SPORT

Sunday 20 August 2017

PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22 PAGE | 23 All Blacks pummel Kyrgios rips More of the same Wallabies Nadal to reachh demanded from in opener semi-finals relentlessre Real Madrid England thrash woeful Windies in day-night Test

Birmingham AFP

ngland hammered the West Indies by an innings Qatar’s double Olympic medallists Mutaz and 209 runs as the inaugural day/night Test in Essa Barshim celebrates his victory during EBritain ended inside three days at Edgbaston the Doha Diamond League Meeting in this yesterday. May 5, 2017 file photo. West Indies, following on, were bowled out for 137 in their second innings as they lost 19 wickets in total during the day’s play. Victory gave England a 1-0 lead in a three-match series that continues with the second Test at Heading- ley starting on Friday. Champion Barshim joins England had established a commanding position thanks to Alastair Cook’s 243 and the opener’s stand of 248 with captain Joe Root (136) as the some side piled up 514-8 declared. West Indies slumped to 168 all out in reply, with only Jermaine Blackwood (79 not out) offering much star cast in Birmingham resistance. Root enforced the follow-on, with West Indies 346 runs behind, and the tourists promptly collapsed again. Grabarz finished in joint season best of 2.32m, followed loss in the 5,000m event at a glo- Stuart Broad took three wickets for four runs in 11 Chinthana Wasala fourth behind Barshim in Rio last by Syarian Majed Aldin Ghazal bal championship since 2009. balls, including two in two, as he surpassed Ian Both- The Peninsula year and was joint Olympic (2.32m) and Grabarz (2.31m). Meanwhile, in the women’s am’s tally of 383 Test wickets and moved into bronze medallist with the Qatari Barshim won’t be the only 100 metres, Jamaica’s Elaine second-place in England’s all-time list behind longstand- he newly-crowned athlete and Derek Drouin of Can- world champion to hit the field Thompson, Trinidadian Michelle- ing new-ball partner James Anderson. world champion ada at London 2012. at the Alexander Stadium today. Lee Ahye, Nigerian Blessing Mutaz Essa Barshim “I love competing in the UK On track events, a star cast Okagbare-Ighoteguonor and SCOREBOARD will be looking to so to have another chance to is ready to take off from the Olympic silver medallist Marie- extend his dominance compete there at the Muller starting blocks, including the Josée Ta Lou of Ivory Coast will England (I innings): ...... 514-8 decl West Indies (II innings): T in his pet event when the Bir- Grand Prix Birmingham is fan- home star Mo Farah who has lead the star-studded battle while West Indies (I innings): K Brathwaite lbw Ali ...... 40 mingham Diamond League tastic,” said the Qatari announced that this will be his 200metres world champion K Brathwaite c Bairstow b Anderson ...... 0 K Powell c Cook b Anderson ...... 10 K Powell (run out) ...... 20 meeting kicks off today. superstar. final season on track events. Dafne Schippers is also expected K Hope lbw Roland-Jones ...... 12 K Hope c Stokes b Anderson...... 25 The Qatari high jumper is in The 26-year-old Barshim After this season, Farah will be to join the final eight. S Hope c Root b Stokes...... 4 S Hope b Roland-Jones ...... 15 R Chase lbw Broad ...... 24 brilliant form, having won a gold who has jumped higher than focused on road racing. Surprise 400m gold medal- R Chase b Anderson ...... 0 medal at the 2017 IAAF World anyone in history except Cuban After losing his final cham- list in London Phyllis Francis will J Blackwood st Bairstow b Ali ...... 12 J Blackwood (not out) ...... 79 S Dowrich b Broad ...... 5 Athletics Championships in Lon- world record holder Javier pionship race on the track, Mo also return to action in Birming- S Dowrich lbw Roland-Jones ...... 4 J Holder c Cook b Broad ...... 0 don just a week ago. He faces a Sotomayor, has a seasonal best Farah is returning to compete in ham, and will immediately face J Holder c Bairstow b Ali ...... 11 K Roach b Anderson ...... 12 challenge by home favourite and of 2.38m, cleared at the Diamond the 3000m today. silver and bronze medallists K Roach b Broad ...... 5 A Joseph c Stokes b Roland-Jones ...... 8 long-term rival Robbie Grabarz. League meeting in Oslo, Norway, Last week, Farah notched a Salwa Eid Naser and Allyson Felix. A Joseph lbw Broad ...... 6 M Cummins (run out) ...... 0 M Cummins (not out) ...... 0 However, Barshim has a fan- in June. His personal best stands victory in the 10,000m event at In the men’s 200 metres, Extras (B-9, LB-1) ...... 10 tastic record in Birmingham as at 2.42m which is also the cur- the IAAF World Championships, spectators will have a glimpse of Extras (LB-1, W-2) ...... 3 Total (all out) ...... 168 Total (all out) ...... 137 he won the same event in a Sta- rent Asian record. the 10th global championship a London rematch which will see Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-41, 3-60, 4-76, dium record 2.38m in 2014 and Barshim’s closest rival in the title of his career, and he Turkish World Champion Ramil Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-45, 3-47, 4-47, 5-89, 6-101, 7-129, 8-134, 9-162, 10-168. 5-102, 6-104, 7-104, 8-115, 9-137, 10-137. also cleared 2.37m in 2016 at the Diamond League series, Ukrain- returned to place second to Muk- Guliyev, Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake, Bowling: Anderson 15-6-34-3 (1w); Broad 16- Bowling: J Anderson 7-2-12-2; S Broad 10-4-

