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US sprinters Tori Bowie (L), Veronica Campbell-Brown and Dutch Dafne Schippers (C) at the Museum of Islamic Art IAAF DIAMOND LEAGUE DOHA LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION As many as 11 reigning world champions lead a field of 80 global medallists who will embark on the road to achieve their 2016 Olympic aspirations, starting with today’s Diamond League meeting

By Satya Rath Qatar Athletics Federation president events. After equalling his own 9.91 for the fi rst time, an appearance she’s Doha Dahlan al-Hamad echoed Coe’s senti- Asian record in the 100m last month eagerly anticipating. “I’ve heard that ments: “We have set high standards in in Florida, the fastest timing in 100m it’s a very nice track, and it’s very nice organising important and prestigious this year, Femi Ogunode will be among to be able to compete against these very t’s that time of the year again, as it sporting events in previous years and the favourites in the men’s 200m. He is fast women,” Schippers said. has been for the last six years. we aim to continue at the highest pos- also the Asian record holder in the 200 One of those “fast women” she’ll be The opening leg of the IAAF sible level. As this is the Olympic year, at 19.97. “I’m calm,” Ogunode said. “I’m lining up against in the 100m is Jamai- Diamond League, a one-day ath- we are confi dent the Doha meeting will not anxious about competing here. I’m can Veronica Campbell-Brown, a two- Iletics competition featuring some of off er the athletes an ideal start to what in my home country. I trust in myself and time Olympic 200m champion who has the world’s top athletes, will enter its is going to be a really hectic season,” the believe in myself, so there is no pressure.” been among the world’s top sprinters seventh year when Doha kicks off the QAF chief, who is also one of the vice- His main challenge will come from since 2001. 14-meeting series’ traditional curtain- presidents of the IAAF, said. Panama’s Alonso Edward, Walter Dix of It will be a new challenge for Schip- raiser for the seventh successive year at Among the big names who would the US, and Ameer Webb, another rising pers though, who took the bronze in the Qatar Sports Club today. be kicking off their outdoor seasons in US star who clocked 19.91 last month. heptathlon at the 2013 World Champi- As many as 11 reigning world cham- Doha are reigning Olympic champi- In the 400m, all eyes will be on Qa- onships, before shifting her focus to the pions lead a fi eld of 38 past and current ons Christian Taylor, Aries Merritt and tar’s latest hot prospect, the 19-year- sprints. “That’s a nice new world for global champions and 80 global med- Ezekiel Kemboi. old Abdalelah Haroun who took silver me, a new challenge, but I am enjoying allists who will embark on the road to Taylor has been a familiar face in IAAF chief Sebastian Coe (left) with QAF president Dahlan al-Hamad at the World Indoor Championships in it,” said the Dutch athlete, who said she achieve their 2016 Olympic aspirations, the Qatar capital. “I love competing, I March. A prodigious talent, Haroun set might think of trying it out in long jump starting with the Diamond League love getting points, I love being on top Coe calls for ‘entertaining’ athletics an Asian U20 record last year clocking sometime in the coming years. meeting leading up to Rio. of podiums, so I try to do what I need 44.29, the eighth fastest performance The series will introduce a modifi - It will also be a big day for Qatar’s to do to put me in that place. Doha has thletics must become “a lot more entertaining” and follow the lead set by of the year. cation to its scoring system this year, medal hopefuls, with the country plan- always been a happy place for me, I like Abasketball and winter sports to attract younger fans, feels Sebastian Coe. The He’ll face a daunting line-up in his extending to six from three the number ning to send its biggest-ever contingent the crowd, I like the atmosphere, and I world athletics chief, speaking in Doha 24 hours ahead of the opening Diamond fi rst Doha main stage debut lead by of athletes who can earn points at each of 34 athletes to Rio, who will com- like the weather. My fi rst jump beyond League meeting of the season, said his sport needed to adapt and use new for- LaShawn Merritt, a former Olympic meeting. Additionally, in the throws pete in swimming, shooting, handball, 18 metres happened here in Doha, so it mats and engage with its audience more on social media. and two-time world champion. Mer- and horizontal jumps, only the top four equestrian and table tennis besides will always remain special. But it’s both “We have to make our sport a lot more entertaining and a lot more innovative ritt, last year’s World Championships athletes after three rounds will earn track and fi eld, where they have a real- a blessing and curse. Now the bar is set for younger people, that means the speed with which they watch events,” Coe silver medallist, illustrated impres- three additional attempts. istic chance of landing medals. really high,” said the American triple- said. “Our activity is athletics but our business is entertainment.” sive early season form with a 19.78 ca- This year’s Diamond League car- jumper, a two-time world champion He cited the example of winter sports, which have brought in several new reer best and world leading time in the ries added signifi cance, as it is also the who’ll be targeting a second successive competitions in recent years, including 10 new events at the 2014 Sochi Olym- 200m in Nassau last month. SCHEDULE Olympic year, and for the athletes, the Olympic title in Rio. pics. These included the luge relay, women’s ski jumping and snowboard parallel In the high jump, local hero Mutaz series is the perfect platform to gauge Taylor notched his second world ti- slalom. Coe also pointed to the NBA, which has attracted hundreds of millions of Barshim, the 2014 World Indoor cham- Women's Pole Vault (17:45) their strengths and weaknesses ahead tle last year with an 18.21m leap that fans on social media. pion, will command the spotlight in a Women's Shot Put (17:45) of the big event. elevated him to the No. 2 position all- The IAAF president also reaff irmed recent claims that changes could be made to fi eld that includes world champion Derek Women's Triple (18:10) IAAF president Sebastian Coe, who time. This year Taylor will take on Ted- speed up the format of the Olympics and World Championships. He also said athletics Drouin of Canada, China’s world silver Men's Discus Throw (18:30) took over the top job last year, stressed as dy Tamgho of France, another member should consider extending its season, which currently runs from May to September. medallist Zhang Guowei and Erik Kynard Men's High Jump (18:45) much while addressing the media yes- of the event’s exclusive 18-metre club. “We are never going to die, we are a strong sport, but I think we can be much of the US, the Olympic silver medallist. Men's 400m (19:04) terday. “Doha hosted the fi rst ever Dia- Merritt, the world record holder in better. I don’t think we have kept up with other sports in the way we access In the 800m race, two-time Asian Women's 100m (19:15) mond League meeting in 2010 and has 110m hurdles, continues his comeback younger people,” said Coe. champion Musaeb Abdulrahman Balla since been hosting the curtain-raiser of after undergoing a kidney transplant The Diamond League has achieved a lot since it was created in March 2009. It will be looking to kick off his outdoor Men's 1500m (19:25) the series with great success,” said the surgery last year just four days after is athletics’ most lucrative circuit with prize money totalling over 8 million dollars. It campaign with a fast time to make Women's 400m Hurdles (19:39) Englishman, who is a former decorated taking bronze at the World Champion- is also broadcast annually to over 120 countries. It’s a perfect vehicle to showcase amends for his unfortunate race at the Men's 3000m Steeplechase (19:50) middle distance runner himself. ships. He’ll face a strong challenge from how the sport can and must continue to evolve to attract new and wider audi- World Indoor Championships fi nal. Men's Triple Jump (19:50) “There’s a unique expectation and Jamaican Omar McLeod (12.97 personal ences. “Athletics, which was born in antiquity, has prospered over thousands of He’ll face former World Indoor cham- Women's Javelin Throw (19:55) excitement for this year’s meeting be- best), the hottest hurdler in the world years simply because of its ability to evolve,” Coe said. “We need to evolve too and pion Abubaker Kaki of Sudan. Men's 200m (20:09) cause, as the athletes know all too well, at the moment, who won the World make the sport more exciting and entertaining.” The women’s 100m includes the Women's 800m (20:21) the denouement of the season is the Ol- Indoor title in March and is the year’s Netherlands’ Dafne Schippers, who re- Men's 110m Hurdles (20:34) ympic Games. fastest at 13.08. After clocking 9.99 in cently took the 60m silver at the World Women's 3000m (20:45) Qatar has been a trusted partner of the 100m last month, the 22-year-old of the US, a former world champion and world champion in the 3,000m steeple- Indoors and is also the 200m world the IAAF for many years, they have the earned the distinction of being the only meeting record holder (12.95) who’ll be chase, leads a traditionally strong fi eld champion, and Jamaica’s Veronica *Men's 800m (Regional) 18:33 know-how and expertise of hosting big man to run under 10 seconds in the chasing a fourth Doha victory. which includes his Kenyan compatriot Campbell-Brown, the 200m Olympic *Men's 4x400m Relay (21:05) events, and I am sure this year’s meeting 100m and under 13 in the 110m hurdles. Meanwhile, Kemboi, a two-time Ol- Jairus Birech. gold medallist in Beijing. (*Not part of Diamond Race) will be no diff erent,” Coe added. The fi eld also includes David Oliver ympic gold medallist and four-time Qatari hopes are high in several Schippers will be competing in Doha Gulf Times 2 Friday, May 6, 2016 ATHLETICS

SPOTLIGHT It’s not how many times you fall, but how many times you get up: Barshim ‘It took me a long time to come good. I was bad for a really long time. I’d go to training and I was bad. The next day I’d come and I was even worse. The next day, still worse… I think I was just so stubborn and I was patient...’

Qatari High Jump icon shares London 2012 before his ground-breaking season in 2014 that saw him write himself into the record books and spark a social his captivating story ahead of the Rio Barshim: aiming for media trend #ThingsBarshimCouldJumpOver. gold at Rio He refl ects: “2014 was an amazing year. I got back to my Olympics in a new ‘Olympic Dreams’ coach and I was like, ‘Coach, we made history!’ And he was film series found exclusively on the like, ‘Yeah we made history. It’s done, you don’t need to prove anything to nobody now. You have done did it’.’ ’ Qatar Olympic Committee’s (QOC) However, his career has not been without its setbacks and a stress fracture to his back meant that he almost missed the social media channel (http://bit. London 2012 Games. ly/1QRUAxO). Excerpts… “It was a really big injury. I couldn’t even jog and it was just a month before the Olympics and it was really bad. I think I got By Sports Reporter the green light to compete like 10 days before the Olympics. I Doha wasn’t sure if I was going to go or not,” he recalls. Yet, the injury meant that Barshim savoured the Olympic experience all the more. “The moment I stepped on the fi eld, I thought, ‘If it’s my last jumping day, let it be. I’m going to make ver 10,000 athletes from 206 nations will descend on it.’ I gave it my all and I got a medal, so I’m really happy.” Rio de Janeiro for South America’s fi rst-ever Olympic It is that fi ghting spirit that has continued with Barshim Games. A global TV audience of 4.8 billion will share throughout his career and helped him again through the be- the raw emotion, intense drama and unrivalled pride ginning of this season when cramps during a crucial part of the asO athletes stretch themselves to the absolute limit of their abil- competition prevented him from retaining his World Indoor ity and showcase the very best of humankind in the true spirit title in Portland in March: “You’re going to get injured, things of Olympism. are going to go bad… It’s not how many times you fall but how Amongst them will be the biggest team that Qatar has ever many times you get up. Whatever happens, I make sure the next sent to an Olympic Games since their debut in Los Angeles day I’m coming to the track. I’m going to work for it.” 1984. Thirty-four athletes will compete across six sports–ath- Barshim’s full focus is now on Rio 2016 and chasing his life- letics, swimming, shooting, handball, equestrian and table long dream of winning the coveted Olympic gold. This will tennis. be no easy feat with the standard of high jump currently the As they fi nalise their preparations to compete in the most strongest it has ever been and multiple athletes capable of tak- important competition of their young lives, the QOC has ing gold and even breaking the world record. launched a #YallaQatar public support campaign across its so- However, in the style of a true champion, Barshim is not fo- cial media channels to encourage the whole nation to get be- cusing on the rest of the fi eld. “I think my biggest rival in Rio hind Team Qatar’s athletes and celebrate their incredible feats. is myself. It’s very easy to lose focus thinking about diff erent The ‘Olympic Dreams’ fi lm series will profi le each team and stuff around you. I don’t do that. I focus on myself, trying to athlete, and explore the highs, lows, motivations and dreams of beat myself, trying to improve myself every day. If I beat myself Qatar’s Olympians on their journeys to Rio. there, I think that’s it,” he says. Mutaz Barshim’s inspirational journey to becoming one of pened. I made a choice because I wanted to do the high jump.” the sports education, sports psychology, training camps, medi- Having experienced the magic of an Olympic Games once the world’s best athletes opens the fi lm series. The 25-year-old Barshim puts his patience down to the guidance of his father, cal care, coaches… I think it was a very big step for my career already, Barshim explains what makes the sporting event so graduate of Doha’s Aspire Academy for Sporting Excellence himself a successful athlete in race-walking who captured his when I came to Aspire. It was really, really helpful.” special: “The Olympics is the greatest sports event in the uni- holds the second highest jump in history at 2:43m, a mere two son’s interest in athletics by taking him with him to practice as It was the Qatar Athletics Federation’s appointment of Stan- verse. It doesn’t matter which nation you are from, which kind centimetres short of Cuban Javier Sotomayor’s 23-year-old a child. islaw Szczyrba as coach of the national team that took Barshim of sport you love or not, everybody’s engaged, everybody’s sup- world record. “My father always told me, ‘your time is coming, be patient, to the next level, improving his personal best from 2:14m to porting everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never seen sport in The 2014 World Indoor champion and London 2012 Olym- focus on what you’re doing. As long as you keep doing your best 2:31m in just one year between 2009 and 2010. your life. You’ve got a nation’s hope behind your back. It’s just pics bronze medallist will return to his second Olympic Games every day, it’s just a matter of time.’ And he was right. You can’t Whilst their relationship got off to a rocky start, they now great. I can’t wait for the Games to begin.” as one of the favourites for the title, which would make him Qa- rush greatness. If you want to be great, you have to take your share a unique bond that has led to a hugely successful partner- Barshim will be kicking off his outdoor season this evening in tar’s fi rst-ever Olympic champion. time. Only a few people know that,” Barshim says. ship: “My coach is a very crazy guy. I used to hate him but now I the IAAF Diamond League Doha at Qatar Sports Club, where he Despite all these achievements, Barshim’s potential was not It wasn’t long before Barshim’s raw talent was identifi ed and love him unconditionally. We have a very good relationship, like will go head to head with three Olympic and two world medal- clear when he fi rst started out in the sport: “It took me a long he was selected from thousands of other young, aspiring ath- father and son. We understand each other. I can just look him in lists in an incredibly strong competition. time to come good. I was bad for a really long time. I’d go to letes to attend the prestigious Aspire Academy at the age of 13, a the eye and understand what he wants. We’ve got to combine Fans can follow Barshim’s Olympic dreams on the Qatar Ol- training and I was bad. The next day I’d come and I was even factor that he feels played a crucial role in his later success. like one person in order to achieve greatness.” ympic Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels un- worse. The next day, still worse… I think I was just so stubborn “Aspire for me is like a second home. We were like family and And, together, greatness is what they have achieved with der the hashtag #YallaQatar. The Rio 2016 Olympic Games take and I was patient and I always came back no matter what hap- they taught us everything and provided everything we needed– Barshim collecting Qatar’s fourth Olympic bronze medal at place from August 5 to 21.

