve Hansen looking poor form of Australian Super Rugby teams, on during a training session in Auckland. (AFP) who have lost 20 of their 24 clashes with New Zealand sides so far this season, meant uper Rugby is no gauge for form at test trouble for the Wallabies. level and Australia will be competitive “History tells you it doesn’t matter where during the Bledisloe Cup series, accord- you fi nish in the Super Rugby, it’s how you ing to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. come together as a national team,” he said. SAustralian rugby has been plunged into mor- “Australia, I think, will fi eld a very, very bid introspection after a series whitewash at strong side, they’ll be hurting after their 3-0 home to England and after all fi ve of the coun- loss to England and they’ll be competitive.” try’s Super Rugby teams lost their matches in Hansen also revealed that cross-code star the penultimate round of the competition last Sonny Bill Williams would slot straight back weekend. into the All Blacks after representing New Four of the Super sides were subjected to Zealand in sevens at the Olympic Games. thrashings by rampaging New Zealand teams “As long as he’s injury-free we’ll name who will take four out of fi ve of the available him in the Rugby Championship team, then playoff spots for the Australasian group in the give him whatever time he needs, whether southern hemisphere tournament. it’s one Test or two Tests,” he said. Only one Australian team will qualify for the “He won’t be available for the fi rst one playoff s and only by virtue of winning their na- then we’ll see how he’s travelling. He’ll play tional conference. some time during that competition.” Local media on both sides of the Tasman sea It means Williams could return for the have seen New Zealand’s Super Rugby domi- All Blacks’ second Championship fi xture nance as a taste of things to come when the against Australia in Wellington on August 27. Wallabies meet the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup, the annual trophy contested between the nations. But Hansen was having none of it. England fl anker Haskell faces six “History tells you it doesn’t matter where months out with foot injury you fi nish in Super Rugby, it’s how you come England flanker James Haskell could be together as a national team,” he told New Zea- out for six months due to a foot injury, his land’s Radio Sport yesterday. club Wasps said. Haskell, 31, suff ered the “Australia will fi eld a very strong side. They injury during England’s second test against will be hurting after their 3-0 loss to England Australia in Melbourne in June, where the and I think they’ll be competitive.” visitors sealed a series win before going on to The All Blacks have held the Bledisloe Cup complete the 3-0 whitewash. since 2003. Wasps said the back row required reconstruc- Australia had a rare victory over the All tive surgery to his big toe and was expected Blacks to win the abridged Rugby Champion- to be sidelined for four-to-six months. ship last year but lost the World Cup fi nal to England host South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and their neighbouring rivals. Australia at Twickenham in the autumn inter- The June series loss against England was a nationals in November and early December. big reality check for Wallabies coach Michael “James’s performances with England, both Cheika, whose commitment to running rugby in the 3-0 series win over Australia and in has been questioned. England’s Six Nations grand slam success, But the Wallabies team that lines up for the have been hugely impressive,” said director four-nation Rugby Championship is likely to of Rugby Dai Young. “Everyone at Wasps be boosted by a number of seasoned campaign- knows how hard James works to make those ers based overseas, including playmaker Matt performances happen, and we know he’ll Giteau and scrumhalf Will Genia, who both sat be working just as hard to come back in the out the June internationals. best shape possible. Our medical team will be The All Blacks will also have reinforcements, working closely with James over the next few including centre Sonny Bill Williams, who is months to get him back to full fitness.” tipped for a speedy return after his bid for an Olympic medal at the Rio de Janeiro Games Cooper quits Toulon with New Zealand’s rugby sevens side. Australian playmaker Quade Cooper yester- Hansen confi rmed that midfi elder Char- day confirmed his departure from Toulon, just lie Ngatai, who has struggled with concussion a year after signing from the Reds. symptoms for much of the Super Rugby season, “Goodbye. Thank you for everything. I will would be rested during the Rugby Champion- miss my brothers and family that I now have ship, paving the way for Williams to slot back in Toulon... See you soon,” the 28-year-old in. Cooper said on his Twitter account. “Unfortunately Charlie Ngatai with his Cooper failed to settle at Toulon, struggling concussion hasn’t done any training for nine to nail down a starting spot and was often weeks, and he’s probably now an end-of-year criticised after failing to fire. (tour) candidate,” Hansen said.

FOCUS Falcons blow as Tongan skipper has knee op

AFP desco replaces Matt Moylan at self belief into next year’s series. Broncos and Sheffi eld Eagles, London full-back, while Dugan returns “There is no lack of moti- is under no illusions at the task from injury. Graham has re- vation. We spoke about our ahead of him, especially after ceived his Origin call-up at the mindset towards this match spending nine days in Belgrade ongan captain Nili Latu expense of Greg Bird, after re- and where it needs to be at and I last month when Serbia lost 16- is to miss the open- turning from suspension. don’t see any issues,” he said. 14 to the Yorkshire Lionhearts. ing three months of the The long-serving Gallen will “We can’t aff ord not to put “It’s all run by volunteers,” English Premiership line-up for his 24th and last Ori- in a good performance because said the recently appointed Hig- Tcampaign after undergoing knee gin match, with a special video that can give them a bit of self gins. There are six clubs in the surgery, it was announced yes- tribute set to be aired immedi- belief and momentum into next top division and they’re making terday, dealing a blow to New- ately before the game at ANZ series.” good progress with juniors. castle Falcons. Stadium. “The standard is a mixed bag. The 34-year-old backrow dy- Coach Laurie Daley said his Family roots drive Serbia’s Some of them could defi nitely namo — who captained Tonga at captain would leave a legacy “of English coach in WC quest play in League 1 and there are a last year’s World Cup — suff ered giving his best”. Serbia qualifying for the 2017 couple of lads who have played the injury playing for his country “I don’t think anyone could rugby league World Cup sounds in France.” at June’s Pacifi c Nations Cup. ever question that. He goes out far-fetched but to their new Higgins’ immediate target is “Nili suff ered knee ligament there and leaves nothing in the English coach Darren Higgins to beat Wales and then Italy on damage playing in Tonga’s last tank,” Daley said. achieving the unlikely would be successive weekends in Octo- Pacifi c Nations Cup game and “He’s been a true warrior more than just simply a sporting ber, which if they fi nish top of was operated on yesterday,” through diffi cult times but he’s triumph. that mini group would guarantee Newcastle rugby director Dean aimed up every time he’s pulled Higgins - also a talent devel- them a place at the World Cup Richards told the club’s offi cial on a sky blue jersey which I think opment coach at Super League being hosted by Australia, New website. short on possibilities if another keeping Newcastle up last season against Queensland. the boys appreciate. side Castleford - has a Serbian Zealand and Papua New Guinea “His likely return to playing is player suff ered an injury. scoring nine tries as they fi n- The Maroons have already “They know how much this grandfather. “That’s part of the next year. fi ve months from now. “We have a lot of players com- ished second from bottom, seven sealed their 10th rugby league game means to him personally reason I’m doing it,” he said. Serbia could end up relying “Obviously it is a disappoint- ing through — Harrison Orr has points clear of London Irish. series title in 11 years after a 26- and it’ll be great for them to not “I’m really proud to be given the on Australian players with Ser- ing blow to lose a player of Nili’s joined us and made a very good 16 win in Brisbane last month, only win for Gal but win for the opportunity. bian roots to get them over the quality for that length of time, fi rst impression — but with Dav- NSW out to salvage pride which followed a 6-4 triumph in state because it’ll give everyone a “Ten years ago, while I was line, according to Higgins, just but at the same time it is an op- id Tameilau not yet here from in Origin dead rubber the opener in Sydney. great deal of optimism.” working for the RFL in South as other countries like Lebanon portunity for other guys.” America, there is no denying it New South Wales are desper- After yet another failed cam- But Queensland captain Cam- Yorkshire, I tried to get some- did to get to the 2000 World Cup Richards, a former giant of the has left us a little bit short in the ate to salvage some pride and paign, New South Wales have eron Smith is keen to spoil Gal- thing going in terms of tour ex- fi nals. England backrow in his prime, back-row,” said the 53-year-old. send retiring captain Paul Gal- added James Tedesco, Wade len’s party, adamant there will changes but it never got off the “The federation are in contact said there were alternatives to Latu, who joined the Falcons len out in style in the third and Graham and Josh Dugan to a be no let up from his side with a ground.” with a lot of Australian-based Latu but with their fi rst game on from Japanese side NEC Green fi nal State of Origin match of freshened side as they look to 3-0 whitewash the aim to ensure Higgins, who has also headed players with Serbian heritage,” September 2 against Sale he was Rockets, played a crucial role in this year’s series on Wednesday avoid a series whitewash. Te- New South Wales do not carry up the youth systems at London said Higgins. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, July 13, 2016 SPORT

