THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 SPORTS

Bolt to return for NY race Dope test before SEA Games Woods eyes Ryder spot NEW YORK: Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt will make KUALA LUMPUR: All Malaysian athletes taking part in Southeast Asian LONDON: Former world number one Tiger Woods expects to be challenging for his first appearance in the United States in five years when he competes in the Games in June will have undergone a doping test before arriving in a place on the US team for next year’s Ryder Cup, according to skipper Davis Love Adidas Grand Prix Diamond League meeting in New York City on June 13, Singapore, the country’s sports minister said. III. In an interview with the BBC, Love said he was in regular contact with Woods organisers said yesterday. The Jamaican sprinter set his first 100 metres world Malaysia has been rocked by high-profile doping cases in recent and was not ruling him out, despite his current struggles with fitness and form. record at the meeting in 2008 when he clocked 9.72 seconds. His only other months with the country’s most famous athlete, former badminton Woods, who had back surgery last year, has played only two PGA Tour events appearance in the U.S. since then was to anchor a Jamaican 4x100 metres number one Lee Chong Wei, provisionally suspended after he failed a this season and said last month he would not return until he felt his game was team at the 2010 Penn Relays. “No one could ever forget their first world test at the world championships in August. “tournament-ready”. “He’s expecting to make the team,” Love told BBC Radio. “He record, and I will never forget the crowd in New York that night,” Bolt said in a Tai Cheau Xuen became the first Malaysian Asian Games gold and I keep in touch a lot more than we have. He still has a good attitude and is statement. “They had to wait for an hour during a thunderstorm delay before medallist to fail a drugs test after the Wushu exponent tested positive working hard.” “I spoke to a few people who tell me he’s working very hard and is our race, and I don’t think a single person left the stadium. for sibutramine and was kicked out of the multi-sport event after failing eager to get back. I suppose he has a plan for The Masters - we’re They deserved a great performance, and I’m glad I was able with an appeal in October. hoping to see him back soon.” Fourteen-times major champion to give it to them. I’m looking forward to running in New “I have ordered the Malaysian Anti-Doping Agency (ADAMAS) to Woods, now ranked 96th in the world, has not ruled out play- ing at next month’s Masters at Augusta where he has won York again.” Organisers did not announce whether Bolt conduct doping tests on every athlete going to the SEA Games,” Khairy four times. Love said Woods’ first target would be this year’s would run over 100 or 200 metres in the meeting at New Jamaluddin was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency on Presidents Cup, between a U.S. team and an international York’s Icahn Stadium. He holds the world record Tuesday. Bernama said only 30 percent of Malaysian athletes had been selection, in October. in both, having run 9.58 seconds in the 100 previously tested before going to a major sports event. “He is anxious about getting back to playing so he can get and 19.19 in the 200 in 2009. Bolt, who won Malaysia sent more than 500 athletes to the last Southeast Asian some points for that, then he can think about Ryder Cup,” Games in Myanmar in 2013. The 28th SEA Games will take place from Olympic gold in both sprints and the 4x100 Love said. “I wouldn’t count him out just yet.” Woods has June 5-16 with athletes from the 11 nations that make up Southeast relay in the Beijing and London Games, will played in seven Ryder Cups, but missed last year’s begin his 2015 sprint season with a 100 metres Asia taking part in an eclectic mix of 36 sports including athletics, bil- event in Gleneagles because of injury. — Reuters in Rio on April 19. —Reuters liards, sepak takraw and swimming. — Reuters Tigers look to regain their bite against Hull

