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Friday, June 16, 2017 Ramadan 21, 1438 AH Mayweather and GULF TIMES McGregor agree to August super-fi ght SPORT Page 3 CRICKET / ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY India set up blockbuster

Jadhav spell, Sharma’s unbeaten fi nal with Pakistan ton down Bangladesh in semi

AFP away when bowled trying to sweep Jad- Birmingham, United Kingdom hav. Mushfi qur made a stylish 61-ball fi fty but when, to his evident dismay, ohit Sharma’s unbeaten cen- he hit a Jadhav full toss to Kohli at mid- tury sealed India’s place in wicket, Bangladesh were 179 for fi ve in a Champions Trophy fi nal the 36th over. against arch-rivals Pakistan By this stage they had also lost Rafter the title-holders thrashed Bang- Shakib Al Hasan (15), whose 114 and ladesh by nine wickets at Edgbaston Bangladesh record stand of 224 with yesterday. Mahmudullah (102 not out) had seen Bangladesh’s total of 264 for seven the Tigers recover from a top-order never looked like being enough and was collapse to beat New Zealand last time duly made to look inadequate by India’s out. powerful top-order. India’s reply began with a welter of Sharma and fellow opener Shikhar boundaries, Sharma square-driving Dhawan (46) put on 87 before Sharma Mustafi zur Rahman for an elegant four. (123 not out) and India captain Virat Left-hander Dhawan was in fi ne Kohli (96 not out) completed the job touch too, hoisting Taskin Ahmed over with nearly 10 overs to spare. square leg for six. Their unbroken partnership of 178 The only question now was India’s delighted the huge India contingent in margin of victory, with Bangladesh — in a crowd of 24,340 — a record for a one- their fi rst major semi-fi nal — avoiding day international at Edgbaston. a 10-wicket defeat when Dhawan sliced Yet the real India hero of this match skipper Mashrafe Mortaza to backward was part-time spinner Kedar Jadhav, point. who dismissed both of Bangladesh’s Sharma completed his 11th ODI hun- top-scorers in Tamim Iqbal (70) and dred in style when he hooked Mustafi - Mushfi qur Rahim (61) in a spell of two zur for his fi rst six in 111 balls also in- for 22 in six overs. cluding 12 fours. The third-wicket duo shared a stand Kohli then fi nished the match in em- of 123, but Bangladesh’s innings fal- phatic fashion, cover-driving Sabbir tered after their exits. for four. India hammered Pakistan by 124 runs in the teams’ Champions Trophy open- SCORECARD er at Edgbaston 11 days ago. BANGLADESH But Pakistan themselves trounced T Iqbal b Jadhav 70 much-fancied tournament hosts Eng- S Sarkar b Kumar 0 land by eight wickets in another lopsid- S Rahman c Jadeja b Kumar 19 ed semi-fi nal in on Wednesday. M Rahim c Kohlu b Jadhav 61 Sunday’s match at the Oval in Lon- Shakib c Dhoni b Jadeja 15 don will be just the second time the Mahmudullah b Bumrah 21 Asian giants have met in the fi nal of a M Hossain c and b Bumrah 15 major International Cricket Council India’s Rohit Sharma in action against Bangladesh during their ICC Champions Trophy semi-final at Edgbaston in Birmingham yesterday. (Below) India captain Virat Kohli is M Mortaza not out 30 tournament. congratulated by Bangladesh players on the victory. (Reuters/AFP) T Ahmed not out 10 India beat Pakistan by a mere fi ve Extras (lb9, w7, nb2, pen5) 23 runs in the 2007 World Twenty20 fi nal ja at point. Total (7 wkts, 50 overs) 264 in , a victory that led to But from 46 for two, the experienced Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Sarkar), 2-31 (Rah- the creation of the lucrative Indian Pre- pair of Tamim and Mushfi qur rebuilt man), 3-154 (Iqbal), 4-177 (Shakib), mier League. the innings. 5-179 (Rahim), 6-218 (M Hossain), 7-229 India had a wicket as early as the fi rst Tamim, bowled off a Hardik Pandya (Mahmudullah) over Thursday after Kohli won the toss no-ball on 17, was in fi ne touch. Bowling: Kumar 10-1-53-2 (1w); Bumrah and fi elded under grey skies. The left-handed opener whipped 10-1-39-2; Ashwin 10-0-54-0 (3w); Pan- Soumya Sarkar fall for a second-ball Pandya over mid-wicket for six and his dya 4-0-34-0 (2nb, 2w); Jadeja 10-0-48-1; duck when he played on attempting a reverse-sweep four off left-arm spin- Jadhav 6-0-22-2 (1w) booming drive off Bhuvneshwar Ku- ner Jadeja saw him to a 62-ball fi fty. mar. INDIA At one for one, there were fears that ASHWIN STRUGGLES R Sharma not out 123 Bangladesh, who collapsed to 84 all out It appeared a minor success for Bang- S Dhawan c M Hossain b Mortaza 46 in a 240-run warm-up thrashing by In- ladesh when Jadhav came on in a match V Kohli not out 96 dia last month, were poised for another where frontline off -spinner Ravichan- Extras 0 top-order slump. dran Ashwin’s fi rst seven overs cost 42 Total (1 wkt, 40.1 overs) 265 But new batsman Sabbir Rahman runs. Fall of wickets: 1-87 (Dhawan) cover-drove his fi rst ball, from Jasprit Tamim struck three fours in as many Bowling: Mortaza 8-0-29-1; Rahim Bumrah, for four. balls off Ashwin — a cut, a sweep and a 6-0-53-0; T Ahmed 7-0-49-0; R Hossain Sabbir hit four boundaries in his 19 nudge past fi ne leg. 6-0-46-0; Shakib 9-0-54-0; M Hossain but just as he was getting into top gear This was Tamim’s fourth fi fty in his 2-0-13-0; Mahmudullah 1-0-10-0; Rah- he cut Kumar straight to Ravindra Jade- last fi ve innings, but he gave his wicket man 1.1-0-11-0 Jadhav proves to be India’s secret weapon

Reuters mid-wicket. overs for Jadhav, saying that former Birmingham Bangladesh were then 179 for five captain and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni and never recovered the momentum, had helped in the idea. ending up with 264, a score that India “I won’t take the whole credit. Obvi- ndia’s Kedar Jadhav had six career knocked off without any trouble. ously I asked MS, as well, and we both wickets in one day internationals be- Skipper Kohli said he had turned to decided that Kedar is a good option at Ifore yesterday’s Champions Trophy Jadhav simply to try to slow down that moment, and he bowled really well. semi-final against Bangladesh but it was Bangladesh’s progress but his plan bore Jadhav also had words of praise for his very occasional off -spin proved to unexpected fruit. Dhoni who he said helped him read the be decisive in his team’s win. “The wickets were honestly a bonus, batsmen on the field. Bangladesh, batting first, were going Hardik (Pandya) went for a few in his “Since I’ve been in the team I have well with Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur first three, so we wanted to give him spent a lot of time with MS and I tried Rahim putting on 123 run partner- a bit of a break and cover up overs to learn as much as I can from him and ship for the third wicket until Jadhav’s through Kedar, and with one left-hander he provides me with all the knowledge innocuous looking off -spin turned the batting, we knew that he had the ability that he has. Even while I am bowling he game. to get in two, three, dot balls to the is looking at me and from his eyes only I First he bowled Tamim, who sensing the left-hander every over. But it ended up can tell what he wants me to bowl. chance for some easy runs produced a changing the whole game for us,” he “It was one of those days where I could wild slog and got it all wrong. said. read them very well and I was able to Then he removed his partner Mush- Kohli though was reluctant to accept execute what I wanted to do,” he said. fiqur, who misjudged the flight of the praise for the inspired decision, which “If batsmen try to score big shots ball and holed out to Virat Kohli at resulted in figures of two for 22 off six against me they find it diff icult.” India’s Kedar Jadhav (centre) celebrates the wicket of Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal during the match yesterday. (Reuters) Gulf Times 2 Friday, June 16, 2017 CRICKET

