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Saturday, June 4, 2016 INVESTIGATION Sha'baan 28, 1437 AH Blatter, other top GULF TIMES offi cials skimmed 80 million dollars SPORT Page 3

TENNIS Djokovic, Murray set up blockbuster French fi nal There will be a hefty chunk of history at stake in tomorrow’s final, with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic seeking a first Roland Garros crown to become the eighth man to complete the career Grand Slam by winning all four of the majors, while a win will make Andy Murray the first British winner of the men’s title since Fred Perry in 1935

Novak Djokovic goes for a return against Dominic Thiem during their French Open semi-final clash yesterday. Djokovic won 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 and will meet Andy Murray, who saw off defending champion Stan Wawrinka in the other semi-final, in tomorrow's final. (Reuters)

AFP hefty chunk of history at stake. Djoko- the situation where I always dream of match wins on clay this season, sud- nals with Djokovic winning four times the third game of the third set and he Paris vic, playing in a 20th fi nal at the ma- being each season, in the fi nal of Ro- denly appeared as he broke and held for in Australia and Murray emerging on gained some energy from a centre- jors, is seeking a fi rst Roland Garros land Garros.” a 3-0 lead in the third set. top at the US Open and Wimbledon. court crowd largely pulling for him. crown to become just the eighth man Djokovic sprinted out to a 3-0 lead It had taken him 77 minutes to “I knew that if I wanted to win I Murray fi nally stumbled at 4-5 down ovak Djokovic and Andy to complete the career Grand Slam by in the opener on the back of a break in achieve his fi rst break of the contest, would have to play one of my best clay- with a couple of unforced errors that Murray will meet in a Grand winning all four of the majors—Paris is the second game against 13th-seeded much to the delight of a crowd getting court matches. Stan’s record here the allowed Wawrinka to get the break he Slam title clash for a seventh the only blank space in his curriculum. Thiem. A double-fault by the young value for money for their $22 ticket in- last couple of years is unbelievable,” needed. The comeback was short- time tomorrow after com- Murray, also 29, can become the fi rst Austrian opened the door for Djokovic vestment. But Djokovic roared back, said Murray. lived, however, as Murray broke serve prehensiveN semi-fi nal triumphs swept British winner of the men’s title since to take the fi rst set in the eighth game. sweeping the next fi ve games for 5-3 The Scot got off to the better start, to open the fourth set and he quickly the world’s top two players into the Fred Perry in 1935. Djokovic was just as untouchable before 22-year-old Thiem stopped the breaking serve in the third game and opened up a 2-0 lead. Wawrinka then French Open fi nal. It will be Djokovic’s sixth successive in the second set despite playing for bleeding at 4-5. The Austrian had one that proved to be enough for him to played a dismal service game to allow Djokovic reached his fourth fi nal in Grand Slam championship match as he a fourth successive day. Breaks for last chance to prolong his afternoon pocket the fi rst set in a hotly-disputed Murray to pull 5-2 clear and it was all Paris with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 demolition looks to add to his collection of 11 ma- the Serb came in the fourth and sixth with a break point in the 10th game as 10th game where Wawrinka had break over shortly after that. of Austria’s Dominic Thiem to move jors. He already holds the Wimbledon, games and the set was wrapped up in Djokovic served for the match. But the points to level. one match closer to a career Grand US and Australian Open trophies. just 25 minutes. world number one was not to be denied The second set followed a similar Results (Men’s Semi-finals) Slam. The world number one will “The atmosphere was fantastic. It’s Thiem, playing in his fi rst Grand as he went to match point and con- pattern with Murray breaking in the 1-Novak Djokovic (SRB) bt 13-Dominic now tackle second seed Murray who the fi rst time I have played a semi-fi nal Slam semi-fi nal, had taken just nine verted the opportunity when Thiem third game, but this time the two-time Thiem (AUT) 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 knocked out defending champion Stan on the Suzanne Lenglen court,” said points off the Djokovic serve at that slipped a backhand wide. major champion made it back-to-back 2-Andy Murray (GBR) bt 3-Stan Wawrinka Wawrinka 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. the top seed. “I played the best tennis stage. However, the form which had Murray and Djokovic have already breaks as he pulled 5-1 clear. The Swiss (SUI) 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 As well as the title, there will be a of the tournament so far. I am now in taken Thiem to a season-leading 25 played each other in six Grand Slam fi - player staved off two break points in „Other tennis reports, P2 Murray has ‘best shot’ of winning French Open: McEnroe

By Kevin Mitchell at Roland Garros “It has been extremely diff icult at finals that the ‘new Murray’ arrived. At pre-Wimbledon time preparing for his The Guardian times and frustrating. He has had times, he was majestic, especially in stint with the BBC to advise Milos Raonic better moments than almost anybody, giving up just two games in the final on how he might make an impact there, obviously, but there is always something hour of the match. thinks Djokovic is playing so well he ohn McEnroe is adamant that you could say he could do something Nevertheless, he has had a few could overhaul Roger Federer’s 17 slams. Andy Murray has “his best shot about. You could say: ‘Maybe his second problems with his serve, and his drop- “It’s good in a way that you have ever” to win the French Open. serve could be a little better.’ But there shotting of Gasquet—although it drained people talk about it, it’s kind of history JEven allowing for the American’s have been times where it has been the Frenchman’s legs—was not as precise in the making,” he said of the Serb’s penchant for theatricality, that is an better and others where the reality is as he would have liked. On clay, it is a shot dominance. “It has happened so fast. encouraging endorsement. just nerves or something gets in the way that can win a lot of points, if planted in Pete Sampras sat down after he got his “There’s a chance for Murray. Maybe a little bit. And then everybody says: the right place at the right pace. 14th (slam title) at the US Open, stopped his best chance to win the French ever ‘See… there’s the old Murray.’” Yesterday’s semi-final presented playing with this magnificent way to go could be this year. This year. I don’t The old Murray has been evident here a diff erent challenge entirely—even out. And the next thing you know and know if he’s going to be able to keep and there in this tournament, searching for against another single-handed not that long later, Roger is beating (his this up, so to me he has got his best shot the fine form that carried him to the finals backhand artist in Stan Wawrinka, who total) and Rafa catches him. It’s crazy. ever,” the American tennis legend said. in Madrid, where he lost to Novak Djokovic, destroyed Djokovic with it a year ago. “And now Novak, all of a sudden he’s at McEnroe added: “Andy’s had an and then in Rome, where he beat him. Murray has kept an eye on the Swiss’s 11. It’s insane how tough they are to beat. incredibly consistent record in the Murray knows he has yet to hit a progress here, of course, but pointed It’s incredible. So, yeah, potentially that slams—and they’re much tougher to convincing rhythm throughout a whole out: “The way that I play against Stan could happen. And Murray could add on beat in the slams, these guys. There is match, having struggled through 10 sets will be diff erent to the way that Novak a couple. And Stan looks like he is pretty no question he has gotten a lot better. at the beginning to shift two players plays against him because, although our dangerous right now. Stan has got the He has had to get better and he has outside the top 100, Radek Stepanek games are fairly similar, we have diff erent same amount of majors as Andy. I mean probably made them better. He can take and Mathias Bourgue. It was probably strengths and hit shots slightly diff erently. you wouldn’t put their overall career pride in that as somebody who is trying at the start and end of his four-sets win A year has gone by since then…” record on the same page but at the same to have a great rivalry. over Richard Gasquet in the quarter- McEnroe, who will give up some of his time that’s a pretty good place to be.” Gulf Times 2 Saturday, June 4, 2016 TENNIS

INTERVIEW All my dreams came true in Paris, says Pierce As the last Frenchwoman crowned at Roland Garros, Mary Pierce still remembers how she felt when she won in 2000, not to mention the two other finals she played, and how she first discovered her teenage years. Excerpts from an interview…

There’s something special in the air at “So all those memories come back to me… want to give it your all. Actually, when you go Roland Garros, don’t you think? There are a lot! And it’s great.” onto the court, you need to be able to just sa- “Yes, it’s true. When I come to Roland Gar- vour the moment, focus on the present, not ros, I feel at home. I feel happy. I have so many You mentioned your final in 2005. During project yourself too much on what could hap- good memories here and I’ve spent so much that period, which was a second career of pen or what will happen. That’s it, just be as time here over the years. It’s always a pleasure sorts, another very special thing happened calm and serene as possible.” to come back.” with the spectators… “I think my relationship with the fans What about that moment after match Fifteen years have gone by since you won changed when I personally changed. At age 25, point, what did you feel? here. With that perspective, is the memory I think the change in me made things diff erent “When you win, you just feel so many emo- still as strong? Or has your image of it between me and everyone around me. The jour- tions at the same time. You think to yourself: changed a little as the years have passed? nalists, the spectators, my fans, my team… And ‘That’s it, I did it!’ It’s a relief too, to have won “No, it doesn’t change at all, in fact. It’s still a it’s true that for me, the emotions I felt on the the match in the end. You say to yourself: ‘I vivid image, in my memories, and I don’t think court are the most amazing memories, they’re can’t believe it, it’s incredible!’ I look towards it will every change.” the most powerful. Centre court packed out, my team... It’s all those years of pain, suff ering, the emotions shared with the fans, the public… sweat and tears, all of that together. You have What are the images or the sensations you The matches that we experienced together, that these fl ashes of everything you’ve lived through remember from Roland Garros? fi nal in particular, it was extraordinary!” to experience this exact moment. It’s really sat- “I have so many memories… The images that isfying. It’s the reward for all that work and all come back to me are when I fi rst got here, at the Now for a question that few people can those years.” age of 13, to train at the CNE (National Train- answer: How does it feel to enter the centre ing Centre). I remember my fi rst French Open, court on Roland Garros before a final? Today, when you see next to your name, when I was 15. “Lots of things happen at the same time. You ‘Winner of the French Open in 2000’, what “There are memories of my fi rst fi nal in 1994. have butterfl ies in your stomach, you feel a lot does that feel like? I especially remember when I won, in 2000… of things, you try to stay calm and breathe… It feels incredible! It’s really incredible for I remember the whole tournament, all those It’s the fi nal, but at the same time you try not me to think that my name will always be there, emotions… I remember the fi nal in 2005, what to think about the event. You try to tell yourself written in the history of tennis, and the history it meant to come back after an injury at the age ‘it’s just another match’. But then on the other of French tennis. My tennis dreams have be- of 30, when everyone thought I was fi nished. hand, you realise that it actually is the fi nal! You come a reality.” (www.rolandgarros.com)

WOMEN’S SEMI-FINALS Muguruza dispatches Stosur, books title clash with Serena ‘Emotions can be bad when you make a final. you just have to stay calm, prepare yourself as best you can and play with no regrets’

Spain’s Garbine Muguruza (left) will meet American world No. 1 Serena Williams in the French Open women’s singles final today, in what will be a replay of last year’s Wimbledon title match. (AFP)

AFP fore Williams opened her account. diffi culty putting away the match from Paris The cold, damp conditions were sim- 5-2 up in the second. ilar to Thursday and the atmosphere “Emotions can sometimes be bad was muted on a less-than-half full when you make a fi nal,” said Muguruza, erena Williams will play Garbine Philippe Chatrier centre court. who defeated Williams in straight sets Muguruza in the French Open The Dutchwoman failed to convert a in the 2014 French Open second round. fi nal today in a replay of last set-point at 5-3 with Williams serving “Sometimes you just have to stay calm, year’s Wimbledon title match. and then a pair of drop shots in the next prepare yourself as best you can and SWilliams won that in straight sets game brought up a break-back point for play with no regrets.” for her 21st Grand Slam title, but Mu- the American which she converted with With the Suzanne Lenglen court guruza, at 22, 12 years younger than a big forehand drive. barely half-full, Muguruza shrugged the American, has improved further Bertens appeared to be having trou- off the ghostly atmosphere as well as since then. The top seed and defend- ble with an injury to her left calf muscle the bone-jarring 13 degrees to race into ing champion kept alive her hopes of as Williams took the lead for the fi rst a 4-0 lead. The Australian won just six a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam time in the match, but she held fi rm to points in that early blitz before she got title against unseeded Dutchwoman force a tie-break. on the board with a service hold in the Kiki Bertens. But her form was at best In that, Williams eased ahead 5-2 af- fi fth game. patchy as she laboured to a 7-6 (9/7), ter losing the fi rst point on her serve, But the 6ft (1.82m) Venezuelan-born 6-4 semi-fi nal win. but two botched volleys at the net saw Muguruza continued to dominate, The fourth seeded Muguruza, mean- her hand a set point back to Bertens be- sweeping the fi rst set in 32 minutes. while, underlined her fi ne form with a fore she found some form to take it 9/7. There were was no let-up in the second 6-2, 6-4 win over Australia’s Samantha The pair exchanged service breaks set as the 22-year-old Spaniard broke Stosur to reach a Grand Slam fi nal for to get the second set underway and for 1-0 and held a love service game to just the second time. Bertens then failed to take two break go to 2-0. “The fi rst set was not simple, but she points to get to 4-2. Stosur rallied for a break back, but was playing so well,” Williams said of She paid the price for that minutes Muguruza retrieved it immediately for Bertens. “I need to keep my calm for the later as Williams grabbed the break she 3-2 on the back of unrelenting, deep fi nal and hope the fans will be with me.” needed to put the match away, needing and fl at hitting. Muguruza, a quarter- Williams already looked out-of- four match points in the end. fi nalist in the last two years, carved out sorts in her quarter-fi nal on Thursday The fi nal will be the fourth match in a fi fth break of the match for 5-2 after a against 60th-ranked Yulia Putintseva, four days for Williams due to the bad sixth double-fault by Stosur on her way having to claw her way back from a set weather that has dogged Roland Garros to sealing victory. and a break down to get through. And it this week. was another ponderous start from the Muguruza, who is the fi rst Spanish three-time former winner against her woman in 16 years to reach the French Results (Semi-finals) 58th-ranked opponent yesterday. Open fi nal, has had it easier in the other 1-Serena Williams (USA) bt Kiki Bertens Bertens, who had never made it past half of the draw. She was in command (NED) 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 the fourth round of a Grand Slam tour- against 32-year-old Stosur, a former US 4-Garbine Muguruza (ESP) bt 21-Saman- nament prior to Paris, went 2-0 up be- Open champion, from the start but had tha Stosur (AUS) 6-2, 6-4 Gulf Times Saturday, June 4, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT CLARITY FIFA dismiss report Blatter, other top of Infantino probe offi cials skimmed 80 million dollars Besides former FIFA president Blatter, former secretary general Jerome Valcke and File picture of FIFA President Gianni Infantino. former finance chief Markus Kattner were found to have skimmed FIFA’s funds AFP tions were baseless. Geneva “The email exchange that makes mention of the deletion of audio fi les refers to a copy of the IFA denied yesterday re- original audio fi le of the meeting ports in German media that was improperly stored on a that president Gianni local drive,” she said. Infantino was under in- “This mention does not refer Fvestigation for a possible ethics to the offi cially archived audio violation. fi le. That fi le exists and is prop- Die Welt newspaper reported erly saved at FIFA.” that Infantino had improperly The volatile Mexico City con- ordered the destruction of the gress was the fi rst since Infantino minutes of a FIFA executive replaced FIFA’s disgraced former committee meeting held at last president Sepp Blatter. month’s congress in Mexico city. It included the shock resigna- According to the paper, FIFA’s tion of FIFA’s audit and compli- independent ethics commit- ance chief Domenico Scala, who tee was looking at the issue and accused Infantino of trying to could impose a 90-day ban on compromise the independence the new president if the allega- of key FIFA bodies, including the tion was confi rmed. ethics committee. But a spokesman for the eth- Some FIFA insiders have also ics committee’s investigatory suggested that Infantino wanted arm, Roman Geiser told AFP that Scala — who sits on the remu- “there are no formal proceedings neration committee — to leave, going on against Mr. Infantino”. amid a dispute about the new FIFA spokeswoman Delia president’s salary. Fischer, in a separate statement Infantino has not yet agreed to emailed to AFP, said the allega- a contract.