same venue. ian Bohdan Bondarenko has a tar Edris in the 5,000m, his first Isaac Makwala and Ameer Webb. 3-47-2; Roland-Jones 6-0-31-2 (1w); Stokes 7-0- 34-3; T S Roland-Jones 6.4-3-18-2; B Stokes 40-0; Ali 3-1-15-1. 9-4-9-1; M Ali 13-2-54-2. Qatar team EPL: United hit four again; Mane lifts Liverpool to resume London saved from Riyad Mahrez, and Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku scores their second goal against Swansea City during AFP Mahrez’s corner set up Harry training their English Premier League match yesterday. Maguire to head in Leicester’s omelu Lukaku was on tar- second early in the second in Doha get again as Manchester half. RUnited continued their Charlie Austin scored a fine early-season form with a 93rd-minute penalty to earn Doha second successive 4-0 win yes- Southampton a last-gasp 3-2 QNA terday, this time at Swansea City. home win over West Ham. Eric Bailly, Paul Pogba and Goals from Manolo Gab- atar’s first football team will substitute Anthony Martial also bidini and Dusan Tadic, the resume its training in Doha found the net at the Liberty Sta- latter a penalty, put Saints 2-0 Qtoday after the completion dium, giving Jose Mourinho’s up and West Ham new boy of its preparatory camp, which side their second big win after Marko Arnautovic was sent off was held in Birmingham, England last weekend’s 4-0 victory over in between for an elbow on Jack on August 2. West Ham United. Stephens. The preparatory camp comes Sadio Mane struck in the Javier Hernandez’s first two as part of preparations for the 73rd minute to give Liverpool a West Ham goals drew the 10 matches against Syria in Malaysia 1-0 home win over Crystal Pal- men level, only for Austin to on August 31 and against China on ace and get Jurgen Klopp’s side secure victory from the spot September 5 in Doha in the ninth up and running after their 3-3 after Maya Yoshida was fouled round of qualifiers for the World draw at Watford on the opening by Pablo Zabaleta. Cup in Russia 2018 in Group A weekend. break Swansea down, United games since signing from much more solid display, but Hal Robson-Kanu was hero matches. “The team was confident went in front just before half- Everton. were undone with 17 minutes to and villain as West Bromwich Qatar team played three from the first minute,” said time when Bailly stabbed in his Mkhitaryan then freed play when Mane seized upon a Albion won 1-0 at Burnley. friendly matches while camping in Mourinho after a result that first goal for the club after Pogba to beat Fabianski with a loose ball to fire home. The Wales striker came off England, the first match Qatar win means United have scored four Lukasz Fabianski had pushed delightful dinked finish before Arsenal visit Stoke City in the the bench to score a 71st-minute over Leeds United 2-0, lost the sec- goals in their first two league Pogba’s header against the bar. Martial tucked in a fourth. late game. winner, but was then sent off for ond against Nottingham Forest 1/2, games for the first time in 110 Attacking changes left At Anfield, Liverpool man- Narrowly beaten 4-3 by leading with his arm in a chal- and won the third against Andorra years. Swansea vulnerable at the back ager Klopp made five changes Arsenal in the season’s opening lenge on Matthew Lowton. 1-0. “I like to see the confidence in the latter stages and United to the team that won 2-1 at Hof- match, 2016 champions Leices- Brazilian youngster Richar- The Spanish coach Felix Sanchez that the players are having in this took full advantage to score fenheim in their Champions ter City hit back to beat Brighton lison scored his first goal in gave players a two-day rest upon moment. There’s no panic. The three goals in the space of just League play-off round first leg and Hove Albion 2-0 at the King English football and Etienne arrival and the team will resume team was always confident and four minutes. in mid-week. Power Stadium. Capoue opened his account for training in preparation for the final always trying to move the ball. In the 80th minute Henrikh Beaten 3-0 at home by Hud- Shinji Okazaki broke the the season as Watford claimed test scheduled for next Wednesday I’m really happy.” Mkhitaryan teed up Lukaku for dersfield Town on the opening deadlock after just 52 seconds, a deserved 2-0 win at against Turkmenistan. Having had to work hard to his fourth goal in three United weekend, Palace produced a tapping in after Mathew Ryan Bournemouth. SPORT SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017 21 Flying tiger and gold suits as SEA Games open in KL