FOCUS India pick Pant, Yadav Pakistan ‘turnaround’ for West Indies tour

‘If you reach the finals you AFP have to play good cricket, New Delhi and credit to them’ icketkeeper-batsman Rishabh impresses Kohli Pant and left-arm wrist Wspinner Kuldeep Yadav were AFP picked yesterday for India’s limited- Birmingham overs tour of the West Indies compris- ing five one-day internationals and one Twenty20 starting June 23. ndia captain Virat Kohli paid trib- The two youngsters replace opening ute to Pakistan’s “magnifi cent batsman Rohit Sharma and allrounder turnaround” after his Champions Hardik Pandya from the 15-man Cham- Trophy title-holders booked a pions Trophy squad, which is defend- Iplace in the fi nal against their arch- ing its title in England and Wales. rivals. Pant, who has played just one T20 Kohli’s men overwhelmed Bangla- international for India, and Yadav desh by nine wickets at Edgbaston yes- were already on the radar after being terday, a day after Pakistan had seen off named among five players kept on England by eight wickets in an almost as standby for the 50-over tournament. lopsided semi-fi nal at Cardiff . The duo have been rewarded for their India launched their title-defence excellent showing on the domestic cir- with a 124-run thrashing of Pakistan cuit, including impressive displays in at Edgbaston 11 days ago. the Indian Twenty20 But following what coach Mickey tournament. Arthur labelled a “shambolic” dis- Pant, 19, hit two fifties for Delhi play, Pakistan recovered to beat South Daredevils in the recent IPL edition, Africa, the top-ranked team in this following on from a 326-ball 308 in the eight-nation one-day international domestic Ranji Trophy last season. tournament. His aggressive left-handed batting They then held their nerve to seal and ability to handle the pressure of a three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in a high-stakes match impressed chief a virtual quarter-fi nal in Cardiff on selector MSK Prasad, who described Monday before dominating a previ- him as a “player for the future”. ously unbeaten England. Yadav piqued interest in his Test Asked if he had any thoughts on a fi - debut, clinching four wickets in India’s nal between the Asian giants, Kohli, to series victory over Australia in March. a chorus of laughter at a post-match The 22-year-old from Kanpur in north- news conference, answered: “No sir.” ern India also put in a strong showing But Kohli’s respect for the way Pa- for his IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders. kistan had hauled themselves off the The Virat Kohli-led India will leave canvas was evident. directly for the Caribbean Islands after wrapping up their ongoing Champions ‘BELIEF’ Trophy campaign. “I’ve been very impressed,” said Kohli. India though do not off icially have a “The turnaround has been magnifi - coach for the West Indies tour, with cent. Obviously if you reach the fi nals Anil Kumble only contracted until the you have to play some good cricket, end of the Champions Trophy. and credit to them (Pakistan), they’ve “The administrative staff of the Indian turned things around for themselves Cricket Team will continue for the really well. tour of West Indies,” said the Board “They’ve beaten sides that looked of Control for Cricket in India, without really strong against them, but the clarifying the coach’s position. belief they showed on the fi eld, the The BCCI has hinted Kumble could way they played together as a team... stay on for the West Indies tour. The You know, regardless of who you play position for head coach was adver- in the fi nals, it’s always going to be tised last month, with Kumble among challenging because once you start the names in the mix. thinking that it’s a big game, then Pakistan players celebrate the wicket of England’s Ben Stokes (right) during the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final in Cardiff on Wednesday. (AFP) SQUAD: Virat Kohli (capt), Shikhar your mindset changes,” the star bats- Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Ajinkya Ra- man added. tic change of game-plan after a semi- Kohli, the world’s top-ranked ODI phy fi nal at Edgbaston. dar Jadhav. The back-up off -spinner hane, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yuvraj “What we are going to try to do is fi nal where, having won the toss, he batsman, 96 not out in an unbroken “I think if we focus on our skills and took two for 22 in six overs, removing Singh, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, repeat the similar sort of cricket that saw his attack restrict Bangladesh to stand of 178. our abilities and believe in ourselves, Bangladesh top-scorers Tamim Iqbal Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra we have played so far, knowing the an inadequate 264 for seven. “I don’t know there’s much that we we’ll give ourselves a chance to do (70) and Mushfi qur Rahim (61). Jadeja, Mohamed Shami, Umesh strengths and weaknesses they (Paki- India cruised to victory, fi nishing on need to change as a team,” said Kohli, some good things for the team.” The duo put on 123 for the third Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep stan) have.” 265 for one with nearly 10 overs to spare. a member of the India side that beat Someone who did plenty of good wicket but Bangladesh’s innings never Yadav and Dinesh Karthik. But Kohli said there would be dras- Rohit Sharma was 123 not out and England in the 2013 Champions Tro- for India’s cause yesterday was Ke- recovered after they were both out.

COMMENT AFGHANISTAN’S TOUR OF WEST INDIES West Indies, Afghanistan share Pitch blameless in honours aft er decider rained off

England loss: Hussain AFP Gros-Islet, Saint Lucia

AFP Cardiff , United Kingdom fghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai hopes his team will get more opportunities to face asser Hussain said it was top-fl ight cricket nations af- “disrespectful” to Pakistan Ater their one-day international series to blame England’s shock against the West Indies ended in a 1-1 eight-wicket Champions draw here Wednesday. NTrophy semi-fi nal defeat on a used Steady rain forced the abandonment Cardiff pitch. England, previously the of the third and fi nal one-dayer with only unbeaten team left in the eight- not a ball being bowled at St Lucia’s strong one-day international tour- Darren Sammy Stadium with the series nament and huge favourites to defeat balanced at one apiece. Pakistan, were bowled out for just 211 But Stanikzai said he believes his in Cardiff on Wednesday. team, who lost a T20 series 3-0, did Pakistan, who suff ered a 124-run enough to show they deserve more thrashing by arch-rivals India in their regular matches against full member opening group game then cruised to nations of the International Cricket their meagre victory target with a Council. mammoth 77 balls to spare. “We didn’t play as well as we could The pitch played more like a sub- have but I thought we did enough to continental surface than a British one show that we deserve to play the big- and England captain Eoin Morgan ger teams more often,” said Stanikzai. said afterwards: “Coming from Edg- “This was a great experience for us and baston, it was obviously a big jump in England captain Eoin Morgan (foreground) had said that Pakistan were more we can look forward now to what lies pace and bounce and too much of an comfortable with the pitch at Cardiff because “they played two days ago on it in ahead with greater confi dence.” ask for us to adjust to really.” the match against Pakistan”. (Reuters) West Indies captain Jason Holder Morgan added Pakistan were more accepted that his team faced a tough comfortable because “they played two a woeful fi rst-round exit at the 2015 fellow former England captain, said challenge. days ago on it (when beating Sri Lanka World Cup. Morgan’s men had “fl uff ed their lines”. “We were up against it after the fi rst in a virtual quarter-fi nal)”. “Their coach Trevor Bayliss has England came into the Champions match but came back well in the second always asked for them to play smart Trophy with high hopes and had won and we have shown in the previous se- ‘LAME EXCUSE’ cricket, not just gung-ho cricket. This 11 of their previous 12 ODIs before ries against Pakistan that we can com- But legendary Pakistan fast bowler was anything but smart. In fact, it was Wednesday’s reverse. pete with the best teams in the world Waqar Younis said blaming the pitch timid.” “There were huge expectations also,” he commented. “We just need to was a “lame excuse and former Eng- Meanwhile Michael Vaughan, an- they’d go on to win the tournament, I put the bits and pieces performances land captain Hussain agreed. other ex-England captain, said in think justifi ably so on the back of what together on a more consistent basis for “There will be a lot of talk about the his Daily Telegraph column that he they’ve done over the last year-and-a- us to really move up the rankings in in- Cardiff pitch after Pakistan dumped felt “fl atter” than at the time of their half,” said Atherton. “As a result, the bar ternational cricket.” Asghar Stanikzai (left) of Afghanistan and Jason Holder (right) of West Indies share England out of the Champions Trophy. World Cup exit two years ago. was set very high for this tournament, West Indies are currently ranked the trophy after the three-match ODI series finished in a 1-1 draw at Darren Sammy But that won’t wash with me,” Hussain The Ashes-winning skipper added: and they’ve failed to deliver — that’s the ninth in ODI’s and should they fail to National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St. Lucia, on Wednesday. (AFP) wrote in his Daily Mail column. “Here they had every facet covered brutal truth of sport.” reach the top eight by the cut-off date “It’s disrespectful to Pakistan, who with 10 of the 11 players in form and England have never won a major of September 30 this year, they will was named Man of the Series. at Lord’s next month and I hope we can played brilliantly and made the best of the side playing a style of cricket that ODI trophy despite appearing in 19 have to go through a qualifying tourna- “This tour was a great experience for show the benefi t of this experience at the conditions.” makes them a match for any team in global events at this level since the in- ment next year for the 2019 World Cup me coming out of the Indian Premier that match.” Meanwhile Hussain lamented Eng- the world, so to play that badly in a augural World Cup back in 1975. in England. League and gives me great confi dence West Indies now turn their attention land’s “timid play’, which he said was semi-fi nal, with everything riding on Now England’s wait will continue Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid moving forward with my career as part to hosting India for fi ve ODIs and a lone in marked contrast to the way they the game, was terribly disappointing.” until at least 2019 — when they stage Khan, with combined fi gures of ten for of the Afghanistan team,” he stated. T20 International, starting June 23 in had revived their ODI fortunes since Meanwhile Michael Atherton, a the next World Cup. 44 over the two ODIs that were played “Our next challenge is against the MCC Trinidad. Gulf Times Friday, June 16, 2017 3 SPORT

BOXING Mayweather and McGregor agree to August super-fi ght ‘I thought it would be an impossible deal to do, but it was the right fight at the right time and we got it done’