Chinese firm close to Inter Milan takeover, claim reports Chinese investors are on the Italian champions. brink of buying a majority Thorir will retain a 30 percent share in Serie A giants Inter share, Corriere said, while Milan, Italian media said yes- Italian petroleum tycoon Mas- terday. simo Moratti is set to sell his According to daily newspaper 29.5 percent share in the club. This file photo shows then FIFA president Joseph Blatter (L) listening to Jerome Valcke, then secretary general of FIFA, during a press conference. Corriere dello Sport, several Moratti was president of Inter Inter off icials are currently on two occasions, from 1995 DPA revealed evidence of breaches of fi duci- proceedings is now being analyzed,” the and has also been banned from football. in Nanjing, China, to thrash to 2004 and again from 2006 Berlin ary duty.” offi ce said in a brief statement. Both Blatter and Valcke have denied out a final deal with electron- to 2013. His father Angelo The fi ndings also raised concerns In September, Swiss authorities wrong-doing. ics retailers Suning, who will previously held the same role about lack of oversight by FIFA’s com- launched a criminal process against Blat- FIFA has been mired in corruption scan- acquire around a 70 percent from 1955 to 1968. hree former FIFA top offi cials in- pensation sub-committee, it added. ter on suspicion that he mismanaged dals for more than a year. Blatter had led the share in the nerazzurri. Inter’s great cross-town rivals cluding Joseph Blatter enriched “FIFA has shared this information FIFA funds. organization since 1998 but announced his The deal, worth 263 million AC Milan, with whom they themselves by more than 79 with the Offi ce of the Swiss Attorney Blatter’s offi ce was raided and docu- resignation in June 2015 shortly after cor- euros ($293 million), could be share use of the city’s San Siro million Swiss francs (80 million General and it will brief the US Depart- ments were seized on September 24 for ruption allegations against him and senior completed next week, accord- stadium, are also in talks with Tdollars) in the last fi ve years, an internal ment of Justice on the matters as well,” the fi rst time. FIFA offi cials surfaced. ing to Corriere. Chinese investors over a pos- investigation by the world football body it announced, referring to criminal pro- The OAG has been looking into “a dis- US prosecutors have charged numer- It was only three years ago sible sale following 30 years has revealed. ceedings in football corruption cases in loyal payment” of 2 million Swiss francs ous Latin American football functionar- that Indonesian business- under the control of former The Quinn Emanuel law fi rm conduct- both countries. by Blatter to Michel Platini, the former ies including Warner with corrupt deal- man Erick Thorir bought a 70 Italy prime minister Silvio ing the investigation said, “contract ar- FIFA’s probe revealed that Blatter, head of European football body UEFA. ings related to marketing contracts. percent stake in the 18-time Berlusconi. rangements benefi ted a small group of Valcke and Kattner received 23 million The transaction in February 2011 was Blatter’s successor Gianni Infantino former FIFA offi cials” and some contained francs in special bonuses for the 2010 purportedly made for work that Platini was tasked with cleaning up the game “provisions that appear to violate Swiss World Cup in South Africa, apparently performed about 10 years earlier. but he too has come under pressure after law,” according to a FIFA statement yester- without any existing contract provisions FIFA has banned Blatter and Platini German media reported he requested an LIGUE 1 day, one day after Swiss prosecutors again to that eff ect. from all football-related activities in the audio recording of a council meeting held raided the organisation’s headquarters. Valcke and Kattner were also awarded wake of the scandal. last month in Mexico City be deleted. Besides former FIFA president Blatter, bonuses totalling 29.5 million francs for The Swiss top prosecutors also sus- He was also accused of being involved former secretary general Jerome Valcke and the 2014 Brazil World Cup and for the pect that Blatter closed a contract in in a plot to remove former independent PSG boss hints at former fi nance chief Markus Kattner were 2018 event to be held in Russia. detriment to FIFA’s interests in 2005 audit and compliance chairman Domeni- found to have skimmed FIFA’s funds. Shortly before FIFA made its fi ndings with Jack Warner, the disgraced former co Scala, who eventually resigned in pro- According to Quinn Emanuel partner public, the Swiss attorney general’s of- head of the Central and North Ameri- test at a FIFA congress decision which al- Blanc departure Bill Burck, “the evidence appears to re- fi ce (OAG) confi rmed that it raided FIFA’s can soccer body CONCACAF. lowed FIFA’s new-look council the right veal a coordinated eff ort by three former Zurich headquarters again on Thursday In March, Swiss authorities also initi- to appoint and dismiss members of key top offi cials of FIFA to enrich themselves in the ongoing investigations into Blatter ated proceedings against Valcke for sus- control bodies. through annual salary increases, World and Valcke. pected disloyal conduct of business and FIFA hit back by saying: “Any insinu- Cup bonuses and other incentives.” “Documents and electronic data were other possible criminal off ences. ations this decision was the result of a FIFA said that “the investigation has seized. Their relevance for the ongoing The Frenchman was fi red in January conspiracy are ludicrous.”

BOTTOMLINE Spain prosecutors ask Messi be

File picture of PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi. absolved in tax fraud trial “I’ve supported (Blanc) for AFP AFP ed his father with his fi nances “For a layperson, if they see Paris three years. Now, I have to ask Barcelona and “knew nothing” about how so many lawyers signing it, they the right questions. Big changes his wealth was managed. must believe that it’s fi ne.” could happen. “There is no evidence that any- The companies in Uruguay — he future of Laurent “I’ve been here for fi ve years panish prosecutors one explained anything to him.” which much of the probe centres Blanc as Paris Saint- and this is the fi rst time that we called yesterday for Li- But she maintained her ac- on — were created and managed Germain coach was have this sense of failure. This isn’t onel Messi to be absolved cusation against his father, for by a Barcelona law fi rm with Tthrown into grave doubt simply the fact of having lost in the and his father found whom she asked for a jail sen- whom Messi’s dad communi- yesterday after the chairman of quarter-fi nals of the Champions guiltyS on the fi nal day of the tence of one-and-a-half years. cated. “Mr. Jorge Messi cannot the big-spending French champi- League (to Manchester City), it’s pair’s high-profi le tax fraud trial Any such sentence would dodge his responsibility by ac- ons said major changes were afoot. the way it happened. in Barcelona. likely be suspended as is com- cusing his advisors,” she said. Nasser al-Khelaifi in April in- “This elimination is the worst The Argentina star and his mon in Spain for fi rst off ences “Fraud takes place because sisted that Blanc, who has been moment since I came to Paris.” father Jorge Horacio Messi have carrying a sentence of less than there is a decision in that direc- head coach at Qatari-owned PSG Despite signing a new contract been accused of using com- two years. tion,” she added. since 2013, would stay on despite in February taking him through panies in Belize and Uruguay “It’s because Jorge Messi ac- Messi and his father did not at- failing once again to get past to June 2018, Blanc’s position to avoid paying taxes on 4.16 cepted it that this happened,” tend the fourth and fi nal day of the quarter-fi nal stages of the with the club’s money-bags million euros ($4.6 million) of she said. the trial, in which defence lawyers Champions League. owners came under threat with Messi’s income earned from his The income related to Messi’s and the state attorney have yet to But just weeks on the ambi- the tame surrender to City. image rights from 2007-09. image rights that was alleg- make their closing arguments. tious al-Khelaifi strongly sug- Blanc led PSG to a runaway Barcelona forward Messi’s de- edly hidden includes endorse- The player had been due to jet gested that could be set to change fourth straight win in the French fence lawyers want both the fi ve- Barcelona’s Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi leaves court where ment deals with Banco Sabadell, off to the United States after his and dropped a major hint that he league, and success in the domes- time World Player of the Year and he is on trial for tax fraud in Barcelona. Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Thursday court appearance for could be after Atletico Madrid’s tic cups, but it appears not to have his father to be absolved. Procter & Gamble and the Ku- the Copa America where Argen- in-demand coach Diego Simeone. been enough for his Qatari bosses. But the state attorney — who sation have been impacted, in be absolved,” Prosecutor Raquel wait Food Company. tina take on defending champi- “The players, the coach, the Al-Khelaifi did not list names in Spain intervenes in trials in this case the tax authorities — Amado said in her closing argu- “These contracts are in Eng- ons Chile on Monday. management, we need turnover, of a possible replacement for parallel with prosecutors when wants both sentenced. ment, a day after the footballer lish, most certainly bulky,” No date has been set for when a new cycle,” he told the Le Paris- Blanc, but said that he had “a lot the interests of a public organi- “Lionel Andres Messi must took the stand and said he trust- Amado argued. the court will issue its ruling. ien newspaper. of respect for Atletico”. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, June 4, 2016 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT SCEPTICAL Colombians wary of US and Colombia refs for Copa opener ready for Copa

America kick-off Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina. AFP beautiful party. We wait for eve- Santa Clara ryone to have good intentions. ‘It’s a big event, and I think our goals will be met by the time the event is over in terms “There will be a lot of respect in the soccer fi eld, for the refe- of attendance and interest. There’s a lot of star power, and we open with a great game’ olombia goalkeeper rees to do their job the right way.” David Ospina admitted Colombia coach Jose Peker- he was concerned Copa man meanwhile played down the America referees may concerns, voicing optimism that Cfavour the United States on the “external” factors would not in- eve of his team’s clash with the fl uence Friday’s game. host nation in Santa Clara. “Soccer is in a special mo- Arsenal star Ospina said he ment,” the respected Argentin- was wary of how match officials ian said. “Everyone wants eve- may react in Friday’s Group A rything to be transparent. This is opener at the Levi’s Stadium, a great opportunity to show that where a near sell-out crowd technology and everything else is will be overwhelmingly behind helping to improve the sport. the Americans. “We trust in the fairness and “We are worried about that,” we hope there won’t be any Ospina said when asked about problems, that nothing external the referees. that will infl uence the result of a “But at the same time it’s a game,” he added.

CHOICE US star Bedoya sets aside Colombia ties for opening match

Members of the Colombia team train before their opening COPA America 2016 match against the US at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