Kuala Lumpur Sultan Muhammad V, formally cheered the succession of AFP opened the two-week Games. marching bands. About 4,200 athletes are The biennial SEA Games, flying tiger, shiny gold competing for 404 gold medals formerly the Southeast Asian suits and a parade of in sports ranging from boxing Peninsula Games, have been A marching bands took and equestrianism to petanque, running since 1959, when the centre stage as the Southeast speed skating and lawn bowls region was still emerging from Asian Games opened in a glit- at the popular and unique SEA its long era of colonialism. tering ceremony in Kuala Games. Games mascot Rimau, Malaysia, who have given Lumpur yesterday. a fluffy Malayan tiger, flew into the 29th edition the tagline “Ris- More than 4,000 athletes the stadium on a wire, after ing Together”, are aiming to top from 11 nations strode into the LED-lit pedal cars and flag- the medals table for only the Malaysian capital’s newly refur- wavers wearing glittering gold second time by matching the 111 bished, 87,000-capacity Bukit suits had entertained the crowd. golds they won on home soil in Jalil stadium, which was sold out Fans watched video mes- 2001. Ahead of the opening cer- for the vibrant show. sages from Malaysia’s emony, they have already made Torrential rain early on badminton and squash stars Lee a strong start with seven golds New Zealand’s wing Rieko Ioane scores a try during the Rugby Championship test match failed to dampen enthusiasm as Chong Wei and Nicol David, to lead the table ahead of Sin- against Australia in Sydney, yesterday. the hosts put on an entertaining who are busy with world cham- gapore and Thailand, who both All Blacks pummel spectacle before Malaysia’s king, pionships commitments, and have three. Wallabies in opener

Sydney All Blacks excel in 10th minute and the three-try Reuters Sydney burst from the 18th minute silencing what noise was com- ieko Ioane and Ryan Reigning champions ing from the home supporters. Crotty both crossed New Zealand open Winger Ioane scored the twice as New Zea- with a bonus-point first two, beating a badly posi- land ran in eight tries win, the All Blacks tioned Folau on the outside and in a brilliant display score eight tries in benefiting from a Beale spill to Rof running rugby to demolish race away for the second. Fireworks explode during opening first 48 minutes Australia 54-34 in the Rugby Flyhalf Beauden Barrett’s ceremony of Southeast Asian (SEA) Championship opener neat short pass sent Crotty in for Australia respond Games in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. yesterday. the fourth try and his centre with four late tries in The world champions extin- partner Williams, returning after guished any chance of an upset Rugby Championship a four-match ban for his red with three tries in seven first- opener in Sydney card in the Lions series, stormed half minutes and sliced through across for the fifth. the home defence almost at will Crotty still had time before Simpson, Armour tied for lead in the opening 50 to start their really hard and exploited a few the interval to claim his second title defence with a bonus-point gaps out wide.” after more poor tackling in the win. The Wallabies face the All Wallabies midfield to give the Los Angeles WYNDHAM SCORES drained a total of nine Liam Squire, Sonny Bill Wil- Blacks in Dunedin again next visitors a 40-6 lead at the break. AFP birdies. liams, Damian McKenzie and week and on this evidence their It was more of the same -13 Ryan Armour (US) 66, 61 Vaughn Taylor (66) and Ollie Ben Smith also scored tries as prospects of winning the after the restart with fullback ormer US Open winner Webb Simpson (US) 63, 64 Schniederjans (63), who birdied the All Blacks brushed off the remaining two Bledisloe Cup McKenzie, playing his third test, Webb Simpson fired a six- -12 Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 62, 66 three of his last four holes, were disappointment of the drawn tests to reclaim the trophy for getting reward for his thrilling Funder 64 on Friday to grab -11 Ollie Schniederjans (US) 66, 63 tied for fourth at 11 under. British and Irish Lions series and the first time since 2002 must running and winger Ben Smith a share of the lead with fellow Vaughn Taylor (US) 63, 66 Hunter Mahan (65) Kevin Na a string of off-field be rated as extremely remote. giving the All Blacks a 54-6 lead American Ryan Armour at the -10 Davis Love III (US) 64, 66 (63) and former winner Davis distractions. “It is not the start we would after 48 minutes. halfway stage of the US PGA Kevin Na (US) 67, 63 Love (66) are next at 10 under. The Wallabies scored tries have hoped for,” said Australia Facing their biggest ever test Tour Wyndham Hunter Mahan (US) 65, 65 Mahan had his second consec- through debutant winger Cur- captain Michael Hooper. defeat full in the face, the Wal- Championship. -9 Sam Saunders (US) 63, 68 utive 65. tis Rona, replacement back “Being 50 points behind, you labies rallied with the four Simpson, who won the US Johnson Wagner (US) 67, 64 Stenson, the highest-ranked Tevita Kuridrani, centre Kurt- start to throw everything we unanswered tries to give the Open in 2012 in San Francisco, Harold Varner III (US) 63, 68 golfer in the field at ninth in the

ley Beale and fullback Israel had, I’m so happy with that.” majority of the crowd of 54,846 made four birdies on a bogey- Anirban Lahiri (India) 65, 66 world, carded birdies on three