UIM F1 H2O WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FORMULA ONE Team Abu Dhabi Mercedes accept bidding to storm into Rosberg’s penalty

Reuters title contention London

Carella trails defending World Champion Chiappe by five points heading to French showdown ercedes have decided to accept a British Grand Prix penalty that leaves Nico Rosberg just one point clear of teammate Lewis Hamilton at the top of the Agencies Formula One world championship, the team said on MMonday. Evian, France The champions had given notice at Silverstone on Sunday that they intended to appeal the 10 second penalty that was he thrilling UIM F1 H20 imposed after the race and dropped the German from second World Championship place to third. resumes on the pictur- The grand prix was won by triple champion Hamilton, his esque Lac Leman in Évi- fourth home victory and third in a row. Tan-les-Bains this weekend and The penalty was incurred for a breach of the rules governing Team Abu Dhabi will be looking what can be said over the radio. Mercedes had advised Rosberg for an outright win to lift them on how to deal with a gearbox problem that had emerged in the to the top of the championship closing laps. standings. The 20th Grand Prix of “We were able to prove to the Stewards that a car-stopping France is the second round of the gearbox failure was imminent and, as such, were permitted prestigious series and the second within the rules to advise Nico of the required mode change.” successive year that the French Mercedes said. spa town has hosted a round of “However, the advice to avoid seventh gear was considered to the series. breach...article 27.1 of the Sporting Regulations. The team ac- Alex Carella and Thani al- cepts the stewards’ interpretation of the regulation, their deci- Qamzi will represent the team out sion and the associated penalty.” of the Abu Dhabi International Mercedes said they would continue to discuss with Formula Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) One stakeholders “the subject of the perceived over-regulation and both are more than capa- of the sport.” ble of snatching the outright win Article 27.1 states that “the driver must drive the car alone and enhancing their chances of and unaided”. wresting the world title from the That has led to a crackdown on radio communications, with clutches of Phillipe Chiappe, the a detailed list of what teams can and cannot say to their drivers current series leader and the de- during a race, and drawn increasing criticism from the teams. fending World Champion, from Red Bull principal Christian Horner said on Sunday the radio the CTICC China Team. Team Abu Dhabi’s Alex Carella of Italy in action during the UIM F1 H20 Powerboat Grand Prix of Dubai. rule was ‘rubbish’. Carella has unfi nished business In Austria, the race before Britain, Mexican Sergio Perez in Evian. Last year he stormed to by Etihad Airways as the offi cial crashed his Force India after a brake failure that the team felt outright victory only to be disquali- carrier and sponsor and runs unable to tell him about even for safety reasons. fi ed from the fi nal results for a tech- under the patronage of Sheikh “Poor old Perez in Austria, how ridiculous,” commented nical infringement. Italy’s David Dr Sultan bin Khalifa al-Nahy- Williams’ technical chief Pat Symonds on Sunday. Del Pin was his teammate on that an, adviser to the Head of State “You’re going to do tens of thousands of pounds worth of occasion, but al-Qamzi’s return and chairman of the board of damage to the car, because you can’t tell a guy his brakes are to the Abu Dhabi line-up has been directors of the Abu Dhabi In- about to fail? It’s negligent. It’s not just wrong, it’s negligent. warmly welcomes in F1 circles. ternational Marine Sports Club “It is a team sport. If a driver has to drive the car alone and The Emirati retired from the (ADIMSC). unaided, should he change his own tyres? Imagine that; pit- opening round in Dubai in March, The team is managed by the stop, climb out, change the tyres, back in. Where do you draw on an event where Chiappe led multiple Italian World Champion the line? And where they’ve drawn the line, in my opinion, is from start-to-fi nish to seal the Guido Cappellini and runs under hardly a good place.” win and Carella shadowed him to the auspices of the ADIMSC and the fl ag in second place. assistant general manager Salem That means Carella trails Chi- al-Remeithi. appe by fi ve points in the Driv- “The F1 H20 World Champi- ers’ Championship, with Shaun onship is one of the most prestig- Torrente of Dubai’s Victory Team ious in the UIM calendar and one in third and Sweden’s Jonas An- that we are seriously focusing on dersson holding fourth. Al-Qam- winning this season,” said Salem zi needs to get on the score sheet al-Remeithi. and there is no better place to do “Our on-race team manager that than in the south of France. Guido Cappellini is the most “Thani and I have been very successful driver in the history busy in the last few weeks keeping of the sport. His knowledge and our hand in with the team, carry- the talents of both Thani and Team Abu Dhabi’s Thani al-Qamzi races neck and neck with the CTIC China Team’s Xiong Ziwei in Dubai. ing out some testing and making Alex should give us an excellent sure we are focused and ready to chance to challenge for the win neering and administration tak- Championship 5. Ziwei Xiong (CHN) CTIC China push in Evian,” said Carella. this weekend.” ing centre stage on Friday (July Drivers’ Championship stand- Team 7 pts “Since the Dubai Grand Prix, Évian-les-Bains is a com- 15) and free practice and F1 BRM ings – after round 1: 6. Duarte Benavente (PRT) F1 we won our class at the 24 Hours mune in the Rhône-Alpes region pole position qualifying being the 1. Philippe Chiappe (FRA) China Atlantic Team 5 pts of Rouen and I took part in an F2 in south-eastern France and is focus on Saturday. CTIC Team 20 pts 7. Ivan Brigada (ITA) Emirates race and we were both in action last renowned as a spa town on the After further free practice on 2. Alex Carella (ITA) Team Abu Racing Team 4 pts weekend at a round of the World shores of Lake Leman. It is fa- Sunday morning, the 20th Grand Dhabi 15 pts 8. Francesco Cantando (ITA)Blaze Endurance Championship in Po- mous for its mineral water that is Prix of France roars into life at 3. Shaun Torrente (USA) Victory Performance Team 3 pts 9. Filip land. It all helps you keep the race bottled and sold across the world. 15.00hrs Team 12 pts Roms (FIN) Baba Racing 2 pts focus and maintain the confi dence.” The timetable is split over (17.00hrs UAE time). 4. Jonas Andersson (SWE) Team 10. Bartek Marszalak (POL) Blaze Team Abu Dhabi is supported three days, with technical scruti- 2016 UIM F1H2O World Sweden 9 pts Performance Team 1 pt.

