OLYMPICS | Page 5 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 11 ‘Sluggish’ Younis and Bolt does Shah take To Advertise here enough in Pakistan to Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 100m heats brink of win

Sunday, August 14, 2016 Dhul-Qa’da 11, 1437 AH SWIMMING Super Schooling TIMES upsets Phelps to win butterfl y gold Page 2

SPOTLIGHT/ QATAR ROUND-UP Medals tally

Country G S B T Country G S B T

United States 21 14 17 52 Romania 1 1 2 4 China 3 11 17 41 Belgium 1 1 1 3 Great Britain 8 10 6 24 Slovenia 1 1 1 3 Denmark edge Germany 8 4 3 15 Belarus 1 1 0 2 Japan 7 3 14 24 Colombia 1 1 0 2 Australia 6 6 7 19 Slovakia 1 1 0 2 South Korea 6 3 4 13 Vietnam 1 1 0 2 Russia 5 9 8 22 Czech Republic 1 0 4 5 France 5 8 5 18 Chinese Taipei 1 0 2 3 Qatar in thriller Italy 5 7 4 16 Ethiopia 1 0 1 2 Haroun advances in 400m, but Ogunode fails to qualify in 100m Hungary 5 3 3 11 Greece 1 0 1 2 Spain 3 0 2 5 Indt. Ol Athlts 1 0 1 2 New Zealand 2 6 0 8 Argentina 1 0 0 1 Canada 2 2 6 10 Fiji 1 0 0 1 Kazakhstan 2 2 3 7 Iran 1 0 0 1 Netherlands 2 2 3 7 Kosovo 1 0 0 1 Thailand 2 1 1 4 Singapore 1 0 0 1 Croatia 2 1 0 3 South Africa 0 4 1 5 Switzerland 2 0 1 3 Denmark 0 2 2 4 Sweden 1 3 1 5 Ukraine 0 2 1 3 North Korea 1 2 2 5 Azerbaijan 0 2 0 2 Brazil 1 1 2 4 Indonesia 0 2 0 2 Poland 1 1 2 4 Cuba 0 1 1 2 STAR OF THE DAY Joseph Schooling of Singapore

The Star of the Day is Singapore’s Joseph Schooling, who beat swimming great Michael Phelps to win his country’s first Olympic gold medal and became an instant millionaire in the process. “Its been a hard road, I’ve done something that no one in our country has done before. I’ve received a lot of support and that’s phenomenal,” Schooling told reporters. Qatar’s right back Zarko Markovic (R) vies with Danish players during their men’s Group A handball at the Future Arena in Rio de Watched by his mother and president Tony Tan in the stands, Janeiro yesterday. the 21-year-old beat Phelps, South Africa’s Chad Le Clos and Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh in the 100 metres butterfly final Agencies on Friday, to grab the gold while the others completed a Rio de Janeiro remarkable three-way dead-heat for silver. Singapore has spent millions trying to win more medals at the Olympics, including off ering a Foreign Sports Talent programme which ikkel Hansen found the grants promising foreign athletes citizenship, as well as a target with seconds re- S$1mn ($743,494.42) prize for gold medals. Schooling left the maining to help Denmark country at 14 to train in the United States and now studies at Medge Qatar 26-25 in a the University of Texas in Austin, whose programme is led by thrilling Group A handball match at two-time US Olympic men’s head coach Eddie Reese. the Olympic Games yesterday. With precious little to choose be- tween the two teams, it was anybody’s game until the last moment, but it was Denmark who held their nerve to clinch their third win in four matches to take their points tally to six. Qatar, on the other hand have only three points from four matches, hav- ing lost two, won one and drawn one and will need to beat Argentina in their last group match in order to secure a spot in the quarter-fi nals. Qatar held the early advantage, al- beit by not more than two points at any given moment but Denmark displayed remarkable grit and determination to Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah, who won a bronze at the London Olympics in 2012, tie14-14 at half-time. crashed out of the skeet competition yesterday after finishing 31st in a 32-man field. Late in the second half, Qatar trailed 20-23, but caught up and even fence and goalkeeping at both ends Faris Ibrahim finished 8th in the went ahead 25-24 thanks to a goal of the court that meant the score re- men’s 85kg weightlifting after lift- from Rafael Capote, before Mensah mained the same at the 10-minute ing 158 kilograms in snatch and 203 in Larsen equalised with 51 seconds re- mark when Croatia coach Zeljko clean and jerk, giving him a total of maining to hand Denmark the advan- Babic requested the fi rst time-out of 361 kilograms Iran’s Kianoush Ros- tage. the game. tami recorded 396 kilograms to give And sure enough that proved to be a Marko Kopljar was the next on the Iran their first gold medal. key moment as a great assist by Rene board, breaking the scoring drought The silver went to China’s Tian Tao Toft found Hansen and he drilled the of three minutes to put Croatia in with 395 kilograms while the bronze ball into the middle of the Qatari goal front at 5:4, but after that Guigou was claimed by Romania’s Gabriel much to the joy of the Danes. scored two more goals – to tally four Sincraian with a lift of 390 kilograms. Meanwhile Croatia stunned world by the time the clock showed 15 min- Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah fin- champs France 29-28 thanks to a last utes – and earned France their fi rst ished 31st, only ahead of countryman second penalty save by goalkeeper lead of the game at 6:5. Rashid Hamad, who came last, in the Ivan Pesic. Croatia started stronger Meanwhile, Qatar’s Abdelalelah men’s skeet shooting event at the Rio with two goals scored before France Haroun was the lone bright spot for Olympics yesterday. added two of their own to equalise, the Qatari contingent yesterday as Al-Attiyah, who boasts an impres- but the EHF EURO 2016 bronze med- he qualifi ed for the men’s 400 metres sive CV of motorsport feats including allists showed they were ready to play semi-fi nal. 11 Middle East Rally Championships when they allowed the level score line Haroun finished his heat in second and two Dakar Rally titles, had won to exist only temporarily, opening up place with a time of 45.76 seconds, bronze medal at the London 2012 the two-goal advantage with a coun- behind US athlete LaShawn Merritt, Games. In Rio, al-Attiyah was not at ter attack goal from Manuel Strlek who took first place in 45.28s, while his best as he scored 109 points, with just after the fi ve-minute mark (4:2). Botswana’s Isaac Makwala came Hamad securing just 109 points. But then it was France’s turn to third place in 45.91seconds. The gold medal went to Italy’s score two consecutive goals, and they Qatar’s Femi Ogunode, the Asian Gabriele Rossetti, who beat Marcus levelled with two goals in the seventh 100m champion, however failed to Svensson of Sweden 16-15 in the fi nal. courtesy of Mathieu Grebille then make it to the next round, finishing Kuwait’s Abdullah al-Rashidi, who is Michael Guigou. Neither side could fifth in his heat. competing as an Independent Olym- fi nd the goal after that, with great de- Meanwhile, Qatari weightlifter pic Athlete, took bronze. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, August 14, 2016

SPOTLIGHT DELIGHT Singapore celebrates Super Schooling fi rst Olympic gold stuns Phelps to win

Singaporeans watch Joseph Schooling competing at the Rio Olym- Singapore’s fi rst gold pics at the OCBC Aquatic Centre. ‘Its been a hard road, I’ve done something that no one in our country has done AFP ets for Schooling’s winning time Singapore “5039” sold out by late morning while others called for a public before. I’m not going to lie, the first guy through the wall, it’s always bloody’ holiday to celebrate the win. ingapore exploded in cel- On the internet Pokemon- ebration Saturday after themed memes celebrated homegrown swimming Schooling’s evolution from fan- hero Joseph Schooling boy to champion, while school- beatS US legend Michael Phelps in ing puns abounded. the 100m butterfl y in Rio to win Schooling met Phelps when the tiny republic’s fi rst ever Ol- the US Olympic swim team vis- ympic gold. ited Singapore in 2008, and the The 21-year-old Asian cham- American helped inspire the pion set a new Olympic record young Singaporean to move to of 50.39sec as he edged out his the United States for extensive American idol Phelps, who ended training at 14. in a sensational dead heat for silver Schooling is now based at the alongside South Africa’s Chad le University of Texas. Clos and Laszlo Cseh of Hungary. He pulled off one of the big- In Singapore cheers broke out gest upsets in Rio, interrupting across housing estates and social the 31-year-old Phelps’ quest for media erupted in celebration as what would have been his fi fth Schooling won in Brazil. gold in Brazil and 23rd Olympic Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong gold of his career. and President Tony Tan, who was Schooling’s father Colin, who in Rio to cheer Team Singapore, hosted a viewing party at his led an outpouring of congratula- home in Singapore, wept when tions for Schooling, whose mixed his son won. “If I cry in front of European and Asian heritage has all of you all, it’s because I have resonated in the immigrant society nothing to be ashamed of,” he of 5.5 million people. told reporters. “It is an incredible feat, to com- “My love for my son is nothing pete among the world’s best, stay I can describe to you all.” focused, and emerge victorious,” In 2014, Colin Schooling dis- Lee said in a Facebook post. missed stubborn speculation Schooling will receive Sg$1.0 that his son was a “foreign tal- million ($743,000) for his gold ent” because of his surname — medal as part of a programme declaring that Joseph, a third- aimed at encouraging studious generation Singaporean, was a Singaporeans to excel in sport. true son of the republic. “It’s amazing that Singapore A programme to import sport- fi nally has a gold medal at the ing talent into Singapore has Olympics, I don’t think any- proved controversial, despite one thought this was possible,” helping the country to win med- Madeleine Lim, 62, told AFP. als in regional and international “Schooling winning shows competitions. Singapore’s Joseph Schooling smiles after the men’s 100m butterfly final during the swimming event at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium. that even homegrown athletes Chinese-born female table can win an Olympic medal and I tennis players who were natu- Reuters think it’s a good example for our ralised by Singapore won a team Rio de Janeiro youth that sporting greatness is silver at the 2008 Beijing Olym- possible,” said real estate agent pics and an individual bronze in Michael Tan, 35, who cheered London 2012. n just one performance, Singapore’s on Schooling at a coff eeshop in a Singapore’s fi rst Olympic Joseph Schooling beat swimming residential estate. medal was won by weightlifter great Michael Phelps, took home his In a country where people are Tan Howe Liang, who bagged a city state’s fi rst Olympic gold medal obsessed with the lottery, tick- silver in Rome in 1960. Iand became an instant millionaire. Known at home for smashing na- tional records and taking multiple titles in regional competitions, Schooling had Five facts about giant-killer Schooling held the hopes of Singapore, a Southeast Asian island nation of less than six mil- 1 - Singapore had never won house with older boys. lion, which had only won two silvers and an Olympic gold before He regularly fought with his two bronzes since it joined the Olympic Schooling’s breakthrough. coach Sergio Lopez, the Span- fold in 1948. The country first entered the iard who won a bronze medal “Its been a hard road, I’ve done Olympics in 1948. in breaststroke at the 1998 something that no one in our coun- Singapore’s first medal was a Olympics, but credits him for try has done before. I’ve received a lot Singapore’s Joseph Schooling (right), Joseph Schooling (right) and Michael Phelps pose with their medals. silver in weightlifting at Rome his success. of support and that’s phenomenal,” in a photograph taken in 2008 with in 1960. Singapore waited 28 Schooling told reporters. Michael Phelps. versation with his grand-uncle, Lloyd of 50.39 seconds. years before winning its next 4 - It is mandatory for Singa- “It’s been a tough road, I’m not going Valberg, a former national high-jumper Like many of his contemporaries in medal, a silver in table tennis porean men to perform two to lie, the fi rst guy through the wall, it’s ing off ering a Foreign Sports Talent pro- who was also Singapore’s fi rst Olympian, Rio, who grew up idolising Phelps, he at Beijing in 2008. years of National Service after always bloody,” he said. gramme which grants promising foreign according to local media reports. keeps an old photo of himself as a be- In London, Singapore won two finishing school. Watched by his mother and president athletes citizenship, as well as a S$1 million “This moment is not about me, it’s all spectacled teenager with the American bronze medals in table tennis. Schooling competed at the Tony Tan in the stands, the 21-year-old ($743,494.42) prize for gold medals. about my coaches my friends my family that was taken at a meeting in Singapore 2012 London Olympics, and beat Phelps, South Africa’s Chad Le Clos Schooling left the country at 14 to train that believed that when I was a six year after the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 2 - Schooling met Michael a year later the government and Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh in the 100 in the United States and now studies at old kid that I could do it,” he said. “I’m excited just to see how much fast- Phelps by chance when he agreed to defer his enlistment metres butterfl y fi nal on Friday, to grab the University of Texas in Austin, whose Schooling won Singapore’s fi rst medal er he goes,” Phelps told reporters about was 13 and had his photo- for three years to let him the gold while the others completed a re- programme is led by two-time U.S. Ol- at last year’s World Championships in Schooling. “It’s up to him where he wants graph taken with him. continue training in the United markable three-way dead-heat for silver. ympic men’s head coach Eddie Reese. the 100 butterfl y. to take it. As big as he wants to dream, as Phelps was in Singapore pre- States for the Rio Olympics. Singapore has spent millions trying to He was inspired to aim for the Olym- He also broke two Asian records. hard as he wants to work, to do whatever paring for the Beijing Olym- win more medals at the Olympics, includ- pics as a six-year-old after a dinner con- On Friday he set a new Olympic record is in his head.” pics and was training at one 5 - Schooling bears a tattoo on of the pools where Schooling his back, depicting the head also practised. and horns of a Longhorn, a BOTTOMLINE Schooling said Phelps was his breed of Texas cattle, and the idol growing up but had no emblem of sporting teams at regrets about beating him in the University of Texas, where his final race. he studies and trains. 3 - To further his swimming ca- Underneath the cattle horns reer, Schooling left Singapore are the words, “Come and Phelps not un-retiring, says ‘I’m done!’ when he was 13 and moved to Take It.” Schooling had to con- Florida to train at the Bolles vince his parents before they AFP will retire as the most decorated watch his dad race. School, living in a boarding allowed him to get the tattoo. Rio de Janeiro athlete in Olympic history with “I’m in a better state of mind 27 medals, a staggering 22 of this time than I was four years them shiny gold. ago. I’m ready to spend some ichael Phelps em- “That’s why I came back after time with Boomer and Nicole phatically ruled out ‘12. I didn’t want to have a what- and watch the little dude grow.” Ask Joe some questions, says Phelps a U-turn on his de- if 20 years later. Being able to There was even a tinge of cision to quit swim- close the door on this sport the bro-mance in the air between When your name is Michael 21-year-old hesitated and Mming after the Rio Olympics fol- way I wanted to, that’s why I’m Phelps and fierce rival le Clos Phelps, it’s hard to play second glanced to his left at Phelps. lowing a shock defeat Friday in happy now.” following a war of words be- fiddle. During the press con- “That’s for you bro, don’t look his fi nal individual race. Phelps, 31, had fl irted with tween the two swimmers since ference he was peppered with at me,” Phelps told him. After being denied a fi fth gold retirement after London and his London, where the South Af- questions as gold medallist “That sounds like a lot of of the Games by Singapore’s career threatened to end in hu- rican pipped Phelps for gold in Singapore’s Joseph Schooling pressure. I don’t think I’m Joseph Schooling in the 100m miliation two years ago when he his pet race, the 200m fly. sat alongside him. anywhere close to these three butterfl y, and dead-heating with was arrested for drunk driving. Phelps, who exacted crushing Gracefully, the American tried guys next to me,” he said. Chad le Clos and Laszlo Cseh But he had looked unstop- revenge on le Clos in Rio, held to ease out of the spotlight. “Today just happened to be a Phelps for silver, Phelps was in- pable in Rio, at least until Asian hands with Cseh and his bitter “Joe should be getting most of good day for me. evitably asked the six million champion Schooling fl oored him foe as the three men perched the questions,” he told report- “I think Chad, Michael and dollar question. in the 100m fl y, an event he had awkwardly together on the same ers, laughing. “This kid just won Laszlo should still be the face Cutting in before the journal- won at the past three Games. step of the podium. a gold medal, guys. Let’s ask for butterfly. This is like my ist had fi nished, the American “I’m ready to retire and I’m “I think it was a bit long we him some more questions.” first gold medal it’s not like shook his head and smiled. Silver medallist USA’s Michael Phelps waves during the medal cer- happy about it,” said Phelps, look- were holding hands,” smiled le When a journalist obliged by I’ve won 22 or 23.” “Nope, done,” he said. “I’m emony of the men’s 100m butterfly final. ing forward to marrying girlfriend Clos. “It was about three min- asking Schooling how it felt to Phelps shot back: “It’s a pretty not going four more years. I’m Nicole Johnson later this year and utes. We were on the podium become “the go-to butterflier good one to win, though.” standing by that. I’ve been able mind to in the sport — 24 years “I’m happy with how things spending more time with his baby and it just happened — it almost in the world right now”, the A good one indeed. to do everything I’ve ever put my in the sport. fi nished,” added Phelps, who son Boomer, who was in Rio to felt like a relay!” Gulf Times Sunday, August 14, 2016 3