LEEDS: After last season’s historic lenge for top four and I took a lot of stick achievements it has been a tough start to for it. I believe this team has the potential 2015 for but winger Justin to be as good if not better than last year. Carney is confident the new-look Tigers “It’s just a case of getting to know each can be even better than the previous other, playing games together back to incarnation. Castleford finished fourth in back and the performances will come.” the 2014 table, their high- Elsewhere travel to est-ever finish, and secured their first Catalan Dragons on Sunday and captain play-off berth since 2009. has backed new signing In addition to that ’s side for an call- also made it all the way to the Challenge up. The former Newcastle Knight qualifies Cup final before being beaten out by due to his Warrington-born father and their rivals Leeds Rhinos at Peacock drew comparisons with Kiwi- Wembley. The winter off saw a lot of per- born , who featured for sonnel changes for the Tigers however, England in the 2013 World Cup. Man of Steel leaving for “The bigger pool you can get for Warrington the biggest loss, while they England the better,” he added. “We are have acquired brand new half-back pair- seeing that within all sports now with eli- ing in Ben Roberts and . gibility rules, so why not? Almost inevitably the start to the 2015 “I can’t speak for other players, you season has involved some growing pains would have to ask them if it puts their therefore, with the Tigers coming into noses out of joint but it never bothered round 7 this weekend down in ninth in me. “He (Cuthbertson) has been really the table with just two wins to their good for us this year. He’s slotted straight name. But Carney, who despite his team’s into Super League.” , who slow start has been in fine form with travel to this Thursday, eight tries already, is confident we have have announced the appointment of not seen anything like the best from the as the new Academy head Tigers this season. coach. Hodgson, who made 350 appear- “The mood in the camp is pretty posi- aances in the NRL and Super League as tive,” said the former Rooster, who well as State of Origin for New South welcomes Hull FC to the Jungle this Wales, will now combine his role in Denis weekend. “In fact it’s been pretty positive Betts’ coaching team alongside his all year even though we have not had the Academy responsibilities. “It’s a big hon- NASHVILLE: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry (right) knocks Nashville Predators forward Mike Fisher (center) in the firstperiod of an results that we wanted. “This is a com- our to be able to coach the Academy this NHL hockey game. — AP pletely new team, with new halves and season. There are a lot of talented players new faces in key positions all over the in our setup that we hope will progress to field. But we are working it out and the first team in the next couple of years Kings thrash Rangers gelling together, we know that we will and I’m looking forward to working close- get there. “Last year I said we could chal- ly with them,” he said. —AFP NEW YORK: Marian Gaborik broke a second- right of Jaroslav Halak and trickled in after it Beleskey scored for the Ducks, who have lost period deadlock, and Jonathan Quick shook bounced off the goalie’s leg. Devan Dubnyk the first two games of a five-game road off an opening-minute goal to lift the Los made 37 saves for the Wild. swing. John Gibson had 20 saves. It was the Angeles Kings to a 4-2 victory over the New John Tavares broke a scoreless tie late in first hat trick by a Blue Jackets player since York Rangers on Tuesday in a rematch of last the second when he jammed his team-best Cam Atkinson had three goals at Colorado on year’s Stanley Cup Final. 