BOTTOMLINE FOCUS Cheruiyot, Ayana, Sum to Kemboi, Kiprop aim open outdoor season in Doha

By Sports Reporter for a winning start Doha

By Sports Reporter ivian Cheruiyot and Al- Doha Kenyan superstars Asbel Kiprop (L) maz Ayana rarely compete and Ezekiel Kemboi. against each other. After the Kenyan and the Ethiopian Vwere crowned world champions in sbel Kiprop and Ezekiel Kem- 2015, the former in the 10,000m and boi are among Kenya’s most the latter in the 5000m, an “event to famous sons in the world of watch” tag can surely be added to the track and fi eld. Doha Diamond League’s 3000m race AThe two experienced runners, who when the opening leg of the 14-meet- will open their outdoor season in Doha ing series kicks off at the Qatar Sports in the opening leg of the IAAF Diamond Club today. League, seemed thoroughly ready for So far Ayana holds a slender 2-1 the challenge. lead over Cheruiyot, with her latest Kemboi, who won 3,000m steeple- win occurring in Zurich’s Diamond chase gold medals at the 2004 Athens League fi nal last September. That and 2012 London Olympic Games, also race was a turning point in Ayana’s took the titles at the World Champi- career since she suff ered a knee injury onships in Berlin (2009), Daegu (2011), right afterwards that prevented her Moscow (2013) and Beijing (2015). from competing since. (L to R): Vivian Cheruiyot, Almaz Ayana and Eunice Sum He said he was pleased to start his Kiprop, who said he would take on pens. Some day, some time I may take a “After Zurich I felt the overload,” season in Doha. “I’ve been competing the season slowly, ruled out any at- look at breaking the world record. But Ayana said. “My left knee didn’t stop champion Eunice Sum, will be lead- “I’ll go to Rabat and then to the in Doha for the last few years and I’m tempts at the world record this year. that time isn’t now. Ever since the 2004 hurting me and spoiled my whole ing a very strong line-up in the Olympic trials. For sure I’ll run only yet to lose once. It’s now become almost “After the Doha race, my next event Games, I’ve been growing stronger, and preparation plan towards the 2016 800m. Experts predict a season with the 800m this year,” said Sum, while like my home race. I’ve a legacy here. If I will be the Eugene Diamond League younger,” he added with a smile. season. I didn’t do any races indoors extremely fast times with so many Ayana has yet to decide whether she make a strong start in Doha, then I feel I (May 27-28). I’m not going to attempt The two runners sounded gravely or outdoors yet, so Doha will be my great runners, including Francine will try the 10,000m as well. can take it all the way to the Rio Games. a world record time this season. This is concerned about doping scandals in- fi rst competitive race this year. I have Niyonsaba who stormed to the World “Technically I am ready to do both I want to do well,” he said yesterday an Olympic year and my only priority is volving Kenya and called for strict ac- not fully recovered, but I’ll try my Indoor title a couple of months ago in the 5000m and the 10,000m but all during an interactive session with the to win in Rio. That’s what every athlete tion. best and we’ll see how it’s going to Portland, and the re-emerged former depends on my physical condition,” media. will aim at,” he said. “I’ve always been running fast and end up.” world outdoor champion Caster Se- Ayana said. Kiprop, who won the 1,500m gold at Meanwhile, Kemboi dismissed world running clean. I’ve never felt the need Cheruiyot skipped the indoor sea- menya, who recently clocked 1:58.45, As far as Cheruiyot is concerned the 2008 Beijing Olympics and also tri- records as totally ‘unimportant’. “I like to put more petrol into my body. If you son as well and ran only once — a road the world’s fastest time this year, be- she will be waiting until the Kenyan umphed at the Daegu, Moscow and Bei- winning medals at major competi- use drugs, it’ll give you a lot of unwant- race in Portsmouth, UK — following ing in the frontline. Olympic trials to make up her mind jing Worlds, shared a similar sentiment. tions because it gives my career a better ed side-eff ects in the long run. Some- the Diamond League fi nal, but thank- “It’s true the 800m is going to be about the disciplines she will try in “Doha is the fi rst step in my build-up profi le. For an athlete, it’s always more times, I feel scared about the prospect fully the reason behind it wasn’t any tougher in 2016. Caster and Francine Rio. Until then, she will run both for the season. After this race, I’ll be important to win medals. I want to con- of Kenya being banned from interna- sort of injury. have gone really fast, Ajee Wilson as the 3000m and 5000m in meetings, able to know exactly what shape my tinue on top for as long as I can. I want tional competitions. I cannot accept “My training went well, but you’ll well. I am ready to run faster than my while her young son will be watch- body is in and where I’m at. I’m eagerly to be known as an outstanding athlete how a few cheaters can destroy the work never know what will happen in a personal best judging from the training ing his famous mother on TV. “I am looking forward to the race in Doha. The and a legend. World records aren’t im- done by so many good people. Hence I Diamond League race. I don’t have I’ve been doing, but there is no reason feeling blessed and happy to have a prevalent hot weather isn’t a problem portant, medals are,” he said. strongly support the idea of lifetime any particular plan for Doha. It all to change my usual tactics,” Sum said. son. He’s a lovely boy and he is now for me at all. In fact, I run better in hot “Sometimes, world records come to bans for drug cheats. Kenya has made depends on how the race develops,” Regarding their Olympic aspira- at an age that he understands his conditions,” said the soft-spoken ath- you without you planning it. At other doping a criminal off ence and that’s a she said. tions, all three were reluctant to re- mom is on TV,” said Cheruiyot with lete. times, you plan for it but it never hap- move in the right direction,” he said. Another Kenyan, the 2013 world veal much. a smile. Gulf Times Friday, May 6, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE City suff er as own goal hands semi-fi nal to Real Madrid Zidane’s Real will face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final for the second time in three years

Real Madrid players (from left) James Rodriguez, Mateo Kovacic, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Raphael Varane, Jese and Cristiano Ronaldo celebrate after their win over Manchester City in the Champions League semi-final in Madrid. (Reuters)

By Daniel Taylor in Madrid The key moment came in the fi rst half when as infl atable bananas were with the old one. In bar and post, and though Bale was announced he plays and 1.8 when he does not, but Sergio The Guardian Gareth Bale’s cross went in off the unfortunate total, there have been 33 injuries in Kompany’s as the scorer inside the stadium Uefa later ruled Ramos was denied a goal before half-time be- Fernando and, though the feeling persists that seven and a half years at the Etihad Stadium and that it should be classifi ed as an own goal. cause of an off side decision and the opportunity this is not a great Madrid side by any means, the latest one came with the worst timing of all. The luck was against City but Pellegrini must was still there for City if they could fi nd a way to erhaps the most harrowing part for they were still markedly better than their oppo- As Kompany limped off , the City fans in the have been startled about the way his players get behind the opposition defence. Manchester City amid all the regrets nents and worthy winners bearing in mind the most vertiginous parts of the ground must have were standing off their opponents for long parts With that in mind, it was perplexing that they and raw disappointment is the way large paucity of chances for City over the two games. realised the challenge their team were facing had of the opening half and the fact it was not un- did not always attack with conviction. Navas parts of this game seemed to pass them Agüero did not manage a single shot on target, become even more treacherous. Yet it was still til its fi nal stages, when Fernandinho skimmed was often on the edges of the game – a place he Pby. Manuel Pellegrini’s team came up short in for the fi fth Champions League tie in a row. strange to see how the setback knocked City out a shot against the outside of the post, that his has come to know far too well – while Touré was most areas but it was their lack of punch that Yaya Touré and Jesús Navas were both sub- of their early rhythm. team managed a noteworthy attempt at the Ma- off the pace during his hour on the pitch. was most startling and the way some of their stituted after ineff ectual displays and it was an- Pellegrini’s team had begun the game confi - drid goal. David Silva’s absence always aff ects Modric had a chance to make it 2-0 early players failed them on the big occasion. other night that raises questions about Vincent dently but the deterioration was marked for a City’s cohesion and Pellegrini could have been in the second half but, perhaps suspecting he Pellegrini had made the point beforehand Kompany’s vulnerabilities. good quarter of an hour after Kompany’s depar- forgiven at that stage for wanting more from his was off side, could not apply the necessary n-fi that if his team were to see off Real Madrid it was The giant banner unveiled before kick-off on ture and it took some time before City managed creative players. ish. Soon afterwards, Ronaldo had a couple of imperative for his star performers to rise to the the fondo sur, where Madrid’s most boisterous to shake their heads clear. Equally, City always knew from the outset chances, fi rst with his head and then on his right challenge, but it turned out to be a hugely frus- fans congregate, read: “Juntos No Hay Imposi- They were punished in the 21st minute of this that this was a night when they had to score and, foot, but Joe Hart clutched the ball both times trating night for Sergio Agüero, Kevin De Bruyne bles” (translation: “Together Nothing is Impos- second leg when Dani Carvajal advanced from on that front, nothing had changed. An equal- and the Madrid crowd, desperate for a second and just about everybody else in garish yellow. sible”). Pellegrini had said something similar his full-back position and Bale was in space, iser would have dramatically changed the com- goal, shrieked with frustration. City barely threatened in an attacking sense, about his own team but what he had not antici- waiting for the pass. plexion and, as long as that was possible, that Pellegrini brought on Raheem Sterling and entirely in keeping with the fi rst leg in Man- pated was that Kompany’s involvement would Cutting in from the right, Bale’s intention knowledge was never far from the minds of the Kelechi but it made little diff erence and, barring chester, and their passive state went against last only 10 minutes. The Belgian is a fi ne cap- seemed to be to clip a cross to the far post but home crowd. one long-range shot from Agüero, there was everything Pellegrini likes to see from his team. tain and organiser but, unfortunately for a club the ball took a nick off Fernando and that change Cristiano Ronaldo’s return automatically nothing particularly noble about the way City Instead Milan can brace itself for an invasion of with City’s ambitions, his injuries are becom- to the trajectory was decisive. The ball spun over gave Madrid a more threatening look, bearing in left the party. They simply put on their coats and Madridistas on 28 May. ing as synonymous with the modern-day City Hart, on its way just beneath the point of cross- mind the team score an average 2.9 goals when showed themselves to the door.

SPOTLIGHT Meek Man City cry out Ronaldo hails Zidane for reaching fi nal for Guardiola guidance Madrid: Manchester City’s itself on the pitch, too, as lone AFP meek exit from the Champions striker Sergio Aguero, starved Madrid League following 1-0 semi-final of any kind of service, dropped second leg defeat by Real Ma- deeper and deeper in search of drid suggested that incoming the ball. City’s top scorer this ristiano Ronaldo lauded the im- head coach Pep Guardiola can- season with 28 goals, the Ar- pact made by Real Madrid boss not arrive quickly enough. gentina international mustered Zinedine Zidane as the French- While Fernando’s first-half just two shots—both off -tar- man led the Spanish giants into own goal at the Bernabeu was get—during the tie and has now theC Champions League fi nal with a 1-0 all that separated the teams, gone five Champions League win over Manchester City on Wednesday. City barely laid a glove on Zin- games without registering an Brazilian midfi elder Fernando’s fi rst-half edine Zidane’s men, registering eff ort on target. own goal was the only diff erence between just two shots on target over Record signing Kevin De the sides over two legs as Real set up a re- the 180 minutes of the tie. Bruyne, inspiration behind the peat of the 2014 fi nal against local rivals Manuel Pellegrini, who quarter-final victory over Paris Atletico Madrid in Milan on May 28. Guardiola will replace, argued Saint-Germain, struggled to Zidane replaced the sacked Rafael Be- that there had been nothing influence proceedings after nitez with Madrid in crisis in January, but between the sides, but players, being moved to the left flank has sparked just Real’s second run to the fans and pundits were united in to accommodate Yaya Toure, fi nal in the 14 years since he scored the expressing their frustration. whose lumbering performance winning goal against Bayer Leverkusen City went “out with a whim- was described as “woeful” by for Real in 2002. per”, according to the back- The Daily Telegraph. “Zidane is doing a great job,” said Ron- page headline in The Times, Having fallen foul of Guardio- aldo. “I admire him as a coach and a per- while the Daily Mail’s Martin la during his time at Barcelona, son, I hope he continues in the job. We’ve Samuel said that the team were the hulking Ivorian is expected always been behind Zidane because he is “sleepwalking” under Pellegrini. to form part of a close-season a humble person who likes to listen, and Analysing the match for BT clear-out at the Etihad Stadium. that always makes things easier.” Sport, the former Manchester Raheem Sterling, City’s other Ronaldo made his return after a three- United defender Rio Ferdinand big-money attacking signing game absence due to a thigh injury, but said: “If you’re going to go out, for this season, along with De was unable to match his own record of you want to go out all guns Bruyne, was given only half 17 Champions League goals in a single blazing, fighting. You want to an hour to make a diff erence season in a tight game short on clear-cut think, ‘We’ve given it every- and when he won a free-kick chances. “It was a complete game, the thing we’ve got, we’ve thrown in a promising position wide team played really well and we could have the kitchen sink at it.’ I don’t on the left, De Bruyne wasted fi nished them off with a second goal -- think they’ll be able to go home it by going for goal. But at 1-0 is a tight scoreline but it’s enough,” Real Madrid’s coach Zinedine Zidane (right) looks on as defender Marcelo (second right) vies for the ball with Manchester or go into the changing room least in Aguero, De Bruyne, added Ronaldo. City’s forward Sergio Aguero (left) and defender Bacary Sagna during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg at and say that. And that’s the Sterling and the injured David Zidane admitted he could bask in some the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, on Wednesday. (AFP) disappointing thing.” Silva, Guardiola possesses the of the glory for Real’s resurgence of 19 City goalkeeper Joe Hart nimbleness of thought and foot wins in his 24 games in charge, but re- at the end of the season having failed to “Neither of the two teams deserved to have the potential to go all the way under chose his words more carefully, in attack upon which he has served his praise for the players. “I am get them to a fi nal in his three seasons in win the game,” said Pellegrini. “I don’t Guardiola. “I think it is a special season but the annoyance was visible built success with Barcelona the coach, so I am doing something right charge. think we saw a superior Madrid, we because we have reached the semis,” he on his face during a televised and Bayern Munich. There is for sure, but it is not just me,” said the The Chilean lamented his side’s luck pressed them, but with the ball we lacked added. post-match interview. also work for Guardiola to do in Frenchman. “It is a question of all the as Gareth Bale’s intended cross defl ected the creativity to do damage. There was “We are not happy, but I don’t think “We just didn’t have that lit- defence, particularly as captain people working with me and the most off Fernando and looped over the help- lot of work in the 180 minutes, but very we deserved to compete the fi nal. They tle bit more,” said the England Vincent Kompany’s physical important people are the players. It is less Joe Hart for the only goal of the tie. little football.” had that bit of luck. In the Champions goalkeeper. “Did we do enough vulnerability—he succumbed to them that allow you to win in football.” However, Pellegrini admitted City hadn’t However, Pellegrini defended his League it is a step more, but I think this to win the game? I don’t know.” the 33rd injury of his eight-year By contrast, City coach Manuel Pel- created nearly enough to merit a place in record having taken City to the last four team must always try to play the fi nal in Frustration manifested City spell. legrini will give way to Pep Guardiola the fi nal. for the fi rst time and believes they will the next years.” Gulf Times 4 Friday, May 6, 2016 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Mega-bucks to Leicester to off er mega-fl ops as Mahrez new deal but Chinese teams crash out AFP shake-up last month, report- Shanghai edly because of their struggles in Asia. he could still leave Footballing fortunes are now hina’s world-leading closely watched by China’s rich transfer splurge has and powerful after President Xi PFA Player of the Year’s agent says talks over new contract will begin soon left two teams with Jinping launched a drive to turn red faces after hold- the sleeping giant into a world ersC Guangzhou Evergrande and soccer power. By Ed Aarons The Guardian Jiangsu Suning crashed out of Evergrande have won the the AFC Champions League Champions League twice in the group stage. past three years, plus fi ve con- eicester will open talks over a new Just months after they repeat- secutive Chinese league titles, contract for Riyad Mahrez in the edly smashed Asia’s transfer but defeats to Sydney FC and next couple of weeks in a bid to record to hire top players, the Urawa Red Diamonds sealed ward off interest for the PFA Play- two sides fl opped in the regional their fate. “When you look at Ler of the Year, although his agent has ad- competition, a route to a coveted individuals, obviously they (Ev- mitted there is a “50/50 chance” he could FIFA Club World Cup spot. ergrande) have the better side,” leave this summer. Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Ever- Urawa coach Mihailo Petrovic Mahrez, who joined Leicester in grande were particularly poor said last month. “But I think 2014 from French side Le Havre for just as they were eliminated with we gained confi dence by beat- £375,000, has attracted widespread at- a game to spare. Both Chinese ing this Chinese giant because it tention from clubs in England and over- clubs exited with just two wins proves that money isn’t every- seas after his performances in their from their six group games. thing in football.” remarkable title-winning season. The Al- Evergrande’s injury-hit However, the Asian competi- gerian international has directly contrib- striker Jackson Martinez has tion is not over for Chinese clubs uted to 28 of the goals scored by Claudio been unable to fi ll the shoes of after Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Ranieri’s side this season and been linked the prolifi c Elkeson—now with Shanghai SIPG fi nished top of with moves to Barcelona, Tottenham and Shanghai SIPG—since arriving Group G to set up a last-16 clash Manchester United. from Atletico Madrid. with FC Tokyo. Mahrez still has three years of the con- And on Wednesday, a Jiangsu Shandong Luneng, led by tract he signed last August to run, which line-up featuring Asia’s record former Brazil coach Mano Men- is believed to be worth around £35,000 signing Alex Teixeira, ex-Chel- ezes, are also into the knock-out a week. Talks with Leicester over a new sea midfi elder Ramires and Jo, stages where they face a diffi cult deal are scheduled to begin soon, with who has played for Manchester home-and-away assignment the club prepared to at least double that City and Brazil, was held 2-2 by against Sydney FC. fi gure for a player who also fi nished sec- Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to join Graham Arnold’s Sydney ond behind team-mate Jamie Vardy in the Evergrande on the sidelines. topped a tough Group H in what Football Writers’ Association Footballer The big-spending clubs’ fail- has been an encouraging cam- of the Year. Riyad Mahrez, who joined Leicester in 2014 ure has particular resonance this paign for Australian teams, with However, when asked whether his cli- from French side Le Havre for just £375,000, week after little Leicester City Melbourne Victory also into the ent could leave the King Power this sum- has attracted widespread attention from clubs stunned the glamour sides of eliminators. mer, Mahrez’s agent Kamel Bengougam in England and overseas. (Reuters) English football to claim an in- “If we continue to play the said: “Yes of course there is a possibil- credible Premier League title. way we’re playing—especially ity. When you have been playing the way In January and February, against the top teams in Asia that Riyad has this season it is bound to attract Chinese teams broke the Asian we’ve played against—we can attention. He is very happy with Leices- moment whether he stays or goes.” bigger clubs if they leave but given the in- Mahrez has previously indicated he transfer record four times in a now match it with anyone,” Syd- ter and of course it has been a fantastic Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Leices- terest of some of European heavyweights is happy to stay at Leicester but he has sudden spending spree which ney midfi elder Brandon O’Neill season. They will play in the Champions ter’s vice-chairman, said earlier this week in Mahrez and midfi elder N’Golo Kanté, been watched several times this season by outstripped even the mega-rich told the Sydney Morning Herald. League next year as well so he would be that they are determined not to allow any it could be diffi cult to resist. scouts from Barça. English Premier League. Former Asian champions Al happy to stay. of their star players to leave as they plan Kanté is understood to have a £19.6m “We have interest from the UK and Recriminations are likely to Hilal, Al Ain and Jeonbuk are “But at his age if the opportunity comes for the club’s fi rst season in the Champi- release clause in his contract and has been overseas,” admitted Bengougam. “We will be fi erce, especially at Chinese also through to the two-legged to play for a big team then we would have ons League. In February, Ranieri warned linked with Chelsea, Arsenal and Paris have to see what develops over the next champions Evergrande who round of 16, which gets under to think about it. I’d say it’s 50/50 at the that they could end up “carrying bags” at Saint-Germain in the past. few weeks.” installed a new president in a way on May 17.

