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Saturday, October 12, 2019 ATHLETICS Safar 13, 1441 AH Nike shuts down GULF TIMES Oregon project aft er Salazar ban SPORT Page 7

ANOC WORLD BEACH GAMES

‘It was a good day for us. I am very happy with the boys’ performance against strong rivals’

The Qatar team celebrate their win over Hungary as their fans cheer (R). PICTURES: Jayan Orma

By Yash Mudgal gin with against top European teams themselves in the second set and well today and hope to keep the mo- Doha and we have emerged victorious,” tied Croatia 8-8 but later capitalised mentum going. Feels good to get two Qatar coach Khaled Hasan told Gulf on several mistakes by their rivals to wins in a day,” the star goal-keeper Times. carve out a 14-8 lead. said. osts Qatar started their The second-string Qatar team The Croatia side was also a mix of The hosts’ victory over 2018 world handball campaign in the started the day on a confi dent note as youth and experience as the four- champion bronze medallists Hungary fi rst ANOC World Beach they took an early 10-2 lead, but 2016 time European champions were with- yesterday was their second over the HGames with two wins on world champions Croatia came back out some of their top players who are east Europeans. Qatar won the bronze the trot yesterday. to make it 10-10 and later won the set playing for their clubs in Europe. medal after defeating Hungary at the In Group ‘B’ matches, Asian cham- 21-16. Then came a spell when Croatia got 10th World Games in Wroclaw, Po- pions Qatar fi rst registered a come- “We started the fi rst set well, but back into the game although Qatar land, in 2017. from-behind 2-1 (16-21, 17-16, 9-6) the players lost their focus in the last still managed to edge the set 17-16. Qatar, who fi nished twice in the IHF victory over former world champions two minutes of the game to surrender In the shoot-out, Qatar goalkeeper World Men’s Beach Handball Cham- Croatia at the Gharafa Sports Com- the lead. But I can understand as it Rashid Yusuf stopped the fi rst and pionships, and has won the Asian plex and later in the evening session was our fi rst game and initial hiccups third shots to secure his team’s victo- Men’s Beach Handball Championship defeated Hungary 2-1 (18-20, 18-14, are not abnormal,” said Hasan. ry. All the Qatar players helped them- fi ve times, will play Uruguay and Tu- 7-4) at Katara Village to remain un- “It was a very good fi rst match selves to goals. nisia today in group matches. beaten in the group. against Croatia, which fi nished third Yusuf was outstanding throughout In other matches yesterday, cur- “It was a good day for us. I am very in the world championship and it was the game as he foiled several attempts rent world champions Brazil defeated happy with the boys’ performance confi dence boosting for us,” Hasan main players as they are busy with the ment which starts in Doha on Octo- by the Croatians, but gave credit of the US and Uruguay, while European against strong rivals on the opening said. preparations of Asian Men’s Tokyo ber 17, the day after the beach hand- the win to entire team. champions Denmark defeated Tunisia day. We have two tough games to be- Qatar are playing without some of 2020 Olympic Qualifi cation Tourna- ball fi nal. Qatar’s players regrouped “It was a team eff ort. We all played and Australia.

SPOTLIGHT

By Sports Reporter Brazil fi elds eight world champi- national Olympic Committee (IOC) Doha ons in their roster, while Greece has as a role model athlete for the 2018 seven athletes that were present in Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Kazan. Aires. hen Beach Hand- The oldest woman in the entire “To idea of having Beach Hand- ball throws off at the tournament plays for Greece. At ball at the Olympic Games gives me ANOC World Beach 46, Vasiliki Skara is the heart and goosebumps. It’s a dream for all of WGames Qatar 2019, soul of the team, although, Eleni us who play in this sport. Helping two World Champions will chase Mournou is the player to look out these young athletes, who are our glory. And the gold medal. for. She was Greece’s top scorer future, is something incredible,” Today, Brazil, in the men’s tour- in Kazan with 82 points, a top- Pires said. nament and Greece, in the wom- 10 player in the scorers list of the The Brazilian plays either in the en’s competition, will begin their World Championship. pivot or left wing positions and has quest to shine again. Regarding Brazil, star-player a remarkable track record with Bra- The Brazilians won the gold Gil Pires is the star-player. The zil’s national team. medal at the VIII World Champi- 37-year-old Brazilian is a prolifi c He has won four Beach Hand- onship in Kazan, while the Greek striker and he is well known for his ball world championships (Rio de team prevailed in the women’s ability to get points. He had 97 and Janeiro 2006, Antalya 2010, Recife Gil Pires of Brazil. competition. led “Cariocas” to the world crown 2014, Kazan 2018) and three World Both countries came in Doha in Russia. Games (China Taipei 2009, Co- with an almost fully-loaded squad. Pires was selected by the Inter- lombia 2013 and Poland 2017). Gulf Times 2 Saturday, October 12, 2019 ANOC WORLD BEACH GAMES

FOCUS BASKETBALL Qatar’s 3x3 players ‘trust the British women process’ as they aim for glory

By Sports Reporter rank inside the medal zone, hop- Doha ing a triumph similar to the 2016 edge out Paraguay 3x3 FIBA U18 World Champi- onships gold medal in Astana, potential success in Kazakhstan! Despite dropping the upcoming ANOC their fi rst game, Qatar went on World Beach Games to win the next six, knocking Qatar 2019 will be just out 2015 fi nalists Argentina and anotherA great frame for the 3x3 champions New Zealand in the Basketball national team of the quarter-fi nal and the semi-fi nal in beach soccer host country. respectively. In the fi nal, Muslic But the real success for the and Seydou helped their team host team is not exactly a medal edge past Brazil, 20-12. ‘We want to put our best performance out and we really want to get a result out of that’ or a trophy. It is the evolution of Qatar’s basketball legend, its players’ game and the process Yasseen Musa, is the manager of the development programme, of the country’s 3x3 Basketball which started in 2012 by the Qa- team for the World Beach Games. tar Basketball Federation (QBF). The 39-year old former star The real success is the hard work retired in 2016 and is considered that players, coaches and execu- to be the face of Qatari basket- tives have put up to bring their ball. Musa led his national team team into the next level. to the silver medal at the 2006 The Qatari national team will Asian Games in Doha, losing compete at the 3x3 Basketball only to China in the fi nal. At the tournament in the Katara Beach 1999 U18 World Championships, venue, from October 13-16, de- Musa averaged a tournament- ploying a young core of promis- best 25 points per game, ahead ing players. With athletes that of future stars like Spain’s Pau have already proved their worth Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro to the world basketball stage and and Russia’s Andrei Kirilenko. look hungry for more success. His fi nal years at the interna- Nedim Muslic, the 21-year- tional scene were successfully old star of the team hurt his and equally shared between in- shoulder in the second game of door basketball and the half- the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup court game. Musa helped Qatar in China, a few days ago, and is win the gold medal in the 2013 unavailable, therefore Elhadj Asian Games and led his team to Ndoye Seydou, a 20-year-old the title in the second FIBA 3x3 dynamic player in the paint, will World Cup in 2014 in Moscow, lead the four-member squad, where Qatar defeated 18-13 de- which also includes Aladji Bobo fending champions Serbia! Magassa, 19, Raslan al-Abduilla, Yasseen Musa has his eyes 19, one of the best young play- fi xed on the prize in Doha, but ers the local basketball scene has just like the Philadelphia 76ers’ ever produced and Faisal Abuis- motto dictates, for the Qatari sa, 20. Basketball Federation the real Seydou is looking for another success is to “Trust the Process”!

Action from the Mexico vs Spain beach soccer match in the ANOC World Beach Games yesterday. At bottom, a glimpse from the Russia vs USA game.

By Sports Reporter minutes left of the match to play. But a Doha thunderbolt from keeper Hannah Haugh- ton in the dying minutes gave Britain a thrilling win. ritish women survived a mighty In other women’s preliminary match- scare as they edged past Para- es, Brazil, Spain, and Russia all got off to guay 5-4 in beach soccer on the winning starts. Russia beat USA 3-1 in an The Qatar team during a training session yesterday. opening day of the ANOC World interesting contest. Russia took the lead BeachB Games at Katara Beach yesterday. through Livuov Komarova after she re- Britain were the overwhelming favour- ceived a backheel on the overlap down the From the streets to global recognition ites going into the Group B match but a right and drove low into the far corner. spirited Paraguay side looked to pull off a Goals quickly thereafter from Anna Petro- Doha: Basketball is a well- programme of the Tokyo Olym- big upset, before eventually falling short. va, and Natalia Zaitseva took the game known indoor team sport pic Games 2020, where eight After the fi rst period ended in a stalemate, beyond American reach. Kilee Quigley but is also a very popular teams per gender will compete goals rained in the next two periods. scored a consolation goal for US. street game. 3x3 basketball for the gold medal. Japan, as In the fi rst period, the British had the Meanwhile, beach soccer powerhouse tournaments are represent- the host nation, has already majority of the early shots but their long Brazil struggled initially against Cape ing the continuously growing secured a spot. The first three range eff orts couldn’t fi nd the target. The Verde but eventually come out on top 7-2. street basketball movement teams in the World Basketball breakthrough, however, came quickly after Cape Verde took the lead fi rst, as Lele all around the world and the Federation’s (FIBA) Ranking, the restart as Gemma Hillier found the net Lopes inadvertently turned the ball into matches at the ANOC World based on the November 2019 with a fi erce shot. But Paraguay were quick her own net. Nayara bagged a brace as Bra- Beach Games Qatar 2019 will list, will also qualify automati- to draw level when Fanny Godoy skipped zil went into lead after fi rst period. add another great chapter in its cally. past a couple of defenders to slot the ball the start of third and last period, Britain Paraguay as she nodded in a brace to level Spain, meanwhile thrashed Mexico 9-1. history book. Three more spots will be de- in. went three goals ahead as Clark scored her the scoreline to 3-3. Mara Rolon had the Fresneda Morga and Alba Mellado scored a 3x3 basketball is one of the cided at the 2020 FIBA Olympic Britain were back in front though as Sa- second. Paraguay, though, were not in a chance to level up again but the number brace each, while Carol Gonzalez, Sara Ro- newly inducted sports in the Qualifying Tournament, which rah Kempson turned in from close range, mood to go down easily as they scripted a nine blasted her penalty over the bar. driguez, Alba Mellado, Laura Gallego and men’s and women’s off icial will be held in India in March. before Molly Clark added an another. At stunning fi ght back. Godoy was the star for However, Rolon did fi nd an equaliser with Jessi found the net once each