Folau but they came in the sec- Looking to dispel some of something to cheer and secure free back nine, while Armour of four holes during one stretch Shane Lowry (Ireland) 67, 64 ond half once the game was the gloom hanging over the Aus- a bonus point. birdied four straight holes en as he finished on the front side. already beyond them. tralian game, the Wallabies put The All Blacks could have route to a nine-under par 61. One of the most entertain- “It was pretty surreal that together some sharp phases had a ninth try three minutes The pair were tied at where I grew up,” said Simpson, ing rounds of Friday belonged first half to be honest. We came with their first possession and from time when Barrett, who 13-under 127 for a one-shot lead who comes from North to Johnson Wagner, who shot here to play our game and it were rewarded with flyhalf Ber- kicked seven conversions, over Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, Carolina. 64 despite ending with a bogey. really came off. It was a pretty nard Foley’s penalty in the third charged down a Foley defensive who led the morning groups Simpson, who won his first He is nine-under for the tour- awesome first half,” New Zea- minute. From then on, however, kick, only for the video official with a four-under 66 at Sedge- PGA Tour event in North Caro- nament in a group of five land captain Kieran Read said. it was one-way traffic in the first to decide both players had field Country Club in lina in 2011, had to overcome golfers that also includes Ire- “It came about by the doing half with quick hands down the grounded the ball Greensboro, North Carolina. back-to-back bogeys on the land’s Shane Lowry (64) and the simple things. We carried line sending Squire over in the simultaneously. “We’re obviously close to front nine, while Armour American Harold Varner (68).

NFL: Ravens sign centre Machado shines as Orioles down Angels

Zuttah Baltimore All five LA home runs came BASEBALL SCORES AP off Hellickson, the first time the Washington right-hander yielded more than San Francisco 10 Philadelphia 2 Agencies anny Machado capped a three in a game. Darren O’Day Washington 7 San Diego 1 three-homer night with (4-1) got the win with 1 1/3 Colorado 8 Milwaukee 4 he Baltimore Ma grand slam in the ninth Baltimore Orioles innings of scoreless relief. Cleveland 10 Kansas City 1 Red Sox 9, Yankees 6 Ravens signed cen- inning, and the Baltimore Ori- third baseman Minnesota 10 Arizona 3 Ttre Jeremy Zuttah oles rallied to beat the Los Manny Machado Pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland Houston 3 Oakland 1 to a two-year deal after Angeles Angels 9-7 on Friday (right) connects on hit a two-run single in Boston’s he was released by the night in a game that featured 10 four-run seventh inning and the Chicago White Sox 4 Texas 3 a grand slam home Cincinnati 5 Atlanta 3 San Francisco 49ers. home runs. run in the bottom Red Sox rallied to beat New York. Zuttah’s deal is worth Machado hit his seventh Boston won for the 13th time LA Dodgers 8 Detroit 5 of the 9th inning nearly $4m in base sal- career slam off Keynan Middle- in 15 games to extend its lead in Miami 3 NY Mets 1 ary, with a maximum of ton (4-1), who entered with two to win the game the AL East to five games over against the Los Boston 9 NY Yankees 6 $6 million in incentives, on and one out in the ninth. After the second-place Yankees. New Seattle 7 Tampa Bay 1 a source told NFL Net- Tim Beckham singled to load the Angeles Angels in York had won four straight.

work’s Ian Rapoport. bases, Machado hit a drive far Baltimore on Friday. Addison Reed (1-1) got five Baltimore 9 LA Angels 7

St. Louis 11 Pittsburgh 10 Zuttah started three over the center-field wall to give outs, striking out three. Craig years in Baltimore (2014- the Orioles their first lead. Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 16) before being traded Machado also hit a two-run 29th save. to San Francisco in homer in the third and a solo Camden Yards, five by each Calhoun connected in succession The Red Sox opened a 3-0 Tommy Kahnle (2-4). Mookie March. shot in the fifth to finish with team. in the first inning, C.J. Cron and lead on homers from Rafael Betts had a sacrifice fly and The Ravens origi- seven RBIs. Pujols’ two-run drive was Kaleb Cowart homered in the Devers and Christian Vazquez. Andrew Benintendi an RBI nally acquired Zuttah in Albert Pujols set the tone for 609th, tied with Sammy Sosa for second for a 5-0 lead. The Ori- But Todd Frazier hit a two-run single. March 2014 from the the game in the first inning with eighth on the career. Pujols and oles used homers by Mark homer in the sixth, then New After Hanley Ramirez Tampa Bay Buccaneers a milestone homer off Jeremy Sosa now share the distinction Trumbo, Machado and Caleb York scored four in the seventh walked to load the bases again, in exchange for a fifth- Hellickson. of hitting more home runs that Joseph and cut the gap to a run to take a 6-3 lead. Moreland’s single made it 7-6. round pick. There would be plenty more any other foreign-born player. before a two-run drive by Mike Boston loaded the bases in Jackie Bradley Jr. added a two- long balls on a steamy night at After Pujols and Kole Trout made it 7-4 in the fifth. the bottom of the seventh against run single in the eighth. 22 SPORT SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017 Bangladesh recall Hossain, Shafiul for Dhaka Test