SPOTLIGHT JOYOUS GOOD BYE DiRado bows out Ledecky smashes with backstroke gold 800m record to

USA’s Madeline ‘Maya’ Dirado celebrates next to second-placed win freestyle treble Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu after she won the women’s 200m backstroke final at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. ‘I have to wait another four years to have this moment and I just wanted to enjoy it all Reuters served to help her. Rio de Janeiro “I read through, like, how to do and put my very best swim out there’ expense reports, which was nice to kind of take my mind off the aya DiRado of the fi nal tonight.” United States won Hosszu blamed her loss on a the women’s 200 poor fi nal touch but said she was metres backstroke pleased with her week’s work, Min her fi nal race before quit- having won three golds after ting swimming on Friday, com- leaving with no medals at all ing from behind to deny Katinka from three previous Olympics. Hosszu a fourth gold medal at the “I haven’t been on the podium Rio Olympics. before, and I was able to be on the The American reeled in the ‘Iron podium four times and three times Lady’ from Hungary in the last 50 on top, so I don’t think I could have metres, the pair swimming neck done any better,” she said. and neck in adjacent lanes before Hosszu had led from the start, DiRado touched fi rst to win by six- reacting fastest from the block, but hundredths of a second. DiRado shadowed her the whole Canada’s Hilary Caldwell won way, drawing level in the last 25 bronze. For DiRado, who is leaving metres and then touching fi rst in the sport to take up a job in man- two minutes, 5.99 seconds. agement consultancy, it was the Turning to look at the score- perfect way to exit after a week in board and see the number one which she has now won two gold against her name, her eyes wid- medals, one silver and one bronze. ened and she clapped her hand “It’s indescribable. That is just to her mouth as if she could not pure joy and surprise and excite- believe the result. ment,” she said. “That was my Hosszu had already won the 100 last race ever and I just won a backstroke and the 200 and 400 gold medal.” individual medleys in Rio, break- She spent part of the day ing the world record in the latter. emailing her new employers to DiRado added to her gold in take care of the formalities be- the 4x200 freestyle relay, silver fore starting work on Sept. 9, but in the 400 individual medley and far from being a distraction it bronze in the 200 IM.

PERSISTENCE Veteran Alshammer

USA’s Katie Ledecky poses with her gold medal after winning the women’s 800m freestyle at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. competes in her

Reuters record of the Rio Games, and the second Rio de Janeiro by Ledecky, who achieved a similar feat sixth Olympics in winning the 400 freestyle. Since winning the 800 in London four Reuters atie Ledecky of the United years ago, she has been invincible, and Rio de Janeiro States fi nally succumbed to her anything but a victory for the 19-year- emotions on the podium after old would have been one of the biggest destroying the fi eld in the 800 shocks of the Games. herese Alshammar Kmetres freestyle on Friday and smashing Carlin and Kapas fought a dogged (right) told herself at the her own world record to complete a rare struggle for second, with Spain’s Mireia 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Olympic swimming treble. Belmonte Garcia challenging them for when she made her debut Ledecky led from the start and inexo- much of the way. inT the pool as a teenager, that it rably stretched out the gap over her op- Ledecky, who cried during the post- would probably be a one-off . ponents to fi nish in eight minutes, 4.79 race media conference, said she and The Swede, who will be 40 seconds, beating her previous mark of coach Bruce Gemmell had also burst into next year, was back on Friday — 8:06.68 set in Austin, Texas in January. tears after the race. competing in her sixth Games Britain’s Jazz Carlin won her second Ledecky is moving to Stanford Univer- and racing swimmers half her age silver medal in 8:16.17, and Boglarka Ka- sity later this year. to reach the 50 metre freestyle pas of Hungary took the bronze. USA’s Katie Ledecky (C) crosses Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu (top) and Canada’s Hilary “Bruce doesn’t cry very often but it semi-fi nals in an impressive the 2012 London Olympics. Ledecky, defending Olympic cham- Caldwell during the Women’s 800m freestyle final. was a very happy moment and it’s been a 24.73 seconds. A double freestyle silver med- pion at the distance, added to her golds pleasure to share this journey with him,” Simone Manuel, the 20-year- allist at the 2000 Sydney Games, earlier in the week in the 200 and 400 “I have to wait another four years to have “I try not to think about the history of it Ledecky told the media conference, say- old who won a shared 100m free- her presence in Rio made her the freestyle and the 4x200 freestyle relay, this moment and I just wanted to enjoy it much, but just to be mentioned in the same ing she would be setting ambitious goals style gold for the United States fi rst female swimmer to compete plus a silver in the 4x100 relay. all and put my very best swim out there,” sentence as her is incredible,” she said. once at Stanford. on Thursday, was only a fraction at six Olympics. The only previous woman to win Ledecky said after her fi nal race in Rio. Ledecky sliced 1.89 seconds off her “It’s been a great four years and I know faster in 24.71. But it nearly did not happen. the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle at the She said that Meyer had sent her a own record in the longest event of the I can have another great four years and I Alshammar smiled when “Basically my season was cut same Games was American Debbie Mey- video message of support via her mother women’s swimming programme. know that I will have a lot of people sup- asked whether she accepted the short, I couldn’t race much dur- er in 1968. before the race. It was the seventh world swimming porting me.” adage that you are only as old as ing the winter period because I you feel, and if so what her com- had a back issue and two discs petitive age might be. out of place. So my preparation BOTTOMLINE “How old do I feel? It varies wasn’t ideal.” from day to day, I have to say,” She was still in pain in London, she replied. “Some days I feel like but as that subsided she found a I am way past my age and some rhythm and better pace. days I feel younger.” Being back in the athletes’ vil- The 38-year-old — she turns lage was exciting but diff erent. 39 on Aug. 26 — became the old- “When I was at my fi rst Olym- Ageing rebel Ervin becomes est female swimmer to win a world pics I remember (thinking) this is championship in 2011 with gold in probably it. So six later, and I am oldest swimming champion the 50m free and placed sixth at still happy.” Training with buzzers could boost AFP fellow American Gary Hall Jr at At fi rst, Ervin looked as stunned times for swimmers, claims study Rio de Janeiro the 2000 Sydney Games to raise as Manaudou at the result. money to aid relief work after “You don’t think about get- Swimmers who train with buzz- the buzzer,” said Papic. “A hun- the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. ting your hand on the wall fi rst,” ers rather than their coach’s dredth of a second can make a merican veteran Antho- But the one-time rebel swim- said the American after getting voice could shave milliseconds diff erence... definitely more so ny Ervin won surprise mer, who got fi red from a tattoo a victory hug from his younger off their times, a critical diff er- in the short-distance events.” gold in the men’s 50m parlour during eight years out brother Derek. ence at the elite level, an Aus- For his research, Papic created freestyle in Rio on Friday of the sport between 2003 and “You just think about trying to tralian researcher has found. a “force plate” that measures toA become the oldest swimmer 2011 and played the guitar in a swim the race that you imagine While swimmers dive off the reaction times of swimmers. ever to win an Olympic title. band called Weapons of Mass you can do, the one that you’ve platforms at the sound of a “We had them doing regular The 35-year-old, who has Destruction, insisted he would been practicing, the one that starting buzzer, many still diving training like they usu- overcome personal demons on hang on tight to his Rio gong. starts as a dream and it’s a plan.” train using their coach’s ally would and all we changed his return to the sport, stormed “Well, I’m keeping it for now,” Manaudou hinted that he may voice, University of Sydney was the stimulus they were to victory in 21.40 seconds to said Ervin, who battled drink retire after defeat. researcher Chris Papic said. reacting to,” Papic said. repeat his success at the Sydney and drug addiction and even at- “I came here to win but sport But in a trial involving top Aus- “In the end when we did our Olympics in the same event 16 tempted suicide after his Sydney is also about losing,” said the tralian swimmers, Papic found testing... the group without years ago and reclaim the title of success. “Who knows what the world champion. “I don’t know that when drilled with starting the buzzer sound had slightly the world’s fastest swimmer. future holds. if I will keep swimming, I need buzzers, swimmers could cut slower reaction times, while Ervin edged France’s defend- “I didn’t imagine being on the a break.” an average of 0.012 seconds the group with the buzzer ing champion Florent Manau- Anthony Ervin (R) reacts next to second placed France’s Florent 50 free podium before I was 19 Ervin was humble in victory. off their times — which at sound went slightly faster. dou by just one-hundredth of a Manaudou after he won the men’s 50m freestyle final. either,” he added. “It’s surreal, “It just so happened that I elite level could be enough to “A lot of it comes down to... second, with fellow American kind of absurd. got my hand on the wall,” he mean the diff erence between your brain gets used to a cer- Nathan Adrian taking his second control until Ervin’s late fl our- out a throaty roar to the delight “When I touched and turned said. “One one-hundredth of a gold or silver medal. tain frequency of sound and bronze, after fi nishing third in ish denied the Frenchman, the of the Brazilian crowd. around and saw the one next to flow and you know, you can’t “Even at the elite level, most processes it a lot faster if it’s the 100m. veteran American celebrating by Ervin sold the gold medal he my name I kind of smiled and control that. All I control is swimmers aren’t training with used to that specific sound.” Manaudou had looked in clenching both fi sts and letting shared after dead-heating with laughed.” how I do things.” Gulf Times 4 Sunday, August 14, 2016

SPOTLIGHT HARTING KEEPS DISCUS GOLD IN THE FAMILY

Rio de Janeiro: Germany’s all. I enjoy the stadium, it’s my Christoph Harting saved his stage. Everything else I leave to Shot put ‘Diva’ Carter best for last to win gold in the other people.” men’s discus yesterday to carry When asked about his final on a proud family tradition. winning throw, Harting said: Harting, whose brother and “You have moments in your life defending Olympic champion when you focus completely. Robert failed to qualify for I said to myself that no one’s the finals after sustaining a going to take that victory away puts up golden show strained back, managed a per- from me.” Malachowski, the sonal best of 68.37 metres on three-time world champion, his sixth and final attempt. congratulated Harting, saying: Poland’s Piotr Malachowski “It was a great day for Chris- The 30-year-old is trained by her father Michael, who won silver at the 1984 Games took silver with 67.55m and toph, he did a good job. But I Harting’s teammate Daniel Ja- didn’t lose to him but myself AFP sinski bronze (67.05). But Hart- because I didn’t throw as well Rio de Janeiro ing was reticent to answer any as I should have done.” questions about his brother or Harting admitted that in his off er any deep insight on his excitement he had dropped the hirty-two years after her father Olympic experience. boxed momento handed to him won a silver medal for shot put And the gold medallist’s as he received his gold medal. in the 1984 Olympics, Michelle press conference came to an “Unfortunately it broke but I Carter can now claim family abrupt end when a journalist got a new one. I couldnt’ stand Tbragging rights after going one better and made the gaff e of addressing still,” he deadpanned, pulling striking gold here on Friday. a question to Robert Harding. out and fingering the new The 30-year-old from California “Holy Jesus! Holy Jesus! That’s souvenir of the Rio Games. stunned two-time champion Valerie it, you can leave,” Robert’s little But he added: “I’m an intro- Adams of New Zealand in a dramatic brother stormed. verted guy. I feel like I’m so shot put fi nal at Rio’s Olympic Stadium, Before he walked out he had much put on the spot (before recording a personal best with her last told his audience: “I’m so happy media) and I feel embarassed. throw of 20.63m. to be here but would be happy I don’t have to produce a show. It was a sensational victory for Carter, to make a short statement. I I’m the Olympic champion and a professionally qualifi ed make-up artist don’t like answering questions. now I want to celebrate with who also campaigns to improve attitudes I’m an athlete not a PR man at my family and friends.” towards body image via a sports-confi - dence camp called “You Throw Girl.” Carter is trained by her father Michael, who went on to have a successful career in American football with the San Francisco 49ers after switching from track and fi eld following his silver in the 1984 Games. “I’ll be going around the house saying ‘Yeah daddy — I got you!’. It feels awe- some,” a delighted Carter said. “Me and him have a running joke. I’ve won more high school championships, he’s won more college championships. I always told him it’s going to take the cake if I win the Olympic gold, and today it’s hap- pened.” New Zealand star Adams, winner in 2008 and 2012, fi nished with silver after a best throw of 20.42. Adams looked to be fi rmly on course for gold after taking the lead on her second attempt. No other woman in the fi eld had broken 20m until Carter conjured up a monumental fi nal eff ort to take the lead. She then faced a nerve-wracking fi - nale as Adams attempted to regain the lead with her last throw. Adams broke 20m again but her eff ort of 20.39 was not Michelle Carter of the United States stunned defending champion Valerie Adams of New Zealand with her very last throw to win enough. the gold medal in the women’s shot put on Friday night at the Olympic Stadium. (AFP) Adams had been aiming to become the fi rst woman to win three consecu- “It’s tough but it’s sport. You have said Adams, who has had fi ve surgeries in last night. She was presented with her tive golds in an individual event following to take it on the chin,” Adams said. “At the last three years. To make it to the fi nal gold from 2012 a month after the Games wins in 2008 and 2012. But while she re- the last moment I was like, ‘Okay, shit, and get a medal is pretty awesome. I left in a private ceremony after it emerged mained disappointed she was gracious in I’ve got to pull out something here. And my heart out there. I cannot ask for more that Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus had defeat, and took satisfaction from mak- I came up short. I have to take it and re- than that.” failed a dope test. “It will be nice to be on Germany’s Christoph Harting celebrates on the podium after ing the podium after battling back from a fl ect back on the road that I’ve had. It’s Adams was also looking forward to re- the podium and to look around and for it winning the discus throw gold yesterday. (AFP) litany of injuries. been a tough road for me to even be here,” ceiving her medal in front of a stadium to feel legit,” Adams said.