AFP which US offi cials have signalled they in- zil of several fi rst choice players including Messi and Argentina will be aiming to Santa Clara, United States tend to mount a bid for as football in the Barcelona superstar Neymar. win the country’s fi rst major title since United States steadily grows in popularity. “Everyone has brought the best players the 1993 Copa America after a series of The gleaming Levi’s Stadium in Santa who are available to them and they’re tak- recent near-misses. star-studded celebration of the Clara — home of the San Francisco 49ers ing it seriously. That’s a plus,” said Gulati. Messi, who was late to join the Argen- world’s oldest international foot- and the venue for this year’s Super Bowl That the tournament is taking place at tina squad after appearing at his tax fraud File picture of Alejandro Bedoya #11 of the United States. ball tournament will get under — is expected to be close to its 68,500 all is something of a logistical triumph. trial in Spain on Thursday, is a doubt for way in California Friday, when capacity for the USA’s Group A opener Although fi rst announced in 2014, the Argentina’s opening game against Chile AFP while grandfather, Fabio, played theA United States takes on Colombia to against Colombia. fate of the event hung in the balance for in Santa Clara next Monday. for Deportes Quindio. Santa Clara open the Copa America Centenario. much of 2015 after the arrest and indict- Panama and Bolivia complete Group Both Bedoya’s father and Sixteen teams from across the Ameri- ‘STAR POWER’ ment of several of the offi cials from South D. The USA meanwhile aim to get off grandfather followed Colombia cas have gathered in the United States for Whether spectator demand for other America and CONCACAF responsible for to a winning start against Colombia on orn in the United States around the United States dur- a one-off edition of the Copa America, matches will be as high is doubtful; few dreaming up the tournament. Friday as they seek to navigate a dif- to Colombian parents, ing their ill-fated 1994 World which is being staged to mark the tour- are expecting matches involving the When plans for the tournament were ficult group which also includes Costa Alejandro Bedoya says Cup campaign, when they ar- nament’s 100th anniversary. tournament minnows to be sell-outs. launched at a glitzy event in Miami two Rica and Paraguay. one of his earliest child- rived with high hopes only to be Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and James Ro- In comments to Sports Illustrated, years ago, CONCACAF President Jef- “The expectations are that we want to hoodB memories was cheering knocked out in the group stage. driguez are among the stars due to be in ac- United States Soccer Federation chief frey Webb stood proudly alongside South grow as a soccer nation, we want to send for the South Americans while “I was seven years old. I vividly tion throughout the June 3-26 tournament, Sunil Gulati said he expected the tourna- American federation (CONMEBOL) chief strong signals out to South America, to wearing a Carlos Valderrama wig remember my dad buying tickets which is taking place despite a troubled ment to meet its targets. Eugenio Figueredo. Europe that we’re learning,” USA coach during the 1994 World Cup. for himself and my grandfather,” build-up dogged by corruption allegations “It’s a big event, and I think our goals Both Figueredo and Webb — as well as Jurgen Klinsmann said. Yesterday however there will Bedoya recalled. that threatened to derail the event. will be met by the time the event is over former CONMEBOL chief Nicolas Leoz Five-time World Cup winners Brazil be no question of divided loy- “I was back at home with the Ten teams from South America are in terms of attendance and interest,” — are accused of pocketing millions of will be favoured to emerge from Group B, alties when Bedoya pulls on Valderrama wig on watching in joined by six teams from the North Gulati said. dollars in bribes linked to the award of where they face Ecuador, Haiti and Peru. an American jersey to line up front of the television. Those are America, Central America and Caribbean “There’s a lot of star power, and we media rights for the tournament, part of The Brazilians open against Ecuador against the country of his par- my most vivid memories of being region (CONCACAF), in what is arguably open with a great game with the US and a scam dubbed a “World Cup of Fraud” by at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl today — scene of ents’ birth in the opening game a Colombian supporter.” the biggest tournament to be staged on Colombia.” US prosecutors. their victory at the 1994 World Cup fi nal. of the Copa America Centenario. Bedoya however is fi rmly in US soil since the 1994 World Cup. Most teams have chosen full-strength Organizers will hope that the sleazy Mexico and Uruguay will be expected to In fact, the 29-year-old mid- the US corner now, and is eyeing The tournament could potentially be squads, although injuries and the prox- background will be forgotten once the progress from Group C, with Jamaica and fi elder, who plays for French side another upset against a talent- a sneak preview of the 2026 World Cup, imity of the Olympics have deprived Bra- action fi nally gets under way. Venezuela completing the fi eld. Nantes, revealed that his extend- ed Colombian team in Friday’s ed family will all be cheering for Group A opener in Santa Clara. the hosts. Bedoya said the US will draw BOTTOMLINE “I just got off the phone with confi dence from a narrow 2-1 my mum,” Bedoya told reporters defeat to Colombia in a friendly on Thursday. at Fulham’s Craven Cottage in “Everybody says they’re root- 2014. ing for me. Obviously every “They have some very good other game they’re rooting for players up front,” he said.”I was USA ready for Colombia: Klinsmann Colombia. But this is a one-off .” part of the game in London when Bedoya is the latest in a long we played them. We created AFP “Every team has their strengths they leave weaknesses behind line of professional footballers some good chances and could Santa Clara, United States and weaknesses. We’ve learned a so hopefully we can take ad- his family has produced. have fi nished them off . We want lot over the past couple of years vantage of that.” His father, Adriano, played to show that we are capable of about how to play big teams and Klinsmann has drawn encour- for Colombian side Millonarios playing against the best.” urgen Klinsmann is con- how to come up with solutions agement from the recent blos- fident the United States against big teams, whether it’s soming of a crop of young players, can spring a surprise in Europe or elsewhere,” added including newly signed Hamburg over Colombia here Fri- Klinsmann, whose side have winger Bobby Wood (23), Spurs’ ‘Mixed emotions’ as new Socceroo dayJ when his team kicks off scored friendly victories over DeAndre Yedlin and German- the Copa America Centenario Germany and the Netherlands in born defender John Brooks. prepares to face former country determined to launch an ex- the past 12 months. Teenager Christian Pulisic is Striker Apostolos Giannou “I guess, it’s mixed emotions tended run in the competition. “We’ve managed to get very also threatening to emerge. said he expects “mixed emo- for me,” the 26-year-old Two years after the USA good results. We respect them “It’s exciting for us to see the tions” if he plays for Australia Guangzhou R&F forward told emerged from the “Group of a lot, they deserve a lot of re- growth of some players over in today’s friendly against Australian broadcaster ABC. Death” at the 2014 World Cup, spect but on the other side we the last two years,” Klinsmann Greece — six months after “When Ange came to Greece reaching the knockout rounds have no fear. We have a team said.”Young players can only briefly representing the Greek to talk to me about playing at the expense of Portugal and that is very hungry. We have grow if you give them time to national team. for Australia he didn’t want to Ghana, Klinsmann’s men fi nd players that can match up.” play. Young players can only China-based Giannou, who force me to do anything. themselves with another daunt- Klinsmann hinted that Co- grow if they can fail. If they was born in Greece but grew “I have a few friends in the ing fi rst round assignment. lombia’s deadly counter-attack- don’t have opportunities to they up in Australia, played for the Greek national team that’s for As well as the Colombians, US men’s soccer team coach Jurgen Klinsmann. ing prowess could present op- will never grow.” former European champions sure. It will be fun.” the Americans face World Cup portunities for his side. Klinsmann cautioned how- in November but was allowed Giannou made his Australia quarter-fi nalists Costa Rica and World Cup. and Cristiano Ronaldo behind, “We’ve been doing our home- ever that he would not hesitate to switch to the Socceroos debut in March but his lone last year’s Copa America semi- The former German interna- we left Ghana behind and then work. I’m a big admirer of (Co- to turn to old players if circum- because his appearance was appearance for Greece was fi nalists Paraguay in Group A, tional wants to see how his team we hit the wall with Belgium in lombia coach Jose) Pekerman stances demanded it. in a friendly. shrouded in controversy. easily the toughest group in the measures up against powerful extra time,” Klinsmann said. and we know how fast they can “This is about the best team Giannou represented both The Greek FA was later fined 16-team tournament. opponents in Friday’s opener Although the Colombians transition from defending into representing our country in or- Greece and Australia at youth and forfeited the match Yet Klinsmann is relishing at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa boast an array of attacking tal- attack,” he said. der to get results,” he said. level but he was persuaded to 3-0 for not submitting the the prospect of trying to mas- Clara as he builds towards the ent led by Real Madrid’s James “They exploit space within a “We’re not giving away fa- commit his future to the Asian required paperwork for termind another upset of Co- 2018 World Cup. Rodriguez and Juventus’s Juan couple of seconds, that’s where vours here. If we feel it’s neces- title-holders by a visit from Giannou, who made his Aus- lombia on US soil, 22 years after “We were in the ‘Group of Cuadrado, Klinsmann believes they’re very dangerous scoring sary to bring a veteran in to get a Greek-born Socceroos coach tralia debut in the 7-0 win over the Americans’ famous win over Death’ in Brazil and we managed the US can exploit weaknesses in many goals. result that guy will come in. It’s Ange Postecoglou. Tajikistan in March. the South Americans at the 1994 to come out of it, we left Portugal Los Cafeteros’s ranks. “But we can also see that about winning.” Gulf Times Saturday, June 4, 2016 5 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT SUPPORT Hodgson defends England are a England’s toiling trio work in progress,

says striker Kane England manager Roy Hodgson. ‘Of course we would probably want a few more chances and a few more shots on AFP fi eld on June 11 when they open London their Euro campaign with a Group B fi xture against Russia at goal, but it’s something we are working on. We are still working on stuff ...’ Marseille’s Stade Velodrome. ngland manager Roy Hodgson was forced to ALVES APOLOGY defend his tactics after Asked if he had settled on the his side narrowly edged starting XI for that game, Hodg- 10-manE Portugal 1-0 in their fi nal son told the BBC: “That is diffi - warm-up game prior to Euro 2016. cult and will depend on the night. Hodgson fi elded forwards “I am happy I have got 16, 17 Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane and good players and happy with the Jamie Vardy from the start, but options available to us.” despite Portugal losing Bruno Accentuating the positives, Alves to a fi rst-half red card, Hodgson hailed England’s “pa- it took an 86th-minute header tience and composure” and sug- from centre-back Chris Smalling gested that a more handsome for his side to prevail at a sub- victory would have created un- dued Wembley on Thursday. healthy expectations. While Rooney had been ex- “We’ll go to France reasonably pected to support Kane and confi dent that we can keep this Vardy from a withdrawn role, going and also knowing full well he operated as a central striker, that we’re not the fi nished arti- with the Leicester City forward cle,” he said. and Tottenham Hotspur man in “That’s also quite a good wider positions. thing, because had we won the But Hodgson said: “We played three games by four goals to nil, with split strikers. When you everyone would be saying we’ve play with that system, you need got to win it now. We’re a young your strikers to split. team and I think that would have “If you play with them going put too much pressure on.” down the middle and Rooney in Portugal centre-back Alves behind them, you’d never be able was shown a straight red card to defend the wide areas. There after catching Kane in the head might have been moments when with a dangerously high boot 10 they were too wide, but basically minutes before the break. speaking, that would have to be Beaten manager Fernando their job.” Santos, who was without the Rooney sought to draw positives rested Cristiano Ronaldo and from the fact that despite playing Pepe, revealed that Alves had poorly, England had found a way apologised to his team-mates af- to emerge victorious, as in their terwards, but praised the way his previous warm-up games against side had reacted to fi nding them- Turkey and Australia. selves a man down. “We won the game, but it was “Alves apologised to the group always diffi cult,” he told ITV. after the match. It was a strong “They went to 10 men and that tackle, but it’s not going to hap- can happen in football. We were pen again,” Santos told his post- England’s Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney warm up before the friendly match against Portugal at the Wembley Stadium. England won the match by a solitary goal. the better team. We need to play match press conference. better, we know that. But it’s a “Portugal played well defen- AFP they rarely had the chance to combine in tional stage. Rashford, will make his team a formida- good sign that we didn’t play well sively. England tried to attack London dangerous areas, with Vardy touching the With so little time to prepare before ble force in France. and won the game. by the sides and we were good in ball only nine times. each match and long breaks between “Of course there are things we can work “The manager is working on this position. We protected our And Kane confessed England would internationals, Kane admitted it can be on but we are in a positive way and we take the three up front. There are 23 defence and England didn’t have arry Kane admits England’s need to spend time fi ne-tuning the for- tricky to strike up an instant rapport on that into the Russia game,” he said. men in the squad -- it’s about all many opportunities to score, so spluttering attack still has plenty mation before their fi rst match at the Eu- the pitch. “Of course it is always diffi cult “It’s great. You want everyone on top of us. We are ready. We haven’t we did well with 10 men.” of room for improvement ahead ros against Russia on June 11. when you come away with England. You of their game, especially strikers, and been at our best, but we have Portugal complete their Euro of their Euro 2016 opener. “Of course we would probably want a haven’t got a lot of time to prepare like we’ve got that. won the three games.” preparations with a friendly HRoy Hodgson’s side wrapped up their few more chances and a few more shots you do for your clubs,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of competition for England will next take to the against Estonia on Wednesday. preparations for the tournament in France on goal, but it’s something we are work- “But we are England internationals. places, which is good.” with a 1-0 win over Portugal at Wembley ing on,” Kane said. You have to be able to cope with that. Kane was fortunate to leave Wembley on Thursday and the main talking point of “We are still working on stuff . That’s “I don’t think you can judge it from one in one piece after being caught on the a drab display was the lack of cohesion be- what we have these three friendlies for, to performance. It’s always diffi cult when a head by a crazy and potentially danger- Ronaldo makes Portugal a terror tween England’s three forwards. prepare for the tournament. team goes down to 10 men so early. You ous, studs-up, tackle from Portugal’s target, says coach Santos Hodgson opted for a diamond formation “Whether it’s tactics or set pieces or have to be patient. Bruno Alves. that saw Wayne Rooney deployed just be- anything else. We are learning to see “Portugal just dropped off and made Alves was sent off for the fi rst half mo- Cristiano Ronaldo’s pres- The United States warned its hind a front two of Kane and Jamie Vardy. what works and what doesn’t. it very diffi cult for us to get through the ment of madness, but Kane escaped with ence makes Portugal a more citizens earlier this week that But it was the fi rst time they had all “We can use that in the tournament. middle of the pitch. only a few marks on his head and shoul- significant potential target the tournament will present played together and, with England lacking Of course we will debrief the game after “The tempo is probably something we der, although he never received an apol- for terror attacks during Euro “potential targets for ter- any penetration on the fl anks, Tottenham our few days off and see what works best. could have done better. We could have ogy from the Portugal star. 2016, according to coach rorists”, echoing comments striker Kane and Leicester forward Vardy “It’s one game. It isn’t just going to been a bit quicker in the fi nal third but it “I’ve got a few scratches but obviously Fernando Santos. by French Interior Minister found themselves forced to drift wide to happen overnight. We have been asked to is a learning curve.” I got away with one there. I’m happy I’m France is on high alert ahead Bernard Cazeneuve. the right and left respectively. play together and we won the game.” Although England are still a work in still here!” Kane said. of the tournament, which A three-time Ballon d’Or win- Kane fi nished as the Premier League’s A perennial problem for England is the progress, Kane is confi dent the attack- “I’m lucky I didn’t have a few stitches starts on June 10, following ner, Real Madrid superstar top scorer with 25 goals, and Vardy netted failure of their supposed star players to ing options available to Hodgson, which in the head. He didn’t apologise. He was the Islamic State group terror Ronaldo, 31, is one of the most 24 times as Leicester won the title, but replicate their club form on the interna- also include Daniel Sturridge and Marcus down in the tunnel.” attacks in Paris last November famous names in world sport. that left 130 people dead. He sat out Portugal’s defeat “As everybody knows, Portu- by England, having played BOTTOMLINE gal is considered one of the in Real Madrid’s Champions high-risk teams due to the League final triumph over presence of Cristiano Ronaldo. Atletico Madrid in Milan last But we are prepared for this,” weekend, but is expected to Santos told reporters at Wem- return for their final warm- bley after his side’s 1-0 friendly up game against Estonia in loss to England on Thursday. Lisbon on Wednesday. Di Matteo makes a return to “In reality, this will be the Portugal have been drawn responsibility of the French alongside Iceland, Austria security. Our fans will have and Hungary in Group F at to understand that at certain Euro 2016. moments we won’t be able They open their campaign EPL as Aston Villa manager to release our players as we against Iceland in Saint- would like.” Etienne on June 14. Reuters ant at Villa. “It’s a wonderful honour for London Di Matteo has previously me to become manager of Balthazar the rooster banned from worked as a manager in the sec- this great football club, and ond-tier Championship, gaining I’m looking forward to the Euro 2016 on security grounds oberto Di Matteo has promotion with West Bromwich challenge of taking Aston Balthazar the rooster, much thrown out if he is found been handed the task Albion in 2009-10. Villa back to its rightful loved in France for his breaching the stadium ban on of restoring Aston Vil- Villa will be hoping he can place,” Di Matteo said emblematic appearances live animals. la’s fortunes after the have a similar impact after a at national sporting events, “I am 68-years-old, this is my seven-timesR English champions dreadful season in which they stepping up as interim man- has been banned from the sixth and last Euros,” he said. announced the Italian as their finished bottom with only ager when the Portuguese was upcoming Euro 2016 football Tomaszewski and his unusual new manager yesterday. three wins and sacked two sacked in March 2012. championships, but owner pet gained worldwide atten- The 46-year-old, who won managers, Tim Sherwood in Against all expectations, he Clement Tomaszewski says he tion at the 1998 World Cup in the Champions League during a October and his replacement guided Chelsea to a Champi- will ignore the ban. France, becoming a kind of short spell in charge of Chelsea Remi Garde in March. ons League semi-fi nal defeat of “You will not be allowed to en- mascot for the French team. in 2012, takes over weeks after Swiss-born former Italy Barcelona and then beat Bayern ter the stadiums during UEFA The Gallic rooster, as embod- the club were relegated from the midfi elder Di Matteo played Munich on penalties in the fi nal Euro-2016 with your cockerel ied by Balthazar, has become Premier League. for Lazio and Chelsea and once in their own stadium. Balthazar,” European football’s an unoff icial national symbol “It’s a wonderful honour for scored after 42 seconds in the Di Matteo was rewarded by governing body wrote in a for France and a version can me to become manager of this 1997 FA Cup fi nal against Mid- being appointed manager on a letter to Tomaszewski. be seen on the jerseys of the great football club, and I’m dlesbrough. permanent basis but by Novem- “As nice as it is, the presence French football team. looking forward to the challenge He won two FA Cups, a ber, he had fallen out of favour of your cockerel would put “I am very upset,” said of taking Aston Villa back to its League Cup and a UEFA Cup and was sacked after a Champi- you in an awkward position Tomaszewski, recalling that rightful place,” Di Matteo said. Winners’ Cup while at Stam- ons League defeat by Juventus. vis- a-vis the security teams,” he was a guest of honour at Former Chelsea teammate and ford Bridge and returned to Since then, he managed explained the off icial letter. the recent inauguration of the coach Steve Clarke has also been Chelsea as assistant manager Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga but He is warned that he will be FIFA museum in Zurich. appointed as Di Matteo’s assist- File picture of Roberto di Matteo attending a press conference. to Andre Villas-Boas in 2011, resigned in May 2015. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, June 4, 2016 SPORT