34th goal of the season past Dubnyk at 19:36. April 5, 2012. The Kings, fighting for a chance to defend Tavares, Okposo and Frans Nielsen all their title, have won the first two games of a failed to convert in the shootout for the LIGHTNING 4, PANTHERS 3 five-game trip on successive nights. Robyn Islanders. Parise tied the game at 11:45 of the Ryan Callahan and Nikita Kucherov scored Regehr scored a rare goal in the first period, third with his 29th goal. in the third period to send Tampa Bay past and Jeff Carter and Jake Muzzin extended the BLUES 3, PENGUINS 2 Florida. Kucherov tied it at 3 with a wrap- lead in the third. Anze Kopitar had two assists. Alexander Steen redirected Zbynek around for his 27th goal at 1:30. Callahan Quick made 34 saves. Michalek’s shot from the point into the net 35 skated from behind the net and snapped a Los Angeles, which beat the Rangers in five seconds into overtime, lifting St. Louis to a shot past Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo games for the 2014 title, is tied in points with win over Pittsburgh. from the left circle with 2:28 left. Brenden third-place Calgary in the Pacific Division, but The Blues snapped a three-game losing Morrow and Tyler Johnson also scored for the the Flames hold the tiebreaker. Mats streak. They rallied from a two-goal deficit on Lightning, who have won four in a row and Zuccarello scored 51 seconds in, and Kevin scores from former Penguins Robert Bortuzzo eight of 10. Jussi Jokinen, Brandon Pirri and Hayes made it 4-2 with 3:44 left, but that was and Marcel Goc. Steen got his 24th of the sea- Jonathan Huberdeau scored for Florida. the only offense for the Rangers two days after son on a pretty deflection of a slick feed from Luongo made 21 saves. a 7-2 victory over Anaheim. New York entered Michalek, who spent two seasons in with an NHL-leading 99 points. Cam Talbot Pittsburgh earlier in his career. COYOTES 5, RED WINGS 4 stopped 31 shots and allowed more than two Jake Allen stopped 22 shots for St. Louis as Mark Arcobello scored his second goal of goals for the first time in 10 appearances. the Blues remained atop the Central Division the game in overtime, and Mike Smith made at the end of a six-game road trip, their 33 saves to lead Arizona over Detroit. PREDATORS 3, CANADIENS 2 longest of the season. Blake Comeau and The win snapped an eight-game losing Filip Forsberg scored a power-play goal at Steve Downie scored for Pittsburgh. Marc- streak for the Coyotes, who have the worst 1:54 of overtime as Nashville rallied to beat Andre Fleury made 33 saves. record in the Western Conference. David Moss Montreal in a game between two of the NHL’s also had two goals for Arizona - his second top teams. BLUE JACKETS 5, DUCKS 3 and third of the season. Pekka Rinne made 27 saves in his 39th win. Scott Hartnell had his eighth career three- John Moore had the other goal for the He pulled within a victory of the Canadiens’ goal game as Columbus rebounded from a Coyotes. The Red Wings have lost seven of 10 Carey Price in this showdown between the two-goal deficit to beat Anaheim for its fourth and are clinging to third place in the Atlantic league’s winningest goalies this season. win in a row. Division, five points ahead of surging Ottawa. Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis scored for the Ryan Johansen had a goal and an assist, Luke Glendening, Justin Abdelkader, Jakub Predators, who stayed a point behind first- and Nick Foligno also scored for the Blue Kindl and Gustav Nyquist scored for the Red place St. Louis in the Central Division. Brendan Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky made 36 saves - Wings, who played without injured center Gallagher and David Desharnais scored in the stopping the final 18 shots after the Ducks Pavel Datsyuk and defenseman Niklas second period for Montreal, which had won took a 3-2 lead. Kronwall. Right wing Erik Cole exited after the ARCADIA: In this Feb. 7, 2015, file photo, Dortmund (right) and jockey Martin Garcia, three in a row. With the point, the Canadiens Ryan Kesler, Andrew Cogliano and Matt first period with a lower-body injury. — AP hold off Firing Line and jockey Gary Stevens to win the Grade III $150,000 Robert B. became the first NHL team to reach 100 this Lewis Stakes horse race at Santa Anita Park. — AP season as they try to hold off second-place Firing Line moving up Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division. NHL results/standings CANUCKS 5, JETS 2 NEW YORK: Look out Dortmund, Firing Line