ATHLETICS ROUND-UP DOPING Sole Russian athletics competitor Ennis-Hill loses heptathlon Klishina suspended from Games

Reuters The anti-doping body said a “perpetrator” had Rio de Janeiro illegally obtained the password for the middle- lead to Belgian rival Thiam distance runner’s account, and accessed details which would normally include her registered Agencies ussia’s sole track and fi eld competitor at whereabouts. Rio de Janeiro the Rio Olympics has been suspended “The World Anti-Doping Agency confi rms that from the Games, a source told Reuters Yulia Stepanova’s password for WADA’s Anti- yesterday. No details of the suspension Doping Administration and Management System elgian pretender Nafi Thiam wereR immediately available, but the Court of Ar- (ADAMS) was illegally obtained, which allowed snatched a fi ve-point lead over de- bitration for Sport said it had received an appeal a perpetrator to access her account on ADAMS,” fending champion Jessica Ennis-Hill from the long-jumper, against an IAAF eligibility WADA said in a statement. after the second day’s opening long issue. Russian offi cials in Rio and Moscow were Stepanova, in hiding in North America, helped jumpB yesterday. not immediately available to comment. reveal the biggest state-backed doping pro- Thiam leaped a best of 6.58 metres to leave gramme in Russia and was forced to fl ee the coun- her up front on a total of 5,018 points. British STEPANOVA RECORDS ILLEGALLY try with her husband for fear of her life. As a re- star Ennis-Hill only made 6.34m for 5,013 to ACCESSED AFTER WADA HACK sult Russia’s track and fi eld team has been banned increase the pressure going into the fi nal two from the Rio Olympics while all Russian competi- disciplines of the gruelling event. Russian whistleblower Yulia Stepanova’s elec- tors in other sports had to prove they were clean Ennis-Hill’s teammate Katarina Johnson- tronic account at the World Anti-Doping Agency by meeting several criteria in order to be eligible Thomspson also leapfrogged up the stand- has been illegally accessed, WADA said yesterday. to compete in Brazil. ings with a long jump best of 6.51m, leaving her just 46pts off her compatriot in the push for the podium. Ennis-Hill started the day FOCUS with a 72-point lead after what she dubbed a “mixed bag” in Friday’s fi rst four events at the Olympic Stadium. The 30-year-old, who became a mother last year, is bidding to become only the third Felix purrs through to semis woman to retain an Olympic athletics title after giving birth. Hurdler Shirley Strickland AFP fi ne form, along with American Phyllis Francis, achieved the feat in 1952 and 1956 before tri- Rio de Janeiro whose heat-winning time of 50.58sec was the ple jumper Francoise Mbango Etone emulated Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam competes in the women’s heptathlon long jump. (AFP) fastest, and Jamaican Stephanie Ann McPherson. it with victories in 2004 and 2008. The hep- Second and third fastest in the heats were Bah- tathlon was to resume late last night with the medal in track-and-fi eld, ran 11.01 to go fi nal on Friday, fi nishing 10th out of 12 quali- llyson Felix may not be competing in her rain’s Nigerian-born Oluwakemi Adekoya and javelin and the 800m. through in third. fi ers after the Briton fl irted with disaster by favourite race at the Rio Games, but the Salwa Eid Naser. Nursing a toe injury, Fraser-Pryce’s quali- fouling on his fi rst two jumps. US track star insisted she was wholly fo- Jamaica’s Fraser-Pryce embarks fying time was only her second sub-11 sec- Rutherford, who holds the Olympic, world, cused on adding 400m gold to her im- ‘King’ James in 400m romp onds race this season and she faces some stiff Commonwealth and European titles, won pressiveA haul of major championship medals. on triple quest competition to reach the top of the podium. gold at London 2012 in what British media Felix, the reigning 200m Olympic champion, Defending champion Kirani James blasted into Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce English Gardner and Tori Bowie, both hop- later dubbed Super Saturday when three Brit- fi nished fourth in that discipline at the US trials, the semi-fi nals of the Olympic 400m on Friday. launched her bid to become the fi rst woman ing to end the United States’ 20-year gold ish athletes topped the podium in the space of missing out on an Olympic berth to Jenna Prandi- The 23-year-old from Grenada arrives in Brazil to win three Olympic 100 metres titles by medal drought in the event, qualifi ed fi fth an hour. He looked in danger of an early exit ni by one-hundredth of a second. four years after a stunning gold medal in London booking her place in the semi-fi nals with a (11.09) and sixth (11.13). in Rio, however, making two foul jumps be- The loss ended Felix’s hopes of becoming only when he blew away the opposition at the ten- time of 10.96 seconds. The 29-year-old, who Elaine Thompson, whose 10.70 at the na- fore recording a distance of 7.90 metres on his the third woman in history to win both the 400m der age of 19. James looked in superb form in the won gold in Beijing and London, cruised to an tional championships this year equalled last attempt. and 200m at the same Olympics after Valerie opening heats, qualifying for the semis with the easy win in her heat in Rio, qualifying in fi rst Fraser-Pryce’s Jamaican record and was joint The 29-year-old will now defend his title Brisco-Hooks of the US in 1984 and Marie-Jose fastest time of 44.93sec. Although way outside place and posting the only sub-11 seconds fourth on the all-time list, won her heat in against challengers including China’s Jianan Perec of France in 1996. the season’s best — LaShawn Merritt’s 43.97sec time of the night. 11.21 but was overshadowed by local sprinter Wang and Jeff Henderson of the United But the reigning world 400m champion said — James was in cruise control over the fi nal 30m Fraser-Pryce, sporting yellow-and-green Rosangela Santo. The Brazilian delighted the States, who qualifi ed in fi rst and second place she was just happy to get on the blue track of the of his heat and clearly has plenty in the tank. hair, was one of few athletes to elicit a cheer smattering of spectators left in the stadium with jumps measuring 8.24m and 8.20m. Olympic Stadium after coasting through her fi rst James was a bronze medallist at the world from the meagre crowds at Rio’s Olympic with a second place fi nish and time of 11.25. Another likely contender is Team USA’s round outing. Likely rivals moving into today’s championships in Beijing last year when he made Stadium on the fi rst day of the athletics com- Jarrion Lawson, who jumped 8.58 metres at semi-fi nals, with the fi nal slated for tomorrow, the podium after a blistering fast fi nal which saw petition. Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee London long jump champ the U.S. Olympic trials and in July was the include teammate Natasha Hastings. Hastings the top three dip below 44 seconds. The winner of Ahye won her heat in 11 seconds fl at to qualify Rutherford scrapes into fi nal fi rst man to win the 100 metres, 200 metres eased off to win her heat ahead of Britain’s former that race, South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk eased in second place. and long jump since 1930s track-and-fi eld Olympic, world and Commonwealth champion into the semis on Friday with a time of 45.26. US Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast, Defending Olympic long jump champion star Jesse Owens at the US collegiate cham- Christine Ohuruogu. star Merritt, the silver medallist in Beijing, was aiming for her country’s second Olympic Greg Rutherford scraped into the Rio Games pionships. Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas also looked in similarly imperious, winning his heat in 45.28. Gulf Times Sunday, August 14, 2016 5

ATHLETICS Lilly who? Gatlin hits back at ‘Sluggish’ Bolt does swim ace aft er 100m romp

Rio de Janeiro: Justin Gatlin hit back at US swimmer Lilly enough in 100m heats King yesterday after breezing through his opening 100m heat at the Rio Games to remain on an collision course ‘Good vs Evil’ again as Bolt, Gatlin ready for tonight’s 100m duel with Usain Bolt. Teenage star King made headlines this week when she Jamaica’s Usain Bolt said athletes like teammate (second left) sprints to Gatlin who had previously victory in the 100m heats failed dope tests should be at the Olympic Stadium in barred from the Olympics. Rio de Janeiro. (AFP) But Gatlin, 34, who has twice been convicted of doping off ences, gave King’s comments short shrift here Saturday after coasting through his opening heat in 10.01sec. “I don’t even know who Lilly King is — she does swimming, not track and field. I’m not worried about that,” Gatlin told reporters after his race. Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion, insists that his role as the pantomime villain of athletics is wide of the mark, adamant that he has paid his dues after serving a four-year ban for the second of his two doping off ences. “I have confidence in the policies. USADA (United States Anti Doping Agency) has done a great job, WADA (World Anti- Doping Agency) has done a great job,” he said. “I’ve come back and done what I need to do. I’ve worked hard to get back to here, I’ve been tested like everyone else and Reuters the evening. He batted back questions Jamaican sprint king had “saved” his applied label — ‘two-time dope cheat’ I believe in the system like Rio de Janeiro about his leg, saying he was “good”. sport from a bruising reputational body — implies. everyone else.” Gatlin, 34, produced the fastest blow. The prospect of 2004 Olympic His fi rst doping suspension in 2001 Gatlin’s time was the fastest time of the morning, 10.01 as the 2004 champion Gatlin — twice found guilty arose from the use of a drug to treat at- of the morning, with Jamaica’s amaican Usain Bolt won his 100 champion seeks to become the oldest of doping during his career — was too tention defi cit disorder that he had been defending champion Bolt metres heat after what he called man to win a medal in the 100m and the much to stomach for many in athletics. prescribed since childhood. The US fourth quickest after clock- a ‘sluggish’ start yesterday, but fi rst to do so after serving two doping Yet the notion that Bolt’s victory in panel hearing that case found he ‘was ing 10.07sec in warm sunny looked pained after the race as bans. “I am just staying focused, I went Beijing had set track and fi eld on a road certainly not a doper.’ conditions. The 30-year-old heJ prepared to fend off the challenge of out there and executed my race in the to redemption turned out to be woefully A second positive in 2006 — for ex- world record holder, greeted American Jason Gatlin for the Olympic fi rst round and cruised to fi nish line,” premature. In the 12 months since, ath- cessive levels of testosterone — was with acclaim by the large crown. Bolt, who turns 30 on the fi nal Gatlin said. letics has been left reeling by a corrup- more problematic. Gatlin blamed the crowd, will also bid to defend day of the Games, is aiming high in what Asked if the race felt more special, tion scandal involving top-level admin- results on sabotage by a therapist but his 200m and 4x100m relay he has said will be his fi nal Olympics, given that it is likely to be his last Ol- istrators and revelations over Russian was banned for eight years, later re- golds for the third time later in bidding to continue his streak of gold ympics, Gatlin replied: “Every Olym- doping that plunged the sport into the duced to four on appeal. the week. in the men’s 100m, 200m and 4x100m pics is special but as you get older you worst crisis in its history. Gatlin may fi nd it hard to escape the The second fastest time relay, the unprecedented “triple-triple”. understand the importance of running It means that today’s 100m fi nal at opprobrium, however, if he defeats Bolt of the morning session was He qualifi ed in a leisurely 10.07 sec- at Olympics.” Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Stadium, set today to deny a fairytale swansong for posted by the Ivory Coast’s onds, picking up the pace after lumber- Ben Youssef Metie, 29, of the Ivory for 10.25pm local time (4:25am Monday the sport’s greatest showman. Ben Youssef Meite, with ing from the blocks and looking stiff in Coast, notched the morning’s second- Qatar time) will inevitably once more be Bolt has endured a frustrating sea- 10.03sec. Canada’s Andre De his warm-up. “It wasn’t the best start, fastest time of 10.03, edging US framed as a battle of ‘good versus evil’ — son, repeatedly bothered by a hamstring Grasse also impressed, the I feel kind of sluggish. I think it’s the hopeful Trayvon Bromell’s 10.13, Bolt vs Gatlin. problem that has required extensive 21-year-old posting 10.04 sec. fact that it’s the morning. I’m not usu- which was still fast enough to qualify. In a global audience of hundreds of treatment and forced him to cut short Chinese sprinter Xie Zhenye ally running this early in the morning,” Canada’s Andre de Grasse, a 21-year- millions, many fans, including Inter- his appearance at Jamaica’s trials in was fifth fastest, winning his Bolt told reporters after the race which old who only took up running seriously national Association of Athletics Fed- Kingston in July. heat in 10.08. The semi-finals began at 12:42 pm local time in warm three years ago after an early focus on erations chief Sebastian Coe, may be The likeliest challenge to Bolt and of the 100m take place on to- sunshine. basketball, ran 10.04. tempted to watch through their fi ngers. Gatlin could come from the next gen- night with the final scheduled “Hopefully, tomorrow I’ll feel much Twelve months ago, when Bolt van- Gatlin, 34, wearily rejects a narrative he eration of sprinters led by Trayvon Bro- for 10.25 local time (4:25am better,” he added of today’s action when quished Gatlin in the World Champi- Justin Gatlin came home in 10.01 secs, sees as unfair, adamant that his story mell of the United States and France’s Qatar time Monday). the semis and fi nal take place late in onship 100m fi nal, many suggested the the fastest time of the heats. (Reuters) is far more nuanced than the bald, oft- Jimmy Vicaut.

CYCLING FOCUS ‘Sir Wiggo’ leads Britain to pursuit gold China win track Reuters gold aft er 2012 Rio de Janeiro

radley Wiggins fi red Britain to track cycling team pursuit gold heartbreak in a titanic fi nal battle with Aus- tralia at the Rio Games on Friday, Reuters was celebrating victory over etchingB his name into the record books as Germany in the fi nal only to be Rio de Janeiro the most decorated British Olympian of disqualifi ed for an illegal lane all time. change. Gong and Zhong were The icing on the cake for the quar- our years late maybe, but also denied a world champion- tet of Wiggins, Ed Clancy, Steven Burke Gong Jinjie and Zhong ship gold in March when they and Owain Doull was breaking the world Tianshi claimed China’s were demoted to silver behind record twice in the space of a few pul- fi rst Olympic track cy- Russians Voinova and Shmeleva sating hours at Rio’s velodrome. They clingF gold medal on Friday when because of another technicality. blasted round the boards in a new best they outpaced Russia in the fi nal That decision left coach Benoit time for the 4,000m endurance event of the women’s team sprint. Vetu so furious that he broke his to crush New Zealand in the fi rst round, The Chinese broke the world hand smashing it against a table. then went even quicker to beat battling record in qualifying for the fi nal This time there was no mis- world champions Australia, who had and while the victory margin was take and he was pumping his fi st squeezed past Denmark to reach the fi nal. only 0.294 seconds in the fi nal in happiness as his charges raced The Danes took the bronze medal. they were always too strong for home. “We are like old warri- Britain’s third consecutive Olympic Russians Anastasia Voinova and ors who have kept fi ghting. This team pursuit title was never the forgone Daria Shmeleva. medal is not just for the two of conclusion some expected it to be as Germany’s Mirian Welte and us, because there are many peo- the Australian quartet of Alexander Ed- Kristina Voegel beat Australian ple behind us who have worked mondson, Michael Hepburn, Sam Wels- duo Anna Meares and Steph- very hard,” Gong, whose helmet ford and Jack Bobridge ran them close. Britain’s Owain Doull (from left), Ed Clancy, Steven Burke and Bradley Wiggins on the podium with the gold medals after winning anie Morton for bronze, denying was adorned with a Chinese doll The Australians made a terrifi c start and the track cycling team pursuit gold on Friday night. (Reuters) Meares a sixth Olympic medal. It mural, told reporters. were leading for three quarters of the race was a joyous moment for China, “We achieved a dream as cy- before Britain roared back to win by 0.743 “Eighteen months ago there were he said. “I wanted to go out on top, and and two bronzes, although fellow cyclist and Gong especially. clists and Chinese people as well. seconds in a time of 3:50.265. doubts that I could come back and do it was one of the best fi nals ever.” While Hoy’s collection includes six golds. One Four years ago in London, We wanted to conquer the world Former Tour de France champion Wig- this. It was gold or nothing for this team. few expected Britain to be pushed so of Wiggins’ golds was in the London 2012 riding with Guo Shuang, she record and win the gold medal.” gins, aff ectionately known as ‘Sir Wiggo’ We’re going out now. I’ll be hung over to- hard, Australia had not read the script road time trial, weeks after winning the after receiving a knighthood for his ex- morrow.” and launched a furious attack which had Tour de France. ploits, ran across the steeply banked track After Britain were beaten by Australia them 0.695 seconds ahead by halfway. Despite problems in the British Cycling to celebrate his eighth Olympic medal, at the world championships in London Wiggins, leading from the front, then camp in the lead-up to Rio, including one more than Chris Hoy, with his wife this year, Wiggins promised that Britain put the hammer down and the tide turned Wiggins’ old mentor and team director Catherine. would reverse the result in Rio. He proved with the crowd roaring as the split times Shane Sutton standing down after a dis- British fans chanted ‘Wiggo Wiggo’ right. “Training camps at altitude, ear- showed Britain slicing into the defi cit. crimination controversy, Britain’s domi- after the podium ceremony at which ly starts and late fi nishes. Cycling on “We knew going into the race we had a nance on the boards continues. Wiggins, ever the entertainer, poked out Christmas Day. It was all for this and small chance,” Australia’s Hepburn told They won seven of the 10 track cycling his tongue during the anthem, causing we’ve done it. These three guys here are reporters. “We decided to go full from the events in London and already have two chuckles from his team mates. “Hats off amazing,” Wiggins said before confi rm- line. Ride fast schedule, put them under after two days in Rio following the men’s to the Australians — they’re the reason we ing this would be his last Olympics. pressure and hopefully we can hold on. team sprint triumph on Thursday when get up in the morning. It’s a relief,” he told “My kids need a proper dad in their We rode faster than we’ve ever done.” Jason Kenny took his Olympic gold medal reporters. lives. My wife needs a proper husband,” Wiggins now has fi ve golds, one silver haul to four. Gold medallists China’s Gong Jinjie (left) and Zhong Tianshi. (AFP) Gulf Times 6 Sunday, August 14, 2016