PREVIEW ‘Old sports’ must adapt, says surf chief ahead of Olympics

Reuters Games in southern Japan. of those that change... or the ones said a beaming Aguerre. Miyazaki “So in the beach and ocean, coolest that didn’t change that are nowhere “It was very hard. Basically it sport? Surfi ng. Streets, coolest sport? to be found.” Some sports, including seemed impossible for a couple of Skateboarding. Outdoor coolest badminton, taekwondo and modern decades and then suddenly a set came s “cool” sports such as sport? Climbing. pentathlon, have come under pres- and we were in the right place to pad- surfi ng, skateboarding and “So suddenly, in one giant stroke sure to justify their inclusion in the dle and catch that Olympic wave.” climbing prepare to make they add the three environments; the Olympics while question marks hang While it took a long time for surf- their Olympic debut in To- outdoor, the ocean and urban. over the futures of weightlifting and ing to get on the Olympic programme kyo,A the president of surfi ng’s gov- “It will be the single most impor- boxing due to fi nancial irregularities Aguerre puts it down to the carefree erning body has told Reuters that tant programme change in decades, and doping scandals. nature of the sport. more traditional sports must adapt or probably ever.” Aguerre pushed hard for an Ol- On the evening of the vote in Rio face being dropped from the Games. Instead of leaning on the experi- ympic slot after becoming ISA chief three years ago, a journalist asked him Karate will also make its debut in ence of established Olympic sports in 1994 but the seeds were sown 80 why it had taken 100 years to get surf- 2020 while baseball and softball re- in preparing for Tokyo 2020, Aguerre years earlier when surfi ng pioneer ing into the Olympics. turn to the programme after a 12-year thinks some of the traditional disci- and Olympic gold medallist swimmer “My answer is: ‘maybe we were absence. plines could learn a thing or two from Duke Kahanamoku fi rst proposed its busy surfi ng,’” Aguerre laughed. The additions are part of the Inter- surfi ng, which has also been provi- inclusion at Stockholm 1912. “It is true, it sounds like a joke but national Olympic Committee’s (IOC) sionally included in the program for Yet it was not until Argentine in reality we are surfers. We are not bid to reach a younger audience and Paris 2024. Aguerre had a discussion with then- really an organised sport to the point International Surfi ng Association “The old sports need to adapt,” said IOC presidential candidate Bach in where you need fi elds, gloves, mem- (ISU) President Fernando Aguerre Aguerre. “(IOC) President (Thomas) 2013 that things began to gain trac- berships, lockers, we don’t have any- said the impact of the changes could Bach is very clear about that from tion. Three years later in Rio de Janei- thing. not be overstated. the fi rst speech he made when he ac- ro Aguerre fi nally got the news he had “Basically you arrive at the beach, “The IOC, and I think the world, cepted his election he said ‘change or been hoping for. wrap ourselves in a towel, put on a wanted youth,” Aguerre told Reuters be changed’.” “It is something that I dreamed wetsuit if it is cold, get on the beach at last month’s ISA World Surfi ng “The evolution of the species is one about for many, many, many years,” and then go.” Gulf Times Saturday, October 12, 2019 3 SPORT

FOCUS OOREDOO CUP Sanchez praises ‘impressive’ Qatar atar head coach Felix Sanchez Second-string Sadd has praised both his side’s char- acter and performance after the Group E leaders overcame diffi cult playingQ conditions to beat Bangladesh 2-in beaten by Wakrah the Asian Qualifi ers. Yusuf Abdurisag’s fi rst-half goal and a By Sports Reporter team, three for the Qatar Olym- al-Jalabi. Ismail rounded off the late strike from Karim Boudiaf helped seal Doha pic squad and as many for their tally with a measured drive off a all three points for Sanchez’s charges on a countries. A few of their play- pass from Yousef Musaed. night when, despite the damp conditions, ers are on the injury list as well. In today’s Group B matches, they maintained their push to qualify for the l Wakrah began their Players away on country duty Al Khor take on Al Arabi (17:30 AFC Asian Cup China 2023. Ooredoo cup campaign are Algerian striker Baghdad at Al Arabi Stadium), Al Sailiya With a crucial match against second- in style as they beat Al Bounedjah, and South Korean face Qatar SC (19:40 at Al Arabi placed Oman at home looming large on Sadd 5-1 in the tourna- midfi elders Nam Tae-Hee and Stadium) while Al Duhail are up Tuesday, the Spanish tactician was left in ment’sA lung opener at the Al Ahli Jung Woo-Young. against Al Gharafa (19:40 at Al doubt as to the importance of the victory Stadium yesterday. And the juniors struggled to Ahli Stadium) following a job well done for 2019 AFC Asian Abdulrahman Mosed (35th and keep pace with Al Wakrah, for The Ooredoo Cup, formerly Cup winners at Dhaka’s Bangabandhu Na- 45th minutes), Omar Ali (42nd- whom Ismail Mahmoud, Jassim QSL Cup, provides younger tional Stadium. minute penalty), Riadh Nasser al-Jalabi, Abdulrahman Mosed players with more playing time “We had a good match despite the dif- (51st minute) and Ismail Mah- and Omar Ali excelled. Abdul- and exposure. The tournament, fi cult conditions,” Sanchez told report- moud (86th minute) scored for rahman Mosed opened the scor- which has a group-cum-knock- ers after the match. “However, the players Al Wakrah, as Marquez Lopez’s ing by placing home Omar Ali’s out format, off ers new oppor- showed excellent character throughout the men collected three vital points cross from the right. tunities for sponsors, partners match and they had an impressive perform- in Group A. Rami Suhail scored Sadd equalised when Rami and supporters to highlight their ance. I am happy that the players avoided Al Sadd’s goal in the 40th minute. scored in similar fashion off an brands. First-team players, Un- injuries, which is a big bonus for us.” In other Group A matches, Al Ahli Ali Asad pass from the left. Omar der-23 players and Under-19 “I expected our opponents to play defen- beat Umm Salal, while Al Rayyan converted from the spot after a players can participate in the sively, and they tried to deny us any space sailed past Al Shahania 3-0. penalty was awarded following tournament. to go forward or create any scoring chanc- The Sadd-Wakrah match was the foul on Jassim al-Jalabi by All 12 QNB Stars League teams es. However, I am satisfi ed with the per- evenly fought for quite some Al Sadd goalkeeper Jehad Mo- are divided into two groups and formance and proud with what the players time after the start, with Wakrah hamed. the top four sides from each showed in the match. This was an important matching their formidable oppo- Abdulrahman Mosed found his group will progress to the knock- victory for us, especially given that we are nents ball for ball. But gradually, second goal with a free-kick from out quarter-fi nals. The ranking on top of the standings,” he added. The Blue Wave called the shots. the left that landed straight in of clubs in the draw was based on (the-afc.com) Wakrah made excellent use of the the goal off the hand of the goal- their fi nal standings in the 2018- fl anks from where they mainly keeper, as Al Wakrah took a half- 19 QNB Stars League. knitted their moves. time lead of 3-1. Sadd could not Al Gharafa are the reigning SPOTLIGHT Al Sadd coach Hernan- do much in the second half and champions. They beat Al Du- dez sorely missed the services of Al Wakrah struck twice more. hail 1-0 in last edition’s fi nal. Al many players as eight of them are Riadh found the target as he nod- Gharafa had triumphed in the Keeper rivalry doing duty for the Qatar national ded home a corner kick by Jassim previous season as well. heats up Italy’s Euro qualifi ers ‘Sirigu knows what the pecking order is, we know that we can count on him and on the others Donnarumma is the first-choice’

Al Sadd goalkeeper Jehad Mohamed Hudib (left) brings down Al Wakrah’s Ismail Mahmoud during the Ooredoo Cup match at the Al Ahli Stadium yesterday. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed

ROUND-UP Unhappy Mueller deserves more respect at Bayern, says Gnabry

AFP Berlin

ermany’s rising star Serge Gnabry said yes- terday that his unhappy club teammate Thomas GMueller deserves “more respect” AC Milan’s stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma has been preferred as first choice after the retirement of former captain Gianluigi Buff on. than to be dropped to the bench at Bayern Munich. “Thomas has AFP Italy sit top Group J with a 100% record achieved everything, he deserves Milan from their six matches, and they can seal a little more respect,” said Gnabry their spot in Euro 2020 with a win against at a Germany press conference in the Greeks. Regardless, Italy are almost Dortmund in a dig at Bayern head he rivalry between Italy’s top two guaranteed a place in the Euros as they are coach Niko Kovac. goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarumma nine points ahead of third-placed Armenia On Wednesday, Mueller told and Salvatore Sirigu is heating up as with four matches remaining. magazine Kicker he is “unhappy” Roberto Mancini’s side stand on the If they fail this time, they will have a sec- about starting the last fi ve Bay- Tbrink of Euro 2020 ahead of today’s qualifi er ond chance when they visit Liechtenstein on ern games on the bench, amid against Greece. October 15. reports he wants to leave in Janu- Sirigu, 32, had long been in the shadow Former Italy international Mancini has ary. The 30-year-old has spent of Italian goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buf- thrown his trust behind young talent such his entire professional career at fon, who retired after the four-time world as Donnarumma, Inter Milan midfi elder Bayern, but will “think things champions’ failed to qualify for the 2018 Nicolo Barella and highly-rated Roma at- over” if Kovac only sees him as a goals in nearly 500 games for successor to Sylvinho, who was World Cup in Russia. But just when it looked tacker Nicolo Zaniolo. replacement. Normally, players Bayern, helping them win the sacked on Monday after only like the Torino goalkeeper was the most ob- In keeping with the team’s theme of ren- refuse to answer club questions Bundesliga eight times and the 11 matches in charge, and the vious choices to fi ll the void left by Buff on’s aissance the ‘Azzurri’ will line out with when with the Germany national 2013 Champions League title. 70-year-old said he had dis- retirement, AC Milan’s 20-year-old stopper Torino goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu. their new green kit for the fi rst time against side, but Gnabry broke ranks by However, he played just the cussed the job with Mourinho. Donnarumma stepped in to fi ll the large void Greece this weekend, only the second time saying “it’s hard to imagine an last 30 minutes of Saturday’s “We had some fairly fl atter- left by former captain and record appear- same for his country the following year, they have worn the colour. “I’m old fash- FCB (Bayern) without Mueller.” shock 2-1 defeat at home to Hof- ing exchanges over SMS,” Aulas ance maker Buff on. earning his fi rst Italy cap aged just 17 years ioned, I prefer blue or white,” insisted ex- “What is clear is that anyone fenheim which led to Bayern los- told Get French Football News. “It “Sirigu knows what the pecking order is, and 189 days. Inter Milan and Manchester City boss Man- who doesn’t play (very often) is ing top spot in the German league was nice for everyone. He did not we know that we can count on him and on The pair have played three matches each cini, 54. dissatisfi ed,” added Gnabry, who table. Along with Jerome Boateng accept our proposal to meet be- the others,” insists Mancini. “Donnarumma during the fi rst six Euro 2020 qualifying scored in Germany’s 2-2 draw and Mats Hummels, Mueller was cause he has already chosen an- is the fi rst-choice, but in that position we games, with Sirigu conceding just one and EURO 2020 QUALIFYING FIXTURES with Argentina in a friendly on told by Germany head coach other club.” Mourinho has been are very well covered.” Milan’s Donnarumma letting in two. Milan Wednesday. Kovac has preferred Joachim Loew in March that he out of management since his dis- Donnarumma, who has 14 caps, is coach have had a poor start to the season with four (1845 GMT unless stated) Philippe Coutinho as an attack- will no longer be picked for the missal by Manchester United last Mancini’s fi rst choice ahead of Sirigu, who defeats in seven games, and Donnarumma Group D: At Tiblisi: Georgia v Rep. Ireland ing midfi elder behind Robert national side. December. He has said: “I have to has earned 22 caps going back to 2010. Man- has conceded eight goals in the six matches (1300 GMT); At Copenhagen: Denmark v Lewandowski, presenting Muel- be patient and wait for the right cini took over after Italy’s World Cup quali- he has played, while Sardinian Sirigu — who Switzerland (1600) ler with few chances so far this MOURINHO REJECTS LYON opportunity and the right oppor- fying fl op and is rejuvenating the national won four Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint- season. APPROACH BECAUSE ‘HE HAS tunity is one that is at the same Group F: At Torshavn: Faroe Islands v team, with the youthful Donnarumma and Germain — has conceded 10 times as Torino Mueller’s remarks will have CHOSEN ANOTHER CLUB’ size and the same level that I am others such as Inter Milan midfi elder Ste- sit ninth in Serie A. Romania (1600); At Oslo: Norway v Spain; alerted Europe’s top clubs, in- Jose Mourinho turned down an as a manager.” fano Sensi seen as a investment for the fu- Donnarumma pulled out of the weekend’s At Ta' Qali, Malta: Malta v Sweden cluding Manchester United who approach from Lyon because “he Aulas described Remi Garde, ture. game over Genoa, which Milan won 2-1, Group J: At Zenica, Bosnia & Herzegovina: reportedly bid 100mn euros has already chosen another club”, a former Lyon player who had a After becoming the youngest ever goal- with sickness but Mancini said that Don- Bosnia & Herzegovina v Finland (1600); At ($109mn) for him in 2015. Hav- according to the French team’s successful spell as manager be- keeper to play in Serie A at 16 years and 142 narumma would be fi t to play against Greece Vaduz: Liechtenstein v Armenia; At Rome; ing joined Bayern as a schoolboy president, Jean-Michel Aulas. fore an ill-fated move to Aston days of age in 2015, Donnarumma did the in Rome and at Liechtenstein on Tuesday. Italy v Greece in 2000, Mueller has scored 186 Aulas is trying to recruit a Villa, as “a possible route”. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, October 12, 2019 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT FIFA bans former Afghan general secretary in Belgium book Euro sexual abuse inquiry Zurich: Sayed Aghazada, the former general secretary of the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF), has been banned for five years and fined after FIFA’s ethics place, Dutch fi ght back committee found him guilty of violations relating to the abuse of female players. The world football body said in a statement that the investigation concerned com- plaints lodged by several fe- male Afghan football players to beat N. Ireland against former AFF president Keramuudin Karim. Karim was banned for life in June. Russia appear set to take the second automatic slot from the group, after a 4-0 win over The female players’ complaints related to AFP sexual abuse between 2013 Paris and 2018, at a time when Aghazada, who is on the Asian Football Confederation elgium became the fi rst team to (AFC) executive committee, qualify for the 2020 European was general secretary. “In its Championship fi nals as Rome- decision, the adjudicatory lu Lukaku scored twice in a 9-0 chamber ruled that Mr Aghaz- thrashingB of San Marino in on ada was aware of this abuse Thursday night, while the Netherlands and had the duty to report needed a late comeback to beat North- and prevent it according to ern Ireland. the FIFA Code of Ethics,” FIFA Lukaku took his record Belgium in- said. “Consequently, the adju- ternational tally past 50 goals as Rob- dicatory chamber found that erto Martinez’s Group I leaders opened Mr Aghazada had breached... up an unassailable 11-point lead over the FIFA Code of Ethics and third-placed Cyprus with three games sanctioned him with a ban... remaining. The world-number-one for five years. In addition, a ranked side booked their spot at next fine in the amount of 10,000 year’s tournament, which will be played Swiss francs ($10,000) has at 12 venues across Europe, after seven been imposed.” straight qualifying wins. Aghazada was also a FIFA Russia appear set to take the second standing committee member. automatic slot from the group, after FIFA said Aghazada was noti- a 4-0 win over Scotland moved them fied of the decision yesterday, eight points ahead of Cyprus. Belgium with the ban from all football will be one of the favourites as they look activities nationally and to lift a fi rst major international title internationally coming into when the Euros get underway on June force immediately. The AFC 12. “In my eyes, nine countries have the acknowledged the decision talent to win the Euro,” said coach Mar- in a brief statement while tinez. “What will make the diff erence is refraining from comment. how you face adversity. It’s necessary to The FIFA ethics committee sacrifi ce yourself for your teammates.” said it was still looking into Their victory at the King Badouin allegations against other of- Stadium matched their record winning ficials as part of the investiga- margin of nine goals, having previously tion. Afghan women’s coach beaten Zambia and Gibraltar 9-0 in Kelly Lindsey and programme 1994 and 2017 respectively and ham- director Khalida Popal wrote mered San Marino 10-1 in 2001. to FIFA boss Gianni Infantino “Nine-nil is a good result but we in August to say that the foot- would have loved to have scored one ball body needed urgently to more and broken that all-time record,” Netherlands’ Memphis Depay (second right) scores against Northern Ireland during the Euro 2020 Qualifier Group C match in Rotterdam on Thursday night. (Reuters) widen the investigation. said Inter Milan striker Lukaku. The They said action had yet fi rst breakthrough arrived when Leices- late brace rescued the Netherlands a 3-1 of the defeat,” O’Neill said. “We have to four points clear of third-placed Hun- Group E: At Trnava, Slovakia: Slovakia 1 to be taken against several ter midfi elder Youri Tielemans fed Lu- win over Northern Ireland which sent win our two remaining games, they are gary. Slovakia fell behind in the fi rst (Kucka 53) 1 (Moore 25); At Split, other individuals named by kaku, who fi red home his landmark goal Ronald Koeman’s men top of Group very diffi cult, Netherlands home and half when former lifeguard Kieff er Croatia: Croatia 3 (Modric 5, Petkovic 24, players as being directly or in the 28th minute. C. The Oranje, bidding to reach a fi rst Germany away.” Moore scored on his international com- 42) Hungary 0 indirectly linked to the case. The fl oodgates then opened, as Nacer major fi nals since fi nishing third at the Russia sent Scotland tumbling to a petitive debut for Wales, but secured a Group G: At Riga: Latvia 0 Poland 3 The Guardian newspaper Chadli slotted into the corner from the 2014 World Cup, are level on points fourth straight qualifying defeat which draw thanks to Juraj Kucka’s brilliant (Lewandowski 9, 13, 76); At Skopje: North reported last November edge of the area three minutes later, and with both Germany and Northern Ire- leaves the Nations League playoff s next 53rd-minute volley. Elsewhere, Robert that some members of the Macedonia 2 (Elmas 50, 68) Slovenia 1 visiting defender Cristian Brolli scored land, who have played a game more, but March as the Scots’ only possible route Lewandowski netted a hat-trick, tak- national women’s team had a comical own goal 10 minutes before lead on head-to-head record. to Euro 2020. ing his tally this season to 18 goals for (Ilicic 90+5-pen); At Vienna: Austria 3 said they were molested by the interval. Lukaku wasted little time Michael O’Neill’s visitors were Artem Dzyuba’s excellent double club and country, as Poland won 3-0 (Lazaro 41, Hinteregger 56, Sabitzer 88) AFF off icials at the federa- in making it 51 Belgium goals, before dreaming of a fi rst-ever away win over and goals from Magomed Ozdoev and at Latvia to strengthen their position at Israel 1 (Zahavi 34) tion’s headquarters and at a Toby Alderweireld and Tielemans made the Dutch when substitute Josh Magen- Aleksandr Golovin mean Russia will the top of Group G. They sit three points Group I: At Moscow: Russia 4 (Dzyuba training camp in Jordan. it six before half-time. nis headed them in front with a quarter- qualify with a draw in Cyprus tomor- clear of closest challengers Austria, who 57, 70, Ozdoev 60, Golovin 84) Scotland Aghazada said in Kabul in Substitute Christian Benteke drilled hour to play. But Depay levelled in the row. Croatia took control of Group E saw off Israel 3-1. 0; At Brussels: Belgium 9 (Lukaku 28, 41, December that the allega- in number seven with 11 minutes re- 80th minute, and Luuk de Jong bundled by beating Hungary 3-0 in Split, while Chadli 31, Brolli 35-og, Alderweireld 43, tions were “baseless”. The maining, 18-year-old Yari Verschaeren the ball home at the back post in the fi rst Slovakia jumped into second despite EURO 2020 QUALIFYING RESULTS Tielemans 45+1, Benteke 79, Verschaeren AFF also warned then that the scored his fi rst international goal from minute of injury time to deny Northern being held to a 1-1 home draw by Wales. report could lead to threats Group C: At Minsk: Belarus 0 Estonia 0; 84-pen, Castagne 90) San Marino 0; At the penalty spot, and Atalanta defender Ireland a crucial point before Depay Luka Modric’s fi fth-minute strike and against members of the At Rotterdam, the Netherlands: Neth- Timothy Castagne completed the rout grabbed his second. two goals for Bruno Petkovic sent last Nur-Sultan: Kazakhstan 1 (Yerlanov 34) women’s team. erlands 3 (Depay 80, 90+4, L. De Jong in the 90th minute. Memphis Depay’s “We are devastated with the nature year’s World Cup runners-up Croatia Cyprus 2 (Sotiriou 73, Ioannou 84) 90+1) Northern Ireland 1 (Magennis 75)