BOTTOMLINE Red Bull would vote against ‘halo’ safety device

Reuters a big fan of the halo and the limitations London that it has. “I certainly wouldn’t vote in favour at the moment.” ed Bull would oppose the in- The International Automobile Fed- troduction of a proposed ‘halo’ eration (FIA) is keen to introduce the halo cockpit protection device in For- next year but that would normally require mula One next season if it comes a unanimous vote by top teams in the core toR a vote, team principal Christian Horner Strategy Group, including Red Bull, as a has said. change to the technical regulations. Former champions Red Bull had the The FIA could impose it on safety device installed on their car at the start of grounds, however, while approval for the sport’s second in-season test at Sil- 2018 would acquire only a majority vote. verstone yesterday, becoming the second Ferrari tested a second version of the team to try it out after Ferrari. halo last Friday at the start of British The ‘halo’ concept, more like a wish- Grand Prix practice but four times world bone with a central pillar supporting a champion Sebastian Vettel, who did a lap protective loop above the driver’s head, with it, said visibility in some areas re- has been promoted by Ferrari and Mer- mained a concern. cedes, whereas Red Bull prefer their own The device was modifi ed from an earli- ‘aeroscreen’. er version, removing some weight and re- The latter device, more attractive to ducing the risk of the driver’s head strik- some, did not perform as well in testing ing it in the event of an impact. by the governing body and the halo is now Improving head protection has become the main focus. a priority after the deaths last year of “Personally I’m not a big fan of the Briton Justin Wilson, who was hit by de- halo,” Horner told reporters after last bris in an IndyCar crash, and Frenchman weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silver- Jules Bianchi who suff ered ultimately stone. “I think it’s an inelegant solution to fatal injuries at the 2014 Japanese Grand the problem that it’s trying to deal with. Prix. “I’d prefer there to be more research The halo aims to protect the driver’s time taken to do the job properly, rather head and defl ect large debris and objects, than rushing something through that such as bouncing wheels that have broken may have other consequences. So I’m not free from tethers. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen during the Britain Grand Prix 2016 at Silverstone. (Reuters) Gulf Times Wednesday, July 13, 2016 9 CYCLING

TOUR DE FRANCE FOCUS Leader Froome Dream comes true as questions rival Matthews completes Quintana’s tactics Grand Tour sweep Aussie rider pips world champion Sagan and Boassen Hagen in a sprint finish

AFP Revel, France

ichael Matthews completed the full set of Grand Tour Colombia’s Nairo Quintana (second from left) and Great Britain’s stage victories with a “dream Chris Froome (centre) ride during the 197km tenth stage of the 103rd come true” success at the edition of the Tour de France between Escaldes-Engordany and Revel MTour de France 10th stage yesterday. yesterday. (AFP) Reigning champion Chris Froome re- tained the leader’s yellow jersey, the AFP “You have to take it slowly to Briton rolling over the line with a languid Andorra la Vella, Andorra see how your rivals are and where peloton almost 10 minutes behind Mat- the possibility to attack will be.” thews. The 25-year-old Australian had al- hris Froome and his Sky ‘COMPACT RACE’ ready taken three stage wins at the Vuelta manager Dave Brails- Brailsford said he’s been sur- a Espana and two on the Giro d’Italia. ford have questioned prised that other teams, not just But yesterday he pipped world cham- the tactics of chief rival Quintana’s Movistar, have sim- pion Peter Sagan and Edvald Boassen NairoC Quintana at the Tour de ply let Sky control the race, rath- Hagen of Norway in a sprint fi nish fol- France. er than trying to put them into lowing great teamwork from his Orica The defending champion led diffi culty. outfi t. the Colombian by 23 seconds “We’ve seen Chris attack, Fellow Aussie Luke Durbridge and ahead of yesterday’s 10th stage we’ve seen a couple of other South African Daryl Impey sacrifi ced from Andorra to Revel, back in skirmishes if you like, but as of their own victory chances to allow the France. yet it’s been a relatively compact fast-fi nishing Matthews to burst to the But over three Pyrenean race,” he said. line fi rst at the end of the 184km trek from mountain stages, Quintana failed “At the end of the day there’s Andorra to Revel. to attack Froome, leaving the only one team controlling this Matthews, from Canberra, even had Briton and his team perplexed. race, that’s us. time to lift his arms in celebration before “I would be interested to fi nd “No other team has made any crossing the line. out from him (why he didn’t at- attempt to control the race. We “It’s unbelievable. It’s only just sinking tack),” said Froome, 31. controlled the race even when in,” said Matthews. “I was expecting an attack one of the big teams (BMC) was “I was close to giving in at this race af- from him (on Sunday) and was in the (yellow) jersey. ter I had two bad crashes two years and keeping something in reserve, “At some point in time, either one year ago. I thought maybe this race is and in the back of my mind just the race gets taken on and (with) not for me but today my dream came true. waiting for his big move. But it some of the other teams we have “It was never the plan to go for a break- never came.” a battle with it, or we’re going to away today. We wanted a bunch sprint There may be 12 stages left in continue to control the race until fi nish but we’re such a strong group of the Tour but Froome’s Sky have a couple of key showdowns.” guys. the yellow jersey and are set up to Froome believes the race so “Durbridge and Impey gave me eve- defend it. far has shown he’s simply got rything to win today. I have no words to “It really is a good place to be the strongest team-mates to fall describe what they did for me.” at the moment, I’m really happy back on. It was a high calibre six-man sprint to have the yellow jersey on my “With the team that I’ve got, I containing four former Tour stage win- shoulders,” said Froome. think they’ve shown themselves ners, while Impey once wore the race Orica-BikeExchange’s Australian rider Michael Matthews (left) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win stage 10 of the Tour de “Tactically, but also for mo- over the last few days, just in leader’s yellow jersey. France between Escaldes-Engordany, Andorra, and Revel, France, yesterday. (Reuters) rale and for the team. Tactically terms of numbers in the fi nal, we That remained with Froome, with his it puts the shoe on the other foot do have the strongest team here,” British countryman Adam Yates, who also Fifteen riders, Sagan among them, got close to the fi nish. 3. Edvald B Hagen (Dimension Data) — it’s up to other teams now to he said. rides for Orica, second at 16sec and Dan away and quickly built a lead of more than Impey kept the pace high over the fi - 4. Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) go out to try to gain back time “I’m confi dent the guys will be Martin of Ireland third overall at 19sec. six minutes. nal few kilometres, allowing Matthews to 5. Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R) they’ve lost already.” able to ride in that defensive way But several teams that had missed the stay tucked in behind Sagan and time his 6. Daryl Impey (Orica) +2” Quintana admits he could lose to help me. OPPORTUNITIES APLENTY break — which included nine former Tour sprint fi nish to perfection. 7. Luke Durbridge (Orica) +1:10” time to Froome in Friday’s 13th “When it comes to that fi nal Just two days out from a stage fi nish on stage winners — decided not to make The one consolation for Sagan, who 8. Damiano Caruso (BMC Racing) +3:01” stage time-trial but says he’s moment, even when other GC rid- the mythical Mont Ventoux, it was a day life comfortable for those out front and took second place on a Tour stage for the 9. Gorka Izagirre (Movistar) +3:10” happy with the position he fi nds ers have only got one or two team- for the favourites to take a back seat. stretched out the peloton in a rapid chase. 17th time since 2012, against just fi ve vic- 10. Tony Gallopin (Lotto) himself in. mates left, I’m sitting there with Setting off with a 22km climb to the But with 25km left, Sagan put in a sear- tories, was that he took back the green “Froome is quite strong, his four or fi ve and that’s certainly go- highest point of the race at 2,400-metres ing burst of pace that split the breakaway sprinters’ points jersey from Briton Mark Overall classification (top 10) team is quite strong but I’m bet- ing to work in my favour.” above sea level, it was a sprightly start to group, leaving just seven riders in the lead Cavendish. 1. Chris Froome (Team Sky) 49:08:20” ter than previous years,” said the But Movistar manager Eusebio the day as opportunities to get in a break- — crucially three of those from the Aussie “I came second, I’m happy for Michael 2. Adam Yates (Orica) +16” 26-year-old Colombian. Unzue said his team are merely away were aplenty. Orica team. to win his fi rst stage at the Tour de 3. Daniel Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) +19” “I’ve got more maturity. I hope biding their time. Several breaks tried to form with Sagan At that point, the peloton gave up the France,” said Sagan. 4. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) +23” to get through the time-trial, “We’re concentrating on ef- particularly restless. chase while up front tactics started to “I’m happy with my points for the 5. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) +37” that’s where I’m weakest in rela- fectiveness, there’s no prize for Portugal’s Rui Costa was fi rst over the play a role as Orica tried to keep Mat- green jersey.” 6. Bauke Mollema (Trek) +44” tion to him. the one who attacks the most,” top of the Port d’Envalira mountain but thews fresh for the fi nish. 7. Romain Bardet (AG2R) “We’ll see day by day, both me he said. the successful breakaway didn’t form un- Durbridge did a lot of work at the front Stage 10 results (top 10) 8. Sergio Henao (Team Sky) and the team. There’s a long way “The compensation will come til more than 50km had been covered and of the group but was dropped once Sagan 1. Michael Matthews (Orica) 4:22:38” 9. Louis Meintjes (Lampre) +55” to go in the Tour, a lot of moun- from being eff ective, either the descent was coming to an end. accelerated on a steep, but short climb 2. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff ) 10. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) +1:01” tains — you can’t lay down your through attacking or through whole life on just one day. great defence.”