AFP Los Angeles Floyd Mayweather Conor McGregor

oxing legend Floyd May- weather and mixed martial arts icon Conor McGregor confi rmed plans for a long- Bawaited showdown on Wednesday, triggering both criticism and antici- pation for what is set to be one of the richest fi ghts in history. Mayweather and McGregor — king- pins of their sports — will climb into a boxing ring to face each other at Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena on August 26. The 40-year-old Mayweather will be aiming to reach the 50-0 milestone while McGregor is a heavy underdog in the 12-round boxing match. A victory for the Irishman would be a monumen- tal upset. “Floyd is the greatest of all time and Conor is the master of our sport,” MMA promoter Dana White said. “I thought it would be an impossible deal to do, but it was the right fi ght at the right time and we got it done.” Leonard Ellerbe, chief executive of Mayweather Promotions, said the box- er’s team decided to end his 23-month retirement because the clamour for the 154-pound showdown had been im- possible to ignore. “There is not one place I go to with Floyd where he doesn’t get asked the question, ‘Floyd are you going to fi ght Conor McGregor?’ All Floyd thinks about is fi ghting Conor McGregor,” El- lerbe said. Mayweather announced the fi ght on his Instagram account with a graphic saying “IT’S OFFICIAL!!!” showing pictures of both fi ghters and listing Las Vegas as the location while McGregor sent out an earlier tweet stating “THE FIGHT IS ON.” “Floyd said ‘154 is no problem, I don’t want a catchweight,’” Ellerbe McGregor can blast Mayweather, says sparring partner Lobov said. McGregor is the top pay-per- view draw in UFC while Mayweather Mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor has never boxed as he often likes to get into the clinch, but what is a boxer in a clinch go the distance. “There’s a reason why MMA is only three five- had been the money-spinner in some either a professional or amateur, but sparring partner Artem Lobov against a wrestler, an MMA fighter? Boxers are absolute novices in minute rounds, or five fives when it’s a title fight,” Lobov explained. of boxing’s biggest bouts, including says the Irishman will blast the undefeated Floyd Mayweather when the clinch,” Lobov said. “MMA is so much more demanding on the body - the wrestling, the matchups with Filipino legend Man- the two meet in Las Vegas on August 26. “Get a boxer and get him wrestling for a minute or two - the arms changing levels, all that takes a lot out of you. Boxing is a breeze for ny Pacquiao and US star Oscar De La The much-heralded Boxing match pitting Mayweather, a 49-0 ma- get so heavy, filled with blood, they can’t even hold them up any us after MMA.” Hoya. Mayweather earned $250mn for chine and one of the greatest boxers of all time, against McGregor, more, they can’t box.” Lobov says he understands why Mayweather, who held world his fi ght against Pacquiao. the UFC’s first simultaneous two-weight world champion, was finally Known as “The Russian Hammer”, the 30-year-old Lobov has championships in multiple weight classes before retiring in Septem- “There is a diff erent feel from the off icially announced on Wednesday. trained and sparred with McGregor ever since the Dubliner started ber 2015, wants to take on what could be a risky fight. Pacquiao fi ght, Ellerbe said. “It is the Bookmakers immediately installed Mayweather as the hot favourite to ascend the mixed martial arts ladder. “You have to give Floyd respect - he loves to compete, he sees this unknown factor (of fi ghting a MMA for the 12-round, super- bout. But Lobov says the Famed for his granite chin and ability to keep coming forward, he young lion coming up, everyone is talking about Conor and saying star).” 28-year-old McGregor is ready to write combat sports history by has sparred countless rounds with the brash McGregor, who went he’s potentially a man that could beat Floyd, also wants to prove the Neither Mayweather nor McGregor pulling off a shock win. “Just look at all the stats - Floyd hasn’t faced on to become UFC champion at both and world wrong. have competed this year. Mayweather anyone significant for a few years now,” Lobov told Reuters in an and is as well known for his trash talk as for his fighting skills. “That is what makes this fight so interesting - Floyd is undefeated, retired from pro boxing in 2015 after exclusive telephone interview. “He has incredible power, a power that nobody else has. I’ve never Conor is young, he’s the best MMA fighter ever. That’s what makes defeating Andre Berto, while McGre- “When he fought Manny Pacquaio it was five years after Manny’s seen anyone hit that hard,” Lobov said. “You won’t see many other it a great fight.” gor (21-3) defeated Eddie Alvarez in prime, he was on the way out basically. Conor is bigger, stronger, training partners around - only a Russian Irishman can take those Having witnessed McGregor’s power first hand, Lobov is in no November 2016. White said the key younger, and has a longer reach.” bombs. That’s why I’m there, from the start until the end.” doubt that Mayweather’s proud undefeated record is about to come to fi nalising the fi ght was luring May- Lobov said that McGregor’s broader fighting skill set would give him McGregor’s stamina has previously been questioned, but a five- to an abrupt end at the MGM Garden on Aug. 26. weather out of retirement. a big advantage over the 42-year-old Mayweather, who is renowned round war of attrition last August in a welterweight rematch against “When Conor connects, people fall and they don’t wake up. That’s “Everybody is happy with this deal,” as a brilliant defensive boxer. “If you look at Mayweather’s fights Nate Diaz - the only UFC fighter to defeat him - showed that he can why I believe Conor will stop him within six rounds.” he said. “Nobody is bummed out.” The boxing format heavily favours the undefeated Mayweather (49-0, 26 ent McGregor is confi dent of victory. Although there will be no titles on the fi ght because of the novelty. “The De La Hoya had already dismissed the training for the fi ght in his homeland KOs), whom many consider to be the McGregor is UFC’s only simultaneous the line, the fi ght will provide an op- sky is the limit,” Espinoza said. “There planned fi ght as an embarrassment for with Irish boxers. Promoters are hop- best pound-for-pound fi ghter in the two-division champion. portunity for both to cash in fi nancially. is nothing to compare it against. No one boxing. News of the fi ght on Wednes- ing the trash-talking McGregor can world. McGregor, 28, will be enter- Ellerbe said Mayweather can’t aff ord The event is expected to be a pay- has seen this type of competition in the day also triggered waves of scorn across sell tickets. In his last fi ght, McGregor ing unknown territory as he has not to take McGregor lightly. “I have seen for-view blockbuster, and organizers ring.” social media, with many branding the won the lightweight title from Alvarez stepped into a boxing ring since he was Floyd buzzed in a fi ght. Things happen are hoping it can challenge the 4.6mn Not everyone will be excited to see bout a “freak show.” in November 2015 in UFC’s fi rst Madi- a teenager. in these kinds of fi ghts,” he said. pay-per-view buys for Mayweather- a Mayweather-McGregor exhibition Espinoza was unmoved by the criti- son Square Garden card. McGregor re- Inexperienced “Floyd is 40 and he has to prepare. Pacquiao. Stephen Espinoza, executive match, however, especially considering cism, however. “This is not a referen- ceived a California boxing license last Despite having little or no boxing We would be a bunch of damn fools to vice-president of Showtime Sports, that McGregor is a 25-1 underdog. dum on the sport of boxing,” he said. year, but is still waiting for his Nevada experience, White insists his MMA cli- sit around and sleep on this.” said fans will buy the pay-per-view for Boxing champion-turned-promoter White said McGregor would be application to be approved.

GOLF/US OPEN Players stunned by blimp horror crash at Erin Hills

AFP “I was teeing off and I looked the blimp,” Snedeker said. Erin, United States up and saw it on fi re, and I felt Witnesses quoted by local sick to my stomach,” American media said it appeared the pilot Jamie Lovemark said. “I had the had parachuted out of the blimp. blimp shooting aerial shakes. I felt terrible for the peo- “We were watching a group images at the US Open ple inside. I didn’t know what was fi nish on 18 and beyond the green caught fi re and crashed going on. It was a horrible sight. we saw the blimp falling,” wit- with the pilot appar- “I hope the guys got out okay. ness Adam Johnson told the local entlyA parachuting from the air- It was a horrifi c scene. I’ve never Action 2 news network. “It ap- craft as it plummeted to earth seen a plane crash, blimp crash, pears the pilot parachuted out.” before horrifi ed players and anything like that. It was pretty The incident happened at spectators yesterday. awful.” around 11.55am with the open- Golf stars and fans at Erin World number 55 Charley ing round of the season’s second Hills Golf Course looked on in Hoff man also witnessed the major under way at Erin Hills. disbelief as the aircraft could be incident. “I was sitting on the A statement from the US Golf seen falling from the sky near seventh tee and my caddie goes, Association confi rming details the venue. Local media reports ‘Look at that thing, just blew up’. of the crash said the blimp was and video footage of the crash And it was going down through not affi liated with the tourna- shared on social media indicated the air,” Hoff man said. “I didn’t ment or the US Open broadcast. a fi re on board the blimp before it see it explode, but it defi nitely “First responders were quick plunged from the sky. just happened when he tapped to arrive at the scene and the pi- Offi cials later said the pilot me on the shoulder. So I saw it lot is currently being treated for was being treated for injuries. fl uttering down through the sky.” unknown injuries,” a statement His condition was not known. Brandt Snedeker said he had said. “No other people were in- The dramatic incident was been alerted to the accident by volved in the incident and local witnessed by several players as his caddie. “He said ‘The blimp law enforcement is currently in- they progressed through the is not looking good.’ I guess it vestigation. opening round of their tourna- was nose down. I saw a puff of “Our thoughts and prayers are ment. black smoke. I didn’t know it was with the pilot at this time.” A blimp floats over the crowd before it crashed at Erin Hills yesterday. (Getty Images/AFP) Gulf Times 4 Friday, June 16, 2017 SPORT

TENNIS FOCUS Sharapova receives invite to WTA Cilic beats Tipsarevic Stanford event