FOCUS ROUND-UP Record-setting defender Ramos looks to Liverpool teen future as bridge to Spain’s golden past Elliott banned over AFP Kane video eenage Liverpool winger full match in Liverpool’s League Harvey Elliott has been Cup clash with MK Dons last ergio Ramos is set to overtake banned for 14 days from month. He became the youngest Iker Casillas and become his domestic club football debutant in Premier League his- country’s most capped player afterT an investigation into a so- tory when he played for Fulham with his 168th international ap- cial media video in which he ap- against Wolves in May at the age pearanceS today as Spain take on Denmark peared to mock Harry Kane. The of 16 years and 30 days. hoping to secure a place at Euro 2020. 16-year-old admitted breaching The 33-year-old fi rst took the fi eld for Football Association rules and SWEDE QUITS AS NIGERIA Spain as a callow teen against China in must also complete a face-to- WOMEN’S FOOTBALL COACH 2005, a 3-0 win that featured goals from face education course and pay a OVER UNPAID WAGES Fernando Torres and Xavi Hernandez — £350 ($444) fi ne. Nigeria’s football federa- as well as Joaquin. “Harvey Elliott has been tion said that Swede Thomas He remains in the national side as one suspended from playing in all Dennerby has resigned as coach of the last survivors of a golden era that domestic club football for a of the national women’s team. delivered a World Cup and two European period of 14 days, running up to Dennerby, who still had a year Championships. Ramos replaced Casillas and including 24 October 2019, left on his contract, led Nigeria as Spain captain in 2016. He intends to after admitting a breach of FA to the Round of 16 at this year’s play for many years yet, saying that “sta- Rule E3 in relation to a video FIFA Women’s World Cup after tistics are there to beat” when he equalled posted on social media and winning the Africa Women Cup the goalkeeper’s record of 167 caps last providing a public apology,” the of Nations last year. month. “Sergio Ramos wants to play until FA said in a statement. It added “We have received his resig- he’s 40 and I think he’ll get there because that the incident constituted an nation letter and of course, he he’s amazing, in every way,” Spain coach is yet to preside over similar success as as a youngster under Ramos at Real Ma- Romania fail to beat the Faroe Islands. “aggravated breach” of FA rules. has a right to resign from a job,” Robert Moreno said last week. “We can ‘La Roja’ leader. Spain were knocked out drid. “He is an extraordinary player and “We have not won anything yet. We want The Snapchat video, taken dur- the NFF said on Twitter. He has only say great things about Sergio. His at- of Euro 2016 in the last 16 by Italy. They he has this ability to bring people togeth- to be fi rst in our group and to collect all 30 ing the Champions League fi nal alleged he did not receive enough titude has always been impeccable when- then suff ered the humiliation of losing to er. When you think about that number of points possible,” said Ramos. between Liverpool and Totten- support from his employers to ever we have called upon him.” unfancied hosts Russia on penalties at the games he has played for Spain, he is a role Ramos, who also intends to compete ham in June, appeared to show do his work and that there were When Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique World Cup two years later. model.” in the Tokyo Olympics next year, may Elliott performing an off ensive several breaches of his contract followed Xavi and called time on their However, his place in Spanish football Spain have been impeccable in Euro have other records in his sights too. He is impersonation of the including unpaid wages. Spain careers in 2018, they left Ramos history is secure and he is considered a qualifying. They lead Group F with a only nine matches short of the European captain. The NFF have rejected these as a bridge to the past, his array of tro- leader by his fellow Spain internationals, perfect 18 points and come into the in- record for international appearances held He later issued an apol- claims. Federation commit- phies providing a base of experience from despite his reputation as a practitioner of ternational break with the chance to se- by former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buf- ogy on social media, saying he tee member Ibrahim Guasau which the next generation might fl ourish. the game’s darker arts. “He has an aura cure a place at next year’s fi nals. They can fon and 17 shy of the world record set by was “truly sorry”.Elliott joined said the country will look for a Since also replacing Casillas as Real and he is an example to follow”, said Spain advance on Saturday if they beat Norway Egypt’s Ahmed Hassan. Liverpool from Fulham in July replacement for Dennerby after Madrid captain in 2015 Ramos has piled midfi elder Pablo Sarabia, who plays for and other results take an unexpected If Ramos plays until he is 40 as he and has already made a fi rst- Chris Danjuma was appointed in up Champions League triumphs, but he Paris Saint-Germain and came through turn, with either Malta upset Sweden or wishes, both are well within reach. team appearance, playing the an interim capacity. Gulf Times Saturday, October 12, 2019 5 SPORT

NFL NHL Predators score four goals in third Brady moves up to outlast Caps

Reuters power-play goals for the Cap- New York itals, who are 0-1-2 while giv- ing up third-period leads in each of the last three games. ick Bonino and Mat- The Capitals struck fi rst, passing-yards list tias Ekholm scored taking advantage of a Nash- 28 seconds apart late ville turnover with 10:43 left in the game as the in the fi rst period as Lars El- NNashville Predators posted ler drove the puck into what four third-period goals to rally was essentially an empty net. for a wild 6-5 victory over the However, the hosts answered visiting Washington Capitals a little over one minute later on Thursday night. when Filip Forsberg scored his as Pats down Giants After T.J. Oshie gave Wash- fourth goal in as many games. ington a 5-4 lead on a laser Washington regained the ‘We grinded it out pretty good. The defense played good. I’m happy we won’ past Pekka Rinne (21 saves) with 9:51 left in regulation, Nash- RESULTS ville answered like it Predators 6-5 Capitals did all night. Bonino tied it at 14:52 into the Lightning 7-3 Maple Leafs third and Ekholm sent Oilers 4-3 Devils the home crowd into a Red Wings 4-2 Canadiens frenzy with his blast from the point that Penguins 2-1 Ducks found the net with Blues 6-4 Senators 4:40 left in the third Jets 5-2 Wild period. With Nashville Sharks 5-4 Blackhawks down 4-2, Ryan Jo- Flames 3-2 Stars hansen (two goals) Avalanche 4-2 Bruins poked the puck un- derneath Braden Coyotes 4-1 Golden Knights Holtby (32 saves) on the power play to get his team lead 4:46 into the second within one at 5:03 into the through Ovechkin. After the third. Capitals failed to score on 15 The Predators tied it a lit- of their fi rst 17 power play tle over a minute later when chances, Ovechkin one-timed Matt Duchene delivered at a blast past Rinne. The Preda- 6:13 with his fi rst goal. Oshie tors again answered to make answered, but Washington it 2-2 on a two-on-one as could not hold on while losing Johansen stayed with a pass for the fi rst time in regulation from Viktor Arvidsson and over fi ve games this season. pushed the puck past Holtby Alex Ovechkin scored two at 7:37 into the second.