ANALYSIS SPOTLIGHT Calm before storm as Tour quits Andorra for France Injured Contador out AFP Andorra la Vella, Andorra of Olympic road race eader Chris Froome and his Tour de France rivals will have a meas- ure of respite as the peloton head- ed back to its homeland yesterday L— but not before a testing climb. The 197km 10th stage from Andorra to Revel began with a long climb — the Port d’Envalira is 22.6km long and crests the highest point on the Tour this year at 2,408-metres. Coming as it does immediately follow- ing a rest day proved a banana skin for many as there was no time for riders to ease themselves back into racing tempo. The climb itself, while not consistently steep, was long and it was there in 1964 that French great Jacques Anquetil came a cropper while his close rival Raymond Poulidor thrived. It was the closest the eternally popular Poulidor ever came to winning the Tour Reuters August 20. that year, but Anquetil won a subsequent A pack of riders cycles during stage 10 of the Tour de France yesterday. (Reuters) Madrid The men’s Olympic road race time-trial and triumphed in Paris, win- will be held on August 6, almost ning his fi fth and fi nal Tour. Thereafter the terrain was mildly the next day. But Martin was third at the Criterium four weeks after he sustained his While some might welcome the rest bumpy with a short climb ending just “The race is going to get harder now,” de Dauphine, the pre-Tour warm-up lberto Contador ruled injuries in two crashes in the fi rst day, for many riders it’s an added com- 7km from the fi nish in Revel. said Australian Richie Porte, who is 14th stage race that Froome won. himself out of the road two stages of the Tour. plication. on the overall standings but was climbing “When we came into the race, I didn’t race at next month’s “After what Dr Leyes told me, Some riders’ bodies cope less well with ‘ONLY GET HARDER’ well in the Pyrenees. have any expectations. I knew I was in Rio Olympics, saying the Olympics are discarded, be- the change in intensity that a rest day The fi rst nine days produced little in “This race is so unpredictable, it good condition from the Criterium du yesterdayA that he needed four cause it’s not a matter of going obliges and can take a day to get back into terms of fi reworks from the overall con- doesn’t really bare thinking about it.” Dauphine, where I was climbing with the weeks to recover from injuries there, but to reach them in opti- the groove. tenders and the next two days are unlikely One of the surprises so far in this year’s best,” said Martin. sustained on the Tour de France. mal condition and it looks like it It means it’s a great day for a breakaway to either. Tour has been the form of Briton Adam Yates came into the Tour expecting to The Spaniard, who withdrew will not be possible,” said Con- as those feeling strong will take the op- But that will simply be the calm before Yates and Ireland’s Dan Martin, sitting go for a stage victory, but he’s rapidly re- from the Tour during Sunday’s tador. portunity to attack, while others dropped the storm because tomorrow the 12th second and third in the standings behind assessing his objectives. ninth stage, told a news confer- “Now my goal is to recover for on the initial climb will face a mad dash stage fi nishes with a climb up the epic Froome. “I’d like to win a stage but as long as I ence in Madrid that his goal now the Tour of Spain, which I think on the descent of the Port d’Envalira to Mont Ventoux — on Bastille Day no less — Martin’s previous best Tour fi nish was have options on GC (general classifi ca- was to get ready for the Vuelta is possible. What I need now is to latch back onto the peloton. followed by a 37km individual time-trial 33rd while Yates managed 49th last year. tion), I’ll follow that goal,” he said. (Tour of Spain) which starts on rest and recover.” Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, July 13, 2016 ROAD TO RIO