AFP Los Angeles

ive-time grand slam champion Maria Sharapova has re- in Den Bosch Open ceived an invitation to play at the WTA Stanford tourna- ment at the end of next month as the Russian star contin- ues her return from a doping suspension. ‘It was good as I was here preparing for the past seven days. I’m happy with the way I performed’ FSharapova’s comeback from a 15-month doping ban will include a stop at Stanford University for the July 31-August 6 event, or- Agencies ganisers announced on Wednesday. Rosmalen Offi cials gave the 30-year-old Sharapova a wildcard entry as she gets set to compete in the tournament for the fi rst time six years. “I am excited to return to the Bank of the West Classic and arin Cilic launched would like to thank the tournament for giving me the opportunity his grasscourt cam- to play,” Sharapova said. Former world number one Victoria Aza- paign when he sur- renka is also in the 28-player singles draw. Sharapova tested posi- vived a tricky opener tive for meldonium, a heart and blood boosting drug, at the 2016 Magainst Janko Tipsarevic at the Australian Open. She said that she had taken it for several years Den Bosch Open yesterday, and did not know it had been placed on the banned list at the be- blasting down 17 aces in a 6-7(6) ginning of 2016. 6-2 6-4 victory. Sharapova was issued a two-year suspension, but the Court of Fellow Croatian Ivo Karlovic Arbitration for Sport reduced the ban on appeal. also used his serve to great ef- Sharapova, ranked 173rd in the world, made her tour return in fect, losing only eight points on April at Stuttgart, reaching the semi-fi nals. She had been due to his delivery in a 6-4 6-1 victory try to qualify for Wimbledon but she pulled out earlier this week, over wildcard Stefan Kozlov. citing a muscle injury. She was denied a invite to the French Open, World number seven Cilic which wrapped up Sunday. failed to convert any of three set points in the opening set tie- Murray supports radical rule changes being tested in Milan break against Serb Tipsarevic, World number one Andy Murray has voiced his support for but took four straight games changes designed to speed up tennis being tested at the inaugural from 2-2 in the second set to Next Generation ATP Finals in Milan this November. The tourna- level.He then broke early in the ment for the leading tour players aged 21 and under will feature a deciding set and held fi rm. new scoring system, no lets, limited medical time-outs and shot “It’s never easy, especially clocks as the men’s governing body seeks ways to appeal to young- the fi rst match on grass,” Cilic er audiences. told the ATP’s website. “Janko The scoring system is the most radical change to the traditional has been at the top of the tennis format, with fi ve-set matches decided through fi rst-to-four- game and is a quality player.” game sets, instead of the usual six, with tiebreaks played at 3-3. Cilic will seek a 50th career “Tennis is doing very well right now but that doesn’t necessar- grasscourt victory on Friday ily mean that’s going to be the case in the future, so I think it’s im- when he plays Canada’s Vasek portant to try new formats, diff erent scoring systems and see if it Pospisil, who was leading Alex- works,” Murray told reporters. andr Dolgopolov when his op- “It is good to try new things... at least it’s trying something dif- ponent retired. ferent. You have to give credit for doing that, because tennis has “I’m playing way, way better often been accused of being too traditional, not wanting to try new than at the start of the year and things.” my claycourt game helped me to get into the right hitting zone,” Marin Cilic of Croatia returns the ball to Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia during their Ricoh Open in Rosmalen, The Netherlands, yesterday. (AFP) said Cilic. “Having strong men- tal toughness, which you need on Pozzovivo in yellow with mountain win clay, also gives me confi dence.” With the help of a sudden deluge in the final kilometre, Italian The 38-year-old Karlovic said Konta through to quarter-finals in Nottingham climber Domenico Pozzovivo of AG2R held off a pack of pursuers he has been sharpening his lawn to edge the mountainous sixth stage of the Tour of Switzerland game for more than a week. Top seed Johanna Konta made short work of dou- yesterday. “It was good as I was here pre- bles partner Yanina Wickmayer to reach the quarter- The bonus seconds he earned for the stage win also saw him paring here for the past seven finals of the Aegon Open grasscourt tournament in edge ahead of another Italian Damiano Caruso at the top of the days,” he said. “I’m happy with Nottingham yesterday. overall standings. the way I performed.” Konta, the world number eight who will carry Brit- Both have the same time but Pozzovivo’s better opening day time He will now play Russia’s Da- ain’s hopes into Wimbledon along with Andy Murray, trial separates the two. niil Medvedev, who beat fellow won 6-4 6-1 against the Belgian Wickmayer and will Rui Costa, Jon Izagirre and Mathias Frank were working hard 21-year-old Thanasi Kokkinakis. face Australian Ashleigh Barty next. Konta, surpris- to chase down the Italian before torrential rain in the final few ingly beaten in the French Open first round by world hundred metres curtailed the push on the slick Ponte town Dimitrov crashes out of number 109 Hsieh Su-Wei, coped better with Not- centre streets and saw Pozzovivo beat the trio by four seconds. Stuttgart Open tingham’s windy conditions as she forged 4-0 ahead Giro D’Italia champion Tom Dumoulin pulled out of the race Second seed Grigor Dimitrov in the opening set. Wickmayer briefly threatened to ahead of the start yesterday citing fatigue. slumped to a 7-6 (4) 6-3 loss to make a match of it but Konta was relatively untrou- “He’s been tired for a few days and we thought it better to pull world number 155 Jerzy Janowicz bled. “I was able to deal with the conditions well. I out and let him concentrate on next week’s national champion- at the Stuttgart Open, with the really enjoy playing in front of this home crowd,” she ships,” said Sunweb team leader Marc Reef. Pole booking a surprise quarter- said. The 26-year-old Dutchman who clinched his first major tour two fi nal spot. Janowicz made the weeks ago had been 6min 30sec off the pace anyway. most of momentary lapses in Halep pulls out of Birmingham event concentration by Dimitrov, who World number two Simona Halep has withdrawn Results followed top seed Roger Fed- from next week’s Aegon Classic in Birmingham due Stage erer, beaten by Tommy Haas on to a right ankle injury, organisers said yesterday. Ha- 1. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/ALM) 166.7 km in 4h 38min 49sec Wednesday, out of the Wimble- lep, the beaten finalist in the French Open last week, (average: 35,9 km/h), 2. Rui Costa (POR/EAU) at 04sec, 3. Jon don warmup event. is the latest top player to pull out from the event Izagirre (ESP/BAH) 04., 4. Mathias Frank (SWI/ALM) 04., 5. A sensational backhand down after Czech world number three Karolina Pliskova Simon Spilak (SLO/KAT) 12., 6. Steven Kruijswijk (NED/LNL) 12., the line – the shot of the match – opted to rest her injured elbow ahead of Wimbledon. 7. Damiano Caruso (ITA/BMC) 15., 8. Peio Bilbao (ESP/AST) 18., 9. gave Janowicz the minibreak he Poland’s tenth-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska and Marc Soler (ESP/MOV) 18., 10. Michael Woods (CAN/CAN) 21. needed in the fi rst set tiebreak. Monica Puig of Puerto Rico have both pulled out Another whipping forehand citing illnesses. Heather Watson, the second-ranked Overall earned Janowicz, a former world British woman behind world number eight Johanna 1. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/AG2R La Mondiale) 22hrs 03mins number 14 who has been plagued Konta, has been handed a wildcard along with com- 28sec, 2. Damiano Caruso (ITA/BMC) same time, 3. Steven by injuries in recent seasons, his patriot Naomi Broady. World number one Angelique Kruijswijk (NED/LNL) at 13sec, 4. Simon Spilak (SLO/KAT) 22., fi rst two break points on Dim- Kerber, two-times Wimbledon champion Petra 5. Mathias Frank (SWI/ALM) 0:23., 6. Marc Soler (ESP/MOV) itrov’s serve. The Bulgarian then Kvitova and 2016 WTA Finals champion Dominika 35., 7. Rui Costa (POR/EAU) 54., 8. Mikel Nieve (ESP/SKY) 1min sent one of his forehands long to Cibulkova will all be in action at the WTA Premier Great Britain’s Johanna Konta celebrates winning her second round match against 19sec, 9. Peio Bilbao (ESP/AST) 1:42., 10. Valerio Conti (ITA/ allow his opponent to serve out level tournament in Birmingham. Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer at Aegon Open in Nottingham yesterday. (Reuters) EAU) 3:02. the match.

CYCLING ‘Restricting radios would make Tour more exciting’

Reuters ly down to technology. of the next three years. “Unfortunately for Tom Du- “Last year was boring because “We are changing it forever. moulin the time trials are not a Team Sky controlled it. “Riders This is the start of a diff erent era. little longer,” LeMond, who won have become robotic. Racing is Logistically it’s a massive chal- the race in 1986, 1989 and 1990, hree-time Tour de not just physical it’s also tactical lenge, but will provide a service told Eurosport. “There are not France winner Greg and psychological,” he said. the fans want. Imagine saying to too many mountain top fi nishes LeMond believes the use “But now the team just calls cricket fans you could only see the which is good for Dumoulin but of team radios should up on the radio and says ‘kid this last day of a test match and they I think it still favours riders like Tbe restricted to make the three- is what’s happening, get up there would think that you are mad.” (Chris) Froome.” week race more unpredictable. and ride. I think without that it LeMond believes this year’s “The Tour is less complex would be less predictable. The LeMond believes Dumoulin race which he says is “not so now because of radios,” Ameri- fans would love it.” would have a great chance diffi cult on paper” will be less can LeMond said in an interview Californian LeMond’s exper- of a Giro/Tour de France predictable than in recent year’s with broadcaster Eurosport for tise has become an essential in- double if Tour organisers when Team Sky largely control- whom he will again be chief ana- gredient of the Tour for millions had included a longer time led it, allowing Froome to win lyst this year. of armchair fans who will this trial this year three of the last four editions. “Riders are told everything. year, for the fi rst time, be able “It’s going to be very interest- Maybe they could have one- to watch every minute of every Last month’s Eurosport cov- ing, it could be very close. It’s way radios to call in mechani- stage thanks to Eurosport’s en- erage of the Giro broke their not incredibly diffi cult,” LeMond cal problems, or for more water, hanced coverage. own viewing records — partly said. but when you basically have the Until now viewers worldwide because the race was so exciting “The climbing stages are very team tactician in the car calling could not watch the whole stage. with Dutchman Tom Dumoulin hard but I think it’s not so dif- all the shots it takes away from “It’s massive thing,” Eu- sealing victory on the fi nal stage. fi cult as last year when the rid- the race.” rosport’s CEO Peter Hutton LeMond, who has also cam- ers were hesitant and there was Team orders rule these days told Reuters of the upgraded paigned vigorously against dop- a lack of action. Apart from making epic duels like that be- rights agreement with European ing and mechanical doping, be- Froome, I think it’s out of Richie tween teammates LeMond and Broadcasting Union and Amaury lieves Dumoulin would have a Porte and (Alberto) Contador. French great Bernard Hinault on Sport Organisation that will see great chance of a Giro/Tour de “I would like to see Dumoulin Alpe d’huez in 1986, chronicled 54 markets across Europe ben- France double if Tour organisers be there and you never know but in the book Slaying the Badger, efi t from up to 25 hours more live had included a longer time trial he needs a longer time trial to Three-time winner of the Tour de France, American Greg LeMond, takes time to sign autographs along the rare. LeMond thinks that is part- Tour de France coverage in each this year. make up time.” route of the 17th stage of the Tour de France on July 29, 1998. (REUTERS) Gulf Times Friday, June 16, 2017 5 SPORT