starters based on points awarded for desig- Radim Vrbata had two goals and an assist, Minnesota 2, NY Islanders 1 (SO); Los Angeles 4, NY Rangers 2; St. Louis 3, Pittsburgh 2 (OT); may be running head to head with you again nated races. Also, Dubai Sky earned 50 points leading Vancouver to its third straight win. Columbus 5, Anaheim 3; Arizona 5, Detroit 4 (OT); Tampa Bay 4, Florida 3; Nashville 3, Montreal 2 on Derby Day. The 3-year-old colt who twice with a win in the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park Henrik Sedin had an empty-net goal and two (OT); Vancouver 5, Winnipeg 2. lost by a head to top-rated Dortmund in last weekend, and was a late nomination for assists for the Canucks. Chris Higgins and Western Conference Tampa Bay 46 21 7 242 191 99 California, soared to No. 4 in the AP’s latest the Triple Crown races at a cost of $6,000. Yannick Weber also scored, and Eddie Lack had Pacific Division Detroit 39 21 12 208 195 90 Run to the Roses’ Top 10 Kentucky Derby The race for points really heats up 26 saves. Vancouver, which also got two assists W L OTL GF GA PTS Ottawa 37 24 11 212 190 85 Anaheim 46 22 7 219 211 99 rankings after a record-setting romp in New Saturday with the Florida Derby, Louisiana from Daniel Sedin, is second in the Pacific Boston 36 25 12 193 190 84 Vancouver 43 26 4 211 195 90 Florida 33 26 14 180 201 80 Mexico. While the Land of Enchantment isn’t Derby and the UAE Derby. The point totals Division, four points up on Calgary. Winnipeg Calgary 40 27 6 214 191 86 the typical path to the Kentucky Derby, Firing double to 100 for a win, 40 for second, 20 for had won five in a row. Jiri Tlusty and Blake Los Angeles 36 23 14 196 182 86 Toronto 27 41 6 193 237 60 Line’s 14 1/4-length victory in Sunday’s third and 10 for fourth. Wheeler scored for the Jets, and Michael San Jose 35 30 8 201 206 78 Buffalo 20 46 7 138 245 47 Sunland Derby is still impressive. He ran 1 1/8 Upstart and Itsaknockout top the field for Hutchinson stopped 25 shots. Edmonton 20 40 13 173 251 53 Metropolitan Division miles in a track record 1:47.39. Plus, he’s rid- the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, where The Jets, are in control of the second wild Arizona 22 44 8 154 246 52 NY Rangers 46 19 7 219 167 99 den by three-time Kentucky Derby winner Upstart finished nearly 3 lengths ahead of card in the Western Conference. They are three Central Division NY Islanders 44 25 5 226 205 93 St. Louis 46 21 7 226 182 99 Pittsburgh 40 22 11 202 181 91 Gary Stevens. Itsaknockout in the Fountain of Youth but points back of Minnesota and two ahead of The Hall of Fame jockey says he’s in a great was DQ’d to second for interference. Upstart Nashville 45 21 8 211 178 98 Washington 39 24 10 212 180 88 Los Angeles, which has a game in hand. Chicago 44 22 6 206 163 94 Philadelphia 29 29 16 192 215 74 spot: “He did it all very professionally. Real is No. 5 this week; Itsaknockout is eighth. Minnesota 42 25 7 211 183 91 easy. He can do well at the next level.” International Star gets his chance for a New Jersey 31 31 11 164 186 73 WILD 2, ISLANDERS 1 Winnipeg 38 24 12 207 195 88 And there’s this: In 2009, Mine That Bird New Orleans prep sweep in the Louisiana Columbus 34 35 4 198 228 72 Zach Parise scored the equalizing goal mid- Dallas 35 28 10 228 233 80 ran fourth in the Sunland Derby before Derby after wins in the Lecomte and Risen Colorado 33 27 12 193 201 78 Carolina 26 36 10 165 199 62 pulling a huge upset in the Kentucky Derby at Star. In Dubai, the field for the UAE Derby has way through the third period, then added Eastern Conference Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one 50-1 odds. Firing Line earned 50 Derby quali- three horses nominated for Triple Crown another in the shootout to help Minnesota Atlantic Division point in the standings and are not included in fying points for the win, and now ranks sixth races - Mubtaahij, Maftool and My Johnny Be beat New York for its 10th straight road win. Montreal 46 20 8 195 162 100 the loss column (L). with 58 points. The Derby field is limited to 20 Good. — AP Parise’s shootout attempt hit the post to the