SPOTLIGHT FOCUSSPOTLIGHT Brazil’s questionable Brazil’s Olympic Olympic legacy AFP manding the government invest Rio de Janeiro in education and health rather than sports arenas. Public anger continues to swell ffi cials in Brazil claim as Brazil descends into political the Rio Olympics will and economic turmoil. bring lasting benefi ts, Now, after a World Cup that canoeist Queiroz: Obut did the country’s seemingly left little benefi t — not hosting of the World Cup two to mention the host’s humiliating years ago manage to help local 7-1 semi-fi nal loss to Germany — people? many question the prospects of a “I don’t think so,” Rio de Ja- positive Olympic legacy. neiro Mayor Eduardo Paes said in June, expressing an opinion When Rio de Janeiro opens the shared by many Brazilians who Olympic Games on August 5, a man in a hurry lament unfi nished construction, they will be the first ever staged oversized stadiums and expen- in South America. And here are sive, underused infrastructure 20 more eye-catching statistics: “I’ve never let anyone beat me and leave me thinking after that I’ve lost because I only from the football championship. “There were parties, music, 17,000 — number of Olympic have one kidney. No, the contest is equal. What’s bad though is that when someone great food and fun people, but we athletes and off icials. continue to cultivate this image 78,000 — the capacity of Mara- loses against me and says afterwards, ‘Oh no, I lost to a guy with only one kidney!’” of doing things under the wire cana stadium, where the opening at an elevated cost, without ad- and closing ceremonies will be equate planning,” said Paes. held. The Brazilian government told 206 — countries competing in AFP hosting large events is an the August 5-21 Games. education, and helping the South 1 — team of refugees competing American nation to grow. under the Olympic banner for the “Brazil is a developing coun- first time. try that has taken advantage of 7.5mn — tickets on sale. opportunities to organize major 10 — miles (16 kilometres), events like the 2013 Confedera- length of the extension of the tions Cup, the 2014 World Cup underground metro system, the and the 2016 Olympics to build biggest infrastructure project in a culture that puts more empha- preparation for the Games. sis on planning and effi ciency,” a 4 — zones across Rio where spokesman at the sports minis- events will unfold: the Olympic try said. Park in Barra da Tijuca, Deodoro, Newly constructed or renovat- Copacabana beach, and the ed football stadiums are the most Maracana and Olympic stadiums obvious World Cup legacy. in the north. Some are regularly used, like 25,000 — number of journalists the Sao Paulo Corinthians Are- covering the Games. na or Rio’s Maracana stadium, 500,000 — estimate of tourists but others sit vacant. The much expected to attend the Games. touted Arena da Amazonia in 61 — percentage of Rio residents Manaus — where England lost to in a recent poll who said the Italy — now hosts just a handful Games will be great. Another 27 of matches a year. % fear a mess. leagues complain that their 31 — number of tower blocks low attendance can’t support the making up the Olympic Village. high costs of holding matches The 3,604 apartments will be there. To prevent the Amazonia sold off after the Games. from becoming a ghost stadium, 60,000 — meals per day to be prestigious Rio clubs occasion- served at the huge Olympic Vil- ally play there. lage dining hall. The sports ministry says it’s 5 — number of jumbo jets you not responsible for maintaining could fit into that dining hall. World Cup stadiums, and that 80,000 — chairs for the Olympic managers must seek out partners Village. to fi nd alternative, multi-pur- 7 — players in rugby sevens, pose uses for the arenas. which brings the oval ball game Corruption allegations swirl to the Olympics for the first time around World Cup legacy projects ever. in places like Fortaleza, where 400 — number of footballs tram stations have become expected to be used in Olympic dumps, and Sao Paulo, where el- competition. evated monorail construction has 0 — times that football power- dragged on into 2016. house Brazil has won an Olympic The renovation of Rio’s Ma- medal in the sport. racana stadium is the focus of a 112 — years since golf was last in corruption probe linked to the the Olympics. Queiroz, 22, is aiming for a Brazilian record of three gold medals in the C1 and C2 canoe sprints at the Rio Olympics starting August 5. Petrobras mega-scandal that has 2 — Brazilian presidents shaken Brazilian politics to its expected at the opening cer- AFP “I joke with friends that they must have But what gives him added confi dence roz looks back on a 2015 of contrasts. foundations. The project soared emony: Dilma Rousseff , who is Rio de Janeiro put a third lung in me during my kidney is a change to the schedule in Rio that will “The best moment was when I got gold past its anticipated cost of 705mn suspended and on the verge of operation,” he said. mean wider gaps between races, taking in the C2 1000 metres with Erlon Silva and Brazilian reais (about $214mn being removed from off ice, and “I’ve never let anyone beat me and leave place August 15-20 on the Rodrigo de Frei- the gold in C1 200 metres in Italy. I sur- today) to 1.2bn reais ($364mn), her arch-rival Michel Temer, who razilian Olympic canoeist Isaqui- me thinking after that I’ve lost because I only tas lagoon. prised all my opponents,” he said. “Then billed to Brazilian taxpayers. is temporarily replacing her. as Queiroz dos Santos may only have one kidney. No, the contest is equal. According to Brazilian media reports, I was chosen as Brazil’s athlete of the year In the lead-up to the world’s 450,000 — condoms awaiting have one kidney, but he paddles What’s bad though is that when someone the scheduling changes were made under for 2015. That’s something – the recogni- premier football event, millions of the roughly 11,000 athletes, so Blike a man with three lungs and loses against me and says afterwards, ‘Oh pressure from the Brazilian Canoe Fed- tion made me very happy.” Brazilians took to the streets de- about 41 each, or two each a day. two arms of kryptonite. no, I lost to a guy with only one kidney!’” eration to benefi t their star competitor – a “The worst moment though was when I Queiroz, 22, is aiming for a Brazil- Queiroz may look relaxed but he is also tactic that might be an unoffi cial perk to fl ipped my car over while going to fetch my ian record of three gold medals in the C1 fi ercely focused on the challenge ahead. being the Olympic host. brother at the airport,” he recalled. “I went SWIMMING and C2 canoe sprints at the Rio Olympics “Everyone tells me I am one of Brazil’s “Paddling in the C1 1,000 metres and off the road and had an accident. Luckily I starting August 5. best chances to win gold medals,” he said, in the C2 1,000 metres one day after the didn’t get a scratch. I was able to return to Given his amazing physical prowess, few “but I don’t see that as pressure – more other is very tiring,” Queiroz said. “The training and concentrate on my goals for here would bet against him – if anything, a like a goal. Every day that people tell me change gives me a chance to win three the Olympics.” childhood accident that left him badly in- they hope I’ll win I feel more motivated competitions.” He’s also been a leader of protests by jured seems to have made him faster. and ready to train even more to win these The third is the C1 200 meters race fellow Brazilian canoe and kayak ath- “I lost a kidney when I was 10 after fall- three medals.” which trainer Jesus Morlan is also prepar- letes against their national federation, Efi mova ing from a tree,” he told AFP at a training “That would be historic, something no ing him for. particularly over financial arrange- session in Rio de Janeiro. “A year later I one’s ever done in Brazil,” he said. “I discovered I have potential at this ments. started canoe-kayak. People thought I’d Over the last three years, Queiroz has distance and I won a bronze in it at the But this year could be the year when never make it, that I was handicapped, but collected three golds and three bronzes at World Cup in Milan last year,” Queiroz all the bad memories are put aside and he I showed the whole world that there was the World Cups in Duisburg, Moscow and said. becomes known not only as the man with free to go never a handicap.” Milan. As he aims for Olympic glory, Quei- three lungs – but three medals.