EPL ROUND-UP Everton’s Martinez expecting no gift s at Ranieri rose from Roman ruins to become Leicester party London: Everton do not expect Leicester City to ease off for ‘King of England’, says his mother tomorrow’s clash at the King Power Stadium despite the fixture coming six days after the Foxes were confirmed as Premier League Reuters champions, manager Roberto Martinez has said. Rome Leicester clinched the English league title for the first time in their 132-year history on Monday when second-placed Tottenham Hotspur drew at Chelsea, leaving them seven points behind the eicester City’s unexpected Pre- leaders with only two games left to play. mier League title triumph has Claudio Ranieri’s men will be presented with the Premier League helped Claudio Ranieri redis- trophy after tomorrow’s game regardless of the result. “I don’t cover himself as a manager after think in a 90 minute game where the stadium will be surrounded Lhis failed spell at AS Roma, the Italian’s in an historic environment, I’m sure that can only be positive for mother, Renata Ranieri has said. the home team,” Martinez told reporters yesterday. Ranieri spent 18 months at the Ital- “They have been a real inspiration in terms of a winning team, ian side but left in 2011 after he fell out and not just in football, throughout sport... has been the real fairy- with club offi cials. The 64-year-old then tale of football and sport in general in the modern game.” had unsuccessful spells at Inter Milan, Martinez has come under increasing pressure with a number of French side Monaco and the Greek na- supporters remaining inside Goodison Park after Saturday’s 2-1 win tional team prior to joining Leicester in over Bournemouth to unfurl banners calling for the Spaniard to July. Renata believes his success in Eng- end his three-year tenure. land has allowed her son to fi nally put Everton exited the FA Cup and League Cup in the semi-finals this that disappointment behind him. season and Martinez felt their woeful home form in the league, “I have to admit, I did not expect him with eight of their 11 losses coming at Goodison Park, has cost to win with Leicester. He found these the Merseyside club. Martinez also urged his side to maintain the players... they are good lads. He told me “integrity of the league” despite the club having secured their they always trained as real professionals,” top-flight status for next season and the European spots being Renata said in an interview with the Ital- out of reach. “Every position from now until the end of the season ian newspaper La Repubblica. Leicester City’s Premier League winning manager Claudio Ranieri spent 18 months at AS Roma but left in 2011 after he fell out with matters, it has got huge financial implications, a huge role in the “Naturally it wasn’t a big squad full club off icials. The 64-year-old then had unsuccessful spells at Inter Milan, French side Monaco and the Greek national team. (AFP) integrity of the league,” the 42-year-old said. of champions. I know that he’s happy in “Our home form hasn’t been good enough and what we don’t England, they always treated him per- and, in a statement, the north-east side returned to fi tness after a fi ve-month Iwobi “has repaid him well”. want is going into the last game that we have at home and we fectly. He rediscovered himself there. said that as they were “almost certainly injury layoff , handing manager Arsene don’t finish strong.” “In my view, at Roma he was not treat- not going to feature in the Magpies’ re- Wenger a late-season boost before Sun- ‘SUNDERLAND MUST HOLD THEIR Everton duo Gareth Barry and Seamus Coleman had a small ed with respect. In the family we are all maining games of the 2015/16 season, a day’s away clash with Manchester City. NERVE TO AVOID RELEGATION’ chance of featuring against the Foxes, while winger Gerard Deu- Giallorossi fans. We were disappointed settlement was agreed earlier this week, The 31-year-old Spain international Midfi elder Sebastian Larsson has told lofeu was likely to miss the remainder of the campaign through with the way things ended... Now he’s allowing them to fi nd new clubs”. played an hour for the club’s under-21s his Sunderland team that it must hold its injury, Martinez confirmed. 11th-placed Everton face relegation- ‘King of England’, imagine that.” Obertan, aged 27, joined Newcastle against Blackburn Rovers this week, and nerve to avoid relegation. threatened sides Sunderland and Norwich City after tomorrow’s Renata also said her son was careful to from Manchester United in August 2011. could return to fi rst-team action for the Sunderland are third from bottom in trip to Leicester. take care of his dietary needs in the weeks The winger made 77 appearances in all fi rst time since injuring his knee in De- the Premier League table ahead of Nor- leading up to the East Midlands club competitions, scoring three goals, but cember. wich City and behind Newcastle United, winning their fi rst English league title. has not featured for the fi rst team since Arsenal are third in the Premier in 17th place, by a single point. “My son needs to stay fi t, so he almost last September. League, three points above City, and will Sunderland, known as the Black Cats, never opts for a ‘primo’ (the plate of pas- Marveaux, 30, also arrived on Tyne- guarantee themselves an 18th successive are on a three-game unbeaten run in the ta that traditionally kicks off an Italian side before the start of the 2011/12 sea- Champions League campaign if they win. league and tomorrow will host Chelsea, meal),” the 96-year-old said. son, from French top division Ligue Un “I would like to help the fi rst team in ninth place in the Premier League, “Instead, he has green beans or a sal- side Rennes. But the midfi elder spent at the weekend against Manchester before ending their season with games ad... Before leaving, he ate strawberries much of his time with Newcastle sideline City,” Cazorla told the club’s website. against Everton and Watford. with lemon and sugar” by injury and made just 57 appearances in “(Wenger) has the decision, but I will try “There are three games left and luck- Leicester host 11th-placed Everton in nearly fi ve years, scoring two goals. to play.” ily enough it is in our own hands, but we the league at the King Power Stadium Marveaux spent the 2014/15 campaign Cazorla’s absence has given midfi elder need to collect as many points as pos- tomorrow, after which they will be pre- on loan at Ligue Un club Guingamp and Alex Iwobi an extended run in the fi rst sible to make sure it remains that way,” sented with the Premier League trophy. last played for Newcastle in March 2014. team, and the youngster has caught the the 31-year-old Larsson told the club’s The Magpies are currently one point eye with a series of sparkling displays. website. Larsson, who has played a key above the relegation zone and still not Midfi elder Jack Wilshere, who has role in helping serial strugglers Sunder- NEWCASTLE RELEASE FRENCH DUO safe from the drop. Their battle to avoid made only one appearance this season land avoid the drop in previous seasons, OBERTAN AND MARVEAUX demotion to the second-tier Champion- after fracturing his left tibia, praised said their past experience gives them an English Premier League strugglers New- ship continues away to already-relegated Wenger for the way he had nurtured Iwo- edge over the other teams in and around castle United said yesterday that French Aston Villa tomorrow. bi, who turned 20 two days ago. the drop zone. duo Gabriel Obertan and Sylvain Mar- “I think the boss has done really well “We’ve done it (beaten the big teams) Everton manager Roberto Martinez has come under increasing veaux have left St James’ Park by “mutual CAZORLA HANDS WENGER FITNESS with him because he brought him in, when we’ve really had to in previous sea- pressure with a number of supporters unfurlling banners calling consent”. Both players’ contracts were BOOST BEFORE MAN CITY TRIP brought him out and then put him into sons. It’s the same again and we have to for the Spaniard to end his three-year tenure. due to expire at the end of the season Arsenal midfi elder Santi Cazorla has the team,” Wilshere said, adding that go for the three points,” he added. Gulf Times Friday, May 6, 2016 5 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT PREVIEW Barcelona intent on avoiding history ‘Ibra’ could return repeating itself