MLB Orioles hit seven home runs in 12-7 victory over Red Sox It was the Machado’s homer in the seventh off Junichi Tazawa that snapped a 5-5 tie and gave Baltimore the lead

Reuters ed the bases with no outs in the ninth before J.D. Boston Martinez hit into a double play. Chapman then retired Miguel Cabrera on a groundout.

anny Machado hit a tiebreaking TWINS 6, RAYS 4 three-run homer, while Adam Jones Byung Ho Park had a career-high three hits and and Mark Trumbo belted two hom- Eduardo Nunez had an inside-the-park home ers apiece as the Baltimore Orioles run to lead Minnesota to a win over Tampa Bay Mrecorded a season-high seven in Thursday’s 12-7 at Target Field. victory over the Boston Red Sox at the Major The Twins pounded out 15 hits as a team as League Baseball games. every player in the lineup had at least one knock; Trumbo and Jones each hit two-run and solo Minnesota snapped a three-game losing streak shots but it was the Machado’s homer in the with the win. Evan Longoria had a pair of hits, seventh off Junichi Tazawa that snapped a 5-5 including a two-run homer, as Tampa Bay lost tie and gave Baltimore the lead for good. its fi fth consecutive game. Alvarez added his solo shot in the eighth which made it 9-5. Francisco Pena, in his fi rst REDS 11, ROCKIES 4 game with the Orioles, also hit a two-run hom- Cincinnati stumbled into Coors Field with 12 er later in the inning -- his fi rst in the major losses in 13 games. It put that agonizing stretch leagues. Jones hit his second later in the three- behind it and won their fi rst road series of the homer inning to make it 12-5. The Red Sox added season by pounding Colorado. The victory gave two in the ninth. the Reds three wins in the four-game series and The Orioles scored all 13 runs in Wednes- back-to-back victories for the fi rst time since day’s victory without a homer, but got all 12 on they tied their season-high with a three-game Thursday via the long ball. Mychal Givens (4-0) winning streak May 4-6. earned the victory with two innings of scoreless The Reds pounded Rockies starter Eddie relief after starter Ubaldo Jimenez stumbled in Butler, driving him from the game in a six-run the the sixth. fi fth where the big blow was a three-run homer by Eugenio Suarez. The Reds hit four homers. DIAMONDBACKS 3, ASTROS 0 Suarez had his fi rst two-homer game and set a Zack Greinke delivered his best start of the career-high with 10 total bases. He also tied his season and Arizona averted a four-game series career-highs in hits (3) and RBIs (4). sweep with a victory over Houston at Minute Maid Park. Greinke was masterful in seven MARINERS 16, PADRES 13 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits -- all Seattle rallied from a 10-run defi cit after fi ve in- singles. He did not walk a batter and had a sea- nings to defeat San Diego in the highest scoring son-high 11 strikeouts. game in the history of Petco Park. The Mariners The Astros proved helpless against Greinke scored 14 runs over two innings – fi ve in the as their season-best fi ve-game winning streak sixth and nine in the seventh – after falling be- ended. They pushed only two runners into scor- hind 12-2 when the Padres scored seven runs in ing position against Greinke. the bottom of the fi fth. Baltimore Orioles third baseman Ryan Flaherty Seattle sent 13 hitters to the plate against CUBS 7, DODGERS 2 slides safely back into second base before three Padres relievers in the decisive seventh in- Chicago smacked three home runs off rookie Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia ning getting the nine runs on eight hits, a walk Julio Urias and never looked back while taking can apply the tag in the seventh inning at Oriole and a hit batter. The Mariners had seven straight three of four games in the series. Kyle Hendricks Park at Camden Yards. (USA TODAY Sports) singles after two out. Kyle Seager and Dae-Ho went eight innings for the Cubs before he was Lee each had four RBIs for the Mariners. pulled for a pinch hitter. He allowed two runs, three hits and one walk with six strikeouts in his MARLINS 4, PIRATES 3 (12 INNINGS) second straight game of eight or more innings. Christian Yelich hit a two-out, walk-off double Urias, who gave up three runs and fi ve hits The homer by Bumgarner, a long blast into the season, went 5 2/3 innings and allowed one run 1), who pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings. The loss in the 12th inning to lead Miami over Pittsburgh against the Mets in a 2 2/3-inning major league left-fi eld seats, was his second of the season and and three hits while striking out six. He didn’t snapped Kansas City’s six-game losing streak. at Marlins Park. The Marlins are 3-0-2 in four- debut on May 27, lasted longer but was hit 13th of his career -- the most by an active pitch- walk a batter, but he did hit one, while improv- game series this season, sweeping the Los An- harder. He gave up six runs and eight hits in fi ve er. Joe Panik and Buster Posey followed with ing to 3-6. YANKEES 5, TIGERS 4 geles Dodgers and taking three of four from the innings against the Cubs, including three home two-run shots to chase Braves rookie starter Jacoby Ellsbury drove in three runs, including a Tamp Bay Rays and the Pirates. runs. Aaron Blair. INDIANS 5, ROYALS 4 two-run triple during a four-run seventh, and For Pittsburgh, it was more than just the three Cleveland scored two runs in the bottom of the New York halted a three-game losing streak by straight losses to end this series, pushing the Pi- GIANTS 6, BRAVES 0 BREWERS 4, PHILLIES 1 ninth inning on an RBI triple by Francisco Lin- holding off Detroit at Comerica Park. The game rates to eight games behind the Chicago Cubs in Madison Bumgarner smashed the fi rst of San Chase Anderson won for just the second time dor and a sacrifi ce fl y by Mike Napoli to beat was a makeup of an April 10 postponement. the NL Central. The bigger issue for the Pirates Francisco’s three fi fth-inning homers and al- in his last 10 starts as Milwaukee beat Philadel- Kansas City at Progressive Field. Trailing 4-3, Rob Refsnyder contributed two hits, two was the four starters who left due to injuries – lowed four hits in 7 2/3 innings as the Giants phia, its eighth straight victory in Citizens Bank the Indians’ ninth-inning rally began with a runs scored and an RBI for the Yankees. Del- catcher Francisco Cervelli (right foot), center salvaged a split of a four-game series. Park. Chris Carter and Jonathan Villar homered single by Carlos Santana off Joakim Soria (2-2). lin Betances (2-2) got the win in relief, allow- fi elder Andrew McCutchen (right thumb), fi rst Bumgarner struck out 11 and walked two in for Milwaukee, which won its second straight. Santana’s hit was bobbled by right fi elder Paulo ing one run and one hit in 1 1/3 innings with baseman David Freese (right wrist) and short- winning his sixth straight decision and lowering Anderson, who began the night 1-6 with two Orlando, with the error allowing Santana to go three strikeouts. Aroldis Chapman collected his stop Jordy Mercer (left elbow). All but Mc- his ERA to 1.91. no-decisions since winning his fi rst start of the to second. The win went to Tommy Hunter (2- eighth save despite allowing a run. Detroit load- Cutchen were hit by pitches.

NBA NFL ROUND-UP Commissioner Silver warns anti-gay Browns’ Barnidge undergoes surgery

Reuters question and I respect it, but law could force All-Star Game move today we are celebrating volun- Cleveland teerism,” Kraft said.”We always AFP It just seems like the game is being rein- start this right before the start of Oakland, United States vented. It seems like both (Finals) teams leveland Browns tight the season. are transforming the game.” end Gary Barnidge We’re excited football is back, Golden State set a season record for will be sidelined until seeing these guys work out, but BA offi cials are looking at 3-pointers by a team on the way to an Ctraining camp due to I’m going to keep all of our dis- moving next year’s All-Star NBA record 73 wins, with repeat NBA hernia surgery. Barnidge was ex- cussions today on a high point Game from Charlotte in the Most Valuable Player Stephen Cur- cused from Cleveland’s on-fi eld in the spirit of what this day is Nwake of a North Carolina law ry breaking his own record with 402 workouts Wednesday, but head about.” stripping discrimination protections 3-pointers to win the scoring title. coach Hue Jackson disclosed ------from the gay and transgender commu- “Steph, together with Klay (Thomp- Thursday during a Browns Foun- The Washington Redskins’ last nity. NBA commissioner Adam Silver, son), they have overcome a psychological dation Golf outing that the Pro remaining unsigned pick from speaking just before the opening game barrier for a lot of players who just never Bowl tight end underwent hernia the 2016 NFL Draft is now under of the NBA Finals between Golden State thought the kind of shots they would surgery. The Browns open train- contract. The team announced and Cleveland, said on Thursday that al- make were possible,” Silver said. ing camp the last week of July. that cornerback Kendall Fuller, ternate sites are being studied and a de- “When you see Steph that far behind Barnidge, 30, might be limited a third-round choice from Vir- cision is needed by September. the 3-point line, where on a regular ba- at the beginning of workouts. ginia Tech, became the seventh “We are looking at alternatives,” Silver sis he’s making 30-footers and requiring Barnidge led the Browns with 79 and fi nal 2016 selection to com- said. “We are in the process of looking defenses to cover him in ways they aren’t receptions, 1,043 receiving yards plete a deal. at other options. At the same time, we used to covering players, it changes the and nine TDs in 2015. The Redskins also signed would be moving on if I didn’t think there whole dynamic of our game. It’s just in------free agent wide receiver Jarvis were constructive discussions going on. credibly exciting.” As Defl ategate passes 500 days Turner. The 21-year-old Fuller I don’t see we would get past this sum- As a result, Silver sees no chance of since the now-infamous inci- was the No. 84 overall pick after mer without knowing defi nitively where a rule change such as moving back the dent during the AFC Champion- leaving school a year early. He we stand.” 3-point arc to try and reduce the long ship Game in Jan. 2015, the case suff ered a torn ACL early in his Silver said he met last month with shots. “I don’t think any change is nec- drags on. The latest plot twist is junior season. business leaders working behind the essary right now,” Silver said.”It may be New England Patriots quarter------scenes with city and state offi cials for a what Steph is demonstrating is he’s so back Tom Brady fi ghting a four- Dates and times were fi nalised compromise due to what he called ‘enor- good that no one else can touch him.” game suspension that, unless for 65 NFL preseason games mous economic damage.’ But Silver admitted the faster-paced overturned, will kick in at the starting in August. The season “One of the core underlying principles style might require more eyes to catch start of the 2016 season. kicks off with the annual NFL of this league is diversity and inclusion. fouls. “Maybe the game is so fundamen- A federal appeals court in April Hall of Fame Game on Aug.7 Where we choose to celebrate an All-Star tally diff erent now that we maybe do backed the NFL in a fi ght with between the Green Bay Pack- Game, those values should be honoured,” need to look at a fourth offi cial,” Silver the NFL Players’ Association on ers and the Indianapolis Colts in Silver said. “We as a league want to make said. The rules committee will examine Brady, ruling that commissioner Canton, Ohio. The Sunday night sure there’s an environment where the leg kicks trying to draw contact and foul Roger Goodell had the power to game on ESPN will be the fi rst of LGBT (Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Trans- calls, such as when Golden State’s Dray- enforce the punishment. eight nationally televised games gender) community feels protected down mond Green struck Oklahoma City big Patriots owner Robert Kraft during the preseason. One of the in North Carolina. If we can work with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media before Game 1 of the 2016 man Steven Adams of New Zealand in the was asked Wednesday at a gath- prime-time matchups will be the community to ensure those basic NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California on Thursday. (AFP) crotch, and Silver would like a reduction ering to honor his late wife about the Rams’ return to Los Angeles protections are given we will see you all in fouls away from the ball to put a poor his decision to become involved to face the Dallas Cowboys on in Charlotte next February.” to dampen the excitement from a rise in for games. “It has been an incredible sea- free throw shooter at the line as a defen- in Brady’s fi ght against the NFL, Aug.13. The preseason schedule Silver had high marks for the NBA 3-pointers, even as he admits it might be son,” Silver said. sive ploy. “It’s my hope that we are not but he sidestepped the issue. will conclude Sept.1. The regular but says he doesn’t want rule changes time to consider adding a fourth referee “It’s a fantastic time to be an NBA fan. far away from some reform,” Silver said. “I appreciate you asking that season will begin a week later. Gulf Times Saturday, June 4, 2016 7 NBA

SPOTLIGHT Warriors rip apart Cavaliers to clinch NBA Finals opener Warriors reserve guard Livingston scores a season-best 20 points, to lead seven double-figure scorers for Golden State

AFP played on the defensive end. That’s what won Warriors coach Steve Kerr shattered a clip- Oakland, United States us the game.” board with an angry punch. “Destruction Warriors reserve Andre Iguodala sparkled tends to ease some of the anger, so I try to take defensively on Cleveland star LeBron James it out on a clipboard instead of a player,” Kerr efending champion Golden State and scored 12 points while Brazil’s Leandro said.”It’s better that way.” overpowered the Cleveland Cavaliers Barbosa added 11 off the bench as the Cava- Love lifted the Cavaliers to their fi rst lead Dwith superior depth and defensive liers hit only 32-of-84 shots (38.1 percent) since the opening minutes at 64-63 with 3:57 skill on Thursday, leading the Warriors to a and surrendered 25 points off 17 turnovers. to play in the third quarter on a 3-point play 104-89 triumph to open the 70th NBA Finals. “Give up 45 points off the bench and 25 followed by a layup, and they were still ahead Warriors reserve guard Shaun Livingston points off turnovers on the road, it’s not good 68-67 when the Warriors began their decisive scored a season-best 20 points, his career ingredients to win,” said James, who had 23 run. “We had a chance in that third quarter to playoff high, to lead seven double-fi gure points and 12 rebounds but shot 9-of-21 from do something special, but we didn’t,” James scorers for Golden State, which will host the fl oor. Draymond Green had 16 points, 11 said. “Didn’t make it happen in the fourth game two in the best-of-seven series tomor- rebounds, seven assists and four steals for the quarter. So I’m looking forward to seeing the row. “It’s all a feel, just being aggressive,” Warriors while Kevin Love added 17 points fi lm session and seeing ways we can get bet- Livingston said. “It’s just staying confi dent in and 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers. “When ter.” Iguodala was struck in the groin by Mat- my shot, understanding my game, where the Steph and Klay struggle like that, everybody thew Dellavedova late in the third quarter shots are going to come from and trusting it.” else needs to pick it up,” Green said. “You just as the Australian tried to reach around for a On a night when Warriors star guard and know other guys need to step up.” steal. Iguodala, last year’s NBA Finals Most NBA scoring champion Stephen Curry man- The Warriors went on a decisive 15-0 run Valuable Player, grimaced and then stared aged only 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting from that began late in the third quarter, all but two down Dellavedova but cooler heads prevented the fl oor and Klay Thompson hit only 4-of-12 points coming from reserves and much of the an altercation. for nine points, Golden State reserves out- span coming while James, playing in his sixth “I’m not going to judge or say anything scored Cleveland’s bench 45-10. consecutive NBA Finals, rested on Cleve- negative about him,” Iguodala said.”He’s out “Their bench did an incredible job coming land’s bench. there competing. in,” said Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, who scored “I missed some shots and didn’t get a There are a lot of emotions going on out a game-high 26 points on 7-of-22 shooting. rhythm, but we’ll be able to fi nd some adjust- there. I respect a lot of guys’ hustle in this “You look at the statistics and it speaks vol- ments for game two. league. You’ve got guys who’ve got to get a umes about how they pushed the pace and Not worried about that,” Curry said. “Just little dirty, got to be a little physical, so I can made some tough shots.” really proud of the way everybody contrib- only respect that.” The Warriors won an NBA record 73 uted. You don’t win championships without Seconds later, Iguodala made a 3-pointer to games this season but none when Curry and the entire squad making an impact.” give the Warriors a 74-68 after three quarters Thompson combined for fewer points. “It’s Irving made a jumper and a 3-point play and Golden State scored the fi rst eight points not even about that. It’s about guys staying and Tristan Thompson scored off a rebound of the fi nal period. The Warriors stretched the ready,” Thompson said.”Shaun Livingston to pull Cleveland within 56-52 early in the lead to as much as 96-76 before Cleveland played out of his mind. Just the resiliency we third quarter. During a subsequent timeout, rallied to trim the fi nal margin.