Welterweight boxing champ Spence hospitalised aft er car crash

Undefeated welterweight are extremely grateful to the boxing world champion Errol Dallas first responders who Spence is expected to make a rushed to the scene to attend full recovery after sustaining to Errol after the accident and facial lacerations in a one-car the doctors who are taking crash in Dallas, his manage- care of him at the hospital.” ment team said in a state- Spence, a 29-year-old ment on Thursday. southpaw, unified the World “Errol Spence Jr., IBF/WBC Boxing Council and Inter- unified welterweight world national Boxing Federation New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in action against the New York Giants during the first-half at Gillette Stadium. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports champion, was involved in a titles two weeks ago with a serious, single-car accident split-decision victory over fel- AFP While the Pats off ense contin- in Dallas early Thursday low American Shawn Porter Washington Kaepernick’s reps say NFL teams not interested in QB ued to have its struggles, the de- morning and is being treated in Los Angeles, improving to fense came up with two scores, at a Dallas-area hospital,” the 26-0 with 21 knockouts. Representatives for Colin Kaepernick say there NFL since 2016 when he began protesting racial the fi rst when a blocked punt statement said. “My dad always tells me ‘this om Brady ran for two has been “little to no response” from any of the 32 injustice by kneeling during the national anthem was returned for a touchdown by “Spence is awake and boxing thing is a part of your touchdowns and notched NFL teams after they sought opportunities for the before NFL games. rookie Chase Winovich for a 7-0 responding and his condition life but it’s not going to last another NFL passing quarterback whose kneeling protests became a He opted out of his contract with the San Fran- lead and the second when a Jon is listed as stable. He did not forever. U still have a lot of milestone Thursday as national controversy. cisco 49ers in March 2017 and has since settled a Hilliman fumble was corralled sustain any broken bones or life to live after that,’” Porter Tthe New England Patriots beat for a touchdown by Kyle Van Jeff Nalley and Jasmine Windham issued a state- lawsuit against the NFL alleging collusion to deny fractures, but has some facial tweeted. the New York Giants 35-14 to re- ment on Thursday titled “Facts to Address the him a contract. Former 49ers teammate Eric Reid Noy. All of the Patriots’ touch- lacerations. He is expected to “With that, I’m praying for @ main unbeaten this season. False Narratives Regarding Colin Kaepernick.” was also part of the lawsuit, but has since signed downs came on one-yard runs - make a full recovery.” ErrolSpenceJr & his family Brady threw for 334 yards, and The two said Kaepernick still wants to play in with the Carolina Panthers. Reid shared the docu- one to Brandon Bolden and two Spence was treated in an because he has a lot of life while he didn’t connect with a the NFL and has not made any specific salary ment on Twitter on Thursday. to Brady. intensive care unit after his to live and I pray he recovers touchdown pass he passed now- demands to teams that might be interested in “There have been so many false narratives in the The Patriots led 14-0 when white Ferrari rolled over quickly & fully.” retired Peyton Manning for sec- signing him. media regarding Colin, we believe it’s important Jones connected with Gold- multiple times just before 3 Spence, a welterweight ond place on the NFL’s all-time “Not a single team has brought Colin in for a work- to set the record straight, again.” Please read en Tate for a touchdown and am local time (0800GMT), quarter-finalist at the 2012 passing yards list. out,” the statement said. “Seattle brought Colin in this!! Don’t believe the lies being told about my Markus Golden’s fumble return Dallas television station KTVT London Olympics, made his Needing just 18 yards to over- for a visit but did not work him out.... No other NFL brother.@Kaepernick7” Reid posted. for a touchdown with 4:38 left in reported, citing police. professional debut in 2012 take Manning’s career mark of team has interviewed or worked out Colin in the Kaepernick, who led the 49ers to a 2013 Super the second quarter knotted the Police said Spence’s vehicle and won his first world title, 71,940, Brady passed his former past three seasons, despite other false statements Bowl appearance, has declared himself fit and score at 14-14. was travelling at high speed the IBF crown, by knocking rival on a 19-yard completion to to the media to the contrary. available throughout this season, using social New England responded with when it went across a centre out Britain’s Kell Brook in running back Sony Michel. “In 25 years, I have never seen anything like it,” media to show himself working out prior to the a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped median and flipped over England in 2017. Brady, with 72,257 passing Nalley wrote. Kaepernick, 31, hasn’t played in the start of the 2019 campaign. by Brady’s one-yard TD run to several times, throwing the Spence defended the title yards, remains well behind New take a 21-14 lead into halftime. driver, identified as Spence, four times, beating Ameri- Orleans Saints quarterback Drew After a scoreless third period, out of the car. can Lamont Peterson and Brees, who leads the all-time list blocked punt for a touchdown good,” Brady said. “The de- of 31 passes for 161 yards and a New England’s Kyle Van Noy “He is currently resting with Mexico’s Carlos Ocampo last with 74,845 – a total he will like- and forced four turnovers, in- fense played good, special teams touchdown with three intercep- returned a fumble 22 yards for his family by his side,” the year and American Mikey ly add to when he returns from a cluding a fumble they returned played great. “I’m happy we tions. Markus Golden returned a touchdown, and Brady added statement said. “They want Garcia last March before his thumb injury this season. for a TD return for a score. They won, happy to get to 6-0.” a fumble by Brady for a 42-yard one more touchdown plunge to thank everyone for their unification showdown riumph The reigning Super Bowl are 6-0 for the fi rst time since New York’s rookie quarter- touchdown after Brady was with less than four minutes to prayers and well wishes and over Porter. champion Patriots returned a 2015. “We grinded it out pretty back Daniel Jones completed 15 sacked by Lorenzo Carter. play.

MLB Cole’s gem powers Astros past Tampa Bay Rays FP game, notching two strikeouts. it just kind of allows you to just They’re very stoic. They grind Los Angeles The Astros promptly seized a 4-0 kind of roll that fi rst pitch over out a lot of at-bats. It’s going to lead in the bottom of the frame from Sogard off your shoulder a be a tough matchup.” when George Springer led off little bit. “And it’s always good But Cole said the challenge ouston pitcher Ger- with a line drive single. Michael to get the crowd engaged early,” posed by the underdog Rays had rit Cole tossed a post- Brantley followed up with a sin- he added. Houston reached the hardened the Astros. season gem and the gle of his own, putting runners ALCS for the third straight year “What a classy series, man. Astros off ense explod- on the corners with no outs. Jose as they seek another World Se- They grinded so hard,” Cole Hed early to beat the Tampa Bay Altuve then lined a single to right ries title to go with the one they said of the Rays. “We got hit in Rays 6-1 on Thursday and set fi eld to score Springer and keep captured in 2017. They lost to the face twice and we needed up a heavyweight Major League runners on the corners. eventual World Champions Bos- the second one to respond the Baseball playoff clash with the Alex Bregman’s double scored ton in the ALCS last year. way we wanted to respond, and New York Yankees. both Brantley and Altuve with a even then they still were trading Cole, given a 4-0 cushion in double to right-center, and Yuli YANKEES ‘FORMIDABLE’ blows with us tonight. the fi rst inning, dominated the Gurriel’s hit scored Bregman. The Yankees, who swept the “So when you advance you’re Rays through the eighth as the The Rays, who had won two Minnesota Twins in three games elated, you have a champagne Astros sealed a 3-2 victory in the straight to force a deciding game in their division series, are in shower, and you think about all best-of-fi ve American League fi ve, pulled a run back with Eric pursuit of a record-extending the hard work you’ve put in. But Division Series. Sogard’s homer off Cole in the 28th World Series crown. at the same time your opponent Now the Astros, winners of second inning. But the Rays “The Yankees, obviously, are has done the same thing.” a stunning 107 regular-season couldn’t make any more headway a formidable squad,” Cole said. “Those guys were grinding in games, will take on the 103-win and Brantley and Altuve delivered “The AL East, we all know what the off season, they were grind- Yankees in the American League back-to-back home runs in the that division poses with the ing all year through a bunch of Championship Series with a eighth to complete the scoring. reigning World Champions, and injuries, coming back and get- World Series berth on the line. “That was helpful for sure,” obviously the Tampa Bay Rays ting guys healthy... A lot of cred- Game one of the best-of-sev- Cole said of the early off ensive hanging in there. it to them for really just such a en showdown is on Saturday in support. “It just allows you to “They’ve got a lot of talent, a good brand of baseball. It was a Houston. Cole retired the fi rst continue to stay creative through boatload of talent. It’s just kind pleasure to fi ght with them for Houston Astros players celebrate with starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) after beating the Tampa Bay Rays three batters he faced to open the the early part of the game. And of how they’re always made. fi ve games.” in game five of the 2019 ALDS playoff series at Minute Maid Park. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Gulf Times 6 Saturday, October 12, 2019

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Cheika aims jab at Wallabies overcome England’s Jones AFP Cheika said it was useful for Shizuoka, Japan his team to be tested and made to work against Georgia ahead of the knockout round. “The hit- ustralia coach Michael out was good, having to dig in, Cheika took a pop at work hard, get up off the ground, tough Georgia England’s Eddie Jones get into some tough stuff ,” he yesterday after the said. “It’s how we wanted the WallabiesA saw off combative game to go, we wanted to work Georgia and set their sights on like that.” next week’s likely Rugby World He added: “Our forwards Cup quarter-fi nal against their stepped right up to it. We han- old foes. dled the Georgian scrum well, we ahead of knockouts The Wallabies overcame a scored a maul try... and the line- stubborn, defensively sound out worked. It was a good hit-out Georgia 27-8 at Shizuoka, two for the forwards, they got a good In blustery conditions, Australia were forced into a real arm wrestle by Georgians late tries for the men in green shift in. They’re getting the bit and gold giving the scoreline between their teeth.” some added gloss after an er- Cheika admitted his team ror-strewn clash. Wales’ 27-19 were guilty of several handling win over on Wednesday had mistakes but warned that he ex- already guaranteed Australia a pected them to be more accurate place in the last eight, with the next week. “We did drop a bit too Welsh playing minnows Uruguay much ball,” he said. on Sunday in a match that should “But I thought our carrying see them book the Pool D win- was strong, we just didn’t have ners’ spot. the fi nishing touch on a lot of That sets up Cheika for a crack stuff so we’ll defi nitely put that at former teammate Jones, who on and we’ll prepare that and be thanked the “typhoon gods” af- ready to fi nish the opportunities ter England’s fi nal Pool C game that will come next weekend.” with France was cancelled over , in his fi nal game incoming Typhoon Hagibis, giv- with Georgia after eight years as ing them extra time to prepare. head coach, said the huge tackle “They better win, they’ve had count — almost 80 in the fi rst 20 the best preparation according to minutes — had tired his team. the coach,” said Cheika, adding “We knew it was going take a toll that his team were already licking in the second half,” the Kiwi said. their lips at the likely prospect of “We had some opportuni- taking on England at Oita next ties in the second-half, but we Saturday. “They’ll be really look- couldn’t get our set piece going. ing forward to this contest, you I can’t fault the boys on how they can see that in the dressing room put themselves about. I was re- already,” Cheika said. ally proud of them tonight, espe- “The only relevance is Sat- cially in defence.” urday. All the diff erent things, Australia, Haig added, were “a who’s had a week on, who’s had very good side”. “We played pret- a week off , who’s been resting, ty well and if they get a slating who hasn’t, it all comes down to (for handling errors), that would kick-off .” be disrespectful to Georgia.”