TENNIS Sania-Bopanna enter Murray to face del mixed doubles semis Potro for gold medal Murray beat Nishikori, while del Portro overcame Nadal in the semis

Andy Murray of Britain celebrates after winning his semi-final match against Kei Nishikori of Japan at the Rio Olympics. (Reuters)

India’s Sania Mirza (left) and Rohan Bopanna during their win over Britain’s Heather Watson and Andy Murray in the mixed doubles quarter-final in Rio de Janeiro. (AFP)

Rio de Janeiro: The star Indian match. “We saw Andy’s match duo of Sania Mirza and Rohan last night and our game plan Bopanna entered the semi- was to try and take him out of finals of the mixed doubles ten- the game as much as possible nis event at the Rio Olympics and play to his weakness, if he by defeating Andy Murray and has a weakness.” Heather Watson of Britain in “It was also to take the ball straight sets on Friday night. as much as possible to Heather. The Indians won their Andy was serving and volley- quarter-final match 6-4, 6-4 in ing and for me that’s a good one hour and seven minutes at target,” Sania said after the the Olympic Tennis Centre. The match. fourth seeded Indian duo domi- “The conditions today were nated their British opponents favourable. It was not so windy with both Sania and Bopanna even though Andy Murray coming with some fine work at was playing amazing tennis.. the net and excellent returns The only way to win the game of serve. was to keep Andy away from Sania and Bopanna were the ball. And Sania hit the ball playing US team of Venus Wil- very well and helped me move liams and Rajeev Ram in a late well too. I also served very last night match, for a place well today. Luckily we got a in the final. Williams and Ram clean match in straight sets,” defeated Italians Roberta Vinci Bopanna said. and Fabio Fognini 6-3, 7-5 in “Andy missed a few first two hours and 22 minutes. serves and we capitalised on Reuters 6-4, 7-6(5). In the second men’s semi- medal, the ninth ever won by island na- Murray was clearly strug- it. There was a lot of pressure Rio de Janeiro fi nals yesterday, Nadal took the fi rst set tion Puerto Rico, a US territory. gling with his fitness after on Andy since he was covering 7-5 but lost the second 4-6. The third set But Kerber, the world’s No. 2 female having played a gruelling men’s three-fourths of the court. went into a tie-break, where del Potro player who is known for her aggressive singles match earlier on Friday You can’t say there were weak ritain’s Andy Murray advanced prevailed. Murray won gold at the 2012 counter-attacking style, has delivered and both Sania and Bopanna points with Heather. What we to the men’s Olympic fi nal with a London Games where he defeated Swit- consistently dominant performances admitted that containing him had to do was keep away from straight sets victory over Japan’s zerland’s Roger Federer in the fi nal. so far in Rio. The 28-year-old won the was the key to winning the the strong man,” he added. Kei Nishikori yesterday, securing But the Briton will have his work cut Australian Open earlier this year, while aB chance to defend his title and become out for him today. Del Potro, the bronze Puig has never made it to the fi nal eight the fi rst player to win two singles golds medallist in London, has drawn energy in a Grand Slam tournament. Also yester- at the Games. In a commanding per- from boisterous crowds of fans from day, Kvitova of Czech Republic defeated formance, the Wimbledon champion and neighbouring Argentina at the Games. Madison Keys of the United States to win number two ranked player broke Nishiko- He pulled off an upset by defeating world the bronze medal in the women’s draw in ri’s serve early on, breezing through the number one Novak Djokovic in the fi rst three sets, 7-5 2-6 6-2. fi rst set 6-1. Murray served aggressively round in Rio. and quickly closed out the match 6-1 6-4, Nadal, who has been beset by a wrist Safarova and Strycova clinch never giving Nishikori a single chance to injury, will play Nishikori in the bronze women’s doubles bronze break back. “I think I played really well,” medal play-off today. Nadal, however, Murray told reporters after the match. “I will leave Rio with a gold medal for Spain, Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova won didn’t give him any opportunities on my after he partnered Marc Lopez to clinch women’s doubles bronze yesterday with a serves and I was very aggressive when I the doubles title on Friday night. 7-5, 6-1 victory over compatriots, Andrea was returning.” Nadal was aiming to become the fi rst Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka. Safaro- Asked about the prospect of winning man ever to win two Olympic golds in va and Strycova had defeated three-time a second straight Olympic gold, Murray singles, after winning the title in 2008 at champions Serena and Venus Williams said: “It would mean a lot. Beijing. Nadal skipped the London Games in the fi rst round but were beaten by It’s obviously not an easy thing to do — due to a knee injury. The Spaniard also Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova and Elena that’s why it has not been done before.” had a chance to become the fi rst player defeated Madison Keys of the US to Vesnina in the semi-fi nal. Though Nishikori’s speed allowed him since 1924 to win a gold medal in both win the bronze medal. (AFP) Hlavackova and Hradecka had been to punch back against Murray’s blazing men’s singles and doubles at a Games. just two points from victory over Martina ground strokes, the Japanese player was Later last night, in the women’s singles to win Puerto Rico’s fi rst ever gold medal Hingis and Swiss teammate Timea Bac- Rafael Nadal (right) described his second Olympic gold as plagued by too many unforced errors. Olympic fi nal, Monica Puig of Puerto Rico at a Games. sinszky in their semi-fi nal on Friday. But ‘unforgettable’ after marking his return from his latest injury misery In today’s gold medal match, the was to face off against Germany’s Angel- By reaching the fi nal, and defeating Hlavackova was accidentally hit in the eye by partnering close friend Marc Lopez to the men’s doubles title in 29-year-old Briton will face Argen- ique Kerber for gold. Twenty-two-year- two-time Wimbledon champion Petra by Hingis and her challenge fi zzled out as Rio. The 30-year-old Spaniard added the 2016 doubles crown to his tina’s Juan Martin del Potro, who beat old Puig, ranked No. 34 in the world and Kvitova in the semi-fi nals along the way, a result. Hingis and Bacsinszky will face 2008 singles gold in Beijing by defeating Romania’s Florin Mergea Spain’s Rafael Nadal in a slug-fest 5-7, the underdog in the match, has a chance Puig has already guaranteed herself a Makarova and Vesnina for gold today. and Horia Tecau 6-2, 3-6, 4-6 on Friday night. (AFP)

FOCUS Lalita enters steeplechase fi nal to raise India’s hopes

IANS gentina sealed the match in the second quarter Rio de Janeiro which yielded them fi ve goals in a mesmerising display of attacking hockey. Martina Cavallero (16th and 29th minutes), Maria Granatto (23rd), ong distance runner Lalita Babar kept Carla Rebecchi (26th) and Agustina Albertarrio India’s hopes alive yesterday by quali- (27th) scored for the world No. 2 side. fying for the women’s 3,000 metre With this loss, India remained in the sixth LSteeplechase fi nals while rower Dattu spot, while the United States, Britain, Australia Bhokanal topped the Final C to fi nish 13th over- and Argentina made it to the quarters. all in another dismal day which saw the wom- Shooters continued their dismal show in en’s hockey team’s quarter-fi nal dreams dashed Rio, as Gurpreet failed to qualify for the fi nals by Argentina. of men’s 25 metre Rapid Fire Pistol qualifying Two more Indian runners - Sudha Singh and event while Mairaj crashed out of men’s Skeet Nirmala Sheoran - alongwith the women’s bad- qualifi cation round after a shoot-off for the -fi minton doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ash- nal two spots. Gurpreet fi nished seventh, just wini Ponappa and shooters Gurpreet Singh and outside the six qualifying spots, with a cumula- Mairaj Ahmad Khan also fl unked to add to In- tive 581 points with 24 inner 10s at the Olympic dia’s misery at the 31st Olympic Games. Shooting Centre. Disappointed Indian fans can however, take Gurpreet, who was ranked 10th, scored 289 solace from Lalita’s performance, who shattered points with 10 inner 10s after the fi rst qualifying the national record in the women’s 3,000 metre stage. He scored 292 points in the second stage. Steeplechase to qualify for the fi nal round. In Skeet, Mairaj shot a total of 121 along with She fi nished fourth fastest, clocking 9 min- four other shooters, requiring a shoot-off for utes 19.76 seconds in the Round 1 Heat 2 at the the fi nal two spots to reach the semi-fi nals at the Olympic Stadium to end overall seventh among Olympic Shooting Centre. the 15 qualifi ers. She qualifi ed as a lucky loser, The 40-year-old found himself out of the managing to squeeze in among the next top race after managing to shoot a +3 to drop to the eight fastest outside the top two of each heat Lalita Babar (left) clocked a national record time of 9:19.76 to finish fourth in the heats of the 3,000m steeplechase, becoming the first Indian woman ninth place. Shuttlers Jwala and Ashwini added who qualifi ed directly. to qualify for the finals of a track event at the Olympics since PT Usha’s 1984 feat. (AFP) insult to injury after losing their inconsequen- Lalita also became the fi rst Indian woman to tial Group A match against Puttita Supajirakul qualify for an individual Olympic track event fi - the lead at one stage. But Sudha failed to qualify dium, to be placed sixth among seven athletes in But it was the performance of the women’s and Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand to bow nal since PT Usha did so in 400m hurdles in the for the fi nal round after fi nishing a distant 30th her heat. hockey team, which conceded fi ve goals in a sin- out of the Olympic Games. 1984 Games. She had fi nished fourth in the fi nal. in the overall rankings. She clocked 9 minutes Rower Dattu also impressed one and all by fi n- gle quarter to further douse the spirits. Already out of the quarterfi nal race, Jwala The performance by the 2015 Asian Champi- 43.29 seconds in Round 1 Heat 3. ishing on top of Final C in men’s single sculls. He A higher-ranked Argentina thrashed the In- and Ashwini lost 17-21, 15-21 against Puttita and onship gold medallist was all the more praise- In women’s 400 metre, Nirmala Sheoran fi n- fi nished 13th overall. Already out of medal con- dians 5-0 as Sushila Chanu’s side suff ered its Sapsiree. With this loss, the Indian pair ended worthy as she had suff ered a fall early in the race ished overall 44th among 57 athletes to crash tention, Dattu topped the fi nal ranking race in fourth consecutive loss in Pool B to end their the Group A campaign with three consecutive before putting in a stupendous eff ort to position out. The Haryana athlete clocked 53.03 seconds 6:54.96 minutes, which was best timing among chances of a quarter-fi nal berth. losses. The Thai pair managed a win but it was herself in the leading group and even wresting in the Round 1 Heat 1 event at the Olympic Sta- the four races he participated in the Games. In the must-win game for both the teams, Ar- not enough to take them through. Gulf Times Sunday, August 14, 2016 7

JUDO BASKETBALL NBA stars rattled but Unstoppable Riner rally to beat Serbia powers to another Olympic gold ‘I am proud and happy, because I did not give up in the final, I did not give up in the USA’s Demar Derozan tussles with Serbian players during their match. preparation and I did not give up on the Olympics, despite the injuries, all the doubts...’ AFP Olympic gold medals and 14 in Rio de Janeiro total. Now at 4-0 in group play, they were already guaranteed of a spot in the knockout phase start- he vaunted USA basket- ing next week. ball squad survived a last- But a loss would have been a second scare from Serbia stunning fi rst in the Olympics on Friday to win 94-91 in a since 2004, and fi rst interna- TRio Olympics contest that exposed tionally in a decade. their potential vulnerability for a The Serbs came even closer to second straight game. an upset than medal hopefuls Aus- With a historic upset brew- tralia, who two days earlier pushed ing, Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanovic the champions throughout much missed a three-pointer with two of a 98-88 American win. seconds left to hand the defend- The USA defence smothered ing champions a grind-it-out the Serbs early, forcing eight victory and plenty to ponder fi rst-quarter turnovers to jump about the fast-fl owing interna- out to an 18-point advantage. tional game. Three straight slam-dunks, two Kyrie Irving’s 15 points led on alley-oops by US centre DeAn- six Americans in double figures dre Jordan, made it 23-5 late in the in a contest that at first looked fi rst period, and it appeared NBA like a rout thanks to a swarm- showtime had started. ing USA defence. But Serbian But American mental miscues big men Nikola Jokic — the only and sloppy passes prevented them team member to earn a living in from putting the hammer down as the NBA — and Miroslav Radulji- action became disjointed. ca brought the underdogs back as The Serbs closed to 50-41 at the Serbian off ence kept fi nding halftime thanks to 14 fi rst-half ways to penetrate. points inside by Raduljica, who USA guard Paul George admit- fi nished with 18. ted that the high-priced Ameri- The 2.09-metre (6-foot-10) can talent — who only began Jokic, who is just 21 but expected playing as a unit a few weeks ago by many to emerge as a star for the — were still adjusting to interna- Denver Nuggets, took over in the tional play. second half, repeatedly eluding his “We relied on natural talent to markers en route to 25 points. get us over this one,” George said. USA coach Mike Krzyzewski “That’s why these international called Jokic “spectacular.” “He guys are special in our league. played with the poise of a play- They really know how to move.” er much older. He had a great The USA has won the last three game,” Krzyzewski said.

BEHIND THE SCENES France’s Teddy Riner celebrates after defeating Japan’s Hisayoshi Harasawa during their men’s +100kg judo contest gold medal match.

