TENNIS | Page 5 FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 7 Federer, Schmeichel Nadal book thwarts Sevilla 4th round as Leicester blockbuster rekindle hopes Thursday, March 16, 2017 CRICKET Jumada II 17, 1438 AH Aussie skipper GULF TIMES Smith blasts Kohli for ‘talking rubbish’ SPORT Page 2 EMIR AWARDS CAMEL RACE WINNERS FORMULA ONE New cars give drivers an appetite for success HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday awarded the winners of the annual HH The Emir’s Sword Camel Race Festival at Al Shahania camel racetrack. HH the Emir awarded the winners of the four main races with golden trophies. Al Shahania camels won three of the four races, with “Khoud” winning the golden sword. The other two camels Mesyan and Tashar won golden daggers. The winner of the fourth race was Al Wathba from UAE. HH the Emir also awarded the silver sword for Nasser Abdullah Nasser al-Misnad, owner of Shahalel, for winning the race of Al Hail category. HH the Emir then honoured the companies that sponsored this year’s event. Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum also took part in awarding the winners. Also present were Personal Representative of HH the Emir HH Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, President of Qatar Olympic Committee HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, Adviser to the UAE President and President of the Emirates Camel Racing Federation Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan al-Nahyan, along with a number of their excellencies sheikhs, ranking off icials, and followers of the sport. (QNA) File photo of Carlos Sainz. Reuters THE CHANGES SPOTLIGHT London TYRES Tyres are fatter. The width of the rears arlos Sainz is a happy eater has expanded from 325mm to 405. The again and the Spanish For- fronts are 305mm compared to a previous mula One driver’s mother is 245mm. The wheel rims remain unchanged. delighted. Pirelli expects the tyres to off er about 25% CHeavier, faster and more physical, more grip and last longer, which is likely to the 2017 cars are subjecting drivers like mean fewer pitstops. Manohar quits the Toro Rosso youngster to far greater AERODYNAMICS G-forces through corners that can now Front wings are wider, stretching out to be taken fl at out on fatter tyres. 1,800mm from a previous 1,650. Rear wings As a result, Sainz and others have are also wider but lower, helping give the been putting on muscle over the win- cars a more aggressive look. ter to gain upper body strength. Pre- Cars are wider, longer and heavier. The to- viously they were more preoccupied tal width has been expanded to 2,000mm, with losing weight in a sport where the up from 1,800mm — a return to pre-1988 as ICC chairman lightest men have enjoyed an advan- dimensions. tage. The cars are 20kg heavier at 722kg and Since India’s emergence as the most powerful country in world cricket, the Sainz, whose father and namesake “Shark fins” have appeared on most of them, was a world rally champion, was vocal leading off the airbox behind the driver’s ICC has often been accused of failing to exert its independence on key issues last year about the dangers of shedding head. The revised aero could make it harder too much but he told Reuters during to overtake, however. AFP fession, took over as president of the testing in Barcelona that the situation FUEL New Delhi Board of Control for Cricket in India was now much healthier. The fuel allowance has been raised by five (BCCI) in October 2015 for a second “This year I have had diets but diets kg to 105kg to compensate for increased stint after the death of veteran ad- to be fi t, not diets to be as slim and as consumption due to the extra grip, but ndia’s Shashank Manohar re- ministrator Jagmohan Dalmiya. skinny as possible...and because of there are concerns that is not enough. That signed yesterday as chairman But he soon became frustrated that, I am a much happier person,” said could lead to evident fuel saving at the end of the International Cricket after coming under pressure to in- the 21-year-old. of some races. ICouncil after a fallout with his troduce reforms to the BCCI’s gov- “At the end of 2016 my mum could CHAMPIONS own board over eff orts to reform the ernance recommended by a panel tell me, every time I was coming home: For the first time since 1994, the season af- game’s world governing body. convened by the Supreme Court and ‘You look like you are not yourself, ter Alain Prost won his fourth title and then Manohar took over last year as the stood down from the post in May you look very skinny, you can see your retired, Formula One will have no reigning fi rst independent ICC chairman for 2016. bones here.’ It’s not normal. champion on the starting grid with Nico a two-year term and had been trying Cricket’s massive popularity in “She’s extremely happy and she Rosberg quitting in December. to bring in changes to the ICC’s gov- India has helped the BCCI become now sees a smile on my face when I Jenson Button, the 2009 champion, has ernance designed to reduce the power by far the wealthiest of all of the eat her food, while before I was sitting also departed but four previous titleholders of cricket’s most powerful nations — sport’s national boards, netting mas- there sad with a piece of chicken and I remain — Hamilton, four-times champion India, Australia and England. sive money from sponsorship and TV was completely annoyed about it.” Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), 2007 winner Kimi But the organisation now faces a deals. A year ago, Sainz and other drivers Raikkonen (Ferrari) and double champion fresh bout of turmoil after the divi- The BCCI expressed its “surprise such as Red Bull’s Australian Daniel Fernando Alonso (McLaren). sions between the powerful Indian at the sudden decision” by Manohar Ricciardo were being pushed to shed board and most of the rest of the to quit. kilos to gain performance. the gym to practise manhandling the game erupted into the open. “Mr Manohar’s contribution to In- Formula One cars have a minimum heavier and larger Pirelli tyres. “The ICC has confi rmed it has dian cricket is invaluable. He is a man weight limit, minus fuel but with If there are any complaints, they received an e-mail from Chairman of few words but excellent deeds,” the driver included, and designers aim to come from drivers like Force India’s Shashank Manohar tendering his board said in a statement yesterday. get it down as far as possible so that lanky Frenchman Esteban Ocon who resignation,” the organisation said in However, the BCCI has been em- additional ballast can be distributed has had to eat more than he would a brief statement after news of the broiled in a series of scandals in re- around the car to improve handling. wish. resignation had been leaked. it is not possible for me to hold the Since India’s emergence as the cent years, including accusations In 2014, the fi rst year of the V6 turbo “I had to eat so much food,” the “The ICC Board will assess the sit- august offi ce of ICC Chairman and most powerful country in world of corruption in the Indian Premier hybrid era, the limit did not compen- 20-year-old said of winter training uation and next steps before making a hence I am tendering my resignation cricket, the ICC has often been ac- League (IPL) involving a team linked sate suffi ciently for the heavier engines that has seen him add fi ve kg. “I was further announcement.” as Chairman with immediate eff ect.” cused of failing to exert its independ- to its former head Narayanaswami and drivers had to lose weight — in force-feeding, because you can’t take Manohar, the 59-year-old former India last month voted against a ence on key issues of governance. Srinivasan. In January, the Supreme some cases an unhealthy amount. on weight if you don’t do that. It’s been head of the Indian board, cited per- proposed shake-up of the ICC, fear- Many of the game’s smaller Test- Court ordered the dismissal of the Now, it is important to be strong very hard from all aspects but I’ve been sonal reasons in his letter to ICC chief ing a curb of its earnings and clout playing nations have been accused powerful BCCI president Anurag enough to get to the fi nish. progressing so much.” executive David Richardson, accord- as a result of the changes to the or- of bending to India’s demands in the Thakur over the failure to enact a “I think this year they will be proper Britain’s Jolyon Palmer, preparing ing to the cricinfo website. ganisation’s fi nancial and governance ICC, desperate to attract tours by In- series of recommended reforms, in- gladiators out there, you know,” com- for his second year with Renault, has “I have tried to do my best and have structure. dia which can ensure their fi nancial cluding age-limits for offi ce-holders. mented Mercedes’s reigning but re- put on three to four kg. tried to be fair and impartial in decid- Manohar had argued that the re- security by selling TV rights. The order came after judges slapped tired champion Nico Rosberg.