Australia’s Taniela Tupou (centre) runs with the ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool D match against Georgia at the Ecopa in Shizuoka, Japan. (AFP)

AFP sive shift and kept in the game by seizing wave of attack, notching up almost 80 at some stage. But poor Australian han- Shizuoka, Japan on a catalogue of basic handling errors by tackles in the fi rst 20 minutes. But an ini- dling meant the men in gold were never their Tier One opponents. tial break by Matt Toomua set up another quite able to take the game by the scruff “I think we missed a few opportuni- Wallaby attacking platform and Georgia of the neck. ustralia fi ne-tuned prepara- ties in attack. We could have stepped up eventually wilted, scrum-half Nic White A moment of jinking brilliance from tions for a likely Rugby World a played a bit fl atter. I think we stayed a burrowing past from Fiji-born winger Marika Koroibete, who Cup quarter-fi nal against Eng- bit too far back,” said Wallabies coach close range for a try Toomua converted. played for Fiji at the 2013 Rugby League land with a hard-fought, error- Michael Cheika. “The conditions were a No 8 Isi Naisarani spilled the steepling World Cup and swapped codes in 2016, strewnA 27-8 Pool D victory over Georgia bit tricky, the rain, the wind. But no ex- restart to hand Georgia the advantage, broke the deadlock. Picking up a loose at Shizuoka yesterday. Wales’ 27-19 win cuses,” added the coach. Soso Matiashvili booting a penalty after a pass on his left wing, the bearded back over Fiji on Wednesday had guaranteed A tight opening quarter saw play see- high Tolu Latu tackle as the ball was recy- fl ew past two defenders and cut back in- the Wallabies a place in the last eight, saw between the two 22m areas, David cled in midfi eld. White and Toomua were side opposite number Alexander Todua with the Welsh playing minnows Uru- Pocock and Jack Dempsey trading tough key cogs as Australia continued to launch for an excellent individual try. guay tomorrow in a match that should see tackles with back-row rivals Mamuka a series of forays from rucktime, but Against the run of play, Todua sent the them book the pool winners’ spot. Gorgodze and . Veteran Georgia’s defence continued to hold fi rm. largely pro-Georgia crowd wild, however, In blustery conditions and heavy rain centre Davit Kacharava, extending the Five minutes before half-time, after he ran in his own try with nine min- as Typhoon Hagibis headed for land- Georgian Test cap record to 119, took it Naisarani was yellow-carded for a high utes to play after a break by replacement fall on Japan’s east coast, Australia were one step too far, however, miraculously tackle into the face of , hooker . forced into a real arm wrestle by the escaping a yellow card from French ref- but it was Australia who instead got on There were late tries for Dempsey and hard-hitting Georgians in the two coun- eree Pascal Gauzere after crashing his el- the scoreboard next through Toomua’s Will Genia to put some gloss on the score- tries’ fi rst-ever Test match. The Walla- bow into the face of a prone Kurtley Beale. second penalty. line and give Cheika plenty to ponder in bies dominated possession and territory The fl eet-footed full-back received After making a whopping 128 tackles in the week ahead. “Their defence was re- early on, and successfully pitted their set medical attention before leaving the pitch the fi rst half, Georgia, who opened their ally solid. Credit to them, through the piece against one of the strongest at the for a head injury assessment, never to re- campaign with a 43-14 defeat by Wales game they were very solid,” said Pocock World Cup. turn to the pitch at Shizuoka’s Ecopa Sta- before beating Uruguay 33-7 and then go- after the game, admitting: “We all know But the Georgians put in a mean defen- dium. The Georgians repelled wave after ing down 45-10 to Fiji, were going to tire we have to go up a gear.” Australia’s head coach Michael Cheika. (AFP)

BOTTOMLINE TYPHOON-HIT GAME South Africa ‘almost World Rugby slams Scotland legal threat there’ as they await AFP quarter-fi nal: Erasmus Tokyo orld Rugby slammed Scot- Reuters Pool A will only be decided this land over a “disappoint- Kobe, Japan weekend. Erasmus, however, was ing” threat of legal action convinced there was only so much yesterday as tempers fl ared work South Africa could do in overW fears their pivotal game with World outh Africa are not quite terms of their physical preparation. Cup hosts Japan will be cancelled be- where coach Rassie Er- “I don’t think you can get much cause of a typhoon. After Japan coach asmus wants them to be fi tter, faster, quicker or tougher Jamie Joseph had also lashed out at heading into the Rugby physically in the next three weeks,” Scotland’s warning, the governing body WorldS Cup quarter-fi nals next he said. “A lot of it, I believe, is took the highly unusual step of rebuking week, he said yesterday, but they mental — it’s upstairs. It’s a lot an individual team. are training under pressure to rep- to do with (asking) ‘how do you Scotland face elimination from the licate knockout rugby. South Af- handle pressure?’ What is pres- World Cup if tomorrow’s Pool A game rica have fi nished runners-up in sure?, and ‘how can you transfer is axed as a result of Typhoon Hagibis, Pool B after they lost 23-13 to the the pressure from your team onto which is due to plough into the Tokyo All Blacks in their opening game in them?’ And there, a lot of things area today and could cause widespread Yokohama on Sept. 21. play a role,” Erasmus explained. damage. “It is disappointing that the After that loss, the Springboks “If you play Japan, you’ve got a Scottish should make such cantered through their other three lot of pressure because it’s a home comments at a time when we are doing pool matches, resoundingly beat- crowd,” he continued. To cope with everything we can to enable all Sunday’s The Pool C World Cup match between England and France was cancelled due to Typhoon Hagibis in Yokohama. (AFP) ing Namibia 57-3, Italy 49-3 and that pressure, Erasmus added that matches to take place as scheduled,” Canada 66-7, but Erasmus is still they had been trying to put the World Rugby said. Dodson said. matches and that’s put us in the best ter-fi nals if tomorrow’s game is can- not quite happy. “I wouldn’t say players in scenarios they were un- Hagibis is predicted to be “one of the World Rugby’s rebuke followed a terse position in our pool,” added Joseph. “I’d celled, giving both teams two points for form-wise we are exactly where comfortable with in training. largest and most destructive typhoons exchange between the rival coaches, like to remind everybody that hasn’t a 0-0 draw. “My team is motivated by we want to be. We are trying to im- “We have spoken a lot about to hit Japan since 1958”, it said, add- when Joseph suggested Scotland were been a fl uke — this team has been in achieving something great — not avoid- prove every week,” he said in Kobe. role-playing with the things we ing that Scotland had signed up to rules out to avoid “embarrassment” and Scot- camp for 240 days this year alone.” ing an embarrassment,” insisted Joseph. “After the New Zealand game, are struggling with on the fi eld stating that if a game cannot be played land’s Gregor Townsend said he “had a Organisers will assess the impact of Scotland’s Townsend later returned we try not to look at the score- (and) we are putting players in spe- on the scheduled day, it is counted as a good laugh” at his opposite number’s the typhoon, set to strike the area to- fi re when he said: “We know it wouldn’t board, and really tried to work on cifi c situations to try to overcome draw. comments. day, before deciding to whether go ahead be an embarrassment to lose to Japan, we things that we knew would be im- those things,” he said. “It defi nitely chief executive Joseph was left fuming by Scotland’s with the match at 7:45pm (1045 GMT) know they are an excellent side and we portant come the quarter-fi nals,” didn’t work in the New Zealand Mark Dodson had earlier insisted Scot- talk of legal action, saying the suggestion tomorrow. Japan won three matches at will have to play very well to win. I had he said. “Some things were good, game but we took our lessons out land wouldn’t become “collateral dam- the hosts favoured cancellation “under- the 2015 World Cup but failed to reach a good laugh about them (Joseph’s com- some things were not as great. Bits of that one and, so far, it’s been go- age” from the typhoon, warning that mined” their achievement in winning all the knockout stage after a 45-10 loss to ments). You may know coaches use press and pieces, we are almost there, ing better.” legal action was a possibility if the game three games so far. “I feel they’ve under- Scotland. conference to put messages out and get a and hopefully we will really hit our “There have been glimpses in is cancelled. “We don’t know that (it’s mined the achievements of the Japanese But they have captured the hearts of response. Sometimes you don’t get one.” straps in the quarter-fi nal.” all the departments that we are too late) — we have to challenge it. This national team and the signifi cance of the baseball-mad nation after beating Japan, Scotland and Ireland are bat- The Springboks have no idea almost there, but we haven’t put is about the game and rugby supporters Sunday’s Test match against Scotland Russia 30-10, stunning Ireland 19-12 tling for the two quarter-fi nal places who they will meet on Oct. 20 at together a complete performance across the world are absolutely astound- for Japan,” said the former All Black. and thrashing Samoa 38-19. The Pool A from Pool A. Ireland play their fi nal Tokyo Stadium, as the winner of together in total.” ed at this rigidity from World Rugby,” “We’ve played and won three Test table-toppers will qualify for the quar- game against Samoa today. Gulf Times Saturday, October 12, 2019 7 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT FORMULA 1 Bottas, Hamilton fastest as Japan Nike shuts down GP hunkers down for typhoon