AFP line of titles. Riner has not been beaten since 2010 In the weeks after his London triumph, English coach Ryan Rio de Janeiro The 2.04 metre (6ft 8in) colossus se- and that was a referees decision. He has Riner’s weight ballooned to 165 kilos (363 cured gold by beating Japanese rival not lost by a throw for nine years. pounds) as he indulged in his favourite Hisayoshi Harasawa. But he senses that invincibility is di- food. The kilos kill the speed and mobil- helped Fiji rugby e won by the smallest of mar- Riner only gave away one penalty, Har- minishing. Despite his defeat, Harasawa ity that is a mark of his combat. gins, but judo heavyweight asawa two for defensive posture and false said: “I don’t think he (Riner) is unbeata- He brought it down to 139 kilos (306 Teddy Riner became one of attack. There were none of the decisive ble, I will continue to challenge him when pounds) for Rio. But Riner also had an rediscover fl air the giants by winning a second ippon throws for thrill-seekers. I get a chance. Each tournament is hard, operation on a shoulder and other inju- Hstraight 100kg gold medal in Rio but it But the win capped a great day for despite the prizes I have won,” said Riner. ries that caused doubts. has been like climbing a mountain. French judo as Emilie Andeol also claimed “People sometimes say there are no ri- Despite having eight world titles, and Riner, 27, is one of the most popular gold in the women’s 78kg category. vals, but now they can say there are rivals. two Olympic golds and a bronze (from people in France, according to polls, and “It’s not always a party, not all the time Beijing 2008), getting up to go to the of- is unbeaten on the judo mat since 2010. TOKYO DOUBTS ippons in all directions. The others are as fi ce has not always been easy. But he had to battle injuries, his weight Riner said he had a feeling at the start hungry as I am and they are looking for “Its exhausting always being the last and fi nd a new desire to win to get from a of the day that he would meet Israeli Or ways to to the throw. It is getting harder fi ghter,” he said of his mood stressing gold at London in 2012 to a new title in Rio. Sasson in the semi-fi nal and 24-year-old to fi nd the solution.” how much he believes he deserves his “I am proud and happy, because I did Harasawa in the gold medal clash. Riner said it would be nice to go on to gold medal holiday. Sasson and Rafael not give up in the fi nal, I did not give up in “I knew these were going to be tough Tokyo 2020 and compete in judo’s home- Silva of Brazil bounced back from defeats the preparation and I did not give up on bouts. These two fi ghters were strong. land. But now holidays take priority. to Riner to claim bronze medals. the Olympics, despite the injuries, all the Today they showed it, these are very big As after London, the big man has to re- With the judo fi nished, Japan topped doubts and the way I have felt,” he said adversaries and in the future I will have to discover his will to win and how to con- the medals table overall with three golds, after collecting the latest in a glorious watch for them.” trol his hunger. one silver and eight bronzes.

BOTTOMLINE File picture of Fiji coach Ben Ryan (C) speaking to his players.

Reuters news conference. Rio de Janeiro “He brought out the real Fiji. For years we tried to get back the Fijian fl air and when Ben came, Record and gold for Iran’s Rostami iji captain Osea Kolinisau he brought that out and brought credited English coach Ben a real consistency to our game.” Reuters Tian came desperately close to “All the time I train alone, Ryan with helping the Pa- Rio de Janeiro being eliminated. just me in a training camp. cifi c islanders rediscover BABIES AND POP SONGS While Rostami cruised Ftheir traditional rugby fl air after The evidence of the rediscovery Nobody sees me. It can through his fi rst two lifts, Tian make your mind go a they became the fi rst Olympic of that fl air had been laid out for ianoush Rostami broke failed at 173kg, went up by 5kg bit crazy, but I will be men’s sevens champions at the Rio all to see at the Deodoro Stadium his own world record to for his next attempt and missed here again the next time Games on Thursday. on Thursday evening, when the win gold in the men’s that too. (at the 2020 Games in Fiji has produced some of the Fijians produced an awesome 85kg weightlifting Tokyo) for sure” greatest players ever to have seven-try demolition of Britain Kat the Rio Olympics on Friday FINALLY FOUND STRENGTH played the shortened version of to clinch the gold medal. and clinch Iran’s fi rst medal of On his third snatch, also at decisions,” he said. “Nobody the game, such as Waisale Ser- It was a sensational and hugely the Games, before promising it 178kg, he looked beaten, wob- thought it was possible to come evi and William Ryder, and their popular conclusion to the fi rst would not be the last. bling on his right knee and then to Rio without a coach but here success has allowed the coun- rugby tournament at the Olym- Rostami, 25, a bronze medal- on his left before he fi nally found I am. try to wave its fl ag on the global pics since 1924. list in the same category in Lon- the strength to make the lift. “All the time I train alone, just sporting stage. Kolinisau, who scored the fi rst don four years ago, made 217kg Tian missed his fi rst two clean me in a training camp. Nobody Since the introduction of the try with a burst down the left with his fi nal clean and jerk for a and jerks too, evoking memo- sees me. It can make your mind world sevens series in 1999, how- wing, said he was still struggling total of 396kg, beating his world ries of the IWF world champi- go a bit crazy, but I will be here ever, the team have often strug- to digest the fact he was an Ol- record by one kilogram. onships in Houston, Texas last again the next time (at the 2020 gled with consistency, romping ympic champion. Tian Tao of China took silver November when he missed all Games in Tokyo) for sure.” through one tournament only to “I told the boys when we were with 395kgs despite making only three attempts, having led after crash out early in the next. up at the podium: is this even two of his six lifts, while Ro- the snatch. MORE GOLD FOR IRAN Ryan, a former England coach happening? Are we gold medal mania’s Gabriel Sincraian, who “I was too confi dent and Rostami predicted more weight- who helped develop many of the winners?” he said. lifted a total of 390kg, secured didn’t keep calm in the world lifting gold for Iran in Rio as the players that face the Fijians in “I never dreamt of being an Ol- bronze after edging out Kaza- championships,” Tian said. “To- country has favourites in two of Thursday’s fi nal, arrived in Suva ympian let alone being a medallist, khstan’s Denis Ulanov. night I always thought I would the remaining three men’s med- three years ago to rectify that. let alone being a gold medallist.” Rostami looked supremely make the third one. al events, Sohrab Moradi in the Since then, the Fijians have Ryan, who is such a popular confi dent throughout, though “I off er my congratulations 94kg and Behdad Salimikorda- won the last two world series fi gure in Fiji that he has had ba- he said he was not as sure as he to the winner and hope we have biasi in the super-heavyweights. and in Rio they produced a string bies named in his honour and looked when he went for the many more chances to compete “We will see more gold med- of sevens masterclasses, going pop songs written about him, is winning lift. against each other. I am confi - als, and more world records for through the tournament unbeat- out of contract after the Olym- “I have lifted 225 in training, dent I can beat him.” Iran,” said Rostami. en to claim their country’s fi rst pics and has said he would take a but that 217 was a challenge,” Kianoush Rostami (IRI) of Iran celebrates winning the gold medal. Rostami coaches himself, a “Now that I have won, I’m Olympic medal. break before deciding on his next the Iranian told reporters. “Any- point he made several times to sure others will win too.” “We are really blessed that he challenge. thing can happen.” Rostami bowed and gestured to attempt and fi nished the snatch the reporters after sealing gold. Now to see whether Rostami came and coached Fiji,” Kolini- “Hopefully, after his break he When he made his fi rst two the crowd. only 1kg ahead of his main rival, “The Iranian coaches are can prove to be an inspiration for sau told reporters with Ryan sit- decides to stay with Fijian rugby snatches with apparent ease, However, he missed his third Tian. Earlier, the 22-year-old good but I want to make my own his compatriots. ting next to him at the post-fi nal a little longer,” said Kolinisau. Gulf Times 8 Sunday, August 14, 2016

Ethiopia’s Etenesh Diro got tangled up with two other runners in yesterday’s 3,000m women’s Olympic steeplechase and stopped to tear off her damaged right shoe and sock, but she kept on running to finish seventh. Diro, a 25-year-old who placed fifth in the event at the 2012 London Games, broke down in tears after finishing in 9 minutes 34.7 seconds, more than 20 seconds off her personal best. But it did not mark the end of her Rio Olympics after off icials granted her a spot in tomorrow’s final. The International Association of Athletics Federations also cleared Ireland’s Sara Louise Treacy and Jamaica’s Aisha Praught to run in the final after reviewing video replays of the race following protests by their teams. (Reuters / David Gray)

Mariel Zagunis of the US cuts a lonely figure after losing the women’s team sabre fencing semi-final at the Carioca Arena 3, yesterday. (AFP / Kirill Kudryavtsev)

An overview shows the match between China’s Chen Long (top) and Poland’s Adrian Dziolko during their Palestine’s Mohammed Abukhousa reacts in pain after competing in the 100m heats at the Olympic Stadium. (AFP / Olivier Morin) men’s singles qualifying badminton match at the Riocentro stadium in Rio. (AFP / Antonin Thuillier)

Tania Calvo Barbero of Spain (right) falls after colliding with Olivia Podmore of New Zealand during the women’s Keirin first round track cycling Germany’s Sonke Rothenberg on Cosmo grimaces after his horse hit a groom (second right), who suff ered event at the Velodrome during the Rio Olympic Games. The crash occurred on the final lap of the sprinting event when French rider Virginie a cut in his head during the victory ceremony of the Equestrian’s Dressage Grand Prix at the Olympic Cueff used her shoulder to push Dutch rider Laurine van Riessen on to the outer wall and nearly into the stands. That caused Podmore and Equestrian Centre in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. (AFP / John Macdougall) Barbero crash behind them. (AFP / Greg Baker) Gulf Times Sunday, August 14, 2016 9 OLYMPICS

FOOTBALL Germany rout ends Portugal’s perfect 2016 rsenal’s Serge Gnabry became the Olympics’ topscorer as Ger- Amany ended Portugal’s hopes of adding gold to a glorious 2016 with a 4-0 thrashing to reach the Rio 2016 semi-finals yesterday. Vic- tory takes Germany one step closer to a mouthwatering rematch with USA blast Swedish hosts Brazil in next Saturday’s final two years on from smashing the five-time world champions 7-1 on home soil at the 2014 World Cup. Brazil resume their quest for a maiden football gold medal in a South American grudge match with Colombia in Sao Paulo later in the evening. Next up for Germany is a semi-final with Nigeria or Denmark in Salvador on Wednesday as they exacted revenge for a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Portugal in last year’s un- der-21 European championships. ‘cowards’; Brazil The world champions greater experience told with the Portuguese squad ravaged by clubs not releasing players for the Games and a number of their stars from the under-21s having gone onto win Euro 2016 with the senior side in France last month. Gnabry has been a player reborn in Brazil after a couple of years blighted by injury and lack of first-team opportunities at Arsenal. The 21-year-old scored his sixth goal in four games when he coolly slotted home Julian Brandt’s inch-perfect pass to open the scoring in first-half stoppage time. survive Marta miss Mathias Ginter is the only member of the Germany team who was also part of the World Cup-winning squad two years ago, ‘We played a bunch of cowards. The better team did not win today. I strongly believe having showed his commitment by flying 20,000km from Borus- that. I think you saw American heart. You saw us give everything we had today’ sia Dortmund’s pre-season tour in China to Brazil for the Games. FOOD FOR THOUGHT AFP Rio de Janeiro All I wanted was a utspoken USA women’s goal- keeper Hope Solo labelled Swe- den “cowards” after the world free meal, says Kenya champions’ bid for a fourth straightO Olympic gold ended, whilst Brazil edged past Australia in a marathon penalty sprint coach Anzrah shootout despite a miss from star Marta in Friday night’s quarter-fi nals. Reuters Sweden progressed to their fi rst ever Nairobi Olympics semi-fi nal 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Brasilia as Sweden coach Pia Sundhage ousted the US team she led to enyan sprint coach gold in 2008 and 2012. John Anzrah had “We played a bunch of cowards,” Solo only one thing on fumed. “The better team did not win to- Khis mind when dope day. I strongly believe that. I think you saw testers came calling at the Rio American heart. You saw us give every- Olympics athletes’ village — a thing we had today.” decent, free meal. Star striker Alex Morgan and substi- Instead of a fry-up, how- tute Christen Press missed penalties be- ever, he found himself imper- fore Lisa Dahlkvist converted the winning sonating 800m runner Fer- spot-kick despite Solo’s best eff orts to put guson Rotich and being told her off by changing gloves to delay Dahl- to pee in a cup before drugs kvist’s eff ort. testers fi nally discovered the “It is ok to be coward if you win,” Sund- 52-year-old could not possibly “I was confronted by three hage shot back. “What she did was an act be a world class athlete, ready anti-doping guys, who de- of panic,” added Swedish goalkeeper Hed- for the biggest race of his life. manded to know my national- vig Lindahl of Solo’s time-wasting tactics “On Wednesday, Ferguson ity. They checked their list and before the fi nal penalty. Rotich gave me his card to use confi rmed Ferguson was due USA coach Jill Ellis tried to diff use the for breakfast,” Anzrah told a for random testing.” row. “They executed her game plan very throng of reporters upon land- “I told them I was not Rot- well. It’s a matter of knowing how to use all ing at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta ich, but they would hear none the resources you have,” said the English- International Airport from Rio of it. They led me into a room, woman. “And fi nally the most important on Friday. “If I had an accredi- demanded my urine sample thing is the result, not how to play.” tation card, this would not but I declined, asking my col- Elsewhere, the 120 minutes of high have occurred. I did not steal league to alert Ferguson. He drama in front of a near capacity 60,000 the card, so I could not have came with his passport to crowd in Belo Horizonte produced no goals impersonated anybody.” prove the card I used was his. I between Brazil and Australia. Both teams The former runner said was then released.” then found the net with their fi rst four pen- hunger had led him and other But the incident, instead alties, but Brazil’s bid for a fi rst gold medal coaches to using the athletes’ of ending there, set in mo- looked lost when national hero Marta saw accreditation to enter the off - tion a chain of events that saw her eff ort saved by Lydia Williams. limits athletes’ village where the coach being sent home The fi ve-time World Player of the Year the dining hall is a feast for the instantly in disgrace and the was on her knees in tears of relief seconds Brazil’s Marta (fourth from left) covers her face after missing a penalty during the shoot-out against Australia in their Rio Olympic senses with a vast variety of International Olympic Com- later, though, as Barbara parried Katrina Games women’s football quarter-final match in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on Friday. Brazil won 7-6 to make the semi-finals. (AFP) foods on off er, from Asian to mittee looking into the aff air Gorry’s spot-kick to keep the hosts alive. Italian and Brazilian. and threatening with possible Another fi ve penalties were scored before Morgan looked to have saved America’s spite scoring just twice in three matches as China in Salvador with Melanie Behringer “We were operating in Rio sanctions. Barbara produced more heroics to turn blushes when she swooped 13 minutes from they sneaked into the last eight as one of the netting the winner 14 minutes from time. like beggars, cooking for our- “I did not give urine sample. Alanna Kennedy’s shot behind for a 7-6 the end of normal time to cancel out Stina two best third-placed sides from the group selves in a private house, but I am challenging them (Kenya win and spark wild scenes of celebration. Blackstenius’s opener just after the hour stages. “When I looked at my players before Results (Quarter-finals) our athletes always helped us offi cials) to prove that claim,” “I didn’t want to be the focus of atten- mark. But the world’s number one ranked side starting the extra time and penalties and I US 1 (Morgan 77) Sweden 1 (Blackstenius 61) get food. We were only being Anzrah said. “But I signed tion in that way,” said Marta. “I leave (the failed to break down Sundhage’s well-organ- was so confi dent in my players,” she added. (Sweden won 4-3 on penalties) given ordinary one-day pass- documents just to buy time attention) to Barbara.” ised Swedes in extra-time, who also had a per- Solo’s Games has been dogged by con- China 0 Germany 1 (Behringer 76) es. It was a shame,” he said. for the athlete to arrive at the Next up for Brazil is a rematch with Swe- fectly good goal from Lotta Schelin wrongly troversy as she received chants of “Zika” Canada 1 (Schmidt 56) France 0 He had just fl own back from dope-testing centre. I did that den, who they beat 5-1 in the group stages, ruled out for off side in the nalfi minutes. from fans across Brazil for Twitter posts on Rio after being expelled from in the interest of the athlete.” Brazil 0 Australia 0 in Rio’s iconic Maracana on Tuesday. “I don’t think they’re going to make it her elaborate precautions against the virus. (Brazil won 7-6 on penalties) the team and he could now The IOC since has con- Sweden infl icted America’s fi rst defeat far in the tournament. I think it was very Canada, meanwhile, maintained their face possible criminal charges fi rmed Anzrah was not tested in 15 games at the Olympics and only their cowardly,” added Solo. “We had that style perfect record in Brazil to set up a semi-fi - Semi-finals Line-up (Tuesday) at home. Anzrah said it was and Rotich was tested a little third ever in Games history having won four of play when Pia was our coach.” nal with Germany in Belo Horizonte thanks pure coincidence that the test- later and was cleared to com- golds and a silver since women’s football Sundhage insisted she had full faith the to Sophie Schmidt’s winner in a 1-0 win Brazil vs Sweden ers came calling when he was pete in his athletics event later was introduced to the Olympic programme. Swedes could pull off a massive upset de- over France. Germany overcame 10-man Canada vs Germany about to have breakfast. on Friday.