Golden State Warriors guard Shaun Livingston (right) shoots the ball over Cleveland Cavaliers guard Players are introduced before game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. (AFP) Matthew Dellavedova during the game 1 of the NBA Finals in Oakland, California. (AFP)

FOCUS Finals prove long shots have chance of Iguodala still mystifi es LeBron, Cavs ultimate victory

AFP Oakland: The NBA Finals have Boland told reporters. “It gives Oakland, United States often been decided by the coaches and teams who are winners of key battles in areas smart a way to manage the cap where both teams excel and as opposed to thinking, ‘How olden State’s Andre Iguodala with three-pointers proving to do I collect superstars?’” NBA earned the NBA Finals Most be the weapon of choice for commissioner Adam Silver also Valuable Player award last year this year’s protagonists, fans views the shot as an “equalizer”, for coming off the bench and are braced for a battery of long- as he put it during pre-game in- Gplaying smothering defense on LeBron range bombs. terviews. “You can’t dream that James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland and Golden State you’re going to be seven feet One year later, the Warriors are again plotted their way to the title tall but you can work at it and facing Cleveland for the league crown showdown from downtown, become a fantastic competitor and the Cavaliers still appear to have with the Cavaliers setting the on the floor,” he said. no answer for the disruptive force of record for most shots made The Warriors have excelled the 32-year-old US swingman. Iguo- from beyond the arc during the at shooting from downtown dala scored 12 points, grabbed seven re- playoff s and the defending NBA as they developed into an elite bounds, passed out six assists, made a champion Warriors ranking squad. The team became the steal and blocked a shot while playing 35 second behind them. first in NBA history to log more minutes off the bench for Golden State in That pattern continued than 1,000 three-pointers in a a 104-89 victory over Cleveland in the in Game One of the best-of- season this past campaign, 402 fi rst game of the NBA Finals. seven series on Thursday, when of them nailed by Curry alone. “He’s an incredible two-way player,” Golden State guards Stephen It was a mark other play- said teammate Klay Thompson.”His Curry and Klay Thompson ers would be hard-pressed to numbers might not jump off the page, helped rubber stamp a 104-89 match, Silver said. “In some but you know how important he is to our victory with back-to-back treys ways maybe that’s like when team. He was fi nals MVP for a reason last in the final three minutes. Roger Bannister broke the year. His defence is second to none. He’s The high-risk strategy four-minute mile,” Silver said a great competitor. I get better just learn- underscores a belief that the of Curry’s achievement this ing from him every day.” three-pointer, long regarded as season.”It’s something that just The Warriors’ bench outscored Cleve- a gimmick, has become an NBA a few years ago people thought land’s reserves 45-10 and Golden State staple, a shift driven in part by wouldn’t be done.” forced 17 Cavaliers turnovers that pro- the lithe Warriors, who use the He said Curry’s range, which duced 25 points. And when Iguodala was shot to open up the floor and forces defenders to pick him on the court, the Warriors outscored Andre Iguodala (centre) of the Golden State Warriors and Matthew Dellavedova of the Cleveland Cavaliers exchange words during speed up the pace of the game. up as far out as half court, had Cleveland by 21 points, a game high for the second half in Game 1 of the 2016 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. (AFP) The three-pointer has also stretched the floor in new ways. any player. given teams greater flexibility “When you see him that far be- “He’s amazing,” said Golden State’s own good. “I normally try to keep an even out there. I respect a lot of guys’ hustle respect it, good things tend to happen,” as they aim to pack their rosters hind the three-point line, where Stephen Curry, the two-time regular coolness about myself. in this league.” But Iguodala also said Iguodala said. with as much talent as possible on a regular basis he’s making season NBA Most Valuable Player.”Me Not just for me, but for the team as he was fi red up by the incident, and the “You’re in a situation right now where while keeping one eye on the 30-footers and making shots and Draymond (Green) talk about it all well,” Iguodala said. “We can kind of get 3-pointer he made the next time he it seems like everything is do or die. Eve- salary cap. and requiring defenses to cover the time. When we’re on the bench, we giddy out there and lose it a little bit, so touched the ball. “The situation that ry small detail matters. Guys were locked While scouts often favoured him in ways that they’re not watch it. I try to get us back to that even balance. happened kind of got me fi red up,” Iguo- in and we’ll have to continue to do that to the tallest and strongest play- used to, it changes the whole It’s unbelievable. He has great timing, That’s pretty much my role on this team.” dala said.”Sometimes you need it. Maybe have more success.” ers, skilled long-range shooters dynamic of our game,” Silver great eye-hand coordination, and obvi- That calm was tested when Cleveland it was meant for that to happen.” Warriors coach Steve Kerr called Ig- did not have to fit the tradition- said. “I tell you, it’s just incred- ously his wingspan works to his advan- guard Matthew Dellavedova struck him Iguodala and Green kept four-time uodala a “brilliant” player who ‘doesn’t al template, said Robert Boland, ibly exciting,” he added. tage to be able to close that space up. But in the crotch while attempting a steal. NBA MVP James to 2-of-9 shooting get enough credit.’ “Defensively Andre director of the graduate sports While the Cavaliers deployed it’s really uncanny the way that he can do Iguodala stared down the Australian but when they were guarding him, part of did a phenomenal job fi ghting,” Kerr management program at Ohio a post-up style last season, they it without fouling.” was not critical after the games. “I’m a 9-for-21 night by the standout in his said.”Andre is not only a phenomenal University. too have emphasised the three- Iguodala is also the mellowing infl u- not going to judge or say anything nega- sixth consecutive NBA Finals. “Every- athlete with long arms and great quick- “It’s democratised the sport pointer this time around, using ence for a club that won an NBA record tive about him,” Iguodala said. “He’s out one who came off the bench treated every ness and strength, but he’s one of the you can be a 6ft-10in shooter, the shot to free up star forward 73 games this season but can sometimes there competing. possession like it could be their last. smartest players I’ve ever been around at you can be a 5ft-10in shooter,” LeBron James to move the ball. push the pace too fast, too long for its There are a lot of emotions going on When you treat the game like that and both ends of the fl oor.” Gulf Times 8 Saturday, June 4, 2016 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT Dope test conducted on four Pak ICC committee calls for players

Lahore: Cricket’s world governing body is conducting dope tests on four Pakistani players, including leg-spinner clampdown on bat size Yasir Shah, suspended for three months earlier this year, team manager Intikhab Alam confirmed yesterday. Committee also recommends to make the latest British Safety Standard helmets mandatory Pakistan Test captain Mis- bah-ul-Haq was also tested by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The team can ill aff ord any positive results, which could have a significant impact on their upcoming tour in England, during which the results are expected to be confirmed. The ICC, which has been a signatory of the World Anti- Doping Agency (WADA) since 2006, routinely conducts such tests in and out of com- petition. Shah was provision- ally suspended in December last year after he tested posi- tive for chlortalidone, a mask- ing agent under the WADA list of banned substances. He was barred for three months after he pleaded guilty and told the ICC that he had inadvertently taken his wife’s blood pressure medica- tion. His ban was lifted in late March, making him eligible for the England tour. Alam said Shah’s test could come under the spotlight. “Besides Shah, Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq, one-day skip- per Azhar Ali and fast bowler Junaid Khan were also tested but Shah’s test could be targeted,” he told AFP. Shah is seen as Pakistan’s main wicket-taker for the four-match Test series in England, which starts at Lord’s from July 14. Pakistan will also play five one-days and a Twenty20 interna- tional on the tour. Their last tour to England in 2010 was marred by a spot-fixing case which resulted in five-year bans on then Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir. Amir returned to the national team in January this year and is ICC cricket committee members: (back left to right) Mahela Jayawardene, Rahul Dravid, Adrian Griff ith, Clive Hitchcock, Craig Ranson, Kevin OBrien, Andrew Strauss, Richard Kettleborough and Darren Lehmann; expected to be named for all (front left to right) David Kendix, David White, Ranjan Madugalle, Geoff Allardice, Anil Kumble, Tim May, Clare Connor and John Stephenson, after a meeting in London on Thursday. (ICC) three formats for the tour.

AFP especially loaded against bowlers in limited overs should strongly consider limiting the dimensions years in fi rst-class cricket. The Australian board KNIGHT SUCCEEDS London games where the innovations brought in by Twen- of cricket bats to help achieve a better balance be- had put out the idea of bringing on a substitute in EDWARDS AS ENGLAND ty20 cricket, allied to increasingly short bounda- tween bat and ball.” case of a certifi ed concussion to a playing member. WOMEN’S CAPTAIN ries, have led to an orgy of run-scoring. South Africa batting great Barry Richards, Summing up the proceedings at the meeting, Heather Knight will succeed ndia’s Anil Kumble and several other former Last year’s 50-over World Cup in Australia and speaking during last year’s World Cup, said re- Kumble said, “The main thing that came out of retired batting great Charlotte Test players on an International Cricket New Zealand witnessed 38 hundreds, nearly one strictions were urgently needed to bring modern- the meeting was regarding Test cricket. The new Edwards as captain of the Council committee have urged the sport’s every game, and 463 sixes, an average of one every day bats into line with the kind of relatively slim structure was discussed and everybody was posi- England women’s team, it was Ilaw-makers to bring in new restrictions on nine overs. West Indies’ Chris Gayle struck 16 sixes models he used in his 1970s heyday. tive and forthcoming in supporting that. announced yesterday. the size of bats amid concerns over a glut of run- in racing to the fastest one-day international dou- “The pressing of cricket bats has to be control- “The committee acknowledged the importance Last month saw Edwards scoring. Following a two-day meeting at Lord’s, ble hundred during a World Cup match against led and the thickness in their edges. Maybe there of eff orts being made to promote and grow Test call time on a pioneering the headquarters of the Marylebone Cricket Club Zimbabwe at Canberra’s Manuka Oval, while New can also be a designated sweet-spot area for bats,” cricket, be it through the introduction of mean- 20-year career that included (MCC), the ICC cricket committee chaired by Zealand’s Martin Guptill hit a six measured at 110 Richards told the Sydney Daily Telegraph. ingful competition structures, better pitches and leading England to glory in Kumble issued a statement saying it wanted MCC, metres in the course of his 237 against the West In- “Ours used to be about the size of a 50 cent piece marketing.” the Ashes, World Cup and ICC which still has overall global responsibility for dies at Wellington. but now they are much bigger. These are just a few Among other recommendations was a restruc- World Twenty20, winning a cricket’s Laws or rules, to instigate a clampdown. Thursday’s statement from the ICC cricket of my ideas, because batsmen have it too easy.” turing of all three formats of the game with dedi- world-record 309 caps and While there are limitations on bat length (when committee, whose members include several former The ICC’s cricket committee has recommended cated competitions in each format to bring context scoring over 10,000 runs the lower portion of the handle is inserted it Test batsmen in England’s Andrew Strauss, India’s that the governing body make the latest British to all international cricket. across all formats. However, shall not be more than 38in/96.5cm) and width Rahul Dravid and Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene, Safety Standard (BSS) helmets mandatory in inter- Acknowledging the success of the inaugu- the 36-year-old Edwards, (4.25in/10.8cm at its widest part), none currently said: “MCC sought the committee’s guidance on national cricket. ral day-night Test, played between Australia and whose career saw women’s exist on depth. the desirability of making changes in order to re- The committee also said it was of the view that New Zealand in Adelaide late last year, the com- cricket move from an amateur Modern manufacturers have become increas- dress the balance between bat and ball. the current playing conditions allow players who mittee noted, “Day-night Test cricket needs to be to a professional sport, was ingly skilled at making bats with larger ‘sweet “The committee received a research paper from are struck on the fi eld of play to receive the best delivered to a consistently high standard across all eff ectively forced to retire by spots’ that do not feel as heavy to pick-up as the MCC citing a wealth of scientifi c and statistical possible medical attention, so there was no need to member countries if the concept is to be successful, England women’s coach Mark blades that were once only the preserve of 1980s evidence showing bats have become more power- introduce innovations like concussion substitutes. noting that the combination of ball, pitch, lighting Robinson. Knight’s first series power-hitters such as West Indies great Clive ful in recent years, primarily due to having larger Keeping with the safety theme, the committee levels and environmental conditions needed to al- as skipper will come at home Lloyd and England hero Ian Botham. ‘sweet-spots’.” shot down Cricket Australia’s proposal to allow low for an even contest between bat and ball at all to Pakistan later this month. The balance between bat and ball has become It added: “The committee’s view was that MCC for a ‘concussion substitute’ to be trialled for two proposed day-night Test venues.”