AFP ond practice will be used to de- Suzuka termine the starting grid. Oregon Project That would leave Mercedes sitting pretty with a front-row altteri Bottas was lockout as they look to secure quickest yesterday the one-two fi nish they need to in practice before clinch a record sixth successive the Japanese Grand constructors championship. VPrix locked down ahead of an Finland’s Bottas recov- approaching super typhoon, ered from a mid-session spin aft er Salazar ban fi nishing a tenth of a second on the fi nal bend to lap the ahead of teammate and world 5.807-kilometre circuit in 1min Salazar founded the training group to challenge the stranglehold of African runners championship leader Lewis 27.8785sec, 0.100sec ahead of Hamilton. Britain’s Hamilton. The Mercedes pair, ben- Verstappen of the Nether- efi ting in Japan from an aero- lands was third on 1:28.066 in dynamic upgrade package to his Red Bull, 0.281sec slower their W10 cars, were comfort- than Bottas, with Monaco’s ably ahead of the third-fastest Leclerc was fourth on 1:28.141 Red Bull of Max Verstappen in and Vettel fi fth on 1:28.376. the second session of the con- “Mercedes are looking very densed racing weekend at Su- strong, which is no surprise zuka. on this track,” Verstappen told “It was a very positive day,” reporters. “But we made a good said Bottas. “We tried the new recovery from this morning. bits with the car. It felt good “I’m not worried about do- since the beginning.” ing qualifying and the race on Just before the fi rst session Sunday as it won’t aff ect my began yesterday morning, race approach. We can’t change the organisers announced that to- weather and it’s out of our con- day’s entire track programme, trol, so now we just have to see including qualifying, had been what happens on Sunday.” scrapped for safety reasons in It was a timely riposte by the face of the approaching Su- Mercedes to the resurgent Fer- per Typhoon Hagibis. rari team who had dominated Qualifying was rescheduled practice and qualifying since to 10am (0100 GMT) tomor- the summer break. row, with the race still taking A win for Hamilton tomor- place at 2:10pm (0510 GMT) as row would leave only Bottas, originally planned, providing who lies 73 points behind, able the weather improves. to catch him in the drivers’ “(We) still need to remember standings with just four races it’s only practice, Sunday is still to come after Japan. going to be close with qualify- It would also put the Eng- ing and the race,” Bottas said. lishman in line to wrap up a The Ferraris of Charles sixth drivers’ title, a feat only Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel, previously achieved by Michael who had dominated practice Schumacher, and third world and qualifying at the previous title in a row at Mexico later four grands prix since the sum- this month. mer break, could only trail in The fanatical Japanese spec- fourth and fi fth after failing to tators, left reeling from the record a clean lap on the fastest news of a blank Saturday, were soft tyres. given something to cheer on The loss of today’s timeta- Friday morning as local hero ble added extra spice with only Naoki Yamamoto made his two practice sessions yesterday Formula One debut, replacing available to prepare the cars for Pierre Gasly in the Toro Rosso In this file photo taken on June 24, 2015, Alberto Salazar watches the action during day one of the 2015 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, qualifying. for the practice session. Oregon. The Nike Oregon Project was set up to end the distance-running dominance of the east Africans but has become a huge headache for the US sportswear giant, which And should bad weather The 31-year-old reigning yesterday said it was shutting it down. Salazar, the coach who founded the prestigious Portland-based training group in 2001, pushed himself to the brink as an athlete, and linger tomorrow morning and champion in Japan’s Super preached the same philosophy as a coach. prevent the qualifying session Formula and Super GT series taking place, the governing completed 30 laps — more than body FIA confi rmed that the any other driver in the session AFP ing behind Salazar, a former marathon berto can no longer coach while the appeal Farah will run in the Chicago marathon timings from yesterday’s sec- — and fi nished 17th fastest. Washington champion and the leading fi gure in Amer- is pending”. on Sunday, with Galen Rupp, another ican distance running in the modern era. Oregon Project athletes won three gold NOP athlete, also taking part. However in a memo to staff Friday, medals at the World Athletics Champion- Nike’s decision to shut down the Or- ike said yesterday it was shut- Parker said the Oregon Project was being ships in Doha that ended on Sunday. egon Project came after athletes includ- ting down its Oregon Project terminated because of the scandal. Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands won ing US runner Kara Goucher, who was distance-running group that has “This situation, along with ongoing the women’s 1,500 metres and 10,000m coached by Salazar from 2004 to 2011 and produced a host of world and Ol- unsubstantiated assertions, is a distrac- while Donavan Brazier of the United provided key evidence in the case against Nympic gold medals after top coach Alberto tion for many of the athletes and is com- States took the men’s 800m gold. There is him, told the BBC Nike could not justify Salazar was banned for four years for dop- promising their ability to focus on their no suggestion either athlete has been in- keeping it open. ing. training and competition needs,” Parker volved in doping. “It has to go,” Goucher said. “If I was Salazar founded the Portland-based said. An angry Hassan said she was happy to Nike I’d be bringing in some new coaches elite training group with funding from “I have therefore made the decision to be tested “every single day” to prove she and move on from this Oregon Project, Nike to challenge the stranglehold of Ken- wind down the Oregon Project.” was a clean athlete. because clearly it had principles not in yan and Ethiopian runners at elite level. Parker said however that Nike would “I believe in clean sport, I’m always line with clean sport and we have to just The sportswear giant had initially still support Salazar, best known for clean, I will always be clean. I believe in start over.” backed Salazar last week after he was sus- coaching Britain’s four-time Olympic the Oregon Project. I’ve seen Alberto. Jeff rey Brown, a Texas endocrinologist pended by the United States Anti-Doping champion Mo Farah, in his appeal against He’s worked really hard and that is what I who treated many of Salazar’s athletes at Agency (USADA) for a catalogue of drugs the ban. know,” she said in an emotional outburst the Oregon training hub in Portland, was violations. Salazar’s doping off ences in- “A four-year suspension for someone after running the sixth-fastest time in also suspended for four years. clude traffi cking in testosterone, tamper- who acted in good faith is wrong,” said history to win the 1,500m. Nike’s share price has been hit by the ing with the doping control process, and Parker in the memo, adding that “the British athlete Farah is also facing new Salazar scandal but following Friday’s an- administering illicit infusions of the fat- panel found there was no orchestrated questions about his involvement with nouncement, it was up 1.08% at $94.00 in burning substance, L-carnitine. doping, no fi nding that performance en- Salazar. Farah, who has never tested posi- early trade in New York. He denies any wrongdoing and has hancing drugs have ever been used on tive, waited more than two years after the The US company has $4.5bn in an- vowed to appeal the ban and just last Oregon Project athletes and went out of accusations were fi rst made against Sala- nual running-related sales, according week, Nike chief executive Mark Parker its way to note Alberto’s desire to follow zar before parting ways with the coach in to Bloomberg data, and it is the biggest announced that the company was stand- all rules”. However, he admitted that “Al- October 2017. sponsor of running around the world. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton before practice at Suzuka yesterday.

BOTTOMLINE Monastic Kipchoge aims for the moon

AFP trying my best to live a modest life,” people in the world is that no human Kipchoge set his world record, 2hr Nairobi he said. is limited. “Breaking the two-hour 1min 39sec, in the Berlin race in 2018. “I am a simple person, I try to stay marathon barrier would be like man He had met coach Patrick Sang in calm and focus on what I do. There are landing on the moon,” he said. 2001 and joined the fabled running s he prepares for more as- no distractions.” He added that it would “show to the stable in the foothills of the Rift Valley saults on the peaks of mara- The special event in Vienna, spon- world that when you focus on your a year later. thon running, Eliud Kip- sored by British conglomerate Ineos, goal, when you work hard and when Kipchoge enjoys no privileges at choge stays true to an austere has been given a catchy marketing ti- you believe in yourself, anything is the Kaptagat camp where he is nick- Alifestyle despite his fame and fortune. tle: the “1:h59 Challenge”. possible.” named the “philosopher” for his love The Kenyan superstar, who holds Kipchoge, 34, went close to break- Kipchoge was born in Kapsisiywa, of reading. The camp is a few hours’ the marathon world record and is ing the two-hour barrier when he was Nandi County in western Kenya. walk from his home village, Eldoret. reigning Olympic champion, hopes to 25 seconds too slow in another staged At 18 he beat two legendary run- On weekends, he returns to his family. become the fi rst man to run the 42.195 run, at Italy’s Monza race circuit in ners, the Moroccan Hicham El Guer- Coach Sang, an Olympic runner-up kilometres in under two hours today 2017. rouj and Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, in the 3,000m steeplechase in 1992, in Vienna. That time was not sanctioned by the to became 5,000 metre world cham- remains impressed with his student’s Despite his status and wealth, the International Association of Athletics pion in Paris in 2003 determination. 2018 world athlete of the year leads a Federations (IAAF) because a vehicle In 2012, after failing to qualify “He has continued to amaze me monastic existence at a spartan run- and a squad of pacemakers aided Kip- for the London Olympics, Kipchoge with his self-sacrifi ce and dedication. ning camp in Kenya’s Rift Valley. choge in controlling his speed. switched to marathon running. He has given 100% of his ability and With the 30 or so runners living at The same conditions will prevail With his compact silhouette and total commitment to what he does,” the camp, Kipchoge sets off at dawn for the Vienna attempt, preventing unwavering stride as the miles tick he told AFP. for the fi rst of two daily training ses- An advertising billboard of local mobile network provider displays Kenya’s any potential world record from being by, Kipchoge is perfectly suited to the Kipchoge, who will defend his Ol- sions. Olympic marathon champion and World record holder Eliud Kipchoge at sunset validated. “This is about history,” he longer distance. ympic title in Tokyo next year, is fi x- The rest of his time is spent resting, in Nairobi, Kenya. Today, Kipchoge will attempt to break the two-hour marathon said. “It’s about leaving a legacy. It’s Out of 12 marathons, he has lost ated on Saturday’s challenge. reading and eating, with a focus on barrier dubbed “INEOS 1:59 Challenge” in the Prater park in the Austrian capital about inspiring people,” he said of the just once: in his 2013 debut in Berlin, “I have visualised it. I have put it in simple Kenyan food staples. Vienna with an eight-day window to October 20 in case of bad weather. Kipchoge Vienna event. against compatriot Wilson Kipsang, my heart and my mind that I will break “I don’t think I am diff erent. I am set the off icial world record of 2:01:39 at the 2018 Berlin Marathon. “My main message to the 7.5bn who broke the world record that day. the two-hour barrier,” he said.

Saturday, October 12, 2019 GULF TIMES SPORT

CRICKET TWENTY20 Qatar beat Jersey in 2nd Bradmanesque Kohli match to seal series