Dhaka AP Smith banks on India experience

angladesh brought back all- Dhaka rounder Nasir Hossain and AFP Bmedium pacer Shafiul Islam for its 14-member squad for the first Test ustralia captain Steve Smith said against Australia. yesterday that his team’s expe- Hossain played his last test in 2015, Arience in India earlier this year and Islam in 2016. will help overcome the challenge of Middle-order batsman Mominul Bangladesh in the forthcoming two-Test Haque and Mahmudullah, part of Bang- series ladesh’s squad in the 1-1 series against “I think Bangladesh have played Sri Lanka, were left out. Haque has an some very good cricket and they won impressive 46.88 Test average — the a Test match here not very long ago. So best among Bangladeshi batsmen who we are seeing it as a big challenge,” played at least 20 tests — and was Smith said in his first press conference dropped for the first time since his debut in Dhaka since arriving here late Fri- in 2013. day amid tight security. Australia cricket captain Steven The first of two Tests against Aus- “Hopefully we can learn a lot from Smith speaks during a press tralia starts Aug. 27. what we did in India and bring them into conference at the Sher-e-Bangla Chief selector Minhajul Abedin said the game here and show some improve- Bangladesh didn’t want to change the ments,” he said. National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka winning combination from the Colombo Australia visited India from Febru- yesterday. Test in March. ary to March for four Test matches and “Mominul made just one 50 in the despite a 2-1 loss in the series Smith’s subcontinent. The wickets are always last six innings and his average dropped men were praised for putting up a good different than what we are used to back to below 28, that was reason to axe performance. home. It’s definitely going to be a big Bangladeshi players take part in a practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla him,” Abedin said. “Mahmudullah’s form Smith led his side from the front challenge for us,” he said. was not encouraging ... Nasir Hossain National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, watched by bowling coach Courtney scoring three centuries to become the The visitors are scheduled to play a has been doing well in this period on Walsh, ahead of their two-Test series against Australia. Picture courtesy Twitter: highest run-getter in the series with 499 warm-up match on August 22-23 before the domestic circuit.” Bangladesh Cricket runs at an average of 71.28. they take on Bangladesh in the first Test Shafiul returned to the side after Smith is now leading Australia for at Sher-e Bangla National Stadium in picking up five wickets in a recent Ponting’s team visited in 2006, six years out of 20 on the sub-continent in the their first bilateral Test series in Bang- Dhaka on August 27. warm-up match in Chittagong. after the hosts were granted Test last decade — winning the three-match ladesh in 11 years. The second Test match will be played Fast bowlers Subashis Roy and status. series against Sri Lanka 1-0 in 2011, and Smith said conditions would be the at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Rubel Hossain were dropped. Australia was due to play Test series beating India in its 2-1 defeat in a four- biggest challenge for them in the two in Chittagong from September 4. Australia arrived in the Bangladesh in Bangladesh in 2011 and 2015 but match series this year. Test matches. The Aussies will leave Bangladesh capital on Friday amid tight security for these were called off over security fears. Bangladesh has never beaten Aus- “The conditions are always quite for- on September 9 after the end of two- its first Test series here since Ricky Australia has won just two matches tralia at Test level. eign to us when we come to the match Test series.