BOTTOMLINE to Games

Reuters pecting FINA to take this de- Rio’s combative mayor Paes slams his critics Moscow cision”, especially after the 24-year-old breaststroke spe- cialist had a temporary sus- Reuters the Olympics. The event begins Aug. 5 as ussian swimmer Yulia pension lifted in May. Rio de Janeiro Brazil faces its worst recession since the Efimova is free to She was added to Russia’s 1930s, an increase in crime, and fears about compete at the Olym- roster for the games in June. the mosquito-borne Zika virus. pic Games in Rio after “We are all really happy for ust days before Rio de Janeiro hosts Impeachment proceedings will likely theR World Swimming Federa- Yulia. She will join up with the the Olympics, the city’s Mayor Edu- see suspended President Dilma Rousseff tion (FINA) dropped doping team in Rio de Janeiro on 1-2 ardo Paes has taken to Twitter to ousted just after the Aug 21 closing cer- charges against her, her lawyer August,” Patsev concluded. slam critics of his role in preparing emony. Additionally, federal prosecutors said yesterday. Meldonium was added to Jfor the Games. are investigating several Olympic projects “We received an official no- the World Anti-Doping Agency Paes tends not to pull punches with crit- for suspected corruption — the mayor tification from FINA just an (WADA) list of banned sub- ics, sometimes literally. In 2013, he hit a strongly denies any graft — and the Rio hour ago that all the charges stances as of January 1, 2016. constituent in the face after the man lam- state government has been blasted for [against Efimova] had been However, after a wave of posi- basted the mayor as he dined with his wife. failing to clean the sewage-infested bay dropped. She is free to com- tive tests, WADA admitted in This week, Paes took to social media to where Olympic sailing events will take pete. No punishment has fol- April that positive tests could engage opponents in digital fi sticuff s, re- place. lowed,” her lawyer, Artem be overturned due to a lack of sponding to profanity-laced Tweets that Paes was defi ant in the face of science Patsev, told the R-Sport news clear scientific information on were sent his way. while responding to a recent study that re- agency. how long the drug takes to be On Sunday, Paes responded to one searchers had found drug-resistant super Efimova, a bronze medal- excreted from the body. Tweet, saying the sender should “Stop be- bacteria on Rio’s most popular beaches and ist from the 2012 London Ol- Efimova was disqualified ing so grumpy. Go drink a beer, play some in waters where athletes will compete. ympics and a four-time world from swimming for 16 months soccer, go to bed early, go to church, hang Rio de Janeiro’s Mayor Eduardo Paes travels on a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicle “If there were any super bacteria, there champion announced in March in May 2014 after traces of the out with your girlfriend.” during a media tour on the Transolimpica expressway that will connect the Recreio would not be a single Carioca alive,” he that a doping test from Febru- anabolic steroid DHEA, which It was retweeted 191 times and ignited a and the Deodoro neighbourhoods in the West Zone, linking the two main venues of the Tweeted Sunday, using the nickname for ary had shown she had taken speeds up metabolism and running conversation. 2016 Rio Olympics. citizens of Rio. the banned drug meldonium. helps with weight loss, were “You drank a lot today, didn’t you, may- He pointed to Rio’s long history of suc- She was subsequently banned found in her system at an out of or?” responded one woman, whose profi le The mayor’s press team did not imme- Paes has grown increasingly irritated cessfully pulling off big events as proof that from all competitions. competition test in Los Ange- photo depicts her guzzling a mug of beer. diately respond to requests for comment. with the criticism of Rio’s preparations for all will go well with the Olympics. Patsev said that he was “ex- les in 2013. Gulf Times Wednesday, July 13, 2016 11 ROAD TO RIO

ATHLETICS SPOTLIGHT Golfer Rahman fi rst Bangladeshi to Bolt aims for more qualify for a Games

Agencies Dhaka, Hong Kong glory at Rio de olfer Siddikur Rah- man has become Bang- ladesh’s fi rst athlete to qualify for an Olympics Gafter fi nishing 56th in the fi nal eligibility rankings for the Rio Games. Bangladesh has been given Janeiro Games four wild card spots for next month’s Games so far, with swimmers Mahfi zur Rahman Bolt, who withdrew from the 100m final and sought a medical exemption from the Sagor and Sonia Akter Tumpa, archer Shyamoly Roy and shoot- 200m at the Jamaican Olympic Trials two weekends ago, was named on the er Abdullahel Baki set to repre- sent their country in Rio. provisional list submitted to the IOC to contest the 100m/200m/4x100m relays in Rio The International Golf Fed- eration published the fi nal Ol- ympic rankings on its website on Monday, with Rahman’s position enough to qualify for Rio when golf makes it return to the Games for the fi rst time since 1904. “This is a great honour for me returns to the games for the fi rst as well as for the game of golf,” time in 112 years. the two-time Asian Tour winner “I’m really excited and happy told local media. to be part of the Olympics,” Chan “I believe no other sportsman told AFP hours after qualifying, from the country ever took part adding that she hoped to appear in the Olympic Games through on the leaderboard next month. qualifi cation before this. So I “I just have to be patient and am honoured and glad that I try to learn from the other pro- will be representing my country fessional players,” Chan, who through the game I play in Rio de fi rst played on a public Hong Janeiro. Kong driving range at the age of “I have already booked a ticket six, said. for Rio and hopefully I will be One of the players she will face able to make my country proud is the women’s world number in the golf event.” three golfer Park In-Bee, 27, from The 31-year-old dropped South Korea. down the rankings in April but Park missed the US Women’s worked his way back into con- Open in San Martin, California, tention for the Games by fi n- and the Meijer LPGA Classic in ishing second in the Afr-Asia Michigan due to a thumb injury, Mauritius Open a month later. but said her condition had be- (Reporting by Meanwhile, Hong come “much better”. Kong golfer Tiff any Chan is aim- Chan will also come up against ing for the top after becoming New Zealand’s 19-year-old Lydia one of three amateurs to qualify Ko, the women’s world number for the Rio Olympic games yes- one. terday. Rio will stage Olympic golf for The 22-year-old university the fi rst time since 1904 with 60 student’s spot was confi rmed competitors each in the men’s after she fi nished 56th in the and women’s events playing a Olympic rankings, as the sport 72-hole stroke play tournament.

Aussie women eye US upset in Rio

AFP, Sydney: Three-time Olym- utants Marianna Tolo, Katie-Rae pic medallist Suzy Batkovic was Ebzery, Natalie Burton, Tessa yesterday left out of Australia’s Lavey, Leilani Mitchell, Stephanie woman’s basketball squad for Talbot and Cayla George. the Olympic Games as the Rio will be Taylor’s third Games Opals look to make the podium after missing London with for a sixth successive time in Rio injury, and she believes that the de Janeiro. strength, determination and fo- File photo of Usain Bolt in action. The 35-year-old, a team regular cus of the current side will give for over a decade, was one of them every chance of upsetting AFP Kingston where all members of the Ol- in competition. He is scheduled to run at fi eld athletes for systematic doping. three players to miss the cut the Americans. Kingston, Jamaica ympic team were announced. the London Anniversary Games later this Klishina, whose best performance at in coach Brendan Joyce’s final “Gold is always the goal at an The Jamaica Athletics Administrative month. a senior global event was fourth at the roster alongside Tess Madgen Olympic Games but we know Association’s (JAAA) selection rules al- Bolt is one of several Jamaican ath- world indoor championships in Istanbul and Rebecca Allen. there is a long way to getting sain Bolt will get a chance to low for athletes ranked in the top three in letes who used the medical exemption in 2012, thanked the IAAF for giving her They were already without star the chance to play for that gold hone his Olympic track and fi eld the world to submit medical exemptions at the trials including Elaine Thompson, the chance to compete in Rio in a post on centre Lauren Jackson, who medal,” she said. legacy, as he was named to the and miss the trials but they must be able who won the women’s 100m in a world her Facebook page shortly after the deci- retired in March because of “We have a strong team and a 59 member Jamaican team that to prove their fi tness at a later date to be leading 10.70 seconds, Olympic bronze sion. injury after an almost 20-year very similar team to what we Uwill compete at the Olympic Games in Rio named to the Olympic team. medalist Hansle Parchment in the men’s However, a number of Russian fans international career. had at the 2014 World Champi- next month. Bolt suff ered a grade one hamstring 110m hurdles and 400m hurdler Janieve were not happy and accused Klishina of The world number two Austral- onships and I think Brendan has Bolt, who withdrew from the 100m fi - tear on the fi rst day of the four day na- Russell, all of who were included on Mon- being a traitor for not showing solidar- ians have won either silver or done a wonderful job imple- nal and sought a medical exemption from tional championships. He then ran the day’s list. ity with other Russian sportsmen and bronze at every Olympics dating menting a system that we love the 200m at the Jamaican Olympic Tri- semi-fi nal of the 100m before withdraw- Meanwhile, long jumper Darya Klishi- women. back to Atlanta in 1996, with the being a part of. als two weekends ago, was named on the ing an hour before the fi nal. He submitted na, the only Russian athlete cleared “I would like to point out that I didn’t irrepressible US team their long- “We play Brazil first up and play- provisional list submitted to the IOC to a medical exemption for the rest of the to compete in this summer’s Olympic start training in the USA with an Ameri- time nemesis. ing the home side in the first contest the 100m/200m/4x100m relays championships, including the 200m. Games in Rio, says she does not feel a can coach a month before this situation Laura Hodges, Elizabeth Cam- game is always going to be a in Rio. He then travelled to Europe to see a traitor. turned out the way it did. I have been bage and Rachel Jarry return huge challenge in itself.” He seeks to become the fi rst man to win specialist, world renowned sports doc- The 25-year-old was given the go- there for three years. from the London 2012 line-up The Opals wrap up a camp on three straight triple-triples after wins in tor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt and ahead on Sunday by the International As- “Therefore, I think it is wrong to criti- that won bronze, while Erin Phil- Australia’s Gold Coast shortly Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. posted a photograph of himself training sociation of Athletics Federations (IAAF) cise me and call me a Russian traitor,” lips and Penny Taylor make their before heading to America for The announcement was made Mon- over the weekend. to compete internationally as a neutral said Klishina in an interview with the return to Olympic competition. warm-up matches against the day afternoon at a news conference held Bolt ran a season’s best 9.88 seconds in athlete after a successful appeal against All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) They are joined by Olympic deb- USA, Canada and France. by the Jamaica Olympic Association in the 100m but has yet to run a 200m race a blanket ban on her country’s track and website www.rusathletics.com.