ROUND-UP Eagles help Rose edge ahead aft er Van Zyl ace Reuters Rio de Janeiro Polish weightlifting brothers Tomasz, Landmark trampoline silver a Page-turner for Britain Adrian thrown out of Rio for doping ryony Page carved out a slice of ritain’s Justin Rose, the player who hit the trampoline gymnastics history fi rst Olympic hole-in-one in 112 years this olish weightlifter Tomasz nandrolone. Its concentration Bat the Rio Games on Friday when Bweek, edged ahead in the Olympic men’s Zielinski and his brother was nearly twice the permissible she became the fi rst British woman golf tournament yesterday after a blistering start. PAdrian have been thrown out norm,” he said. “Today we have ever to win a medal in the event. Rose, the world No. 12, fi red eagles on the third of the Rio Olympics after testing received confi rmation. The athlete Holding back tears, the 25-year- and fi fth holes to take a one-stroke lead over Aus- positive for banned substances, the faces a four-year suspension.” old appeared shocked at her success tralian Marcus Fraser who had been sitting atop Court of Arbitration for Sport said Adrian won gold in the 85kg as the judges revealed their scores and the leaderboard since Thursday. Sweden’s Hen- yesterday. CAS also said Chinese category in London and had moved the realisation fi nally dawned that she rik Stenson, the British Open champion, was also swimmer Chen Xinyi was provi- up to the next weight category, would be taking home the silver. threatening the lead at two strokes back, tied for sionally suspended. 94kg, for Rio. Page and her teammate, Kat Dris- third place with France’s Gregory Bourdy. Tomasz, who like his brother, was Chen fi nished fourth in the coll, were Britain’s fi rst women’s tram- The Americans, who had more players in the down to compete in the 94kg cat- women’s 100m butterfl y fi nal on poline gymnasts to reach an Olympic fi eld of 60 than any other country, fi nally showed egory, tested positive for perform- Sunday and was scheduled to swim fi nal in a sport that has been dominat- signs of life on a sunny day in Rio with forgiving ance-boosting anabolic steroids. in the 50 freestyle heats on Friday ed by Chinese athletes in recent years. conditions. “The athlete is declared ineligi- in Rio. She tested positive for hy- However Page, the 2015 British Rickie Fowler, who has been in Rio over a week ble to compete in and is excluded drochlorothiazide, CAS said. champion, looked determined to buck and has been spotted all over the athletes’ village from the Olympic Games,” CAS “The athlete accepted a provi- this trend from the moment she fi rst celebrating his Olympic debut, shot a blistering said. “His accreditation shall be sional suspension on a voluntary stepped onto the trampoline. Opening seven under-par 64 that he said would give him withdrawn.” basis,” CAS said. “The procedure her set routine with a fl oating three- some much-needed sleep. Earlier on Friday, the Polish An- will continue and the CAS... will quarter front somersault, a technical- “After playing well today I got myself some ti-Doping Agency said Adrian, an issue a fi nal award before the end ly simple skill that requires extreme back,” she said. and 2008 Olympic gold medallist He more sleeping time with a later tee time, so I’m Olympic champion in weightlift- of the Games.” physical control, she appeared to hang There was certainly no reserve Wenna before Canada’s Rosie Ma- looking forward to it. It’d be nice to get off to a ing four years ago in London, had CAS also confi rmed the disqual- momentarily in the air, weightless. in evidence. A booming piked tri- cLellan rose to the occasion and be- good start and give myself a chance to possibly also been sent home after testing ifi cation of Bulgarian runner Silvia A slightly weaker performance in ple front somersault with half twist, came the fi rst trampoline gymnast to podium,” Fowler told reporters. positive for nandrolone. Danekova who tested positive for the voluntary round pushed her into known as a triff , kicked off an elegant win back-to-back golds. Fowler’s teammate Bubba Watson also worked Adrian failed a test in Poland be- blood-boosting EPO. seventh position, yet her composure and powerful routine packed with “I was really happy with my routine his way up the standings and was tied for fourth fore the Games, Michal Rynkowski, The 33-year-old, who was due was unaff ected. strong lines and tight shapes. in the fi nal,” Page, who fi nished seventh with a couple of holes to go. director of Poland’s Commission to compete in the women’s 3000m With the scoreboard set to zero Pinned to the central cross, her in qualifying, told reporters. “It was the Earlier, South African Jaco van Zyl fi red the Against Doping in Sport, told re- steeplechase tomorrow, has been heading into the fi nal round, the Shef- natural power made a 14.400 diffi - best routine I could have done. “Find- second ace in Olympic history in yesterday’s third porters in Warsaw. suspended after failing an out- fi eld University graduate visibly oozed culty routine look eff ortless. ing out I’d got a medal, I couldn’t hold round. Van Zyl aced the 173-yard, par-3 eighth “I can clearly confi rm that a of-competition test on August 1, confi dence. “If I want to get a medal, The top spot was hers and she suc- my legs up. I just collapsed and I was hole and played the front nine in one-under to urine sample taken from Adrian the Bulgarian Olympic Committee if I want to do my best, I have to give it cessfully defended it against Chinese crying my eyes out. When I found out I stand on two-over for the tournament. Zielinski gave a positive result for (BOC) has said. absolutely everything with no holding attacks from world champion Li Dan got the silver, I was just shell-shocked.” Gulf Times 10 Sunday, August 14, 2016 SPORT

RALLYING/ HUNGARIAN BAJA Qatar’s Adel Hussein holds on to third position

Agencies “The car stopped for three minutes 4min 27sec behind Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Veszprem (Hungary) inside the stage and we lost time and Saeidan at the midday break. that has dropped us to third in T2,” Mariusz Wiatr slotted into second said the Doha-based driver. “It was a position and Adel Hussein was closely issan’s Adel Hussein Ab- tiny problem with the cable on the fuel followed by the Polish driver Jaroslaw dulla did his quest for glory pump. Saying that, it is still early days Kazberuk in fourth. Qatar’s Moham- in the FIA T2 World Cham- in the rally and we are still determined med al-Harqan held fi fth place. Npionship no harm at all by to fi ght for the win.” Teams will tackle a fourth and fi nal holding third position in the category The Qatari carded a time of 9min stage of 170.72km today morning. after two special stages of the Hungari- 11sec through the opening 10.31km an Baja, round six of the FIA World Cup super special stage that followed the for Cross-Country Rallies, yesterday. offi cial start in Veszprém’s Old Town Positions after SS2 (T2 class) The Qatari driver and French navigator Square on Friday evening. That im- 1. Yasir Saeidan (SAU)/Alexei Kuzmich Jean-Michel Polato headed into the re- pressive time catapulted the Qatari 15 (RUS) Toyota Land Cruiser 200 maining two stages of the event knowing seconds in front of his T2 series leading 2hr 19min 41sec that they needed to overhaul Saudi Ara- rival and well clear of the remainder of 2. Mariusz Wiatr (POL)/Artur Szczygel bia’s Yasir Saeidan and Poland’s Mariusz his rivals in the category for FIA Series (POL) Mitsubishi Pajero 2hr 21min 09sec Wiatr to snatch the outright champion- Production Cross-Country vehicles. 3. Adel Hussein Abdulla (QAT)/Jean- ship lead and take outright victory in the The meat of the action got underway Michel Polato (FRA) Nissan Patrol three-day Veszprém-based event. yesterday morning with the fi rst of 2hr 24min 08sec Adel Hussein, who is currently just two runs through a demanding selec- 4. Jaroslaw Kazberuk (POL)/Robin two points behind the leader of T2 in tive section of 170.24km that wound Szustkowski (POL) Ford Raptor the points’ standings, is running a Nis- its way through some of the remotest 2hr 24min 27sec san Patrol with support from Nissan Hungarian countryside. Adel Hussein 5. Mohamed al-Harqan (QAT)/Nasser Middle East and the Qatar Motor and passed one of the offi cial split time al-Kuwari(QAT) Toyota Land Cruiser Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) on one checkpoints in 1hr 50min 09sec and 2hr 26min 27sec of the most demanding rounds of the went on to fi nish the special in a time 6. Tomasz Piec (POL)/Daniel Dymurski European Baja calendar. of 2hrs 14min 57sec. That put him just (POL) Nissan Navara 2hr 26min 45sec

BASEBALL MOTO GP Iannone pips Rossi to Austrian pole Rodriguez double AFP turn three during third practice Spielberg, Austria while trying to avoid teammate Dani Pedrosa. The four-time world cham- orld championship pion was given the all-clear to leader Marc Marquez race after a quick trip to hos- Wrecovered from a crash pital despite dislocating his in practice to qualify for the shoulder, and took advantage in Yankee farewell Austrian MotoGP in fi fth place, by securing a place on the sec- as Ducati rider Andrea Ian- ond row. none took pole position. Rossi, 37, is currently third ‘Retirement is synonymous with old. I am 41. I am not that old. I try not to use it that much. I Italian Iannone came out on in the standings behind the top in a thrilling duel with com- Spanish pair of Marquez and still think I can do some work, but I am not there right now. I am just going to enjoy tonight’ patriot Valentino Rossi to claim Jorge Lorenzo, but will have an pole for only the second time in excellent chance to claim his his MotoGP career. He posted third victory of the season from AFP Rodriguez missed all of 2014 while on a fastest lap of one minute and second on the grid. Defending New York suspension for PED use in connection with 23.142 seconds on the Red Bull champion Lorenzo was 0.219 baseball’s Biogenesis scandal. Ring circuit, with nine-time seconds slower than Iannone “I worked hard at trying to comeback,” world champion Rossi just and had to settle for fourth. other Nature couldn’t put a said Rodriguez. “If you look at my 22 years, over a tenth of a second down. complete damper on Alex if you look at the last two seasons this end- Iannone’s teammate Andrea Qualifying results Rodriguez’s going away party ing is what I am most proud of.” Dovizioso fi nished third to 1. Andrea Iannone (Italy) Ducati 1:23.142 yesterday as he revelled in his Rodriguez is four home runs shy of 700 make it an all-Italian front row. 2. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 1:23.289 3. Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Ducati 1:23.298 Mfi nal New York Yankees game and possibly for his career. Honda’s Marquez leads the 4. Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 1:23.361 the last of his contentious career. He has two homers since June 3, leaving riders’ standings by 48 points 5. Marc Marquez (Spain) Honda 1:23.475 Thunder and lightning cut short a pre- his career total at 696. He trails only Barry after winning last time out in 6. Maverick Vinales (Spain) Suzuki 1:23.584 game tribute but the ageing slugger pro- Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Germany, but there were con- 7. Cal Crutchlow (Britain) Honda 1:23.597 8. Scott Redding (Britain) Ducati 1:23.777 vided the fi rst fi reworks of the night for the Ruth (714) on the career list. cerns surrounding the 23-year- 9. Aleix Espargaro (Spain) Suzuki 1:23.813 Yankees by smacking a RBI double in his Rodriguez announced in March that he old when he crashed heavily at 10. Hector Barbera (Spain) Ducati 1:23.822 fi rst at-bat as New York beat the Tampa intended to retire at the end of 2017. Instead Bay Rays 6-3. of waiting, the Yankees forced his hand as “It is going to be tough to top that. This part of their ongoing a roster overhaul. is a memory I will own forever,” an emo- Rodriguez has a $20 million salary this tional Rodriguez said. year and is owed $20 million more in 2017, But after the double, he went zero-for- the fi nal year of a $275-million, 10-year three the rest of the night, displaying the contract that was the baseball’s largest batting struggles that led the Yankees to de- when he signed it. cide to release the former star in the middle His release will end a legendary but of the 2016 Major League Baseball season. controversial career with the Yankees After refusing Rodriguez’s request to which saw him repeatedly embroiled in start at third base, manager Joe Girardi al- controversy since arriving in New York in lowed him to make a cameo appearance in 2004 from the Texas Rangers. the ninth inning. He then brought him out Much of the Yankees failures in his fi rst after one out as the sold-out Yankee Sta- few seasons with the team was placed on dium crowd stood and cheered. Rodriguez’s shoulders. In the eight years “Some people think I wanted to make before he came to New York, the Yankees negative decisions,” Girardi said. won four World Series and six pennants. “But I have a huge heart. This is the last In Rodriguez’s fi rst fi ve years with the IN BRIEF time he plays. I wanted it to be something.” Yankees, they failed to reach the World Se- “I hope this is a good as it gets for him. ries even once. They also became the fi rst Dettori reaches landmark of 3,000 winners He’s not going out a champion and he’s not major league team ever to blow a 3-0 lead going out on a 30-home run season. That’s in a best-of-seven series in 2004. Frankie Dettori claimed his 3,000th winner on Friday, becoming the sixth my wish for every player that they get to go jockey to reach the landmark in British Flat racing. The 45-year-old Italian out the way they want,” Girardi added. achieved the milestone on the John Gosden-trained Predilection, his sec- The 41-year-old Rodriguez will now Results (Home team in CAPS) ond victory of the day at his local track Newmarket. “It’s special. I’m very be offi cially released, ending the Yankees’ Rodriguez said he doesn’t like to use members scurrying for cover. CHICAGO CUBS 13 ...... St. Louis 2 emotional because my family are here as well,” triple champion Dettori playing career of one of the most success- the word retirement and he hasn’t rule out The ceremony began with a short video Atlanta 8 ...... WASHINGTON 5 told reporters. “I’m very pleased for it to have happened at Newmarket be- ful yet controversial players of American playing again but said it is unlikely. tribute of his career highlights as Reggie PHILADELPHIA 10 ...... Colorado 6 cause this is where I landed 30 years ago. It’s not a big meeting, it’s not a baseball’s steroid era. “Retirement is synonymous with old,” Jackson, Mariano Rivera, owner Hal Stein- NY YANKEES 6 ...... Tampa Bay 3 Royal Ascot, it’s a mundane Friday night with 20,000 people. I’m relieved “I put the fans through a lot. I disap- he said. “I am 41. I am not that old. I try brenner and his mother and daughters Houston 5 ...... TORONTO 3 and very humble.” Dettori joins Gordon Richards, Pat Eddery, Lester Pig- pointed a lot of people but this feels good,” not to use it that much. I still think I can do joined him on the fi eld. BOSTON 9 ...... Arizona 4 gott, Willie Carson and Doug Smith on reaching 3,000 Flat race winners. Rodriguez said after the game. some work, but I am not there right now. I Rodriguez chuckled while standing with Chicago White Sox 4 ...... MIAMI 2 Rodriguez’s fi nal game caps a tu- am just going to enjoy tonight.” his daughters as the cloudburst boomed CLEVELAND 13 ...... LA Angels 3 Cavaliers confirm new deal for LeBron multuous fi ve days that started with an Rodriguez’s fi nal game with the Yankees overhead. As a parting gift, Hal’s sister San Diego 8 ...... NY METS 6 emotional news conference last Sunday, was put on a one-hour hold because of a Jennifer Steinbrenner presented Rodrigu- TEXAS 8 ...... Detroit 5 The Cleveland Cavaliers made it off icial on Friday, announcing they when it was announced he would be re- heavy downpour. ez with a base signed by his teammates. Cincinnati 7 ...... MILWAUKEE 4 have signed superstar LeBron James to a multi-year contract. “We are leased as a player. Minutes after Rodriguez’s pre-game cer- Rodriguez, who has twice admitted us- Kansas City 7 ...... MINNESOTA 3 very fortunate to have a championship group together, one that has He was given the option — and said yes emony began, the clouds opened up and ing performance-enhancing drugs, waved OAKLAND 6 ...... Seattle 3 grown organically to trust and sacrifice for one another, on and off the — to becoming special adviser which starts thunder, lightning and driving rain sent of- to the crowd but did not get a chance to Pittsburgh 5 ...... LA DODGERS 1 floor,” Cleveland general manager David Griff in said. “At the core of that next spring training. fi cials, players, fans and Rodriguez’s family speak as the downpour raged. Baltimore 5 ...... SAN FRANCISCO 2 group is LeBron. His leadership, passion and tireless commitment are the hallmarks of our success and have inspired our entire franchise.” James, who announced the new deal on Thursday on the website Uninterrupted, posted a picture on his Instagram account on Friday of him apparently Rodriguez says he is at peace with Yankees exit signing the paperwork. “Committed!!” he wrote under the photo. The Cavaliers did not release details of the contract but US sports broadcaster lex Rodriguez, one of “Baseball has a funny way to the Texas Rangers in 2000, a implicated in a steroids scandal I’m going to need a long nap ESPN reported that it was for three years, was worth $100mn and would Major League Baseball’s tap you on the shoulder when record at the time. that led to him being banned for and recover and see where life pay James $31mn in the first year and $33mn in the second, making him Agreatest sluggers, said you least expect it and tells you In order to keep him in the the entire 2014 season. takes me. It’s been a great run, an the league’s highest-paid player for the first time in his career. James has yesterday before his last game in it’s the end. I’m at peace,” the 22- Bronx, the Yankees rewrote the Yet Rodriguez, a three-time incredible journey,” he said. signed a pair of one-year deals with the Cavaliers over the past few years. pinstripes that he was “at peace” year MLB veteran said. record books by giving him a 10- American League MVP and 14- Asked about being tantalis- despite the abrupt nature of his “This is a happy day for me and year deal worth $275 mn. time All Star, stormed back by ingly close to the 700-home run exit from the New York Yankees. my family,” he added. Before the start of the 2009 hammering 33 home runs as a mark, Rodriguez said the fact “When you start playing as a lit- Rodriguez has had an extraor- season, Rodriguez admitted to 39-year-old to lift the Yanks into that the Yankees had asked him tle boy, you don’t think about the dinary career, with towering taking steroids during his seasons the 2015 playoff s. to serve as an adviser and tutor end,” said 41-year-old Rodriguez, highs and humiliating lows on with Texas after results of a confi- The Yankees owe Rodriguez for younger players next season who learned from Yankees owner his way to becoming fourth on dential doping test taken in 2003 for the rest of 2016 and another meant even more to him. Hal Steinbrenner last week that MLB’s all-time home run list with were revealed. $20mn for next season. “Hal has given me an oppor- he was going to be released after 696 blasts, trailing only Babe The man popularly known as A- He will pocket the money tunity to stay involved with the yesterday’s home game against Ruth (714), Henry Aaron (755) and Rod began being hearing taunts regardless, but with his release as organization (despite) all my the Tampa Bay Rays. Barry Bonds (762). of “A-Roid” and “A-Fraud”, but a player he is free to join another screw-ups and how badly I acted,” The stunning announcement After winning the American won local fans over by helping MLB club. Rodriguez told the pre-game was made at a news conference League most valuable player the Yankees win the World Series Just four home runs shy of the news conference. “The fact that last Sunday following a dismal (MVP) award with the Yankees crown in 2009. magical 700-mark going into his I’m walking out the door and Hal campaign in which Rodriguez has in 2007, Rodriguez exercised Injuries began to take a toll final game, Rodriguez said he wants me as part of the family, struggled to a.199 batting aver- his right to opt out of a 10-year, on Rodriguez and he hit rock was not thinking about a return that’s (like) hitting 800 home age with just nine home runs. $252-million deal he signed with bottom late in 2013 when he was to the diamond. “After all of this, runs for me.” Gulf Times Sunday, August 14, 2016 11 SPORT