Reuters mind, but Espanyol are a diffi - Barcelona cult team who need points and they play these games with a lot of intensity,” Alba said on to AC Milan: agent hen Barcelona host Wednesday at a sponsor’s event. local rivals Espan- “They’ll want to win, but yol tomorrow hop- so do we. We are at home and ‘Ibra is a player who is capable of some amazing tricks’ ing to edge closer we’re not approaching this game toW the La Liga title, many may be scared about a ‘Tamudazo’. haunted by Raul Tamudo’s 89th We’ll have our fans behind us AFP minute equaliser which wrecked and we’ll be really up for it, and Paris their title bid in 2006/07. I’m certain we’ll deliver in the Just as they will do tomorrow, game.” Barca will be without Espanyol visited the Nou Camp goalkeeper Claudio Bravo due to aris Saint-Germain’s Zlatan Ib- in the penultimate weekend. a calf injury, allowing Marc An- rahimovic could consider a re- Barcelona were on course to dre ter Stegen, who usually only turn to AC Milan in Serie A, ac- go into the fi nal game of the plays in cup competitions, to see cording to the Sweden striker’s season on top after taking a 2-1 out the league campaign. Pagent in a report yesterday. lead. But Tamudo struck what Barca’s title rivals Atletico Ibrahimovic is set to leave the French is now infamously known as the and Real must put the eupho- champions at the end of the season, with ‘Tamudazo’, handing the title to ria of reaching the Champions reports claiming the 34-goal striker could Real Madrid. League fi nal to one side to en- be headed for England’s Premier League. Barca are top of La Liga on sure they pounce on any Barce- Ibrahimovic’s agent Mino Raiola told 85 points due to their supe- lona slip up. men’s magazine GQ Italia that the Swede rior head-to-head record with Atletico travel to already- could return to Italy where he also starred second-paced Atletico Madrid, relegated Levante after knock- for Juventus and Inter Milan. also on 85, while Real are third ing Bayern Munich out on away Extracts appear on gazzetta.it, which with 84. goals on Tuesday. quoted Raiola as saying: “Ibra could re- Espanyol are 14th with 40 Levante stunned Diego Sime- turn to Italy, to Milan.” points. Luis Enrique’s Barca one’s Atletico by winning 1-0 In what is seen as a veiled reference have won their last three games in May 2014, although Atletico to recent reports linking Ibrahimovic to after relinquishing their nine- eventually won the title, but the a 75mn euros-per-season deal in China, point lead over Atletico follow- league’s bottom club now have Raiola, in direct extracts from the maga- ing three straight defeats. But just their pride to play for after zine interview, added: “Ibra is a player another slip up against Espan- being condemned to the Segun- who is capable of some amazing tricks. yol, who held Barca to a goalless da Division by last Monday’s 3-1 Even turning down many millions to go draw in back in January, could defeat at Malaga. to AC Milan. He has still not decided.” prove costly. Real Madrid, which secured Raiola also represents Juventus mid- Defender Jordi Alba said their place in the Champions fi elder Paul Pogba and Liverpool’s on- thoughts of events in 2007 are League fi nal, by edging past loan AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli. far from his mind, but admit- Manchester City 1-0 on aggre- He dismissed claims highly-rated Pog- ted Espanyol would be stubborn gate, host Valencia, who have a ba would be tempted away from recently- opponents. habit of interrupting Real’s title crowned champions Juve by Chelsea this “A ‘Tamudazo’ isn’t on my bids in recent seasons. summer, but added: “At least not right now.” And he believes Balotelli, who has yet BUNDESLIGA to resurrect his rollercoaster career at fallen Italian giants Milan, would have been a match for Barcelona icon Lionel Messi if he only had the same attitude to Bayern Munich his career as Ibrahimovic. Balotelli has only recently returned to competition amid an injury-hit cam- aim to secure title paign but although earning plaudits for a string of composed performances, the DPA chance of slipping into the bottom former World Cup striker is set to be ex- Berlin three is slim. cluded from Italy’s Euro 2016 squad by Stuttgart host Mainz and coach Antonio Conte later this month. want to end a poor run of results, “If he (Balotelli) had the same attitude ayern Munich fell ago- which culminated in Monday’s as Ibrahimovic, Messi would have had nizingly short in their 6-2 thrashing at Werder Bremen, a few less Ballon d’Or awards,” he sug- bid for Champions when they welcome the European gested. League glory but tomor- hopefuls who are currently sev- Raiola’s diverse portfolio of players rowB they can make history by enth. means he is regarded as an authority by securing the Bundesliga title for That win for Bremen lifted many watchers of the sport, while con- the fourth time in a row. them from 17th to outright safety sidered a pariah by several top coaches Coach Pep Guardiola is pre- in 15th, at least for the time being, and managers—among whom Sir Alex paring to leave the club at the and they can take another step to- Ferguson, who has crossed verbal swords season’s end and despite the dis- wards survival at Cologne. with the multilingual Dutch agent before appointment of their semi-fi nal “We still fi nd ourselves in a rel- the Scot’s retirement from football. loss to Atletico Madrid in Europe, egation battle and we are not safe And he rated the clubs in Italy’s Serie Bayern will want to end his reign yet even though we did improve A,the majority of whom do not own their on a high. our situation,” captain Clemens own stadiums, as bottom of the class. A third domestic champion- Fritz said. “In Italy, a club owner doesn’t own an- ship under his leadership can be Promoted Darmstadt have ything. All he has is 60 salaries to pay. If clinched with a win at mid table struggled since the turn of the the team wins, they’re heroes and if they Ingolstadt or if Borussia Dort- year and now sit 14th, two points lose they’re to be hung out to dry,” said mund, currently fi ve points be- above Frankfurt. They travel to Raiola. hind, fail to win their penultimate stuttering Hertha Berlin who have “It’s the fans who run things.” fi xture away to relegation-threat- slipped to fi fth and want to get Despite former run-ins with Ferguson, ened Eintracht Frankfurt. their Champions League chal- especially following Pogba’s decision to “We have to lick our wounds .... lenge back on track. walk away from Old Traff ord to Juventus then go on against Ingolstadt on Hoff enheim, meanwhile, have on a free transfer, Raiola paid tribute to Saturday,” Bayern chairman Karl- a chance to complete a brilliant the “managerial” and “strategic” skills of Heinz Rummenigge said while turnaround under young coach Manchester United’s owners the Glazer captain Philipp Lahm added: “We Julian Nagelsmann by securing family. can still fi nish the season with the safety with a win at already rel- “The Glazers at Manchester United (league and cup) double.” egated Hanover. didn’t put one pound into the club, but Dortmund are in good form Hamburg can also make them- they brought in managerial skills and having crushed Wolfsburg 5-1 last selves realistically secure with a strategy,” he said. week but though Frankfurt are home point against Wolfsburg, “They inherited a team in the abyss and currently 16th in the relegation who have retreated to a training now they have their heads well above wa- play-off berth, they have boosted camp in Chiemgau in a bid to halt ter.” Paris St Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic. their chances of survival with their slide down the table to 10th. consecutive wins. “The conditions we have here “We have everything in our are ideal, in order to prepare for BOTTOMLINE own hands again,” Eintracht coach the season run-in,” sporting di- Niko Kovac said. “We now just rector Klaus Allofs said. have to look at ourselves and con- Augsburg, in 12th, travel to take centrate on our work.” on sixth-placed Schalke with the Frankfurt are part of an al- hosts still dreaming of fourth and I am The Thinkerman now, says Leicester's Ranieri mighty relegation scramble which a spot in the Champions League goes from second-bottom VfB play-off s. They are just one point Reuters when second-placed Tottenham Hot- Stuttgart all the way up to 11th- behind Borussia Moenchenglad- London spur drew at Chelsea on Monday, since placed SV Hamburg, even if their bach in the race. when the provincial city has been in party mode. laudio Ranieri re-named himself Ranieri confi rmed that Italian opera The Thinkerman on Thursday as singer Andrea Bocelli would serenade the Tottenham closing in on Wembley move he refl ected on masterminding champions on Saturday when they re- Leicester City’s improbable rise ceive the trophy after their match against fromC relegation candidates to Premier Everton. London: Tottenham Hotspur are a “long way” towards reaching League champions. “I would like to go around the city an agreement that will allow them to play home games at Wem- The 64-year-old Italian received a maybe with the black glasses to see what bley Stadium in 2017/18, Football Association chairman Greg standing ovation from assembled media happens because it is amazing,” Ranieri Dyke said yesterday. as he appeared for his fi rst news confer- said of the mood in the East Midlands. Dyke also suggested Spurs, whose White Hart Lane home in ence since his intrepid Foxes were con- “(Bocelli) called me and he was so hap- north London is just 13 miles (21 kilometres) from Wembley, fi rmed as champions of England for the py. He said he would like to set something could play their Champions League matches next season at Eng- fi rst time in their history. up.” land’s national stadium, with the club having already qualified for Sipping a glass of bubbly along with Ranieri said he was at home making the tournament. the press pack, Ranieri thanked “karma” dinner when events unfolded at Stamford Tottenham are building a £400 million ($579 million, 508 million for delivering his fi rst major league title Bridge on Monday. euros) 61,000-capacity ground adjacent to White Hart Lane and and said he had felt ‘something special’ “I watched the match. Half-time I hope to move into the new ground at the start of the 2018/19 since the start of a season that will enter Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri . made dinner. Relaxed until the second season. British sporting folklore. (Chelsea) goal. After, I jump!” he said. They could play Champions League games at Wembley next “I think it’s karma because I’ve fought good. I am the Thinkerman, not Tink- relying on a settled formation. “It was a little more quiet than (Jamie season as White Hart Lane’s capacity is set to be reduced from hard to achieve this,” the much-trav- erman,” he added in reference to the old Leicester have used only 18 players in Vardy’s) house.” its current maximum of 36,284 in order to help building work on elled Ranieri, whose managerial career nickname he earned during his days in their starting lineups this season, two Despite all the hullabaloo, Ranieri said the new stadium. includes stints at Napoli, Fiorentina, charge of Chelsea when squad rotation fewer than second-placed Spurs while it would be largely business as usual once “We are certainly in discussion with Spurs that they should come Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Roma and Mo- was one of his traits. seven of his players have started 32 or the whistle blows on Saturday. in for the full season when they’re rebuilding their stadium,” naco, said. This season Ranieri has out-smarted more games. “I’m already focussed on the football,” Dyke told Sky Sports News. “Never I could imagine this, but it’s all his rivals, sticking by his tactics and Leicester were assured of the title he said. Gulf Times 6 Friday, May 6, 2016 SPORT

NBA FOCUS Heat’s Bosh out Cavs take long-range for rest of playoff s

AFP In March, Bosh issued a state- Los Angeles ment saying his condition this season had “never been life threat- ening” and he was confi dent he eteran big man Chris would return to the court. approach to win big Bosh (pictured), re- The Heat, however, have been portedly in a standoff reluctant to put him back on the with the Miami Heat fl oor, according to some reports Vover his health, won’t return for because Bosh was taking blood the Heat in this NBA post-sea- thinners to combat the clots. son, the player and team said on Last week Bosh posted a Snap- Wednesday. chat video of himself shooting against Hawks “The Miami Heat and Chris three-pointers with the caption Bosh announce that Chris will not “I still got it”. be playing in the remainder of the His wife, Adrienne Bosh, put With a 2-0 lead, Cavaliers travel to Atlanta for today's Game Three 2016 NBA Playoff s,” a joint state- up several Twitter posts with the ment from player and club said. hashtag “BringBoshBack”. “The Heat, Chris, the doc- Several US media outlets re- tors and medical team have been ported Bosh had asked the NBA working together throughout Players’ Association to inter- this process and will continue to vene on his behalf. He travelled do so to return Chris to playing to Toronto, separately from his basketball as soon as possible.” team-mates, and was on hand Bosh hasn’t played since Feb- when they opened their Eastern ruary 9 due to a blood clots in his Conference semi-fi nal series calf. against the Raptors with a vic- He missed the second half of the tory. 2014-15 season due to blood clots, Bosh is expected to remain with a clot migrating to his lungs with the team throughout the and forcing him into a hospital stay. rest of the playoff s.

National Football League roundup

Falcons agree terms with Keanu Neal The Atlanta Falcons and first-round safety Keanu Neal agreed to terms on a contract Wednesday. Neal, the 17th overall selection out of Florida, is the only first- round pick of the 2016 NFL Draft class so far to agree to terms on his contract. Neal, who turns 21 in July, will sign the slotted four-year deal, with a fifth-year option to be exercised by May 3, 2019. The 6-foot-1, 216-pound Neal started 19 of the 34 games he played in during his three years at Florida. During his first year as a starter in 2014, he racked up 45 total tackles and three intercep- tions, which was the second-highest total on the team. During his junior year, Neal finished third on the team with 96 total tackles. LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots over Paul Millsap of the Atlanta Hawks during the second game of their NBA Eastern Conference semi-finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Wednesday. (AFP) Alexander to sign Vikings contract on Thursday Cornerback Mackensie Alexander, the Minnesota Vikings’ second- Reuters However, James insists it is not their sault carried Cleveland to a 74-38 halft- When we’re sharing and we’re playing at round draft pick, left Clemson after his redshirt sophomore sea- New York identity. ime lead—the largest in the NBA during a a high pace and getting stops and every- son for financial reasons, and he took the first step toward reaping “We’re not a three-point shooting playoff game since 1987. The Cavs led by one touches it, it becomes contagious. that reward when he struck a deal with the team. team. We don’t want to be labeled that,” as many as 41 in the third quarter. Everyone has fun and enjoys playing that Alexander, who was the 54th overall draft pick, will sign his eBron James scored 27 points and he told reporters. Smith scored 23 while shooting 7-for- way.” contract on Thursday, multiple media outlets reported. He report- the Cleveland Cavaliers made a 13 from three-point range, and Kyrie Ir- Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said edly agreed to sign a four-year, $4.3 million contract with a $1.34 record 25 three-pointers to pound "We’re not a three-point shooting ving had 19 points. Kevin Love added 11 the Cavs’ three-point shooting was a million signing bonus. the Atlanta Hawks 123-98 on team. We don’t want to be labeled points and 13 rebounds. huge concern after Cleveland made 15 Alexander grew up in the small agricultural town of Immokalee, LWednesday to take a 2-0 series lead in the Smith’s three-pointer in the second three-pointers in its Game One vic- that,” James told reporters. “We’re Fla. Most of the town’s residents are immigrants from Mexico or Eastern Conference semi-fi nals. a well-balanced team that’s quarter, after he dribbled behind his back tory. This time, the Cavs made their 15th Haiti, and Alexander’s parents were from Haiti. Almost half the Ten Cavs made three-pointers, led by capable of making threes" to shake Hawks guard Kyle Korver, put three-pointer in the second quarter. people in Immokelee live below the poverty line. JR Smith with seven. Dahntay Jones’ cor- the Cavs ahead 65-35. Smith celebrated “If they shoot the ball like that,” Hawks The Vikings were the first team to sign a draft pick—sixth-round ner three-pointer with 2:24 left gave the “We’re a well-balanced team that’s ca- with a skip/strut to the other end of the guard Kyle Korver said, “I don’t know if German wide receiver Moritz Boehringer. He needed to get deal Cavs the all-time record, surpassing the pable of making threes. Obviously, we’ve fl oor without breaking stride. anyone can beat them, to be honest.” done to begin his application for a work visa. 2009 Orlando Magic and the 2014 Hou- got guys that can knock down shots from The Cavs never lost their rhythm all Paul Millsap had 16 points and 11 re- ston Rockets, who each made 23 treys in the perimeter. It’s been key to our suc- night. bounds for Atlanta. Jeff Teague scored 49ers resign Wilhoite a game. cess, but we have to continue to under- “For the last month and a half, that’s 14 points and Kris Humphries had 12. The San Francisco 49ers re-signed linebacker Michael Wilhoite to The Cavs fi nished 25-for-45 from long stand that we have to be very balanced pretty much the way we’ve been playing,” Starters for both sides sat out the fourth a one-year deal. range and are now averaging 16.2 three- off ensively.” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. quarter. The 6-0, 240-pound Wilhoite started all 12 games in which he pointers per playoff game, easily the most The Cavs’ 18 three-pointers in the fi rst “We’ve been sharing the basketball, Game Three of the best-of-seven se- appeared in 2015 and registered 86 tackles, one interception of any team this year. half also set a record. The long-range as- playing at a high tempo, moving bodies. ries is in Atlanta today. and one pass defensed. Throughout his four-year career, he has appeared in 49 games (30 starts) and recorded 231 tackles, three interceptions, one forced fumble and eight passes defensed. BOTTOMLINE Brady gets 14-day court extension New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and the NFL Players Association received a 14-day court extension on Tuesday to peti- tion for a rehearing in the latest chapter of the Deflategate saga. Quarterback Manziel booked by The extension gives Brady and the NFLPA until May 23 rather than May 9 to file with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The NFL’s request to deny the NFLPA’s motion was refused. Brady’s four-game suspension handed down by NFL commis- Texas police on assault charge sioner Roger Goodell was restored last month after a three-judge panel declared that the punishment was within Goodell’s power.

Reuters is suspected of hitting, kidnapping Players warned about eating meat from China, Mexico Dallas and threatening to kill his ex-girl- The NFL Players Association is warning players about eating meat friend, Colleen Crowley, 23. from China and Mexico that might be contaminated. She accused Manziel of hitting her In a letter to players and shared on social media by at least two ormer Cleveland Browns so hard that she temporarily lost her players—Arizona’s Patrick Peterson and Baltimore’s Steve Smith— quarterback Johnny Manziel hearing, court papers show. the NFLPA reminds players they are ultimately responsible for was booked by police in Dal- In a statement in April made be- what they put in their bodies. las County on Wednesday fore the indictment, Manziel said: “There is some evidence that some meat produced in China and andF posted bond on a charge of beat- “I’m hoping to take care of the issues Mexico may be contaminated with clenbuterol, an anabolic agent ing his ex-girlfriend earlier this year, in front of me right now so I can fo- which is banned by the NFL Policy on Performance-Enhancing police said. cus on what I have to do if I want to Substances,” the letter reads. “Consuming large quantities of meat Manziel had a mug shot taken and play in 2016.” while visiting those particular countries may result in a positive posted bond of $1,500, police said. Manziel, who became known as test for clenbuterol in violation of the Policy. He is set to make his fi rst court ap- “Johnny Football” in winning the “Players are warned to be aware of this issue when traveling to pearance in the case on Thursday in Heisman Trophy in 2012 as the best Mexico and China. Please take caution if you decide to consume Dallas. player in college football, was cho- meat, and understand that you do so at your own risk.” The charge handed out by a Dal- sen by the Browns in the fi rst round las County grand jury last month can of the National Football League draft Tuck to retire as Giants player bring up to one year in prison. It was after leaving Texas A&M University. Defensive end Justin Tuck plans to sign a one-day contract with the latest setback for the former U.S. The NFL in recent years has the New York Giants and off icially retire as a member of the team. football star whose erratic play and sought to toughen its policy toward According to ESPN, Tuck will sign the one-day contract with the partying prompted the Cleveland players involved in domestic vio- Giants today. Browns to cut him in March. lence. League spokesman Brian Mc- The 33-year-old Tuck announced in February that he was retiring His lawyers have said he will plead Carthy has said if Manziel were to after 11 NFL seasons. Tuck spent the last two years with the Oak- not guilty. sign with a team he would be “sub- land Raiders after playing for the Giants from 2005 to 2013. He The grand jury heard evidence ject to all aspects of the NFL’s per- Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is shown in this combination police won two Super Bowl rings with the Giants. about a January incident in which he sonal conduct policy.” booking photos in Dallas County, Texas, on Wednesday. (Reuters) Gulf Times Friday, May 6, 2016 7 SPORT

MLB Major League Baseball roundup

Yankees place A-Rod on disabled list The New York Yankees placed designated hitter Alex Rodriguez on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained right ham- string. A-Rod had an MRI on Wednesday morning after injuring his ham- Cubs dominant in string in Tuesday night’s 4-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. The 40-year-old Rodriguez left the game after he grabbed at his right hamstring while running out a grounder in the fifth. Rodriguez is struggling this season, hitting .194 with five home runs and 12 RBIs. He is in the next-to-last season of his 10-year, $275 million contract, and is being paid $21 million this year and three-game sweep next. MLB yet to decide on San Juan games Major League Baseball has yet to make a decision on the fate of two games between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Miami Marlins on May 30-31 in San Juan because of health concerns associated with the Zika virus outbreak. El Nuevo Dia, a Spanish-language newspaper, reported that the of rival Pirates games would be cancelled. Both teams recently voted on whether or not they wanted to travel in Puerto Rico later this month. The results were sent to ‘We’re here to play baseball, we’re here to win. I think our play speaks for itself’ MLB. The players’ union met with MLB off icials on Monday to discuss the situation. Yahoo Sports reported Tuesday that the games could be moved to Miami, but under terms of the Collective Bar- gaining Agreement, the union and MLB would have to agree on the location change. The final two games of the four-game series between the teams were already scheduled for Miami on June 1-2.