BOTTOMLINE Is Rio’s Olympic ‘transformation’ for real?

AFP says, to “a renewed and more integrat- “Transport is the biggest legacy and others, totalling 85,000 offi cers. Rio de Janeiro ed city.” when measured by investments and But what happens once the tourists But if you’re like Rosa, who did not numbers of people who benefi t,” Rafael and extra police go home? want to give her last name, this shiny Picciani, the deputy mayor, told AFP. Just in the fi rst fi ve months of this io’s mayor touts a “transfor- new Rio remains a world away. Currently, buses are used by 37 % year, 2,083 murders were committed mation” of the 2016 Olympic In the Mare favela, where she has of people, compared to just four % on in Rio state, up 14 % on the same pe- city but when Rosa, a clean- lived for 18 years, shootouts between the metro. The metro extension will riod last year. Street robberies and car Ring lady, makes the diffi cult drug dealers and police with automatic change those numbers and the express thefts have gone through the roof. journey back to her crime-ridden slum weapons are a near-daily reality, while bus system will reduce travel times for In favelas like Rosa’s home neigh- each evening, she’s grateful just to getting to and from home requires ne- many. bourhood in the Mare, shootings are a have made it home. gotiating tortuous bus routes. However, the accompanying reduc- near daily event, often with powerful At the heart of Rio de Janeiro’s so- “The working class isn’t getting any tion, or what the mayor’s offi ce calls automatic weapons that increase the called legacy projects — long-term benefi ts from these Games,” said Rosa, “rationalization,” of previously exist- risk of deadly stray bullets. improvements brought by the Olym- who is 50. ing bus lines, has resulted in hardship Violence has gone down since 2008 pics to a rundown city — is transport. Paes admits the legacy projects may for people — like Rosa — not living near when a bold new “pacifi cation” strate- New roads and cycle paths have not meet everyone’s expectations but the new networks and now forced to gy was introduced to insert police deep been built along the Atlantic coastline, he says the eff ect is nevertheless huge. take even longer bus journeys. in the favelas and increase community a system of express bus lanes has been “People imagine the Games will There are also worries over the qual- policing, rather than rely on sporadic created and, biggest of all, a 10-mile solve Brazil’s problems or even the ity of the construction work. Part of an raids from the outside. (16-kilometer) extension to the metro causes of the problems, but it won’t ambitious oceanside cycle path col- However the program has recently will link the far-fl ung west of the city. be one or the other. It was a chance to lapsed, killing two people, after it was appeared to unravel in some favelas, Add in the other urban goodies — make a better city. Don’t expect a Chi- Men work near the 2016 Rio Olympics Park in Rio de Janeiro. hit by a large wave in April. with traffi ckers apparently regaining new housing, schools, a revitalized city cago or Tokyo. Compare Rio to Rio,” he Offi cials say that the Olympics will territory. Now, many favela dwellers center, and the Museum of Tomorrow said. city hall, the new projects mean that in use public transport, compared to only be safe thanks to a huge reinforcement question whether the embedded police — and it adds up, Mayor Eduardo Paes Transport is the key. According to 2017, some 63 % of the population will 17 % in 2009. by soldiers, elite national police units will even stay on after the Olympics.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016 GULF TIMES ROAD TO RIO

CANDID HOCKEY Goalkeeper Ravindran to Redgrave says lead India at Games golfers are only aft er the money ‘I think they are just using it (Zika) as an excuse because of their crowded programme. They like the idea of the Olympics but when it comes down to it, the majors are much more important’

Reuters London Indian men hockey team members who will participate in the Rio 2016 Olympics pose for a selfie during an introduction ceremony of ome male golfers are using the the team in New Delhi. Zika virus as an excuse for missing the Rio Olympics when really the AFP men’s game at the Olympics and Sbig-money majors matter more New Delhi has won a total of eight golds. to them, Britain’s fi ve-times rowing gold However the last of these was medallist Steve Redgrave said yesterday. in Moscow back in 1980 and Redgrave, who won gold at fi ve separate ndia’s hockey coach Roelant they fi nished last at the London Games, questioned why so many of the Oltmans said yesterday that games four years ago. men, and so few women, had decided not skipper Sardar Singh had Although not one of the fa- to play in golf’s fi rst Olympic tournament Ibeen replaced as captain for vourites at next month’s Olym- in 112 years. the Olympics as he backed the pics in Brazil, there have been “I think they are just using it (Zika) as sport’s one-time giants to con- encouraging signs for India of an excuse because of their crowded pro- tinue their recent revival in Rio. late and they were runners-up in gramme. They like the idea of the Olym- After unveiling the 16-strong the recent Champions Trophy. pics but when it comes down to it, the men and women’s squads which “You have seen in the last majors are much more important,” he told will travel to Brazil, Oltmans said couple of years that we are get- the BBC. that goalkeeper Sreejesh Ravin- ting better and better,” said the dran would lead the men’s team 62-year-old Dutchman. The mosquito-borne virus can under a new “rotational captain- “If that’s enough already to get cause potentially severe birth cy” programme. medals at the Olympics that’s defects in babies whose mothers Singh, who has been captain something we have to prove. were infected during pregnancy, of the team for the last for years, India’s strong showing at last including microcephaly — marked was picked in the squad and Olt- month’s Champions Trophy in by small head size that can lead to mans insisted he remained a key London has seen it rise a cou- developmental problems player. ple of spots to fi fth in the world But the move comes after he rankings, still some way behind “Unfortunately it’s a money-oriented was accused in February of sex- Australia at the top of the chart. sport as well, so they don’t earn any mon- ually harassing a woman who “It’s clear from where we are, ey for going to the Olympics. claims to have been his former winning a couple of medals in “I think Zach Johnson really did sum it girlfriend, accusations that FIH (International Hockey Fed- up, and I wish they would all come out and Singh has strenuously denied. eration) tournaments, look at the say that’s the real reason that they’re not “I have been here for a three world rankings at the moment,” going instead of using another excuse,” and a half years now and what said Oltmans. added Redgrave. I observed is a fairly hierarchic “It is all signals of revival but American Johnson, the British Open structure and when there is only nothing more than that. It is up champion who will not be playing in Rio, one captain for long then the to us to prove it during the Olym- questioned on Monday whether the sport players shy away from responsi- pics that we are there for a longer really belonged on the Olympic pro- bility,” said Oltmans. time,” added the coach, who is gramme. Golf fans, he told reporters at “In a team, during a game, I also the team’s high performance Troon, really looked forward to the majors Steve Redgrave with the Games torch at the London Olympics in 2012. need players who take responsi- director. and Ryder Cup and those were his main bility. Changing the captaincy on The Indian men’s team has motivations as a player. fears over the Zika virus. Spieth said on infected during pregnancy, including mi- pic Committee (IOC) and British Olympic the pitch gives far more respon- been drawn in Group B alongside “No off ence to the Olympics, but I’d Tuesday the decision was probably the crocephaly — marked by small head size Association (BOA) had advised athletes sibility. Argentina, Canada, Germany, rather be on the Ryder Cup team,” he said. hardest of his life, but added it was due to that can lead to developmental problems. that it was safe to go. “Sardar is an important player Ireland and Netherlands. The world’s top four players — Jason “health concerns as a whole” rather than It has also been linked to Guillain-Barre, a “If you are an Olympic athlete, you’ve but I am sure this (rotational The women’s team, which is Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Zika specifi cally. The mosquito-borne rare neurological syndrome that can cause trained for four years to go these Games. captaincy) will help the team and making its fi rst appearance at an Rory McIlroy — are among those to have virus can cause potentially severe birth temporary paralysis in adults. You’re not going to give it up,” said the it will help him as well,” he add- Olympics for 36 years, has been pulled out of the Olympics because of defects in babies whose mothers were Redgrave said the International Olym- Briton. ed at a press conference in New grouped with Argentina, Aus- Delhi. tralia, Great Britain, Japan and India once dominated the the United States. SPOTLIGHT British gymnast Smith heading to Olympics