By Sports Reporter puts India on top Doha ‘I think the fast bowlers still have good assistance if you can bowl in the right areas’ atar put in another splendid all- round display and took an unas- AFP eight fours and two sixes in his sailable 2-0 lead with an emphatic Pune 104-ball blitz. eight-wicket victory over Jersey in The skipper started the day on theQ second Twenty20 International friendly 63, surviving hostile fast bowl- India captain Virat Kohli plays a shot match. irat Kohli hit a career- ing from Kagiso Rabada and Ver- during the second day of the second At the Asian Town Cricket Stadium Indus- best 254 to overtake non Philander. He brought up Test against South Africa at Mahar- trial Area, Qatar, after dismissing the oppo- batting great Don his hundred before lunch with ashtra Cricket Association Stadium in nents for just 101 in 20 overs, cantered to the Bradman’s Test tally a delightful straight drive for a Pune yesterday. (AFP) victory with 41 balls to spare, making the third Vof 6,996 runs and put India in boundary off Philander. and last match of just academic interest. command of the second Test He put on 178 with overnight Batting fi rst, the visitors had a nightmarish against South Africa yesterday. partner Rahane, who made 58 time. They lost their fi rst wicket off the very Kohli recorded his seventh before becoming spinner Keshav fi rst ball by Gayan Munaweera and then Nou- double century before he de- Maharaj’s 100th Test victim and man Sarwar’s four blows in a row sent them clared India’s fi rst innings on the only Indian wicket to fall on reeling fi ve down for 30. 601 for fi ve in Pune. His 225-run the day. “We enjoy each others Qatar then tightened the screws further and fi fth-wicket stand with Ravin- company,” Rahane, who was in- shot out the rivals for the modest total. Harri- dra Jadeja, who made 91, shat- volved in his 10th century stand son Carlyon was the top run-maker with 32 in tered South Africa’s bowlers af- with Kohli, said. “It was impor- 36 balls. He had four boundaries in his knock ter the hosts elected to bat fi rst. tant to communicate well and as well. The tourists were precariously that’s what we did.” Jake Dunford contributed 29 with a six and placed at 36 for three at stumps Maharaj went off the fi eld Elliot Miles got 16 before getting run out. Apart with paceman Umesh Yadav with an injured shoulder and the from Sarwar, Munaweera and Inam Ashraf claiming the two openers. team management were waiting shared four wickets. Yadav trapped Aiden Markram to see had bad it was. India had Qatar lost opener Faisal Javed Khan, the lbw without scoring and then already been boosted by opener man-of-the-match in the opening game, early bowled Dean Elgar for six. Mayank Agarwal’s second suc- but then the second-wicket stand for 91 runs Mohamed Shami sent back cessive hundred on Thursday. A between opener Kamran Khan and new man Temba Bavuma caught behind series victory for India, who won Mohamed Tanveer took them at the door of the for eight as South Africa slipped the fi rst of the three Tests on victory. for 33 for three. Theunis de Bru- Sunday, will see them beat the Tanveer got out to Sumerauer for 41. He yn on 22 and fast bowler Anrich record of 10 straight home series faced 36 balls, blasted two sixes and three Nortje, on two, were batting at wins they share with Australia. fours, while Khan fi nished unbeaten on 51. He the close with South Africa need- smashed three sixes and as many boundaries in ing another 366 runs to avoid a his 34-ball knock. follow-on. “We were thinking of Scorecard Tanveer was adjudged the man-of-the- 500-plus, not 600 but the man- match for his knock and two catches. INDIA 1st innings (overnight 273-3) ner in which Virat and Jadeja batted made it look very easy. It M. Agarwal c du Plessis b Rabada 108 BRIEF SCORES was not a 600 wicket,” said vice- R. Sharma c de Kock b Rabada 14 Qatar beat Jersey by eight wickets captain Ajinkya Rahane. C. Pujara c du Plessis b Rabada 58 Jersey: 101 all out in 20 overs (Harrison Car- “I think the fast bowlers still lyon 32 in 36 balls, Jake Dunford 29 in 40 balls, have good assistance if you can V. Kohli not out 254 Elliot Miles 16 in 22 balls; Gayan Munaweera bowl in the right areas. But the A. Rahane c de Kock b Maharaj 59 2/18, Nouman Sarwar 4/23, Imran Ashraf 2/23) ball is turning too,” he added. R. Jadeja c de Bruyn b Muthusamy 91 Qatar 102 for two in 13.1 overs (Kamran Khan Kohli took the day’s honours 51 not out in 34 balls, Mohamed Tanveer 41 in with a marathon innings that ex- Extras (lb6, nb11) 17 36 balls; William Robertson 1/27, Julius Sumer- tended India’s domination after Total (5 wickets dec, 156.3 overs) 601 auer 1/10) they resumed on 273 for three. Fall of wickets: 1-25 (R. Sharma), Man-of-the-match: Mohamed Tanveer (Qatar) Playing his 50th Test as cap- 2-163 (Pujara), 3-198 (Agarwal), 4-376 tain, Kohli surpassed Bradman’s (Rahane), 5-601 (Jadeja) total and then swept spinner Bowlers: Philander 26-6-66-0, Raba- Senuran Muthusamy for two to da 30-3-93-3 (nb6), Nortje 25-5-100-0, reach 200 and get the stadium Maharaj 50-10-196-1, Muthusamy 19.3- crowd to its feet. The benchmark 1-97-1 (nb5), Elgar 4-0-26-0, Markram puts him in the top 50 Test run- 2-0-17-0. scorers led by Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar with 15,921 runs in SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 200 matches. Muthuswamy had D. Elgar b Yadav 6 Kohli caught at slip on 208 with A. Markram lbw b Yadav 0 his left-arm spin but TV replays T. de Bruyn not out 20 showed he had overstepped the bowling line and the delivery T. Bavuma c Saha b Shami 8 was a no-ball. Kohli and Jadeja A. Nortje not out 2 attacked the opposition bowlers Total (3 wickets, 15 overs) 36 with a string of fours and sixes. Kohli smashed Muthusamy Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Markram), 2-13 for a boundary to go past his pre- (Elgar), 3-33 (Bavuma) vious-best Test score of 243. He Bowling: Sharma 4-0-17-0, Yadav 4-1- Qatar’s Mohamed Tanveer (left) receives the ended the day unconquered with 16-2, Jadeja 4-4-0-0, Shami 3-1-3-1. man of the match award from QCA Operations 33 fours and two sixes. Jadeja hit Manager Manzoor Ahmad.

TENNIS Federer loses cool and follows Djoko out of Shanghai AFP Gauff earns fi rst career semi-fi nal with upset of Bertens Shanghai American teenager Cori Gauff on Monday, when she travels to Gauff stepped up to win the advanced to the first WTA semi- Luxembourg for the last event opener in a tie-break and broke final of her career yesterday of her season. for 2-1 in the second. oger Federer was given with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 defeat of top She is already assured of a spot The match ended on Gauff ’s a point penalty as he seed Kiki Bertens at Linz. in the Australian Open field in second match point as Bertens followed Novak Djoko- The 15-year-old became the January with her rise in the sent a return wide. vic out of the Shanghai youngest woman to reach a rankings. MastersR quarter-fi nals in a bad- semi-final at this level since Gauff maintained control tempered defeat to Alexander Nicole Vaidisova won the throughout over the eighth- Zverev yesterday. Tashkent title in 2004. Gauff ranked Bertens to earn her first The 22-year-old German won plays Andrea Petkovic on Satur- victory over a top 10 player. 6-3, 6-7 (7/9), 6-3 as the Swiss day for a place in the final. “There have been a lot of firsts legend was penalised after twice The 75th-ranked Petkovic this week,” Gauff said. “I’m really hitting the ball out of the court in booked her first semi in a year, happy and proud of how I’m anger and rowing with the um- defeating Viktoria Kuzmova of playing. pire. The sixth-ranked Zverev Slovakia 6-4, 6-1. “Kiki was playing well and there faces Austria’s Dominic Thiem or Gauff earned her place in the was just a diff erence of one or Matteo Berrettini of Italy in the field as a lucky loser from quali- two points. semi-fi nals today. fying as Greek Maria Sakkari “I’m glad I was able to come out Former number one Feder- withdrew injured to start the on top. I’ve really gotten a lot of er evaded questions about the week. support from the crowd,” she umpire afterwards, shrugging The Floridian, still under WTA told a sellout audience in this his shoulders and fi ring back at age restrictions, is playing her upper Austrian regional capital. one reporter: “So you can write fifth Tour-level main draw of Gauff was never threatened something on Twitter, yeah? 2019 after reaching the Wimble- by her more experienced op- “Next question.” Roger Federer of Switzerland gestures while playing against Alexander Zverev of Germany during their don fourth round and making ponent, who owns titles this The 20-time Grand Slam quarter-final at the Shanghai Masters in Shanghai yesterday. (AFP) the third round at the US Open. season at St Petersburg and champion saved fi ve match The Linz week has been a break- Madrid and reached the Beijing points to force a deciding set, semi-fi nals in Shanghai. beaten. Tsitsipas recovered from there and be able to be more ag- through for the world number semi-finals last week before but he then became engaged in a “The young guys are knocking losing the opening three games gressive. Once you get aggressive 110 who will crack the top 100 returning to Europe. continual war of words with the on the door big time, it’s exciting, in just seven minutes to shock and they see you going for it, I chair umpire. it’s great,” he said. the reigning champion Djokovic might even say they get scared.” The 38-year-old’s trademark Tsitsipas said that he scares 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Calling it the best It was a double celebration for has the potential to be number ened to blow Tsitsipas away in 6-3, 7-6 (7/4). US Open fi nalist cool evaded him as the new gen- the “Big Three” after the young comeback of his nascent career, Tsitsipas, who also confi rmed his one, the 32-year-old Serbian re- the fi rst set. Medvedev has beaten Tsitsipas eration of men’s tennis stars took Greek stunned world number one the seventh-ranked Tsitsipas place in the prestigious season- plied: “He defi nitely has, yes.” But Tsitsipas found his feet in all their four matches, but he centre stage in Shanghai. Djokovic in their quarter-fi nal. said he had dreamt of beating the ending ATP Finals. in the second set, then went 3-1 said: “They were all really tight. His point deduction came at The 21-year-old has now de- “Big Three”. Tsitsipas sealed the deal with a ‘REALLY TIGHT’ up in the decider when Djokovic He’s improving also every week. 3-0 and 30-15 down in the third feated Djokovic, Federer and Ra- But rather than being intimi- gleeful smash and held both arms Djokovic says that he is fully re- planted a forehand wide on the He’s still so young. He has even, set, as he threatened to unravel. fael Nadal this year to burnish his dated by them, Tsitsipas said: “I aloft. Djokovic met his opponent covered from a shoulder injury third break point. let’s say, two years of more im- He said that he “played al- fast-growing reputation. honestly feel like they are more with a warm embrace at the net. and he did not drop a set in win- Tsitsipas grabbed his place proving than me, talking about right”, but was eff usive about the On Saturday though he fac- threatened than I am and that Djokovic, who had looked ning the title in Tokyo last week. at the ATP Finals after fourth- age.” rise of Zverev, Daniil Medvedev es the red-hot 23-year-old makes me more relaxed on court. imperious up until now, had no He had carried that ominous ranked Medvedev tamed self- Nadal was not in action in and Stefanos Tsitsipas, all in the Medvedev – who he has never “I know I just have to hang in complaints. Asked if Tsitsipas form into Shanghai and threat- styled “wild horse” Fabio Fognini Shanghai because of a wrist injury.