Indians add catcher Gimenez from Rangers The Cleveland Indians added backup catcher Chris Gimenez in a deal with the Texas Rangers for cash considerations. The move was made after Cleveland backup catcher Roberto Pe- rez suff ered an injured right thumb last weekend and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. To clear space on the 40-man roster, the Indians designated catcher Adam Moore for assignment. The 33-year-old Gimenez is joining the Indians for the third time in his career. The team drafted him in 2004 and he made his major league debut with the Indians in 2009. He left after the 2010 season and spent time with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Texas Rangers before returning to Cleveland in 2014 for eight games.

Nationals boss says Revere to join them in Chicago Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker said outfielder Ben Revere, who has missed all but one game with a right oblique strain, will join the club in Chicago for the upcoming series against the Cubs. Revere was placed on the 15-day disabled list April 6, and has been on a rehab assignment that completed Tuesday. “I don’t know when he’ll be activated, but we’ll see him (tonight),” Baker said. “We’ll figure out when to activate him.”

Moustakas back in Royals lineup Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas was back in the starting lineup after being held of out the last two games with a swollen left thumb. Moustakas had a two-run single as a pinch-hitter in the Royals’ comeback Tuesday night. His single tied the score off Washington closer Jonathan Papelbon. Moustakas scored the game-winner on a single from Lorenzo Cain.

Not sure if Richards will take his turn: Angels manager Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia wasn’t sure if right- hander Garrett Richards would take his next scheduled turn today against the Tampa Bay Rays. Richards lasted just four innings his last time out because of cramps and dehydration. He also missed his usual between-starts bullpen session. Richards is 1-3 with a 2.34 ERA in six starts for the Angels this season. Chicago Cubs third base Javier Baez singles against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the second inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday. (USA TODAY Sports) Outfi elder Crisp out for second straight game By Travis Sawchik co-ordinator Christopher Kamka. and have the majors’ lowest ERA (2.29). teresting. It’s all those things. It’s kind of Oakland A’s outfielder Coco Crisp was out of the lineup for a sec- The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (TNS) Cubs catcher David Ross was asked Yet, the Pirates were not exactly eff u- like Hazelton and West Hazleton.” ond straight game. Crisp has a sore heel and also had a doctor’s to address some of the heated moments sive in praise regarding their NL Central But for this to remain a rivalry in 2016, appointment Wednesday morning for a “non-baseball medical of the series, including Sean Rodriguez rival. the Pirates have to fare better in their re- issue,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. he Chicago Cubs are who every- exchanging words with the Cubs on What was perhaps most telling was maining 16 games against the Cubs, with Third baseman Danny Valencia (hamstring), barring a setback one thought they were. Wednesday. how quiet and unpopulated the postgame three more next weekend in Chicago. during his rehab game on Wednesday night with Class A Stockton, That’s a problem for the Pi- “We’re here to play baseball, we’re home clubhouse was as reporters waited Pirates manager Clint Hurdle was will travel with the A’s to Baltimore on Thursday and be activated rates. here to win,” Ross said. “I think our play for players to comment on what to make asked to assess what should be taken from the disabled list Friday when Oakland opens a three-game TThe Cubs, the preseason NL favourite, speaks for itself.” of the measuring-stick series. from the sweep by their rival. “We fl ush series with the Baltimore Orioles, Melvin said. certainly have played like the best team The next closest team in run diff eren- “I don’t think about opposing teams it,” Hurdle said “A lot of people that don’t in the league through April, and contin- tial to the Cubs? The Washington Na- and what they are doing. and what they play the game don’t fl ush it.” ued to look like the class of the division tionals at plus-50. are capable of doing,” Pirates center fi eld- in completing a three-game sweep of the The Pirates have a plus-3 run diff eren- er Andrew McCutchen said. “I just focus RESULTS Pirates on Wednesday with a 6-2 win. tial, 15th in baseball. on us.” Chicago Cubs 6 Pittsburgh 2 Report: Coyotes to promote The series was Chicago’s fi rst appearance The Cubs (20-6) hold a six-game lead The Cubs dominated the series even Cincinnati 7 San Francisco 4 in Pittsburgh since their wild-card vic- over the Pirates (15-13) and outscored the without Kyle Schwarber, a prized young NY Mets 8 Atlanta 0 26-year-old Chayka to GM tory last October. Bucs in the series 20-5. bat who is out for the season with a knee LA Angels 7 Milwaukee 3 The Cubs departed Wednesday with The Cubs have arguably the top col- injury, and Jason Heyward, who is dealing Washington 13 Kansas City 2 The Arizona Coyotes will reportedly off icially promote 26-year-old a plus-93 run differential, the third- lection of young position players in the with a sore wrist. Seattle 9 Oakland 8 assistant general manager John Chayka to the GM position at a best mark in the modern era through game, thanks to shrewd drafting and “Unfortunately, we just didn’t play Colorado 2 San Diego 0 press conference yesterday, according to a report by ESPN’s Craig 26 games, trailing only the 1902 Pirates trades. They have a pair of aces leading that well,” Pirates second baseman Josh Cleveland 4 Detroit 0 Custance. (plus-102) and 1905 Giants (plus-96), a strong rotation and a bullpen that has Harrison said. “We do well with moving NY Yankees 7 Baltimore 0 The move to elevate a relatively young GM is part of the plan to according to Baseball Reference. The been a strength early this season. The on past that.” Toronto 4 Texas 3 give veteran coach Dave Tippett more say on personnel decisions. Cubs left PNC Park one run better in Cubs have a loose clubhouse led by man- Maddon called the Cubs-Pirates a “le- Miami 4 Arizona 3 Chayka, who would be the youngest GM in NHL history, was hired differential through 26 games than the ager Joe Maddon, who is regarded as one gitimate” rivalry Tuesday. Tampa Bay 8 LA Dodgers 5 by Arizona last year as an assistant GM in charge of analytics. He 1939 New York Yankees, who finished of the best in the sport. “It’s great for baseball,” said Maddon, Boston 5 Chicago White Sox 2 is a co-founder of the analytics firm Stathletes, a company that has with the all-time best run differential The Cubs entered the day tied with the a northeastern Pennsylvania native. “It’s Houston 16 Minnesota 4 since grown to more than 50 employees, according to Custance. (plus-411), according to Comcast stats Cardinals for the MLB lead in runs (153), great for fan bases. For the players, it’s in- St. Louis 5 Philadelphia 4

NHL Penguins edge Capitals in overtime to open 3-1 series lead

Reuters Pittsburgh-native Weber, back in the from a 3-1 defi cit can be achieved—the New York lineup for the fi rst time since the open- New York Rangers accomplished it ing-round series against the Philadel- against them last season. phia Flyers, was trying to get the puck out “We’ve got to play our game. We got atric Hornqvist scored 2:34 when it fl ew directly to Hornqvist in the to go period by period and try to turn it into overtime and the Pitts- right circle for his fi fth goal of the playoff s around, win the next game,” Ovechkin burgh Penguins seized a 3-1 and fi rst playoff overtime winner. said. series lead over the NHL reg- “It’s what probably any defenseman The Penguins, who lost 3-1 series ularP season champion Washington would have done in that situation—the leads to Tampa Bay in 2011 and the Capitals, winning 3-2 in Game Four of puck’s rolling around and you’re trying Rangers in 2014, have won seven of the Eastern Conference semi-fi nals on to poke it out of the danger zone,” Capi- eight previous playoff series from the Wednesday. tals defenseman Karl Alzner said. Capitals. “It’s huge, obviously -- 3-1 is a lot “It just so happens the guy (Horn- But this was supposed to be the best more desirable than 2-2,” said Penguins qvist) is fl ying in there.” Capitals team ever—they put up 120 rookie goalie Matt Murray, who made 34 Murray withstood a Capitals goal points during an NHL season in which saves. “But we know we’ve got a lot of by center Jay Beagle less than three no other team managed even 110. But work left to do. We know nothing’s done.” minutes into the game to win for the now, the Capitals must win three The Penguins, winners of 21-of-25 13th time in his last 14 starts—and the straight against a surging opponent to dating back to the regular season, had Penguins withstood the loss of star de- keep their season going. lost eight consecutive overtime playoff fenseman Kris Letang to a one-game “It’s not the best place to be,” Wash- games until Capitals defenseman Mike suspension. ington defenseman John Carlson said. Weber accidentally tapped the puck on “We didn’t take advantage of it “But we’re proud of our game and, at Hornqvist’s stick for a wrist shot that (Letang’s absence),” Capitals coach some point, we’ve got to dig deeper and beat goalie Braden Holtby through his Barry Trotz said. “Now we’ve dug our- work harder and fi nd a way, no matter legs. selves a hole. We’ll see if we can dig what.” “It was obviously great to see the ourselves out.” All four games in the series have been puck go in, we win the game and we’re Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, who did decided by one goal and Game Five up 3-1,” Hornqvist said. “I tried to not score despite getting seven shots on could be another close one in Washing- Pittsburgh Penguins' Patric Hornqvist (left) carries the puck against Washington Capitals' Matt Niskanen (2) during game four shoot it as hard as I could.” net, said the Capitals know a comeback ton tomorrow. of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoff s in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday. (USA TODAY Sports) Gulf Times 8 Friday, May 6, 2016 SPORT

TENNIS GOLF Furyk back from injury as McIlroy defends Djokovic, Murray at Quail Hollow

Reuters “I’m working quite a lot on a Charlotte couple of technical things,” he said. McIlroy took a decent break merican 17-times PGA because of a busy upcoming cruise into Madrid Tour winner Jim Fu- stretch that includes three major ryk makes his come- championships, the Rio Olym- back from injury at this pics and Ryder Cup. week’sA Wells Fargo Champion- “There are so many big events ship, where Rory McIlroy is de- in such a short space of time, fending champion. trying to get yourself up for Furyk, 45, has not played since them, go back down and relax September due to a left wrist for a couple of days, and having Masters quarters injury that required surgery in to build back up again, I think February and he will have plenty that’s going to be the hardest of work to do if he is to secure a part about this summer.” ‘Normally against Gilles it’s always a complicated match because of the way he plays’ spot in his 10th consecutive Ry- McIlroy will arrive at the der Cup later this year. course this week the old-fash- He is 41st in the American ioned way, in a tournament standings and, barring a siz- courtesy car, but he will take a Novak Djokovic returns a ball to Spanish tennis zling summer stretch, will have more extravagant mode of trans- player Roberto Bautista during the Madrid to make do with his already-as- port to the British Open at Royal Open tournament at the Caja Magica sports signed role as captain’s assistant. Troon in July. complex in Madrid yesterday. (AFP) But Furyk is more focused Rather than stay on-site in the right now on trying to play his Scottish town of Troon, McIlroy way back into form without the will commute by helicopter from benefi t of much practice. his home in Northern Ireland. “I’m still on a limited schedule “It’s only a 20-minute heli- and not able to go to the range copter fl ight to Troon,” he said. and bang a bunch of balls,” he “So I’m going to go back and said at Quail Hollow on the eve forth that week a couple of times of yesterday’s opening round. so I can stay at home.” McIlroy is also raring to go af- McIlroy joins a stellar fi eld ter three weeks off , having not this week that includes Austral- played since the Masters, where ian Adam Scott, Japanese Hideki he tied for 10th and was not hap- Matsuyama and American Phil py with aspects of his swing. Mickelson.

Skipping Rio does not mean abandoning Australia, says Scott

Former world number one ympic decision, but he believes Adam Scott says he will be that people who question his glued to television coverage of motives do not understand. the Olympic Games in August, Australian swimming legend but does not plan to watch any Dawn Fraser slammed Scott of the golf. after his announcement for Two weeks after announcing “not showing much for your that he would skip the Rio country” and asked rhetorically, Games, the first prominent play- “How much money do you Andy Murray celebrates after winning a point against Gilles er to do so, Scott on Wednes- want in life?”. Simon yesterday. (Reuters) day spoke about his decision, In reply, Scott said: “I expected saying he has not abandoned someone to not understand my AFP Czech got the better of David 7-5 win over 10th seed Richard Australia and feels that he rep- position ... some people who Madrid Ferrer 7-6 (10/8), 7-5. Gasquet. Nishikori lost out to resents his nation every time he know me a little better under- “After the fi rst six or seven Nadal in the fi nal of the Barcelo- competes. stand I don’t just do things for games I really started to hit the na Open two weeks ago and will “I love watching the Olympics, a reaction or no reason. There’s orld number one ball well,” said Murray. meet Australian Nick Kyrgios or the swimming and athletics something behind it.” Novak Djokovic “I served well through- Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas in the (track and field), absolutely,” At an earlier news conference racked up his 30th out the match. It was a good quarters after registering his the 2013 Masters champion told on Wednesday, Scott spoke in win of a dominant performance.” fi rst win over Gasquet in seven Reuters, before adding that he greater detail about his Olym- Wseason with a 6-2, 6-1 destruc- Murray pounced on a series attempts. would tune out the golf. pic decision. tion of Spain’s Roberto Bautista of Simon errors to seal the only The Japanese survived a blip “I don’t need to see the same “The tough part was to choose Agut to reach the Madrid Mas- break of the fi rst set in the fi nal when he missed out on two guys play four more rounds.” not to represent Australia, but ters quarter-fi nals yesterday. game. However, the Scot was far match points on his own serve That is the sort of comment I feel like I do that every week,” Defending champion Andy more dominant in the second as before being broken at 5-4 in the golf’s ruling bodies no doubt the 35-year-old said. “I’ve lived Murray also sealed his place in his power and variation from the second. hoped to avoid when they my life representing Australia the last eight in straight sets back of the court allowed him to However, he responded im- persuaded the International and I’ve tried to do the best job with 6-4, 6-2 win over 16th seed race into a 3-0 lead before break- mediately to break the Gasquet Olympic Committee to add the I can of that. Gilles Simon. ing again to seal his place in the serve for the fourth time in the sport to the Games schedule for “I’ll be back in Australia at the Djokovic is playing in Madrid last eight. match before serving it out at the the first time since 1904. end of the year. I think I’m far for the fi rst time in three years, “Normally against Gilles it’s second attempt. South Africans Louis Oosthui- from abandoning my country.” but hasn’t taken long to adjust always a complicated match be- In the women’s Madrid Open, zen and Charl Schwartzel, both Scott was speaking on the to the diff erent conditions in the cause of the way he plays,” added the only remaining seed Simona of them former major winners, eve of this week’s Wells Fargo altitude of the Spanish capital as Murray. Halep was victorious in an all- have followed Scott’s lead in Championship at Quail Hollow, he has reached the quarters for “He always makes it very dif- Romanian quarter-fi nal against skipping Rio. where Northern Irishman the lose of just nine games. fi cult. There are a lot of long Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3, 0-6, Scott has long said he does Rory McIlroy is the defending The Serb will continue his rallies, but because of the con- 6-1. Halep—a fi nalist in Madrid not believe that golf belongs in champion. quest for a fi fth title of the sea- ditions, it was a bit faster, I was in 2014 -- will face another Ro- the Olympics, at least not in an son against Milos Raonic or Jo- able to get a lot more free points manian Patricia Maria Tig or individual strokeplay format, Wilfried Tsonga today. on my serve.” former US Open champion Sam so instead he will spend that Murray extended his impres- Rafael Nadal, who could meet Stosur in the last four. week with his wife and young sive record over Simon to 14-2, Murray in a repeat of last year’s American qualifi er Louisa daughter in Europe, regaining but wasn’t pushed as hard as fi nal, continues his quest for a Chirico also continued her fairy- his breath after a busy June- he often has been in the past by fi fth title in and record 50th on tale run to reach the semi-fi nals. July schedule that includes the Frenchman as he didn’t even clay when he faces American Chirico, ranked 130 in the world, three major championships in face a break point in just over an Sam Querrey later on Thursday. beat Australian Daria Gavrilova seven weeks. hour-and-a-half on court. World number six Kei 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 to reach her fi rst The only Australian to win the The two-time Grand Slam Nishikori continued his fi ne ever WTA semi-fi nal where she Masters, Scott is not surprised champion will face Thomas Ber- form on the clay in Spain to will face Dominika Cibulkova or that some have criticised his Ol- dych in the last eight after the reach the last eight with a 6-4, Sorana Cristea. Simona Halep in action against Irina-Camelia Begu. (Reuters)