RUGBY FOCUS Nabuli handed All Blacks stay on Wallabies debut in Scotland Test toes for Samoa hoping for a spot among the as yet un- Reuters Sydney named replacements. Hunt, who plays at fullback in Super ‘Lions is a dance in the background... the responsibility to the jersey means Rugby, has been retained as a second ustralia coach Michael playmaker at inside centre after a solid that we go out and take this Test match seriously and respect Samoa’ Cheika made one change debut in Melbourne. from the starting side that Blindside fl anker Ned Hanigan will Reuters the team likely to face the Lions the beat Fiji last week for tomor- also win a second cap, while usual chance to shake out any cobwebs be- row’sA Test against Scotland, handing starting loosehead prop Scott Sio looks Auckland fore the big dance. Fiji-born Eto Nabuli his debut on the like making his return from knee injury “A win is getting a game of footy and left wing. off the bench with Tom Robertson re- he “dance in the background” getting some combinations,” he said. The 28-year-old comes into the side taining the number one shirt. was undoubtedly overshad- “You just can’t fl ick your fi ngers and in place of the injured Henry Speight, Australia round out their June in- owing the All Blacks Test say you’re away. who was also born in Fiji, and takes to ternational campaign against Italy in match against Samoa but “If we can get through the game and three the tally of former rugby league Brisbane next week after the meeting Tcoach Steve Hansen was at pains to get them back into the All Blacks way, players in the team along with Israel with the Scots, who beat the Wallabies ensure his side did not trip over their playing with some accuracy, pace and Folau and Karmichael Hunt. in Newcastle on their last trip Down own feet during today’s clash at Eden intensity will be good.” Nabuli has less pedigree in the 13- Under in 2012. Park. New Zealand have won all six of man code than his new Wallabies team SQUAD: 15-Israel Folau, 14-Dane Hansen’s side face their South Pa- their previous matches against the mates but did represent Fiji twice be- Haylett-Petty, 13-Tevita Kuridrani, cifi c neighbours for just the seventh Pacifi c islanders, who have in the past fore moving to union with the Queens- 12-Karmichael Hunt, 11-Eto Nabuli, time as part of a Pasifi ka doubleheader proved stubborn to break down before land Reds last year. 10-Bernard Foley, 9-Will Genia, 8-Scott at Eden Park, with Wales playing Ton- the All Blacks cranked up the pressure Cheika retained Michael Hooper as Higginbotham, 7-Michael Hooper (cap- ga beforehand after their game was to run away with fi ve of the six games. captain when he named his side yes- tain), 6-Ned Hanigan, 5-Adam Coleman, moved from Nuku’alofa due to con- Samoa are also using the Test as terday after he led Australia to a 37-14 4-Sam Carter, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Tatafu cerns over the pitch condition. preparations for their own game victory over Fiji with squad skipper Polota-Nau, 1-Tom Robertson New Zealand Rugby organised the against Wales in Apia before World Stephen Moore reduced once more to Replacements: To be confirmed match specifi cally to aid Hansen’s Cup qualifying clashes against Tonga team preparations for their series and Fiji. against the British and Irish Lions, Ieremia, who played for both Sa- which starts on June 24. moa and the All Blacks, has chosen “Whilst the Lions is a dance that arguably his strongest team, with the is happening in the background and majority based in Europe while former we’re watching that with interest of Canterbury centre Kieron course, the responsibility to the jer- Fonotia is the only debutant in the sey and those who have been before starting side. us means that we go out and take this “We believe it’s a team that can Test match seriously and respect Sa- challenge the All Blacks,” Ieremia said moan rugby for what it is,” Hansen this week. “We have picked guys who told reporters. New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen (right) has named arguably his strong- are used to this sort of tempo. “They’re a very good rugby team est side possible for the Samoa match. “The All Blacks are not a team you and on their day can cause an upset. can experiment with. This is our We don’t want to be that upset.” against Alama Ieremia’s team, with ing. strongest side. The gauge for us is Hansen has named arguably his only captain Kieran Read (thumb) The selection, he added, had been about where we’re at as a team, and strongest side possible for the match and Dane Coles (concussion) miss- relatively simple with his desire to give we’ll fi nd out after this Test match.”

Golden State Warriors victory parade SPOTLIGHT Bok coach Coetzee makes solitary change in favour of continuity