London: British gymnast Louis his second Games along with Olympic withdrawal hardest Smith, the triple Olympic med- Kristian Thomas, a team bronze allist who was warned in April medallist in 2012. about his conduct after a Twit- They are joined by Brinn Bevan, ter outburst, is heading for the whose participation had looked Rio Games after being named in doubt last November when decision of my life: Spieth to the British team yesterday. the teenager suff ered a double The 27-year-old, who retired in leg break after landing on a Reuters “This was something I very much Americas. “You guys have put that out “This is going to be a very, very dif- 2013 but returned to competi- concrete floor in a vault that Troon, Scotland struggled with. I bounced back and forth without me saying it. This is health con- fi cult thing for me to do to watch the tion in 2014, won pommel went wrong. with it and ultimately a decision had to cerns as a whole. I had to weigh the risk opening ceremonies and watch my peers horse silver and team bronze at On the women’s side, sisters be made yesterday.” for the reward.” compete for a gold medal... and watch his home London Olympics in Becky and Ellie Downie are ordan Spieth’s decision to miss The twice major winner’s choice not Spieth, who did not elaborate on those people stand on the stage and hear the 2012 as well as pommel horse included while 16-year-old Amy golf’s return to the Olympics next to travel to Brazil means none of the concerns, said he was a big fan of the national anthem playing,” added Spieth. bronze in Beijing in 2008. Smith Tinkler is set to be the youngest month after a 112-year hiatus was world’s top four golfers will be compet- Games and that was why it was so tough “But I’ll make it a goal to be at Tokyo was warned by British Gymnas- Team GB member in Rio. “Gym- the hardest of his life, the world ing in Rio after Jason Day, Dustin John- for him to decide not to go. in 2020. I’ll make it a signifi cant goal.” tics after he made comments nastics in Britain is stronger numberJ three said yesterday. son and Rory McIlroy had previously “I’m a huge believer in Olympic golf,” Rickie Fowler will be a member of the on social media questioning than it has ever been,” team The 22-year-old American adopted an pulled out. he explained. “It’s the most exciting four-man US team in Rio and sent Spieth the judging of the national Chef de Mission Mark England appropriately respectful tone as he gave Spieth stressed that it was not just a sporting event for me to watch on TV a message when he found out his close championships where he lost said in a statement. his reasons for missing the Rio de Janeiro worry about the Zika outbreak that made and to have a chance to be a part of it is friend had opted not to go. out to younger teammate Max “Our gymnasts have enjoyed a Games. him withdraw. something I defi nitely look forward to “I texted Rickie immediately after I Whitlock. very successful four years since “This was probably the hardest deci- “I’m not specifi cally pinpointing any trying to do. decided and said, ‘Rick, I’m sorry, bud- Whitlock, the 23-year-old world London 2012 and the quality of sion I’ve ever had to make in my life,” one thing in my health concerns,” he “I don’t expect anybody to under- dy, but I’m not going to be joining you champion and double 2012 athletes selected today is right Spieth told a news conference ahead of said, referring to the mosquito-borne stand but trust that I believe I’m making down there,” added Spieth. Olympic bronze medallist, will up there with the best in the the 145th British Open, which starts at virus that the World Health Organi- the right decision for myself, for my fu- “He said, ‘No worries... you’re just join Smith in Rio for what will be world.” Royal Troon on Thursday. sation says is spreading rapidly in the ture and for those around me. going to be jealous when I get that gold’.”

BOTTOMLINE McIlroy decidedly lukewarm on golf’s return

Reuters me as it was for him,” the Northern Irishman golf to win championships, and major champi- the Olympic sports,” he said. Troon, Scotland told a news conference ahead of the 145th Brit- onships. All of a sudden you get to this point and “I’ve got to know a lot of athletes over the ish Open that starts tomorrow. there is a responsibiity on you to grow the game, years and whether it be coming to their houses “I’m very happy with the decision I made and and I get that, but at the same time that’s not the and doing blood and urine, I think drug-testing our-time major winner Rory McIlroy I’ve no regrets about it. I’ll probably watch the reason I got into golf. in golf is still quite far behind some of the other may not watch the golf event on tel- Olympics but I’m not sure golf will be one of “I didn’t get into golf to get other people in sports,” said McIlroy. evision when it returns to the Olympics the events I watch.” Asked which competitions the game but I get that...diff erent people have “Blood-testing needs to happen in golf just next month and hinted yesterday it was he would view on television, McIlroy replied: diff erent opinions.” to make sure it is a clean sport going forward. If notF one of the sports that would matter in Rio de “Probably the events like track and fi eld, swim- McIlroy also believes golf needs a more rigor- golf wants to stay in the Olympics and wants to Janiero. Unlike world number three Jordan Spi- ming, diving, the stuff that matters.” ous approach to drug-testing to fall in line with be part of the Olympic movement it has to get in eth, who said earlier in the day that he agonised None of the world’s top four golfers will play other Olympic sports. line.” McIlroy, however, does not believe illegal over his decision to withdraw from the Olym- in Rio after Jason Day and Dustin Johnson also “I’ve been tested by the IGF (International substances can necessarily help a golfer. pics, McIlroy said he was fully comfortable with decided to opt out. Fourth-ranked McIlroy said Golf Federation) once this year... but it was only “I don’t really know of any drug that can give his choice to opt out of golf’s Games comeback he did not feel as though he was letting his sport a urine test. I haven’t been blood-tested yet. I, you an advantage all the way across the board,” after a 112-year absence. down. “I didn’t get into golf to try and grow the on average, probably get tested four to fi ve times he said. is something out there where it can “I don’t think it was as diffi cult a decision for game,” explained the 26-year-old. “I got into a year which is very little compared to the rest of make you an overall better player, I’m not sure.”