CRICKET SCORECARD SPOTLIGHT

India 1st Innings: 353 (R Ashwin 118, W Saha 104, L Rahul 50) Qatar’s al-Tamimi West Indies 1st Innings: 225 (K Brathwaite 64; B Kumar 5-33) India 2nd Innings: (overnight 157 for 3) wins Australian L. Rahul c Brathwaite b Cummins...... 28 India thrash S. Dhawan lbw Chase...... 26 V. Kohli lbw Cummins ...... 4 Squash Open A. Rahane not out ...... 78 R. Sharma lbw Cummins ...... 41 W. Saha c Dowrich b Cummins ...... 14 R. Jadeja c Samuels b Cummins ...... 16 R. Ashwin c Brathwaite c Cummins 1 Extras: (b-1, lb-2, nb-6) 9 Windies to Total: (48 overs, 7 wkts declared) ...... 217 Fall of wickets: 1-49 (Rahul), 2-58 (Kohli), 3-72 (Dhawan), 4-157 (R. Sharma), 5-181 (Saha), 6-213 (Jadeja), 7-217 (Ashwin) Did not bat: I. Sharma, M. Shami, B. Kumar Bowling: S. Gabriel 3-0-19-0 (1nb), A. Joseph 4-0-23-0 (2nb), M. Cummins 11-1-48- 6 (3nb), J. Holder 9-1-50-0, R. Chase 11-1-41-1, secure series K. Brathwaite 10-1-33-0 West Indies 2nd Innings: Ashwin declared man of the match for his allround show K. Brathwaite lbw Kumar ...... 4 L. Johnson c R. Sharma b Shami...... 0 D. Bravo c R. Sharma b Shami...... 59 AFP M. Samuels b I. Sharma ...... 12 Gros-Islet, Saint Lucia R. Chase b I. Sharma...... 10 QNA Al-Tamimi started his tourna- J. Blackwood st Saha b Jadeja...... 1 Melbourne ment with victories over Dae- S. Dowrich c Kohli b Shami...... 5 hoon Jeong and Mohd Syafi q ndia routed the West Indies to com- J. Holder run out ...... 1 Kamal, and followed up by re- plete a series-clinching victory by A. Joseph c Shami b Ashwin ...... 0 atar’s Abdulla al- covering from a game down to the comprehensive margin of 237 M. Cummins not out...... 2 Tamimi captured beat Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu runs just before tea on the fi nal day of S. Gabriel c Kumar b Jadeja ...... 11 the 2016 Australian and Joel Makin in the quarter- Ithe third Test in St Lucia yesterday. Extras (lb-2, nb-1):...... 3 QSquash Open after fi nal and semi-fi nal respectively. West Indies were set the improbable Total: (47.3 overs, all out) ...... 108 beating New Zealand’s Campbell Going one game down at the target of 346 to win at the Darren Sam- Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Johnson), 2-4 Grayson 3-1 in the fi nal. start of the fi nal game, al-Tami- my National Stadium after the Indians (Brathwaite), 3-35 (Samuels), 4-64 (Chase), The Australian Open began mi recovered and took the next declared their second innings at 217 for 5-68 (Blackwood), 6-84 (Dowrich), 7-88 on August 6 in Melbourne amid three games in succession to seven 40 minutes into the day’s play. (Holder), 8-95 (Bravo), 9-95 (Joseph), 10-108 participation of several major in- claim a hard-fought 6-11, 11-9, Only Darren Bravo with 59 displayed (Gabriel) Bowling: B. Kumar 12-6-13-1, M. ternational players. 11-7, 11-5 win and lift the title. any form of meaningful resistance with Shami 11-2-15-3, I. Sharma 7-0-30-2 (1nb), R. the visitors’ potent mix of pace and spin Ashwin 12-2-28-1, R. Jadeja 5.3-1-20-2 proving too much for Caribbean bats- Toss: West Indies OVAL TEST men technically and temperamentally ill- Result: India won by 237 runs equipped to cope with the challenge. Umpires: Nigel Llong (ENG), Rod Tucker And in the end they gave yet another (AUS) inept batting display, being bowled out Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SLK) Younis and Shah for 108, their second-lowest total ever in a Test against India. Seamer Mohamed Shami spearheaded Bhuvneshwar Kumar trapped him leg- take Pakistan to the assault in taking three for 11 but all Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3L) of India celebrates the lbw dismissal of Kraigg Brathwaite before. the bowlers made key contributions in (L) of West Indies during the 5th and final day of the 3rd Test at Darren Sammy Ishant Sharma then took two impor- consigning the West Indies to defeat. National Cricket Stadium yesterday. tant wickets either side of the lunch in- brink of victory It not only gave India a 2-0 series lead terval, uprooting Marlon Samuels’ off - with one match left in Port of Spain next things here.” Frustrated by rain and West Indian de- stump and also comprehensively bowling AFP week, but also represented the fi rst time In the lone bright spot for the West fi ance in settling for a draw in the second Roston Chase, the man whose maiden London ever that they had won more than a single Indies on the day, fast-medium bowler Test, the Indian strike bowlers put the Test hundred on the last day in Kingston Test match in 11 series in the Caribbean Miguel Cummins reaped a bountiful har- home side immediately on the back foot was fundamental to the West Indies sav- dating back to their fi rst visit to the region vest in the morning, taking all four wick- at the start of their second innings with ing that fi xture. ounis Khan’s superb in 1952. “We’ve done quite a few fi rsts in ets as India pushed for quick runs to fa- both openers prised out by the fi fth over. Ravichandran Ashwin, named man of double century and the last year as a Test team,” said Indian cilitate a declaration. Leon Johnson departed without scor- the match for his hundred with the bat three wickets from Ya- captain Virat Kohli in acknowledging his Cummins fi nished with innings fi gures ing, fending a lifting delivery from Shami and contribution with the ball, consigned sir Shah left Pakistan team’s historic achievement. of six for 48 for a nine-wicket match haul. into the hands of Rohit Sharma at forward Alzarri Joseph to the indignity of a pair Yeyeing a series-levelling win af- “Credit goes to the entire squad be- Ajinkya Rahane kept the runs fl owing short-leg. His opening partner, Kraigg on debut before Jadeja claimed the fi nal ter they dominated the third day cause we recognised where we went as the wickets tumbled around him in Brathwaite, fell in the very next over as wicket of Shannon Gabriel to trigger the of the fourth Test against Eng- wrong in Jamaica and corrected those reaching an unbeaten 78. an inswinger from fi rst-innings destroyer Indian celebrations. land at The Oval yesterday. Younis’s 218 was the centre- piece of Pakistan’s fi rst-innings COLOMBO TEST 542 all out. His sixth innings of 200 or more in Test cricket was a dramatic way for the 38-year- old to end a run of low scores. Ton-up De Silva, Chandimal steer Sri Lanka to 214-5 Younis had managed just 122 runs in six previous innings this series, with a best of 33 in Paki- AFP SCORECARD stan’s fi rst Test win at Lord’s. Pakistan’s Younis Khan in Colombo Leg-spinner Shah then took action against England at Sri Lanka 1st innings: Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Silva), 2-21 (Perera), 3-23 three wickets for four runs in 22 the Oval in London yesterday. K. Silva c Smith b Starc...... 0 (Karunaratne), 4-24 (Mathews), 5-26 (Mendis) balls as England, in their second hananjaya de Silva scored his D. Karunaratne b Starc...... 7 Bowling: Starc 18-7-47-3, Hazlewood 11-3-27-0, innings, slumped to 88 for four was lbw. England, perhaps be- maiden Test century yesterday K. Perera c Smith b Lyon ...... 16 Lyon 34-9-72-2, Holland 21-5-34-0, M. Marsh 5-0- at the close — still runs 126 be- cause it was Root, reviewed but to steer Sri Lanka’s revival from K. Mendis c Smith b Starc...... 1 20-0, Smith 1-0-5-0 hind.Gary Ballance was four not it was another wasted challenge a precarious position to 214 for A. Mathews c Starc b Lyon...... 1 Umpires: Chris Gaff aney (NZL) and Sundaram out and Jonny Bairstow 14 not and the hosts were 74 for four, fiD ve at stumps against Australia on fi rst L. Chandimal not out...... 64 Ravi (IND) out. England now needed some- with Shah’s stumps fi gures of day of the fi nal Test in Colombo. D. de Silva not out...... 116 TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) thing remarkable if they were to three for 15 in seven overs a tes- De Silva and Dinesh Chandimal put Extras (b4, lb5) ...... 9 Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG) deny Pakistan victory with two tament to his eff ectiveness. together an unbeaten 188-run partner- Total (5 wickets, 90 overs) ...... 214 Reserve umpire: Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SRI) days left in the game. Pakistan resumed on 340 for ship for the sixth wicket to thwart the If the four-match series ends six after Asad Shafi q (109) and Australian bowling attack after Sri Lanka 2-2, Pakistan could go top of the Younis (101 not out) had both were reduced to 26 for fi ve while batting kept pushing hard by rotating their bowl- Medium-pacer Josh Hazlewood, left- world Test rankings but England compiled impressive centuries. fi rst in the third Test. ing options. arm spinner Jon Holland and allrounder must avoid defeat at The Oval Sarfraz Ahmed, 17 not out De Silva continued his gritty innings De Silva’s 240-ball stay was laced with Mitchell Marsh have so far returned to keep their hopes of replacing overnight, was the initial ag- by reaching 116 at close, with strong sup- 16 boundaries while Chandimal has so far wicketless during their spells. Sri Lanka batsman Dhananjaya de Australia at the summit alive. gressor yesterday and his typi- port from Chandimal, who scored his hit four boundaries. The visitors had dominated the morn- Silva (R) is congratulated by teammate England, 214 runs adrift on cally brisk 44 meant there was 11th Test half-century, batting on 64. The 24-year-old De Silva, who made ing session with Starc striking early to Dinesh Chandimal after scoring a cen- fi rst innings, suff ered a setback no problem in Younis taking 13 Australia’s Mitchell Starc and Nathan his debut at the start of this series, sur- have Kaushal Silva trudging back to the tury against Australia at The Sinhalese early in their second knock balls to add his fi rst run. Lyon shared fi ve wickets between them vived a dropped catch on 104 by Shaun pavilion after a 15-ball duck. Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo when captain Alastair Cook Younis later received excel- to decimate the Sri Lankan top-order be- Marsh at cover with Starc being the un- Lyon, who had had been criticised for yesterday. (seven) was squared up by a lift- lent support from Mohamed fore lunch but failed to make further in- lucky bowler. failing to utilise the turning conditions, ing Wahab Riaz delivery and Amir in a ninth-wicket stand roads in the remaining two sessions. But the batting duo ensured Sri Lanka also proved eff ective at the Sinhalese Kusal Perera caught at fi rst slip and then debutant Iftikhar Ahmed, going of 97 as the tailender frustrated After settling at the crease, De Silva go into the second day with their tails up Sports Club ground with his two wickets. the prized wicket of Sri Lankan skipper to his right, held a good catch at England with a Test-best 39 not and Chandimal counter-attacked against against the Australian attack that seemed The spinner seemed to have learnt Angelo Mathews, who was out for just fi rst slip. out. an aggressive Australian onslaught who to have lost its way after the initial burst. his lessons on these pitches after getting one. Joe Root, one of England’s key Younis completed his double batsmen along with Cook, then hundred in style when he ad- fell for 39 when he played back vanced down the pitch to drive HORSE RACING to a quicker Shah delivery and Ali for a fourth six in 281 balls.