Reuters “We kept changes to a minimum and one change to the squad means we can continue to work on our continuity, which is so important. ionel Mapoe has replaced Jesse “This is a new group, so playing to- Kriel at outside centre as the gether again means that the important only change to South Africa’s combinations are gaining more expe- match-day 23 as the Spring- rience. It is also nice to reward good Lboks seek to continue their revival performances and all of them deserve in the second Test against France at another opportunity.” King’s Park tomorrow. will extend his Kriel suff ered a concussion in the record as the most-capped Bok prop by Boks’ 37-14 fi rst Test win at Loftus taking his tally of appearances to 88. He Versfeld last weekend. Mapoe missed is the third most experienced forward the game with a hamstring strain. for the country with only Victor Mat- The win was much-needed after a fi eld and John Smit ahead of him. disastrous 2016 in which they lost eight The Boks can clinch the series with of their 12 Tests, including historic de- victory in Durban ahead of the third feats at the hands of Ireland, Italy and and fi nal Test to be played at Ellis Park Argentina. in Johannesburg on June 24. Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry holds the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy during the victory parade in Oakland, California, yesterday. (AFP) Coach Allister Coetzee has decided against bringing in experienced World SQUAD: 15-, 14-Ray- Cup winner Frans Steyn from the start mond Rhule, 13-, 12-Jan for the second Test, which would have Serfontein, 11-, 10-Elton MLB necessitated a move by Jantjies, 9-Ross Cronje, 8-Warren from the number 12 to 13 jersey. Whiteley (captain), 7-Oupa Mohoje, “Jan had a very good match at in- 6-, 5-, 4-Eben side centre in and we wanted a Etzebeth, 3-, 2-Malcolm Shoemaker hurt as Angels rally for win vs Yankees specialist at number 13 as replacement Marx, 1-Tendai Mtawarira for Jesse, so Mapoe is a logical choice. Replacements: 16-, It also means we’re preventing mak- 17- , 18-Coenie Oosthui- By Jeff Fletcher They scored one in the fi rst, but they ing two changes to the team,” Coetzee zen, 19-Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20-Jean- The Orange County Register (TNS) nearly tied it. Luis Valbuena blasted a said in a press release from SA Rugby Luc du Preez, 21-, drive to straightaway center with the on Thursday. 22-Frans Steyn, 23-Dillyn Leyds bases loaded. Aaron Hicks leapt at the n a night that Eric Young Jr. fence and snagged it, perhaps robbing continued to make Los An- Valbuena of a grand slam. He settled geles Angels’ fans wonder for a sacrifi ce fl y. Eight changes for France for what the team will do with In the second, Danny Espinosa himO when Mike Trout comes back, blasted a two-run homer, as he con- second Test against Springboks Matt Shoemaker showed why you can tinues to dig out of an early season never look too far ahead in this game. hole. Espinosa came into Wednesday’s France coach Guy Noves eff ected played for the Shoemaker left the game in the game hitting .257 in his previous 11 eight changes yesterday, naming a before moving to France in 2008. fourth inning with tightness in his games, with a homer and two doubles. markedly strengthened squad for Noves did not pick any of the seven forearm. There was no further word It’s progress for a player whose average the second test against South Africa players from finalists Clermont on the severity of his injury. has been well under .200 all season. in Durban on Saturday. Auvergne and Toulon for the first test The good news was that the Angels Young’s RBI single capped a two- Captain returned after they arrived late on tour. still won, beating the New York Yan- run third to give the Angels the lead, along with fellow front-rower Rabah South Africa won 37-14 in last Satur- kees, 7-5, with Andrelton Simmons but the Yankees tied it with an un- Slimani after missing Saturday’s day’s opening encounter. The third providing the go-ahead runs with a earned run in the sixth. defeat in Pretoria. and final test is at Ellis Park in Johan- two-run homer in the seventh. Romain Taofifenua took lock Julien nesburg on June 24. The lesson, though, is that it’s RESULTS Le Devedec’s place while Kevin Gour- pointless to try to predict roster moves Los Angeles Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker throws the ball against the New LA Angels 7 NY Yankees 5 don was in for flanker Loann Goujon. SQUAD: 15-, 14-Yoann too far in the future, because each day York Yankees at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Wednesday. (USA TODAY Sports) Milwaukee 7 St. Louis 6 In the back row, Francois Trinh Duc Huget, 13-Damian Penaud, 12-Gael brings the potential of another injury Baltimore 10 Chicago White Sox 6 partners Baptiste Serin, who came Fickou, 11-, 10-Fran- that changes the variables. and game-winning hits, the 32-year- fi rst, three on a Gary Sanchez 441-foot Seattle 6 Minnesota 4 on as a substitute and scored a try cois Trinh Duc, 9-Baptiste Serin, In Shoemaker’s case, the Angels old journeyman provided the go- homer. After that, though, he settled Houston 13 Texas 2 at Loftus Versfeld last week, in a new 8-, 7-Kevin Gourdon, have Doug Fister throwing at Triple- ahead RBI, threw out a runner at the down. He escaped without damage in Arizona 2 Detroit 1 halfback pairing. 6-, 5- Romain Taofif- A, scheduled to start on Friday and plate and made a diving catch. the second and third. NY Mets 9 Chicago Cubs 4 The 20-year-old Damian Penaud, enua, 4- , 3-Rabah with a June 21 out in his contract. Just after his catch in the top of In the fourth, after he had allowed LA Dodgers 6 Cleveland 4 who won the French title earlier this Slimani, 2-Guilhem Guirado (captain), If Shoemaker needs to miss a start, the seventh preserved a tie, Simmons two singles, one an infi eld hit, to start Toronto 7 Tampa Bay 6 month with Clermont Auvergne, is 1-Jeff erson Poirot. Fister would seem to be the obvious ripped a homer in the bottom of the the inning, the Angels summoned Boston 7 Philadelphia 3 the only new cap replacing Henry Replacements: 16-Clement Mayna- one to take his spot. inning. His seventh homer of the year trainer Eric Munson to the mound to Colorado 5 Pittsburgh 1 Chavancy at centre. dier, 17-, 18-Uini Ato- As for Young, he has been a revela- put the Angels ahead, 7-5, in a game in check on him. After some discussion, Atlanta 13 Washington 2 South African-born Scott Spedding nio, 19-Julien le Devedec, 20-Bernard tion for the Angels ever since he came which they had trailed 4-0 before even Shoemaker left the game. Kansas City 7 San Francisco 2 is the fullback for the match at King’s le Roux, 21-Antoine Dupont, 22-Jean- to the big leagues to take Trout’s spot. coming to bat. Meanwhile, the Angels chipped San Diego 4 Cincinnati 2 Park Rugby Stadium, where he Marc Doussain, 23-Nans Ducuing A night after he had the game-tying Shoemaker gave up four runs in the away at Michael Pineda to get the lead. Miami 11 Oakland 6 Gulf Times 6 Friday, June 16, 2017 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Man Utd complete sack £31mn signing of defender Lindelof Puel aft er one season AFP Daley Blind has slotted into cen- , United Kingdom tral defence on occasion. Lindelof is United’s fi rst new signing of the summer as they Finishing eighth in the Premier League and reaching a cup final is hardly a failure anchester United on build up towards a Champions Wednesday com- League campaign next season. but Southampton want their managers to be close to supernatural pleted the signing He said that he was ready to fi ght of Swedish inter- for his place in the team. Mnational centre-back Victor “Of course there are some By Paul Doyle The Guardian Lindelof (below) from Ben- great players here in my posi- fi ca for a fee believed to be £31mn tion,” said the Swede. “I’m here ($39.6mn), the English Premier to do my best to try to help the outhampton’s sacking of Claude Puel is not en- League side announced. team as much as I can and it’s tirely fair on the Frenchman but the club reck- “I am thrilled to be join- always good to have other good on they could do better, which, in the Premier ing Manchester United,” said players around you. When you League, is fair enough. There is no guarantee that the 22-year-old after penning a have that, you get better as well. Southampton’sS next manager will do as well as Puel did four-year deal. “I have enjoyed “I think every move means you but the club’s rulers have decided, ruthlessly and with my time at Benfi ca enormously have to adapt to a new environ- a boldness born of their strong record, to try to fi nd a and I have learned a lot there. But ment but I feel comfortable in manager who will rise to the formidable challenge of I’m looking forward to playing in myself. I trust myself and it’s guiding the team higher and generating a happier buzz the Premier League at Old Traf- going to be tough but I’m look- around the place. It will be some trick if Southampton ford and for Jose Mourinho.” ing forward to it. I always had a pull it off again. Especially if they sell key players. Again. Lindelof joined Benfi ca from dream of coming here to play in Nigel Adkins would disagree but there is entertain- home-town club Vasteras SK in the Premier League so, for me, ment to be had in the way Southampton strive to fi nd 2012 and won three Portuguese it’s a dream come true.” Unit- better managers even at the risk of making fools of league titles and two Portuguese ed are also in the market for a themselves, demanding that gaff ers be close to super- Cups during his time in Lisbon. striker, having included Zlatan natural rather than merely good. And to think, people Lindelof is the second centre- Ibrahimovic, currently sidelined say they lack ambition. back signed by United manager by a serious knee injury, on their Southampton may accept (without wishing to have it Mourinho following last year’s list of players to be released. Real rubbed in their faces by, let’s say, ) that some capture of Ivory Coast interna- Madrid striker Alvaro Morata is players and managers see them as a stepping stone tional Eric Bailly from Villarreal. one name linked with a move to to even grander things, but that does not mean the Mourinho also has England Old Traff ord. His agent said ear- club have abandoned hope of reaching higher ground. pair Chris Smalling and Phil lier this week that United had Whether they let top people go willingly or grudgingly, Jones at his disposal, along with lodged a “very important off er” they always back their ability to source someone better. Argentina international Marcos with the Spanish giants to try to They don’t always get it right but they’ve proven to be Rojo, while Dutch utility man bring him to Manchester. cannier than most. Puel did not fall short of the reasonable expectations that Southampton could have had when they appointed him less than a year ago, he just failed to meet their ad- mirably unreasonable ones. In his credit column after his solitary season in charge there is a not-to-be-sniff ed-at eighth place in the Premier League and a marvellous run in the EFL Cup, in which Southampton overcame four top-fl ight teams, including Liverpool and Arsenal, with- out conceding a goal before losing unluckily in the fi nal to Manchester United. That was Southampton’s fi rst ap- pearance in a major fi nal for 14 years. Several players enjoyed the best season of their careers under Puel, such as , James-Ward Prowse, , Cédric Soares and, at a stretch, Maya Yoshida. The Frenchman was headhunted partially be- cause of his aptitude for rearing young players and he did that pretty well on the south coast, with Jack Stephens, Sam McQueen and Josh Sims making memorable im- pacts on the fi rst team. Those achievements came despite a series of unfor- tunate events that might have horrifi ed even Lemony Snicket. Puel lost his fi rst signing, Jérémy Pied, to a long-term injury on the fi rst day of the season, then in December lost his only reliable goalscorer, Charlie Aus- Some players at Southampton were irritated by Claude Puel's rotation policy. (AFP) tin, to injury for several months and then his fi rst-choice centre-backs (his captain, José Fonte, defecting to West joy a couple of satisfying wins over Sparta Prague and accordingly, he achieved only a par performance. Which, Messi pledges ‘fi ght’ as Ham in January and his best player, Virgil van Dijk, suf- Internazionale. But ultimately they fl opped out of the paradoxically, is not good enough for Southampton. fering a season-ending injury soon afterwards). Throw competition like rumbled impostors, eliminated at the What is more, and contrary to the cliche, football Argentina eye World Cup in shorter-term injuries to players such as group stage by a 1-1 home draw with Hapoel Be’er Sheva. management is not only a results business. The trou- and Manolo Gabbiadini and it is clear that Southamp- Southampton’s approach to that game was damnable, blesome thing for managers of mid-ranking teams is Buenos Aires: Lionel Messi face a two-legged play-off ton’s results could have been far worse. as they initially played against their humdrum visitors that the farther they get from challenging for the title vowed to “keep fighting” as against the winners of the Oce- But one can imagine them being better, too. South- as if aiming for the 0-0 draw that would have put them or European qualifi cation, the higher fans’ demands get Argentina attempt to overcome ania region — New Zealand or ampton fi nished just one place away from qualifying through. for entertainment, at least. Critically, Puel failed to give their World Cup qualifying Solomon Islands — should they for Europe again but actually they were miles off . As the Southampton often played snappily and cleverly un- the impression that he was building towards something struggles and seal their place finish fifth. Argentina, without top six teams soared away only Everton grasped at their der Puel but accusations that excessive caution was more exciting. He did not connect with enough people. in next year’s tournament in the suspended Messi, crashed coat-tails; below that everyone bunched together in a cramping their style became more frequent as the sea- Puel would fl unk the entrance exam to the Jürgen Russia. The two-time world to a 2-0 defeat in Bolivia in low-brow sprawl, Southampton being just six points son wore on. Puel was unable to rebut those allegations Klopp or David Wagner School of Charismatic Speak- champions are fifth in South their most recent qualifier, but above 17th-placed Watford. during the run-in, as his team failed to score in their last ing. Southampton must have known that when they en- American qualifying, with only the Barcelona star’s four-match Southampton fi nished only two places lower than the fi ve home matches. They ended the campaign with a pal- listed him but evidently they still hoped he would create the top four teams guaranteed ban for swearing at an assist- previous year but gathered 17 points fewer. That was no try 41 goals from 38 league games, with only the bottom a positive dynamic. It turned out that he could not get a place in the 2018 World Cup. ant referee has since been surprise after the top clubs strengthened – partially by fi ve teams scoring fewer. Again it seems harsh to scold through to some players, as too many of them became “365 days left to Russia, let’s overturned by FIFA. buying Sadio Mané and Victor Wanyama from South- the manager alone for that because part of the reason he irritated by his rotation policy, seemingly unconvinced keep fighting for the dream!” He can now return when ampton, and the Saints drafted in replacements who tightened up the team was to off set the loss of his best that rationing their workload was in their best interests. Messi wrote on his Facebook qualifying resumes in August have mostly looked inferior so far. But that does not defenders and, more signifi cantly, some of the club’s Similarly, too many fans suspected Puel’s instincts were page, as Argentina bid to avoid with a clash against Uruguay, make it an acceptable state of aff airs to Southampton’s forwards are incorrigibly erratic, especially when Austin negative even though the core message he tried to impart missing the finals for the first followed by matches against peculiar and demanding regime. and Gabbiadini are absent. Even when Puel’s team tore to his players from his very fi rst match – a home draw time since 1970. Brazil became Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador. The ugliest entry in Puel’s debit column was South- through Burnley in October and fi red off 34 shots – more against Watford during which he railed furiously from the first side to qualify for Rus- Argentina have won only ampton’s Europa League campaign. After embarrassing than any other Premier League team in any match since the sidelines – was, according to Romeu, “to be braver sia in March, but Argentina trail one of eight World Cup 2018 themselves on the continent two years ago under Ronald 2003 – they managed to win only 3-1. and to take responsibility and be happy out there”. Ul- fourth-placed Chile by a point qualifiers played without Messi, Koeman, the club had high hopes of making a better im- In Puel’s previous job he inspired Nice to surpass ex- timately, it did not look as if enough of his players were with four matches left to play. compared to five out of six won pression under Puel – who took Lyon to the semi-fi nal pectations with much pizzazz. At Southampton he gen- able to do that as often as demanded. But by jilting Puel, Jorge Sampaoli’s side would with him on the pitch. of the Champions League – and Southampton did en- erally failed to do that despite the EFL Cup exploits and, the club’s rulers have followed that instruction.