SPOTLIGHT Leishman withdraws from Rio Games citing Zika

Reuters lain-Barre syndrome in adults. microcephaly came to light last fall though his decision was based on a Sydney Leishman’s wife Audrey suff ered in Brazil, which has now confi rmed lack of interest in the tournament’s MARC LEISHMAN toxic shock syndrome, a potentially more than 1,100 cases of micro- format and the wish to take a break fatal illness caused by bacterial in- cephaly that it considers to be relat- with family after a busy summer olfer Marc Leishman said fection, in April last year and was ed to Zika infections in the mothers. schedule. yesterday he has with- still recovering, the 32-year-old The AOC said it respected Leish- Louis Oosthuizen and fellow drawn his candidacy for golfer said in a statement released man’s decision. major-winning South African Charl the Rio Olympics, citing on Wednesday US-time. “We understand that family must Schwartzel will also miss the tour- Gthe Zika virus and health concerns “Since then Audrey has been always come fi rst and we respect nament in Rio, where golf returns for his wife, becoming the fi rst Aus- prone to infection and is far re- Marc’s decision not to play in Rio,” for the fi rst time in 112 years. tralian athlete to withdraw over the moved from 100 per cent recovery team chef de mission Kitty Chiller Tournament entrants will be fi - mosquito-borne virus. of her immune system,” said Leish- said in a statement. nalised on July 11, based on world Leishman, Australia’s number man, a title-winner on the US PGA Leishman missed last year’s US rankings. three golfer, was fi rst in the race to Tour. Masters to be by his wife’s side when Marcus Fraser, ranked 63rd, is qualify for Rio alongside compatriot “We have consulted with she was given only a fi ve percent now fi rst in the race in Australia to and world number one Jason Day Audrey’s physician and due to her chance of survival. join Day, who is confi rmed for the after former US Masters champion ongoing recovery from toxic shock The 2009 PGA Tour rookie-of- tournament and enthusiastic about Adam Scott ruled himself out of the and potential risks associated with the-year returned to the game after playing in Rio. tournament last month. the transmission of the Zika virus, it a lengthy absence and went within “I would be honored to compete The Australian Olympic Com- was a diffi cult yet easy decision not one putt of winning the British in Rio should I qualify for the team,” mittee (AOC) confirmed world to participate,” he said. Open. Fraser said in a text message sent to number 35 Leishman had become Zika has been linked with the Last month, Fiji’s Vijay Singh, a Reuters. the first prospective Austral- birth defect microcephaly that has three-times major winner, also said “While I understand the deci- ian Olympian to withdraw from been sweeping through South and he would skip Rio due to concerns sions of my fellow Aussie golfers for Rio over the Zika virus. There is a Central America and the Caribbean about Zika. me it would be a great experience to strong scientific consensus that and making its way north to the World number seven Scott also be a part of.” Zika can cause microcephaly in United States. announced his decision to side- The Rio Olympics take place from newborn babies as well as Guil- The connection between Zika and step the Olympics last month, al- August 5-21. Gulf Times Friday, May 6, 2016 9 CRICKET

IPL PREVIEW Focus on Yuvraj as Rahane helps Pune Sunrisers face Lions to seven-wicket

win over Delhi File picture of Yuvraj Singh (C) during a practice session ahead of India’s ICC T20 World Cup match against Pakistan in Kolkata. Continuing his consistent run with the willow, 27-year-old Rahane completed his 50 IANS another start from their skipper Hyderabad Warner, who has been prolifi c off just 38 balls, and his unbeaten 63 came off 48 balls with seven hits to the fence with the bat at the top. His open- ing partner Shikhar Dhawan also ll eyes will be on star came up with substantial scores all-rounder Yuvraj after being out of form initially. Singh when Sunrisers New Zealand skipper Kane Hyderabad (SRH) take Williamson, who came back to onA struggling Gujarat Lions in an the side after recovering from an Indian Premier League (IPL) en- injury, was also amongst runs, counter at the Rajiv Gandhi In- scoring a valuable 50 off 38 balls ternational Stadium here today. in the match against RCB. After losing two consecu- The inclusion of Yuvraj will tive games to laggards Kings XI only bolster the impressive Punjab and Delhi Daredevils re- middle order comprising Moi- spectively, the Suresh Raina-led ses Henriques, Naman Ojha and Gujarat franchise, which made Deepak Hooda. a promising debut in the cash- In the bowling department, rich tournament, would aim for a Sunrisers can boast of seasoned turnaround in fortunes. Ashish Nehra, Bhuvneshwar On the other hand, the home Kumar, Mustafi zur Rahman and crowd will be eager to see Yuvraj in Henriques in their ranks. the playing XI. The Punjab south- On the other hand, the visitors paw is yet to feature in this year’s will largely depend on the open- IPL, being ruled out after suff ering ing combo of Brendon McCullum an injury in the World Twenty20 and Dwayne Smith. Skipper Rai- match against Australia. na and keeper-batsman Dinesh The hosts are coming off a 15- Karthik have also been in good run win over Royal Challeng- nick but their main concern will ers Bangalore. However, despite be the batting form of all-round- losses in the last two games, the ers Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Lions are placed second in the Bravo. points table with six wins from Bravo is likely to return to the nine outings, while the David side after missing the last en- Warner-led side are at the fi fth counter due to an injury with spot with four victories. Aaron Finch making way. SRH also enjoy a psychological On the bowling front, the Li- advantage as they won against ons would hope their chinaman Gujarat Lions by a comprehen- bowler Shivil Kaushik will retain sive 10 wickets in their previous his impressive run while pacers meeting on April 21. seamers Dhawal Kulkarni and Going into Friday’s encounter, Praveen Kumar get the initial the home side will bank on yet breakthroughs.

Ajikya Rahane of Rising Pune Supergiants in action during an IPL match between Delhi Daredevils and Rising Pune Supergiants at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi. IPL 2016 reaches KKR rope in Mark IANS hane in the middle clobbered Mishra for on and then another over deep midwicket the third wicket before Nair’s stay at the massive 297 million Boucher as wicket New Delhi a towering six. Scoring a 18-ball 21, he to reduce the gap. crease was cut short by a leg-roller from viewers in third week keeping consultant added 45 runs for the second wicket with Needing three from the last over, Per- veteran Rajat Bhatia. The ninth edition of the Indian Two-time Indian Premier Rahane before Delhi’s South African re- era escaped a last minute scare as he was England big-hitter Sam Billings lived Premier League (IPL) has League (IPL) champions iding on opener Ajinkya Ra- cruit Imran Tahir packed him back as he caught off a no ball from Shami on the up to his reputation and lightened up the reached viewership of 297 mil- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) hane’s fi fth half-century of the tried to slog-sweep a ball from outside very fi rst delivery but Rahane hit a bril- crowd with some lusty blows in 15-ball lion in its third week itself. on Thursday roped in former tournament, Rising Pune Su- off only to be caught at deep midwicket liant four towards the square leg bound- 24, laced with one four and two massive Sony Max, Sony Six and Sony South African gloveman Mark pergiants beat Delhi Daredevils by Sam Billings. ary to seal the game in Pune’s favour. sixes. ESPN -- part of Sony Pictures Boucher as their wicket-keep- byR seven wickets in a league match of the With the visitors needing 59 from 40 Earlier, Pune restricted Delhi Daredev- Sensing danger, Dhoni turned to his Networks India -- the off icial ing consultant. Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Fero- deliveries, skipper Mahendra Singh Dho- ils to 162 for seven after winning the toss old war-horse Bhatia, who broke the 45- broadcasters of the cash-rich The South African, who zeshah Kotla Stadium here yesterday. ni (27) decided to promote himself to No and electing to fi eld. run stand for the fourth wicket by dis- domestic Twenty20 tourna- featured in more than 450 Continuing his consistent run with the 3 and the ploy paid off . Delhi got off to a poor start losing the missing Billings, while Duminy (34) soon ment, drew audiences in large international games will join willow, the 27-year-old Rahane complet- Rahane and Dhoni started milking the early wicket of Rishabh Pant, the hero of perished to a foolish run-out in the very numbers in the third week of hands with his former team- ed his 50 off just 38 balls, and his unbeat- Delhi bowlers at will with the Ranchi the last match against Gujarat Lions with next ball to leave Daredevils reeling at 138 the T20 cricket tournament mate Jacques Kallis - the head en 63 came off 48 balls with seven hits to batsman being the more destructive of a brilliant half-century. for six. It was the fi reworks from Delhi’s after 25 matches. coach of the franchise. the fence. the two, clobbering Mohammed Shami His fall brought in Karun Nair, who most expensive buy Pawan Negi, who hit IPL with 927.4 GVM is 234 per- “Yes, we have roped in Mark Chasing 163, Pune got off to a brilliant for a four and a straight six off consecu- stitched a quickfi re 35-run stand for the a quick-fi re 12-ball 19 that took the home cent better than the second Boucher as the wicket-keeping start with Rahane and Usman Khawaja tive deliveries. second wicket with Samson. side to 162 for seven. most viewed channel in prime consultant,” said a KKR source. (30) laying a solid platform but leg-spin- But just when things started slipping Both Nair and Samson looked danger- For Pune, Bhatia and Boland two wick- time at an all-India level, and Presently the Knights have ner Amit Mishra fi nally managed to put out of the home side’s hands, Tahir in- ous as they hammered the bowlers at will ets apiece while Dinda chipped in with with 676.2 GVM is 203 percent two wicket-keeper batsmen in the brakes. fused some life into the Delhi crowd by to take Delhi to 48 at the end of the pow- one wicket. better than the second most their squad -- Robin Uthappa Khwaja, playing his fi rst IPL game, dismissing Dhoni, thanks to a brilliant erplay. But pacer Scot Boland brought the viewed channel in HSM. and Sheldon Jackson. The lat- forged a 59-run stand with Rahane before running catch from Billings to end the visitors back into the game by dismissing BRIEF SCORES: Delhi Daredevils 162 Markets that grew in the third ter however, has not played in being stumped off Mishra by Sanju Sam- 42-run third wicket stand. Samson (20) off the fi nal ball of the pow- for 7 (JP Duminy 34, Karun Nair 32, Sam week are Mumbai, Rajasthan, a game this season yet. son. His 27-ball knock was laced with With the visitors needing 17 off 11 balls, erplay. Billings 24, Bhatia 2 for 22, Boland 2 for Jharkhand, West Bengal, Boucher has played for the two boundaries and a six. Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera Next in, South African J.P. Duminy, 31) lost to Rising Pune Supergiants 166 Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, RCB (2008 - 2010) and then Keeping the left-right combination (14) joined Rahane in the middle and dis- who is leading the side in place of Zaheer for 3 (Ajinkya Rahane 63, Usman Khawa- Maharashtra. played for the Knights in 2011. intact, Saurabh Tiwary (21) joined Ra- patched Tahir for a brilliant six over long Khan, along with Nair added 17 runs for ja 30, MS Dhoni 27, Tahir 2 for 26)

BOTTOMLINE Bangladesh pacer Rahman takes IPL by storm

AFP is now one of cricket’s hottest proper- thinks of the joy he has brought to his to our home,” said Kashem. “He is still New Delhi ties after a stunning start to his inter- home village of Tetulia, a sleepy back- too young and needs to concentrate on national career which has earned him water in southwestern Bangladesh improving his game.” big-money contracts in the IPL and in where the main source of employment Kashem is now the proud owner of a ace bowler Mustafi zur Rahman England. is shrimp farming. glistening new car that his son person- has been a revelation since he According to fi gures compiled by “It feels very good. People, my ally delivered on a trip back to Tetulia burst onto the international Cricinfo, Rahman has the best aver- friends come up to me and say: ‘We’re early last month. stage with Bangladesh just a age of any bowler in Twenty20 cricket going to watch you play today’ or ‘Oh, “He is such a nice young man,” said Pyear ago—and now he is taking the In- in the past 12 months and his economy we saw you play!’—it feels really great Kashem, before settling down to watch dian Premier League (IPL) by storm. rate is second only to the West Indian to hear such things,” he said in a phone the Sunrisers’ weekend victory over the Baby-faced heart-throb Rahman is Sunil Narine. interview. Royal Challengers Bangalore when his adjusting to his jetset lifestyle as he fl ies Rahman, whose trademark delivery When the Sunrisers matches are son took the prize wicket of Indian Test from city to city in cricket’s glitziest is a fi zzing off -cutter, fi rst caught the broadcast in the evenings, villagers skipper Virat Kohli. tournament—a far cry from four years eye of Indian observers last June when cluster around projector screens hired Rahman’s emergence has raised ago when he had to cling to the back he took fi ve for 50 in his one-day inter- out by Rahman’s brother Mokhlesur. hopes in Bangladesh that a team who of his brother’s rickety moped over 40 national debut as Bangladesh thrashed “He was a decent bowler from when has made major strides in ODI cricket kilometres of potholed roads just to go their giant neighbours in Dhaka. he was about 12 but we never thought in the last three years could fi nally win to practise in the nearest nets. Bangladeshi players have been rou- he was going to be quite this good,” said a Test series against one of the game’s “My brother used to take me to (the tinely patronised by Indian fans but Mokhlesur as he recalled the days of more established powers. nearest town) Satkhira every day and Rahman has already earned their re- ferrying his young brother on the back In his Test debut against South Afri- then bring me back home to our village. spect. of his bike. ca in Chittagong last July, Rahman took It was very diffi cult,” recalls Rahman four for 37 as the hosts had the better of whose intrinsic shyness belies his nick- ‘STAND TALL’ FAN MAIL DELUGE a rain-aff ected draw. name of “The Fizz”. Sunrisers Hyderabad players Mustafizur Rahman (R) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar Speaking to AFP, Rahman said he was Their 70-year-old father, Mohammad Rahman, who will head to England “There were a few academies in during a Sunrisers Hyderabad programme in Hyderabad. proud to get the chance to fl y the fl ag Abul Kashem, said that cricket fans had after the IPL to play for Sussex, says Satkhira where I used to practise but for Bangladesh whether in the IPL or on made pilgrimages to the village while he enjoys playing Tests but prefers the otherwise I had to practise in the ing at an average of 21.25, including big Twenty20, while his fi ve for 22 against the international scene. there has been a deluge of fan mail, shorter formats. schoolyard all by myself.” wickets of AB de Villiers, Shane Watson New Zealand was the best single per- “I always wish for my country to including from female admirers who “I enjoy playing all kinds of cricket The 20-year-old has been Sunrisers and Virat Kohli. formance by any bowler in the compe- stand tall, not only in cricket but any want his mobile number. but the ones that wrap up in a day like Hyderabad’s standout bowler in this The left-arm paceman also had the tition. sport,” he said in a phone interview. “I’ve been to the post offi ce and told T20s and ODIs—those are the ones I year’s IPL with his eight scalps com- best strike rate at the recent World An unknown 12 months ago, Rahman He also swells with pride when he them not to not to deliver these letters like the most.” Gulf Times 10 Friday, May 6, 2016 CRICKET