Britain hoping Kyrgios rips Nadal to reach semis for record medal

Cincinnati AFP ATP AND WTA CINCINNATI RESULTS haul in N Korea MEN'S SINGLES - QUARTER-FINALS ustralia’s Nick Kyrgios blasted Edinburgh Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) bt Yuichi Sugita (JPN) 6-2, 6-1 new world number one Rafael Reuters John Isner (USA) bt Jared Donaldson (USA) 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 Nadal 6-2, 7-5 on Friday, win- David Ferrer (ESP) bt Dominic Thiem (AUT) 6-3, 6-3 ning twice in one day to reach Nick Kyrgios (AUS) bt Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6-2, 7-5 ritish athletes are hoping for the WTA and ATP Cincinnati THIRD ROUND their best-ever Winter Olym- MastersA semi-finals. pics medal haul in Pyeongchang Nick Kyrgios (AUS) bt Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), B As defending champion Karolina Plisk- 6-3 next February after matching their ova won twice in one day for the third time Rafael Nadal (ESP) bt Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) 7-6 previous record of four last time this season to tighten her grip on the world (7/1), 6-2 around in Sochi. number one ranking, Kyrgios stole the Team GB Chef de Mission Mike show by overpowering the 15-time Grand WOMEN'S SINGLES - QUARTER-FINALS Hay told reporters at a media event Slam champion after each had won Garbine Muguruza (ESP) bt Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) in Edinburgh that a medal target was earlier. 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 unlikely to be set in stone before “A kid playing Nadal on center court, Karolina Pliskova (CZE) bt Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 6-2, December or early January but the that’s where your best has to come out,” 6-4 signs were promising. Kyrgios said. “Performance like today, I’m Sloane Stephens (USA) bt Julia Goerges (GER) 6-1, 7-6 Nick Kyrgios (left) of Australia is congratulated by Rafael Nadal “I have to say that I’m pretty seeing progress.” (7/3) of Spain after quarter-final match of the Western and Southern excited about the talent that we do Nadal, who won his 10th French Open Simona Halep (ROM) bt Johanna Konta (GBR) 6-4, 7-6 Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, have in our team, across a number of title in June, was assured of moving into (7/1) Ohio yesterday. sports and disciplines,” he said. the top ranking on Monday for the first THIRD ROUND Britain was second in the overall time since July 2014 when Roger Federer Karolina Pliskova (CZE) bt Camila Giorgi (ITA) 6-3, 4-6, medal table at last year’s Rio de withdrew from Cincinnati with a back 6-0 Janeiro summer Olympics, with 27 injury. Julia Goerges (GER) bt Elina Svitolina (UKR) 7-5, 6-4 gold medals and 67 in total. Kyrgios was up a double break in 10 Sloane Stephens (USA) bt Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 2-6, It has been a different story on minutes, seizing the chance to make a 6-3, 6-4 snow and ice, with Jenny Jones’s between-the-legs showoff shot on his way bronze medal in snowboard slope- to a 4-0 lead, drawing boos from the style at the 2014 Games in Russia crowd. 2016 trophies at Marseille, Atlanta and representing the country’s first Olym- “I was just doing it for a gag,” Kyrgios Tokyo. pic success on snow. said. “I just felt like doing it. My friends And he served notice for the US Open, Lizzy Yarnold won gold in the who were watching were laughing so they where he has never reached the fourth skeleton, and is hoping to become the liked it I guess.” round. The year’s last Grand Slam starts first British Winter Olympics athlete He took the first set in 25 minutes, August 28. to defend a title, while the men’s and dropping only three points on his serve, Ferrer upset Austria’s eighth-ranked women’s curling teams won silver then broke Nadal in the fifth game of the Dominic Thiem 6-3, 6-3 while Isner fired and bronze respectively. second set. The Aussie served for the match 25 aces in beating American wildcard Jared British Ski and Snowboard per- in the 10th game but double faulted on his Donaldson 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 and Dimitrov formance director Dan Hunt said last third match point and Nadal broke back. downed Japan’s Yuichi Sugita 6-2, 6-1. month that the country could win as “I had the match on my racket and Pliskova, fighting to hold off Roma- many as seven medals on snow this tightened up,” Kyrgios said. nia’s Simona Halep atop the rankings, first time around. But the 22-year-old broke again to lead ousted Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi 6-3, Standout results from last season 6-5 and this time end matters with his 10th 4-6, 6-0 in a rain-postponed match. included Dave Ryding’s second place ace after 80 minutes, improving to 2-2 all- With only two hours between matches, in the Kitzbuehel Alpine skiing World time against the 31-year-old Spaniard. the 25-year-old Czech defeated Denmark’s Cup slalom in January. “I started the match very low and I fifth-ranked Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-4 Short track speedskater Elise played a very bad game in the second set to book a Saturday semi-final against Christie won three golds at the world when he break me,” Nadal said. “I was able Wimbledon champion Garbine championships in Rotterdam last to get some points and get back in the Muguruza. March, after being disqualified from match but then I played a terrible game. Second-ranked Halep eliminated Brit- her three events in Sochi, and holds It was a bad match for me. Congrats to ish seventh seed Johanna Konta 6-4, 7-6 the 500m world record. him.” (7/1) to book a semi-final date with US Britain’s previous best medal haul Nick Kyrgios of Nadal took only 6-of-20 second serve wildcard Sloane Stephens. before Sochi was at the 1924 Chamo- points and won only five off his foe’s first Pliskova’s two-in-one effort, match- Australia returns a nix Games in France, when only 16 serve. ing feats on her way to Eastbourne and shot to Rafael Nadal nations competed compared to 88 in “No excuses. Nothing at all,” Nadal said. Doha titles, means Halep must capture the of Spain during their 2014. “If I don’t play well I can’t win against a crown to swipe the top spot in Monday’s Western and Southern Team GB expect to take around player like Nick.” rankings. Cincinnati Open 60 athletes to Pyeongchang, com- Earlier, Kyrgios defeated Croatia’s Ivo “Whatever comes I will just take it,” quarter-final match pared to their previous biggest squad Karlovic 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 and Nadal said Pliskova. “Even if I would be second yesterday. Kyrgios beat of 56 in Sochi, with 10 curlers already downed compatriot Albert Ramos-Vino- coming to the US Open, it’s still better than new world number selected. las 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 in rain-postponed I was last year. So no pressure about being one Nadal 6-2, 7-5, Aerial skier Lloyd Wallace, a 2015 matches. world number one.” winning twice in junior world championships bronze Kyrgios, who matched his best ATP Sixth-ranked Spaniard Muguruza one day to reach the medallist, became one such casualty this Masters runs from Miami the past two ousted Russian eighth seed Svetlana semi-finals. week when he suffered a serious head years, seeks his fourth career title after Kuznetsova 6-2, 5-7, 7-5. injury in training in Switzerland. SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017 SPORT 23 Video referee gets thumbs Dortmund maul Wolves up on Bundesliga debut