ROUND-UP Everton seal record swoop for goalkeeper Pickford Everton made Jordan Pickford Britain’s Italian media have speculated the gio Conceicao to return to his home- tained a fracture in his right forearm most expensive goalkeeper yesterday Jordan Pickford ‘keeper will be sold this summer with land and take over the reins at Porto. and he is set for an operation which as they signed the Sunderland star in a will cost Everton Raiola citing interest from Real Madrid could see him sidelined for at least deal worth up to £30mn ($38mn, 34mn an initial £25mn. and Paris Saint Germain. LEICESTER LAND DEFENDER four weeks. Mauricio Pochettino’s side euros). England Under-21 international MAGUIRE FROM HULL return for pre-season training on July Pickford will cost Everton an initial NANTES CONFIRM RANIERI Leicester signed Hull defender Harry 3 before heading for a 10-day tour of £25mn, surpassing the £10mn South- AS NEW COACH Maguire for a reported fee of £17mn America, with the fi rst game on July 22. ampton paid to sign his international Former Leicester City manager Clau- yesterday. Maguire was keen to leave colleague from Celtic dio Ranieri, the architect of the Foxes’ Hull following the club’s relegation CITY STAR JESUS AVOIDS in 2014. The 23-year-old is the third fairytale Premier League triumph, from the Premier League last season SURGERY ON EYE SOCKET most expensive goalkeeper in the world has signed a two-year deal to become and he has agreed a fi ve-year con- Manchester City’s Brazilian star striker behind Manchester City’s recent 40mn the coach of Nantes, the French club tract with Leicester. The 24-year-old Gabriel Jesus says he will not need euros signing of Benfi ca goalkeeper confi rmed. Nantes received special becomes Leicester’s fi rst signing since surgery on his right eye socket which Ederson and Gianluigi Buff on’s 53mn dispensation from French league of- Craig Shakespeare agreed a three-year was fractured by teammate Nicolas euros switch from Parma to Juventus fi cials to hire the popular Ranieri as he deal as permanent Leicester boss last Otamendi. The 20-year-old Brazil in 2001. had reached the manager’s age limit of week. Maguire will link up with his international had to go off after the Pickford, who has signed a fi ve-year 65 last year. Ranieri arrives just four new team-mates in early July ahead of accidental collision with Argentina contract with Everton, was manager months after being sacked by Leices- Leicester’s pre-season training camp defender Otamendi in a match in Mel- Ronald Koeman’s top target to take ter, whom he guided to a 5000-1 odds in Austria. bourne, Australia, last Friday. over from Maarten Stekelenburg ons be met, Pickford would become Buff on, Donnarumma is a target for a Premier League title in 2016. Jesus made a strong impact at City and Joel Robles, who both endured Everton’s record signing, eclipsing the number of top clubs and making him But his second season was a disaster TOTTENHAM STAR SON upon his arrival in January, scoring inconsistent spells at Goodison Park £28mn they paid Chelsea for Belgium the pillar of the club’s future with an as the English team fl irted with relega- SET FOR ARM SURGERY three goals in his fi rst three appearanc- last season. Pickford was one of the striker Romelu Lukaku in 2014. extended contract had been Milan’s tion and he was sacked in February, Son Heung-Min could miss the start es before suff ering a broken bone in his few bright spots as Sunderland were number one priority. despite being through to the Champi- of Tottenham’s pre-season prepara- foot that sidelined him for two months. relegated from the Premier League last AC MILAN RAGE AS TOP KEEPER “Mino Raiola (the player’s agent) has ons League last 16. The Italian already tions after his club revealed the South City manager Pep Guardiola labelled season and earned a nomination for the DONNARUMMA EYES EXIT just told me there will be no extension has experience of working in France Korea forward will have surgery on his him “special” and suggested the club PFA Young Player of the Year award. AC Milan were left fuming when their with Donnarumma and that the deci- having guided Monaco back to Ligue fractured arm today. Son suff ered the might have been fi ghting for the title He earned a call-up to England’s highly-rated 18-year-old goalkeeper sion is defi nitive,” the club’s general 1 in 2012/13 and then to second place injury after landing awkwardly follow- rather than scrapping for a Champions senior ranks in October and has rep- Gianluigi Donnarumma said he would manager Marco Fassone said after a behind Paris Saint-Germain the fol- ing an aerial challenge during South League place had he been available all resented the country at each of the six not sign an extended contract with the meeting with Raiola. “We are bitterly lowing season. Nantes fi nished seventh Korea’s World Cup qualifying defeat season. Guardiola will hope Jesus will youth levels from Under-16 upwards. Italian giants. Considered the heir to disappointed about the decision, but in Ligue 1 last season but a week ago with Qatar on Tuesday. be back in time for the US tour which Should the terms of each of the add- Italy and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi we move on, Milan move on.” agreed to allow Portuguese coach Ser- Scans showed the 24-year-old sus- begins in July. Gulf Times Friday, June 16, 2017 7 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Russia hopes Confederations Cup will banish WC concerns On the eve of the Confederations Cup, the focus for off icials is on having a smooth event now that shows fans there is nothing to fear from coming to Russia for the 2018 World Cup

By Shaun Walker in Moscow intimidation, suspicion, and secrecy” The Guardian around labour conditions and even had one of its researchers detained by local police. This month an Observer inves- ith less than a year to go tigation found that at least 190 North until the World Cup kicks Korean workers had been engaged in off at Moscow’s Luzhniki the construction of the stadium. The Stadium, excitement is men worked long shifts with no days off Wbuilding inside Russia as the country “like prisoners of war”, according to one prepares to host the Confederations of the subcontractors. Cup, the eight-team warm-up tour- Then there is the security threat – nament designed as a dress rehearsal the St Petersburg metro system was for 2018.As the authorities promise a hit by a suicide bomber in April – but spectacular, exciting fi nals next year, authorities are confi dent that a tough the setup is beset with all the usual crackdown on Russia’s homegrown worries that accompany a major tour- insurgency and high security at the nament, as well as a couple of Russia- tournaments will prevent any attacks, specifi c ones. as was the case during the Sochi Win- In addition to the standard concerns ter Olympics in 2014. Russian offi cials of stadium readiness and security fears, are bullish about the prospects for the international observers have also raised World Cup and believe the tournament labour rights and the issue of poten- is a chance to show the world a diff erent tial racism against fans or players and side of the country from the daily head- the potential for hooliganism, after the lines about election hacking abroad and horrifi c clashes between Russia and rights infringements at home. England fans in Marseille last summer. As with Sochi, there is a hope that Added to all of that are concerns the tournament will help unite the na- about the home team, after Russia were tion, as well as show off the country to humiliated at Euro 2016, securing a the world. Russian offi cials claim west- point against England but being sound- ern coverage of problems in the run-up ly beaten by Slovakia and Wales. A new, to both the Olympics and the World younger side are still fi nding their feet Cup is “fake news” born of supposed but the hope is that the Confederations anti-Russian feelings in the west. Cup, which starts when Russia take on “We can show that we are normal New Zealand in St Petersburg on Satur- people,” said German Tkachenko, who day night, will provide a springboard to was previously chairman of the Russian avoid disaster on home soil next year. top-fl ight side Krylia Sovetov and runs Portugal and Mexico are the remain- an agency that represents a number of ing teams in the hosts’ group, while the Russian footballers. other half of the draw contains Ger- “We are not alligators, we can speak A mother and son pose for a photograph by a statue of Zabivaka, the mascot of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, outside the main entrance of the Moscow Zoo, ahead of the many, Chile, Cameroon and Australia. English, we can smile.” 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, which will be held from tomorrow in Russia. (AFP) Four of next year’s 10 World Cup cit- Under the spotlight next summer ies will stage games, with stadiums will be Russia’s record on racism, with a result of such a match would be decided After a BBC documentary this year people. It’s against the rules.” tered in a relatively small European in many of the others still under con- history of offi cials ignoring or denying or whether a replay would be required. captured violent fans who said they With a year to go, the focus for Rus- section of Russia’s vast landmass but struction. the problem. Alexei Smertin, appointed Finally, there is the issue of potential were looking forward to fi ghts during sian offi cials is on having a smooth the distances are nevertheless daunt- It will open at the Zenit Arena in St as a special racism investigator before fan violence, raised after what appeared the World Cup, Spartak Moscow fans Confederations Cup that shows fans ing, and much of the high-speed train Petersburg, which has been plagued the World Cup, said in 2015 that there to be carefully coordinated Russian fan unveiled giant banners at a game in there is nothing to fear from coming to network promised during the bid pe- with allegations of corruption and con- was no racism at all in Russia, even violence at the Euros last summer. The March, one calling the BBC “Blah Blah Russia. The country has waived its visa riod has not been built. struction delays. The project, which though a fan group logged 93 incidents fact that some in Moscow, including Channel” and the other saying: “Wel- policy for all ticket holders and is even Amid all the concern, perhaps the was meant to be fi nished in 2008, was of racist chants or behaviour during the an executive at the Russian Football come to Russia 2018.” off ering free transport between the sta- best thing for Russia was that Qatar completed only this year, nearly a dec- 2014-15 season. Union, appeared to encourage the vio- Tkachenko claimed western media diums for those with match tickets for won the hosting rights for the 2022 ade late and at least 600% over budget. However, Fifa and Russia insist they lence, was hardly reassuring. had given Russia an unfair hearing in Confederations Cup games and World World Cup. When compared with the There are still concerns about the state are taking the problem seriously now, But if the violence was almost wel- recent years, saying the England fans Cup games next summer. Gulf state, the rights violations during of the pitch. and Fifa has instituted a new three- comed when it happened abroad, au- involved in the clashes with Russia This should help fans avoid the as- the stadium construction and general A report released by Human Rights step system at the Confederations Cup thorities do not want a repeat on home were “not monks” and that both sides tronomical internal fl ight prices that worries about atmosphere during the Watch this week said the organisation which will allow referees to stop the soil and are prepared for tough policing. were to blame. He insisted there would tend to accompany World Cups. They tournament appear relatively insignifi - had discovered some workers had been play while an announcement is made There are already reports that authori- be no random violence next summer, will need time on their hands, though: cant. Russia, unlike Qatar, is a football- subjected to dangerous working condi- demanding any chants or discrimina- ties are cracking down on hooligan ele- saying: “There is no chance of such a the trains off ered free between Sochi loving nation with a number of pleas- tions or had delays receiving wages. It tory behaviour stops immediately. They ments around Russian clubs, promising thing happening here, I can promise it. and St Petersburg during the Confeder- ant and exciting host cities, meaning estimated that 17 workers have died on will have further authority to suspend strict penalties for anyone involved in It’s not going to happen in the streets. ations Cup, for example, take between the tournament could provide the last World Cup stadium sites. The organi- or abandon the game if such chanting violence, in an attempt to ensure the Fans sometimes make established 36 and 48 hours. chance for eight years for fans to visit a sation documented an “atmosphere of continues, though it is unclear how the tournament goes off smoothly. fi ghts, but real fans never fi ght ordinary The World Cup venues are all clus- “proper” World Cup.