BOTTOMLINE New setback in Pakistan’s search for head coach

AFP prising ex-captains Wasim Akram and “We had shortlisted four tive South Africa for fi ve years (2005- Karachi Ramiz Raja—to conduct the search. foreigners but... Law has excused 2010) before migrating to Australia. They shortlisted Law and his fellow himself as he is committed with He was appointed Australia’s coach countryman Dean Jones, England’s the Australian team as batting in 2013 but was sacked mid-way akistan’s search for a new na- Andy Moles and South African Mickey coach and will not be available through the Ashes that same year. tional coach hit a fresh road- Arthur. before September this year,” a Pakistan also talked to England’s block yesterday as offi cials said “We had shortlisted four foreigners PCB offi cial, who did not wish to Peter Moores, Australian Tom Moody their top pick, Australia’s Stu- but... Law has excused himself as he is be named, told AFP and South Africa’s Paddy Upton, but all Part Law, turned down a job widely seen committed with the Australian team as turned down the off er. as one of the toughest in international batting coach and will not be available and Dav Whatmore (2012-14). Former Pakistan players Aaqib Javed cricket. before September this year,” a PCB of- The board’s budget for the head and Mohsin Khan have refused to apply, The post was left vacant after Waqar fi cial, who did not wish to be named, coach salary is reportedly $16,000 to alleging favouritism in the process. Younis resigned following Pakistan’s told AFP. $20,000 per month—much less than Javed resigned as United Arab Emir- disastrous World Twenty20 in India similar positions elsewhere. ates coach last month and is now last month, where they triumphed in URGENT NEED FOR COACH Meanwhile foreign coaches balk at involved with the Pakistan Super only one of four matches before crash- The PCB wants to fi ll the post before touring a country where international League’s Lahore franchise. ing out. Pakistan’s all-important tour of Eng- cricket has been suspended since an Mohsin had an interim stint in 2012 The job is complicated by the rela- land beginning in July, where they play extremist attack on the Sri Lankan team and under him Pakistan beat then world tively low pay and Pakistan’s security four Tests, one Twenty20 and fi ve one- bus in Lahore in 2009. number one England 3-0, but lost the issues, while attempts to build rela- day internationals. While Jones has no experience of one-day series. tionships with volatile national players A fi nal decision is expected by today. coaching an international team, Moles The only local coach in the running is are often hampered by its high turno- Pakistan has had four foreign coaches had stints with Hong Kong, Kenya, paceman Mohammad Akram, a former ver. in the past: Richard Pybus (two tenures Scotland, New Zealand and Afghani- Pakistan bowling coach who also The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Australia’s Stuart Law (pictured), turned down the off er to coach the Pakistan in 1999 and 2002-03), Bob Woolmer stan. served at the national cricket academy formed a two-man committee—com- cricket team, which is widely seen as one of the toughest in international cricket. (2004-07), Geoff Lawson (2007-2008) Arthur successfully coached his na- in Lahore.

SPOTLIGHT PULL UP Ali urges Pakistan to improve aft er their Return of Bravo, ODI slump

AFP resigned following the team’s Karachi failure to reach the semi-fi nals in the World Twenty20 in India last month. akistan cricket captain Ali said he hoped a new coach Pollard vital for Azhar Ali yesterday and the recently appointed urged his team to pick chief selector—former captain up their game after they Inzamam-ul-Haq—would sit Pslumped to ninth in the one-day down to plan a strategy. international rankings, equal- “I think a new selection com- ling their worst ever. mittee and a new coach will help The latest International plan things and I am optimistic Cricket Council (ICC) ranking that the boys will lift their per- West Indies: Lara is “worrying”, Ali told AFP— formances, which we badly need.” and Pakistan’s prospects for Pakistan plays fi ve one-day ‘I do believe that playing in home conditions is a slight advantage. I’m hoping that Phil improving appear bleak as they internationals in England in Au- face “challenging” top teams in gust, then two in Ireland before Simmons is doing his homework (and) getting his players ready to play good cricket’ coming weeks. facing the West Indies for up to If they cannot pull out of the fi ve matches. They then tour slump by next year to break into Australia early next year for six the top eight, they face having one-days. to play a qualifying round for “For me, our schedule is chal- the 2019 World Cup for the fi rst lenging,” Ali admitted. time ever. “But we know that beating Pakistan was briefl y ranked England and Australia will lift ninth after losing to 3-0 to our rankings. Bangladesh in April last year, but “England will be tough ... We managed to reach eighth before have to be at our best and the being knocked back once more only way we can improve our in the ICC’s annual international rankings is to beat better and rankings released Wednesday. higher-ranked teams.” Ali was optimistic his team He said his team often lets op- could rise again. portunities pass by in ODIs. “We are aware of the latest “If you look at our series in rankings, which are worrying,” New Zealand (in January) we he said. “We know we have to should have won that, but we beat top teams to rise in the slipped from good positions and rankings and we are quite deter- lost matches,” he said. mined to do that.” Australia are top of the one- Pakistan are in search of a day rankings while England are new coach after Waqar Younis sixth.

Focus is on grabbing eight wins, says KKR’s Jacques Kallis Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) said. head coach Jacques Kallis said “It just showed the fighting on Thursday that his side are spirit of the team. Very proud focused on getting to eight of the way the guys have wins which is considered to be played so far and deservedly the ‘magic number’ to make it they have a couple of days off . to the Indian Premier League We will again get together on (IPL) play-off s. Saturday and start the hard Courtesy of their close seven- work again.” run win over Kings XI Punjab KKR were without the services on Wednesday night, the of their star spinner Sunil Nar- Knights sit pretty atop the lea- ine as the West Indies bowler derboard with six wins from has been sidelined due to a nine outings. finger injury. “Most of our away games are “Narine unfortunately hurt his gone. We are sitting pretty. bowling finger in the warm-up Having last five games at of the previous game against home makes our life a lot Bangalore, he wasn’t fit for Kieron Pollard of Mumbai Indians in action during an IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. easier. But we have to play yesterday’s game. Now we good cricket. It is nice to have will have to wait and see if he IANS Under the West Indies Cricket Board “And hopefully we can have the this cushion. Probably need will be available for Sunday,” Port of Spain, Trinidad regulations, neither player is eligible for likes of Pollard and Bravo - some 8 wins to make the last four. he said. the tournament after failing to partici- guys who have not played that So focussing on getting to Russell picked up figures of pate in January’s Regional Super50. form of the game (recently) - back the play off s first. Though it 4/20 and his last over was the est Indies batting legend The tri-nations series, which runs in the team because they are sounds clichéd, we are looking cherry on the cake. Com- Brian Lara wants to see the from June 3-26 in Guyana, St. Kitts and integral of any West Indies team” to take one game at a time,” menting on the performance return of the likes of Kieron Nevis and Barbados, will act as a precur- Kallis said at the second edi- Kallis said, “Andre has been Pollard and Dwayne Bravo sor to a four-Test series against India, about cricket at all.” tion of the Knight Golf event a tremendous performer for Wfor next month’s tri-nations series in- starting in July. The West Indies are coming off their -- a charity event of donating us in the last couple of years. volving Australia and South Africa. capture of the World Twenty20 in India proceeds from the sponsor- He has come on leaps and Both players have been overlooked by INDIA, A TOUGH OPPONENT last month, where they beat England in ship towards the treatment of bounds as a cricketer. He is selectors for One-Day Internationals And Lara, who plundered 11,953 runs the fi nal to win the tournament for the underprivileged children in very destructive and he can since the controversial abandoned lim- from 131 Tests, believes the West Indies second time in fi ve years. Kolkata. hit it out of the ground as we ited overs tour of India last year but Lara will have to be at their best against an Lara, who fi nished with 34 Test hun- At one stage during Wednes- see many a time.” said having them involved in Twenty20 in-form India side, despite having the dreds and the records for the highest Test day’s match, when David “Yesterday was an excellent Internationals alone was a backward File picture of West Indies cricket legend advantage of home conditions. and fi rst class scores, said the West In- Miller and Glenn Maxwell were performance, needing 12 off step, reports CMC. Brian Lara. “You saw their (India) performances dies players now needed to transform the batting for Punjab, the target of the last over in such pressure, “In terms of the Tri-Nations, I think against Australia … and not just in India same level of enthusiasm from T20s into 165 runs looked within grasp. he really stood up and made it’s going to be a pretty exciting Tri-Na- vo have resulted in controversy over the but also playing away from home, there the Test arena. But then Andre Russell came up it count. It was a magnificent tions series,” the former West Indies cap- last year, and was at the heart of an out- have been great performances,” Lara noted. “If we can get the guys playing the with an excellent last over, giv- day for him. In the last 5 overs tain said on Wednesday. burst by the West Indies coach Phil Sim- “I do believe that playing in home con- longer version of the game with the same ing away just four runs to seal defending 8 runs an over “And hopefully we can have the likes of mons, who claimed there was “outside ditions is a slight advantage. I’m hoping sort of exuberance, with the same sort of victory for the hosts. was just great eff ort from the Pollard and Bravo - some guys who have infl uence” on selectors, in keeping them that Phil Simmons is doing his homework fi ght, it would be better but it’s not in us,” “It’s been a tough road. We guys.” not played that form of the game (recent- out of the squad. (and) getting his players ready to play said Lara. spent three and a half weeks For the first time this season ly) - back in the team because they are in- Bravo is a veteran of 164 ODIs, and is good Test cricket. “The skill is there but that sort of at- away from Kolkata. And to put KKR’s co-owner and Bolly- tegral of any West Indies team.” just 32 runs short of 3000 runs and one “For us West Indians, we’re not too trition level, that willingness to stay out in a performance like we did wood icon Shah Rukh Khan “Just to have them for the T20 version wicket shy of 200 scalps in the format. disappointed if we get defeated playing there and play cricket for fi ve days and last night with the guys tired was present at the Eden Gar- I think is doing a disservice to the West Pollard, meanwhile, has struck three hard cricket. I think what is very disap- beat the opposition on the fi fth after- after a long trip, I believe was dens and Kallis said the team Indies cricket.” centuries in 91 ODIs, and taken 44 wick- pointing is when the team falls apart and noon, is not in our cricketers. We need to an exceptional eff ort,” Kallis is lucky to have him around. The non-selection of Pollard and Bra- ets with his slow medium pace bowling. we look like we don’t know anything bring that back.” Gulf Times Friday, May 6, 2016 11 SPORT

FIA MIDDLE EAST RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 3 Al-Attiyah draws fi rst blood in Jordan Rally

By Our Correspondent next two days has to be to at- spoke to Nasser before the start 5. Khaled Juma (JOR)/Faris al-Tal Abdali (Jordan) tack.” and he told me the stages were (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII The Jordanian crew of Husam not in a class of the Middle East. 3min 42.4sec Salem and Nancy al-Majali set He told me they were world class. 6. Meshari al-Thafiri (KWT)/ atar’s Nasser Saleh al- the third fastest time of 3min That made me really think that I Emad Juma (JOR) Mitsubishi Attiyah and his French 38.7sec in a Mitsubishi Lancer needed to be careful. Of course, I Lancer Evo X 3min 45.9sec co-driver Matthieu Evolution IX to claim the early want to fi nish and I don’t want to 7. Rodolphe Asmar (LEB)/Joseph Baumel held a small initiative in what promises to be make any mistakes.” Matar (LEB) Mitsubishi Lancer advantageQ after the opening Ab- a fascinating tussle for MERC 2 Tomorrow (Friday), teams Evo IX 3min 49.4sec dali super special stage of the honours. Current MERC 2 cham- tackle 10 special stages, split into 8. Rashid al-Nuami (QAT)/Nicola Jordan Rally yesterday after- pionship standings remain pro- two repeats of specials at Ma’in, Arena (ITA) Subaru Impreza noon. visional pending the outcome of Syagha, Rama, Bahath and Su- 3min 49.5sec Driving a Skoda Fabia R5, the fuel sample checks taken by the wayma. With service not per- 9. Abdullah al-Kuwari (QAT)/Adel defending regional champion FIA at the Kuwait Rally in March. mitted at the Dead Sea until after Hussein (QAT) Mitsubishi Lancer beat Abdulaziz al-Kuwari by The Jordanian quartet of Kha- the fi fth of the timed tests, it will Evo X 3min 52.6sec 9.5 seconds to reach the end of led Juma, Asem Aref, Ihad al- be imperative that drivers do not 10. Khalifa al-Attiyah (QAT)/Sav- the fi rst section of leg one with Shorafa and Lina Hadadi held infl ict damage on their cars over vas Laos (CYP) Subaru Impreza the bragging rights. Thousands fi fth, 11th, 13th and 15th overall. the early competitive kilome- 3min 54.9sec of spectators witnessed the ac- Cars were fl agged away from tres. The fi ve specials are then 11. Asem Aref (JOR)/Musa Djiy- tion in Amman’s new downtown the start by Prince Feisal al- repeated in the afternoon. erian (JOR) Renault Clio 4min district, as the organising Jordan Hussein, chairman of Jordan 2016 Jordan Rally – positions 04.3sec Motorsport took the action to Motorsport, in the presence of a after SS1 12. Vedat Diker (TUR)/Erdal Oral the centre of the capital before number of visiting VIPs. 1. Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/ (TUR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X heading down to the Dead Sea Al-Attiyah, Al-Kuwari, Lina Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Skoda 4min 06.5sec region for the weekend. Hadadi, Husam Salem, Meshari Fabia R5 3min 22.2sec 13. Ihab Al-Shorafa (JOR)/Hazem “I finished second here last al-Thefi ri and Rakan al-Rashed 2. Abdulaziz al-Kuwari (QAT)/Kil- Attiyat (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer year but second is like being had earlier attended a pre-event lian Duff y (IRL) Skoda Fabia R5 Evo IX 4min 08.8sec last as far as I am concerned,” Q&A session on the podium that 3min 31.7sec 14. Rakan Al-Rashed (SAU)/ said a determined Abdulaziz had been beamed live around the 3. Husam Salem (JOR)/Nancy Al- Jarkko Kalliolepo (FIN) Mit- al-Kuwari. “There are maybe region. Majali (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer subishi Lancer Evo IX five new stages. We have to “This is my fi rst time here in Evo IX 3min 38.7sec 4min 14.3sec push. I have to put Nasser un- Jordan and I have been very im- 4. Khalid al-Suwaidi (QAT)/ 15. Lina Hadadi (JOR)/Barkev der pressure. We rarely see him pressed,” said Rakan Rashed, Giovanni Bernacchini (ITA) Ford Shadian (JOR) Subaru Impreza under pressure. My goal for the who settled into 14th overall. “I Fiesta R5 3min 40.4sec 4min 20.5sec. Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah greeted by Prince Feisal al-Hussein at the start of the Jordan Rally.

SPOTLIGHT BOXING Khan ready for ‘dream’ Workers Cup fi nalists showdown with Alvarez

AFP inspired by ‘unreal’ London mir Khan insisted Wednesday he is ready for the fi ght of his life when he steps up two divisions to take on Mexican world middleweight cham- pionA Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in Las Vegas this weekend. meeting with Infantino The British boxer, who normally boxes at welterweight, faces a daunting battle against the hard-hitting Alvarez on Saturday in a fi ght ‘It has been a memorable journey so far, especially meeting the FIFA president’ which many believe is a risk too far for the 29-year-old from Bolton. However Khan insists he is relishing the prospect of star billing after enduring years of frustration trying unsuccessfully to land a bout against the now retired Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. “It’s my time and I’m going to grab it with both hands,” Khan told a press conference. “It’s been my dream to get a big fi ght like this in Las Vegas and I’m not going to let it go. “Come this fi ght you’re going to see the best Amir Khan. Canelo’s a tough guy. He’s strong but we’re going to be ready for what he brings to the table,” added Khan, who is 31-3 with 19 knockouts. Khan, who is of Pakistani descent, also ref- erenced the US presidential election campaign rhetoric of likely Republican nominee Donald Trump, who has vowed to bar Muslims from entering the United States while promising to build a wall on the US-Mexico border. “Who knows? This could be the last fi ght for me and Canelo in Las Vegas if Donald Trump becomes president,” joked Khan, a Muslim. World Boxing Council middleweight cham- pion Alvarez (46-1, 32 knockouts) meanwhile said he was confi dent his power would be too much for Khan.