Berlin after Admir Mehmedi scored to start season on a high AFP Leverkusen’s consolation goal. “I’m glad it worked so well, Dortmund win on lead five minutes later he historic debut of the video because what would have happened coach’s debut against a dazed Wolfsburg assistant referee in Germany’s without the video assistant?” asked defence. With the Wolves Ttop flight got a thumbs up from Stieler after the final whistle. Leckie goals earn cornered, Dortmund kept up the relieved match referee after it “I would have returned to the Hertha victory over the pressure and Pierre- spotted a penalty in Bayern Munich’s changing room to hear that I had Stuttgart as Emerick Aubameyang, last opening win over Bayer Leverkusen. missed an obvious penalty.” Hoffenheim win season’s Bundesliga top Bayern were 2-0 up at home in The VAR system made its senior ahead of Liverpool scorer, added a third on the Friday’s first game of the new Bun- international debut at June’s Confed- clash hour. Champions Bayern desliga season when the VAR, which erations Cup in Russia, but sparked Munich are also on three is being trialled for the first time in the controversy, receiving a mixed recep- Hamburg record points after Friday’s 3-1 vic- German league this season, made its tion from fans after causing long tory over Bayer Leverkusen. first intervention. delays and some confusion. first season opening An 84th-minute deflected The controversial system came It is being further tested in the Ger- win in seven years effort from Andrej Kramaric under the spotlight in the second-half man league this season before world gave Hoffenheim, who face in Munich when Leverkusen’s Charles football’s governing-body FIFA Berlin Liverpool next week for a Aranguiz pulled Robert Lewand- decides whether to use it at next year’s Reuters spot in the Champions owski’s shoulder to send the striker World Cup finals in Russia. League group stage, a 1-0 tumbling. Behind the scenes, former FIFA orussia Dortmund win over Werder Bremen. The match referee Tobias Stieler referee Hellmut Krug, the German overcame hosts Australian Mathew signalled -- outlining a television Football Association’s (DFB) referee VfL Wolfsburg 3-0 Leckie struck twice for new screen with his fingers -- that the inci- manager and VAR project manager in yesterday to make club Hertha Berlin as they dent should be reviewed by the video Germany, was clearly relieved. a flawless start to beat promoted VfB Stuttgart, assistant referee, Jochen Drees, who “We are satisfied with the open- Btheir Bundesliga season. back after a season in the was watching 575kms (357mi) away ing game,” said Krug. New Dortmund coach second division, 2-0. at the project’s headquarters in “Our intense preparations have Peter Bosz had promised Nicolai Mueller’s goal Cologne. paid off,” he added after the technol- attractive, attacking football gave Hamburg, who nar- Drees quickly confirmed the foul ogy behind the system was tested in and his team, who finished rowly avoided a relegation verbally to Stieler via a headset and the Bundesliga last season, but was third last season, delivered playoff last season and suf- Lewandowski slotted home the result- not made available to referees in the Dortmund’s midfielder Mario Goetze (left) and on his Bundesliga debut. fered a shock German Cup ing penalty to seal Bayern’s 3-1 win relevant matches. There was more good Wolfsburg’s forward Mario Gomez vie for the ball during first-round exit last week, a news for Dortmund with their Bundesliga match in Wolfsburg, western Germany 1-0 win over Augsburg for Mario Goetze making his yesterday. their first victory at the start comeback after half a year of the season in seven years. Bayern Munich make debut in new jersey out following a metabolic the first goal at the Volkswa- week amid speculation about Promoted Hanover 96 sporting HIA-Qatar logo on sleeve disorder and the Germany gen Arena. The absence of a possible move to Barcelona, won by the same score with international set up Christian suspended Ousmane Dem- was quickly forgotten as Austrian Martin Harnik on Pulisic after 22 minutes for bele, who missed training last Marc Bartra doubled the target against Mainz 05.