Ronaldo remains ‘silent’ amid FOCUS tax evasion accusations French sensation Mbappe says Lisbon: Cristiano Ronaldo reacted to accusa- player Cristiano Ronaldo, who we understand tions that he evaded paying taxes of 14.7mn has acted in accordance with the legality re- euros ($16.4mn) by saying that remaining silent garding the fulfilment of his fiscal obligations”. was the “best answer”. The 32-year-old Ronaldo — the world’s high- he is surprised by meteoric rise “Sometimes the best answer it’s to be quiet,” est paid athlete — follows in the footsteps of the Real Madrid star forward said on Instagram Barcelona forward and Argentina star Lionel AFP with a photo of himself in a Portugal polo shirt Messi, who was found guilty of the same of- Paris and right forefinger raised to his lips. Ronaldo fence last year, although the sums involved insisted Wednesday that he had a “conscience were allegedly smaller. If he too is put on trial clear, always”, as he arrived at Lisbon airport to and found guilty, he risks “a fine of at least 28 t just 18 years of age, Kylian Mbappe fly out to the Confederations Cup in Russia. million” euros and could potentially be jailed for is the hottest property in football Real Madrid have given their backing to three-and-a-half years, according to the Gestha and the French sensation admits Ronaldo, saying they had “full confidence in our union of experts at Spain’s Inland Revenue. that he has been surprised by how quicklyA his star has risen. “I always had lots of imagination when I was little, so I am not go- ing to say that I hadn’t imagined it,” Mbappe OPINION said in an interview when asked if he expected to have won a league title and become a full international at such a young age. “I imagined succeeding early, but I didn’t Putin suggests Russian league really think things would happen so quickly. Of course I always believed. The players who have succeeded in their careers are the ones has too many foreign players who believed in themselves.” Billed as the new Thierry Henry, Mbappe Reuters cluding the creation of a youth academy by Rus- made his top-fl ight debut for Monaco in De- Moscow sian businessman Sergey Galitskiy in the south- cember 2015 when still aged just 16, but it is France’s Kylian Mbappe reacts during the friendly against England in Paris on Tuesday. (AFP) ern city of Krasnodar. Russia this month slipped in the last six months that he has gone from to a record low 63rd in the world rankings. The a player of great promise to one of the big- ity for one so young but he thrives on his new international goal against England, hitting ussian President Vladimir Putin sug- country will showcase four of its 12 World Cup gest stars in Europe. He scored 15 goals to help status, as his assured nature before the glare the bar in the second half before setting up gested yesterday that the presence of venues during the Confederations Cup, a two- Monaco win a fi rst French title since 2000 of the cameras attests. B the winner for his fellow young starlet Ous- foreign players in the domestic football week tournament kicking off tomorrow that will and won his fi rst cap for France in March. He ut such self-confi dence should not be mane Dembele. At times he had the Stade league is hindering the development of feature the home country, defending World Cup is now being linked to mega-money moves to mistaken for arrogance, he says. “No, it is de France crowd gasping with his skill. He is localR talent as Russia gears up to host the World champions Germany and the winners of FIFA one of the continent’s biggest sides this close a strength. But having belief in yourself is already an idol for aspiring young football- Cup fi nals next year. “Little attention is paid to confederations. season, with Real Madrid leading the chase not enough — you also need to work hard ers but he accepts being in the public eye and the development of children’s and youth foot- alongside the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool and always respect the people around you. I acting as a role model is a key part of his job. ball,” Putin said during his annual call-in show FIFA TO CLAMP DOWN ON MOBBING OF and both Manchester clubs. think when you show respect to people, they “That is the business we are in. Everyone broadcast on state television. The Russian leader REFS AT CONFEDERATIONS CUP On Tuesday he earned his fourth cap for respect you back. But it is important to be would love to be in our shoes,” he said. “I said international football experts had told him Football’s governing body FIFA promised yester- Les Bleus, starring in a 3-2 friendly victory yourself. That is part of my personality. I have don’t mind that people expect a lot from me. that the national team’s failures could be linked to day to take steps to stop what it called the mob- over England in front of almost 80,000 fans always been a chilled out kid who doesn’t When I was a child I had idols and footballers “too many foreign players” and “too little atten- bing of referees during the Confederations Cup at the The following day he get carried away,” added Mbappe, who hails are idols. You place them on such a pedestal tion paid to preparing substitutes”. in Russia this month as part of its so-called “play was speaking at the Edouard Rist clinic in from the often deprived northern suburbs of that they can’t do anything wrong. That is a The Russian Premier League currently does fair” initiative. FIFA formally launched the ini- Paris in his role as an ambassador for an as- the French capital. “My entourage has always challenge but it is also interesting, because it not allow more than six foreign players per team tiative jointly with the game’s law-making body sociation called “Lead Climbers” which backs helped make life easy for me and I never had allows us to keep learning while also making on the pitch at any time. Putin insisted that there IFAB yesterday as part of a strategy “focusing on sporting initiatives for hospitalised children. any real diffi culties growing up.” sure we continue to serve as a good example were “positive trends” in Russian football, in- improving fairness and the image of the game.” Mbappe has taken on a lot of responsibil- Mbappe was unlucky not to score his fi rst to these young kids.”

Friday, June 16, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

ATHLETICS FOOTBALL South Korea Qatar’s Barshim axe Stielike aft er soars to win in Oslo Qatar shock AFP Seoul Qatari sets a meeting record and world leading mark of 2.38m in the Diamond League outh Korea axed coach Uli Stielike yesterday af- ter a shock defeat to Qa- tar left their World Cup qualifiS cation hanging in the bal- ance. Stielike, who has been in charge since 2014, paid the price for a run of poor results including qualifying defeats to China and Iran. The 62-year-old German was South Korea’s longest serv- ing coach and he led the team to 27 victories, also a national record. But Tuesday’s 3-2 reverse in Doha, South Korea’s fi rst loss to Qatar in 32 years, left them in danger of missing direct qualifi - cation for Russia 2018. Lee Yong-Soo, chairman of the Korean Football Associa- tion, also resigned in a shake-up Uli Stielike. (AFP) ahead of South Korea’s fi nal two qualifying games. had been pelted with toff ees, a “As the results of the fi nal Korean insult, upon returning World Cup qualifi cation round winless from that year’s World did not meet our expectation, the Cup in Brazil. Just months later KFA and coach Stielike decided he led them to the Asian Cup fi - to end Stielike’s contract under nal — without conceding a single mutual agreement,” said Lee af- goal en route — before they went ter a meeting in Seoul. down 2-1 to hosts Australia in “We spoke with Stielike and Sydney. Stielike also led South notifi ed him before the press Korea to victory at the East Asia conference. Stielike said that he Cup seven months later. respects any decision reached But trouble set in during Asia’s by the technical committee,” he fi nal round of World Cup quali- added. Lee said Stielike would fi ers, especially when they went probably be replaced by a South down 1-0 to China in March Korean coach, explaining time — only their second loss to the was too short for a foreigner to Chinese in 32 games. He had get to know the team. been widely expected to go after “The reason that we will likely Tuesday’s loss to Qatar, which select a South Korean coach is left South Korea clinging to the Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim competes in the men’s high jump event during the IAAF Diamond League at the Bislett Stadium in Oslo, Norway, yesterday. (AFP) because there is too little time second automatic qualifying for a new foreign coach to under- spot in Group A. South Korea Agencies clear 2.38m to set the meet record. Bond- and Ben Youssef Meité of the Ivory Coast Dutkiewicz of Germany took the 100m stand the characteristics of each are seeking to qualify for their Oslo, Norway arenko came second after clearing 2.29m, (10.03). Ingebrigtsen won the mile race in hurdles in 12.73, while Britain’s Tiff any player,” Lee told reporters after ninth consecutive World Cup, a while World champion Derek Drouin 3min 56.29sec, improving his recent best Porter was fi fth in 12.93. Yarisley Silva the meeting. “The most impor- run which includes reaching the cleared 2.25 metres to fi nish third. of 3:58.07 which had allowed him to be- of Cuba won the pole vault with a best tant task for next coach will be semi-fi nals on home soil in 2002. atar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim “The target was to clear 2.38m, which come the youngest man to go below four of 4.81m. Tianna Bartoletta overtook to boost the players’ morale and They remain second in Group won high jump gold with a I achieved today. So mission completed,” minutes for the mile. long-time leader Darya Klishina to win building up a new team. We only A, seven points behind already- dominant victory in the Oslo said Barshim. “At the beginning I was Ingebrigtsen, who will only turn 17 on the long jump with 6.79m. The event have a year until the Russia World qualifi ed Iran but just one ahead Diamond League meeting yes- feeling little bit sleepy, but after I cleared September 19, said he has the capacity to featured a trio of Brits with Shara Proc- Cup but that is enough time to of Uzbekistan. South Korea play terday.Q Barshim cleared 2.38m to set a 2.33m I woke up and came into the right go faster. “I could have run faster today tor the leading performer in fourth with build up a new team,” he said. Iran and then Uzbekistan in their meeting record, which is also the world rhythm. My coach is happy especially be- but it doesn’t matter because it was a cra- 6.53m followed by Lorraine Ugen in sixth Stielike’s sacking completed fi nal two games in August and leading mark for this year. All the three cause I broke the record. Our plan works, zy experience,” said the Norwegian star. . with 6.50m and Jazmin Sawyers 10th a fall from grace for a man once September. Only the top two in Rio Olympic medallists were in action we go step by step. I am blessed for every Caster Semenya enjoyed another with 6.20m. dubbed “God-tielike” by South each of Groups A and B qualify in the high jump, with Olympic cham- opportunity I can get,” he added. dominating 800m win as she overtook Jake Wightman scored a dream metric Korean fans for his successes automatically for Russia, with pion Derek Drouin going up against silver Meanwhile, Canada’s triple Olympic Francine Nyonsaba in the home straight mile victory at the Bislett Games. With after taking the helm in Septem- the third-placed teams going medallist Barshim and Ukraine’s bronze medallist André De Grasse took victory to clock 1:57.59. In a race that saw the top the classic imperial distance restricted to ber 2014. During his 33-month into play-off s. South Korean me- medallist Bohdan Bondarenko. in the 100m as Norwegian 16-year-old fi ve break two minutes, Lynsey Sharp of under-20 runners this year, the 22-year- reign, the former Real Madrid dia have speculated about possi- Barshim, however, was in the class Jakob Ingebrigtsen again broke the four- Britain was eighth in 2:00.41. old Briton produced an inspired perform- midfi elder chalked up a record ble replacements including Huh of his own as the Qatari athlete cleared minute barrier for the mile. In the men’s 400m Baboloki Thebe ance over 1500m to win in a PB of 3:34.17. 27 wins as well as fi ve draws and Jung-Moo, who led the team 2.35m as the rest faltered. Barshim then De Grasse, 22, sprinted home in of Bostwana ran 44.95 to beat Matthew Wightman beat Elijah Manangoi, the seven defeats. to the last 16 at the 2010 World went for the meet record. While he failed 10.01sec ahead of Britain’s Chinjidu Ujah Hudson-Smith although the Briton ran 2015 world silver medallist from Kenya, Stielike was appointed in Sep- Cup, and Under-20s coach Shin in his fi rst two attempts he managed to (10.02sec), who won in last week, a UK 2017 leading mark of 45.16. Pamela into second. tember 2014, after South Korea Tae-Young.

AL WAJBA CLINCHES KATARA BEACH FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Al Wajba emerged as the champions of the 7th edition of the Katara Beach Football Championship, which concluded on Wednesday after two weeks of competition. In the final, Al Wajba eased past Um Al-Nafi 6-2 to claim the title.