Aspire Basketball Open League launched The multipurpose hall in the Aspire Dome recently hosted the launch of the Aspire Bas- ketball Open League. Running until May 27, the league off ers basketball enthusiasts aged 17 and above the opportunity to practice their favourite sport in an exciting and competi- tive atmosphere at Aspire Zone. There are eight teams of eight players participating in the league, which is taking place every Friday from 3:00pm until 6:00pm. The league follows a knockout elimination system in which only the winning team from each group qualifies for the final round. The final round of matches takes place on May 20th and 27th.

By Sports Reporter present at the semi-fi nal stage of doubt, but our mission will be in- been very committed and disci- will make sure they are rewarded,” Doha the annual tournament, which is complete if we fail at the fi nal hur- plined.” Nagmeldin said. sponsored by the Supreme Com- dle.” He continued: “Hopefully, we But for their captain, success on mittee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), Jamal’s side are undefeated en can win the fi nal to crown a memo- the fi eld will be the only thing that s he prepares for today’s and met with many of the players, route to the fi nal of the 2016 Work- rable couple of months. I thank the matters come Friday night. Workers Cup showpiece, including Jamal. ers Cup, and his coach Mohammed organisers of the tournament – it “By winning the fi nal we will be the captain of one of the The FIFA president, who was on a Saad, echoed his captain’s senti- has been a wonderful platform for engraving our name into the football fi nalists is hoping to cap a two-day offi cial visit to Qatar, made ments: “My team will go all out to workers to express themselves and culture of Qatar,” said Jamal, who memorableA fortnight by lifting the his way to the pitch to talk to both win the fi nal,” he insisted. has given them a lot of confi dence is an offi ce assistant in his day job. trophy – and says doing so would the sides after the fi rst semi-fi nal. and self-esteem.” “This will give us an even stronger rank alongside the moment he got to “He told my team after our semi- The FIFA president, who was The Taleb group management connection with the biggest sport- meet the man at the very top of the fi nal win that trying to do one’s best on a two-day offi cial visit to representative, Awad Nagmeldin, ing event in the world.” world game. on the pitch is the ultimate goal,” Qatar, made his way to the is also thrilled with his company’s And regardless of the outcome Mohamed Jamal, star striker at Jamal told www.sc.qa. pitch to talk to both the sides progress in this year’s tournament. on Friday, Jamal is already looking Taleb Group, will lead his team out “He said hard work has taken him aft er the fi rst semi-fi nal He said that the organisation was forward to next year’s edition of the against Gulf Construction Compa- to where he is today and that we will proud of the players – who have tournament. ny at Al Ahli Stadium today with his also be able to realise our goals if we “It has been a memorable jour- recorded four wins and two draws – “I want to meet the FIFA president eyes fi xed fi rmly on the prize – and work hard.” ney so far, especially meeting the and that fi nancial incentives will be again during next year’s Workers Cup,” he will do so with FIFA President He continued: “Winning the fi nal FIFA president. But we cannot af- awarded. he said with a smile. The fi nal of the Gianni Infantino’s words ringing is of utmost importance. Meeting ford to falter at the last hurdle. The “We are proud of them even if 2016 Workers Cup takes place today at in his ears. President Infantino was the FIFA president was unreal no team has trained hard and we have they were to fi nish runners up and 18:45 at Al Ahli Stadium in Doha.

Friday, May 6, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

HORSE RACING Jalwa Al Jazeera takes Club Breeders Trophy in thriller Trainer Mohannad al-Yaqout has three winners, including Zman Awal and AJS Al Rayyan, on season’s last day

By Mikhil Bhat SPOTLIGHT Doha

he 2015-16 horse racing Winning fi ve on HH season came to a thrill- ing conclusion with a photo-fi nish deciding The Emir’s Sword Day Tthe winner of Club Breeders Trophy at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Al Rayyan was special: champion racetrack yesterday. Eventually, Hassan al-Matwi- saddled Jalwa Al Jazeera stayed trainer Ghazali unbeaten in her short two- race career so far, with Tadgh O’Shea riding the three-year- old daughter of Majd Al Arab to a win in the seven-furlong race for three-year-olds Purebred Arabians. Trainer Mohannad al-Yaqout, who had already had three win- ners on the day, had to settle for the second and third place in the fi nal race of the season, with Al Jeryan Stud’s duo AJS Gan- nas, edged out at the post, and AJS Mezna fi nishing second and third respectively. Al-Yaqout had tasted vic- tory on the day with Zman Awal, who notched up her third vic- Jockey Tadgh O’Shea (foreground) rides Jalwa Al Jazeera to a win in the Club Breeders Trophy at the QREC yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim tory of the season, AJS Al Rayy- an, and maiden winner World Fair. With 15 winners this season, four less than his last haul, al- Yaqout wasn’t completely satis- Trainer Jassim Ghazali after the win of The Blue Eye in HH The Emir’s fi ed with his run this season. Trophy (Gr1). “I have had some memorable wins, but I am not completely By Mikhil Bhat of the season for him, he, with- satisfi ed. I will be working to- Doha out a second thought, said, “HH wards coming back with much The Emir’s Sword Raceday.” better performance. That’s the No brainer, actually. He had goal at the moment,” he said af- e may have only half as fi ve winners on the day out of ter the race. many winners this sea- eight races. And with HH the Zman Awal, with Marco son as compared to the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Monteriso astride, won the Class last, but Jassim Ghazali al-Thani watching the pro- 2 Al Ghariya Cup for thorough- isH not complaining. He has re- ceedings, Ghazali and his team bred fi llies and mares, beating tained the title of Champion couldn’t have chosen a better Oaks winner Bronze Maquette Trainer and so has British jock- day to put up such a smashing by three lengths. ey Harry Bentley, who Ghazali performance. To begin with, Tautira, with works with closely and regularly. “That was special. I work hard Qatari jockey Yousef al-Hajri at To add to that, Khalifa bin the entire season for that one the helm, set the early pace even Sheail al-Kuwari is the leading day. I know HH the Emir Sheikh as Monteriso and his ride stayed owner and his ward The Blue Eye Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will away from the front. As the ac- is the leading horse. be watching and the focus has tion moved into the fi nal bend, “Now that’s a record I am re- generally been on me as to what Monteriso found a gap and Zman Trainer Mohannad al-Yaqout (left) receives the trophy from QREC Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani (left), who had two ally proud of. My entire team has me and my horses can do. This Awal was off and away, giving no Racing manager Abdullah Rashid al-Kubaisi after Zman Awal won the winners on the day in Mowhoubat Al Zaidy and Al Uraiq Secret, been able to reach the top this time on the day, there was much chance to others for a fi ne win. Al Ghariya Cup yesterday. receives owner’s trophy from Kuwait’s Mubarak al-Dihani. season,” Ghazali told Gulf Times more pressure because there Osama Omar al-Dhafea’s on the sidelines of the season’s were international entries. But Tautira fi nished third behind horses owned by Sheikh Faisal fi nal raceday yesterday. me and my team, horses, eve- Mohamed Hussain’s Bronze bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani RESULTS “And while I am very happy to ryone did well to win fi ve out of Maquette. — Mowhoubat Al Zaidy and Al have fi nished the season as the eight races,” he said. AJS Al Rayyan stayed true to Uraiq Secret. Race 1: 1. Waeed (Adnan Hawa), 2. Mahbooba Sanna), 4. Sobheya (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: 3 leader, it has been a very diffi cult The Blue Eye was the pick of his top rating when the son of Jockey Marvin Suerland guid- (Tadgh O’Shea), 3. Al Jazeera (Stephan Ladjadj), ½, ¾, Nk. Time: 1:13.76. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Ha- season for me but my God has the lot with the win in HH The Amer edged out the competition ed Mowhoubat Al Zaidy to a 4. Sky Metro (Faleh Bughanaim). Won by: 5, Shd, mad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki. been very kind to me.” Emir’s Trophy (Gr1). Ridden by closer to the post for a win in the victory in the Purebred Arabian ½. Time: 1:13.76. Owner: Rashid Mubarak Aljafali Race 5: 1. AJS Al Rayyan (Marco Monteriso), 2. Talking about numbers, Bentley in the silks of Khalifa bin Al Areesh Cup, a 2000m condi- Handicap event for horses rated al-Naimi. Trainer: Majed Seifeddine. Mayasa (Richard Mullen), 3. Al Marboush (Tadgh Ghazali had 97 wins this season Sheail al-Kuwari, the Dubawi tions race for purebred Arabians. 60-90, with Marj Eyoun, sad- Race 2: 1. World Fair (Cedric Segeon), 2. Atlantic O’Shea), 4. Bahia Du Barthas (Alberto Sanna). Won as compared to 184 last season colt comfortably beat the likes of Rated 111, AJS Al Rayyan, rid- dled by Mohamed Jassim Ghaz- Sea (Stephan Ladjadj), 3. Tortilla Jackson by: 1 1/4, Hd, 3/4. Time: 2:15.16. Owner: Al Jeryan but the Qatari trainer also had Qatar Derby dead heat duo Tan- den by Monteriso, settled a cou- ali, and Heytham, schooled by (Marvin Suerland), 4. Rome (Yousef al-Hajri). Won Stud. Trainer: Mohannad al-Yaqout. as many as 500 runners less this naaf and Rogue Runners among ple of lengths behind early leader Abduljabar Ali, rounding up the by: ½, ½, 2. Time: 1:05.89. Owner: Mohamed bin Race 6: 1. Zman Awal (Marco Monteriso), 2. Bronze time round. others. Bahia Du Barthas, owned by top three. Hamad Khalifa al-Attiyah. Trainer: Mohannad al- Maquette (Tadgh O’Shea), 3. Tautira (Yousef al- “This year the rules were dif- Though a month later, a ninth Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari and Al Uraiq Secret won the Umm Yaqout. Hajri), 4. Rasheeda (Adnan Hawa). Won by: 3, Nk, ferent because there are now re- place in Sheema Classic in Du- trained by Jassim Ghazali. Bab Cup, a six furlong run for Race 3: 1. Mowhoubat Al Zaidy (Marvin Suerland), Nk. Time: 1:22.30. Owner: Mohamed bin Hamad strictions on how many runners bai was a disappointment for With the fi nal stretch coming three-year-olds local thorough- 2. Marj Eyoun (Richard Mullen), 3. Heytham (Cedric Khalifa al-Attiyah. Trainer: Mohannad al-Yaqout. a trainer can have in every race the four-year-old colt and his up, the rest of the fi eld closed in breds, with jockey Cedric Seg- Segeon), 4. Al Aayar (Marco Monteriso). Won by: 1 Race 7: 1. Jalwa Al Jazeera (Tadgh O’Shea), 2. and how many horses an owner trainer. on Alberto Sanna’s ride, under- eon astride the three-year-old ¾, ¾, ¾. Time: 1:17.65. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Ha- AJS Gannas (Brett Doyle), 3. AJS Mezna (Marco can have in a race. And I had ac- “Sheema Classic was bad luck standably digging into her en- colt on only his second career mad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki. Monteriso), 4. Mannaa Al Naif (Alberto Sanna). Won cepted that this season will not for The Blue Eye because the track ergy reserves. outing. Race 4: 1. Al Uraiq Secret (Cedric Segeon), 2. Asaaf by: Shd, 2 1/2, 5. Time: 1:33.72. Owner: Hassan Ali be all that big like last season. So is left-handed and he is not used With half a furlong to go, AJS Al Uraiq Secret shed his maid- (Marvin Suerland), 3. Musaiter Bu Thaila (Alberto Hassan al-Matwi. Trainer: Hassan al-Matwi. it did make it diffi cult for me. I to it because the racetrack here is Al Rayyan went past Bahia Du en status with a comfortable had to do a lot of juggling around right-handed. But when he came Barthas, and so did Injaaz Stud three and a half length win over when it came to which horses back to Qatar, he won the Qatar duo of Al Marboush and Ma- second placed Asaaf, under Su- ing fashions. Waeed, helmed by overall and the shortest on turf. when al-Yaqout-trained fi lly I should have in which races,” Gold Trophy,” Ghazali said. “Dub- yasa, with the latter edging out erland, and Alberto Sanna’s ride jockey Adnan Hawa, raced away On the other hand, World Fair, won what transformed into a Ghazali explained. day last season made history here Al Marboush at the post for the Musaiter Bu Thaila. with a comfortable fi ve-length ridden by Segeon, had always three-way battle closer to the “In fact I even lost as many as in Qatar, won in England, and then second spot. In the fi rst two races of the day, win in the Local Thoroughbred stayed out of the frame at the Al post, with Atlantic Sea and Tor- 40 horses going into the season he stopped racing. For me, there Trainer Ibrahim al-Malki Waeed and World Fair shed their Maiden Plate event. The six- Rayyan race track. tilla Jackson completing the top because the owners also wanted was a big gap to fi ll, especially for picked up two straight wins with maiden statuses in contrast- furlong run was Waeed’s fi fth All that changed yesterday, three. to run their horses and I couldn’t HH The Emir’s Raceday. Thank have run them all. But yes, de- God, The Blue Eye came along and spite that pressure, despite all he did really well.” that juggling around, I am still on Asked what was his plan for top. And that’s a great feeling.” The Blue Eye now, and he said, “I A LOOK BACK AT THE SEASON He added: “What is also dif- don’t have any plans yet but we ferent this season is that the will sit down next week and plan The 2015-2016 season has treated Jassim Ghazali and Harry Bentley’s while a restricted run by Assy and leading owner is not a big stud it out then. I would personally racegoers to some superb display of chances at retaining the Champion Gazwan ensured a blistering pace at farm or a Sheikh but an individ- like him to have a couple of runs horse racing with exciting finishes Trainer and Champion Jockey’s titles the finish for the duo. ual owner.” in Europe, maybe Goodwood, and big wins at the Al Rayyan race- this year. “Winning the Emir’s Sword is the Asked what was the highlight maybe Arc.” track of Qatar Racing and Equestrian Owned by Khalifa bin Sheail al- biggest prize in Qatar, and that makes Club. Kuwari, The Blue Eye first beat some everything good,” Smart had said The two-day Qatar International impressive international entries to after the win. “I can’t say enough Derby in December saw an exciting win HH The Emir’s Trophy in Febru- about Al Mourtajez, he is a very, very dead heat with nothing to separate ary, and then returned to the Doha good horse. To go that speed and still German raider Rogue Runner and track to own the Qatar Gold Trophy be fighting at the finish with us says Tannaaf from South Africa. in April. The latter had arrived at the something about his quality. Trainer Mario Hofer was a delighted track after a disappointing Sheema “Assy hasn’t been beaten by far. But man considering Rogue Runner had Classic run in March in Dubai’s Mey- that’s the kind of race Gazwan has come into Doha after a last-place fin- dan Racecourse. always needed, one with a strong ish in France earlier in December. On the same day, Gazwan raced to pace. And he will gallop all day long. “The run was great. Perfect race, a memorable win in HH The Emir’s He was unlucky in France last year, he with a perfect position behind the Sword (Gr1 PA), with the classy Assy, was a juvenile but has matured over leader. The horse came here in good making a one-two for HH Sheikh the winter.” condition and his performance in the Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani and Gazwan’s earlier victory in the race showed that,” Hofer, who gelded trainer Julian Smart. Purebred Arabian Derby, coupled his Rogue Runner, had told Gulf Times A tactical race saw Smart’s ward Al win on the big day, saw the Amer colt Trainer Julian Smart kisses Gazwan after HH Sheikh then. “To do so well on the first trip Majh’hoor take the sting out of the earn a total prize money of close to Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani-owned horse won HH here is a great thing.” run of Al Shaqab Racing’s Qatar Ara- QR 2.6 million, second only to The The Emir’s Sword (Gr1 PA) in February. Jockey Harry Bentley rides Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari-owned The The Blue Eye did a world of good to bian World Cup winner Al Mourtajez, Blue Eye with QR 2.8 million. PICTURE: Juhaim Blue Eye to victory in HH The Emir’s Trophy (Gr1) at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club in February this year.