OVAL SCORECARD

England 1st Innings : 328 (M Broad 29-5-99-1 (1nb, 1w); Finn 30- Dahham wins Al Rayyan Cup Ali 108, J Bairstow 55; Sohail 1-110-3 (2w); Woakes 30-8-82-3; Ali Khan 5-68) 23-1-128-2 (1nb); Root 5-0-21-0 WBy A Correspondent Pakistan 1st Innings (over- England 2nd Innings: Deauville, France night: 340-6) A. Cook c Iftikhar Ahmed b Wa- Sami Aslam lbw b Broad ...... 3 hab Riaz ...... 7 Azhar Ali c Bairstow b Ali ...... 49 A. Hales lbw b Yasir Shah ...... 12 he Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Yasir Shah c Root b Finn...... 26 J. Root lbw b Yasir Shah ...... 39 owned colt Dahham imposed Asad Shafiq c Broad b Finn...... 109 J. Vince c Misbah-ul-Haq b Yasir himself in the Al Rayyan Cup – Younis Khan lbw b Anderson 218 Shah 0 TPrix Kesberoy (Gr1 PA) yesterday Misbah-ul-Haq c Hales b Woakes G. Ballance not out...... 4 in Deauville, France. 15 J. Bairstow not out ...... 14 After cantering at the very back of the Iftikhar Ahmed c Ali b Woakes ..4 Extras: (b4, lb5, nb3)...... 12 fi eld led by Azhar at fi rst and then Sabih Sarfraz Ahmed c Bairstow b Total: (4 wkts, 31 overs, ...... 126 Alreeh, the horse came back on the outside Woakes 44 mins) 88 to impose himself surely in front of Azhar. Wahab Riaz st Bairstow b Ali ...... 4 To bat: M Ali, C Woakes, S Broad, The winner is trained by French trainer Di- then at Toulouse, for the Breeders’ Cup fourth position, in a race led by Reda at a her seventh Group success and fi fth win in Mohamed Amir not out...... 39 S Finn, J Anderson dier Guillemin and was ridden by Alexan- races, which is the program we had set for slow pace, Sylvine Al Maury came up in a row. Trainer Elizabeth Bernard said: “For Sohail Khan c Broad b Finn ...... 2 Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Cook), 2-49 dre Gavilan. Mabrooka last year.” the middle of the track to easily take the her return at Newbury, after six months Extras (b18, lb6, w3, nb2) ...... 29 (Hales), 3-55 (Vince), 4-74 (Root) Guillemin explained: “We had a little Azhar, trained by Damien de Watrig- advantage over her rivals. The lot travelled without running, she had showed a sen- Total (all out, 146 overs, ...... 650 Bowling: Amir 10-3-30-0; Sohail doubt concerning the distance, because it ant, managed to keep the second place in in a line until the start of the home straight, sational performance. We were lucky that mins) 542 8-2-18-0; Riaz 4-0-15-1 (3nb); Shah was the fi rst time he ran over 2,000 meters. front of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa in which HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa the mare went up a level again after this Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Aslam), 7-1-15-3; Iftikhar 2-1-1-0; So I had asked the jockey to take his time. al-Thani’s Ebraz, who secured his place on al-Thani’s Majeed, followed by the future race and today, she was at 100%, which 2-52 (Shah), 3-127 (Azhar), 4-277 Match position: England are At Chantilly, he had also won by coming the podium at the very end, by coming up winner in his acceleration, taking the sec- was not the case in Newbury. She won’t (Shafiq), 5-316 (Misbah), 6-320 126 runs behind with six wickets from behind, so let’s not change something on the inside. ond place of the competition. HH Shiekh run the Prix Dragon and will go directly to (Iftikhar), 7-397 (Ahmed), 8-434 standing. that works! He is a good colt, but I think The Royal Cavalry of Oman owned Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Gazwan the Qatar Arabian World Cup, on agree- (Riaz), 9-218 (Younis), 10-542 Toss: England that the 2,000m are too long for him. Now, mare Sylvine Al Maury imposed herself in is third just in front of Djelamer, fourth. ment of the owner. She is a wonderful (Sohail) Umpires: Bruce Oxenford (AUS), he should run at Saint-Cloud, on the Fri- the Doha Cup – Prix Manganate (Gr1 PA), Sylvine Al Maury had won for her return mare, it is rare to have such a fi lly on one’s Bowling: Anderson 29-10-78-1; Marais Erasmus (RSA). day of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, yesterday at Deauville. After cantering in race in Newbury on the 24th July. This is career.” Sunday, August 14, 2016 GULF TIMES FOOTBALL

U-TURN Messi back for Argentina aft er reversing decision Reuters great,” the player added. agement crisis and administered by Buenos Aires A few hours later Messi was named a so-called regularisation committee in new coach Edgardo Bauza’s squad appointed by world soccer’s governing to face Uruguay and Venezuela in 2018 body FIFA. ionel Messi has announced that World Cup, South American qualifi ers Messi’s decision in June sparked he will play on for Argentina, to be held in the fi rst week of September. demonstrations in Buenos Aires and reversing his decision in June to Bauza, who replaced Gerardo Mar- calls for him to change his mind. “I retire from international soccer. tino after he quit in July over the FA’s send my thanks to all who want me to L The Barcelona forward had said he failure to prepare a strong under-23 continue playing for Argentina, I hope would not play for Argentina again team for the Rio Olympics, was in Bar- we’ll be able to give them something to after the team lost to Chile in the fi - celona on Thursday for a meeting with cheer about soon,” he said. nal of the Copa America in the United his team captain. Argentina are third in the 10-nation States. However, in a statement on Fri- Messi, who has scored a national South American qualifying group with day, Messi explained that he wanted to record 55 goals in 113 appearances, has 11 points from six matches, two behind continue representing his country as lost four major fi nals with Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador. The top four he preferred “to help from within”. three in the last two years including after 18 games advance to the Russia “I consider there to be a lot of prob- the 2014 World Cup fi nal to Germany fi nals while the fi fth-placed team goes lems in Argentine football and it’s not in Brazil. into an intercontinental playoff for one my intention to create another one,” The June reverse in New Jersey was more berth. the 29-year-old said. “There are a lot the second successive Copa America Bauza included two uncapped strik- of issues that need to be resolved in penalty shootout defeat by Chile in 12 ers in a 27-man squad, Lucas Alario of Argentine football but I prefer to help months. River Plate and Lucas Pratto of Bra- from within and not to criticise from Messi, unhappy with the Argentine zil’s Atletico Mineiro. He surprisingly the outside.” FA’s running of the team, planned to omitted Gonzalo Higuain, a player he “A lot of things went through my speak out after the Copa fi nal but felt praised at the beginning of the month mind on the night of the fi nal and I gave he could not after they were beaten. for his club form in Italy but who serious thought to quitting but my love His return will be a relief for the missed chances in Argentina’s last for my country and this shirt is too FA, mired in an economic and man- three fi nal defeats.

PREMIER LEAGUE LIGUE 1 Kurzawa winner helps PSG past Bastia Hull stun Leicester, AFP nier both named on the bench Paris and Grzegorz Krychowiak left out altogether after playing for Poland at Euro 2016. ayvin Kurzawa scored PSG were also again without a second-half winner captain Thiago Silva and Ed- as four-time reign- inson Cavani through injury, ing French champions while Adrien Rabiot replaced winning start for LParis Saint-Germain began the Benjamin Stambouli in mid- defence of their Ligue 1 crown fi eld with the latter reportedly with an unconvincing 1-0 vic- on his way out of the club. tory at Bastia on Friday. Neither side produced a Unai Emery’s side demol- chance of note in a gritty open- ished Lyon 4-1 last weekend ing 45 minutes, while Brazilian in the Champions Trophy, but winger Lucas crumpled to the PSG were forced to wait until ground midway through the Man City’s Guardiola the 73rd minute at the Stade second half after he appeared Armand Cesari before Kurzawa to be struck by an object as he volleyed home the decisive goal. lined up to take a corner. Three months on from their 5,000-1 fairytale title triumph, Leicester fall to Scottish winger “It wasn’t the match I’d The referee briefl y halted hoped for, but the players had play as stewards restored calm Snodgrass’s 57th-minute strike after Mahrez had cancelled out Diomande’s opener warned me of what it would be in the stands, and just a few like to face Bastia,” said Em- minutes later Kurzawa deliv- ery. “We didn’t play like we did ered the vital goal after Jese, put AFP spot in the 47th minute after Tom Hud- against Lyon but it was a diff er- through by Angel Di Maria, had London dlestone clipped Demarai Gray from be- ent game. It was a bit like the seen his eff ort blocked by Bastia hind, although replays showed the foul friendly against West Brom, a goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca. occurred outside the box. very defensive team who play Marco Verratti and Blaise eicester City’s Premier League ti- But 10 minutes later Hull secured vic- on the counter-attack.” Matuidi made late appearances tle defence got off to a dismal start tory when Danny Simpson could only He added: “We were a bit off the bench for PSG, with a as crisis-club Hull clinched a 2-1 partially clear Ahmed Elmohamady’s more aggressive (in the sec- robust challenge from the lat- win over the champions, while cross and Snodgrass thrashed the loose ond half). We had four, fi ve, ter sparking a fractious fi nish Lthe Pep Guardiola era at Manchester City ball home. six chances...but you have to to the match. started with a dramatic 2-1 victory against After trophy-laden spells with Barce- score, and it’s always diffi cult Monaco, who travel to Villar- Sunderland on yesterday’s opening day. lona and Bayern Munich, Guardiola is ex- getting the fi rst goal.” real on Wednesday for fi rst leg of Three months on from their 5,000-1 pected to bring major silverware to City. After fi nishing an incred- their Champions League play- fairytale title triumph, Leicester fell to The Spaniard quickly put his stamp ible 31 points clear at the top off , recovered from 2-0 down Scottish winger Robert Snodgrass’s 57th- on the team with debuts for new signings last season, Paris are the early against Guingamp to salvage a minute strike after Riyad Mahrez had can- John Stones and Nolito and a surprise de- league leaders in France as point at the Stade Louis II. celled out Adama Diomande’s opener. cision to replace goalkeeper Joe Hart with Monaco rallied from two goals Yesterday, new Bordeaux Leicester’s stumble was followed by an Willy Caballero. down to draw 2-2 at home to coach Jocelyn Gourvennec saw equally gripping encounter at Eastlands, Guardiola’s debut began in ideal fash- Guingamp in their opening his side hold off a late Saint- where new City manager Guardiola en- ion when Raheem Sterling won a fourth- game of the campaign. Etienne fi ghtback to win a joyed some good fortune in his fi rst Pre- minute penalty after a foul by Patrick van Hatem Ben Arfa was the only thrilling encounter 3-2. Gaetan mier League match. Aanholt. Argentina forward Aguero drove one of fi ve close-season sign- Laborde, Uruguayan interna- Sergio Aguero’s early penalty for City in the spot-kick, but Sunderland equal- ings named in PSG’s starting tional Diego Rolan and Brazil- was erased by Jermain Defoe’s second- ised in the 71st minute. line-up in Corsica, with Jese ian youngster Malcom all net- half equaliser before an 87th minute own Jack Rodwell slipped a pass through the Rodriguez and Thomas Meu- ted for the hosts. goal from debutant Paddy McNair gifted heart of the City defence to Defoe, who the points to Guardiola’s side despite their slotted past Caballero. inconsistent display. Meanwhile, Erik Lamela equalised Leicester are the fi rst defending Eng- to earn Tottenham—last season’s third- lish champions to start the campaign with place team—a 1-1 draw at Everton. a defeat since 1989, when Arsenal lost at Manchester United, and boss Claudio Results Ranieri admitted it was a sign of the tough Burnley 0 lost to Swansea 1 (Fer 82); Crys- campaign ahead. tal Palace 0 lost to West Brom 1 (Rondon “I told my players this season will be 74); Everton 1 (Barkley 5) drew Tottenham harder than last season,” said Ranieri, 1 (Lamela 59); Hull 2 (Diomande 45+1, whose side lost only three times last sea- Snodgrass 57) beat Leicester 1 (Mahrez son. “For this reason I told them we must 47-pen); Manchester City 2 (Aguero 4-pen, be very strong together because last sea- McNair 87-og) beat Sunderland 1 (Defoe son we showed ourselves as a very good 71); Middlesbrough 1 (Negredo 11) drew team and we need to repeat that.” Sergio Aguero celebrates with teammates after scoring the first goal for Manchester Stoke 1 (Shaqiri 67); Southampton 1 (Red- Leicester went behind in fi rst-half City in their Premier League match against Sunderland yesterday. (Reuters) mond 58) drew Watford 1 (Capoue 9) stoppage time at the KCOM Stadium when Kasper Schmeichel parried Curtis loose ball. the ball fl icked off Diomande’s foot and Playing Today Davies’s header and Diomande and Abel Both men attempted an overhead vol- fl ashed into the net. Bournemouth v Manchester United (15:30) Bastia goalkeeper Jean Louis Leca (left) clashes with PSG’s Lay- Hernandez launched themselves at the ley; Hernandez made contact fi rst, but Mahrez equalised from the penalty Arsenal v Liverpool (18:00) vin Kurzawa during their French Ligue match on Friday. (AFP)

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE Rangers claim fi rst win since Premiership return AFP their fi nishing as Rangers held on to side that drew with Hamilton as Dan- weighted pass down the left fl ank for Dundee claim the three points. ny Wilson returned from suspension Wallace, whose cut-back fell to Miller Rivals Celtic’s game against Partick and Jordan Rossiter and Forrester were and the 36-year-old fi red a left-foot Thistle was postponed to allow the handed starts. shot high past Bain. Miller should have angers earned their fi rst win of Hoops to play a friendly against Inter Forrester had made the diff erence added another moments later when he the Scottish Premiership sea- Milan in Ireland. last weekend as he came off the bench was played clean through on goal by son as they ground out a 2-1 “The last half hour of the fi rst half I to set up his side’s equaliser and the McKay but his touch was poor and Bain victory over Dundee at Dens thought we were very good. We created forward made an instant impact against was able to save at his feet. ParkR yesterday. chance after chance and in truth we Dundee as he grabbed the opener. Rangers looked in control but Dun- The off -balance Harry Forrester should have been out of sight,” Rang- Dundee’s Cammy Kerr failed to clear dee pulled one back a minute before the scored a superb opener for the Glasgow ers manager Mark Warburton said. “I the danger with a weak header and For- break as they took advantage of their giants as he fi red past Bain in the 14th was pleased with that but in the second rester showed great refl exes and agility opponents’ vulnerability at set-pieces. minute, before veteran striker Kenny half we dipped a little bit and were a bit to arrow a shot into the top corner of O’Hara peeled away from marker Joey Miller doubled their advantage with a hesitant and nervous.” the net, leaving goalkeeper Scott Bain Barton to thump a header beyond Foder- fi ne fi nish 25 minutes later. Dundee manager Paul Hartley felt with no chance. ingham from a Danny Williams corner. Rangers were on top but their defen- there were encouraging signs despite Forrester fi red a shot just over before sive frailties were exposed by Dundee defeat. “I felt the second half was really coming close with a header from James Results when Mark O’Hara powered home a good and we got close to them,” Hartley Tavernier’s cross as he looked in the Dundee 1 ...... Rangers 2 header from a corner two minutes be- said. “I thought we looked quite com- mood to add to his tally. A superb move Aberdeen 0 ...... Hearts fore the break. fortable but the two goals we lost were ended with Miller increasing Rangers’ Hamilton 1 ...... Kilmarnock Dundee improved dramatically in really sloppy.” lead in the 39th minute. Inverness 1 ...... Ross County 3 the second half but were let down by Rangers made three changes to the McKay fl oated a wonderfully Motherwell 1 ...... St. Johnstone 1