TRI-SERIES FOCUS Have got hunger Tahir says Ramadan won’t put him in a spin

AFP The Lahore-born Tahir has plied his New Delhi trade around the world, including stints in back: Pacer Starc England’s county championship and the IPL, where he played for the Delhi Dare- IANS lost over 12 to 18 months of hen Ramadan starts, devils. Speaking to AFP in the Indian capi- Georgetown cricket. It was nice to get that IMRAN TAHIR will begin tal, Tahir said that many in the cricketing back, rest the little things that juggling the demands of ob- fraternity helped him observe his faith. I needed to and make sure the Wserving his Muslim faith and “I have come through all the diff erent ustralian pacer ankle and the foot were 100 playing a full day of international cricket cultures of the world while playing cricket Mitchell Starc says percent right before I started to for a team sponsored by a beer company. “I and I have had no diffi culty whatsoever he has got his hunger play cricket again,” Starc was don’t think it is diffi cult to balance profes- while following my path,” he said, glanc- back after spend- quoted as saying by cricket. sional sports with practising your faith,” ing at the clock to ensure he wouldn’t be ingA the past six months away com.au. “I think I’ve ticked all insisted the South Africa legspinner, in an late for Friday prayers. “Rather they (play- from cricket due to injuries. those boxes and that hunger interview with AFP. “It is very easy if you ers, coaches and support staff ) give more The left-armer is set to return has defi nitely come back a lot follow the right path.” respect. Some have even off ered me their to international cricket tomor- stronger that it was at the end One of the world’s top spinners, Paki- room to off er my Namaz (prayers).” row when his side will take on of that Ashes series.” stan-born Tahir has played more than 100 Since making his international debut the West Indies in an One-Day The New South Wales pacer times for the Proteas since making his in- at the late age of 32, Tahir has become a International here. also said he needed the break ternational debut in 2011, after becoming mainstay of a South African team that had The 26-year-old hasn’t been after a gruelling scheduled a South African citizen through marriage. long lacked a top-class spinner. He has sighted on a cricket fi eld since which also involved the Ashes. In his native Pakistan, the team regular- particularly excelled in the shorter for- he bravely hobbled through “Coming off the end of the ly prays together on the fi eld during inter- mats and is now the world’s number two for the winning runs in the Ashes and the one-day stuff , nationals and the lunch break is extended bowler in Twenty20 internationals behind day-night Test at the Adelaide I was pretty mentally fatigued on Fridays, so players and fans can attend They include former skipper Hashim they are away from home, as in the case of the West Indian spinner Samuel Badree, Oval on November 29. After and it was nice to have a lit- the weekly services at the nearest mosque. Amla, who along with Tahir has been given Tahir while he is in the West Indies. and number six in the ODI chart. His ani- the game, the lanky fast bowler tle break at home through the And in Bangladesh, the only other special dispensation not to sport the logo Tahir said that even if he did not ob- mated celebrations and appeals have made had to undergo an ankle and Matador Cup (last October),” Muslim-majority Test-playing nation, of Castle lager, the team’s major sponsor, serve a fast on a particular match day, he him something of a pantomime villain foot surgery which forced him Starc said. facilities have been set aside to enable as Muslims are forbidden from drinking would still make it up at a later stage. “I am among some fans, but Tahir says it shows out of the the ICC World T20 “So having six months off , fans to pray at the ground. Tahir is one of alcohol. thankful to Allah that he drove me closer to his passion. “I think people know that the and then the Indian Premier although it was through in- fi ve Muslims to have been selected for the Muslims are normally expected to fast him,” Tahir said, during the just-fi nished celebration is instinctive and not fake,” he League (IPL). jury, was nice to refresh a little South African squad taking part in the tri- from dawn to dusk during the month of Indian Premier League. “I try not to miss said. “Looking back at the hard patches of “It was nice to spend three bit and go through what I have nation ODI series with the West Indies and Ramadan, which begins in diff erent parts my prayers and the 30 fasts in Ramadan my life, I feel good that I have come thus or four months in the gym to to do in terms of cricket and Australia in the Caribbean that began yes- of the world tomorrow or Monday. But but even if I do miss them due to my crick- far. If I get a wicket I just want to show get that strength back that I’d strength wise.” terday and runs until June 26. they are allowed to refrain from fasting if et, I make up for them later on.” people that how big that is for me.” Gulf Times Saturday, June 4, 2016 9 SPORT

GOLF Foot injury threatens to end Poulter’s Ryder Cup hopes

AFP Thomas Bjorn, Paul Lawrie London and Padraig Harrington were all appointed last week, with Poul- ter, Lee Westwood and Jose Johnson surges one an Poulter’s hopes of secur- Maria Olazabal the favourites ing automatic qualification to fill the remaining places for Ifor the European team at what is now, like the captaincy this year’s Ryder Cup appear to itself, usually a non-playing role. have been ended by a foot in- “I am obviously disappointed jury. The Englishman, currently to be in this situation, espe- a lowly 42nd on the European cially during a Ryder Cup year,” points list, is set to be out of ac- Poulter said in a statement. ahead at Memorial tion for the next four months. “Right now, rest and rehab take Were he to regain fitness priority in me returning to full ‘I just played well right out of the gates. I hit great shots in the right spot on the greens in time, Poulter could still be strength later this season.” chosen as one of captain Darren Poulter’s doctor, Ara Suppiah, and rolled in some putts. This year, I’ve felt like I’m playing well. I just haven’t quite played Clarke’s three wildcard picks in added: “Ian has been hampered a 12-man team for the biennial by an arthritic joint in his right up to my potential. With me, it has everything to do with the putter. I rolled it well today’ clash between Europe and the foot for the best part of two- United States, which this year and-a-half years. The condition takes place at the Hazeltine has progressed rapidly over the course in Chaska, Minnesota, last year warranting numer- Long-hitting American Dustin Johnson from September 30 to October 2. ous cortisone shots (within racked up 10 birdies and two bogeys Europe hold the Ryder Cup and therapeutic limits) to allow in his opening round eight-under 64. Poulter has four times been on him to play. Unfortunately, he (Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports) the winning side in five editions, continues to be in pain whilst including the most recent at Scot- walking and practising. land’s Gleneagles course in 2014. “Further cortisone shots Although he has never won run the real risk of thinning one of golf’s four major cham- the bones and stress fractures, pionships—the US Open, British which might require treatment Open, US Masters and US PGA in a cast and significant time —the 40-year-old Poulter has a away from the game. We feel superb record in the Ryder Cup. that the best option at this Of all European players who stage is to take some time off have appeared in at least 15 ties, to allow complete recovery and none has a better winning per- rehabilitation of his foot. This centage than Poulter’s 72.2. If he will give him the best chance of doesn’t qualify for the team, Poul- returning to the game sooner ter could travel to Hazeltine as and preventing further deterio- one of Clarke’s five vice-captains. ration of the aff ected joint.”

VOLLEYBALL World champs Poland secure Olympic ticket

AFP win in Rio,” he added. Reuters can Spieth carded a 70 and third-ranked event and start pretty poorly, maybe put a Mixed fortunes for Stenson, Westwood Tokyo European champions France, Dublin, Ohio Northern Irishman McIlroy mixed six little too much pressure on myself. It is my Elsewhere, in Stockholm, European Ry- meanwhile, moved to the brink birdies with three bogeys and a double to home course, and you want to play well, der Cup stalwarts Henrik Stenson and Lee of qualifi cation after dispatch- return a 71. and you want to win this tournament be- Westwood enjoyed contrasting fortunes in orld champions ing Canada 25-17, 25-17, 25-16 hile former world number Johnson, a nine-times winner on the cause of Mr. Nicklaus and what he’s done.” the opening round of the Nordea Masters Poland booked to improve to 4-1 and now need ones Jordan Spieth and Rory PGA Tour whose best fi nish this season Spieth, who landed his eighth PGA Tour at the Bro Hof Slott Golf Club on Thursday. their place at this just two more sets to secure McIlroy made erratic starts, was a third place at the Houston Open in career win at the Colonial tournament Swede Stenson, the world number six, summer’s Rio Ol- their spot at the Olympics. long-hitting American Dus- April, set the tone with an explosive bird- on Sunday, relied on his usually brilliant was down in a share of 63rd position after Wympic men’s volleyball tourna- “We played a complete Wtin Johnson charged into a one-shot lead ie-birdie-birdie start. putting to off set an iff y display with his carding a level-par 72. Westwood, how- ment after thrashing Venezuela match,” said wing spiker An- at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, “I just played well right out of the approach shots. ever, was one stroke off the lead held by yesterday to extend their per- tonin Rouzier. Ohio, on Thursday. gates,” Johnson, 31, told reporters. “I hit “I felt awesome on the greens,” Spieth six players after shooting a 68. The Briton, fect record at the qualifying “We are 90 percent in Rio. It’s Taking advantage of pristine condi- great shots in the right spot on the greens said after a round that included fi ve bird- who has won the event three times, mixed competition in Tokyo. been our dream for the past four tions with a superb all-round game at and rolled in some putts. This year, I’ve ies and three bogeys. “Just missed a lot of six birdies with two bogeys. The Poles hammered the years and now we can almost leafy Muirfi eld Village, Johnson racked up felt like I’m playing well. I just haven’t greens. I didn’t have great control of the “I struck the ball well and I was pretty South Americans 25-21, 25-17, reach out and touch it.” 10 birdies and two bogeys in the opening quite played up to my potential. With me, ball today, but I think it’s close. My putter pleased with my putting,” the former 25-18 as they made it fi ve vic- Iran moved closer to booking round of the prestigious event hosted by it has everything to do with the putter. I made up for it for the most part.” world number one told reporters after a tories from fi ve, talismanic one of the remaining three plac- Jack Nicklaus. rolled it well today.” McIlroy, like Spieth a tournament win- hot day on the outskirts of Stockholm. captain Michal Kubiak leading es by edging China 26-24, 22- Johnson briefl y got to nine under with Ohio-based Day, who clinched his third ner in his most recent start after clinch- “I’ve been looking forward to this tourna- the way with 13 points in a one- 25, 25-19, 17-25, 18-16, helped four consecutive birdies on his back nine PGA Tour victory of the season at the ing the European Tour’s Irish Open 11 days ment for a while because I’ve got a good sided match. by Shahram Mahmoudi’s 25 but he bogeyed the par-four 17th after Players Championship last month, was ago, salvaged an erratic round with a bird- record here so it’s nice to get off to a strong “It’s a dream come true,” points. The Asian champions hitting his second shot into a greenside delighted to make a good start at a venue ie-birdie fi nish. start and hopefully I can keep it going.” Kubiak told reporters. joined France on a 4-1 record. bunker before posting an eight-under 64, where he has struggled in the past. “I felt like I hit it well enough off the tee Fellow Britons Marc Warren, Andrew “We have been waiting for There was heartbreak for hosts one ahead of compatriot Brendan Steele. “I hit it nice from tee to green, gave my- to get it close enough to the pins, and most Johnston and Scott Henry led the way this for more than a year. We Japan, however, as they were Australian world number one Jason Day self opportunities on the greens and then of the time I did that,” said the Northern on 67 with Florian Fritsch of Germany fi ght until the end, even if we beaten 25-23, 25-19, 29-27 by was among a group of fi ve players who also capitalised on those,” he said. “I’m Irishman. “But I just hit a few loose shots, and French pair Clement Berardo and are not in the best form. When Australia to end their hopes of opened with 66s, second-ranked Ameri- pleased because usually I come into this and that’s what cost me today.” Sebastien Gros. we step up a level I think we can qualifying for Rio.

CRICKET Test match home advantage a worry for ICC AFP somewhere else,” said Richardson. London “Having said that, we are looking at ‘Sultan of Swing’ Akram turns 50, says life has been exemplary competition structures across all three formats (Tests, one-day internationals nternational Cricket Council (ICC) AFP said. “So it’s enjoyable.” have registered twin hat-tricks in both But the game’s future generation and Twenty20),” the former South Af- chief executive David Richardson Karachi Wasim, popularly called the ‘Sultan of Tests and one-day internationals. He must work hard, he said. “There are no rica wicket-keeper added ahead of the believes Tests will be more evenly Swing’, lives in Karachi with his second was ‘Player of the Tournament’ with 18 short cuts to success,” said Wasim, also ICC’s annual conference, in Edinburgh contested if schedules are changed wife, Shaniera, and is a renowned cricket wickets when Pakistan won their only a bowling coach for Kolkata Knight Rid- from June 27 to July 2. Iso that visiting teams have more time England are the only visiting team egendary Pakistan paceman expert on various television channels. World Cup title in Australia in 1992. ers in the Indian Premier League. to adjust to local conditions. Wasim Akram marked his 50th He said cricket had transformed Wasim said he never imagined achiev- “I tell every player, in Pakistan or in the past decade to have enjoyed Test Sri Lanka’s nine-wicket defeat by Lbirthday yesterday, saying life is his life: “Cricket is a great leveller. It ing star status when he took up the India, that you have to work hard and series wins in both India and Australia, England at the Riverside last week gave “exemplary” and that his Australian wife transformed my life from an ordinary game. “It is a life in which dreams turned only that can help you show your skills two of the toughest places for touring the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead in told him the half-century “is the new 40”. boy to one who is loved in Pakistan and into reality. I never imagined this fame at the highest level. This is true for every sides to triumph. three-match series, after an even more Regarded as one of the best left-arm India by over 1.5 billion people and it’s and success when I started my career field of life.” Part of the reason was that they en- emphatic innings and 88-run win in the pacemen ever to grace the game, Wasim— incredible.” and to have played so much and cap- Wasim added that he has no regrets in joyed good standard match practice fi rst Test at Headingley just days earlier. who celebrated with family and friends— In a storied career of 104 Tests tained your team winning the World Cup life: “People do make a lot of mistakes and before the Test campaign started. Victory meant England had won 15 said cricket had brought him great fame, between 1984 and 2003, Wasim took is more than I had dreamed. Each day I too have made some, but I have no re- This wasn’t just a matter of the number of their last 21 home series, a success adding: “1.5 billion people across the 414 wickets and 502 in 356 one-day of my cricketing life and even now has grets in life and no complaints. My name of fi xtures but their quality, as exempli- rate of more than 71 percent, and home subcontinent and beyond love me.” internationals – both still a Pakistan been exemplary. I am what I am because is in cricket history books and will remain fi ed by England’s 2015/16 Test series advantage is becoming increasingly “My wife told me 50 is the new 40,” he record. Wasim also is the only person to of my fans across the world.” there and that’s a great pride for me.” win in South Africa, where they played a prevalent all around the world. South African Invitational XI and several Figures compiled by the Cricinfo fi xtures, across diff erent formats, against website show that in the 10 years to any touring side. down to the fact I think that teams don’t help their batsmen adjust, although the of lucrative Twenty20 tournaments South Africa A prior to the fi rst Test. September 2015, teams have lost more Yet Sri Lanka’s preparation for back- allow enough time to acclimatise.” absence of typically English weather as such as the Indian Premier League, With the ICC considering plans to than twice as many matches as they to-back Tests involved two three-day The situation faced by Sri Lanka, who well may minimise the impact. which at best can mean leading play- split Test nations into two divisions, have won when playing overseas, a games against two Second Division bucked the trend by winning a two- When celebrated wicket-keeper Rodney ers arrive late for a series in England or, Richardson said: “We want to fi nd record far worse than in earlier years. counties fi elding under-strength sides. match series in England 1-0 in 2014, is Marsh, now Australia’s chairman of se- more dramatically, simply opt out of ways of playing slightly less cricket but Overcast early season English con- “It’s not good where the home team one familiar to many touring teams. lectors, made his fi rst tour of England as a international cricket completely. more meaningful cricket. ditions, which accentuate the degree seems to have such a huge advantage Australia, who’ve now gone 15 years player in 1972, the squad faced 11 opponents “I think more and more teams and “That means reducing the workload of swing generated by the Dukes ball and I know the record over the last two since their last Ashes series win in Eng- before the fi rst Test, with plenty more fi x- squads are becoming more special- on players and also allowing time for used in England, and where pitches or so years the home team comes out land, are planning to use the Dukes ball tures in between international games. ised—that should allow teams to pre- teams to play that extra warm-up game can aid seam movement too, are one of on top much of the time,” Richardson in the second half of their next fi rst- The demand from players for shorter pare for a Test series even while their which will give them more of a chance the most challenging environments for told AFP in an interview. “That’s partly class Sheffi eld Shield season in a bid to tours has been exacerbated by the rise Twenty20 team is fi nishing up a series to acclimatise.” Gulf Times 10 Saturday, June 4, 2016 SPORT