Qatar gear up More of the same demanded for AFC futsal from relentless Real Madrid challenge Madrid Madrid pipped Bar- AFP celona to the title by The Peninsula three points in May with inedine Zidane victory at Malaga on the he Qatari national team (pictured) has last day of the season. yesterday continued their Zlifted Real Madrid However, Zidane’s T preparations, eyeing a to such heights in less men are expected to ease good show at the qualifications than two years in charge to back-to-back titles for for the 2018 AFC Futsal as coach that the chal- the first time in a decade Championship. lenge now facing the with the gap between The qualifications will be Frenchman is simply Spanish football’s two staged in October where Qatar maintaining the status “Professionally by a giants seemingly grow- will play in group (B) alongside quo. long way, the greatest ing over the off-season. Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Real kick off their La emotion I have felt was Barca lost Brazilian In the West Zone, eight Liga defence away at winning La Liga,” Zidane star Neymar to Paris teams were drawn into two Deportivo la Coruna said yesterday. Saint-Germain and, groups of four teams. today as European and “When you win it on despite receiving a world The Group Winners and world champions and the last day of the season record 222m euros Runners-up from each group having added the UEFA as we did, having that ($261m) in return, have will qualify for the 2018 AFC Fut- and Spanish Super Cups consistency all year, for so far failed to find a sal Championship to be staged to their trophy haul in the me it is fantastic. replacement. in February 6 to 18. past fortnight. “To win any trophy is Real have made a As many as sixteen teams However, it was beautiful: the Champions profit in the transfer Ay will compete in the 2018 AFC wresting the Spanish title League, the European market themselves fol- Ay Futsal Championship. back off Barcelona for Super Cup, the Spanish lowing the departures of HamadAy. Pic: International Qassim / AirportThe Peninsula (HIA) Qatar’s → logo See can also be seen page on sleeve 26 The Islamic Republic of Iran the first time in five years Super Sup, but I think Alvaro Morata, James of Bayern Munich’s French midfielder Corentin Tolisso during Bayern’s emerged Champions in the 2016 last season that Zidane, there is a special flavour Rodriguez and Danilo. opening Bundesliga match against Bayern Leverkusen in Munich AFC Futsal Championship with a World Cup winner in to La Liga. “We can improve on Friday. The development is a part of HIA-Qatar and Bayern’s Uzbekistan the runners-up while his days as a player, “This year the objec- because they are players ‘enhancement’ of the ongoing deal which was announced last week Thailand and Vietnam finished described as the biggest tive is to try to win it, but that are still very young third and fourth respectively . achievement in his pro- we have 38 games to and you can always in Doha. The deal will last till 2023. fessional career. play.” learn,” he said. Talented Sri Lankan teen wins Aspire Academy scholarship

The Peninsula both on and off the field during terms of specific football skills passion and joy about the game the recent AJFC Asia 2017 camp and how to develop a winning and how his respectful attitude talented young Sri Lankan which took place in Bali, mindset and attitude. I’m very had a positive impact to his footballer will spend a Indonesia. excited to go to Aspire Academy teammates. Aweek training at Aspire He was one of 49 teenagers and to train with the Brazilian Markus Egger, Director of Academys world-class football from eight different countries and FC Bayern legend, Giovane Sports at Aspire Academy, said: facilities after winning a much- (China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Elber. He has been an amazing “We congratulate Jehan on win- coveted Good Sportsmanship Laos, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sin- coach throughout our time in ning the Good Sportsmanship Award during the recent Allianz gapore, Thailand) who took part. Bali”. Award and we are looking for- Junior Football Camp (AJFC) Asia A jury consisting of former He looked forward to con- ward to welcoming him to 2017. FC Bayern Munich footballers tinue learning from him at Aspire Academy. During his The Good Sportsmanship Giovane Elber and Klaus Aspire Academy, and thanked week at the Academy he will Award, which reflects one of Augenthaler along with a repre- Allianz and Aspire Academy for have the opportunity to join the Sri Lankan Aspire Academy’s core values, is sentative from Allianz selected offering this opportunity to train training sessions of one of our Jehan Joseph the result of an agreement Atapattu as the player who they in the same place and using the football teams, he will undergo Crishantha reached between Aspire Acad- felt displayed the most exem- same facilities as the likes of football performance testing and Atapattu emy and Allianz to provide one plary sportsmanlike behaviour Real Madrid, FC Bayern Munich will have the chance to discuss participant from the camp with during the camp. and many other top quality possible areas of improvement (left) and the chance to experience one of Commenting on his award, teams. with our top coaches.” FC Bayern the most highly regarded foot- the young footballer expressed For his part, Brazilian and FC This is the first time the legend ball training programmes in the pleasure to have been given this Bayern legend Giovane Elber scholarship has been awarded Giovane Elber world. once in a lifetime opportunity to said that living the principles of to an AJFC participant and Ata- pose for a The winner, Jehan Joseph go to Aspire Academy to train. sporting behaviour can truly pattu will get to experience photograph. Crishantha Atapattu received the “It was the best time of my make a difference on and off the Aspire Academy for a week award after embodying the prin- life, training with the coaches in pitch. between October 2017 and Jan- ciples of good sportsmanship Bali and I learnt a lot both in It was inspiring to see Jehans uary 2018.