FOCUS Moto2 rider Salom dies aft er crash in Catalan GP practice

AFP to transfer Salom by road to Barcelona the nearby Hospital General de Catalunya. “On arrival, he underwent panish Moto2 rider surgery, but despite the best Luis Salom has died eff orts of the trauma team, he from his injuries after passed away at 1655 local time crashing in Catalonia (1455 GMT).” GrandS Prix practice yesterday, Salom made his world race organisers confi rmed. championship debut at Jerez The 24-year-old SAG team in 2009 in the 125cc category, rider crashed at Turn 12 at the and fi nished on the podium 25 challenging Montmelo track times — with nine wins in the near Barcelona with 25 minutes Moto3 category. left in Moto2 Free Practice 2. He was runner-up in the “Two medical cars and then 2012 Moto3 world champion- two ambulances were imme- ship and third overall in 2013. diately on scene to treat the He also fi nished on the po- 24-year-old and the medical dium three times in 41 ap- helicopter was also deployed to pearances in the Moto2 assist in his treatment,” organ- world championship, includ- isers said in a statement. ing a second place in the open- “Due the severity of his con- ing round of 2016 at Losail in SAG Team Moto2 Spanish rider Luis Salom is evacuated by medical personnel after an accident at the dition, the decision was taken Qatar. Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, yesterday. (AFP)

MOTOGP BADMINTON Malaysia’s Lee Marquez, Lorenzo into Indonesia in home turf battle Open semi-fi nals ‘Italian GP was super important for the title... I’ll be fighting every inch of the way’

AFP Paris

ust 10 points separate Spaniards Jorge Lorenzo of Yamaha and Marc Marquez of Honda ahead of what promises to be another epic struggle atJ the fast and challenging Montmelo track at the Grand Prix of Catalunya tomorrow. It will not be lost on current world champion Lorenzo (115 pts) or the 2014 winner Marquez (105 pts) that 15 of the last 19 winners here went on to lift the world crown. And anyone who watched the pair overtake each other several times during the last lap of an Italian GP won last time out by a wafer-thin 0.019sec by Lorenzo will know a swashbuckling show will likely be laid on for the locals. “I’ve watched the Mugello last lap a few times since,” smiled Lorenzo on Thurs- day, referring to their Italian showdown. “But here we are now. I’m going to be racing at home. I lived in Barcelona for many years and this is like coming home for me,” said Lorenzo, who is from the nearby island of Mallorca. Indonesia’s Ihsan Maulana Mustafa returns a shot against Rajiv Ousev “The Italian GP was super important of England during their Indonesia Open quarter-final in Jakarta yes- for the title and I’ll be fi ghting every inch terday. Mustafa next plays Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei. (AFP) of the way again.” Lorenzo is targeting a third straight AFP victory in the championship after clinch- Jakarta ing wins at Le Mans and in Italy and can claim a fi fth top-level win at Montmelo. Catalan native Marquez may look alaysia’s badmin- tough when fl ying into corners but re- ton ace Lee Chong vealed a softer side when he admitted: Wei is through to the “Nothing is more motivating than being semi-fi nals of the in competition in front of a crowd of ad- MIndonesia Open after dispatch- miring fans.” ing China’s Wang Zhengming in Marquez won here in 2014 and is dou- a quarterfi nal match yesterday. bly desperate to bounce back after he fell Lee secured a spot in the semi- in last year’s edition. A win would put him fi nals with 21-16, 9-2 after Wang back in charge of the championship race was forced to retire early due to ahead of the France GP in two weeks. an injury. Also in the mix is the veteran nine- In the semi-fi nals tomorrow, times world champion Valentino Rossi, Lee will be facing the unseed- whose Yamaha M1 suff ered a rare engine ed Indonesian shuttler Ihsan failure in Italy. Movistar Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo rides at the Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, yesterday. (AFP) Maulana Mustafa who won the The aff able Italian is third in the stand- spot after defeating England’s ings on 78 points and while he has won of Dani Pedrosa of Honda, fourth in the feels his team will do much to end a four- and while he is fourth in the world cham- number one Rajiv Ousev. here six times, the 37-year-old biker’s standings 12 points adrift of Rossi and a year poor spell on the Montmelo track pionship, he is only 17 points off Britain’s Maulana won against Ousev last win in Catalonia dates back to 2009. winner here in 2008. because “the tyres and electronics suit us Sam Lowes, who took a two-point lead at with 17-21, 21-12, 21-12 after a “There is a lot to regret looking back “The title is my greatest dream and I’ll better now”. Mugello over Spaniard Alex Rins. 56-minute battle. at what happened in Tuscany two weeks be fi ghting for it,” vowed Pedrosa, who “The podium in Italy is very good, but I South African Brad Binder can con- More than 8,000 badminton ago,” he said. has struggled to fi nd his full fl air this sea- had the potential to fi ght for the victory.” solidate his Moto3 lead by reeling off a fans were watching the compe- “But for me what I have to focus on and son on new tyres, but who has just signed Suzuki are also hoping for success after fourth successive win and already en- tition at the Istora Gelora Bung build on is just how amazingly fast we an extended deal with Repsol Honda. Aleix Espargaro got on pole last year and joys a 49-point lead over second-placed Karno Stadium in Jakarta, which Spain’s Carolina Marin celebrates were before the incident.” “But I have nothing to prove, I have Maverick Vinales registered the second- Spaniard Jorge Navarro. is seen as a warm-up for the her victory over India’s Saina achieved so many of my childhood fastest lap. All three category winners from last Rio Olympics in just a matter of Nehwal in their Indonesia Open ‘NOTHING TO PROVE’ dreams,” he told Motogp.com. French reigning champion Johann year — Lorenzo, Zarco and Danny Kent — weeks. quarter-final yesterday. (AFP) There is also the prospect of another Returning to the issue of new tyres, Zarco is climbing back up the knife-edge went on to be crowned world champion at “I feel grateful to have won the Catalan rider winning here in the form Ducati’s Andrea Iannone, third in Italy, rankings in Moto2 after his win in Italy the end of the season. match, until the fi rst part of the The fi fth seed Jorgensen ad- second game my performance mitted he was struggling in the was still unstable, my attacks beginning of the game against and defenses were all hesitant, the unseeded Christie. FORMULA 1 but then I decided to just attack, “I just didn’t feel that well in I saw him (Ousev) was already the beginning of the game and I tired,” Maulana said. must fi nd something to get my Lee said he has never played body moving better because it Palmer gets new chassis for Canada aft er Monaco crash against Maulana but was aware was a bit slow in the beginning,” that the young Indonesian likes he said. Reuters “The car hit the barriers quite hard “The car was pitched sideways and failed to fi nish in Monaco with Den- to attack aggressively. World champion shuttler London at an oblique angle which damaged the I collected the barriers. It was just the mark’s Kevin Magnussen also retiring “I will just try my best, every- Carolina Marin of Spain is also front of the chassis and since we have a wrong place at the wrong time,” he said. following a collision with Toro Rosso’s one wants to win of course,” Lee advancing to the semi-fi nals of new chassis available it makes sense to “I had a bit of bruising on my feet so it Russian Daniil Kvyat at the tight Ras- said, when asked about his strat- the Indonesian Open after de- ritish rookie Jolyon Palmer will introduce it.” was just my ego and the car that had to casse corner. egy for the semi-fi nals. feating ace Indian player Saina have a new Renault chassis for Palmer lost control on the pit straight suff er.” Chester said the crash had damaged Also through to the semi- Nehwal in a quarterfi nal match next week’s Canadian Formula in Monaco immediately after a safety Palmer will also have the latest speci- mainly ‘bolt-on’ parts that were easy to fi nals was Denmark’s Jan O Jor- yesterday. One Grand Prix after badly dam- car stint had ended. The car skewed into fi cation Renault power unit in his car for replace. gensen who secured the spot af- Marin won 24-22, 21-11 against agingB the previous one in a Monaco crash the barriers on lap eight and came to the fi rst time in Canada. Renault racing director Fred Vasseur ter defeating Indonesia’s Jonatan the eight seed Nehwal, who has last weekend, the team said yesterday. rest at the Sainte Devote corner. Renault made just two available in said Kvyat’s attempt to pass, while one Christie. won the Indonesia title three “Jolyon’s incident means we will use The Briton blamed wet conditions Monaco — one for their works team and lap down, had been “a completely stu- Eighteen-year-old Christie times after a 47-minute match in a new chassis,” said technical director and the slippery paint markings of a ze- one for Red Bull Racing, whose engines pid move.” previously caused an uproar for women’s singles. Nick Chester in a team preview of the bra crossing on a street circuit that uses have Tag Heuer badging. Canada is the seventh race of 21 this unexpectedly stopping his own “It was a tough match but I’m Montreal race. regular roads. The French manufacturer’s cars season. Palmer has yet to score any points. idol China’s Lin Dan 21-12, 21-12 very happy with my perform- in the quarterfi nals. ance,” Marin said after winning. Gulf Times Saturday, June 4, 2016 11 SPORT

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT IAAF’s Coe, FIFA’s Kyrgios pulls out of Infantino not on IOC members’ list

Reuters Lausanne, Switzerland

Rio, blasts Olympic he heads of world foot- ball’s governing body FIFA and world athletics’ IAAF were not included Tin a list of proposed new mem- ‘The AOC has chosen to publicly bers for the International Olym- pic Committee (IOC) yesterday. and privately disparage me’ While IOC membership for ei- Committee ther is not automatic through the presidencies of the federations, Reuters previous FIFA and IAAF presi- IOC has proposed a total of eight Sydney dents, representing two of the members for election, including most powerful sports bodies in India’s Nita Ambani, owner of the the world, had seats on the IOC Mumbai Indians cricket team. ustralia’s number one tennis table for decades. player Nick Kyrgios has blamed The IOC proposed a total of Former double Olympic cham- “unfair and unjust treatment” eight members for election at its pion Sebastian Coe took over at the hands of his country’s Ol- session in Rio de Janeiro in Au- the IAAF last year as one of the ympicA Committee for his decision to not gust. biggest doping scandal in years take part in the Rio Summer Games. They include South African unfolded and severely damaged The world number 19 joined Bernard fi lm producer Anat Singh, Italian the credibility of the IAAF, Coe’s Tomic in withdrawing his name from Ivo Ferriani, who heads the In- predecessor Lamine Diack faced consideration yesterday, a month after ternational Bobsleigh and Skel- a bribery and embezzlement in- Australia’s chef de mission Kitty Chill- eton Federation, former Finnish vestigation in France. er said the pair were among a number racewalker and politician Sari Both Blatter and Diack had of athletes whose behaviour was being Essayah, India’s Nita Ambani, been IOC members for years un- monitored. owner of the Mumbai Indians til 2015. Blatter’s predecessor at Tomic, ranked 22nd in the world, ruled cricket team, and Canadian Ol- FIFA, Joao Havelange, had been himself out in mid-May because of his ympic Committee president Tri- an IOC member from 1963 to busy playing schedule but Kyrgios laid cia Smith. 2011. the blame squarely at the door of the “These eight candidates... are Diack’s predecessor, Primo Australian Olympic Committee (AOC). a strong and varied group of indi- Nebiolo, had also been an IOC “It is with a heavy heart that I have had viduals that are experts in their re- member. to make a decision not to compete at the spective fi elds and will make great Several heads of smaller inter- 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro,” contributions,” IOC president national federations, including Kyrgios said in a statement yesterday. Thomas Bach told reporters. weightlifting, boxing, badmin- “Representing Australia at the Olympic “They have been vetted by ton and skating are members of Games has been a dream of mine since I new criteria... these candidates the IOC. was a kid... Unfortunately, while I have will add extra strength and di- Both federations are at the expressed every intention of trying to win versity to our already universal heart of several investigations a medal for my country in Rio, it’s very orchestra of IOC Members.” into alleged corruption and brib- clear to me that the Australian Olympic Infantino was elected head ery, with the IAAF also dealing Committee has other plans.” of FIFA in February to succeed with a widespread doping scan- Kyrgios said the AOC’s treatment of scandal-plagued Sepp Blatter dal in which Russian track and him over the past month had been “unfair and lead the federation out of its fi eld athletes could be banned and unjust” and they had made it “crystal biggest graft crisis. from the Rio Olympics starting clear” their opposition to his being part of He could now potentially face on August 5. the team. In this January 22, 2016, picture, Australia’s Nick Kyrgios points at umpire James Keothavong of Britain during his Australian Open an investigation himself over what The new members, if approved Tennis Australia will nominate the third round match against Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych at Melbourne Park. (Reuters) German newspaper Die Welt said by the session, would bring the players to take part in the August 5-21 were possible ethics breaches. total IOC membership to 99. Games on June 30 but they must then be ratifi ed by Chiller and the AOC. US cyclist Van Garderen opts out of Rio over Zika “The AOC has chosen to publicly and privately disparage me,” the player’s Reuters small head size that can lead to severe “I hope that I’ll be in the position to race statement continued. “The AOC’s un- Los Angeles developmental problems in babies. at the 2020 Olympic Games.” warranted attacks on me demonstrate the “Although the risks associated with the Van Garderen competed in the road organisation’s inability to understand the Zika virus can be minimal and precau- race at the 2012 Olympics, finishing circumstances surrounding highly com- yclist Tejay Van Garderen has with- tions can be taken, my wife Jessica is 104th after working for teammate petitive sports.” drawn from consideration for the pregnant, and I don’t want to risk bring- Taylor Phinney. Kyrgios said he did not want the row CUS team for the Rio Olympics over ing anything back that could potentially The Rio course would have suited him with the AOC to distract the Australian concerns that the Zika virus outbreak have an eff ect,” Van Garderen said in a better as it contains a major climb, and team from their preparations for Rio and could present risks for his pregnant wife, statement through USA Cycling. he stood a strong chance of being se- hoped to represent his country at a future USA Cycling said on Thursday. “If circumstances were diff erent I would lected for one of two time trial spots for Olympics. US health off icials have concluded that have loved to be selected again to the US team, according to Cyclingnews. The 21-year-old has become a divi- infections by the mosquito-borne Zika represent the USA, but my family takes Van Garderen will still have a busy International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach sive fi gure in Australia, particularly after a virus in pregnant women can cause priority and it’s a decision that I’m com- schedule as he plans to ride in the Tour string of unsavoury incidents over the past microcephaly, a birth defect marked by pletely comfortable with. de France and Vuelta a Espana. 12 months. He was given a suspended ban by the ATP last year for an off -colour com- Zika not a concern for Gatlin Rio gets IOC cash advance ment directed at Stan Wawrinka and was booed by the crowd at the Australian Open AFP would have no hesitation. do what you’ve got to do. Rio Games organisers have been given an advance payment by after a running battle with an umpire. Rome “I guess I get my first crack at it be- “Focus on things outside your power the International Olympic Committee as they race to complete Tennis Australia chief Steve Healy of- cause I now leave for Rio,” Gatlin said. and you’re going to be distracted.” preparations, sources told AFP on Thursday. fered Kyrgios his full support yesterday “We don’t get a chance to do a final Gatlin will first have to negotiate the The advance, which was requested by the Rio organising com- and echoed the player’s disappointment ustin Gatlin has insisted he holds four or a Superbowl, the Olympics are notoriously tough US Olympic trials, in mittee, takes the total financial support from the IOC to $1.5 that “he has been put in this position”. no fears over the Zika virus as he our championships and at this point in which the depth in strength of Ameri- billion (1.34 billion euros). “Nick’s performances this year have Jheads to Rio for a street 100m race time, if Zika is not going to kill me, I’m can sprinting is showcased. With two months to go before the Rio Games begin, the far-from- improved,” Healy said in a statement. tomorrow, adamant that he would be going to be down there. “Everyone’s ready for the trials. The finished Olympic cycling track is the only installation running “Nick is a passionate competitor and he’s back for the Olympics no matter what. “It’s such a mysterious disease or US trials are going to be a dogfight, late, organisers say. working hard to learn and mature in a Despite a number of sportspeople illness or whatever you want to call someone like Ameer will be trying to A source close to the International Olympic Committee stressed highly pressurised environment where he deciding not to take part in the Rio it, a lot of people don’t understand it. punch his ticket, he’ll be ready and will that the amount of money given to the local organising commit- is under constant public scrutiny.” Games even if selected, Gatlin said he You’ve just got to go down there and show up,” the 34-year-old said. tee had not changed. Chiller has made good behaviour one “The IOC has just changed the timing but not the total amount. of her main priorities for Rio after Aus- The organising committee will therefore get no more than the tralia’s disappointing 2012 Olympics was said had become a “toxic” environment. nated for selection on the Australian tion every athlete in contention is treated money promised by the IOC,” a source close to the International accompanied by a crisis of team culture in “At this point, Nick Kyrgios, or any Olympic team,” Chiller said in a short equally and fairly. We have no further Olympic Committee said. the swimming squad, which a later report other tennis athlete, has not been nomi- statement yesterday. “In regard to selec- comment on this issue.”

BOTTOMLINE Rio Games refugee team will have 10 athletes: IOC

Reuters kasa Mabika, training in Brazil. Syria; host National Olympic Commit- Lausanne, Switzerland “The Olympic anthem will be played tee: Belgium; sport: swimming) in their honour, the Olympic fl ag will „ Yiech Pur Biel (M; Country of origin: lead them into the stadium,” Bach said. South Sudan; host NOC: Kenya; sport: he International Olympic “It can send a symbol of hope for all athletics, 800m) Committee (IOC) yesterday refugees in the world and can send a „ James Nyang Chiengjiek (M; Country unveiled its fi rst ever team of signal to the international community of origin: South Sudan; host NOC: Trefugees which will have 10 that refugees are our fellow human be- Kenya; sport: athletics, 400m) members and 12 offi cials and will com- ings and are an enrichment to society.” „ Yonas Kinde (M; Country of origin: pete at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games The team will be housed in the ath- Ethiopia; host NOC: Luxembourg; sport: under the Olympic fl ag. letes’ village along with all other na- athletics, marathon) On what IOC President Thomas Bach tional teams and will enter the stadium „ Paulo Amotun Lokoro (M; Country of called a “historic day”, the team includes as the penultimate team at the opening origin: South Sudan; host NOC: Kenya; fi ve athletes from South Sudan, two from ceremony, ahead of the host nation. sport: athletics, 1,500m) Syria, two from Democratic Republic of “They will show to the world that „ Popole Misenga (M; Country of Congo and one from Ethiopia. despite the unimaginable tragedies origin: Democratic Republic of the “These refugee athletes have no they have faced, anyone can contribute Congo; host NOC: Brazil; sport: judo, home, no team, no fl ag, no national to society through talent, skills and the -90kg) anthem,” Bach said. “The invention of strength of human spirit,” said Bach. „ Anjelina Nada Lohalith (Female; this refugee team is to give them a home The plight of those fl eeing confl ict, Country of origin: South Sudan; host in the Olympic village together with all as well as economic migrants escaping NOC: Kenya; sport: athletics, 1,500m) the athletes around the world.” poverty, has polarised opinion in Eu- „ Rose Nathike Lokonyen (F; Country of The athletes, six men and four wom- rope, with the amount of new arrivals origin: South Sudan; host NOC: Kenya; en, will compete in the sports of swim- stretching the European Union’s asy- sport: athletics, 800m) ming, judo and athletics. lum system. The IOC had said it wanted „ Yolande Bukasa Mabika (F; Country They include swimmer Yusra Mar- to draw the world’s attention to the of origin: Democratic Republic of the dini from Syria who trains in Germany, plight of refugees. Congo; host NOC: Brazil; sport: judo, South Sudanese middle distance run- -70kg) ner Rose Nathike Lokonyen, living in a LIST OF MEMBERS OF REFUGEE „ Yusra Mardini (F; Country of origin: refugee camp in Kenya, and democratic OLYMPIC TEAM Syria; host NOC: Germany; sport: Judo athletes Yolande Bukasa (fourth from left) and Popole Misenga (third from right), refugees from Democratic Republic of Republic of Congo judoka Yolande Bu- „ Rami Anis (Male; Country of origin: swimming) Congo, pose with their coach Geraldo (centre) and children, during a news conference in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. (Reuters)

Saturday, June 4, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

FOCUS Jamaican sprinter Carter fails 2008 doping re-test Carter could face sanctions only if his ‘B’ sample also tests positive for the substance — Methylhexanamine

Reuters Kingston To strip or not to strip If Nesta Carter’s ‘B’ sample also tests positive, then it amaican Olympic sprint relay Jamaican quartet of Asafa is possible that the IOC could strip the 2008 Beijing gold medallist Nesta Carter has Powell, Nesta Carter, Usain Bolt Olympics 4x100m relay winning team — Asafa returned an anti-doping viola- and Michael Frater had won the Powell, Carter, Usain Bolt and Michael Frater — of tion for the banned stimulant 4x100m relay in Beijing Olympics. their gold medals. Here’s a look at some of the recent MethylhexanamineJ after the re-testing instances: of 454 samples from the 2008 Beijing Games, two sources familiar with the All members of the victorious American 4x400m case have told Reuters. relay squad at the 2000 Sydney Olympics were The sources, who spoke on condition subsequently stripped of their medals after Antonio of anonymity, said traces of Methylhex- Pettigrew admitted a doping off ence. anamine were discovered in Carter’s ‘A’ Britain’s 4x100m team from the 2003 World sample, part of a batch of 454 from the Championships were also stripped of their silver 2008 Games that the International Ol- medal following the Dwain Chambers case. ympic Committee (IOC) ordered to be The United States men’s 4x100m team were re-tested. Carter could face sanctions stripped of their silver medals from the 2012 Olym- only if his ‘B’ sample also tests positive pics after Tyson Gay’s doping case. for the substance. A notable exception came in the case of the USA Reuters has not seen the laboratory women’s 4x100 and 4x400m relay teams who were results. stripped of their medals after the doping scandal Neither Carter, who won gold in the involving Marion Jones. The relay teams successfully 4x100 metres relay with Jamaican team appealed against the decision at the Court of Arbitra- mates Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and tion for Sport, which found that rules at the time of Michael Frater in Beijing, nor his agent the 2000 Olympics did not allow for the disqualifica- replied to repeated requests for com- tion of an entire team on the basis of an individual ment. member failing a doping test. Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) president Michael Fennell told Reu- ters yesterday that the body had not is why we are acting swiftly now,” IOC Although his relay team mates are than 30 athletes from six diff erent received “any offi cial communication president Thomas Bach said last week not accused of doping, it is possible sports had tested positive in the re- concerning reports in the media about when announcing the re-testing of 265 that the IOC could strip them of their testing of 2008 samples and that it had the ‘B’ sample testing of any athlete”. samples from the London Olympics. gold medals if Carter’s B-sample tests launched disciplinary action against Jamaica Athletics Administrative “I have already appointed a discipli- positive. the as yet unidentifi ed athletes from 12 Association president Warren Blake nary commission, which has the full For instance, all members of the vic- countries. said his organisation had not been no- power to take all decisions on behalf of torious American 4x400m relay squad Twenty-three more positives were tifi ed of any rule violation. the IOC.” at the 2000 Sydney Olympics were found following a re-test of 265 sam- Methylhexanamine has been on the First-leg relay specialist Carter has subsequently stripped of their med- ples from the 2012 Olympics, the IOC World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) been a vital member of Jamaica’s domi- als after Antonio Pettigrew admitted a said last week. Code prohibited list since 2004, al- nant 4x100m squad, helping the Carib- doping off ence. Russia has said 14 of its athletes from though it was reclassifi ed on the 2011 bean island win gold medals at the 2008 However, when American Marion the 2008 Olympics had tested positive list as a “specifi ed substance”. and 2012 Olympic Games and the 2011, Jones was stripped of her two relay for banned substances and eight more WADA defi nes specifi ed substances 2013 and 2015 world championships. medals from the Sydney Games for from the 2012 Games. as those that are more susceptible to a The 30-year-old has not run this doping off ences, her team mates kept Russia’s athletics team has been sus- “credible, non-doping explanation”. season, citing a foot injury, but is ex- theirs after an appeal to the Court of pended from international competition Sold as a nasal decongestant in the pected to race in the next few weeks Arbitration of Sport. following a 2015 WADA commission re- United States until 1983, Methylhexan- ahead of Jamaica’s Olympic trials from IOC spokesman Mark Adams said port that accused the country of state- amine has been used more recently as June 30 to July 3. discussions over what to do with the sponsored doping. an ingredient in dietary supplements. Historically, the sanction for the use of medals won by any dope cheats ex- The International Association of In this March 8, 2014, picture, Nesta Carter of Jamaica runs during the 60m final at Methylhexanamine has been a suspen- posed by the re-testing were ongoing. Athletics Federations (IAAF), which REVISITING SAMPLES the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Sopot, Poland. (Reuters) sion of six months to a year and the loss “It is still being worked out,” he said. suspended Russia, will vote on June 17 The IOC programme of revisiting sam- of results from the period concerned. “What we want to do, and are trying to over whether to reinstate the sporting ples is aimed at using developments in Doping cases are usually handled by the re-tests will be dealt with directly do, is target athletes who have positive superpower’s athletics team and allow testing techniques to expose traces of the relevant national federations and by them. PUBLIC WARNING results and stop them from competing it to compete in Rio. drugs that were undetectable in 2008 national anti-doping agencies but the “We want to keep dopers away from Sanctions for use of a stimulant can in Rio.” The Rio de Janeiro Olympics take or 2012. IOC has decided that any arising from the Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro. This range from a public warning upwards. The IOC said last month that more place from Aug. 5-21.

ATHLETICS SPOTLIGHT Al Shaqab organises Gatlin digs deep, Ayana Ramadan Camp

By Sports Reporter equestrian sports for children Doha from age 3 to 17. misses world record in Rome EED will create, manage and supervise all the training of par- AFP Valerie Adams and Colombia’s Cater- l Shaqab Equine Educa- ticipants in the camp. EED will Rome ine Ibarguen, recorded victories in the tion Department (EED) also be responsible for developing women’s shot put and triple jump re- is organising Ramadan various activities that participants spectively. Camp 2016 that will of- will discover during the two and a merican sprinter Justin Gatlin Following up on her win in Rabat ferA an opportunity for children half hours of daily equine-related dug deep to edge to victory in last week, Adams threw a season’s best who did not get a chance to be activities. Each camp will have a the men’s 100m at Thursday’s of 19.69m as she continued to put last involved in EED’s programme six-day duration. Diamond League meeting, but year’s injury woes that necessitated knee during the training year 2016. Parents accompanying their EthiopianA Almaz Ayana just missed out surgery behind her. Following the success of pre- children during the Ramadan on a new world record in the 5,000m. Ibarguen extended her amazing win- vious years’ Ramadan camp, EED Camp have not been left out. Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic 100m gold ning streak to 34 races over the last four will organise the third edition of They can also engage in sporting medallist who has served two doping years with a fi nal eff ort of 14.78m for the Ramadan Camp for children activities while their children are bans, produced a savage dip at the line victory. by off ering diff erent equine- attending the camp. A special- for victory by one-hundredth of a sec- “I am focused on the Olympics. I won related activities organised and ly-designated area has been set ond in 9.93 seconds. a silver medal in London and this year supervised by a creative team aside for this purpose. That dip was enough to deprive I’ll give anything to take the gold,” the and professional trainers that For more information and American teammate Ameer Webb, who 32-year-old said. will provide a completely unique registration for Al Shaqab’s had earlier won the 200m (20.04), a South African track hopes for Rio look equine experience. EED’s Ramadan Camp, please sprint double on a balmy night in the promising. The programme will off er a fun visit Al Shaqab website: www. Italian capital. In-form Caster Semenya made it and educational introduction to alshaqab.com Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut also dipped three from three, equalling her own under the 10sec mark with 9.99. world leading time of 1:56.64 to win “I executed this race and made it to the women’s 800m. And her teammate American sprinter Justin Gatlin crosses the finish line to win the men’s 100m event at the the fi nish line safe and sound. I kept my Wayde Van Niekerk, the world 400m Rome’s Diamond League competition on Thursday. (AFP) composure,” said Gatlin, 34. champion, who this year became the But it was not an American sweep of only male athlete to have run the 100m the blue riband event, Jamaica’s Elaine sub-10sec, the 200m sub-20sec and the Thompson, in a season’s best 10.87sec, 400m sub-44sec, clocked 44.19sec to outstripping English Gardner in the win the one-lap race. women’s race. “Now I need to be consistent, to main- In a top-quality meet, Ayana fell just tain this shape until the Olympics,” said short of toppling compatriot Tirunesh the 25-year-old Semenya, who won the Dibaba’s world record of 14:11.15 in the 2009 world title in Berlin before sitting women’s 5,000m, clocking a second- out several months of competition after ever fastest time of 14:12.59. it was announced she had been subject There was also talk of a record attempt to gender testing. in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, but “My dream, my main goal is of course that petered out, Kenyan Conseslus Ki- Olympic gold. Getting the gold medal in pruto winning in 8:01.47, almost 8sec off Rio is very important to me. Now is the Saif Said Shahin’s best. right time, I got a silver medal at the 2012 “I tried to push it too hard, but it did Olympics and now I can take fast paces.” not work,” lamented Kipruto. Van Niekerk added: “It’s a good start The loudest cheers came in the high to build up towards the rest of the sea- jump where local hero Gianmarco Tam- son. The Olympic Games will be a new beri cleared 2.30 metres to fi nish third challenge for me, new motivation with a behind Ukraine’s Bohdan Bondarenko diff erent, fresh spirit.” Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar competes in the men’s High Jump event at the Rome’s and Britain’s Robbie Grabarz. Sunette Viljoen wrapped up a nice Diamond League meet on Thursday. Ukraine’s Bohdan Bordenko won the competition Two Olympic champions who have evening’s work for South African athletes with a 2.33m eff ort, while Britain’s Robbie Grabarz (2.30) and Italian Gianmarco Tamberi dominated their events, New Zealand’s by winning the women’s javelin (61.95m). (2.30) completed the top three. Barshim jumped 2.27 for a sixth place finish. (AFP)